A FIGHT AVERTED. 253 



Livingstone to give the anxiety which might have been natural 

 enough to the probable difficulties which he was to confront 

 when he should reach Mpende's village. He did, however, use 

 forethought enough to propitiate such of his prominent subjects 

 as had villages on their path, trusting that they would be dis- 

 posed to exert some favorable influence, or, if no better, at least 

 might circulate the true nature of his errand in advance of him. 

 But when, on the 23d of January, the sun arose on them sur- 

 rounded by a large party of Mpende's people, uttering their 

 strange cries and waving their charms, and kindling their mystic 

 fire, they were neither surprised nor frightened. But though 

 Livingstone had no fear that his men, who were rejoicing in the 

 prospect of a fight, would fail to hold the day against the as- 

 sailants, he preferred to stand looking to the Ruler of hearts, 

 and praying to be spared the necessity of self-defence. He was 

 a noble example of a man standing ready, under all circum- 

 stances, to crucify his fondest affection and strongest passion for 

 the accomplishment of an elevated object. His men, though, 

 being trained to marauding and suffering in their wardrobes 

 the effects of a long tramp, looked on the situation as quite a 

 promising affair ; a " good hit " by which they trusted to dress 

 up before entering the homes of the white people. Following 

 the custom of Sebituane, who had trained his braves, Livingstone 

 had an ox slaughtered, that they might whet their courage for 

 a fight on a good meal of flesh. But while he was waiting God 

 was working, and Livingstone soon saw the results of his pro- 

 vidence. In the midst of his warlike preparations one of the 

 men who had talked with Livingstone by the way entered the 

 council of Mpende with information which changed the mind 

 of that chief. He was in war with the Portuguese, and thought 

 of Livingstone as one of his enemies ; but when he heard it inti- 

 mated that the stranger belonged to " the tribe who love the 

 black man " (they designate the English thus), he was as kind 

 as he had been unfriendly, and expressed his regret that he had 

 been misinformed and so led to annoy " the man ivho had a 

 heart for him." When Dr. Livingstone knew the favorable de- 

 cision of the council, he sent Sekwebu to speak about the pur- 

 chase of a canoe, giving as one of his reasons that one of the 

 men being sick he desired to get a canoe in which to carry him 



