342 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. XIII. 



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 faggot 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 Unyan- 

 yembe. 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 further 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 detect the real nature of the 

 ordinary-looking bale which, henceforth, was guarded Avith 

 no relaxed vigilance, and eventually disclosed the bark coffin 

 and wrappings, containing Dr. Livingstone's body, on the 

 arrival at Bagamoio. And now, devoid of fear, the people of 

 Kasekera asked them all to come and take up their quarters 

 in the town ; a privilege which was denied them so long as 

 it was known that they had the remains of the dead with 

 them. 



But a dreadful event was about to recall to their minds 

 how many fall victims to African disease ! 



Dr. Dillon now came on to Kasekera suffering much from 

 dysentery — a few hours more, and he shot himself in his 

 tent by means of a loaded rifle. 



