The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-03
A NOTEO
VISITOR
IN CITY
Unique Experience
of James A.
Laing.
A PIONEER IN
DARKEST AFRICA
Gentleman Now in Honolulu Took
Livingstone's Body From AZ
RIGA to England.

E 4 ONOLOLO IS WllHOuI uouDt oiirs
of the most cosmopolitan of
places. and every now and again
a stranger enters her portals who is
different from the ordinary run of men
In that ne has done something of note,
and who can tell a story that is we'll
worth listening to.
Such a one Is James Arthur Laing.
who arrived here on the last trip Of
the Moana-
Chatting with an Advertiser reporter
yesterday, Mr.. Laing had many inter-
esting things to tell about his expert
ences In different parts OF the world.
For some years, dating from 1872, Mr..
1-aing was located at Zanzibar, South
Africa. II was there" said he. when
Sir Bartle Frere came out with mis-
sion from the British government to
make q treaty with the Sultan of Zan-
zibar, for the liberation of the slaves
in his dominions. extending from Cape
Guardafui to the Portuguese possess
sions In Mozambique.
1t was during Mr.. Laing's residence
IN Zanzibar that the body of Living
stone, the explorer. was brought to the
court from Ilala, where he died. The
native carriers were six months in
making the journey out. Ilala being in
the center OF the continent, In the
country of the great Chief Chitambo.
The carriers brought the body into
Bagomoyo, a town on the mainland,
not far from Zanzibar. The news that
the great explorers body was there
was soon noised about, and when in
telligence of 1t reached Zanzibar, II. M.
S. Vulture, which was stationed there
at the time. was detailed to bring the
remains to Zanzibar.
Mr. Laing, who was agent for the
British India Steam Navigation Com
pany at the time, was one of those
present when the wrappings in which
the missionary's booy was shrouded
were taken of and the features laid
bare. Just when Livingstone died Is
still a matter of uncertainty. but
long time elapsed after his decease be-
fore his attendants brought the body
down to the coast. The method of
preservation followed by the natives
was to remove the Internal organs and
tBS DOQS OH d NiCcs
MIR. Laing said that he had never
seen Mr.. Livingstone in the flesh. but
was still able to recognize the dead
man from photographs which he had
seen. A Part of the mustache and some
OF the teeth had fallen away, but the
features still retained sufficient of their
life appearance to make Identification
NIL nf
Zanzibar. and Dr. Robb, the British
consul. were among those present when
the body was exposed.
It was Mr.. Laing to whom the
sad task was entrusted OF taking
charge Of the remains and conveying
them TO London.
I'VE started from Zanzibar" said Mr..
Laing. ION the 10th day OF March. 1874,
and arrived In London on the 9th OF
April. At Brindisi, Italy, at Turin anc
Paris. where the vessel stopped, it was
every facility was given for the expe
dition Of Of the journey.
Upon arrival in London I delivered
the papers to the foreign office, where
my mission ended"
1t. was on the 9Th of April when Mr.
Laing arrived in England with the
body. -Ie afterwards attended the
funeral of the great explorer in West
minister Abbey.
Mr.. Laing remained In London from
April until August oath, when he start
ed upon his return to Africa. in com
pany With II. NJ. Stanley, who wa
then setting out on his Niger expedi-
ton.
Jacob Wainwright. swahen boy
who was one of Liviugstone's attend
ants. and helped to bring the remains