xxii PREFATORY LETTER. 



great river has a northern course through several degrees of 

 latitude, and is then supposed to turn to the west, and at 

 length to merge itself in the waters of the Congo. 



The views, from the edge of the highlands, were glorious. 

 " Emerging," writes the Author, " from the forests of Londa, 

 this magnificent prospect made us feel as if a weight had been 

 lifted from our eyelids." And well might their hearts rejoice; 

 for on the other side of the great broad valley (or system of 

 valleys) there rose a western chain of mountains in a country 

 under the government of Portugal. As he descended from 

 the table-land, he was so weak, from many previous attacks 

 of fever, that he had to be supported by his attendants. " It 

 was annoying (he remarks with characteristic simplicity) to 

 find myself so helpless; for I never liked to see a man, either 

 sick or well, giving in effeminately." In the valley they 

 were compelled, from want of food, to slaughter one of their 

 few remaining oxen; for they were in a land of inhospitable 

 Savages — men trained in treachery and blood by the teaching 

 of the slave-dealer — who had food in plenty, but would give 

 none of it to the weary strangers except in exchange for men 

 (to be sold as slaves), or fire-arms, or oxen. On the third of 

 April, 1854, they reached the left bank of the Quango. Dr 

 Livingstone was then without any change of clothes, and with- 

 out a tent to cover him in the night. His little tent had 

 been for some time in tatters, and he was fain to cower 

 under his remaining blanket — " thankful to God for His good- 

 ness, for having so far brought them in safety without loss or 

 bloodshed." 



The next day they crossed the river, after a malicious, but 

 harmless, discharge of fire-arms had been opened on them by 

 the Savages they were leaving behind. They were soon con- 

 ducted to the hospitable house of Cypriano, a half-caste Por- 

 tuguese sergeant; and their dangers were at an end; for they 

 were now in a country ruled over by the old and tried friends 

 of England. " We could breathe freely," says the Author; 



