160 A FIGHT AVOIDED. 



bered that these men had been soldiers under the great chief 

 Sebituane, who with his own hand beheaded any man who 

 dared to turn his back in battle. They were trained to courage, 

 and it was Livingstone's full conviction that they would have 

 proven victorious over twice as many Chiboque as now appeared 

 against them, though only twenty-six in number. At last, 

 when nothing else would do, Dr. Livingstone informed the 

 chief that he must decide the question himself, and assume the 

 entire responsibility if there was to be fighting. For himself, he 

 wished to pass over God's ground in peace ; but if he was not 

 allowed to do so, he should certainly defend himself and people 

 against any enemy. This cool talk seemed to impress the chief 

 men that the business they had undertaken was to be quite 

 serious, and they began talking more reasonably. As the result 

 of the interview, however, Dr. Livingstone gave an ox, trusting 

 thereby to gain as much in moral influence as he might sacrifice 

 of their much-needed supplies of food. While journeying along 

 the forest paths, drenched with rain and now and then swim- 

 ming the streams, terrible fevers again set in. Added to the 

 already severe trials that of an almost wandering mind, the 

 guides from place to place were now almost useless, and gave 

 much more trouble by their foolish and outrageous demands of 

 presents than would have resulted from their entire absence. 

 But the bitterest of all, about the 12th of March, not far from 

 the scene of the difficulty with the Chiboque, there appeared a 

 disposition to mutiny in some of his own party, which proceeded 

 so far that the missionary was near sending a few balls through 

 the heads of the troublesome individuals. Every step of the 

 way now was combated for against extortions, threatened war 

 from the tribes, complaints of his followers, and fevers which 

 seemed to feed on the anxieties of the occasion. Perhaps the 

 most terribly trying hour of the whole journey was in the little 

 worn-out tent at the encampment near the village of Ionga- 

 Panza, who had acted with the most unpardonable disregard of 

 truth and manliness. The sufferings of the men since leaving 

 Katema's territory had been so great and so constant, everything 

 had seemed to resist the progress of the party so bitterly, that 

 the followers of Livingstone became thoroughly disheartened, 

 and they began to discuss the wisdom of going back home. 



