Change of Prospects

Change of prospects — Startling intelligence — Distracting circumstances — -Sojourn at Griqua Town — Return to the station — Rev. Richard Miles’s visit — Population scattered — Pleasing indications — Another commando — Audacity of the enemy — Their purposes defeated — Treatment of the prisoners — Another horde of banditti — An anxious Sabbath — A flag of truce! — A parley with the enemy — Mr. and Mrs. Archbell arrive — The power of conscience — Pacific results — A massacre — Divine retribution.

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 our people. We had scarcely despatched a letter to the Directors, inform¬ ing 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 Kuruman, 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 desy)eradoes, 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 moment’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, which 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 re¬ moving his 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 Becbuanas leaving their towns in despair, and therefore, as is usual, in flames, 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, hut from the conviction that the friends at Griqua Town, who had expressed such solicitude, would he disappointed if we stopped short of that place. AVe of course took with us what ammunition we had, lest it might he either 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 migkt visit the place, either for a morsel of food, or, as some sup-RETURN TO THE STATION.

posed, to spy the place, and on their veracity no dependence could he placed. One of these unfortunate heings, 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 superintendent, 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 GihpiaTown, that

THE REV. RICEIARD MILES’s VISIT. 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 do¬ mains of their ancestors, 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 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 constantly sung, the great truths of salvation would become imperceptibly written on the minds of the people. This was very desirable, as we had hitherto used only Dutch hymns; but the thing appeared premature, from my limited knowledge of the language; how¬ ever, at his request, T made the attempt, and the first hymn ever written in the language is one of the many now in extensive use. The arrival of the spelling-books, etc., at the same time, enabled us to commence a school in the Sechuana. This was the dawning of a new era on our mission. The station as well as ourselves had suffered so much from removals, flights, and the want of common necessaries, that we resolved through Divine aid to remain by our post, let the consequences be what they might. Mr. Miles, whose generous conduct and brotherly faithfulness had endeared him to all the missionaries in the country, returned, and we pursued our labours, which had now, with few interruptions, been carried on for ten years without any fruit.

Our circumstances were now like those of the mariner after a storm, his ship dismantled and nearly all his companions gone; but even this was a state of peace and pleasure compared with the past. We could not however persuade ourselves that this war¬ fare was over, or that our faith had been sufficiently tried. We knew that the darkest period of the night was the hour which preceded the dawn of day, but we could not help fearing that the hour, which to us had been gloomy indeed, might become darker still. We had been taught by painful experience, not to trust to our own understandings, neither to put confidence in an arm of flesh, but to trust in the right hand of the Most High, and therefore such was the state of our minds, that we felt perfectly resigned to every distress, and even death itself, in the cause in which we were engaged. These were the chastened results of past trials.

The Griquas were rent with internal discord, and the united force of the four chiefs which drove back the overwhelming enemy from Lithako, was now divided into four separate interests. Waterboer did not receive either the sanction or support from the Colonial Government which he deserved, and was therefore unable to defend either himself or others, without suitable resources. The Batlapis and those by whom we were surrounded, and concerning whom we had begun to hope, having been thus exposed to incessant alarms and losses, despairing of help from any quarter, fled first to the Bushman territory, and then to the Yellow River, whence some have never returned. There were fragments of tribes scattered in the country, and these by degrees collected around us. Among these, a comparatively new soil, we continued our labours, and fruitless as the past had been, we felt when addressing the people, as if we were thrown some years back.

Jan Karse, a Griqua of no party, and a peaceable man, having heard that his relative Jan Bloom was threatening to attack us, left his farm in the Bushman country, and removed for a time to our station, with

the twofold object of having his children educated, and endeavouring to prevail on the Blooms, should they come, to abandon their project. This was to us quite unexpected, for we had long ceased to look to man for aid, but we were deeply thankful for such an interposition, as we cherished the hope, that his arrival would deter the marauders from such an attack.

At this period the number of inhabitants on our station amounted to about fifty families, from seven different tribes, who had made the spot an asylum, when plundered and driven from their own abodes. Poverty made them willing to labour, and they became useful auxiliaries to us in the buildings and outward improvements. Mr. Hughes’s temporary house being unoccupied, we turned it into a chapel, where we put up our humble pulpit. On the following day, when we were about to occupy it, we found a Cobra de capello serpent had already taken possession, which to some minds might have been an ominous event. The day-school began to cheer our drooping spirits, to which we added one in the evening, having about forty scholars in each, and some we heard began to pray! The attendance on public worship was good, and the introduction of singing hymns in the language, only three in number, produced a very pleasing effect on the savage mind, and no less so on our own, though we could not discover any inwrought feeling produced by the preaching of the Gospel.

