bounty or bribery ceased to flow they became rude, abusive, and even dangerous. The life passed by Mr. and Mrs. Moffat, and their fellow-laborer Mr. Hamilton, was not only one of great discomfort and hardship, but of peril and bitterness. sive. As it was not pleasant to take our meals amongst such filth, our dinner was often deferred for hours, hoping for their departure; but, after all, it had to be eaten when the natives were despatching their game at our feet. Our attendance at rum. from their ornaments certain nameless insects, letting them run about the forms, while sitting by the missionary's wife. Never having been accus tomed to chairs or stools, some, by way of imita tion, would sit with their feet on the benches, having their knees, according to their usual mode of sitting, drawn up to their chins. In this position one would fall asleep and tumble over, to the great merriment of his fellows. On some occasions an opportunity would be watched to rob when the missionary was engaged in public service.. public worship would vary from one to forty; and these very often manifesting the greatest indecoSome would be snoring; others laughing; Our time was incessantly occupied in building, some working; and others, who might even be and laboring frequently for the meat that perish-styled the noblesse, would be employed in removing eth; but our exertions were often in vain, for while we sowed, the natives reaped. The native women, seeing the fertilizing effect of the water in our gardens, thought very naturally that they had an equal right to their own, and took the liberty of cutting open our water ditch, and allowing it on some occasions to flood theirs. This mode of proceeding left us at times without a drop of water, even for culinary purposes. It was in vain that we pleaded, and remonstrated with the chiefs,-the women were the masters in this matter. Mr. Hamilton and I were daily compelled to go alternately three miles with a spade, about three o'clock P. M., the hottest time of the day, and turn in the many outlets into native gardens, that we might have a little moisture to refresh Some of our tools and utensils which our burnt-up vegetables during the night, which we they stole, on finding the metal not what they exwere obliged to irrigate when we ought to have pected, they would bring back, beaten into all rested from the labors of the day. Many night shapes, and offer them in exchange for some other watches were spent in this way; and after we article of value. Knives were always eagerly had raised with great labor vegetables, so neces- coveted, our metal spoons they melted; and when sary to our constitutions, the natives would steal we were supplied with plated iron ones, which them by day as well as by night, and after a year's they found not so pliable, they supposed them betoil and care, we scarcely reaped any thing to re-witched. Very often, when employed in working ward us for our labor.. When we at a distance from the house, if there was no one in whom he could confide, the missionary would be compelled to carry them all to the place where he went to seek a draught of water, well knowing that if they were left they would take wings before he could return. Some nights, or rather mornings, we have had to record thefts committed in the course of twenty-four hours in our houses, our smith-shop, our garden, and among our cattle in the field. complained, the women, who one would have thought would have been the first to appreciate the principles by which we were actuated, became exasperated, and going to the higher dam, where the water was led out of the river, with their picks completely destroyed it, allowing the stream to flow in its ancient bed. By this means the supply of water we formerly had was reduced to one-half, and that entirely at the mercy of those who loved us only when we could supply thern with tobacco, repair their tools, or administer medicine to the afflicted. But all this, and much more, failed to soften their feelings towards us. Mrs. Moffat, from these circumstances, and the want of female assistance, has been compelled to send the heavier part of our linen a hundred miles to be wash-out it, I hung it upon a nail, where it remained ed. Sometimes the missionary is called to suffer much greater privations than have now been described. This may be the most proper place, briefly to introduce a sketch of the general character of my manner of living, while on this station. As before noticed, I had neither bread nor vegetables. But Mr. Bartlett, of Pella, once sent me a bag con taining a few pounds of salt, but, on examining it, I could scarcely tell whether there was most sand or salt, and having become accustomed to do with untouched. My food was milk and meat, living Our situation might be better conceived than described: not one believed our report among the thousands by whom we were surrounded. Native aid, especially to the wife of the missionary, though not to be dispensed with, was a source of the kindness of Titus Africaner, who, when he anxiety, and an addition to our cares; for any in-visited the station, would come and ask what he dividual might not only threaten, but carry a rash could do for me, and, on receiving a few shots, purpose into effect. As many would go to the field, and almost always bring me men and women as pleased might come into our home something, for he was an extraordinary hut, leaving us not room even to turn ourselves, and marksman. making every thing they touched the color of their own greasy red attire; while some were talking, others would be sleeping, and some pilfering what ever they could lay their hands upon. This would keep the housewife a perfect prisoner in a suffocating atmosphere, almost intolerable; and when they departed, they left ten times more than their number behind-company still more offen The contents of my