Ten Years North of the Orange River

the long version

Written by the London Missionary Society (LMS, Congregationalist) missionary John Mackenzie about his time among the BaNgwato, a major chiefdom of the Batswana ("Bechuana") in what is now Botswana. Mackenzie played a major role in the regional history of the period, as there was a conflict between the heir to the throne, Khama (later Khama III), who had converted to Christianity, and his father, Sekgoma I, a traditionalist. The book describes not only Mackenzie's travels and missionary activity but the politics and culture of the societies he encountered (and participated in). While of course it has to be read in view of his own ideas and politics, the information on culture, religion and politics is still regarded as an important source by historians of 19th-century Botswana and Southern Africa.