Missionary Travels and Researches in South AfricaLivingstone, David
Religion
Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa
Livingstone, David
Missions -- South Africa; South Africa -- Description and travel
Fleming had until this time always assisted to drive his own wagon, but
about the end of March he knocked up, as well as his people. As I could
not drive two wagons, I shared with him the remaining water, half a
caskful, and went on, with the intention of coming back for him as
soon as we should reach the next pool. Heavy rain now commenced; I was
employed the whole day in cutting down trees, and every stroke of the
axe brought down a thick shower on my back, which in the hard work was
very refreshing, as the water found its way down into my shoes. In the
evening we met some Bushmen, who volunteered to show us a pool; and
having unyoked, I walked some miles in search of it. As it became dark
they showed their politeness--a quality which is by no means confined
entirely to the civilized--by walking in front, breaking the branches
which hung across the path, and pointing out the fallen trees. On
returning to the wagon, we found that being left alone had brought out
some of Fleming's energy, for he had managed to come up.
As the water in this pond dried up, we were soon obliged to move again.
One of the Bushmen took out his dice, and, after throwing them, said
that God told him to go home. He threw again in order to show me the
command, but the opposite result followed; so he remained and was
useful, for we lost the oxen again by a lion driving them off to a very
great distance. The lions here are not often heard. They seem to have
a wholesome dread of the Bushmen, who, when they observe evidence of a
lion's having made a full meal, follow up his spoor so quietly that
his slumbers are not disturbed. One discharges a poisoned arrow from a
distance of only a few feet, while his companion simultaneously throws
his skin cloak on the beast's head. The sudden surprise makes the lion
lose his presence of mind, and he bounds away in the greatest confusion
and terror. Our friends here showed me the poison which they use on
these occasions. It is the entrails of a caterpillar called N'gwa, half
an inch long. They squeeze out these, and place them all around the
bottom of the barb, and allow the poison to dry in the sun. They are
very careful in cleaning their nails after working with it, as a small
portion introduced into a scratch acts like morbid matter in dissection
wounds. The agony is so great that the person cuts himself, calls for
his mother's breast as if he were returned in idea to his childhood
again, or flies from human habitations a raging maniac. The effects
on the lion are equally terrible. He is heard moaning in distress, and
becomes furious, biting the trees and ground in rage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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