David Livingstone's Gun

Object Details

Notes

A001 is the accession number in the Russell E. Train inventory list of the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History. DSI

Supplied title

Forms part of: Russell E. Train Africana Collection (Smithsonian Libraries)

A001 was originally accession number A12.

A001 was originally accession number A12

Summary

This gun returned to England with the body of David Livingstone alongside other possessions as used by him during his last journey of exploration in Africa. After the death of David Livingstone his native attendants, led by Chuma and Susi, preserved the body by drying it in salt before attempting to carry it to Mozambique. On the way to the coast they met Lieutenant V.L. Cameron who relieved them of Livingstone's geographical instruments but not all his possessions. Cameron in his book Across Africa mentions this on page 123. This gun was originally accompanied by a letter, of which a photograph survives, signed by a Mr. W. Carswell which read, "53 Charing Cross, London, May 1910. I certify that this native repaired long gun of Hollis and Son[s]) was brought back with the personal effects and body of David Livingstone the great explorer and missionary, after his tragic death at Chitambo to the S.E. of Lake Bangwelo on the 1st May 1873 by his faithful bearers Joseph Wainwright, Susi and Chumah, and was given to me by the family as a token of affection. William Carswell"

Date

1860

Author

Hollis and Sons

Cameron, Verney Lovett 1844-1894

former owner

Carswell, William active 1910 DSI

Author

Livingstone, David 1813-1873

Wainwright, Joseph active 1873

Russell E. Train Africana Collection (Smithsonian Libraries) DSI

Place

Africa

Topic

Firearms

Data Source

Smithsonian Libraries

Call number

A001

Type

Specimens

Artifacts (object genre)

Physical description

1 item 50 in. (length)

Record ID

siris_sil_1044709

Metadata Usage

CC0