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RETURN TO THE STATION.

owners, who drew near, out of breath with their flight, to see the king of the Bauangketsi. They were still more surprised when he told them that he had broken an established law of his people, which would not permit the king to leave his own dominions, but that his martial appearance among them was on designs of peace; for his sole object was to induce me to accompany him to his capital. He remained two days, during which I had much interesting conversation with him, but could not, from want of time, accede to his urgent request to accompany him to his own country. He referred, with much apparent pleasure, to my visit to his late father, and expressed an earnest desire that I should go and live with him and his people. He had purchased one horse, and stolen another from an individual who had visited him, and wishing to appear before me in trowsers, had got a pair made of some shape, begging I would supply him with better, a request which was granted. The Barolongs were so suspicious of the visit of such a great man, that they could not feel comfortable, until they had heard that he had passed the Molapo, the boundary of his kingdom; they then came and gave me the credit I did not deserve, of preventing his fierce warriors from destroying their villages, and taking their cattle. His last words were, "Trust me as you trusted my

father."

After ten weeks' sojourn among this people, who showed me no little kindness, I prepared to return home; and on the Sabbath collected all, and gave them my concluding address, on the importance of believing the Gospel of mercy. After a thirsty journey, I reached home, with a heart filled with gratitude to God for the comforts I enjoyed, and the progress I had made in the language, during these months of a semisavage life. In that country it was not then easy to convey letters, owing to a dangerous desert path, and the tribes living in constant suspicion of each other. It was no uncom

mon thing in those days for ambassadors never to return, and for trading parties to be entirely cut off. Postmen and carriers were therefore not easily found, though they were safe if known to belong to us. I have more than once found it difficult to convince a messenger that the letter would not say a word to him on the road; and part of a journal and a letter to Mrs. M. were thrown away from this superstitious notion.

A remarkable providence was observable in this visit to the Barolongs. Immediately on my return to the station, the news reached us that a marauding party had proceeded

CHANGE OF PROSPECTS.

313

from the Orange River to the northward, and fell on the people, among whom I had lived, and they, in consequence, fled to the Kalagare desert with the loss of much cattle. The distance at which they had passed and repassed to the north of our station, and the feebleness of the party, excited no alarm among the Kuruman people.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

OUR prospects were now beginning to brighten. Several thousands of the natives had congregated near us on the opposite side of the valley. They were becoming more settled in their minds. They would collect in the different divisions of the town, where we visited them, and the public attendance at the station daily increased. The school also was better attended. We had for a long time past been hovering on the wings of suspense, but now felt as if we could labour in hope; and though we could see nothing like a change in any one, or even observed real attention, nevertheless we felt a persuasion that we should soon hear the voice of the turtle in the land.

Our pleasure was augmented by the return of Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, from the colony, greatly improved in health. We had begun to hope that the confusion and every evil work which had prevailed in all parts of the country, had, like every other display of the uncontrolled passions of man. passed their zenith, and were fast disappearing, with their unfortunate actors, who were falling, one after another, in their unhallowed enterprise. But, alas! while thus congratulating ourselves, a sudden cloud gathered around us; and it is impossible to look back and re-peruse the letters and journals written at the time, without feeling over again, almost all the painful self-denial which we were called to exercise on that occasion.

Of the nature and extent of the attack of the Bergenaars on Griqua Town, we had received ample information, but saw no reason to feel any alarm for the safety of our own mission, as they could have no such grounds for attacking

314

DISTRACTING CIRCUMSTANCES.

our people. We had scarcely despatched a letter to the Directors, informing them that the state of the mission was encouraging, when a letter was received from Mr. Wright, the contents of which were certainly of a very startling character. He assured us that it was the determination of the Bergenaars to come direct to the Kuraman, in order to obtain the ammunition which we possessed, take our property, and destroy the station. Such a report, from such a source, very naturally terrified the Bechuanas; all was consternation, all urged us to be gone, declaring that they would not run the risk, whether we did or not. It was more easy for them than for us to flee. We were weary of flights, we had been greatly impoverished by them, and to remove three missionaries, and two of their families, was a serious matter. Knowing well the character of the desperadoes, and their object, in the late attack on Griqua Town, after prayerfully considering the subject, we could not perceive our situation to be so perilous as Mr. Wright appeared to suppose, and accordingly wrote to him that it was our determination to remain. We concluded, that, in the event of their arrival, we should in all probability hear of their approach in sufficient time to allow of our safe escape. We naturally made some allowance for the fears of Mr. Wright, who had but lately come to the country, and experienced but few of those alarms with which we had become familiar. Our reply was immediately followed by a solemn assurance from Mr. Wright, that an attack on our station was determined and certain, and that the consequences would be dreadful, as it was the intention of the banditti to take our lives; and his urgent advice was to remove to Griqua Town without a mement's delay, and not to depend on the Griquas for farther information, as no one could be found willing to travel in such times. Waterboer also sent an express to me at the same time, stating his own, as well as Mr. W.'s very great anxiety on our account, and their astonishment at our temerity. These reports, which we could not hide from the natives, were to them like the sounding tocsin. Our situation was now really distressing, and to remove at this time, was one of the hardest things we had ever had to encounter. We could not help doubting the correctness of the hackneyed report, whieh had so often died away in our ears, that the marauders would attack us. We were the more distracted, as we had just before been indulging the most pleasing hopes with regard to the strength of our mission; and Mothibi was on the point of removing his

SOJOURN AT GRIQUA TOWN.

