[Illustration:  MOFFAT PREACHING AT MOSHEU’S VILLAGE.]

Upon Moffat’s return home again, his wife, by Dr. Smith’s orders, left for the Cape to recruit her strength; and Robert Moffat went itinerating among the scattered Bechwanas.  A most interesting time was spent at a village, one hundred and fifty miles from Kuruman, where a chief named Mosheu and his people resided.  Three times did the missionary preach to them on the first day, besides answering the questions of all who gathered round.  Many were most anxious to learn to read, and such spelling-books as Moffat had with him were distributed among them.

Some of the head men thought they would like to try, and requested Moffat to teach them.  A large sheet alphabet, torn at one corner, was found, and laid on the ground.  All knelt in a circle round it, some of course viewing the letters upside down.  “I commenced pointing with a stick,” says he, “and when I pronounced one letter, all hallooed to some purpose.  When I remarked that perhaps we might manage with somewhat less noise, one replied, ’that he was sure the louder he roared, the sooner would his tongue get accustomed to the seeds’ as he called the letters.”

Somewhat later, a party of young folks seized hold of the missionary, with the request, “Oh, teach us the A B C with music.”  Dragged and pushed, he entered one of the largest native houses, which was instantly crowded.  The tune of “Auld Lang Syne” was pitched to A B C, and soon the strains were echoed to the farthest corner of the village.  Between two and three o’clock on the following morning, Moffat got permission to retire to rest; his slumbers were, however, disturbed by the assiduity of the sable choristers; and on awaking after a brief repose, his ears were greeted on all sides by the familiar notes of the Scotch air.

Very pleasing progress was made by these people in Christian knowledge.  Mosheu brought his daughter to Mrs. Moffat for instruction, and his brother took his son to Mr. Lemue at Motito for the same purpose.

The mission at the Kuruman continued to prosper, both at the home and the out-stations.  Numbers of Bechwanas were added to the church, both at Kuruman and Griqua Town.  Under Mr. Edwards’ superintendence the readers largely increased, and the Infant School, commenced and carried on by Mrs. Edwards, with the assistance of a native girl, was highly satisfactory.  Civilisation advanced, some of the natives purchasing waggons, and using oxen for labour which formerly had been performed by women.  Clothing was in such demand, that a merchant named Hume, an honourable trader in whom the missionaries had confidence, built a house, and settled at the station.  The new church, after much labour, was opened in November, 1838, on which occasion between eight and nine hundred persons attended the service; and on the following Sabbath, one hundred and fifty members united in celebrating the Lord’s Supper.