Page:Central African Mission.djvu/10

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Central African Mission.

trict was not exempt from the usual marsh fevers, we looked out for high land as near the coast as possible, in order to avoid the miasma. The most promising in every way seemed to be the mountain district known as Usambara. The mountains there come nearer to the coast than in any other place within the scope of our Mission, and they are so near as to be in very clear weather visible from the town of Zanzibar. Besides this, Dr. Krapf had always pointed to the Shambala country (Usambara) as peculiarly eligible as a Mission field, and we had had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of a singularly sensible and intelligent man, named Munyi Hatibu, who lives at Neworongo the landing-place where the shortest route into the Shambala country leaves the coast. All these considerations determined Bishop Tozer to attempt a first mainland station among the mountains. A vocabulary of the Shambala language was collected, and, as soon as circumstances permitted, the Rev. C. A. Alington was sent up with two native boys as interpreters and attendants, to choose a site.

After long delays and much unsatisfactory negotiation, the King of the country sent him to Magila, as the best or only place within his dominions where he would at that time allow him to build or to make any settlement.

Mr. Alington was shortly after called back to England by a summons that could not be resisted,