Page:Life of Africaner.pdf/19

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
life of africaner.
19

evidently much struck with this result of missionary enterprise, the benefit of which he had sometimes doubted. I remembered, when I first arrived at Cape Town, the reply to my memorial for permission to proceed to my destination in Great Namaqua-land was, that his Excellency had cogent reasons for not complying with my request, and I was obliged to remain eight months in the colony: this time was not, however, lost, for it was turned to advantage by learning the Dutch language, and attending to other preliminaries for a missionary campaign. Whatever he might think of his former views, his Excellency was now convinced that a most important point had been gained ; and, as a testimony of his good feeling, he presented Africaner with an excellent waggon, value eighty pounds sterling."

Africaner's appearance in Cape Town excited considerable attention, as his name and exploits had been familiar to many of its inhabitants for more than twenty years. Many were struck with the unexpected mildness and gentleness of his demeanour, and others with his piety and accurate knowledge of the Scriptures. His New Testament was a cheering object of attention, it was so completely thumbed and worn by use.

As Mr Moffat, who had brought him to Cape Town, was to join the mission at the city of Lattakoo, Africaner was asked to attend to the instruction of his people himself, till the Missionary Society should be able to send out a teacher to supply the place of Mr Moffat. With great modesty and diffidence he gave his consent.

A friend in Cape Town, when noticing to