"We Ought," He Says, "To Encourage
The Africans To Cultivate For Our Markets, As The Most Effectual Means,
Next To The Gospel, Of Their Elevation." His Practical Turn Of Mind
Suffers Him To Present No Fancy Pictures Of Barbarous Nations
Longing For The Gospel.
His Makololo friends, indeed, listened respectfully
when he discoursed of the Saviour, but were all earnestness
when he spoke of cotton cloths and muskets.
Sekeletu favored the missionary,
not as the man who could give him Bibles and tracts, but as the one
by whose help he hoped to sell his ivory for a rifle, a sugar-mill,
and brass wire.
Livingstone's missionary scheme is accommodated to the actual state of things.
It rests quite as much upon traders as preachers. He would open
a communication by the Zambesi to the heart of the continent.
Upon the healthy, elevated region overlooking the low, fertile basin
he would establish trading posts, supplied with European wares.
We can not wonder that the directors of the Missionary Society
looked coldly upon this scheme, and wrote to him that they were
"restricted in their power of aiding plans connected only remotely
with the spread of the Gospel;" nor can we regret that Livingstone,
feeling his old love of independence revive, withdrew from his connection
with the Society, for the purpose of carrying out his own plans.
With all respect for the worthy persons who manage missionary societies,
we can not but believe that the man who led so large a party
across the African continent will accomplish more for the good cause
when working out his own plans than he would do by following out their ideas.
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