210 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



Kafue. Passing through some ranges of hills, among which the Kaf ue winds, 

 we came to the Zambesi, a little beyond the confluence. It is here much 

 broader than that part of it called Leeambye, but possesses the same character 

 of reedy islands, sandbanks, and wonderful abundance of animal life. It was 

 much discoloured by recent rains ; but as we came down along the left bank, 

 it fell more than two feet before we had gone thirty miles. It is never dis- 

 coloured above Mosioatunya. Hence I conclude the increase or flood was 

 comparatively local, and effected by numerous small feeders on both banks 

 east of the ridge. When we ascended the Zambesi, towards Kabompo, in 

 January, 1854, the annual flood which causes inundation had begun, and with 

 the exception of sand, which was immediately deposited at the bottom of the 

 vessel, there was no discolouration. Ranges of hills stand on both banks as 

 far as we have yet seen it. The usual mode of travelling is by canoe, so there 

 are generally no paths, and nothing can exceed the tedium of winding along 

 through tangled jungle without something of the sort. We cannot make more 

 than two miles an hour; our oxen are all dead of tsetse, except two, and the only 

 riding ox is so weak from the same cause as to be useless. Yet we are more 

 healthy than in the journey to Loanda. The banks feel hot and steamy both 

 night and day, but I have had no attack of fever through the whole journey. 

 I attribute this partly to not having been ' too old to learn,' and partly to 

 having had wheaten bread all the way from the waggon at Linyanti. In 

 going north we braved the rains, unless they were continuous ; and the lower 

 half of the body was wetted two or three times every day by crossing streams. 

 But now, when rain approaches, we halt, light large fires, and each gets up a 

 little grass shed over him. Tropical rains run through everything, but, though 

 wetted, comparatively little caloric is lost now to what would be the case 

 if a stream of water ran for an hour along the body. After being warmed by 

 the fire, all go on comfortably again, and the party has been remarkably 

 healthy. In the other journey, too, wishing to avoid overloading the men, 

 and thereby making them lose heart, I depended chiefly on native food, which 

 is almost pure starch, and the complete change of diet must have made me 

 more susceptible of fever. But now, by an extemporaneous oven, formed by 

 inverting a pot over hot coals, and making a fire above it, with fresh bread 

 and coffee in Arab fashion, I get on most comfortably. There is no tiring of 

 it. I mention this because it may prove a useful hint to travellers who may 

 think they will gain by braving hunger and wet. 



" From the longitudes, I estimate the distance from top to top of the 

 ridges to be about 600 geographical miles. I purposely refrain from mention- 

 ing any of my own calculations of lunar observations, because it would 

 appear so presumptuous to allow them to appear on the same page with those 

 of Mr. Maclear, whOj moreover, undertakes the labour with such hearty 

 good-will, that I fear the appearance even of undervaluing his disinterested aid. 



