274 EXPEDITION TO NATAL. 



pressed to Mr. Shrewsbury, who resided there, a de- 

 sire to establish a monthly post between Natal and 

 the Cape Government, a distance overland of about 

 a thousand miles, which could be accomplished 

 through the medium of the Missionary Stations, pro- 

 vided a mission to the Amapondas, then in contem- 

 plation, should be commenced, which would extend 



"On the 17th of April, we were surprised by the arrival of eight ship- 

 wrecked seamen at this Station. They belonged to the French ship 

 L'Ecole, from Calcutta to Bordeaux. After experiencing some tem- 

 pestuous weather, and being for several days unable to take an obser- 

 vation, the vessel was driven on the rocks, about forty miles from 

 Butterworth, where she soon went to pieces, and twelve out of the 

 twenty individuals in her found a watery grave. The remaining 

 eight escaped to land, partly by swimming, and partly by pieces of 

 the wreck, by which some of them were sadly bruized. Here fresh 

 horrors awaited them. The natives thronged upon the coast with 

 their assagais, and the strangers knowing neither their latitude, nor 

 amongst what nation they were cast, considered themselves every 

 hour in peril of their lives. Providentially, however, they fell in with 

 an English trader, who happened at that time to be within a few 

 miles of the wreck. He treated them humanely, procured guides for 

 them, and directed them to this station. On their arrival here, 

 Hintza, and his brother Boku, who is the next to him in power and 

 influence, came to see them. I made him acquainted with their 

 circumstances, and at my request, both he and his brother went down 

 immediately to the coast, and gave orders to the whole of the tribe, 

 that at whatever period white men were wrecked amongst them, of 

 whatever nation, they were to treat them with kindness, and forward 

 them to the nearest Missionary, who would recompense them for their 

 trouble. After resting with us four days, we forwarded them on our 

 horses to Mount Coke, whence brother Young conveyed them in his 

 waggon to the Colony. We offered to assist them with all the people 

 of the station, in endeavouring to save the Cargo ; but they thankfully 

 declined our offer, as nothing worth saving remained." 



