Visit to the Cape

In June of the year 1830, a long-projected journey to the coasl was carried out with a twofold purpose — to put the two elder children to school, and to get printed such parts of the New Testament as had been translated On their way the Moffats had the pleasure of meeting, at Philippolis, the French missionaries Lemue and Rolland, and also Mr. and Mrs. Bailie of their own Society. The Bailies were intended for the Kuruman, and it was arranged that the whole party should take up their abode at Kuruman to await the return of the Moffats from the coast.

Whilst the mother was arranging for the children at Salem, the Wesleyan school near Grahamstown, the father started on a journey to visit the stations in Kaffraria; and then finding that some time must pass before a vessel would be leaving Algoa Bay, and there being no possibility of getting anything printed in the Eastern province, he took his manuscript in his pocket and started on horseback, for a ride of about four hundred miles, to Cape Town. By hiring relays from the farmers on the road he made tae journey in nine days, leaving his wife to follow by sea.

At Bethelsdorp the Moffats found Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, who were originally destined to the Bechwana Mission, but had been detained among the Colonial stations. It was arranged that Edwards should also go to Cape Town, and assist Moffat in carrying the Sechwana books through the press.

In Cape Town new difficulties arose. No printing-office could

undertake the work, small as it was: both type and compositors

were scarce. In this strait, by the exertions of Colonel Bird,

Secretary to Government, the Government printing-office and

material were placed at the disposal of the missionaries; but as

no one could be spared to carry on the printing, Moffat and

Edwards had to set to work themselves, with such guidance as the one man in charge was able to give them, lie was very willing, and gave his assistance so well that they were soon able not only to turn out the books they were printing in fair style, but to regard themselves as finished apprentices. All these things were ordered for the best. At this very juncture a printing-press came into the possession of the mission, and as soon as this could be transported to the Kuruman there were qualified hands ready to work it.

The intense exertions of this period, his forced journey to Cape Town, the labours of the press and the application of proof reading, with a crowd of bustling engagements, were too much even for Moffat’s strength and constitution. He was prostrated by a bilious fever, and when the time came for him to return to Algoa Bay, on his way back to his station he was so ill that he had to be carried on board the ship on a mattress.

Mary Moffat to Miss Lees of Manchester.

“Bethelsdorp, Sept. 15, 1830. I brought with me from home two of your letters unanswered, and, to make the debt the heavier, received one on the way at PhiHppoHs containing the affecting intelligence of the death of our esteemed father and friend, Roby. We cannot but feel it very sensibly, though we were so far removed from the privilege of his societ)’, but with you and his bereaved widow and church we can sincerely sympathize. Verily a prince and a great man is fallen in Israel, but our consolation is that he has finished a glorious course, and has entered into the joy of his Lord; and good and great as he was, the Lord of the harvest can supply his place to the Church. I trust in this you have attained a greater measure of resignation than when you last wrote. I know the tenderness of your heart, and can in some measure conceive of your feelings. Give my most affectionate regards to Mrs. Roby, and assure her that could I have expressed it she would not have found me wanting, but ready to contribute my mite of sympathy to her. The assurance that her loss is the infinite gain of her dear departed must suppress every repining feeling, and lead her only to look forward to that period when she also will mingle with the sacred throng. O my friend 1 this is a dying world. Almost every packet of letters brings us the intelligence of some whom we have once known and loved having ended their pilgrimage here below. We shall lose all desire to see our native land, for all our friends are dying away. I recollect nearly seven years ago, when we saw Dr. Morrison on his way to England, our congratulating him on the prospect of meeting with his friends at home. He invariably appeared dejected, and said: * I have no friends to see; all who love me are dead, and I feel alone in the world.’ We then wondered at such remarks, but, believe me, we now begin to be conscious of a similar feeling; two or three more dad about Manchester, and what will it be to us?...

ii6 CHILDREN PUT TO SCHOOL.

