THE BECHUANA LANGUAGE. * 87 



years in Africa. He had at last completed the translation of 

 the Bible into the language of the Bechuanas, and was carrying 

 it through the press. He found no written language to begin 

 his undertaking with ; he had first to produce that, then 

 accomplish the translation. The work reveals something of 

 uncommon interest. This language possesses wonderful copi- 

 ousness, and yet provides for the exjiression of the Pentateuch 

 in fewer words than the Greek Septuagint, and makes a much 

 smaller volume than our English version. 



During the delay at Kuruman they were surprised and 

 grieved by the coming of the wife of Sechele, reporting an attack 

 of the Boers on the Bakwains, in which they fully gratified 

 their cruelty and eagerness for plunder, and vented a little of 

 their rage against the missionary work by robbing the house of 

 Dr. Livingstone. 



This outrage of the Boers raised a new barrier. It had so 

 terrified the Bakwains that not one could be found who would 

 risk himself in the company of Livingstone; for besides their 

 cruelties, the Boers had made furious threats against the man 

 whom they charged with having taught the Bakwains to kill 

 them. Only after considerable loss of time and much searching 

 he succeeded in finding three servants, who he describes as 

 being " the worst possible specimens of those who imbibe the 

 vices without the virtues of the Europeans." These, with a 

 colored man named George Fleming, who was induced to go 

 with him, made it possible to advance, and he left Kuruman on 

 the 20th of November, and skirted along the Kalahari as be- 

 fore. This time there was an abundant crop of watermelons. 

 This being the season just preceding the winter rains, the 

 travellers were subjected to the peculiarly hot winds of the 

 desert, which they escaped in former travels. The party reached 

 the afflicted town of Sechele on the last day of 1852. No 

 wonder that the heart of Livingstone was grieved with the 

 spectacle. Never had he witnessed one so pitiable. The 

 people were plunged in absolute misery. Little more could be 

 done than to give them the sympathy of his full heart. These 

 were the people among whom he had labored first. He had 

 lived in their midst. He had left them only when the inter- 

 ference of the Boers rendered his work there entirely impracti- 

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