1841-43] FIRST TWO YEARS IN AFRICA. 43 



two results : in the first place, a strong confirmation of 

 his views on the subject of native agency ; and in the 

 second place, the selection of a station, two hundred and 

 fifty miles north of Kuruman, as the most suitable for 

 missionary operations. Seven hundred miles travelled 

 over more Africano seemed to indicate a vast territory ; 

 but on looking at it on the map, it was a mere speck on 

 the continent of heathenism. How was that continent 

 ever to be evangelised % He could think of no method 

 except an extensive employment of native agency. And 

 the natives, when qualified, were admirably qualified. 

 Their warm, affectionate manner of dealing with their 

 fellow-men, their ability to present the truth to their 

 minds freed from the strangeness of which foreigners 

 could not divest it, and the eminent success of those 

 employed by the brethren of Griqua Town, were greatly 

 in their favour. Two natives had likewise been employed 

 recently by the Kuruman Mission, and these had been 

 highly efficient and successful. If the Directors would 

 allow him to employ more of these, conversions would 

 increase in a compound ratio, and regions not yet ex- 

 plored by Europeans would soon be supplied with 

 the bread of life. 



In regard to the spot selected for a mission, there 

 were many considerations in its favour. In the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood of Kuruman the chiefs hated 

 the gospel, because it deprived them of their super- 

 numerary wives. In the region farther north, this 

 feeling had not yet established itself; on the contrary, 

 there was an impression favourable to Europeans, and a 

 desire for them alliance. These Bechuana tribes had 

 suffered much from the marauding invasions of their 

 neighbours ; and recently, the most terrible marauder of 

 the country, Mosilikatse, after being driven westwards 

 by the Dutch Boers, had taken up his abode on the banks 

 of a central lake, and resumed his raids, which were 



