1 2 STORY OF Livingstone's death. 



"13. I believe that Dr. Livingstone first came upon 

 the lake in lat. 10^. " J. Kirk." 



Extract from a Letter of Dr. Kirk to Sir Roderick L MurcTdson. 

 19^/i December^ 1866. 



"1. From Mapoonda on the west side of a narrow 

 portion of the lake, they marched to Marenga, two 

 days' journey distant. Marenga was civil, and ferried 

 the party over a marshy tract of mud, which they 

 might have gone round by a detour. The outlying 

 villas^ers warned them that the Mavite were out. 



"2. When he had journeyed a day and a half from 

 Marenga, about 9 a.m. the party was suddenly attacked 

 in plain ground. " J Kirk." 



Before proceeding with the narrative of the search 

 I shall show the principal reasons I myself had for 

 doubting the truth of the reported death of Living- 

 stone. Doubtless the Johanna men's story appears 

 tolerably plausible at first sight, but when closely 

 studied it must inevitably dwindle into a mere fabrica- 

 tion. Perhaps the first thing that struck me on read- 

 ing Dr. Kirk's letters was that during the attack 

 Livingstone is reported to have shot two of the Mavite 

 when within twenty yards, and charging, and was in 

 the act of reloading his gun when cut down. Now, 

 had Moosa stated that he had seen Livingstone cut 

 down with his rifle clubbed, fighting hand to hand 

 with the Mavite, or else in actual flight, it appeared to 

 me he would have told a better yarn. This I could 

 have understood, but I could not fancy any man. 



