MAKOLOLO BOASTINGS. 187 



which had tilted up immense masses of mica and sandstone 

 schists. The mica schist almost always dipped toward the in- 

 terior of the country, forming those mountain ranges of which 

 we have already spoken as giving a highland character to the 

 district of Golungo Alto. The trap has frequently run through 

 the gorges made in the upheaved rocks, and at the points of 

 junction between the igneous and older rocks there are large 

 quantities of strongly magnetic iron ore. The clayey soil 

 formed by the disintegration of the mica schist and trap is the 

 favorite soil for the coffee ; and it is on these mountain sides, 

 and others possessing a similar red clay soil, that this plant has 

 propagated itself so widely. The meadow lands adjacent to the 

 Senza and Coanza being underlaid by that marly tufa which 

 abounds toward the coast, and containing the same shells, show 

 that, previous to the elevation of that side of the country, this 

 region possessed some deeply-indented bays." 



The men experienced much inconvenience now in travelling, 

 because the hard, dry roads in the earlier part of the journey 

 caused considerable soreness of the feet. But their minds were 

 full of the wonderful things they had seen, and, like great chil- 

 dren, they were ever planning narratives to be told when they 

 reached their homes again, and composing songs in honor of 

 their achievements. They would say to their leader : " It is 

 well you came with the Makololo, for no tribe could have done 

 what we have accomplished in coming to the white man's coun- 

 try. We are the true ancients who can tell wonderful things." 



Some time was spent in the neighborhood of Golungo Alto, 

 enjoying the hospitality of the commander, M. Canto, who was 

 deeply interested in the improvement of the country. One of 

 the most remarkable little creatures in all Africa came under 

 the observation of Dr. Livingstone in this neighborhood ; and 

 because the account is itself full of interest, and because the 

 accuracy of it illustrates a feature in the character of the man, 

 which has contributed very largely to the singular success of 

 his life, we prefer to give it fully in his own language. He 

 says : " Before leaving, I had an opportunity of observing a 

 curious insect which inhabits a tree of the fig family (Fieus) 

 upwards of twenty species of which are found here; seven or 

 eight of them cluster round a spot on one of the smaller 



