VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 69 
most melodiously singing a verse, by way of a grace. One of the 
women sung a correct second, and very sweetly performed that fi- 
gure in music, called Retardation jz^^igiEj from which I judge, 
that dissonants are not the invention of art, but the production of 
nature. Nothing would be more easy, than to form a chorus of 
the most delightful voices, in four parts, from among this smooth- 
throated nation. 
18th. After breakfast, Sister Bonatz brought a christian Caffre 
woman into my room, who had expressed a particular vv isli to 
speak to me. I desired her to sit down, which, after some hesita- 
tion, she did on a low stool, as is their custom, and Sister Bonatz 
being interpreter, said, that she came to beg, that we would send 
teachers to her nation, who were in the dark, ignorant of God, and 
of that happiness in Jesus, which she, though so unworthy, expe- 
rienced, and consequently given up as a prey to every kind of sin 
and evil. On this subject she delivered herself with a kind of fer- 
vour and eloquence, which would have done credit to the most ci- 
vilized orator. She spoke with great humility of the mercy shown 
to herself, of the privilege she enjoyed of living among a people of 
God, of her ardent desire, that her own brother and sister, and all 
her country-people, should experience the same ; and entreated, that 
they might not be forgotten. She was afraid, " that perhaps the 
teachers might leave off praying for them." She had, however, 
found a text of Scripture which revived her hopes : " I will bring the 
blind by a way that they knew not." Is. xlii. 16. She would therefore 
yet hope "that our Saviour would send to them His word, and call 
them to partake of His salvation." I ansv/ered, that I could assure 
her, that her countrymen were not forgotten by the Fathers and 
Brethren in Europe, and that I had been particularly commissioned 
to make inquiry about the practicability of establishing a Mission 
in her country ; but having spoken with the Governor and other 
persons in office, I was given to understand, that, just now, it would 
not be safe, while the war lasted. She replied, that the booii; 