“Taking it for granted that my father will have called upon you, as I sent a message to you when I wrote from Cradock, I have not mentioned our leaving home, which took place on the 15th of June. We met the French missionaries Lemue and Rolland three weeks after at Philippolis; arrived at Grahamstown on the first ultimo, and at this place on the ist instant. The distance is not more than a week from Grahamstown to Bethelsdorp, but Moffat, wishing to visit the stations in Kafirland, set out on horseback, and left me to proceed with the children to Theopolis, to get the two elder, Mary and Ann, in readiness for school. We accordingly left them a fortnight ago at Salem, the Wesleyan establishment, with considerable satisfaction: the strict attention paid to the religious instruction of the children compensates for the want of some advantages; the cheapness of the school and its comparative contiguity to our own part of the country are also inducements to have them there, as keeping them at home is beyond all doubt highly improper. Hence you will perceive that we are entering on a new sort of trials. We purpose calling to see them as we return, after which it is probable Moffat will be many years before he sees them again. It is likely, however, that I may come in the course of two or three years, as we have not friends to fulfil the duties of a mother to them. How happy are we, my dear friend, to have a covenant God to go to in all these straits and difficulties. Nature has its struggle, but we are not to confer with flesh and blood.

“Being disappointed in our expectation of meeting with a vessel at Algoa Bay, ready to sail for the Cape, Moffat, to save time, has proceeded on horseback with his manuscripts; as he expects to be detained a length of time correcting for the press, I am to follow with the two children, Robert and Helen, by sea. I expect to sail in about a fortnight. Moffat has been gone nearly a week. I have said nothing about our station, and shall decline saying much till we see it again. Suffice it to say that we left it in a hopeful and prosperous condition.”

On his way to Cape Town, Moffat had visited his old friends the Andersons, formerly of Griqua Town, then settled at Pacaltsdorp, one of the Society’s stations within the Colony, from which the following was written:

“August 17, 1830, Sabbath night. *’ My dear Mary, — Through the goodness of God I reached this place at nine o’clock last night, which was more than I expected after being detained more than half a day at Kromme River waiting on horses. This circumstance obliged me to ride a seven hours’ stage during the night, and thirteen hours on Saturday, to be here before Sunday. I was treated with the greatest kindness and attention by the Boers wherever I called, even though I told them all I was a ‘Zendeling.’ Stephanus Ferreira, a notorious enemy to missionaries, whom I the most dreaded, was the most kind and did the most to enable me to proceed without loss of time. Had I acquainted the Field Cornets with letters, as is the custom, I could have procured fresh horses every four or five hours; but not having used this precaution my arrival in the Cape will be very uncertain. From George to the Cape is twenty-five hours’ ride on horseback — further than from Uitenhage to George — so that I may scarcely reach the Cape on Saturday. But if health be continued and horses at hand I may reach a day sooner. The Lord willing, I leave this to-morrow morning at three o’clock.

“Mr. and Mrs. Anderson received me with great kindness. They scarcely knew me when I first entered the house. They were greatly disappointed when they heard that you were not following. Many have been their inquiries respecting the Griquas and Bechwanas, and they do rejoice in what is doing among them. ‘Had I youth on my side,’ says Mr. A., laying his hand on his pate, ‘I would spend it among the Bechwanas.’ He is much aged, and the sound of the grinders being low, his speech is not so clear as formerly. This evening he ran to hide his tears when I was describing the pleasing change which has lately taken place at Griqua Town. Mrs. A. takes the liveliest interest in the welfare of our missions in that quarter.’’

Mary Moffat continues the narrative:

“Lattakoo or LiTAKO, Sept. 15, 1831.

“My ever dear Father, — I am quite overcome when I think that I have three of your letters by me unanswered, but trust to your considerateness to make allowance for our apparent neglect; for surely since we came to the country we have never experienced such a bustling life as during the last year and a half. When on the Sneeuwbergen, I wrote a hasty scrawl to Miss Lees, from which you would hear part of our history since I wrote to you, I think in November, from Cape Town. It was then my intention to write often to my friends, but the press of business and Robert’s subsequent illness prevented me. When we embarked at the Cape I felt quite worn out, and the tedious voyage and necessary attention to Robert produced fatigue from which I did not speedily recover. At the same time there was so much to do with the landing of our goods and getting them off from Bethelsdorp that Robert did not write at all to England, he being still weak and easily fatigued. The Lord has been merciful and gracious, and, notwithstanding our unfaithfulness to Him, has loaded us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. During our stay in the Colony my own health greatly improved, and, as you would hear, on the 2Sth of March I was again made the joyful mother of a fine daughter whom we have baptized Elizabeth, after my worthy friend, Miss Lees.

