MY DOUBTS OF ITS TRUTH. 13 



having discharged his piece at a foe in full charge, at 

 the short distance of twenty yards, quietly reloading, 

 even had he a Snider in his hand. Again, had 

 Moosa, with his loaded rifle in his hand (see Kirk's 

 letter, 9th Dec, par. 10), sufficient time to see all this 

 from behind a tree, surely he had time to fire in de- 

 fence of his leader. He acknowledges to having been 

 within ten paces of Livingstone when he saw the 

 Mavite within twenty yards, and charging (see Kirk's 

 letter, 9th Dec, par. 10). It seemed too ridiculous to 

 believe that all this time, during which an enemy had 

 commenced a charge, halted when they saw muskets 

 levelled at them, and continued their charge when 

 they found they were not fired on — during which two 

 of them were shot down by Livingstone, a volley was 

 fired by the African boys, and when the smoke cleared 

 away three of the enemy were seen facing the great 

 traveller — that all this time Moosa was standing be- 

 hind a tree in order to fire. Yet he stands quietly 

 there, within ten yards of them, till he sees how 

 the Mavite dispose of their prey ; and having seen 

 Livingstone's head drop forward, almost severed from 

 the body, and finally the bod}^ fall, he escapes by 

 flight. Surely, if he was within ten paces of the 

 murderers of Livingstone, and in a position to see the 

 sight he has reported, he could scarcely have escaped 

 unseen. 



Again, I am at a loss to know why they brought 

 nothing from the scene of the tragedy — no article of 

 any kind that would tend to prove their story. True, 

 they say, ^^ Nothing remained to bring away, the Mavite 

 had taken all," (Kirk's letter, 9th Dec, par. 11). Again, 



