Robert Moffat / The Missionary Hero of Kuruman

d advisable that Robert Moffat should pay his long promised visit to Makaba, the chief of the Bangwaketsi. He left on th

of the Barolong tribe, who had been driven from their country the previous year during the invasion of the Mantatees. Thence they proceeded onward till they reached Kwakwe, the residence of Makaba and his people, and the metro

my heart is whiter than milk, because you have visited me. To-day I am a great man. You are

t length on the Sabbath he resolved to pay Makaba a formal visit, so as to obtain a hearing for the subject. He found the monarch s

ES SE

d struck with the character of the Redeemer, and especially with His miracles. On hearing that He had raised the dead, the man said, "What an excellent doctor He must have been to raise the dead." This led to a description of His power, an

the dead s

y fathe

father wi

e slain in b

es

d and devoured by lions, tigers, h

come to

e desert plains and scattered to the winds again arise?" asked the king,

ith emphasis; "not on

ying in a stentorian voice: "Hark, ye wise men, whoever is among you, the wises

your presence have made my heart as white as milk. The words of your mouth are sweet as honey, but the words of a resurrection

e knowledge and turn away from wisdom? Tell me, my friend

attle, and shaking his hand as if quivering a spear, he r

awned upon his savage mind, and of course his conscience had never accused him, no, not for one

intention of returning with the missionary instead of remaining behind to hunt; a most providential ci

by the Mantatees. On reaching Pitsana they found that such was the case. The attack was made and repelled by the Griquas, about twenty in number, mounted and armed with guns; and thus

after attacking some villages on the Kuruman, had threatened an attack on the Batlaping and the mission premises. The dreaded Mantatees were also reported to be in the neighbourhood. One night when Mary Moffat was alone with her litt

de for flight. Messengers continued to arrive, each bringing tidings that caused fresh alarm, until about noon, wh

anguish, as she foresaw that the dreaded Mantatees would be crossing her husband

n, in the unaccountable manner in which Berend Berend and his party of Griquas changed their minds and resolve

the interior tribes: the land was deluged with blood; even the warlike Bangwaketsi were dispersed, and Makaba was killed. Once again the missionaries had to flee

sisted of Robert and Mary Moffat, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, and Mr.

events of a distressing character to the Batlaping and their missionaries occurred about this time. The first was the passage of two terrible hail-storms over a portion of the country, destroying the crops, killing lambs, and stripping

ibi and his people to leave their present place of settlement and remove to the eastward. For a considera

plastered within and without; the foundations of more permanent dwellings had also been laid. Mr. Hughes, who had been to Cape Town for supplies, returned, accompanied b

rrigate their gardens. For this purpose a trench was cut two miles in length. This was a work of great labour and was attended by considerable danger. It was found neces

brought to the gates of death. When all hope seemed to have vanished he began to amend, though his health was not restored until he and Mrs. Hughes made a journey to the Cape.

religion, would not submit to the privations which we patiently endured, but murmured exceedingly. Armed robbers were continually making inroads, threatening death and extirpation. We were compelled to work daily at every species of labour, most of which was very heavy, under

the native, or Sechwana tongue. A spelling-book, catechism, and some small portions of Scripture had been prepared, and sent to the

ries and Mr. Millen to carry on the work of laying out the station, erecting the buildings, and the other manu

tlaping as had not moved away, had settled down about the Kuruman valley.

arms of locusts infested the land, and vegetation was entirely destroyed. This led to great scarcity, and although the natives caught and ate the locusts, hunger and suffering prevailed. The missionaries' cat

ved into his new dwelling, built of stone, and the state of the country being somewhat more tranquil, he left his home and fam

ing to the same place as himself. The dangers attending these journeyings from tribe to tribe were by no means imagin

it to the distance of thirty or forty yards, where we distinctly heard it tearing the animal and breaking its bones, while its bellowings were most pitiful. When these were over, I seized my gun, but as it was too dark to see half the distance, I aimed at the spot where the devouring jaws of the lion were heard. I fired again and again, to which he replied with tremendous roars, at the same time making a rush towards the waggon so as exceedingly to terrify the oxen. The two Barolongs engaged t

the large round, hairy-headed visitors were lions, and retreated on my hands and feet towards the other side of the pool, when coming to my waggon-driver, I found him looking with no little alarm in an opposite direction, and with good reason, as no fewer than two lions with a cub were eyeing us both, apparently as uncertain about us as we were distrustful of them. We thankfully decamped to the waggon and sat

ONG W

t twenty miles distant, he lived a semi-savage life for ten weeks. To use a common expression he "made himself at home" among them. They were kind and appeared delighted

however, seemed able to rise no higher than having plenty of meat. Asking a man, who seemed more grave than the rest, what was the f

he could now speak and preach to the people in their own tongue. He found all well on reac

more settled in their minds, and would collect in the different divisions of the town when the missionaries visited them; the public attendance at the regular religious services daily in

the storm passed over, and, on returning to the Kuruman, they found their houses, and such property as they had left behind, in good order, a proof of the influence they were gaining over the once thievish Bechwanas

ir labours. A few poor natives had remained at the station, whose

t, who, having made himself conversant with the affairs of the station, suggested the great importance of preparing something like hymns in the nati

ed the missionaries to open a school in the Sechwana tongue. Mr. Miles returned, and the stated labours of the mission were carried forward. W

tack was repulsed through the intrepidity of an escaped slave named Aaron Josephs, and a peaceful interval intervened of about two months, when a second attack on the mission premises was threatened. By Moffat's directions, the heights at the back of the station were crowded with men, to give the appearance of a large defending force, though

ssionary see his face, as he had known him at Griqua Town, tried to lay all the blame upon another renegade

made towards it, Moffat turned to Jantye and said, "I shall not see your face till the waggon and its owners are safe on the station." He i

and kept his hat drawn down over his eyes. He told the missionary that he himself nee

their cattle too," said Paul

o shot was fired, and both the station and the Batlaping were saved. Turning to his men, and referring to some of

here are the things of your people. Will

said Moffat, "but le

ied, "I do not want to die yet. I

nd had peace for half-a-century, during which time gre