I cannot repeat what he said; I was too much
engrossed to take my note-book out, and begin to stenograph his story.
He had so much to say that he began at the end, seemingly oblivious
of the fact that five or six years had to be accounted for. But his
account was oozing out; it was growing fast into grand proportions -
into a most marvellous history of deeds.
The Arabs rose up, with a delicacy I approved, as if they intuitively
knew that we ought to be left to ourselves. I sent Bombay with them
to give them the news they also wanted so much to know about the
affairs at Unyanyembe. Sayd bin Majid was the father of the gallant
young man whom I saw at Masangi, and who fought with me at Zimbizo,
and who soon afterwards was killed by Mirambo's Ruga-Ruga in the
forest of Wilyankuru; and, knowing that I had been there, he
earnestly desired to hear the tale of the fight; but they had all
friends at Unyanyembe, and it was but natural that they should be
anxious to hear of what concerned them.
After giving orders to Bombay and Asmani for the provisioning of
the men of the Expedition, I called "Kaif-Halek," or "How-do-ye-do,"
and introduced him to Dr. Livingstone as one of the soldiers in
charge of certain goods left at Unyanyembe, whom I had compelled
to accompany me to Ujiji, that he might deliver in person to his
master the letter-bag with which he had been entrusted. This was
that famous letter-bag marked "Nov. 1st, 1870," which was now
delivered into the Doctor's hands 365 days after it left Zanzibar!
How long, I wonder, had it remained at Unyanyembe had I not been
despatched into Central Africa in search of the great traveller?
The Doctor kept the letter-bag on his knee, then, presently, opened
it, looked at the letters contained there, and read one or two of
his children's letters, his face in the meanwhile lighting up.
He asked me to tell him the news. "No, Doctor," said I, "read your
letters first, which I am sure you must be impatient to read."
"Ah," said he, "I have waited years for letters, and I have been
taught patience. I can surely afford to wait a few hours longer.
No, tell me the general news: how is the world getting along?
"You probably know much already. Do you know that the Suez Canal
is a fact - is opened, and a regular trade carried on between Europe
and India through it?"
"I did not hear about the opening of it. Well, that is grand news!
What else?"
Shortly I found myself enacting the part of an annual periodical
to him. There was no need of exaggeration of any penny-a-line
news, or of any sensationalism.
