28 A MISSIONARY ESTABLISHMENT. [chap. ii. 



account of Stewartson's safety, but also as a proof of 

 the discretion and speed of my horse, that the next 

 second of time left the lion behind at a safer 

 distance. 



Mr. Bam's household, which I may as well describe, 

 as it gives a good idea of a Missionary establishment, 

 was as follows — Himself, Mrs. Bam, a numerous family, 

 and an interpreter, who helped at the schools, could 

 drive a waggon, and was the factotum, made the party 

 that took theii- meals together, the interpreter being 

 very deferential, and only speaking when spoken to. 

 Besides these were a few hangers on, more or less 

 trustworthy, and always ready for a job. The house is 

 a tolerably sized cottage or bothy, all on one floor, bmlt 

 of course by the Missionary himself, as well as he was 

 able to build it ; the workmanship was natui'aUy very 

 rough, but as it takes far less labour to use trees for 

 the uprights and rafters than planks, it is also ver}' 

 strong. Chairs, a table, and a bvireau, were imported 

 from Cape Town ; the bed, bookshelves and so forth, 

 made here. The wife does the whole house work, 

 cleaning the rooms, managing the cliildren, cooking the 

 dinner, and, what I never lilved, waiting at table. 

 These ladies have the hardest and rudest of occupations, 

 but, I must candidly say, they seem to like this life 

 extremely, and I am sm-e that Missionaries must find 

 great favour in the eyes of the fairer sex, judging from 

 the charming partners that they have the good fortune 

 to obtain. As to the natives, they make their huts as 

 they like, and where they hke ; they plant sticks in a 

 circle of six feet across, then bend the tops together 



