30 Seven Years in Central Africa. [July, 
a year since I left home. Our course for three or four days lies 
along the north bank of the river Botletle ; then we turn in 
a N.N.W. direction for the Mababi, which we may reach in 
two weeks. This letter will be taken to the chief Kama, one 
of his messengers carrying it in a slit at the end of a long 
stick. 
I may add that the Botletle River is remarkable as having 
a double flow, according to the season of the year. When 
Lake Ngami is full, its waters pour into the Botletle \ but in the 
dry season, when the lake is low, the Botletle flows into it. In 
following the course of the Botletle I was quite near to Lake 
Ngami, which was one of Livingstone's early discoveries. The 
Batauana, a section of the Bamangwato, live there. In con- 
nection with these natives, I may mention an instructive cir- 
cumstance. 
EFFECTS *0F ADVERSITY AND PROSPERITY. 
Some years ago Mr. Hepburn went as far as Lake Ngami to 
assist Bechuana evangelists in beginning mission work. Apparently 
they were so successful that the chief Moreme, son of the famous 
Lisilatebe, professed conversion, and was baptized with many 
of his people. They then liberated their Masaroa slaves, and 
deposed their rain-doctors and fetish men. 
A few months later the Matabele made a terrible raid upon the 
Batauana, surprising and murdering in the most brutal manner 
hundreds of women and children, and carrying off thousands 
of cattle. The remnant of the tribe rebuilt their town, and 
though defeated and plundered they were spiritually blessed by 
this fiery trial. Some two years later the Matabele renewed the 
attack, but found the Batauana on their guard. After some days 
of severe fighting the Matabele were compelled to retire, dis- 
persed and defeated. Strange to say, this victory had a bad 
effect upon the Christians. At first they were willing to acknow- 
ledge the hand of God in their deliverance, but giving way to 
self-praise and congratulation they landed in the opposite ditch. 
Moreme returned to his former heathen ways and ceremonies, 
and restored his numerous wives. This trial to the Christian 
church there, more searching than the other, left but a few 
faithful ones. 
