232 
JOURNEY TO LATTAKOO. [181J5. 
a complaint. Three things, exclusive of religion, 
comprehend all that engages the attention of South 
Africans — money, food, and tobacco. I'he wonders 
of God's creating power around them are viewed with 
the eyes of cattle. Two or three of our people having 
observed my attachment to flowers, brought me a 
curious flower as we passed along ; but they brought 
it with as litde interest as a servant in Britain brings 
a newspaper to his master, evidently uninterested in 
what they bring. The firmament in vain preaches to 
multitudes the handy M'orks of the Most High in this 
remote region. When the conflagration passed our 
waggons, without injuring them, we went quietly to 
rest. 
1 8th, Thermometer at sun-rise, 44. Blink or Shin- 
ing Mountain, at the foot of which we were, is a kind of 
Mecca to the surrounding nations. They are constant- 
ly making pilgrimages thither, not indeed to pay reli- 
gious homage, but only to obtain fresh supplies of 
blue powder to ornament their hair. For how many 
ages this custom has existed, none can say ; it is from 
time immemorial, and no doubt will continue till some 
great revolution in the sentiments of the people shall 
take place. In the present state of society such a 
journey must afford much entertainment, having little 
at home to make one day differ from another. This 
constant sameness has a tendency to bring the mind into 
a kind of torpid state, which it is distressing even to 
witness. The gospel is remarkably fitted for rousing 
such sleeping, inactive minds, by placing before them 
