824 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.b. 



where the Universities' Mission was, sent messengers to me to ask me to 

 meet them, as they -wished to tell me how Portuguese agents from Killimane 

 are sent to make war with them to capture slaves, which are sold there for 

 twenty yards of calico each, or a little powder, or guns. I am going to meet 

 them next week to see what can be done, although it is a long way to travel. 

 My principal reason for going is, that some of the chiefs are blaming the 

 English instead of the Portuguese for supplying guns and powder to slavers, 

 and, as they are living in the line of our communication with the coast, I 

 wish to show myself and put matters right. 



" Tell the good people of Scotland who have given their money for this 

 mission that it has not been thrown away, as up to the present it has been 

 the means indirectly of saving many poor creatures from slavery and death. 

 You will, perhaps, say I am too full of the slave trade, but I say nay; also, 

 that to bring about a better state of things, it must be put down, and one 

 great thing towards bringing that about would be to introduce lawful trade. 

 Only buy up the ivory, and it would not pay the Arabs to come for slaves 

 alone. But I will tell you more of this when I return to England. We have 

 succeeded in getting plenty of fowls and a number of goats; we have planted 

 gardens, and are getting a number of people around us. Dr. Laws, Mr. 

 Johnston, and others, are studying the language ; and the former has already 

 begun to try and teach the natives through our interpreter, and I must say 

 they are most anxious to listen to all we get to tell them. I forget if I have 

 already told you that our little vessel is a splendid sea-boat, and just adapted 

 for the lake. While at the north end we got caught in a tremendous gale of 

 wind on a lee-shore while short of fuel. We had to ride all night with both 

 anchors down and steaming at the same time, the sea breaking over us. I 

 thought every minute we should be dashed ashore, but the anchors and ca- 

 bles held on well, and the little craft rode it out splendidly, and when the 

 wind went down the next morning she steamed out to sea nothing the worse. 

 She is quite tight and sound, and has not touched the ground since she was 

 launched. We are now making a carriage and slipway to haul her up to 

 paint her bottom, and I hope she will plough this lake for a very long time. 

 The engines are all right also, and, as far as I am aware, there has been no 

 quarrel or misunderstanding with any of our party. 



" I have just received letters dating to the 1st of September. There 

 has been some delay, owing to the country being flooded. I am now arrang- 

 ing for a regular mail service, the work to be done by trustworthy natives, 

 and rest assured I will do all I possibly can while I remain. 



" We have plenty of stores and provisions for the present. Dr. Stewart, 

 no doubt, when he arrives, will send for all that will be required for the 

 future. I don't anticipate any difficulty in getting stores up, as we have the 

 goodwill of every one, except the slave dealers, and all are only too willing 



