LETTER FROM REV. BR, LA WS. 8X5 



Captain Wilson, R. N., will be more effectual in suppressing the slave-trade 

 than a squadron of cruisers on the coast. Livingstonia, we cannot but be- 

 lieve, has a glorious history before it, as the first spot in Central Africa from 

 which there will emanate the light and love of that Gospel of Peace, under 

 ■whose benign influence the moral deserts of that degraded region shall yet 

 rejoice and blossom as the rose." 



The various letters which have been received from the members of the 

 mission report its progress so far. A selection of these letters will prove 

 interesting to our readers. The Rev. Dr. Laws writes to the Secretary of 

 the Foreign Missions of the Free Church of Scotland : — 



" German Schooner Harah, Kongoni, Mouth of the 

 Zambesi, 9th August, 1875. 



11 Mr. Young is busy getting things packed up, and asks me to report 

 our progress since he last wrote to you. Leaving Algoa Bay at 6.30 a.m., 

 6th July, after a safe though somewhat lengthy voyage, we crossed the bar 

 of the Kongoni on the afternoon of 23rd July. During the voyage the 

 weather was rather variable ; at times quite calm, on other occasions squally. 

 On the 13th we were caught by a tornado, but as, providentially, it came 

 astern, we sustained no further damage than the snapping of the chain which 

 supported our square sail. 



" For three days before landing, contrary to all expectation, the rain 

 poured in torrents, and squalls came from every quarter. On the morning of 

 the 23rd we weighed anchor, hoping to be able to cross the bar ; but a fog roll- 

 ing across the mouth of the river, we had to wait till the rising tide gave us 

 nine feet of water, and then with a slight bump we sailed to a good anchorage 

 by the river's bank. There is no native village at the mouth of the river now ; 

 but in the evening three men appeared. Pulling ashore, we received from 

 them a warm welcome, expressed by clapping their hands. Next day, several 

 others appeared, and one of the Portuguese who lived in the neighbourhood 

 came to pay us a visit, attended by three or four slaves. A miserable bare- 

 footed creature he appeared, but ready at any moment to bully his slaves, as 

 if they were not human beings as well as himself. 



" The Portuguese official here is very civil and obliging ; he has just 

 been on board to ask me to go and shoot a lion that has carried off four 

 natives. I have told him that I had not time to go so far. I told him to 

 send his soldiers. He says they are all afraid ; still he wishes me to go single- 

 handed. So much for the warriors out here. If I have time I will oblige 

 him to-night, if he comes near. Please excuse my writing much now, as 

 I have so much to do and arrange before starting in the morning. We have 

 a good name here, so there is no difficulty in getting natives for a crew. 

 Several who knew me years ago are going with me, so I am not discouraged 



