A Popular Account of Dr. Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries: And of the Discovery of Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa, 1858-1864Livingstone, David
History
A Popular Account of Dr. Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries: And of the Discovery of Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa, 1858-1864
Livingstone, David
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, Central -- Discovery and exploration
The Bishop, feeling, as most Englishmen would, at the prospect of the
people now in his charge being swept off into slavery by hordes of men-
stealers, proposed to go at once to the rescue of the captive Manganja,
and drive the marauding Ajawa out of the country. All were warmly in
favour of this, save Dr. Livingstone, who opposed it on the ground that
it would be better for the Bishop to wait, and see the effect of the
check the slave-hunters had just experienced. The Ajawa were evidently
goaded on by Portuguese agents from Tette, and there was no bond of union
among the Manganja on which to work. It was possible that the Ajawa
might be persuaded to something better, though, from having long been in
the habit of slaving for the Quillimane market, it was not very probable.
But the Manganja could easily be overcome piecemeal by any enemy; old
feuds made them glad to see calamities befall their next neighbours. We
counselled them to unite against the common enemies of their country, and
added distinctly that we English would on no account enter into their
quarrels. On the Bishop inquiring whether, in the event of the Manganja
again asking aid against the Ajawa, it would be his duty to accede to
their request,--"No," replied Dr. Livingstone, "you will be oppressed by
their importunities, but do not interfere in native quarrels." This
advice the good man honourably mentions in his journal. We have been
rather minute in relating what occurred during the few days of our
connection with the Mission of the English Universities, on the hills,
because, the recorded advice having been discarded, blame was thrown on
Dr. Livingstone's shoulders, as if the missionaries had no individual
responsibility for their subsequent conduct. This, unquestionably, good
Bishop Mackenzie had too much manliness to have allowed. The connection
of the members of the Zambesi Expedition, with the acts of the Bishop's
Mission, now ceased, for we returned to the ship and prepared for our
journey to Lake Nyassa. We cheerfully, if necessary, will bear all
responsibility up to this point; and if the Bishop afterwards made
mistakes in certain collisions with the slavers, he had the votes of all
his party with him, and those who best knew the peculiar circumstances,
and the loving disposition of this good-hearted man, will blame him
least. In this position, and in these circumstances, we left our friends
at the Mission Station.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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