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tihvary of ^he Cheolojical ^eminarjp 
 
 PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY 
 
 From the Library of 
 
 Jnd^e Charles Oillett Hubbard 
 
 Kc?vean County, Penrsyi vania 
 
 BV 3557 .M7 D4 1880 
 Deane, David J. 
 Robert Moffat 
 
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KOBERT MOFFAI". 
 
 Frontispiece. 
 
Robert Moffat 
 
 THE 
 OF 
 
 Ku RU M A IM 
 DAVID J. DEANE 
 
 AUTHOR OF "JOHN WICLIFFE, THE MORNING STAIJ OF THE REFORMATION;" 
 "martin LUTHER, THE REFORMER;" ETC. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. TENTH THOUSAND. 
 
 F L E IVI I N (; H . R E V E L L 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 12 BIBLE HOUSE. 
 
 CHICAGO : 
 
 148 & 150 MADISON STREET. 
 
 PUBLISHER OF EVANGELICAL LITERATURE. 
 
UNIFORM WITH " ROBERT MOFFAT, 
 
 Crown Svo. 160 pages. Fully Illustrated. Cloth extra. 
 Samuel Crowther; the Slave Boy who became Bishop of the 
 
 Niger. By Jesse Pack, Author of " Bishop Patteson, the Martyr 
 of Melanesia." 
 
 Thom.as J. Comber, Missionary Pioneer to the Congo. By Rev. 
 J. B. Myeks, Association Secretary, Baptist Missionary Society. 
 
 Grif&th John, Founder of the Hankow Mission, Central China. 
 
 By William Robson, of the London Missionary Society. 
 
 Bishop Patteson, the Martyr of Melanesia. By Jesse Page. 
 Robert Morrison, the Pioneer of Chinese Missions. By Wm. J. 
 
 TowNSEND, General Secretary of the Methodist New Connexion 
 Missionary Society. Author of " The Great Schoolmen of the 
 Middle Ages." 
 
 William Carey, the Shoemaker who became the Father and 
 Founder of Modern Missions. By Rev. J. B. Myers, Associa- 
 tion Secretary, Baptist Missionary Society. 
 
 James Chalmers, Missionary and Explorer of Earotonga and 
 
 New Guinea. By William Rohson, of the London IMissionary 
 Society. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THE record of a life like that of Robert Moffat, 
 the South African missionary, can never be 
 devoid of interest until all appreciation for 
 noble deeds and patient endeavour becomes 
 extinct in the heart of man. Till then, our pulses will 
 quicken and our enthusiasm kindle as we read of 
 dangers encountered and overcome, of the true 
 courage that could undismayed encounter the king 
 of beasts roaming on the African plain, and of passing 
 the time with savage chiefs, beneath the spears and 
 clubs of whose warriors thousands had been slain. 
 Or our sympathy is awakened as stories of sickness 
 and suffering, of hunger and terrible thirst, of trying 
 disappointments, continued year after year, are 
 related. Anon, gratitude causes the tear to start to 
 our eye as we witness the love that prompts the 
 effort to win the heathen to the Saviour, and see the 
 once benighted ones clothed and subdued, learning in 
 mind and heart the truth of the Gospel. Gratitude 
 arises that we have men, heroic Christian men, who 
 count nothing dear to them, not even their lives, that 
 they may win sinners to the love of Jesus Christ. 
 Such an one was he, whose memoir we present to 
 
 V 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 our readers, with the earnest desire that his strong 
 faith may strengthen ours, that his quiet courage may 
 excite us to perseverance in well-doing, and that his 
 deliverance from manifold and very real dangers may 
 lead us to place reliance upon Him in whom Moffat 
 trusted, and who never forsakes those that trust in 
 Him. May we all see, and especially the youth of 
 our land, as we read the records of such noble lives, 
 that true godliness detracts not from true manhood, 
 but rather that it glorifies and ennobles it, until evil 
 is overcome, and the wicked are put to silence. 
 
 In writing this brief sketch of the life of the 
 Rev. Dr. Moffat, the author has been much indebted 
 to those who have trodden the path before him ; 
 especially to the two well-known works, " Robert and 
 Mary Moffat," by their son John S. Moffat, and to 
 Robert Moffat's own book, " Missionary Labours and 
 Scenes in South Africa." He also owes his acknow- 
 ledgments to "The Missionary Magazine," "The 
 Chronicle of the London Missionary Society," to the 
 Reports of various Missionary Societies, " A Life's 
 Labours in South Africa," and to other works from 
 which information upon the subject has been gathered. 
 To the two first named the author especially refers 
 those of his readers who wish for fuller details than 
 are given in this volume. 
 
-^CONTENTS.'<s- 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I. PIONEER MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA, . 
 
 II. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH, . . . . 
 
 III. DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE, . 
 
 IV. ISIARRIAGE AND ARRIVAL AT LATTAKOO, 
 V. THE MANTATEE INVASION, 
 
 VI. VISIT TO MAKABA, 
 
 VII. THE AWAKENING, 
 
 VIII. VISIT TO ENGLAND, . . . . . 
 
 IX. THE SECHWANA BIBLE, . . . . 
 
 X. CLOSING SCENES, 
 
 XI. CONCLUSION, 
 
 PAGE 
 
 9 
 i8 
 27 
 
 49 
 63 
 71 
 86 
 
 lOI 
 
 118 
 141 
 ISO 
 
ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PIONEER MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 
 
 I^HE history of missions in South Africa abounds 
 in interesting facts and incidents. Stories of 
 heroism, strange adventures, and descriptions 
 of journeyings among savage tribes and through 
 countries frequented by beasts of prey, form part of 
 its details. Its theme is love to God and love to man, 
 and its facts have been called into existence through 
 the efforts of noble-minded and true-hearted men and 
 women to bring their coloured brethren and sisters to 
 the knowledge of the Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
 
 Many names are held in veneration in connection 
 with these missions, names of those who, having 
 laboured faithfully upon earth, have been called to 
 their reward ; among these none stands forward with 
 greater prominence than that of Robert Moffat. 
 
 A brief glance at the development of the colon}- at 
 the Cape of Good Hope, and at the early efforts made 
 to evangelise the native races, may enable the reader 
 
 9 
 
10 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 better to understand the work carried on by Robert 
 Moffat, and the success achieved ; also to realise 
 something of the position of affairs when he first 
 landed in South Africa. 
 
 Discovered by the Portuguese in i486, it was not 
 until the middle of the seventeenth century that 
 much was done in the way of European colonisation. 
 In 1652 the bold and mountainous promontory of the 
 Cape was taken possession of by the Dutch, and a 
 settlement was founded on the site of the present 
 Cape Town. The earliest colonists were chiefly Dutch 
 and German farmers; who were joined a little later 
 on by numbers of French and Piedmontese Huguenots, 
 driven from their native lands for conscience' sake. 
 
 At this early period the whole of what is now 
 designated the Colony, was inhabited by Hottentots, 
 a people lighter in colour than the Kafirs and 
 Bechwanas, having pale yellow-brown skins, symmetri- 
 cal in form when young, hardy, and having small hands 
 and feet. They have nomadic tendencies ; and, in 
 their uncivilised state, scarcely practise agriculture. 
 Their system of government is somewhat patriarchal ; 
 and they live in "kraals," or villages, consisting of 
 bee-hive shaped huts,' arranged in circular form. 
 Their ideas of a Deity are extremely faint, they 
 possess little in the nature of religious ceremonies, 
 but the power of sorcerers among them is great. 
 According to the locality occupied, they are known 
 as Hottentots, Namaquas, or Corannas. 
 
 As the European colonists increased in numbers, 
 they gradually advanced northward and eastward, 
 either driving back the natives or subjugating them 
 as slaves to their service. In 1806 the colony passed 
 into the hands of the English, and, after a season of 
 conflict, the Hottentots within the British territory 
 
PIONEER MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA. II 
 
 were emancipated. This act of justice took place on 
 17th July, 1828. 
 
 In the early years of the present century, the 
 natives of South Africa comprised — besides the 
 Hottentots, who occupied the southern portion of the 
 country, and were thinly scattered, to the north- 
 west, in Great Namaqualand — the Kafirs, who dwelt 
 in the south-east, beyond the Fish River ; the 
 Basutos, whose kraals were south of the Orange 
 River ; the Bechwanas and kindred tribes to the north 
 of that river ; and far away to the north-west, beyond 
 Namaqualand, the Damara tribes, of whom but little 
 was known at that time. Besides these, there were 
 the Bushmen, a roving people, small in stature, and 
 sunk to the lowest depths of barbarism, hunted down 
 by the Dutch farmers like wild beasts, who had their 
 hands turned against every man, and every man's 
 hand turned against them. 
 
 To the Moravians belongs the honour of first 
 seeking to bring the natives of South Africa under 
 the influences of Christianity. In 1737 George 
 Schmidt, who had been sent forth by the small 
 Moravian church of Herrnhut, arrived in Cape Colony, 
 and at Genadendal (the Vale of Grace), then known 
 as Bavian's Kloof (the Glen of Baboons), established 
 a mission station, where he laboured among the de- 
 spised and oppressed Hottentots with much success for 
 seven years. His work excited considerable opposi- 
 tion and persecution. He gathered a small Christian 
 community and a school ; but the Boers, or Dutch 
 farmers, becoming jealous of the black population 
 receiving education, he was summoned to Holland, 
 and not allowed to return. 
 
 Fifty years elapsed before the Brethren were able 
 to resume their work ; but in 1792, three humble 
 
12 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Christian artisans recommenced labour at Genadendal. 
 The occupation of the colony by the British Govern- 
 ment gave security to their mission, and it soon grew 
 to be a large settlement, and a centre of light and 
 civilisation to the surrounding country. 
 
 In 1799 the London Missionary Society commenced 
 work in Cape Colony ; at first by four brethren, who 
 were shortly reinforced by Dr. J. P. Vanderkemp, a 
 native of Holland, a man of rare gifts and dauntless 
 courage. Successively scholar, cavalry officer, and 
 physician, he was for some years a sceptic, but being 
 converted through the drowning of his wife and child, 
 and his own narrow escape from death, he commenced 
 the earnest study of the Bible and the Eastern lan- 
 guages, and gained such wonderful proficiency in the 
 latter, that it is stated he had a fair knowledge of 
 sixteen. 
 
 Vanderkemp chose the Kafir tribes for his field of 
 labour, and in 1799 proceeded from Graf Reinet, then 
 the most distant colonial town, and that nearest to the 
 Kafirs, to the head-quarters of that people. Fre- 
 quently in danger of his life, among those who con- 
 sidered the murder of a white man a meritorious deed, 
 he worked and endured great hardship and privation, 
 that he might make known the truths of the Gospel 
 to the ignorant around, until the close of the year 
 1800, when, owing to a rebellion among the farmers, 
 and the general unsettled state of the frontier, he was 
 compelled to relinquish his mission. 
 
 Afterwards he laboured among the Hottentots of 
 the colony with rare self-devotedness, often in great 
 straits and many perils, but with frequent manifesta- 
 tions of the Divine blessing upon the work carried on. 
 Finally, the Hottentot mission was transferred to 
 Bethelsdorp, where steady progress was made. The 
 
13 
 
14 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 scholars readily learned to read and write, and their 
 facility in acquiring religious knowledge was astonish- 
 ing, considering the peculiar apathy, stupidity, and 
 aversion to any exertion, mental or corporeal, which 
 characterised the natives. Dr. Vanderkemp died in 
 i8ii, after breathing out the Christian assurance, 
 " All is well." 
 
 While Dr. Vanderkemp bent his steps towards 
 Kafirland, three other missionaries, by name Kitcherer, 
 Kramer, and Edwards, proceeded to the Zak River, 
 between four hundred and five hundred miles north- 
 east of Cape Town. Here a mission was established 
 to the Bushmen, which, although unsuccessful in its 
 original intention, became the finger-post to the 
 Namaquas, Corannas, Griquas, and Bechwanas, for by 
 means of that mission these tribes and their condition 
 became known to the Christian world. After moving 
 from their original location to the Orange River, at 
 the invitation of a Griqua chief, Berend Berend by 
 name, the mission was carried on among the Corannas, 
 Namaquas, and Bastards (mixed races), finally remov- 
 ing in 1804 to Griqua Town, where it developed into 
 the Griqua Mission, under Messrs. Anderson and 
 Kramer, and became a powerful influence for good ; 
 continuing in existence for many years. 
 
 Mr. Anderson thus describes the condition of the 
 Griquas when he first settled in their midst, and for 
 some time afterwards : — 
 
 " They were without the smallest marks of civilisa- 
 tion. If I except one woman, they had not one 
 thread of European clothing among them ; and their 
 wretched appearance and habits were such as might 
 have excited in our minds an aversion to them, had 
 we not been actuated by principles which led us to 
 pity them, and served to strengthen us in pursuing 
 
PIONEER MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 1 5 
 
 the object of our missionary work ; they were, in 
 many instances, Httle above the brutes. It is a fact 
 that we were present with them at the hazard of our 
 lives. When we went among them they lived in the 
 habit of plundering one another ; and they saw no 
 moral evil in this, nor in any of their actions. Violent 
 deaths were common. Their usual manner of living 
 was truly disgusting, and they were void of shame." 
 
 By missionary effort these unpromising materials 
 yielded such fruit, that, in 1809, the congregation at 
 Griqua Town consisted of 800 persons, who resided at 
 or near the station during the whole or the greater 
 part of the year. Besides their stated congrega- 
 tions the missionaries were surrounded by numerous 
 hordes of Corannas and Bushmen, among whom they 
 laboured. The land was brought under cultivation, 
 and fields waving with corn and barley met the eye 
 where all had been desolation and barrenness. In 
 1 8 10 a threatened attack from a marauding horde of 
 Kafirs was averted in answer to prayer. Mr. Janz, 
 the only missionary then on the place, with the 
 people, set apart a day for special supplication ; they 
 sent a pacific message and present to the Kafirs, who 
 immediately retired. In place of war there was 
 peace, and the blessings of civilisation followed the 
 preaching of the Gospel. 
 
 A mission had also been commenced by the 
 London Missionary Society in Great Namaqualand, 
 north of the Orange River, on the western coast of 
 Africa ; a country of which the following description 
 was given by an individual who had spent many 
 years there : " Sir, you will find plenty of sand and 
 stones, a thinly scattered population, always suffering 
 from want of w^ater, on plains and hills roasted like a 
 burnt leaf, under the scorching rays of a cloudless sun." 
 
1 6 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 The missionaries, after a journey of great difficult}^ 
 and suffering, reached the land of the Namaquas, and 
 halted for a time at a place which they named " Silent 
 Hope," and then at " Happy Deliverance ; " finally 
 they settled at a spot, about one hundred miles west- 
 ward of Africaner's kraal, called Warm Bath. Here, 
 for a time, their prospects continued cheering. They 
 were instant in season and out of season to advance 
 the temporal and spiritual interests of the natives ; 
 though labouring in a debilitating climate ; and in 
 want of the common necessaries of life. Their con- 
 gregation was increased by the desperado Jager, 
 afterwards Christian Africaner, a Hottentot outlaw, 
 who, with part of his people, occasionally attended to 
 the instructions of the missionaries ; and they visited 
 the kraal of this robber chieftain in return. It was 
 here that he first heard the Gospel, and, referring 
 afterwards to his condition at this time, he said that 
 he saw " men as trees walking." 
 
 Terrible trials soon came upon these devoted 
 missionaries. Abraham Albrecht, one of their number 
 died, and Africaner, becoming enraged, threatened an 
 attack upon the station. The situation of the 
 missionaries and their wives was most distressing. 
 Among a feeble and timid people, with scarcely any 
 means of defence, a bare country around, no mount- 
 ain, glen, or cave in which they could take refuge, 
 under a burning sun and on a glowing plain, distant 
 two hundred miles from the abodes of civilised men, 
 between which and them lay the dreary wilderness 
 and the Orange River ; such was their position, with 
 the human lion in his lair, ready to rouse himself up 
 to deeds of rapine and blood. 
 
 For a whole month they were in constant terror, 
 hourly expecting the threatened attack. Their souls 
 
PIONEER MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA. \J 
 
 revolted at the idea of abandoning the people, who 
 were suffering from want, to become a prey to a man 
 from whom they could expect no quarter. On one 
 occasion they dug a square hole in the ground, about 
 six feet deep, that in case of an attack they might 
 escape the musket balls. In this they remained for 
 the space of a week, having the tilt sail of a waggon 
 thrown over the mouth of the pit to keep off the 
 burning rays of an almost vertical sun. Eventually 
 they withdrew northward to the base of the Karas 
 mountains, but finding it impossible to settle, retired 
 to the Colony. 
 
 Africaner approached the station, and finding it 
 deserted, plundered it of whatever articles could be 
 found ; one of his followers afterwards setting fire to 
 the houses and huts. Thus for a season, this mission 
 was brought to a close. It was after a time resumed 
 at a place south of the Orange River named Pella. 
 
 Thus missions in South Africa had been commenced, 
 stations among the Hottentots and others had been 
 formed, good work had been done, and the way 
 pioneered. The field was opened and it was wide, 
 but as yet the labourers were few. 
 
 At the time when Vanderkemp closed his eyes on 
 this world, a lad was working as an apprentice to a 
 Scotch gardener, rising in the dense darkness of the 
 cold winter's mornings at four o'clock, and warming 
 his knuckles by knocking them against the handle of 
 his spade. He was passing through a hard training, 
 but this lad was being prepared to take up the work 
 which Vanderkemp had so well begun, though in a 
 somewhat different sphere, and to repair the loss 
 which had been sustained by the missionary cause 
 through his death. The name of this lad was Robert 
 Moffat. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 
 
 ROBERT MOFFAT was born on the 21st of 
 December, 1795. His parents dwelt at that 
 time at Ormiston, in East Lothian, Scotland. 
 They were pious God-fearing people ; the 
 mother though holding a stern religious faith, yet 
 possessed a most tender loving heart, and very early 
 sought to instil into the minds and hearts of her 
 children the love of God and a knowledge of the 
 Holy Scriptures. 
 
 Of the early childhood of the future missionary 
 very little is stated. In 1797 his father received an 
 appointment in the Custom House at Portsoy, and in 
 1806 the home of the Moffats was at Carronshore, on 
 the Firth of Forth. At this time the family consisted 
 of four sons and two daughters, besides the subject of 
 this memoir. 
 
 A glimpse of the interior of their cottage, during 
 the long winter evenings, is given, which shows how 
 the mother by her gentle influence may become the 
 means of sowing seed, which shall spring up in after 
 years bearing fruit a hundred-fold. The lads were 
 gathered by the fireside learning to knit and sew, and 
 18 
 
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. I9 
 
 while SO engaged their mother, who took great 
 interest in the missionary enterprises then carried on, 
 read aloud, in such publications as she could obtain, 
 the descriptions given of the work and sufferings of 
 the pioneer labourers in heathen lands, more especially 
 of the Moravians in Greenland and the East Indies. 
 
 Of educational advantages, Robert had but few in 
 his early days. One, "Wully Mitchell," as he was 
 popularly called, the parish schoolmaster was his first 
 tutor ; and " the Shorter Catechism," the title-page of 
 which contained the alphabet, his first instruction 
 book. His progress was but slow, his hands often 
 being made to suffer for the dulness of his brains. 
 A boy living in the midst of shipping, his desires were 
 more for nautical matters than for Wully's books, and 
 so he ran off to sea. The captain of the ship on which 
 he was, became much attached to the lad, so with his 
 parent's consent, he made several voyages in the 
 coasting trade. Many hairbreadth escapes fell to his 
 lot, and at last he quitted the sea, as he states " to the 
 no small joy of my parents." 
 
 When about eleven he accompanied his elder 
 brother, Alexander, to Mr. Paton's school at Falkirk. 
 This school was for writing and book-keeping, but 
 such as chose to pay received lessons in astronomy 
 and geography after school hours. Alexander was 
 one of these, and Robert was allowed to wait for his 
 brother in the large room while the class was being 
 conducted. " I felt queer," he tells us " to know what 
 the master was doing within the circle, and used to 
 look very attentively through any little slip of an 
 opening under an elbow, while I eagerly listened to 
 the illustrations given, the master all the while never 
 suspecting that I was capable of understanding the 
 planetary system. What I could not understand my 
 
20 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 brother explained on our way home." In this manner 
 he picked up some knowledge of astronomy. 
 
 At this school the lad continued for six months. 
 It was the last he ever attended. 
 
 When about fourteen, Robert Moffat was appren- 
 ticed to a gardener, named John Robertson, a just 
 but hard man, who lived at Parkhill, Polmont. The 
 toil was severe and the food scanty. Often in the 
 bitter cold of a Scottish winter the lads employed 
 were required to commence work at four o'clock in the 
 morning, and had to hammer their knuckles against 
 the handles of their spades to try and bring some feel- 
 ing into them. Here he remained till the end of 1812. 
 
 While thus engaged, he managed to attend an 
 evening class occasionally, and made an attempt at 
 learning Latin and mensuration. He also picked up 
 some knowledge of the smith's craft, and acquired 
 sufficient skill to play a little on the violin. A 
 special craving, which stood him in good stead in 
 after life, impelled him to learn something of what- 
 ever he came in contact with. 
 
 Upon the completion of his apprenticeship, in 1812, 
 he obtained a situation at Donibristle, a seat of the 
 Earl of Moray at Aberdour. Here, he delighted his 
 fellow-workers of an evening by his violin perform- 
 ances, was fond of athletic sports, in which he excelled, 
 and became an accomplished swimmer, saving the 
 life of one of his companions, who having got out of 
 his depth was in imminent danger of drowning. 
 
 In this situation he continued about a twelvemonth, 
 and then, being about sixteen, he found employment 
 as under-gardener to Mr. Leigh, of High Leigh, 
 in Cheshire. While at Donibristle he had been able 
 to frequently visit his parents ; the time had now 
 come when he must bid them adieu. 
 
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 21 
 
 The parting scene between Robert and his mother 
 has been sketched by his own hand and appeared in 
 the Bible Society's " Gleanings for the Young." It is 
 described as follows : — 
 
 " When we came within sight of the spot where we 
 were to part, perhaps never again to meet in this 
 world, she said — 
 
 " ' Now, my Robert, let us stand here for a few 
 minutes, for I wish to ask one favour of you before we 
 part, and I know you will not refuse to do what your 
 mother asks.' 
 
 " ' What is it, mother ? ' I inquired. 
 
 " ' Do promise me first that you will do what I am 
 now going to ask, and I shall tell you.' 
 
 " ' No, mother, I cannot till you tell me what your 
 wish is.' 
 
 *"0 Robert, can you think for a moment that 
 I shall ask you, my son, to do anything that is not 
 right ? Do not I love you ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes, mother, I know you do ; but I do not like to 
 make promises which I may not be able to fulfil.' 
 
 " I kept my eyes fixed on the ground. I was silent, 
 trying to resist the rising emotion. She sighed 
 deeply. I lifted my eyes and saw the big tears rolling 
 down the cheeks which were wont to press mine. 
 I was conquered, and as soon as I could recover 
 speech, I said — 
 
 " ' O mother ! ask what you will and I shall do it.' 
 
 " ' I only ask you whether you will read a chapter in 
 the Bible every morning and another every evening ? ' 
 
 " I interrupted by saying, ' Mother, you know I read 
 my Bible.' 
 
 " ' I know you do, but you do not read it regularly, 
 or as a duty you owe to God, its Author.' And she 
 added : ' Now I shall return home with a happy heart, 
 
22 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 inasmuch as you have promised to read the Scriptures 
 daily. O Robert, my son, read much in the New 
 Testament. Read much in the Gospels — the blessed 
 Gospels ; then you cannot well go astray. If you pray, 
 the Lord Himself will teach you.' 
 
 " I parted from my beloved mother, now long gone 
 to that mansion about which she loved to speak. I went 
 on my way, and ere long found myself among strangers. 
 My charge was an important one for a youth, and 
 though possessing a muscular frame and a mind full 
 of energy, it required all to keep pace with the duty 
 which devolved upon me. I lived at a considerable 
 distance from what are called the means of grace, and 
 the Sabbaths were not always at my command. 
 I met with none who appeared to make religion their 
 chief concern. I mingled, when opportunities offered, 
 with the gay and godless in what are considered 
 innocent amusements, where I soon became a favour- 
 ite ; but I never forgot my promise to my motJierr 
 
 After several delays. High Leigh was reached on 
 Saturday, 26th December, 181 3, and there the young 
 man found himself surrounded by a genial atmosphere. 
 The head gardener took to him, and soon left a great 
 deal in his hands. This made his work very heavy 
 and responsible ; but, although labouring almost day 
 and night, he yet managed to devote some time to the 
 study of such books as he could obtain. The kindly 
 notice of Mrs. Leigh was attracted to him, and she lent 
 him books, and encouraged him to studious pursuits. 
 
 In very early years serious impressions had been 
 made upon the heart of Robert Moffat. The earnest 
 teachings of his minister, combined with his mother's 
 counsels and prayers, left recollections which could 
 never be effaced. These impressions were now to be 
 deepened, and the good seed that had been sown to 
 
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 23 
 
 be quickened. The Wcsleyan Methodists had com- 
 menced a good work at High Leigh, and a pious 
 Methodist and his wife induced Moffat to attend some 
 of their meetings. He became convinced of his state 
 as a sinner, and unhappy, but after a severe and pro- 
 tracted struggle, he found pardon, justification, and 
 peace, through faith in Jesus Christ, and henceforth 
 his life was devoted to the service of his Lord. Ener- 
 getically he threw himself into the society and work 
 of his new friends, but by so doing, lost the goodwill 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Leigh, who were grieved that one in 
 whom they took so much interest should have become 
 a Methodist. So were these good people despised by 
 many in those days. 
 
 At this time Robert's worldly prospects were 
 brightening, and a position of honour and comfort 
 seemed opening before him. But the anticipations of 
 that day were not to be. 
 
 Apparently unim.portant events frequently deter- 
 mine the whole course of our lives, and a simple 
 incident was now about to change the current of this 
 young man's life, and to convert the rising gardener 
 into the God-honoured and much-beloved missionary. 
 How this came to pass we now relate : 
 
 While at High Leigh, Robert Moffat had occasion 
 to visit Warrington, a town about six miles distant. 
 He set off one calm summer evening. All nature 
 seemed at rest, and thoughts of God and a feeling 
 of admiration for His handiworks took possession 
 of the young man's mind. His life was reviewed, 
 and with thoughts full of hope he entered the town. 
 Passing over a bridge he noticed a placard. It 
 contained the announcement of a missionary meeting, 
 over which the Rev. William Roby, of Manchester, 
 was to preside. He had never seen such an announce- 
 
24 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 mcnt before. He read the placard over and over 
 again, and, as he did so, the stories told by his mother 
 of the Moravian missionaries in Greenland and Labra- 
 dor, which had been forgotten for years, came vividly 
 to mind. From that moment, his choice was made ; 
 earthly prospects vanished : his one thought was, 
 " how to become a missionary ? " 
 
 Many difficulties seemed to stand in the way 
 between Robert and the accomplishment of his desire, 
 but the same Divine power which had implanted the 
 desire, prepared the way for its fulfilment. He visited 
 Manchester, shortly after the event just related, to be 
 present at a Wesleyan Conference ; and while there, 
 with much hesitancy and trepidation, ventured to 
 knock at the door of Mr. Roby's house and request 
 an interview with that gentleman. He was shown 
 into the parlour, and the man whom he had been 
 hoping, yet dreaded, to see, quickly made his 
 appearance. " He received me with great kind- 
 ness," said Moffat, "listened to my simple tale, 
 took me by the hand, and told me to be of good 
 courage." 
 
 The result of this interview was a promise on Mr. 
 Roby's part to write to the Directors of the London 
 Missionary Society concerning him, and to communi- 
 cate their wishes to him as soon as they were received. 
 In the meantime Robert returned to his ordinary 
 occupation. 
 
