EFFECTS OF MISSIONARY EFFORTS. 87 



get over this tendency. I was once present when a mis- 

 sionary attempted to sing among a wild heathen tribe of 

 Bechuanas, who had no music in their composition : the 

 effect on the risible faculties of the audience was such that 

 the tears actually ran down their cheeks. Nearly all their 

 thoughts are directed to the supply of their bodily wants ; 

 and this has been the case with the race for ages. If asked, 

 then, what effect the preaching of the gospel has at the com- 

 mencement on such individuals, I am unable to tell, except 

 that some have confessed long afterward that they then first 

 began to pray in secret. Of the effects of a long-continued 

 course of instruction there can be no reasonable doubt, as 

 mere nominal belief has never been considered sufficient 

 proof of conversion by any body of missionaries ; and, after 

 the change which has been brought about by this agency, 

 we have good reason to hope well for the future : those I 

 have myself witnessed behaving in the manner described, 

 when kindly treated in sickness, often utter imploring 

 words to Jesus, and, I believe, sometimes really do pray to 

 him in their afflictions. As that great Eedeemer of the 

 guilty seeks to save all he can, we may hope that they 

 find mercy through his blood, though little able to appre- 

 ciate the sacrifice he made. 



Leaving Motlatsa on the 8th of February, 1853, we 

 passed down the JVlokoko, which, in the memory of per- 

 sons now living, was a flowing stream. 



At ISTchokotsa, the rainy season having this year been 

 delayed beyond the usual time, we found during the day 

 the thermometer stand at 96° in the coolest possible 

 ehade. 



We dug out several wells ; and, as we had on each occa- 

 sion to wait till the water flowed in again, and then allow 

 our cattle to feed a day or two and slake their thirso 

 thoroughly, as far as that could be done, before starting, 

 our progress was but slow. At Koobe there was such a 

 mass of mud in the pond, worked up by the wallowing 

 rhinoceros to the consistency of mortar, that only by great 



