Zouga.  I made a raft, but after working in the water for hours it would not carry me. (I have always been thankful, since I knew how alligators abound there, that I was not then killed by one.) Next year affairs were not improved at Kolobeng, and while attempting the north again fever drove us back.  In both that and the following year I took my family with me in order to obviate the loss of time which returning for them would occasion.  The Boers subsequently, by relieving me of all my goods, freed me from the labor of returning to Kolobeng at all.

Of the circumstances attending our arrival at Sebituane’s, and the project of opening up a path to the coast, you are already so fully aware, from having examined and awarded your approbation, I need scarcely allude to it.  Double the time has been expended to that which I anticipated, but as it chiefly arose from sickness, the loss of time was unavoidable.  The same cause produced interruptions in preaching the gospel—­as would have been the case had I been indisposed anywhere else.

The foregoing short notices of all the plans which I can bring to my recollection since my arrival in Africa lead me to the question, which of the plans it is that the Directors particularize when they say they are restricted in their power of aiding plans only remotely connected with the spread of the gospel.  It cannot be the last surely, for I had their express approval before leaving Cape Town, and they yield to none in admiration of the zeal with which it has been executed.  Then which is it?

As it cannot be meant to apply in the way of want of funds deciding the suspension of operations which would make the connection remote enough with the spread of the gospel by us, I am at a loss to understand the phraseology, and therefore trust that the difficulty may be explained.  The difficulties are mentioned in no captious spirit, though, from being at a loss as to the precise meaning of the terms, I may appear to be querulous.  I am not conscious of any diminution of the respect and affection with which I have always addressed you.  I am, yours affectionately, DAVID LIVINGSTON.

No.  IV.

LORD CLARENDON’S LETTER TO SEKELETU.

     From THE EARL OF CLARENDON, Principal Secretary of State
     for Foreign Affairs of Her Majesty, the Queen of Great
     Britain, to our esteemed Friend SEKELETU, Chief of the

The Queen our Sovereign and the British Government have learned with much pleasure from her Majesty’s servant, Dr. Livingstone, the kind manner in which you co-operated with him in his endeavors to find a path from your country to the sea on the West Coast, and again, when he was following the course of the river Zambesi from your town to the Eastern Coast, by furnishing him on each occasion with canoes, provisions, oxen, and men, free of expense; and we were pleased to hear that you, your elders and people, are all anxious to have direct intercourse with the English nation, and to have your country open to commerce and civilization.