may be formed of the heat in October by the fact
that the thermometer (protected) stood, in the shade of my wagon, at 100
Deg. through the day. It rose to 110 Deg. if unprotected from the wind;
at dark it showed 89 Deg.; at 10 o'clock, 80 Deg.; and then gradually
sunk till sunrise, when it was 70 Deg. That is usually the period of
greatest cold in each twenty-four hours in this region. The natives,
during the period of greatest heat, keep in their huts, which are always
pleasantly cool by day, but close and suffocating by night. Those who
are able to afford it sit guzzling beer or boyaloa. The perspiration
produced by copious draughts seems to give enjoyment, the evaporation
causing a feeling of coolness. The attendants of the chief, on these
occasions, keep up a continuous roar of bantering, raillery, laughing,
and swearing. The dance is kept up in the moonlight till past midnight.
The women stand clapping their hands continuously, and the old men sit
admiringly, and say, "It is really very fine." As crowds came to see me,
I employed much of my time in conversation, that being a good mode of
conveying instruction. In the public meetings for worship the people
listened very attentively, and behaved with more decorum than formerly.
They really form a very inviting field for a missionary. Surely the
oft-told tale of the goodness and love of our heavenly Father, in giving
up his own Son to death for us sinners, will, by the power of his Holy
Spirit, beget love in some of these heathen hearts.

1ST OCTOBER. Before Ben Habib started for Loanda, he asked the daughter
of Sebituane in marriage. This is the plan the Arabs adopt for
gaining influence in a tribe, and they have been known to proceed thus
cautiously to form connections, and gradually gain so much influence
as to draw all the tribe over to their religion. I never heard of any
persecution, although the Arabs with whom I came in contact seemed
much attached to their religion. This daughter of Sebituane, named
Manchunyane, was about twelve years of age. As I was the bosom-friend
of her father, I was supposed to have a voice in her disposal, and, on
being asked, objected to her being taken away, we knew not whither, and
where we might never see her again. As her name implies, she was only a
little black, and, besides being as fair as any of the Arabs, had quite
the Arab features; but I have no doubt that Ben Habib will renew
his suit more successfully on some other occasi