VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 353 
very interesting account of his visit. Many Hottentots, on bearing 
my letter, had declared their intention to come and help their bre- 
thren here in the building of the new church. I much regretted, 
that I had not accompanied hini. During tlie forenoon, I rode Avith 
Brother Schmitt to Langefonteyn, to pay a farewell-visit to our 
worthy friend, Mr. Dirk Slabbert, but we did not find him at home. 
The sun shining very warm, we were much troubled with a species 
of sand-fly, which fixes upon the face, ears, and neck, if not de- 
fended by crape or some other means, to the great annoyance of 
travellers. 
4th. Our good-natured Hottentots, perceiving that I had begun 
to collect serpents, brought me several kinds, among which were the 
nachtschlange, (night-serpent); earth-serpent; eyerfrcter, (egg- 
eater); schaapsteker, (sheep-stinger); and cobra di capella. 
5th. Brother Schmitt went to town, to attend a sale of iron, and 
several articles, useful for the building. 1 had the pleasure of Mr. 
Melville's company, who was still diligently employed in measuring 
the whole district of Groenekloof. Several Hottentot workmen 
arrived from Gnadenthal, for whose board and lodging provision 
had been made. They visited all the missionaries on the 
6th, and expressed their willingness to assist in building the 
church, and their happiness to make acquaintance with their Groe- 
nekloof brethren, in a manner, which gave me renewed pleasure, 
for it was a display of that union of heart, which exists among 
real Christians of all classes. In their behaviour, that blessed truth 
seemed, in a great degree, established, that the " fruits of the Spi- 
rit are love, joy, peace, long-suftering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
meekness, temperance," Nothing surely is more encouraging, 
than to behold these effects of the preaching of the gospel to the 
heathen, as sure proofs, that it has been received in faith. 
7th. Mr. Melville was obliged to leave us for some time. We 
parted from each other with mutual regret. I shall ever remember 
with gratitude to God, by what unforeseen circumstances we were 
made acquainted with each other, that he might be led to accom- 
