He came
in the usual way. The Balonda show the exalted position they
occupy among men, viz., riding on the shoulders of a
spokesman in the way little boys do in England. The chief
brought two cocks and some eggs. I then gave a little present
too. The alteration in this gentleman's conduct--the Peace
Society would not credit-it--is attributable solely to my
people possessing guns. When we passed before, we were
defenseless. May every needed blessing be granted to you and
the dear children, is the earnest prayer of your ever most
affectionate
"D. LIVINGSTON."
It was soon after the date of this letter that Livingstone was struck
down by that severe attack of rheumatic fever, accompanied by great loss
of blood, to which reference has already been made. "I got it," he
writes to Mr. Maclear, "by sleeping in the wet. There was no help for
it. Every part of a plain was flooded ankle-deep. We got soaked by going
on, and sodden if we stood still." In his former journey he had been
very desirous to visit Matiamvo, paramount chief of the native tribes of
Londa, whose friendship would have helped him greatly in his journey;
but at that time he found himself too poor to attempt the enterprise.
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