Chap. XII. ROAD-MAKING. 327 



about every fifty or sixty yards. The land near the river 

 was so very much intersected by ravines, that search had 

 to be made, a mile from its banks, for more level ground. 

 Experienced Hottentot drivers would have taken Cape 

 wagons without any other trouble than that of occa- 

 sionally cutting down a tree. No tsetse infested this dis- 

 trict, and the cattle brought from Johanna flourished on 

 the abundant pasture. The first half-mile of road led up, 

 by a gradual slope, to an altitude of two hundred feet 

 above the ship, and a sensible difference of climate was 

 felt even there. For the remainder of the distance the 

 height increased, — till, at the uppermost cataract, we 

 were more than 1200 feet above the sea. The country 

 here, having recovered from the effects of the drought, 

 was bright with young green woodland, and mountains 

 of the same refreshing hue. But the absence of the 

 crowds, which had attended us as we carried up the boat, 

 when the women followed us for miles with fine meal, 

 vegetables, and fat fowls for sale, and the boys were ever 

 ready for a little job — and the oppressive stillness bore 

 heavily on our spirits. The Portuguese of Tette had 

 very effectually removed our labourers. Not an ounce of 

 fresh provisions could be obtained, except what could be 

 shot, and even the food for our native crew had to be 

 brought one hundred and fifty miles from the Zambesi. 



The diet of salt provisions and preserved meats with- 

 out vegetables, with the depression of spirits caused by 

 seeing how effectually a few wretched convicts, aided by 

 the connivance of officials, of whom better might have 

 been hoped, could counteract our best efforts, and turn 

 intended good to certain evil, brought on attacks of 

 dysentery, which went the round of the Expedition — and, 

 Dr. Kirk and Charles Livingstone having suffered most 

 severely, it was deemed advisable that they should go 

 home. This measure was necessary, though much to the 



