98 SPLENDID COUNTRY. 



latitude. The forests became more and more formidable. The 

 privilege of almost every step must be paid for by valiant ser- 

 vice with the axe. The man Fleming was vanquished, and 

 could go no farther. Livingstone pressed on. The heavy rains 

 had loaded the thick foliage overhead, and the blows of the axe 

 brought a continual shower-bath. 



Again they were subjected to the annoyance of a stampede of 

 the oxen ; this time a lion did the mischief. The lions in the 

 region through which the party was now passing are held in 

 check by the poisoned arrows of the Bushmen. As this poison 

 is referred to frequently, it may be interesting for the reader to 

 know that it is " the entrails of the caterpillar called N'gwa ; 

 the Bushmen squeeze out these, and place them all around the 

 bottom of the barb, and allow them to dry in the sun. The 

 effect of this poison on men and beasts is alike terrible, driving 

 them to a perfect frenzy. The Bushmen told Dr. Livingstone 

 their way of curing the poison was to give the wounded man 

 the caterpillar itself, mixed with fat, saying, the N'gwa wants 

 fat, and when it does not find it in the body kills the man ; 

 we give it what it wants, and it. is content." Possibly these 

 despised Bushmen may dispute the honor yet for the glory of 

 Homceopathy. 



At length they came to the first hill they had seen since 

 leaving the Bamangwato. It was N'gwa. They had struggled 

 across quite three hundred miles of distressingly flat country, 

 exchanging only almost insufferable deserts for almost impassa- 

 ble forests, each in turn only two or three times refreshed by 

 anything like beauty. How joyously now the hero looked down 

 on the picturesque valley which wrapped the base of the hill! a 

 beautiful stream was flowing along the glade, across which the 

 shadows of stately trees blended ; gnus and zebras and antelopes 

 stood gazing on the strangers; a splendid white rhinoceros 

 moved across the stage indifferently as a lord, while dark- 

 visaged buffaloes stood about quietly under the trees. The Sab- 

 bath seemed to be kept by nature, all was so peaceful. They 

 were now literally surrounded with wild beasts ; the roar of the 

 lion was continually in their ears ; koodoos and the giraffe were 

 frequently in view. The wilderness was real, but as they 

 advanced became more and more beautiful. The green grass, 



