to proceed without the presence of a white man was very natural, because bands of the enemy who had ravaged the country were supposed to be still roaming about; and if these marauders saw none but men of their own colour, our party might forthwith be attacked.  Compliance with their request led to an event which might have been attended by very serious consequences.  Dr. Livingstone got separated from the party in the boat for four days.  Having taken the first morning’s journey along with them, and directing the boat to call for him in a bay in sight, both parties proceeded north.  In an hour Dr. Livingstone and his party struck inland, on approaching the foot of the mountains which rise abruptly from the lake.  Supposing that they had heard of a path behind the high range which there forms the shore, those in the boat held on their course; but it soon began to blow so fresh that they had to run ashore for safety.  While delayed a couple of hours, two men were sent up the hills to look for the land party, but they could see nothing of them, and the boat party sailed as soon as it was safe to put to sea, with the conviction that the missing ones would regain the lake in front.

In a short time a small island or mass of rocks was passed, on which were a number of armed Mazitu with some young women, apparently their wives.  The headman said that he had been wounded in the foot by Mankambira, and that they were staying there till he could walk to his chief, who lived over the hills.  They had several large canoes, and it was evident that this was a nest of lake pirates, who sallied out by night to kill and plunder.  They reported a path behind the hills, and, the crew being reassured, the boat sailed on.  A few miles further, another and still larger band of pirates were fallen in with, and hundreds of crows and kites hovered over and round the rocks on which they lived.  Dr. Kirk and Charles Livingstone, though ordered in a voice of authority to come ashore, kept on their course.  A number of canoes then shot out from the rocks and chased them.  One with nine strong paddlers persevered for some time after all the others gave up the chase.  A good breeze, however, enabled the gig to get away from them with ease.  After sailing twelve or fifteen miles, north of the point where Dr. Livingstone had left them, it was decided that he must be behind; but no sooner had the boat’s head been turned south, than another gale compelled her to seek shelter in a bay.  Here a number of wretched fugitives from the slave-trade on the opposite shore of the lake were found; the original inhabitants of the place had all been swept off the year before by the Mazitu.  In the deserted gardens beautiful cotton was seen growing, much of it had the staple an inch and a half long, and of very fine quality.  Some of the plants were uncommonly large, deserving to be ranked with trees.

On their trying to purchase food, the natives had nothing to sell except a little dried cassava-root, and a few fish:  and they demanded two yards of calico for the head only of a large fish.  When the gale admitted of their return, their former pursuers tried to draw them ashore by asserting that they had quantities of ivory for sale.  Owing to a succession of gales, it was the fourth day from parting that the boat was found by Dr. Livingstone, who was coming on in search of it with only two of his companions.