1S5S-59.] THE ZAMBESI. 243 



"It is hoped that we may never have occasion to use our arms for 

 protection from the natives, but the best security from attack consists 

 in upright conduct, and the natives seeing that we are prepared to meet 

 it. At the same time, you are strictly enjoined to exercise the greatest 

 forbearance towards the people ; and, while retaining proper firmness 

 in the event of any misunderstanding, to conciliate, as far as possibly 

 can be done with safety to our party. 



" It is unnecessary for me to enjoin the strictest justice in dealing 

 with the natives. This your own principles will lead you invariably 

 to follow, but while doing so yourself, it is decidedly necessary to be 

 careful not to appear to overreach or insult any one by the conduct of 

 those under your command. . . . 



" The chiefs of tribes and leading men of villages ought always to 

 be treated with respect, and nothing should be done to weaken their 

 authority. Any present of food should be accepted frankly, as it is 

 impolitic to allow the ancient custom of feeding strangers to go into 

 disuse. We come among them as members of a superior race, and 

 servants of a Government that desires to elevate the more degraded 

 portions of the human family. We are adherents of a benign, holy 

 religion, and may, by consistent conduct, and wise, patient efforts, 

 become the harbingers of peace to a hitherto distracted and trodden 

 down race. No great result is ever attained without patient, long- 

 continued effort. In the enterprise in which we have the honour to 

 be engaged, deeds of sympathy, consideration, and kindness, which, 

 when viewed in detail, may seem thrown away, if steadily persisted in, 

 are sure, ultimately, to exercise a commanding influence. Depend upon 

 it, a land word or deed is never lost." 



Evidently, Dr. Livingstone felt himself in a difficult 

 position at the head of this enterprise. He was aware 

 of the trouble that had usually attended civil as con- 

 trasted with naval and military expeditions, from the 

 absence of that habit of discipline and obedience which 

 is so firmly established in the latter services. He had 

 never served under Her Majesty's Government himself, 

 nor had he been accustomed to command such men as 

 were now under him, and there were some things in his 

 antecedents that made the duty peculiarly difficult. On 

 one thing only he was resolved : to do his own duty to 

 the utmost, and to spare no pains to induce every member 

 of the Expedition to do his. It was impossible for him 

 not to be anxious as to how the team would pull together, 

 especially as he knew well the influence of a malarious 



