xxiv PREFATORY LETTER. 



"they have only five guns;" and soon afterwards their 

 Chief collected all his people, "well armed with spears, 

 swords, arrows, and guns;" and with fierce shouts they 

 surrounded the little encampment of Livingstone. He 

 calmly faced the danger, though his personal risk was im- 

 minent ; for he knew well that if a fight began " the Chi- 

 boque would aim at the white man first." He came in 

 front, sat down upon his camp-stool, with a double-barrelled 

 gun across his knees and a double-barrelled pistol at his 

 side, and invited them to a parley. The chief and his 

 leading men accepted the invitation, and sat down in front 

 of their own party. By this act "they had placed them- 

 selves in a trap, for the little band of Makololo behaved with 

 admirable coolness, very quietly surrounded them, and made 

 them feel that there was no chance of escaping their spears." 

 The danger was however great. For the crowd was 

 furious; brandishing their weapons, and pointing their 

 guns at Livingstone, while he sat calmly on his camp-stool. 

 "I was careful," he says, "not to appear flurried; and, 

 having four barrels ready for instant action, looked quietly 

 on the savage scene around." The courage of the white 

 man at length prevailed; and after giving an ox as the 

 price of peace, the crowd separated, and he was permitted 

 to go on his way. "I felt assured," he tells us, "of being 

 enabled, with the Makololo, who had been drilled by Sebi- 

 tuane, to beat off our assailants. I was truly thankful, 

 nevertheless, that — though resolved to die rather than de- 

 liver up one of our number to be a slave — we had so far 

 gained our point as to be allowed to pass on without having 

 shed human blood." 



The country they had then to pass through had its 

 tracks well trodden, and was not wanting in food. But 

 the guides were treacherous and the natives inhospitable. 

 He was ever the first when danger was in front. He was 

 the last to cross the rivers ; and it was his task, in case of 



