253 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. X.. 



follow a grass-covered path, he ran before us to the chief's; 

 stockade, and made all the women flee, which they did,, 

 leaving their chickens damless. We gave him two hand- 

 some cloths, one for himself and one for Chama, and said we 

 wanted food only, and would buy it. They are accustomed 

 to the bullying of half-castes, who take what they like for 

 nothing. They are alarmed at our behaviour to-day, so we 

 took quiet possession of the stockade, as the place that they 

 put us in was on the open defenceless plain. Seventeen 

 human skulls ornament the stockade. They left their fowls 

 and pigeons. There was no bullying. Our women went in 

 to grind food, and came out without any noise. This flight 

 seems to be caused by the foolish brother of the chief, and 

 it is difficult to prevent stealing by my horde. The brother 

 came drunk, and was taking off a large sheaf of arrows, when 

 we scolded and prevented him. 



22nd December. — We crossed a rivulet at Chama's village 

 ten yards wide and thigh deep, and afterwards in an hour 

 and a half came to a sedgy stream which we could barely 

 cross. We hauled a cow across bodily. Went on mainly 

 south, and through much bracken. 



23rd December. — Off at 6 a.m. in a mist, and in an hour 

 and a quarter came to three large villages by three rills 

 called Misangwa, and much sponge; went on to other 

 villages south, and a stockade. 



24th December. — Cloud in sky with drifting clouds from 

 S. and S.W. Very wet and drizzling. Sent back Chama's 

 arrows, as his foolish brother cannot use them against us 

 now; there are 215 in the bundle. Passed the Lopopussi 

 running west to the Lofubu about seven yards wide, it flows- 

 last over rocks with heavy aquatic plants. The people are 

 not afraid of us here as they were so distressingly elsewhere : 

 we hope to buy food here. 



25th December, Christmas Day. — I thank the good Lord for 

 the good gift of His Son Christ Jesus our Lord. Slaughtered 



