第15章

类别:其他 作者:David Livingstone字数:15130更新时间:18/12/14 10:02:35
ThesceneryofthispassremindedusofKebrabasa,althoughitismuchinferior。Abandofthesameblackshiningglazerunsalongtherocksabouttwofeetfromthewater\'sedge。Therewasnotabladeofgrassonsomeofthehills,itbeingtheendoftheusualdryseasonsucceedingapreviousseveredrought;yetthehill-sidesweredottedoverwithbeautifulgreentrees。Afewantelopeswereseenontheruggedslopes,wheresomepeopletooappearedlyingdown,takingacupofbeer。TheKarivuanarrowsareaboutthirtymilesinlength。 TheyendatthemountainRoganora。Tworocks,twelveorfifteenfeetabovethewateratthetimewewerethere,mayinfloodbecoveredanddangerous。Ourchiefdangerwasthewind,averyslightripplebeingsufficienttoswampcanoes。 CHAPTERIX。 Thewaterbuck——DisasterinKebrabasarapids——The\"MaRobert\" founders——Arrivalofthe\"Pioneer\"andBishopMackenzie\'sparty—— Portugueseslave-trade——Interferenceandliberation。 WearrivedatZumbo,atthemouthoftheLoangwa,onthe1stofNovember。Thewaterbeingscarcelyuptotheknee,ourlandpartywadedthisriverwithease。AbuffalowasshotonanislandoppositePangola\'s,theballlodginginthespleen。Itwasfoundtohavebeenwoundedinthesameorganpreviously,foranironbulletwasimbeddedinit,andthewoundentirelyhealed。AgreatdealoftheplantPistiastratioteswasseenfloatingintheriver。Manypeopleinhabittherightbankaboutthispart,yetthegameisveryabundant。 Asweweretakingourbreakfastonthemorningofthe2nd,theMamboKazai,ofwhomweknewnothing,andhismencamewiththeirmusketsandlargepowder-hornstolevyafine,andobtainpaymentforthewoodweusedincooking。ButonourreplyingtohisdemandthatwewereEnglish,\"Oh!areyou?\"hesaid;\"IthoughtyouwereBazungu(Portuguese)。TheyarethepeopleItakepaymentsfrom:\"andheapologizedforhismistake。Bazungu,orAzungu,isatermappliedtoallforeignersofalightcolour,andtoArabs;eventotradingslavesifclothed;itprobablymeansforeigners,orvisitors,——fromzunga,tovisitorwander,——andthePortugueseweretheonlyforeignersthesemenhadeverseen。Aswehadnodesiretopassforpeopleofthatnation——quitethecontrary——weusuallymadeabroadlineofdemarcationbysayingthatwewereEnglish,andtheEnglishneitherbought,sold,norheldblackpeopleasslaves,butwishedtoputastoptotheslave-tradealtogether。 Wecalleduponourfriend,Mpende,inpassing。Heprovidedahutforus,withnewmatsspreadonthefloor。Havingtoldhimthatwewerehurryingonbecausetherainswerenear,\"Aretheynear?\"eagerlyinquiredanoldcounsellor,\"andarewetohaveplentyofrainthisyear?\"Wecouldonlysaythatitwasabouttheusualtimefortherainstocommence;andthatthereweretheusualindicationsingreatabundanceofcloudsfloatingwestwards,butthatweknewnothingmorethantheydidthemselves。 Thehippopotamiaremorewaryherethanhigherup,asthenativeshuntthemwithguns。Havingshotoneonashallowsandbank,ourmenundertooktobringitovertotheleftbank,inordertocutitupwithgreaterease。Itwasafinefatone,andallrejoicedinthehopeofeatingthefatforbutter,withourharddrycakesofnativemeal。Ourcookwassentovertocutachoicepiecefordinner,butreturnedwiththeastonishingintelligencethatthecarcasswasgone。 Theyhadbeenhoodwinked,andwereverymuchashamedofthemselves。 AnumberofBanyaicametoassistinrollingitashore,andassertedthatitwasallshallowwater。Theyrolleditoverandovertowardstheland,and,findingtheropewehadmadefasttoit,astheysaid,anencumbrance,itwasunloosed。Allwereshoutingandtalkingasloudastheycouldbawl,whensuddenlyourexpectedfeastplumpedintoadeephole,astheBanyaiintendeditshoulddo。Whensinking,alltheMakololojumpedinafterit。Onecaughtfranticallyatthetail;anothergraspedafoot;athirdseizedthehip;\"but,bySebituane,itwouldgodowninspiteofallthatwecoulddo。” Insteadofafathippopotamuswehadonlyaleanfowlfordinner,andweregladenoughtogeteventhat。Thehippopotamus,however,floatedduringthenight,andwasfoundaboutamilebelow。TheBanyaithenassembledonthebank,anddisputedourrighttothebeast:\"Itmighthavebeenshotbysomebodyelse。”