CHAPTER XXXII. THE Country had been blessed with such plentiful rains that fields and gardens teemed with plenty, such as had not been experienced for several years. The ancient ramparts of superstition had been broken through by our converts, and many others, who could see no reason why the productions of their field and garden labour should be confined to the varieties of their native grain (Holcus sorghum) pumpkins, kidney beans, and water melons, the only vegetables cultivated by their forefathers. Instead of purchasing a very inferior tobacco from the Bahurutsi, who were no longer able to supply the market, having imitated our example of leading out water, they began to plant it themselves, and it soon became a profitable article of traffic, as it had formerly been to those who lived in a better watered country. They also thankfully accepted the seeds and plants of grain and vegetables we had introduced, of maize, wheat, barley, peas, potatoes, carrots, onions, and they also planted fruit trees. As the course of our water ditch along the side of a hill appeared as if the stream ascended, several of the natives set to work in good earnest, and cut courses leading directly up hill, hoping the water would one day follow. Ploughs, harrows, spades, and mattocks were no longer viewed as the implements of a certain caste, but as the indispensable auxiliaries to existence and comfort. The man who before would have disdained to be seen engaged in such an occupation and with such a tool, was now thankful to have it in his power to buy a spade. * The spiritual affairs of the station kept pace with external improvements. The house of God continued to be well filled, and though the strong excitement which prevailed in the early part of 1829 had subsided, knowledge was on the increase, a growing seriousness was observable, and there was every reason for encouragement. Progress was made in reading, which increased my anxiety to make a revision of * Maize I found abundant among the Matabele, where it does not require irrigation; also a fine large species of kidney bean, the pods of which grow under ground, and are earthed up like potatoes. 368 DESCRIPTION OF THE STATION. the gospel of Luke, especially as it was necessary for me to visit Cape Town. As soon as the second mission house was finished, and occupied by Mr. Hamilton, the foundation of a place of worship was laid. This was commenced early in the year 1830, at the suggestion of Mr. Millen, the mason, who engaged to devote his spare time, from trading in the interior, to the building of the walls. This edifice, however, from local circumstances, and the difficulty of procuring timber, was not finished till several years afterwards. The buildings are of blue or dove-coloured limestone, and thatched with reed and straw. The place of worship stands between the missionhouses, at a short distance from each, and the more distant buildings are the trader's shop, the smith's forge, and schoolhouse. The lofty trees opposite are a species of willow, peculiar to the Gariep or Orange River; along the roots of these trees runs a watercourse five feet wide by two deep, and beyond are the gardens and valley ground. The watercourses were greatly extended, not only for purposes of irrigation, but to drain the extensive valley intended to be brought into cultivation; a native water-fiscal was appointed to take care of them, and rewarded by those possessing gardens dependent on irrigation. * Having thus been permitted to witness some of the effects of the introduction of the Gospel among the Bechuanas, and. having accomplished a translation of the gospel of Luke, and of Dr. Brown's Scripture Texts, I repaired with my family to Cape Town, by way of Algoa Bay. Before leaving the Kuruman, I signified that it was my intention to collect subscriptions among the friends in the Colony, towards the building of a new place of worship. When this was made known, a number of the natives cheerfully came forward, and begged to add their mite to so important a work. Some subscribed oxen, others goats, and a few money, though it was still very scarce among them, and a number engaged to give some months' labour. We left the station for the Colony, and on arriving at Philipolis, we were not a little delighted to meet at the house of Mr. Melvill, Mr. and Mrs. Baillie, of our society, destined to the Bechuana mission, and Messrs. Rolland and Lemure, from the Paris Protestant Missionary Society, also appointed to labour in the interior. To us, so long accustomed to feel as if out of the world, and The printing of this work was afterwards abandoned, and its place supplied by the Scripture Lessons used in the Borough-road and other schools. comparatively forgotten, the season was one of great refreshment to our souls. The accession of so many new labourers was an answer to many prayers, and while they proceeded to the Kuruman, we went on our way rejoicing in the assurance that as the work of conversion had commenced, a glorious day of grace was dawning on the Bechuana tribes. After arriving at Graham's Town, where I left my family while I visited several of the missionary stations in Kafirland, and then some of those within the Colony, we reached Cape Town, in October 1830. From the infant state of typography in that place, I found it necessary to apply to Sir Lowry Cole, then governor, to allow the gospel of St. Luke to be printed at the government printing-office. This request was cheerfully acceded to, but compositors were wanted. This circumstance, with the promise of an excellent printing press, which Dr. Philip had in his possession for our mission, was a strong inducement for me to learn printing; and being joined by Mr. Edwards, who was originally destined to the Bechuana mission, and now appointed to go there, the work was completed under the kind superintendence of Mr. Van de Zandt. The paper was supplied by the British and Foreign Bible Society, by whom also other incidental expenses were defrayed, which was only a precursor of the boon since conferred by that noble institution on the Bechuana mission, the fruits of which will be reaped by generations yet unborn. A small hymn-book was also printed in the language. These labours were scarcely completed, when a severe attack of bilious fever, occasioned by over exertion in the hottest season of the year, brought me very low, but though I was so weak as to be conveyed on a mattrass on board ship, my health was much improved by a fourteen days' rough passage to Algoa Bay. Sickness among our oxen, in addition to Mrs. M.'s confinement, detained us some time at Bethelsdorp, from whence, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, we journeyed to the Kuruman, where we arrived in June, 1831. Never since missionaries entered the country was such a treasure conveyed to the mission as on the present occasion, for we brought with us an edition of the gospel of Luke, and a hymn book in the native language, a printing press, type, paper, and ink, besides having obtained very liberal subscriptions from the friends in Cape Town, and other parts of the Colony, towards the erection of a place of worship. In addition to this, Mr. Edward's knowledge and experience in carpentering and building, rendered him not only a very |