 After waiting a few weeks a summons came from 
 Mr. Roby for Moffat to visit Manchester again ; and, 
 with the view of his studying under the care and 
 instruction of that reverend gentleman, it was arranged 
 that he should accept a situation in a nursery garden 
 belonging to Mr. Smith, at Dukinfield, that place 
 being near at hand. Moffat continued here about a 
 
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 2$ 
 
 year, visiting Mr. Roby once or twice each week. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Smith were a pious and worthy couple, 
 and their house was a house of call for ministers. 
 They were always ready for every good work whether 
 at home or abroad. 
 
 " In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall 
 direct thy paths," is one of the maxims of Holy Writ 
 that should be engraven upon the heart and mind of 
 every youth and maiden. Robert Moffat's desire was 
 for the glory of God and the extension of the 
 Redeemer's kingdom, and God was not only opening 
 the way for His servant, but was preparing a faithful 
 and devoted helpmate for him in his various spheres 
 of labour through life. 
 
 Robert's employer had an only daughter, named 
 Mary, beautiful of countenance, but more beautiful in 
 heart. She had been educated at the Moravian school 
 at Fairfield, and was distinguished for fervent piety 
 and deep sympathy with the missionary cause. The 
 two young folks were thrown together, mutual esteem 
 deepened into love, and the maiden, possessed with so 
 large a missionary spirit, was prepared to share the lot 
 of the young herald of the Cross. For a time, how- 
 ever, it was ordained that Robert should pursue his 
 course alone. 
 
 After being at Dukinfield nearly a year, the Direc- 
 tors resolved to accept the services of Robert Moffat. 
 He left Mr. Smith's employment and removed to 
 Manchester, so that he might be close to Mr. Roby, 
 to receive such superintendence as was possible in his 
 studies. This period extended to but a few months, 
 so that of college training and opportunities Robert 
 had little experience. 
 
 The time rapidly drew near for his departure abroad. 
 A hurried visit was paid to the parents whom he never 
 
26 
 
 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 expected to see again, and then he awaited his call to 
 the mission field. 
 
 On the 13th of September, 18 16, after bidding fare- 
 well to Mr. Roby, whose " kindness, like that of a 
 father," wrote Moffat, " will not be easily obliterated 
 from my mind," he started for London. While in the 
 Metropolis he visited the Museum at the Rooms of the 
 London Missionary Society, and the following extract 
 from a letter to his parents, in connection with this 
 visit, shows the spirit which actuated the youthful 
 missionary at this time : — 
 
 " I spent some time in viewing the Museum, which 
 contains a great number of curiosities from China, 
 Africa, the South Seas, and the West Indies. It would 
 be foolish for me to give you a description. Suffice it 
 to say that the sight is truly awful, the appearance of 
 the wild beasts is very terrific, but I am unable to 
 describe the sensations of my mind when gazing on 
 the objects of Pagan worship. Alas ! how fallen are 
 my fellow-creatures, bowing down to forms enough to 
 frighten a Roman soldier, enough to shake the 
 hardest heart. Oh that I had a thousand lives, 
 and a thousand bodies ; all of them should be 
 devoted to no other employment but to preach 
 Christ to these degraded, despised, yet beloved 
 mortals." 
 
 With such enthusiasm he prepared to enter upon 
 the work that lay before him. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE. 
 
 THE valedictory service was held at Surrey Chapel 
 on the 30th of September. Nine missionaries 
 were set apart ; four for the South Seas, one of 
 whom was John Williams, the martyr of 
 Erromanga, and five for South Africa. At first it 
 had been intended that Robert Moffat should accom- 
 pany John Williams, but this was subsequently 
 altered. 
 
 The missionaries for Africa embarked at Gravesend 
 on the 1 8th of October in the Alacrity, and after a 
 prosperous voyage reached Cape Town on the 13th 
 of January, 18 17. 
 
 Two of the party were appointed to stations within 
 the colony ; Moffat and Kitchingman were destined 
 for Namaqualand. Before they could proceed on 
 their journey, however, permission had to be obtained 
 from the Government, and this was at first refused. 
 
 While detained in the colony, Moffat lodged with a 
 
 Dutch farmer, at a village thirty-six miles from Cape 
 
 Town, named Stellenbosch. Here he learnt Dutch, an 
 
 acquisition of great advantage to him in after life, as 
 
 it enabled him to preach to the Boers, and to as 
 
 27 
 
28 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 many of their native servants as understood that 
 language. He also accompanied the Rev. George 
 Thom, of the Dutch Reformed Church, on an evan- 
 gelistic tour. It occupied six weeks, during which 
 time they rode a distance of about seven hundred 
 miles. 
 
 After a further sojourn at Stellenbosch, Moffat 
 visited Cape Town, and busied himself in gaining 
 such practical knowledge as came within his reach. 
 He also visited the military hospital there. Many of 
 the soldiers were Scotch, and he had a warm heart 
 for soldiers, his brother Alexander having gone to 
 India in the ranks some years before. 
 
 At last the requisite permission came, and Moffat 
 and Kitchingman prepared for their journey. Waggons 
 were bought, oxen hired, leave taken of friends, and 
 on the 22nd of September, 1817, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Kitchingman, Robert Moffat, and a missionary named 
 Ebner, who, for a time, had been with Africaner, and 
 who had come to Cape Town for supplies, set out on 
 their way to Namaqualand. 
 
 The history of the Namaqualand Mission has been 
 sketched in outline in our introductory chapter. 
 Africaner, although an outlaw and a terror to the 
 farmers of the colony, had a respect for the English. 
 He visited the missionaries on one occasion, prior to 
 their removal to Warm Bath, and said, " I love the 
 English, for I have always heard that they are the 
 friends of the poor black man." He also sent his 
 children to them for instruction ; yet subsequent 
 events, as we have seen, enraged him, and led him to 
 destroy the mission station at Warm Bath. 
 
 The Rev. J. Campbell, in his first visit to Africa, 
 18 1 2- 18 14, crossed the interior of the continent to 
 Namaqualand. During his journey, he found in every 
 
DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE. 29 
 
 village through which he passed the terror of Afri- 
 caner's name; and he afterwards said "that he and his 
 retinue never were so afraid in their lives." From 
 Pella, where the mission station then was, Mr. 
 Campbell wrote a conciliatory letter to Africaner, in 
 consequence of which that chieftain agreed to receive 
 a missionary at his kraal. Mr. Ebner had been sent 
 from Pella, and had been labouring for a short time 
 previous to his visit to the Cape in 18 17. Good had 
 been accomplished, Africaner and his two brothers, 
 David and Jacobus, had been baptised, but then the 
 situation of the missionary became extremely trying, 
 he lost influence with the people, and his property, 
 and even his life, were in danger. 
 
 Soon after leaving Cape Town, Mr. Ebner parted 
 company with the Kitchingmans and Moffat, and 
 they pursued their way alone. The details of the 
 journey illustrate the difficulties of travelling in South 
 Africa in those days. " In perils oft," aptly expresses 
 the condition of the missionary in his wanderings, 
 as he travelled mile after mile, often over dreary 
 wastes of burning sand, famished with hunger, parched 
 with thirst, with the howl of the hyena and the roar 
 of the lion disturbing his slumbers at night, and with 
 Bushmen, more savage than either, hovering near, ever 
 ready to attack the weak and defenceless. 
 
 The farmers, from whom the travellers received 
 hospitality as they passed the boundaries of the 
 colony, were very sceptical as to the conversion of 
 Africaner, and gloomy indeed were their predictions 
 as to the fate of the youthful missionary now ventur- 
 ing into the power of the outlaw chief One said 
 Africaner would set him up for his boys to shoot at, 
 another that he would strip off his skin to make a 
 drum with, and a third predicted he would make a 
 
30 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 drinking-cup of his skull. A kind motherly dame 
 said, as she wiped the tear from her eye and bade him 
 farewell, " Had you been an old man it would have 
 been nothing, for you would soon have died, whether 
 or no ; but you arc young, and going to become a 
 prey to that monster." 
 
 On one occasion Moffat halted at a farm belonging 
 to a Boer, a man of wealth and importance, who had 
 many slaves. Hearing that he was a missionary, the 
 farmer gave him a hearty welcome, and proposed in 
 the evening that he should give them a service. To 
 this he readily assented, and supper being ended, a 
 clearance was made, the big Bible and the psalm- 
 books were brought out, and the family was seated. 
 Moffat inquired for the servants, " May none of your 
 servants come in ? " said he. 
 
 " Servants ! what do you mean ? " 
 
 " I mean the Hottentots, of whom I see so many on 
 your farm." 
 
 " Hottentots ! " roared the man, " are you come to 
 preach to Hottentots ? Go to the mountains and 
 preach to the baboons ; or, if you like, I '11 fetch my 
 dogs, and you may preach to them." 
 
 The missionary said no more but commenced the 
 service. He had intended to challenge the " neglect 
 of so great salvation," but with ready wit seizing upon 
 the theme suggested by his rough entertainer, he read 
 the story of the Syrophenician woman, and took for 
 his text the words, " Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of 
 the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." He 
 had not proceeded far in his discourse when the 
 farmer stopped him, saying, " Will Mynherr sit down 
 and wait a little, he shall have the Hottentots." 
 
 He was as good as his word, the barn was crowded, 
 the sermon was preached, and the astonished 
 
DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE. 3 1 
 
 Hottentots dispersed. " Who," said the farmer, 
 "hardened your hammer to deal my head such a 
 blow ? I '11 never object to the preaching of the 
 Gospel to Hottentots again." 
 
 After a toilsome march, during which Mr. Kitching- 
 man and Moffat took it in turn to drive the cattle, 
 losing some through the hyenas by the way, they 
 reached Bysondermeid, to which station Mr. and 
 Mrs. Kitchingman had been appointed. There Robert 
 stayed one month, receiving much useful information 
 from Mr. Schmelen, the missionary whom Mr. 
 Kitchingman had come to replace, he having been 
 ordered to Great Namaqualand, where he had 
 laboured before. 
 
 At length, his oxen being rested, Robert Moffat 
 bade adieu to Mr. and Mrs. Kitchingman, whose 
 friendship he much valued, and with a guide and 
 drivers for the oxen started onward. Their way led 
 through a comparatively trackless desert, and they 
 travelled nearly the whole night through deep sand. 
 Those were not the days of railway trains, and travel- 
 ling had to be undertaken in cumbrous, springless 
 bullock-waggons, several spare oxen being taken to 
 provide for losses and casualties. Towards morning 
 the oxen were so exhausted that they began to lie 
 down in the yoke from fatigue, compelling a halt 
 before water had been reached. The journey was 
 resumed the next day, but still no water could be 
 found. 
 
 As it appeared probable that if they continued in 
 the same direction, they would perish through thirst, 
 they altered their course to the northward, but the 
 experiences were as bad as before. At night they lay 
 down exhausted and suffering extremely from thirst, 
 and the next morning rose at an early hour to find the 
 
32 
 
 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 oxen incapable of moving the waggon a step farther. 
 Taking them and a spade to a neighbouring mountain, 
 a large hole was dug in the sand, and at last a scanty 
 supply of water was obtained. This resembled the old 
 bilge- water of a ship for foulness, but both men and 
 oxen drank of it with aviditv. 
 
 WAGGON TRAVELLING IN SOUTH AFRICA- 
 
 In the evening, when about to yoke the oxen to the 
 waggon, it was found that most of them had run off 
 towards Bysondermcid. No time was to be lost, so 
 Moffat instantly sent off the remaining oxen with two 
 men to solicit assistance from Mr. Bartlett at Pella, 
 
34 " ROBERT MOTFAT. 
 
 while he remained behind with his goods. "Three 
 days," said he afterwards, " I remained with my 
 waggon-driver on this burning plain, with scarcely a 
 breath of wind, and what there was felt as if coming 
 from the mouth of an oven. We had only tufts of dry 
 grass to make a small fire or rather flame ; and little 
 was needed as we had scarcely any food to prepare. 
 We saw no human being, not a single antelope or 
 beast of prey made its appearance, but in the dead of 
 night we sometimes heard the roar of the lion on the 
 mountain. At last when we were beginning to fear 
 that the men had either perished or wandered, 
 Mr. Bartlett arrived on horseback, with two men 
 having a quantity of mutton tied to their saddles. 
 I cannot conceive of an epicure gazing on a table 
 groaning under the weight of viands, with half the 
 delight that I did on the mutton." 
 
 Fresh oxen, accustomed to deep sand, conveyed 
 the weary travellers to Pella, where Moffat remained 
 a few days, being greatly invigorated in mind and 
 body by the Christian kindness of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bartlett and the friendly attentions of the heathen 
 converts. 
 
 Starting again, he came to the Orange River, 
 crossing which was generally a work of difficulty at 
 that time. The native teacher from Warm Bath, who 
 had come to Pella to conduct Moffat to his village, 
 led the missionary to a ford opposite to that place. 
 The waggon and its contents were swam over on a 
 fragile raft of dry willow logs — a laborious and 
 tedious operation, the raft having to be taken to 
 pieces after each journey, and the separate logs con- 
 veyed back again by swimmers. All the goods being 
 over, Robert was asked to place himself upon the raft. 
 Not altogether liking its appearance, and also wishing 
 
DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE. 35 
 
 to save the natives trouble, he took off his clothes 
 and, leaving them to be conveyed across, plunged into 
 the stream. The natives were afraid as they saw him 
 approach the middle of the current, and some of their 
 most expert swimmers sprang in to overtake him, but 
 in vain. When he emerged on the northern bank, 
 one of them came up out of breath and said, " Were 
 you born in the great sea water ? " 
 
 Robert Moffat reached Africaner's kraal on the 
 26th of January, 18 18, and was kindly received by 
 Mr. Ebner. The chief soon made his appearance, and 
 inquired if the new missionary had been appointed 
 by the Directors in London. Receiving an affirmative 
 reply, he ordered a number of women to come. Then 
 pointing to a spot of ground he said to the women, 
 " There you must build a house for the missionary." 
 In half an hour the structure was completed, in 
 appearance something like a bee-hive. In this frail 
 house, of sticks and native mats, Moffat lived for 
 nearly six months, being scorched by the sun, 
 drenched by the rain, exposed to the wind, and 
 obliged often to decamp through the clouds of dust ; 
 in addition to which, any dog wishing for a night's 
 lodging could force its way through the wall, some- 
 times to the loss of the missionary's dinner next day. 
 A serpent was occasionally found coiled in a corner, 
 or the indweller of the habitation had to spring up, in 
 the middle of the night, to save himself and his house 
 from being crushed to pieces during the nocturnal 
 affrays of the cattle which roamed at large. He lived 
 principally upon milk and dried meat, until, after a 
 time, he was able to raise a little grain and garden stuff. 
 
 A few days after Moffat's arrival, Mr. Ebner 
 departed, so that the young missionary was left 
 entirely alone in a trying and most difficult position, 
 
36 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 a stranger in the midst of a strange people. " Here 
 I was," said he, " left alone with a people suspicious in 
 the extreme ; jealous of their rights which they had 
 obtained at the point of the sword ; and the best of 
 whom Mr. Ebner described as a sharp thorn. I had 
 no friend and brother with whom I could participate 
 in the communion of saints, none to whom I could 
 look for counsel or advice. A barren and miserable 
 country ; a small salary, about twenty-five pounds per 
 annum. No grain, and consequently no bread, and 
 no prospect of getting any, from the want of water to 
 cultivate the ground, and destitute of the means of 
 sending to the Colony. These circumstances led to 
 great searchings of heart, to see if I had hitherto 
 aimed at doing and suffering the will of Him in whose 
 service I had embarked. Satisfied that I had not run 
 unsent, and having in the intricate, and sometimes 
 obscure course I had come, heard the still small voice 
 saying, ' This is the way, walk ye in it,' I was wont 
 to pour out my soul among the granite rocks surround- 
 ing this station, now in sorrow, and then in joy ; and 
 more than once I have taken my violin, once belong- 
 ing to Christian Albrecht, and, reclining upon one of 
 the huge masses, have, in the stillness of the evening, 
 played and sung the well-known hymn, a favourite of 
 my mother's — 
 
 ' Awake, my soul, in joyful lays, 
 To sing the great Redeemer's praise.' " 
 
 Robert Moffat looked to his God for help and 
 guidance, and his heart was strengthened. 
 
 At this period the chief. Christian Africaner, was in 
 a doubtful state of mind ; while Titus, his brother, a 
 man of almost reckless courage, was a fearful example 
 of ungodliness, and a terror to most of the inhabitants 
 
DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE. 37 
 
 on the station. Soon after the commencement of his 
 stated services — which were, according to the custom 
 of the missionaries at that period, religious service 
 morning and evening, and school for three or four 
 hours during the day — the heart of the youthful 
 missionary was much cheered by noticing the regular 
 attendance of the chief Although not a fluent reader, 
 the New Testament became his constant companion, 
 and a change passed over him apparent to all. The 
 lion at whose name many trembled became a lamb, 
 and the love of Jesus Christ filled his heart. He who 
 was formerly like a fire-brand, spreading discord, 
 enmity, and war among the neighbouring tribes, was 
 now ready to make any sacrifice to avoid conflict, and 
 besought parties at variance with each other to be at 
 peace. 
 
 Even Titus was subdued, and although he never 
 made a profession, yet he became a steady and 
 unwavering friend to the missionary, and many times 
 ministered to his wants. " I hear what you say," he 
 would reply when the truth was pressed upon him, 
 " and I think 1 sometimes understand, but my heart 
 will not feel." Two other brothers of the chief, David 
 and Jacobus, became believers and zealous assistants 
 in the work of the mission. 
 
 The extreme heat endured in the native house, and 
 the character of the food, milk and meat only, brought 
 on a severe attack of bilious fever, which in the course 
 of two days induced delirium. Opening his eyes as 
 soon as consciousness returned, Moffat saw his attend- 
 ant and Africaner sitting beside his couch, gazing 
 upon him with eyes full of sympathy and tenderness. 
 Taking some calomel he speedily recovered, and was 
 soon at his post again. 
 
 The place where Africaner dwelt being quite 
 
38 ROBERT MOFFAT 
 
 unsuitable for a permanent mission-station, on account 
 of the scarcity of water, it was determined to take a 
 journey northward to examine a country on the 
 border of Damaraland, where it was reported that 
 fountains of water abounded. There was, however, 
 only one waggon and that a cripple, and neither 
 carpenters nor smiths were at the station to repair it. 
 Without it they could not go, so after thinking the 
 matter over Moffat undertook its repair. Before doing 
 so he must needs have a forge, and a forge meant 
 bellows ; but here was a difficulty, the native bellows 
 were of no use for he work in hand. He therefore 
 contrived, by means of two goat-skins and a circular 
 piece of board, to make a pair of bellows of sufficient 
 power to fan the fire and heat the iron ; and with a 
 blue granite stone for an anvil, a pair of tongs 
 indicative of Vulcan's first efforts, and a hammer, 
 never intended for its present use, he successfully 
 accomplished his task ; and afterwards repaired some 
 gun-locks, which were as essential for the comfort and 
 success of the journey as the waggon. 
 
 The party that set out was a large one, including 
 Africaner, three of his brothers, and Moffat, The 
 country which they passed through was sterile in the 
 extreme, and the expedition proved a failure. They 
 therefore returned home again after an absence of 
 a few weeks. The school and mission services were 
 resumed, but, as David and Jacobus Africaner were 
 now able assistants, Moffat undertook itinerating 
 visits on a more extensive scale than he had done 
 before. For this purpose Titus presented him with 
 his only horse. Previously Moffat had ridden upon a 
 bullock with horns, a dangerous practice, as, if the 
 bullock stumbles, the rider may be thrown forward 
 and transfixed upon them. 
 
DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE. 39 
 
 Privations and dangers frequently attended these 
 itinerating journeys. Referring to one of them Robert 
 Moffat states, " After tying my Bible and hymn-book 
 in a blanket to the back of my saddle, and taking a 
 good draught of milk, I started with my interpreter, 
 who rode upon an ox. We had our guns, but nothing 
 in our purse or scrip, save a pipe, some tobacco, and a 
 tinder-box. After a hot day's ride to reach a village, 
 the people would give us a draught of sweet milk, and 
 then old and young, assembling in a nook of the fold, 
 among the kine, would listen to my address on the 
 great concerns of their soul's salvation. I exhorted 
 those who could read to read to others and try to teach 
 them to do the same, promising them a reward in 
 heaven ; for I had none to give on earth. When 
 service was over, having taken another draught of 
 milk, and renewed my conversation with the people, 
 I lay down on a mat to repose for the night. Some- 
 times a kind housewife would hang a bamboos, a 
 wooden vessel filled with milk, on a forked stick near 
 my head, that I might, if necessary, drink during the 
 night." 
 
 Once he slept on the ground near the hut in which 
 the principal man of the village and his wife reposed. 
 During the night a noise as of cattle broken loose was 
 heard. In the morning he remarked upon this to his 
 host, when that individual replied, " Oh, I was looking 
 at the spoor this morning, it was the lion ; " adding 
 that a few nights previously a goat had been seized 
 from the very spot on which Moffat had been sleeping. 
 Upon Moffat asking him why he had put him to sleep 
 there, the man replied, " Oh, the lion would not have 
 the audacity to jump over on you." 
 
 Sometimes it happened that after travelling all day, 
 hoping to reach a village at night, the travellers would 
 
40 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 find when they got to the place that all the people had 
 gone. Then hungry and thirsty they had to pass the 
 night. In the morning after searching for water, and 
 partaking of a draught if they were successful in 
 finding it, they would start off again with their hunger 
 unsatisfied, and deem themselves fortunate if they over- 
 took the migrating party that evening. 
 
 Of his ordinary manner of living at this time, he 
 says, " My food was milk and meat, living for weeks 
 together on one, and then for a while on the other ; 
 and again on both together. All was well so long as 
 I had either, but sometimes they both failed, and 
 there were no shops in the country where I could 
 have purchased ; and, had there been any, I must 
 have bought on credit, for money I had none." 
 
 His wardrobe bore the same impress of poverty as 
 his larder. The clothes received when in London 
 soon went to pieces, and the knowledge of sewing and 
 knitting, unwillingly learnt from his mother, often 
 now stood him in good stead. She once showed him 
 how a shirt might be smoothed by folding it properly 
 and hammering it with a piece of wood. Resolving 
 one day to have a nice one for the Sabbath, Moffat 
 tried this plan. He folded the shirt carefully, laid it 
 on a smooth block of stone — not a hearth-stone, but 
 a block of fine granite — and hammered away. " What 
 are you doing?" said Africaner. "Smoothing my 
 shirt," replied his white friend. " That is one way," 
 said he ; and so it was, for on holding the shirt up 
 to the light it was seen to be riddled with holes. 
 " When I left the country," said Moffat, " I had not 
 half-a-dozen shirts with two sleeves apiece." 
 
 Robert Moffat's stay in Namaqualand extended to 
 a little over twelve months. Near its close he made 
 on Africaner's account — with the view of ascertaining 
 
41 
 
42 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 the suitability of a place for settlement — a journey to 
 the Griqua country, and after a terrible experience, in 
 which he suffered from hunger, thirst, heat, and drink- 
 ing poisoned water, he reached Griqua Town, and 
 entered the house of Mr. Anderson, the missionary 
 there, speechless, haggard, emaciated, and covered 
 with perspiration, making the inmates understand by 
 signs that he needed water. Here he was most kindly 
 entertained, and after a few days started back again. 
 The return journey was almost as trying as the out- 
 ward one, but he reached Vreede Berg (Africaner's 
 village) in safety. The chief received Moffat's account 
 of his researches with entire satisfaction, but the 
 removal of himself and people was allowed to remain 
 prospective for a season. 
 
 Missionary labours were resumed. The school 
 flourished, and the attendance at the Sabbath services 
 was most encouraging. The people were so strongly 
 attached to their missionary, that although he was 
 contemplating a visit to the Cape, he dared not men- 
 tion the subject to them. In a letter written at this 
 time, alluding to his every-day life, he says, " I have 
 many difficulties to encounter, being alone. No one 
 can do anything for me in my household affairs. 
 I must attend to everything, which often confuses me, 
 and, indeed, hinders me in my work, for I could wish 
 to have almost nothing to do but to instruct the 
 heathen, both spiritually and temporally. Daily 1 do 
 a little in the garden, daily I am doing something for 
 the people in mending guns. I am carpenter, smith, 
 cooper, shoemaker, miller, baker, and housekeeper — 
 the last is the most burdensome of any. An old 
 Namaqua woman milks my cows, makes a fire, and 
 washes. All other things I do myself, though I 
 seldom prepare anything till impelled by hunger. 
 
DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE. 43 
 
 I drink plenty of milk, and often eat a piece of dry 
 meat. Lately I reaped nearly two bolls of wheat 
 from two hatfuls which I sowed. This is of great 
 help to me. I shall soon have plenty of Indian corn, 
 cabbages, melons, and potatoes. Water is scarce. 
 I have sown wheat a second time on trial. I live 
 chiefly now on bread and milk. To-day I churned 
 about three Scotch pints of milk, from which there 
 were two pounds of butter, so you may conceive that 
 the milk is rich. I wish many times that my mother 
 saw me. My house is always clean, but oh what a 
 confusion there is among my linen." 
 
 In November, 1818, letters reached Robert Moffat 
 from England. One came from Miss Smith, in which 
 that young lady stated that she had most reluctantly 
 renounced hope of ever getting abroad, her father 
 determining never to allow her to do so. This was a 
 sore trial, but it only led the child closer to his Father, 
 and that Father, who doeth all things well, in His own 
 good time, brought to pass that which now seemed 
 impossible. 
 
 Early in 18 19, circumstances required Mr. Moffat 
 to visit Cape Town. Conversing with Africaner on 
 the state and prospects of missions, the idea flashed 
 into Moffat's mind that it would be well for that chief 
 to accompany him, and he suggested it to his coloured 
 friend. Africaner was astonished. " I had thought 
 you loved me," said he, " and do you advise me to go 
 to the Government to be hung up as a spectacle of 
 public justice? " Then, putting his hand to his head, 
 he said, " Do you not know that I am an outlaw, 
 and that one thousand rix-dollars have been offered 
 for this poor head ? " After a little while he replied 
 to the missionary's arguments by saying, " I shall 
 deliberate and roll (using the words of the Dutch 
 
44 
 
 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Version of the Bible) my way upon the Lord. I know 
 He will not leave me." 
 
 To get Africaner safely through the territories of 
 the Dutch farmers to the Cape was a hazardous pro- 
 ceeding, as the atrocities he had committed were not 
 forgotten, and hatred against him still rankled in many 
 a breast. However, attired in one of the only two 
 
 fir,," Ji 
 
 
 AFRICANER. 
 
 substantial shirts Moffat had left, a pair of leather 
 trousers, a duffel jacket, much the worse for wear, and 
 an old hat, neither white nor black, the attempt was 
 made, the chief passing as one of the missionary's 
 attendants. His master's costume was scarcely more 
 refined than his own. 
 
DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE. 45 
 
 As a whole, the Dutch farmers were kind and 
 hospitable to strangers, and as Moffat reached their 
 farms, some of them congratulated him on returning 
 alive, they having been assured that Africaner had 
 long since murdered him. At one farm a novel and 
 amusing instance occurred of the state of feeling con- 
 cerning them both. As they drew near to this place, 
 Moffat directed his men to take his waggon to the 
 valley below while he walked towards the house, which 
 was situated on an eminence. As he advanced the 
 farmer came forward slowly to meet him. Stretching 
 forth his hand with the customary salutation, the 
 farmer put his hand behind him, and asked who the 
 stranger was. The stranger replied that he was 
 Moffat. 
 
 " Moffat ! " exclaimed the sturdy Boer in a faltering 
 voice, " it is your ghost ! " 
 
 " I am no ghost," said the supposed phantom. 
 
