430 VILLAGE OP KILIMANE. 



perpetuation of my inability to make any provision for her 

 declining years. In addition to " clergyman's sore throat," 

 which, partially disabled me from the work, my father's 

 death imposed new obligations; and, a fresh source of in- 

 come having been opened to me without my asking, I had 

 no hesitation in accepting what would enable me to fulfil 

 my duty to my aged parent as well as to the heathen. 



The village of Kilimane stands on a great mud-bank, 

 and is surrounded by extensive swamps and rice-grounds. 

 The banks of the river are lined with mangrove-bushes, 

 the roots of which, and the slimy banks on which they 

 grow, are alternately exposed to the tide and sun. The 

 houses are well built of brick and lime, the latter from 

 Mozambique. If one digs down two or three feet in any 

 part of the site of the village, he comes to water: hence 

 the walls built on this mud-bank gradually subside; pieces 

 are sometimes sawn off the doors below, because the walla 

 in which they are fixed have descended into the ground, so 

 as to leave the floors higher than the bottom of the doors. 

 It is almost needless to say that Kilimane is very un- 

 healthy. A man of plethoric temperament is sure to get 

 fever, and concerning a stout person one may hear the 

 remark, "Ah, he will not live long; he is sure to die." 



After waiting about six weeks at this unhealthy spot, 

 in which, however, by the kind attentions of Colonel 

 Nunes and his nephew, I partially recovered from my ter- 

 tian, H.M. brig "Frolic" arrived off Kilimane. As the 

 village is twelve miles from the bar, and the weather wag 

 rough, she was at anchor ten days before we knew of her 

 presence about seven miles from the entrance to the port. 

 She brought abundant supplies for all my need, and £150 

 to pay my passage home, from my kind friend Mr. Thomp- 

 son, the Society's agent at the Cape. The admiral at the 

 Cape kindly sent an offer of a passage to the Mauritius, 

 which I thankfully accepted. Sekwebu and one attendant 

 alone remained with me now. He was very intelligent, and 

 had been of the greatest service to me : indeed, but for hia 



