u8 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. vi. 



had got, just before her confinement, of two bottles of 

 wine; 1 the approbation of the Directors, the presenta- 

 tion of a gold watch by Captain Steele, the kind atten- 

 tions of Mr. Oswell, and the cookery of one of their 

 native servants named George ; the recovery of Thomas, 

 whereas at Kuruman a child had been cut off; the 

 commencement of the rains, just as they were leaving 

 the river, and the request of Mr. Oswell that they 

 should draw upon him for as much money as they should 

 need, were all among the indications that a faithful 

 and protecting Father in heaven had been ordering their 

 path, and would order it in like manner in all time to 

 come. 



Writing at this time to his father-in-law, Mr. Moffat, 

 he says, after announcing the birth of Oswell : — " What 

 you say about difference of opinion is true. In my past 

 life, I have always managed to think for myself, and act 

 accordingly. I have occasionally met with people who 

 took it on themselves to act for me, and they have offered 

 their thoughts with an emphatic ' I think ; ' but I have 

 generally excused them on the score of being a little 

 soft-headed in believing they could think both for me 

 and themselves." 



While Kolobeng was Livingstone's headquarters, a 

 new trouble rose upon the mission horizon. The Mako- 

 lolo (as Sebituane's people were called) began to practise 

 the slave-trade. It arose simply from their desire to 

 possess guns. For eight old muskets they had given to 

 a neighbouring tribe eight boys, that had been taken 

 from their enemies in war, being the only article for 

 which the guns could be got. Soon after, in a fray 

 against another tribe, two hundred captives were taken, 

 and, on returning, the Makololo met some Arab traders 



1 In writing to his father, Livingstone mentions that the wine was a gift from 

 Mrs. Bysshe Shelley, in acknowledgment of his aid in repairing a wheel of her 

 wagon. 



