Chap XX. CAPTAIN WILSON AT SHUPANGA. 413 



as they could, and, making a litter of branches, carried him 

 themselves, or got others to carry him, all the way back to 

 his countrymen at Magomero. They hurried him on lest he 

 should die in their hands, and blame be attached to them. 

 Soon after his return he expired, from the disease which was 

 on him when he started to meet his wife. 



Captain Wilson arrived at Shupanga on the 11th of 

 March, having been three weeks on the Shire. On the 15th 

 the Pioneer steamed down to the Kongone. The Gorgon had 

 been driven out to sea in a gale, and had gone to Johanna for 

 provisions, and it was the 2nd of April before she returned. 

 It was fortunate for us that she had obtained a supply, as our 

 provisions were exhausted, and we had to buy some from the 

 master of the brig. The Gorgon left for the Cape on the 4th, 

 taking all, except one, of the Mission party who had come in 

 January. We take this opportunity of expressing our heart- 

 felt gratitude to the gallant Captain Wilson and his officers 

 for innumerable acts of kindness and hearty co-operation. Our 

 warmest thanks are also due to Captain E. B. Oldfield and 

 the other officers from the Admiral downwards, and we beg 

 to assure them that nothing could be more encouraging to us 

 in our difficulties and trials, than the knowledge that we 

 possessed their friendship and sympathy in our labours. 



The Rev. James Stewart, of the Free Churcli of Scot- 

 land, arrived in the Gorgon. He had wisely come out to 

 inspect the country, before deciding on the formation of a 

 Mission in the interior. To this object he devoted many 

 months of earnest labour. This Mission was intended to 

 embrace both the industrial and the religious element ; and, 

 as the route by the Zambesi and Shire forms the only one at 

 present known, with but a couple of days' land journey to 

 the highlands, which stretch to an unknown distance into the 

 continent, and as no jealousy was likely to be excited in the 



