Ourprogressupwasdistressinglyslow。Theriverwasinflood，andwehadathree-knotcurrentagainstusinmanyplaces。Thesedelayskeptussixmonthsinthedelta，insteadof，asweanticipated，onlysixdays；for，findingitimpossibletocarrythesectionsuptotheRuowithoutgreatlossoftime，itwasthoughtbesttolandthematShupanga，and，puttingthehullofthe\"LadyNyassa\"togetherthere，totowheruptothefootoftheMurchisonCataracts。
Afewdaysbeforethe\"Pioneer\"reachedShupanga，CaptainWilson，seeingthehopelessstateofaffairs，generouslyresolvedtohastenwiththeMissionladiesuptothosewho，wethought，wereanxiouslyawaitingtheirarrival，andthereforestartedinhisgigfortheRuo，takingMissMackenzie，Mrs。Burrup，andhissurgeon，Dr。Ramsay。
TheywereaccompaniedbyDr。KirkandMr。Sewell，paymasterofthe\"Gorgon，\"inthewhale-boatofthe\"LadyNyassa。”Asourslow-paced-
launch，\"MaRobert，\"hadformerlygoneuptothefootofthecataractsinninedays\'steaming，itwassupposedthattheboatsmighteasilyreachtheexpectedmeeting-placeattheRuoinaweek；
buttheShirewasnowinflood，andinitsmostrapidstate；andtheywerelongeringettingupabouthalfthedistance，thanitwashopedtheywouldbeinthewholenavigablepartoftheriver。TheycouldhearnothingoftheBishopfromthechiefoftheisland，Malo，atthemouthoftheRuo。\"Nowhitemanhadevercometohisvillage，\"hesaid。TheyproceededontoChibisa\'s，sufferingterriblyfrommosquitoesatnight。Theirtoilinstemmingtherapidcurrentmadethemestimatethedistance，bythewindings，asnearer300than200