The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume I (of 2), 1866-1868Livingstone, David
History
The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume I (of 2), 1866-1868
Livingstone, David
Africa, Central -- Description and travel
The Arabs sent out men in all directions to purchase ivory; but
their victory over Nsama had created a panic among the tribes
which no verbal assurances could allay. If Nsama had been routed
by twenty Arab guns no one could stand before them but Casembe;
and Casembe had issued strict orders to his people not to allow
the Arabs who fought Nsama to enter his country. They did not
attempt to force their way, but after sending friendly messages
and presents to different chiefs, when these were not cordially
received, turned off in some other direction, and at last,
despairing of more ivory, turned homewards. From first to last
they were extremely kind to me, and showed all due respect to
the Sultan's letter. I am glad that I was witness to their mode
of trading in ivory and slaves. It formed a complete contrast to
the atrocious dealings of the Kilwa traders, who are supposed to
be, but are not, the subjects of the same Sultan. If one wished
to depict the slave-trade in its most attractive, or rather
least objectionable, form, he would accompany these gentlemen
subjects of the Sultan of Zanzibar. If he would describe the
land traffic in its most disgusting phases he would follow the
Kilwa traders along the road to Nyassa, or the Portuguese
half-castes from Tette to the River Shire.
Keeping to the north of Nsama altogether, and moving westwards,
our small party reached the north end of Moero on the 8th
November last. There the Lake is a goodly piece of water twelve
or more miles broad, and flanked on the east and west by ranges
of lofty tree-covered mountains. The range on the west is the
highest, and is part of the country called Rua-Moero; it gives
off a river at its north-west end called Lualaba, and receives
the River Kalongosi (pronounced by the Arabs Karungwesi) on the
east near its middle, and the rivers Luapula and Rovukwe at its
southern extremity. The point of most interest in Lake Moero is
that it forms one of a chain of lakes, connected by a river some
500 miles in length. First of all the Chambeze rises in the
country of Mambwe, N.E. of Molemba. It then flows south-west and
west till it reaches lat. 11 deg. S., and long. 29 deg. E., where it
forms Lake Bemba or Bangweolo, emerging thence it assumes the
new name Luapula, and comes down here to fall into Moero. On
going out of this Lake it is known by the name Lualaba, as it
flows N.W. in Rua to form another Lake with many islands called
Urenge or Ulenge. Beyond this, information is not positive as to
whether it enters Tanganyika or another Lake beyond that. When I
crossed the Chambeze, the similarity of names led me to imagine
that this was a branch of the Zambesi. The natives said, "No.
This goes south-west, and forms a very large water there." But I
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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