第18章

Ourprogressupwasdistressinglyslow。Theriverwasinflood，andwehadathree-knotcurrentagainstusinmanyplaces。Thesedelayskeptussixmonthsinthedelta，insteadof，asweanticipated，onlysixdays；for，findingitimpossibletocarrythesectionsuptotheRuowithoutgreatlossoftime，itwasthoughtbesttolandthematShupanga，and，puttingthehullofthe"LadyNyassa"togetherthere，totowheruptothefootoftheMurchisonCataracts。

Afewdaysbeforethe"Pioneer"reachedShupanga，CaptainWilson，seeingthehopelessstateofaffairs，generouslyresolvedtohastenwiththeMissionladiesuptothosewho，wethought，wereanxiouslyawaitingtheirarrival，andthereforestartedinhisgigfortheRuo，takingMissMackenzie，Mrs。Burrup，andhissurgeon，Dr。Ramsay。

TheywereaccompaniedbyDr。KirkandMr。Sewell，paymasterofthe"Gorgon，"inthewhale-boatofthe"LadyNyassa。”Asourslow-paced-

launch，"MaRobert，"hadformerlygoneuptothefootofthecataractsinninedays"steaming，itwassupposedthattheboatsmighteasilyreachtheexpectedmeeting-placeattheRuoinaweek；

buttheShirewasnowinflood，andinitsmostrapidstate；andtheywerelongeringettingupabouthalfthedistance，thanitwashopedtheywouldbeinthewholenavigablepartoftheriver。TheycouldhearnothingoftheBishopfromthechiefoftheisland，Malo，atthemouthoftheRuo。"Nowhitemanhadevercometohisvillage，"hesaid。TheyproceededontoChibisa"s，sufferingterriblyfrommosquitoesatnight。Theirtoilinstemmingtherapidcurrentmadethemestimatethedistance，bythewindings，asnearer300than200

miles。TheMakololowhohadremainedatChibisa"stoldthemthesadnewsofthedeathofthegoodBishopandofMr。Burrup。Otherinformationreceivedthereawakenedfreshanxietyonbehalfofthesurvivors；so，leavingtheladieswithDr。RamsayandtheMakololo，CaptainWilsonandDr。Kirkwentupthehills，inhopesofbeingabletorenderassistance，andonthewaytheymetsomeoftheMissionpartyatSoche"s。TheexcessivefatiguethatourfriendshadundergoneinthevoyageuptoChibisa"sinnowisedeterredthemfromthisfurtherattemptforthebenefitoftheircountrymen，butthefreshlabour，withdiminishedrations，wastoomuchfortheirstrength。Theywerereducedtoadietofnativebeansandanoccasionalfowl。Bothbecameveryilloffever，CaptainWilsonsodangerouslythathisfellow-suffererlostallhopesofhisrecovery。

Hisstrongable-bodiedcockswaindidgoodserviceincheerfullycarryinghismuch-lovedCommander，andtheymanagedtoreturntotheboat，andbroughtthetwobereavedandsorrow-strickenladiesbacktothe"Pioneer。”

WelearntthattheBishop，wishingtofindashorterroutedowntotheShire，hadsenttwomentoexplorethecountrybetweenMagomeroandthejunctionoftheRuo；andinDecemberMessrs。ProctorandScudamore，withanumberofManganjacarriers，leftMagomeroforthesamepurpose。TheyweretogoclosetoMountChoro，andthenskirttheElephantMarsh，withMountClarendonontheirleft。Theirguidesseemtohaveledthemawaytotheeast，insteadofsouth；totheupperwatersoftheRuointheShirwavalley，insteadoftoitsmouth。EnteringanAnguruslave-tradingvillage，theysoonbegantosuspectthatthepeoplemeantmischief，andjustbeforesunsetawomantoldsomeoftheirmenthatiftheyslepttheretheywouldallbekilled。Ontheirpreparingtoleave，theAngurufollowedthemandshottheirarrowsattheretreatingparty。Twoofthecarrierswerecaptured，andallthegoodsweretakenbytheserobbers。Anarrow-

headstruckdeepintothestockofProctor"sgun；andthetwomissionaries，barelyescapingwiththeirlives，swamadeepriveratnight，andreturnedtoMagomerofamishedandexhausted。

