622 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



has survived thera all, but she is alone. Of all the band captured with her, 

 she states that she only has escaped alive to tell the sickening tale." 



It is very gratifying to learn from Colonel Gordon, who is engaged in 

 active measures for the suppression of the slave-trade at Grondokoro, that one 

 tribe had already sided with bim, and, through their instrumentality, one 

 thousand six hundred slaves had been captured, wbich had proved the death- 

 blow to the slave-trade in that particular district. 



In the following letter, written from Zanzibar, Nov. 16, 1874, Mr. Stanley 

 gives some very important information respecting the organisation, prospects 

 and intentions of the expedition sent out by the proprietors of the ' ' Daily 

 Telegraph" and " New York Herald," and which was about to commence its 

 long journey into the heart of unexplored Africa. After a humorous portrai- 

 ture of the numerous applicants, of all nationalities, who tendered him their 

 assistance and advice, he says : — 



" I never knew how many kind friends I could number until I was about 

 to sail from England. The White Star Line treated me in the most princely 

 fashion ; gave me free passages to America and back. The Peninsular and 

 Oriental Company and the British India, through their obliging agents, 

 showered courtesy after courtesy on me. Testimonials from hundreds of 

 gentlemen were thrust on me, and invitations to dinner and dances, and to 

 1 spend a month or more in the country,' were so numerous, that if I could 

 have availed myself of them in succession years must elapse before any hotel 

 need charge a penny to my account. But though my preparations for the 

 journey monopolised my time and compelled me to 'decline with thanks' 

 these manifold kindnesses, my numerous friends must believe that I am none 

 the less grateful. I departed from England on August 15, loaded with good 

 wishes, keepsakes, photographs, favours of all kinds. At Aden I met my 

 white assistants, whom I had despatched from England, via Southampton, in 

 charge of the boats, etc. My young English assistants had quite got over all 

 melancholy feelings and were in capital spirits, though they entertained a 

 doubt whether, if Central Africa were as hot as Aden, they should enjoy it 

 very much. On my assuring them that they need fear nothing on the score 

 of heat in Africa after Arabia, they expressed themselves relieved from their 

 greatest fear. On the British Indian Steamer Euphrates, I was delighted to 

 find that the Pocock brothers possessed several qualifications beyond those of 

 sobriety, civility, and industry. I discovered that they were capital singers 

 and musicians, having belonged to some choir in their native town, where 

 they were justly much esteemed. The delightful weather we experienced 

 between Aden and Zanzibar was most grateful after the intense heat of 

 Steamer Point, and we consequently arrived at Zanzibar on the 22nd of Sep- 

 tember, almost as fresh and robust as when we left England. 



" The next morning after I landed, some of my old friends of the former 



