ain. She had given over the government to her brother Sekeletu, a
youth of eighteen, who was generally recognized, though not without some
reluctance, by his brother, Mpepe. Livingstone could not have foreseen
how Sekeletu would receive him, but to his great relief and satisfaction
he found him actuated by the most kindly feelings. He found him, boy as
he was, full of vague expectations of benefits, marvelous and
miraculous, which the missionaries were to bring. It was Livingstone's
first work to disabuse his mind of these expectations, and let him
understand that his supreme object was to teach them the way of
salvation through Jesus Christ. To a certain extent Sekeletu was
interested in this:

"He asked many sensible questions about the system of
Christianity in connection with the putting away of wives.
They are always furnished with objections sooner than with
the information. I commended him for asking me, and will
begin a course of instruction to-morrow. He fears that
learning to read will change his heart, and make him put away
his wives. Much depends on his decision. May God influence
his heart to decide aright!"

Two days after Livingstone says in his Journal:

"_1st June_.--The chief presented eight large and three small
tusks this morning. I told him and his people I would rather
see them trading than giving them to me. They replied that
they would get trade with George Fleming, and that, too, as
soon as he was well; but these they gave to their father, and
they were just as any other present. They asked after the
gun-medicine, believing that now my heart would be warm
enough to tell them anything, but I could not tell them a
lie. I offered to show Sekeletu how to shoot, and that was
all the medicine I knew. I felt as if I should have been more
pleased had George been amassing ivory than I. Yet this may
be an indispensable step in the progress toward opening the
west. I must have funds; and here they come pouring in. It
would be impossible to overlook his providence who has
touched their hearts. I have used no undue influence. Indeed
I have used none directly for the purpose Kindness shown has
been appreciated here, while much greater kindness shown to
tribes in the south has resulted in a belief we missionaries
must be fools. I do thank my God sincerely for his favor, and