ThewivesofthecaptivecarrierscametotheBishopdayafterdayweepingandimploringhimtorescuetheirhusbandsfromslavery。Themenhadbeencaughtwhileinhisservice，nooneelsecouldbeentreated；therewasnopubliclawnoranypowersuperiortohisown，towhichanappealcouldbemade；forinhimChurchandStatewere，inthedisorganizedstateofthecountry，virtuallyunited。ItseemedtohimtobeclearlyhisdutytotryandrescuethesekidnappedmembersoftheMissionfamily。HeaccordinglyinvitedtheveteranMakololotogowithhimonthissomewhathazardouserrand。

Nothingcouldhavebeenproposedtothemwhichtheywouldhavelikedbetter，andtheywentwithalacritytoeatthesheepoftheAnguru，onlyregrettingthattheenemydidnotkeepcattleaswell。Hadthematterbeenleftentirelyintheirhands，theywouldhavemadeacleansweepofthatpartofthecountry；buttheBishoprestrainedthem，andwentinanopenmanner，thuscommendingthemeasuretoallthenatives，asoneofjustice。Thisdeliberation，however，gavethedelinquentsachanceofescape。

Themissionariesweresuccessful；theoffendingvillagewasburned，andafewsheepandgoatsweresecuredwhichcouldnotbeconsideredotherthanaverymildpunishmentfortheoffencecommitted；theheadman，Muana-somba，afraidtoretaintheprisonersanylonger，forthwithliberatedthem，andtheyreturnedtotheirhomes。ThisincidenttookplaceatthetimewewereattheRuoandduringtherains，andprovedverytryingtothehealthofthemissionaries；theywerefrequentlywetted，andhadhardlyanyfoodbutroastedmaize。

Mr。Scudamorewasneverwellafterwards。DirectlyontheirreturntoMagomero，theBishopandMr。Burrup，bothsufferingfromdiarrhoeainconsequenceofwet，hunger，andexposure，startedforChibisa"stogodowntotheRuobytheShire。SofullydidtheBishopexpectarenewalofthesoakingwetfromwhichhehadjustreturned，thatonleavingMagomerohewalkedthroughthestream。Therivuletsweresoswollenthatittookfivedaystodoajourneythatwouldotherwisehaveoccupiedonlytwodaysandahalf。

NoneoftheManganjabeingwillingtotakethemdowntheriverduringtheflood，threeMakololocanoe-menagreedtogowiththem。Afterpaddlingtillnearsunset，theydecidedtostopandsleeponshore；

butthemosquitoesweresonumerousthattheyinsistedongoingonagain；theBishop，beingaweekbehindthetimehehadengagedtobeattheRuo，reluctantlyconsented，andinthedarknessthecanoewasupsetinoneofthestrongeddiesorwhirlpools，whichsuddenlyboilupinfloodtimeneartheoutgoingbranchesoftheriver；clothing，medicines，tea，coffee，andsugarwerealllost。Wetandweary，andtormentedbymosquitoes，theylayinthecanoetillmorningdawned，andthenproceededtoMalo，anislandatthemouthoftheRuo，wheretheBishopwasatonceseizedwithfever。

Hadtheybeenintheirusualhealth，theywoulddoubtlesshavepushedontoShupanga，ortotheship；butfeverrapidlyprostratestheenergies，andinducesadrowsystupor，fromwhich，ifnotrousedbymedicine，thepatientgraduallysinksintothesleepofdeath。Stillmindful，however，ofhisoffice，theBishopconsoledhimselfbythinkingthathemightgainthefriendshipofthechief，whichwouldbeofessentialservicetohiminhisfuturelabours。Thatheartlessman，however，probablysuspiciousofallforeignersfromtheknowledgehehadacquiredofwhiteslave-traders，wantedtoturnthedyingBishopoutofthehut，asherequireditforhiscorn，butyieldedtotheexpostulationsoftheMakololo。Dayafterdayforthreeweeksdidthesefaithfulfellowsremainbesidehismatonthefloor；till，withoutmedicineorevenproperfood，hedied。Theydughisgraveontheedgeofthedeepdarkforestwherethenativesburiedtheirdead。Mr。Burrup，himselffargonewithdysentery，staggeredfromthehut，and，asintheduskofeveningtheycommittedtheBishop"sbodytothegrave，repeatedfrommemoryportionsofourbeautifulservicefortheBurialoftheDead——"earthtoearth，ashestoashes，dusttodust；insureandcertainhopeoftheresurrectionofthedeadthroughourLordJesusChrist。”Andinthissadwayendedtheearthlycareerofone，ofwhomitcansafelybesaidthatforunselfishgoodnessofheart，andearnestdevotiontothenobleworkhehadundertaken，noneofthecommendationsofhisfriendscanexceedthereality。ThegraveinwhichhisbodyrestsisaboutahundredyardsfromtheconfluenceoftheRuo，ontheleftbankoftheShire，andoppositetheislandofMalo。TheMakololothentookMr。

