1 843-47-] FIRST TWO STATIONS. 79 



that they might pursue, unmolested, the proper treatment 

 of the blacks. "It is almost needless to add," says 

 Livingstone, " that proper treatment has always contained 

 in it the essential element of slavery, viz. compulsory 

 unpaid labour." The Boers had effected the expulsion 

 of Mosilikatse, a savage Zulu warrior, and in return for 

 this service they considered themselves sole masters of 

 the soil. While still engaged in the erection of his 

 dwelling-house at Chonuane, Livingstone received notes 

 from the Commandant and Council of the emigrants, 

 requesting an explanation of his intentions, and an 

 intimation that they had resolved to come and deprive 

 Sechele of his fire-arms. About the same time he received 

 several very friendly messages and presents from Mo- 

 khatla, chief of a large section of the Bakhatla, who 

 lived about four days eastward of his station, and had 

 once, while Livingstone was absent, paid a visit to Chon- 

 uane, and expressed satisfaction with the idea of obtain- 

 ing Paul, a native convert, as his teacher. As soon as 

 his house was habitable, Livingstone proceeded to the 

 eastward, to visit Mokhatla, and to confer with the 

 Boers. 



On his way to Mokhatla he was surprised at the 

 unusual density of the population, giving him the 

 opportunity of preaching the gospel at least once every 

 day. The chief, Mokhatla, whose people were quiet 

 and industrious, was eager to get a missionary, but 

 said that an arrangement must be made with the Dutch 

 commandant. This involved some delay. 



Livingstone then returned to Chonuane, finished the 

 erection of a school there, and setting systematic instruc- 

 tion fairly in operation under Paul and his son, Isaac, 

 again went eastwards, accompanied this time by Mrs. 

 Livingstone and their infant son, Bobert Moffat 1 — all the 



1 He wrote to his father that he would have called him Neil, if it had not been 

 such an ugly name, and all the people would have called him Ra-Neeley I 



