206 
JOURNAL OF A 
Africa, was absent, having accompanied Mr. Williams into Caf- 
fraria, where, it was said, king T'Geika had applied for a settle- 
ment, or a school," as the institutions of that Society are here 
called. We cordially wish success to every attempt to make the 
gospel known among the heathen, and hope, that their exertions 
will be attended with permanent benefit to that wild and ignorant 
nation. 
After being introduced to Mrs. Messer and Mrs. Williams, who 
seemed pleased to make acquaintance with Sister Schmitt, we walked 
out to see the settlement. Mrs. Read is a Hottentot woman, and 
did not join the party, but was visited by Sister Schmitt at her own 
house. Mr. Melville was so deeply engaged with reading the 
account of Bethelsdorp in the Rev. Mr. Campbell's journal, that he 
did not accompany us in our walk, especially as he had no inclina- 
tion to take a view of a place, so totally destitute of any thing pic- 
turesque. 
We had been willing to believe, that the very unfavourable ac- 
counts, given by travellers of Bethelsdorp, were greatly exaggerated, 
if not altogether false, and that it was not to be credited, that a 
Society, possessed of such ample means, would suffer any of their 
settlements to remain in so disgraceful a state, as to be always 
brought forward against them, as a proof of the unprofitableness of 
llieir missionary exertions in this country. But I am sorry to say, 
that as to its external situation, nothing can be more miserable ancJ 
discouraging. Men, therefore, who judge only from outward ap- 
pearance, are apt to draw inferences to the prejudice of its inhabi- 
tants. This is acknowledged by Mr. Campbell himself, and he 
offers an apology, which such as view the subject with a favour- 
able disposition towards the main purpose of the institution, will 
admit. What may have been the motive of its founder, Dr. Van 
der Kemp, for fixing upon a spot, in every respect so little calcu- 
lated to raise any thing but disagreeable sensations in a traveller's 
mind, I cannot tell. The district of Uitenhagen was at that time 
but very thinly occupied by settlers. Government most generously 
