The Kuruman fountain, the source of the Kuruman river, issues from caverns in a little hill.  It was the purpose of the missionaries to lead the water from the river to irrigate 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 necessary that the men when working should have their guns with them, in case of being surprised by the robbers who roved about.  Moffat says, “it was dug in troublous times.”

Sickness and death entered the missionary dwellings.  An infant son was born to the Moffats, and five days after called away.  Mr. Hughes was laid low through a severe cold, and 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.  In 1827 he left Kuruman and removed to the Griqua Mission.  The mother of Mary Moffat died in October, 1825, but the news did not reach her daughter in Africa until April, 1826.

Referring to this time Robert Moffat says:  “Our situation during the infancy of the new station, I shall not attempt to describe.  Some of our newly arrived assistants, finding themselves in a country where the restraints of law were unknown, and not being under the influence of 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 a burning sun, and in a dry climate, where only one shower had fallen during the preceding twelve months.  These are only imperfect samples of our engagements for several years at the new station, while at the same time, the language, which was entirely oral, had to be acquired.”

Notwithstanding all the impediments to such an enterprise, Robert Moffat had made some progress towards establishing a literature in the native, or Sechwana tongue.  A spelling-book, catechism, and some small portions of Scripture had been prepared, and sent to the Cape to be printed, in 1825.  Through a mistake, these were unfortunately sent on to England, causing much disappointment and delay.

Things settled down somewhat in 1826.  The discontented Hottentots returned to the Colony, leaving the missionaries and Mr. Millen to carry on the work of laying out the station, erecting the buildings, and the other manual labour connected with the undertaking, assisted only by such poor help as they could get from the Bechwanas.

The native population at the station had been much reduced.  Such of the Batlaping as had not moved away, had settled down about the Kuruman valley.  They did not oppose the Gospel, but they appeared quite indifferent to it.