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
had become prepossessed with the idea that Lake Liemba was that
Bemba of which I had heard in 1863, and we had been so starved
in the south that I gladly set my face north. The river-like
prolongation of Liemba might go to Moero, and where I could not
follow the arm of Liemba. Then I worked my way to this Lake.
Since coming to Casembe's the testimony of natives and Arabs has
been so united and consistent, that I am but ten days from Lake
Bemba, or Bangweolo, that I cannot doubt its accuracy. I am so
tired of exploration without a word from home or anywhere else
for two years, that I must go to Ujiji on Tanganyika for letters
before doing anything else. The banks and country adjacent to
Lake Bangweolo are reported to be now very muddy and very
unhealthy. I have no medicine. The inhabitants suffer greatly
from swelled thyroid gland or Derbyshire neck and
elephantiasis, and this is the rainy season and very unsafe for
me.
When at the lower end of Moero we were so near Casembe that it
was thought well to ascertain the length of the Lake, and see
Casembe too. We came up between the double range that flanks the
east of the Lake; but mountains and plains are so covered with
well-grown forest that we could seldom see it. We reached
Casembe's town on the 28th November. It stands near the north
end of the Lakelet Mofwe; this is from one to three miles broad,
and some six or seven long: it is full of sedgy islands, and
abounds in fish. The country is quite level, but fifteen or
twenty miles west of Mofwe we see a long range of the mountains
of Rua. Between this range and Mofwe the Luapula flows past into
Moero, the Lake called Moero okata = the great Moero, being
about fifty miles long. The town of Casembe covers a mile square
of cassava plantations, the huts being dotted over that space.
Some have square enclosures of reeds, but no attempt has been
made at arrangement: it might be called a rural village rather
than a town. No estimate could be formed by counting the huts,
they were so irregularly planted, and hidden by cassava; but my
impression from other collections of huts was that the
population was under a thousand souls. The court or compound of
Casembe--some would call it a palace--is a square enclosure of
300 yards by 200 yards. It is surrounded by a hedge of high
reeds. Inside, where Casembe honoured me with a grand reception,
stands a gigantic hut for Casembe, and a score of small huts for
domestics. The Queen's hut stands behind that of the chief, with
a number of small huts also. Most of the enclosed space is
covered with a plantation of cassava, _Curcus purgaris_, and
cotton. Casembe sat before his hut on a equate seat placed on
lion and leopard skins. He was clothed in a coarse blue and
white Manchester print edged with red baize, and arranged in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account