74 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. III. 



There are two roads from this to the Lake, one to Losewa, 

 ■which is west of this, and opposite Kotakota ; the other, to 

 Makatu, is further south : the first is five days through 

 deserted country chiefly ; but the other, seven, among people 

 and plenty of provisions all the way. 



It struck me after Sef had numbered up the losses that 

 the Kilwa people sustained by death in their endeavours to 

 enslave people, similar losses on the part of those who go to 

 " proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison 

 to them that are bound," — to save and elevate, need not 

 be made so very much of as they sometimes are. 



Soon after our arrival we heard that a number of Mataka's 

 Waiyau had, without his knowledge, gone to Nyassa, and in 

 a foray carried off cattle and people : when they came home 

 Avith the spoil, Mataka ordered all to be sent back whence 

 they came. The chief came up to visit me soon after, and 

 I told him that his decision was the best piece of news I 

 had heard in the country: he was evidently pleased with 

 my approbation, and, turning to his people, asked if they 

 heard what I said. He repeated my remark, and said, 

 "You silly fellows think me wrong in returning the cap- 

 tives, but all wise men will approve of it," and he then 

 scolded them roundly. 



I was accidentally spectator of this party going back, for 

 on going out of the town I saw a meat market opened, and 

 people buying with maize and meal. On inquiring, I was 

 told that the people and cattle there were the Nyassas? 

 and they had slaughtered an ox, in order to exchange 

 meat for grain as provisions on the journey. The women 

 and children numbered fifty-four, and about a dozen boys 

 were engaged in milking the cows: the cattle were from 

 twenty-five to thirty head. 



The change from hard and scanty fare caused illness 

 in several of our party. I had tasted no animal food 

 except what turtle-doves and guinea-fowls could be shot 