Ourmentookalittleofitandthenleftit,ratherthancomeintocollisionwiththem。 AfinewaterbuckwasshotintheKakololenarrows,atMountManyerere;itdroppedbesidethecreekwhereitwasfeeding;anenormouscrocodile,thathadbeenwatchingitatthemoment,seizedanddraggeditintothewater,whichwasnotverydeep。Themortallywoundedanimalmadeadesperateplunge,andhaulingthecrocodileseveralyardstoreitselfoutofthehideousjaws。Toescapethehunter,thewaterbuckjumpedintotheriver,andwasswimmingacross,whenanothercrocodilegavechase,butaballsoonsentittothebottom。Thewaterbuckswamalittlelonger,thefineheaddropped,thebodyturnedover,andoneofthecanoesdraggeditashore。BelowKakolole,andstillatthebaseofManyereremountain,severalcoal- seams,notnoticedonourascent,werenowseentocropoutontherightbankoftheZambesi。 Chitora,ofChicova,treateduswithhisformerhospitality。Ourmenwereallmuchpleasedwithhiskindness,andcertainlydidnotlookuponitasaproofofweakness。TheymeanttoreturnhisfriendlinesswhentheycamethiswayonamaraudingexpeditiontoeatthesheepoftheBanyai,forinsultingthemintheaffairofthehippopotamus;theywouldthensendwordtoChitoranottorunaway,forthey,beinghisfriends,woulddosuchagood-heartedmannoharm。 WeenteredKebrabasarapids,attheeastendofChicova,inthecanoes,andwentdownanumberofmiles,untiltherivernarrowedintoagrooveoffiftyorsixtyyardswide,ofwhichwehavealreadyspokenindescribingtheflood-bedandchanneloflowwater。Thenavigationthenbecamedifficultanddangerous。Afifteenfeetfallofthewaterinourabsencehaddevelopedmanycataracts。Twoofourcanoespassedsafelydownanarrowchannel,which,bifurcating,hadanuglywhirlpoolattherockypartitionbetweenthetwobranches,thedeepholeinthewhirlsattimesopeningandthenshutting。TheDoctor\'scanoecamenext,andseemedtobedriftingbroadsideintotheopenvortex,inspiteoftheutmostexertionsofthepaddlers。 Therestwereexpectingtohavetopulltotherescue;themensaying,\"Lookwherethesepeoplearegoing!——look,look!\"——whenaloudcrashburstonourears。Dr。Kirk\'scanoewasdashedonaprojectionoftheperpendicularrocks,byasuddenandmysteriousboilingupoftheriver,whichoccursatirregularintervals。Dr。 Kirkwasseenresistingthesucking-downactionofthewater,whichmusthavebeenfifteenfathomsdeep,andraisinghimselfbyhisarmsontotheledge,whilehissteersman,holdingontothesamerocks,savedthecanoe;butnearlyallitscontentsweresweptawaydownthestream。Dr。Livingstone\'scanoe,meanwhile,whichhaddistractedthemen\'sattention,wassavedbythecavityinthewhirlpoolfillingupasthefrightfuleddywasreached。AfewofthethingsinDr。Kirk\'scanoewereleft;butallthatwasvaluable,includingachronometer,abarometer,and,toourgreatsorrow,hisnotesofthejourneyandbotanicaldrawingsofthefruit-treesoftheinterior,perished。 Wenowlefttheriver,andproceededonfoot,sorrythatwehadnotdonesothedaybefore。Themenwerethoroughlyfrightened,theyhadneverseensuchperilousnavigation。Theywouldcarryalltheloads,ratherthanriskKebrabasaanylonger;butthefatigueofaday\'smarchoverthehotrocksandburningsandchangedtheirtunebeforenight;andthentheyregrettedhavingleftthecanoes;theythoughttheyshouldhavedraggedthempastthedangerousplaces,andthenlaunchedthemagain。OneofthetwodonkeysdiedfromexhaustionneartheLuia。Thoughthemeneatzebrasandquaggas,bloodrelationsofthedonkey,theywereshockedattheideaofeatingtheass;\"itwouldbelikeeatingmanhimself,becausethedonkeyliveswithman,andishisbosomcompanion。”WemettwolargetradingpartiesofTetteslavesontheirwaytoZumbo,leading,tobesoldforivory,anumberofManganjawomen,withropesroundtheirnecks,andallmadefasttoonelongrope。 Panzo,theheadmanofthevillageeastofKebrabasa,receiveduswithgreatkindness。Aftertheusualsalutationhewentupthehill,and,inaloudvoice,calledacrossthevalleytothewomenofseveralhamletstocooksupperforus。Abouteightintheeveninghereturned,followedbyaprocessionofwomen,bringingthefood。 