DIFFICULTIES WITH THE BOERS. 69 



English assist the Boers ? Why do they give them power over lands that 

 are not theirs to give ? Why do the English supply them with ammunition 

 when they know the Boers ? You have spoken about what the word of God 

 says ; have not the English the word of God ? and have not the Boers the 

 Word of God ? Are we alone to obey the Word of God because we are black ? 

 Are white people not to obey the Word of God because they are white ? We 

 are told that the English love all men. They give or sell ammunition, horses, 

 and guns to the Boers, who have red teeth,* to destroy us ; and if we ask to 

 buy powder we can get none ; no ! no ! no ! black men must have no ammuni- 

 tion, they must serve the white man. Is this their love ? The English are 

 not friends to the black man. If I am accusing the English or the Boers 

 falsely tell me. Are these things not so ? You know all these things better 

 than we do ! " 



"From the sorrowful statement of our experienced and judicious Mis- 

 sionary it will appear that these complaints, though strongly uttered, were 

 not exaggerated, and that it is indeed difficult to overrate the future conse- 

 quences of this ill-judged and unrighteous measure on the interests and exist- 

 ence of the Natives. On this painful subject Mr. Moffat observes : — 



" As to whether the countries through which I have passed are likely 

 soon to become fields for Missionary operation I am anything but sanguine. 

 Of the willingness of the natives themselves to receive instruction no doubt need 

 be entertained ; but at present the prospect is anything but encouraging. 

 Past events show to a demonstration that between the natives and the Trans 

 Vaal Boers there can be no peace, until the former, as far as they can be 

 reached, shall become the vassals of the latter, whose transactions have hitherto 

 been characterised by a deep-rooted enmity to all missionary operations. Why 

 these things are permitted is a problem beyond the wisdom of man to solve ; 

 but of one thing we are assured, that the atrocities which of late years have 

 been carried on in the interior are not unnoticed by him who has said, 

 ' Vengeance is mine ; I will repay.' 



" The Mission Churches within the Colony, composed chiefly of Hottentots, 

 formerly the slaves of the Colonists, are acquiring consolidation and strength. 

 Since the enjoyment of their freedom they have improved in industry, and 

 have reaped those advantages which it never fails to secure; in many instances 

 they have purchased land, erected comfortable dwellings, and made great 

 advances in all the comforts of civilized life." 



The following from Mr. Moffat's report, published in 1851, is in striking 

 contrast with the account he gave of his early experiences at Kuruman, 

 which we quoted in a previous chapter : — 



" Our public services, especially on the Sabbath, are well attended ; and I 



* Teeth red with blood implies great cruelty. 



