Chap. XVIII. THE BISHOP INVITED TO MAGOMERO. 359 



escape alone. Fifty more slaves were freed next day in 

 another village ; and, the whole party being stark-naked, 

 cloth enough was left to clothe them, better probably than 

 they had ever been clothed before. The head of this gang, 

 whom we knew as the agent of one of the principal mer- 

 chants of Tette, said that they had the licence of the Gover- 

 nor for all they did. This we were fully aware of without 

 his stating it. It is quite impossible for any enterprise to 

 be undertaken there without the Governor's knowledge and 

 connivance. 



The portion of the highlands which the Bishop wished to 

 look at before deciding on a settlement, belonged to Chiwawa 

 or Chibaba, the most manly and generous Manganja Chief we 

 had met with on our previous journey. On reaching Nsambo's, 

 near Mount Chiradzuru, we heard that Chibaba was dead, and 

 that Chigunda was Chief instead. Chigunda, apparently of 

 his own accord, though possibly he may have learnt that the 

 Bishop intended to settle somewhere in the country, asked 

 him to come and live with him at Magomero, adding that 

 there was room enough for both. This hearty and spontaneous 

 invitation had considerable influence on the Bishop's mind, 

 and seemed to decide the question. A place nearer the Shire 

 would have been chosen, had he expected his supplies to come 

 up that river ; but the Portuguese, claiming the river Shire, 

 though never occupying even its mouth, had closed it, 

 as well as the Zambesi. 



Our hopes were turned to the Bovuma, as a free highway 

 into Lake IsTyassa and the vast interior. A steamer was 

 already ordered for the Lake, and the Bishop, seeing the 

 advantageous nature of the highlands which stretch an 

 immense way to the north, was more anxious to be near the 

 Lake and the Bovuma, than the Shire. When he decided 

 to settle at Magomero, it was thought desirable, to prevent 



