1 843-47-] FIRST TWO STATIONS. 73 



educational, and pastoral, which his active spirit could 

 bring to bear upon the people. They were a very 

 superstitious race, and, among other things, had great 

 faith in rain- making. Livingstone had a famous en- 

 counter with one of their rain-makers, the effect of 

 which was that the pretender was wholly nonplussed ; 

 but instead of being convinced of the absurdity of their 

 belief, the people were rather disposed to think that 

 the missionaries did not want them to get rain. Some 

 of them were workers in iron, who carried their super- 

 stitious notions into that department of life too, believing 

 that the iron could be smelted only by the power of 

 medicines, and that those who had not the proper 

 medicine need not attempt the work. In the hope of 

 breaking down these absurdities, Livingstone planned 

 a course of popular lectures on the works of God in 

 creation and providence, to be carried out in the follow- 

 ing way : — 



" I intend to commence with the goodness of God in giving iron 

 ore, by giving, if I can, a general knowledge of the simplicity of the 

 substance, and endeavouring to disabuse their minds of the idea which 

 prevents them, in general, from reaping the benefit of that mineral 

 which abounds in their country. I intend, also, to pay more particular 

 attention to the children of the few believers we have with us as a 

 class, for whom, as baptized ones, we are bound especially to care. 

 May the Lord enable" me to fulfil my resolutions ! I have now the 

 happy prospect before me of real missionary work. All that has 

 preceded has been preparatory," 



All this time Livingstone had been cherishing his 

 plan of a training seminary for native agents. He had 

 written a paper and brought the matter before the 

 missionaries, but without success. Some opposed the 

 scheme fairly, as being premature, while some, insinuated 

 that his object was to stand well with the Directors, 

 and get himself made Professor. This last objection 

 induced him to withdraw his proposal. He saw that 

 in his mode of prosecuting the matter he had not been 



