276 RECEPTION AT TETE. 



approaching, and that he was able to take the sun down and 

 put it under his arm ! " The major was convinced that the 

 story was founded on the approach of some explorer, whom, he 

 was convinced also, could be no other than the man who had 

 already accomplished the wonderful journey from the Cape to 

 Loanda. 



On the day of his arrival in Tete Dr. Livingstone was " vis- 

 ited by all the gentlemen of the village, both white and colored, 

 including the padre." Not one of them had any idea of where 

 the source of the Zambesi lay. They sent for the best-travelled 

 natives, but not one of them knew the river, even as far as 

 Kansala rapids, which may be seen indicated on the map, not 

 more than thirty or forty miles above the confluence of the 

 Kafue, and but little more than half way to the "Victoria 

 Falls." One man, who had been a great traveller in the south- 

 western country, had heard of Livingstone's discovery of Lake 

 Ngami, but he was entirely ignorant that the great river flowing 

 by the town where he lived came from the interior of the con- 

 tinent. Livingstone had the reward of his self-sacrifice in the 

 certainty that he had not been idly employed, but that in those 

 years of wandering he had performed a service which centuries 

 to come would be still conferring its blessings on the world. 

 He had been able to correct the errors of philosophy and preju- 

 dice, and bring to waiting Christendom the assurance that in 

 Africa there was a field ready for the sower, and that this broad 

 river, about whose delta civilization had been standing in doubt- 

 ful inefficiency for centuries, furnished the guiding cord to the 

 heart of the continent. 



