128 PUBLIC RELIGIOUS SERVICES. Chap. IX, 



congregation which, attended at the summons of the herald, 

 who acted as beadle, was often not less than from five to seven 

 ( 2 5) hundred. The associations of the place were unfavourable to 

 solemnity. Half an hour after our devotions were ended a 

 dance would be got up on the very same spot. These habits 

 could not be opposed at first, without appearing to assume too 

 much over the people. Far greater influence is gained by 

 gently leading them to act rightly as of their own free will. 

 Yet the Makoloio women behaved from the outset with 

 decorum, except at the conclusion of the prayer. In kneeling 

 down, many of them bent over their little ones ; and tho 

 children, in terror of being crushed, set up a simultaneous yell. 

 At this there was often a subdued titter, which was turned 

 into a hearty laugh as soon as I pronounced Amen. Such 

 incongruities were easier corrected than similar peccadilloes 

 farther south. Long after we had settled at Mabotsa, when 

 preaching on the most solemn subjects, a woman would give 

 a nudge with her elbow to a neighbour seated on her dress, 

 to make her move off. The offender would return it with 

 interest, and perhaps the remark, '• Take the nasty thing 

 away, will you?" Three or four more would begin to hustle 

 the disputants, and the men would swear at them all to 

 enforce silence. 



I refrained from attending the sick, unless their own doctors 

 wished it, or had given up the case. This prevented all 

 offence to the native practitioners, and limited my services, 

 as I desired, to the severer attacks. 



Some weeks after Sekeletu declined to learn to read, Motibe 

 his father-in-law, and several others, determined to approach 

 the mysterious book. A number of men acquired the alphabet 

 in a short time and were set to teach others, but before much 

 progress could be made I was on my way to Loanda. On 

 Motibe reporting that the proceeding was safe, Sekeletu and 

 his young companions came forward to try for themselves. To 

 all natives who have not acquired the art, the mode in which 

 knowledge is conveyed through letters is unfathomable. It 

 seems supernatural to them that we should distinguish things 

 taking place in a book. Machinery is equally inexplicable, and 

 money nearly as much so until they see it in use. They are 

 familiar with barter alone ; and in the centre of the country, 



