BLANTYRE  , the

chief town of the Nyasaland protectorate, British Central Africa . It is situated about 3000 ft. above the sea in the Shire Highlands 300 M. by river and rail N.N.W. of the Chinde mouth of the Zambezi . Pop. about 6000 natives and loo whites . It is the headquarters of the principal trading firms and missionary societies in the protectorate . It is also a station on the African trans-continental telegraph line . The chief building is the Church of Scotland church, a fine red brick building, a mixture of Norman and Byzantine styles, with lofty turrets and white domes . It stands in a large open space and is approached by an avenue of cypresses and eucalyptus . The church was built entirely by native labour . Blantyre was founded in 1876 by Scottish missionaries, and is named after the birthplace of David Livingstone .