3 March, having nearly got into difficulties with a powerful chief called Katolosa, whom he bought off with some ivory tusks. Major Tito Sicard, the Portuguese commandant of Tete, showed Livingstone every attention, and did everything in his power to restore his health, which had been much injured by his exhausting journey. He spent sometime resting at Tete, and arranged to leave his Makololo followers there with Major Sicard while he paid a visit to England. He left Tete on 22 April, and journeying down the Zambesi as far aa the Mazaro, a little below the African Lakes Company's modern station at Vicente, he crossed overland to the Kwa-Kwa river, and descended the stream to Quilimane, which he reached on 22 May 1856, very nearly four years after he quitted Cape Town for the Zambesi. He had been three years without hearing from his family. H.M.S. Frolic had called at Quilimane for him the previous November, and had left wine and quinine for him. But Livingstone's pleasure at reaching the coast was sadly marred by learning that Commander Maclure, Lieutenant Woodruffe, and five men of H.M.S. Dart had been lost on the bar of the river in coming to make inquiries for him. He had to remain at Quilimane, which is very unhealthy, for six weeks, when H.M.S. Frolic again arrived, and took him and his best Makololo headman, Sekwebu, to Mauritius. Sekwehu, however, was so unbalanced by the strangeness of life at sea that he went mad and drowned himself at Mauritius.
After some stay at Mauritius Livingstone came home by way of the Red Sea, arriving in London on 12 Dec. His eminent achievements were awarded fitting recognition. On 15 Dec. there was a special meeting of the Royal Geographical Society to welcome him, with Sir Roderick Murchison in the chair. Both Captain Steele and Mr. Oswell were present, and the gold medal that had been awarded to him was presented. Meeting succeeded meeting. The London Missionary Society received him, with Lord Shaftesbury in the chair, and there was a public demonstration at the Mansion House. He received the freedom both of the city of London and of the town of Hamilton. The prince consort granted him an interview, and he received testimonials and addresses from many public bodies, A sum of 2,000l. was raised by public subscription in Glasgow, and presented to him in the autumn. In Dublin be was fêted at a meeting of the British Association, and in Manchester at the Chamber of Commerce. Oxford conferred on him the degree of D.C.L., Glasgow made him a LL.D., and the Royal Society made him a fellow. At Cambridge he received a warm reception, and delivered a lecture which in augurated the Universities' Mission to Central Africa.
In November 1857 he published his missionary travels, a book which thoroughly reflects the man and is delightful reading. A second edition was called for before the first of twelve thousand copies was issued, and the generous conduct of John Murray, the publisher, made the work a small fortune for Livingstone, who spent most of the money on exploration.
Livingstone gently severed his connection with the London Missionary Society in the autumn of 1857; but although the society realised that his work in future would he on a larger scale than could be covered by their means, and in spite of Livingtone's protestations that he remained a missionary, there was much hostile criticism from narrow-minded people, In February 1858 Livingstone was appointed H.M. consul at Quilimane for the East Coast of Africa to the south of the dominions of Zanzibar, and for the independent districts in the interior, as well as commander of an expedition to explore Eastern and Central Africa. A paddle-steamer of light draught was procured for the Zambesi, and was called the Ma-Robert, the name given to Mrs. Livingstone by the African natives after—according to their custom—her firstborn son. The staff of the expedition consisted of Commander Bedingfield, R.N.; Dr. (now Sir John) Kirk, physician and naturalist; Mr. Richard Thornton, surveyor; Mr. George Rae, engineer; and Livingstone's brother Charles as secretary. Lord Clarendon, the foreign minister, threw himself heart and soul into the preparations for the expedition, and Livingstone was received by the queen before leaving, and was entertained by 350 friends at dinner at the Freemasons' Tavern. Livingstone left Liverpool with his party in H.M.S. Pearl on 10 March 1858, Mrs. Livingstone and her youngest child accompanied them, but were left at the Cape with the Moffats, who had come down to meet them. Livingstone arrived off the Zambesi delta on 15 May. Inside the Luawe bar the sections of the steam-launch Ma-Robert were put together, and the Pearl departed, carrying in her Commander Bedingfield, who had resigned owing to a disagreement with Livingstone in connection with landing stores on Expedition Island. Livingstone consquently had to take charge of the Ma-Robert as well as of the expedition. The propriety of his conduct in the matter was established to the satisfaction of the admiralty and of Lord Clarendon.
