would be of service, and Livingstone returned to Scotland in November, 1840, and passed at Glasgow as Licentiate of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons.  It was on this occasion he found it so inconvenient to have opinions of his own and the knack of sticking to them.  It seemed as if he was going to be rejected for obstinately maintaining his views in regard to the stethoscope; but he pulled through.  A single night was all that he could spend with his family, and they had so much to speak of that David proposed they should sit up all night.  This, however, his mother would not hear of.  “I remember my father and him,” writes his sister, “talking over the prospects of Christian missions.  They agreed that the time would come when rich men and great men would think it an honor to support whole stations of missionaries, instead of spending their money on hounds and horses.  On the morning of 17th November we got up at five o’clock.  My mother made coffee.  David read the 121st and 135th Psalms, and prayed.  My father and he walked to Glasgow to catch the Liverpool steamer.”  On the Broomielaw, father and son looked for the last time on earth on each other’s faces.  The old man walked back slowly to Blantyre, with a lonely heart no doubt, yet praising God.  David’s face was now set in earnest toward the Dark Continent.

CHAPTER III.

FIRST TWO YEARS IN AFRICA.

A.D. 1841-1843.

His ordination—­Voyage out—­At Rio de Janeiro—­At the Cape—­He proceeds to Kuruman—­Letters—­Journey of 700 miles to Bechuana country—­Selection of site for new station—­Second excursion to Bechuana country—­Letter to his sister—­Influence with chiefs—­Bubi—­Construction of a water-dam—­Sekomi—­Woman seized by a lion—­The Bakaa—­Sebehwe—­Letter to Dr. Risdon Bennett—­Detention at Kuruman—­He visits Sebehwe’s village—­Bakhatlas—­Sechele, chief of Bakwains—­Livingstone translates hymns—­Travels 400 miles on oxback—­Returns to Kuruman—­Is authorized to form new station—­Receives contributions for native missionary—­Letters to Directors on their Mission policy—­He goes to new station—­Fellow-travelers—­Purchase of site—­Letter to Dr. Bennett—­Desiccation of South Africa—­Death of a servant, Sehamy—­Letter to his parents.

On the 20th November, 1840, Livingstone was ordained a missionary in Albion Street Chapel, along with the Rev. William Ross, the service being conducted by the Rev. J.J.  Freeman and the Rev. R. Cecil.  On the 8th of December he embarked on board the ship “George,” under Captain Donaldson, and proceeded to the Cape, and thence to Algoa Bay.  On the way the ship had to put in at Rio de Janeiro, and he had a glance at Brazil, with which he was greatly charmed.  It was the only glimpse he ever got of any part of the great continent of America.  Writing to the Rev. G.D.  Watt, with whom he had become intimate in London, and who was preparing to go as a missionary to India, he says: