Part 24 (1/2)
As they were returning, they observed a herd of buffaloes at a great distance, and proposed to the of the day, if the animals were at any reasonable distance from them At supper the flesh of the antelope was pronounced better than that of the gnoo; and after supper, as soon as the cattle had been all secured, and the fires lighted, Alexander proposed that Swinton should finish his history of Africaner
”If I reht, I left off where Africaner and his people had escaped to Namaqua-land, where he beca him to the colony, but without success
Expedition after expedition failed, and Africaner dared them to approach his territories At last, the colonists had recourse to the Griquas, and offered the Africaner in
”The Griquas, commanded by a celebrated chief of the name of Berend, made several attempts, and in consequence a cruel as carried on between Berend and Africaner, in which neither party gained the advantage Africaner, discovering that the colonists had bribed Berend to ainst them A Dutch boor fell a victie quantities of their cattle, and eventually Africaner became the terror of the colony The natives also who resided in Namaqua-land commenced depredations upon Africaner, but he repaid them with such interest that at last every tribe fled at his approach, and his nae and intrepidity shown by Africaner and his brothers in their various combats were most remarkable; but to narrate all his adventures would occupy too much time It is certain that he not only became dreaded, but in consequence of his forbearance on several occasions he was respected
”It was in 1810 that the missionaries came into the Namaqua-land, and it unfortunately happened that a dispute arose about some of Africaner's property which was seized, and at the same time Africaner lost some cattle The parties ere at variance with Africaner lived near to the Mission station, and very unwisely the people at the Mission station were perer of Africaner, who vowed vengeance on the Mission and the people collected around it or connected with it As Africaner had co toward the mission, the missionaries were compelled to abandon the station and return to the colony The Mission station was soon afterward taken possession of by Africaner, and the houses burned to the ground
”A curious circu this affair: his folloere seeking everywhere for plunder, when soround, and one of therave, was astonished by soft notes of round beneath
”Superstitious as the natives are, and havingof the Christian doctrines, they started and stood transfixed with astonish the dead to arise, as they had been once told One of theain upon the spot, and the reply was soft and musical as before Away they all started to Africaner, to inforrave
”The chief, who feared neither the living nor the dead, went to the burial-ground with his ave out the soft note as before Africaner ordered an immediate exhumation, when the source of the mystery proved to be the piano-forte of thetoo cumbrous an article to take away, had been buried there, with the hope of being one day able to recover it Never having seen such an instrument before, Africaner had it dissected for the sake of the brass wires; and thus the piano was destroyed”
”I doubt if it would ever have been dug up in Caffreland,” observed Alexander
”I am convinced it never would have been, but have reether,” replied Swinton; ”but to proceed--
”The Mission station having been for some time broken up by this attack of Africaner, Mr C, a missionary, anxious to restore it, wrote a letter to Africaner on the subject, and received a favorable reply, and a Mr E was sent to the residence of Africaner himself After a short time, Africaner and his two brothers, with a number of others, were baptized
”At first it must be adreatly improve their conduct; but this was very much to be ascribed to the circumstance that the duties of the station had devolved upon one who ought not to have been selected for the task Upon his re his place, a great change was soon observable in Africaner; and, froeance--a firebrand spreading discord, war and ani tribes--he would now make every concession and any sacrifice to prevent collision and bloodshed between contending parties
”Although his poas so great that he ht have raised his arm and dared them to lift a spear or draw a bow, he would entreat them as a suppliant to be reconciled
”'Look at ht; how much cattle have I taken; but what has it done for me, but make me full of shame and sorrow?'
”In short, from that time till he died, he became a peacemaker and a Christian, both in word and deed His whole life was devoted to acts of kindness and charity--to instructing and exhorting, and following the precepts of Him in whose faith eventually he lived and died”
”Well, Swinton, you have indeed given us a remarkable proof that the missionary labors are not always throay, and we thank you for your compliance with our request”
”It is a remarkable instance, if you only consider how ht have been sacrificed, if Africaner had continued his career of slaughter and of plunder; and how many lives, I may add, have been also saved by his interference as a peace, as he formerly was, a promoter of war and bloodshed”
”Swinton,” said Alexander, ”I wanted to ask you a question which I had nearly forgotten Do you recollect what Breemsbok, and that now the lion would shut his eyes, and that he would shoot him?”
”Yes, I do; and he was correct in what he stated, for I have witnessed it e animal like an ox or horse, or the anis upon it, seizes it by the throat with his terrible fangs, and holds it doith his paws till it expires From the moment the lion seizes his prey, he shuts his eyes, and never opens theain until the life of his prey is extinct
I remember a Hottentot, when a lion had seized an ox in this way, running up to hi within a few yards' distance
The lion, however, did not deign to notice the report of the gun, but continued to hold fast his prey The Hottentot loaded again, fired, and again h the head”