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
_30th April, 1866._--Many ulcers burst forth on the camels; some seem
old dhow bruises. They come back from pasture, bleeding in a way that
no rubbing against a tree would account for. I am sorry to suspect
foul play: the buffaloes and mules are badly used, but I cannot be
always near to prevent it.
Bhang[8] is not smoked, but tobacco is: the people have no sheep or
goats; only fowls, pigeons, and Muscovy ducks are seen. Honey is very
cheap; a good large pot of about a gallon, with four fowls, was given
for two yards of calico. Buffaloes again bitten by tsetse, and by
another fly exactly like the house-fly, but having a straight hard
proboscis instead of a soft one; other large flies make the blood run.
The tsetse does not disturb the buffaloes, but these others and the
smaller flies do. The tsetse seem to like the camel best; from these
they are gorged with blood--they do not seem to care for the mules and
donkeys.
[Illustration: Carved Door, Zanzibar.]
FOOTNOTES:
[3] Dhow is the name given to the coasting vessel of East Africa and
the Indian Ocean.
[4] The Commander of H.M.S. _Pioneer_ in 1861.
[5] Those who have read the accounts given by African travellers will
remember that the bites inflicted by two or three of these small flies
will visually lay the foundation of a sickness which destroys oxen,
horses, and dogs in a few weeks.
[6] Dr. Livingstone was anxious to try camels and Indian buffaloes in
a tsetse country to see the effect upon them.
[7] This refers to an attack made upon the boats of the _Pioneer_ when
the Doctor was exploring the River Rovuma in 1861.
[8] A species of hemp.
CHAPTER II.
Effect of _Pioneer's_ former visit. The poodle Chitane. Result
of tsetse bites. Death of camels and buffaloes. Disaffection of
followers. Disputed right of ferry. Mazitu raids. An old friend.
Severe privations. The River Loendi. Sepoys mutiny. Dr. Roscher.
Desolation. Tattooing. Ornamental teeth. Singular custom. Death
of the Nassick boy, Richard. A sad reminiscence.
_1st May, 1866._--We now came along through a country comparatively
free of wood, and we could move on without perpetual cutting and
clearing. It is beautiful to get a good glimpse out on the surrounding
scenery, though it still seems nearly all covered with great masses of
umbrageous foliage, mostly of a dark green colour, for nearly all of
the individual trees possess dark glossy leaves like laurel. We passed
a gigantic specimen of the Kumbe, or gum-copal tree. Kumba means to
dig. Changkumbe, or things dug, is the name of the gum; the Arabs call
it "sandaruse." Did the people give the name Kumbe to the tree after
the value of the gum became known to them? The Malole, from the fine
grained wood of which all the bows are made, had shed its fruit on the
ground; it looks inviting to the eye--an oblong peach-looking thing,
with a number of seeds inside, but it is eaten by maggots only.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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