Therewereeightdishesofnsima,orporridge,sixofdifferentsortsofverygoodwildvegetables,withdishesofbeansandfowls;alldeliciouslywellcooked,andscrupulouslyclean。Thewoodendisheswerenearlyaswhiteasthemealitself:foodalsowasbroughtforourmen。Ripemangoes,whichusuallyindicatethevicinityofthePortuguese,werefoundonthe21stNovember;andwereachedTetteearlyonthe23rd,havingbeenabsentalittleoversixmonths。 ThetwoEnglishsailors,leftinchargeofthesteamer,werewell,hadbehavedwell,andhadenjoyedexcellenthealthallthetimewewereaway。Theirfarmhadbeenafailure。Weleftafewsheep,tobeslaughteredwhentheywishedforfreshmeat,andtwodozenfowls。 Purchasingmore,theysoonhaddoublethenumberofthelatter,andanticipatedagoodsupplyofeggs;buttheyalsoboughttwomonkeys,andTHEYatealltheeggs。Ahippopotamuscameuponenight,andlaidwastetheirvegetablegarden;thesheepbrokeintotheircottonpatch,whenitwasinflower,andateitall,exceptthestems;thenthecrocodilescarriedoffthesheep,andthenativesstolethefowls。Norweretheymoresuccessfulasgun-smiths:aPortuguesetrader,havinganexaltedopinionoftheingenuityofEnglishsailors,showedthemadouble-barrelledrifle,andinquirediftheycouldputontheBROWNING,whichhadrustedoff。\"IthinkIknowshow,\"saidone,whosefatherwasablacksmith,\"it\'sveryeasy;youhaveonlytoputthebarrelsinthefire。”Agreatfireofwoodwasmadeonshore,andtheunluckybarrelsputoverit,tosecurethehandsomeriflecolour。ToJack\'sutteramazementthebarrelscameasunder。Togetoutofthescrape,hiscompanionandhestuckthepiecestogetherwithresin,andsentittotheowner,withthemessage,\"Itwasalltheycoulddoforit,andtheywouldnotchargehimanythingforthejob!\"Theyhadalsoinventedanoriginalmodeofsettlingabargain;havingascertainedthemarketpriceofprovisions,theypaidthat,butnomore。Ifthetradersrefusedtoleavetheshiptillthepricewasincreased,achameleon,ofwhichthenativeshaveamortaldread,wasbroughtoutofthecabin;andthemomentthenativessawthecreature,theyatoncesprangoverboard。Thechameleonsettledeverydisputeinatwinkling。 Butbesidestheirgood-humouredintercourse,theyshowedhumanityworthyofEnglishsailors。Aterriblescreamrousedthemuponenight,andtheypushedoffinaboattotherescue。Acrocodilehadcaughtawoman,andwasdraggingheracrossashallowsandbank。Justastheycameuptoher,shegaveafearfulshriek:thehorridreptilehadsnappedoffherlegattheknee。Theytookheronboard,bandagedthelimbaswellastheycould,and,notthinkingofanybetterwayofshowingtheirsympathy,gaveheraglassofrum,andcarriedhertoahutinthevillage。Nextmorningtheyfoundthebandagestornoff,andtheunfortunatecreaturelefttodie。\"I believe,\"remarkedRowe,oneofthesailors,\"hermasterwasangrywithusforsavingherlife,seeingashowshehadlostherleg。” TheZambesibeingunusuallylow,weremainedatTettetillitrosealittle,andthenleftonthe3rdofDecemberfortheKongone。Itwashardworktokeepthevesselafloat;indeed,weneverexpectedhertoremainabovewater。Newleaksbrokeouteveryday;theenginepumpgaveway;thebridgebrokedown;threecompartmentsfilledatnight; exceptthecabinandfrontcompartmentallwasflooded;andinafewdayswewereassuredbyRowethat\"shecan\'tbeworsethansheis,sir。”HeandHutchinshadspentmuchoftheirtime,whilewewereaway,inpatchingherbottom,puddlingitwithclay,andshoringit,anditwaschieflytopleasethemthatweagainattemptedtomakeuseofher。Wehadlongbeenfullyconvincedthatthesteelplateswerethoroughlyunsuitable。Onthemorningofthe21sttheuncomfortable\"Asthmatic\"groundedonasandbankandfilled。Shecouldneitherbeemptiednorgotoff。Theriverroseduringthenight,andallthatwasvisibleoftheworn-outcraftnextdaywasaboutsixfeetofhertwomasts。Mostofthepropertywehadonboardwassaved;andwespenttheChristmasof1860encampedontheislandofChimba。CanoesweresentforfromSenna;andwereacheditonthe27th,tobeagainhospitablyentertainedbyourfriend,SenhorFerrao。 WereachedtheKongoneonthe4thofJanuary,1861。AflagstaffandaCustom-househadbeenerectedduringourabsence;ahut,also,forablacklance-corporalandthreeprivates。