Let it ever be stated to their credit that no sooner had the form been determined on which the effort should take, than the Reformed Presbyterian, the Established and the United Presbyterian Churches of Scotland desired to join hands with the Free Church in accomplishing it; and the suggestion made in such good fellowship was heartily reciprocated.

When the leadership was offered to me in virtue of my having spent much time in East Africa under Dr. Livingstone, and again subsequently in investigating the story of his murder when the Admiralty and the Royal Geographical Society did me the honour to put me in command of their expedition in 1867, I confess that it was a very great satisfaction to me to witness this unanimity among the Churches, and unspeakable pleasure to take charge of their nominees.

Foremost amongst the spokesmen for the projected mission, and indefatigable in its commencement, let me mention the name of my old friend the Rev. Dr. James Stewart, the head of the Lovedale College in South Africa. Fully hoping himself some day to take his place as the principal of the Nyassa Mission, he declared

that with all his desire to push into Central Africa--and I may add we had spent many days together on the Zambesi-he was compelled by the urgent requirements of the Lovedale Institution and its offshoot in the Transkei territory to decline to conduct the mission to its chosen seat. Nevertheless, if the undertaking claims one man more than another to father it, let Dr. Stewart stand as that parent.

Finally, it was arranged that he should replace me on Lake Nyassa at such time as I could report that I had launched a steamer on its waters, and had left the first detachment of the industrial mission established in a healthy spot.

I must here reiterate my thanks to the Lords of the Admiralty, who, at the request of the Missions Committee, gave me leave of absence from my Coastguard appointment at Dungeness till 1st February, 1877. Whenever I ventured to seek help from them on behalf of the expedition in any shape or way, the same hearty and thoughtful assistance was placed at my service which I had already occasion to thank the authorities for in previous years when leading the "Search" Expedition.

I shall not enter into very many particulars.

concerning the preparations which it was necessary to make both in Scotland and in England. With plenty of past experiences to fall back upon, and the ready and willing cooperation of some of my former companions on the Shiré, we were able to get through a great deal of outfitting work in a short time. I shall always remember with gratitude the exceeding interest and untiring exertions of my old commanding officer, Captain J. C. Wilson, of H.M.'s S.S. Thunderer, to insure success for the expedition. Perhaps never were funds raised more cheerily than when it became known that an attempt was to be made to place a steamer on Lake Nyassa. Heading the list of subscribers, I find the old and sincere friend of Dr. Livingstone, Mr. James Young, F.R.S., of Kelly, placing £1000 at our disposal; Mr. James Stevenson, of Glasgow, a like amount; Mr. W. Mackinnon, of Balnakill (who has done so much in opening up trade in East Africa by running steamers between different points), gave £500; and Mr. P. Mackinnon, Mr. George Martin, and Mr. James White furnished like gifts. That the sinews of war would be forthcoming was evident enough. As in most cases

of a similar description, the original pioneers can save after-comers a great deal of expenditure by telling them what to take and what to leave behind. In the present instance I have an idea that we made one sovereign go as far as three used to do, and yet I cannot say that when we arrived on Lake Nyassa we had to reproach ourselves with having forgotten one single thing that was necessary. Her Majesty's Government did me the honour to allow me to furnish details in 1867 for the boat I wished to navigate Lake Nyassa in when I undertook to clear up the story of Dr. Livingstone's murder, and the Admiralty authorities in the present instance were kind enough to place at our disposal all the plans and drawings of my old boat. Adopting the main principles of the "Search," the commission to build a steamer was placed in the hands of Mr. Yarrow, of the Isle of Dogs; and it is only due to him to state that from first to last the Ilala testified to his skill and the attention which had been expended upon her. I should explain perhaps that our steamer was named the Ilala because it was at that place Dr. Livingstone died. We felt that possibly we should meet with natives on the Lake who were

acquainted with the part of the country in which he perished, and that our naming our vessel thus would be a ready means to show them that we had taken up his work where he left it, and were prepared to do all honour to his name.

So with a grand fund at our disposal, friends on all sides, a steamer complete, besides two fine teak boats and barter goods, provisions of all sorts, tools, medicines, etc., we began to assemble in London a few days before the sailing of the Walmer Castle from the Victoria Docks.

And now it is high time that I introduce my companions. All through the following pages they will be traced doing excellent service laboriously and cheerfully, each according to his ability; and if I do not mention them by name very frequently it is because in work of this kind it is assumed that in a small vessel there is not much room for individual acts of special importance.

As the only Englishman of the party, with one exception, I had a well-seasoned comprehension of the lasting qualities of Scotchmen; and when the six young men presented themselves before me that had been selected by the Scotch Committee I could not but augur well for our