CHAPTER III. 



Superstitions — Witch Doctors — The Wise Woman — Rain-makers — 

 Condition of Females in Caffer Land — Forlorn situation of 

 Widows— Introduction of the Plough — Institution of the Sab- 

 bath — Translation of the Scriptures into the Caffer language. 



The difficulties attending a first attempt to establish 

 stations in a country like Cafferland may be in some 

 measure conceived by taking into consideration the 

 animosities which had previously existed between 

 the Colonists and the Gaffers, and the cruelties reci- 

 procally practised for a long series of years by the 

 respective parties. The information, however, which 

 was obtained from time to time as to the real dispo- 

 sition of the Caffer ; the arrival of settlers from 

 England on the eastern frontier, and the impression 

 at length felt by the Colonial government of the ne- 

 cessity of an alteration in the system hitherto pursued, 

 led at last to an unrestricted intercourse through 

 the Caffer fair, which was established in 1821, at 

 Fort Wiltshire, and of which mention has been made 

 in a foregoing chapter. A door was thus thrown 

 open for the introduction of a more enlightened 

 policy, and Mr. Shaw, availing himself of this 

 favourable circumstance, determined, in 1823, upon 

 taking up his residence with his family in this 

 quarter ; and devoting himself entirely to spread the 



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