MISSION TO THE BAKHATLA. 59 



is no certainty that these dark regions were ever before visited for the purpose 

 of making known the light and liberty and peace of the glorious Gospel. It 

 would seem that the myriads who have peopled these regions have always 

 passed away into darkness, and no ray from heaven ever beamed on their 

 path. *And with whom does the guilt rest, if not with us who compose the 

 church militant on earth ? My mind is filled with sadness when I contem- 

 plate the prospects of these large masses of immortal beings. I see no hope 

 for them, except in Native Agents. The more I see of the country, its large 

 extent of surface, with its scattered population, and each tribe separated by a 

 formidable distance from almost every other, the more convinced I feel, that 

 it will be impossible, if not impolitic, for the Church to supply them all with 

 Europeans. Native Christians can make known the way of life : there are 

 some in connection both with the churches at Kuruman and Griqua Town 

 who have done it effectually. Others too are rising up, who will soon be 

 capable of teaching ; and if their energies are not brought into operation by 

 taking up the field now open before us, I do not see where the benevolent 

 spirit springing up among the converts of the two Missions is to find an 

 outlet." 



As a result of this journey, Livingstone determined on commencing 

 Missionary operations among the Bakhatla tribe. In the Missionary Society 

 report for 1844, we find the following allusion to this determination : — 



" In the course of last year, Mr. Livingstone made two journeys into the 

 interior, for the purpose of obtaining information as to the moral condition of 

 the tribes scattered over those vast and desert regions, and with a view also 

 to the adoption of suitable measures for introducing the Gospel, with its 

 attendant blessings, among some of the numerous tribes yet sitting in the 

 darkness of the shadow of death. On the latter occasion, he was accompanied 

 by Mr. Edwards, and the result of their labours was the commencement of a 

 station among the Bakhatla tribe, from whom they received a cordial welcome, 

 and every encouragement to persevere in the project which they contemplated. 

 They purchased a large piece of ground, and proceeded to erect a hut, and 

 had every prospect of success in this new and important undertaking. 



" The location, upon which they have fixed, is very near the spot where 

 Mr. Campbell turned his face homeward, and also near the place where the 

 renowned Moselekatse lived. ' I walked,' says Mr. Livingstone, ' over the 

 site of his town lately, and a few human bones were the only vestiges I could 

 observe of all that belonged to the tyrant.' Moselekatse, however, still lives, 

 and his name continues to be a terror to the natives ; and his people, called 

 the Matabele, came last year nearly as far as their former country ; but the 

 Missionaries say, ' If we wait till we run no risk, the Gospel will never be 

 introduced into the interior. Native teachers will not go alone, for they 

 dread the name of Moselekatse, as they do the name of the king of terrors.' 



