xxviii PREFATORY LETTER. 



kind friend, some British ships of war came to anchor at 

 the port; and several officers, as a matter of course, soon 

 found their way to his sick chamber. When they saw his 

 emaciated condition, they offered to convey him to St Helena, 

 or to give him a passage home. But the spirit of hope had 

 not left him. He was bound in conscience to carry back 

 the fruit of their labour to Sekeletu, and he was bound in 

 honour not to desert his loyal crew. So he refused the 

 tempting offer, spite of all the dangers and toils to be en- 

 countered on their return to Linyanti. And well it was 

 for him and for us, that his trust in Providence did not fail, 

 and that his heart remained firm to its purpose; for the 

 vessel in which he might have sought a safeguard from 

 sickness and danger, was lost in its way back to England. 

 Gladly, however, he accepted the medical help offered by 

 Captain Phillips of the Polyphemus; and (he tells us) 

 ''that Mr Cockin's treatment, aided by the exhilarating 

 presence of the warm-hearted naval officers, and Mr Ga- 

 briel's unwearied hospitality and care, soon brought him 

 round again." 



The Makololo were presented by Mr Gabriel with red 

 caps and striped cotton dresses; and thus arrayed they were 

 led by Dr Livingstone on a state visit to the Bishop (the 

 provisional Governor), who received them with all courtesy 

 in the hall of his palace, and gave them the right of a free 

 passage to Loanda, whenever they might wish to revisit it. 

 They were afterwards invited, by Captain Skene and Com- 

 mander Bedingfield, to visit the Philomel and the Pluto. 

 Nearly the whole party of the Makololo went on board; 

 but not without some natural misgivings; for they had 

 been told, again and again, by their own countrymen, that 

 their leader would in the end sell them to the " men of the 

 sea." When on deck Dr Livingstone pointed to the sailors 

 and said, " these are my countrymen sent by our Queen to 

 put down the trade of those who buy and sell black men." 



