fired on the Bishop’s party and compelled them, in self-defense, to fire in return.  It was the first time that Livingstone had ever been so attacked by natives, often though they had threatened him.  It was the first time he had had to repel an attack with violence; so little was he thinking of such a thing that he had not his rifle with him, and was obliged to borrow a revolver.  The encounter was hot and serious, but it ended in the Ajawa being driven off without loss on the other side.

It now became a question for the Bishop in what relation he and his party were to stand to these murderous and marauding Ajawa—­whether they should quietly witness their onslaughts or drive them from the country and rescue the captive Manganja.  Livingstone’s advice to them was to be patient, and to avoid taking part in the quarrels of the natives.  He then left them at Magomero, and returned to his companions on the Shire.  For a time the Bishop’s party followed Livingstone’s advice, but circumstances afterward occurred which constrained them to take a different course, and led to very serious results in the history of the Mission.

Writing to his son Robert, Livingstone thus describes the attack made by the Ajawa on him, the Bishop, and the missionaries: 

“The slave-hunters had induced a number of another tribe to capture people for them.  We came to this tribe while burning three villages, and though we told them that we came peaceably, and to talk with them, they saw that we were a small party, and might easily be overcome, rushed at us and shot their poisoned arrows.  One fell between the Bishop and me, and another whizzed between another man and me.  We had to drive them off, and they left that part of the country.  Before going near them the Bishop engaged in prayer, and during the prayer we could hear the wail for the dead by some Manganja probably thought not worth killing, and the shouts of welcome home to these bloody murderers.  It turned out that they were only some sixty or seventy robbers, and not the Ajawa tribe; so we had a narrow escape from being murdered.

“How are you doing?  I fear from what I have observed of your temperament that you will have to strive against fickleness.  Every one has his besetting fault—­that is no disgrace to him, but it is a disgrace if he do not find it out, and by God’s grace overcome it.  I am not near to advise you what to do, but whatever line of life you choose, resolve to stick to it, and serve God therein to the last.  Whatever failings you are conscious of, tell them to your heavenly Father; strive daily to master them and confess all to Him when conscious of having gone astray.  And may the good Lord of all impart all the strength you need.  Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in Him.  Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will bless you.”

Leaving the “Pioneer” at Chibisa’s, on 6th August, 1861, Livingstone, accompanied by his brother and Dr. Kirk, started for Nyassa with a four-oared boat, which was carried by porters past the Murchison Cataracts.  On 23d September they sailed into Lake Nyassa, naming the grand mountainous promontory at the end Cape Maclear, after Livingstone’s great friend the Astronomer-Royal at the Cape.