140 
THOMAS J. COMBER. 
Bochini to the junction of the Kwango. Several 
distinguished members of the Society were present, 
amongst them being : Sir Henry Rawlinson, Sir 
Frederic Goldsmid, Sir Erasmus Ommanney, Mr. 
Johnston, Mr. Delmar Morgan, the last of whom had 
met Mr. Comber at Stanley Pool, and had accom- 
panied him on a visit to the great chief Nga Liema. 
Mr. Guinness of the Livingstone Mission was also 
present. The paper was adjudged to be of great 
geographical value. In proposing a vote of thanks, 
the chairman expressed his regret at the unavoidable 
absence of Mr. Stanley. It was hoped he would 
have attended, but the date was inconvenient. 
A public opportunity for Mr. Comber and Mr. 
Stanley to meet was, however, near at hand. On the 
28th of May, the celebrated African traveller was 
invited by the Missionary Society to a breakfast at 
the Cannon Street Hotel. On this memorable 
occasion, the chair was occupied by Mr. Joseph 
Tritton, the then treasurer, who welcomed Mr. 
Stanley in terms he so well knew how to use, of 
excellent propriety and chaste beauty. Mr. Comber 
made honourable mention of his frequent personal 
intercourse with their guest ; of their talks together 
about Livingstone, and the needs and future of 
Africa. He told an amusing story, how that one 
morning visiting Mr. Stanley early at Leopoldville, 
on a matter of business, and with a somewhat 
neglected toilet, instead of saying, ''Why, Mr. Comber, 
you haven’t shaved lately,” he began talking about 
Dr. Livingstone, and remarked how particular and 
careful the doctor always was as to his personal 
appearance in Central Africa, never allowing a day to 
pass, for instance, without shaving. Of course, 
observed Mr. Comber, I understood the allusion and 
remembered Mr. Stanley’s kindly hint afterwards. 
During his speech, Mr. Comber again and again 
gratefully recognised the kind help shown, not only 
to his own Mission, but to those of other societies. 
