110 
JOUIINAL or A 
was annouiiccd by the fiscal-bird. The' bird did not cease calllog 
and screaming, till the venomous reptile was discovered and 
killed. Two serpents of the same kind, were shot in the garden. 
25th. About two hundred persons attended the funeral of a worthy 
member of the congregation, who departed this life, having giving 
full evidence of her faith in Jesus, and her hope of a blessed 
immortality. 
In the afternoon, a deputation of Hottentots came to request a 
conversation with us, about the appointment of a captain of the 
Hesqua tribe, intimating, that there was too much work here for 
only one captain of the Koopman's tribe. After proposing the 
subject, Brother Bonatz represented to them, that the captain, re- 
gularly appointed by Government, with two resident captains, and 
a corporal to assist him, could surely manage the concerns of this 
village ; but that it appeared to him, as if, according to the fashion 
of the heathen, they wanted now to distinguish their particular 
clans, by having a captain for each, which had, in their heathen 
state, produced nothing but quarrels. Those who now addressed 
us, w ere all of the Hesqua tribe. Being appealed, and desired to 
give my opinion of this extraordinary business, I did it to the fol- 
lov> ing effect : 
" When J arrived among you, I expected to find here a family 
" of God, who considered it their highest privilege to live together 
" in true brotherly love and harmony, as One in Jesus, delivered 
" and redeemed from the traditions received by the vain conversa- 
^' tion of your forefathers, Avho were heathen, and knew not God 
^ and His word, but were left to themselves. 
" Your divisions into separate clans, attached to particular chiefs 
" and captains, has produced, and would again produce envy, jea- 
" lousy, quarrels, and feuds, very unbecoming Christian people. 
" Whenever the Hottentots of Gnadenthal are spoken of by the 
" members of Government, I rejoice to hear them praised for 
" the quietude and good order prevailing among them, which 
make the usual precautions taken to preserve good order, by 
