776 JUSTIFIABLE DECEPTION. 



men removed the corpse of the deceased explorer from the 

 package in which it had hitherto been conveyed, and buried the 

 bark case in the hut in the thicket around the village in which 

 they had placed it. The object now was to throw the villagers 

 off their guard, by making believe that they had relinquished 

 the attempt to carry the body to Zanzibar. They feigned that 

 they had abandoned their task, having changed their minds, 

 and that it must be sent back to Unyanyembe to be buried 

 there. In the mean time the corpse of necessity had to be con- 

 cealed in the smallest space possible, if they were actually to 

 convey it secretly for the future ; this was quickly managed. 



Susi and Chuma went into the wood and stripped off a fresh 

 length of bark from an N'gombe tree; in this the remains, 

 conveniently prepared as to length, were placed, the whole being 

 surrounded with calico in such a manner as to appear like an 

 ordinary travelling bale, which was then deposited with the rest 

 of the goods. They next proceeded to gather a fagot of 

 mapira-stalks, cutting them in lengths of six feet or so, and 

 swathing them round with cloth to imitate a dead body about 

 to be buried. This done, a paper, folded so as to represent a 

 letter, was duly placed in a cleft stick, according to the native 

 letter-carrier's custom, and six trustworthy men were told off 

 ostensibly to go with the corpse to Unyanyembe. With due 

 solemnity the men set out; the villagers were only too thankful 

 to see it, and no one suspected the ruse. It was near sundown. 

 The bearers of the package held on their way, till fairly beyond 

 all chance of detection, and then began to dispose of their load. 

 The mapira-sticks were thrown one by one far away into the 

 jungle, and when all were disposed of, the wrappings were 

 cunningly got rid of in the same way. Going farther on, first 

 one man, and then another, sprung clear from the path into the 

 long grass, to leave no trace of footsteps, and the whole party 

 returned by different ways to their companions, who had been 

 anxiously awaiting them during the night. No one could de- 

 tect the real nature of the ordinary-looking bale which, hence- 

 forth, was guarded with no relaxed vigilance, and eventually 

 disclosed the bark coffin and wrappings, containing Dr. Living- 

 stone's body, on the arrival at Bagamoio. And now, devoid of 

 fear, the people of Kasekera asked them all to come and take 