wardrobe bore the same impress of poverty. The supply of clothes which I had received in London were, as is too often the case, made after the dandy fashion, and I being still a growing youth, they soon went to pieces. There were no laundry-maids there, nor any thing like ironing or mangling. The old woman who washed my linen sometimes with soap, but oftener without, was wont to make one shirt into a bag | was above the common order. He kept the and stuff the others into it, and I just took them out chiefs and nobles gazing on him with silent as they were, and more than once have I turned one to feel the comfort of a clean shirt. My dear old mother, to keep us out of mischief in the long winter evenings, taught me both to sew and knit; and when I would tell her I intended being a man, she would reply, "Lad, ye dinna ken whar your lot will be cast." She was right, for I have often had occasion to use the needle since. amazement, while the demon of mendacity enriched his themes with lively imagery, making them fancy they saw their corn-fields floating in the breeze, and their flocks and herds return lowing homewards by noonday from the abundance of pasture. He had in his wrath desolated the cities of the enemies of his people, by stretching forth his hand, and commanding the clouds to burst upon them. He had arrested These are but a specimen of the priva- the progress of a powerful army, by causing a tions and hardships to which all these good flood to descend, which formed a mighty river, men and their families had, more or less, and arrested their course. These, and many to submit. other pretended supernatural displays of his One main object with Moffat was the ac-power, were received as sober truths. The requisition of the language, in which he has port of his fame spread like wildfire, and the since made so great a proficiency. But this chiefs of the neighboring tribes came to pay him homage. We scarcely knew whether to expect important acquirement was attended with from him open hostility, secret machinations, or many difficulties, and made under the most professed friendship. He, like all of his profesunfavorable circumstances. He relates- sion, was a thinking and calculating soul, in the It was something like groping in the dark, and habit of studying human nature, affable, engamany were the ludicrous blunders I made. The ging, with an acute eye, and exhibiting a dignity of mien, with an ample share of self-esteem, more waggish of those from whom I occasionally obtained sentences and forms of speech, would which, notwithstanding all his obsequiousness, He found we richly enjoy the fun, if they succeeded in leading me into egregious mistakes and shameful blunders; but though I had to pay dear for my credulity, I learned something. After being compelled to attend to every species of manual, and frequently menial, labor for the whole day, working under a burning sun, standing on the sawpit, laboring at the anvil, treading clay, or employed in cleaning a water-ditch, it may be imagined that I was in no very fit condition for study, even when a quiet hour could be obtained in the evening for that purpose. And this was not all; an efficient interpreter could not be found in the country; and when every thing was ready for inquiry, the native mind, unaccustomed to analyze abstract terms, would, after a few questions, be completely bewildered. Upon this subject Mr. Moffat makes observations not less important to persons endeavoring to acquire an unwritten language than to philologers. Among the most formidable enemies of the missionaries were the sorcerers or rain-makers, whose province they had, it was suspected, come to usurp; for these crafty vagabonds, who live by adroitly cheating and deluding the people, seemed to think that the missionaries and themselves were of the same calling. A famous rain-maker, of grand pretensions, had been sent for from a great distance during a season of extreme drought, of whom it is told: he could not hide. were men of peace, and would not quarrel. For he would occasionally pay us a visit, and even the sake of obtaining a small piece of tobacco, enter the place of worship. He was also studious not to give offence. While in the course of conversation, he would give a feeble assent to our views, as to the sources of that element, over which he pretended to have a sovereign con trol. It might be briefly noticed, that in order to carry on the fraud, he would, when clouds appeared, order the women neither to plant nor also require them to go to the fields, and gather SOW, lest they should be scared away. He would certain roots and herbs, with which he might light what appeared to the natives mysterious fires. Elate with hope, they would go in crowds to the hills and dales, herborize, and return to his feet. With these he would sometimes prothe town with songs, and lay their gatherings at ceed to certain hills, and raise smoke; gladly would he have raised the wind also, if he could have done so, well knowing that the latter is frequently the precursor of rain. He would select the time of new and full moon for his purpose, aware that at those seasons there was frequently matter of speculation with me whether such men a change in the atmosphere. It was often a had not the fullest conviction in their own minds that they were gulling the public; and opportunities have been afforded which convinced me that my suspicions were well grounded. I met one among the Barolongs, who, from some service I had done him, thought me very kind, and, before he knew my character, became very intimate. He had derived benefit from some of my medicines, and consequently viewed me as a doctor, and one of his own fraternity. In reply to some of my remarks, he said, "It is only wise men who can be rain-makers, for it requires very great wisdom to deceive so many;" adding, 'you and I know