[Illustration: LIVINGSTONE ATTACKED BY A LION.]

During his recovery from this injury Livingstone visited the Kuruman,
and there won the heart of Moffat's eldest daughter, her mother's
namesake, who soon afterwards exchanged the name of Mary Moffat for that
of Mary Livingstone. In due course she accompanied her husband to
Chonwane where for a time he was located with Sechele, the chief of the
Bakwena.

The life of the missionaries at the Kuruman was a, busy one. All were
fully employed. Moffat's principal work was translation, and in this his
colleague Ashton afforded him much critical assistance, besides
relieving him almost entirely of the duties of the printing office. But
other work had to be undertaken. The natives needed much help and
guidance; dwelling-houses had to be enlarged and new schoolrooms built,
and, as there were no funds for the payment of artisans, the
missionaries had to put their own hands to the work; besides which, as
money was not forthcoming to meet the cost of the new schoolrooms, a
kind of amateur store was opened by the missionaries' wives for the sale
of clothing to the natives.

The Rev. J. J. Freeman who visited Africa a few years later, in 1849,
gives us a picture of the Kuruman station as he saw it. "It wears," says
he, "a very pleasing appearance. The mission premises, with the walled
gardens opposite, form a street wide and long. The chapel is a
substantial and well-looking building of stone. By the side of it stands
Mr. Moffat's house, simple yet commodious. In a cottage hard by, the
venerable Hamilton was passing his declining days, extremely feeble, but
solaced by the motherly care of his colleague's wife. The gardens were