Introduction. 
7 
from the students the two men required. Accordingly 
two young men were chosen, and brought over to 
England, that they might make some personal 
acquaintance with the members of the churches 
under whose auspices they were to go forth as the 
messengers of the Gospel. Their apparent piety, 
biblical knowledge, and general deportment made a 
good impression wherever they went, and ardent 
hopes were excited that they might prove true and 
useful men. 
In the meantime an appeal had been made to the 
Free Churches for the services of other men from their 
own ranks. To this appeal eight young men responded, 
five of whom were already engaged in home mission 
work, a proof that there was no lack of missionary 
zeal in the Free Churches. But two only of the eight 
were needed, and Messrs. Wakefield and Woolner 
were appointed. 
After a slight preliminary training under Dr. Krapf, 
at Kornthal, they left Europe on their way to Africa, 
and on the 19th of August, 1861, arrived at the city of 
Cairo, in Egypt. There they made a short halt, but 
they were not idle. Kisuahili, Kinika, and the Arabic 
languages engaged their attention during their stay. 
Here Dr. Krapf received cheering intelligence regard- 
ing the condition of the country to which they were 
proceeding. He had been apprehensive that he and 
his party might not receive so hearty a reception at 
Zanzibar as could be desired. ' Complications had 
previously occurred, which had seriously involved the 
interests of mission work in East Africa, Dr. Krapf 
himself having been unjustly charged with having 
meddled with the political affairs of the country. In 
