174 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



their earnings at Loanda, had nearly all gone, together with the iron they had 

 purchased for Sekeletu. 



The open plains of the Balonda country were comparatively clear of 

 water, save in low-lying spots, and as the vegetation was less dense than they 

 had found it farther to the east, their progress was more easy. Animal life 

 became more abundant as they proceeded, giving cheering token of the land 

 of plenty to which they were approaching — vultures sailed overhead ; swifts 

 and several varieties of swallows flitted about ; wild ducks and other water- 

 fowl were seen in considerable numbers in the neighbourhood of the streams 

 and pools ; small herds of the larger game, rendered very shy in consequence 

 of being regularly hunted by the natives, were frequently seen ; and jet black 

 larks made the air musical with their song in the early mornings. The plain was 

 radiant with flowers ; one Livingstone specially noticed which grows in such 

 numbers as to give its hue to the ground. The variety of colour of this 

 flower was remarkable. A broad band of yellow on being closely exa- 

 mined would resolve itself into individual flowers, exhibiting every variety 

 of colour from the palest lemon to the richest orange. A hundred yards 

 of this rich carpeting would be succeeded by another broad band of the same 

 flower of a blue colour, made up of every variation of that tint from the 

 lightest to the darkest blue, and even purple. The colour of the birds was 

 as variable in this and other districts as that of the flowers. 



On the second day's journey from the Kasai, Livingstone suffered from 

 his twenty-seventh attack of fever ; and after an exhausting journey he 

 reached Lake Dilolo. " The sight of the blue waters," he tells us, " and the 

 waves lashing the shore, had a most soothing influence on the mind, after so 

 much of lifeless, flat, and gloomy forest. The heart yearned for the vivid 

 impressions which are always created by the sight of the broad expanse of 

 the grand old ocean." Livingstone's old friend, Katema, entertained the 

 party most hospitably, presenting them with a cow and abundance of meal. 

 According to promise, Livingstone presented him with a cloak of red baize, 

 a cotton robe, a quantity of beads, an iron spoon, and a tin pannikin con- 

 taining a quarter of a pound of powder. Katema had come from his hunting 

 ground to meet the party, to which he returned after his interview with 

 Livingstone, leaving instructions with his headmen to attend to their wants, 

 and provide them with a guide to the Leeba. 



At Shinte's town the party were most hospitably entertained by that 

 intelligent chief ; and Nyamoana, his sister, who had changed the site of her 

 village in consequence of the death of her husband, treated them with every 

 kindness and gave them the loan of five small canoes in which to proceed 

 down the Leeba. Livingstone's companions also bought several light sharp, 

 prowed canoes for hunting animals in the water. Manenko was unable to visit 

 the party in consequence of a burn in the foot, but her husband, Sambanza, came 



