508 BEN HABIB'S PROPOSAL. Chap. XXV. 



and dry regions. Some idea may be formed of the heat in 

 October by the fact, that the thermometer (protected) stood, in 

 the shade of my waggon, at 100° through the day. It rose to 110° 

 if unprotected from the wind, at dark it showed 89°, at 10 o'clock 

 80°, and then gradually sunk till sunrise, when it was 70°. That 

 is usually the period of greatest cold in each twenty-four hours, in 

 this region. The natives during the period of greatest heat keep 

 in their huts, winch are always pleasantly cool by day, but 

 close and suffocating by night. Those who are able to afford 

 it, sit guzzling beer or boyaloa ; the perspiration produced by 

 copious draughts seems to give enjoyment, the evaporation causing 

 a feeling of coolness. The attendants of the chief, on these occa- 

 sions, keep up a continuous roar of bantering, raillery, laughing, 

 and swearing. The dance is kept up, in the moonlight, till past 

 midnight. The women stand clapping their hands continu- 

 ously, and the old men sit admiringly, and say, "It is really 

 very fine ! " As crowds came to see me, I employed much of my 

 time in conversation, that being a good mode of conveying in- 

 struction. In the public meetings for worship the people listened 

 very attentively, and behaved with more decorum than formerly. 

 They really form a very inviting field for a missionary. Surely 

 the oft -told tale of the goodness and love of our Heavenly Father, 

 in giving up His own Son to death for us sinners, will, by the power 

 of His Holy Spirit, beget love in some of these heathen hearts. 



1st October. — Before Ben Habib started for Loanda, he asked 

 the daughter of Sebituane in marriage. This is the j)lan the Arabs 

 adopt for gaining influence in a tribe, and they have been known 

 to proceed thus cautiously to form connections, and gradually gam 

 so much influence, as to draw all the tribe over to then religion. 

 I never heard of any persecution, although the Arabs with whom I 

 came in contact seemed much attached to their religion. This 

 daughter of Sebituane, named Manchunyane, was about twelve 

 years of age. As I was the bosom friend of her father, I was sup- 

 posed to have a voice in her disposal, and, on being asked, objected 

 to her being taken away, we knew not whither, and where we 

 might never see her again. As her name implies, she was only a 

 little black, and, besides being as fair as any of the Arabs, had 

 quite the Arab features ; but I have no doubt that Ben Habib 

 will renew his suit more successfully on some other occasion. In 



