time travelled on with the remainder of the caravan. On the

speedily administered, he will certainly expire in a few hours. It is, however, true, that Bosche-next day, my people joined us men, being properly prepared, with seventy-three out of eighty will drink the poisoned water Oxen which had been stolen without prejudice to their health. from us. They had happily falWe were greatly distressed on len in with the robbers, at the the sight of these serpents' distance of a long day's journey heads, and knew not what course beyond the hills, and recovered to take. I deliberated in my the property; but two of our own mind, whether I should call horses had been killed by the the people together for a public fatigue. prayer-meeting on this occasion, to implore of God a supply of rain; but having weighed the matter fully, I resolved to apply in private prayer to our Saviour, and being supported in this by my Brother Scholtz, we earnestly intreated his help in this our time of need. The Lord graciously heard the voice of our supplication, granting us, in the course of a few hours, such "showers of blessings," as put a period to our distress. We praised the name of Christ, and stayed two days at this place to recruit our cattle.

Leaving my flock under the care of Brother Scholtz, I hastened forward, towards the residence of the nearest Farmers, partly that I might gratify my extreme longing for a morsel of bread, having been without this kind of food for half a year. I stopped on the road only a single night, urging my journey with all possible dispatch, in company with three of the best of my people, Cornelius and James de Trees, and John Kotze, whose conversation was singu- larly spiritual and pleasant; happier hours than these I scarcely On the morning which was ever spent. At length I came fixed for our departure, one of within sight of the first Farmer's our Cows came home with an house, my joy on approaching arrow sticking in her flank. We which was inexpressible. My immediately concluded that the first request was for a piece of Boschemen had driven away bread, which I immediately depart of our herd. In these cases voured with the keenest appethey oblige the cattle to run as tite. It is difficult to conceive fast as they can, and when any of the gratification I enjoyed, of them is unable to keep up when tasting once more this with the rest, they pierce it long-missed article of food. with a dart; in consequence of Shortly after this, I arrived in which it falls on the road, and safety at my home near Zak the carcase is fetched away by River. I rejoiced exceedingly the robbers on the following day. when I regained the favored The Cow which returned to us spot, where the Lord had shown had been thus treated, and serv- me so many wonders of his ed as a messenger to apprize us grace and goodness. My dear of what had happened. I dis- Cornelius was overjoyed, and patched some Hottentots with said, "O Sir! what happy times fire arms to pursue the track of" have we formerly had here! the banditti; and in the mean "This little house. could it

"speak, would tell us what thou- | "sands of gracious words have "here been spoken in it, and "how good the Lord has here "been to us poor Hottentots!"

accept of the Church at Rodezand. The people, in reply, promised me every thing I could desire, and assured me that I should have no cause to complain. I therefore immediately set about the erection of a more commodious building for a Church; to assist me in which, the Farmers lent me two slaves, one a Carpenter, and the other a Mason. The Hottentots began at first to help forward the good work; but their natural indo

A convenient opportunity presenting itself at this time for a visit to the Cape, I gladly embraced it, as I had conceived a plan of forming a regular congregation of Hottentots, for which purpose I stood in need of a variety of articles, and particularly a good stock of clothes. Nothing very remarkable hap-lence soon made them weary of pened on this journey, but, wherever I had opportunity, I preached to the people who collected at different places as before, and I humbly trust "the Lord gave testimony to the word of his grace."

the labor.* I then repeated my former declaration, adding, that I would certainly leave them in the course of eight days, if I did. not see an increase of their diligence. A scene ensued, which I cannot recollect without much emotion. They began to weep, and entreat me so importunately, that my heart melted within me; I then gave them my word that I would not desert them. The joy occasioned by this promise was excessive. Many of them clasped their arms round my neck; and I was convinced that they loved me far more than

When I arrived at Cape Town, I received the money from the honorable Governor, which he had before promised to give me ; and which I immediately laid out in the purchase of clothing, and needful utensils for our settlement. Here also I received the repeated offer of the Church at Rodezand, which, for the sake of my poor people at Zak River, II had imagined. Just at this critthought it my duty to decline.

As soon as I could dispatch my business at the Cape, I hastened back to my situation in the wilderness; when I informed my people, that I had refused the living at Rodezand; and assured them that I would never forsake

them, provided they should discover a spirit of industry, and would be more diligent than they had formerly been in cultivating the ground, and in other useful employments; but I told them that if they should hereafter grieve me, as they had done, by their idleness, they might depend on it, I would leave them, and

ical moment, the Clerk of the Church at Rodezand, arrived at our settlement with a second invitation. Had he come eight days sooner, I know not what I

* Mr. Kicherer, in conversation on

this subject, informed us, that before he left the settlement, he had prevailed on the Hottentots to work two hours in a day, which he considered as a great point gained with people who, in their heathen state, never worked at all;

and he hoped shortly to get them to work three hours in a day, and hereaf ter four; so leading them on by de grees to a life of activity and industry, becoming Christians.

might have done; but now his labor proved in vain. In this matter I clearly saw the finger of God.

