i883.] 
Among the Barotse. 
8 1 
landed while the boat was shooting the rapids. Besides Kama's 
young man, Sitobe, a little lad, named Sikinini, accompanied me. 
We have now been twelve days on the river, but delays have 
been constant. Oh, these people are slow! We stopped at 
Litofe two nights, and I was nearly devoured by mosquitoes 
and vermin. I have had two fever relapses, but not severe ones. 
Shesheke. — After a very tedious journey we arrived here. My 
principal food was buffalo meat, as I had not goods enough 
to buy sufficient corn for the road. The boats got through 
the rapids without serious damage. I preferred being wetted 
with the water to getting my legs cut with rocks and reeds, 
and did not leave the boat, but we had a narrow escape at 
one point. 
A twelvemonth's letters. 
Leshuma. — After remaining a few days at Shesheke I came 
down the river and met Mr. Westbeech here; and oh, the joy of 
getting such a budget of letters after a twelvemonth — forty-three, 
I think, in all ! Though my health was very good on arrival, 
my eyes were still weak. I met here a young Englishman, 
Mr. E. Selous, brother of the one with whom I travelled to 
Bamangwato. I have decided to return the first opportunity to 
the Barotse, as I find it is too late to get to Shoshong this year. 
The roads are already dry, so I shall go to Panda for what I need 
and then return. 
SIKININl's KINDNESS. 
On the 17th July I left Leshuma for Panda-ma-tenka with the 
view of making purchases at Mr. Westbeech's store there. The 
first day's walk of twenty miles sadly blistered my feet, making 
one of them very sore. Next day we had hoped to reach the 
Gashuma wells, but my sore feet hindered me greatly. I, however, 
hobbled on until nearly midnight, when we came upon smouldering 
fires which had been left by a company of raiding Matabele. I 
called to the men to lie down and rest, knowing that we should 
come to some water after a short march next morning. Before 
going to sleep I commended all to God, and asked Him in 
prayer to lead us safely to some place where we should have 
a supply of water next morning. Little Sikinini, who had heard 
my request, and probably thought I was suffering from want of 
water, could not rest with the others, but started off alone in the 
G 
