2 
Seven Years in Central Africa. [Aug. 
time things had become more ship-shape for the long voyage to 
the Cape. 
As my companion"^ and I purposed to help the natives of Africa 
according to our ability, we thought it well to try and profit our 
fellow-passengers, as hearts are the same, whatever be the colour 
of the skin. There is not much to occupy the time on board 
ship, and we found that the emigrants and others willingly gathered 
round the main hatch to the number of two hundred or more, 
and listened at the mid-day hour as we sought to interest them 
in things eternal. 
On the tenth day we came in sight of Cape Verde, on the 
African coast, and were for a short time so near the land to 
which I had devoted myself, that we heard the waves beating 
on the rocks, and could almost count the trees on the shore. 
As I sat and looked, I tried to picture to myself all that lay 
beyond that cape. I thought of Mungo Park's travels in these 
very latitudes, at the end of the last century and early in this 
one, and of the millions of precious souls so near our home — 
only a few days' sail from it — and still so ignorant of the fact 
that there is One above who loves them. 
CAPE TOWN. 
Early on the 13th August the flat mountains above Cape Town 
appeared in the distance, and soon after the ship anchored in 
the bay we set foot on African soil, and were refreshed by meeting 
a few earnest Christian workers. 
Having considered the question of making our way into the 
interior from the Cape, we were led to conclude that Natal would 
be a more advantageous starting-point, so we proceeded on our 
voyage in a small coasting steamer. 
There were on board four black men, deck passengers from 
the Cape, who were bound for Delagoa Bay, and could speak 
a little English. In conversing with them they learned that 
I thought of preaching the gospel in Africa, and of proceeding 
for this purpose to the north of the Zambesi. A hght flashed 
in their eyes as they looked at one another, and jabbered away 
in a most excited manner. Then one of them burst out, in 
broken English, "Come to Delagoa Bay;" and the other three 
* His health failed, and acting on medical advice he remained in Natal. 
