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AFRICA THROUGH WESTERN EYES

Part 3: Papers of Cameron, Cruikshank, Livingstone, Moffatt, Park and Stanley from the National Library of Scotland

Extracts

REEL 1

NLS Ms 656

Letter from David Livingstone to James MacLehose of Glasgow, written at Kuruman, 8 December 1841

“My Dear Friend
Having lately traveled in company with Rev R Edwards a distance between 6 and 700 miles in the interior of this country and visited many tribes of Bechuanas some never before seen by missionaries, I lose no time in transmitting you some information regarding the state and prospects of the cause of Christ among them.

The Bechuanas you are already aware are divided into a great many distinct tribes or clans and they extend a great way into the interior. Many of them have not yet been visited by any European. The language of the whole is however essentially the same varying less in proportion to the extent of country they occupy than do the different dialects in the provinces of our own Empire. The feudal system of government obtains amongst them in all its glory and in many respects they resemble the ancient Highlanders. Each clan is governed by its own chieftain who comes into office by right of birth and although hereditary succession produces just the same effects here as in more civilized countries, each chief looks upon himself as a wiser and better man than any of his tribe and superior to all his contemporaries. He has the power of life or death – the administration of the laws and the perquisites of office. Although he has counsellors who in public assemblies are allowed by law to use the greatest freedom of speech towards him, yet all the people are in a state of abject subjection to his authority….”

REEL 3

NLS Ms 10701

Letter from David Livingstone to his parents, written in Bakwain country 21 March 1843

“My Dear Parents
I regret want of time prevented me writing you previous to commencing this journey, because you may be anxious on my account before this has time to reach you. I am at present at the residence of a Bakwain chief called Sechele. I spent Sunday last with him & found him in a much better frame of mind for hearing the gospel than he was wont to be. He was one of those who attacked Sebegoe & while beaten back by that chief he found that another tribe called Matibele had in the mean time burned his town & taken every thing he had, besides destroying many of the women & children. Yesterday a few women who were taken captive by the Matibele returned. They escaped by night & after traveling nearly two months digging roots for subsistence by day and climbing some high rock for security by night have at length appeared at their home but the hardships have rendered them the mere skeletons of what they were. Poor creatures this life is all their portion. It was affecting to hear their tale but it did not move in the least the feelings of their fellows, they are “only women” & I don’t believe a tear would have been shed nor one pang of sorrow felt though they had all perished just because they are such….”

REEL 4

NLS Ms 10768

Letter from David Livingstone to Viscount Palmerston, written at Kongone at the mouth of the Zambesi, 15 January 1861

“My Lord

We have lately taken the Makololo who came with me to Fette back to their own country, as we were in honour bound to do, though it involved a march of over 600 miles on foot. The most important geographical points observed were the extension of the coal field which begins below Fette nearly up to the Falls of Victoria and these same falls themselves. The coal will probably play an important part in the future of the Cape Colony although by a rather short sighted treaty with the ? our traders are debarred at present from the trade of that region. By a second visit to the falls & by careful measurement I am inclined to call them the most wonderful in the world….”

REEL 10

Acc 10120

Journal of Verney Lovett Cameron, 1875

“June 15th Off before daylight for Inpurapwa which was another dragging heavy march with a good deal of jungle in parts and still rising towards the Inpurapwa hills. We did not arrive at Inpurapwa till about 2pm…. The way up the slope was a broad sandy river bed with fields of matama…. As one got higher up water began to appear and abreast of where we camped it was pretty plentiful and very good but is absorbed as it flows down. Our tents were pitched under an enormous Acacia tree. The three big tents in line did not take up the whole of one side. Food etc is dear here on account of the raids of a robber tribe called Wadisigo who steal the cattle…. Here we saw for the first time the tembe form of tent. They are of various sizes, but most seemed more than 4ft 6ins to 5 feet high and each usually contains a family & it s various ramifications. The arms of people were spears & a few shields & knobsticks & bows & arrows. The spears were shaped like figs 1 & 2 and some had heavy pieces of wood at the lower end of the shaft to give a greater impetus to the blow…. The chief was a dirty greasy old fellow with a moist squarish eye and a nose which showed his devotion to pombé….

Noticed today a man with the front part of his head shaved all but two tails which were bound round with brass wire so that they stood up like two little horns about 5ins high he was very ugly & looked a fit representation of the devil….

July 6th Another caravan came down today and from the various reports, I hear that Dr Livingstone has been again to Unyanyembe since his first departure to get more stores from those he had there as he had not porters enough the first time to carry all. He left the 2nd time about 5 months ago so I suppose any letters he sent down arrived soon after Murphy left but perhaps it may be all a myth as the ideas of time & distance even among the Arabs are very apt to be enormously out, so that all that is et down by hearsay from Arab reports must be regarded with suspicion….”

 

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