240 



EASTERN RANGES. 



perennial. Many of the hills have been raised by granite, ex- 

 actly like that of the Kalomo. Dikes of this granite may be 

 seen thrusting up immense masses of mica schist and quartz or 

 sandstone schist, and making the strata fold over them on each 

 side, as clothes hung upon a line. 



" When we came to the top of the outer range of the hills we 

 had a glorious view. At a short distance below us we saw the 

 Kafue, wending away over a forest-clad plain to the confluence, 

 and on the other side of the Zambesi, beyond that, lay a long 

 range of dark hills. A line of fleecy clouds appeared lying 

 along the course of that river at their base. The plain below 

 us, at the left of the Kafue, had more large game on it than 

 anywhere else I had seen in Africa. Hundreds of buffaloes 

 and zebras grazed on the open spaces, and there stood lordly 

 elephants feeding majestically." 



But this charming scenery had to be paid for by serious toil- 

 ing and climbing, which called for the forfeit of several of the 

 oxen, one of which was a special beauty which Sekeletu had 

 been anxious to have displayed at the settlement of the white 

 people, as it was ornamented after the most approved fashion of 

 the Makololo, " with more than thirty pieces of its own skin 

 detached and hanging down." 



The animals abounding in these hills, however, rendered the 

 party almost independent of oxen, as, being entirely unfamiliar 

 with guns, they moved about in easy range of the balls. 



The health of Dr. Livingstone had continued singularly 

 good, owing probably as much to his greater care of himself as 

 to the greater healthfulness of the localities through which he 

 had passed, and he was in the spirit to enjoy all that occurred 

 or was to be seen. He was greatly encouraged in his desire to 

 establish a station, where a mission might grow up which would 

 act as a centre of civilization. There could be nothing to dis- 

 courage such an enterprise in this magnificent region. 



Having declined the smoother route to the northeast for the 

 banks of the Zambesi, Livingstone was anxious now to regain 

 that stream and guided his party a little southward. The 

 country became more and more thickly planted with broad- 

 leaved bushes as they approached the river, and they needed 

 repeatedly to shout to the elephants to stand out of their path. 



