308 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



My poor mother used to say, " The prayer of the 

 righteous availethmuch." Dear, good soul ! she believed 

 it, and offered many a prayer for her recusant son. In 

 youth I doubted it, in mature years I have pondered over 

 it, but I now believe that she was right, and I was wrong. 



The life of a missionary here is a very hard one ; 

 their employment is incessant, and long after I retired 

 to my wagon to sleep, Mr. Mackenzie was still con- 

 suming the midnight oil. In the morning they require 

 to be up to look after their milk cows, presently school 

 commences, then breakfast, after which a number of sick 

 and wounded will be found assembled on the verandah, 

 some with the most hideous sores possible to imagine. 

 After each is duly treated, school again, and so on till 

 dark. 



The Bechuanas are not an unhealthy people, but 

 they meet with accidents in the chase, and in taking care 

 of their cattle. At first I think they are prone to 

 neglect their wounds, thus accounting for some of the 

 ghastly sores they exhibit. My skill in medicine is not 

 great, still it afforded me much pleasure to assist the 

 worthy minister. That he is regarded, that both are, 

 with great love by the people, there is no doubt. The 

 number of sincere converts they have made I cannot of 

 course state, but they are unquestionably numerous ; and 

 Kama, the king, I have no hesitation in saying, is as 

 good a Christian, as upright and honourable a gentleman, 

 as can be found in any community. 



A friend of mine remarked, after the king had left 

 us, " What a pity it is that he is not white ! " Better, in 

 my opinion, that he is as he is ; he can do far more good 

 as a black man than he ever would be able to accomplish 

 as a white. 



