A Popular Account of Dr. Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries: And of the Discovery of Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa, 1858-1864Livingstone, David
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A Popular Account of Dr. Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries: And of the Discovery of Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa, 1858-1864
Livingstone, David
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, Central -- Discovery and exploration
Some of the burying-grounds are very well arranged, and well cared for;
this was noticed at Chitanda, and more particularly at a village on the
southern shore of the fine harbour at Cape Maclear. Wide and neat paths
were made in the burying-ground on its eastern and southern sides. A
grand old fig-tree stood at the north-east corner, and its wide-spreading
branches threw their kindly shade over the last resting-place of the
dead. Several other magnificent trees grew around the hallowed spot.
Mounds were raised as they are at home, but all lay north and south, the
heads apparently north. The graves of the sexes were distinguished by
the various implements which the buried dead had used in their different
employments during life; but they were all broken, as if to be employed
no more. A piece of fishing-net and a broken paddle told where a
fisherman lay. The graves of the women had the wooden mortar, and the
heavy pestle used in pounding the corn, and the basket in which the meal
is sifted, while all had numerous broken calabashes and pots arranged
around them. The idea that the future life is like the present does not
appear to prevail; yet a banana-tree had been carefully planted at the
head of several of the graves; the fruit might be considered an offering
to those who still possess human tastes. The people of the neighbouring
villages were friendly and obliging, and willingly brought us food for
sale.
Pursuing our exploration, we found that the northern part of the lake was
the abode of lawlessness and bloodshed. The Mazite, or Mazitu, live on
the highlands, and make sudden swoops on the villages of the plains. They
are Zulus who came originally from the south, inland of Sofalla and
Inhambane; and are of the same family as those who levy annual tribute
from the Portuguese on the Zambesi. All the villages north of
Mankambira's (lat. 11 degrees 44 minutes south) had been recently
destroyed by these terrible marauders, but they were foiled in their
attacks upon that chief and Marenga. The thickets and stockades round
their villages enabled the bowmen to pick off the Mazitu in security,
while they were afraid to venture near any place where they could not use
their shields. Beyond Mankambira's we saw burned villages, and the
putrid bodies of many who had fallen by Mazitu spears only a few days
before. Our land party were afraid to go further. This reluctance to
proceed without the presence of a white man was very natural, because
bands of the enemy who had ravaged the country were supposed to be still
roaming about; and if these marauders saw none but men of their own
colour, our party might forthwith be attacked. Compliance with their
request led to an event which might have been attended by very serious
consequences. Dr. Livingstone got separated from the party in the boat
for four days. Having taken the first morning's journey along with them,
and directing the boat to call for him in a bay in sight, both parties
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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