Chap. I. FIGHT BETWEEN NATIVES AND PORTUGUESE. 17 



well the distinctive character of our nation on the slave 

 question. The shout at our departure contrasted strongly 

 with the suspicious questioning on our approach. Hence- 

 forward we were recognized as friends by both parties. 



At a later period we were taking in wood within a 

 mile of the scene of action, but a dense fog prevented our 

 hearing the noise of a battle at Mazaro ; and on arriving 

 there, immediately after, many natives and Portuguese 

 appeared on the bank. 



Dr. Livingstone, landing to salute some of his old 

 friends among the latter, found himself in the sicken- 

 ing smell, and among the mutilated bodies of the slain ; 

 he was requested to take the Governor, who was very 

 ill of fever, across to Shupanga, and just as he gave 

 his assent, the rebels renewed the fight, and the balls 

 began to whistle about in all directions. After trying 

 in vain to get some one to assist the Governor down to 

 the steamer, and unwilling to leave him in such danger, 

 as the officer sent to bring our Kroomen did not appear, 

 he went into the hut, and dragged along his Excellency 

 to the ship. He was a very tall man, and as he swayed 

 hither and thither from weakness, weighing down Dr. 

 Livingstone, it must have appeared like one drunken man 

 helping another. Some of the Portuguese white soldiers 

 stood fighting with great bravery against the enemy in 

 front, while a few were coolly shooting at their own 

 slaves for fleeing into the river behind. The rebels soon 

 retired, and the Portuguese escaped to a sandbank in the 

 Zambesi, and thence to an island opposite Shupanga, 

 where they lay for some weeks, looking at the rebels on 

 the mainland opposite. This state of inactivity on the 

 part of the Portuguese could not well be helped, as they 

 had expended all their ammunition and were wai ting- 

 anxiously for supplies ; hoping, no doubt sincerely, that 

 the enemy might not hear that their powder had failed. 



