Grapes on the vine, Livingstonia, Malawi, ca.1920

"Vine – ‘White Muscat of Alexandria’ growing at Overtoun Institution, Livingstonia." Close-up of bunches of grapes hanging from a vine. The Livingstonia mission attempted to introduce a number of cash crops into the region in an attempt to stimulate trade. ❧ The Livingstonia mission station was established in 1891 by Dr Robert Laws (1851-1934) when he travelled north from Bandawe to set up a Training Institution and Industrial Mission. It was situated four miles from Lake Nyasa at Khondowe on a high plateau behind Mount Waller. As well as the school, hospital and accommodation, there were workshops for carpentry, printing and engineering, and mills, brickworks and a pottery. The Overtoun Institution was named after John Campbell White, Baron of Overtoun (1843-1908) who was a Convener of the Livingstonia Mission and a major financial contributor. The purpose of the instruction was to provide Christian leaders for the expanding mission and to develop commercial activities and encourage trade.