110 THE SEED IS SOAVN IN VERY STONY GROUND. 



which here grew to perfection, the leaves of this plant often 

 attaining the size of three feet by two. What they did not 

 consume themselves was bartered for cattle to their wealth- 

 ier countrymen. 



Here, however, their civilization seemed to be at a stand- 

 still. The missionaries were laudably and strenuously ex- 

 erting themselves in their behalf, but as yet they had met 

 with little or no encouragement. To the mind of a Damara, 

 the idea of men visiting them solely from love and charity 

 is utterly inconceivable. They can not banish a suspicion 

 that the motives of the stranger must be interested ; and 

 they not unfrequently require a bribe in return for any serv- 

 ices they may render to the missionary cause. As an in- 

 stance of the utter failure of religious zeal in these parts, I 

 may mention that Mr. Hahn, who is liked and respected by 

 the natives, never succeeded, as he himself told me, in con- 

 verting a single individual! In one instance, however, he 

 imagined that he had made a convert ; but, before the indi- 

 vidual in question could be finally admitted as a member of 

 the Christian Church, it was necessary that he should give 

 satisfactory answers to certain questions. One of these was, 

 whether, according to the usages of Christianity, he would 

 be contented with one wife. To this the man replied that 

 though he was very anxious to oblige Mr. Hahn and his 

 friends personally, and to further the objects of the mission 

 in every "way possible, yet his conscience would not permit 

 him to make so great a sacrifice as that required. 



The wealthy Damaras were even more indiflferent to spir- 

 itual matters than their poorer brethren ; and if they hap- 

 pened to visit any of the stations, it was not for the purpose 

 of hearing the Gospel preached, but either in the hope of 

 protection against their enemies, or with a view to business 

 by bartering tobacco, iron- ware, and so forth. One excep- 

 tion to this rule was found in the case of the chief Kahichene, 

 who had settled with part of his tribe at Schmelen's Hope. 



