MARCH.] JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. 
6l 
water. A very aged man, almost destitute of clothing 
came into the hut, sat down at ray side, kissed my 
hands and legs, and by the most significant gestures 
expressed the greatest joy and gratitude, that a mis- 
sionary was to be sent them. We asked him if he 
knew any thing of Jesus Christ. His answer almost 
petrified me. I know no more, (said he), about 
any thing than a beast." Could I but have brought 
the great missionary meetings of the month of May, to 
this kraal, to witness the scene that passed, I think they 
would have thrown in handfuls of gold to aid the 
missionary funds, till the Directors should be alarmed 
and cry out like Moses at the tabernacle in the wilder- 
ness. Stop brethren, you are giving more than is neces- 
sary. Six or eight and twenty of us were packed into 
a small hut ; a croud at the door ; every eye and ear 
watching the motion of my lips, to know when I should 
assure them that a missionary would come among 
them. The captain offered to go to Zwellendam and 
bring brother Pacalt, which is a fortnight s journey. 
They offered the largest house they had for his present 
accommodation, and i)romised immediately to begin 
building a better. After further conversation I assured 
them he should come, and wrote a letter to Mr. Pacalt 
in their presence, which I gave to their captain, who 
engaged to go with it so soon as his waggon returned 
from the mill, where it was sent for some meal. We 
then got all the young people under twenty years of 
age collected before us — there were about forty, many 
of them interesting figures — they all expressed their 
desire to be taught to read, which not one in the 
