The place to which Edwards and Livingstone had gone was a large native town near to the haunts of lions.  These greatly harassed the cattle and deprived the missionaries of sleep.  One day a hunt was arranged.  Livingstone joined the party, was attacked by the lion, and was only rescued with a broken and mangled arm by the bravery and devotion of his native servant, Mebalwe, who himself got severely bitten.

[Illustration:  LIVINGSTONE ATTACKED BY A LION.]

During his recovery from this injury Livingstone visited the Kuruman, and there won the heart of Moffat’s eldest daughter, her mother’s namesake, who soon afterwards exchanged the name of Mary Moffat for that of Mary Livingstone.  In due course she accompanied her husband to Chonwane where for a time he was located with Sechele, the chief of the Bakwena.

The life of the missionaries at the Kuruman was a, busy one.  All were fully employed.  Moffat’s principal work was translation, and in this his colleague Ashton afforded him much critical assistance, besides relieving him almost entirely of the duties of the printing office.  But other work had to be undertaken.  The natives needed much help and guidance; dwelling-houses had to be enlarged and new schoolrooms built, and, as there were no funds for the payment of artisans, the missionaries had to put their own hands to the work; besides which, as money was not forthcoming to meet the cost of the new schoolrooms, a kind of amateur store was opened by the missionaries’ wives for the sale of clothing to the natives.

The Rev. J. J. Freeman who visited Africa a few years later, in 1849, gives us a picture of the Kuruman station as he saw it.  “It wears,” says he, “a very pleasing appearance.  The mission premises, with the walled gardens opposite, form a street wide and long.  The chapel is a substantial and well-looking building of stone.  By the side of it stands Mr. Moffat’s house, simple yet commodious.  In a cottage hard by, the venerable Hamilton was passing his declining days, extremely feeble, but solaced by the motherly care of his colleague’s wife.  The gardens were well stocked with fruit and vegetables, requiring much water, but easily getting it from the ‘fountain.’  On the Sunday morning the chapel bell rang for early service.  Breakfasting at seven, all were ready for the schools at half-past eight.  The infants were taught by Miss Moffat (their daughter Ann, afterwards Mrs. Fredoux) in their school-house; more advanced classes were grouped in the open air, or collected in the adjacent buildings.  Before ten the work of separate teaching ceased, and young and old assembled for public worship.  A sanctuary, spacious and lofty, and airy withal, was comfortably filled with men, women, and children, for the most part decently dressed.”

[Illustration]