1S5S-59.] THE ZAMBESI. 245 



we see the Southern Cross ; and the Pole Star, which stands so high 

 over you, is here so low we cannot see it for the haze. We shall not 

 see it again, but the same almighty gracious Father is over all, and 

 is near to all who love Him. You are now alone in the world, and 

 must seek His friendship and guidance, for if you do not lean on Him, 

 you will go astray, and find that the way of transgressors is hard. 

 The Lord be gracious to you, and accept you, though unworthy of 

 His favour." 



Sierra Leone was reached in a fortnight. Dr. Living- 

 stone was gratified to learn that, during the last ten 

 years, the health of the town had improved greatly — 

 consequent on the abatement of the " whisky fever," 

 and the draining and paving of the streets through the 

 activity of Governor Hill. He found the Sunday as well 

 kept as in Scotland, and was sure that posterity would 

 acknowledge the great blessing which the operations of 

 the English Squadron on the one hand and the various 

 Christian missions on the other had effected. He was 

 more than ever convinced, notwithstanding all that had 

 been said against it, that the English Squadron had been 

 a great blessing on the West Coast. The Christian mis- 

 sions, too, that had been planted under the protection of 

 the Squadron, were an evidence of its beneficial influence. 

 He used constantly to refer with intense gratitude to the 

 work of Lord Palmerston in this cause, and to the very end 

 of his life his Lordship was among the men whose memory 

 he most highly honoured. Often, when he wished to de- 

 scribe his aim briefly, in regard to slavery, commerce, and 

 missions, he would say it was to do on the East Coast 

 what had been done on the West. At Sierra Leone a 

 crew of twelve Kroomen was engaged and taken on board 

 for the navigation of the " Ma-Robert," after it should 

 reach the Zambesi. On their leaving Sierra Leone, 

 the weather became very rough, and from the state of 

 Mrs. Livingstone's health, inclining very much to fever, 

 it was deemed necessary that she, with Oswell, should be 

 left at the Cape, go to Kuruman for a time, and after her 



