62 LIFE OF DA VI D LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



chief of a numerous tribe of Bakwain, among whom the prospects of useful- 

 ness are encouraging. The country has a fine undulating surface. The soil 

 is rich, and there is no want of timber, grass, water, or rain, as the place is 

 situated not far from the tropic of Capricorn. The Chief is learning to read, 

 and has begun to instruct his wives ; and his example will doubtless exercise 

 a powerful influence on the people. " 



In the Society's report for 1848, we find a letter from Livingstone with 

 remarks upon it. 



" Mr. Livingstone, who has removed with his tribe to a more suitable 

 locality, occupied a part of the year in visiting the Kuruman, and his report 

 embraces the proceedings and labours of his mission subsequent to that 

 period: — 



" When we returned to Chonuane," he writes, " we found that, though 

 the season for sowing had arrived, the chief had forbidden his people begin- 

 ning with their gardens until it was ascertained whether or not another trial 

 could be made of the locality. Some of his people, he said, were opposed to 

 removal, as Chonuane afforded abundance of native food, and the only direc- 

 tion in which they could move would be nearer the dreaded Moselekatse. 

 ' But,' added he, ' I see you are unable to live in comfort here, and though 

 all my people should leave me, I am determined to cleave to you wherever it 

 may be needful to go.' We made our choice, and are truly grateful to the 

 Source of all Wisdom and Goodness that we had obtained so much favour in 

 the eyes of the heathen as induced a simultaneous movement of the whole 

 tribe (the very next day after our decision was known) to perform a journey 

 of about forty miles to the north-west, and build a new town entirely on 

 our account. 



" The stream on which our new settlement is formed is called the 

 Kolobeng, and so far as temporal matters are concerned we have the prospect 

 of abundance of both native and European produce ; and, better still, we can 

 now reasonably indulge the hope that, through the Divine blessing, the 

 Gospel will not only be permanent here, but sound out to the dark regions 

 beyond. 



" While engaged in cutting wood for a temporary dwelling, the chief, 

 without a single suggestion from us, intimated his intention to erect a school. 

 ' I desire,' said he, ' to build a house for God, the Defender of my town, and 

 that you be at no expense with it whatever.' Had we been able to bestow 

 the requisite superintendence, a substantial building might have been secured, 

 for more than 200 workmen were ready to labour upon it. Bat being 

 engaged in erecting our own huts, and as it was difficult to manage such 

 numbers of uninstructed workmen, all anxious to do something, I was obliged 

 to plan a small building, the materials of which, though frail, they knew best 

 how to use. 