“My dear Robert’s health is now completely established, and he is able to pursue his usual avocations with his accustomed vigour. We left our dear Mary and Ann much improved, and in good health and spirits, after having been absent from them a half-year. At Grahamstown we met with almost all of the Scottish Brethren from Kafirland, as well as those of our own Society. They were come to the missionary meeting there, and we had our babe baptized among them by Mr. Brovvnlee, in the house of our missionary Monro, where most of us were lodged. From there we went to Graaff Reinett by way of Somerset, both which places are blessed with ministers from Scotland, holy men of God; Mr. Morgan, of Somerset, lately received a wife from his own land, an excellent woman. Murray, of Graafif Reinett, is a renowned friend of missions. His house is open to all missionaries. We stayed there a fortnight, making further arrangements for the conveyance of our baggage, and arrived all well about the end of June at the Kuruman. Here we found things going on well; but one of the members had, alas! turned to his idols, his young wife, whom he had put away, having proved a snare to him, and we are sorry to say we do not perceive in him the penitence which is desirable.

“The French missionaries had both been very ill, but were recovered. Mr. Lcmue, however, continues sickly. Mr. Hamilton has judiciously given up his house and garden to the Edwardses, and they and the Bailies share it at present. As we were anxious that Mr. Hamilton should be as comfortably circumstanced as possible, and we knew he would rather live with us than with the new-comers, it is so settled that he boards with us. We have also the mason, so that my family is now large, and may apologize in some measure for my long silence; since we came home I have had no leisure.

“The printing press is set up, and has been at work printing lessons for the school. It has been a formidable work to bring it and to set it going; but the advantages of it will be inestimable to the mission. They are, however, short of suitable type for lessons, though they brought all which was to be found in Cape Town, Bethelsdorp, and Griqua Town. Mr. Edwards will be found admirably fitted to supply Mr. Hamilton’s place, in many things where his strength now fails. Since we came home he has been chiefly engaged making appliances for the printing office, and later at the printing itself. The building of our new church is now to be resumed. Five or six waggons are to-morrow to leave the place for wood for the same. While we were in the Colony Robert solicited subscriptions for it, and raised about a hundred pounds sterling. Nearly twenty pounds came from Government House, besides what was given by other officials. It is intended to be built free of expense to the Society. Millen, the mason, gives his work, and only requires his board. The old church is now being enlarged by Arend, being much too small even for the school.

“You will naturally be inquiring what are the French missionaries going to do? Mr. Rolland, after his recovery, went to the Bahurutse and looked out a place, and promised to go immediately; but Mr. Lemue’s health being so bad, his going at present is out of the question. Mr. Rolland has been busily employed making a plough and mending his waggon, and is ready to go. He has also got a mason, a Scotsman, a Mr. Hume, to go with him. He came here on trading business. A painful circumstance has, however, taken place in the country which may cause them some trouble, and renders it extremely doubtful whether they ought to go at present. You have heard of Mosilikatse, the Zulu chief whom Robert visited two years ago. He is a desperate tyrant, and subjugates all the tribes about him. He is consequently very rich, and his cattle have proved a bait to those who ought to have known better. A large hunting party of more than three hundred men left Griqualand four or five months ago, headed by Berend, chief at Butswap. Many of the Philippolis Griquas were also of the number, and some English traders to whom these Griquas were indebted. When they came by the outposts of the Zulu monarch, instead of hunting elephants, they fell upon his cattle, took three posts, and killed many of his young soldiers, who generally reside at such places. This, of course, was not to be suffered with impunity, and the enraged savages pursued and surprised them while asleep. The battle was horrible. Many were slain on both sides, and but few Griquas have come out. They suppose many of their number are still wandering in the interior, but we apprehend their wanderings have for ever ceased. When the traders who were with them found that their object was a commando, they left them and made the best of their way back to Butswap. From what I have written you will judge how delicate is the position of our dear French brethren. The Barolong joined Berend in his iniquitous project, but the Bahurutse would not. Mr. Millen, Arend, and many from our station were at the same time in the interior, and, of course, made for home. They were met by numbers of Mosilikatse’s people after the battle, and though completely in their power, they received no harm, on it being found that they were from the Kuruman. We have since heard that two messengers were on their way hither from the Zulus, and have been murdered by the Barolong.”

