398 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



act as our chiefs, and we will promise to obey whatever you order 

 us to do." From this moment we may look on Susi and Chuma 

 as the captains of the caravan. To their knowledge of the country, 

 of the tribes through which they were to pass, but, above all, to 

 the sense of discipline and cohesion which was maintained through- 

 out, their safe return to Zanzibar at the head of their men, must, 

 under God's good guidance, be mainly attributed. 



It was thought very necessary to keep Chief Chitamboin ignor- 

 ance of Livingstone's death, lest he might levy a great fine for 

 the injury done his district by an Englishman dying within it, as 

 nearly every other African chief would have done. But despite 

 their secrecy, Chitambo soon heard the sad news, when, instead 

 of demanding a fine, he at once prepared to give the remains the 

 respectful funeral honors which are due to the greatest chiefs in 

 Africa. In accordance with his promise, at the proper time, 

 Chitambo, leading his people and accompanied by his wives, came 

 to the hut wherein the remains lay. He was clad in a broad red 

 cloth, which covered the shoulders, while the wrapping of native 

 cotton cloth, worn round the waist, fell as low as his ankles. 

 All carried bows, arrows and spears, but no guns were seen. 

 Two drummers joined in the loud wailing lamentation, which so 

 indelibly impresses itself on the memories of people who have 

 heard it in the East, while the band of servants fired volley after 

 volley in the air, according to the strict rule of Portuguese and 

 Arabs on such occasions. 



It was determined to carry the body to Zanzibar, notwithstand- 

 ing the apparently insurmountable difficulties of embalming. It 

 was placed in a hut which was surrounded by a very strong stock- 

 ade, open at the top, but so high that no wild animal could break 

 in. There was only some salt and brandy with which to com- 

 plete the embalming, but these two articles one of the servants, 

 who had had some experience at Zanzibar, thought he could use 

 with success. 



It was not until May 4 that the process of embalming was 

 begun. This long delay did not serve to render the task more 

 difficult, because the body was little more than flesh and bones. 