with a high wall, behind the house of the Christian Hottentots; and, on the north side of the River which is aboutthree quarters of a mile distant, are our Corn fields.† The country round about us produces few plants, spontane

I continued about ten months at Zak River, during which time I formed a regular settlement, Mr. Scholtz proving very help-ously, though it is well supplied ful to me. This spot is situated with sweet and fertilizing springs. in an elevated valley surrounded The heat, in the day time, is very by barren mountains, without a great, and the cold of the night single tree to enliven the pros- is very piercing, In the winter pect. The Zak River is, in the there are sharp dry frosts, which dry season, a small brook which prove very destructive to the vedescends into the Fish River, getables. We have no snow which latter is supposed to lose there, but it is visible on the tops itself in a plain near the moun- of the distant mountains a great tains; both of these rivers pro- part of the year. In the sumduce plenty of good fish, of mer months, from January to which, however, the Hottentots April, we have powerful rains, are not very fond, nothing but frequently attended with terrible Mutton, Wild Cattle and milk storms of thunder and lightning, suiting their palates. which are sometimes destructive Besides our Church, which is both to men and beasts. The capable of containing eight hun- country produces little grass, but dred people,* we have a good the cattle crop the tops of the low dwelling house, consisting of sev- bushes. Unseasonable rains oferal rooms on one floor, the ten produce unfruitful seasons. whole being built of stone. Near-Shortly after the rainy season, ly opposite the door of the house the winter commences, when the is the fountain, or spring, which crops are often destroyed. In the supplies ourselves and our cattle dry season, we are obliged to wawith water. We have a good ter our garden plants every day. garden, inclosed, for our more tender vegetables, and gardenground adjoining it for more hardy plants. Before our house, the baptized Hottentots have built themselves decent habitaitations, in the Farmers' style; and at the back of it the Heathen live in small huts. We have also a Cattle Yard, surrounded

The dimensions of the Church are about sixty feet by thirty, which would be insufficient for 800 people, accommodated in the European manner; but the Hottentots sit squatted on the ground, very close together. The baptized sit on planks laid across stones.

Amidst a variety of difficulties, we have been enabled to persevere in forming a Christian settlement, in this unpromising spot; and small as the beginning may seem, yet, all the circumstances considered, I trust it will appear that much has been done, and that there is reason to hope with the blessing of God that much more will yet be effected.

While we were diligently employed in our attempts to civilize

†The Indian corn flourishes exceedingly, and grows to a great size: the Hottentots are very fond of this, especially when it is parched.

the people, we had the satisfac- | of that blessed assurance of faith tion to find that the work of the which is so strongly commended Lord prospered in our hands. in his word. Were God your An instance or two of the power enemy, you would never feel that of divine grace on the hearts of joy, or that love to Jesus, of the people may be here men- which you speak, but rather tioned. dread and horror. You have certainly reason to believe that God is your gracious Father in Jesus Christ. He afterwards obtained a full assurance of his Adoption.

Krissy, a daughter of the old Bastard Hottentot John, was blessed with an hearing ear and an attentive heart. I was first acquainted with her just before our removal to the Great River. Her convictions of sin were then pow. erful, and, on our journey, she told me that she had given up her whole self to the Lord, and was assured that he had accepted of her, and was become her friend. One day, being with a number of Hottentots in the field, engaged

James Scheffer, a converted Hottentot, and who had become a very circumspect character, one day told me, that he found himself to be one of the greatest of all sinners, and that as such he daily turned to the Lord Jesus, for that God, viewed out of Christ, appeared to him as a consuming fire. Now, he said, his earnest desire was not merely to be delivered from the punishment of his sin, but he longed to enjoy communion with God, and to be more intimately acquainted with that good Being who had so long borne with him; but how to obtain this communion he knew not. I then asked him what he understood by fellow-in digging up a sort of root, she ship or communion with God. opened her heart to me, and exHe replied, "Sometimes when pressed with great fluency the "I have been engaged in pray- warmth of her love to the Friend er, I have had a sweet feeling, of sinners. "All that was precious "such as I cannot describe; it" in the world," she said, " durst "was just as if God was no lon-"not come into comparison with " ger my enemy, and then I felt "Him." At another time, when " inexpressible love to the Lord she was in a dry and barren frame "Jesus. But I want to be cer- of mind, the Lord directed me to "tainly assured of this, that God speak a word in season, suited "is no longer my enemy: I to her case. In discoursing on "want to be enabled to say to such an uncomfortable state, I "him" My Father;" but to was led to insist upon the privi"do this I have never yet found lege of a believer still to have "liberty." In answer to him, I free access to God, as it was not said-That you find you are a for the sake of our long and fersinner is well; that you seek af- vent prayers that he became grater Jesus, and feel the joy of the cious to us. After sermon she Holy Spirit in your heart, is well came and informed me of her too; but that you feel a repug- situation, and of the comfort she nancy to say to God, " My Fa- had derived from the discourse. "ther!" is unbelief, and the ve- "How happy is it," said she, ry thing that deprives you of" that God knows all things, yea sweet communion with God, and "the most secret motions of my

"heart; formerly this idea used | ment, of preserving man and beast from total extinction, when he destroyed the earth with the waters of