This is not a book I would ordinarily have been interested in. I stumbled across it at the local library online and it piqued my interest, so I checked it out. However, after 30 pages, I realized that it suffered from 'woke' editing, though the description gave no indication that it had been edited or abridged, and at over 500 pages, I hardly thought so.
Since I'd become interested in Stanley's journal, I searched for an UNedited Kindle edition at Amazon.com, found one for a mere 99 cents, and returned the 'woke' version to the library. The unedited volume contained many pages of Stanley's descriptions and opinions of various peoples and cultures in and around the Middle East, especially those in Zanzibar, where he spent a great deal of time preparing for his journey. I appreciated being able to read the journal as originally penned.
Why was Stanley engaged in this expedition? He was a newspaper journalist who was contacted by the owner of the New York Tribune, who made one demand: FIND LIVINGSTONE!
The explorer had not been heard from for a number of years and was generally assumed to be dead. If he discovered that Livingstone were indeed dead, Stanley was ordered to bring back as many proofs of his death as could be obtained. If he were to find the man alive, he was to provide whatever supplies he needed. He was given an unlimited expense account, asked to stop by the grand opening of the Suez Canal (That puts it in some perspective, doesn't it?!), make a number of other stops along the way, and then prepare an expedition to travel to Central Africa in search of Livingstone.
It is imperative that the reader remember that Stanley set out with his caravan in 1870, when Africa was largely unsettled and consisted of many small tribes ruled by 'sultans' and warlords, who demanded 'tribute' from anyone passing through their village, and that, for the most part, the journey had to be made on foot.
The journal includes Stanley's account of the time he spent with Dr. Livingstone, as well as Livingstone's account of his search for the source of the Nile. I found the journal quite fascinating! It is well worth your time.
In the meantime, the head of the Expedition had halted, and the kirangozi was out of the ranks, holding his flag aloft, and Selim said to me, “I see the Doctor, sir. Oh, what an old man! He has got a white beard.” And I – what would I not have given for a bit of friendly wilderness, where, unseen, I might vent my joy in some mad freak, such as idiotically biting my hand; turning a somersault, or slashing at trees in order to allay those exciting feelings that were well-nigh uncontrollable. My heart beats fast, but I must not let my face betray my emotions, lest it shall detract from the dignity of a white man appearing under such extraordinary circumstances.
So I did that which I thought was most dignified. I pushed back the crowds, and, passing from the rear, walked down a living avenue of people, until I came in front of the semicircle of Arabs, before which stood the “white man with the grey beard.”
As I advanced slowly towards him I noticed he was pale, that he looked wearied and wan, that he had grey whiskers and moustache, that he wore a bluish cloth cap with a faded gold band on a red ground round it, and that he had on a red-sleeved waistcoat, and a pair of grey tweed trousers.
I would have run to him, only I was a coward in the presence of such a mob – would have embraced him, but that I did not know how he would receive me; so I did what moral cowardice and false pride suggested was the best thing – walked deliberately to him, took off my had, and said:
“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
“Yes,” said he, with a kind, cordial smile, lifting his cap slightly.
I replaced my hat on my head, and he replaced his cap, and we both grasped hands.