 " Don't come near me," said the farmer ; " you 
 have been long since murdered by Africaner. Every- 
 body says you were murdered, and a man told me he 
 had seen your bones." 
 
 As the farmer feared the presence of the supposed 
 ghost would alarm his wife, both wended their way to 
 the waggon, Africaner being the subject of conversa- 
 tion as they walked along. Moffat declared his 
 opinion that the chief was then a truly good man. 
 
 " I can believe almost anything you say," said the 
 Boer, " but that I cannot credit." 
 
 Finally he closed the conversation by saying with 
 much earnestness : " Well, if what you assert be true 
 respecting that man, I have only one wish, and that 
 is to see him before I die ; and when you return, 
 as sure as the sun is over our heads, I will go with 
 you to see him, though he killed my own uncle." 
 
46 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 The farmer was a good man, who had showed 
 Moffat kindness on his way to Namaqualand. Know- 
 ing his sincerity and the goodness of his disposition, 
 Moffat turned to the man sitting by the waggon, and 
 addressing the farmer said, " This, then, is Africaner." 
 
 With a start, and a look as though the man might 
 have dropped from the clouds, the worthy Boer 
 exclaimed, ^^ Axe yoit Africaner?" 
 
 Africaner arose, doffed his old hat, and making a 
 polite bow replied, " I am." 
 
 The farmer seemed thunderstruck, but on realising 
 the fact, lifted up his eyes and said, " O God, what a 
 miracle of Thy power ! what cannot Thy grace 
 accomplish ! " 
 
 On reaching Cape Town, Robert Moffat waited 
 upon Lord Charles Somerset, the Governor, and 
 informed him that Africaner was in the town. The 
 information was received with some amount of 
 scepticism, but the following day was appointed for 
 an interview with him. 
 
 The Governor received the chief with great affa- 
 bility and kindness, and expressed his pleasure at 
 thus seeing before him, one who had formerly been 
 the scourge of the country, and the terror of the 
 border colonists. He was much struck with this 
 palpable result of missionary enterprise, and presented 
 Africaner with an excellent waggon, valued at eighty 
 pounds. 
 
 Moffat visited the colony on this occasion with two 
 objects ; first, to secure supplies, and secondly, to 
 introduce Africaner to the notice of the Colonial 
 Government. Having accomplished these, he fully 
 intended to return to his flock. Events were, how- 
 ever, ordered otherwise. 
 
 While Moffat was in Cape Town, a deputation 
 
DEPARTURE FOR THE CAPE. 47 
 
 from the London Missionary Society, consisting of 
 the Rev. J. Campbell, and the Rev. Dr. Philip, was 
 also there. It was the wish of these two gentleman 
 that he should accompany them in their visits to the 
 missionary stations, and eventually be appointed to 
 the Bechwana mission. 
 
 The proposition was a startling one, but after care- 
 ful thought, and with the entire concurrence of 
 Africaner — who hoped to move with his tribe to the 
 neighbourhood of the new mission — Moffat accepted 
 it. Africaner therefore departed alone, generously 
 offering to take in his waggon to Lattakoo, the new 
 station, the missionary's books and a few articles of 
 furniture that he had purchased. 
 
 Once more these two brethren in the faith met on 
 this earth, and this was at Lattakoo. The proposed 
 removal of the tribe, however, never took place, 
 Africaner being called up higher before that plan 
 could be carried out. 
 
 The closing scene in the life of this remarkable 
 man was depicted by the Rev. J. Archbell, Wesleyan 
 missionary, in a letter to Dr. Philip, dated the 14th of 
 March, 1823 :— 
 
 " When he found his end approaching, he called all 
 the people together, and gave them directions as to 
 their future conduct. ' We are not,' said he, ' what we 
 were, — savages, but men professing to be taught 
 according to the Gospel. Let us then do accordingly. 
 Live peaceably with all men, if possible ; and if 
 impossible, consult those who are placed over you 
 before you engage in anything. Remain together, as 
 you have done since I knew you. Then, when the 
 Directors think fit to send you a missionary, you may 
 be ready to receive him. Behave to any teacher you 
 may have sent as one sent of God^ as I have great 
 
48 
 
 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 hope that God will bless you in this respect when 
 I am gone to heaven. I feel that I love God, and 
 that He has done much for me, of which I am totally 
 unworthy.' 
 
 " He also added, ' My former life is stained with 
 blood ; but Jesus Christ has pardoned me, and I am 
 going to heaven. Oh ! beware of falling into the 
 same evils into which I have led you frequently ; but 
 seek God, and He will be found of you to direct 
 you.' " 
 
 Shortly after this he died. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 MARRIAGE, AND ARRIVAL AT LATTAKOO. 
 
 UP to this time, Robert Moffat had pursued his 
 course alone. No loving helpmeet had cheered 
 him in his efforts, or with womanly tenderness 
 ministered to his wants. But though far 
 away, he was fondly remembered and earnestly prayed 
 for, especially by one noble Christian lady, over whose 
 fair head scarce twenty-three summers had passed, 
 and whose heart had been torn with the severe 
 struggle, between filial love and regard for her parents 
 on the one hand, and her sense of duty and affection 
 for her missionary friend on the other, which for two 
 and a-half years had been carried on therein. 
 
 At last, when hope seemed to have vanished, the 
 parents of Mary Smith, to whom the idea of parting 
 with their only daughter was painful in the extreme, 
 saw so clearly that it was the Lord who was calling 
 their child to the work which He had marked out for 
 her, that they felt they dare not any longer withhold 
 her from it, and therefore calmly resigned their 
 daughter into His hands. Thus it came to pass that, 
 — after a short stay in London, and at Cowes, in the 
 Isle of Wight, at which places she won all hearts b\' 
 
 49 !-» 
 
50 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 her unfeigned and exalted piety and zeal, and by her 
 modest, affectionate manner, — we find her on board 
 the sailing-ship British Colony^ on her way to South 
 Africa, in the care of the Rev. R. Beck, a minister of 
 the Dutch Church, and his wife. 
 
 As arranged, the deputation, accompanied by 
 Robert Moffat, left Cape Town on their tour of 
 inspection of the stations in the eastern part of the 
 Colony and in Kafirland. This journey necessitated an 
 absence of twelve months, during which time Robert 
 expected his bride to arrive. This was a trial of faith, 
 as it seemed hard that she should be obliged to land 
 in a strange country, and find none of her own to 
 welcome her. But with Moffat even love followed 
 after duty. 
 
 It so happened, however, that after visiting the line 
 of stations through the eastern districts as far as 
 Bethelsdorp, the party, at that place, found their 
 progress effectually barred through war with the 
 Kafirs. They were therefore obliged to return to 
 Cape Town, thus giving Moffat the opportunity and 
 great joy of receiving his affianced wife upon her 
 landing from the vessel. She reached Cape Town in 
 safety, and on the 27th of December, 18 19, the happy 
 couple were united. They received each other as from 
 the Lord, and for more than fifty years, during cloud 
 and sunshine, their union was a true and blessed one. 
 
 Robert Moffat had been appointed to the Bechwana 
 station at Lattakoo, or Kuruman, as it was afterwards 
 called ; and for that place the missionary party, which 
 consisted of the Rev. John Campbell and the Moffats, 
 set out early in the year 1820. 
 
 A feeble attempt to establish a mission to the 
 Bechwanas had been made, by the Dutch Missionary 
 Society in Cape Town, as early as A.D. 1800, and two 
 
MARKTAGE, AND ARRIVAL AT LATTAKOO. 5 1 
 
 missionaries, named Edwards and Kok, had been 
 despatched. They were directed by the chief to 
 settle on the banks of the Kuruman River, at a 
 distance from the natives, and the effort degenerated 
 into a mere trading concern. In 1805, the Bechwanas 
 were visited by the celebrated traveller Dr. Lichten- 
 stein, and, in 181 2, by Dr. Burchell, but it was not 
 until the visit of the Rev. J. Campbell, a little later, that 
 any real negotiations were entertained for the settle- 
 ment of missionaries with this people. The chief, 
 Mothibi, then said to Mr. Campbell, "send mission- 
 aries, and I will be a father to them." 
 
 In response to this invitation Messrs. Evans and 
 Hamilton left England in 181 5, and, full of hope, 
 reached Lattakoo on the 17th of February in the 
 following year. Instead of being received as they 
 anticipated, they were repulsed, and directed to settle 
 at the Kuruman River, thirty miles distant. Dis- 
 appointed and despondent they returned to Griqua 
 Town. Mr. Evans relinquished the mission, but a 
 further attempt was made afterwards by Messrs. Read 
 and Hamilton, and this time permission was obtained 
 for them to dwell with the chief and his people. 
 Thus the Bechwana Mission obtained its first real 
 footing. 
 
 In June, 18 17, the tribe, under Mothibi, removed from 
 the position where the missionaries first found it, and 
 settled by the Kuruman River. When the Rev. J. 
 Campbell returned to the Colony, Mr. Read accom- 
 panied him ; thus, pending the arrival of Robert Moffat, 
 Mr. Hamilton was left alone in charge of the mission. 
 
 The journey as far as Griqua Town was accom- 
 plished without any special incident. At first the 
 route lay through fertile valleys and lovely mountain 
 scenery, but soon this changed, and for hundreds of 
 
52 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 miles the travellers had to pass through the desolate 
 region of the Karroo desert. When about half-way 
 through this sterile district, they came to the site upon 
 which was to be built the village of Beaufort West, 
 where they were most kindly entertained by a Scotch- 
 man named Mr. Baird, the newly appointed magis- 
 trate. 
 
 The Orange River, so frequently an insurmountable 
 obstacle to progress, was passed in safety, the water 
 being very low, and two or three days later Griqua 
 Town was reached. Here a halt was made. Lattakoo 
 lay one hundred miles beyond. 
 
 At this time some uncertainty existed as to whether 
 the Moffats would be allowed by the Colonial Govern- 
 ment to settle at Lattakoo; thus far consent had been 
 withheld. They had advanced trusting that the way 
 would be opened, and after a short rest at Griqua 
 Town, the party continued their journey, and reached 
 Lattakoo five days after leaving the Griqua station. 
 It was intended that Robert Moffat should take the 
 place of Mr. Read, as an associate with Mr. Hamilton 
 in the work of the mission. 
 
 The new arrivals were introduced to Mothibi, and 
 were soon visited by a retinue of chiefs. The manner, 
 appearance, and dress of these natives much interested 
 Mary Moffat, The whole missionary party stayed 
 together for three weeks, settling the affairs of the 
 mission ; then the Rev. J. Campbell and Mr. Read 
 started on a journey to visit the Bahurutsi, a tribe who 
 dwelt nearly two hundred miles to the north-east of 
 Lattakoo. Moffat and his wife remained with Mr. 
 Hamilton, so that the new missionary might win the 
 affections of the Bechwana chief and his people. 
 
 LTpon the return of the Rev. J. Campbell and 
 Mr. Read, after an absence of two months, and a short 
 
53 
 
54 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 rest at Lattakoo, all the missionaries, excepting Mr. 
 Hamilton, set off westward along the bed of the- 
 Kuruman River to visit several of the Bechwana 
 tribes which were scattered about that region. The 
 natives of these parts, never having seen white people 
 before evinced much curiosity concerning their visitors; 
 especially about Mrs. Moffat and her dress. To see 
 the missionaries sitting at table dining and using 
 knives and forks, plates, and different dislies, was 
 wonderful to them, and for hours they would sit and 
 gaze upon such scenes. The Word of Life was 
 preached to these natives by either Mr. Campbell or 
 Robert Moffat as the party journeyed along. 
 
 Their absence from Lattakoo extended to a little 
 over a fortnight, and on their return, finding, by 
 intelligence received from Dr. Philip, that permission 
 had not as yet been obtained from the Governor for 
 the Mofifats to settle at that place, Robert and his 
 partner had to return, much cast down, to Griqua 
 Town, there to commit the matter into the hand of 
 God, and patiently await the time when He should 
 open the way for them to commence the work they 
 had so much at heart. Mr. Hamilton was therefore 
 again left alone with simply a Griqua assistant and a 
 few Hottentots. 
 
 Just before leaving Lattakoo, Robert Moffat met 
 Africaner, who had safely brought from Vreede Berg 
 the cattle and property belonging to the missionary, 
 and also the books and articles of furniture which had 
 been intrusted to his care when leaving Cape Town. 
 All were in good order, particular attention having 
 been paid to the missionary's cattle and sheep during 
 his long absence. This was the last meeting between 
 Moffat and Africaner. 
 
 While on their journey, and when near Griqua 
 
MARRIAGE, AND ARRIVAL AT LATTAKOO. 55 
 
 Town, information reached the missionary party that 
 permission had been granted for the Moffats to settle 
 at Lattakoo. As, however, the affairs at Griqua Town 
 at this time were altogether disorganised, it was 
 arranged that they should stay there for a few months 
 to set the affairs of that place in order. 
 
 During their stay at that station Mrs. Moffat had 
 a severe illness, and her life \vas despaired of, but this 
 precious life was preserved, and not only was his dear 
 one restored, but a bonny wee lassie was given to 
 
 OLD MISSION HOUSE AT GRIQUA TOWN. 
 
 them both, who was named Mary, and who, in after 
 years, became the wife of Dr. Livingstone. 
 
 At Griqua Town they bade farewell to the Rev. J. 
 Campbell. To them he had become much endeared, 
 as they had been in his company as fellow-travellers 
 for many months. He and Mr. Read returned 
 to the Colony ; twenty years later, however, the two 
 friends met again, but that was upon the Moffats' 
 return to their native land. 
 
56 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 In May, 1821, Mr. and Mrs. Moffat again arrived at 
 Lattakoo, and then commenced a continuation of 
 missionary conflicts during which their faith was 
 severely tried, but which ended, after many years, in 
 triumphant rejoicing as they saw the people brought 
 to Christ, and beheld the once ignorant and degraded 
 heathen becoming humble servants of the Lord, 
 reading His Word and obeying His precepts. 
 
 In looking at the Bechwanas as they were when the 
 Moffats first settled among them, for up to that time 
 the efforts of the missionaries had been unattended 
 with success, we find a people who had neither an 
 idea of a God, nor who performed any idolatrous rites ; 
 who failed to see that there was anything more agree- 
 able to flesh and blood in our customs than in their 
 own ; but who allowed that the missionaries were a 
 wiser and superior race of beings to themselves ; who 
 practised polygamy, and looked with a very jealous 
 eye on any innovation that was likely to deprive them 
 of the services of their wives, who built their houses, 
 gathered firewood for their fires, tilled their fields, and 
 reared their families ; who were suspicious, and keenly 
 scrutinised the actions of the missionaries ; in fact, a 
 people who were thoroughly sensual, and who could 
 rob, lie, and murder without any compunctions of 
 conscience, as long as success attended their efforts. 
 
 Among such a people did these servants of God 
 labour for years without any sign of fruit, but with 
 steadfast faith and persevering prayer, until at last 
 the work of the Holy Spirit was seen, and the strong 
 arm of the Lord, gathering many into His fold, 
 became apparent. 
 
 The Bechwana tribe with whom Robert Moffat was 
 located was called the Batlaping, or Batlapis. 
 
 The patience of the missionaries in these early days 
 
MARRIAGE, AND ARRIVAL AT LATTAKOO. 57 
 
 was sorely tried, and the petty annoyances, so irritating 
 to many of us, were neither few nor infrequent. By 
 dint of immense labour, leading the water to it, the 
 ground which the chief had given the missionaries for 
 a garden was made available ; then the women, headed 
 by the chiefs wife, encroached upon it, and to save 
 contention the point was conceded. The corn when 
 it ripened was stolen, and the sheep either taken out 
 of the fold at night or driven off when grazing in the 
 day time. No tool or household utensil could be left 
 about for a moment or it would disappear. 
 
 One day Mr. Hamilton, who at that time had no 
 mill to grind corn, sat down and with much labour and 
 perspiration, by means of two stones, ground sufficient 
 meal in half-a-day to make a loaf that should serve 
 him, being then alone, for about eight days. He 
 kneaded and baked his gigantic loaf, put it on his 
 shelf, and went to the chapel. He returned in the 
 evening with a keen appetite and a pleasant anticipa- 
 tion of enjoying his coarse home-made bread, but on 
 opening the door of his hut and casting his eye to the 
 shelf he saw that the loaf had gone. Some one had 
 forced open the little window of the hut, got in, and 
 stolen the bread. 
 
 On another occasion Mrs. Moffat, with a babe in her 
 arms, begged very humbly of a woman, just to be kind 
 enough to move out of a temporary kitchen, that she 
 might shut it as usual before going into the place of 
 worship. The woman seized a piece of wood to hurl 
 at Mrs. Moffat's head, who, therefore, escaped to the 
 house of God, leaving the intruder in undisturbed pos- 
 session of the kitchen, any of the contents of which 
 she would not hesitate to appropriate to her own use. 
 
 A severe drought also set in, and a rain-maker, 
 finding all his arts to bring rain useless, laid the blame 
 
58 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 upon the white strangers, who for a time were in 
 expectation of being driven away. Probably, however, 
 the greatest trial at this time was caused by the con- 
 duct of some of the Hottentots who had accompanied 
 them from the Cape, and who being but new converts 
 were weak to withstand the demands made upon them, 
 and brought shame upon their leaders. Shortly after 
 his arrival Moffat thoroughly purged his little com- 
 munity. The numbers that gathered round the Lord's 
 table were much reduced, but the lesson was a salutary 
 one and did good to the heathen around. 
 
 A callous indifference to the instruction of the mis- 
 sionaries, except it was followed by some temporal 
 benefit, prevailed. In August, 1822, Mary Moffat 
 wrote, " We have no prosperity in the work, not the 
 least sign of good being done. The Bechwanas seem 
 more careless than ever, and seldom enter the church." 
 A little later Moffat himself stated in one of his letters, 
 " They turn a deaf ear to the voice of love, and treat 
 with scorn the glorious doctrines of salvation. It is, 
 however, pleasing to reflect that affairs in general wear 
 a more hopeful aspect than when we came here. 
 Several instances have proved the people are deter- 
 mined to relinquish the barbarous system of com- 
 mandoes for stealing cattle. They have also dispensed 
 with a rain-maker this season." 
 
 The Bushmen had a most inhuman custom of 
 abandoning the aged and helpless, leaving them to 
 starve or be devoured by wild beasts ; also if a mother 
 died it was their practice to bury the infant or infants 
 of that mother with her. 
 
 During one of his journeys, a few months prior to 
 the date last mentioned, Moffat came upon a party of 
 Bushmen digging a grave for the body of a woman 
 who had left two children. Finding that they were 
 
MARRIAGE, AND ARRIVAL AT LATTAKOO. 59 
 
 about to bury the children with the corpse he begged 
 for them. They were given him and for some years 
 formed a part of his household. They were named 
 Ann and Dicky. 
 
 The importance of acquiring the language of the 
 Bechwanas soon became apparent to the earnest- 
 hearted missionary. One day he was much cast 
 down and said to his wife, " Mary, this is hard work." 
 " It is hard work, my love," she replied, " but take 
 courage, our lives shall be given us for a prey." " But 
 think, my dear," he said, " how long we have been 
 preaching to this people, and no fruit yet appears." 
 The wise woman made answer, " The Gospel has not 
 yet been preached to them in their oiun tongue in 
 ivJiicJi they ivere bor)i. They have heard it only 
 through interpreters, and interpreters who have them- 
 selves no just understanding, no real love of the truth. 
 We must not expect the blessing till you are able, 
 from your own lips and in their language, to bring it 
 through their ears into their hearts." 
 
 " From that hour," said Moffat, in relating the 
 conversation, " I gave myself with untiring diligence 
 to the acquisition of the language." 
 
 As an instance of the drawback of preaching by 
 means of an interpreter, the sentence, " The salvation 
 of the soul is a very important subject," was rendered 
 by one of those individuals as follows : " The salvation 
 of the soul is a very great sack." A rendering 
 altogether unintelligible. 
 
 For the purpose of studying the language Moffat 
 made journeys among the tribes, so that he might for 
 a time be freed from speaking Dutch, the language 
 spoken with his own people at Lattakoo. Itinerating 
 visits v/ere also made in turn every Sabbath to the 
 surrounding villages, and occasionally further afield, 
 
6o ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 but sometimes, after walking perhaps four to five 
 miles to reach a village, not a single individual could 
 be found to listen to the Gospel message. 
 
 The only service in which the missionaries took any 
 real delight at this time, was the Sabbath evening 
 service held in Dutch for the edification of themselves 
 and the two or three Hottentots, with their families, 
 who belonged to the mission. 
 
 In addition to sore privations, discouragements, 
 false accusations, and the loss of their property, the 
 missionaries found even their lives at times imperilled. 
 The natives and all on the station were suffering 
 greatly from a long continued drought. All the 
 efforts of the professional rain-maker had been in 
 vain, no cloud appeared in the sky, no rain fell to 
 water the parched land. The doings of the mission- 
 aries were looked upon as being the cause of this 
 misfortune. At one time it was a bag of salt, which 
 Moffat had brought in his waggon, that frightened 
 the rain away ; at another the sound of the chapel 
 bell. Their prospects became darker than ever. At 
 last it appeared that the natives had fully decided to 
 expel them from their midst. A chief man, and 
 about a dozen of his attendants, came and seated 
 themselves under the shadow of a large tree near to 
 Moffat's house. He at that moment was engaged in 
 repairing a waggon near at hand. The scene which 
 ensued and its result we give in his own words : — 
 
 " Being informed that something of importance was 
 to be communicated, Mr. Hamilton was called. We 
 stood patiently to hear the message, always ready to 
 face the worst. The principal speaker informed us, 
 that it was the determination of the chiefs of the 
 people that we should leave the country ; and refer- 
 ring to our disregard of threatenings, added what was 
 
Oi 
 
62 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 tantamount to the assurance that measures of a violent 
 character would be resorted to, to carry their resolu- 
 tions into effect, in case of our disobeying the order. 
 
 " While the chief was speaking, he stood quivering 
 his spear in his right hand. Mrs. Moffat was at the 
 door of our cottage, with the babe in her arms, 
 watching the crisis, for such it was. We replied : — 
 
 " ' We have indeed felt most reluctant to leave, and 
 are now more than ever resolved to abide by our post. 
 We pity you, for you know not what you do ; we have 
 suffered, it is true ; and He whose servants we are 
 has directed us in His Word, " When they persecute 
 you in one city, flee ye to another," but although we 
 have suffered, we do not consider all that has been 
 done to us by the people amounts to persecution ; we 
 are prepared to expect it from such as know no better. 
 If you are resolved to rid yourselves of us, you must 
 resort to stronger measures, for our hearts are with 
 you. You may shed blood or burn us out. We know 
 you will not touch our wives and children.' " 
 
 Then throwing open his waistcoat Moffat stood 
 erect and fearless. " Now then," said he, " if you will, 
 drive your spears to my heart ; and when you have 
 slain me, my companions will know that the hour has 
 come for them to depart." 
 
 At these words the chief man looked at his com- 
 panions, remarking, with a significant shake of the 
 head, " These men must have ten lives, when they are 
 so fearless of death ; there must be something in 
 immortality." 
 
 Moffat pithily observes, " The meeting broke up, and 
 they left us, no doubt fully impressed with the idea 
 that we were impracticable men." 
 
CHAPTER Y 
 
 THE MANTATEE INVASION. 
 
 IN March, 1823, a second daughter was born to the 
 Moffats, who was named Ann. At that time the 
 Batlaping were thoroughly indifferent to the 
 Gospel, but their hostile spirit to the missionaries 
 had passed away. 
 
 Robert Moffat had heard of a powerful Bechwana 
 tribe, named the Bangwaketsi, whose chief was 
 Makaba, dwelling about two hundred miles to the 
 north-east. To this chief and people he now contem- 
 plated paying a visit. 
 
 Rumours had also been current at intervals, for 
 more than a year past, of strange and terrible doings 
 by a fierce and numerous people, called the Mantatees, 
 who were advancing from the eastward. To gain 
 definite intelligence concerning this people, and also 
 with the view of paying his contemplated visit to 
 Makaba, Moffat resolved upon undertaking a journey 
 to that chief. He was also influenced by the desire 
 to open up a friendly intercourse with so powerful, 
 and it might be dangerous, a potentate as Makaba ; 
 and likewise by the wish of gaining opportunities of 
 more fully studying the language and becoming 
 acquainted with the localities of the tribes ; the ulti- 
 
 63 
 
64 ROBERT ?>IOFFAT. 
 
 mate design of all being the introduction of the 
 Gospel among them. 
 
 An invitation arrived from Makaba, and the way- 
 seemed open. Mothibi, however, the Bechwana chief, 
 was greatly averse to the undertaking, and threw all 
 possible obstacles in its path, short of actual armed 
 resistance. His people were forbidden to accompany 
 the missionary, who was obliged therefore to start 
 with only the few men he had. 
 
 As he journeyed forward the reports concerning 
 the Mantatees were again heard, and on reaching 
 Nokaneng, about twenty miles distant from Lattakoo, 
 he learned that the invaders had attacked a Bechwana 
 tribe, the Barolongs, at Kunuana, about one hundred 
 miles off. Spies were sent out but returned without 
 any definite tidings, and the journey was resumed. 
 
 For four days the party travelled across a dry and 
 trackless country, when they came to a fine valley, in 
 which were some pools and plenty of game. Here 
 they remained two days, and then prepared to con- 
 tinue their journey to the Bangwaketsi. Just as they 
 were about to start, however, they ascertained from 
 two natives that the Mantatees had attacked the 
 Barolongs, and were in possession of a village some- 
 what in the rear of the missionary's party. 
 
 No time was to be lost. The distance was retraced 
 with all speed, and the alarming news told at 
 Lattakoo. A public meeting was convened, and 
 Moffat gave a circumstantial account of the informa- 
 tion he had gathered. The enemy were a numerous 
 and powerful body, they had destroyed many towns of 
 the Bakone tribes, slaughtered immense numbers of 
 people, laid Kurrechane in ruins, scattered the Baro- 
 longs, and, in addition, were said to be cannibals. 
 
 The alarming tidings produced at first a gloom on 
 
THE MANTATEE INVASION. 6$ 
 
 every countenance, and silence reigned for a few 
 minutes. Then Mothibi, in the name of the assembly, 
 said he was exceedingly thankful that their mis- 
 sionary had been " hard-headed " and pursued his 
 journey, thus discovering to them their danger. 
 
 Moffat counselled that as the Bechwanas were quite 
 unable to resist so savage a force as the Mantatees, 
 they had better either flee to the Colony or call in the 
 aid of the Griquas, volunteering to proceed to Griqua 
 Town to give information and procure assistance. 
 The chief at that place was one Andries Waterboer, 
 who had been educated by the missionaries, and who, 
 before his election as chief, had been set apart for a 
 native teacher. Mr. Melville, the Government agent, 
 also resided in the town. 
 
 Moffat reached Griqua Town safely, and Waterboer 
 promised to come to the assistance of the Bechwanas 
 as soon as he could muster his forces. Moffat then 
 returned to his station. 
 
 Eleven anxious days were passed at Lattakoo, 
 waiting the arrival of the Griquas. By the time they 
 arrived, the enemy had reached Lctakong, only thirty- 
 six miles away. The Griqua force consisted of about 
 one hundred horsemen, armed with guns, and it being 
 reported that there were white men among the 
 invaders, Moffat was asked to accompany the force, 
 as, having some knowledge of the language, he 
 might be able to bring about a treaty with them. 
 He agreed to go, and Mr. Melville started with him. 
 
 Before leaving, all met to pray for Divine counsel 
 and help. A blessing on the means of preventing 
 a further effusion of blood was asked, and if recourse 
 to violent measures became necessary, it was prayed 
 that the heads of those engaged might be shielded in 
 the day of battle. 
 
