78 
MOFFAT’S BUSHMAN DISTRICTS, &c. 
[Dec. 14, 1857. 
fat’s paper is this, that in such papers as we have heard to-night we see the great 
value of the Geographical Society. We learn what to avoid, and that is some- 
thing. In 1852, when I was at the Cape, an enlightened colonial governor sent 
the Rhadamanthus steamer round to this part of the west coast, in a great hurry, 
to prevent a reported American vessel sending in gunpowder to the Caffres. I 
do not know whether any person raised the rumour because he was anxious 
to get in his own gunpowder on the other or eastern side of the country ; hut 
had the governor known what we have heard to-night, he might have scorned 
the report with — “ They might as well attempt to send it to the moon.” 
The captain of the Rhadamanthus, long before the country was known and 
the chart laid down by Captain Nolloth, went and galloped about, and did not 
find a single soul, nor anything else. The country was entirely parched up ; 
and as for carrying gunpowder across to the Caffres, why, I defy anybody to 
carry himself at that particular season. This country is interesting to me, 
because my father-in-law, Mr. Moffat, lived there forty years ago, near the 
part called Pella. At that time missions were just beginning. People did not 
know much about them, and some of the sagacious men of that day thought 
that “ any man who could read a Bible and make a wheelbarrow was fit to he 
a missionary.” Mr. Moffat went out when these principles were current, and 
his salary was the enormous sum of 25?. a year. He proceeded to that part 
of the country near Pella, and took up his residence in a Caffre mat-hut, 
with a half-caste Dutchman, named Africaner, a clever man, hut a great 
enemy of the colonists. The huts of the village were situated in a circle, and 
in the middle of the circle the cattle were kept. Mr. Moffat was sometimes 
aroused by a pair of bulls getting up during the night to settle their quarrels, 
one sometimes pushing the other into the hut. All the food he had for nearly 
two years was milk, zebra meat, or any other wild meat that he could get by 
his gun. After living that period at Pella, and finding it totally impossible to 
elevate the people, he set off up the Orange River on horseback, and suffered 
very great privations. He had no bedding with him, and he and his com- 
panions sunk holes in the sand as beds, and covered themselves over with 
sand. One of the men thought it safer to sleep on the surface, for, said he, a 
lion might come and disturb them in the night, and those covered with sand 
could not run off ; upon which Mr. Moffat remarked, “ A lion will not take a 
head so long as he can get a body.” He succeeded in reaching Griqua Town ; 
and finding a better country, he resolved to establish amission in theBechuana 
lands. He found the country, just as his son, the present Mr. Moffat, junr., 
had described it, exceedingly arid and difficult to traverse. This being the 
nature of the country, and the fact being comparatively well known, it is quite 
marvellous that another colonial governor should pass a gunpowder ordinance, 
whereby our friends, the Bechuanas, could not get a single ounce of gun- 
powder to defend themselves against the Boers. The Bechuanas could not 
attack the colony on that side ; this arid country was a sufficient defence, and 
the Bechuanas had never attempted it, nor been guilty of cattle stealing even. 
There was a complete barrier against them in the nature of the country, and 
yet the colonial governor passed a law whereby the colony engaged to prevent 
ammunition going to them. Yet the Boers, who had been fighting against us, 
can have as much as they like. We condescend to act as policemen to the 
Boers, and lose our good name in consequence. In other parts of the country, 
far to the north, and at least 400 miles in the interior, the English are known 
as “ the friends of the black man yet here this poor governor, simply by 
not being “ up in his geography,” destroyed the influence of the English name. 
Mr. Moffat had referred to the Bushman. It is a country just adapted for 
the Bushmen. The vegetation is capable of sustaining a great deal of drought, 
and there are numerous tuberous roots on which these people can subsist. 
Sheep can likewise subsist on those plants during certain parts of the year. 
