The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-02-19 00:00:00

THE LAKE NYASSA MISSION.

The Rev. Thomas Smith, D.D., sends the following letter
to The Times, from Mr. E. D. Young. R.N., the head of the
Livingstone Mission of the Free and Reformed Presbyterian
Churches to Lake Nyassa. The letter is dated River Shire
Upper), October 24, 1875 :
" I have the honour to report for the information of
the committee that the-stoamer _rink was successfully
launched on the 6th inst., and started for Nyassa on
the Bth, which was reached on the 12th. The steamer
is quite a success, sails well, and steams seven knots
with the one boiler. Our party are all quite well and
in good spirits. Before entering Lake Nyassa, I
called on the powerfid Chief, Mpopda, and informed
him of the object of our mission. He appeared very
pleased, 'And at once gave us permission to settle on
any part of his land. He is Owner Of the whole of the
Cape M'Clear Peninsular. We took a ruining survey
of the whole coast, with ' very fine weather;
although there are many delightful spots' fit for a
settlement, no one offers sufficient protection to, the
steamer, except a beautiful bay at Cape M'Clear, -
where we have decided to settle for the time;' and
-have left Dr. Laws, with-three of' our party and some
negroes, to build hompaxhile I have come down
here to fetch the remamcrel• of our stores. I have
now all on board, 'and '-start• again er "Nyassa to-
morrow. I called on Mponda on•our'way down, and
be promised to send a party of nekro6s up-to build'
houses. He is the most powerful Chief in the Nyassa
•district, and very favourably 'diSposed towards the
'English, and Wishes nit to;take him 'hotine 'with me.
At his place there are several • Arabe, with 'a great,
number of slaves bound to the Coast. I saw them view-
ing.one through the crowd of negroes when I landed
and called them. They were very 'Much frightened,.
and were astonished beyond treasure to see a steamer
up there and, no doubt, think their slaving days are
ended. I took a cruise round the lower part of the
Lake to look out for a good harbour, when I observed
a slave dhow. We soon came up with 'her, and as
soon as I hoisted the English flag they lowere,d
their sail, and said, when I went on board, they
had no slaves in. Neither had they, but she was bound
for a cargo. The owner was on board. He was from
Zanzibar, and could speak a little English. He
talks of getting rid of his dhow, no doubt thinking
If the English are come she will be of no further use.
There are five of them sailing on the Lake, carrying
slaves across. To stop the slave trade there is a very
easy matter. Mponda, for a few pieces of calico,
will not permit slaves to pass the south end of the
Lake and the river. The Mitzitu are in pos-
session of the northern coast. . . . As far as I can
gather, 20,000 slaves are conveyed across annually.
We have received no news from England since leaving
the Cape. I must now honestly confess to the Com-
mittee that, as far as I can judge, the mission thus far
is quite a success. God be praised, for He has wonder-
fully prospered us. lam myself quite well and up"to
work, but worn down to a mere part of my former
self with overwork but it has kept the fever away, and
I shall now, no doubt soon gain flesh. On Nyassa the
climate is delightful. The beautiful sea breeze quite
braces you up. . . . I don't know of a single cora.