 E 
 
66 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 The small force pressed forward as far as the Mat- 
 laurin River, about half way, where all bivouacked. 
 Leaving the main body, Waterboer, Moffat, and a few 
 others, rode onward for about four hours, and then 
 halted for the night among some trees. At day-light 
 they proceeded until they came in sight of the enemy. 
 These were divided into two parties, one holding a 
 town, out of which they had driven the inhabitants, 
 and the other lying on the hills to the left of the 
 town. As the horsemen drew near, they could 
 perceive that they were discovered, and among the 
 masses of the invaders could be seen the war-axes 
 and brass ornaments as they glittered in the sun. 
 
 Riding forward, Moffat and Waterboer found a 
 young woman belonging to the Mantatees, whose 
 whole appearance denoted direful want. Food was 
 given her, and some tobacco, and she was sent with a 
 message to her people that the strangers wanted to 
 speak with them and not to fight. An old man and 
 a lad were also found dying of starvation, these were 
 helped and talked to in full sight of the enemy. All 
 possible means were tried to bring them to a parley, 
 but in vain, they only responded by making furious 
 rushes, showing their intention to attack. 
 
 The whole day was spent in this manner, and at 
 evening Moffat left Waterboer and the scouts, and 
 rode back to confer with Mr. Melville and the other 
 Griqua chiefs, to see if some means could be devised 
 of preventing the dreadful consequences of battle. 
 One of the Griqua chiefs, named Cornelius Kok, 
 nobly insisted on Moffat taking his best horse, one 
 of the strongest present. To this generous act the 
 missionary afterwards owed his life. 
 
 All the party were in motion the next morning 
 before daylight. The whole of the horsemen advanced 
 
THE MANTATEE INVASION. 6/ 
 
 to within about one hundred and fifty yards of the 
 enemy, thinking to intimidate them and bring them 
 to a conference. The Mantatees rushed forward with 
 a terrible howl, throwing their war clubs and javelins. 
 The rushes becoming dangerous, Waterboer and his 
 party commenced firing, and the battle became 
 general. The Mantatees obstinately held their ground, 
 seeming determined rather to perish than flee, which 
 they might easily have done. 
 
 After the combat had lasted two hours and a-half, 
 the Griquas, finding their ammunition rapidly dimin- 
 ishing, advanced to take the enemy's position. The 
 latter gave way and fled, at first westward, but being 
 intercepted, they turned towards the town. Here a 
 desperate struggle took place. At last, seized with 
 despair, the enemy fled precipitately, and were pursued 
 by the Griquas for about eight miles. 
 
 Soon after the battle commenced, the Bechwanas 
 who accompanied the Griqua force came up, and 
 began discharging their poisoned arrows into the 
 midst of the Mantatees. Half-a-dozen of these fierce 
 warriors, however, turned upon them, and the whole 
 body scampered off in wild disorder. But as soon as 
 these cowards saw that the Mantatees had retired, 
 they rushed like hungry wolves to the spot where they 
 had been encamped, and began to plunder and kill 
 the wounded, also murdering the women and children 
 with their spears and battle-axes. 
 
 Fighting not being within the missionary's province, 
 he refrained from firing a shot, though for safety he 
 kept with the Griqua force. Seeing now the savage 
 ferocity of the Bechwanas in killing the inoffensive 
 women and children, he turned his attention to these 
 objects of pity, who were fleeing in all directions. 
 Galloping in among them, many of the Bechwanas 
 
68 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 were deterred from their barbarous purpose, and the 
 women, seeing that mercy was shown them, sat down, 
 and baring their breasts, exclaimed, " I am a woman ; 
 I am a woman," The men seemed as though it was 
 impossible to yield, and although often sorely wounded, 
 they continued to throw their spears and war-axes at 
 any one who approached. 
 
 It was while carrying on his work of mercy among 
 the wounded that Moffat nearly lost his life. He had 
 got hemmed in between a rocky height and a body of ■ 
 the enemy. A narrow passage remained, through 
 which he could escape at full gallop. Right in the 
 middle of this passage there rose up before him a man 
 who had been shot, but who had collected his strength, 
 and, weapon in hand, was awaiting him. Just at that 
 moment one of the Griquas, seeing the situation, fired. 
 The ball whizzed past, close to Moffat. The aim had 
 been a true one, and the way of escape was clear. 
 
 This battle saved the mission. It did more than 
 that — it saved the Mantatees themselves from terrible 
 destruction. As a devastating host they would in all 
 probability have advanced to the borders of the 
 Colony, and being driven back, would have perished 
 miserably, men, women, and children, either of starva- 
 tion, or at the hands of those tribes whom they would 
 have overcome in their advance, and through whose 
 territories they must have passed in their retreat. 
 
 After the battle was over, Mr. Melville and Robert 
 Moffat collected many of the Mantatee women and 
 children, who were taken to the missionary station. 
 Alarm prevailed there for some days, it being feared 
 that the Mantatees might make a descent upon the 
 place after the Griquas had left. At one time the 
 prospect was so ominous that the missionary band, 
 with their wives and children, after burying their 
 
THE MANTATEE INVASION. 69 
 
 property, left Lattakoo for a short time, and sought 
 shelter at Griqua Town. The threatened attack not 
 being made, and as it was found that the Mantatees had 
 left the neighbourhood, the station was again occupied. 
 
 The Bechwanas were deeply sensible of the interest 
 the missionaries had shown in their welfare, at a time 
 when they might with ease and little loss of property 
 have retired in safety to the Colony, leaving them to 
 be destroyed by the fierce invaders. 
 
 For a long time past, it had been evident to Moffat 
 that the site upon which they dwelt at Lattakoo was 
 altogether unsuitable for naissionary purposes. The 
 great scarcity of water, especially in dry seasons, 
 rendered any attempt at raising crops most difficult, 
 and even water for drinking purposes could only be 
 obtained in small quantity. Advantage was there- 
 fore taken of the present favourable impression, made 
 upon the minds of Mothibi and his people, to obtain 
 a site for a new station. A place eight miles distant, 
 about three miles below the Kuruman fountain, where 
 the river of that name had its source, was examined 
 and found to offer better advantages for a missionary 
 station than any other for hundreds of miles round. 
 Arrangements were made with the Bechwana chiefs 
 so that about two miles of the Kuruman valley should 
 henceforth be the property of the London Missionary 
 Society, proper remuneration being given as soon as 
 Moffat returned from Cape Town, to which place he 
 contemplated paying a visit shortly. 
 
 This new station will be known in the further 
 chronicle of events, by the name of Kuruman. 
 
 At the beginning of 1824, the Moffats were in 
 Cape Town. They had gone there to obtain supplies, 
 to seek medical aid for Mrs. Moffat, who had suffered 
 in health considerably, and to confer personally 
 
70 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 with Dr. Philip about the removal of the station. 
 Mothibi having been anxious that his son, Peclu, 
 should see the country of the white people, had sent 
 him, accompanied by Taisho, one of the principal 
 chiefs, to Cape Town with the missionaries. 
 
 The young prince and his companion were aston- 
 ished at what they saw. With difficulty they were 
 persuaded to go along with Robert Moffat on board 
 one of the ships in the bay. The enormous size of 
 the hull, the height of the masts, the splendid cabin 
 and the deep hold, were each and all objects of 
 wonder ; and when they saw a boy mount the rigging 
 and ascend to the masthead, their astonishment was 
 complete. Turning to the young prince, Taisho 
 whispered, " Ah ga si khatla?" (Is it not an ape?) 
 " Do these water-houses (ships) unyoke like waggon- 
 oxen every night ? " they inquired ; and also ; " Do they 
 graze in the sea to keep them alive?" Being asked what 
 they thought of a ship in full sail, which was then en- 
 tering the harbour, they replied, " We have no thoughts 
 here, we hope to think again when we get on shore." 
 
 Upon the same day that the Moffats reached Cape 
 Town, a ship arrived from England, bringing three 
 new missionaries intended for the Bechwana station. 
 Of these, however, one only and his wife, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Hughes, were able to accompany the older 
 missionary upon his return to his post. 
 
 Mrs. Moffat's health being somewhat improved, 
 the party left Cape Town, and after a tedious and 
 monotonous journey of two months, Robert and 
 Mary Moffat reached Lattakoo in safety. They had 
 left Mr. and Mrs. Hughes at Griqua Town, where they 
 were to remain for a season. Upon reaching home 
 Mr. Hamilton was found pursuing his lonely labours 
 with that quiet patience so characteristic of him. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 VISIT TO MAKABA. 
 
 SHORTLY after his return, and pending the final 
 arrangements for the removal of the missionary 
 station, it was considered advisable that Robert 
 Moffat should pay his long promised visit to 
 Makaba, the chief of the Bangvvaketsi. He left on 
 the 1st of July, 1824, and was accompanied by a large 
 party of Griquas, who were going into that region to 
 hunt elephants. 
 
 Skirting the edge of the Kalahari desert for some 
 time they afterwards deviated from their course 
 through want of water, and visited Pitsana, where a 
 great concourse of natives had gathered, consisting of 
 the different sections of the Barolong tribe, who had 
 been driven from their country the previous year 
 during the invasion of the Mantatees. Thence they 
 proceeded onward till they reached Kwakwe, the 
 residence of Makaba and his people, and the metro- 
 polis of the Bangwaketsi. Here the missionary was 
 most favourably received by the king, who remarked, 
 with a laugh, " That he wondered they should trust 
 themselves, unarmed, in the town of such a villain as 
 he was reported to be." 
 
 71 
 
72 
 
 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 He entertained Moffat and his party royally, 
 declaring, " My friends, I am perfectly happy ; my 
 heart is whiter than milk, because you have visited 
 me. To-day I am a great man. You are wise and 
 bold to come and see with your own eyes, and laugh 
 at the testimony of my enemies." 
 
 Moffat tried on several occasions to converse with 
 the chief and his people on Divine things, but appar- 
 
 NATIVES SEWING. 
 
 ently with little success. At length on the Sabbath 
 he resolved to pay Makaba a formal visit, so as to 
 obtain a hearing for the subject. He found the 
 monarch seated among a large number of his 
 principal men, all engaged either preparing skins, 
 cutting them, sewing mantles, or telling news. 
 
 Sitting down beside him, and amidst his nobles and 
 counsellors, Moffat stated that his object was to tell 
 
VISIT TO MAKABA. 73 
 
 him news. The missionary spoke of God, of the 
 Saviour, but his words fell upon deaf ears. One of 
 the men sitting near, however, seemed struck with the 
 character of the Redeemer, and especially with His 
 miracles. On hearing that He had raised the dead, 
 the man said, "What an excellent doctor He must 
 have been to raise the dead." This led to a descrip- 
 tion of His power, and how that power would be 
 exercised at the last day in the Resurrection. The 
 ear of the monarch caught the sound of a resurrection 
 from the dead, " What," he exclaimed in astonish- 
 ment, "What are these words about? the dead, the 
 dead arise ! " 
 
 " Yes, all the dead shall arise." 
 
 " Will my father arise ? " 
 
 " Yes, your father will arise." 
 
 " Will all the slain in battle arise ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " And will all that have been killed and devoured 
 by lions, tigers, hyenas, and crocodiles again revive ? " 
 
 " Yes ; and come to judgment." 
 
 "And will those whose bodies have been left to 
 waste and to wither on the desert plains and scattered 
 to the winds again arise ? " asked the king, with a kind 
 of triumph, as though this time he had fixed the 
 missionary. 
 
 " Yes ! " answered he, with emphasis ; " not one will 
 be left behind." 
 
 After looking at his visitor for a few moments, 
 Makaba turned to his people, saying in a stentorian 
 voice : " Hark, ye wise men, whoever is among you, 
 the wisest of past generations, did ever your cars hear 
 such strange and unheard-of news ? " 
 
 Receiving an answer in the negative, he laid his 
 hand upon Moffat's breast and said, " Father, I love 
 
74 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 you much. Your visit and your presence have made 
 my heart as white as milk. The words of your 
 mouth are sweet as honey, but the words of a resur- 
 rection are too great to be heard. I do not wish to 
 hear again about the dead rising ! The dead cannot 
 arise! The dead must not arise ! " 
 
 " Why," inquired the missionary, " can so great a 
 man refuse knowledge and turn away from wisdom ? 
 Tell me, my friend, why I must not add to words and 
 speak of a resurrection ? " 
 
 Raising and uncovering his arm which had been 
 strong in battle, and shaking his hand as if quivering 
 a spear, he replied, " I have slain my thousands, and 
 shall they arise ! " 
 
 " Never before," adds Mr. Moffat in his Missionary 
 Labours, " had the light of Divine revelation dawned 
 upon his savage mind, and of course his conscience 
 had never accused him, no, not for one of the 
 thousands of deeds of rapine and murder which had 
 marked his course through a long career," 
 
 Starting homewards, the Griqua hunting party, for 
 some altogether unexplained reason, announced their 
 intention of returning with the missionary instead ot 
 remaining behind to hunt; a most providential circum- 
 stance, which in all probability saved the lives of 
 Moffat and his followers and many more besides. 
 
 A few hours after leaving Makaba, messengers met 
 the returning company from Tauane, the chief of the 
 Barolongs, asking the help of the missionary party as 
 he was about to be attacked by the Mantatees. On 
 reaching Pitsana they found that such was the case. 
 The attack was made and repelled by the Griquas, 
 about twenty in number, mounted and armed with 
 guns ; and thus the town was saved, the flight of its 
 inhabitants into the Kalahari desert, there to perish 
 
VISIT TO MAKABA. 75 
 
 of hunger and thirst, prevented, and the safety of 
 Robert Moffat and his companions secured. 
 
 The time during which Moffat had been absent 
 from Lattakoo, had been a most anxious one for his 
 wife and those who remained at the station. A band 
 of marauders had gathered in the Long Mountains, 
 about forty miles to the westward, and after attacking 
 some villages on the Kuruman, had threatened an 
 attack on the Batlaping and the mission premises. 
 The dreaded Mantatees were also reported to be in 
 the neighbourhood. One night when Mary Moffat 
 was alone with her little ones and the two Bushmen 
 children, Mr. Hamilton and the assistants being away 
 at the new station, a loud rap came at the door, and 
 inquiring who was there, Mothibi himself replied. 
 He brought word that the Mantatees were approaching. 
 
 A hasty message was sent to Mr. Hamilton, who 
 arrived about eight o'clock in the morning when 
 preparations were made for flight. Messengers con- 
 tinued to arrive, each bringing tidings that caused 
 fresh alarm, until about noon, when it was ascertained 
 that the fierce and savage enemy had turned aside and 
 directed their course to the Barolongs. 
 
 The station was safe, but the loving heart of the 
 missionary's wife was torn with anguish, as she fore- 
 saw that the dreaded Mantatees would be crossing 
 her husband's path just at the time when he, almost 
 alone, was returning on his homeward way. 
 
 Prayer was the support of Mary Moffat under this 
 terrible ordeal, and the way prayer was answered has 
 been seen, in the unaccountable manner in which 
 Berend Berend and his party of Griquas changed their 
 minds and resolved upon returning with Robert 
 Moffat, instead of remaining to hunt elephants in the 
 country of the Bangwakctsi. 
 
7^ ROBERT MOFFAT, 
 
 The remainder of the year 1824 witnessed bloodshed 
 and strife all around. War among the Bechwanas, 
 attacks by the marauders of the Long Mountains, 
 commotions among the interior tribes : the land was 
 deluged with blood ; even the warlike Bangwaketsi 
 were dispersed, and Makaba was killed. Once again 
 the missionaries had to flee with their families to 
 Griqua Town, leaving Mr. Hamilton, as he was 
 without family in charge of the new station, with 
 two horses ready for flight in case of danger. 
 
 The end of the year found the Kuruman mission- 
 aries, — who now consisted of Robert and Mary Moffat, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, and Mr. Hamilton, — with the 
 exception of the last named, at Griqua Town. 
 
 The new station at the Kuruman had been occupied 
 shortly before the departure of the fugitives ; and 
 early in 1825, finding that the immediate danger had 
 passed, the Moffats, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hughes, rejoined Mr. Hamilton. Two events of a 
 distressing character to the Batlaping and their 
 missionaries occurred about this time. The first was 
 the passage of two terrible hail-storms over a portion 
 of the country, destroying the crops, killing lambs, 
 and stripping the bark from trees. The second 
 was the death of the young prince, Peclu, who had 
 an excellent disposition, was comparatively en- 
 lightened, and whose influence the missionaries 
 expected would have been most salutary among his 
 countrymen. 
 
 This sorrowful event, combined with a further attack 
 upon the Batlaping by the marauders, determined 
 Mothibi and his people to leave their present place 
 of settlement and remove to the eastward. For a con- 
 siderable time, however, they remained in an unsettled 
 state, suffering from attacks, and leading a vagrant life. 
 
VISIT TO MAKABA. TJ 
 
 The work of la}'ing out the new station was 
 proceeded with. Three temporary dwelHngs had 
 ah-eady been erected, consisting of a wooden frame- 
 work, filled up with reeds, and plastered within and 
 without; the foundations of more permanent dwellings 
 had also been laid. Mr. Hughes, who had been to 
 Cape Town for supplies, returned, accompanied by a 
 mason named Millen and a few Hottentot assist- 
 ants from Bethelsdorp. The company at the station 
 was a large one, and to provide them with food was 
 a work of difficulty. 
 
 The Kuruman fountain, the source of the Kuruman 
 river, issues from caverns in a little hill. It was the 
 purpose of the missionaries to lead the water from the 
 river to irrigate their gardens. For this purpose a 
 trench was cut two miles in length. This was a work 
 of great labour and was attended by considerable 
 danger. It was found necessary that the men when 
 working should have their guns with them, in case of 
 being surprised by the robbers who roved about. 
 Moffat says, " it was dug in troublous times." 
 
 Sickness and death entered the missionary dwell- 
 ings. An infant son was born to the Moffats, and 
 five days after called away. Mr. Hughes was laid 
 low through a severe cold, and brought to the gates 
 of death. When all hope seemed to have vanished 
 he began to amend, though his health was not restored 
 untfl he and Mrs. Hughes made a journey to the Cape. 
 In 1827 he left Kuruman and removed to the Griqua 
 Mission. The mother of Mary Moffat died in 
 October, 1825, but the news did not reach her 
 daughter in Africa until April, 1826. 
 
 Referring to this time Robert Moffat says : " Our 
 situation during the infancy of the new station, I shall 
 not attempt to describe. Some of our newly arrived 
 
7d> ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 assistants, finding themselves in a country where the 
 restraints of law were unknown, and not being under 
 the influence of religion, would not submit to the 
 privations which we patiently endured, but murmured 
 exceedingly. Armed robbers were continually making 
 inroads, threatening death and extirpation. We were 
 compelled to work daily at every species of labour, 
 most of which was very heavy, under a burning sun, 
 and in a dry climate, where only one shower had 
 fallen during the preceding twelve months. These 
 are only imperfect samples of our engagements for 
 several years at the new station, while at the same 
 time, the language, which was entirely oral, had to be 
 acquired." 
 
 Notwithstanding all the impediments to such an 
 enterprise, Robert Moffat had made some progress 
 towards establishing a literature in the native, or 
 Sechwana tongue. A spelling-book, catechism, and 
 some small portions of Scripture had been prepared, 
 and sent to the Cape to be printed, in 1825. Through 
 a mistake, these were unfortunately sent on to Eng- 
 land, causing much disappointment and delay. 
 
 Things settled down somewhat in 1826. The dis- 
 contented Hottentots returned to the Colony, leaving 
 the missionaries and Mr. Millen to carry on the work 
 of laying out the station, erecting the buildings, and 
 the other manual labour connected with the under- 
 taking, assisted only by such poor help as they could 
 get from the Bechwanas. 
 
 The native population at the station had been much 
 reduced. Such of the Batlaping as had not moved 
 away, had settled down about the Kuruman valley. 
 They did not oppose the Gospel, but they appeared 
 quite indifferent to it. 
 
 For several years the country had been parched 
 
VISIT TO MAKABA. 79 
 
 through drought, but early in 1826 rain fell plentifully. 
 The earth was soon covered with verdure, but the 
 bright prospects of abundance were quickly cut off. 
 Swarms of locusts infested the land, and vegetation 
 was entirely destroyed. This led to great scarcity, 
 and although the natives caught and ate the locusts, 
 hunger and suffering prevailed. The missionaries' 
 cattle could not be let out of sight, or they were 
 instantly stolen. One day two noted fellows from 
 the mountains pounced down upon a man who had 
 charge of some oxen. They murdered the man and 
 made off with an ox. 
 
 To become proficient in the Sechwana language 
 was the earnest purpose of Robert Moffat. At the end 
 of the year 1826, having moved into his new dwelling, 
 built of stone, and the state of the country being 
 somewhat more tranquil, he left his home and family, 
 to sojourn for a time among the Barolongs, so that he 
 might live exclusively with the natives and attend to 
 their speech. 
 
 He made the journey by ox-waggon, and was 
 accompanied by the waggon-driver, a boy, and two 
 Barolongs who were journeying to the same place as 
 himself. The dangers attending these journeyings 
 from tribe to tribe were by no means imaginary, the 
 following, related in Moffat's own words, serving as an 
 illustration of some of the perils often encountered : 
 
 " The two Barolongs had brought a young cow with 
 them, and though I recommended their making her 
 fast as well as the oxen, they humorously replied that 
 she was too wise to leave the waggon, even though a 
 lion should be scented. We took a little supper, 
 which was followed by our evening hymn and prayer. 
 I had retired only a few minutes to my waggon to 
 prepare for the night, when the whole of the oxen 
 
8o ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Started to their feet. A lion had seized the cow only 
 a few steps from their tails, and dragged it to the 
 distance of thirty or forty yards, where we distinctly 
 heard it tearing the animal and breaking its bones, 
 while its bellowings were most pitiful. When these 
 were over, I seized my gun, but as it was too dark to 
 see half the distance, I aimed at the spot where the 
 devouring jaws of the lion were heard. I fired again 
 and again, to which he replied with tremendous roars, 
 at the same time making a rush towards the waggon 
 so as exceedingly to terrify the oxen. The two 
 Barolongs engaged to take firebrands and throw them 
 at him so as to afford me a degree of light that 
 I might take aim. They had scarcely discharged 
 them from their hands when the flames went out, and 
 the enraged animal rushed towards them with such 
 swiftness, that I had barely time to turn the gun and 
 fire between the men and the lion. The men darted 
 through some thorn bushes with countenances indica- 
 tive of the utmost terror. It was now the opinion of 
 all that we had better let him alone if he did not 
 molest us. 
 
 " Having but a scanty supply of wood to keep up a 
 fire, one man crept among the bushes on one side of 
 the pool, while I proceeded for the same purpose on 
 the other side. I had not gone far, when looking 
 upward to the edge of the small basin, I discerned 
 between me and the sky four animals, whose attention 
 appeared to be directed to me by the noise I made in 
 breaking a dry stick. On closer inspection I found 
 that the large round, hairy-headed visitors were lions, 
 and retreated on my hands and feet towards the other 
 side of the pool, when coming to my waggon-driver, 
 I found him looking with no little alarm in an 
 opposite direction, and with good reason, as no fewer 
 
VISIT TO MAKABA. 
 
 8l 
 
 than two lions with a cub were eyeing us both, 
 apparently as uncertain about us as we were distrust- 
 ful of them. Wc thankfully decamped to the waggon 
 and sat down to keep alive our scanty fire, while we 
 listened to the lion tearing and devouring his prey. 
 When any of the other hungry lions dared to approach 
 
 BAROLONG WOMEN. 
 
 he would pursue them for some paces with a horrible 
 howl, which made our poor oxen tremble, and produced 
 anything but agreeable sensations to ourselves. We 
 had reason for alarm, lest any of the six lions we saw, 
 fearless of our small fire, might rush in among us." 
 From these dangers Moffat was mercifully preserved 
 
82 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 and after journeying for six days he reached the 
 village of a young chief named Bogachu. At this 
 place, and at one about twenty miles distant, he lived 
 a semi-savage life for ten weeks. To use a common 
 expression he " made himself at home " among them. 
 They were kind and appeared delighted with his 
 company, especially as when food run scarce, he could 
 take his gun and shoot a rhinoceros or some other 
 animal, when a night of feasting and talking would 
 follow. 
 
 Every opportunity was embraced by the missionary 
 of imparting Christian instruction to these people ; 
 their supreme idea of happiness, however, seemed able 
 to rise no higher than having plenty of meat. Asking 
 a man, who seemed more grave than the rest, what 
 was the finest sight he could desire, he replied, 
 " A great fire covered with pots full of meat," adding, 
 " How ugly the fire looks without a pot." 
 
 The object of the journey was fully gained ; hence- 
 forth Robert Moffat needed no interpreter ; he could 
 now speak and preach to the people in their own 
 tongue. He found all well on reaching home and 
 prepared to settle down with a feeling of ability to the 
 work of translation. 
 
 The prospects of the mission at this time began to 
 brighten. Several thousands of the natives had 
 gathered on the opposite side of the valley, near the 
 mission station. They were becoming more settled 
 in their minds, and would collect in the different 
 divisions of the town when the missionaries visited 
 them ; the public attendance at the regular religious 
 services daily increased, and the school was better 
 attended. No visible signs of an inward change in 
 the natives could yet be seen, but Moffat and his 
 fellovz-workers felt certain that this was not far off. 
 
VISIT TO MAKABA. 83 
 
 War again intervened and darkened the brighten- 
 ing prospects. Once more the missionaries, after 
 prayerful consideration, felt it necessary to flee to 
 Griqua Town, suffering much loss of time and of 
 property. Happily the storm passed over, and, on 
 returning to the Kuruman, they found their houses, 
 and such property as they had left behind, in good 
 order, a proof of the influence they were gaining over 
 the once thievish Bechwanas. Half the oxen and 
 nearly all the cows belonging to the missionaries 
 were, however, dead, no milk could be obtained, 
 and, worse than these evils, the people had fled, leav- 
 ing their native houses but heaps of ashes. 
 
 Sorrowfully these servants of God resolved once 
 more to resume their labours. A few poor natives 
 had remained at the station, whose numbers were 
 being increased by others who arrived from day to day. 
 
 At this trying time the hearts of Robert Moffat and 
 his companions were cheered by the arrival of the 
 Rev. Robert Miles, the Society's superintendent, who, 
 having made himself conversant with the affairs of 
 the station, suggested the great importance of prepar- 
 ing something like hymns in the native language. By 
 the continued singing of these, he stated the great 
 truths of salvation would become imperceptibly 
 written on the minds of the people. 
 
 The suggestion so kindly made was acted upon, and 
 Moffat prepared the first hymn in the language. The 
 spelling-books also arrived, which enabled the mis- 
 sionaries to open a school in the Sechwana tongue. 
 Mr. Miles returned, and the stated labours of the 
 mission were carried forward. With few interrup- 
 tions they had been continued for ten years without 
 fruit. But the dawn of a new era seemed now ready 
 to rise above the horizon. 
 
84 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Yet again, however, was their faith to be sorely 
 tried by the terrible scourge — war. The desperadoes 
 consisted this time of a party advancing from the 
 Orange River, among whom were some Griquas. 
 The suspense and anxiety were great, but recourse 
 was had to prayer. On this occasion the missionaries 
 determined to remain at their post. A first attack 
 was repulsed through the intrepidity of an escaped 
 slave named Aaron Josephs, and a peaceful interval 
 intervened of about two months, when a second attack 
 on the mission premises was threatened. By Moffat's 
 directions, the heights at the back of the station were 
 crowded with men, to give the appearance of a large 
 defending force, though probably not a dozen guns 
 could have been mustered among them. The assail- 
 ants seeing the preparations for defence, drew up 
 at some distance, and, after a short delay, sent for- 
 ward two messengers with a flag of truce. Moffat 
 went out to meet them, and learned that a renegade 
 Christian Griqua named Jantye Goeman wished to see 
 him at their camp. 
 
