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



but completed. Here they were informed that he had gone into the Babisa, 

 or Bisa country. At Marenga's village, " a black mass of heads stood far and 

 wide on the shore to witness our approach. I stood up in the bow of the boat, 

 and, taking off my cap to show them that I was not an Arab, I called out that 

 we were English, who were about to visit the chief. This caused the most 

 friendly demonstration of hand-clapping and gesticulating, and our reception 

 was as warm as if we had landed at Plymouth, instead of at a village on this 

 far lone lake in Africa, all but unknown even in name. We landed, and od 

 making our request to see Marenga, we were conducted by one of his wives 

 to the old chiefs hut." 



" I found myself in the presence of a fat, jovial-looking old fellow, the 

 very picture of good living and good humour. Without further to do he seized 

 me by the hand, and shook it most violently, clearly demonstrating, not only 

 his respect for my countrymen, but also for their mode of salutation. This 

 ended, he asked me at once if I had brought his old friend, the other English- 

 man, with me. On hearing that he was not with us, and that, on the contrary, 

 our object was to learn what had become of him, the old fellow very frankly 

 volunteered all the information in his power." 



The information Mr. Young received from Marenga was to the effect that 

 Dr. Livingstone had stayed a day in his village, and that two days after his 

 departure Moosa and his companions had returned to his village, giving the 

 following as their reasons for having deserted him : — 



" They were merely Arabs," said they, " who had come across Living- 

 stone in his wanderings, and had consented to help him in his undertaking ; 

 but really there must be a limit to all things, and as they knew he was about 

 to enter a very dangerous country, they were not justified in further indulging 

 their disinterested natures in assisting a traveller, and having, as it were, torn 

 themselves away from him with reluctance, they must get back to the coast." 



Further, Marenga informed him that if anything had happened to Dr. 

 Livingstone, even at a long distance to the north, he would have heard of it, 

 as he had tidings of his well-being for a month's journey from his village. 



This Marenga was a character, and he and his surroundings were a sub- 

 ject of interest and amusement to Mr. Young. He was originally from the 

 Babisa country, and had travelled a great deal in his youth. Gathering around 

 him a band of experienced natives, he settled on the coast of the lake, and 

 did a large trade in slaves and ivory with Kilwa, Ibo, and Mozambique. 



" With great satisfaction," says Mr Young, " he introduced me to forty 

 of his young wives, who, although not fair, and far under forty in years in 

 any case, were as sleek as good living and poiribi drinking could make them. 

 Their reverence for their liege lord was excessive, and he could not stir with- 

 out his least want or wish being anticipated by one or other of them. Marenga 

 had led a hard life in his younger days, and hud travelled far and wide ; now 