Bythekindpermissionofthelance-corporal,whocametoseeusassoonashehadgotintohistrousersandshirt,wetookupourquartersintheCustom-house,which,liketheotherbuildings,isasmallsquarefloorlesshutofmangrovestakesoverlaidwithreeds。Thesoldierscomplainedofhunger,theyhadnothingtoeatbutalittlemapira,andweremakingpalmwinetodeadentheircravings。Whilewaitingforaship,wehadleisuretoreadthenewspapersandperiodicalswefoundinthemailwhichwaswaitingourarrivalatTette。Severalwereayearandahalfold。 Ourprovisionsbegantorunshort;andtowardstheendofthemonththerewasnothingleftbutalittlebadbiscuitandafewouncesofsugar。Coffeeandteawereexpended,butscarcelymissed,asoursailorsdiscoveredaprettygoodsubstituteinroastedmapira。FreshmeatwasobtainedinabundancefromourantelopepreservesonthelargeislandmadebyacreekbetweentheKongoneandEastLuabo。 Inthisfocusofdecayingvegetation,nothingissomuchtobedreadedasinactivity。Wehad,therefore,tofindwhatexerciseandamusementwecould,whenhuntingwasnotrequired,inpeeringaboutinthefetidswamps;tohavegonemooningabout,inlistlessidleness,wouldhaveensuredfeverinitsworstform,andprobablywithfatalresults。 Acuriouslittleblenny-fishswarmsinthenumerouscreekswhichintersectthemangrovetopes。Whenalarmed,ithurriesacrossthesurfaceofthewaterinaseriesofleaps。Itmaybeconsideredamphibious,asitlivesasmuchoutofthewaterasinit,anditsmostbusytimeisduringlowwater。Thenitappearsonthesandormud,nearthelittlepoolsleftbytheretiringtide;itraisesitselfonitspectoralfinsintosomethingofastandingattitude,andwithitslargeprojectingeyeskeepsasharplook-outforthelight-colouredfly,onwhichitfeeds。Shouldtheflyalightattoogreatadistanceforevenasecondleap,theblennymovesslowlytowardsitlikeacattoitsprey,orlikeajumpingspider;and,assoonasitgetswithintwoorthreeinchesoftheinsect,byasuddenspringcontrivestopopitsundersetmouthdirectlyovertheunluckyvictim。Heis,moreover,apugnaciouslittlefellow;andratherprolongedfightsmaybeobservedbetweenhimandhisbrethren。One,infleeingfromanapparentdanger,jumpedintoapoolafootsquare,whichtheotherevidentlyregardedashisbyrightofpriordiscovery;inatwinklingtheowner,witheyesflashingfury,andwithdorsalfinbristlingupinrage,dashedattheintrudingfoe。 Thefightwaxedfurious,notempestinateapoteverequalledthestormofthatminiaturesea。Thewarriorswerenowinthewater,andanonoutofit,forthebattleragedonseaandshore。Theystruckhard,theybiteachother;until,becomingexhausted,theyseizedeachotherbythejawsliketwobull-dogs,thenpausedforbreath,andatitagainasfiercelyasbefore,untilthecombatendedbytheprecipitateretreatoftheinvader。 Themuddygroundunderthemangrove-treesiscoveredwithsoldier- crabs,whichquicklyslinkintotheirholesonanysymptomofdanger。 Whentheebbingtideretires,myriadsofminutecrabsemergefromtheirundergroundquarters,andbegintoworklikesomanybusybees。 Soonmanymilesofthesmoothsandbecomeroughwiththeresultsoftheirlabour。Theyaretoilingfortheirdailybread:aroundbitofmoistsandappearsatthelittlelabourer\'smouth,andisquicklybrushedoffbyoneoftheclaws;asecondbitfollowsthefirst;andanother,andstillanothercomeasfastastheycanbelaidaside。 Asthesepelletsaccumulate,thecrabmovessideways,andtheworkcontinues。Thefirstimpressiononereceivesis,thatthelittlecreaturehasswallowedagreatdealofsand,andisgettingridofitasspeedilyaspossible:ahabitheindulgesinofdartingintohisholeatintervals,asifforfreshsupplies,tendstostrengthenthisidea;butthesizeoftheheapsformedinafewsecondsshowsthatthiscannotbethecase,andleadstotheimpressionthat,althoughnotreadilyseen,atthedistanceatwhichhechoosestokeeptheobserver,yetthatpossiblyheraisesthesandtohismouth,wherewhateveranimalculeitmaycontainissiftedoutofit,andtheremainderrejectedinthemannerdescribed。Attimesthelargerspeciesofcrabsperformasortofconcert;andfromeachsubterraneanabodestrangesoundsarise,asif,inimitationofthesongstersofthegroves,forveryjoytheysang! Wefoundsomenativespoundingthewoodystemsofapoisonousclimbing-plant(Dircapalustris)calledBusungu,orpoison,whichgrowsabundantlyintheswamps。