Coffee crops, Livingstonia, Malawi, ca.1903

“Coffee-field at the Institution.” Exterior view of two indigenous workers in a field of coffee plants. ❧ 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. 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. A number of attempts were made to grow cash crops at the Institution. ❧ Album containing photographs recording a voyage up the Shire River and scenes from the Livingstonia mission.