438 



THE BECHUANA PICHO ELOQUENCE. 



THE BECmjANA PICHO. 



contemplated, though occasionally matters of less moment 

 are introduced."* 



The language used by the natives on public occasions, and 

 more especially by the chiefs, is often powerful, eloquent, 

 shrewd, and fluent, and would do honor to the best edu- 

 cated European. Take the following speech as an example, 

 which contains the address of the famous Basuto king, Mo- 

 sheshe, to his people, when congratulating them on the happy 

 event of having received three worthy missionaries among 

 them : 



" Rejoice, you Makare and Mokatchani ! you rulers of 

 cities, rejoice ! We have all reason to rejoice on account of 

 the news we have heard. There are a great many sayings 

 among men. Among them some are true and some are 

 false ; but the false have remained with us and multiplied ; 

 therefore we ought to pick up carefully the truths we hear, 

 lest they should be lost in the rubbish of lies. We are told 

 that we have all been created by one Being, and that we all 

 spring from one man. Sin entered man's heart when he ate 



* Moffat. 



