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PART II.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

ZANZIBAR TO

MPWAPWA.

(1882.)

"So in life; if some wifeling or childling be granted you, well and good; but if the Captain call, run to the Ship, and leave such possessions behind you, not looking back."

EPICTETUS. FARRAR (Seekers after God).

As Hannington's journal from this date onward is written much more fully and consecutively, and is, moreover, supplemented by long letters to the Church Missionary Society, we shall be able to continue the narrative to a great extent in his own words. He writes:

"I must leave the farewells. I have not sufficient cold blood in my veins to make red ink enough to write them.

"On May the 17th, 1882, at about noon, I found myself on board the s.s. Quetta, a fine Clyde-built ship of 3200 tons, and began to make inquiries about our party. Mr. Ashe was on board, but nobody seemed to know anything about the others. The authorities were in a great state of perturbation, as time and tide wait for no man. I could not help feeling a little nervous when I heard that we were to start for Gravesend without them, and leave a tug in which they might, if possible, overtake

To my great relief they came steaming up behind us. about an hour later." In a letter to the children he adds, "But didn't they catch it from one Captain Brown, who

was sent to look after them! Brown! black, and his tongue the same colour.

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it was not their fault at all. There had been an accident on

the railway." He continues :

"My companions were the Rev. R. P. Ashe, W. J. Edmonds, J. Blackburn, and E. C. Gordon, with Mr. C. Wise, an artisan. I had also on the ticket the names of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Lane, who were bound for Mombasa, and Miss a bride who was to meet her bridegroom at Zanzibar. The latter was placed specially under my charge, but I am afraid that the principal way in which I fulfilled my task was by teasing her unmercifully about the bride-cake, which I unfortunately discovered to be on board.

"We had not many fellow passengers on board the Quetta. And of these the majority were going to the mission field. Ten L. M. S. men for Lake Tanganyika, all dissenters of different shades of opinion, though chiefly Congregationalists. There was also a Major Smith, Secretary of the Wesleyan M. S., travelling for his health, and, lastly, a Miss Angus, of the Baptist Zenana Society. We thus had many persuasions represented; and—will you believe it?-we all dwelt together and parted in peace and friendship.

"On the first night I went to the captain, and made a request for public prayers, which was at once granted.

"Our first morning we held a C. M. S. Council, and have mapped out our day as follows: Private devotions before breakfast. Prayer. Then Wise is to read with Ashe. Edmonds, Gordon, and Blackburn take the boys, and I help Lane. The rest of the morning is spent in studying Swahili,*

After lunch we have a meeting for

* The language of the coast, and widely known in the interior through intercourse with the traders.

Æt. 34]

On the Way Out.

205

reading and prayer, and the rest of the day is to be improved

as we best may be able.

"We have a little pleasant banter with the L. M. S. men. Their expedition is fitted out so much more expensively than ours. They eclipse us in every point. We have to glory in the fact that so much less money has been expended on us, when we would have been permitted to have had more, had we desired it. I feel sure we have enough.* Only may the Spirit of God go with us every step of the way.

"The only cloud that hangs over us at present is the unpleasant suggestion that we may not reach Aden in time to carry on our cargo. The poor bride is in despair, as the bridal outfit is in the hold!"

Hannington wrote his first letter to the Secretary of the C. M. S. from the Mediterranean, and says: "Give me as much advice as possible, and do not ever hesitate to point out my faults and shortcomings; in so doing, you will be more than ever my friend. Do not expect too much of me. It It may be that my share of the work is already done. I think most highly of Ashe; † should I fail, you will be better represented. God be praised for raising him up to come among us."

Hannington was always ready to express a generous appreciation of the merits of others. In his letter to the Secretary, he has a special word of commendation for each of his companions, and adds with regard to himself, "There

* As it turned out, they had not; and many of their sufferings were due to want of a few extras.

† Mr. Ashe was afterwards stationed in U-Ganda, where he has gone through the troublous times which followed the death of Mtèsa.

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