IV. 



RELIGIO US ST A TE. 1 45 



hear again about the dead rising ! The dead cannot arise ! 

 The dead must not arise!' 'Why/ I inquired, ' can so 

 great a man refuse knowledge, and turn away from wisdom? 

 Tell me, my friend, why 1 must not, " add to words " and 

 speak of a resurrection?' Raising and uncovering his arm, 

 which had been strong in battle, and shaking his hand as if 

 quivering a spear, he replied, ' I have slain my thousands 

 (bontsintsi), and shall they arise?" 



" While the chieftain and myself were engaged in the 

 above conversation, the most profound silence reigned, and 

 which continued till interrupted by one whose features ap- 

 peared to indicate that he was a man of war. 4 1 have 

 killed many, but I never saw the immortal part which you 

 describe.' 'Because invisible,' I replied; and referred him 

 to many invisible things, the existence of which he never 

 doubted. Makaba again muttered, ' What do my ears hear 

 to-day? I am old, but never thought of these things be- 

 fore;' and hinted that he had heard enough 1 ." 



This soul-stirring quotation must cause burning thoughts 

 to arise in the hearts of all Christians who read it. Sechele's 

 question on the same subject is a most striking one; viz. 

 why our forefathers, knowing these things, did not come 

 and tell his forefathers sooner? It is not now too late. The 

 way is open. The Gospel is as powerful as ever it was. 

 The means of communication are being quickened and 

 multiplied, and the Lord's Word must have free course and 

 shall be glorified. 



How far Idolatry in South Africa assumes a curious 



these people aspect. In the southern half there is none. 



togethrr^witU We haVe Seen h ° W Mr Moffat ' and other of 

 the general use Dr Livingstone's predecessors in the South, 



?L™tandfn- complain of the apparent Atheism of the 

 cantations a- people in general. Our traveller found no 

 moQg them. idols among them. None even among the 



1 Missionary Lahours, &c. pp. 403 — 405. 



