686 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



There was a very large and fashionable attendance. The Hon. the Lord 

 Provost presided, who, after reading several letters of apology for non-attend- 

 ance from distinguished persons, went on to say, that he felt very highly 

 honoured indeed in having been asked to preside that night and introduce to 

 them Commander Cameron of the Royal Navy, the great African explorer. 

 He was a gentleman of a good old Scotch family, and was a worthy successor 

 of those great Scottish travellers, Mungo Park and Dr. Livingstone. Like 

 these men, Commander Cameron made his message through Africa a message 

 of peace, and he very often turned aside and took circuitous routes rather than 

 push onward by force of arms, for he very well knew if blood were shed the 

 anger of the natives would be aroused, and the path would be made difficult 

 and dangerous for his successors. Now that Commander Cameron had come 

 among them, after wandering two and a half years over that vast continent, 

 and had brought with him much knowledge, he would give an account of his 

 discoveries ; and his lordship felt sure they would listen to him with attention 

 and give him a very hearty welcome. He had very much pleasure in introduc- 

 ing Commander Cameron. 



Commander Cameron, who on rising was received with prolonged cheers, 

 said — " Four years ago, when lie was in Her Majesty's service, he was on the 

 East Coast of Africa as lieutenant of the ship ' Star.' Whilst there he felt there 

 was a great deal more to be done in the way of African discovery, and acquir- 

 ing a knowledge of the working of the slave trade, than had ever yet been 

 done. He heard that people had gone from Zanzibar far into the interior, 

 and felt that what they had done a subject of Her Majesty could do. He came 

 home and heard a report that there was to be a Livingstone Search Expedition. 

 He did not know his countryman, and there was no use of talking of him here, 

 for his name was a household word in this part of the empire. Unfortunately, 

 he did not get the command of that expedition. It was entrusted to Lieutenant 

 Dawson, and unfortunately, just as they were starting with every element of 

 success, they met Mr. Stanley, who had just relieved Dr. Livingstone. Owing 

 to his reports, and some misunderstanding, they turned back, and the expe- 

 dition was fruitless. Towards the end of 1872 there was a talk, owing to 

 what Dr. Livingstone had written home, of sending out a mission to Zanzibar 

 for the suppression of the slave trade. He was selected by the Geographical 

 Society to go to Zanzibar and take command of an expedition to join Living- 

 stone, render him assistance, and also place themselves unreservedly under 

 his orders. Dr. Dillon of the Royal Navy was to accompany him. They left 

 in December, 1872, and after an eventful passage, they arrived at Zanzibar 

 in January, 1873, having been joined by a volunteer, Lieutenant Murphy, 

 of the Royal Artillery. Their first duty at Zanzibar was to see if they could 

 pick up men for their escort, every single thing in Africa having to be carried 

 on men's shoulders. The necessities of the expedition required three hundred 