315

town close to our station, in order to unite with us, and cultivate the valley below.

The natives being now panic struck, with indescribable reluctance we packed up some of our most valuable articles in our wagons, and departed in the beginning of September, leaving some confidential persons in charge of the station and remaining property. I still feel as if I yet gazed on the Bechuanas leaving their towns in despair, and therefore as is usual, in flame, to indicate that they would never return to a spot where they could neither rest nor sleep. We wended our weary way along the desert path, and after a most melancholy journey of five days, arrived at Griqua Town. It was hard work to travel, when we could not resist the feeling that every step was unnecessary; and we should certainly have remained at Daniel's Kuil, but from the conviction that the friends at Griqua Town, who had expressed such solicitude, would be disappointed if we stopped short of that place. We of course took with us what ammunition we had, lest it might be an object of the cupidity of the one party, or necessary for the defence of the other. We had scarcely arrived and heard the whole of the reports, when we sincerely regretted having come, and felt extremely anxious to return, as we saw nothing but starvation before us. Our oxen and cows were dying for want of grass, and we possessed no means of obtaining supplies from the colony. There was no possibility of ascertaining the truth of the daily reports, as these were obtained from strolling Bushmen, and others, who might visit the place, either for a morsel of food, or as some supposed, to spy the place, and on their veracity no dependence could be placed. One of these unfortunate beings, in order to make him tell the truth, received a severe castigation; when he did tell a fine tale indeed, that, in a late affray, Jan Bloom and other distinguished individuals had been killed, which though a perfect falsehood, he knew would diffuse unmingled pleasure; and though he himself was put in irons, he succeeded in making his escape soon afterwards. One day it was reported the enemy were at the door; another, that half of them were dead, and the rest scattered for want of food. Thus it continued, and we should have returned, had it not been for the conviction of some that it was safer for the mission families to be together. But for all to stay, was unnecessary, and Mr. Hamilton having no family, returned first to the station. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes followed; and I should have accompanied them, but a letter arriving from Mr. Miles, the Society's superin

316

THE REV. KICHARD MILES'S VISIT.

tendent, apprising us of his near approach, Mr. Wright, being very unwilling to be left alone, I remained till Mr. M.'s arrival with the kind provision made for the Griquas by the friends at Cape Town. This diffused a degree of cheerfulness over the public mind, but many were dispirited, and Mr. Wright very earnestly recommended the Griquas joining the Bechuana mission, placing them on one side of the Kuruman valley, while the Aborigines should occupy the other, and thereby save both missions. This plan at first sight was very plausible, but as we were better acquainted with the dispositions of the two parties, we could not accede to the opinion of Mr. W. and the good people of Griqua Town, "that it was not only advisable, but absolutely necessary to the continuation of the two missions, that a junction of the missions take place." The Bechuanas, though unable to defend their country against enemies who possessed both fire-arms and horses, were nevertheless extremely jealous of every encroachment on the domains of their ances tors, and however their subdued condition might for a time prostrate their patriotism, we were well aware that should we connive at the Griquas settling down in their country, it would eventually bring upon us a load of obloquy, when they found themselves viewed as subordinate, in what was once their own territory. The reasonableness of our objections to the plan was quite apparent to Mr. Miles, and as Mr. W. greatly needed counsel as well as assistance at this juncture, Mr. M. cordially agreed that Mr. Hughes should remove to Griqua Town to share his labours.

Accompanied by Mr. Miles we returned to the Kuruman with no little satisfaction, though mingled with sadness, for our circumstances were not of a character to excite pleasure. Half of our oxen and nearly all our cows were dead, we were too poor to purchase more, not a quart of milk on the station, and what was worse nearly all our people gone. Heaps of ashes, where crowds once lived, who but for these reports would have been there still; we felt as if we could never forgive ourselves for having fled, and resolved afresh to resume our labours among the few poor who had remained on the station, and who were on the increase.

The visit of the Rev. Richard Miles, which was ostensibly a visit of mercy to the Griquas, was sensibly felt to be one of comfort to us, in our isolated and distracted position. Having made himself acquainted with all the affairs of the station, he suggested the very great importance of preparing something like hymns in the native language, which being