One mission house had been finished, another was raised as high as the beams, and though we had faith to take joyfully the spoiling of our goods, and to expend our lives, yet as the friends at home were beginning to despair of success, we did not like to

. ANOTHER COMMANDO. expend any more money. I remember when it was signified to ns, though not officially, that the abandonment of the mission was in contemplation, we felt our souls at once riveted to the country and people; and even had our resources been withdrawn, we were confident of Divine interference in our behalf. It was at this time, under these feelings, and with the prospect of peace, that Mr. Hamilton, my veteran fellow-labourer, found it necessary, after his long career, to visit the coast for the first time, and accordingly left us in February, 1828.

In the month of March, a party of Corannas passed into the interior, and Jan Karse hearing that a brother of his wife was among them, intercepted the party at a distance, and accompanied by Aaron, succeeded in dissuading them from their wicked, as well as dangerous attempt to proceed to the Bauangketsi. Karse left them to deliberate, and in the course of a few days, to our amazement, they entered our station, and sat themselves down on the outskirts of the village. We did not like their haughty and menacing aspect. They spoke and acted as if their expedition was one of harmless enterprise.

Two days passed without much suspicion on our part, while they rambled about in the village, with perfect confidence, among people whose near relations they had first plundered, and then murdered in cold blood only a few days previous. They were treated with kindness, every thing being avoided which might give offence. Andries Bloom, Karse’s brother-in-law, stated his fears that an attack on the j)lace, for the few cattle we had, was contemplated. A sleepless and watchful night ensued. On the fol-AUDACITY OF THE ENEMY.

lowing morning, Karse went to their camp again and again, using every argument and entreaty which he could conceive, to induce them to depart in peace. After this they appeared anxious to convince every one that their intentions were pacific. The plot, however, was more deeply laid during the subsequent night. In the morning, Karse took his wife with him, being an influential woman, and the sister of Bloom, their chief. They pleaded hard, but pleaded in vain, and Karse was ordered in the most threatening language to be gone. Fearing the menaces of such desperadoes, he retired, while his wife, who was three times his own size, nobly walked close behind him, to prevent his being shot.

The marauders then sprang into a kind of natural entrenchment, or rather heap of stones, within a few yards of our houses, and shook their clubs at us with savage ferocity. Andries Bloom and his sister took refuge in our house, with my wife and family. It was now nearly noon, and the cattle were lowing to get out to water and pasture. It was with difficulty I could prevent our people from attacking the enemy, though we had not more than five men on the place who could use a gun, while they had forty, independent of Bush¬ men with bows and arrows. As the people wmuld not permit me to go to the invaders, I stood half-way between them and my owm house, where one of their number met me, and conveyed several messages to and fro. They at last told me also to be gone, or they would shoot me. Until now I had been able to restrain our men, though exasperated to the last degree by the conduct of a people whom they had counselled, assisted, and fed, though they had imbrued their hands in the blood of some dear relatives, whose spoils were in their possession. At this moment a shot was fired into the centre of the village, a second ball went over my head. I walked slowly towards my house, to show, that if they did intend to shoot me, I did not think so. Aaron, and a small party who were look¬ ing on at a short distance, hearing the shots, instantly came up, and by their intrepidity the marauders were driven from their shelter, while those who had already begun to plunder the other end of the village, fled, and all leaving their effects, made the best of their way to the mountains; some were killed on the plain, and not a man would have escaped had it not been for the humanity of our people, who would willingly have spared all, and therefore instantly gave up the pur¬ suit. Five men were captured and brought to my house, not to turn that into a prison, but only to be fed, to sit without either locks or doors, secure from rudeness or danger. This was another woe passed, and though we could not help shuddering at the loss of life, it was impossible to feel otherwise than thank¬ ful for the deliverance. It was afterwards discovered that the enemy had resolutely determined to kill, as well as steal, and set the place on fire, which they used their utmost exertions to accomplish. Having heard that this party had, in their course, deliberately murdered all the unoffending natives who had fallen into their hands, I inquired of the prisoners after they had been some time with us, if their minds never revolted at such crimes as deliberately killing innonent females and children, who possessed nothing to tempt their cupidity, but who had cheerlully served them with wood and water. I shall never forget the

reply of one, who, after sitting some minutes motion¬ less in deep reflection, said, “Mynheer, the heart of man is a wonderful thing; there is nothing which it cannot do. Custom makes even murder a playthins;.” This was indeed havina; a seared conscience, or being past feeling, and he, like many others, was unmoved by any conviction of the enormity of such crimes. These men were afterwards sent home to their friends, evidently struck by the kindness which had been shown them, and which we hoped might have a beneficial influence upon their minds. Some time after, when we were supposing it not improbable that the relations of the defeated might seek revenge, we were informed by an individual from their neighbourhood, that their chief had sharply reproved them for so daring an attempt on a missionary station, add¬ ing, “that the results were such as they might have expected.”

