d the Atlantic coast and then
returned, crossing the entire continent. His greatest achievement
was the exploration of the lake region of South Africa. So cut off
was he, in the African jungles, from all the outer world that no
communication was received from him for three years, and fears as
to his safety were relieved only when Stanley, sent out by the _New
York Herald_ to search for Livingstone, reported that he had seen
and assisted him.

In May, 1873, Livingstone died, at a village near Lake Bangweolo.
His body was taken to England and laid in Westminster Abbey, but
his heart was buried at the foot of the tree under whose branches
he died.

Returning toward Kuruman, I selected the beautiful valley of Mabotsa
(latitude 25 deg. 14' south, longitude 26 deg. 30') as the site of a missionary
station, and thither I removed in 1843. Here an occurrence took place
concerning which I have frequently been questioned in England, and
which, but for the importunities of friends, I meant to have kept in
store to tell my children when in my dotage. The Bakatla of the village
Mabotsa were much troubled by lions, which leaped into the cattle pens
by night and destroyed their cows. They even attacked the herds in open
day. This was so unusual an occurrence that the people believed that
they were bewitched,--"given," as they said, "into the power of the
lions by a neighboring tribe." They went once to attack the animals,
but, being rather a cowardly people compared to Bechuanas in general on
such occasions, they returned without killing any.

It is well known that if one of a troop of lions is killed, the others
take the hint and leave that part of the country. So, the next time the
herds were attacked, I went with the people, in order to encourage them
to rid themselves of the annoyance by destroying one of the marauders.
We found the lions on a small hill about a quarter of a mile in length,
and covered with trees. A circle of men was formed round it, and they
gradually closed up, ascending pretty near to each other. Being down
below on the plain with a native schoolmaster, named Mebalwe, a most
excellent man, I saw one of the lions sitting on a piece of rock within
the now closed circle of men. Mebalwe fired at him before I could, and
the ball struck the rock on which the animal was sitting. He bit at the
spot struck, as a dog does at a stick or stone thrown at him; then
lea