Whenagoodquantitywasbruised,itwastiedupinbundles。Thestreamaboveandbelowwasobstructedwithbushes,andwithasortofrinsingmotionthepoisonwasdiffusedthroughthewater。Manyfishweresoonaffected,swaininshore,anddied,otherswereonlystupefied。Theplanthaspink,pea-shapedblossoms,andsmooth,pointed,glossyleaves,andthebrownbarkiscoveredwithminutewhitepoints。Theknowledgeofitmightproveofusetoashipwreckedpartybyenablingthemtocatchthefish。 Thepoisonissaidtobedeleterioustomanifthewaterisdrunk; butnotwhenthefishiscooked。TheBusunguisrepulsivetosomeinsects,andissmearedroundtheshootsofthepalm-treestopreventtheantsfromgettingintothepalmwinewhileitisdroppingfromthetopsofthepalm-treesintothelittlepotssuspendedtocollectit。 Wewereinthehabitofwalkingfromourbedsintothesaltwateratsunrise,forabath,tillalargecrocodileappearedatthebathing- place,andfromthattimeforthwetookourdipinthesea,awayfromtheharbour,aboutmidday。Thisissaidtobeunwholesome,butwedidnotfinditso。Itiscertainlybetternottobatheinthemornings,whentheairiscolderthanthewater——forthen,onreturningtothecoolerair,oneisapttogetachillandfever。Inthemouthoftheriver,manysaw-fisharefound。Rowesawonewhilebathing——caughtitbythetail,andshovedit,\"snouton,\"ashore。 Thesawisfromafoottoeighteenincheslong。Weneverheardofanyonebeingwoundedbythisfish;nor,thoughitgoeshundredsofmilesuptheriverinfreshwater,couldwelearnthatitwaseatenbythepeople。Thehippopotamidelightedtospendthedayamongthebreakers,andseemedtoenjoythefunasmuchaswedid。 SeveregalesoccurredduringourstayontheCoast,andmanysmallsea-birds(PrionBanksii,Smith)perished:thebeachwasstrewnwiththeirdeadbodies,andsomewerefoundhundredsofyardsinland;manyweresoemaciatedastodryupwithoutputrefying。Wewereplaguedwithmyriadsofmosquitoes,andhadsometouchesoffever;themenwebroughtfrommalariousregionsoftheinteriorsufferedalmostasmuchfromithereaswedidourselves。Thisgivesstrengthtotheideathatthecivilizedwithstandtheevilinfluencesofstrangeclimatesbetterthantheuncivilized。Whennegroesreturntotheirowncountryfromhealthylands,theysufferasseverelyasforeignerseverdo。 Onthe31stofJanuary,1861,ournewship,the\"Pioneer,\"arrivedfromEngland,andanchoredoutsidethebar;buttheweatherwasstormy,andshedidnotventureintillthe4thofFebruary。 TwoofH。M。cruiserscameatthesametime,bringingBishopMackenzie,andtheOxfordandCambridgeMissiontothetribesoftheShireandLakeNyassa。TheMissionconsistedofsixEnglishmen,andfivecolouredmenfromtheCape。Itwasapuzzletoknowwhattodowithsomanymen。TheestimableBishop,anxioustocommencehisworkwithoutdelay,wishedthe\"Pioneer\"tocarrytheMissionuptheShire,asfarasChibisa\'s,andthereleavethem。Butthereweregraveobjectionstothis。The\"Pioneer\"wasunderorderstoexploretheRovuma,asthePortugueseGovernmenthadrefusedtoopentheZambesitotheshipsofothernations,andtheirofficialswereveryeffectuallypursuingasystem,which,byabstractingthelabour,wasrenderingthecountryofnovalueeithertoforeignersortothemselves。Shewasalreadytwomonthsbehindhertime,andtherainyseasonwashalfover。Then,ifthepartyweretakentoChibisa\'s,theMissionwouldheleftwithoutamedicalattendant,inanunhealthyregion,atthebeginningofthemostsicklyseasonoftheyear,andwithoutmeansofreachingthehealthyhighlands,orofreturningtothesea。Wedreadedthat,intheabsenceofmedicalaidandallknowledgeofthetreatmentoffever,theremightbearepetitionofthesorrowfulfatewhichbefellthesimilarnon-medicalMissionatLinyanti。 Onthe25thofFebruarythe\"Pioneer\"anchoredinthemouthoftheRovuma,which,unlikemostAfricanrivers,hasamagnificentbayandnobar。Wewooded,andthenwaitedfortheBishoptillthe9thofMarch,whenhecameinthe\"Lyra。”Onthe11thweproceededuptheriver,andsawthatithadfallenfourorfivefeetduringourdetention。