178 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LI.D 



up in the air about five feet above a buffalo, which was tearing along with a 

 stream of blood running down his flank. When I got back to the poor fellow, 

 I found he had lighted on his face, and, though he had been carried about 

 twenty yards before getting the final toss, the skin was not pierced nor was a 

 bone broken. When the beasts appeared he had thrown down his load and 

 stabbed one in the side. It turned suddenly upon him, and, before he could 

 use a tree for defence, carried him off. We shampooed him well, and then 

 went on, and in about a week he was able to engage in the hunt again." 



Save an unsuccessful attack on one of the party by a crocodile, already 

 alluded to, and a severe bite received by another from a non-poisonous snake, 

 there are no other mishaps to chronicle. Hunger and fever and unfriendly 

 tribes were the most dangerous enemies they had to encounter, and they 

 had passed safely through them all. 



Having been so long separated from his family, and having come through 

 so many trials and difficulties, which left him feverish and enfeebled, no one 

 would have blamed him if he had harnessed his oxen to his waggon and 

 departed for Kuruman or the Cape, to rest and recruit before attempting 

 another journey. But this was not in accordance with Livingstone's sense of 

 duty. His popularity gave him hopes of being able to make an impression 

 on the Makololo by his religious teaching ; and their kindness, and their 

 confidence in him made him desirous of serving them in other ways. The 

 road to Loanda was long and difficult ; and so much of it passed over land 

 inhabited by unfriendly tribes, that he felt this was not the proper outlet for 

 the merchandise of Central Africa. For months his mind had wandered 

 down the course of the great Zambesi, to the East coast ; and the more he 

 thought over the matter, the more he became convinced that that was the 

 proper route, and that it was his duty to settle the point without delay. 



He was all but destitute, and was indebted to the faithful Makololo for 

 everything he required while amongst them ; and he could not carry out his 

 intention of passing to the coast without their aid in men, oxen, and material. 

 Nor were these wanting. Explaining to Sekeletu the method of preparing 

 sugar, the latter asked him if he could purchase a mill for him at the East coast. 

 On his replying that he had nothing with which to buy a mill, Sekeletu and his 

 councillors said, " The ivory is all your own ; if you leave any in the 

 country, it will be your own fault." Sekeletu then gave him an order for a 

 sugar mill, " and for all the varieties of clothing he had ever seen, and 

 especially a Mohair coat, a good rifle, beads, brass wire, etc., and any other 

 beautiful thing you may see in your own country." As he had found the 

 two horses left with him when Livingstone started for Loanda of great use, 

 especially in hunting, he was anxious to have more ; and these Livingstone 

 expected to be able to get for him at the nearest Portuguese settlements. 



The mother of Sekeletu, who had joined her son at Linyanti, prepared a 