Soon after this affair, some of the subordinate chiefs of the Batlapis signified their wish to return to the Kuruman, which they accordingly did. It is also worthy of notice that the distant villagers, by taking refuge on our station, became acquainted with the character and motives of the missionary, and were often led to listen to the Gospel of salvation, preach¬ ed, though very imperfectly, in their own language; and although many at first exhibited the barrenness of their minds by the wildness and vacancy of their countenances, yet the glimmering rays of light then imparted were the precursors of brighter days. It was reviving to see, in those troublous and distracted times, the attendance increase; and gradually an unremitted and riveted attention marked the sable audience. Before this time I had commenced, on the forenoon of the sabbath, catechizing the children and adults on the first principles of the Gospel, reading a chapter out of a manuscript translation of Luke. From the unexpected increase of labour, and being alone, it evas not easy to make either additions to the translations, or solid advances in the language.

The aspect of general affairs continued pacific for nearly two months. The state of the Griqua country assumed an appearance which we regarded as the precursor of permanent peace. Judgment had over¬ taken many of the marauders, and the remainder were comparatively scattered. When the mind was beginning to feel at liberty to contemplate the pleasing results of peace and the Gospel on the tribes now comparatively shorn of the barbarous dignity which had marked by-gone years, the approach of another commando from the Orange River was announced. The country to the north-west, all along the course of former marauders, being swept of inhabitants, we were not aware of our danger till they had advanced within eight miles of our station. They would in all probability have entered our village unawares, but for the following circumstance. Two men, a woman, and boy, were returning from a distance, with two pack oxen laden with skins, which they had gone to barter. These were seized, the men and woman were dragged on one side to he despatched with clubs, but the hoy was spared to guide them to our station: he made his escape during the night, and gave us information. Next day, the sabbath, August 10th, 1828, all was confusion, as we were every hour expecting an attack. A sleepless and anxious night

followed. A watch had been set, but from the extreme darkness of the night, nothing could be seen till morning, when it was discovered from the spoor of horses, that some of the enemy had come very near to reconnoitre. This was a trying season, for it was too evident from what the boy had overheard, that they were strong, and that they were determined to attack the station. Jan Karse and family having returned to his farm, fifty miles distant, some weeks previous, we had very few men able to use a gun, and only two of these on whom we could depend. We were weak indeed, and to save our cattle, we sent them ofip with some men to the wide wilderness, in the Bushman country. We were consoled to know that an omnipotent Jehovah saw our condition, that He could defend by many or by few, and could so order and overrule afiairs as even to prevent bloodshed. For this my dear partner and I united again and again in fervent supplication to Him who had said, ‘‘ Call upon me in the time of trouble, and I will deliver.” Our souls sickened at the idea of seeing the ground of the mission station dyed with human blood, and we felt a strong persuasion that it would be prevented. Another night, in which infants only could forget their cares and fears, passed by. Early next morning the commando emerged from behind a rising ground, where they had passed the night, within half a mile of the place. The enemy, seeing the so-called entrenchments full of people, and that their approach was discovered, had no alternative but to advance. The confused rabble of horse and infantry came on, evincing all the pageantry of sluggish pomp. I had previously ordered, begged, and entreated that no one should fire, as it was not likely that they would gallop into the place, hut leave them to expend their ammunition on the hillocks of stone. I stood with my telescope on one of these lullocks, to see whether I could recognise any of the party, as we had been informed that there were several rebel Griquas among them. When they came within gun-shot they sheered off to the river, where they intercepted some cattle belonging to our people, and a few sheep the property of Mr. Hamilton, while a number went to the tops of the heights to look around for more booty. We counted their force, amounting to forty muskets, nine horses, and about ninety men, among whom were a number of Griquas well dressed.