ThesceneryonthelowerpartoftheRovumaissuperiortothatontheZambesi,forwecanseethehighlandsfromthesea。 Eightmilesfromthemouththemangrovesareleftbehind,andabeautifulrangeofwell-woodedhillsoneachbankbegins。OntheseridgesthetreeresemblingAfricanblackwood,offinergrainthanebony,growsabundantly,andattainsalargesize。Fewpeoplewereseen,andthosewereofArabbreed,anddidnotappeartobeverywelloff。ThecurrentoftheRovumawasnowasstrongasthatoftheZambesi,butthevolumeofwaterisverymuchless。Severalofthecrossingshadbarelywaterenoughforourship,drawingfivefeet,topass。Whenwewerethirtymilesuptheriver,thewaterfellsuddenlyseveninchesintwenty-fourhours。AstheMarchfloodisthelastoftheseason,anditappearedtobeexpended,itwasthoughtprudenttoavoidthechanceofayear\'sdetention,bygettingtheshipbacktotheseawithoutdelay。HadtheExpeditionbeenalone,wewouldhavepushedupinboats,orafoot,anddonewhatwecouldtowardstheexplorationoftheriverandupperendofthelake; but,thoughtheMissionwasaprivateone,andentirelydistinctfromourown,apublicone,theobjectsofbothbeingsimilar,wefeltanxioustoaidourcountrymenintheirnobleenterprise;and,ratherthanfollowourowninclination,decidedtoreturntotheShire,seetheMissionpartysettledsafely,andafterwardsexploreLakeNyassaandtheRovuma,fromtheLakedownwards。Feverbrokeoutonboardthe\"Pioneer,\"atthemouthoftheRovuma,aswethoughtfromourhavinganchoredclosetoacreekcomingoutofthemangroves;anditremainedinheruntilwecompletelyisolatedtheengine-roomfromtherestoftheship。Thecoal-dustrottingsentoutstrongeffluvia,andkeptupthediseaseformorethanatwelvemonth。 Soonafterwestartedthefeverputthe\"Pioneer\"almostentirelyintothehandsoftheoriginalZambesiExpedition,andnotlongafterwardstheleaderhadtonavigatetheoceanaswellastheriver。 Thehabitoffindingthegeographicalpositionsonlandrendersitaneasytasktosteerasteamerwithonlythreeorfoursailsatsea; where,ifonedoesnotrunashore,noonefollowstofindoutanerror,andwhereacurrentaffordsareadyexcuseforeveryblunder。 TouchingatMohilla,oneoftheComoroIslands,onourreturn,wefoundamixedraceofArabs,Africans,andtheirconquerors,thenativesofMadagascar。BeingMahometans,theyhavemosquesandschools,inwhichwewerepleasedtoseegirlsaswellasboystaughttoreadtheKoran。Theteachersaidhewaspaidbythejob,andreceivedtendollarsforteachingeachchildtoread。Thecleveroneslearninsixmonths;butthedullonestakeacoupleofyears。 WenextwentovertoJohannaforourfriends;and,afterasojournofafewdaysatthebeautifulComoroIslands,wesailedfortheKongonemouthoftheZambesiwithBishopMackenzieandhisparty。Wereachedthecoastinsevendays,andpasseduptheZambesitotheShire。 The\"Pioneer,\"constructedundertheskilfulsupervisionofAdmiralSirBaldwinWalkerandthelateAdmiralWashington,warm-heartedandhighlyesteemedfriendsoftheExpedition,wasaverysuperiorvessel,andwellsuitedforourworkineveryrespect,exceptinherdraughtofwater。FivefeetwerefoundtobetoomuchforthenavigationoftheupperpartoftheShire。Designedtodrawthreefeetonly,theweightnecessarytoimpartextrastrength,andfitherfortheocean,broughtherdowntwofeetmore,andcausedusagreatdealofhardandvexatiouswork,inlayingoutanchors,andtoilingatthecapstantogetheroffsandbanks。Weshouldnothavemindedthismuch,butfortheheavylossoftimewhichmighthavebeenmoreprofitably,andinfinitelymorepleasantly,spentinintercoursewiththepeople,exploringnewregions,andotherwisecarryingouttheobjectsoftheExpedition。Oncewewereafortnightonabankofsoftyieldingsand,havingonlytwoorthreeincheslesswaterthantheshipdrew;thisdelaywasoccasionedbytheanchorscominghome,andthecurrentswingingtheshipbroadsideonthebank,which,immediatelyonourtouching,alwaysformedbehindus。WedidnotliketoleavetheshipshortofChibisa\'s,lestthecrewshouldsufferfromthemalariaofthelowlandaround;anditwouldhavebeendifficulttohavegottheMissiongoodscarriedup。Weweredailyvisitedbycrowdsofnatives,whobroughtusabundanceofprovisionsfarbeyondourabilitytoconsume。