LIVINGSTONE'S MISSIONARY TRAVELS 
3° 8 
his ability to dispense with water—as he roams, one of enormous herds, 
across the “desert.” The natives eat of the scarlet cucumbers and the 
succulent watermelons which in many districts carpet the ground; and 
they drink of the water-bearing tubers which, found a foot or so below 
the surface of the soil, produce a liquor of surprising coolness. In 
short, despite the monotony of the vegetation and the absolute want 
of surface water, the Kalahari Desert supports a large population, 
numerous animals, fruits of several kinds in great quantity, and in 
many parts an abundance of grass. Hostile in aspect, it has a not 
unkindly heart: yet its character is such that the stranger may die 
where the native would find enough and to spare. 
After traveling for about a month, suffering at times a good deal 
from thirst, and being deceived at others by the glittering salt-pans 
which appeared through mirage to be lakes or rivers, Livingstone and 
his party reached the Zouga River. From this point to the Ngami 
Lake the route was comparatively easy; the river ran a southeasterly 
course from the lake, and they had but to follow the river. 
It was while ascending the Zouga tha h Livingstone first discov¬ 
ered the nature of the region which is generally called South Central 
Africa. That vast plateau of sand, which “arm-chair geographers” 
had decided was the true character of this region, disappeared for¬ 
ever when Livingstone inquired into the source of the Tamanakle, an 
affluent of the Zouga, and asked from what sort of land it came. The 
answer that was given him was this: “From a country full of rivers 
—so many no one can tell their number—and full of large trees!” 
That answer opened up such a vista before him that Livingstone 
declared, on at last sighting the much-talked-of lake, that its discovery 
seemed of little importance. He was already, in spirit, traveling upon 
the waterways and reposing under the umbrageous forest trees of the 
Zambesi basin. 
On the ist of August tke lake was sighted at its northeast end. 
It has proved to have, usually, an area of three hundred square miles; 
but, like some other African lakes, it largely expands and contracts 
in accordance with the wet or the dry season. When the lake is full, 
the water is fresh; when low, it is brackish. To-day it may be deep 
in almost every part; three months hence a canoe might be punted 
over its bosom for miles at a time. 