that." At the same time he gave me a broad hint that I must not remain The rain-makers, as I have since had frequent opportunities of observing, were men of no common calibre; and it was the conviction of their natural superiority of genius, which emboldened them to lay the public mind prostrate before the reveries of their fancies. Being foreigners, they generally amplified prodigiously on their former" feats. The present one, as has been noticed, there, lest I should interfere with his field of la- | for he had come for advice. "What am I to do?" bor. As those savages who are idolaters become enraged with their gods when their desires are not complied with, and break and tear them in pieces, so do these Africans act with their sorcerers. This great rain-maker was afterwards put to death by a chief; and his wife, who was considered too handsome for him, given to the chief's son. When all his arts, contrivances, and shifts had failed-and some of them were most ingenious-he insinuated that the cause of his failure was the presence of the missionaries, who rendered the clouds "hard-hearted," and "dried up the teats of heaven." The situation of the missionaries became at this juncture extremely perilous. It is said The people at last became impatient, and poured forth their curses against brother Hamilton and myself, as the cause of all their sorrows. Our bell, which was rung for public worship, they said, frightened the clouds; our prayers came in also "Don't you," said the chief rather fiercely to me, "bow down in your houses, and pray and talk to something bad in the ground?" A council was held, and restrictions were to be laid on all our actions. We refused compliance, urging that the spot on which the mission premises stood, had been given to the mis. sionaries. The rain-maker appeared to avoid accusing us openly; he felt some sense of obligation, his wife having experienced that my medicines and mode of bleeding did her more good than all his nostrums. He would occasionally visit our humble dwellings, and when I happened to be in the smith's shop, he would look on most intently when he saw a piece of iron welded, or an instrument made, and tell me privately he wished I were living among his people, assuring me that there was plenty of timber and iron there. for a share of the blame. he inquired; "I wish all the women were men; I can get on with the men, but I cannot manage the women." I viewed this as a delicate moment, and, feeling the need of caution, replied, "that the women had just cause to complain; he had pro mised them rain, but the land was dust, their gar dens burned up, and were I a woman, I would complain as loudly as any of them." The rain-maker kept himself very secluded for a fortnight, and, after cogitating how he could make his own cause good, he appeared in the public fold, and proclaimed that he had discovered the cause of the drought. All were now eagerly listening; he dilated some time, till he had raised their expectation to the highest pitch, when he revealed the mystery. "Do you not see, when clouds come over us, that Hamilton and Moffat look at them ?" affirmation, he added that our white faces frightened This question receiving a hearty and unanimous away the clouds, and they need not expect rain so long as we were in the country. This was a homelate what the influence of such a charge would be stroke, and it was an easy matter for us to calcuof the evil of our conduct, to which we pleaded on the public mind. We were very soon informed guilty, promising, that as we were not aware that we were doing wrong, being as anxious as any of them for rain, we would willingly look to our chins, or the ground, all the day long, if it would serve their purpose. It was rather remarkable, that much as they admired my long black beard, they thought that in this case it was most to blame. However, this season of trial passed over, to our with many indications of suspicion and distrust. great comfort, though it was followed for some time Matters were now coming to extremity. The long-continued drought, and all its attendant miseries, were attributed to the missionaries, who were ordered to leave the country; and it was hinted that violence would be employed unless the orders of the chiefs for their departure were obeyed. The missionaries refused to go away, and One day he came and sat down, with a face stated their reasons for remaining, which somewhat elongated, and evincing inward dissatisfaction. On making inquiry, I found, as I had were of a nature quite incomprehensible to heard whispered the day before, that all was not the aborigines, who however remarked, right; the public voice was sounding ominous in" These men must have ten lives. When his ears. He inquired how the women were in our country; and supposing he wished to know what they were like, I pointed him to my wife, adding, that there were some taller, and some shorter than she was. "That is not what I mean,' he replied; "I want to know what part they take in public affairs, and how they act when they do so?" I replied, "that when the women of my country had occasion to take an active part in any public affairs, they carried all before them;" adding, in a jocose strain, "wait till we missionaries get the women on our side, as they now are on yours, and there will be no more rain-makers in the country." At this remark he looked at me as if I had just risen out of the earth. "May that time never arrive!" he cried, with a countenance expressive of unusual anxiety. I replied, "that time would assuredly come, for Jehovah, the mighty God, had spoken it. He was evidently chagrined, they are so fearless of death, there must be Two The little images in the clock were soon magnified into Goliahs, and the place of worship looked upon as an eintlu ea kholego, a house of bondage. It was necessary to take down the fairy-looking