... She
sent for Livingstone, who attended Her Majesty at the palace,
without ceremony, in his black coat and blue trousers, and
his cap surrounded with a stripe of gold lace. This was his
usual attire, and the cap had now become the appropriate
distinction of one of Her Majesty's consuls, an official
position to which the traveler attaches great importance, as
giving him consequence in the eyes of the natives, and
authority over the members of the expedition.. The Queen
conversed with him affably for half an hour on the subject of
his travels. Dr. Livingstone told Her Majesty that he would
now be able to say to the natives that he had seen his chief,
his not having done so before having been a constant subject
of surprise to the children of the African wilderness. He
mentioned to Her Majesty also that the people were in the
habit of inquiring whether his chief were wealthy; and that
when he assured them she was very wealthy, they would ask how
many cows she had got, a question at which the Queen laughed
heartily.
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