Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-25
TUESDAY. JUNE eS. 1879.
About DR.. Livingstone.

The mails from England bring explanations
of the dispatches relative to DR.. Livingstone.
It will be remembered that the first dispatch left
us to understand that Livingstone and Stanley
had arrived at Zanzibar. Next it appeared that
the people at Zanzibar had heard of them. A
letter from DR.. Kirk, English consul at Zanzi.
bar, which was read at meeting of the ROYAL
Geographical Society, on the tenth instant,
shows that the only basis for this "news" was
doubtful rumor. DR., Kirk says:
"In no letter TO which have had access is
mention made either of DIR. Livingstone or Mr..
Stanley, nor so far as have been able TO learn
have any letters been received on transit for
New York from the latter / have myself close.
~ examined the slaves from Unyanyembe as TO
Mr.. Staniey's movements, and learn that, hav-
Ing fallen back with the Arabs on the station
on the day of the defeat by Mirambo, Mr.. Stan
ley shortly after set off in company with a
party proceeding TO Ujiji, by roundabout way,
skirting the disturbed districts. His second
white man innate of an American shin the
Nevada, who Joined him here) was sent back to
Unyanyembe, where he died. So far the native
accounts of what fell under their own observa-
ton may be relied on, but great doubt
attaches to the further hearSay state
ments that l now relate. These slaves,
examined separately state that before
leaving Unyanyembe Saeed bin Maid, an Arab
of Uiiii, whose name l have before mentioned
fought his way past Mirambo and entered the
settlement, having lost five of his men in am en-
counter. He brought with him neither ivory
nor goods, and left all but bis fighting men at
UiTii. He is said to have reported that before he
left DIR. Livingstone had returned to UJiji and
been Joined by Mr.. Stanley. 1t is also said that
Mohammed bin Gharib had returned, and three
others who had gone on the Manyema route.
unwillingly mention such reports, being at the
time wholly unable m fI,o;r
Veracity. Mr.. New, myself and some Arab chiefs
have tried our best to sift them, but without
success; they may be pure inventions, or prove
true statements; the Arabs seem inclined to
credit them, while white men, on the whole,
doubt their accuracy"
The letter was dated early in April, and it
shows how little there was 10 warrant the first
very confident dispatches from Bombay. DR..
Kirk states, alSo that Lieut. Dawson and other
gentlemen of the Search Expedition" had left
for the interior, in search of DR.. Livingstone,
accompanied by missionary who understands
the natives and their language. Sir Henry
Rawlinson stated to the Geographical Society
that dispatch was received in London, June
9TH, from Lieut.. Dawson, which had been fully
authenticated. This dispatch brought later
news. He said
sit is stated that the Nile question appeared to
be settled, and that DIR. Lvingstone's attention
was now directed 10 the underground village.
There had been previous intelligence from DIR.
Livingstone that there was an underground vii
lage about which he was much interested Tel
egrams were generally enigmatical but this
was super-enigmatical, because Lieut.. Dawson
was restricted to fifteen words"
dispatch sent later still, by the Governor of
Bombay to the Duke of Argyll, gave additional
news, and furnished material Tor the dispatch
received here, in which it was stated that Dr..
Livingstone was at Unyanyembe and that
Stanley was approaching the coast. The Gun
der2round passage" of that dispatch proves TO be
underground villages" and these were ex-
planned by one of the speakers at the meeting,
as will be seen below. Sir Henry Rawlinson
spoke of the dispatch from Governor Wodehouse
of Bombay, as follows. We quote from a report
of the proceedings:
This was by no means a contradiction of the
former telegram, and he 1.-THE president) believed
that Livingstone had come from Uiiji to Unyan.
yembe, and might have gone back to visit the
underground village. The geographical ques-
ton was one of great interest. 1t appeared he
had been to the north of Lake Tanganyika, and
had found that there the rivers flow into the
lake. That certainty included the river to the
N@AbN4lO hOltAJ hDOul WHICH StOHTapnerS mad
been disputlng whether it ran into the lake or
out OF it. Ii it ran into it it was then indie.
pendent OF the Nile, and was strong evidence
that Tanganyika was not the reservoir of the
Nile. The rivers might be on the western side.
Dut when Lieutenant Dawson says the Nile
question is settled we must infer that Living
stone has found the outfall of those western wa
tiers. This solution, however, we did not vet
know, and it would continue to be mere matter
OF opinion till we had further intelligence from
Bombay. 1t was question upon which ge-
ographers would have different opinions and he
thought the meeting would be glad TO hear
the opinion OF Lieutanant Grant on the subject
Lieut. Grant thought the telegram of Lieut.
Dawson was not sufficiently explicit to warrant
any conclusion as 10 the true solution of this
great geographical question, which had been de-
DATED ior something like forty years. There
was mountain at the north end of the lake and
we know that mountains had been seen there
ana laid down on the map. He could scarcely
agree with the presidents view that the rivers
nowlng Into the lake meant no other rivers than
those at the north end of Tanganyika, and
something might be said as to rivers at the
south. The underground villages were known
TO Livingstone many years ago. They were at
the south end of Tanganyika and were situated
IN great tunnel. A man had said that he had
travelled under the ground in it for whole
DAY. his tunnel was about three hundred
yards wide, and must be at least eight or ten
miles in length. There was daylight along its
entire length, and the people brought all their
cattle into it for safety. Moreover, it was the
only means Of crossing very rapid river at
the south of Tanganyika, which was too rapid
for any boats to venture on it,"
There is nothing in the communications re.
ceived in London, to warrant the report that
DR.. Livingstone refuses to come home, at pres
ent. He has waited only TO explore the under
ground villages. The last two dispatches from
Bombay are said to be authentic; and it is be-
lieved that DR.. Livingstone will soon leave
Africa. Meanwhile, we shall have letters from
him and from Stanley, if the dispatches are as
Trustworthy as Sir Henry Rawlinson supposes