rch, so as to release
the men, and thus were forced to break up the calm of the Christmas
feast. "If it is right to do it at all, it is right to do it on a holy
day," was the Bishop's argument, and so the Christmas Day was spent,
partly in walking, partly at Chipoka's village, where was held the Holy
Communion feast. "How wondrous," wrote the Bishop, "the feeling of
actual instantaneous communion with all you dear ones, though the
distance and means of earthly communication are so great and so
difficult!" The negroes of the neighbouring villages joined them, and
they proceeded. Near Manasomba's village they met a large body of men,
with whom the Bishop attempted to hold a parley, but they ran away, and
only discharged a few arrows. The village was deserted except by a few
sheep, goats, and Muscovy ducks, and these were driven out and the huts
set on fire.

This punishment was as a "vindication of the English name," and as an act
of self-defence, since any faltering in resolution among such savages
would have been fatal; but, after all, the men were not recovered, and
the expedition had been so exhausting that none of the party were really
fit to push on for the place of meeting with the _Pioneer_, nor would
Chipoka give them guides or bearers in that direction, saying it was all
occupied by Manasomba's friends.

They came back to Magomero grievously exhausted; Scudamore fell down on a
bed only just alive, and even the Bishop, though he tried to act and
speak with vigour, was evidently suffering from illness and over-fatigue.

But there was the appointment to be kept with Livingstone and the ladies
at the Ruo, and, unfit as he was, he persevered, setting off with Burrup,
sadly enough, for Scudamore was lying in a dangerous state; but no one
guessed that they would never meet again upon earth.

It was on the 4th of January, 1862, that they started with a few Malokolo
and the interpreter Charles, and it was six weeks before the colony at
Magomero heard any tidings. There the stores were all but exhausted, and
having hardly any goods left for barter, there was little food to be
obtained but green corn and pumpkin, most unsuited to the Englishmen's
present state of health.

Meanwhile, in constant rain and through swollen streams, Mackenzie and
Burrup had made their way down to the river, and there with much
difficulty obtained a canoe. On the first night of the voyage all the
party, except the Bishop, wished to g