730 THE DONKEY AND TSETSE. 



submit to years of hardship and dependence, all because of the 

 slave-trade, which claims the prerogative of hindering all 

 benevolence and blocking the way of science in Africa, only 

 that it may curse that unhappy continent with its degrading 

 slime. 



When they reached the village of Zombe — November 11th — 

 the doctor was reminded very forcibly of that tender providence 

 which so frequently wrought signal deliverances for him. 

 Only a few months earlier that town had been surrounded by 

 the troops of a powerful chief, and recently he had been utterly 

 routed by the brothers of Zombe, who had come to his assist- 

 ance in time to prevent an alliance between the besiegers and 

 the Arabs. Had the doctor arrived a few weeks earlier he could 

 not have avoided falling into the hands of most overbearing 

 men ; and had he been able to do as he desired, he would have 

 arrived earlier. So it is that men very often have occasion to 

 praise God for disappointments. Frequently there are hopes 

 most fondly cherished whose realization would break our hearts 

 or blast all our interests. 



Between Zombe and the beautiful Aeesy the doctor was 

 obliged to record the death of his donkey, which had been suf- 

 fering for some time the effect of the tsetse bite. Hitherto Dr. 

 Livingstone had always maintained, as the result of his own 

 observations, that this animal, at all events, could be taken 

 through districts in which horses, mules, dogs, and oxen would 

 perish to a certainty ; and with the keen perception and perse- 

 verance of one who was exploring Africa with a view to open it 

 up for Europeans, he laid great stress on these experiments. 

 He had been exceedingly anxious to demonstrate the possibility 

 of carrying donkeys anywhere in Africa. How far his success 

 or failure in doing so should affect others is a question for them 

 to decide. The doctor himself, however, can hardly be said to 

 have tested the matter thoroughly, as he mentions the fact that 

 his donkey had suffered ill usage and great neglect by the men 

 who had it in charge. The death of the donkey was a great 

 loss to him. 



Passing the village of Kampomba, his old friend, and that of 

 Kasonso's successor, they turned westward, across the various 

 tributaries of the Kisi, until they reached the Kalongosi, at the 