After debating for about an hour, a man was sent with a flag, — a rag suspended on the end of a rod. To prevent his seeing the weakness of the place, I met him at a distance. He did not hesitate to acknowledge that it was their intention to attack the place for purposes of revenge; and that Jantye Goeman, one of the principal men, though not the chief, begged first to have an interview with me at their camp, and the favour of a piece of tobacco. I refused to go to their camp, but engaged to meet him half way, if he was unarmed. After a long pause this was agreed to, when he advanced, and was soon followed by two more, the most ruffian-like beings I ever beheld. I went, accompanied by Aaron, and approaching Jantye Goeman, whom I knew well, he having been separated from the church of Griqua Town while I was there, he drew near with his hat drawn over his eyes, and without looking me in the face, held oat his hand. I said to him, “Jantye, let me see your face;

you may well blush that your old friend should find you in so horrible a position, among a people determined on the destruction of a missionary station.” “I am dumb with shame,” was his reply, and he then manufactured an excuse for his being found among such company, adding that he would rather defend my person than see a weapon raised against me. He then in¬ formed me that there were several other Bergenaars, desperate characters, among them; but the head of the commando was one Paul, chief of the Karos-hebbers intimating that it was necessary for me to see him before we could come to any understanding; for I found Jantye was not empowered to make arrangements. In fact, he appeared embarrassed; his countenance displaying a hidden conflict, and being the index of guilt. He assured me that to obtain an interview with Paul was out of the question, for ever since he had left home he had been vowdng that he would rather die than exchange one word with me, or see my face. Perfectly unable to conceive how I had become so odious in the eyes of any one, I made many inquiries, and at length learned, that this Paul was one to whom I had preached the Gospel, and he had sworn not to see me, lest I should succeed in persuading him to abandon his intentions of murder and rapine. After many entreaties, I got Jantye to go and invite Paul, while I remained on the spot. During his absence, one of the two forbidding characters, who continued near me, remarked in a growling tone, that I had better get out of the way, and let the commando do with the Kafirs (Bechuanas)

A Coraniia tribe so called. Reference is made to this man in page 150. as they picasech To this I replied, that they must hrst hill game before they could eat venison; that for my own part 1 had no intention to use any other weapon than prayer to God; but I would not vouch for what the people on the station might do; that I was a teacher of some, but the master of none. Jantye came slowly back again, as if unwilling to tell his message. It was, that Paul was resolute in his determination not to see me. At this moment a wagon appeared in sight; and fearing it might be some one from Griqua Town, who of course would be instantly despatched, I rose, and was proceeding to meet it, as it had to pass the camp of the banditti. Jantye prevented my going. I then sent a man, who, on passing the camp, was taken prisoner. Mien, observdng some of the party shouldering their guns, and approaching the wagon, I got up, and said to Jantye, “I shall not see your face till the wagon and its owners are safe on the station.’’ He instantly ran off, and brought the wagon through the party; when, to our y)leasing surprise, we found that our visitors were Mi and Mrs. Archbell, from the Wesleyan mission at Platberg.

Their safe arrival was a cause of gratitude, but the great point was yet undecided. I again met my half-way delegates; when, after a long conversation with Jantye, and another message to Paul, he made his appearance, slowly and sadly, as if following a friend to execution, or going himself to he slain. His face appeared incapable of a smile. Taking his hand, as that of an old friend, I expressed my surprise that he, who knew me, and who once listened to the message of salvation from my lips, should

come with such a force for the express purpose of rooting out the mission. I referred him to the time when, more than once, I had slept at the door of his hut, and partaken of his hospitality. He replied, that his purposes were unalterable, because, more than a year ago, a body of his men, who had passed into the interior to take cattle from the Barolongs, were attacked by Mothibi’s people; and that although Mothibi had fled, many of his subjects, and the Batlaros, were on the station. His eyes glared with fury as he said, I shall have their blood and their cattle too!” People in this country can scarcely conceive how difficult not to say sometimes how impossible, it is to argue with such characters, for some will not hear; but Paul could argue; and having once listened to my voice with pleasure, the long time which had elapsed had not effaced the impressions made by the visit and presence of a teacher. Although I was not preaching, I spoke with great solemnity, asking him if the bleached bones on the Barolong and Kalagare plains, the souls his clubs and spears had hurried into eternity since he left home, and the innocent blood with which he had stained the desert but a few days ago, were not sufficient to glut his revenge; or, rather, to make him tremble for the judgments which such a career would certainly bring upon him¬ self and his people, and which had already begun to be poured out on the blood-guilty tribes of the Orange River? After having talked to him for some time in this strain, I begged him to call to mind his first and only visit to me while with Africaner; and his declaration, at a subsequent period, that he and his people were leaving because it was rumoured that Africaner was about to remove from the country, in which his presence had been the bond of union; entreating him to compare his state of mind at that time with what it was now. This had scarcely passed my lips, when he ordered his men to go and bring the cattle which had been taken from our people, and added that he would not go a step farther, hut return by the way he came. In the course of a subsequent conversation, I inquired why he was so determined on not seeing me. “I could not forget your kindness to me in Namaqua-land,” was the reply. In this the reflecting reader will observe a fresh instance of the omnipotence of love, even among the most barbarous of the human race.

