this plan.  He folded the shirt carefully, laid it on a smooth block of stone—­not a hearth-stone, but a block of fine granite—­and hammered away.  “What are you doing?” said Africaner.  “Smoothing my shirt,” replied his white friend.  “That is one way,” said he, and so it was, for on holding the shirt up to the light it was seen to be riddled with holes.  “When I left the country,” said Moffat, “I had not half-a-dozen shirts with two sleeves apiece.”

[Illustration]

Robert Moffat’s stay in Namaqualand extended to a little over twelve months.  Near its close he made on Africaner’s account—­with the view of ascertaining the suitability of a place for settlement—­a journey to the Griqua country, and after a terrible experience, in which he suffered from hunger, thirst, heat, and drinking poisoned water, he reached Griqua Town, and entered the house of Mr. Anderson, the missionary there, speechless, haggard, emaciated, and covered with perspiration, making the inmates understand by signs that he needed water.  Here he was most kindly entertained, and after a few days started back again.  The return journey was almost as trying as the outward one, but he reached Vreede Berg (Africaner’s village) in safety.  The chief received Moffat’s account of his researches with entire satisfaction, but the removal of himself and people was allowed to remain prospective for a season.

Missionary labours were resumed.  The school flourished, and the attendance at the Sabbath services was most encouraging.  The people were so strongly attached to their missionary, that although he was contemplating a visit to the Cape, he dared not mention the subject to them.  In a letter written at this time, alluding to his every-day life, he says, “I have many difficulties to encounter, being alone.  No one can do anything for me in my household affairs.  I must attend to everything, which often confuses me, and, indeed, hinders me in my work, for I could wish to have almost nothing to do but to instruct the heathen, both spiritually and temporally.  Daily I do a little in the garden, daily I am doing something for the people in mending guns.  I am carpenter, smith, cooper, shoemaker, miller, baker, and housekeeper—­the last is the most burdensome of any.  An old Namaqua woman milks my cows, makes a fire, and washes.  All other things I do myself, though I seldom prepare anything till impelled by hunger.  I drink plenty of milk, and often eat a piece of dry meat.  Lately I reaped nearly two bolls of wheat from two hatfuls which I sowed.  This is of great help to me.  I shall soon have plenty of Indian corn, cabbages, melons, and potatoes.  Water is scarce.  I have sown wheat a second time on trial.  I live chiefly now on bread and milk.  To-day I churned about three Scotch pints of milk, from which there were two pounds of butter, so you may conceive that the milk is rich.  I wish many times that my mother saw me.  My house is always clean, but oh what a confusion there is among my linen.”