272 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. xm. 



became painfully apparent to Dr. Livingstone that the 

 effect of his opening up the Zambesi had been to afford 

 the Portuguese traders new facilities for conducting their 

 unhallowed traffic ; and had it not been for his promise 

 to bring back the Makololo, he would now have abandoned 

 the Zambesi and tried the Rovuma, as a way of reaching 

 Nyassa. His future endeavours in connection with the 

 Rovuma receive their explanation from this unwelcome 

 discovery. The significance of the discovery in other 

 respects cannot fail to be seen. Hitherto Livingstone 

 had been on friendly terms with the Portuguese Govern- 

 ment ; he could be so no longer. The remarkable 

 kindness he had so often received from Portuguese 

 officers and traders made it a most painful trial to break 

 with the authorities. But there was no alternative. 

 Livingstone's courage was equal to the occasion, though 

 he could not but see that his new attitude to the Portu- 

 guese must give an altered aspect to his expedition, and 

 create difficulties that might bring it to an end. 



A letter to Mr. James Young, dated 2 2d July, near 

 Kalosi, gives a free and familiar account of " what he was 

 about :" — 



"This is July 1860, and no letter from you except one written a 

 few months after we sailed in the year of grace 1858. What you are 

 doing I cannot divine. I am ready to believe any mortal thing except 

 that Louis Napoleon has taken you away to make paraffin oil for 

 the Tuileries. I don't believe that he is supreme ruler, or that he 

 can go an inch beyond his tether. Well, as I cannot conceive what 

 you are about, I must tell you what we are doing, and we are just 

 trudging up the Zambesi as if there were no steam and no locomotive 

 but shank's nag yet discovered. . . . 



" We have heard of a mission for the Interior from the English 

 Universities, and this is the best news we have got since we came to 

 Africa. I have recommended up Shire as a proper sphere, and hasten 

 back so as to be in the way if any assistance can be rendered. I 

 rejoice at the prospect with all my heart, and am glad, too, that it is 

 to be a Church of England Mission, for that Church has never put 

 forth its strength, and I trust this may draw it forth. I am tired of 

 discovery when no fruit follows. It was refreshing to be able to sit 



