324 LIFE OF DA VI D LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



far above the tall reeds. Out rush the terrified animals, and amid the smoke 

 are seen the excited hunters dancing about with frantic gesticulations, and 

 hurling stick, spear, and arrow, at their burned-out victims. Kites hover 

 over the smoke, ready to pounce on the mantes and locusts as they spring 

 from the fire. Small crows and hundreds of swallows are on eager wing, 

 darting into the smoke and out again, seizing fugitive flies. Scores of insects, 

 in their haste to escape from the fire, jump into the river, and the active fish 

 enjoy a rare feast." 



Soon after reaching the sea, fever prostrated the bulk of the crew, and 

 the command and navigation of the ship devolved upon Dr. Livingstone, 

 who was quite equal to the occasion. He drily remarks, " That the habit 

 of finding the geographical positions on land, renders it an easy task to steer 

 a steamer, with only three or four sails set, at sea ; when, if one does not 

 run ashore, no one follows to find out an error, and where a current affords 

 a ready excuse for every blunder." After calling at Johanna for the bishop's 

 friends, they sailed for the mouth of the Zambesi, and steamed up that river 

 to the Shire, up which they ascended as far as Chibisa's village, the ship 

 being dragged over the shallows with extreme difficulty. She drew five feet 

 of water, which rendered her quite useless for the navigation during the dry 

 season of either of the three great rivers which flowed through the tract of 

 country they were accredited to. 



On arriving at Chibisa's, they learned that war was raging in the 

 Manganja country ; and that on the following day a slave party, on its way 

 to Tete, would pass through the village. "Shall we interfere?" was the 

 question asked of each other. On the one hand, there was the risk to be run, 

 if they did, of irritating the authorities at Tete, where the principal portion of 

 the private baggage of the party was stored, and which might be confiscated 

 in retaliation. On the other hand, Dr. Livingstone and the whole party were 

 indignant that his steps should be followed by slave parties, who had never 

 entered the country before, and called themselves his children and followers, 

 while they extended the range of the accursed traffic, which he had gone through 

 so much privations to put down. The decision, as might have been expected, 

 was, that they should run all risks, and do what they could to stop the traffic. 

 This is Dr. Livingstone's account of what followed : — 



" A long line of manacled men and women made their appearance ; the 

 black drivers, armed with muskets, and bedecked with various articles of 

 finery, marched jauntily in the front, middle, and rear of the line, some of 

 them blowing exulting notes out of long tin horns. They seemed to feel that 

 they were doing a very noble thing, and might proudly march with an air of 

 triumph. But the instant the fellows caught a glimpse of the English, they 

 darted off like mad into the forest ; so fast, indeed, that we caught but a 

 glimpse of their red caps, and the soles of their feet. The chief of the party 



