CHAPTER VII. 



LILONGWE^ — John's unpleasant experience. 



Lilongwe is situated on the left bank of the Likumi, 

 a good sized river, and, like all stations we saw in 

 Nyasaland, is neat and clean and well laid out, 

 while round about there are a number of excellent 

 roads, which are a source of great pride to the 

 Resident. 



The place, unfortunately, has been built in a 

 hollow, and is consequently very hot. We were 

 there in September, the equivalent of March in 

 England, and the temperature was 75° F. in the 

 shade at 9 a.m. and 85 at 4 p.m. During the w^et 

 season mosquitoes swarm, and black-water fever and 

 every other malarial disease is then rife. Why so 

 many stations in the tropics have been established 

 in thoroughly unsanitary positions it is hard to say. 

 We were told that in this case the first official who 

 visited the spot arrived in a very tired condition 

 after a long trek, and seeing a nice shady tree 

 growing near the river-bank, said "This is my 

 house ! " and here sure enough the Bom a was 

 erected. A mile or so further a charming and 

 perfectly healthy site could have been chosen on the 

 edge of the plateau, with a delightful view over- 



1 See p. 118. 

 74 



