396 DA V1D LIVINGSTONE. [chap. xx. 



We had goods to buy with, but the people had nothing to sell, and 

 were living on herbs and mushrooms. I had to feel every step of the 

 way, and generally was groping in the dark. No one knew anything 

 beyond his own district, and who cared where the rivers ran? 

 Casembe said, when I was going to Lake Bangweolo : 'One piece of water 

 was just like another (it is the Bangweolo water), but as your chief 

 desired you to visit that one, go to it. If you see a travelling party 

 going north, join it. If not, come back to me and I will send you 

 safely along my path by Moero ; ' and gave me a man's load of a fish 

 like whitebait. I gradually gained more light on the country, and 

 slowly and surely saw the problem of the fountains of the Nile de- 

 veloping before my eyes. The vast volume of water draining away to 

 the north made me conjecture that I had been working at the sources 

 of the Congo too. My present trip to Manyuema proves that all goes 

 to the river of Egypt. In fact, the head-waters of the Nile are 

 gathered into two or three arms, very much as was depicted by Ptolemy 

 in the second century of our era. What we moderns can claim is re- 

 discovery of what had fallen into oblivion, like the circumnavigation 

 of Africa by the Phoenician admiral of one of the Pharaohs B.C. 600. 

 He was not believed, because 'he had the sun on his right hand in 

 going round from east to west.' Though to us this stamps his tale as 

 genuine, Ptolemy was not believed, because his sources were between 

 10 and 12 north latitude, and collected into two or three great head 

 branches. In my opinion his informant must have visited them. 



"I cared nothing for money, and contemplated spending my 

 life as a hard-working poor missionary. By going into the country 

 beyond Kuruman we pleased the Directors, but the praises they 

 bestowed excited envy. Mamma and you all had hard times. The 

 missionaries at Kuruman, and south of it, had comfortable houses and 

 gardens. They could raise wheat, pumpkins, maize, at very small ex- 

 pense, and their gardens yielded besides apples, pears, apricots, peaches, 

 quinces, oranges, grapes, almonds, walnuts, and all vegetables, for 

 little more than the trouble of watering. A series of droughts compelled 

 us to send for nearly all our food 270 miles off. Instead of help we 

 had to pay the uttermost farthing for everything, and got bitter envy 

 besides. Many have thought that I was inflated by the praises I had 

 lavished upon me, but I made it a rule never to read anything of 

 praise. I am thankful that a kind Providence has enabled me to do 

 what will reflect honour on my children, and show myself a stout- 

 hearted servant of Him from whom comes every gift. None of you 

 must become mean, craven -hearted, untruthful, or dishonest, for if you 

 do, you don't inherit it from me. I hope that you have selected a 

 profession that suits your taste. It will make you hold up your head 

 among men, and is your most serious duty. I shall not live long, and 

 it would not be well to rely on my influence. I could help you a 

 little while living, but have little else than what people call a great 

 name to bequeath afterwards. I am nearly toothless, and in my 



