SOUTHERN AFRICA, 309 
put to them. Thej were men of the middle age, plain and 
decent in their dress, cleanly in their persons, of modest man- 
ners, meek and humble in their deportment, but intelligent 
and lively in conversation, zealous in the cause of their mis- 
sion, but free from bigotry or enthusiasm. Every thing 
about the place partook of that neatness and simplicity which 
were the strongest features in the outline of their character. 
The church they had constructed was a plain neat building ; 
their mill for grinding corn was superior to any in the colony ; 
their garden was in high order, and produced abundance of 
vegetables for the use of the table. Almost every thing that 
had been done was by the labor of their own hands. Agree- 
ably to the rules of that society, of which they were members, 
each had learned some useful profession. One was well 
skilled in every branch of smith's work, the second was a 
shoemaker, and the third a tailor. 
These missionaries have succeeded in bringing together 
into one society more than six hundred Hottentots, and their 
numbers are daily increasing. These live in small huts dis- 
persed over the valley, to each of which was a patch of ground 
for raising vegetables. Those who had first joined the society 
had the choicest situations at the upper end of the valley, 
near the church, and their houses and gardens were very neat 
and comfortable; numbers of the poor in England not so good, 
and few better. Such of the Hottentots as chuse to learn 
their respective trades, are paid for their labor as soon as they 
can earn wages. Some hire themselves out by the week, 
month, or year, to the neighbouring peasantry ; others make 
mats and brooms for sale : some breed poultry, and others 
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