"THE PEARL WILL SAIL FROM GREENOCK ON MONDAY NEXT" LIVINGSTONE (David, 1813-1873, Scottish Missionary & Explorer)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed "David Livingstone" to an unnamed correspondent telling him that the "Pearl will sail from Greenock on Monday next and you will be expected on Tuesday ... to join her ...", 2 sides 8vo., Glasgow, 28th February

The Zambezi expedition left Birkenhead on 10th March 1858, on the steamship Pearl, which carried, in three sections, a steam launch which had been hastily built by Macgregor Laird. This was called the Ma-Robert, the African name for Mary Livingstone, who was on board with her youngest son Oswell. The other children had been left with relatives and were supported by a trust fund from their father's literary earnings. It then became clear that Mary was pregnant, and she and Oswell were left behind at Cape Town to be taken to Kuruman by her parents. The Pearl reached the Zambezi in mid-May but was too large to sail, as intended, through the delta and up to Tete, instead, stores had to be taken up in relays by the Ma-Robert.

Item Date:  1858

Stock No:  40375