224 
Seven Years in Central Africa. 
[Oct. 
A SURGICAL OPERATION. 
October \oth. — Kasule, an old native trader from the Quando 
district, who has been living here with Msidi for many years, fell 
into a fire and burned his right hand. He did not come to me 
to have it dressed at once, and mortification set in. When they 
brought him to-day I found the hand in such a state that I was 
compelled to amputate it. Taking him out to the bush close by, 
I set him down on the ground, and, with the assistance of my 
boy Dick, held his arm across a huge stone, and with a razor and 
a little penknife I managed to sever the hand at the wrist-joint. 
The poor old man stood the operation wonderfully well, and 
seemed very grateful for my help \ but he was quite overcome 
when Dick dug a hole in the ground and buried the hand. I 
kept the old man under my care for some days, and the wound 
healed completely. He seemed very unwilling to leave my village 
again, so I told him he had better bring his wife, build his hut 
close by, and I would take charge of his little boy and bring 
him up. I thought he might look after the village in my absence, 
and would be useful for going messages and other light work. 
TWO years' letters BRETHREN CLOSE AT HAND. 
December \\th. — Dick had just prepared my usual afternoon 
meal of corn porridge, and one roasted pigeon to flavour it, 
when two men came hastily up in front of .my house, and without 
waiting to knock pushed their way in. Before I had time to 
remonstrate with them for their seeming rudeness, the foremost 
one thrust into my hand a packet of letters. I handed to him 
and his companion my porridge and pigeon, and opening the 
packet I found that during these two long years of silence as 
to the movements of the outer world I had not only been 
remembered by many friends at home, but that two brethren were 
actually close to me in the heart of Africa. Messrs. Swan and 
Faulknor, after many delays, difficulties, and perplexities, had 
arrived safely at the Lualaba river, from which they had forwarded 
my letters, and in a few days they would be with me. What was 
I to do? Should I remain and make the house as comfortable 
as possible for their reception, or start at once to meet them? 
I decided to adopt the first course, as being the most sensible. 
