119 
ASCENT 01 IH LKEAMBTE 
CHAPTER XII. 
DR. LIVIN08T0NE A8CEND8 THE LEEAMBYE, AND DETERMINES 
TO OPEN A COMMUNICATION WITH TUB WEST COAST OJ 
AFRICA. 
Having at last procured a sufficient number of canoes, 
we began to ascond the river. I had the choice of the 
whole fleet, and selocted the best, though not the largost; 
it was thirty-four feet long by twenty inches wide. I had 
six paddlers, and the larger canoe of Sekcletu had ten 
They stand upright, and keep the stroke with groat pre- 
cision, though they change from side to side as the course 
demands. The men at the head and stern are selected from 
the strongest and most expert of the whole. The canoes, 
being flat-bottomed, can go into very shallow water; and 
whenevor the men can feel the bottom they use the paddles, 
which are about eight feet long, as poles to punt with. 
Our fleet consisted of thirty-three canoes, and about one 
hundred and sixty men. It was beautiful to see then 
skimming along so quickly and keeping the time so well. 
On land the Makalala fear the Makololo; on water the 
Makololo fear them, and cannot prevent them from racing 
with each other, dashing along at the top of their speed, 
and placing their masters’ lives in danger. In the ovont 
of a capsize, many of tho Makololo would sink like stones. 
A case of this kind happened on tho first day of our voyage 
op. The wind, blowing generally from tho cast, raises very 
large waves on tho Loeambyo. An old doctor of tho Mako- 
lolo had his canoe filled by one of those waves, and, being 
unablo to swim, was lost. The Barotse who were in the 
canoe with him saved themselves by swimming, and woro 
afraid of being punished with death in tho evening for rot 
Baving tho doctor as well. Had ho been a man of more 
influence, they certainly would havo suffered death. 
