Chap. XXVIII. BISHOP MACKENZIE'S SUCCESSOE. 571 



return towards the Equator, when, as a rule, the waters 

 of inundation are made to flow. Up to this time the rains 

 descended simply to water the earth, fill the pools, and make 

 ready for the grand overflow for which we had still to wait 

 six weeks. It is of no use to conceal that we waited with 

 much chagrin; for had we not been forced to return from 

 the highlands west of Nyassa we might have visited Lake 

 Bemba ; but unavailing regrets are poor employment for the 

 mind ; so we banished them to the best of our power. 



About the middle of December, 1863, we were informed 

 that Bishop Mackenzie's successor, after spending a few 

 months on the top of a mountain about as high as Ben Nevis 

 in Scotland, at the mouth of the Shire, where there were 

 few or no people to be taught, had determined to leave 

 the country. This unfortunate decision was communicated 

 to us at the same time that six of the boys reared by 

 Bishop Mackenzie were sent back into heathenism. The 

 boys were taken to a place about seven miles from the ship, 

 but immediately found their way up to us, lamenting that 

 they had no longer that Bishop who had a heart, and who was 

 more than a father to them. We told them that if they wished 

 to remain in the country they had better so arrange at once, 

 for we were soon to leave. The sequel will show their choice. 



As soon as the death of Bishop Mackenzie was known at 

 the Cape, Dr. Gray, the excellent Bishop there, proceeded at 

 once to England, with a view of securing an early appoint- 

 ment of another head to the Mission, which in its origin owed 

 so much to his zeal for the spread of the Gospel among the 

 heathen, and whose interests he had continually at heart. 

 About the middle of 1862 we heard that Dr. Gray's efforts 

 had been successful, and that another clergyman would 

 soon take the place of our departed friend. This pleas- 

 ing intelligence was exceedingly cheering to the Mis- 



