i882.] 
On the Way to the Zambesi. 
21 
some helpless child out of some pit, or out of deep water; but 
the same love might not constrain him to tenderly wash and 
clothe and warm the little one. No, the mother could do 
that best. The love of Christ does both. (See Ephesians 
V. 25-29.) He loved the Church, He gave Himself for it, 
that He might sanctify and cleanse it; He nourishes and 
cherishes it, that He may present it to Himself a glorious 
Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. What 
a perfect love ! And this is the love that He has set upon us ; 
and nothing in heaven, or hell, or on earth, can stay its working. 
THE DESERT ROUTE CHOSEN. 
June ^th. — Kama has just told me that he is sending Tinka, 
his chief hunter, to the Mababi, so I have decided to go 
with him. Kama did not say that I was to go, but left the 
decision with myself. He has promised me every help and 
comfort in travelling with his chief hunter. It is not certain that 
I shall reach the Mababi, for if the rains have not fallen over 
the desert, there will be no water, and we shall be forced to turn 
back. Tinka is a man of experience, knows every inch of the 
ground up there, and has got strict orders from the chief not to 
run any risks in trying to cross the desert ; so, humanly speaking, 
I shall be perfectly safe with him. 
After reaching the Mababi Flat, I shall get one or two guides 
to take me on to Panda-ma-tenka, where I hope to see Mr. West- 
beech, who has traded for about twelve years on the Zambesi, 
and I may obtain from him reliable information as to the 
country and the sway of the different chiefs. 
My thought is to visit Moemba, Wankie, and other chiefs 
along the river, and make my proposals to them, with a view of 
getting invitations to visit their countries. But I may have 
to return southward to meet any forthcoming fellow-labourer. 
This would occupy at least nine months. 
No one can guard against delays in this country, where time is 
thought little of. The natives require months to think over 
a matter that a white man would decide in a few moments. The 
value of dear Dr. Moffat's advice to me when 1 was leaving 
London, "Have patience! Have patience! Have patience!" is 
more and more apparent. 
