THE SELF DENIAL. 185 



less that they take no part in the incidents of the day, and are 

 the victims of traps rather than arms. 



Dr. Livingstone thought that he discovered a peculiarly dis- 

 piriting effect of the climate on the people themselves, which is 

 hardly in keeping with the idea of multitudes of wild beasts. 

 He mentions that even the bulls are spiritless and serve like 

 oxen for riding. "I never met a ferocious one in the country," 

 says he. 



The time at length came when his health was so far renewed 

 that he might resume his travels. Lying in the harbor was an 

 English vessel, and her captain offered him passage homeward. 

 The temptation was very great. More than two years had 

 passed since he parted with his wife, fourteen years since he 

 entered Africa at the Cape. Oh how his heart longed for the 

 old scenes once more ! The warm friends in England, the lov- 

 ing wife and children, and at Blantyre, on the Clyde, there 

 were dear cherished ones fading now, and forms growing 

 weaker every day. The murmuring of the sea might be the 

 voices of those dear ones calling him to receive the last blessing. 

 If he turned again into the wilderness, could he endure another 

 journey like the last? Would he pass the hostile border tribes 

 safely ? Where would he again look out on the sea ? And 

 why should he go? He was now convinced that there could 

 be no highway from Angola into central Africa. Wagons could 

 not possibly follow his footsteps across the mountains and 

 flooded valleys, and through the covetous and unfriendly tribes 

 that had beset his life so resolutely. And where in all that 

 region could he hope to establish a mission ? And why simply 

 retrace his steps over so great a distance? Why not yield to 

 the kind solicitations of his generous friend and look on the 

 hills and valleys of his own native land once more, and make 

 glad the hearts of his aged parents, and comfort his patient, 

 faithful wife, and smile on his own children ? Surely all history 

 cannot produce an instance of more delicate conscientiousness 

 and nobler benevolence than he undesignedly reveals when he 

 says : " I had brought a party of Sekeletu's people with me, and 

 found the tribes near the Portuguese settlements so very un- 

 friendly that it would be altogether impossible for them to re- 

 turn alone. I therefore resolved to decline the tempting offer 



