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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 be
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, then calmly lay
down in his but 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 tight 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. |
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Based on the passage given, write
a summary to describe Dr Livingstone's adventure in Africa. Include
* how he dealt with the natives
* what he did as a doctor and
explorer
* the danger he encountered and
his discoveries
Credit will be given for use of
own words but care must be taken not to change the original meaning. Your
summary must be in continuous form and not longer than 130 words,
including the 10 words given below.
Begin your summary as follows :
"Fearlessly greeting tribesmen,
Dr Livingstone traded cloth, beads and tools ..." |
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Fearlessly greeting tribesmen, Dr Livingstone traded cloth,
beads and tools for their friendship. He treated the sick. Accepted as a
friend, he would work among that tribe for weeks, then goon to a new tribe.
Once he was challenged to make rain. He enlisted the help of the tribesmen
to dig ditches to lead water from the lake to their farm. An attack by a
lion broke his arm badly. His endurance and scorn of danger became
legendary. He even ate and slept with the fierce Bakaa tribe that had
murdered a trader earlier. As a doctor, he used quinine to treat malaria,
thus saving many lives. He explored one-third of the huge continent of
Africa, discovering Lake Ngami and Victoria Falls. (
125 words ) |
