which I and my companions are the first who have had any opportunities of
forming a judgment. The eight years spent in Africa, since my last work
was published, have not, I fear, improved my power of writing English;
but I hope that, whatever my descriptions want in clearness, or literary
skill, may in a measure be compensated by the novelty of the scenes
described, and the additional information afforded on that curse of
Africa, and that shame, even now, in the 19th century, of an European
nation,--the slave-trade.

I took the "Lady Nyassa" to Bombay for the express purpose of selling
her, and might without any difficulty have done so; but with the thought
of parting with her arose, more strongly than ever, the feeling of
disinclination to abandon the East Coast of Africa to the Portuguese and
slave-trading, and I determined to run home and consult my friends before
I allowed the little vessel to pass from my hands. After, therefore,
having put two Ajawa lads, Chuma and Wakatani, to school under the
eminent missionary the Rev. Dr. Wilson, and having provided
satisfactorily for the native crew, I started homewards with the three
white sailors, and reached London July 20th, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Webb, my
much-loved friends, wrote to Bombay inviting me, in the event of my
coming to England, to make Newstead Abbey my headquarters, and on my
arrival renewed their invitation: and though, when I accepted it, I had
no intention of remaining so long with my kind-hearted generous friends,
I stayed with them until April, 1865, and under their roof transcribed
from my own and my brother's journal the whole of this present book. It
is with heartfelt gratitude I would record their unwearied kindness. My
acquaintance with Mr. Webb began in Africa, where he was a daring and
successful hunter, and his continued friendship is most valuable because
he has seen missionary work, and he would not accord his respect and
esteem to me had he not believed that I, and my brethren also, were to be