strangers, and cut a piece off their painted bodies, to convince the affrighted natives that the objects of their alarm were only bits of colored wood. Many, however, thought themselves too wise to be thus easily deceived. Though perfectly convinced | warlike tribe of Mantatees, typified by the of the egregious folly of believing that the little gigantic woman, had actually reached some liséto, "carved ones," would one day seize them by of the neighboring tribes, whose towns the throat in the sanctuary, they nevertheless continued to suspect, that the motives of the mission-were already in the hands of the marauders. ary were any thing but disinterested. Mr. Moffat had been, even when matters looked the darkest, unconsciously laying the foundation of his future success; and now a crisis was at hand, of which he availed himself with singular boldness and sagacity, and at length fully gained the confidence and regard of the people, who could no longer doubt of his will and power to serve them. The details of those transactions which gained him the esteem and confidence of the tribe, exhibit one of the most complete pictures of savage warfare, where the great impeller is hunger, and where one horde pours forth from the wilderness after another, spreading dismay and devastation in their course, that ancient or modern literature affords. ru The spies sent out to ascertain the movethe ancient hordes, moved onward, accomments of this advancing army,-which, like panied by their wives, children, cattle, and dogs,-could give no satisfactory tidings; and Mr. Moffat and his company proceeded for the town of the chief, Makaba; but the party had not advanced much farther when they were driven to their wits' end. We were on the alert, and made inquiries of every stranger we met about the invaders, but than fifteen miles from the town, of which it was could learn nothing, although we were not more reported the enemy were in possession. We saw, on a distant height, some men who were evidently looking our way, and their not approaching our wagons was so unusual with hungry natives, that we thought they must be strangers from a great distance, or some of the Mantatees. Two days For more than a year, numerous wild passed over, and on the next, when we were about to start for the Bauangketsi, two Barolongs passmors of war, brought by the hunters and ing by, informed us of the fact that the Mantatees traders, had reached the mission-station, were in possession of the town, which lay rather but of so extravagant a nature, that they in our rear, behind some heights, which we diswere at first treated as the dreams of mad-tinctly saw. As one of these men had narrowly men. It was said that a mighty woman escaped with his life in the conflict with that peonamed Mantatee, was coming on at the head ple, no doubt was left in our minds as to the proof an invincible army, numerous as the lo-priety of returning immediately to the place whence custs, marching onward among the interior bility that our course might be intercepted, some we had come, particularly as there was a probanations, bringing devastation and ruin prisoners who had escaped having reported that wherever she appeared; and that she nou- the enemy were about to start for Lithako. We rished the army with her own milk, sent lost no time in returning to Nokaneng, and were out hornets before her, and was laying the met there by individuals who authenticated my reworld desolate. Mr. Moffat began to think port to some thousands, who were pleasing themthat there must be some foundation for When I arrived at our station the fearful news selves with the idea that there was no such enemy. these extraordinary gazettes, and concluded spread rapidly. A public meeting was convened, that they were magnified rumors of the de- and the principal men met, to whom I gave a cirstructive wars carrying on by Chaka the cumstantial account of all the information I had tyrant of Zoolus; and though this monster gathered respecting the character and progress of was at too great a distance to cause alarm, the Mantatees. That they were really a nume the missionary had various reasons for rous and powerful body, had destroyed many towns wishing to ascertain the state of public af-bers of people, laid Kurrechane in ruins, scattered of the Bakone tribes, slaughtered immense numfairs among the neighboring tribes, and he the Barolongs, and, in addition, were said to be accordingly resolved to visit Makaba, the cannibals! The alarming tidings produced at first chief of the Bauangketsi; and by opening a gloom on every countenance, and when I had a friendly intercourse, or mediating be- finished speaking, a profound silence reigned for tween hostile tribes, prevent, if possible, of the assembly, that he was exceedingly thankful some minutes. Mothibi then replied in the name their perpetual bloody conflicts. He wished, besides, to become acquainted with sued my journey, for, by so doing, I had discovered that I had been tloga e thata, hard-headed, and purtheir manners and language. The chief to them their danger. and people among whom he had so long resided on the Kuruman, were averse to his journey. Makaba was represented as a ferocious murderer, from whose territory he would never return alive. He however persisted in his purpose, and had not advanced far on his march when he ascertained, beyond a doubt, that the fierce and All were now ready to bless me for having taken my own way. They solicited counsel, but all I could give was to flee to the colony, or call in the assistance of the Griquas; that as the Bechuanas were entirely unable to resist so numerous and sa vage a force as the Mantatees, I would proceed vey their wishes, and obtain assistance and wagons instantly to Griqua Town, give information, conto remove our goods from the station. Some pro posed fleeing to the Kalagare desert: