LIVINGSTONIA —BLANTYEE—Q UILLIMANE. 427 
Two men put off in a small boat. How strange a 
meeting! In black midnight, with its darkness made 
more apparent through our rude grass fire, I as in a 
happy dream suddenly clasped the hands of white 
brothers as they stepped upon the shores of Livingstonia 
Bay ! Both were thunderstruck at finding me, and 
many were the questions they asked as to where I had 
come from, where was my party (!), and what was I 
trying to do. 
The morning of our departure from the tranquil bay 
of Livingstonia was beautiful ; but I had no feeling of 
regret as I looked back upon the vanishing scene, 
although it was kept in view until the deserted mission 
station was lost in the distance. Gradually the horizon 
widened as we steamed into the open of the lake, the 
smoke of the steamer rollino; in black volumes from 
the funnel, and contrasting strangely with the streaks 
of fleecy clouds sailing slowly across the high heavens. 
The pulse of the tiny engines throbbed a hundred and 
one to the minute as the little Ilala boldly breasted the 
billows on the broad bosom of Nyassa.* 
A buoyancy of exhilaration was felt during this 
progress, which put into the shade the happinesses of 
years. The refreshing kiss of the soft breezes which 
swept over the big water was not only soothing, but 
strangely delightful. 
I had every reason to be contented with my new 
surroundings, and especially with my rescuers and 
companions, who one and all did everything they could 
to make me comfortable. Ceremony was absent here, 
for in such wild surroundings men soon fall back into 
the natural state and learn each other’s ways. 
The rescuing party included Lieutenant Giraud, the 
intrepid French traveller who had been in command of 
an expedition sent out by his Government with a view 
to explore the little-known regions surrounding Lake 
Bangweolo. Lieutenant Giraud’s expedition was success¬ 
fully accomplished; but through intimidation by Arabs 
* Tlie Ilala is a small steamer belonging to the African Lakes Company. 
She supplied the missionaries at Bandawe, on the lake. 