 A meeting was arranged half way between the 
 station and the camp, and Jantye, who was ashamed 
 to let the missionary see his face, as he had known 
 him at Griqua Town, tried to lay all the blame 
 upon another renegade, a Coranna chief named Paul, 
 who had, in days gone by, entertained Robert Moffat 
 and visited his dwelling. 
 
 At this moment a waggon was seen approaching, 
 and fearing it might contain some one from Griqua 
 Town, and seeing that a hostile movement was made 
 towards it, Moffat turned to Jantye and said, " I shall 
 not see your face till the waggon and its owners are 
 safe on the station." He instantly ran off and brought 
 the waggon through, when it was found to contain 
 
VISIT TO MAKABA. 8^ 
 
 the Wcslcyaii missionaries Mr. and Mrs. Archbcll 
 from Platberg. 
 
 At last, after much hesitation, Paul himself came 
 near. He could not look at Moffat, and kept his hat 
 drawn down over his eyes. He told the missionary that 
 he himself need have no fear, but that revenge should 
 be had upon the Batlaping who were at Kuruman. 
 " I shall have their blood and their cattle too," said 
 Paul, as his eyes glared with fury. 
 
 Long and patiently Moffat argued with him, show- 
 ing him the enormity of his crimes. At last the 
 victory was won. No shot was fired, and both the 
 station and the Batlaping were saved. Turning to his 
 men, and referring to some of the missionary's cattle 
 which had been stolen, he cried, " Bring back those 
 cows and sheep we took this morning." 
 
 It was done. Then he said, " I am going. There 
 are the things of your people. Will Mynheer not 
 shake hands with me for once ? " 
 
 " Of course I will," said Moffat, " but let me see 
 your face." 
 
 " That I will not, indeed," he replied, " I do not 
 want to die yet. I can see your face through my 
 hat." 
 
 The rude hand of war was henceforth stayed, and 
 the land had peace for half-a-century, during which 
 time great and happy changes took place at the 
 Kuruman station. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE AWAKENING. 
 
 THE long delayed, and fervently prayed for time 
 had come at last. For ten weary years these 
 earnest and faithful missionaries had laboured 
 without seeing any results. Now their hearts 
 were to rejoice as they should witness the work of the 
 Holy Spirit, and see those over whom they had so 
 long mourned, brought to the Saviour, and out of 
 heathen darkness into Gospel light. 
 
 " The wand bloweth where it listcth, and thou 
 hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it 
 cometh, and whither it goeth ; " so was it with the 
 awakening among the Bechwanas at the Kuruman. 
 There seemed no apparent cause for the intensity of 
 feeling that was now displayed by these people. 
 Men, who had scorned the idea of shedding a tear, 
 wept as their hearts were melted. The chapel became 
 a place of weeping, and some, after gazing intently 
 upon the preacher, fell down in hysterics. The little 
 chapel became too small to hold the numbers who 
 flocked to it, and with the voluntary aid of Aaron 
 Josephs a new building, fifty-one feet long by sixteen 
 
 wide, with clay walls and thatched roof, was erected 
 86 
 
THE AWAKKMNG. 8/ 
 
 to serve as a school-house and place of worship, until 
 the large stone church, which was to form the most 
 prominent feature of the station, should be completed. 
 
 This temporary church was opened in May, 1829, 
 and in the following month, after very careful 
 examination, six candidates for baptism were selected 
 from among the inquirers. Speaking of these 
 converts Robert Moffat said, " It was truly gratifying 
 to observe the simplicity of their faith, implicitly 
 relying on the atonement of Christ, of which they 
 appeared to have a very clear conception, considering 
 the previous darkness of their minds on such subjects." 
 
 They were baptised on the first Sabbath in July, a 
 large number of spectators from the neighbouring 
 towns, and a party of Griquas, being present. In the 
 evening the missionaries, the new disciples, and a 
 Griqua, twelve in all, sat down to the Lord's table. 
 In connection with this event an interesting anecdote 
 is related showing the strong faith of Mary Moffat ! 
 
 On one occasion, some time before this event, when 
 all seemed dark, her friend Mrs. Greaves of Sheffield 
 had written to Mary Moffat kindly inquiring if there 
 was anything of use which she could send. The reply 
 returned was, " Send us a communion service, we shall 
 want it some day." Communication between the 
 Kuruman and England was tardy then, and before 
 an answer came to her letter the darkness increased, 
 and the Bechwanas seemed as far from salvation 
 as ever. On the day preceding the reception of the 
 first converts into the Kuruman Church, a box 
 arrived from England, which had been twelve months 
 on the road, and in it were found the communion 
 vessels that Mary Moffat had asked for more than 
 two years before. 
 
 Great as was the change, the missionaries rejoiced 
 
88 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 with trembling. They knew that there were great 
 prejudices to be overcome, and that the relation in 
 which the Christians stood to their heathen neighbours 
 would expose their faith to trial. But they prayed 
 and believed that He who had begun the good work 
 would carry it on. 
 
 The change of heart speedily produced a change in 
 dress and habits. Those who had been baptised had 
 previously procured decent raiment, and prepared it 
 for the occasion with Mrs. Moffat's assistance. A 
 sewing-school had hitherto been uncalled for, the 
 women's work having been that of building houses, 
 raising fences, and tilling the ground ; now Mrs. Moffat 
 met those who desired to learn as often as her strength 
 would permit, and soon she had a motley group of 
 pupils, very few of the whole party possessing either a 
 frock or a gown. The scarcity of materials was a 
 serious impediment to progress, but ornaments, which 
 before the natives had held in high repute, were now 
 parted with to purchase the skins of animals, which 
 being prepared almost as soft as cloth were made 
 into jackets, trousers, and gowns. When a visit was 
 paid by a trader, British manufactures were eagerly 
 bought. 
 
 In the progress of improvement some amusing 
 incidents occurred. A man might be seen in a jacket 
 with one sleeve, because the other was not yet finished ; 
 or others went about in duffel jackets with sleeves of 
 cotton of various colours ; gowns like Joseph's coat 
 were worn, and dresses of such fantastic shapes, that 
 to tell the fashion of the same would have been a 
 puzzle. 
 
 To Mrs. Moffat general application was made both 
 by males and females. Ovo brought skins to be cut 
 into dresses, another wanted a jacket, a third a pattern. 
 
THE AWAKENING. 89 
 
 while a fourth brought his jacket sewed upside down, 
 and asked why it did not fit. Fat, which before they 
 ahvays considered was to be rubbed on their bodies or 
 deposited in their stomachs, they now found useful in 
 making candles to give light in their dwellings. 
 
 The prospects of the missionaries continued cheer- 
 ing, and the increased anxiety for instruction and 
 growth in knowledge among the candidates greatly 
 strengthened their hands. " I seek Jesus," one would 
 say ; a second, " I am feeling after God, I have been 
 wandering, unconscious of my danger, among beasts 
 of prey ; the day has dawned, I see my danger." 
 The missionaries were cautious men, and were slow to 
 receive members into their little church, but the 
 evidence was complete that numbers were saved. 
 
 The happy death of a native woman about this 
 time afforded them much encouragement. When she 
 knew her end was near, she said to those around, 
 " I am going to die. Weep not because I am going 
 to leave you, but weep for your sins and your souls. 
 With me all is well, for do not suppose that I die like 
 a beast, or that I shall sleep for ever in the grave. 
 No ! Jesus has died for my sins ; He has said he will 
 save me, I am going to be with Him." Thus one who 
 a few months before was as ignorant as the cattle, 
 departed with the full assurance of an eternal life 
 beyond the grave. 
 
 Rumours had for some time past reached the 
 Kuruman station of a strong and warlike people who 
 dwelt to the eastward, spoke another language, and 
 were strangers to the Bechwanas. In the latter 
 portion of 1829, two envoys were specially sent from 
 Moselekatse, the king of this people, the Matabele, to 
 the mission station at Kuruman, to learn about the 
 manners and teaching of the white men there. 
 
90 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 These envoys, who were two of the king's head 
 men, were entertained, the principal objects, industries, 
 and methods of living were pointed out to them ; but 
 their greatest wonder was excited when they beheld 
 the public worship in the mission chapel. They 
 listened to the hymns, and to the address, part of 
 which only they understood, and were much sur- 
 prised when they heard that the hymns were not war 
 songs. 
 
 When the time came for the ambassadors to depart, 
 they begged Robert Moffat to accompany them, as 
 they were afraid of the Bechwana tribes through whom 
 they would have to pass on their return journey. This 
 circumstance led to his visiting the warlike Mosclekatse, 
 over whom he obtained a marvellous influence. 
 
 The details of the journey we must pass over. As 
 they advanced they saw evidences on every hand of 
 the terrible Mantatees, and the still more terrible 
 Matabele. In places, where populous towns and 
 villages had been, nothing remained but dilapidated 
 walls and heaps of stones, mingled with human skulls. 
 The country had become the abode of reptiles and 
 beasts of prey ; the inhabitants having perished beneath 
 the spears and clubs of their savage enemies. 
 
 The reception accorded Robert Moffat by Mosele- 
 katse may best be described in the missionary's own 
 words : — 
 
 "We proceeded directly to the town, and on riding 
 into the centre of the large fold, we were rather taken 
 by surprise to find it lined by eight hundred warriors, 
 besides two hundred who were concealed on each side 
 of the entrance, as if in ambush. We were beckoned 
 to dismount, which we did, holding our horses' bridles 
 in our hands. The warriors at the gate instantly 
 rushed in with hideous yells, and leaping from the 
 
THE AWAlCENtlSfG. 91 
 
 earth with a kind of kilt round their bodies, hanging 
 like loose tails, and their large shields, frightened our 
 horses. They then joined the circle, falling into rank 
 with as much order as if they had been accustomed 
 to European tactics. Here we stood, surrounded by 
 warriors, whose kilts were of ape skins, and their legs 
 and arms adorned with the hair and tails of oxen, their 
 shields reaching to their chins and their heads adorned 
 with feathers. 
 
 " A profound silence followed for some ten minutes ; 
 then all commenced a war-song, stamping their feet in 
 time with the music. No one approached, though 
 every eye was fixed upon us. Then all was silent, 
 and Moselekatse marched out from behind the lines 
 with an interpreter, and with attendants following, 
 bearing meat, beer, and other food. He gave us a 
 hearty salutation and seemed overjoyed." 
 
 The waggons were objects that struck the dusky 
 monarch with awe. He examined them minutely, 
 especially the wheels ; one point remained a mystery, 
 how the iron tire surrounding the wheel came to be in 
 one piece without end or joint. Umbate, the head- 
 man, who had visited the mission station, explained 
 what he had seen in the smith's shop there. " My 
 eyes," said he, "saw that very hand," pointing to 
 Moffat's hand, " cut these bars of iron, take a piece off 
 one end, and then join them as you now see them." 
 "Does he give medicine to the iron?" the monarch 
 inquired. " No," said Umbate, " nothing is used but 
 fire, a hammer, and a chisel." 
 
 This powerful chieftain was an absolute despot 
 ruling over a tribe of fierce warriors, who knew no will 
 but his. He was the terror of all the surrounding 
 country, his smile was life, his frown scattered horror 
 and death. Yet even in his savajie breast there were 
 
92 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 chords that could be touched by kindness, and Moffat 
 received many tokens of his friendship during the 
 eight days that he stayed in his town. 
 
 During one of their first interviews the monarch, 
 laying his hand upon Moffat's shoulder, said, " My 
 heart is all white as milk ; I am still wondering at the 
 love of a stranger who never saw me. You have fed 
 me, you have protected me, you have carried me in 
 your arms. I live to-day by you, a stranger." 
 
 Upon Moffat replying that he was unaware of 
 having rendered him any such sei'vice, he said, point- 
 ing to his two ambassadors : " These are great men ; 
 Umbate is my right hand. When I sent them from 
 my presence to see the land of the white men, I sent 
 my ears, my eyes, my mouth ; what they heard 
 I heard, what they saw I saw, and what they said it 
 was Moselekatse who said it. You fed them and 
 clothed them, and when they were to be slain you 
 were their shield. You did it unto me. You did it 
 unto Moselekatse, the son of Machobane." 
 
 Moffat explained to this African king the objects 
 of the missionary, and pressed upon him the truths of 
 the Gospel. On one occasion the king came attended 
 by a party of his warriors, who remained at a short 
 distance dancing and singing. " Their yells and 
 shouts," says Moffat, " their fantastic leaps and dis- 
 torted gestures, would have impressed a stranger with 
 the idea that they were more like a company of fiends 
 than men." As he looked upon the scene, his mind 
 was occupied in contemplating the miseries of the 
 savage state. He spoke to the king on man's ruin 
 and man's redemption. "Why," said the monarch, 
 " are you so earnest that I abandon all war, and do 
 not kill men ? " " Look on the human bones which lie 
 scattered over your dominions," was the missionary's 
 
THE AWAKENING. 93 
 
 answer. " They speak in awful language, and to me 
 they say, " Whosoever shccldeth man's blood, by man 
 also will his blood be shed." Moffat also spoke of 
 the Resurrection, a startling subject for a savage and 
 murderer like Moselekatsc. 
 
 The kindness of the king extended to the mission- 
 ary's return journey. Food in abundance was given 
 to him, and a number of warriors attended his waggon 
 as a guard against lions on the way. After an 
 absence of two months he reached home in safety, 
 where he found all well, and the Divine blessing still 
 resting upon the Mission. Copious showers had fallen, 
 and the fields and gardens teemed with plenty. The 
 converts and many others, leaving their old traditions 
 as to horticulture, imitated the example of the 
 missionaries in leading out water to their gardens, 
 and raised crops, not only of their native grain, 
 pumpkins, kidney-beans, and water-melons, but also 
 vegetables, such as the missionaries had introduced, 
 maize, wheat, barley, peas, potatoes, carrots, onions, 
 and tobacco — this latter they had formerly purchased 
 from the Bahurutsi, but now it became a profitable 
 article of traffic. They also planted fruit trees. 
 
 As an illustration of their zeal, which was not 
 always according to knowledge, the following may be 
 given. The course of the missionary's water-trench 
 along the side of a hill, appeared as if it ascended, 
 therefore several of the natives set to work in good 
 earnest, and cut courses leading directly up hill, 
 hoping the water would one day follow. 
 
 The spiritual affairs of the station kept pace with 
 the external improvements. The temporary chapel 
 continued to be well filled, a growing seriousness was 
 observable among the people, progress was made in 
 reading, and there was every reason for encourage- 
 
94 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 ment. Early in 1830, after the second mission-house 
 had been finished and occupied by Mr. Hamilton, the 
 foundation of a new and substantial stone church was 
 laid. Circumstances, however, and especially the 
 difficulty of procuring suitable timber for the roof 
 delayed its completion for several years. 
 
 The work of translation had been kept steadily in 
 view. In June, 1830, Robert Moffat had finished the 
 translation into Sechwana, of the Gospel of Luke, and 
 a long projected journey to the coast was undertaken 
 by him and his wife. The journey had for its objects, 
 to put the two elder children to school, to get the 
 translation of Luke printed, and to collect subscrip- 
 tions among friends in the Colony towards the building 
 of the new place of worship. 
 
 At Philippolis, on their journey, they met with the 
 French missionaries Rolland and Lemue, of the 
 Paris Protestant Missionary Society, and also with 
 Mr. and Mrs. Baillie, who had been appointed by the 
 London Missionary Society to the Kuruman Mission. 
 At Graham's Town, Mary Moffat remained behind 
 to place the children at the Wesleyan school near there, 
 and Robert visited several of the mission stations in 
 Kafirland, and afterwards some of those within the 
 Colony, finally reaching Cape Town in October, 
 1830. 
 
 At that early day printing in Cape Town was in 
 its infancy. It was therefore found necessary to make 
 application to the Governor to allow the Gospel of 
 Luke in Sechwana to be printed at the Government 
 Printing Office. The request was cheerfully acceded 
 to, but compositors there were none to undertake the 
 work. This difficulty, combined with the promise of 
 an excellent printing press, which Dr. Philip had in 
 his possession for the Kuruman Mission, induced 
 
THE AWAKENING. 95 
 
 Moffat to learn printing. He was joined by Mr. 
 Edwards, who was now appointed to the Kuruman 
 station, and under the kind superintendence of the 
 assistant in charge of the office, they soon not only 
 completed the work they had in hand, but acquired a 
 fair knowledge of the art of printing. Besides the 
 Gospel of Luke, a small hymn-book was printed in 
 the Sechwana language. 
 
 A violent attack of bilious fever followed these 
 labours, which had been carried on in the hottest 
 season of the year, and when the time came for 
 Robert Moffat to leave Cape Town he had to be 
 carried on board the ship on a mattress. The sea 
 passage to Algoa Bay, however, although a rough 
 one, tended greatly to his restoration to health. 
 
 Sickness among their oxen, and the birth of a 
 daughter, whom they named Elizabeth, detained the 
 Moffats some time at Bethelsdorp, on their return 
 journey ; from which place, accompanied by Mr. and 
 Mrs. Edwards, they went forward to the Kuruman, 
 where they arrived in June, 1831. They carried with 
 them the edition of the Gospel of Luke, a hymn-book 
 printed in the language of the people, a printing- 
 press, type, paper, and ink, besides liberal subscriptions 
 from friends in the Colony towards the erection of 
 the mission church. 
 
 Great was the astonishment of the natives when 
 they saw the printing-press at work. Lessons, 
 spelling-books and catechisms were prepared for the 
 schools. To see a white sheet of paper disappear for 
 a moment and then emerge covered with letters was 
 beyond their comprehension. After a few noisy 
 exclamations one obtained a sheet, with which he 
 bounded through the village, showing it to all he met, 
 and saying it had been made in a moment with a 
 
g6 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 round black hammer (a printer's ball) and a shake of 
 the arm. 
 
 A large box containing materials for clothing from 
 a friend in Manchester, Miss Lees, had also formed 
 part of the baggage brought from the Cape. Materials 
 being now at hand, and Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. 
 Baillie co-operating, a sewing-school on a much 
 larger scale was established, to the great comfort and 
 improvement of the natives. 
 
 The congregation continued to increase and new 
 members were added to the church, but sorrows 
 tempered the joy of this happy time. Small-pox 
 entered the country, and many of the inhabitants 
 died ; with them passed away one of the daughters of 
 Robert and Mary Moffat. Towards the end of 1832 
 the labourers at Kuruman were cheered by a visit 
 from Dr. Philip, who arranged that the two French 
 missionaries, Rolland and Lemue, should commence 
 a mission station at Motito, a place nearly forty miles 
 distant, in a north-easterly direction. 
 
 In January, 1835, a scientific expedition under 
 Dr. Andrew Smith, arrived at Moffat's station. This 
 visit appeared as though ordered by an over-ruling 
 Providence for the especial benefit of himself and his 
 devoted wife. It found them in sore trouble, and 
 it brought help and a friend in time of need. 
 Mr. Edwards was away and Robert had been over- 
 worked. When Dr. Smith arrived, he found him 
 suffering from an attack of intermittent fever, and 
 hastened to render aid. Under the Doctor's skilful 
 treatment he speedily recovered. On the loth of 
 March another son was added to the Moffat family, 
 and shortly afterwards Mary was suddenly taken 
 seriously ill, and became so weak, that for many days 
 her recovery seemed hopeless. The Doctor was at 
 
THE AWAKENING. 
 
 97 
 
 that time away surveying, but upon receiving informa- 
 tion of the position of affairs at Kuruman, he imme- 
 diately hastened to render all the assistance in his 
 power. 
 
 Speaking of this friend, raised up so unexpectedly, 
 Robert Moffat writes in his book : " His tender sym- 
 pathy and unremitting attention in that trying season, 
 during which all hope of her recovery had fled, can 
 never be erased from our grateful recollection, for in 
 the midst of his active and laborious engagements at 
 the head of the expedition, he watched for several 
 successive nights, with fraternal sympathy, what 
 appeared to be the dying pillow of my beloved 
 partner, nor did he leave before she was out of 
 danger." 
 
 A life-long friendship was cherished for the one 
 who had come to them in their sore need, and who 
 was always most gratefully remembered by the 
 African missionary and his exemplary wife. 
 
 Shortly after these events, at the request of Dr. 
 Smith, Robert Moffat accompanied the expedition on 
 a visit to Moselekatse and the Matabele country. 
 Moselekatse was delighted to see his missionary 
 friend again. The scientific expedition had per- 
 mission to travel through any part of the monarch's 
 territories, but Moffat, the king kept as his guest. 
 Together they visited, in the missionary's waggon, 
 several of the Matabele towns, and many conversa- 
 tions were held, in which the importance of religion, 
 and the evil effects of the king's policy were faithfully 
 pointed out. 
 
 By this journey, which occupied three months, a 
 way was paved for some American missionaries to 
 reside with Moselekatse, and the country was sur- 
 veyed to find timber suitable for the roof of the new 
 
 G 
 
98 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Kuriiman church- This timber was afterwards col- 
 lected by Messrs. Hamilton and Edwards — the wood- 
 cutters having to travel to a distance of two hundred 
 and fifty miles — and fashioned into the roof of the 
 church ; which stands at this day a monument of the 
 united labours of Hamilton, Moffat, and Edwards ; 
 
 MOFFAT PREACHING AT MOSHEU'S VILLAGE. 
 
 and a wonder to beholders as to how such an achieve- 
 ment could have been performed with the slender 
 means then at hand. 
 
 Upon Moffat's return home again, his wife, by Dr. 
 Smith's orders, left for the Cape to recruit her 
 
THE AWAKENING. 99 
 
 strength ; and Robert Moffat went itinerating among 
 the scattered Bechwanas. A most interesting time 
 was spent at a village, one hundred and fifty miles 
 from Kuruman, where a chief named Mosheu and 
 his people resided. Three times did the missionary 
 preach to them on the first day, besides answering 
 the questions of all who gathered round. Many 
 were most anxious to learn to read, and such spelling- 
 books as Moffat had with him were distributed among 
 them. 
 
 Some of the head men thought they would like to 
 try, and requested Moffat to teach them, A large 
 sheet alphabet, torn at one corner, was found, and 
 laid on the ground. All knelt in a circle round it, 
 some of course viewing the letters upside down, " I 
 commenced pointing with a stick," says he, " and 
 when I pronounced one letter, all hallooed to some 
 purpose. When I remarked that perhaps we might 
 manage with somewhat less noise, one replied, 'that 
 he was sure the louder he roared, the sooner would 
 his tongue get accustomed to the seeds ' as he called 
 the letters." 
 
 Somewhat later, a party of young folks seized hold 
 of the missionary, with the request, " Oh, teach us the 
 ABC with music." Dragged and pushed, he entered 
 one of the largest native houses, which was instantly 
 crowded. The tune of " Auld Lang Syne " was 
 pitched to A B C, and soon the strains were echoed 
 to the farthest corner of the village. Between two 
 and three o'clock on the following morning, Moffat 
 got permission to retire to rest ; his slumbers were, 
 however, disturbed by the assiduity of the sable 
 choristers ; and on awaking after a brief repose, his 
 ears were greeted on all sides by the familiar notes of 
 the Scotch air. 
 
lOO ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Very pleasing progress was made by these people 
 in Christian knowledge. Mosheu brought his daughter 
 to Mrs. Moffat for instruction, and his brother took 
 his son to Mr. Lemue at Motito for the same 
 purpose. 
 
 The mission at the Kuruman continued to prosper, 
 both at the home and the out-stations. Numbers of 
 Bechwanas were added to the church, both at 
 Kuruman and Griqua Town. Under Mr. Edwards' 
 superintendence the readers largely increased, and the 
 Infant School, commenced and carried on by Mrs. 
 Edwards, with the assistance of a native girl, was 
 highly satisfactory. Civilisation advanced, some of 
 the natives purchasing waggons, and using oxen for 
 labour which formerly had been performed by women. 
 Clothing was in such demand, that a merchant named 
 Hume, an honourable trader in whom the mission- 
 aries had confidence, built a house, and settled at the 
 station. The new church, after much labour, was 
 opened in November, 1838, on which occasion 
 between eight and nine hundred persons attended the 
 service ; and on the following Sabbath, one hundred 
 and fifty members united in celebrating the Lord's 
 Supper. 
 
 Persevering Christian love, combined with strong 
 faith, much prayer, and untiring labour, had changed 
 the barren wilderness into a fruitful land. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 VISIT TO ENGLAND. 
 
 THE work of Bible translation had been steadily 
 pressed forward ; all available time having 
 been devoted by Robert Moffat to that under- 
 taking. By the end of 1838, the whole of the 
 New Testament had been rendered into the native 
 tongue, and a journey was made by the Moffats to 
 Cape Town, to recruit their health, and to get the 
 Sechwana New Testament printed ; the task being 
 too heavy for the mission press. Cape Town was but 
 little better off than the Kuruman for accomplishing 
 a work of this magnitude, and it speedily became 
 apparent that the printing would have to be under- 
 taken in England. 
 
 Twenty-two years had passed away since the 
 youthful missionary stood upon the deck of the 
 Alacrity, and bade farewell to the land of his birth. 
 During that time he had never allowed his interest in 
 the affairs of his native country to grow cold. Letters 
 and newspapers had been eagerly welcomed, and the 
 memory of friends in the far distant isle had been 
 most keenly cherished, both by him and his Mary. 
 Now once more they were to tread upon its well- 
 
 lOI 
 
102 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 loved shores, and to tell to its people the story of 
 God's work among the savage tribes of South Africa. 
 
 There were no floating " Castles " * at that time, 
 making the journey in twenty days, and a passage had 
 to be taken in a small ship homeward-bound from 
 China, having troops on board. Measles raged at the 
 Cape, and sickness was on board ship. Between the 
 two the Mofifats had much to endure, and the vessel 
 had not left Table Bay when another daughter was 
 born to add to their joy and anxiety. Three days' 
 after his sister came, dear six-year-old Jamie, lying 
 beside his prostrate mother in her cot, was called to 
 the Better Land, with the words, " Oh, that will be joy- 
 ful, when we meet to part no more," upon his dying lips. 
 
 On the 6th June, 1839, the ship anchored off Cowes, 
 and a few days later reached London. The reception 
 of Robert Moffat was most enthusiastic, and so great 
 was the demand for his presence at public meetings, 
 that it was with the utmost difficulty he procured liberty 
 to visit his own friends. 
 
 Twenty years had made great changes in the homes 
 at both Dukinfield and Inverkeithing. Mary Moffat's 
 aged father was living, but her mother and a brother 
 had been called away, another brother was in America, 
 and a third was a missionary in Madras. Robert's 
 parents were still living, but a brother and two sisters 
 had passed away. Many friends, whose kind and 
 eenerous thoutjhtfulness had often cheered the heart 
 of the faithful missionary and his faithful wife in their 
 voluntary exile, now gathered around them, among 
 whom were Mrs. Greaves of Sheffield, the donor of the 
 Communion Service, and Miss Lees of Manchester. 
 
 Of the events connected with this visit to England, 
 
 * Donald Currie's line of Mail steamships, the Gm-th Castle, &c., 
 which make the voyage to the Cape in twenty days. 
 
VISIT TO ENGLAND. IO3 
 
 want of space precludes us from giving details. A 
 great wave of missionary enthusiasm at that time swept 
 over the country, and Moffat found himself hurried 
 from town to town with but scant opportunities for 
 rest. In May, 1840, he preached the Anniversary 
 Sermon for the London Missionary Society, and, at 
 their Annual Meeting, Exeter Hall was packed so 
 densely that after making his speech in the large upper 
 hall, Moffat had to give it again in the smallef hall 
 below. 
 
