Tete - Inundation of the Zambesi -
Cotton cultivated - The fibrous Plants Conge and Buaze -
Detained by Fever - The Kumbanzo Bark - Native Medicines - Iron,
its Quality - Hear of Famine at Kilimane - Death of a Portuguese Lady -
The Funeral - Disinterested Kindness of the Portuguese.
Chapter 32.
Leave Tete and proceed down the River - Pass the Stockade of Bonga -
Gorge of Lupata - "Spine of the World" - Width of River -
Islands - War Drum at Shiramba - Canoe Navigation - Reach Senna -
Its ruinous State - Landeens levy Fines upon the Inhabitants -
Cowardice of native Militia - State of the Revenue - No direct Trade
with Portugal - Attempts to revive the Trade of Eastern Africa -
Country round Senna - Gorongozo, a Jesuit Station -
Manica, the best Gold Region in Eastern Africa - Boat-building at Senna -
Our Departure - Capture of a Rebel Stockade - Plants Alfacinya and Njefu
at the Confluence of the Shire - Landeen Opinion of the Whites -
Mazaro, the point reached by Captain Parker - His Opinion
respecting the Navigation of the River from this to the Ocean -
Lieutenant Hoskins' Remarks on the same subject - Fever, its Effects -
Kindly received into the House of Colonel Nunes at Kilimane -
Forethought of Captain Nolloth and Dr. Walsh - Joy imbittered -
Deep Obligations to the Earl of Clarendon, etc. - On developing
Resources of the Interior - Desirableness of Missionary Societies
selecting healthy Stations - Arrangements on leaving my Men -
Retrospect - Probable Influence of the Discoveries on Slavery -
Supply of Cotton, Sugar, etc., by Free Labor - Commercial Stations -
Development of the Resources of Africa a Work of Time - Site of Kilimane -
Unhealthiness - Death of a shipwrecked Crew from Fever -
The Captain saved by Quinine - Arrival of H. M. Brig "Frolic" -
Anxiety of one of my Men to go to England - Rough Passage in the Boats
to the Ship - Sekwebu's Alarm - Sail for Mauritius - Sekwebu on board;
he becomes insane; drowns himself - Kindness of Major-General C. M. Hay -
Escape Shipwreck - Reach Home.
Appendix. - Latitudes and Longitudes of Positions.
Appendix. - Book Review in Harper's New Monthly Magazine, February, 1858.
Appendix. - Notes to etext.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Introduction.
Personal Sketch - Highland Ancestors - Family Traditions -
Grandfather removes to the Lowlands - Parents - Early Labors and Efforts
- Evening School - Love of Reading - Religious Impressions -
Medical Education - Youthful Travels - Geology - Mental Discipline -
Study in Glasgow - London Missionary Society - Native Village -
Medical Diploma - Theological Studies - Departure for Africa -
No Claim to Literary Accomplishments.
My own inclination would lead me to say as little as possible about myself;
but several friends, in whose judgment I have confidence,
have suggested that, as the reader likes to know something about the author,
a short account of his origin and early life would lend additional interest
to this book. Such is my excuse for the following egotism;
and, if an apology be necessary for giving a genealogy,
I find it in the fact that it is not very long, and contains only one incident
of which I have reason to be proud.
Our great-grandfather fell at the battle of Culloden, fighting for
the old line of kings; and our grandfather was a small farmer in Ulva,
where my father was born. It is one of that cluster of the Hebrides
thus alluded to by Walter Scott:
"And Ulva dark, and Colonsay,
And all the group of islets gay
That guard famed Staffa round."*
-
* Lord of the Isles, canto 4.
-
Our grandfather was intimately acquainted with all the traditionary legends
which that great writer has since made use of in the "Tales of a Grandfather"
and other works. As a boy I remember listening to him with delight,
for his memory was stored with a never-ending stock of stories,
many of which were wonderfully like those I have since heard
while sitting by the African evening fires. Our grandmother, too,
used to sing Gaelic songs, some of which, as she believed, had been composed
by captive islanders languishing hopelessly among the Turks.
Grandfather could give particulars of the lives of his ancestors for
six generations of the family before him; and the only point of the tradition
I feel proud of is this: One of these poor hardy islanders
was renowned in the district for great wisdom and prudence;
and it is related that, when he was on his death-bed,
he called all his children around him and said, "Now, in my lifetime,
I have searched most carefully through all the traditions
I could find of our family, and I never could discover
that there was a dishonest man among our forefathers. If, therefore,
any of you or any of your children should take to dishonest ways,
it will not be because it runs in our blood: it does not belong to you.
I leave this precept with you: Be honest." If, therefore,
in the following pages I fall into any errors, I hope they will be dealt with
as honest mistakes, and not as indicating that I have forgotten
our ancient motto. This event took place at a time when the Highlanders,
according to Macaulay, were much like the Cape Caffres,
and any one, it was said, could escape punishment for cattle-stealing
by presenting a share of the plunder to his chieftain.
Our ancestors were Roman Catholics; they were made Protestants
by the laird coming round with a man having a yellow staff,
which would seem to have attracted more attention than his teaching,
for the new religion went long afterward, perhaps it does so still,
by the name of "the religion of the yellow stick".
Finding his farm in Ulva insufficient to support a numerous family,
my grandfather removed to Blantyre Works, a large cotton manufactory
on the beautiful Clyde, above Glasgow; and his sons,
having had the best education the Hebrides afforded,
were gladly received as clerks by the proprietors, Monteith and Co.
He himself, highly esteemed for his unflinching honesty, was employed
in the conveyance of large sums of money from Glasgow to the works,
and in old age was, according to the custom of that company, pensioned off,
so as to spend his declining years in ease and comfort.
