1811. 
BACHAPIN BOY JUPITER'S SATELLITES. 
483 
excellent, but, being salted, and all boiled in one pot, the peculiar 
taste of each was not very distinctly to be perceived. 
At Mr. Kramer's, I saw a Btiqua (or Bachapin) boi/, of about ten 
years of age, whom Berends, by desire of the missionary, had brought 
with him from that country, by the consent of the parents, who rea- 
dih^ gave him up to be kept, and brought up, at Klaarwater, as one of 
its inhabitants, under the missionaries' particular care. He was quite 
naked, like all children of his age, and seemed happy and contented 
with his new situation, especially at being told that Mr. and Mrs. 
Kramer were in future to be his father and mother : he belonged to 
poor parents, who were, probably, glad at having him so well provided 
for, intending to fetch him home after the lapse of a few years. 
The poor little fellow was captivated with the good living he now 
enjoyed, and this contrast with many a hungry day in his own 
country, operated most effectually to make him pleased with the 
change, and soon rendered him unmindful of the loss of his former 
playmates, which, indeed, he soon here replaced by several little 
Hottentots, as naked and free from care as himself. 
This mode of cultivating tlie minds of the natives, could it be 
followed to a sufficient extent^ would, in time, effect much in their 
civilization ; the notions and ideas, and even customs of early youth, 
are not so easily thrown aside and forgotten, as those which are 
acquired in maturer years. It may seem unnecessary to repeat an 
axiom so well known, and so universally admitted ; but this, like too 
many others, is acknowledged in theory and forgotten in practice ; 
while, too often, the cunning adult, though attending patiently to the 
preaching of missionaries, and confessing his belief in all they teach, 
as long as it suits his worldly convenience and advantage, secretly, 
in his own mind, feels as ready to abandon his professions, and 
return to his ignorance, as he did to adopt a creed, and listen to 
instruction. If I am reprovable for thus judging the hearts of men, 
I plead in exculpation, those appearances and facts which have so 
often presented themselves to my observation. 
'21th. Happening, almost accidentally, to be looking one evening 
at the planet JwpzVer through a small pocket telescope, I was exceedinglv 
3 ci 2 
