August.] ADVANTAGES OF THE VISIT. 
255 
ceremony. The Lancldrost then addressed Ma- 
teebe in such a manner, through an interpreter, 
as evidently made an impression. He informed 
him of the offence of the Caffres against the 
colony, and the punishment they had received, 
and hinted that the colonial government were 
kind friends but powerful enemies. He also said 
every thing in his power on behalf of the Mis- 
sionaries, to make him and his people kind to 
them. Few of the natives attended worship 
while the Landdrost's party were at Lattakoo ; 
which the Missionaries ascribed to a dread of 
their visitor, for they must have perceived, from 
the tone of his voice and his manner in address- 
ing them, that he was the most powerful of the 
white men they had seen. 
This visit would greatly assist the Missionaries ; 
it would also convince the colonial government of 
their harmlessness ; and that the colony, so far 
from having any thing to fear from their labours, 
might, on the contrary, expect much from the 
peaceful deportment, and purity of principle 
which they uniformly inculcate. Besides, the 
magnitude of the Great River is in itself a formi- 
dable barrier. Its breadth and depth present 
obstacles at all times to irruptions of the natives 
from its northern shores, and its sudden risings 
render it, for weeks together, quite impassable to 
those who are ignorant of the construction of 