 An anecdote related in the course of his speech at 
 the Bible Society's May Meeting shows the value set 
 by a native woman upon a single Gospel in the native 
 tongue. " She was a Matabele captive," said Moffat. 
 " Once, while visiting the sick, as I entered her premises, 
 I found her sitting weeping, with a portion of the 
 Word of God in her hand. I said, ' My child what is 
 the cause of your sorrow ? Is the baby still unwell ? ' 
 ' No,' she replied, ' my baby is well.' * Your mothGi--in- 
 law ? ' I inquired. ' No, no,' she said, * it is my own dear 
 mother, who bore me.' Here she again gave vent to 
 her grief, and, holding out the Gospel of Luke, in a 
 hand wet with tears, she said, ' My mother will never 
 see this word ; she will never hear this good news ! 
 Oh, my mother and my friends, they live in heathen 
 darkness ; and shall they die without seeing the light 
 which has shone on me, and without tasting that love 
 which I have tasted ! ' Raising her eyes to heaven 
 she sighed a prayer, and I heard the words again, ' My 
 mother, my mother ! ' " 
 
 His hope when he landed had been to get the 
 printing of the Sechwana New Testament speedily 
 accomplished, and to return to South Africa before 
 winter ; but it was not until January, 1843, that he was 
 able once aGfain to sail for Africa. 
 
[04 ; ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 In 1840 two new missionaries were set apart for the 
 Bechwana mission — William Ross and David Living- 
 stone. With them Robert Moffat was able to send 
 five hundred copies of the Sechwana New Testament. 
 
 As the sheets were passing through the press, it was 
 suggested to him that the Psalms would be a valuable 
 addition to the work. With his characteristic energy 
 he immediately commenced the task, and, a few 
 months after the sailing of Ross and Livingstone, he 
 had the joy of sending to Africa over two thousand 
 copies of the New Testament, with which the Psalms 
 had been bound up. By the end of 1843 six thousand 
 copies had been sent out. A revision of the book of 
 Scripture Lessons was also undertaken and carried 
 through the press. A demand was made upon him to 
 write a book, in response to which he prepared his 
 well known work, " Missionary Labours and Scenes 
 in South Africa," which was published in 1842, and 
 met with great success. 
 
 At length the time drew near when once more 
 Robert and Mary Moffat should cross the sea to their 
 beloved home at Kuruman. Valedictory services of a 
 most enthusiastic character were held in Scotland, 
 Newcastle, Manchester, and London. At Edinburgh 
 a copy of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" was presented 
 to Robert Moffat, and at Newcastle a set of scientific 
 instruments was given him. A great impetus was 
 imparted to missionary work abroad through these and 
 preceding meetings, during his sojourn in England, 
 and when on the 30th of January, 1843, he and 
 his wife embarked at Gravesend, accompanied by 
 two new missionaries for the Bechwana field, they 
 carried with them the esteem of a wide circle of 
 friends, and had the fervent prayers of many offered 
 up on their behalf. 
 
VISIT TO ENGLAND. 
 
 105 
 
 On the loth of April they landed at Cape Town, 
 and six weeks later embarked in a small coasting 
 vessel for Algoa Bay. At Bethelsdorp, a village a few 
 miles beyond Port Elizabeth, they rejoined Messrs. 
 Ashton and Inglis, who with their wives had gone on 
 before by steamer ; but here they were detained for 
 several months, waiting for a vessel to arrive from 
 
 
 CAPE TOWN. 
 
 England which had on board a large quantity of 
 baggage for the missionaries and their work. 
 
 At last the start was made, the long train of ox 
 waggons wended their way, the Orange River was 
 crossed, this time on a pont or floating bridge, and at 
 the Vaal River, one hundred and fifty miles distant 
 from Kuruman, the missionary party were met by 
 
I06 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 David Livingstone, who had ridden forth to bid them 
 welcome. 
 
 From this point onwards friends both white and 
 black emulated each other in testifying their gladness 
 at their friend's return, until as the Moffats drew near 
 to Kuruman their progress became like a royal one. 
 At last between two and three o'clock on the loth of 
 December, 1843, they sat down once again in their 
 own home, amongst those for whom they had toiled 
 so zealously, and over whom their hearts yearned 
 with a holy love. The delight of the natives at 
 having their missionary and his wife among them 
 again was unbounded. In a letter published in 
 the Missionary Magazine, October, 1844, Moffat 
 thus writes, giving an account of their reception : — 
 " Many were the hearty welcomes we received, all 
 appearing emulous to testify their joy. Old and 
 young, even the little children, would shake hands 
 with us. Some gave vent to their joy with an air of 
 heathen wildness, and some in silent floods of tears ; 
 while others, whose hearts had sickened with deferred 
 hope, would ask again and again, * Do our eyes indeed 
 behold you ? ' Thus we found ourselves once more 
 among a people who loved us, and who had longed for 
 our return." 
 
 The mission having been largely reinforced, it was 
 arranged that Mr. and Mrs. Ross should go to Taung, 
 about one hundred miles east of Kuruman, where a 
 portion of the Bechwana tribe had settled under 
 Mahura, a brother of Mothibi ; while Edwards and 
 Livingstone were to commence work among the 
 Bakhatla, two hundred miles to the north-east. 
 Inglis was to go to the same neighbourhood ; thus the 
 regular missionary staff of the Kuruman station com- 
 prised after their departure, the venerable Mr, 
 
VISIT TO ENGLAND. 
 
 107 
 
 Hamilton, who had seen the commencement of the 
 Bechwana Mission in 1816, Mr. and Mrs. Ashton, and 
 the Moffats. 
 
 The place to which Edwards and Livingstone had 
 gone was a large native town near to the haunts of 
 lions. These greatly harassed the cattle and deprived 
 the missionaries of sleep. One day a hunt was 
 arranged. Livingstone joined the party, was attacked 
 by the lion, and was only rescued with a broken and 
 mangled arm by the bravery and devotion of his 
 native servant, Mebalwe, who himself got severely 
 bitten. 
 
 During his recovery 
 from this injury Living- 
 stone visited the Kuru- 
 man, and there won the 
 heart of Moffat's eldest 
 daughter, her mother's 
 namesake, who soon 
 afterwards exchanged 
 the name of Mary Moffat 
 for that of Mary Living- 
 stone. In due course she 
 accompanied her hus- 
 band to Chonwane where for a time he was located 
 with Sechele, the chief of the Bakwena. 
 
 The life of the missionaries at the Kuruman was a 
 busy one. All were fully employed. Moffat's principal 
 work was translation, and in this his colleague Ashton 
 afforded him much critical assistance, besides relieving 
 him almost entirely of the duties of the printing office. 
 But other work had to be undertaken. The natives 
 needed much help and guidance ; dwelling-houses had 
 to be enlarged and new schoolrooms built, and, as 
 there were no funds for the payment of artisans, the 
 
 LIVINGSTONE ATTACKED I3Y A LION. 
 
I08 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 missionaries had to put their own hands to the work ; 
 besides which, as money was not forthcoming to meet 
 the cost of the new schoolrooms, a kind of amateur 
 store was opened by the missionaries' wives for the 
 sale of clothing to the natives. 
 
 The Rev. J. J. Freeman who visited Africa a few 
 years later, in 1849, gives us a picture of the Kuruman 
 station as he saw it. " It wears," says he, " a very 
 pleasing appearance. The mission premises, with the 
 walled gardens opposite, form a street wide and long. 
 The chapel is a substantial and well-looking building 
 of stone. By the side of it stands Mr. Moffat's house, 
 simple yet commodious. In a cottage hard by, the 
 venerable Hamilton was passing his declining days, 
 extremely feeble, but solaced by the motherly care of 
 his colleague's wife. The gardens were well stocked 
 with fruit and vegetables, requiring much water, but 
 easily getting it from the * fountain.' On the Sunday 
 morning the chapel bell rang for early service. 
 Breakfasting at seven, all were ready for the schools 
 at half-past eight. The infants were taught by Miss 
 Moffat (their daughter Ann, afterwards Mrs. Fredoux) 
 in their school-house ; more advanced classes were 
 grouped in the open air, or collected in the adjacent 
 buildings. Before ten the work of separate teaching 
 ceased, and young and old assembled for public 
 worship. A sanctuary, spacious and lofty, and airy 
 withal, was comfortably filled with men, women, and 
 children, for the most part decently dressed." 
 
 This description may be supplemented by that of a 
 scene of frequent occurrence, given in " Robert and 
 Mary Moffat " by their son Mr. John A. Moffat. He 
 says : " The public services were, of course, in the 
 Sechwana language. Once a week the missionary 
 families met for an English devotional meeting. It 
 
10^ 
 
no ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 was also a sort of custom that as the sun went down 
 there should be a short truce from work every 
 evening. A certain eminence at the back of the 
 station became, by common consent, the meeting- 
 place. There the missionary fathers of the hamlet 
 would be found, each sitting on his accustomed stone. 
 Before them lay the broad valley, once a reedy 
 morass, now reclaimed and partitioned out into garden 
 lands ; its margin fringed with long water-courses, 
 overhung with grey willows and the dark green 
 syringa. On the low ground bordering the valley 
 stood the church, with its attendant mission-houses 
 and schools, and on the heights were perched the 
 native villages, for the most part composed of round, 
 conical huts, not unlike corn-stacks at a distance, with 
 some more ambitious attempts at house-building in 
 the shape of semi- European cottages. Eastward 
 stretched a grassy plain, bounded by the horizon, and 
 westward a similar plain, across which about five miles 
 distant, was a range of low hills. Down to the right, 
 in a bushy dell, was the little burying-ground, marked 
 by a few trees." 
 
 In 1845, Robert Moffat narrowly escaped an 
 accident that would have involved most serious 
 consequences. He was superintending the erection 
 of a new corn-mill, and whilst seeing to its being 
 properly started, incautiously stretched his arm over 
 two cog-wheels. In an instant the shirt sleeve was 
 caught and drawn in, and with it the arm. Fortu- 
 nately the mill was stopped in time, but an ugly 
 wound, six inches in length, with torn edges, bore 
 witness to the danger escaped. This wound laid him 
 aside for many weeks, but finally he recovered from 
 the effects of the accident. 
 
 For the next four or five years things pursued an 
 
VISIT TO ENGLAND. Ill 
 
 even course at the Kuruman. In 1846, Mary Moffat 
 started on a journey to visit the Livingstones at 
 Chonwane. She availed herself of the escort of a 
 native hunting party, and took her three younger 
 children with her. She passed through the usual 
 dangers of such a journey, as the following extract 
 from a letter written to her husband will show : — 
 
 " I am very glad of Boey's company. ... I should 
 indeed have felt very solitary with my lone waggon 
 with ignorant people, but he is so completely at home 
 in this field that one feels quite easy. We do not 
 stop at nights by the waters, but come to them at 
 mid-day, and then leave about three or four o'clock. 
 We cannot but be constantly on the outlook for lions, 
 as we come on their spoor every day, and the people 
 sometimes hear them roar. Just before outspanning 
 to-day, Boey, being on horseback looking for water, 
 met with a majestic one, which stood still and looked 
 at him. He tried to frighten the lion, but he stood 
 his ground, when Boey thought it was time to send a 
 ball into him, which broke his leg, by which means he 
 is disabled from paying us a visit." 
 
 Early in 1847 a general meeting of those engaged 
 in the Bechwana mission was held at Lekatlong (near 
 what are now the Diamond Fields). On his way 
 homewards from this meeting Moffat visited some of 
 the Batlaping villages along the Kolong River. 
 A striking advance had taken place of late years, and 
 a severe contest was going on between heathenism 
 and Christianity. A little company of believers had 
 gathered in each place, and were ministered to by 
 native teachers, who had spent a few months in train- 
 ing at Kuruman. 
 
 In the same year Mary Moffat left for the Cape 
 to make arrangements for educating her younger 
 
112 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 children. As Robert could not leave his work she 
 journeyed alone, having as attendants four Bechwana 
 men and a maid. These partings wrung the mother's 
 heart. The time spent on the road was precious, and 
 although it extended to two months, seemed all too 
 short. She felt that never again would she have her 
 young children about her. The son, John, was placed 
 at school in Cape Town for a time, and the two 
 daughters were sent under the care of a worthy 
 minister to England. Of the parting with these her 
 darlings Mary Moffat wrote : — " Though my heart 
 was heaving with anguish I joyfully and thankfully 
 acceded forthwith {i.e., to the offer of the Rev. J. 
 Crombie Brown to take the children), and set about 
 preparations in good earnest. This was about the 
 end of January. On the tenth of February they 
 embarked, and after stopping the night on board 
 I tore myself from my darlings to return to my 
 desolate lodgings to contemplate my solitary journey, 
 and to go to my husband and home childless." Of 
 her it may be said, She left all and follozved Him ! 
 
 In 1848 the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes had 
 been finished and Isaiah begun. In 1849 " Pilgrim's 
 Progress " was added to the Sechwana literature, and 
 the work of translation steadily progressed. " Line- 
 upon Line" had also been rendered into the native 
 tongue by Mr. Ashton. 
 
 But while all was peaceful and in a measure pros- 
 perous at the Kuruman, clouds were gathering to the 
 eastward, which were destined eventually to throw a 
 dark shadow over the whole Bechwana Mission. The 
 encroachments of the Boers upon the natives led to 
 much bloodshed, and to the dispersion of several 
 native tribes, with the consequent abandonment of 
 mission-work among them. One of the early sufferers 
 
VISIT TO ENGLAND. II3 
 
 was Moselekatsc, who, having been attacked in 1837, 
 had retired to a place far away to the north-east, and 
 for some years nothing was heard of him, except by 
 vague rumour; indeed his very existence was a matter 
 of doubt. 
 
 Livingstone had settled with Sechele at Kolobeng, 
 which place he used simply as a base of operations 
 for visiting the eastern tribes, and prosecuting mission- 
 ary work among them. Much good was done, and 
 the Scriptures in Sechwana, as far as issued, were 
 circulated among the people. But the Boers advanced, 
 the natives were dispossessed of their lands, and 
 missionaries were expelled from their regions. Find- 
 ing that all hope of carrying on the work in this 
 neighbourhood was over, Livingstone turned his eyes 
 northward, and commenced that series of explorations 
 which absorbed the remainder of his life. Sechele 
 retired to a mountain fastness, named Lithubaruba, 
 away to the north-west. 
 
 As time passed onward, Robert Moffat felt more 
 than ever the importance of completing the work he 
 had undertaken — the translation of the entire Bible 
 into Sechwana. Every minute that could be devoted 
 to the task was eagerly embraced, his labours often 
 extending far into the night. Numerous interruptions 
 made the work more difficult. " Many, many are the 
 times I have sat down and got my thoughts somewhat 
 in order," he writes, "with pen in hand to write a 
 verse, the correct rendering of which I had just arrived 
 at, after wading through other translations and 
 lexicons, when one enters my study with some 
 complaint he has to make, or counsel to ask, or 
 medical advice and medicine to boot, a tooth to be 
 extracted, a subscription to the auxiliary to be 
 measured or counted ; or one calls to say he is going 
 
 11 
 
114 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 to the Colony, and wishes something Hke a passport ; 
 anon strangers from other towns, and visitors from 
 the interior arrive, who all seem to claim a right to 
 my attentions." 
 
 This incessant application was making inroads 
 upon his health, and the strong powerful frame and 
 iron constitution of the Scotch missionary began to 
 show signs that could not be neglected. A peculiar 
 affection of the head troubled him — a constant roaring 
 noise like the falling of a cataract, and a buzzing as 
 of a boiling up of waters. It never ceased day and 
 night, and he lost much sleep in consequence of it. 
 His only relief seemed to be in study and preaching, 
 when the malady was not noticed ; but immediately 
 these occupations were over it was found to be there, 
 and reasserted itself in full force. 
 
 In 185 1 the rebellion of the Kat River Hottentots 
 occured, which, for a long time, brought obloquy upon 
 the missionaries of South Africa and the Mission 
 cause. 
 
 In 1852 Mr. Hamilton was gathered to his rest, after 
 having been the faithful coadjutor of Robert Moffat, 
 and a missionary at the Kuruman for thirty-four 
 years ; the next year tidings reached Mary Moffat 
 that her beloved father had ended his pilgrimage at 
 the ripe age of ninety years. 
 
 A short time previous a letter had been received 
 from the Directors of the London Missionary Society, 
 urging Robert Moffat to take sick leave and visit the 
 Cape, or to return to England, but, as rest and change 
 were absolutely essential, Moffat determined to find 
 the needed relaxation in visiting his old native friend, 
 Moselekatse. He was also in doubt as to the fate of 
 his son-in-law, Livingstone, who had started long 
 before for the tribes on the Zambesi. 
 
VISIT TO ENGLAND. II5 
 
 Carrying supplies for that missionary, in hope of 
 being able to succour him, in May, 1854, Moffat once 
 again bade his faithful partner farewell, and started 
 for a journey to a comparatively unknown country, 
 seven or eight hundred miles away. The son of 
 Mr. Edwards, the missionary who for some time had 
 laboured with Moffat at Kuruman, and a young man 
 named James Chapman accompanied him, for pur- 
 poses of trade. After journeying for several days 
 through a desert country, they reached Sechele's 
 mountain fastness. Moffat found that chief in great 
 difficulties, but still holding to the faith into which he 
 had been baptised by Livingstone. One hundred and 
 twenty more miles of desert travelling brought the 
 party to Shoshong, the residence of another chief and 
 his tribe. Thence after groping their way for eighteen 
 days in a region new to them, without guides, they 
 reached a village containing some natives who were 
 subject to the Matabele king. 
 
 For some days Moffat and his companions were 
 not allowed to advance. The Induna in charge ot 
 the outpost was afraid of a mistake, but at last a 
 message came that they were to proceed, and finally 
 they drew near to the royal abode. The chief was 
 filled with joy at meeting his old friend " Moshete." 
 An account of the interview is described in Moffat's 
 journal, from which we extract the following : — " On 
 turning round, there he sat — how changed ! The 
 vigorous, active, and nimble chief of the Matabele, 
 now aged, sitting on a skin, lame in his feet, unable to 
 walk, or even to stand. I entered, he grasped my 
 hand, gave one earnest look, and drew his mantle 
 over his face. It would have been an awful sight for 
 his people to see the hero of a hundred fights wipe 
 from his eyes the falling tears. He spoke not, except 
 
Il6 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 to pronounce my name, Moshete, again and again. 
 He looked at me again, his hand still holding mine, 
 and he again covered his face. My heart yearned 
 with compassion for his soul. Drawing a little nearer 
 to the outside, so as to be within sight of Mokumbate, 
 his venerable counsellor, he poured out his joy to 
 him." 
 
 The old chief was suffering with dropsy, but under 
 Moffat's medical care he recovered, and was soon able 
 to walk about again. The advice which had been 
 given to him by his missionary friend during their 
 previous intercourse, had not been wholly lost, the 
 officers who attended him, as well as those of lower 
 grades, stating that the rigour of his government had 
 since that time been greatly modified. 
 
 Moffat stayed with Moselekatse nearly three 
 months. After much persuasion, permission was 
 given him to preach the Gospel to the Matabele 
 people, a privilege hitherto always denied. On the 
 24th of September, 1854, these people received, for 
 the first time, instruction in the subjects of creation, 
 providence, death, redemption, and immortality. 
 
 It was Moffat's purpose to journey forward beyond 
 the Matabele to the Makololo tribe, to leave supplies 
 at their town of Linyanti, so that Livingstone might 
 obtain them if he returned safely from St. Paul de 
 Loanda, on the west coast. Moselekatse would not 
 accede to the idea of him going alone, and finally the 
 king himself determined to accompany him. The 
 Makololo and Matabele were, however, like many 
 other of the native tribes, hostile to each other. With 
 the bags, boxes, &c., on the heads of some of the men 
 best acquainted with the country, the party set out, 
 but after travelling to the farthest outpost of the 
 Marabele, the king declared it was impossible for the 
 
VISIT TO ENGLAND. 11/ 
 
 waggons to proceed. At Moffat's earnest request, he 
 sent forward a party of his men with the supplies, 
 which in due course reached the Makololo, who placed 
 them on an island, built a roof over them, and there 
 they were found in safety by Livingstone when he 
 returned some months afterwards from the west 
 coast. 
 
 Towards the end of October, Moffat bade farewell 
 to the Matabele king. Moselekatse pressed him to 
 prolong his stay, pleading that he had not seen enough 
 of him, and that he had not yet shown him sufficient 
 kindness. " Kindness ! " replied Moffat, " you have 
 overwhelmed me with kindness, and I shall now return 
 with a heart overflowing with thanks." Leaving the 
 monarch a supply of suitable medicines to keep his 
 system in tolerable order, and admonishing him to 
 give up beer drinking, and to receive any Christian 
 teacher who might come as he had received him, the 
 missionary took his departure. The long return 
 journey was accomplished without any remarkable 
 event, and in due course Moffat reached his home 
 again in safety. 
 
 By this journey his health was much improved, his 
 intercourse and friendship with the people of the 
 interior were cemented and extended, and he looked 
 forward with hopeful assurance to the early advance- 
 ment of Christianity to those distant regions. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE SECHWANA BIBLE. 
 
 THE great task was at length accomplished ; the 
 work of nearly thirty years brought to a close. 
 The Word of God in the language of the 
 Bechwana people, in all its glorious complete- 
 ness and power, was now in their hands. 
 
 To Robert Moffat the Jabour had been of a her- 
 culean character. He had spared himself no labour 
 or drudgery which its prosecution involved. To 
 accomplish it he had left his home and lived a semi- 
 savage life for nearly three months, that he might 
 perfect himself in the language. Without any special 
 training for the important undertaking, and under the 
 greatest disadvantages, he had not only acquired the 
 language, but reduced it to its elements, and then 
 presented it in a synthetic and grammatical form. 
 Beyond that his earnest desire had been to render the 
 whole Bible into the native tongue. 
 
 As age increased, the importance of finishing the 
 work became more and more apparent, till even a 
 minute spent in anything but purely mission-work, or 
 his translation duties, seemed as wasted time. Writing 
 when the end was near, he said : "When I take up a, 
 
THE SECHWANA BIBLE. II9 
 
 newspaper, it is only to glance at it with a feeling like 
 that of committing sacrilege. I have sometimes been 
 arrested with something interesting, and have read 
 it with ten or more strokes in the minute added to my 
 pulse, from the anxiety caused by the conviction that 
 I am spending precious time apart from its paramount 
 object, while I feel perfectly composed over anything 
 which I am satisfied has a direct bearing on the true 
 object of the missionary." 
 
 But the work was now accomplished, the last sheet 
 had been passed for press, the last verse of the Old 
 Testament completed, and now his mind, which had 
 been for so many years strained under the weighty 
 responsibility of translating the Word of God, was 
 free. Of his feelings on this occasion he made 
 mention in a speech delivered some years later at 
 Port Elizabeth, on the occasion of his final departure 
 from South Africa. We quote from the Chronicle of 
 the London Missionary Society for August, 1870. 
 
 " At last," he said, referring to the commencement of 
 the undertaking, " I came to the resolution that if 
 no one else would do it, I would undertake it myself 
 I entered heartily upon the work. For many years I 
 had no leisure, every spare moment being devoted to 
 translating, and was a stranger even in my own family. 
 There was labour every day, for back, for hands, for 
 head. This was especially the case during the time 
 Mr. Edwards was there ; our condition was almost one 
 of slavery. Still the work advanced, and at last I had 
 the satisfaction of completing the New Testament, 
 Of this 6000 copies were printed by the Plome 
 Society, 
 
 " When Dr. Livingstone came, he urged me to begin 
 at once with the Old Testament, That was a most 
 stupendous work. Before commencing it I passed 
 
I20 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 many sleepless nights. It was the wish of all that I 
 should undertake it. I did so, and went on with the 
 work from time to time, as I had leisure, daily and 
 nightly. I stuck to it till I had got as far as the end 
 of Kings, when I became completely done up. The 
 Directors were afraid that I was killing myself. I was 
 advised to go home, to leave the work, but I decided 
 otherwise. I determined to look up Moselekatse, and 
 went off with a son of brother Edwards. By the 
 time I had found Moselekatse, I had got all right 
 again. I came back and resumed my work, and con- 
 tinued it till its completion. I cannot describe to you 
 the feelings of that time — of the writing of the last 
 verse. I could hardly believe that I was in the world, 
 so difficult was it for me to realise the fact that my 
 labour of years was completed. Whether it was from 
 weakness or overstrained mental exertion, I cannot tell; 
 but a feeling came over me that I would die, and I felt 
 perfectly resigned. To overcome this I went back again 
 to my manuscript still to be printed, read it over, and 
 re-examined it, till at length I got back again to my 
 right mind. This was the most remarkable time of 
 my life, a period I shall never forget. My feelings 
 found vent by my falling upon my knees and thanking 
 God for His grace and goodness in giving me strength 
 to accomplish my task. My work was thus accom- 
 plished, and now I see the Word of God read by 
 thousands of Bechwanas in their native tongue." 
 
 An incident related in his speech at the Bible 
 Society's Annual Meeting upon the occasion of his 
 first visit to England in 1839, shows the importance to 
 the natives of having the Bible in their own tongue. 
 Speaking of his translation of the Gospel of Luke, he 
 alluded to the state of the unconverted heathen, and 
 the contrast manifested by the Christian converts. 
 
THE SECHWANA BIBLE. 
 
 121 
 
 When the heathen saw the converts reading the Book 
 which had produced this change, they inquired if they 
 (the converts) talked to it. " No," answered they, " it 
 talks to us ; for it is the Word of God." " What 
 then," replied the strangers, " does it speak ? " " Yes," 
 said the Christians, " it speaks to the heart ! " This 
 explanation was true, and was often illustrated in 
 fact ; for among those to whom the same Book was 
 read by others, it became proverbial to say that the 
 readers were " turniner their hearts inside out ! " 
 
 DR. LIVINGSTONE. 
 
 In 1854 Mary Moffat paid another visit to the 
 Colony, and was in consequence away from home 
 when Robert returned from his journey to Moselekatse. 
 Tidings reached him about that time of the death of 
 his mother, the one who first instilled into his breast 
 an enthusiasm for the missionary calling. She died 
 as she had lived, a godly, consistent woman, and was 
 called to the heavenly city at the age of eighty-four. 
 
 In 1856 Dr. Livingstone, after his unparalleled walk 
 from Loanda, on the west coast, to Quillimane, on the 
 
122 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 east — from the shores of the Atlantic to those of the 
 Indian Ocean — visited England. His visit, and the 
 description he gave of the country and natives, re- 
 kindled missionary enthusiasm, a special interest being 
 taken in the Matabele and Makololo tribes. The 
 London Missionary Society resolved to establish 
 missions among them. As the locality where the 
 Makololo dwelt was in the midst of a marshy network 
 of rivers, it was considered as a necessary condition 
 of commencing the proposed missionary work that 
 they should remove to a spot on the north bank of 
 the Zambesi, opposite to where the Matabele dwelt 
 on the south bank. The two tribes were, however, 
 hostile to each other ; and, to overcome this hostility, 
 it was determined to simultaneously establish missions 
 among both tribes. With this object in mind the 
 Directors wrote to Robert Moffat, proposing that he 
 should go for a twelvemonth to the Matabele, taking 
 two younger men with him, and plant a mission 
 among this people. 
 
 This letter reached him just as he had completed 
 the translation and printing of the Old Testament ; 
 and, notwithstanding that he was then sixty-two years 
 of age, and had already been forty-one years hard at 
 work for the Society, he determined to go. He felt, 
 however, that it was necessary for him to start at 
 once, and prepare the minds of Moselekatse and his 
 people for the coming among them of missionaries. 
 Thus it came about that once again Robert Moffat 
 quitted Kuruman, and started forward for the long 
 and trying journey, through the African desert, to 
 visit his old friend, and obtain his consent to the 
 settlement of missionaries among his people. 
 
 Visiting the chief Sechele on the way, he pursued 
 his course until he at length reached the headquarters 
 
THE SECHWANA BIBLE. 1 23 
 
 of Moselekatse. The king was not very enthusiastic 
 about receiving missionaries for himself and his 
 people. He was somewhat suspicious ; and his 
 former experience with the American missionaries 
 at Mosega had been rather unfortunate, the Boers 
 having attacked the Matabele, and, after pillaging the 
 mission station, carried the missionaries away with 
 them. However, he would receive the new-comers, — 
 but his friend Moshete must come also. " I love you," 
 said he, "you are my father. These new men I do 
 not know them. All men are not alike." 
 
