Lntkod. THE AUTHOR'S EMPLOYMENTS. 8 * 



in the country, and being expert in household matters, she was 

 always the best spoke in the wheel at home ; and when, in 

 order to save time, I took her with me on two occasions to Lake 

 Ngami, and far beyond, she actually went farther, and endured 

 more, than some who have written large books of travels. In 

 process of time our solitude was cheered by three boys and a 

 girl, and, I think it useful to mention that, we never had the 

 least difficulty in teaching them to speak English. We made it a 

 rule to speak together always in our own tongue, and a law that 

 the children should address us in no other. It was surprising to 

 observe how seldom we had to remind them of the law. They 

 never attempted to address us in the native tongue, though they 

 spoke both it and English perfectly. From our experience, the 

 spectacle of a missionary's children speaking only the native 

 language ought never to be seen. When they went on board 

 ship they refused to say another word of the native language, 

 and now have lost it entirely. 



In consequence of droughts, which will be described in their 

 proper place, we were mainly dependent for supplies of proper 

 food on Kuruman, and were often indebted to the fruit-trees 

 there and to Mrs. Moffat's kind foresight for the continuance of 

 good health. It ought to be known that, when visitors arrive at 

 most mission stations, the best of everything is provided for 

 them freely ; but having heard that some graceless fellows, who 

 had been feasted gratuitously, went back to the colony, saying, 

 " These missionaries live like fighting cocks," we never made 

 any change in our fare for even our friends. 



If the reader bears in mind that from 1840 to 1845 I was 

 employed in preparatory labours and associated with other mis- 

 sionaries at Kuruman and Mabotsa; then from 1845 to 1849 

 continued to work at Chonuane and Kolobeng, aided only by 

 Mrs. Livingstone and two native teachers ; that in 1849 the 

 journey to discover Lake Ngami was undertaken ; and that in 

 the following pages a sketch of our labours at Kolobeng is given, 

 as well as an account of the journey to Lake Ngami, and 

 finally the last great journey which occupied the years 1852-6 

 detailed, — he Mill have a clear idea of the arrangement of this 

 book. Speaking generally, I have spent sixteen years of my 



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