The chief promised to do all he could to keep both the tree and the timber sign-posts from being touched, but added, that he hoped the English would not be long in coming to see him, because there was always the risk of an invasion of Mazitu, when he would have to fly, and the tree might be cut down for a canoe by some one, and then all trace would be lost.  All was now ready for starting.

FOOTNOTES: 

[33] Two hours and a quarter in a south-westerly direction.

[34] The name Molilamo is allowed to stand, but in Dr. Livingstone’s Map we find it Lulimala, and the men confirm, this pronunciation.—­ED.

[35] The great loss of blood may have had a bearing on the case.

[36] It has been suggested by one who attended Dr. Livingstone professionally in several dangerous illnesses in Africa, that the ultimate cause of death was acute splenitis.—­ED.

CHAPTER XIII.

They begin the homeward march from Ilala.  Illness of all the men.  Deaths.  Muanamazungu.  The Luapula.  The donkey killed by a lion.  A disaster at N’Kossu’s.  Native surgery.  Approach Chawende’s town.  Inhospitable reception.  An encounter.  They take the town.  Leave Chawende’s.  Reach Chiwaie’s.  Strike the old road.  Wire drawing.  Arrive at Kumbakumba’s.  John Wainwright disappears.  Unsuccessful search.  Reach Tanganyika.  Leave the Lake.  Cross the Lambalamfipa range.  Immense herds of game.  News of East-Coast Search Expedition.  Confirmation of news.  They reach Baula.  Avant-couriers sent forwards to Unyanyembe.  Chumah meets Lieutenant Cameron.  Start for the coast.  Sad death of Dr. Dillon.  Clever precautions.  The body is effectually concealed.  Girl killed by a snake.  Arrival on the coast.  Concluding remarks.

The homeward march was then begun.  Throughout its length we shall content ourselves with giving the approximate number of days occupied in travelling and halting.  Although the memories of both men are excellent—­standing the severest test when they are tried by the light of Dr. Livingstone’s journals, or “set on” at any passage of his travels—­they kept no precise record of the time spent at villages where they were detained by sickness, and so the exactness of a diary can no longer be sustained.

To return to the caravan.  They found on this the first day’s journey that some other precautions were necessary to enable the bearers of the mournful burden to keep to their task.  Sending to Chitambo’s village, they brought thence the cask of tar which they had deposited with the chief, and gave a thick coating to the canvas outside.  This answered all purposes; they left the remainder at the next village, with orders to send it back to head-quarters, and then continued their course through Ilala, led by their guides in the direction of the Luapula.