362 DIFFICULTIES VANISH. 



system introduced by white men naturally led the tribes to asso- 

 ciate every lighter shade than their own dark skins with the 

 evils which they knew attended the dominion of the stockade. 

 It was natural enough, then, for these people to appear in force 

 on the border of their territory to resist the approaches of the 

 " puffing and blowing " monster that the " Old Asthmatic " 

 unquestionably seemed to them to be. They may have thought 

 that the resolute creator had taken in hand to do in person the 

 Avork which his faithful creature had failed to accomplish, and 

 it was time for them to put forth all their prowess if they would 

 still be free. Dr. Livingstone did not hesitate to go on shore 

 at their villages and explain to these people, whose attitude 

 would have intimidated an ordinary man, the purposes of the 

 expedition. The name of Englishman possessed itself a charm 

 for them, and sustained by the assurance that they desired no 

 slaves, but only to open a way by which their countrymen 

 might come to purchase cotton, ivory, corn, etc., went far 

 toward allaying their apprehensions and winning their friend- 

 ship. The object, being to promote industry and commerce, 

 seemed quite reasonable, and the notorious proclivity of the 

 race to all sorts of trade and barter aided the argument no 

 little. There was found also a general belief in a Supreme 

 Being and in the continued existence of departed spirits ; and 

 there was no difficulty in obtaining their attention to "the 

 Book " which aided so much the designs of friendliness every- 

 where. Such methods of dealing with them were as strange to 

 these rude men as was the tremendous craft which brought 

 them, and the poisoned arrows became as harmless as the float- 

 ing duckweed. 



The Lower Shire flows through a valley varying in breadth 

 from ten to twenty miles — an exceedingly low and swampy 

 region ; just such a country as needs to be seen at all seasons of 

 the year. A tropical swamp, if seen only when scorched and 

 withered by the rays of a sun whose burning brilliancy almost 

 justifies the awe with which it inspires Eastern worshippers, 

 may appear desolate and forsaken, and suggest serious thoughts 

 of the latter day. If in the worse season still, when the ground 

 is drying and the mercury is gradually rising in the glass you 

 carry, then there may seem to be flitting everywhere most 



