100 TEACHING THE MAKOLOLO TO READ. 
Ing to ascortain what thoir practices wore, I could safely 
intrust myself in thoir hands, on account of their well- 
known friendly feelings. 
I proposed to teach the Makololo to read ; but, for the 
reasons mentioned, Sokolotu at first declined : aftor some 
weeks, however, Motibo, his father-in-law, and somo others, 
determined to bravo the mystorious book. To all who 
havo not acquired it, the knowledge of letters is quite 
unfathomable; there is naught like it within the compass 
of thoir observation ; and wo have no comparison with 
any thing except pictures, to aid them in comprehending 
the idea of signs of words. It seems to them supernatural 
that we seo in a book things taking place or having oc- 
curred at a distance. No amount of explanation convoys 
the idea unless they learn to read. Machinery is equally 
inexplicable, and money nearly as much so until they see 
it in actual use. They are familiar with barter alone; and 
in the centre of tho country, where gold is totally un- 
known, if a button and sovereign were loft to their choice, 
they would prefer tho former on account of its having an 
oyo. 
In beginning to learn, Motibo seemed to himself in tho 
position of the doctor, who was obliged to drink his potion 
before the patient, to Bhow that it contained nothing detri- 
mental; after ho had mastered tho alphabet, and reported 
tho thing so far safe, Sokolctu and his young companions 
came forward to try for thomselves. Ho must havo re- 
solved to watch tho effects of the book against his views 
on polygamy, and abstain whenever ho perceived any ten- 
dency, in reading it, toward enforcing him to put his wivec 
away A number of mon learned the alphabet in a short 
time, and were sot to teach others, but beforo much pro- 
gress could bo mado I was on my way to Loanda. 
As I had declined to name any thing as a present from 
Sokeletu, except a canoo to tako me up tho river, ho brought 
ten fine elephants’ tusks and laid them down besido my 
wagon. He would tako no denial, though I told him I 
