510 CONVERSATIONS WITH MAKOLOLO. Chap. XXV. 



the present sickness. I have often remarked this effluvium in 

 sickly spots, and cannot help believing but that it has some con- 

 nection with fever, though I am quite aware of Dr. Mac Williams's 

 unsuccessful efforts to discover sulphuretted hydrogen by the 

 most delicate tests, in the Niger expedition. 



I had plenty of employment, for, besides attending to the severer 

 cases, I had perpetual calls on my attention. The town contained, 

 at least, 7000 inhabitants, and every one thought that he might 

 come, and at least look at me. In talking with some of the more 

 intelligent in the evenings, the conversation having turned from 

 inquiries respecting eclipses of the sun and moon to that other 

 world where Jesus reigns, they let me know that my attempts to 

 enlighten them had not been without some small effect. " Many 

 of the children," said they, " talk about the strange things you 

 bring to their ears, but the old men show a little opposition by 

 saying, ' Do we know what he is talking about ? ' " Ntlaria and 

 others, complain of treacherous memories, and say, " When we 

 hear words about other things, we hold them fast ; but when we 

 hear you tell much more wonderful things than any we have ever 

 heard before, we don't know how it is, they run away from our 

 hearts." These are the more intelligent of my Makololo friends. 

 On the majority, the teaching produces no appreciable effect ; 

 they assent to the truth with the most perplexing indifference, 

 adding, " But we don't know," or, " We do not understand." My 

 medical intercourse with them enabled me to ascertain their moral 

 status, better than a mere religious teacher could do. They do 

 not attempt to hide the evil, as men often do, from their spiritual 

 instructors ; but I have found it difficult to come to a conclusion 

 on their character. They sometimes perform actions remarkably 

 good, and sometimes as strangely the opposite. I have been 

 unable to ascertain the motive for the good, or account for the 

 callousness of conscience with which they perpetrate the bad. 

 After long observation, I came to the conclusion that they are just 

 such a strange mixture of good and evil, as men are everywhere 

 else. There is not among them an approach to that constant 

 stream of benevolence flowing froni the rich to the poor which we 

 have in England, nor yet the unostentatious attentions which we 

 have among our own poor to each other. Yet there are frequent 

 instances of genuine kindness and liberality, as well as actions of 



