152 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. vn. 



viction of duty was clear as noonday. A year after, he 

 wrote to his father-in-law : — 



"I had fully made up my mind as to the path of duty before 

 starting. I wrote to my brother-in-law, Eobert Moffat : ' I shall open 

 up a path into the interior, or perish.' I never have had the shadow 

 of a shade of doubt as to the propriety of my course, and wish only 

 that my exertions may be honoured so far that the gospel may be 

 preached and believed in all this dark region." 



