“The hard and cold unbelief which distinguished the last century, and which is still aped by would-be philosophers in the present, would sneer at our faith, and call it superstition, enthusiasm, etc.  But were we believers in human progress and no more, there must be a glorious future for our world.  Our dreams must come true, even though they are no more than dreams.  The world is rolling on to the golden age....  Discoveries and Inventions are cumulative.  Another century must present a totally different aspect from the present.  And when we view the state of the world and its advancing energies, in the light afforded by childlike, or call it childish, faith, we see the earth filling with the knowledge of the glory of God,—­ay, all nations seeing his glory and bowing before Him whose right it is to reign.  Our work and its fruits are cumulative.  We work toward another state of things.  Future missionaries will be rewarded by conversions for every sermon.  We are their pioneers and helpers.  Let them not forget the watchmen of the night—­us, who worked when all was gloom, and no evidence of success in the way of conversion cheered our paths.  They will doubtless have more light than we, but we served our Master earnestly, and proclaimed the same gospel as they will do.”

Of the services which Livingstone held with the people, we have the following picture;

“When I stand up, all the women and children draw near, and, having ordered silence, I explain the plan of salvation, the goodness of God in sending his Son to die, the confirmation of his mission by miracles, the last judgment or future state, the evil of sin, God’s commands respecting it, etc.; always choosing one subject only for an address, and taking care to make it short and plain, and applicable to them.  This address is listened to with great attention by most of the audience.  A short prayer concludes the service, all kneeling down, and remaining so till told to rise.  At first we have to enjoin on the women who have children to remain sitting, for when they kneel, they squeeze their children, and a simultaneous skirl is set up by the whole troop of youngsters, who make the prayer inaudible.”

When Livingstone and Sekeletu had gone about sixty miles on the way to the Barotse, they encountered Mpepe, Sekeletu’s half-brother and secret rival.  It turned out that Mpepe had a secret plan for killing Sekeletu, and that three times on the day of their meeting that plan was frustrated by apparently accidental causes.  On one of these occasions, Livingstone, by covering Sekeletu, prevented him from being speared.  Mpepe’s treachery becoming known, he was arrested by Sekeletu’s people, and promptly put to death.  The episode was not agreeable, but it illustrated savage life.  It turned out that Mpepe favored the slave-trade, and was closely engaged with certain Portuguese traders in intrigues for establishing and extending it.  Had Sekeletu been killed, Livingstone’s enterprise would certainly have been put an end to, and very probably likewise Livingstone himself.