208 DA VI D LIVINGSTONE. [chap. x. 



Portuguese Government (which, however, was never 

 fulfilled by them) that his men would be looked after, he 

 made up his mind for a somewhat longer stay. But it 

 could not be called rest. As soon as he could settle down 

 he had to set to work with a book. So long before as 

 May 1856, Sir Roderick Murchison had written to him 

 that " Mr. John Murray, the great publisher, is most 

 anxious to induce you to put together all your data, and 

 to make a good book," adding his own strong advice 

 to comply with the request. If he ever doubted the 

 propriety of writing the book, the doubt must have 

 vanished, not only in view of the unequalled interest 

 excited by the subject, but also of the readiness of 

 unprincipled adventurers, and even some respectable 

 publishers, to circulate narratives often mythical and 

 quite unauthorised. 



The early part of the year 1857 was mainly occupied 

 with the labour of writing. For this he had materials in 

 the Journals which he had kept so carefully ; but the 

 business of selection and supplementing was laborious, 

 and the task of arrangement and transcription very 

 irksome. In fact, this task tried the patience of 

 Livingstone more than any which he had yet undertaken, 

 and he used to say that he would rather cross Africa 

 than write another book. His experience of book-mak- 

 ino- increased his respect for authors and authoresses a 

 hundredfold ! 



We are not, however, inclined to think that this trial 

 was due to the cause which Livingstone assigned, — his 

 want of experience, and want of command over the 

 English tongue. He was by no means an inexperienced 

 writer. He had written large volumes of Journals, 

 memoirs for the Geographical Society, articles on African 

 Missions, letters for the Missionary Society, and private 

 letters without end, each usually as long as a pamphlet. 

 He was master of a clear, simple, idiomatic style, well 



