David Livingstone and the diamonds

[Keith Livingstone Australia]

I came upon this tale in a children's book about Dr David. Apparently at one stage in his African travels he came across an interesting area geologically. He'd had training in geology, and spent quite some time examining the rocks strewn over the ground, many of which he tossed aside after examination. A travelling companion reflected on this behaviour several days later, and asked if he'd perhaps found diamonds. "Yes" said Dr David. "Do you know exactly where the position was?" his companion queried. "Yes.... but you don't" replied Dr David.

[Kyle2 MacLea]

Seems very prescient given the bad news that periodically comes out of Africa concerning the diamond trade... "Blood diamonds" if you will. Great story! Kyle=

[Canadian Livingstone]

Not surprised. He was a highly principled man and such men are often are very difficult to get along with. I picked up a book on Livingstone last week which covers in great detail the difficulties that his associates found working and travelling with him in Africa. Must run in his family, because as difficult as Livingston could be to work with, Livingstone's brother Charles was altogether disagreeable to others and not very helpful and Dr. Livingstone himself found him to be so. None of this of course was in Livingstone's book or that of Stanley. regards Donald

[Piper Livingston]

thats pretty tight what was the book called?

[Keith Livingstone Australia]

Another account of Livingstone's journey that I've read, from contemporaries, involved a botanist who had collected samples for a good length of time. Livingstone had decided to negotiate the swirling waters of the Zambesi, and (presumably because he felt he was on a mission from God), if it was God's will, then no harm would come. So the party embarked by canoe and small boat across a raging torrent, and they escaped with their lives, but the botanist's sample collection was lost forever. He later described Livingstone as "cracked in the head". Fair enough. You've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette, and as GB Shaw wrote, "all progress depends upon the unreasonable man". He certainly had "cohones" though. Once the party was completely surrounded by warmongering tribesmen on the banks of a river, and the murderous chief eyeballed Livingstone, who apparently held his ground and showed the chief his watch, long enough for his whole party to get across the river in small groups. He let himself remain as potential hostage until all of his group had successfully crossed the river. The chief and tribesmen let him go, presumably dumbfounded how such a man could look them in the eye in such a no-win situation. No wonder the Africans in his party adored him! What's the name of the book you picked up, Donald?

[Canadian Livingstone]

Keith, The book is intitled "David Livingstone and the Victorian Encounter with Africa" and was published in 1996 by The National Portrait Gallery for the Exibition David Livingstone and the Victorian Encounter with Africa which took place in 1996 at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. The book includes a history of Livingstone mainly focusing on his life and it is filled with interesting documents, family photographs and photos of Livingstone memorabilia largely from his experiences in Africa. Nothing really on the more distant family history from the highlands regretably. THe book is providing me with a much better insight into Livingstone that was getting from the other books I have. Donald