278 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chat. XI. 



buy food, till we can communicate with Matipa. If he fails 

 us by fair means, we must seize canoes and go by force. The 

 men say fear of me makes them act very cowardly. I have 

 gone amongst the whole population kindly and fairly, but I 

 fear I must now act rigidly, for when they hear that we have 

 submitted to injustice, they at once conclude that we are 

 fair game for all, and they go to lengths in dealing falsely 

 that they would never otherwise attempt. It is, I can 

 declare, not my nature, nor has it been my practice, to go as 

 if " my back were up." 



19th February. — A cold wet morning keeps us in this 

 uncomfortable spot. When it clears up we go to an old 

 stockade, to be near an islet to buy food. The people, know- 

 ing our need, are extortionate. We went on at 9 a.m. over 

 an extensive water-covered plain. I was carried three miles 

 to a canoe, and then in it we went westward, in branches or 

 the Luena, very deep and flowing W\ for three hours. I was- 

 carried three miles to a canoe, and we were then near enough 

 to hear Bangweolo bellowing. The water on the plain is four,, 

 five, and seven feet deep. There are rushes, ferns, papyrus,, 

 and two lotuses, in abundance. Many dark grey cater- 

 pillars clung to the grass and were knocked off as we paddled 

 or poled. Camped in an old village of Matipa' s, where, in 

 the west, we see the Luena enter Lake Bangweolo ; but all is 

 flat prairie or buga, filled with fast-flowing water, save a few 

 islets covered with palms and trees. Rain continued sprink- 

 ling us from the N.W. all the morning. Elephants had rim 

 riot over the ruins, eating a species of grass now in seed. It 

 resembles millet, and the donkey is fond of it. I have only 

 seen this and one other species of grass in seed eaten by the 

 African elephant. Trees, bulbs, and fruits are his dainties, 

 although ants, whose hills he overturns, are relished. A 

 large party in canoes came with food as soon as we reached 

 our new quarters : they had heard that we were in search of 

 Matipa. All are eager for calico, though they have only 



