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: 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
5gaudy 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
35laid 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