14 BOATS FOR THE EXPEDITION. 



they contradict that statement by sajdng that their 

 shields lay by tlie side of the two dead Mavite. Living- 

 stone's trousers also remained, and the trousers of the 

 two boys. Why were not some of these articles 

 brought ? A Mavite shield would have adorned their 

 lying story. 



It also seemed to me a curious fact that during their 

 few months' travels the Johanna men should have 

 been the sole survivors of two Mavite onslaughts, their 

 companions in both cases having fallen victims. Put- 

 ting these things together, with the well-known fact 

 that Moosa has hitherto borne the character of a no- 

 torious liar, I never placed the least credence in the 

 report, and always felt certain that these rascals had 

 deserted their leader, and told this cleverly concocted 

 lie to screen their own cowardice. 



The Livingstone Search Expedition was sent out by 

 the Royal Geographical Society, assisted by our 

 Government, and consisted of Mr. E. D. Young, gun- 

 ner. Royal Navy (leader), Mr. J. Reid, carpenter, from 

 Glasgow, Mr. Buckley, stoker, from some man-of-war 

 or other, and myself. An iron boat, cutter-rigged, 

 and divided into thirty-seven sections, was provided, 

 her length thirty feet, beam eight feet, draught of 

 water eighteen inches. Another boat (a whaler) was 

 reported ready at the Cape of Good Hope for our use. 

 Mr. Young was given a carte hlanche to purchase any 

 provisions and barter goods he thought necessary. I 

 commenced my adventures on this trip the very night 

 I left home. I was in the mail steamer Leinster^ on 

 my way to Holyhead (being particularly anxious to be 

 at the Geographical Society's rooms the following day 



