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The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume I (of 2), 1866-1868 by David Livingstone
page 49 of 405 (12%)


CHAPTER II.

Effect of _Pioneer's_ former visit. The poodle Chitané. 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 Kumbé, or gum-copal tree. Kumba means to
dig. Changkumbé, or things dug, is the name of the gum; the Arabs call
it "sandarusé." Did the people give the name Kumbé to the tree after
the value of the gum became known to them? The Malolé, 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.

When we came to Ntandé's village, we found it enclosed in a strong
stockade, from a fear of attack by Mabiha, who come across the river
and steal their women when going to draw water: this is for the Ibo
market. They offered to pull down their stockade and let us in if we
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