BETHELSDORP. 
After riding along the cultivated ground, I came to 
the oxen, which had just been driven home for the 
night. Except in Smithfield, I had never seen so 
many together ; indeed, I remarked that we had now 
arrived at the metropoUs of those animals. We re- 
turned to Bethelsdorp just in time for their evening 
worship. Thermometer at noon, sixty-two. Was in 
conversation witii the brethren till three o'clock in the 
morning. 
22d. Set off at eleven A.M. with brethren Ulbricht 
and Bartlet to Uitenhagen, where the commandant and 
Landdrost reside, which is about nine miles from 
Bethelsdorp. We had to cross Zwartkops river, w^hich 
was wide and deep in consequence of the late rains. 
The water was two inches above the bottom of our 
waggon. Colonel Vickers, who is Civil and military 
commander of the four interior districts, received me 
in the most friendly manner, and politely offered to 
serve me in any way in his power. He expressed the 
same sentiments that I entertained with respect to the 
external appearance of Bethelsdorp, and thought the 
civilization of the people must be greatly retarded by 
the mean manner in which they live. 
I could not but acknowledge to the Colonel, that I 
was affected with the first view I had of Bethelsdorp, 
much in the same way as he had been; but on 
examination, I found there were causes which the 
missionaries could not controul^ — that they had always 