Burrupupinthecanoeasfarastheycould，and，makingalitterofbranches，carriedhimthemselves，orgototherstocarryhim，allthewaybacktohiscountrymenatMagomero。Theyhurriedhimonlestheshoulddieintheirhands，andblamebeattachedtothem。Soonafterhisreturnheexpired，fromthediseasewhichwasonhimwhenhestartedtomeethiswife。

CaptainWilsonarrivedatShupangaonthe11thofMarch，havingbeenthreeweeksontheShire。Onthe15ththe"Pioneer"steameddowntotheKongone。The"Gorgon"hadbeendrivenouttoseainagale，andhadgonetoJohannaforprovisions，anditwasthe2ndofAprilbeforeshereturned。Itwasfortunateforusthatshehadobtainedasupply，asourprovisionswereexhausted，andwehadtobuysomefromthemasterofthebrig。The"Gorgon"leftfortheCapeonthe4th，takingall，exceptone，oftheMissionpartywhohadcomeinJanuary。

WetakethisopportunityofexpressingourheartfeltgratitudetothegallantCaptainI。C。Wilsonandhisofficersforinnumerableactsofkindnessandheartyco-operation。OurwarmestthanksarealsoduetoCaptainR。B。OldfieldandtheotherofficersfromtheAdmiraldownwards，andwebegtoassurethemthatnothingcouldbemoreencouragingtousinourdifficultiesandtrials，thantheknowledgethatwepossessedtheirfriendshipandsympathyinourlabours。

TheRev。JamesStewart，oftheFreeChurchofScotland，arrivedinthe"Gorgon。”Hehadwiselycomeouttoinspectthecountry，beforedecidingontheformationofaMissionintheinterior。Tothisobjecthedevotedmanymonthsofearnestlabour。ThisMissionwasintendedtoembraceboththeindustrialandthereligiouselement；

andastheroutebytheZambesiandShireformstheonlyoneatpresentknown，withbutacoupleofdays"landjourneytothehighlands，whichstretchtoanunknowndistanceintothecontinent，andasnojealousywaslikelytobeexcitedinthemindofamanofBishopMackenzie"senlargedviews——therebeingmoreoverroomforhundredsofMissions——wegladlyextendedthelittleaidinourpowertoanenvoyfromtheenergeticbodyabovementioned，butrecommendedhimtoexaminethefieldwithhisowneyes。

DuringoursubsequentdetentionatShupanga，heproceededasfaruptheShireastheUpperCataracts，andsawthemereremnantsofthatdensepopulation，whichweatfirsthadfoundlivinginpeaceandplenty，butwhichwasnowscatteredanddestroyedbyfamineandslave-hunting。Theland，whichbothbeforeandafterwefoundsofairandfruitful，wasburnedupbyaseveredrought；infact，itwasatitsveryworst。Withmostpraiseworthyenergy，andinspiteofoccasionalattacksoffever，hethenascendedtheZambesiasfarasKebrabasa；and，whatmaybeofinteresttosome，comparedit，inparts，totheDanube。Hisestimateofthehighlandswouldnaturallybelowerthanours。Themaindrawbacksinhisopinion，however，weretheslave-trade，andthepowerallowedtheeffetePortugueseofshuttingupthecountryfromallexceptafewconvictsoftheirownnation。Thetimeofhiscomingwasinopportune；thedisasterswhich，frominexperience，hadbefallentheMissionoftheUniversities，hadadepressingeffectonthemindsofmanyathome，andrenderedanewattemptunadvisable；though，hadtheScotchperseveranceandenergybeenintroduced，itishighlyprobablethattheywouldhavereacted，mostbeneficially，onthezealofourEnglishbrethren，anddesertionwouldneverhavebeenheardof。Afterexaminingthecountry，Mr。

StewartdescendedtheZambesiinthebeginningofthefollowingyear，andproceededhomewardswithhisreport，byMosambiqueandtheCape。

