The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-04
LIIINGSTONE,S TREE.
A Section of tho Tree Under which He Died
to Be Taken to England.

Section of tho Tree Under which He Died
to Be Taken to England.
The lowly straw hut in which the great OK plor-
er Livingstone died In the spring Of 1873 stood
where 1t was sheltered from the glare OF the
tropical sun by the widespread branches OF
mpandu tree. 1t was under this tree that his
faithful followers buried the heart OF their load
er. but they carried the rest Of his body to the
coast and about thirteen months after he passed
away the mortal remains OF Livingstone were
buried in Westm inster Abbey with all the
honor that Britons could pay to one OF their
greatest sons.
In 1880 the Royal Geographical Society voted
sum OF money which was expended In the
following manner: A part OF 1t was used to
prepare memorial tablet in bronze to be az
fired to the tree under which the heart OF the
explorer had been buried. The remainder OF
the money was expended in the purchase Of
presents to be given to Chief Chitambo in
whose territory Dr. Livingstone died. as a rec
oEnition OF tho ready permission he had given
for the removal OF the great travellers body.
The presents were delivered and the
bronze plate was afllxed to what was said to
be Livingstone's tree by Lieut.. Tranquil OF the
Belgian service In 1898. A later traveller
found that the plate had been fastened to the
wrong tree. for he discovered on another tree
some distance away the rude Inscription which
| the servants OF Livingstone. had cut on the
mpandu. under which they had buried the
heart OF their master. So the plate was
fastened to the right tree and the spot In CEN
trail Africa most haowed by associations OF
the greatest OF modern African travellers was
at last worthlly commemorated. The inscrip-
ton on the bronze plate was simply:
Livingstone Died Here. Ilala, May 1st
| 1873"
About three years ago the spot was again
| visited by another white man. Mr. Poulet
Weatherley. When he returned home TO Eng
| land he said he had found the tree In an ad
| vanoed state OF decay and he thought there wal
no doubt 1t would disappear in q short time
| Ia order to preserve some vestiRe OF the tree
| the Royal Geographical Society decided tina,
| the best course would be to cut out the section
OF the tree that bears the inscription origi all
| cut In II and have the section rem owed to Lon.
| don for preservation in the rooms OF the SO.
| ciety.
The opportunity has occurred this year fol
| carrying out this project. Mr.. Codrinx ton. the
| Deputy Administrator Of northern Rhodssia
| visited the place and secured the section OF the
| tree on which the inscription may still easily
| be traced. letter from him reached England
the other day in which he said he was about tc
| forward tho section to tho coast for shipme nj
to England. To mark the mem orable spot he
| built calrn OF stones with two telegraph poles
| running up through the centre, and the poles
! are further held in place by stays OF telegraph
wire. The bronze plate has been fastened tc
| the poles The cairh will be sufficient to pre-.
| serve the identity OF the place till more per.
| manent meme ral can be erected. and this IL
| certain to be done before a great while.