The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-21 00:00:00

TEE SAFETY OF DR. LIViNGS2'O,YE.

The Cape Argus furnishes the following particulars of
the successful search after the traces of this distinguished
explorer :—" The expedition left Simon's Town in tho
middle of July, and in Dr. Kirk's account of the circum-
stances connected with the reported death of Dr. Living-
stone it was said that the latter, having crossed the north
end of Lake Nyassa, passed through villages named
Makarta, and subsecwently Matarka, Maponda, Marenga,
and Maksowa. The searching party, having reached Lake
Nyassa, were driven by a gale into a small bay, where
they found a native, who reported to them that a white
man, about eight or ten months previously, had been
there. Captain Faulkner and the rest of the expedition
feared at first that the news was too good to be true, and
it was resolved ts endeavour to reach a point higher up,
at which there wa.s an Arab crossing-place, near Mont
Mombo, a point about twenty miles from the spot at
which the boat was anchored. In carrying this intention
into effect they fell in with a large party of native fisher-
men, and on communicating with them received a similar
account to that which had been previously given them.
These people described the • dress and appearance of the
`white man,' which tallied pretty closely with thocse of
Dr. Livingstone. These men, having been shewn some
surveying instruments, appeared to recognise and to
understand the use of them. One of them produced a
spoon, and a second a knife, which they had received as
presents from Dr. Livingstone. As a further test Captain
Faulkner exhibited a case of photographs, and, without any
hesitation, that of Dr. Livingstone was recognised as the
picture of the white man. This gave the searching party
increased confidence, and they proceeded on to the crossing
place. On arriving there the same story was repeated,
with the addition that the white man had endeavoured to
cross the lake, but fit ding all the boats were on the oppo-
site side, he went towards the south; and passed through
the villages already named. The searching party then
sailed across the lake, but, obtaining no information,
made for the south. They shortly afterwards came across
a large village, and here the same story was repeated. It
is known that Marenga, the chief of the village of that
name, was extremely civil to Livingstone, and so he was
found to be to those in search of him. It appears be had
ferried Dr. Livingstone across a lake forming an indenta-
tion in the banks of Nyassa, which he might have circled on
foot at the cost of a detour. Marenga gave the searching
party every information in his posSession,. and presented
them with a very acceptable supply of fresh provisions. It
will be remembered that it was. at this point that the
Johanna men abandoned Livingstone. While Livingstone
went across the marsh, the natives skirted the margin, and
on returning to the village reported they were being led
into a hostile country, and-at once made their way for the
seaboard. The last place named by Dr. Kirk, Maksowa,
was two days' journey from Marengo,. The chief of this
village had been driven away, but a number of his men
were collected who had been .employed to convey the
baggage of Dr. Livingstone twenty miles further in a
north-westerly direction. -Both Captain Faulkner and
Mr. Young regarded the information as conclusive, but,
with a view of discovering the position of Maponda's settle-
ment, they proceeded on a little further. The village was
found about a milt...from the mouth of the Shire.
Maponda was away from the village on a trading expedi-
tion, but his mother, who was at home, informed the party
that Dr. Livingstone had passed through there, and that
some of his party subsequently returned. The mother
of the chief further produced a. Prayer-book containing the
name of one of the doctor's followers, who had been left
behind.on account of lameness. The Johanna men had
represented this boy, who was named Waikatanee, as
having deserted. It appears that at this time the boy was
absent with the chief, so that the exploring party had no
opportunity of a personal interview with him. The
evidence which had been obtained at so ninny different
points, and from such a number of witnesses, satisfied Mr.
Young that the object they had in view had been obtained,
and, acting upon the instructions issued to them, they
tesolved to return. There appeared not the slightest
reason to doubt the substantial correctness of the informa-
tion they had obtained, that Livingstone had passed safely
through the most dangerous portion of his journey, and
had made good his advance into the interior with an appa-
rent intention of descending the Nile into Egypt. They
accordingly descended the Shire, and in due time met
with the Petrel, and r.„,urned to Simon's Town. Mr.
Young and Captain Faulkner return to England by this
day's steamer, and we are certain will there meet with a
reception which the nature of their report and their own
enterprise and courage entitle them to."