Chap. XXXII. 
THE AUTHOR’S POSITION. 
677 
they, understanding the matterj replied, “ Nay, father, you will 
not die; you will return to take us hack to Sekeletu.” They 
promised to wait till I came back, and, on my part, I assured 
them that nothing but death would prevent my return. This I 
said, though wliile waiting at Kilimane a letter came from the 
Directors of the London Missionary Society, stating that they 
were restricted in their power of aiding plans connected only 
remotely with the spread of the Grospel, and that the financial 
circumstances of the Society were not such as to afford any 
ground of hope that it would be in a position, within any definite 
period, to enter upon untried, remote, and difficult fields of 
labour.” This has been explained since as an effusion caused by 
temporary financial depression; but feeling perfect confidence 
in my Makololo friends, I was determined to return and trust to 
their generosity. The old love of independence, wliich I had so 
strongly before joining the Society, again returned. It was roused 
by a mistaken view of what this letter meant, for the Directors, 
immediately on my reaching home, saw the great importance of 
the opening, and entered with enlightened zeal on the work of 
sending the Gospel into the new field. It is to be hoped that 
their constituents will not only enable them to begin, but to 
carry out their plans ; and that no material depression will ever 
again be permitted, nor appearance of spasmodic benevolence 
recur. While I hope to continue the same cordial co-operation 
and friendship winch have always characterised our intercourse, 
various reasons induce me to withdraw from pecmiiary dependence 
on any Society. I have done something for the heathen, but for 
an aged mother, who has still more sacred claims than they, I 
have been able to do nothing, and a continuance of the connec¬ 
tion would be a perpetuation of my inability to make any pro¬ 
vision for her declining years. In addition to clergyman’s sore 
throat,” wliich partially disabled me from the work, my father’s 
death imposed new obligations; and a fresh source of income 
having been opened to me without my asking, I had no hesita¬ 
tion in accepting what would enable me to fulfil my duty to my 
aged parent as well as to the heathen. 
If the reader remembers the way in which I was led, while 
teaching the Bakwains, to commence exploration, he will, I 
think, recognise the hand of Providence. Anterior to that, when 
