The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death | Page 6

FOR SEPARATING FIBRES OF BARK 15. THE CHIEF
CHITAPANGWA 16. CHITAPANGWA'S WIVES 17. FILED TEETH
OF QUEEN MOÄH 18. A FOREST GRAVE

GENERAL MAP OF DR. LIVINGSTONE'S OWN DISCOVERIES


CHAPTER I.
Arrival at Zanzibar. Hearty reception by Said Majid, the Sultan. Murder
of Baron van der Decken. The slave-market. Preparations for starting to
the interior. Embarkation in H.M.S. Penguin and dhow. Rovuma Bay
impracticable. Disembarks at Mikindany. Joy at travelling once more.
Trouble with sepoys. Camels attacked by tsetse fly, and by sepoys.
Jungle sappers. Meets old enemies. The Makondé. Lake Nangandi.
Gum-copal diggings.
ZANZIBAR, _28th January, 1866._--After a passage of twenty-three
days from Bombay we arrived at this island in the Thule, which was
one of Captain Sherard Osborne's late Chinese fleet, and now a present
from the Bombay Government to the Sultan of Zanzibar. I was
honoured with the commission to make the formal presentation, and
this was intended by H.E. the Governor-in-Council to show in how
much estimation I was held, and thereby induce the Sultan to forward
my enterprise. The letter to his Highness was a commendatory epistle
in my favour, for which consideration on the part of Sir Bartle Frere I
feel deeply grateful. It runs as follows:--
TO HIS HIGHNESS SEJUEL MAJID, SULTAN OF ZANZIBAR.
(_Copy._)
"YOUR HIGHNESS,--I trust that this will find you in the enjoyment of
health and happiness.
"I have requested my friend, Dr. David Livingstone, who is already
personally well and favourably known to your Highness, to convey to
you the assurance of the continual friendship and goodwill of Her
Majesty's Government in India.

"Your Highness is already aware of the benevolent objects of Dr.
Livingstone's life and labours, and I feel assured that your Highness
will continue to him the favour and protection which you have already
shown to him on former occasions, and that your Highness will direct
every aid to be given him within your Highness's dominions which may
tend to further the philanthropic designs to which he has devoted
himself, and which, as your Highness is aware, are viewed with the
warmest interest by Her Majesty's Government both in India and
England.
"I trust your Highness will favour me with continued accounts of your
good health and welfare.
"I remain, your Highness's sincere friend,
(Signed) "H.B.E. FRERE.
"BOMBAY CASTLE, _2nd January, 1866._"
When we arrived Dr. Seward, the Acting Consul, was absent at the
Seychelles on account of serious failure of health: Mr. Schultz,
however, was representing him, but he too was at the time away. Dr.
Seward was expected back daily, and he did arrive on the 31st. I
requested a private interview with the Sultan, and on the following day
(29th) called and told him the nature of my commission to his Highness.
He was very gracious, and seemed pleased with the gift, as well he
might, for the Thule is fitted up in the most gorgeous manner. We
asked a few days to put her in perfect order, and this being the
Ramadân, or fasting month, he was all the more willing to defer a visit
to the vessel.
Dr. Seward arranged to have an audience with the Sultan, to carry out
his instructions, which were to present me in a formal manner; Captain
Bradshaw of the Wasp, with Captain Leatham of the Vigilant, and
Bishop Tozer, were to accompany us in full dress, but the Sultan had a
toothache and gumboil, and could not receive us; he, however, placed
one of his houses at my disposal, and appointed a man who speaks
English to furnish board for my men and me, and also for Captain

Brebner, of the Thule, and his men.
[Illustration: Livingstone's House, Zanzibar.]
_6th February, 1866._--The Sultan being still unable to come, partly on
account of toothache and partly on account of Ramadân, he sent his
commodore, Captain Abdullah, to receive the Thule. When the English
flag was hauled down in the Thule, it went up to the mainmast of the
Iskander Shah, and was saluted by twenty-one guns; then the Wasp
saluted the Arab flag with an equal number, which honour being duly
acknowledged by a second royal salute from the Iskander Shah,
Captain Abdullah's frigate, the ceremony ended.
Next day, the 7th, we were received by the Sultan, and through his
interpreter, I told him that his friend, the Governor of Bombay, had
lately visited the South Mahratta Princes, and had pressed on them the
necessity of education; the world was moving on, and those who
neglected to acquire knowledge would soon find that power slipped
through their fingers, and that the Bombay Government, in presenting
his Highness with a portion of steam power, showed its desire to impart
one of the greatest improvements of modern times, not desiring to
monopolize power, but hoping to lift up others