e true _pecunia_ of
the Zulu). Practically, it was found, that no polygamist ever became
more than an inquirer; the way of life seemed to harden the heart or
blind the eyes against conviction; but the difficulty as regarded the
younger people was great, since as long as a girl remained the lawful
property of the head of her kraal, she was liable to be sold to any
polygamist of any age who might pay her value; and thus it became a
question whether it were safe to baptize her. Even Christian Zulus
marrying Christian women according to the English rite could not be
secure of them unless the cows were duly paid over; and as these Kaffirs
are a really fine race, with more of the elements of true love in them
than is usual in savages, adventures fit for a novel would sometimes
occur, when maidens came flying to the mission station to avoid some old
husband who had made large offers to their father; and the real lover
would arrive entreating protection for the lady of his heart until he
could earn the requisite amount of cows to satisfy her father.

Mr. Robertson was always called the umfundisi, or teacher. He held his
Sunday Kaffir service in a clearing in the bush, and gained many hearts
to himself, and some souls for the Church, while toiling with his hands
as well as setting forth the truth with his lips. Mrs. Robertson at the
same time worked upon the women by her tenderness to their little ones,
offering them little frocks if they would wash them, caressing them with
all a woman's true love for babies, and then training their elder
children and girls, teaching them needlework, and whatever could lead to
aspirations towards modesty and the other graces of Christian womanhood.
Often extremely ill, always fragile, her energy never failed; and there
was a grace and dignity about her whole deportment and manner which
caused "the Lady" to be the emphatic title always given to her by her
husband and his friends. Of these the Mackenzie family were among the
warmest, and the Archdeacon gladly gave valuable assistance to Mr.
Robertson by supplementing an education which had not been definitely
clerical, but rather of that order which seems to render an able Scotsman
fit to apply himself to almost anything.

In February 1857 another sister, named Alice, joined the Mackenzie
family, when they were on a visit to the Umlazi station. Her quick
powers and enthusiastic spirit fitted her in a wonderful manner for
missionary labour,