Famine patients, Malawi, January 1923

"Famine patients, January 1923". Photograph showing a group, consisting mainly of children, who are emaciated and suffering from the effects of famine conditions. Several of the children have distended bellies caused by malnutrition. When the original photograph was taken there was some camera shake and the image is slightly blurred. The Domasi Mission was founded in 1884 by Rev. Alexander Hetherwick (1860-1939). It is one of a number of important missions in Southern Nyasaland and takes its name from the largest river that flows into Lake Shirwa [Chilwa] on the western shore. It is situated north of Blantyre near Mount Zomba. The station was central to the medical work in the area, and trained girls in industrial and domestic work. Mr Hetherwick was an accomplished linguist and translated the New Testament in to the Yao language and wrote manuals on the Yao and Nyanja languages. ❧ This photograph is one of several taken during Miss Muir's time serving in the Domasi mission where she gave medical support throughout the region. ❧ This image belongs to an album of photographs collected by Dr. Stevenson and includes images from India, China and Africa.