1812. KLAARWATER MISSIONARIES. 527 
some explanation, by which it plainly appeared, that both he and the 
missionary had a stronger wish to retain the man at Klaarwater, than 
to persuade him to go with us. Dam, however, said, that he had 
never positively forbidden his going, but was merely of opinion tliat 
it would be better for him to stay at home to take care of his own 
business, and look after the people of his kraal, as he was one of the 
few on whose steadiness of conduct he could place any dependence. 
At last he promised, but without the cordiality I wished, that he 
would not oppose his accompanying me. 
On the part of the missionary, not a word was said to back my 
request ; nothing proposed to forward my plans. His authority and 
persuasion, if exerted in my behalf, would, I have reason for believ- 
ing, have smoothed away all these difficulties, and have obtained for 
me the men I wanted ; but from him, and, consequently, from the 
others, I received, on the contrary, nothing but the most dishearten- 
ing representations ; nor do I recollect their ever once having allowed 
an encouraging remark to escape their lips. I own that this coldness 
and backwardness to promote the extension of my journey was not 
what I had calculated upon ; nor did it accord with the civilities 
which, in other matters of less importance, I frequently received from 
them. There might possibly be some reason why they might not 
wish these regions to be known to any but themselves and their 
})eople, at least this was the interpretation which I put upon it at 
the time. 
That men whose business is solely that of preaching the Gospel, 
should view the pursuits of science and every other species of know- 
ledge in a light very inferior to that of their own calling, I have rea- 
son for believing; but that they should be able to resist those feelings 
of sympathy which it seems but natural to entertain in so remote a 
region, for a person in my situation, an European and a countryman, 
beset by difficulties on every side, can be explained only by tlie sup- 
position of a constitutional coldness of nature. I could not but feel 
disappointed ; for having, when in Cape Town been advised by a 
friend to take with me to Klaarwater some official letter specially 
