“Various questions might be decided by the way, and if you could get to the west, and come out on that coast, or should be able to reach the White Nile (!), you would bring back an unrivaled reputation, and would have settled all the great disputes now pending.

“If you do not like to undertake the purely geographical work, I am of opinion that no one, after yourself, is so fitted to carry it out as Dr. Kirk.  I know that he thinks of settling down now at home.  But if he could delay this home-settlement for a couple of years, he would not only make a large sum of money by his book of travels, but would have a renown that would give him an excellent introduction as a medical man.

“I have heard you so often talk of the enjoyment you feel when in Africa, that I cannot believe you now think of anchoring for the rest of your life on the mud and sand-banks of England.

     “Let me know your mind on the subject.  When is the book to
     appear?  Kind love to your daughter.—­Yours sincerely,

     “ROD’CK I. MURCHISON.”

Livingstone begins his answer by assuring Sir Roderick that he never contemplated settling down quietly in England; it would be time enough for that when he was in his dotage.  “I should like the exploration you propose very much, and had already made up my mind to go up the Rovuma, pass by the head of Lake Nyassa, and away west or northwest as might be found practicable.”  He would have been at this ere now, but his book chained him, and he feared that he could not take back the “Lady Nyassa” to Africa, with the monsoon against him, so that be must get a boat to explore the Rovuma.

“What my inclination leads me to prefer is to have intercourse with the people, and do what I can by talking, to enlighten them on the slave-trade, and give them some idea of our religion.  It may not be much that I can do, but I feel when doing that I am not living in vain.  You remember that when, to prevent our coming to a standstill, I had to turn skipper myself, the task was endurable only because I was determined that no fellow should prove himself indispensable to our further progress.  To be debarred from spending most of my time in traveling, in exploration, and continual intercourse with the natives, I always felt to be a severe privation, and if I can get a few hearty native companions, I shall enjoy myself, and feel that I am doing my duty.  As soon as my book is out, I shall start.”

In Livingstone’s Journal, 7th January, 1865, we find this entry:  “Answered Sir Roderick about going out.  Said I could only feel in the way of duty by working as a missionary.”  The answer is very noteworthy in the view of what has so often been said against Livingstone—­that he dropped the missionary to become an explorer.  To understand the precise bearing of the proposal, and of Livingstone’s reply, it is necessary to