798 LIFE OF DA VID LI VINGSTONE, LL.D. 



S., and Robert, his boy, brought up in the mission at Zanzibar, almost made 

 him a Christian. Mr. S. leaves me here to-morrow to visit him — five days' 

 journey. I have lent Robert my Bible to read to him. 



" My dear parents, you would like to see our camp. It is built like 

 a street through the forest of banana trees. There is hardly anything else 

 here but them and tobacco, which serves for grass. If Africa was all like 

 this I could live in it for years. Our food — that is for the white men — comes 

 from the king. Some parts of the country grow sweet potatoes and other 

 things, which are very nice. I never eat fruit in England so nice as ban- 

 anas. Eat as many as you like, they never hurt any one. All our men live 

 on them. I weigh nearly twelve stone ; my health is good ; I am strong and 

 fat. If you were to see me now you would say I was a negro. I have not 

 had fever since April, and then very slight. I can speak a little of the lingo, 

 and I have better health than Mr. Stanley. There is not one man in the 

 caravan but will do anything for me, through not beating them, and not 

 playing with them, but keeping them in their place. If a man steals, I 

 punish him accordingly — that is, when I am in charge ; but when the great 

 master, as he is called, is in camp, he does as he likes. 



"As soon as Mr. S. returns from the king, we shall travel across to the 

 other lake — Albert Nyanza — eight days' journey; and if steamers belonging 

 to Colonel Gordon have not finished their work, and been taken to pieces, 

 we shall make good way on our journey. I long to get to Ujiji to hear from 

 you; and if the Almighty spares me to come home, I can tell you plenty I 

 have seen — men of all colours, some savage, other more quiet. The people 

 of Uganda go on their knees to us. They bring food for nothing. Dear 

 parents, you must tell all the people the news. Tell Harry and all that are 

 not married, if they get spliced while I am away, to save me a piece of cake, 

 and to find me a wife. Tell the people all round that I send my respects. 

 I cannot write, as I have no more paper or envelopes. I hope to spend a 

 better Christmas than last, for I never saw it rain so hard as it did on the 

 Eve. We lay in camp on Christmas Day, but that made no difference. All 

 day we were drying clothes. Plain rice — we had no meat for six days — for 

 dinner. 



" That was in the country of Ugogo. Don't forget to make some wine, 

 if possible. We expect to be home about Christmas, 1876. My thoughts 

 are ever on you all. Brothers and sisters, remember me always, as I do you 

 all. Pray for me that I may come home and reap the harvest of hard marches, 

 lonely nights, and hot days, savage tribes, and hard beds. Dear parents, I 

 thought of sending some money, but I find it will not pay. If you could 

 find a friend to lend you a few pounds, my money shall pay it back. If I 

 do not come, you will have the money that is due to me. Greorge sent me a 

 beautiful letter. You must tell him to give my respects to all friends. — I 

 remain your loving and affectionate son, " Fkancis John Pocock." 