Mary Moffat again writes:

“LiTAKO (LattAKOo), Feb. 23, 1S32.

“My dear Father, — ... If Miss Lees received mine of the 2nd ultimo you will anticipate what I am going to add. Our beloved and interesting child Betsy is no longer an inhabitant of this lower world. Her freed spirit took its happy flight on the night of the 4th of January. As parents we do feel, and it is necessary we should feel, for He does nothing in vain who has afflicted us....

“I scarcely know where to begin, having forgotten the contents of my last. I have some impression that I informed you of Mr. Rolland’s departure to settle at the Bahurutse. He was, however, obliged to return, not being able to get his attendants to accompany him on account of the enraged Mosilikatse, who had been so villainously treated by old Berend. For some time, however, all has been quiet. Mr. Lemue’s health seems to be established. Mr. Rolland has had the smallpox. Mr. Pelissier has joined them, and they again left us on the 15th in good spirits. They have met with many discouragements, but we hope and trust they will now succeed. Moffat has sent with them a messenger to Mosilikatse to explain the matter of Berend to the poor, ignorant savage. Robert would have gone himself, but could not be spared at present from the place. The printing and the building of the new church require much attention

“Robert and I have necessarily had a good deal to do for the French mission, but it is all one cause, and we could sympathize with them; having enough to damp their zeal, they require Christian sympathy and kindness. I feel attached to them as my own brothers, and have greatly enjoyed their company.”

The raid of Berend and his Griquas which had ended so disastrously to themselves left behind it consequences which at length proved the ruin of the infant mission of the Paris Society in the Bahurutse country. Mosilikatse was himself a new-comer from the far east, then an unknown region. He knew but little of what lay to the southward of him. It was difficult for him to discriminate between Griquas and white men, or to understand how the former coming from the country of the white men could do what they had done to him without being called to account by the Government of the white people which he had been taught to regard as wise and just. He had learned to place unbounded confidence in his friend Moffat, and had formed an exaggerated notion of his power and importance among his own people. It was hard to make these things clear to him. It was natural that when the three French missionaries entered the country of the Bahurutse, which had become tributary to him, he should a little hesitate. He professed himself satisfied with the explanations given by a messenger whom Moffat had sent with them, and wished one of them to repair to his own headquarters. Pelissier accordingly did so, but found himself under a sort of restraint from returning to his companions. This naturally alarmed the missio-naries, new as they were to the country, and not yet ripe in the experience that the only way to get on with people such as these were was to treat them with perfect confidence. The missionaries would probably have come right, but their native attendants took the alarm and were determined to go back with or without them.

The motive of Pelissier’s detention was probably two-fold. He would be useful as a hostage if it should prove that Mosilikatse’s fears were well founded about the missionaries being privy to some further raid upon him from the southward; and, moreover, a large number of guns had fallen into his hands by his victory over the Griquas, and he wanted some one to put them in order and to teach his people to use them.

It was difficult for him to see why the missionaries should object to supply him with ammunition, of which indeed they had but little for their own use, even had they been willing to serve his purpose in this way. It soon became evident to them that their position would be untenable, and when at length Pelissier was allowed to return to them they at once grasped the opportunity and left the Bahurutse country and started for Kuruman. They were met by Moffat himself, who was on his way to see whether he could not smoothe matters for them. It was not to be, however, and this first mission, in some measure directed to the Matebele themselves, was a failure. In the providence of God what was their loss was the great gain of another South African people, the Basuto, under Moshesh, to whom the French gave their attention. Their mission in Basutoland has been most prosperous and satisfactory in spite of great trials caused mainly by wars between the natives and the Colonists.

Towards the end of the year 1832 Dr. Philip visited Kuruman, and it was arranged that Rolland and his companions, who saw no immediate prospect of re-opening their work with the Bahurutse, should commence a station at Motito, about thirty-six miles to the north-east of Kuruman, until time should open a way for further undertakings. The appeal of Moshesh afforded that opening. Motito long remained the only station of the Paris Society in Bechwanaland, and it was after many years handed over to the care of the missionaries at Kuruman.