Mr.Burrup and Mr.Dickinson (a surgeon) actually made their way in canoes and river boats from Quillinane up to Chibisa's, where the _Pioneer_ was lying, Dr.Livingstone having just returned from his three months' expedition.
It was an absolute exploit in travelling, but a very perilous one, since these open boats, in the rain and on the low level of the river, exposed them to the greatest danger of fever; and there can be no doubt that their constitutions were injured, although, no serious symptoms appearing, the mission party were still further induced to underrate the necessity of precaution.
The Bishop coming down to visit Livingstone (seventy miles in thirty hours on foot), gladly hailed the new-comers, and returned rapidly with Mr.Burrup, both a good deal over-fatigued; and, indeed, the Bishop never thoroughly recovered this reckless expenditure of strength.

He considered that things were now forward enough for a summons to the ladies at Capetown.

Communication was very difficult, and the arrangements had therefore to be made somewhat blindly; but his plan was, that his sisters and Mrs.Burrup should try to obtain a passage to Kongone, where the _Pioneer_ should meet them, and bring them up the rivers to the landing-place at Chibisa's.

He did not know of his sister Alice's marriage at Natal, though he would have rejoiced at it if he had known.

He himself intended to come down to the spot where the rivers Shire and Ruo meet, and there greet the sister and the wife on board the _Pioneer_, and return with them to Magomero.
The way by the river and by Chibisa's was a great circuit, and it was thought that a more direct way might be found by exploration.