THE FATE OF DR LIVINGSTONE.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 167, 12 February 1868, Page 3

THE FATE OF DR LIVINGSTONE.

At a meeting of the Royal Geological Society held in London on the 25th November, the following letter which had been received from Dr Kirk, relating to Dr Livingstone, was read by the President, Sir Roderick Murchison:— " Zanzibar, Sep. 28, 1867. "My dear Sir Roderick—You know that a rumor has been current on the coast to the effect that a white man had been seen near Ujiji. Such a story came to us at a time when it was quite impossible that Livingstone could be the man. Now, however, another narrative has reached us, which if we believe, it is, I think, difficult to avoid the conclusion that our distinguished traveller may even yet succeed and disprove the story given us of his death by the Johanna men.

" A Banian trader at Pagamogo told me three days ago that he had heard a rumor that some white man had been seen at Wemba; of this he seemed to have no doubt. To-day, he brought a native, whom he introduced, and left alone with me. I entered into conversation, and led him on in an irregular way to give an account of his journey, without guiding his imagination by any leading questions, determining to meet again and fill in the details. When I dismissed him, after my first conversation, it appeared that a ship would sail for Bombay immediately; and, not to lose a chance, Mr Churchill, the consul, to

whom I gave the notes, at once sent all to Bombay, with a request that the substance might be telegraphed to the Foreign Office, viz., that we had now some grounds for believing that a white man resembling Livingstone had been seen to the south of ITjiji. " The native, with the rest of the caravan, left Bagamogo, and pressed along the usual trade route to Wemba and Maranga, which is a region governed by several chiefs, more or less dependent upon one paramount, a white man arrived with a party of thirteen; blacks, who spoke Suaheli. All had firearms, and six carried double- i barrelled guns. The white man was of moderate height, not stout, dressed in white, and wore a cloth wrapped round his head. He gave the chief a looking-glass, and was offered ivory, .which he declined, stating that he was not a trader. He then went northwards. I do not know that this man can tell much more. He. is a simple carrier, who formed part of a caravan; but if we can find the head man of the party, it will be possible no doubt then to identify this stranger, who seems, to our hopeful imagination, so like our long lost friend ; and then only think of the revelations he will have to make to us!

"It is decided that we go to Bagamogo in two days to make inquiry, but we must do so quietly. " The story of a white man having been seen at Uruwa, to the west of the lake, is a distinct thing from the more definite narrative we now have. But the one adds confirmation to the other, and shows us that if it he Livingstone on whose track we now are, and. that he has more than half-finished his work, and is about to go to the Albert Nyanza. I may mention that there is now no doubt that the white man of whom I wrote formerly long ago as having been seen on one of the lakes by an Arab who remained on the coast was a Turk, one of the traders from G-ondokoro who have been met with in Uganda by Zanzibar merchants. The description fully satisfied me of this, and nothing is more probable. Thus the traders of Egypt and Zanibar have now met in the interior of Africa ! Speke's route has been quickly followed. How far this has been for the immediate benefit of Africa others may judge. In the end Africa will be overrun with traders in all directions, and then the vast resesources of this continent will be shown.

" Postscript.—Since writing the above I have again seen my informant, and placed before him my books of photographic portraits. In the first be did not recognise the likeness of the man he saw in the interior, although it contained a very fine view of Livingstone. In the second he at once pointed to a staring likeness of Livingstone, which I kept as a caricature, and said, " That is the man. But,' he added, ' come on to Bagamogo, and see my master and the other men; they have seen him also, and will tell you all they know.'

" Suspend your opinion for a little. Mr Churchill and I go to Bagamogo in two days to make inquiry. Please communicate this news to Mr "Webb, Miss Livingstone, and other friends ; but until my next maintain some caution. " Johx Kirk."