204 GOD IN NATURE. 



in many places of the richest carpet. A wonderful thing about 

 this splendid fabric of nature's weaving was that it displayed 

 the phenomenon of successive bands, perhaps a hundred yards 

 in width, these bands all of different hues. In one the golden 

 hue prevailed, and the flowers varied in shade from " palest 

 lemon to richest orange." Another band was blue ; in shade 

 from the lightest tints to the deepest color. One flower on 

 these plains attracted particular attention. Being elevated but 

 slightly by its tiny stalk, this little gem seems to be set in the 

 ground ; " its leaves are covered with reddish hairs," out of the 

 tips of which exudes a fluid, clear and glutinous, which glistens 

 in the sunlight like drops of dew or richer pearls. Truly it is 

 wonderful how richly and how skilfully the great Architect and 

 Builder of our terrestrial home has wrought of all things a para- 

 dise for us, whose wealth and beauty are confined to no single 

 zone, and are inexhaustible, though we explore the sea or land 

 or rise amid the stars or delve in deepest earth. And it is 

 wonderful how in it all he hath wrought his own image, and 

 by all things teacheth of himself. There are steadfast moun- 

 tains, which tell of strength ; and flowers, of tenderness. There 

 are oceans whose unvarying ebb and flow murmur of eternity. 

 The stars, shining everywhere, suggest his omnipresence. The 

 sun, ruling all the realms, proclaims his authority. And 

 there are encircling heavens which hint of his encircling care, 

 while all things speak of goodness. And, thanks be to God, 

 nature tells all the story, in Africa as in America. It is only 

 left for the special deed of grace to spread its power abroad, cor- 

 recting the special blindness of man incurred by guilt; then 

 God's likeness shall be seen and his glory stand revealed in all 

 his works. 



Livingstone became convinced at this time that the latitude 

 of Lake Dilolo is really the dividing line of the waters ; the 

 natives had noticed this and remarked it to him in advance of 

 his own investigations indeed. He had suffered his hundred 

 and twenty-seventh attack of fever on the beautiful plains of 

 Kasai and was so feeble that he could hardly walk, and la- 

 mented his inability to examine carefully a region which he 

 considered so exceedingly important. But his sufferings were 

 too great, and the additional anxiety which the vomiting of 



