Moffat explained to this African king the objects of the missionary, and pressed upon him the truths of the Gospel.  On one occasion the king came attended by a party of his warriors, who remained at a short distance dancing and singing.  “Their yells and shouts,” says Moffat, “their fantastic leaps and distorted gestures, would have impressed a stranger with the idea that they were more like a company of fiends than men.”  As he looked upon the scene, his mind was occupied in contemplating the miseries of the savage state.  He spoke to the king on man’s ruin and man’s redemption.  “Why,” said the monarch, “are you so earnest that I abandon all war, and do not kill men?” “Look on the human bones which lie scattered over your dominions,” was the missionary’s answer.  “They speak in awful language, and to me they say, ’Whosoever sheddeth man’s blood, by man also will his blood be shed.’” Moffat also spoke of the Resurrection, a startling subject for a savage and murderer like Moselekatse.

The kindness of the king extended to the missionary’s return journey.  Food in abundance was given to him, and a number of warriors attended his waggon as a guard against lions on the way.  After an absence of two months he reached home in safety, where he found all well, and the Divine blessing still resting upon the Mission.  Copious showers had fallen, and the fields and gardens teemed with plenty.  The converts and many others, leaving their old traditions as to horticulture, imitated the example of the missionaries in leading out water to their gardens, and raised crops, not only of their native grain, pumpkins, kidney-beans, and water-melons, but also vegetables, such as the missionaries had introduced, maize, wheat, barley, peas, potatoes, carrots, onions, and tobacco—­this latter they had formerly purchased from the Bahurutsi, but now it became a profitable article of traffic.  They also planted fruit trees.

As an illustration of their zeal, which was not always according to knowledge, the following may be given.  The course of the missionary’s water-trench along the side of a hill, appeared as if it ascended, therefore several of the natives set to work in good earnest, and cut courses leading directly up hill, hoping the water would one day follow.

The spiritual affairs of the station kept pace with the external improvements.  The temporary chapel continued to be well filled, a growing seriousness was observable among the people, progress was made in reading, and there was every reason for encouragement.  Early In 1830, after the second mission-house had been finished and occupied by Mr. Hamilton, the foundation of a new and substantial stone church was laid.  Circumstances, however, and especially the difficulty of procuring suitable timber for the roof delayed its completion for several years.

The work of translation had been kept steadily in view.  In June, 1830, Robert Moffat had finished the translation into Sechwana, of the Gospel of Luke, and a long projected journey to the coast was undertaken by him and his wife.  The journey had for its objects, to put the two elder children to school, to get the translation of Luke printed, and to collect subscriptions among friends in the Colony towards the building of the new place of worship.