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Every step forward carried this man into exciting and dangerous adventures. Fearlessly greeting
tribesmen who never before had seen a white man, he would trade cloth, beads and tools for their
friendship, then set about helping them with his medicines. Accepted as a friend, he would work among
that tribe for weeks, then go on to a new tribe.
However, not all the tribes were friendly. Even friendly tribes presented problems. One chief
triumphantly announced that he was about to convert his whole tribe by flogging each member with
rhinoceros-hide whips. Many insisted upon believing that he had supernatural powers. Working among
the Bakwain tribe in south-central Africa during a dry season, Livingstone was given an ultimatum to
make rain. He saw that the waters of a lake could be diverted and he said he would make "rain" if the
natives would help. With wooden scoops he led the natives in digging ditches from the lake and thus set
up the first irrigation system in the interior of Africa.
At Mabotsa an enraged lion attacked and mauled him, breaking his left arm. A young native
engaged the lion and drew the beast away until it could bee killed. Livingstone was never again able to
lift his arm above his shoulder without pain. The young doctor's endurance and scorn of danger became
legendary. He came upon the Bakaa tribe just after their warriors had murdered a trader and all his porters.
Livingstone ate with the chief and gave him gifts. them calmly lay down in his hut and fell asleep.
Livingstone's work as a doctor was important. He showed daily the value of quinine in treating
malaria. During the first five years of his work, he himself had 31 attacks of fever. Without quinine he could not have lived. With it he revived whole families. As an explorer. Livingstone ranks with the
greatest. He explored one-third of the huge continent of Africa ---from the Cape almost to the Equator and
from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. He opened up a vaster unknown area of the earth's surface than any
other one man.
He was the first European to find the great Lake Ngami. He came upon some magnificent falls, more
than twice as high as Niagara. "Victoria Falls." Livingstone named them. in honour of his queen. After
his friends the Moffats returned to Africa, Livingstone married their daughter Mary. Born in Africa. Mary
was used to the hardships and dangers of the jungle and desert.
The Livingstones built their only real home at Kolobeng. Here four children were born. When repeated
sickness threatened the lives of Mary and the children, Livingstone sent them back to England. Returning
to Kolobeng he found that the Boers had raided his station, stolen his furniture, burnt many books, closed
the school and terrified his convert-helpers. Here was warning that the South African Government wanted
no more of his fight against the slave traffic. Livingstone answered fearlessly. He attacked slavery at every
chance and wrote glowing letters asking the British Government to help stop the trade. |
