In the course of this journey he had even more exciting escapades among hostile tribes than those which he had encountered on the way to Loanda.  His serious anxieties began when he passed beyond the tribes that owned the sovereignty of Sekeletu.  At the union of the rivers Loangwa and Zambesi, the suspicious feeling regarding him reached a climax, and he could only avoid the threatened doom of the Bazimka (i.e. Bastard Portuguese) who had formerly incurred the wrath of the chief, by showing his bosom, arms, and hair, and asking if the Bazimka were like that.  Livingstone felt that there was danger in the air.  In fact, he never seemed in more imminent peril: 

14th January, 1856.—­At the confluence of the Loangwa and Zambesi.  Thank God for his great mercies thus far.  How soon I may be called to stand before Him, my righteous Judge, I know not.  All hearts are in his hands, and merciful and gracious is the Lord our God.  O Jesus, grant me resignation to Thy will, and entire reliance on Thy powerful hand.  On Thy Word alone I lean.  But wilt Thou permit me to plead for Africa?  The cause is Thine.  What an impulse will be given to the idea that Africa is not open if I perish now!  See, O Lord, how the heathen rise up against me, as they did to Thy Son.  I commit my way unto Thee.  I trust also in Thee that Thou wilt direct my steps.  Thou givest wisdom liberally to all who ask Thee—­give it to me, my Father.  My family is Thine.  They are in the best hands.  Oh! be gracious, and all our sins do Thou blot out.

     ’A guilty, weak, and helpless worm,
       On Thy kind arms I fall.’

     Leave me not, forsake me not.  I cast myself and all my cares
     down at Thy feet.  Thou knowest all I need, for time and
     for eternity.

“It seems a pity that the important facts about the two healthy longitudinal ridges should not become known in Christendom.  Thy will be done!...  They will not furnish us with more canoes than two.  I leave my cause and all my concerns in the hands of God, my gracious Saviour, the Friend of sinners.

“Evening.—­Felt much turmoil of spirit in view of having all my plans for the welfare of this great region and teeming population knocked on the head by savages to-morrow.  But I read that Jesus came and said, ’All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations—­and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world’ It is the word of a gentleman of the most sacred and strictest honor, and there is an end on’t.  I will not cross furtively by night as I intended.  It would appear as flight, and should such a man as I flee?  Nay, verily, I shall take observations for latitude and longitude to-night, though they may be the last.  I feel quite calm now, thank God.

“15th January, 1856.—­Left bank of Loangwa.  The natives of the surrounding