Not only was the party now better armed than before, but the good name of Livingstone had also become better known along the line, and during his return journey he did not encounter so much opposition.  We cannot fail to be struck with his extraordinary care for his men.  It was his earnest desire to bring them all back to their homes, and in point of fact the whole twenty-seven returned in good health.  How carefully he must have nursed them in their attacks of fever, and kept them from unnecessary exposure, it is hardly possible for strangers adequately to understand.

On reaching the country of the Barotse, the home of most of them, a day of thanksgiving was observed (23d July, 1855).  The men had made little fortunes in Loanda, earning sixpence a day for weeks together by helping to discharge a cargo of coals or, as they called them, “stones that burned.”  But, like Livingstone, they had to part with everything on the way home, and now they were in rags; yet they were quite as cheerful and as fond of their leader as ever, and felt that they had not traveled in vain.  They quite understood the benefit the new route would bring in the shape of higher prices for tusks and the other merchandise of home.  On the thanksgiving day—­

“The men decked themselves out in their best, for all had managed to preserve their suits of European clothing, which, with their white and red caps, gave them a rather dashing appearance.  They tried to walk like soldiers, and called themselves ‘my braves.’  Having been again saluted with salvos from the women, we met the whole population, and having given an address on divine things, I told them we had come that day to thank God before them all for his mercy in preserving us from dangers, from strange tribes and sicknesses.  We had another service in the afternoon.  They gave us two fine oxen to slaughter, and the women have supplied us abundantly with milk and meal.  This is all gratuitous, and I feel ashamed that I can make no return.  My men explain the whole expenditure on the way hither, and they remark gratefully:  ’It does not matter, you have opened a path for us, and we shall have sleep.’  Strangers from a distance come flocking to see me, and seldom come empty-handed.  I distribute all presents among my men.”

Several of the poor fellows on reaching home found domestic trouble—­a wife had proved inconstant and married another man.  As the men had generally more wives than one, Livingstone comforted them by saying that they still had as many as he.

Amid the anxieties and sicknesses of the journey, and multiplied subjects of thought and inquiry, Livingstone was as earnest as ever for the spiritual benefit of the people.  Some extracts from his Journal will illustrate his efforts in this cause, and the flickerings of hope that would spring out of them, dimmed, however, by many fears: