SAD END OF SEKWEBU. 233 



After waiting about six weeks at Kiliniane, the Frolic arrived, bringing 

 abundant supplies for all bis needs, and £150 to pay his passage home, from 

 the agent of the London Missionary Society at the Cape. The admiral at the 

 Cape sent an offer of a free passage to the Mauritius, which Livingstone 

 gladly accepted. As six of the eight of his attendants who had accompanied 

 him to Kilimane had, by his instructions, gone back to Tete to await his 

 return, while the other eight who had accompanied him as far as the delta of 

 the Zambesi had also returned, only two were left with him when the Frolic 

 arrived. One of these was Sekwebu, who had been so useful throughout the 

 journey that he determined to take him to England with him, so that he 

 might be able to tell Sekeletu and the Makololo what sort of country England 

 was, and further increase the confidence and trust already reposed in him and 

 in his countrymen generally. The other one begged hard to be permitted to 

 accompany them, and it is a matter for regret that the expense alone 

 prevented Livingstone from acceding to his wishes. There was a heavy sea 

 on when they crossed the bar to the Frolic, and as this was Sekwebu's first 

 introduction to the ocean he appeared frightened. On board ship he seemed 

 to get accustomed to his novel situation, picked up a few words of English, 

 and ingratiated himself with the crew, who treated him with great kindness. 

 During all this time there was, although unnoticed, a strain upon his 

 untutored mind, which reached its climax when a steamer came out to tow the 

 Frolic into the harbour at the Mauritius. The terror evoked by the sight of the 

 uncouth panting monster with its volume of smoke culminated in madness, and 

 he descended into a boat alongside. On Livingstone following him to bring 

 him back, he said, " No ! no ! it is enough that I die alone. You must not 

 perish ; if you come I shall throw myself into the water." Noticing then that 

 his mind was affected, Livingstone said, " Now Sekwebu, we are going to Ma- 

 Robert." This had a calming effect upon his mind, and he said " Oh, yes > 

 where is she ? and where is Robert ? " (Livingstone's son). The officers pro- 

 posed to put him in irons for a time ; but Livingstone, fearing that this would 

 wound his pride, and that it might be said in his own country that he had 

 bound him like a slave, unfortunately would not consent to this. " In the 

 evening a fresh accession of insanity occurred ; he tried to spear one of the 

 crew, then leaped overboard, and, though he could swim well, pulled himself 

 down hand under hand, by the chain cable. We never found the body of 

 Sekwebu." 



At the Mauritius, Livingstone was hospitably entertained by Major-Gen. 

 C. M. Hay, and was induced to remain some time there to recruit his shattered 

 health. On the 12th of December, 1856, he arrived in England after an 

 absence of seventeen years, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company 

 generously refunding his passage money, when made aware of the dis- 

 tinguished personage they had had the honour of carrying. On the day pre- 

 p 1 



