1852-53.] FROM THE CAPE TO LINYANTI. 135 



a medicine. I wonder what the Peace Society would do with these 

 worthies. They are Christians. The Dutch predicants baptize all 

 their children, and admit them to the Lord's Supper. . . ." 



Dr. Livingstone was not disposed to restrain his in- 

 dignation and grief over his losses. For one so patient 

 and good, he had a very large vial of indignation, and on 

 occasion poured it out right heartily over all injustice 

 and cruelty. On no heads was it ever discharged more 

 freely than on these Transvaal Boers. He made a formal 

 representation of his losses both to the Cape and Home 

 authorities, but never received a farthing of compensa- 

 tion. The subsequent history of the Transvaal Republic 

 will convince many that Livingstone was not far from 

 the truth in his estimate of the character of the free and 

 independent Boers. 



But while perfectly sincere in his indignation over 

 the treatment of the natives and his own losses, his 

 playful fancy could find a ludicrous side for what con- 

 cerned himself, and grim enjoyment in showing it to his 

 friends. "Think," he writes to his friend Watt, " think 

 of a big fat Boeress drinking coffee out of my kettle, and 

 then throwing her tallowy corporeity on my sofa, or 

 keeping her needles in my wife's writing-desk ! Ugh ! 

 and then think of foolish John Bull paying so many 

 thousands a year for the suppression of the slave-trade, 

 and allowing Commissioner Aven to make treaties with 

 Boers who carry on the slave-trade. . . . The Boers are 

 mad with rage against me because my people fought 

 bravely. It was I, they think, who taught them to 

 shoot Boers. Fancy your reverend friend teaching the 

 young idea how to shoot Boers, and praying for a blessing 

 on the work of his hands ! " 



In the same spirit he writes to his friend Moore : — 



" I never knew I was so rich until I recounted up the different 

 articles that were taken away. They cannot be replaced in this 

 country under £300. Many things brought to our establishment by 



