In the Barotse Valley. 
257 
here, remember you will come as one of the Master's own servants 
whom we esteem and love. We are engaged in the same work, and 
have the same Master. I have still here your boxes, which I brought 
last year. A thief lately stole one of them — an iron one — along with 
a small tent of mine. He broke the lock of the box, and when he 
found nothing but books and papers he left it in the field, and we 
picked it up next morning. 
"The country is in a state of revolution again. Liwanika has 
come back and seized the power, and Akufuna has fled with Mataka 
and a great number of Mambundas. Shesheke is deserted ; all the 
chiefs have taken sides — Ratau and Tahalima for Liwanika ; 
Morantsima and Kalishna, etc., for Akufuna. These have fled to 
the country, and prepare, it is whispered, to cross the river ; those 
have taken refuge on an island. All our efforts to make peace have 
been fruitless. I do not know what is in store for these poor tribes. 
The horizon is dark, and the sky very stormy ; it seems as if we were 
witnessing the last days of the Barotse nation. 
"We are quite alone at Shesheke. The chiefs visit us occasionally, 
and I go to them ; but the place has become the haunt of hyenas and 
game. We crossed the river in August. For want of oxen we were 
not able to pass on. Then the revolution took place. The rains 
came on, and we were compelled to decide to stay here till next 
winter. Miss Coillard, my niece, was married on the 4th instant to 
Mons. Jeanmairit, my colleague, who is to stay here at Shesheke. 
We give him some help in rearing up his establishment. Mr. 
Blockley, at Leshuma, has taken possession of our ' camp.' We 
have reserved the best of our buildings for a depot, but it is being 
eaten at a fearful rate by boring beetles, they say. The Jesuits have 
at last left Panda-ma-tenka for the south. We have been able to 
buy many things from them. They have been a providence to us. 
Khama and his country have passed under the protectorate of 
England. The political news of the Transvaal I know little of, 
but war has evidently been averted. From Basutoland I understand 
that the work is reviving, and the brethren are cheered. 
"When I was at the valley at the beginning of the year I found 
one box belonging to you well cared for by a certain Molupe. It had 
been respected in the midst of the pillage. Now, my dear brother, 
may our gracious Father have you in His safe keeping, and make 
His presence more and more real and precious. We all unite in 
affectionate salutations." 
Leahn, yth April, 1886. 
" It was a surprise and a great pleasure to receive your letter from 
Bihe on your way to the interior. 
" I was glad and sad at the same time to see that you were bound 
s 