Affairs being settled, and the cattle returned, the principal men were allowed to come to my house unarmed; but no one was permitted to approach the entrenchments, lest they should discover that the timid natives they saw there were only a mock dis¬ play of power; for, from the great numbers on the station they concluded that it was strong. When evening drew on, and they were about to retire to their camp, they begged of me, in the humblest language, not to allow the Bechuanas to attack them during the night; when I assured them that they might sleep in perfect safety. They said that such had been their terrors of conscience for nights ])ast, that a hyena or jackal had been enough to frighten them from their rendezvous. This was the language of those who had heard the Gospel, and some of whom had once made a profession of faith in the Son of God. Thus ‘‘ do the wicked flee when no man pursueth.”

The visit of Mr. and Mrs. Archhell was very

cheering to us under these circumstances, for which we united in giving thanks to the Lord, who ‘giveth a banner to them that fear him, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” He sent a fear into the hearts of the enemy, so that they did us no harm.

Before concluding this subject, it will not be uninteresting to notice the results. The party remained for two days; and Paul having informed me privately that it was the intention of some of the commando who had accompanied him, (having been disappointed of booty at the Kuruman,) not to return without it, and were for that purpose resolved to go as far as the Barolongs on the Molapo River, I embraced this opportunity of remonstrating with them on their intentions, describing the country, and the danger of such a villanous undertaking. They silenced me, protesting that they were ignorant of such a plan. All took their departure: Paul and his adherents went to their homes; and at half a day’s journey from the station, twenty-seven of the number turned off, and directed their course towards the interior. Of this we were informed, but several weeks elapsed before we knew what had become of them. One evening, when about to retire to rest, a faint rap was heard at the door: it was one of these unhappy individuals, of the name of Isaacs: he had nothing on him but his shoes, having cut off his clothes to expedite his escape from a catastrophe which had destroyed nearly all his companions. From his statement, it appeared that the party reached the Molapo, and had taken a drove of cattle, when they w-andered from their course, and came in contact wdth the subjects of a powerful chief of the Batlapis, One of these, a man of influence, they shot. The news was instantly conveyed to head-quarters: a plan was laid, by which they fell into an ambuscade, whence only nine narrowly escaped with their lives, leaving their all behind. This was amona: the last efforts of the hordes of ruthless desperadoes, who had for live years been scattering, throughout the tribes, devastation, famine, and death, excepting Jan Bloom, who removed to the eastward, and made repeated but unsuccessful attacks on the people of Moselekatse. They had filled up their cup of iniquity: there was no power either to arrest or overthrow them: human attemj)ts only fanned the flame of discord: the Almighty sent forth his blast upon them, and they were made to drink of the bitter cup they had themselves poured out to others. The Bushmen, pestilence, prodigality, and beasts of prey, deprived them of their thousands of cattle; disease and famine thinned their camps; till, at length, in places which had echoed with the shouts of savage triumph over slaughtered tribes, and the noises of rude revelry and debauch, nothing was heard but the howl of the hyena, as an appropriate funeral dirge over the remains of a people, the victims of insubordination, ferocity, and lust.

These awful judgments on some were not without the most salutary results to others. So evidently was the hand of God displayed, that the atheistical Bechuanas were wonderfully impressed with the truth of an overruling Providence; which doctrine they had, as a nation, hitherto treated as visionary and false. They had ocular demonstration of what we had told them was the word of God, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and that Jehovah would scatter them

that delight in war. The notorious apostate, Jacob Cloete, the ringleader of that section which had scattered devastation among the Kuruman tribes, was impoverished by his companions in crime, and retired to Berend’s people a beggar. He visited us as such at the Kuruman. It would not have been unnatural to expect that the Bechuanas, to whom he had been as the demon of destruction, would have treated him with contumely, or sought revenge. No; though they were yet comparative heathens, they looked on his tall, haggard form, and emaciated countenance, vdth sympathy; and seeing him look wild, and start, as if the air he breathed was charged with spectres, arrows, and death, they presented him with food, and retired, remarking, O chueroe ki poitsego,” “he is seized by terrors.” He soon afterwards died, the victim of remorse and shame.

The above is a specimen of the head of a barbed spear, of which a warrior has generally one, though it is rarely used. The Bechuanas display much ingenuity in the manufacture of iron instruments.