He, too, said he had nothing the matter with him, except pain in his heart: as it attacks only the free (who are captured and never slaves), it seems to be really broken-hearts of which they die.
[Livingstone's servants give some additional particulars in answer to questions put to them about this dreadful history.

The sufferings endured by these unfortunate captives, whilst they were hawked about in different directions, must have been shocking indeed; many died because it was impossible for them to carry a burden on the head whilst marching in the heavy yoke or "taming stick," which weighs from 30 lbs.

to 40 lbs.

as a rule, and the Arabs knew that if once the stick were taken off, the captive would escape on the first opportunity.

Children for a time would keep up with wonderful endurance, but it happened sometimes that the sound of dancing and the merry tinkle of the small drums would fall on their ears in passing near to a village; then the memory of home and happy days proved too much for them; they cried and sobbed, the "broken-heart" came on, and they rapidly sank.
The adults as a rule came into the slave-sticks from treachery, and had never been slaves before.