818 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



of the 8th, we were all on board, and began our journey up the river. That 

 day we were apjDrehensive our boiler would prove a failure, but stopping early 

 we got some alterations made on the draught of the furnace, and now, not 

 having a current of great strength to contend with, we can go as fast as we 

 require with one. 



" On our way up we passed through some of the grandest scenery I have 

 ever beheld. Hills towering, some of them two to three thousand feet above 

 sea level, while the river wound its way through a level plain, now quite dry, 

 but in the rainy season covered with water. At some places we found villages 

 of from twenty to two hundred inhabitants; and again we might steam along 

 for thirty or forty miles without seeing a human face. Along these unten- 

 anted plains, game is very abundant. A herd of thirty or forty bucks, the 

 size of young calves, was by no means rare, and I have seen one herd num- 

 bering at least five hundred. When fired at, they will sometimes stand and 

 stare till two or three shots have been sent among them, and then take to 

 their heels fast enough. I saw three groups of elephants, four, six, and eight 

 in number; while a little farther on we passed an enormous 'rogue' with 

 tusks like a man's leg. 



" On 11th October, we steamed through Lake Pamolombi, the northern 

 and western sides of which are studded with villages, but having usually 

 marshy reeds around them. Entering the Shire again at the northern end of 

 Lake Pamolombi, we passed three or four villages, and then anchored for the 

 day opposite the village of M'Ponda or Chimponda, as the natives call him. 

 He was very kind to Dr. Livingstone, and, as his territory extended up to 

 the lake, it was quite necessary that we should be on friendly terms with him. 

 Here we found two slave-trading Arabs, who, I suspect, were far from relish- 

 ing our arrival ; and, as Mr. Young wore his uniform cap on going ashore, 

 they noticed it, and evidently knew the badge very well. The old chief ap- 

 peared quite friendly, but could not be persuaded to come on board. He 

 spread a mat for us to sit on, but our legs not being quite so flexible as theirs, 

 we were supplied with greasy pillows as stools. We sat under the protected 

 eaves of his large house, surrounded by scores of his people, while a house in 

 front of us was occupied by his wives, at least thirty or forty in number, who, 

 on their knees, were looking across at the white strangers ; while the Arabs, 

 by and by, came along to bid us good morning, one carrying a large broad- 

 bladed spear, the other a sword, which he evidently wished us to take notice 

 of, and which we certainly were not afraid of. 



" We told M'Ponda our errand, that we wished to settle on the lake, and 

 asked him how far his territory extended. We find it goes all round Cape 

 Maclear, right over to the western side, on which he has two villages. At 

 his villages we found Wakotani, a boy who had been servant to Bishop 

 Mackenzie, then educated at Bombay, and had gone back with Dr. Living- 



