Part 5 (1/2)
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 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 princ.i.p.al chiefs, to Cape Town with the missionaries.
The young prince and his companion were astonished at what they saw.
With difficulty they were persuaded to go along with Robert Moffat on board one of the s.h.i.+ps 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 (s.h.i.+ps) 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 s.h.i.+p in full sail, which was then entering the harbour, they replied, ”We have no thoughts here, we hope to think again when we get on sh.o.r.e.”
Upon the same day that the Moffats reached Cape Town, a s.h.i.+p 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.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
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 Bangwaketsi. 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 metropolis 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.”
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 apparently 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 princ.i.p.al men, all engaged either preparing skins, cutting them, sewing mantles, or telling news.
[Ill.u.s.tration: NATIVES SEWING.]
Sitting down beside him, and amidst his n.o.bles and counsellors, Moffat stated that his object was to tell him news. The missionary spoke of G.o.d, 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 description 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 astonishment, ”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.