1872-73.] FROM UNYANYEMBE TO BANGIVEOLO. 445 



for natural history was strong ; the aqueous plants that 

 abounded everywhere, the caterpillars that after eating 

 the plants ate one another, and were such clumsy 

 swimmers ; the fish with the hook-shaped lower jaw that 

 enabled them to feed as they skimmed past the plants ; 

 the morning summons of the cocks and turtle-doves ; the 

 weird scream of the fish eagle — all engaged his interest. 

 Observations continued to be taken, and the Sunday 

 services were always held. 



But on the 21st April a change occurred. In a shaky 

 hand he wrote : "Tried to ride, but was forced to lie 

 down, and they carried me back to vil. exhausted." A 

 kitanda or palanquin had to be made for carrying him. 

 It was sorry work, for his pains were excruciating and 

 his weakness excessive. On the 27th April 1 he was 

 apparently at the lowest ebb, and wrote in his Journal 

 the last words he ever penned — " Knocked up quite, and 

 remain = recover sent to buy milch goats. We are on 

 the banks of R, Molilamo." 



The word "recover" seems to show that he had no 

 presentiment of death, but cherished the hope of re- 

 covery ; and Mr. Waller has pointed out, from his own 

 sad observation of numerous cases in connection with the 

 Universities Mission, that malarial poisoning is usually 

 unattended with the apprehension of death, and that in 

 none of these instances, any more than in the case of 

 Livingstone, were there any such messages, or instruc- 

 tions, or expressions of trust and hope as are usual on 

 the part of Christian men when death is near. 



The 29th April was the last day of his travels. In 

 the morning he directed Susi to take down the side of 

 the hut that the kitanda might be brought along, as the 

 door would not admit it, and he was quite unable to walk 

 to it. Then came the crossing of a river ; then progress 

 through swamps and plashes ; and when they got to any 



1 This was the eleventh anniversary of his wife's death. 



