2G4 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. X. 



at Mombo, in front. Cold and rainy weather, never saw the 

 like ; but this is among the sponges of the Nile and near 

 the northern shores of Bangweolo. 



12th January. — A dry day enabled us to move forward an 

 hour to a rivulet and sponge, but by ascending it we came 

 to its head and walked over dryshod, then one hour to 

 another broad rivulet — Pinda, sluggish, and having 100 

 yards of sponge on each side. This had a stockaded village, 

 and the men in terror shut the gates. Our men climbed 

 over and opened them, but I gave the order to move forward 

 through flat forest till we came to a running rivulet of about 

 twenty feet, but with 100 yards of sponge on each side. The 

 white sand had come out as usual and formed the bottom. 

 Here we entered a village to pass the night. We passed 

 mines of fine black iron ore (" motapo ") ; it is magnetic. 



V&th January. — Storm-stayed by rain and cold at the 

 village on the Eivulet Kalambosi, near the Chambeze. 

 Never was in such a spell of cold rainy weather except in 

 going to Loanda in 1853. Sent back for food. 



Will January. — Went on dry S.E. and then S. two hours 

 to Biver Mozinga, and marched parallel to it till we came to 

 the confluence of Kasie. Mosinga, 25 feet, waist deep, with 

 150 yards of sponge on right bank and about 50 yards on 

 left. There are many plots of cassava, maize, millet, dura, 

 ground-nuts, voandzeia, in the forest, all surrounded with 

 strong high hedges skilfully built, and manured with wood 

 ashes. The villagers are much afraid of us. After A.\ hours 

 we were brought up by the deep rivulet Mpanda, to be 

 crossed to-morrow in canoes. There are many flowers in the 

 forest : marigolds, a white jonquil-looking flower without 

 smell, many orchids, white, yellow, and pink Asclepias., 

 with bunches of French-white flowers, clematis — Methonica 

 yloriosa, gladiolus, and blue and deep purple polygalas, 

 grasses with white starry seed-vessels, and spikelets of 

 brownish red and yellow. Besides these there are beautiful 



