Dr. Livingstone's Journeys
Dr. Livingstone, a medical doctor by profession, was born in a small town of Blantyre in Scotland on the 19th of March 1813. He came to Africa thrice. His first journey was in 1841 when he travelled to South Africa and become acquainted with Robert Moffat family who had settled there. Two years later, in 1843, Dr. Livingstone got married to Moffat's daughter, Mary, They raised family of two sons and one daughter. Unfortunately, his wife died of Malaria in Chupanga, Mozambique in 1852. He then sent his children to Europe for school.
Dr. Livingstone's second journey to Africa was in 1859, during which time he explored the Zambezi River and discovered the Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe in southern Africa. He then went backto Britain where he gave a speech on his discoveries at Cambridge University. This journey is the one which made him one of the early explorers who opened the path to the heart of Africa for commerce and Christianity. This is evident in the call he made during his speech at Cambridge, when he said, "I know that in a few years, I shall be cut-off in that country which is now open..... try to make an open path for commerce and Christianity, carry out the work which I have begun, I leave it to you".
Dr. Livingstone's journey to Tanzania marked his third and final visit to Africa. His major mission this time was to look for the source of the River Nile. This journey started from the mouth of the River Ruvuma in Mikindani, Mtwara, in 1866. He followed this river up to to lakes Nyasa, Banguela and Mweru.
He then went as far as Manyema in Zaire (modern day Democratic Republic of Congo). There he met some of the slave traders. mostly Swahili and Arabs. He then crossed Lake Tanganyika and came to Ujiji in 1869 where he established his temporary base. Ujiji was a major slave port. Slaves captured from Zaire then crossed Lake Tanganyika into Tanganyika (modern day Tanzania), via Ujiji enroute to Bagamoyo from where they were dipatched to various slave destinations. It was here at Ujiji where one would bid eternal farewell to their beloved motherlands heading for unknown, foreign land for slavery.
Dr. Livingstone feared dead
Unfortunately, news about Livingstone did not reach Europe during the five years he stayed in Africa (1866-1871). He was feared dead. In 1871, the physically fatigued, sickly and starved Dr, Livingstone decided to abandoned his mission of looking for the source of the Nile and retire at Ujiji. He spent most of his time resting in his tent as if waiting for his death.
Henry Morton Stanley
Although many people believed that Dr. Livingstone was dead, few were optimistic. Among them was James Gordon Bannett (Jnr.), the editor of the New York Herald. He decided to send one of his journalists, bold and energetic Henry Morton Stanley to search for Dr. Livingstone. Although employed by an American newspaper, Stanley was British by birth.
He arrived in Zanzibar on January 6, 1871. After about two months of preparation he started his in land track in search of Dr. Livingstone at Bagamoyo in March 1871.
Stanley finds Livingstone
It was 10 November 1871, a day that would change the world. That is the day when Henry Morton Stanley accomplished his mission: he found Dr. David Livingstone at Ujiji.
As usual, Dr. Livingstone was in his tent resting when he heard one of his servants shouting, " A British is coming, a British is coming!" Livingstone was curious and got off to see the visitor who was approaching ahead of a long caravan. He got out of his tent and stood under the shade of a mango tree where he had pitched his tent. The visitor was Henry Morton Stanley who had not met Livingstone before. But assumed that the white man in front of him must be the one, his salute was "Dr. David Livingstone I presume". Stanley stayed with Livingstone both at Ujiji and Tabora (Kwihara) for four months during which time he participated in Livingstone's expeditions north of Lake Tanganyika. When together, Stanley persuaded Livingstone to go back to London but Livingstone refused.
On 14 March 1872 Stanley left for the coast, taking with him Livingstone's journals and letters. He arrived in Bagamoyo on 6 May, 1872. The next morning he sailed to Zanzibar and left for Britain on 19 May. After his arrival in Britain on 1 August 1872, Stanley made several presentations that gave both of them the fame they have today.
The famous mango tree
The mango tree under which Livingstone and Stanley met in 1871 survived until the 1920's. During the 1920's when tree started showing signs of death, Tanganyika Territorial Government made efforts to save the tree but all was in vain. Grafting became the only solution in the fight to save the tree. Branches were grafted into other young mango tree which survived until today. Two mango trees that stand close to the monument on the western side are believed to be part of the grafted trees. Today, a memorial tower has been erected where once this mango tree grew.
Dr. Livingstone dies
In August 1872, Livingstone left Tabora for Chitambo, Zambia where he diedd on 1 May 1873. Four of his most trusted servants; Susi, Chuma, Mumwaswere and Uchopere took care of his body. They removed the intestines and the heart, put them in a metal box and buried them. They treated the body with salt and spices to prevent it from decomposition before carrying it 1500 miles (2400 km) to Bagamoyo where it was received by missionaries. The body was then shipped to Zanzibar and from there to Britain. Livingstone's body arrived in Britain on 15 April 1874, almost a year after his death. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
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