Jntrod. . THE AUTHOE’S EMPLOYMENTS. 8* 
in the country, and being expert in household matters, she was 
always the best spoke in the wheel at home; and when, in 
order to save time, I took her with me on two occasions to Lake 
Ngami, and far beyond, she actually went farther, and endured 
more, than some who have written large books of travels. In 
process of time our solitude was cheered by three boys and a 
girl, and, I think it useful to mention that, we never had the 
least difficulty in teaching them to speak English. We made it a 
rule to speak together always in our own tongue, and a law that 
the children should address us in no other. It was surprising to 
observe how seldom we had to remind them of the law. They 
never attempted to address us in the native tongue, though they 
spoke both it and English perfectly. From our experience, the 
spectacle of a missionary’s children speaking only the native 
language ought never to be seen. When they went on board 
ship they refused to say another word of the native language, 
and now have lost it entirely. 
In consequence of droughts, wliich will be described in their 
proper place, we were mainly dependent for supplies of proper 
food on Kuruman, and were often indebted to the fruit-trees 
there and to Mrs. Moffat’s kind foresight for the continuance of 
good health. • It ought to be known that, when visitors arrive at 
most mission stations, the best of everything is provided for 
them freely; but having heard that some graceless fellows, who 
had been feasted gratuitously, went back to the colony, saying, 
“These missionaries live like fighting cocks,” we never made 
any change in our fare for even our friends. 
If the reader bears in mind that from 1840 to 1845 I was 
employed in preparatory labours and associated with other mis¬ 
sionaries at Kuruman and Mabotsa; then from 1845 to 1849 
continued to work at Chonuane and Kolobeng, aided only by 
Mrs. Livingstone and two native teachers; that in 1849 the 
journey to discover Lake Ngami was undertaken; and that in 
the following pages a sketch of our labours at Kolobeng is given, 
as well as an account of the journey to Lake Ngami, and 
finally the last great journey which occupied the years 1852-6 
detailed,—^he wiU have a clear idea of the arrangement of this 
book. Speaking generally, I have spent sixteen years of my 
B 3 
