Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-26
Official Account of the Death OF
Dr. livingstone.


Dr. Livingstone.
The following official account Of the
death of DR.. Livingstone has been received
by the State Department:
CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERIoA,( |
"a ISLAND OF ZANZIBAR. December 8, 1856.
SIR 1T becomes my painful duty to re-
port the death OF DIR. David Livingstone.
the celebrated African explorer, who, as /
wrote under date of May 8, 1866 (disratch
No AZ, LETT here on toe 9th of March last for
the exploration of the river Rovuma and
that region between the great lakes of
Central Africa, of which as yet but little is
known.
The sad intelligence was received here on
the 5th inst. by the arrival of several native
members of the expedition, from whom but
little of Importance could be ELECTED, save
the tof DIR. Livingstone's death.
/ am Indebted to DIR. Kirk, I'll. B. NJ, Vicf
Consul and formerly member of the .Livk
ingstone Zambesi expedition, for the fol-
lowing particulars of this sad event, and as
his accompany ing remarks may be more
interesting, cannot do better than to give
them in his own words:
The return Of several of the Johanna
men VINO accompanied DR.. Livingstone,
has made it certain that that distinguished
| traveller has fallen, and with him half of
his native followers. = =
His present expedition may be
| briefly stated to have been an attempt to
unite the magnificent discoveries of late
years, and determine the limits and con-
nections of the three great lakes, which
reach from IA deg. south, to 2 deg. north
latitude, and flowing to the sea by the Zam-
besi and the Nile, at the two extremities,
| but with an intermediate space, as yet un-
known! Such was the geographical prob
lem. But DIR. l.. had in view to affect the
present enormous East African slave trade,
though pioneering the way which might
| lead to lawful commerce.
| To have consolidated in one the success
| i've discoveries achieved by himself on the
"Nyassa;" Burton. on the " Sanganyika :"
| Spoke and Grant, on the Victorian and
Baker, on the "Alber5 Nyanza;" would
have been a fitting triumph for one, who
was the first to cross the African continent
within the tropical zone, but these hopes
have been wrecked by his untimely death
! We last heard of DIR. L. at ''N'doude," at
theic0nf1uence of the Novuma and Niende
| Here he met with kindness, but found the
land desolated by the slave traders supply
ing the market of Zanzibar. We have in
formation that he proceeded further west
to "Matala," a Mao Chief, who gave pres
ents of cattle and food. At this point the
Indian Sepoys remained behind, and have
since returned to Zanzibar. From Mataka
to Alake was eight days march. On cross.
ing wide water in Canves, they followed
| the border of the lake for several days and
thus struck inland. They were suddenly
attacked in bush country about A. M. by
I a band of Marite. DIR. l.. killed the most
forward of the attacking praty but wa
surrounded and cut down by one blow of
battle axe, which cut half through hi
neck. Beyond this we have no details, fol
lthose who returned were the first to flee
Almost all who stood near DR.. Livingstone
were killed, although they seem to hay
done considerable with their rifles.
This happened about six weeks ago, o
about October 25. You can see how very
meagre our Information is. Even with
personal knowledge of the lakes of tn,
surrounding country, at least short dis
tance from. the scene of this sad affair, an
knowledge of that very tribe of Zatee
who are also called Mavite, Agite, Maozites
&C., &C., it has been quite impossible TO
me, as yet, to elicit any thing from the i'm
lpenetrable simplicity of the few who hav
returned, as to where the tragedy too
place. That it was to the west of the Ny
asa, is certain; but whether in the distric
we had already explored, or further to tn
north, is still uncertain.
That Dr. L. was killed by the same Ma
vite as he and | were amongst, together,
certain. Yhey would haVe attacked u
then if they dared, but we were too stron
for them. With such enemies it comes tx
be question of numbers as well as equip
ment. The death of a few will not breal
their charge; and a small party, taken un
awares, have no chance.
Only one of the survivors saw DIR. L. fal
but they buried his body at P. NJ, whe
the Mavite had gone. They took off all tn
baggage, and also the upper clothing of th
dead body, so that not even note remain
by which to trace the route.
is hardly probable that any furthe
particulars will ever be obtained in regar
to DR.. Livingstone's death, as the Mavit
are wandering people, and it will be quit
impossible to ascertain the particular trib
by whom DR.. Livingstone's party were al
tackled.
Ihave the honor to be, sir,
/ Very respectfully your ohedient servan
! EDWARD ID. ROPES, u. S. Consul.
Hon. w. 81. SEWARD, Secretary of Stat,