How I Found Livingstone Travels, Adventures And Discoveries In Central Africa Including Four Months Residence With Dr. Livingstone By Sir Henry M. Stanley
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Capt. H. A. Fraser
And Dr. James Christie Were Also Loud In Their Praises.
It seems
that both of these gentlemen had attempted to despatch a private
expedition to the relief of their countryman, but through some
means it had failed.
They had contributed the sum of $500 to
effect this laudable object; but the man to whom they had
entrusted its command had been engaged by another for a different
purpose, at a higher sum. But, instead of feeling annoyed that
I had performed what they had intended to do, they were among my
most enthusiastic admirers.
The next day I received a call from Dr. Kirk, who warmly
congratulated me upon my success. Bishop Tozer also came,
and thanked me for tie service I had rendered to Dr. Livingstone.
On this day I also discharged my men, and re-engaged twenty of
them to return to the "Great Master." Bombay, though in the
interior he had scorned the idea of money rewards, and though he
had systematically, in my greatest need, endeavoured to baffle me
in every way, received, besides his pay, a present of $50, and
each man, according to his merits, from $20 to $50. For this was
a day to bury all animosities, and condone all offences. They,
poor people, had only acted according to their nature, and I
remembered that from Ujiji to the coast they had all behaved
admirably.
I saw I was terribly emaciated and changed when I presented myself
before a full-length mirror. All confirmed my opinion that I was
much older in my appearance, and that my hair had become grey.
Capt. Fraser had said, when I hailed him, "You have the advantage
of me, sir!" and until I mentioned my name he did not know me.
Even then he jocosely remarked that he believed that it was
another Tichborne affair. I was so different that identity was
almost lost, even during the short period of thirteen
months; that is, from March 23rd, 1871, to May 7th, 1872.
Lieut. Henn the morning after my arrival formally resigned, and
the Expedition was from this time in the hands of Mr. Oswell
Livingstone, who made up his mind to sell the stores, retaining
such as would be useful to his father.
After disbanding my Expedition, I set about preparing another,
according to Dr. Livingstone's request. What the English
Expedition lacked I purchased out of the money advanced by Mr.
Oswell Livingstone. The guns, fifty in number, were also
furnished out of the stores of the English Expedition by him;
and so were the ammunition, the honga cloth, for the tribute
to the Wagogo, and the cloth for provisioning the force.
Mr. Livingstone worked hard in the interests of his father
and assisted me to the utmost of his ability. He delivered
over to me, to be packed up, `Nautical Almanacs' for 1872, 1873,
1874; also a chronometer, which formerly belonged to Dr.
Livingstone. All these things, besides a journal, envelopes,
note-books, writing-paper, medicines, canned fruits and fish,
a little wine, some tea, cutlery and table ware, newspapers,
and private letters and despatches, were packed up in air-tight
tin boxes, as well as 100 lbs.
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