84 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. IV. 



the damp spots drained, and the water given a free channel 

 for use in irrigation further down : most of these springs 

 showed the presence of iron by the oxide oozing out. A 

 great many patches of peas are seen in full bearing and 

 flower. The trees are small, except in the hollows : there is 

 plenty of grass and flowers near streams and on the heights. 

 The mountain-tops may rise 2000 or 3000 feet above their 

 flanks, along which we wind, going perpetually up and 

 down the steep ridges of which the country is but a 

 succession. 



Looking at the geology of the district, the plateaux on 

 each side of the Eovuma are masses of grey sandstone, 

 capped with masses of ferruginous conglomerate ; apparently 

 an aqueous deposit. When we ascend the Eovuma about 

 sixty miles, a great many pieces and blocks of silicified wood 

 appear on the surface of the soil at the bottom of the slope 

 up the plateaux. This in Africa is a sure indication of the 

 presence of coal beneath, but it was not observed cropping 

 out ; the plateaux are cut up in various directions by wadys 

 well supplied with grass and trees on deep and somewhat 

 sandy soil : but at the confluence of the Loendi highlands 

 they appear in the far distance. In the sands of the Loendi 

 pieces of coal are quite common.* 



Before reaching the confluence of the Eovuma and Loendi, 

 or say about ninety miles from the sea, the plateau is succeeded 

 by a more level country, having detached granitic masses 

 shooting up some 500 or 700 feet. The sandstone of the 

 plateau has at first been hardened, then quite metamorphosed 

 into a chocolate-coloured schist. As at Chilole hill, we have 

 igneous rocks, apparently trap, capped with masses of beautiful 

 white dolomite. We still ascend in altitude as we go west- 

 wards, and come upon long tracts of gneiss with hornblende. 



* Coal was shown to a group of natives when first the Pioneer ascended 

 the river Shire. Members of numerous tribes were present, and all recog- 

 nised it at once as Makala or coal. — Ed. 



