28S LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOUENALS. [Chap. XL 



as the S.E. stratum comes down below the N.W. by day. 

 Matipa sent two large baskets of flour (cassava), a sheep, and 

 a cock. He hoped that we should remain with him till the 

 water of the over-flood dried, and help him to fight his 

 enemies, but I explained our delays, and our desire to com- 

 plete our work and meet Baker. 



21st March. — Very heavy N.W. rain and thunder by night, 

 and by morning. I gave Matipa a coil of thick brass wire, 

 and his wife a string of large neck beads, and explained my 

 hurry to be off. He is now all fair, and promises largely : 

 he has been much frightened by our warlike demonstra- 

 tion. I am glad I had to do nothing but make a show of 

 force. 



22nd March. — Susi not returned from Kabinga. I hope that 

 he is getting canoes, and men also, to transport us all at one 

 voyage. It is flood as far as the eye can reach ; flood four 

 and six feet deep, and more, with three species of rushes,, 

 two kinds of lotus, or sacred lily, papyrus, arum, &c. One 

 does not know where land ends, and Lake begins : the 

 presence of land-grass proves that this is not always over- 

 flowed. 



23rd March. — Men returned at noon. Kabinga is mourn- 

 ing for his son killed by an elephant, and keeps in seclusion. 

 The camp is formed on the left bank of the Chambeze. 



24.M March. — The people took the canoes away, but in fear 

 sent for them. I got four, and started with all our goods, 

 first giving a present that no blame should follow me. We 

 punted six hours to a little islet without a tree, and no 

 sooner did we land than a pitiless pelting rain came on. 

 We turned up a canoe to get shelter. We shall reach the 

 Chambeze to-morrow. The wind tore the tent out of our 

 hands, and damaged it too ; the loads are all soaked, and 

 with the cold it is bitterly uncomfortable. A man put my 

 bed into the bilge, and never said " Bale out," so I was 

 safe for a wet night, but it turned out better than I ex- 



