5:3 THOMAS J. COMBEk. 
desired to worship God after the dictates of their own 
conscience. 
These were the circumstances in which the colony, 
named by Mr. Saker Victoria,” was founded. A 
considerable portion of territory along the coast and 
inland was duly purchased from King William, the 
recognised native ruler ; and in humble dependence 
upon God, the work of civilisation and evangelisation 
began in right good earnest. Roads were laid out, a 
township was planned, huts for the people and a 
mission-house and schoolroom were erected. 
Here then it was— on a spot where the sacred 
rights of liberty had triumphed, a spot which had 
become hallowed by years of Christian toil — that 
our young missionary began his labours. 
His first impressions were most agreeable. “I am 
trying,” he wrote to his father a few days after his 
arrival, “ to make myself feel at home in my newly 
adopted home ; and if the pleasantness of friends and 
comfortable surroundings could make it so, I should 
not lack anything. I did not expect that my intro- 
duction to Africa would be under such favourable 
circumstances, but I think it is as well for me to be 
broken in gradually to my future rough life, for many 
reasons, amongst others for health’s sake ; if I began 
bushing it at once I should be down with fever. The 
mission-house is occupied at present by Mr. and Mrs. 
George Thomson, an independent lady and gentle- 
man, who are here I think for a philanthropic object, 
although they do not preach or teach except by their 
consistent, good, kind life. Mr. T. is a very simple- 
hearted, real man, whom no one would like to 
displease, of a very truthful, reliant nature. Mrs. T. 
is a pretty, energetic, most agreeable, and lady-like 
body, simple-hearted like her husband. They were 
only married six months ago. He has no special 
occupation, except looking after his stores, building 
houses and sheds, catching butterflies and beetles, 
and thinking about a sanatorium which he intends to 
