A Thousand Miles in a Machilla 



experts on agricultural matters. The evenings we 

 spent in their company were among the pleasantest 

 and most instructive of our African experiences. 



The weather was very hot, and we had to be 

 indoors during the middle of the day ; but while 



A was out shooting in the mornings and 



evenings the Fathers showed me round the gardens 

 and plantations. One was in charge of the house- 

 keeping, another of the garden and workshops, and 

 the third of the exchequer. 



The Mission is well situated on slightly rising 

 ground, overlooking a stream which affords a 

 plentiful supply of pure water. At the back are 

 the mountains and in front the low flat country, 

 which stretches away to Lake Nyasa, some ten 

 miles distant. The buildings, which were con- 

 structed by local natives under the supervision of 

 the Fathers, are built of red brick, with tiled roofs, 

 the grooved tiles resembling those habitually used 

 in the south of France. The mission house faces 

 east and is two-storied, with large airy rooms, 

 having a balcony in front. The living rooms are 

 on the first floor, the class-rooms on the ground 

 floor, and the servants' quarters at the back. The 

 house forms a quadrangle, one side of which is 

 occupied by the church, the other by the workshops ; 

 the main building forms the centre. 



The inside of the church is simple, with white- 

 washed walls. There are wooden benches for the 

 congregation, and two confessionals screened off 

 with white calico. At 8 a.m. every morning the 

 church bell rings, and the natives in their scanty 



62 



