340 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



branches of the baobab-tree must have been a sad and melancholy one. One 

 comforting reflection there was — she died among dear and loving friends, and 

 not alone among savages, like Bishop Mackenzie and Mr. Burrup, the know- 

 ledge of whose death was so soon to overwhelm with grief the two companions 

 of her voyage out, who little dreamed when they sorrowed for her that the 

 dear ones they had come so far to see had already been consigned to the grave 

 by savage, although friendly hands. 



When the Lady Nyassa was put together at Shupanga, she was launched in 

 the presence of a large assemblage of natives, who had come from far and near 

 to witness it. They could not believe that being of iron she would float, and 

 their astonishment was great when they saw her glide lightly and gracefully 

 into the water. The figure head, which was the head and bust of a female, 

 was pointed to as a wonderful work of art. As it was now well on in June, 

 and the river was at its lowest, it would be impossible to sail up the river until 

 December. The party proceeded in the Pioneer to Johanna to obtain a supply 

 of provisions and other requisites, and some draught oxen to carry the sections 

 of the Lady Nyassa past the Murchison Cataracts. Mr. Lumley, H.M. Consul 

 at Johanna, forwarded their views in every way, and gave them six of his 

 own trained oxen from his sugar plantation. 



In the interval which must elapse before they could sail up the Shire, the 

 principal members of the expedition, with a number of native assistants, 

 proceeded to explore the Rovuma, as Dr. Livingstone was still of opinion 

 that a better way to Lake Nyassa might be found by ascending this river ; but 

 his hopes were doomed to disappointment. The Rovuma was found to 

 contain a much smaller volume of water than many of the tributaries of the 

 Zambesi. Shallows were numerous, and snags formed by the sinking of large 

 trees in the mud during the subsidence of the floods, rendered the navigation 

 difficult even for the boats of H.M.S. Orestes, which had been lent to the party 

 for the ascent. Ninety miles from its mouth their further progress was 

 arrested by a series of cataracts, and there was nothing for it but to return 

 to Johanna, and proceed to Lake Nyassa by the valley of the Shire. 



The lower part of the Rovunia valley was found to be very sparsely 

 populated, and of no great breadth, the hills lying close to the river on either 

 side. Sixty-five miles up the stream they arrived at an inhabited island, and 

 after some difficulty they managed to open friendly relations with the natives, 

 and purchased food from them. Here not only the females, but many of the 

 young men, wore the pelele or lip ring. Farther up the stream, at the tempo- 

 rary village of an armed band of slave-traders, an attempt was made to 

 arrest their further progress unless a toll was paid. Rather than proceed to 

 extremities, Dr. Livingstone gave them thirty pieces of calico, which so 

 excited their cupidity that they fired a volley of musketry and poisoned arrows 

 at the party, fortunately without effect. A few shots fired at thetn drove these 



