Blood boils at the very thought of our wives, daughters, or sisters
being touched - we, as men with human feelings, would unhesitatingly
fight to the death, with all the fury in our power.
The good Bishop was as intensely averse to using arms, before he met
the slave-hunters, as any man in England. In the course he pursued
he may have made a mistake, but it is a mistake which very few
Englishmen on meeting bands of helpless captives, or members of his
family in bonds, would have failed to commit likewise.
During unhealthy April, the fever was more severe in Shupanga and
Mazaro than usual. We had several cases on board - they were quickly
cured, but, from our being in the delta, as quickly returned. About
the middle of the month Mrs. Livingstone was prostrated by this
disease; and it was accompanied by obstinate vomiting. Nothing is
yet known that can allay this distressing symptom, which of course
renders medicine of no avail, as it is instantly rejected. She
received whatever medical aid could be rendered from Dr. Kirk, but
became unconscious, and her eyes were closed in the sleep of death as
the sunset on the evening of the Christian Sabbath, the 27th April,
1862.
