How I found Livingstone : $b Travels, adventures, and discoveres in Central Africa, including an account of four months' residence with Dr. LivingstoneStanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton)
History
How I found Livingstone : $b Travels, adventures, and discoveres in Central Africa, including an account of four months' residence with Dr. Livingstone
Stanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton)
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Livingstone, David, 1813-1873
At this cry one half of the mob hastily took to flight, but one old
woman, who carried a strong staff with a carved lizard's body on its
top, commenced to abuse the chief with all the power of her voluble
tongue, charging him with a desire to have them all killed, and other
women joined in with her in advising him to be quiet, and accept the
present we were willing to give.
But it is evident that there was little needed to cause all men present
in that little hollow to begin a most sanguinary strife. The gentle,
patient bearing of the Doctor had more effect than anything else in
making all forbear bloodshed, while there was left the least chance of
an amicable settlement, and in the end it prevailed. The Sultan and his
son were both sent on their way rejoicing.
While the Doctor conversed with them, and endeavoured to calm their
fierce passions, I had the tent struck, and the canoes launched, and
the baggage stowed, and when the negotiations had concluded amicably,
I begged the Doctor to jump into the boat, as this apparent peace was
simply a lull before a storm; besides, said I, there are two or three
cowardly creatures in the boat, who, in case of another disturbance,
would not scruple to leave both of us here.
From Cape Luvumba, about 4.30 P.M. we commenced pulling across; at 8
P.M. we were abreast of Cape Panza, the northern extremity of the
island of Muzimu; at 6 A.M. we were southward of Bikari, and pulling for
Mukungu, in Urundi, at which place we arrived at 10 A.M., having been
seventeen hours and a half in crossing the lake, which, computing at two
miles an hour, may be said to be thirty-five miles direct breadth, and a
little more than forty-three miles from Cape Luvumba.
On the 11th of December, after seven hours' pulling, we arrived at
picturesque Zassi again; on the 12th, at the pretty cove of Niasanga;
and at 11 A.M. we had rounded past Bangwe, and Ujiji was before us.
We entered the port very quietly, without the usual firing of guns, as
we were short of powder and ball. As we landed, our soldiers and the
Arab magnates came to the water's edge to greet us.
Mabruki had a rich budget to relate to us, of what had occurred during
our absence. This faithful man, left behind in charge of Livingstone's
house, had done most excellently. Kalulu had scalded himself, and had
a frightful raw sore on his chest in consequence. Mabruki had locked up
Marora in chains for wounding one of the asses. Bilali, the stuttering
coward, a bully of women, had caused a tumult in the market-place, and
had been sharply belaboured with the stick by Mabruki. And, above
all most welcome, was a letter I received from the American Consul at
Zanzibar, dated June 11th, containing telegrams from Paris as late as
April 22nd of the same year! Poor Livingstone exclaimed, "And I have
none. What a pleasant thing it is to have a real and good friend!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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