THROUGH ZAMBESI A. 
409 
party. I imagined that this body of slaves had in some 
manner managed to effect their escape, but had been 
caught and driven back. The yokes I had seen were 
probably some that had been thrown aside by the 
captives, who had found some means of casting them off. 
Black ao-ents as well as Arabs are well aware what the 
O 
efforts of the white men have been in the direction of 
suppressing their “ black ivory ” traffic on the east coast, 
and it is very well known that the Arabs in Central 
Africa are now more violently opposed to the approach 
of the white man than ever they were. 
As I looked out on the north-western expanse stretch¬ 
ing far away to the poisonous swamps of Lake Bangweok>, 
my mind was filled with thoughts of the greatest of 
African explorers, who was struck down on the inhospi¬ 
table shores of the lake. More than once have I thought, 
while looking upon some of the horrifying and heart¬ 
rending scenes which arose before me, of the words of 
him who was so deeply impressed with the fact that the 
devil held the reins of power in the Dark Continent. 
“ All I can add in my loneliness,” wrote Livingstone, “ is 
may Heaven’s rich blessing come down on every one, 
American, English or Turk, who will help to heal the 
open sore of the world.” 
We passed a number of small fields which bore the 
appearance of having been irrigated to a small extent, for 
narrow ditches from tiny rivulets led to patches of arable 
land. Here and there the ground was dotted with short 
young grasses which, when touched by the glancing sun¬ 
beams, gave a refreshing charm to the otherwise barren 
scene. Pretty flowers, pink and purple, gemmed the 
smiling greensward, giving a bright welcome to the 
opening day. 
A number of miles were scored during that morning, 
and in time we reached a deep rent in the mountains. 
The pathway here turned sharply to the right, and it 
was with joy unspeakable that I turned my face in the 
direction of the rising sun. 
Walking under the dark shades of the sombre rocks, 
every step and every turn in the tortuous path showed 
