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Page 13
On reaching Cape Town, Robert Moffat waited upon Lord Charles Somerset,
the Governor, and informed him that Africaner was in the town. The
information was received with some amount of scepticism, but the
following day was appointed for an interview with him.
The Governor received the chief with great affability and kindness, and
expressed his pleasure at thus seeing before him, one who had formerly
been the scourge of the country, and the terror of the border colonists.
He was much struck with this palpable result of missionary enterprise,
and presented Africaner with an excellent waggon, valued at eighty
pounds.
Moffat visited the colony on this occasion with two objects; first, to
secure supplies, and secondly, to introduce Africaner to the notice of
the Colonial Government. Having accomplished these, he fully intended to
return to his flock. Events were, however, ordered otherwise.
While Moffat was in Cape Town, a deputation from the London Missionary
Society, consisting of the Rev. J. Campbell, and the Rev. Dr. Philip,
was also there. It was the wish of these two gentleman that he should
accompany them in their visits to the missionary stations, and
eventually be appointed to the Bechwana mission.
The proposition was a startling one, but after careful thought, and with
the entire concurrence of Africaner--who hoped to move with his tribe to
the neighbourhood of the new mission--Moffat accepted it. Africaner
therefore departed alone, generously offering to take in his waggon to
Lattakoo, the new station, the missionary's books and a few articles of
furniture that he had purchased.
Once more these two brethren in the faith met on this earth, and this
was at Lattakoo. The proposed removal of the tribe, however, never took
place, Africaner being called up higher before that plan could be
carried out.
The closing scene in the life of this remarkable man was depicted by the
Rev. J. Archbell, Wesleyan missionary, in a letter to Dr. Philip, dated
the 14th of March, 1823:--"When he found his end approaching, he called
all the people together, and gave them directions as to their future
conduct. 'We are not,' said he, 'what we were,--_savages_, but men
professing to be taught according to the Gospel. Let us then do
accordingly. Live peaceably with all men, if possible; and if
impossible, consult those who are placed over you before you engage in
anything. Remain together, as you have done since I knew you. Then, when
the Directors think fit to send you a missionary, you may be ready to
receive him. Behave to any teacher you may have sent as one sent of God,
as I have great hope that God will bless you in this respect when I am
gone to heaven. I feel that I love God, and that He has done much for
me, of which I am totally unworthy,'
"He also added, 'My former life is stained with blood; but Jesus Christ
has pardoned me, and I am going to heaven. Oh! beware of falling into
the same evils into which I have led you frequently; but seek God, and
He will be found of you to direct you,'"
Shortly after this he died.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IV.
MARRIAGE, AND ARRIVAL AT LATTAKOO.
Up to this time, Robert Moffat had pursued his course alone. No loving
helpmeet had cheered him in his efforts, or with womanly tenderness
ministered to his wants. But though far away, he was fondly remembered
and earnestly prayed for, especially by one noble Christian lady, over
whose fair head scarce twenty-three summers had passed, and whose heart
had been torn with the severe struggle, between filial love and regard
for her parents on the one hand, and her sense of duty and affection for
her missionary friend on the other, which for two and a-half years had
been carried on therein.
At last, when hope seemed to have vanished, the parents of Mary Smith,
to whom the idea of parting with their only daughter was painful in the
extreme, saw so clearly that it was the Lord who was calling their child
to the work which He had marked out for her, that they felt they dare
not any longer withhold her from it, and therefore calmly resigned their
daughter into His hands. Thus it came to pass that,--after a short stay
in London, and at Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, at which places she won
all hearts by her unfeigned and exalted piety and zeal, and by her
modest, affectionate manner,--we find her on board the sailing-ship
_British Colony_, on her way to South Africa, in the care of the Rev. R.
Beck, a minister of the Dutch Church, and his wife.
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