AN ARAB TIIIEF. 
599 
Africans — Hottentots, Bechuanas, Makololo, Backwims, 
and Zambesians of different tribes — and we soon became 
attached to each other. My present lot are exceptions, 
not fair specimens of Africans. 
“ My love to Sarah and the children. I have had no 
letters from homo for years, except some three years old. 
I fear that a large packet, with one for you, I sent from 
Ujiji, was destroyed by an Arab Governor, who sent one 
of liis men to plunder my goods, and then kept a long box 
containing two English guns, medicines, letters, and de- 
spatches, though I sent it twice. He does not want evidence 
of his theft to go to the coast, and he kept a man who wit- 
nessed the plundering as well as the packet. All will turn 
out right at last I hope ; meantime it is trying. 
Affectionately yours, David Livingstone.” 
The following is his second letter (headed private and 
confidential), dated, Lake Bangweola, South Central Africa, 
December, 1872: 
“ My Dear Brother. * * * I was still determined not 
to give in to their vilianies, and of working my way down 
to Baker for aid. It was then that mj' good Samaritan, 
Stanley, sent by James Gordon Bennett, of the New York 
Herald, came on the scene, and his conduct was beyond 
all praise. I was told that Stanley would make his fortune 
of me, and if ho does he is heartily welcome, for lie saved 
me a wearisome tramp after Baker, and probably saved 
my life. * * * And if the good Lord above me gives me 
strength and influence to complete the task in spite of 
everything, I shall not grudge my hunger and toils. 
Above all, if Ho permits mo to put a stop to the enormous 
evils of this inland slave trade I shall bless His name with 
all my heart. The Nile sources are valuable to me only as 
a means of opening mj r mouth with power among men. 
It is this power I hopo to apply to remedy an enormous 
evil and join my poor little helping hand in the great 
revolution that in Ilis all-embracing providence lie has been 
carrying on for ages and is now actively helping forward. 
Affectionately yours, David Livingstone. ’ 
