en so pinched by hunger and badgered by the Boers
that they could not attend to instruction; or rather, they had too good
an excuse for not doing so. "I have much affection for them," he says in
his Journal, "and though I pass from them I do not relinquish the hope
that they will yet turn to Him to whose mercy and love they have often
been invited. The seed of the living Word will not perish."

The finger of Providence clearly pointed to a region farther north in
the country of the Barotse or beyond it, He admitted that there were
_pros_ and _cons_ in the case. Against his plan,--some of his brethren
did not hesitate to charge him with being actuated by worldly ambition.
This was the more trying, for sometimes he suspected his own motives.
Others dwelt on what was due to his family. Moreover, his own
predilections were all for a quiet life. And there was also the
consideration, that as the Directors could not well realize the
distances he would have to travel before he reached the field, he might
appear more as an explorer than a missionary. On the other hand:

"I am conscious," he says, "that though there is much
impurity in my motives, they are in the main for the glory of
Him to whom I have devoted myself. I never anticipated fame
from the discovery of the Lake. I cared very little about it,
but the sight of the Tamanak'le, and the report of other
large rivers beyond, all densely populated, awakened many and
enthusiastic feelings.... Then, again, consider the multitude
that in the Providence of God have been brought to light in
the country of Sebituane; the probability that in our efforts
to evangelize we shall put a stop to the slave-trade in a
large region, and by means of the highway into the North
which we have discovered bring unknown nations into the
sympathies of the Christian world. If I were to choose my
work, it would be to reduce this new language, translate the
Bible into it, and be the means of forming a small church.
Let this be accomplished, I think I could then lie down and
die contented. Two years' absence will be necessary....
Nothing but a strong conviction that the step will lead to
the glory of Christ would make me orphanize my children. Even
now my bowels yearn over them. They Will forget me; but I
hope when the day of trial comes, I shall not be found a more
sorry soldier than those w