otal
stranger. The Portuguese have all been extremely kind. In
coming through the coffee plantations I was offered more
coffee than I could take or needed, and the best in the
world. One spoonful makes it stronger than three did of that
we used. It is found wild on the mountains.

"Mr. Gabriel came about 30 miles with me, and ever since,
though I spoke freely about the slave-trade, the very
gentlemen who have been engaged in it, and have been
prevented by our ships from following it, and often lost
much, treated me most kindly in their houses, and often
accompanied me to the next place beyond them, bringing food
for all in the way. The common people are extremely civil,
and a very large proportion of the inhabitants in one
district called Ambaca can read and write well. They were
first taught by the Roman Catholic missionaries, and now
teach each other so well, it is considered a shame in an
Ambacista not to be able to write his own name at least. But
they have no Bibles. They are building a church at Ambaca,
and another is in course of erection here, though they cannot
get any priests. May God grant that we may be useful in some
degree in this field also.... Give my love to all the
children, they will reap the advantage of your remaining
longer at home than we anticipated. I hope Robert, Agnes, and
Tom are each learning as fast as they can. When will they be
able to write a letter to me? How happy I shall be to meet
them and you again! I hope a letter from you may be waiting
for me at Zambesi. Love to all the children. How tall is
Zouga? Accept the assurance of unabated love.

"DAVID LIVINGSTON."

It must not be forgotten that all this time Dr. Livingstone was making
very careful astronomical observations, in order to determine his exact
positions, and transmitting elaborate letters to the Geographical
Society. His astronomical observations were regularly forwarded to his
friend the Astronomer-Royal at the Cape, Mr. Maclear, for verification
and correction.

Writing to Livingstone on 27th March, 1854, with reference to some of
his earlier observations, after noticing a few trifling mistakes, Mr.
Maclear says: "It is both interesting and amusing to trace your
improvement as an observer. Some of your early observations, as you
remark, are rough, and the angles ascribed to