Early in 1847 a general meeting of those engaged in the Bechwana mission was held at Lekatlong (near what are now the Diamond Fields).  On his way homewards from this meeting Moffat visited some of the Batlaping villages along the Kolong River.  A striking advance had taken place of late years, and a severe contest was going on between heathenism and Christianity.  A little company of believers had gathered in each place, and were ministered to by native teachers, who had spent a few months in training at Kuruman.

In the same year Mary Moffat left for the Cape to make arrangements for educating her younger children.  As Robert could not leave his work she journeyed alone, having as attendants four Bechwana men and a maid.  These partings wrung the mother’s heart.  The time spent on the road was precious, and although it extended to two months, seemed all too short.  She felt that never again would she have her young children about her.  The son, John, was placed at school in Cape Town for a time, and the two daughters were sent under the care of a worthy minister to England.  Of the parting with these her darlings Mary Moffat wrote:—­“Though my heart was heaving with anguish I joyfully and thankfully acceded forthwith (i.e., to the offer of the Rev. J. Crombie Brown to take the children), and set about preparations in good earnest.  This was about the end of January.  On the tenth of February they embarked, and after stopping the night on board I tore myself from my darlings to return to my desolate lodgings to contemplate my solitary journey, and to go to my husband and home childless.”  Of her it may be said, She left all and followed Him!

In 1848 the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes had been finished and Isaiah begun.  In 1849 “Pilgrim’s Progress” was added to the Sechwana literature, and the work of translation steadily progressed.  “Line upon Line” had also been rendered into the native tongue by Mr. Ashton.

But while all was peaceful and in a measure prosperous at the Kuruman, clouds were gathering to the eastward, which were destined eventually to throw a dark shadow over the whole Bechwana Mission.  The encroachments of the Boers upon the natives led to much bloodshed, and to the dispersion of several native tribes, with the consequent abandonment of mission-work among them.  One of the early sufferers was Moselekatse, who, having been attacked in 1837, had retired to a place far away to the north-east, and for some years nothing was heard of him, except by vague rumour; indeed his very existence was a matter of doubt.

Livingstone had settled with Sechele at Kolobeng, which place he used simply as a base of operations for visiting the eastern tribes, and prosecuting missionary work among them.  Much good was done, and the Scriptures in Sechwana, as far as issued, were circulated among the people.  But the Boers advanced, the natives were dispossessed of their lands, and missionaries were expelled from their regions.  Finding that all hope of carrying on the work in this neighbourhood was over, Livingstone turned his eyes northward, and commenced that series of explorations which absorbed the remainder of his life.  Sechele retired to a mountain fastness, named Lithubaruba, away to the north-west.