Chap. IX. the mission station. 253 



asking aid against the Ajawa, it would be his duty to 

 accede to their request, — " No," replied Dr. Livingstone, 

 " you will be oppressed by their importunities, but do not 

 interfere in native quarrels." This advice the good man 

 honourably mentions in his journal. We have been rather 

 minute in relating what occurred during the few days of 

 our connection with the Mission of the English Univer- 

 sities, on the hills, because, the recorded advice having 

 been discarded, blame was thrown on Dr. Livingstone's 

 shoulders, as if the missionaries had no individual respon- 

 sibility for their subsequent conduct. This, unques- 

 tionably, good Bishop Mackenzie had too much manliness 

 to have allowed. The connection of the members of the 

 Zambesi Expedition, with the acts of the Bishop's Mission, 

 now ceased, for we returned to the ship and prepared for 

 our journey to Lake Nyassa. We cheerfully, if necessary, 

 will bear all responsibility up to this point ; and if the 

 Bishop afterwards made mistakes in certain collisions 

 with the slavers, he had the votes of all his party with 

 him, and those who best knew the peculiar circumstances, 

 and the loving disposition of this good-hearted man, will 

 blame him least. In this position, and in these circum- 

 stances, we left our friends at the Mission Station. 



As a temporary measure the Bishop decided to place 

 his Mission Station on a small promontory formed by the 

 windings of the little, clear stream of Magomero, which 

 was so cold that the limbs were quite benumbed by 

 washing in it in the July mornings. The site chosen was 

 a pleasant spot to the eye, and completely surrounded by 

 stately, shady trees. It was expected to serve for a 

 residence, till the Bishop had acquired an accurate know- 

 ledge of the adjacent country, and of the political relations 

 of the people, and could select a healthy and commanding 

 situation, as a permanent centre of Christian civilization. 

 Everything promised fairly. The weather was delightful, 



