222 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
undertaking twenty-seven men were selected from tlie 
various tribes under Sekeletu, partly with a view to open 
up a trade route between their own country and the 
coast. Livingstone had done his best to show them the 
advantages of legitimate trade ; believing that by this 
means a powerful check would be given to the slave 
trade, and that there “ can be no permanent elevation 
of a people without commerce.” The start was made 
from Liny anti on November 11, 1853, the confluence of 
the Leeba and Zambesi was reached on December 26, 
and this was the limit of the Barotse territory. Ascend¬ 
ing the Leeba, Lake Dilolo was reached on February 20, 
1854, when the route was changed to the westward. In 
passing through the territory of Chiboque, between Lake 
Dilolo and the Coango, the party had considerable trouble 
with the chiefs, and had it not been for Livingstone’s 
tact and patience, the results might have been disastrous. 
On April 4, the Coango was crossed, and the expedition 
was now in the territory claimed by the Portuguese. 
They had not got this length without much suffering. 
They were often on the brink of starvation, and rarely 
had enough to eat; it was the rainy season, most of the 
country was flooded, and Livingstone had often to sleep on 
the wet ground. Here for the first time he met with 
that oozy “ sponge ” which he found to be so important 
a feature in his last journeys. He was rarely free from 
fever, and suffered cruelly from dysentery, and although 
the e ‘ Makololos ” were the best men he ever had, he 
was often sorely tried by their conduct. Nothing, how¬ 
ever, daunted him, and he continued faithfully to take 
his observations, and collect copious notes on the country 
and the people. After crossing the Coango, his diffi¬ 
culties were not left behind, notwithstanding the assist¬ 
ance rendered him by the native Portuguese officials. 
On May 31 the town of Loanda was entered, much to 
the joy of the men ; their leader, however, being all but 
dead from fever and dysentery. The Makololo were 
astonished and delighted ; they managed to earn a good 
deal of money in various ways, and were loaded with pre¬ 
sents. Livingstone himself was furnished with a letter 
