60 DA VID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. in. 



excited no feeling of envy, nor even a desire to possess 

 their ample means, unless he could have used them to 

 extend missionary operations ; and the gentlemen them- 

 selves would sometimes remark that the missionaries 

 were more comfortable than they. Though they might 

 at times spend thousands of pounds where Livingstone 

 did not spend as many pence, and would be provided with 

 horses, servants, tents, and stores, enough to secure com- 

 fort under almost any conditions, they had not that key 

 to the native heart and that power to command the 

 willing services of native attendants which belonged so 

 remarkably to the missionary. " When we arrive at a 

 spot where we intend to spend the night," writes Living- 

 stone to his family, " all hands immediately unyoke the 

 oxen. Then one or two of the company collect wood ; 

 one of us strikes up a fire, another gets out the water- 

 bucket and fills the kettle ; a piece of meat is thrown on 

 the fire, and if we have biscuits, we are at our coffee in 

 less than half an hour after arriving. Our friends, 

 perhaps, sit or stand shivering at their fire for two or 

 three hours before they get their things ready, and are 

 glad occasionally of a cup of coffee from us." 



The first act of the missionaries on arriving at their 

 destination was to have an interview with the chief, and 

 ask whether he desired a missionary. Having an eye to the 

 beads, guns, and other things, of which white men seemed 

 always to have an ample store, the chief and his men 

 gave them a cordial welcome, and Livingstone next pro- 

 ceeded to make a purchase of land. This, like Abraham 

 with the sons of Heth, he insisted should be done in 

 legal form, and for this purpose he drew up a written 

 contract to which, after it was fully explained to them, 

 both parties attached their signatures or marks. They 

 then proceeded to the erection of a hut fifty feet by 

 eighteen, not getting much help from the Bakhatlas, who 

 devolved such labours on the women, but being greatly 



