Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,077 pages of information about Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa.

Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,077 pages of information about Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa.

Our progress down the Barotse valley was just like this.  Every village gave us an ox, and sometimes two.  The people were wonderfully kind.  I felt, and still feel, most deeply grateful, and tried to benefit them in the only way I could, by imparting the knowledge of that Savior who can comfort and supply them in the time of need, and my prayer is that he may send his good Spirit to instruct them and lead them into his kingdom.  Even now I earnestly long to return, and make some recompense to them for their kindness.  In passing them on our way to the north, their liberality might have been supposed to be influenced by the hope of repayment on our return, for the white man’s land is imagined to be the source of every ornament they prize most.  But, though we set out from Loanda with a considerable quantity of goods, hoping both to pay our way through the stingy Chiboque, and to make presents to the kind Balonda and still more generous Makololo, the many delays caused by sickness made us expend all my stock, and all the goods my men procured by their own labor at Loanda, and we returned to the Makololo as poor as when we set out.  Yet no distrust was shown, and my poverty did not lessen my influence.  They saw that I had been exerting myself for their benefit alone, and even my men remarked, “Though we return as poor as we went, we have not gone in vain.”  They began immediately to collect tusks of hippopotami and other ivory for a second journey.

Chapter 25.

Colony of Birds called Linkololo—­The Village of Chitlane—­Murder of Mpololo’s Daughter—­Execution of the Murderer and his Wife—­My Companions find that their Wives have married other Husbands—­ Sunday—­A Party from Masiko—­Freedom of Speech—­Canoe struck by a Hippopotamus—­Gonye—­Appearance of Trees at the end of Winter—­Murky Atmosphere—­Surprising Amount of organic Life—­Hornets—­The Packages forwarded by Mr. Moffat—­Makololo Suspicions and Reply to the Matebele who brought them—­Convey the Goods to an Island and build a Hut over them—­Ascertain that Sir R. Murchison had recognized the true Form of African Continent—­Arrival at Linyanti—­A grand Picho—­Shrewd Inquiry—­ Sekeletu in his Uniform—­A Trading-party sent to Loanda with Ivory—­ Mr. Gabriel’s Kindness to them—­Difficulties in Trading—­Two Makololo Forays during our Absence—­Report of the Country to the N.E.—­Death of influential Men—­The Makololo desire to be nearer the Market —­Opinions upon a Change of Residence—­Climate of Barotse Valley—­ Diseases—­Author’s Fevers not a fair Criterion in the Matter—­The Interior an inviting Field for the Philanthropist—­Consultations about a Path to the East Coast—­Decide on descending North Bank of Zambesi—­ Wait for the Rainy Season—­Native way of spending Time during the period of greatest Heat—­Favorable Opening for Missionary Enterprise—­Ben Habib wishes to marry—­A Maiden’s Choice—­Sekeletu’s Hospitality—­ Sulphureted Hydrogen and Malaria—­Conversations with Makololo—­Their moral Character and Conduct—­Sekeletu wishes to purchase a Sugar-mill, etc.—­The Donkeys—­Influence among the Natives—­“Food fit for a Chief”—­Parting Words of Mamire—­Motibe’s Excuses.

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Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.