334 
LIVINGSTONE’S LAST JOURNEY 
On the 27th of April, 1873, he last entry is made in the journal. 
It must have cost a great effort, for all day he had lain in a stupor, 
brought on by intense weakness. These are the last words that he 
wrote: 
“27th April, 1873. Knocked up quite, and remain—recover— 
sent to buy milch goats. We are on the banks of the Molilamo.” 
To the last he preserved his habit of faithfully recording the 
geographical features of his position. 
On the following day he was gently lifted off his bed, laid in a 
canoe, and ferried across the river. He was then as gently replaced 
on the kitanda, and borne along. He was now near the village of 
Chitambo, at the southern extremity of Bangweolo, and the men has¬ 
tened to reach this resting-place. Through dreary stretches of water 
they steadily splashed their way. Whenever a fairly dry patch was 
reached, he begged them to lay him down and let him stay. The brave 
fellows did what they could to encourage him, and on the evening of 
the 29th they reached the village. During the day he had been so 
faint as to be unable to articulate at times. Some of the men had been 
thoughtfully sent on in front to build a hut for him, and shortly after 
arriving the doctor was laid down upon his bed. 
On the following morning the chief, Chitambo, came to call upon 
him, but the doctor was too ill to talk with him. In the afternoon Susi 
placed his watch in the palm of the doctor’s hand, and held it there 
while for the last time the key was slowly and with difficulty turned. 
Some hours later, shortly before midnight, he asked Susi, “Is this the 
Luapula?” His mind was evidently failing. 
An hour later, he asked Susi to bring the medicine chest. Select¬ 
ing the calomel with great difficulty, he told Susi to pour some water 
into a cup, and then said in a low indistinct voice: 
“All right: you can go out now.” 
They were the last words that his fellow-creatures ever heard 
him speak. 
Shortly before dawn on the 1st of May, a lad who slept within the 
hut to attend to his needs awoke Susi, Chuma, and two or three more, 
saying he feared the master was dead. They entered the hut, and by 
the dim light of the candle which was still burning they saw the doctor 