Inhaulingthe\"Pioneer\"overtheshallowplaces,theBishop,withHoraceWallerandMr。Scudamore,wereeverreadyandanxioustolendahand,andworkedashardasanyonboard。Hadourfinelittleshipdrawnbutthreefeet,shecouldhaverunupanddowntheriveratanytimeoftheyearwiththegreatestease,butasitwas,havingoncepassedupoverafewshallowbanks,itwasimpossibletotakeherdownagainuntiltheriverroseinDecember。Shecouldgoupoverabank,butnotcomedownoverit,asaheapofsandalwaysformedinstantlyastern,whilethecurrentwasheditawayfromunderherbows。 OnatlastreachingChibisa\'s,weheardthattherewaswarintheManganjacountry,andtheslave-tradewasgoingonbriskly。A deputationfromachiefnearMountZombahadjustpassedonitswaytoChibisa,whowasinadistantvillage,toimplorehimtocomehimself,orsendmedicine,todriveofftheWaiao,Waiau,orAjawa,whosemaraudingpartiesweredesolatingtheland。AlargegangofrecentlyenslavedManganjacrossedtheriver,ontheirwaytoTette,afewdaysbeforewegottheshipup。Chibisa\'sdeputywascivil,andreadilygaveuspermissiontohireasmanymentocarrytheBishop\'sgoodsuptothehillsaswerewillingtogo。Withasufficientnumber,therefore,westartedforthehighlandsonthe15thofJuly,toshowtheBishopthecountry,which,fromitsaltitudeandcoolness,wasmostsuitableforastation。Ourfirstday\'smarchwasalongandfatiguingone。Thefewhamletswepassedwerepoor,andhadnofoodforourmen,andwewereobligedtogoontill4p。m。,whenweenteredthesmallvillageofChipindu。Theinhabitantscomplainedofhunger,andsaidtheyhadnofoodtosell,andnohutforustosleepin;but,ifwewouldonlygoonalittlefurther,weshouldcometoavillagewheretheyhadplentytoeat; butwehadtravelledfarenough,anddeterminedtoremainwherewewere。Beforesunsetasmuchfoodwasbroughtaswecaredtopurchase,and,asitthreatenedtorain,hutswereprovidedforthewholeparty。 NextforenoonwehaltedatthevillageofouroldfriendMbame,toobtainnewcarriers,becauseChibisa\'smen,neverbeforehavingbeenhired,andnothavingyetlearnedtotrustus,didnotchoosetogofurther。Afterrestingalittle,MbametoldusthataslavepartyonitswaytoTettewouldpresentlypassthroughhisvillage。\"Shallweinterfere?\"weinquiredofeachother。WerememberedthatallourvaluableprivatebaggagewasinTette,which,ifwefreedtheslaves,might,togetherwithsomeGovernmentproperty,bedestroyedinretaliation;butthissystemofslave-huntersdogginguswherepreviouslytheydurstnotventure,and,onpretenceofbeing\"ourchildren,\"settingonetribeagainstanother,tofurnishthemselveswithslaves,wouldsoinevitablythwartalltheefforts,forwhichwehadthesanctionofthePortugueseGovernment,thatweresolvedtorunallrisks,andputastop,ifpossible,totheslave-trade,whichhadnowfollowedonthefootstepsofourdiscoveries。AfewminutesafterMbamehadspokentous,theslaveparty,alonglineofmanacledmen,women,andchildren,camewendingtheirwayroundthehillandintothevalley,onthesideofwhichthevillagestood。 Theblackdrivers,armedwithmuskets,andbedeckedwithvariousarticlesoffinery,marchedjauntilyinthefront,middle,andrearoftheline;someofthemblowingexultantnotesoutoflongtinhorns。Theyseemedtofeelthattheyweredoingaverynoblething,andmightproudlymarchwithanairoftriumph。ButtheinstantthefellowscaughtaglimpseoftheEnglish,theydartedofflikemadintotheforest;sofast,indeed,thatwecaughtbutaglimpseoftheirredcapsandthesolesoftheirfeet。Thechiefofthepartyaloneremained;andhe,frombeinginfront,hadhishandtightlygraspedbyaMakololo!Heprovedtobeawell-knownslaveofthelateCommandantatTette,andforsometimeourownattendantwhilethere。Onaskinghimhowheobtainedthesecaptives,herepliedhehadboughtthem;butonourinquiringofthepeoplethemselves,all,savefour,saidtheyhadbeencapturedinwar。Whilethisinquirywasgoingon,heboltedtoo。Thecaptiveskneltdown,and,intheirwayofexpressingthanks,clappedtheirhandswithgreatenergy。 Theywerethusleftentirelyonourhands,andknivesweresoonbusyatworkcuttingthewomenandchildrenloose。