General No. 13 of 1874, Forwarding a Copy of a Letter from Captain Prideaux, Acting Political Agent at Zanzibar, Reporting his Proceedings Subsequent to the Arrival at Zanzibar of Dr Murphy and his Party Bearing the Remains of Dr Livingstone [‎507] (17/20)

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No. 25^, dated Zanzibar,, 5th March 1874.
From—Her Majesty's Acting- Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and Consul-General, Zanzibar,
To—Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
In continuation of my letter No. 21, dated the lOtli ultimo, I have the honor
to report that on receiving intelligence that Lieutenant Murphy had arrived
within a short distance of the Coast, Captain Brooke of Her Majesty’s Ship
Vulture was good enough to offer to convey across from Bagamayo that officer,
together with the body and papers of the late Doctor Livingstone, and at the
same time invited me to accompany him.
2. We arrived at Bagamayo in the afternoon of the 14th Lebruary, nnd
found that the caravan had not yet reached that place. I sent a messenger to
Lieutenant Murphy, and the whole party, after a forced march, arrived on
the evening of the 15th.
3. A wooden shell was constructed during the night under the orders of
Captain Brooke, all of whose arrangements for the reception of the body on
hoard were most excellent.
4. As no leaden shell was procurable at Zanzibar, I gave orders immediately
on our return for the construction of a zinc one and wooden outer coffin, and
this morning the body, after being uncovered under the superintendence of
Doctor Eobb, whose report accompanies this despatch, was transferred to this
new receptacle.
5. The features were scarcely recognizable, but there is no doubt as to the
face and skull being those of a European of mature age. Doctor Christie also,
who was personally acquainted with Doctor Livingstone, expressed himself as
satisfied with respect to the identity of the corpse.
6. I am now anxiously awaiting instructions as to the disposal of the
remains.
7. With regard to the exact locality of Doctor Livingstone’s death, I am
informed by the most intelligent of his servants that it took place in the
country of Bisa (not Lobisa, as formerly reported by me on the authority of an
Arabic letter) at the south-west corner of the Lake Bemba. Having arrived at
this district from Ljiji, as detailed in his journals,.it was the Doctor’s intention
to proceed in a north westerly direction to the country of Katanga. Beyond
this his servants are entirely ignorant of his intended movements, although they
have been carefully examined.
8. The exact spot in which he died will probably never be known, as
during the last days of his life he was too ill to take any observations, and his
attendants can only point it out in a general manner.
9. All his servants, including those sent by Mr. Stanley, crossed over to
Zanzibar, and as they were entirely destitute, though large sums were due to
several of them, I took upon myself the responsibility of paying them, draw
ing a bill upon the President of the Boyal Geographical Society for that
purpose.
No. 3, dated Zanzibar, Sth March 1874.
From—Civil Surgeon, Zanzibar,
To—Political Agent and Consul-General at Zanzibar.
I have the honor to inform you that in compliance with your orders I
proceeded this morning to open the package said to contain Dr. Livingstone’s
remains, in order to their identification, if possible, by Dr. Christie of
this place, who is said to have been the last to see Dr. Livingstone alive at
Zanzibar.
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