UNWELCOME NEWS. 129 



ness than unconsciousness. A truly generous deed, done so 

 naturally that the dependent one hardly knows it, is benevo- 

 lence. It is a pity that, with their progress in other matters, 

 men progress so rapidly in appreciation of themselves and the 

 estimate of their own works. 



At Nameta very unwelcome news was waiting for Dr. Liv- 

 ingstone. An uncle of Sekeletu, named Mpololo, who main- 

 tained a sort of ascendency in the Barotse valley, under a spirit 

 of revenge for some former wrong, had sanctioned a foray of a 

 Makololo party, headed by one Lerimo, into the territory of the 

 Balonda. Lerimo had destroyed several Balonda towns, and 

 taken a number of the subjects of an under chief named Masiko 

 prisoners. This invasion of the territory on which Livingstone 

 was about entering, by the tribe with which he was so nearly 

 associated, and which was furnishing his guides and escort, 

 rendered his situation exceedingly unpleasant, particularly as 

 the desolated towns lay along the very route which he must 

 follow. Sekeletu had been careful to guard against any such 

 embarrassments of his guest and his father's friend, by issuing 

 positive orders on the subject, prohibiting all such forays, and 

 Mpololo had transgressed his orders. This, however, did not 

 make the matter better. At Litofe, a few miles higher up, 

 there was news of a fresh foray, which had to be disbanded by 

 sending a messenger in advance of the party. On reaching the 

 town of Sekeletu's mother, where Mpololo was, the missionary 

 required them to place the prisoners who had been taken by 

 Lerimo in his charge to be returned to Masiko, as a proof of his 

 friendship and as an evidence, too, that the whole responsibility 

 of the invasion lay with a petty chief who would be held 

 accountable by his master. By this means this wise and patient 

 man was able to avert probably a cruel war. Mpololo was par- 

 ticularly generous of the property he had in charge, and filled 

 all the orders of Sekeletu for the party with a good grace ; so 

 that Livingstone left Naliele in possession of fifteen fine oxen, 

 eight of which were for riding purposes, the others for slaughter 

 or presents as occasion might require. They were at Libonta, 

 the border town of the Makololo, on the 17th of December. 



During the delay which was necessary at Libonta the doctor 

 had abundant use for his skill in the healing art ; the fever was 



