PREFATORY LETTER. xxxix 



is the moral map ; and its stygian colours are a foul disgrace 

 to civilized Christian Europe. 



Leaving this long digression let us rejoin our Author 

 and his party on the east side of the Quango, and follow 

 them across that broad dark wave which disfigures the 

 moral tints of Africa. They proceeded nearly along their 

 previous track till they had passed the Mosamba ridge; and 

 they were accompanied by some half-caste traders, who car- 

 ried <f aquardente" with them — a baneful article of commerce. 

 The country was still unfriendly; but they were strong and 

 well provided; and, being more quick of foot, they soon left 

 their slave-dealing companions far behind, and struck to- 

 wards the north-east — along a main slave-dealers' track 

 that leads to Cabango, and thence to Matiamvo the capital 

 of Londa. 



While making their way along this track, through 

 dreary forests and dismal swampy plains, Dr Livingstone 

 was smitten down by a dangerous fever, and for twenty- 

 two days was unable to move forward. His companions 

 during this delay contrived to embroil themselves with 

 the head man of the village, and had to pay a gun and 

 some cloth as a peace-offering. Encouraged by this suc- 

 cessful extortion, the Natives, not long afterwards, attacked 

 and fired upon them after they had proceeded on their 

 journey, and our Author's courage was again put to trial. 

 Forgetting his fever, he staggered quickly to the place of 

 danger; and there "with a stern visage, ghastly from sick- 

 ness," and with a six-barrelled revolver presented to the 

 breast of the Chief, he soon brought about a revolution in 

 the martial spirit of his opponents and was allowed to pass 

 on. " The Macololo made the woods ring while telling how 

 brilliant their conduct before the enemy would have been, 

 had hostilities not been brought to a sudden close." Nor 

 was this a mere noisy boast ; for they were a set of gallant 

 fellows, and had been well- trained by Sebituane their for- 

 mer leader. 



