294 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOUENALS. [Chap. XL 



few feet. Putting all their strength to her, she stopped at 

 every haul with a jerk, as if in a bank of adhesive plaister. 

 I measured the crown of a papyrus plant or palm, it 

 was three feet across horizontally, its stalk eight feet in 

 height. Hundreds of a large dark-grey hairy caterpillar 

 have nearly cleared off the rushes in spots, and now live on 

 each other. They can make only the smallest progress by 

 swimming or rather wriggling in the water : their motion 

 is that of a watch-spring thrown down, dilating and 

 contracting. 



9th April. — After two hours' threading the very winding, 

 deep channel of this southern branch of the Muanakazi, we 

 came to where our land party had crossed it and gone on 

 to Gandockite, a chief on the Lolotikila. My men were all 

 done up, so I hired a man to call some of his friends to take 

 the loads ; but he was stopped by his relations in the way, 

 saying, " You ought to have one of the traveller's own 

 people with you." He returned, but did not tell us plainly 

 or truly till this morning. 



[The recent heavy exertions, coupled with constant ex- 

 posure and extreme anxiety and annoyance, no doubt 

 brought on the severe attack which is noticed, as we see 

 in the words of the next few days.] 



10th April. — The headman of the village explained, and 

 we sent two of our men, who had a night's rest with the 

 turnagain fellow of yesterday. I am pale, bloodless, and 

 weak from bleeding profusely ever since the 31st of March 

 last : an artery gives off a copious stream, and takes away 

 my strength. Oh, how I long to be permitted by the 

 Over Power to finish my work. 



12th April. — Cross the Muanakazi. It is about 100 or 

 130 yards broad, and deep. Great loss of al/xa made me 

 so weak I could hardly walk, but tottered along nearly two 



