1836-40.] MISSIONARY PREPARATION. 33 



On taking leave, Livingstone promised to bear his 

 instructor in mind if any curiosity fell in his way. 

 Years passed, and as no communication reached him, 

 Mr. Owen was disposed to class the promise with too 

 many others made in the like circumstances. But on his 

 first return to this country Livingstone presented himself, 

 bearing the tusk of an elephant with a spiral curve. He 

 had found it in the heart of Africa, and it was not easy 

 of transport. "You may recall," said Professor Owen, at 

 the Farewell Festival in 1858, "the difficulties of the 

 progress of the weary sick traveller on the bullock's 

 back. Every pound weight was of moment ; but Living- 

 stone said, ' Owen shall have this tusk/ and he placed it 

 in my hands in London." Professor Owen recorded this 

 as a proof of Livingstone's inflexible adherence to his 

 word. With equal justice we may quote it as a proof 

 of his undying gratitude to any one that had shown 

 him kindness. 



On all his fellow-students and acquaintances the 

 simplicity, frankness, and kindliness of Livingstone's 

 character made a deep impression. Mr. J. S. Cook, now 

 of London, who spent three months with him at Ongar, 

 writes : " He was so kind and gentle in word and deed to 

 all about him that all loved him. He had always words 

 of sympathy at command, and was ready to perform acts 

 of sympathy for those who were suffering." The Rev. 

 G. D. Watt, a brother Scotchman, who went as a 

 missionary to India, has a vivid remembrance of Living- 

 stone's mode of discussion ; he showed great simplicity 

 of view, along with a certain roughness or bluntness of 

 manner ; great kindliness, and yet great persistence in 

 holding to his own ideas. But none of his friends seem 

 to have had any foresight of the eminence he was destined 

 to attain. The Directors of the Society did not even 

 rank him among their ablest men. It is interesting to 

 contrast the opinion entertained of him then with that 



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