i854-5 6 -] FROM LOANDA TO QUILIMANE. 175 



return. My men explain the whole expenditure on the way hither, 

 and they remark gratefully : ' It does not matter, you have opened a 

 path for us, and we shall have sleep.' Strangers from a distance come 

 flocking to see me, and seldom come empty-handed. I distribute all 

 presents among my men." 



Several of the poor fellows on reaching home found 

 domestic trouble— a wife had proved inconstant and 

 married another man. As the men had generally more 

 wives than one, Livingstone comforted them by saying 

 that they still had as many as he. 



Amid the anxieties and sicknesses of the journey, and 

 multiplied subjects of thought and inquiry, Livingstone 

 was as earnest as ever for the spiritual benefit of the 

 people. Some extracts from his Journal will illustrate his 

 efforts in this cause, and the flickerings of hope that 

 would spring out of them, dimmed, however, by many 

 fears : — 



'■'■August 5, 1855. — A large audience listened attentively to my 

 address this morning, but it is impossible to indulge any hopes of such 

 feeble efforts. God is merciful, and will deal with them in justice and 

 kindness. This constitutes a ground of hope. Poor degraded Africa ! 

 A permanent station among them might effect something in time, but 

 a considerable time is necessary. Surely some will pray to their 

 merciful Father in their extremity, who never would have thought of 

 Him but for our visit." 



"August 12. — A very good and attentive audience. Surely all 

 will not be forgotten. How small their opportunity compared to ours 

 who have been carefully instructed in the knowledge of divine truth 

 from our earliest infancy ! The Judge is just and merciful. He will 

 deal fairly and kindly with all." 



" October 15. — We had a good and very attentive audience yester- 

 day, and I expatiated with great freedom on the love of Christ in 

 dying, from his parting address in John xvi. It cannot be these 

 precious truths will fall to the ground ; but it is perplexing to observe 

 no effects. They assent to the truth, but ' we don't know,' or ' you 

 speak truly ' is all the response. In reading accounts of South Sea 

 missions it is hard to believe the quickness of the vegetation of the 

 good seed, but I know several of the men " [the South Sea missionaries], 

 ' ; and am sure they are of unimpeachable veracity. In trying to convey 

 knowledge, and use the magic lantern, which is everywhere extremely 

 popular, though they listen with apparent delight to what is said, 

 questioning them on the following night reveals almost entire ignor- 



