170 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



thus far with him on the understanding that he should take them back again 

 to their own country if that were possible. In addition to this, he felt that 

 the long land journey through swamps and forests from the Leeba to the 

 Quango, made the passage from the centre of the continent to the west coast 

 one of extreme difficulty ; and he had already begun to think of a more easy 

 route down the valley of the Zambesi to the east coast, which he could explore 

 after his return to Linyanti. 



During his convalescence, his attendants of their own accord employed 

 themselves in gathering firewood in the neighbouring forest, which they sold 

 in the town. Through the interest of Mr. Gabriel, who was delighted with 

 this evidence of their industrious habits, they were employed in unloading a 

 coal vessel, which had come from England, at sixpence a day. In speaking 

 of this to their friends on their return, they endeavoured to convey some idea 

 of the size of the vessel by stating that "they had laboured every day, from 

 sunrise to sunset, for a moon and a half, unloading, as quickly as they 

 could, stones that burn, and were tired out, still leaving plenty in her." The 

 money they earned was spent in purchasing clothing and ornaments to take 

 back with them to their own country ; their good sense being shewn in se- 

 lecting plain, strong calico, instead of the more coloured and flaring fabrics. 



Through the intelligent kindness of the authorities and merchants at 

 Loanda, the expedition left that place handsomely provided with comforts 

 and necessities. The authorities sent a colonel's uniform and a horse for 

 Sekeletu, and gave suits of clothing to all the men. The public subscription 

 among the merchants provided two donkeys, in the hope of introducing the 

 ass into districts where its insensibility to the poison of the tsetse would make 

 it invaluable as a beast of burden. His man-of-war friends provided Living- 

 stone with a good new tent, manufactured by the crew of the Philomel. 

 Livingstone provided each man with a musket, and procured a good stock of 

 ammunition, beads, and cotton cloth. They set out on the 20th of September, 

 1854, having remained at Loanda nearly four months. Their baggage was 

 as heavy as it was valuable ; and they were much beholden to the bishop, 

 who furnished them with twenty carriers, to assist them to the nearest station, 

 and ordered the commandants of the districts they had to pass through to give 

 Livingstone and his party all needful help. 



The hard dry ground tried the feet of his attendants severely ; and on 

 account of this, and an attack of malaria, from which several of them suffered, 

 their progress was slow. Towards the middle of December, they reached 

 the estate of Colonel Pires, which is situated to the south of the Lucalla, one 

 of the tributaries of the Coanza, in the district of Pungo Andongo, where he 

 learned to his great sorrow and regret that the Forerunner was lost, and that his 

 dispatches, journals, and maps had gone to the bottom with her. It was mat- 

 ter for congratulation to him that his friend, Captain Bedingfield, was among 



