VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 251 
liverance from such distress, and for the conversion of her mistress 
and other enemies of His word, and meanwhile to be faithful and 
diligent in her service. As she seemed to lay a great stress up- 
on kneeling, and to think that the only posture of body, in which 
prayer could be made acceptably, we told her, that our Saviour 
was everywhere, and at all times present and ready to hear the cry^ 
that proceeded from the heart, whether she was at work, in the 
house, or field, sitting or standing, or in any other attitude, and that 
no authority or circumstance could prevent the heart from holding 
communion with God; but that He had foretold His disciples, 
that they would be hated and persecuted for His name's sake. It 
must therefore be expected, and we have to look to Him alone, for 
that peace, which He promised to them in the midst of the tribula- 
tions of this world. The poor woman, seemed to take comfort, and 
to be truly in earnest, in seeking the salvation of her soul. By this 
circumstance, we gained some insight into the cause of our treat- 
ment last night, when we were shut out, as being engaged with 
missionary affairs, not to mention the inconvenience and disturb- 
ance, which might have been occasioned to the hop, by the intrusion 
of such grave faces. We reaped, however, a very essential advan- 
tage from Mr. F.'s aversion to such company, for he was the more 
ready to help us off his premises, and his cows carried us, with great 
speed, to a farm belonging to a Mr. H. The master being absent, 
we were very civilly treated by his black slave, and soon provided 
with two spanns of oxen, to bring us forward to Mr. Zondag's farm, 
at Avantur. 
During the short time of our stay at Mr. H.'s miserable place, 
Mr. Melville had the unexpected pleasure of meeting with an 
oflficer in the Cape regiment, who had been his school-fellow. 
Strolhng about the premises, I noticed a trap-flur, better built, 
and larger than any I had yet seen. This is a circular piece of 
ground, surrounded by a low wall, and made as hard as a thresh- 
ing floor, into which the corn is put, and the grain trodden out by 
from ten to twenty or more horses, driven round it in a sharp trot. 
