514 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



of the money she has expended for you ? Is it to tell you that you must 

 pay for your freedom from Ashantee ? Is it to tell you that as she has done 

 so much for you, you must do what you can for yourselves, as she can do 

 no more ? Is it to tell you that as she has saved you from your late danger 

 you are to expect no further protection from her ? No. All she requires 

 and expects from you is obedience to her wishes, and those of her people in 

 England. 



" In return for those benefits the Queen requests your aid in putting an 

 end to a thing she and her people abhor. This thing is against a law which 

 no Bang or Queen of England can ever change. I have pointed out to some 

 of you that the English people buy sheep, fowls, and other live stock, but 

 not men, women, and children. 



" The Queen is determined to put a stop at once to the buying and sell- 

 ing of slaves, either within or without the Protectorate, in any shape, degree, 

 or form ; and she will allow no person to be taken as a pawn for debt. The 

 Queen desires to make you as happy as her own people. This buying, sell- 

 ing, and pawning of men and women and children, is wrong, and no country 

 where it exists can be happy. 



" The Queen does not desire to take any of your people from you; those 

 of them who like to work for, and with, and to assist you, can remain with 

 you. If they are happy and continue to live with you on the same terms as 

 now no change will be forced upon you ; but any person who does not desire 

 to live with you on those terms can leave, and will not be compelled by any 

 court, British or native, to return to you. The Queen hopes to make you 

 happy in many ways — as happy as those in her other dominions. It is right 

 that I should tell you distinctly that, if you desire her protection, you must 

 do as she wishes — do as she orders. 



" This is the Queen's message. When the Queen speaks in this way it 

 is not a matter for palaver, question, hesitation, or doubt, but she expects 

 obedience and assent. I will only say, that without the Queen's money and 

 troops you would have been slaves of a bloodthirsty people. The Queen has 

 paid a great price for your freedom. You and those near and dear to you 

 would have been dragged hence to form a portion of the thousands who are 

 decapitated and sacrificed by this savage race for their customs. Your homes 

 would have been homes full of misery. I see you to-day enjoying peace, 

 and I call on you all to join with me in the prayer, ' God save the Queen.' 

 My message is delivered." 



About November 1872, two Central African expeditions, for the relief and 

 assistance of Dr. Livingstone, were fitted out in this country, and sent, the 

 one to the East and the other to the West Coast, with orders to converge, by 

 way of the Congo and Zanzibar, on the scene of the traveller's last labours. 

 Lieutenant Cameron, R. N., took '■•he command of the East Coast expedition 



