284

AFFAIRS AT THE STATION.

It may not be uninteresting, briefly to glance at what had been going on at the station during my absence, where serious apprehensions had been entertained for its safety. All being tranquil when I left, Mr. Hamilton had proceeded with the three Hottentots to the new station, to make preparations for a final removal. Mrs. M. was left alone on the old place in one house, and a young Hottentot woman in another. About this period a party of marauders, composed of Bastards, and others, from the Orange River, collected in the Long Mountains, about forty miles to the west of the sta tion, attacked some villages along the Kuruman River, and were contemplating a junction with others in order to attack the Batlapis and the mission premises. This created considerable uneasiness, but as reports of that kind were often dubious, Mrs. M. remained, though not without some alarm, knowing their desperate character, and fearing that they might be tempted to attack the mission house for the sake of ammunition which might be there. One evening the Hottentot girl came in wringing her hands, and, in great distress, stated that the Rakari or Mantatees had been seen at Nokaneng, and were on their way to the Kuruman. This was alarming indeed, to one who, with two babes, had only two little Bushmen children with her in the house, and no means of escape but fleeing to the bushes. A message was sent to Mothibi, who said that the news of the approach of such an enemy was correct, but that he thought there was no very great danger before next morning. Mrs. M. after again commending herself and little ones to the care of Divine Providence, laid down in confidence, and fell asleep. At midnight a loud rap at the door awoke her; when, from the reports on the preceding evening, she was at a loss to think whether it was a rap of Jacob Cloete, the Griqua marauder, or the announcement of the near approach of the horde from the interior. On asking who was at the door, Mothibi replied himself. When it was opened, he entered with as many men as the house could hold, and announced the dreaded intelligence that the Mantatees were approaching. The sound of alarm and uproar was raised in every part of the town. A light being obtained, Mrs. M. seated herself in the midst of the noisy council, heard all they had to communicate, and wrote to Mr. Hamilton. There was now universal confusion till day dawned, which has always some effect in raising the spirits, however dejected. Mr. Hamilton and the people arrived at eight o'clock, when preparations were made for a hasty flight. Warriors were as

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

285

sembling, and thousands were engaged in secreting some articles of their property, and packing up others. Each succeeding messenger brought fresh alarms, till, about noon, it was ascertained that the dreaded enemy had directed their course to the Barolongs, instead of coming to the Kuruman. This news dispelled the gloomy cloud, and filled every heart with gladness; but the intelligence, which made the populace give their fears to the winds, produced in Mrs. M. a shock of horror, as the conviction instantly flashed across her mind, that nothing less than a Divine interposition could save me from destruction; it being the time I was expected to be on my return. The moment she stated the cause of her fears, all saw the danger, and sympathized, but no one could be induced to go in search. The idea of falling in with such a horde of savages was horrible in the extreme. For three weeks my dear wife was thus exposed to a state of mental agony more easily conceived than described; and nothing but incessant approaches to the throne of God could have supported her. During that period continual reports were brought that I had been cut off. One had seen a piece of my wagon; another had found a part of my saddle; and some had picked up parts of my linen stained with blood; till, at last, a few men were prevailed on to go and ascertain the facts, and had started on the morning of the very day I made my appearance. The preceding details will show what real cause there was for alarm, for the exercise of faith, fervent prayer, and, subsequently, for boundless praise.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE events which have been recorded may, in the judgment of some of my readers, seem irrelevant to the subject of missions, except so far as they illustrate the native character, and depict the situation into which the missionary is frequently brought, in the course of his philanthropic career, in countries where our species has sunk into the lowest depths of barbarism and vice. In glancing over missionary records of bygone years, it will be seen that this is neither a

286

STATE OF THE PUBLIC MIND.

new nor a peculiar aspect of the position which Providence sometimes calls him to occupy. It may also be presumed that no one would be ambitious of such a distinction; while all may see how perplexing, distressing, and sometimes heart-rending, his situation must be, and the need he has of the wisdom which cometh down from above; which he feels more especially when there are none with whom he can confer. It is then that the throne of his heavenly Father is found to be a refuge that never fails; and it is in such seasons that he experiences the fulfilment of the promise," Lo, I am with you alway;" for surely in such exigencies human prudence would often prove utterly insufficient.

After my return, Mr. Hamilton continued his labours at the new station, assisted by Mr. Hughes, who had arrived from Griqua Town a short time before, while I remained to carry on the services among the Bechuanas. The attack of the rebel Griquas on the Batlaros proved only a precursor of a succession of distressing and afflictive providences among that people, which had well nigh led to the destruction of the mission. These circumstances kept the public mind in a state of ferment, each division and tribe being distrustful of another. Attendance on divine worship was extremely irregular; which Mothibi accounted for by saying, that when an enemy came from the interior, they had neither horses nor guns, and there was some chance of escape; but when Griquas and Corannas came, who could obtain these means of destruction from the white people, the hearts of the Bechuanas could think of nothing but the calamities which awaited them.

