Although we were thus delivered from the machinations of one who, as we afterwards learned, was an active, though covert, enemy to our influence among the people, and though his removal afforded us the sincerest gratification, the public mind was opposed to our residence in the country. Every change appeared for the worse; and as we proceeded with our work, our prospects became darker than ever. The Bushmen had been very troublesome in taking cattle and killing the watchers. We could not approve of the Bechuana system of vengeance and extirpation, which, instead of diminishing the evil, appeared only to add fuel to the fire of their fierce passions. We were suspected of befriending that hapless race of beings, from charging our men, who sometimes went to assist in retaking cattle, on no account to shoot the Bushmen. It was in vain we appealed to the injunctions of Jesus, our Lord and master: every argument of that description was always met with vehemently savage vociferations of “Màka héla,” lies only. They candidly acknowledged that we wronged no man, and that we had no wish to inflict an injury on a single individual; but they would with equal candour tell us, that we were the cause of all the drought; and we have been more than once asked if we were not afraid of lying down in our beds, lest we and our reed-built houses should be burned to ashes before morning.