274 JOURNAL OF A 
During my journey into the interior, several chapel-servants 
had waited upon Father Marsveld, who, by common consent, acts 
the part of Justice of the Peace in the settlement, and expressed 
a wish, that a company of Brethren might be appointed, to main- 
tain order throughout the village. This was particularly neces- 
sary during the evening-services, and at night, to prevent slaves 
and others, who have no business here, from entering the houses, 
and keeping company with the idle and dissolute. 
The Hottentots proposed, that the missionaries should chuse 
men, approved for their good behaviour, and respected by the 
people in the village, to be nominated opzieners, (overseers). 
They should then mention to the chapel-servants the names of 
those, whom they had chosen, when they would acquaint their 
teachers with the general opinion, conceived of each. As they 
had appealed to me, I approved and recommended the measure. 
A list was then prepared of fifty-four men, chiefly fathers of fa- 
milies, acknowledged to be capable of holding such an office. 
The Hottentots had also suggested, that the deputy-landdrost of 
Caledon, Mr. Von Frauenfelder, should be requested to give his 
sanction to such a regulation of police. Though we always ex- 
pect tares to grow up with the wheat, yet we may trust, that such 
exertions may be made, as will, by the Lord's mercy, keep them 
down, and prevent their choking the good seed. 
19th. Brother Schmitt preached, and in the evening, both he 
and Mr. Melville, with their families, set out on their return to 
the Cape. A large party accompanied them to the Sonderend. 
I was this afternoon present at the baptism of three children, 
of from one to three years old. It was conducted nearly in 
the same manner as that of adults. At night I felt unwell 
with a violent cold, and on the 20th, for the first time, did not 
rise at the stroke of the bell, nor attended the service in the cha- 
pel. The greatest anxiety was shown on the part of the mis- 
sionaries, that nothing might be neglected for my relief. To 
Sister Leitner I owe the benefit I received from a decoction 
