CHAPTER 13.
Preliminary Arrangements for the Journey--A Picho--Twenty-seven Men appointed to accompany me to the West--Eagerness of the Makololo for direct Trade with the Coast--Effects of Fever--A Makololo Question--The lost Journal--Reflections--The Outfit for the Journey--11th November, 1853, leave Linyanti, and embark on the Chobe--Dangerous Hippopotami--Banks of Chobe--Trees--The Course of the River--The Island Mparia at the Confluence of the Chobe and the Leeambye-- Anecdote--Ascend the Leeambye--A Makalaka Mother defies the Authority of the Makololo Head Man at Sesheke--Punishment of Thieves--Observance of the new Moon--Public Addresses at Sesheke--Attention of the People--Results--Proceed up the River--The Fruit which yields 'Nux vomica'-- Other Fruits--The Rapids--Birds--Fish--Hippopotami and their Young.
Linyanti, SEPTEMBER, 1853.

The object proposed to the Makololo seemed so desirable that it was resolved to proceed with it as soon as the cooling influence of the rains should be felt in November.

The longitude and latitude of Linyanti (lat.

18d 17' 20" S., long.

23d 50' 9" E.) showed that St.Philip de Benguela was much nearer to us than Loanda; and I might have easily made arrangements with the Mambari to allow me to accompany them as far as Bihe, which is on the road to that port; but it is so undesirable to travel in a path once trodden by slave-traders that I preferred to find out another line of march.
Accordingly, men were sent at my suggestion to examine all the country to the west, to see if any belt of country free from tsetse could be found to afford us an outlet.