DIFFICULTIES OF THE MISSIONARIES. 329 



left in charge of the mission, to visit Urbona, the chief of the Mingazi, in 

 order to get his sanction to reside in his district, the country being hilly, 

 particularly fine, and pleasant. Mr. Procter and Mr. Dickenson undertook 

 this journey, and started off early on the morning of March 20 ; and on 

 reaching their destination obtained permission to have a tour of exploration 

 through the district governed by Urbono, in order to select a site which would 

 not only be healthy, but also be appropriate for the carrying out of their 

 mission. Accordingly, they proceeded towards a fine long spur of the western 

 extremity of the Chiradzu Mountain, as the place looked promising. After 

 crossing a valley which lay between them and the ridge which they wanted 

 to reach, and ascending the ridge a considerable distance, Mr. Procter found 

 the country favourable to their purpose. The want, however, of a stream, 

 compelled them to abandon the thought of residing there. After making 

 further explorations, the party returned to their mission station, where they 

 continued until April 15, a period of nearly a month, educating the natives, 

 &c, without being molested. On that day, however, news reached them of 

 a series of incursions of the Ajawa, which rendered it imperative to change 

 their station. This was accordingly done, about 70 men being engaged to 

 assist in carrying their luggage. It was decided that they should proceed to 

 Chibisa's village, on the Shire, for the present. The journey, which occupied 

 ten days, was accomplished safely, almost all the people — in number about 

 60 — freed through the exertions of the mission party, accompanied them. 

 Mr. Procter's communication concludes : ' We are situated on a bank about 

 100 feet high, and for nearly a month have not felt any ill effects worse than 

 those which came upon us in our former place. We hope we shall be able 

 to remain here for a few months, and go on with our previous work, acquiring 

 the language and teaching our own people.' " 



About December it was apparent that yet other victims had to suffer 

 from the malaria of these regions. The Rev. H. C Scudamore expired on 

 the morning of 1st January, 1863. The following letter from the Rev. L. J. 

 Procter gives an account of the state of affairs prior to Mr. Scudamore's 

 death : — 



" Signor Vianna's, on the Zambesi, 27th Dec, 1862. 



" The wretched state of the country on the hills and along the Shire has 

 compelled us again to have recourse to the Portuguese for a further supply of 

 the food merely absolutely necessary, and I have come down with one of our 

 native people to purchase rice for ourselves and mapira for our dependents. 

 On reaching this place, the residence of Signor Vianna, on the 16th, I fell 

 in with Dr. Livingstone, who had just returned from the Rovuma, which he 

 had been exploring in boats, and where he tells me he had been partially 

 successful in his search for a river-route to Lake Nyassa; but that he and 

 his party had been in considerable danger from a number of river-pirates who 

 si 



