1811. 
THE MISSIONARIES. 
351 
I been in their situation, and desirous of making my hearers lead a 
more virtuous and rehgious hfe. But every man, sincere in his 
religious enthusiasm, and pure in his intentions, is entitled to re- 
spect, whatever sect or religion he may belong to. Two of the 
missionaries were of the Dutch Calvinistic church, and one of the 
Wesleyan persuasion. The service consisted, both in singing psalms 
or hymns, and in expounding, and dilating upon, some passage of the , 
Bible, which, on Simdays, is interpreted in the Hottentot language, 
for the benefit of those who do not sufficiently understand Dutch ; 
but these hearers constitute a very small portion of the congregation. 
The service concluded always with a long extempore prayer by one 
of the missionaries, each of whom took his daily or weekly turn in 
the duty. On stated days, they were in the habit of administering 
the sacrament to a small number of communicants ; and it was only 
on such occasions that they were dressed in black. 
The ceremony of marriage, according to Christian rites, had not 
been introduced at Klaar water longer than three years ; nor, indeed, 
could the greater part of these people be persuaded to adopt it. The 
restrictions which it had been endeavoured to lay upon their former 
customs, had rendered the missionaries rather unpopular ; and the 
law for reducing the number of wives from two, often three, and 
sometimes four, to one, in a nation consisting of more females than 
males, did not meet with many advocates in either sex. However, 
since its first introduction, about a hundred, as I was informed, had 
submitted to it. 
This meeting-house serves also for a school-7'oom, where some 
of the children attend, principally in the evenings, although in a 
desultory manner, to be instructed in reading, and a few in writing. 
Once or twice in the week, a greater number are assembled to repeat 
a catechism, and to have it explained suitably to their capacities. 
This business, which generally occupies about an hour, concludes 
with an extempore prayer, and a verse of some psalm or hymn sung 
by the whole party. 
This is the ordinary routine of the business of the mission, as 
I observed it during the four months which, at different times, I 