Itwasmoredifficulttocutthemenadrift,aseachhadhisneckintheforkofastoutstick,sixorsevenfeetlong,andwaskeptinbyanironrodwhichwasrivetedatbothendsacrossthethroat。Withasaw,luckilyintheBishop\'sbaggage,onebyonethemenweresawnoutintofreedom。 Thewomen,onbeingtoldtotakethemealtheywerecarryingandcookbreakfastforthemselvesandthechildren,seemedtoconsiderthenewstoogoodtobetrue;butafteralittlecoaxingwentatitwithalacrity,andmadeacapitalfirebywhichtoboiltheirpotswiththeslavesticksandbonds,theiroldacquaintancesthroughmanyasadnightandwearyday。Manyweremerechildrenaboutfiveyearsofageandunder。Onelittleboy,withthesimplicityofchildhood,saidtoourmen,\"Theotherstiedandstarvedus,youcuttheropesandtellustoeat;whatsortofpeopleareyou?——Wheredidyoucomefrom?\"Twoofthewomenhadbeenshotthedaybeforeforattemptingtountiethethongs。This,therestweretold,wastopreventthemfromattemptingtoescape。Onewomanhadherinfant\'sbrainsknockedout,becauseshecouldnotcarryherloadandit。Andamanwasdispatchedwithanaxe,becausehehadbrokendownwithfatigue。 Self-interestwouldhavesetawatchoverthewholeratherthancommitmurder;butinthistrafficweinvariablyfindself-interestovercomebycontemptofhumanlifeandbybloodthirstiness。 TheBishopwasnotpresentatthisscene,havinggonetobatheinalittlestreambelowthevillage;butonhisreturnhewarmlyapprovedofwhathadbeendone;heatfirsthaddoubts,butnowfeltthat,hadhebeenpresent,hewouldhavejoinedusinthegoodwork。Logicisoutofplacewhenthequestionwithatrue-heartedmanis,whetherhisbrothermanistobesavedornot。Eighty-four,chieflywomenandchildren,wereliberated;andonbeingtoldthattheywerenowfree,andmightgowheretheypleased,orremainwithus,theyallchosetostay;andtheBishopwiselyattachedthemtohisMission,tobeeducatedasmembersofaChristianfamily。InthiswayagreatdifficultyinthecommencementofaMissionwasovercome。Yearsareusuallyrequiredbeforeconfidenceissofarinstilledintothenatives\'mindastoinducethem,youngorold,tosubmittotheguidanceofstrangersprofessingtobeactuatedbymotivesthereverseofworldlywisdom,andinculcatingcustomsstrangeandunknowntothemandtheirfathers。 WeproceedednextmorningtoSoche\'swithourliberatedparty,themencheerfullycarryingtheBishop\'sgoods。Aswehadbegun,itwasofnousetodothingsbyhalves,soeightotherswerefreedinahamletonourpath;butapartyoftraders,withnearlyahundredslaves,fledfromSoche\'sonhearingofourproceedings。Dr。KirkandfourMakololofollowedthemwithgreatenergy,buttheymadeclearofftoTette。SixmorecaptiveswereliberatedatMongazi\'s,andtwoslave-tradersdetainedforthenight,topreventthemfromcarryinginformationtoalargepartystillinfront。OftheirownaccordtheyvolunteeredtheinformationthattheGovernor\'sservantshadchargeofthenextparty;butwedidnotchoosetobeledbythem,thoughtheyofferedtoguideustohisExcellency\'sownagents。 TwooftheBishop\'sblackmenfromtheCape,havingoncebeenslaves,werenowzealousemancipators,andvolunteeredtoguardtheprisonersduringthenight。Soanxiouswereourheroestokeepthemsafe,thatinsteadofrelievingeachother,bykeepingwatchandwatch,bothkeptwatchtogether,tilltowardsfouro\'clockinthemorning,whensleepstolegentlyoverthemboth;andthewakefulprisoners,seizingtheopportunity,escaped:oneoftheguards,perceivingtheloss,rushedoutofthehut,shouting,\"Theyaregone,theprisonersareoff,andtheyhavetakenmyriflewiththem,andthewomentoo! Fire!everybodyfire!\"Therifleandthewomen,however,wereallsafeenough,theslave-tradersbeingonlytoogladtoescapealone。 Fiftymoreslaveswerefreednextdayinanothervillage;and,thewholepartybeingstark-naked,clothenoughwaslefttoclothethem,betterprobablythantheyhadeverbeenclothedbefore。Theheadofthisgang,whomweknewastheagentofoneoftheprincipalmerchantsofTette,saidthattheyhadthelicenseoftheGovernorforalltheydid。Thiswewerefullyawareofwithouthisstatingit。ItisquiteimpossibleforanyenterprisetobeundertakentherewithouttheGovernor\'sknowledgeandconnivance。