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Page 17
As an instance of the drawback of preaching by means of an interpreter,
the sentence, "The salvation of the soul is a very important subject,"
was rendered by one of those individuals as follows: "The salvation of
the soul is a very great sack." A rendering altogether unintelligible.
For the purpose of studying the language Moffat made journeys among the
tribes, so that he might for a time be freed from speaking Dutch, the
language spoken with his own people at Lattakoo. Itinerating visits were
also made in turn every Sabbath to the surrounding villages, and
occasionally further afield, but sometimes, after walking perhaps four
to five miles to reach a village, not a single individual could be found
to listen to the Gospel message.
The only service in which the missionaries took any real delight at this
time, was the Sabbath evening service held in Dutch for the edification
of themselves and the two or three Hottentots, with their families, who
belonged to the mission.
In addition to sore privations, discouragements, false accusations, and
the loss of their property, the missionaries found even their lives at
times imperilled. The natives and all on the station were suffering
greatly from a long continued drought. All the efforts of the
professional rain-maker had been in vain, no cloud appeared in the sky,
no rain fell to water the parched land. The doings of the missionaries
were looked upon as being the cause of this misfortune. At one time it
was a bag of salt, which Moffat had brought in his waggon, that
frightened the rain away; at another the sound of the chapel bell. Their
prospects became darker than ever. At last it appeared that the natives
had fully decided to expel them from their midst. A chief man, and about
a dozen of his attendants, came and seated themselves under the shadow
of a large tree near to Moffat's house. He at that moment was engaged in
repairing a waggon near at hand. The scene which ensued and its result
we give in his own words:--
[Illustration: "NOW THEN, IF YOU WILL DRIVE YOUR SPEARS TO MY HEART."]
"Being informed that something of importance was to be communicated, Mr.
Hamilton was called. We stood patiently to hear the message, always
ready to face the worst. The principal speaker informed us, that it was
the determination of the chiefs of the people that we should leave the
country; and referring to our disregard of threatenings, added what was
tantamount to the assurance that measures of a violent character would
be resorted to, to carry their resolutions into effect, in case of our
disobeying the order.
"While the chief was speaking, he stood quivering his spear in his right
hand. Mrs. Moffat was at the door of our cottage, with the babe in her
arms, watching the crisis, for such it was. We replied:--
"'We have indeed felt most reluctant to leave, and are now more than
ever resolved to abide by our post. We pity you, for you know not what
you do; we have suffered, it is true; and He whose servants we are has
directed us in His Word, "When they persecute you in one city, flee ye
to another," but although we have suffered, we do not consider all that
has been done to us by the people amounts to persecution; we are
prepared to expect it from such as know no better. If you are resolved
to rid yourselves of us, you must resort to stronger measures, for our
hearts are with you. You may shed blood or burn us out. We know you will
not touch our wives and children.'"
Then throwing open his waistcoat Moffat stood erect and fearless. "Now
then," said he, "if you will, drive your spears to my heart; and when
you have slain me, my companions will know that the hour has come for
them to depart."
At these words the chief man looked at his companions, remarking, with a
significant shake of the head, "These men must have ten lives, when they
are so fearless of death; there must be something in immortality."
Moffat pithily observes, "The meeting broke up, and they left us, no
doubt fully impressed with the idea that we were impracticable men."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER V.
THE MANTATEE INVASION.
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