883.] 
Among the Barotse. 
79 
God has aforetime revealed Himself. But he has sought after 
things of his own imagination and things of darkness to satisfy 
those convictions and fears which lurk in his breast, and which 
have not been planted there by the evil one, but by God. Re- 
fusing to acknowledge God (Romans i. 28, margin), they have 
become haters of God. {v. 30.) The preaching of the Gospel 
to them, however, is not a mere beating of the air; there is a 
peg in the wall upon which something can be hung, and remain. 
Often a few young men have received the message with laughter 
and ridicule, but I have afterwards heard them discuss my words 
amongst themselves very gravely. I heard one man say to a 
neighbour, " Monare's words pierce the heart." Another remarked 
that the story of Christ's death was very beautiful, but that he 
knew it was not meant for him ; he was a makalaka (slave), and 
such a sacrifice was only for white men and princes. 
Their memories are so acute, that many days after being spoken 
to, they will return in order to discuss some question which has 
been weighing on their minds. I judge from their actions that 
a few amongst the Barotse have consciously received something 
of the truth. Malonda, who was a very kind friend to me, 
repeatedly professed his belief in the things about which we had 
long talks when travelling together from Shesheke; but he is 
secretly afraid of the king; and the putting away of his extra 
wives would, in his eyes, end his career among the Barotse. 
Mala, of Secumba, one of the nobles of the land, when he came 
to the king's town used to dine and sup with me, and we would 
read and talk over the Scriptures for hours. Mamwia has suffered 
much from her husband Gumbela, the king's prime minister, for 
loving to come and hear the Scriptures read, and she professes 
to know the Lord. Our Lord knows all. He who will not 
quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed, can nourish 
the little spark into a flame. 
VISIT OF JESUIT MISSIONARIES. 
A week or so after my return to Lealui two Jesuits came to 
see the king. Four had left Panda-ma-tenka, but one had to 
return because of sickness. One poor fellow was drowned on 
the way up, through the upsetting of the boat in the rapids. The 
king and headmen had a large meeting, and told these priests 
