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Describes the severe drought in the region, the struggle of the local people to survive and the impact that this has had on attendance at meetings and school; the Bakaa [baKaa] (suffering from repeated attacks by the baNgwato) have travelled a distance of 150 miles to join the Bakwains [baKwena], "attracted thither by the report that Sechele had embraced the 'word of peace'"; another attempt made to place Paul with 'Mokhatla's tribe' [the chief having requested that Paul become his teacher], but hindered by the Boers who have taken possession of the whole region and their opposition to the aims of the mission; Boers accuse Livingstone of planning to take possession of the region for the English Government and introducing firearms to the indigenous people; dialogue with Boer Commandant [Andries Hendrik Potgieter, Chief Commandant of the Boers in the Transvaal] and meeting with a deputation sent by the Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Colony and apparent agreement by the Boers for Livingstone to proceed with his missionary endeavours in the region; subsequent demand sent by Boers to the LMS District Committee that Livingstone be immediately recalled from Kolobeng, failing which the Boers would take steps to expel him; Livingstone's resolve not to leave; belief by Boers that Livingstone has sold Sechele 500 guns and a canon and that he was acting as a 'Government spy'; the difficulties of converting the Bechuana people to Christianity and the imperative to extend the gospel to all of the surrounding peoples; as the East seems to be closed for the time being attentions have turned northward; visit by a party of seven men from the Lake [Ngami] to invite them to come [messengers from the chief of the baTwana]; news of proposed visit by Rev J. J. Freeman to the African stations; Mrs Livingstone and their children sent to Kuruman "for the sake of refreshment"; news that "Sechele, in his peculiarly difficult position, fell before the power of temptation once since he was baptized" [Sechele had impregnated one of his former wives and for this 'offence' he was suspended from communion], but comments positively on Sechele's spirit and general conduct; birth of their son in March last and Mrs Livingstone's plans to resume the infant school as soon as she returns from Kuruman; thanks for medicines forwarded by the Directors.
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