[David Livingstone, explorer and missionary, set out in 1866 to explore the sources of the Nile, and some years afterwards was believed to have been lost in Central Africa. He was found by Henry Morton Stanley, who describes below his meeting with Livingstone in the heart of Africa.]
We are now about three hundred yards from the village of Ujiji, and the crowds are dense about me. Suddenly I hear a voice on my right say, " Good-morning, sir! "Startled at hearing this greeting in the midst of such a crowd of black people, I turn sharply around in search of the man, and see him at my side, with the blackest of faces, but animated and joyous--a man dressed in a long white shirt, with a turban of American sheeting around his woolly head-- and I ask, "Who the mischief are you ? ""I am Susi, the servant of Dr. Livingstone, " said he, smiling and showing a gleaming row of teeth. " What ! Is Dr. Livingstone here ?" "Yes, sir. " " In this village ?" "Yes, sir. " "Are you sure? " " Sure, sure, sir. Why, I leave him just now. ""Good-morning, sir, " said another voice. " Hallo. " said I, "is this another one ?" "Yes, sir. " "Well, what is your name?" "My name is Chumah, sir. " "What! are you Chumah, the friend of Wekotani ? " " Yes, sir. " "And is the Doctor well?"" Not very well, sir. " "Where has he been so long? " "In Manyuema. " "Now, you, Susi, run and tell the Doctor I am coming. " " Yes, sir "; and off he darted like a madman.
But by this time we were within two hundred yards of the village, and the multitude was getting denser, and almost preventing our march. Flags and streamers were out; Arabs and Wangwana were pushing their way through the natives in order to greet us, for, according to their account, we belonged to them. But the great wonder of all was, "How did you come from Unyanyembe ? "Soon Susi came running back, and asked me my name. He had told the Doctor that I was coming, but the Doctor was too surprised to believe him; and, when the Doctor asked him my name, Susi was rather staggered.
But, during Susi"s absence, the news had been conveyed to the Doctor that it was surely a white man that was coming, whose guns were firing and whose flag could be seen; and the great Arab magnates of Ujiji had gathered together before the Doctor"s house, and the Doctor had come out from his veranda to discuss the matter and await my arrival.
In the meantime the head of the expedition had halted, and the standard-bearer was out of the ranks, holding his flag aloft; and Selim said to me, "I see the Doctor, sir. Oh, what an old man! He has a white beard. " And I-what would I not have given for a bit of friendly wilderness, where, unseen, I might vent my joy in some mad freak, such as idioticallybiting my hand, turning a somersault, or slashing at trees, in order to allay those exciting feelings that were well-nigh uncontrollable. My heart beats fast, but I must not let my face betray my emotions, lest it shall detract from the dignity of a white man appearing in such extraordinary circumstances.
So I did that which I thought was most dignified. I pushed back the crowds, and, passing from the rear, walked down a living avenue of people until I came in front of the semicircle of Arabs, in the front of which stood the white man with the grey beard. As I advanced slowly towards him, I noticed he was pale, looked wearied, had a grey beard, wore a bluish cap with a faded gold band round it, had on a red-sleeved waistcoat and a pair of grey tweed trousers. I would have run to him, only I was a coward in the presence of such a mob-would have embraced him, only, being an Englishman, I did not know how he would receive me; so I did what cowardice and false pride suggested was the best thing- walked deliberately to him, took off my hat, and said, " Dr. Livingstone, I presume ? ""Yes, " said he, with a kind smile, lifting his cap slightly.
I replace my hat on my head, and he puts on his cap, and we both grasp hands; and I then said aloud, "I thank God, Doctor, I have been permitted to see you. "He answered, "I feel thankful that I am here to welcome you."I turn to the Arabs, take off my hat to them in responseto the saluting chorus of " Yambos " I receive, and the Doctor introduces them to me by name. Then, oblivious of the crowds, oblivious of the men who shared with me my dangers, we- Livingstone and I-turn our faces towards his tembe. He points to the veranda or, rather, mud platform under the broad overhanging eaves; he points to his own particular seat, which I see his age and experience in Africa have suggested, namely, a straw mat, with a goat-skin over it, and another skin nailed against the wall to protect his back from contact with the cold mud. I protest against taking this seat, which so much more befits him than me but the Doctor will not yield: I must take it.
We are seated-the Doctor and I-with our backs to the wall. The Arabs take seats on our left. More than a thousand natives are in our front, filling the whole square densely, indulging their curiosity, and discussing the fact of two white men meeting at Ujiji-one just come from Manyuema, in the west, the other from Unyanyembe, in the east.
Henry Morton Stanley.
Author.-Sir Henry Morton Stanley, whose baptismal name was John Rowlands, was born in Wales in 1841; he died in 1904. As a boy he spent ten years in a workhouse, then sailed as a cabin boy to America, fought in the Civil War, became a newspaper correspondent, and represented the New York Herald on various foreign missions. He found Livingstone in 1871. Afterwads he carried out explorations in Africa, came back to Britain, and was elected to Parliament. His works includeHow I found Livingstone, Through the Dark Continent, In Darkest Africa, andMy Dark Companions.
General Notes.-Look up Ujiji on the map and see what your geography says about the neighbourhood. Read, if you can get one, a life of Livingstone (1813-1873). The finding of Livingstone was on the 10th of November, 1871. Make a list of the persons mentioned, and put a brief deion opposite each name. Write a little essay on "Inland Explorers," not omitting those of our own country.
