102 
VARIOUS OCCURRENCES, &c. 
[1820. 
attempt to drive away the Missionaries, They 
at present never interfere to prevent the Mission- 
aries sowing or planting what or when they 
please; but all the natives are compelled strictly 
to act according to ancient rule. 
The king cares not how much he troubles or 
begs from the Missionaries himself, but he is 
sometimes enraged when he sees them too much 
troubled by others. On such an occasion, he 
once laid hold of a stick and knocked down cap- 
tains, servants, women, and children, indeed all 
who came in his way, without making any dis- 
tinction. When in a passion, he is said to appear 
extremely terrific, foaming at the mouth, with 
eyes infuriated, swollen countenance, &c. On 
some occasions, when he has been speaking at 
their public meetings, the Hottentots attached to 
the Mission have fled from terror. At other times 
his deportment is mild. 
Happening to sit down upon a rock during a 
walk in the afternoon, I was as usual beset by 
young people begging snuff ; but before I gave 
them any they had to labour nearly an hour at the 
letters of the alphabet, a copy of which I always 
carried with me. I pointed out the letters that 
composed the king's name, and that of his uncle 
Munameets, which made them thoughtful for a 
little, as if they had obtained some new idea of 
