286 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. xiv. 



and serious, but it ended in the Ajawa being driven off 

 without loss on the other side. 



It now became a question for the Bishop in what 

 relation he and his party were to stand to these mur- 

 derous and marauding Ajawa — whether they should 

 quietly witness their onslaughts or drive them from the 

 country and rescue the captive Manganja. Livingstone's 

 advice to them was to be patient, and to avoid taking 

 part in the quarrels of the natives. He then left them at 

 Magomero, and returned to his companions on the Shire. 

 For a time the Bishop's party followed Livingstone's 

 advice, but circumstances afterwards occurred which 

 constrained them to take a different course, and led to 

 very serious results in the history of the Mission. 



Writing to his son Robert, Livingstone thus describes 

 the attack made by the Ajawa on him, the Bishop, and 

 the missionaries : — 



" The slave-hunters had induced a number of another tribe to 

 capture people for them. We came to this tribe while burning three 

 villages, and though we told them that we came peaceably, and to talk 

 with them, they saw that we were a small party, and might easily be 

 overcome, rushed at us and shot their poisoned arrows. One fell 

 between the Bishop and me, and another whizzed between another 

 man and me. We had to drive them off, and they left that part of 

 the country. Before going near them the Bishop engaged in prayer, 

 and during the prayer we could hear the wail for the dead by some 

 Manganja probably thought not worth killing, and the shouts of 

 Avelcome home to these bloody murderers. It turned out that they 

 were only some sixty or seventy robbers, and not the Ajawa tribe ; so 

 we had a narrow escape from being murdered. 



" How are you doing 1 ? I fear from what I have observed of j^our 

 temperament that you will have to strive against fickleness. Every 

 one has his besetting fault — that is no disgrace to him, but it is a dis- 

 grace if he do not find it out, and by God's grace overcome it. I am 

 not near to advise you what to do, but whatever line of life you 

 choose, resolve to stick to it, and serve God therein to the last. 

 Whatever failings you are conscious of, tell them to your heavenly 

 Father; strive daily to master them and confess all to Him when con- 

 scious of having gone astray. And may the good Lord of all impart all 

 the strength you need. Commit your way unto the Lord ; trust also 

 in Him. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will bless you." 



