414 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



above human effort, unaided by the ruby liquid that cheers, to be always 

 suave and polite amid the dismals of native life in Africa. After the evening 

 meal, the most advanced of the pupils came forward, to the number of twenty, 

 with brass instruments, thus forming a full band of music. It rather aston- 

 ished me to hear instrumental sounds issue forth in harmony from such woolly 

 headed youngsters ; to hear well-known French music at this isolated post ; 

 to hear negro boys, that a few months ago knew nothing beyond the traditions 

 of their ignorant mothers, stand forth and chant Parisian songs about French 

 valour and glory, with all the sang froid of gamins from the purlieus of Saint 

 Antoine." 



Mr. Stanley's expedition arrived at Bagamoyo on the 6th of February, 

 1871, and his first caravan started on the 16th, and the last on the 21st of 

 March, each being under the escort of a certain number of soldiers, with one 

 of Speke's " Faithfuls" at their head. The number of people forming the 

 expedition was 192. 



In melancholy contrast with this was the fate of a caravan despatched 

 by Dr. Kirk for Dr. Livingstone, on the 1st November, 1870. It consisted of 

 thirty-five packages, which required as many bearers, and it had not left Baga- 

 moyo on the 10th of February. One cannot help thinking, that Dr. Kirk, 

 knowing the need there was for promptitude if his old friend was to be re- 

 lieved, should have crossed the narrow channel to the mainland, and seen it 

 fairly started. Mr. Stanley's formidable expedition had been collected to- 

 gether, and was on the march within seventy-three days of his arrival in 

 Zanzibar, while the Livingstone caravan had rested more than that period 

 on the very threshold of its journey. The knowledge that another expedition 

 was being collected, should have stimulated him to see to the very needful 

 duty that the one under his charge had at least started on its journey. No 

 wonder Dr. Livingstone fretted and thought that he had been utterly forgotten, 

 when, sick and weary, and without the means of going forward, he went and 

 came to and from Ujiji, until, at last, he had perforce to remain there until 

 relieved. 



Mr. Stanley had not proceeded far when " the plague of flies " induced 

 him to watch their habits, and examine them with a view to identifying the 

 famous tsetse fly. In his eagerness, he submitted himself as a victim to their 

 thirst for blood. " I permitted one," he says, " to alight on my flannel trou- 

 sers, which I wore when en deshabille in camp. No sooner had he alighted, 

 than his posterior was raised, his head lowered, and his weapons, consisting of 

 four hair-like styles, unsheathed from the proboscis-like bag which concealed 

 them, and immediatly I felt pain, like that caused by a dexterous lancet-cut, 

 or the probe of a fine needle. I permitted him to gorge himself, though my 

 patience and naturalistic instinct was sorely tried. I saw his abdominal parts 

 distend with the plenitude of the repast until they had swollen to three times 



