634 UVINGSTONE I.EAVING AFRICA. 



fear of clashing. All classes of Christians find that 

 sectarian rancour soon dies out when they are working 

 together among and for the real heathen. Only let the 

 healthy locality be searched for, and fixed upon, and 

 then there will be free scope to work in the same cause in 

 various directions, without that loss of men which the 

 system of missions on the unhealthy coasts entails. While 

 respectfully submitting the plan to these influential 

 societies, I can positively state that, when fairly in the 

 interior, there is perfect security for life and property 

 among a people who will at least listen and reason. 



Eight of my men begged to be allowed to come as far 

 as Kilimane, and, thinking that they would there see 

 the ocean, I consented to their corning, though the food 

 was so scarce in consequence of a dearth, that they were 

 compelled to suffer some hunger. They would fain have 

 come further ; for when Sekeletu parted with them, his 

 orders were that none of them should turn until they 

 had reached Ma Robert and brought her back with them. 

 On my explaining the difficulty of crossing the sea, he said, 

 " Wherever you lead, they must follow." As I did not 

 know well how I should get home myself, I advised them 

 to go back to Tete, where food was abundant, and there 

 await my return. I bought a quantity of calico and brass 

 wire with ten of the smaller tusks which we had in our 

 charge, and sent the former back as clothing to those who 

 remained at Tete. As there were still twenty tusks left, 

 I deposited them with Colonel Nunes, that, in the event 

 of anything happening to prevent my return, the impres- 

 sion might not be produced in the country, that I had 

 made away with Sekeletu's ivory. I instructed Colonel 

 Nunes, in case of my death, to sell the tusks and deliver 

 the proceeds to my men ; but I intended, if my life should 

 be prolonged, to purchase the goods ordered by Sekeletu 

 in England with my own money, and pay myself on my 

 return out of the price of the ivory. This I explained to 

 the men fully, and they, understanding the matter, replied, 

 " Nay, father, you will not die ; you will return to take us 

 back to Sekeletu." They promised to wait till I came 

 back, and, on my part, I assured them that nothing but 

 death would prevent my return. This I said, though 

 while waiting at Kilimane a letter came from the 

 Directors of the London Missionary Society, stating that 

 " they were restricted in their power of aiding plans 