Onthe7thofAprilwehadonlyonemanfitforduty；alltherestweredownwithfever，orwiththevilespiritsecretlysoldtothembythePortugueseofficerofcustoms，inspiteofourearnestrequesttohimtorefrainfromthepernicioustraffic。

Westartedonthe11thforShupangawithanotherloadofthe"LadyNyassa。”Aswesteamedupthedelta，weobservedmanyofthenativeswearingstripsofpalm-leaf，thesignsofsicknessandmourning；fortheytoosufferfromfever。Thisistheunhealthyseason；therainsareover，andthehotsundrawsupmalariafromthedecayedvegetation；diseaseseemedpeculiarlyseverethisyear。OnourwayupwemetMr。Waller，whohadcomefromMagomeroforprovisions；themissionariesweresufferingseverelyfromwantoffood；theliberatedpeoplewerestarving，anddyingofdiarrhoea，andloathsomesores。

TheAjawa，stimulatedintheirslaveraidsbysuppliesofammunitionandclothfromthePortuguese，haddestroyedthelargecropsofthepastyear；adroughthadfollowed，andlittleornofoodcouldbebought。Withhisusualenergy，Mr。Wallerhiredcanoes，loadedthemwithstores，andtookthemupthelongwearywaytoChibisa"s。

BeforehearrivedhewasinformedthattheMissionoftheUniversities，nowdeprivedofitsbraveleader，hadretiredfromthehighlandsdowntotheLowShireValley。Thisappearedtous，whoknewthedangerofleadingasedentarylife，thegreatestmistaketheycouldhavemade，andwastheresultofnoothercounselorresponsibilitythantheirown。Wallerwouldhavereascendedatoncetothehigheraltitude，butvariousobjectionsstoodintheway。ThelossofpoorScudamoreandDickinson，inthislow-lyingsituation，butaddedtotheregretthatthehighlandshadnotreceivedafairtrial。

WhenthenewsoftheBishop"sunfortunatecollisionswiththenatives，andofhisuntimelyend，reachedEngland，muchblamewasimputedtohim。Thepolicy，whichwiththeformalsanctionofallhiscompanionshehadadopted，beingdirectlycontrarytotheadvicewhichDr。Livingstonetendered，andtotheassurancesofthepeaceablenatureoftheMissionwhichtheDoctorhadgiventothenatives，afriendlydisapprovalofabishop"sengaginginwarwasventuredon，whenwemethimatChibisa"sinNovember。ButwhenwefoundhisconductregardedwithsomuchbitternessinEngland，whetherfromadispositionto"standbythedownman，"orfromhavinganintimateknowledgeofthepeculiarcircumstancesofthecountryinwhichhewasplaced，orfromthethoroughconfidencewhichintimacycausedustoreposeinhisgenuinepiety，anddevoutserviceofGod，wecametothinkmuchmorelenientlyofhisproceedings，thanhisassailantsdid。Heneverseemedtodoubtbutthathehaddonehisduty；andthroughouthehadalwaysbeensupportedbyhisassociates。

ThequestionwhetheraBishop，intheeventofhisflockbeingtornfromhisbosom，maymakewartorescuethem，requiresseriousconsideration。ItseemstonarrowitselfintowhetheraChristianmanmaylawfullyusethecivilpowerortheswordatallindefensivewar，aspoliceorotherwise。Wewoulddoalmostanythingtoavoidacollisionwithdegradednatives；butincaseofaninvasion——ourbloodboilsattheverythoughtofourwives，daughters，orsistersbeingtouched——we，asmenwithhumanfeelings，wouldunhesitatinglyfighttothedeath，withallthefuryinourpower。

ThegoodBishopwasasintenselyaversetousingarms，beforehemettheslave-hunters，asanymaninEngland。Inthecoursehepursuedhemayhavemadeamistake，butitisamistakewhichveryfewEnglishmenonmeetingbandsofhelplesscaptives，ormembersofhisfamilyinbonds，wouldhavefailedtocommitlikewise。

