PUBLIC ADDRESSES. 135 



There is no stated day of rest in any part of this country, 

 except the day after the appearance of the new moon; and 

 the people then refrain only from going to their gardens. 

 A curious custom, not to be found among the Bechuanas, 

 prevails among the black tribes beyond them. They watch 

 most eagerly for the first glimpse of the new moon, and, 

 when they perceive the faint outline after the sun has set 

 deep in the west, they utter a loud shout of " Kua !" and 

 vociferate prayers to it. My men, for instance, called out, 

 "Let our journey with the white man be prosperous ! Let 

 our enemies perish, and the children of Nake become rich ! 

 May he have plenty of meat on this journey I" &c. &c. 



I gave many public addresses to the people of Sesheke 

 under the outspreading camel-thorn-tree, which serves as a 

 shade to the kotla on the high bank of the river. It was 

 pleasant to see the long lines of men, women, and children 

 winding along from different quarters of the town, each 

 party following behind their respective head-men. They 

 often amounted to between five and six hundred souls, and 

 required an exertion of voice which brought back the com- 

 plaint for which I had got the uvula excised at the Cape. 

 They were always very attentive; and Moriantsane, in 

 order, as he thought, to please me, on one occasion rose up 

 in the middle of the discourse, and hurled his staff at the 

 heads of some young fellows whom he saw working with 

 a skin instead of listening. My hearers sometimes put very 

 sensible questions on the subjects brought before them; at 

 other times they introduced the most frivolous nonsense 

 immediately after hearing the most solemn truths. Some 

 begin to pray to Jesus in secret as soon as they hear of the 

 white man's God, with but little idea of what they are 

 about, and no doubt are heard by Him who, like a father, 

 pitieth his children. Others, waking by night, recollect 

 what has been said about the future world so clearly that 

 they tell next day what a fright they got by it, and resolve 

 not to listen to the teaching again ; and not a few keep to 

 the determination not to believe, as certain villagers in the 