 This African monarch had sufficient knowledge to 
 know that, if the doctrines of the Bible prevailed 
 among his tribe, his claims to divine honour would 
 for ever cease. His warriors used to pay him homage 
 as follows : " O Pezoolu, the king of kings, king of the 
 heavens, who would not fear before the son of 
 Machobane (his father's name), mighty in battle?" 
 and with other similar marks of adulation. He also 
 had a shrewd suspicion that the opening of the country 
 for white men to come and settle, would mean, 
 eventually, the downfall of the power of himself and 
 his people ; but in his friend Ramary, or Moshete, he 
 had implicit confidence. 
 
 As an instance of the power which Moffat had 
 obtained over this despotic chief of a fierce African 
 tribe, it may be related that he prevailed upon 
 Moselekatse to grant deliverance to the heir to the 
 chieftainship of the Bamangwato, a large tribe living 
 at Shoshong, to the north-east of Sechele's people. 
 It was after a long conversation that the thing was 
 settled. Machcng, the heir, who had been detained 
 captive for sixteen years, was called, and Moselekatse 
 addressing him said : " Macheng, man of Moffat, go 
 with your father. We have arranged respecting you, 
 
124 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Moffat will take you back to Sechele, That is my 
 wish as well as his, that you should be in the first 
 instance restored to the chief from whom you were 
 taken in war. When captured you were a child ; I 
 have reared you to be a man." 
 
 The effect of this deliverance on the neighbouring 
 tribes was very great. It occurred while Moffat was 
 with Moselekatse, arranging for the settlement of 
 the new missionaries. When he and his charge 
 arrived at Sechele's town, on his way home, he was 
 met by Sechele and the other chiefs of his tribe, who 
 marched on in front, and led them to a kind of natural 
 amphitheatre, where at least ten thousand of the 
 people, in all their equipments of war, were assembled. 
 Sechele commanded silence, and introduced the 
 business of the meeting. Speaker followed speaker, in 
 enthusiastic language giving expression to the joy they 
 felt at seeing the chief of the Bamangwato return from 
 captivity. In the course of his speech one said as 
 follows : — 
 
 " Ye tribes, ye children of the ancients, this day is a 
 day of marvel. . . . Now I begin to perceive that 
 those who preach are verily true. If Moffat were not 
 of God, he would not have espoused the cause of 
 Sechele, in receiving his words, and delivering 
 Macheng from the dwelling-place of the beasts of 
 prey, to which we Bechwanas dared not approach. 
 There are those who contend that there is nothing 
 in religion. Let such to-day throw away their unbelief 
 If Moffat were not such a man, he would not have 
 done what he has done, in bringing him who was lost 
 — him who was dead — from the strong bondage of the 
 mighty. Moselekatse is a lion ; he conquered nations, 
 he robbed the strong ones, he bereaved mothers, he 
 took away the son of Kheri. We talk of love. What 
 
THE SECHWANA BIBLE. 125 
 
 is love ? We hear of the love of God. Is it not 
 through the love of God that Macheng is among us 
 to-day? A stranger, one of a nation — who of you 
 knows its distance from us ? — he makes himself one of 
 us, enters the lion's abode, and brings out to us our 
 own blood." 
 
 On reaching home, from his visit to the Matabele, 
 Moffat found that the Livingstones were starting for 
 the Zambesi, and were to call at the Cape on their 
 way ; also that a large party of new missionaries had 
 been appointed to commence the new interior 
 missions. The Moffats at once started for the Cape, 
 and there met Dr. and Mrs. Livingstone and their 
 companions. Once more the mother and daughter 
 embraced each other, and as the latter had suffered 
 much on the voyage, it was arranged that she should 
 accompany the missionary party, and travel overland 
 to the Zambesi. 
 
 At Cape Town Moffat also had the pleasure of 
 welcoming his own son, the Rev. John Moffat, who 
 was to proceed to the Matabele as a missionary, paid 
 for out of Dr. Livingstone's private resources. Sir 
 George Grey, Her Majesty's High Commissioner, 
 warmly encouraged the proposed plans for extend- 
 ing Christianity and commerce to the interior tribes, 
 and arranged with Robert Moffat for establishing a 
 postal communication with the Zambesi via Kuru- 
 man. 
 
 All arrangements having been completed the 
 missionaries left Cape Town on their way to Kuruman, 
 from whence they were to proceed to their respective 
 stations, with the Makololo and the Matabele. 
 Delays, however, intervened ; the Boers had attacked 
 some of the Batlapings, and threatened to attack the 
 Kuruman station ; the difficulties of the road also 
 
126 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 prevented some of the party arriving with the others. 
 At last, however, the way was made clear, the 
 opposition of the Boers to the advance of the party 
 was, through the intervention of Sir George Grey, 
 overcome, and on the 7th of July, 1859, the first 
 division started for their far distant destination. This 
 division comprised Mr. Helmore, a veteran who for 
 many years had been stationed at Lekatlong, with his 
 wife and four children, and Mr. and Mrs. Price. 
 There was also a native teacher from Lekatlong, 
 named Tabe, who determined to accompany his old 
 missionary, and the usual staff of native attendants. 
 These were all to proceed to the Makololo The 
 situation was a grave one. The end of the journey 
 was a point a thousand miles farther into the interior 
 than any of them had ever been, except two native 
 servants, who had accompanied Livingstone on a 
 previous occasion. But they went forward in faith 
 not knowing what lay before them, but trusting all 
 into the hands of Him, without whose knowledge not 
 even a sparrow falls to the ground. 
 
 A week later Mr. Thomas and John Moffat with 
 their wives left ; they were speedily followed by 
 Robert Moffat and Mr. Sykes. At Sechele's town the 
 two portions of this latter division were united, and 
 thence they journeyed onwards towards the Matabele. 
 Disease broke out among some of their oxen, and, on 
 reaching the first outpost of Moselekatse's people, a 
 messenger was sent forward to the king explaining 
 the state of affairs, and proposing that the oxen of 
 the missionaries should be left in quarantine, and that 
 Moselekatse should supply his own oxen to bring the 
 party to headquarters. This message was sent so as 
 to avoid connecting the advent of the Gospel among 
 these people with that of a pestilence among their 
 
IHE SECHWANA BIBLE. 12/ 
 
 herds of cattle ; which would inevitably have been the 
 case had the diseased oxen proceeded onwards and 
 infected those belonging to the Matabele. 
 
 An answer was returned to the effect that the 
 party were to proceed, and that though the epidemic 
 took effect, they should be held guiltless. 
 
 Moffat despatched a second messenger, to say that 
 he had heard the king's words, and in a couple of 
 days would leave ; but that he begged the monarch 
 to reflect on the consequences of the epidemic being 
 introduced among his tens of thousands of cattle, and 
 to believe that the mission party felt the most extreme 
 anxiety upon the subject. 
 
 They then proceeded forward very slowly for two 
 or three days, when they were met by another 
 messenger, who stated that Moselekatse was gratified 
 with the anxiety expressed for him and his ; and that 
 now, fully convinced of his danger, he desired that all 
 their oxen should return, and that warriors were 
 advancing to drag the mission waggons to head- 
 quarters. 
 
 Every one started with surprise at the strange idea, 
 but soon the warriors came, shields, and spears, and 
 all, also a number of oxen to be slaughtered for food. 
 After some war evolutions, the warriors took the place 
 of the draught oxen, and a start was made. There 
 was many "a strong pull, a long pull, and a pull 
 all together," as the waggons rolled onward ; but after 
 ten days' hard struggle and slow progress, it became 
 evident that the men sent were unequal to the task, 
 and the monarch, who for some unknown reason had 
 kept his oxen back, sent them at last to bring the 
 waggons to his camp. 
 
 Moselekatse received his old friend with his usual 
 cordiality; but it soon became evident that something 
 
128 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 was wrong. All kinds of evasions and delays met 
 the request for a spot of ground on which to found a 
 mission station ; days, weeks, and months passed, 
 during which the missionaries suffered great hard- 
 ships ; and at last the chief broke up his camp and 
 left them, without oxen to draw their waggons, saying 
 that he would send people to guide them to the spot 
 where they were to settle, and at which place he would 
 join them later on. 
 
 His conduct seemed strange, and Moffat began to 
 suspect that he had repented of giving his permission 
 for the missionaries to settle with him. This proved 
 to be the case ; the Boer inroads, following as they had 
 done, in several cases, the advent of the missionaries, 
 made him suspicious, and the fears of himself and 
 people having been aroused, the question was in 
 debate as to whether the settlement should be allowed 
 or not. 
 
 At last a favourable change took place, the clouds 
 dispersed, and the sky became clear. Oxen were 
 sent to take the missionary waggons forward to 
 Inyati, there to join Moselekatse. All was settled, a 
 spot which looked well for a station was pointed out, 
 each of the new-comers pitched his tent under a tree 
 that he had chosen, until a more solid dwelling should 
 be erected, and the Matabele Mission was fairly estab- 
 lished. This was in December, 1859. 
 
 The Mission was established, but work had only 
 begun. The first six months of the year i860 were 
 months of incessant toil to the missionaries at Inyati. 
 Houses had to be built, waggons repaired, and garden 
 ground made ready for cultivation. Early and late, 
 Moffat was to be found at work, — in the saw-pit, at 
 the blacksmith's forge, or exercising his skill at the 
 carpenter's bench ; in all ways aiding and encouraging 
 
THE SECHWANA BIBLE. 1 29 
 
 his younger companions. He also endeavoured to 
 gain Moselekatse's consent to the opening of regular 
 communication with the Livingstone expedition on 
 the Zambesi vid Matabeleland, but the suspicious 
 nature of the monarch foiled this project. The 
 isolation of his country in this direction was so great 
 that, although but a comparatively short distance 
 away, no tidings whatever could be obtained of the 
 other party who, under Mr. Helmore, had gone to the 
 Makololo tribe. 
 
 In June, i860, Moffat felt that his work at Inyati 
 was done. He had spared neither labour of mind nor 
 body in planting the Mission, and had endured hard- 
 ships at his advanced age that younger men might 
 well have shrunk from. The hour approached for 
 him to bid a final farewell to Moselekatse, and once 
 more he drew near to the chief's kraal, with the 
 purpose of speaking to him and his people, for the 
 last time, on the all-important themes of life, death, 
 and eternity. The old chief was in his large court- 
 yard and received his missionary friend kindly. 
 Together they sat, side by side — the Matabele despot, 
 whose name struck terror even then into many native 
 hearts, and the messenger of the Prince of Peace, the 
 warriors ranged themselves in a semi-circle, the 
 women crept as near as they could, and all listened to 
 the last words of " Moshete." It was a solemn service, 
 and closed the long series of efforts which the 
 missionary had made to reach the hearts of Mosele- 
 katse and his people. On the morrow he started for 
 home, which he reached in safety, having been absent 
 twelve months. 
 
 Meanwhile, terrible trials had befallen the party 
 who had started to found the Makololo Mission. The 
 difficulties attending their journey to Linyanti were 
 
 I 
 
130 ROBERT MOP'FAT. 
 
 such as nothing but the noblest Christian principle 
 would have induced them to encounter, or enabled 
 them to surmount. The chief of these was the great 
 scarcity of water. One of their trials is thus 
 described : — 
 
 " From the Zouga we travelled on pretty comfort- 
 ably, till near the end of November, when we suffered 
 much from want of water. . . . For more than a week 
 every drop we used had to be walked for about 
 thirty-five miles. Mrs. Helmore's feelings may be 
 imagined, when one afternoon, the thermometer 
 standing at 107 deg. in the shade, she was saving just 
 one spoonful of water for each of the dear children for 
 the next morning, not thinking of taking a drop 
 herself Mr. Helmore, with the men, was then away 
 searching for water ; and when he returned the next 
 morning with the precious fluid, we found that he 
 had walked {v\\ forty miles'' 
 
 At length, after enduring innumerable difficulties 
 and privations for seven months, they arrived at 
 Linyanti, the residence of the chief Sekeletu. He 
 refused to allow them to remove to a more healthy 
 spot, but proposed that they should live with him in 
 the midst of his fever-generating marshes, and as no 
 better plan offered, they were compelled to accept it. 
 In the course of a week all were laid low with fever. 
 Little Henry Helmore and his sister, with the infant 
 babe of Mr. Price, were the first to die ; then followed 
 the heart-stricken mother, Mrs. Helmore ; six weeks 
 later Mr. Helmore breathed his last ; and the mission- 
 ary band was reduced to Mr. and Mrs. Price and the 
 helpless orphans. As the only means of saving their 
 lives the survivors prepared to depart, but now the 
 chief threw obstacles in the way of their doing so. 
 Their goods were stolen, their waggon taken possession 
 
THE SECHWANA BIBLE. 131 
 
 of; and upon Mr. Price telling the chief that " if they 
 did not let him go soon they would have to bury him 
 beside the others," he was simply told " that he might 
 as well die there as anywhere else." 
 
 Finally a few things were allowed for the journey, 
 and the sorrowful party started homeward, Mr. Price 
 very ill, and his wife having lost the use of her feet 
 and legs. 
 
 With the scantiest possible provision they had to 
 face a journey of upwards of a thousand miles to 
 Kuruman, but they set forward. Just as they were 
 beginning to take hope after their heavy trials, and to 
 think of renewed efforts for the Lord, Mrs. Price was 
 called to her rest. " My dear wife," wrote the sorrow- 
 ing husband, "had been for a long time utterly helpless, 
 but we all thought she was getting better. In the 
 morning I found her breathing very hard. She went 
 to sleep that night, alas ! to wake no more. I spoke 
 to her, and tried to wake her, but it was too late. I 
 watched her all the morning. She became worse and 
 worse, and a little after midday her spirit took its 
 flight to God who gave it. I buried her the same 
 evening under a tree — the only tree on the immense 
 plain of Mahabe. This is indeed a heavy stroke, but 
 ' God is my refuge and strength, a very present help 
 in trouble.'" 
 
 Finally the bereaved missionary was met by Mr. 
 and Mrs. Mackenzie, who had started to join the 
 Makololo Mission, and, as all turned their steps 
 towards Kuruman, they were rejoiced by meeting 
 Robert Moffat, who, having heard of the disaster, and 
 that Mr. Price, with the remnant of the party, were 
 on the road, had gone out in search of them. All 
 returned sorrowfully to Kuruman, and the ill-fated 
 Makololo Mission collapsed. 
 
132 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Robert Moffat and his wife watched the progress 
 of the Mission at Inyati with the keenest interest. In 
 it they seemed to hve their early Hfe at Lattakoo over 
 again. Their hearts were in the work of the mission- 
 aries at that distant station ; and, over and above the 
 earnest desire they had to see the work of God prosper 
 among those uncivilised natives, was the tie of kinship, 
 their own flesh and blood being present in the person 
 of their son, John Moffat, who, with his wife, formed a 
 portion of the Matabele Mission. Post-bags and 
 supplies were forwarded by every available oppor- 
 tunity, and warm words of cheer and sympathy from 
 the aged pair at Kuruman encouraged the workers in 
 the far distant region to perseverance in their work 
 for the Lord. 
 
 Kuruman served indeed as a home station to which 
 all the interior missionaries could look. The fact of 
 being an interior missionary was sufficient to secure 
 the travel-worn stranger, or friend, a warm welcome 
 and good cheer for weeks together, and none entered 
 more heartily or with deeper sympathy into the 
 plans and endeavours of the wayfarer, or offered more 
 earnest prayers on the behalf of himself and his work, 
 than the tried and faithful couple, Robert and Mary 
 Moffat, who had for so many years borne the burden 
 and heat of the day. 
 
 In October, 1861, their daughter Bessie, who was 
 born on board ship in Table Bay, as they were leaving 
 for their first visit to England, married Mr. R. Price, 
 whose wife died the previous year, during that terrible 
 journey from Linyanti, when the Makololo Mission 
 had to be abandoned. Thus as one fell from the ranks, 
 another stepped forward to take the vacant place, and 
 carry on the glorious work for the sake of Him who 
 said, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
 
THE SECHWANA BIBLE. 1 33 
 
 Gospel to every creature." The Prices went for a 
 time to Shoshong, hoping to join the Matabelc 
 Mission, but finally laboured among the Bakwena, 
 under the chief Sechele. 
 
 The Kuruman station itself during this time 
 presented a scene of unabated activity. A revision of 
 the New Testament was in progress, the youngest 
 Miss Moffat, then the only child at home, was working 
 hard at schools and classes, and Mr. Ashton was 
 again at work with his old colleague. 
 
 The year 1862 brought severe domestic bereave- 
 ments to the Moffats. During a journey to Durban, 
 in Natal, their eldest son, Mr. Robert Moffat, died, 
 leaving a wife and four children. He had started to 
 bring them from Durban to the home he had prepared 
 at Kuruman. He had primarily been intended for a 
 missionary, and had been sent to England to be 
 educated for that purpose, but his health failing he 
 had to return to South Africa, where for some time 
 he served in the Survey Department under Govern- 
 ment, and afterwards became a trader. He was very 
 highly respected and had thoroughly gained the 
 confidence of the natives. 
 
 A few weeks later the sad tidings reached the 
 sorrowing parents from the Zambesi that their eldest 
 daughter Mary, the wife of Dr. Livingstone, had been 
 called to her rest. A white marble cross, near 
 Shupanga House on the Shire River, marks the spot 
 where this sainted martyr to the cause of Africa's 
 regeneration sleeps in peace. 
 
 In the following year tidings reached Robert Moffat 
 that William Ross the missionary at Lekatlong, about 
 eighty miles to the south-east, was seriously ill. In a 
 few hours Moffat was on his way ; he arrived in time 
 to find his friend alive, and did all that could be done 
 
134 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 to alleviate his suffering, but shortly after he also 
 passed away. This mournful event led to Mr. Ashton 
 being transferred to Lekatlong, and for a time the 
 whole weight of duty at Kuruman rested on Moffat's 
 shoulders. 
 
 Although in perils oft, Robert Moffat had never 
 suffered thus far personal violence from the hands of 
 a native, but now he had a very narrow escape from 
 death. A young man, who for some time had been 
 living on the station, had shown signs of a disordered 
 mind, and was placed under mild restraint. Conceiv- 
 ing a violent personal animosity against the missionary, 
 he attacked him as he was returning from church, and 
 with a knobbed stick inflicted some terrible blows, 
 then, frightened at his own violence, he fled. To one 
 with a weaker frame than Robert Moffat's the conse- 
 quences might have been very serious ; as it was he 
 recovered, though with a heart that was sorely 
 grieved. 
 
 In 1865, the Mission was reinforced by the arrival 
 of the Rev. John Brown, from England, and by John 
 Moffat, who had returned from the Matabele. The 
 relaxation from the active duties of the station thus 
 afforded was utilised by Robert Moffat in the work of 
 Scripture revision, the preparation of additional 
 hymns, and the carrying of smaller works through 
 the press. 
 
 Mention has been made of the marriage of their 
 second daughter, Ann, to Jean Fredoux, a missionary 
 of the Paris Evangelical Society, who was stationed at 
 Motito, a place situated about thirty-six miles to the 
 north-east of Kuruman. He was a man of gentle 
 disposition and addicted to study. Early in March, 
 1 866, he had started upon a tour to carry on evan- 
 gelistic work among the Barolong villages along the 
 
THE SECHWANA BIBLE. 1 35 
 
 margin of the Kalahari desert. While visiting one of 
 these, a low class trader arrived who had been guilty 
 of atrocious conduct at Motito. The natives insisted 
 upon the trader going to Kuruman, where his conduct 
 could be investigated, and, upon his refusing to do 
 so, prepared to take him by force. He intrenched 
 himself in his waggon with all his guns loaded, and 
 dared any one to lay hands upon him. Fredoux 
 seeing the serious state that matters were assuming 
 quietly drew near to the trader's waggon, and urged 
 him to go peaceably to Kuruman, assuring him that 
 the people were determined he should go, if not 
 peaceably, then by force. 
 
 While thus pleading with this man, a fearful 
 explosion took place, the waggon and its occupant 
 were blown to atoms, Jean Fredoux and twelve 
 natives were killed, and about thirty more were 
 injured. 
 
 This was a further heavy affliction for Robert Moffat 
 and his wife. As soon as they heard of the catastrophe, 
 Robert hastened to succour his widowed daughter, and 
 to consign to the grave at Motito the shattered remains 
 of his son-in-law. 
 
 A few months later another visit was paid to the 
 open grave, this time to consign to its last resting 
 place the body of Mrs. Brown, the wife of the Rev. 
 John Brown, who a short time before had taken up 
 his abode at the Kuruman as a colleague of Robert 
 Moffat. 
 
 In 1868 the missionary staff at that station con- 
 sisted of Robert Moffat and his son John Moffat. 
 The former had now more than completed the three- 
 score years and ten allotted to man as the duration of 
 human life, and unlike the great leader of God's 
 chosen people, of whom it is said, " his eye was not 
 
136 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 dim, nor his natural force abated," Robert Moffat 
 felt the infirmities of age creeping very rapidly upon 
 him. Yet he held on his way for two years longer. 
 A short and constant cough during the winter months 
 aggravated his natural tendency to sleeplessness, and 
 at last he felt himself reluctantly compelled to accept 
 the invitation of the Directors to return finally to 
 England. 
 
 Going home to England it could hardly be called, 
 his home was with his loved Bechwanas, with those 
 for whom he had toiled and prayed so long. The 
 ashes of his son Robert, and of his devoted daughter 
 Mary reposed beneath the sands of Africa ; his early 
 and later manhood had been spent beneath its scorch- 
 ing sun. The house he was to leave had been the 
 birthplace of most of his children, and his home for 
 more than forty years. Yes, it was hard to leave ; 
 and the expectation had become very real to him 
 that his body and that of his faithful partner would 
 be laid side by side in that little burial-ground in the 
 bushy dell, marked by a few trees, at Kuruman. But 
 the final determination had been arrived at, and with 
 slow and hesitating steps, as though waiting for 
 something, even then, to prevent their departure, 
 preparations were made for leaving the station for ever. 
 
 Of the general aspect of affairs at the Kuruman 
 during these last two years we have a graphic 
 description from the pen of the Rev. John Moffat, who 
 in a letter to the Directors dated 12th October, 1868, 
 wrote as follows : — 
 
 "The public services on the station are a prayer- 
 meeting at sunrise on Sunday; preaching in Sechwana, 
 morning, afternoon, and evening, with the Sunday 
 school twice, and a juvenile afternoon service. The 
 early prayer-meeting is left entirely to the natives, the 
 
THE SECIIWANA BIBLE. 137 
 
 three preaching services entirely to the missionaries, 
 and the Sunday school, with the juvenile service, to 
 my sister. There is also a Wednesday evening 
 service, a monthly missionary prayer meeting, a church 
 meeting, and a prayer meeting on Thursday afternoon. 
 This last is in the hands of the natives. No native 
 takes any part in the preaching on the station, except 
 in extreme cases, when it is regarded as a makeshift. 
 My father and I share the preaching between us. 
 Occasionally, say once in three weeks, one of us rides 
 to two villages to the north-west, holding services at 
 each ; they are respectively eight and twelve miles 
 distant. My custom at home, in the regular way, is 
 to give New Testament reading in the morning, a 
 topical sermon in the afternoon, and Old Testament 
 exposition in the evening. On Monday evening I 
 have a young men's Bible class, which is to me the 
 most interesting work I have to do, more especially 
 as I have much encouragement in it. . . . On the 
 Monday evening, also, my sister and I hold a practis- 
 ing class for the purpose of trying to improve the 
 singing. On Tuesday evening I meet male inquirers, 
 on Wednesday, before the service, I have a Bible class 
 for women, on Thursday we have an English prayer 
 meeting, and on Friday evening I meet female 
 inquirers. I need not mention the school conducted 
 by my sister and three native assistants." 
 
 Speaking of the place and people he continues : — 
 " The population is small and scattered. On the 
 spot there must be a good many people, and also at 
 the villages to the north-west ; but otherwise the 
 district contains only small villages of from twenty to 
 one hundred huts. It extends fifty miles west and 
 north-west, and about twenty-five miles in other 
 directions. 
 
138 
 
 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 "The people are poor and must remain so. The 
 country is essentially dry. Irrigation is necessary for 
 successful agriculture, and there are few spots where 
 water flows. There is no market for cattle, even if 
 they throve abundantly, which they do not. I despair 
 of much advance in civilisation, when their resources 
 are so small, and when the European trade is on the 
 
 JIAIN STREET IN PORT ELIZABETH, 
 
 principle of enormous profits and losses. Two 
 hundred per cent, on Port Elizabeth prices is not con- 
 sidered out of the way. 
 
 " Heathenism, as a system, is weak, indeed in many 
 places it is nowhere. Christianity meets with little 
 opposition. The people generally are prodigious 
 
THE SECHWANA BIBLE. I39 
 
 Bible readers, church-goers, and psalm-singers, I fear 
 to a large extent without knowledge. Religion to 
 them consists in the above operations, and in giving a 
 sum to the Auxiliary. I am speaking of the generality. 
 There are many whom I cannot but feel to be 
 Christians, but dimly. This can hardly be the result 
 of low mental power alone. The Bechwanas show 
 considerable acuteness when circumstances call it 
 out. 
 
 "The educational department of the Mission has 
 been kept in the background. On this station the 
 youth on leaving school have sunk back for want of a 
 continued course being opened to them. The village 
 schoolmasters, uneducated themselves, and mostly 
 unpaid, make but a feeble impression. The wonder 
 is that they do so much, and where the readers come 
 from. It is hard to say that the older missionaries 
 could have done otherwise. ... I cannot tell you 
 how one thing presses on me every day : the want of 
 qualified native schoolmasters and teachers ; and the 
 question : how are they to be obtained ? " 
 
 On Sunday, 20th March, 1870, Robert Moffat 
 preached for the last time in the Kuruman church, 
 and on the Friday following the departure took place. 
 " Ramary " and " Mamary," as Mr. and Mrs. Moffat 
 were called, had completely won the hearts of the 
 natives. For weeks past messages of farewell had 
 been coming from the more distant towns and villages, 
 and now that the final hour had arrived and the 
 venerable missionary, with his long white beard, and 
 his equally revered wife, left their house and walked 
 to their waggon they were beset by crowds of people, 
 each one longing for another shake of the hand, a last 
 parting word, or a final look ; and, as the waggon 
 drove away, a long pitiful wail rose from those who 
 
140 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 felt that their teacher and friend was with them no 
 more. 
 
 After a rough but safe journey of eight weeks, 
 Robert and Mary Moffat reached Port Elizabeth on 
 the 20th May, 1870, and received a hearty welcome 
 from a large number of missionaries and other 
 Christian friends, who had gathered to meet them. 
 Making a brief stay they embarked in the mail 
 steamer Roman and landed at Cape Town on the 
 2nd of June. Here they were entertained by the 
 Christian community at a public breakfast. A {z\n 
 days later they embarked in the steamship Norseman, 
 en route for Enerland. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 CLOSING SCENES. 
 
 IN the Chronicle of the London Missionary Society 
 for March, 1870, the following notice appeared : 
 " Our readers will be glad to hear that there is 
 now a definite prospect of welcoming again to 
 England our veteran missionary, the Rev. Robert 
 Moffat. He may be expected, with Mrs. Moffat, 
 about the month of June. Mr. Moffat no longer 
 enjoys his former robust health. In his last letter he 
 writes : * What to me was formerly a molehill is now 
 a mountain, and we both have for some time past 
 begun to feel some of the labour and sorrow so 
 frequently experienced by those who have passed 
 their three-score years and ten.' " 
 
 The Norseman reached Plymouth on the 24th of 
 July, and next day Robert and Mary Moffat landed at 
 Southampton, thus returning to their native land, to 
 leave it no more, after an absence of over fifty years ; 
 during which time they had visited it only once 
 before. 
 
