CHAPTER II. 



WE STAY AT BLANTYRE OUR MACHILLA TEAMS, 

 PORTERS, AND SERVANTS. 



PLANS having been disposed of, the next business 

 was to complete our preparations for the road 

 and engage servants and porters. The great 

 bulk of our food supplies had been sent out from 

 England and were now awaiting us at Zomba, but 

 we had arranged to purchase a certain amount 

 locally, and we had also to buy cooking utensils. 

 Having ascertained before leaving England that 

 the Company could supply us with tents, we were 

 saved the trouble of sending out these bulky 

 articles. Two very suitable ones were offered us, 

 one of which we hired, and the other, a new one, 

 we purchased, as also sundry articles of camp kit. 

 The Company undertook to repurchase these articles 

 at the end of our journey at a valuation, and I 

 may mention here that we were entirely satisfied 

 with the price we received for them at Broken 

 Hill. 



Two strongly-built machillas were also provided 

 for us on hire, and these answered their purpose 

 admirably and stood the wear and tear of the 

 long journey wonderfully well. The Company had 



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