CHAPTER IX. 



Stay at Loanda. — Starts on return Journey. — Dr. Livingstone again attacked with 

 Fever. — The Makololo suffer from Sickness. — Descent of the Leeba and Leeam- 

 bye. — Arrival at Linyanti. — Dr. Moffat's Visit to Ifoselekatse's Country. 



AS Livingstone's illness was of so serious a nature as to require a consider- 

 able period of rest and treatment, he remained at the house of Mr. 

 Gabriel, where he was treated with every kindness and attention ; nor was the 

 comfort and well-being of his attendants forgotten. Mr. Gabriel presented 

 them with red caps and striped cotton jackets, in which costume they were 

 presented by Dr. Livingstone to the bishop, who was acting as provisional 

 Governor. The bishop, who took a warm interest in Livingstone and his 

 attendants, offered the latter a free passage to Loanda as soon as they might 

 wish to return. Two British ships of war, engaged in the suppression of the 

 slave trade, having come into the harbour, their commanders, Captain Skene 

 and Commander Bedingfield, invited the party to visit their ships. Nearly 

 the whole of them went, although filled with misgivings as to what migh* 

 befall them. The kindness of the sailors, who gave them a share of their 

 dinners, put them at their ease. The firing of a cannon gave them a high 

 idea of the power and the determination of the countrymen of Livingstone in 

 their endeavour to put down the slavery. The size of the ship filled them 

 with amazement. "It is not a canoe, it is a town," they said of the brig of 

 war; "and what sort of town is this which you must climb up into with a 

 rope ?" 



The respect in which Livingstone was held by every one in authority 

 increased their reverence for him, and added to their own importance as the 

 servants and companions of a man so highly esteemed among white men. 

 This tended to enhance their devotion for him ; and as this and the other 

 wonders they saw did not lose in the rehearsing to their friends on the Chobe 

 and the Leeanibye, the influence and standing of Livingstone among the 

 tribes of Central Africa were greatly increased. 



Compassionating Livingstone's emaciated condition, Captain Bedingfield, 

 of H.M.S. Pluto, who was returning to England on board the Forerunner, an 

 African mail steamer, in consequence of the shattered state of his health, 

 which had suffered through a long and arduous service on the coast, offered 

 him a passage home. This kind offer Livingstone, true to his idea of duty, 

 was compelled to decline. The twenty-seven subjects of Sekeletu had comp 

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