566 CHRISTIAN OBLIGATION. 



be esteemed the truth, which sets them free from oppressive 

 customs and kindles a fire on their hearthstones from which all 

 hideous imaginations shall shrink abashed ! And let Christians 

 remember that they cannot delegate the redemption of Africa 

 from its degradation to others ; no human system is equal to 

 the work, and no other creed can inspire its adherents for it. 

 Dr. Livingstone felt this more and more as he penetrated its 

 mysterious wilds farther and farther, and gained deeper insight 

 into the character of the people there. 



But the reader will be impatient of this delay at Kabwabwati, 

 as the doctor himself was. Let him reflect that while we have 

 detained him a few minutes with our reflections, the great trav- 

 eller waited long months in that heathen town, with no other 

 diversion than could be found in the dull monotony of provid- 

 ing for daily food, and cherishing, with sick heart, the deferred 

 hope of reaching Ujiji and letters sometime or other. 



Mohamad resisted with innumerable arguments his proposi- 

 tion to go south ; and not satisfied with encouraging his own 

 men to desert him, detained some of Casembe's men who had 

 come on business to the town. Thus annoyed and outraged by 

 one professing friendship, deprived of his followers, another man 

 might have surrendered his purpose. Livingstone was not the 

 man to be forced into measures so easily, and accordingly he 

 set off with five of his attendants, who were finally moved to 

 repent of their disloyalty. 



With great difficulty he retraced his steps toward Casembe's. 

 The rivers were all in flood, and every day saw the little party 

 every now and then almost waist-deep in water, beneath which 

 black tenacious mud seemed to grasp their feet at every step 

 with malicious eagerness. Sometimes the flood swept about 

 them chest-deep, and all articles were of necessity carried on 

 the head ; and to add to the discomforts of their march, the 

 broad belts of tangled tropical vegetation, which flanked most 

 of the streams, often entangled them. We can readily believe 

 that such a journey could only be performed willingly under 

 the inspiration of the loftiest consecration. The mere novelty 

 of the scenes could not compensate for such sufferings as were 

 endured. A man for that might say truly, " When I see Bemba 

 I will see only water ; and I will not ford a flood to find a 

 fountain." 



