* / 



GEOGBAPHY, ANTIQUITIES, AND 



STATISTICS. 



FATE OF DR. LIVINGSTONE. 



MUCH anxiety has been felt concerning the fate of this eminent 

 African explorer. Apparently truthful and minute details con- 

 cerning the manner of his death had convinced most persons of 

 his melancholy fate ; but recently intelligence has been received 

 which leads to the belief that he may yet be living and prosecuting 

 his scientific explorations. 



From a report communicated to the Department of State by the 

 U. S. Consul at Zanzibar, derived from Dr. Kirk, formerly a mem- 

 ber of Dr. Livingstone's Zambesi expedition, and dated Dec. 9, 

 1866, it appears that Dr. Livingstone left Zanzibar on the 9th of 

 March, 1866, for exploration of the river Rovuma and the great 

 lake country of Central Africa. His expedition may be briefly 

 stated to have been an attempt to unite the magnificent discoveries 

 of late years, and determine the limits and connections of the 

 three great lakes which reach from 14 south to 2 north latitude, 

 flowing to the sea by the Zambesi and Nile at the two extremities, 

 but with an intermediate space, as yet unknown. Such was the 

 geographical problem. But he had in view also to affect the pres- 

 ent enormous East African slave-trade, through pioneering the 

 way which might lead to lawful commerce. 



To have consolidated in one the successive discoveries achieved 

 by himself on the Nyassa ; by Burton, on the Sanganyika; by 

 Speke and Grant, on the Victoria ; and by Baker, on the Albert 

 Nyanza, would have been a fitting triumph for one who was the 

 first to cross the African continent within the tropical zone ; but 

 these hopes have been wrecked by his supposed untimely death. 



The last heard of him was at "N'doude," at the confluence of 

 the Rovuma and Niende. Here lie met with kindness, but found 

 the land desolated by the slave-traders supplying the market of 

 Zanzibar. We have information that he proceeded further west 

 to '-Mataka," a Miao chief, who gave presents of cattle and food. 

 At this point the Indian sepoys remained behind, and have since 

 returned to Zanzibar. From Mataka to Alake was eight days' 

 inarch. On crossing a wide water in Canves, they followed the 

 border of the lake for several days, and then struck inland. They 

 were suddenly attacked in a bush country, about 9 A. M., by a 

 band of Mavite, a wandering people, by whom Dr. Livingstone 

 and many of his party are said to have been killed. This hap- 

 pened about October *25th. 1866, and in a locality which cannot be 

 precisely determined. 



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