526 
JOUIINAL OF A 
of brandy. We had scarcely disposed of them, before a bergadder 
made his appearance. It was seized by the neck, and sent aft^r 
the cobra di capella, into the bottle. Under the same stone, a scor- 
pion, and several large spiders were found. In the evening, Ephraim 
killed and sent me a young Nachtschlange, or night-serpent, beau- 
tifully marked with yellow, vermilion, and dark-blue rings. 
11th. Many Hottentots attended the public-service. Brother 
Schmitt delivered an animated discourse on the gospel of the day; 
and in his prayer commended the building of the new church, and 
all who take share in it, to the blessing and protection of our 
Heavenly Father. 
12th. Mr. Melville surprised us very agreeably, by his unex- 
pected arrival. I delivered to him the Governor's order, to make 
a diagram of this place, by which I had the satisfaction to detain 
him. To-day, a Caffre, Zaccheus Deba, arrived here from Gna- 
denthal, with letters and journals. The letters from our missiona- 
ries described the impression made upon the Hottentots, by the 
departure of their beloved Father Schwinn, as very great. They 
still wept tears of remorse, when they called to mind his affection- 
ate zeal and admonitions, and his tender concern for the salvation 
of their souls, and for their improvement in all things that adorn 
tlie Christian character. We hope that the effect of this contrition 
will be salutary and permanent. 
13th. Being a memorial-day in the Church of the United Breth- 
ren, it was celebrated with due solemnity. At nine we met in the 
chapel. I had never seen this place so well filled, nor a more at- 
tentive auditory. Every bench was crowded, and the children sat 
on the ground. Brother Schmitt delivered a suitable discourse, in 
which he introduced a most luminous, and even to tlottentots, intel- 
ligible, account of the event, which gave rise to this festival. (See 
Crantzs Historij of the Brethren. Fart I. p. \ \5.) 
Mr. and Mrs. Slabbert were present, on their return from the 
Cape, and expressed great satisfaction and astonishment at the de- 
vout behaviour of the congregation. He informed us, that the sail- 
