CHRISTIANITY IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 729 



Mtesa and his Court to Christianity would, I think be compelete. I have, 

 indeed, undermined Islamisna so much here, that Mtesa has determined hence- 

 forth, until he is better informed, to observe the Christian Sabbath as well as 

 the Moslem Sabbath, and the great captains have unanimously consented to 

 this. He has further caused the ten commandments of Moses to be written 

 on a board for his daily perusal — for Mtesa can read Arabic — as well as the 

 Lord's Prayer and the golden commandment of Our Saviour, ' Thou shalt 

 love thy neighbour as thyself.' This is great progress for the few days that 

 I have remained with him, and, though I am no missionary, I shall begin to 

 think that I might become one if such success is feasible. But, oh that some 

 pious, practical missionary, would come here! What a field and a harvest 

 ripe for the sickle of civilisation ! Mtesa would give him anything he de- 

 sired — houses, lands, cattle, ivory, etc. ; he might call a province his own in 

 one day. It is not the mere preacher, however, that is wanted here. The 

 Bishops of Great Britain collected, with all the classic youth of Oxford and 

 Cambridge, would effect nothing by mere talk with the intelligent people of 

 Uganda. It is the practical Christian tutor, who can teach people how to be- 

 come Christians, cure their diseases, construct dwellings, understand and ex- 

 emplify agriculture, and turn his hand to anything, like a sailor — this is the 

 man who is wanted. Such an one, if he can be found, would become the 

 saviour of Africa. He must be tied to no Church or sect, but profess Cod and 

 His Son and the moral law, and live a blameless Christian, inspired by liberal 

 principles, charity to all men, and devout faith in heaven. He must belong 

 to no nation in particular, but the entire White race. Such a man, or men, 

 Mtesa, King of Uganda, Usoga, Umgoro and Karagwe — a kingdom three 

 hundred and sixty geographical miles in length by fifty in breadth — invites 

 to repair to him. He has begged me to tell the white men that if they will 

 only come to him he will give them all they want. Now, where is there in 

 all the Pagan world a more promising field for a mission than Uganda ? 

 Colonel Linant de Bellefonds is my witness that I speak the truth, and I know 

 he will corroborate all I say. The colonel, though a Frenchman, is a Cal- 

 vinist, and has become as ardent a well-wisher for the Waganda as I am. 

 Then why further spend needlessly vast sums upon black Pagans of Africa 

 who have no example of their own people becoming Christians before them ? 

 I speak to the Universities' Mission at Zanzibar, and to the Free Methodists 

 at Mombasa, to the leading philanthropists, and the pious people of England. 

 Here, gentlemen, is your opportunity — embrace it I The people on the shores 

 of the Nyanza call upon you. Obey your own generous instincts, and listen 

 to them ; and I assure you that in one year you will have more converts to 

 Christianity than all other missionaries united can number. The population 

 of Mtesa's kingdom is very dense ; I estimate the number of his subjects at 

 two millions. You need not fear to spend money upon such a mission, as 



