224 THE EASTERN EIDGE. 



and were understood to be in open revolt. Indeed the villages 

 of Kaonga were the last whose people were on friendly terms 

 with their conquerors. These rebels are enjoying the country 

 which was formerly the home of Sebituane, from which the 

 Matebele forced him to seek a more secure fortress amid the 

 swamps of the Chobe and the Leeambye. And it was well 

 worthy of the admiration of the Makololo, who were tireless in 

 their accounts of the vast herds which their fathers possessed 

 when they lived there. 



The route now lay more directly eastward than the bed of 

 the river, which make3 a detour southward, finding its way 

 around the foot of the ridge which they were gradually ascend- 

 ing. The ascent was so gradual as they advanced that it was 

 observed more by the westward inclination of the streams and the 

 general appearance of elevation than by any remarkable hills or 

 mountains. The traveller was led along the gentle undulations 

 almost insensibly to an altitude of five thousand feet above 

 the level of the sea. There are none of the marshes along these 

 plains which generate the enervating fevers which have almost 

 swept away the Makololo in the valleys. The whole region is 

 remarkably salubrious as well as beautiful ; many of the plains 

 are almost treeless and are covered with short grass. There is 

 a noticeable absence of fountains, and the river Kalomo is the 

 only river in the whole section which never dries up. This 

 flows away southward after the Zambesi. 



Though the Batoka of this region claim to be independent, 

 they have been sorely afflicted by the wars of the Makololo, and 

 do not enjoy their splendid country as they might under other 

 circumstances. They are sadly degraded, but were glad to hear 

 of a name which savored of peace and rest. Surely the weari- 

 ness and misery of the heathen, tossed and torn as they are by 

 the convulsions of their untutored society, and by the evil pas- 

 sions of their hearts, though indeed they may not comprehend 

 their real need and though they may have never heard of Jesus, 

 is a prayer which will move the hand of God. It was, we 

 know, the pitiable spectacle of human sorrow which moved 

 him to compassion and brought his dear Son to be our Saviour, 

 although the Batoka could not understand the full import of 

 the message when Dr. Livingstone spoke to them of him w r hose 



