Refers to his last letter of 24th June; letter received from Moffat who is detained near the coast and the likely delay of 2-3 months more before they reach Kuruman; explains decision to proceed northwards, with Edwards [Rogers Edwards], to establish a hut on the spot selected near the Bakhatla [baKgatla] rather than waiting for members of the newly constituted district committee; describes journey northwards, departing at the beginning of August and arriving with the Bakhatla after 2 weeks; describes meeting with an assembly of the people ("Peecho") to state their objectives in setting up a residence there and responding to objections raised by the counsellors, including the issue of polygamy; missionaries welcomed, but Livingstone considers their motives - "They wish the residence of white men, not from any desire to know the gospel, but merely ...'that by our presence and prayers they may get plenty of rain, beads, guns &c &c. And be secure from death by the warriors of Mosilikatse"; purchase of land at Mabotsa and building work; assistance rendered by Mabalwe [Mebalwe Molehane], church deacon, who is willing to join them as a "native teacher"; journey and work assisted in practical terms by three "Indian gentlemen" who were visiting at that time [not Indians, but men from India who included an aide-de-camp to the Governor of Madras]; still no sign of the men from the district committee, but have received word of their arrival in Colesberg.
Includes Copy of the Agreement between the chief & missionaries (Livingstone and Edwards) repecting the portion of land allotted to the latter, described as "that parcel of land which is bounded on the South-East and North-East by the stream Tlomesho, on the North & North-West by the stream Manuane, on the South & South-West by the watercourse winding along the bottom of the hill Mabotsa, extending thence Eastward to the pint where the above-named streams meet", dated 28 August 1843, which bore the marks of Chief Moseealele [Mosealele] and his under-chiefs and counsellors, Seema, Kalaote, Monotse, Thokoe, Mogotse, Mabalwe and Motating.
Livingstone adds a description of the land, stating that it was purchased in return for a musket, being of greater value than beads, and proposes Mabotsa as an appropriate name for the mission station [in tribal traditions the site is usually called Maanwane, after the stream, Livingstone's "Manuane". Source: I. Schapera].