style.  When he was baptized, after a profession of three years, he sent away his superfluous wives in a kindly and generous way; but all their connections became active and bitter enemies of the gospel, and the conversion of Sechele, instead of increasing the congregation, reduced it so much that sometimes the chief and his family were almost the only persons present.  A bell-man of a somewhat peculiar order was once employed to collect the people for service—­a tall gaunt fellow.  “Up he jumped on a sort of platform, and shouted at the top of his voice, ’Knock that woman down over there.  Strike her, she is putting on her pot!  Do you see that one hiding herself?  Give her a good blow.  There she is—­see, see, knock her down!’ All the women ran to the place of meeting in no time, for each thought herself meant.  But, though a most efficient bell-man, we did not like to employ him.”

While residing at Chonuane, Livingstone performed two journeys eastward, in order to attempt the removal of certain obstacles to the establishment of at least one of his native teachers in that direction.  This brought him into connection with the Dutch Boers of the Cashan mountains, otherwise called Magaliesberg.  The Boers were emigrants from the Cape, who had been dissatisfied with the British rule, and especially with the emancipation of their Hottentot slaves, and had created for themselves a republic in the north (the Transvaal), in order that they might pursue, unmolested, the proper treatment of the blacks.  “It is almost needless to add,” says Livingstone, “that proper treatment has always contained in it the essential element of slavery, viz., compulsory unpaid labor.”  The Boers had effected the expulsion of Mosilikatse, a savage Zulu warrior, and in return for this service they considered themselves sole masters of the soil.  While still engaged in the erection of his dwelling-house at Chonuane, Livingstone received notes from the Commandant and Council of the emigrants, requesting an explanation of his intentions, and an intimation that they had resolved to come and deprive Sechele of his fire-arms.  About the same time he received several very friendly messages and presents from Mokhatla, chief of a large section of the Bakhatla, who lived about four days eastward of his station, and had once, while Livingstone was absent, paid a visit to Chonuane, and expressed satisfaction with the idea of obtaining Paul, a native convert, as his teacher.  As soon as his house was habitable, Livingstone proceeded to the eastward, to visit Mokhatla, and to confer with the Boers.

On his way to Mokhatla he was surprised at the unusual density of the population, giving him the opportunity of preaching the gospel at least once every day.  The chief, Mokhatla, whose people were quiet and industrious, was eager to get a missionary, but said that an arrangement must be made with the Dutch commandant.  This involved some delay.