CHAPTER VI. 



Dr. Livingstones Letters from Central Africa. — Mr. Chapman on the Country and 

 People Round Lake Ngami. — Journey up the Course of the Zambesi or 

 Leeambye. — Preparations for Journey to the West Coast, Sfc. 



The following letter, dated Banks of the River Zouga, 1st October, 1851, 

 while it repeats to some extent information already given, contains so much 

 interesting matter that we give it entire : — 



" This letter will be forwarded by a party of Grriquas who leave this river 

 to-morrow, and proceed direct to Phillippolis. We left our old route at 

 Nahokotsa and proceeded nearly due north, crossed the bed of the Zouga, and 

 certain salt pans remarkable for their extent. One called ' Ntivetive ' was 

 about fifteen miles broad and probably one hundred long. Beyond this we 

 passed through a hard flat country covered with mopane trees, and containing 

 a great number of springs, in limestone rock. A considerable number of 

 Bushmen live in the vicinity, and they seem to have abundance of food. 

 Leaving this district of springs and guided by a Bushman, we crossed an 

 excessively dry and difficult tract of country, and struck a small river called 

 Mabali. Visiting a party of Bushmen and another of Banajoa, we, after some 

 days, reached the Chobe in 18° 20' S., the river on which Sebituane lived. The 

 tsetse (a venomous insect), abounded on the southern bank, and, as the depth 

 is from twelve to fifteen feet, we could not cross with the waggons; the cattle 

 were accordingly taken over to an island, and Mr. Oswell and I proceeded 

 about thirty miles down the river in a canoe. It was propelled by five 

 superior rowers ; and to us who are accustomed to bullock waggons, the speed 

 seemed like that of boat races at home. 



Sebituane received us kindly, and offered to replace our cattle, which 

 were all believed to be bitten by tsetse. He returned to the waggons 

 with us, and subsequently fell sick, and to our great sorrow, died. 

 He formed one of the party of Mantatees repulsed by the Grriquas, at 

 old Lattakoo, and since then he has almost constantly been fighting. 

 He several times lost all his cattle, but, being a man of great ability, 

 managed to keep his people together, and ended his days richer in cattle, 

 and with many more people under his sway, than any other chief we 

 know in Africa. A doctor who attended him interrupted with rudeness when 

 I attempted to speak about death, and his people took him away from the 

 island when not far from his end. Mr. Oswell and I went over to condole 



