CHAPTER X. 



Start for the East Coast. — The Victoria Falls. — The Batoka Tribes. — Beaches 

 Zumbo, a Deserted Portuguese Settlement. 



ON the 3rd of November, 1855, Livingstone and his fellow-adventurers, 

 accompanied by Sekeletu with 200 of his followers, who were to accom- 

 pany them as far as Kalai, on the Leeambye, started from Linyanti. The 

 whole party were fed at Sekeletu' s expense, — the cattle for the purpose being 

 taken from his cattle stations, which are spread over the whole territory 

 owning him allegiance. Passing through a "tsetse" district when dark, to 

 escape its attacks, they were overtaken by a tremendous storm of thunder, 

 lightning, and rain, which thoroughly drenched the party. Livingstone's 

 extra clothing having gone on, he was looking forward ruefully to the pros- 

 pect of passing the night on the wet ground, when Sekeletu gave him his 

 blanket, lying uncovered himself. He says, " I was much touched by this 

 little act of genuine kindness. If such men must perish by the advance of 

 civilization, as certain races of animals do before others, it is a pity. Grod 

 grant that ere this time comes they may receive that gospel which is a solace 

 for the soul in death ! " 



Writing to Sir Roderick Murchison about this touching incident and 

 the general kindness of Sekeletu, he uses words which, at the risk of repetition, 

 are worth quoting: — "When passing Sheseke on our way down the river in 

 November last, Sekeletu generously presented ten slaughter-cattle and three of 

 the best riding oxen he could purchase among his people, together with sup- 

 plies of meal and everything else he could think of for my comfort during the 

 journey. Hoes and beads were also supplied to purchase a canoe, when we 

 should come to the Zambesi again, beyond the part where it is constricted by 

 the rocks. These acts of kindness were probably in part prompted by the 

 principal men of the tribe, and are valuable as showing the light in which our 

 efforts are viewed ; but as little acts often show character more clearly than 

 great ones, I may mention that — having been obliged to separate from the 

 people who had our luggage, and to traverse about 20 miles infested by the 

 tsetse during the night — it became so pitchy dark, we could only see by the 

 frequent gleams of lightening, which at times revealed the attendants wander- 

 ing hither and thither in the forest. The horses trembled and groaned, and 

 after being thoroughly drenched by heavy rain we were obliged to give up 



