OUTFIT FOR JOURNEY. 117 



what sort of outfit an explorer of such wilds finds important. 

 There are all sorts of things represented to be indispensable, 

 but Livingstone was too inured to privations and hardships to 

 trouble himself much about softening the bed which he was 

 called to lie on. In his own language, he was satisfied "that if 

 he did not succeed it would not be for want of 'knick-knacks/ 

 but from want of pluck." The rifle and double-barrelled gun for 

 himself, and the three muskets for his people, were depended on 

 to provide the necessary food, and had only the supplement of 

 about forty shillings worth of beads, carried for barter. A few 

 small packages of the more important articles of food for civil- 

 ized life, such as coffee and tea, a limited quantity of clothing, 

 left room for the more important things essential to obtaining an 

 accurate knowledge of the country. A sextant, a chronometer 

 watch, a compass, a thermometer, and a small telescope were his 

 stock of instruments. The only books he carried were a " Nau- 

 tical Almanac," " Thomson's Logarithm Tables," and a Bible. 

 A small tent for his house, with a sheepskin mantle and house- 

 rug for furniture, and lastly his magic lantern. His attendants 

 were twenty-seven men, belonging to the different tribes ac- 

 knowledging the Makololo authority. 



Thus attended and equipped, the traveller left the town of 

 Linyanti on the 11th of November, 1853, to embark on the 

 Chobe. The purpose of good was the strength of his heart; the 

 results were with God. Approaching the river from Linyanti 

 the party traversed a portion of the country where Livingstone 

 and Oswell had been three years before. They passed through 

 the wild where Mr. Oswell had nearly lost his life on that 

 occasion. This gentleman had followed an elephant into the 

 dense thorny growth which borders the river, when suddenly 

 he discovered the monster had turned about, and was rushing 

 madly upon him. Vainly the hunter tried to force his trem- 

 bling horse through the thicket ; there was only a moment, when 

 he was dashed to the ground by the frightened creature as it 

 bounded aside. It seemed impossible that he should not be 

 instantly crushed beneath the feet of the tremendous assailant, 

 who passed over him in the instant. The escape was marvellous. 

 It is only a glimpse of the perils of the place, perils which 

 must be hazarded everywhere in this strange wild land. 



