the foundation of a new and substantial stone church was
laid. Circumstances, however, and especially the difficulty of procuring
suitable timber for the roof delayed its completion for several years.

The work of translation had been kept steadily in view. In June, 1830,
Robert Moffat had finished the translation into Sechwana, of the Gospel
of Luke, and a long projected journey to the coast was undertaken by him
and his wife. The journey had for its objects, to put the two elder
children to school, to get the translation of Luke printed, and to
collect subscriptions among friends in the Colony towards the building
of the new place of worship.

At Philippolis, on their journey, they met with the French missionaries
Rolland and Lemue, of the Paris Protestant Missionary Society, and also
with Mr. and Mrs. Baillie, who had been appointed by the London
Missionary Society to the Kururnan Mission. At Graham's Town, Mary
Moffat remained behind to place the children at the Wesleyan school near
there, and Robert visited several of the mission stations in Kafirland,
and afterwards some of those within the Colony, finally reaching Cape
Town in October, 1830.

At that early day printing in Cape Town was in its infancy. It was
therefore found necessary to make application to the Governor to allow
the Gospel of Luke In Sechwana to be printed at the Government Printing
Office. The request was cheerfully acceded to, but compositors there
were none to undertake the work. This difficulty, combined with the
promise of an excellent printing press, which Dr. Philip had in his
possession for the Kuruman Mission, induced Moffat to learn printing.
He was joined by Mr. Edwards, who was now appointed to the Kuruman
station, and under the kind superintendence of the assistant in charge
of the office, they soon not only completed the work they had in hand,
but acquired a fair knowledge of the art of printing. Besides the Gospel
of Luke, a small hymn-book was printed in the Sechwana language.

A violent attack of bilious fever followed these labours, which had been
carried on in the hottest season of the year, and when the time came for
Robert Moffat to leave Cape Town he had to be carried on board the ship
on a mattress. The sea passage to Algoa Bay, however, although a rough
one, tended greatly to his restoration to health.

Sickness among their oxen, and the birth of a daughter, whom they named
Elizabeth, detained the Moffats some time at B