 On the 1st of August he was welcomed by the 
 Society, at an influential meeting, convened for the 
 purpose, in the Board Room of the Mission House, in 
 
 141 
 
142 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Blomfield Street. At that meeting, alluding to his 
 previous visit in 1839, and to the printing of the New 
 Testament in Sechwana, he stated as follows : — 
 
 "When I came to the Cape, previous to my first 
 visit, I brought a translation of the New Testament, 
 which I had translated under considerable difficulties, 
 being engaged a portion of the day in roofing an 
 immense church, and the remainder in exegetical 
 examinations and consulting concordances. I was 
 anxious to get it printed, and I brought it down to 
 the Cape, but there I could find no printing-office 
 that would undertake it. The Committee of the 
 Bible Society very kindly — as they have always been 
 to me, I say it with pleasure — forwarded paper and 
 ink to the Cape expecting I should get the work done 
 there. As I said, there was not a printing-office that 
 would undertake it. Dining with Sir George Napier, 
 the Governor, I informed him of the difficulty. He 
 said, 'Jump on board a ship with your translation 
 and get it printed in England, and you will be back 
 again while they are thinking about it here. Print a 
 New Testament among a set of Dutch printers ! why 
 I can't even get my proclamations printed.' I said, 
 ' I have become too barbarous ; I have almost for- 
 gotten my own language ; I should be frightened to 
 go there.' ' Oh stuff!' he said. 
 
 "Some time after he met me in the street: 'Well, 
 Moffat, what have you determined upon ? ' 'I am 
 waiting the return of Dr. Philip.' ' Don't wait for 
 anybody ; just jump on board a ship. Think of the 
 importance of getting the New Testament put in 
 print in a new language ! ' He invited me to dinner 
 again and said, ' Have you come to a conclusion ? 
 I wish I could give you mine. I feel some interest in 
 the extension of the knowledge of the Word of God. 
 

 .MAK\ iMuMAI. 
 
 143 
 
144 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 Take nobody's advice, but jump on board a ship for 
 England.' He spoke so seriously that I began to 
 feel serious myself. 
 
 " Dr. Philip came, and when the Governor explained 
 the circumstances, the Doctor said, ' Go, by all means.' 
 I was nervous at the thought. I was not a nervous 
 man in Africa. I could sleep and hear the lions roar. 
 There seemed so many great folks to meet with. 
 I came to England and by-and-by I got over it." 
 
 On the Wednesday, following this meeting, he was 
 entertained at a public breakfast at the Cannon Street 
 Hotel. 
 
 For a few weeks the Moffats dwelt at Canonbury, 
 though Robert himself was so much engaged in 
 visiting different parts of the country, Edinburgh 
 included, where he met with many old friends, that 
 he was not suffered at this time to dwell for long in 
 any one place. 
 
 The winter was spent at Brixton, and on the 21st 
 of December, ;^iooo was presented to Robert Moffat 
 as a birthday gift, a most cheering tribute of esteem 
 to a tried and faithful servant of Jesus Christ. 
 
 The effects of this act of kindness had not passed 
 away when a heavy cloud hung over the happy home 
 at Brixton. She, who for more than half-a-century 
 had been the loving helpmeet of the African 
 missionary, sharing his joys and sorrows, his hopes 
 and discouragements, and many of his privations and 
 perils, lay dying. A troublesome cough, a difficulty 
 of breathing, a few long deep breaths, and she was 
 gone, without even a word of farewell ; called home 
 to receive the " Well done, good and faithful 
 servant," and to enter into the joy of her Lord. Her 
 last words were a prayer for her husband, that 
 strength might be given him to bear the blow. 
 
CLOSING SCENES. I45 
 
 Robert Moffat indeed needed strength in this hour 
 of affliction. His first exclamation on finding that 
 she had really gone was, " For fifty-three years I have 
 had her to pray for me," and writing to his old friend 
 and fellow-labourer, Roger Edwards, who was then at 
 Port Elizabeth, he said, " How lonely I feel, and if it 
 were not for Jeanie (his daughter) it would be much 
 more so." 
 
 The events of the next few years may be briefly 
 summarised. He travelled much to different parts of 
 the country, visiting High Leigh, the old house at 
 Dukinfield, and Carronshore. His services were 
 continually in requisition for missionary meetings, and 
 doubtless many of our readers will be old enough to 
 remember the bronzed face, with its full flowing beard, 
 blanched by age, the keen eyes, and the venerable 
 form of Robert Moffat at this time, and to call to 
 mind the pleasure they derived as they listened to 
 his glowing descriptions of the needs of Africa. 
 
 The winter of 1871 was passed at Ventnor, in the 
 Isle of Wight, and occupied in revising proof sheets 
 of the Old Testament in Sechwana. While there he 
 was, by Her Majesty's own desire, introduced to the 
 Queen, whom he had never seen before. He also 
 received the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from the 
 University of Edinburgh. 
 
 To meet the need for training a native ministry, 
 which had been felt by Moffat and others engaged in 
 the work of the Bechwana Mission, and which had 
 shortly before his return been pressed upon the 
 attention of the Directors, several thousand pounds 
 were subscribed, and, as a way of doing honour to the 
 veteran who was now in their midst, it was proposed 
 to call the Institute that was to be founded, "The 
 Moffat Institute." This now stands as a centre ol 
 
 K 
 
146 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 influence amidst the tribes surrounding the Kuruman 
 station. 
 
 In 1873, a number of friends, who thought that the 
 liberal contributions which had been subscribed to the 
 Institute, hardly gave such a direct proof of their 
 esteem for their venerated friend as could be desired, 
 presented Robert Moffat with a sum of upwards of 
 ;^5000. This liberality provided for his wants during 
 the remainder of his life, enabled him to serve the 
 Directors and the cause of missions, without being any 
 longer a burden upon the funds of the Society, and 
 also placed him in a position to meet the wants of his 
 widowed daughter and her fatherless family. 
 
 While living at Brixton, Robert Moffat attended 
 the ministry of the late Rev. Baldwin Brown, in whose 
 mission-work in Lambeth he was much interested. 
 On his eightieth birthday, 21st December, 1875, he 
 opened the new Mission Hall in connection with this 
 work, which hall was thenceforward called by his 
 name. On the same day he received many congra- 
 tulatory tokens, among them being an address signed 
 by a great number of Congregational ministers from 
 every part of the country. Prior to this in the same 
 year, he had lectured upon Missions in Westminster 
 Abbey, and in the preceding year he had performed 
 the melancholy duty of identifying the remains of his 
 son-in-law, Dr. Livingstone, upon their being brought 
 home from Africa. 
 
 Engagements and constant requests for his services 
 made great inroads upon his time. " People either 
 could not or would not see that he was getting old," 
 he frequently said ; but people knew that as long as 
 he had strength to speak, he would not grow weary 
 of addressing audiences on missionary work. 
 
 In 1876, we find him dining on one occasion with 
 
CLOSING SCENES. 147 
 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, 
 and on another breakfasting with Mr. Gladstone, in 
 the house of the Rev. Newman Hall. In the follow- 
 ing year by invitation of the French Missionary 
 Society he visited Paris, and while there addressed a 
 meeting of 4000 Sunday-school children. 
 
 On the 20th of December, 1878, he received the 
 freedom of the City of London, and somewhat over 
 two years later was the guest of the then Lord Mayor, 
 Alderman, now Sir William, McArthur, for several 
 days, a banquet being given in his honour. 
 
 During the time that Cetewayo was in England 
 Robert Moffat was much interested in him and paid 
 him a visit. Among the Zulu king's attendants was 
 a man who could speak Sechwana, and with him 
 Moffat at once got into conversation. The man's 
 delight was unbounded. He had been in the train of 
 a son of Moselekatse, and had heard of the missionary. 
 "A u Moshete?" (Are you Moffat) he asked again 
 and again, with beaming eyes exclaiming when 
 convinced of the fact, " I see this day what my eyes 
 never expected to behold, Moshete ! " 
 
 For the last four years of his life Robert Moffat 
 resided at Park Cottage, Leigh, near Tunbridge, where 
 he was the tenant of the late Samuel Morley, Esq. 
 From both Mr. and Mrs. Morley he received much 
 kindness, which continued until the day of his death. 
 
 The end now drew near. In 1883, he complained 
 of great weariness and intermittent pulsation. This 
 troubled him so constantly that advice was sought. 
 For a short time this availed. He attended the Bible 
 Society's meeting in the second week in May, and the 
 meeting of the London Missionary Society on the 
 loth, and in July paid a visit to Knockholt, where he 
 met Mr. and Mrs. George Sturge. From this visit he 
 
148 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 returned seeming better, but in a few days unfavour- 
 able symptoms again showed themselves. Yet the 
 strong frame, that had endured so much, seemed loath 
 to give in, and, whenever able, he was in and out of 
 his garden. He also took two drives, Mrs. Morley 
 very kindly sending her carriage for that purpose 
 when he felt able to make use of it. 
 
 " Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright : 
 for the end of that man is peace." Most beautifully 
 was this truth exemplified in the closing scenes of the 
 life of this truly noble and good man. On Sunday, 
 5th August, he was too weak to attend chapel, and 
 spent a peaceful Sabbath at home. He was very fond 
 of hymns and would often repeat one after another. 
 In the evening he chose several which were sung, 
 though feebleness prevented him from joining the 
 singing. Among those chosen were : " The sands of 
 time are sinking," " Come, Thou fount of every bless- 
 ing," " How sweet the name of Jesus sounds," and 
 " Nearer, my God, to Thee." His New Testament was 
 his constant companion during these last days, and 
 whatever the topic of conversation, it always turned 
 with him to heaven and the Saviour. 
 
 On Monday he seemed somewhat better, but on 
 Tuesday night he was much worse. Hours of pain 
 and sleeplessness were passed, yet he rose on 
 Wednesday and went out several times to the 
 garden. In the evening he became very ill and 
 had a fainting fit, but managed after awhile to get 
 upstairs, and, after remaining on the bedside for 
 some time, propped up with pillows, he undressed, 
 with little assistance and much deliberation, winding 
 up his watch, with a cold, trembling hand, — " for the 
 last time," he said. 
 
 The doctor arrived shortly afterwards, who found 
 
CLOSING SCENES. I49 
 
 that he had broken a blood-vessel. The night was 
 passed partly in peaceful sleep, and partly in converse 
 with his children who were then present. His 
 daughter says, " He was just full of his Saviour's 
 love and mercy all through his life ; he repeated 
 many hymns and passages of Scripture." 
 
 On Thursday morning he was visited by Mr. Morley 
 and two other friends, with whom he conversed. He 
 also had his Testament, but finding he could not 
 read it, his daughters read to him. He repeated 
 many hymns, among them the Scotch version of the 
 hundred and third Psalm, but stopped and said, 
 " There is nothing like the original," which was then 
 read from the Bible. His mother's favourite hymn, 
 " Hail, sovereign Light," was also by his special 
 desire read to him. 
 
 Another sleep — a wandering, perhaps unconscious, 
 look at his children, a struggle, and then a quietness ; 
 and the pilgrimage was over, the spirit had fled to be 
 present with the Lord whom he had loved so well 
 and served so faithfully. " His end was peace." 
 
 He died on the loth of August, 1883, in his 
 eighty-eighth year. 
 
 The funeral took place a few days later at Norwood 
 Cemetery, when, surrounded by such relatives as were 
 in England, Sir Bartle Frere, Mr. Samuel Morley 
 and several other Members of Parliament, deputations 
 from the various Missionary and several Religious 
 Societies, and by the Mayor of Bloemfontein, his 
 remains were consigned to the tomb. 
 
 Never had a truer hero been borne to the grave, 
 nor one more thoroughly worthy of the name of MAN. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 AS soon as it was realised that Robert Moffat had 
 actually gone, it was felt that a truly great 
 man had departed from among us. A niche 
 
 in the temple of earth's true nobility seemed 
 empty. The prevailing feeling was given expression 
 to by some of the leading journals, which in eulogistic 
 articles commented upon the life, work, and character 
 of him who had gone. 
 
 TJie Times, in its review, contained the following 
 remarks: — " His chief work was among the Bechwanas. 
 His picture of what they were when he first knew them 
 would hardly now be recognised, so entirely have 
 they changed under the new influences which Moffat 
 was the first to bring to bear upon them. He found 
 them mere savages, constantly at war among them- 
 selves and with their neighbours, ignorant of the arts 
 of agriculture, and in the utterly degraded state for 
 which we must seek a counterpart now in the more 
 distant tribes, whom the message of civilisation has 
 not yet reached. His first care was to make himself 
 thoroughly master of the language of those to whom 
 he was sent. For fifty years he has declared he had 
 
 150 
 
CONCLUSION. I 5 I 
 
 been accustomed to speak the Bechwana tongue ; he 
 reduced it to written characters, and translated the 
 Scriptures into it. The Bechwanas, under Moffat's 
 guidance, became new men. Mission work grew and 
 spread among them ; what Moffat had begun to do 
 was taken up by other hands ; a permanent body of 
 native pastors was created from among the Bechwanas 
 themselves, and the whole region was raised out of 
 the savage state in which Moffat had found it, and 
 became, in no small degree, civilised as well as 
 Christianised. ... It would seem, indeed, that it is 
 only by the agency of such men as Moffat and his 
 like that the contact of the white and black races can 
 be anything but a curse to the blacks. It is the 
 missionary alone who seeks nothing for himself He 
 has chosen an unselfish life. If honour comes to him, 
 it is by no choice of his own, but as the unsought 
 tribute which others, as it were, force upon him. 
 Robert Moffat has died in the fulness both of years 
 and honours. His work has been to lay the founda- 
 tions of the Church in the central regions of South 
 Africa. As far as his influence and that of his 
 coadjutors and successors has extended, it has 
 brought with it unmixed good. His name will be 
 remembered while the South African Church endures, 
 and his example will remain with us as a stimulus to 
 others, and as an abiding proof of what a Christian 
 missionary can be and can do." 
 
 The BrigJiton Daily News commenced its article 
 by saying : — " The grave has just closed over one of 
 the most notable men whose figures are familiar to 
 the inhabitants of Brighton. Robert Moffat, the 
 veteran pioneer in the mission field, and the simplest 
 of heroes, has passed away, and many of the noblest 
 of the land followed his remains to their resting-place." 
 
152 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 It concluded with, " In the drawing-rooms of fashion- 
 able Brighton, crowded with the lovers of art and 
 science, no one grudged the cessation of music the 
 most classical, or of conversation the most charming, 
 to listen to the venerable Doctor when requested to 
 repeat some incidents of his missionary life. All felt 
 that the scene was hallowed by the presence of one 
 who had done a work for the good of men, such as 
 few have been privileged to accomplish. Robert 
 Moffat belonged to no sect or party. To better the 
 world and advance the one Church formed the sole 
 end of his being." 
 
 Other journals and magazines bore like testimony 
 to his worth. 
 
 Of his work we have said much in the preceding 
 pages, and also something of its results. To this may 
 be added Robert Moffat's own account of some of the 
 benefits which sprung from the prosecution of mission- 
 ary enterprise in South Africa. In his speech at Port 
 Elizabeth, on finally leaving for England, in Ma}', 
 1870, referring to the general progress made in the 
 interior, he said : — 
 
 " Christianity has already accomplished much in 
 this long benighted land. When I first went to the 
 Kuruman scarcely an individual could go beyond. 
 Now they travel in safety to the Zambesi. Then we 
 were strangers^ and they could not comprehend us. 
 They treated us with great indignity, and considered 
 us to be the outcasts of society, who, being driven 
 from our own race, went to reside with them ; but 
 bearing in remembrance what our Saviour had to 
 undergo, we were encouraged to persevere, and much 
 success has rewarded our efforts. Now it is safe to 
 traverse any part of the country, and traders travel far 
 beyond Kuruman without the slightest fear of molesta- 
 
■CONCLUSION. 153 
 
 tion. Formerly men of one tribe could not travel 
 through another's territory, and wars were frequent. 
 During my early mission life, I often heard of men of 
 one tribe going to trade with another, and being 
 murdered. I was at a native place when a thing of 
 that sort once occurred. A party of men had come 
 two hundred miles to dispose of some articles. The 
 resident natives, taking a dislike to them, set upon 
 them and killed two of their number. I asked them 
 why they had done this, and tried to show them it 
 was wrong. They seemed to know that ; and from 
 that time I have never heard of anything of the sort. 
 
 "The influence of Christianity in that country is 
 now very great, and constantly increasing. Where 
 one station was scarcely tolerated, there are now 
 several. The Moravians have their missionaries. 
 The Berlin Society have theirs, and others are engaged 
 in the good work, besides numerous native Gospel 
 teachers. Our advanced station at the Matabele is in 
 a very prosperous state, and I quite expect that the 
 Matabele will become one day a great nation. They 
 sternly obey their own laws, and I have noticed that 
 when men of fixed principles become convinced of the 
 great truths of Christianity they hold firmly to the 
 faith, and their fidelity is not lightly to be shaken." 
 
 In the same speech he also mentioned the fact that 
 whereas at first the natives would not buy anything, 
 not even a pocket handkerchief, now, when he was 
 speaking, no less than sixty thousand pounds worth 
 of British manufactures passed yearly into the hands of 
 the native tribes around Kuruman. 
 
 Thus the missionary prepared the way for the mer- 
 chant, and the Gospel for the progress of civilisation. 
 
 Of Moffat's character we have had frequent glimpses 
 in the preceding pages ; of his personal appearance 
 
154 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 and dignified mien our portrait and pictures give 
 some idea. A few words may, however, be added, 
 based upon the facts recorded by his son in the last 
 chapter of " Robert and Mary Moffat." 
 
 Tall and strong, with dark piercing eyes, he stood, 
 a man of dauntless courage, quick and energetic in 
 action, with a resolution in the performance of duty 
 that no opposition could thwart ; yet, withal, of gentle 
 manner, and of an even temper, proof against the 
 many attacks made upon it. His disposition was to 
 think well of men, and to believe what they said. 
 Deceit he hated, it was the one thing he could not 
 forgive. He trusted men implicitly; and this probably 
 accounted for the fact that the Bechwanas, who carried 
 the art of lying to perfection, seldom lied to him. 
 They knew it was the one thing that would make 
 him angry. 
 
 His reverence for holy things was very great. He 
 relished a joke as well as any man, indeed, there was 
 a good deal of humour in him ; but woe to that man 
 who spoke jestingly of the things pertaining to God. 
 The Word of the Lord was too real and too important 
 for any triviality. God was ever present to him, and 
 he lived for God. His son says : " Even when I was 
 alone with him, on some of his itinerating journey.s, 
 no meal was commenced without a reverent doffing 
 of the Scotch bonnet, his usual head-dress in those 
 days, and the solemn blessing ; and our morning and 
 evening worship was never missed or hurried." 
 
 An instance of his forbearance under provocation 
 is afforded in the following : — 
 
 "On our return from England in 1843," says the 
 writer just quoted, "we were a large party, with three 
 or four waggons. One night we outspanned in the 
 dark, not knowing that vve were on forbidden ground 
 
CONCLUSION. ■ 155 
 
 — within the h'mits of a farm, but a half-mile short of 
 the homestead. In the early morning a young man 
 rode up, and demanded to know what we were doing 
 there without leave. My father gently explained 
 that we had done it in ignorance, but his explanation 
 was cut short by a harangue loud and long. The 
 stripling sat on his horse, my father stood before him 
 with bowed head and folded arms, whilst a torrent of 
 abuse poured over him, with a plentiful mixture of 
 such terse and biting missiles of invective as greatly 
 enrich the South African Dutch language. We stood 
 around and remembered that only a few months 
 before the man thus rated like a dog was standing 
 before enthusiastic thousands in England, who hung 
 v/ith bated breath upon his utterances. Something 
 of shame must have arrested the wrath of the young 
 man, for he suddenly rode away without impounding 
 our cattle, as he had threatened to do. We inspanned 
 and proceeded, calling on our way at the house, and 
 there we found ourselves received by a venerable 
 white-haired farmer and his wife with open arms, for 
 they and my parents proved to be old friends. Right 
 glad were we that nothing had been done on our side 
 to make us ashamed to meet them." 
 
 In his home he was a true father, and the influence 
 that surrounded his children must have been a happy 
 one, seeing that so many of them embraced the 
 missionary calling, and followed in the footsteps of 
 their venerated parents. Mary, the eldest daughter, 
 married Dr. Livingstone ; Ann, the French missionar}-, 
 Jean Frddoux ; Bessie, a younger daughter, was united 
 to the Rev. Roger Price ; and a son, the Rev. John 
 Moffat, became for a time his father's coadjutor at 
 the Kuruman station. 
 
 In bringing this memoir to a conclusion, we may 
 
156 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 be permitted to glance at South Africa as it is at the 
 present time, and to note some of the contrasts 
 between its condition now, and that as stated in our 
 opening chapter, prior to Robert Moffat's arrival. 
 
 At the time when he first landed at Cape Town, 
 the work of evangelising the heathen was confined 
 principally to two Societies — the Moravian Mission 
 and the London Missionary Society. Now the 
 Societies exceed twelve in number, and represent the 
 following nationalities : English, American, French, 
 Swiss, Norwegian, and the people of Finland. 
 
 First, in order of date, may be noticed the work 
 of the Moravian Brethren, which is chiefly carried on 
 among the Hottentots and Kafirs. Their chief 
 station is Genadendal, eighty miles east of Cape 
 Town, which has several smaller stations grouped 
 around it. Besides these, still farther east, among 
 the Kafir tribes, is the station of Shiloh, also having a 
 number of out-stations gathered round it. 
 
 The London Missionary Society follows with its 
 eleven principal stations and nine out-stations. This 
 Society is now labouring in South Africa, in Kafirland, 
 Bechwanaland and Matabeleland. The Report for 
 1886 shows sixteen English missionaries and sixty- 
 five native preachers as engaged in preaching and 
 teaching, and as results, 1361 Church members. These 
 returns are however incomplete, and very much has 
 occurred, through the numerous wars and unsettled 
 state of the country, to retard the progress of 
 missionary work. 
 
 Next comes the Wesleyan Missionary Society, who, 
 commencing operations at Cape Town in 18 14, 
 extended their stations round the coast from Little 
 Namaqualand to Zululand. They are also labouring 
 among the Barolongs in the Orange Free State, in 
 
 I 
 
CONCLUSION. 157 
 
 Swaziland, and at the Gold Fields at Barberton, in the 
 Transvaal. 
 
 The Scotch Presbyterians are represented by the 
 missions of the Free Church of Scotland, and the 
 United Presbyterian Church. These confine their 
 labours principally to British Kaffraria and Kafirland. 
 The Free Church has a high-class Institution at 
 Lovedale for the training of a native ministry and 
 also for teaching the natives many of the useful arts, 
 and an improved system of agriculture. There is an 
 efficient staff of teachers, and in 1885, 380 pupils 
 attended the Institution, of whom seventy-one were 
 Church members and ninety-one candidates or 
 inquirers. A similar institution has also been 
 established among the Fingoes at Blythswood in 
 Fingoland. 
 
 More than fifty years ago, at the suggestion of 
 Dr. Philip, the Rhenish Mission commenced work 
 among the Hottentots of Cape Colony, but its opera- 
 tions extended, and now embrace Little and Great 
 Namaqualand, south and north of the Orange River, 
 and, away beyond, the territory known as Damara- 
 land. Their stations are in a flourishing condition, 
 and some 15,000 converts bear evidence to the success 
 of their efforts. This Society also looks after the 
 preparation of native teachers, &c., and has an excellent 
 institution for that purpose at Worcester, near Cape 
 Town, its principal station. 
 
 Still farther north, beyond Damaraland is Ovampo- 
 land, occupied by the Missionary Society of Finland. 
 Seven ordained Missionaries and three Christian 
 artisans were equipped and despatched to work in 
 this region, at the suggestion of the Rhenish Society. 
 Their enterprise is of comparatively recent date and 
 results cannot yet be tabulated. The influence for 
 
158 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 good exerted will, however, doubtless yield fruit by- 
 and-by. 
 
 The missions of the Berlin Society stretch from the 
 eastern portion of Cape Colony to the Transvaal, and 
 embrace also the Orange Free State and the Diamond 
 Fields. They have over 7000 converts, and a large 
 number of children under instruction in various 
 schools. 
 
 Basutoland, to the east of the Orange Free State, 
 is cared for by the French Evangelical Missionary 
 Society, who commenced work in South Africa in 
 1829. Their first missionaries were appointed to the 
 Bahurutse, then tributary to Moselekatse, but being 
 repulsed through the jealousy of that potentate they 
 settled at Motito, and finally accepted an invitation 
 from Moshesh, chief of the Basutos, to work among 
 that people. The mission has fourteen principal 
 stations and sixty-six out-stations, with about 20,000 
 adherents, of whom about 3500 are Church members. 
 
 In 1835 six missionaries, appointed by the 
 American Board of Foreign Missions, arrived from the 
 United States to labour in South Africa. Three 
 proceeded to Natal and settled near Durban. The 
 other three journeyed to Moselekatse at Mosega. 
 Their mission was however broken up through the 
 incursions of the Boers, and they were compelled to 
 flee to Natal. For some years the mission there was 
 much harassed through war, but it is now firmly 
 established and is doing excellent work of a religious 
 and educational character, having a number of well- 
 instructed native pastors and teachers, besides the 
 staff of European missionaries. In 1886 the Board 
 reports having in connection with this mission seven 
 stations and seventeen out-stations, and 886 Church 
 members. 
 
CONCLUSION. 159 
 
 The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel 
 commenced its missions in South Africa in 1838. Its 
 work is divided between the Colonists and the 
 natives, and is carried on in Cape Colony and Natal ; 
 its dioceses stretching round the coast much in the 
 same manner as the Wesleyan stations. 
 
 Besides those already mentioned, there are at work 
 now in South Africa the Norwegian Missionary 
 Society, labouring in Natal and Zululand ; the 
 Hermaimsburg Mission, founded by Pastor Harms, 
 whose operations are carried on in Natal, Zululand, 
 and the Transvaal ; and the Swiss society, The 
 Mission of the Free Church of the Canton de Vaud, 
 whose efforts are directed to a tribe inhabiting a 
 country between Delagoa Bay and Sofala.* 
 
 Thus the missionary cause has grown, notwith- 
 standing the many difficulties it has had to contend 
 with, and now the sound of the Gospel is heard 
 throughout the land. From the southernmost part 
 of what was the " Dark Continent," but which is now 
 termed by some the " Twilight Continent," and which 
 we trust may soon be blessed with the full light of 
 Christianity, there stretches away a series of mission 
 stations right to the Zambesi ; and there joining 
 hands with the system of Central African missions the 
 glad tidings of salvation are wafted onward to the 
 great lake, the Victoria Nyanza, in the north ; east- 
 ward to the coast ; and, in the west, made known to 
 thousands by means of the various organisations now 
 doing such excellent work on the Congo River. 
 
 In a central position, amidst the tribes of South 
 Africa, Kuruman, the scene of Robert Moffat's trials 
 
 * Many of tlic facts contained in this review of Mission work in 
 South Africa have been gleaned from " South Africa," by the Rev. 
 James Sibree, F.R.G.S. 
 
l60 ROBERT MOFFAT. 
 
 and triumphs, stands to-day, surrounded by a number 
 of native towns and villages, where native teachers, 
 trained in the Moffat Institute, are located, and native 
 Churches have been formed, — a beacon shedding 
 its glorious rays around, dispelling the darkness, 
 and bringing the heathen to the knowledge of the 
 Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 S. W. PARTRIDGE AND CO., Q PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 
Pfincelon Theoloqic<il Semmary-Spei 
 
 1012 
 
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