Part 13 (2/2)
Whilst he was gaining the affection of the natives, he did not forget his loved ones at home; and out of his scanty salary of about 100 a year he sent 20 to his parents
Before he had been long in Africa he had an adventure which nearly cost hi, the lions were very troublesoht and seize cattle Soardens and carry off woether an expedition to go and hunt the lions, and Livingstone joined them After they had been on the track for soht of the natives, Livingstone saw one sitting on a rock about thirty yards off He took careful ai it badly
The people thought it was, dead, and were going towards it, but LivingstoneBefore he had finished, the lion sprang upon hi him so badly that he was utterly overcome
Two persons who tried to help him were bitten by the lion But just when it looked as if the missionary's life had reached its last day, the lion suddenly fell down dead from the effect of the bullets which he had fired into it
Four years after he had been in Africa he hter She was a true helpmate, and in the trials and difficulties which beset hiood and loving woman
[Illustration: LIVINGSTONE ATTACKED BY THE LION]
He could not always take his ith hie He ran risks of death by thirst, by hostile tribes and disease, and went through terrible places where no wo and perilous journey she ith histone, ”on two occasions to Lake Ngami and far beyond, she endured e books of travel”
One of Livingstone's first mission stations was Mabotsa, where he stayed a year, and in that short tiht it well to move on farther north the natives offered to build hi he wished if he would only stay
But he had o to fresh districts rather than stay in places where there were already teachers, and therefore proceeded forty miles further on to Chonuane Here he met with almost immediate success The chief, Sechele by name, became a convert and was able in a feeeks to read the Bible Isaiah was his favourite book ”He was a fine man, that Isaiah,” remarked Sechele; ”he kne to speak”
This chief would have been willing to help Livingstone to convert his tribe at a great pace, only his
”Do you think,” said Sechele, ”you canto the them, and if you like I shall call my headman, and with our whips of rhinoceros hide ill soon ether!”
Like all stone was doo at Kolobeng for ten years the Boers, annoyed with hi to teach them that the natives should be treated with kindness and consideration, htered a number of the men and women, carried away 200 children into slavery, and burnt down the rieved about the capture of the children, but as to his own loss he oods have saveda will”
Still on, on into the dark continent went Livingstone Not dark to him, for he loved the natives and possessed such powers of attraction that wherever he settled he won their affections
After taking leave of Sechele he travelled several hundred stone and his faons was all but finished, they were passing through a desert land, their guide had left theh not uttering a word of reproach, was in an agony of anxiety for her little ones, and Livingstone was fearful lest they should perish in this desert country When hope had nearly vanished so for water returned with a supply They were soon after welcoave them food to eat, soft skins to lie upon, and made much of them
After the death of Sebituane his son Sekeletu was equally friendly, as stone's diary, which, by the kindness of his daughter, Mrs Bruce, I am permitted to reproduce
[Illustration: REDUCED FACSIMILE OF A PAGE FROM LIVINGSTONE'S DIARY
THE ORIGINAL IS WRITTEN ON PAPER 7 INCHES BY 4-3/8 INCHES]
This entry in his diary ritten on the eve of Livingstone's great journey to the West Coast Having sent his wife and faland, he determined to find a way from the centre of Africa to the West Coast It was a forlorn hope; but, says Livingstone, ”Cannot the love of Christ carry the missionary where the slave trade carries the trader? I shall open up a path to the interior or perish”
On the 11th of Nove overcoo, and arrived at Loando, on the West Coast, on 31st May, 1854, after a variety of adventures, and being reduced by fever to a laddened Livingstone's heart, astonished his native escort beyond description ”We werethat what the ancients had told us was true--that the world had no end; but all at once the world said to us, 'I am finished, there is no stone to go to England by sea, but he had promised Sekeletu to return with the reat journey, and would not be turned from his purpose And he arrived at Linyante on the return journey with every one of the 27 men he had taken with him safe and sound!