334 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. XIII. 



needed to show that the character they bear as great 

 hunters is well deserved. 



The steep descent to the Lake now lay before them, and 

 they came to Kasakalawe's. Here it was that the Doctor 

 had passed weary months of illness on his first approach to 

 Tanganyika in previous years. The village contained but 

 few of its old inhabitants, but those few received them 

 hospitably enough and mourned the loss of him who 

 had been so well appreciated when alive. So they jour- 

 neyed on day by clay till the southern end of the Lake 

 was rounded. 



The previous experience of the difficult route along the 

 heights bordering on Tanganyika made them determine to 

 give the Lake a wide berth this time, and for this purpose 

 they held well to the eastward, passing a number of small 

 deserted villages, in one of which they camped nearly 

 every night. It was necessary to go through the Fipa 

 country, but they learnt from one man and another that the 

 chief, Kafoofi, was very anxious that the body should not be 

 brought near to his town — indeed, a guide was purposely 

 thrown in their way who led them past it by a considerable 

 detour. Kafoofi stands well with the coast Arabs. One, 

 Xgombesassi by name, was at the time living with him, 

 accompanied by his retinue of slaves. He had collected 

 a very large quantity of ivory further in the interior, but 

 dared not approach nearer at present to Unyanyembe 

 with it to risk the chance of meeting one of Mirambo's 

 hordes. 



This road across the plain seems incomparably the best. 

 No difficulty whatever was experienced, and one cannot but 

 lament the toil and weariness which Dr. Livingstone endured 

 whilst holding a course close to Tanganyika, although one 

 must bear in mind that by no other means at the time 

 could he complete his survey of this great inland sea, or 

 acquaint us with its harbours, its bays, and the rivers which 



