Stories of Ancient Egypt and Africa

Livingstone’s Last Expeditions and His Death In 1866 Dr. Livingstone sailed for Africa in the “Thule,” a pleasure yacht meant as a gift to the Sultan of Zanzibar—“the whole 2,000 miles being an everlasting see-saw, shuggy-shoo, enough to tire a chemist, the most patient of all animals,” he said, in a letter. He reached the Rovuma River with an ill-assorted lot of Sepoys from India and rowdy natives, most of whom were discharged soon after.

He pushed toward Lake Tanganyika, losing what resources he had, including his medicines, which were stolen, as he notes in his journal with the remark, “Felt as if I had received my death sentence.” Seeking a route that would avoid Portuguese influence, and accompanied by only five followers, Livingstone disappeared into the unknown interior, resolved upon reaching the sources of the Nile.

His deserting followers carried to the coast a detailed lie that Livingstone had been killed by Zulus, and the English did not know the truth until expeditions of inquiry had been sent as far as Lake Nyassa.

Though alive, Livingstone was so ill that his progress was a long martyrdom; but even in his litter he persisted in his purpose to settle the 292