DuringunhealthyApril，thefeverwasmoresevereinShupangaandMazarothanusual。Wehadseveralcasesonboard——theywerequicklycured，but，fromourbeinginthedelta，asquicklyreturned。AboutthemiddleofthemonthMrs。Livingstonewasprostratedbythisdisease；anditwasaccompaniedbyobstinatevomiting。Nothingisyetknownthatcanallaythisdistressingsymptom，whichofcourserendersmedicineofnoavail，asitisinstantlyrejected。ShereceivedwhatevermedicalaidcouldberenderedfromDr。Kirk，butbecameunconscious，andhereyeswereclosedinthesleepofdeathasthesunsetontheeveningoftheChristianSabbath，the27thApril，1862。Acoffinwasmadeduringthenight，agravewasdugnextdayunderthebranchesofthegreatbaobab-tree，andwithsympathizingheartsthelittlebandofhiscountrymenassistedthebereavedhusbandinburyinghisdead。Athisrequest，theRev。JamesStewartreadtheburial-service；andtheseamenkindlyvolunteeredtomountguardforsomenightsatthespotwhereherbodyrestsinhope。

Thosewhoarenotawarehowthisbrave，good，EnglishwifemadeadelightfulhomeatKolobeng，athousandmilesinlandfromtheCape，andasthedaughterofMoffatandaChristianladyexercisedmostbeneficialinfluenceovertherudetribesoftheinterior，maywonderthatsheshouldhavebravedthedangersandtoilsofthisdown-

troddenland。Sheknewthemall，and，inthedisinterestedanddutifulattempttorenewherlabours，wascalledtoherrestinstead。

"Fiat，Domine，voluntastua!"

Onthe5thofMayDr。KirkandCharlesLivingstonestartedintheboatforTette，inordertoseethepropertyoftheExpeditionbroughtdownincanoes。TheytookfourMazarocanoe-mentomanagetheboat，andawhitesailortocookforthem；but，unfortunately，hecaughtfevertheverydayafterleavingtheship，andwasillmostofthetrip；sotheyhadtocookforthemselves，andtotakecareofhimbesides。

Wenowproceededwithpreparationsforthelaunchofthe"LadyNyassa。”GroundwaslevelledonthebankatShupanga，forthepurposeofarrangingthecompartmentsinorder:shewasplacedonpalm-treeswhichwerebroughtfromaplacelowerdowntheriverforways，andtheengineerandhisassistantsweresoonbusilyengaged；

aboutafortnightaftertheywereallbroughtfromKongone，thesectionswerescrewedtogether。Theblacksaremoreaddictedtostealingwhereslaveryexiststhanelsewhere。Wewereannoyedbythieveswhocarriedofftheironscrew-bolts，butweregratifiedtofindthatstrychninesavedusfromtheman-thiefaswellasthehyena-thief。Ahyenawaskilledbyit，andafterthenativessawthedeadanimalandknewhowwehaddestroyedit，theyconcludedthatitwasnotsafetostealfrommenwhopossessedamedicinesopowerful。

Thehalf-caste，whokeptShupanga-house，saidhewishedtohavesometogivetotheZulus，ofwhomhewasmortallyafraid，andtowhomhehadtopayanunwillingtribute。

The"Pioneer"madeseveraltripstotheKongone，andreturnedwiththelastloadonthe12thofJune。Onthe23rdthe"LadyNyassa"wassafelylaunched，theworkofputtinghertogetherhavingbeeninterruptedbyfeveranddysentery，andmanyothercauseswhichitwouldonlywearythereadertonarrateindetail。Nativesfromallpartsofthecountrycametoseethelaunch，mostofthemquitecertainthat，beingmadeofiron，shemustgotothebottomassoonassheenteredthewater。Earnestdiscussionshadtakenplaceamongthemwithregardtotheproprietyofusingironforship-building。

Themajorityaffirmedthatitwouldneveranswer。Theysaid，"Ifweputahoeintothewater，orthesmallestbitofiron，itsinksimmediately。Howthencansuchamassofironfloat？itmustgotothebottom。”Theminorityansweredthatthismightbetruewiththem，butwhitemenhadmedicineforeverything。"Theycouldevenmakeawoman，allexceptthespeaking；lookatthatoneonthefigure-headofthevessel。”Theunbelieverswereastonished，andcouldhardlybelievetheireyes，whentheysawtheshipfloatlightlyandgracefullyontheriver，insteadofgoingtothebottom，astheysoconfidentlypredicted。"Truly，"theysaid，"thesemenhavepowerfulmedicine。”

BirdsarenumerousontheShupangaestate。Somekindsremainalltheyearround，whilemanyothersarethereonlyforafewmonths。