1862-63.] LAST TWO YEARS OF THE EXPEDITION. 307 



As soon as he was able to brace himself, he was again 

 at his post, helping to put the " Lady Nyassa " together 

 and launch her. This was achieved by the end of June, 

 greatly to the wonder of the natives, who could not 

 understand how iron should swim. The " Nyassa " was an 

 excellent steamboat, and could she have been got to the 

 lake would have done welL But, alas ! the rainy season 

 had passed, and until December this could not be done. 

 Here was another great disappointment. Meanwhile, 

 Dr. Livingstone resolved to renew the exploration of the 

 Bovuma, in the hope of finding a way to Nyassa beyond 

 the dominion of the Portuguese. This was the work in 

 which he had been engaged at the time when he' went 

 with Bishop Mackenzie to help him to settle. 



The voyage up the Bovuma did not lead to much. 

 On one occasion they were attacked, fiercely and treacher- 

 ously, by the natives. Cataracts occurred about 156 

 miles from the mouth, and the report was that farther up 

 they were worse. The explorers did not venture beyond 

 the banks of the river, but so far as they saw, the people 

 were industrious, and the country fertile, and a steamer 

 of light draught might carry on a very profitable trade 

 among them. But there was no water-way to Nyassa. 

 The Bovuma came from mountains to the west, having 

 only a very minute connection with Nyassa. It seemed 

 that it would be better in the meantime to reach the 

 lake by the Zambesi and the Shire, so the party returned. 

 It was not till the beginning of 1863 that they were 

 able to renew the ascent of these rivers. Livingstone 

 writes touchingly to Sir Boderick, in reference to his 

 returning to the Zambesi, " It may seem to some persons 

 weak to feel a chord vibrating to the dust of her who 

 rests on the banks of the Zambesi, and think that the 

 path by that river is consecrated by her remains." 



Meanwhile Dr. Livingstone was busy with his pen. 

 A new energy had been imparted to him by the appalling 



