Livingstone's despatches. 121 



the north of Pamalombe, on the extreme south of 

 Nyassa. 



In a letter from Dr. Kirk to Sir Roderick Murchi- 

 son, dated Zanzibar, the 9th Dec, 1866, he states 

 that "Livingstone's letters and despatches were en- 

 trusted to the chief Mataka, to be given to^ the first 

 caravan," and that " these important documents have 

 not yet been recovered;" and in another letter to Dr. 

 Seward, acting-Consul at Zanzibar, and dated 20th 

 Dec, 1866, he writes as follows: — " The recovery of the 

 later despaches of Dr. Livingtone, written at Mataka, 

 is imperative, as they will give a clue to the proposed 

 course of action." 



We were now, by native report, within about fifty 

 or sixty miles of this very place, and our next object 

 was to obtain these despatches, as they would clear 

 up the whole mystery of the north, and it certainly 

 seemed most advisable to hear what the chief Mataka 

 had to say. 



While lying on the beach after dinner, in reply to 

 a question put by me on the subject, Mr. Young sig- 

 nified his intention of sending a native party to try and 

 get these despatches, while he in the meantime would 

 sail across the lake to Chinsamba in quest of news. I 

 strongly urged that the party should be accompanied 

 by, and under the command of, a European, and vol- 

 unteered my services, but the leader did not deem it 

 advisable that I should go, saying that he wished me 

 to go with him to the other side of the lake. A party 

 was then told off, consisting of three or four natives, 

 under command of two Makololos, and accompanied 

 by Sinjerry. They started next morning before sun- 