but from this I strongly dissuaded them, fearing that many would perish from want. As no time was to be lost, in the absence of horses, I proceeded with my wagon to Griqua Town, where I had the pleasure of meeting, at Mr. Melvill's house, George Thompson, Esq., of Cape Town, who was on a tour, and about to visit Lithako. his best horse, urging that my life was far more valuable than his. This kind act was the more sensibly felt as the horse was one of the strongest in the commando; and but for this circumstance, I could not have done what I did, nor, humanly speaking, could I have escaped with my life. Having spent an almost sleepless night on the plain, from extreme cold, we were all in motion In brief, the services which Mr. Moffat, made the preceding day to bring about a friendly next morning before daylight. The attempt by his prompitude and sagacity, rendered communication having entirely failed, it was to the tribe at this critical period, gained judged expedient for the commando to ride up to for him an ascendency which he never after- the invaders, hoping, from the imposing appearwards lost. A public meeting or parlia-ance of about one hundred horsemen, to intimi ment was instantly assembled; the pro- this purpose the commando approached within date them, and bring them to a parley. For ceedings and eloquence of which are mi- 150 yards, with a view to beckon some one to nutely described, and at which there was come out. On this the enemy commenced their "little cheering, and less hissing, while terrible howl, and at once discharged their clubs every speaker fearlessly stated his senti- and javelins. Their black dismal appearance, ments." Our specimen of the eloquence of and savage fury, with their hoarse and stentothe pitsho must be brief. An old chief, when rian voices, were calculated to aaunt; and the his turn came to address the assembly, Griquas, on their first attack, wisely retreated to a short distance, and again drew up. said, "Ye sons of Molehabangue, ye have now had experience enough to convince you that it is your duty to proceed against the Mantatees, who have no object but to steal and destroy. Ye sons of Molebabangue! ye sons of Molehabangue! ye have done well this day. You are now acting wisely, first to deliberate and then to proceed: the missionary has discovered our danger like the rising sun after a dark night; a man sees the danger he was in when darkness shuts his eyes. We must not act like Bechuanas, we must act like Makovas (white people). Is this our pitsho? No, it is the pitsho of the missionary; therefore we must speak and act like Makovas." But we have no space for eloquence. The time for action had come; the Griqua auxiliaries arrived; and the commando marched forth, accompanied by Mr. Moffat. It had been resolved in council, that the scene of combat had best be chosen at a distance from their town. The bold, yet becoming and consistent part which the missionary acted throughout this campaign, must have raised him still higher in the esteem of the tribe, though he only acted as the consistent servant of the Prince of Peace. He and another individual advanced before the main body to learn how matters stood, and, if possible, to prevent a collision; but the Mantatees would not approach him; and he relates, Soon after the battle commenced, the Bechuanas came up, and united in playing on the enemy with poisoned arrows, but they were soon driven back; half-a-dozen of the fierce Mantatees made the whole body scamper off in wild disorder. After two hours and a half's combat, the Griquas, finding their ammunition fast diminishing, at the almost certain risk of loss of life, began to storm; when the enemy gave way, taking a westerly direction. The horsemen, however, intercepted them, when they immediately descended towards the ravine, as if determined not to return by the way they came, which they crossed, but were again intercepted. On turning round, they seemed despe rate, but were soon repulsed. Great confusion now prevailed, the ground being very stony, which rendered it difficult to manage the horses. At this moment an awful scene was presented to the view. The undulating country around was covered with warriors, all in motion, so that it were friends. Clouds of dust were rising from was difficult to say who were enemies or who the immense masses, who appeared flying with terror, or pursuing with fear. To the alarming confusion was added the bellowing of oxen, the vociferations of the yet unvanquished warriors, mingled with the groans of the dying, and the widows' piercing wail, and the cries from infant towards the town, which was in possession of a voices. The enemy then directed their course tribe of the same people, still more numerous. Here again another desperate struggle ensued, when they appeared determined to inclose the horsemen within the smoke and flames of the houses, through which they were slowly passing, At sunset I left Waterboer and the scouts, and giving the enemy time to escape. At last seized rode back, to confer with Mr. Melvill and the Gri- with despair, the fled precipitately. It had been qua chiefs, and to advise some scheme to bring the observed during the fight that some women went enemy to terms of peace, and prevent, if possible, backward and forward to the town, only about the dreadful consequences of a battle. The Griquas half a mile distant, apparently with the most had come, headed by their respective chiefs, Adam perfect) indifference to their fearful situation. Kok, Berend Berend, Andries Waterboer, and While the commando was struggling between Cornelius Kok; but it was unanimously agreed hope and despair of being able to rout the enethat Waterboer should take the command. Cor-my, information was brought that the half of the nelius, nobly and generously, insisted on my taking enemy under Chuane were reposing in the town, |