78 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



ing the windings of the river in one of their primitive craft, and visiting their 

 little villages among the reeds. The banks are beautiful beyond any we had 

 ever seen, except perhaps some parts of the Clyde. They are covered in 

 general with gigantic trees, some of them bearing fruit, and quite new. Two 

 of the Baobab variety measured 70 to 76 feet in circumference. The higher 

 we ascended the river the broader it became, until we often saw more than 

 100 yards of clear deep water between the broad belt of reeds which grow in 

 the shallower parts. The water was clear as crystal, and as we approached 

 the point of junction with other large rivers reported to exist in the North, it 

 was quite soft and cold. The fact that the Zouga is connected with large 

 rivers coming from the North awakens emotions in my mind which make the 

 discovery of the lake dwindle out of sight. It opens the prospect of a high- 

 way capable of being quickly traversed by boats to a large section of well- 

 peopled territory. The hopes which that prospect inspires for the benighted 

 inhabitants might, if uttered, call forth the charge of enthusiasm — a charge, by 

 the way, I wish I deserved, for nothing good or great, either in law, religion, 

 or physical science, has ever been accomplished without it : however, I do not 

 mean the romantic, flighty variety, but that which impels with untiring 

 energy to the accomplishment of its object. I do not wish to convey hopes 

 of speedily effecting any great work through my own instrumentality, but 1 

 hope to be permitted to work, so long as I live, beyond other men's line of 

 things, and plant the seed of the gospel where others have not planted ; 

 though every excursion for that purpose will involve separation from my 

 family for periods of four or five months. Kolobeng will be supplied by 

 native teachers during these times of absence ; and when we have given the 

 Bakwains a fair trial it will probably be advisable for all to move onward. 



" One remarkable feature in this river is its periodical rise and fall. It 

 has risen nearly 3 feet in height since our arrival, and this is the dry season. 

 That the rise is not caused by rains is evident from the water being so pure. 

 Its purity and softness increased as we ascended towards its junction with the 

 Tamunakle, from which, although connected with the lake, it derives the 

 present increased supply. The sharpness of the air caused an amazing keen- 

 ness of appetite, at an elevation of little more than 2,000 feet above the level 

 of the sea (water boiled at 207^° thermometer) and the reports of the Bayeiye, 

 that the waters came from a mountainous region, suggested the conclusion 

 that the increase of water at the beginning and middle of the dry season must 

 be derived from melting snow. 



" All the rivers reported to the north of this have Bayeiye upon them, 

 and there are other tribes upon their banks. To one of these, after visiting 

 the Batavana, and taking a peep at the broad part of the lake, we directed our 

 course. But the Batavana Chief managed to obstruct us by keeping all 

 strangers passing them to tribes beyond. Sebituane, the chief, who in former 



