At length the time drew near when once more Robert and Mary Moffat should cross the sea to their beloved home at Kuruman.  Valedictory services of a most enthusiastic character were held in Scotland, Newcastle, Manchester, and London.  At Edinburgh a copy of the “Encyclopaedia Britannica” was presented to Robert Moffat, and at Newcastle a set of scientific instruments was given him.  A great impetus was imparted to missionary work abroad through these and preceding meetings, during his sojourn in England, and when on the 30th of January, 1843, he and his wife embarked at Gravesend, accompanied by two new missionaries for the Bechwana field, they carried with them the esteem of a wide circle of friends, and had the fervent prayers of many offered up on their behalf.

On the 10th of April they landed at Cape Town, and six weeks later embarked in a small coasting vessel for Algoa Bay.  At Bethelsdorp, a village a few miles beyond Port Elizabeth, they rejoined Messrs. Ashton and Inglis, who with their wives had gone on before by steamer; but here they were detained for several months, waiting for a vessel to arrive from England which had on board a large quantity of baggage for the missionaries and their work.

[Illustration:  CAPE TOWN.]

At last the start was made, the long train of ox waggons wended their way, the Orange River was crossed, this time on a pont or floating bridge, and at the Vaal River, one hundred and fifty miles distant from Kuruman, the missionary party were met by David Livingstone, who had ridden forth to bid them welcome.

From this point onwards friends both white and black emulated each other in testifying their gladness at their friend’s return, until as the Moffats drew near to Kuruman their progress became like a royal one.  At last between two and three o’clock on the 10th of December, 1843, they sat down once again in their own home, amongst those for whom they had toiled so zealously, and over whom their hearts yearned with a holy love.  The delight of the natives at having their missionary and his wife among them again was unbounded.  In a letter published in the Missionary Magazine, October, 1844, Moffat thus writes, giving an account of their reception:—­“Many were the hearty welcomes we received, all appearing emulous to testify their joy.  Old and young, even the little children, would shake hands with us.  Some gave vent to their joy with an air of heathen wildness, and some in silent floods of tears; while others, whose hearts had sickened with deferred hope, would ask again and again, ‘Do our eyes indeed behold you?’ Thus we found ourselves once more among a people who loved us, and who had longed for our return.”

The mission having been largely reinforced, it was arranged that Mr, and Mrs. Ross should go to Taung, about one hundred miles east of Kuruman, where a portion of the Bechwana tribe had settled under Mahura, a brother of Mothibi; while Edwards and Livingstone were to commence work among the Bakhatla, two hundred miles to the north-east.  Inglis was to go to the same neighbourhood; thus the regular missionary staff of the Kuruman station comprised after their departure, the venerable Mr. Hamilton, who had seen the commencement of the Bechwana Mission in 1816, Mr. and Mrs. Ashton, and the Moffats.