1862-63.] LAST TWO YEARS OF THE EXPEDITION. 319 



he would be detained two months waiting for the rising 

 of the river. On their way back, they took a nearer cut, 

 but found the villages all deserted. The reeds along the 

 banks of the lake were crowded with fugitives. " In 

 passing mile after mile, marked with the sad proofs that 

 ' man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands 

 mourn/ one experiences an overpowering sense of help- 

 lessness to alleviate human woe, and breathes a silent 

 prayer to the Almighty to hasten the good time coming 

 when ' man to man, the world o'er, shall brothers be for 

 all that.'" Near a village called Bangwe, they were 

 pursued by a body of Mazitu, who retired when they 

 came within ear-shot. This little adventure seemed 

 to give rise to the report that Dr. Livingstone had 

 been murdered by the Makololo, which reached England, 

 and created no small alarm. Referring to the report 

 in his jocular way, in a letter to his friend Mr. Fitch 

 he says, — " A report of my having been murdered at 

 the lake has been very industriously circulated by the 

 Portuguese. Don't become so pale on getting a letter 

 from a dead man." 



Reaching the stockade of Chinsamba in Mosapo, they 

 were much pleased with that chief's kindness. Dr. 

 Livingstone followed his usual method, and gained his 

 usual influence. " When a chief has made any inquiries 

 of us, we have found that we gave most satisfaction in 

 our answers when we tried to fancy ourselves in the 

 position of the interrogator, and him that of a poor un- 

 educated fellow-countryman in England. The polite, 

 respectful way of speaking, and behaviour of what we 

 call ' a thorough gentleman,' almost always secures the 

 friendship and good- will of the Africans." 



On 1st November 1863 the party reached the ship, 

 and found all well. Here, as has been said, two months 

 had to be spent waiting for the flood, to Dr. Livingstone's 

 intense chagrin. 



