ALONG THE ZOUGA. 79 



again have in proceeding if he passed the ford and depended 

 on Lechulatebe to assist him at the lake. Sechele parted 

 with them here, being anxious to meet that chief. The party 

 then passed along the northern bank of the Zouga. Their 

 progress was slow and laborious. The great trees stood so 

 thickly that the wagon-road had to be made by cutting them 

 down, and the multitude of pitfalls proved a terrible affliction 

 notwithstanding all possible watchfulness. The oxen were 

 sadly unfortunate in combating with this difficulty ; many of 

 them were killed or crippled : for although the Bayeiye were 

 friendly to Livingstone's undertaking, and would gladly uncover 

 the pits, they could not be always aware of his approach. Thus 

 wearily the party pressed on, until they reached again the 

 confluence of the Tamunak'le. The're a fresh barrier con- 

 fronted them. There is a fly, called the tsetse, which infests 

 certain sections of the country, whose bite is singularly fatal to 

 domestic animals ; it is absolutely impossible to pass through 

 such sections without the forfeit of all the oxen or horses. The 

 choice of the travellers was standing in the wilderness, return- 

 ing, the tsetse, and crossing to the southern side again. They 

 crossed, and hurried along until once more they looked on the 

 lake, by whose border the engraving gives us the pleasing 

 picture of Dr. Livingstone and family enjoying the fresh 

 morning as peacefully as ever a family strolled along our 

 own lakes. 



The hesitation of Lechulatebe yielded at length to the solicita- 

 tions of Sechele and the offer of Dr. Livingstone's splendid gun ; 

 the guides were promised, and arrangements were perfected for 

 the entertainment of his family, Dr. Livingstone was buoyant 

 in the thought of mounting his ox for the home of Sebituane. 

 The morning came ; with it came disappointment. The stub- 

 born chief had consented ; a protest was entered with which 

 there could be no reasoning, which could not be bought over 

 even by London-made guns. The children both opened their 

 eyes in the morning, their little bodies scorched with African 

 fever. The servants soon were its victims. There could be no 

 debating ; only the desert air would cool the fire in those swollen 

 veins. The second time the hero was foiled. They returned to 

 Kolobeng. 



