Letter to John Kirk
David Livingstone

Date of composition: 14 May 1871
Place of composition: Nyangwe
Repository: National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Shelfmark: MS.10768, f. 81
Clendennen & Cunningham number(s): Letters, 1970
Digital edition and date: Livingstone Online, 2016
Publisher: University of Maryland Libraries, College Park, MD, USA
Project id: liv_002571
TEI encoding: Adrian S. Wisnicki, Megan Ward, Heather F. Ball, Kate Simpson, Ashanka Kumari, Alexander Munson

[liv_002571_0001]

14th May 1871 66 23 Chakanja Ludha's slave and Juma slave 31 2
of Mamea ringleaders of mutiny and the loudest in asserting that the
Consul told him not to go forward but [ ]back - and not to
follow me if I went to a "bad country" demanded leave for 15 days to go & buy
5 gaudy lambas where cheap on our West and on my refusing went &
told Abed what ample rations they got at the coast and now would
leave me - I refused because Abed has got a canoe for me - price not
settled as owner is sick - and I sent a party about six miles off to examine
another - see the owner - measure it and come back with him if willing for
10the price next day - They remained away six days - I could not trust these
ringleaders out of sight so sent other two of the slaves with guides to order
the first party back - These went on with them to kill Manyema & they
did kill three men - I told them I would never let them go anywhere unless
I could go myself - a party is going to buy copper as it is smelted near us
15They killed a great number who stood in mute amazement at the guns
and their effects - These ringleading worthies in everything that is bad
hope to repeat this bloodshed because they incur no danger &
would get slaves - I never imagined that human or Muhamadan
nature rather could be so atrociously vile - By the back of this I give
20them a dismissal - Twice I refused to go North at Bambarre - then
in the way threw back their rations of beads demanded double though
what I gave was three times more than the Arabs give their slaves - I
am glad to get rid of them by their own desire = They got two to follow
them by loud talking of what they get at the coast - and they know that
25my beads Quinine are nearly all at Ujiji - As to wages you will known best
they compelled me to an advance to six dollars at Bambarre - a distinct
breach of their engagement with you

I am far JK West - Loeki or Lomame is at least 60' further - very broad
a true Lake Lincoln above - When on its West bank we shall be some six
30weeks only from the mouth of the Congo - The people swarming and
friendly till abused by blood hounds - They drink a cup of coffee after each
meal - the trees are abundant - I am to get some - It is well dried in
the fruit rind - If Waller likes to set a trap for Cooley he might publish
about my great Westing and draw the author of "Inner Africa
35 laid open" out among stupidity in thinking Lualaba aught else
but the Congo - Then publish this addendum - you will naturally
like the great apostle of hearsay geography
if very pigheaded ^ swear I have been following the Congo instead of the
Nile but here the mighty river takes a sweep towards the East - takes
40in the Lomame and becomes more grand than ever 6 or 8 miles broad
with many very great inhabited islands in it before it joins or recieves
the Kiziwa which might be Lake Albert - Ivory is like grass - This
is great news for Suaheli & at 2 rings of copper a tusk - I wish that
license were refused to all the Sultans subjects for Interior trade
45who are guilty of bloodshed causelessly

David Livingstone