Hitherto, by the providence of God, it had been our lot only to view the dire effects of war at a distance from our station; which induced us to hope that the escape of our people would have a salutary influence on their minds. But dark and intricate are the ways of Providence; for our hopes were soon blasted by a civil war, which acquired such magnitude as to oblige us speedily to abandon the station, and retire to Griqua Town, which could scarcely be considered an asylum, from the conflicting parties who surrounded us. The Batlapis professed to assist the Batlaros against the lawless banditti, whose rendezvous was in the Long Mountains, to the west; but instead of doing so, only seized on their cattle. This act of treachery excited the indignation of the Batlaros: they made reprisals; and, as in all such cases, bloodshed followed rapine. A public meeting was convened, to which the Batlaro chiefs were invited,

1

when every exertion was made to bring the parties to an amicable agreement, and prevent the widening of the breach. At the request of both parties, I spoke at the meeting. My address was only a short speech on the blessings of peace, and the certain fearful results of a civil war, especially while a lion, fiercer than either party, was crouching in the mountains, ready to pounce on them both. Mothibi had neither the wisdom, honesty, nor decision, to order his to resign their ill-gotten spoil, while he and his friends' people were candid enough to acknowledge that they had brought themselves into the distressing dilemma.

The Batlaros returned, mortified, and held up Mothibi to derision in their dance and song; and he again resolved to muster his warriors, and punish them for these puerile displays of ill-will. When Mothibi communicated his intention, I pleaded, reasoned, and remonstrated against the measure, as fraught with ruin. As he wished one or more of our men to accompany him, I consulted the brethren, Hamilton aud Hughes, and replied, that it was our conviction that evil, instead of good, would accrue from such a measure. All knew that hitherto we had kept ourselves from all interference in their political affairs, except when we thought we could be the means of promoting peace, and preventing the effusion of blood. Thus far, as the servants of God, we could proceed, but no farther. I again entreated him, for the sake of his people, their wives and little ones, not to take a step which was fraught with consequences of an appalling nature, and which would terminate in the suspension of our labours among them, and their being scattered like the hunted deer on the plains. We appealed to all present, whether our counsel, as the servants of Christ, had in any one instance failed to secure to them the blessings of peace; and concluded, by recommending them rather to flee towards Griqua Town than enter upon civil war. To this Mothibi replied, with an air of scorn, that the Griquas, who were nurtured under the Gospel, were involved in war; that the heads of the banditti they dreaded were Griquas, and subjects of the Griqua government; and that the Batlaros were his subjects, and they despised his threatenings on the ground that the missionaries would prevent him from taking harsh measures; but that he was determined to make them feel. After making some exceedingly severe remarks on our conduct, for our not first reforming the Griquas, and especially Jacob Cloete and Klass Drayer, the heads of the marauders, and once professors of religion, he went away in a rage.

288

CONFERENCE WITH MOTHIBI.

Next morning he returned, with some chief men, and, having had time to reflect on the counsel given him, was as meek as possible, and begged that, as I thought I could prevent a battle, I would accompany him to the Batlaros. This I engaged to do, if he would allow me first to remove my family to the brethren at our new station, which would require two or three days. I also recommended an embassy, and not an armed force, as I was too well acquainted with the Bechuana character, to expect that they would conduct themselves in a way calculated to win the affections of the justly offended Batlaros, who, to revenge their wrongs, would undoubtedly call in the assistance of the horde from

the mountains.

The commando, thirsting for spoil, set off the next day, leaving Mothibi behind. The result of this was the devastation of the towns and villages of the Batlaros, who fled at their approach. The temporary house at the new station being ready, I removed my family thither. Two days after, when Mr. Hamilton and myself were down at the town, to bring away some useful article, we stopped the night; and as the country was full of alarming reports, Mothibi and some of his men came and spent the evening with us, in one of our old reed houses, around a fire on a clay floor, without either tables or chairs. Much conversation and dispute ensued as to the cause of the present distracted state of the country, and the best means to be adopted to avoid becoming involved in the threatened ruin. Mothibi again asserted, in his usual angry tone, that the heads of the banditti of the country were Griquas, and that they were our friends and servants, whom we could command, and with whom we had constant intercourse; moreover, that these Griquas were supplied with guns and ammunition by the colonists, for the purpose of extirpating the Bechuanas! We explained the relation in which we, as well as the people of Griqua Town, stood to the rebels in the mountains; and that they might yet see that we were as much afraid of those he called our friends as he was; and again solemnly brought before him the indifference of the Bechuanas, and even their hatred, to the Gospel of Christ, as a fact which gave us very little reason to hope for that deliverance which had been so singularly displayed on their behalf on former occasions.

After holding our evening worship, we begged, in case of approaching danger, that they would flee in the direction of our station, as it might prove an asylum, especially to the females and children. At this they scoffed, and raged, tell