92 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.— SUPPLEMENT. 



been killed, it is said, by Ramakukau. He was 

 buried in his hut, which was knocked down, and 

 the place was left. When Mr. Henderson came 

 he found several standing, and these he had re- 

 paired and put in order for us to dwell in until 

 such time as we got more suitable houses built. 



" Now as to the advantage of the site, and first 

 as to its healthiness. The altitude is good, as we 

 are upon the third plateau of the Shire Hill, which 

 is about 3,000 feet high. Thus we are high above 

 the malarious level, not, I mean, to assert that 

 altitude necessarily procures immunity from ma- 

 laria, for even in the hills, if one chooses to set- 

 tle down in a hollow or low-lying, marshy place, 

 he will probably find more than enough of the 

 miasmatic poison developed than is conducive to 

 health. The temperature is very suitable, being 

 equable, rarely in the shade rising above 80°, and 

 rarely falling below 70°. Drainage is good, and 

 is secured by the settlement standing on a rising 

 ground or knoll, from which the ground slopes 

 away in every direction, so that during the rainy 

 season no water accumulates in our immediate 

 vicinity. 



" The water-supply is good, both as regards 

 quality and quantity, and it is but a short distance 

 off. Again, almost every day a fine breeze pre- 

 vails, which is cool and bracing, yet mild. I 

 think, therefore, all things being considered, I 

 can congratulate both ourselves aud the friends 

 of the mission at home on the healthiness of 

 Blantyre. Concerning the matter of cultivation, 

 things are satisfactory. The soil is good, and 

 already we have got a large garden, producing 

 not only plants indigenous to the soil, but also 

 home-plants and others we got from the Cape. 

 Now a few words as to the conveniences of the 

 situation. We are but two days' march from 

 Ramakukau's, thus we can have speedy access to 

 the coast, Kongoni, or Quillimane. Again, we 

 are within the same number of days' journey from 

 Pimbe, on the Upper Shire, the place to which 

 the Uala, the steamer of the Free-Church party, 

 comes down, so we are also within speedy com- 

 munication with Lake Nyassa. Lake Shirwa is 

 only three days off at the most, and from there 

 the natives bring us very good fish. We are also 

 only one day's journey from the Ruo ; but as it 

 flows through a bad and uninhabited country, it 

 cannot be said to be much of an advantage in the 

 mean time. 



" General Aspect of the Country. — Hills and 

 dales, all well wooded and covered with vegeta- 

 tion of different kinds — in some places very rank 

 and dense indeed. I have been caught and held 



fast in the thicket more than once. In most 

 parts wild-flowers abound of many and varied 

 hues, which, in the midst of the fresh green verd- 

 ure that prevails, relieves it, and is very pleasing 

 to the eye, and in some cases our sense of smell 

 is much gratified. Our water-courses and streams 

 are rich with vegetation of every kind and variety. 

 Many different kinds of ferns abound ; but I do 

 not think any have yet been found that are not 

 also to be found at home. Very fine and large 

 trees are plentiful on the banks of the streams, 

 too, and some good planks might be got out of 

 them ; but generally the trees which prevail over 

 the country are low and stunted : they are prin- 

 cipally acacias. Sometimes one emerges from 

 the wood into fine glades covered with long, wav- 

 ing green grass ; these, in some cases, much re- 

 semble the parks in the confines of a gentleman's 

 grounds at home. They are very picturesque. The 

 mountains are high and steep, with many deep 

 ravines. They are clad with verdure to the very 

 top, from the midst of which the brown rocks may 

 be seen lifting up their ancient, weather-beaten 

 heads, lending enchantment to the view. Here and 

 there are large fields of corn and pumpkins flour- 

 ishing, helping to relieve the wild appearance of 

 the country. The gardens are often far away 

 from the villages in the season, the people leav- 

 ing their homes, aud living in temporary habita- 

 tions for the purpose of cultivating them. 



"The people are quiet and peaceable and well 

 disposed. They are fond of fun and music. They 

 are impressible, expressing great surprise and 

 pleasure at the sight of pictures, our guns, pis- 

 tols, watches, and other, to them, wonderful 

 things. They are quick and intelligent, and pick 

 up with a wonderful degree of alacrity what you 

 want or mean. Their features are not at all un- 

 pleasant to look upon, and there is great variety ; 

 the expression is generally happy and compara- 

 tively intelligent. Their stature is very good, 

 and so, too, their physique; in height, on an 

 average, of about 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 

 inches. The following measurements I have 

 taken, of which I give the average : the head, in 

 circumference, 21f inches; chest, 34£ inches; 

 arm in length, 22^ inches ; hand, 6£ inches. The 

 measurement of the pelvis by a foot I have not 

 yet ascertained, but they are well proportioned. 

 They are lithe, supple, and active in their move- 

 ments. They are a bow-and-arrow people, and dis- 

 tinguished from those tribes whose chief weapon 

 is the spear, though now many of them have flint- 

 lock muskets, which, curiously enough, are all 

 branded Forty-second Regiment, and have a crown 



