Chap. XIII. SAD FATE OF THE MISSION. 279 



win kindly shot a couple of animals for them; but was 

 apprehensive when he left them, that they would hardly 

 live to see the Makololo country. They did reach Lin- 

 yanti, however, though in that exhausted state on which 

 the fever of the country is sure to fasten. The severe 

 drought of that year had dried up the great marshes 

 around the village, and rendered fever more than usually 

 virulent. Aware, from Dr. Livingstone's description, of the 

 extreme unhealthiness of the place, Mr. Helmore, who seems 

 soon to have gained the people's confidence, told the Chief 

 that he could not remain in that locality, but wished to go 

 on to a higher and more healthy part, north-east of the 

 Falls. Sekeletu said that he offered to take him to Sesheke 

 to see if he liked that better than Linyanti. " You will take 

 me also," said Mr. Helmore, " to see Mosi-oa-tunya," the 

 picture of which, in ' Missionary Travels,' was readily 

 recognised ; but, while they were getting ready for the 

 journey, the wagon-drivers were seized with fever ; Mrs. 

 Helmore was the first white person who fell a victim to 

 the fatal malady. The devoted missionary then told the 

 people that, although his wife had died, he did not mean 

 to leave them, but would remain and do his duty. Notwith- 

 standing the hunger, toil, and exhaustion, consequent on 

 the long journey through the desert, and this heavy affliction 

 at Linyanti, the good man, already knowing the native 

 language, at once commenced the work of preaching the 

 Gospel. We heard some young men at Sesheke sing the 

 hymns he had taught them. All liked and spoke kindly 

 of him ; and Ins death was generally regretted. It is 

 probable that he would soon have exerted a powerful and 

 happy influence over the tribe ; but in a month he was cut 

 down by fever. Our information was derived entirely from 



