312 
LIVINGSTONE'S MISSIONARY TRAVELS 
“The forests became more dense as we went north. We traveled 
much more in the deep gloom of the forest than in open sunlight. 
Large climbing plants entwined themselves around the trunks and 
branches of gigantic trees like boa-constrictors; and they often do 
constrict the trees by which they rise, and, killing them, stand erect 
themselves. There were other trees quite new to my companions; 
many of them ran up to a height of fifty feet of one thickness and 
without branches. 
“The number of little villages seemed about equal to the number 
of valleys. . . . Every village had its idols near it. This is the 
case all through the country of the Balonda; so that, when we came 
to an idol in the woods, we always knew that we were within a quarter 
of an hour of human habitations. 
“We came to a most lovely valley about a mile and a half wide. 
A small stream meanders down the center of this pleasant green glen; 
and on a little rill which flows into it from the western side stands the 
town of Kabompo—or, as he likes best to be called, Shinte. We found 
the town embowered in banana and other tropical trees having great 
expansion of leaf. . . . Here we first saw native huts with square 
walls and round roofs. The fences or walk of the courts which sur¬ 
round the huts are wonderfully straight, and made of upright poles 
a few inches apart, with strong grass or leafy bushes neatly woven 
between. In the courts were small plantations of tobacco and a little 
solanaceous plant which these Balonda use as a relish; also sugar and 
bananas.” 
Throughout this journey Livingstone suffered greatly from fever, 
and he arrived at Loanda a mere “bag of bones,” so reduced was his 
frame by the constant recurrence of the malaria. Here is a remark 
which shows that he suffered from more than the actual disease: “On 
Sunday, the 19th, both I and several of our party were seized with 
fever, and I could do nothing but toss about in my little tent, with the 
thermometer above 90 degrees, though this was the beginning of 
winter, and my men made as much shade as possible by planting 
branches of trees all round and over it. We have, for the first time 
in my experience in Africa, had a cold wind from the north. All the 
winds from that quarter are hot, and those from the south are cold; 
but they seldom blow from either direction.” 
