Alexander Mackay of Scotland was sent to Africa by the Church Missionary Society (Anglican) in 1876. He was an engineer by profession and a jack of all trades who was conversant in linguistics and theology. Mackay's heart was set on Africa and at last the call came. On November 15, 1875, a letter appeared in the columns of the Daily Telegraph. It was from H. M. Stanley, the famous explorer who had found Livingstone, and it told of the needs of the ancient kingdom of Uganda.

"Here, gentlemen, is your opportunity," it concluded. "Embrace it! The people on the shores of the Nyanza call upon you."

At age twenty-six Alexander Mackay headed for Africa. But before he left he and the seven other missionaries who were bound together for service in Africa met for a farewell meeting with the committee of the Church Missionary Society.

Each of the missionaries said a few words, the last speaker being the youngest of the party, Alexander Mackay. There was a stillness in the room as the erect young Scot spoke:

"There is one thing," he said, "which my brethren have not said, and which I want to say. I want to remind the committee that within six months they will probably hear that one of us is dead."

All eyes were fastened on him as he went on: "Yes, is it at all likely that eight English men should start for Central Africa and all be alive six months after? One of us at least—it may be I—will surely fall before that. But when the news comes, do not be cast down, but send someone else immediately to take the vacant place."

Mackay's words were still ringing in the directors' ears when the news came that one of the eight had died. A ghastly total of five of them succumbed to the African graveyard in the first year, and by the end of the second, Mackay was the only one left.