CHAPTER XXXV. 



BURIAL AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 



The Acknowledgment — Anxieties of the Men — The Council — Chuma and Susi 

 — Chitambo's Kindness — Native Honors to the Dead— Hut where the Body 

 was Prepared — The Materials for Preparing the Body — A Special Mourner — 

 The Embalmment — The Inscription — Preparation for Departing — Promises of 

 Chitambo — Route of Boys — Severe Trials— The Luapula — Crossing — An Old 

 Servant — An Accident — Native Surgery — "An Unfortunate Affair" — The 

 Fight — The Results — The Excuse — Objection to Flags — The Kalongosi — In 

 the Old Path — The Lake — New Scenes — Easier Route to Unyanyembe — The 

 News Received — Resolution of the Men — Justifiable Deception — A Dreadful 

 Snake — Arrival at Bagamoio — The Precious Freight — The Kilwa — Reception 

 in England — Identification — Burial. 



The curtain falls ; the drama of a wonderful life is closed. 

 The work is ended ; the hero died at his post. It remains 

 only for us to see how faithfully his followers cared for his 

 remains, and how well and bravely they won for themselves 

 the gratitude and applause of the civilized world. It has been 

 necessary to introduce the account of the leaders of the caravan 

 in the homeward march so closely, that it is due the Rev. Horace 

 Waller, the distinguished editor of the "Last Journals/' and also 

 Mr. John Murray, of London, the publisher, to accredit them 

 with it. We feel that the readers of this book will appreciate 

 having this narrative as fully as possible, and we feel confident 

 also that the gentlemen named will appreciate our motives in 

 using these few pages of their work. 



It was not without some alarm that the men realized their 

 more immediate difficulties : none could see better than they 

 what complications might arise in an hour. 



They knew the superstitious horror connected with the dead 

 to be prevalent in the tribes around them, for the departed 

 spirits of men are universally believed to have vengeance and 

 mischief at heart as their ruling idea in the land beyond the 

 grave. All rites turn on this belief. The religion of the 

 African is a weary attempt to propitiate those who show them- 

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