The Mission

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER XIX.

  As soon as the horses were ready, our travelers set out in chase of thegnoos and quaggas, which were collected to the westward of the caravan.Bremen, Swanevelt, and Omrah were mounted, and ten of the Hottentotsfollowed with their guns, and the Korannas on foot; among the others,Big Adam, who had been explaining to those who had never seen the gnoosthe manner in which he used to kill them.

  The herd permitted them to approach within two hundred yards of them,and then, after curvetting and prancing, and galloping in small circles,they stood still at about the same distance, looking, with curiosity andanger mixed, at the horsemen. After a time, they took to their heels andscoured the plain for about two miles, when they again stopped, tossingtheir heads and manes, and stamping as if in defiance.

  The mounted party remained quiet till those on foot had again drawnnear, and the Hottentots, firing their guns, drove the herd within shotof our travelers' guns, and three of the gnoos fell, while the othersbounded off to a greater distance; but as they neared the caravan, theyagain started back, and were again closed in by the whole party.

  The Hottentots now advanced cautiously, creeping as near as they couldto the animals, whose attention was directed to the horsemen. TheHottentots were nearly within range, when Omrah, who was mounted on theMajor's spare horse, fastened to the ramrod of the Major's rifle a redbandanna handkerchief, which he usually wore round his head, andseparating quickly from the rest of the horsemen, walked his horse towhere Big Adam was creeping along to gain a shot, and stationed himselfbehind him, waving the red handkerchief at the animals. Omrah was wellaware that a gnoo is as much irritated at a red handkerchief as a bull,and as soon as he commenced waving it, one of the largest males steppedout in that direction, pawing the ground and preparing for a charge.

  Big Adam, who had no idea that Omrah was so occupied behind him, nowrose to have a shot, and just as he rose the gnoo made his charge, andBig Adam, being between the gnoo and the horse which Omrah rode, was ofcourse the party against whom the animal's choler was raised.

  Omrah, as soon as the animal charged, had wheeled round and gallopedaway, while in the meantime Big Adam, perceiving the animal rushing athim, lost all presence of mind, his gun went off without effect, and heturned tail; the horns of the gnoo were close upon him, when of asudden, to the surprise of those who were looking on, Big Adamdisappeared, and the gnoo passed over where he had been.

  "Why, what has become of him?" said Alexander, laughing.

  "I don't know, but I think he has had a wonderful escape," replied theMajor: "he has disappeared like a ghost through a trap-door."

  "But I see his heels," cried Swinton, laughing; "he has fallen into anant-eater's hole, depend upon it; that mischievous little urchin mighthave caused his death."

  "It was only to make him prove his steady aim which he was boasting somuch about," replied the Major; "but stop a moment; I will bring downthat gallant little animal, and then we will look for big Adam."

  But before the Major could get near enough to the gnoo, which was stilltearing up the ground and looking for his adversary, Omrah, who had putby the handkerchief, advanced with the Major's rifle, and brought theanimal down. A volley was at the same time discharged at the herd by theHottentots, and three more fell, after which the remainder scamperedaway, and were soon out of sight.

  They then rode up to where Big Adam had disappeared, and found him, asSwinton had supposed, in a deep ant-eater's hole, head downward, andbellowing for help. His feet were just above the surface, and that wasall; the Hottentots helped him out, and Big Adam threw himself on hisback, and seemed exhausted with fright and having been so long in areversed position, and was more vexed at the laugh which was raisedagainst him.

  The gnoos were soon cut up, and when the Hottentots had taken away asmuch as they required, the rest of the carcasses were made over to thehungry Korannas. Swinton shook his head at Omrah, who pretended that hedid not understand why, until the laughter of Alexander and the Majorwas joined in by Swinton himself.

  As they had pretty well fatigued their horses in the chase, theyresolved to return to the caravan, and keep them as fresh as they couldfor future service. They dined and supped on the flesh of the gnoos,which was approved of, and after supper Alexander said--"And now,Swinton, if you feel inclined, the Major and I will be very glad to hearyour history of the Mantatees."

  "With pleasure," replied Swinton. "The assemblage of tribes known as theMantatees or Invaders, according to the best authorities we can collect,inhabited the countries to the westward of the Zoolu territory, in thesame latitude, which is that of Delagoa Bay. As all these tribes subsistalmost entirely upon the flesh and the milk of their cattle, if deprivedof them, they are driven to desperation, and must either become robbersin their turn, or perish by hunger. Such was the case of the Mantatees.Unable to withstand the attacks of the Zoolus, they were driven fromtheir country, and joined their forces with others who had shared thesame fate.

  "Such was the origin of the Mantatees, who, although they had notcourage to withstand the attacks of the Zoolus, were stimulated bydesperation and famine to a most extraordinary courage in the attackswhich they made upon others.

  "Forming an immense body, now that they were collected together,accompanied by their wives and children, and unable to procure thenecessary subsistence, it is certain that their habits were so farchanged that they at last became cannibals, and were driven to prey uponthe dead bodies of their enemies, or the flesh of their comrades whofell in the combats.

  "The Bechuana tribes, who are the Caffres of the interior, were thefirst assailed, their towns sacked and burned, and their cattle seizedand devoured. They proceeded on to the Wankeets, one of the Damaratribes, who inhabit the western coast to the northward of the NamaquaLand; but the Wankeets were a brave people, and prepared for them, andthe Mantatees were driven back with great slaughter. Astounded at theirdefeat, they turned to the southward, and invaded the Bechuana country.

  "At that time our missionaries had established themselves at Koranna,and when the report of the Mantatees advancing was brought to them, theBechuanas were in a great consternation; for although finer-looking menthan the eastern Caffres, they are not by any means so brave andwarlike.

  "As the advance of these people would have been the ruin of the mission,as well as the destruction of the tribe, who were afraid to encounterthem, Mr. M., the missionary, determined upon sending for the assistanceof the Griquas, the people whom I have before mentioned, and who had notonly horses, but were well armed. The Griquas came under their chief,Waterboer, and marched against the enemy, accompanied by a large armyof Bechuanas, who, encouraged by the presence of the Griquas, now wentforth to the combat.

  "The Mantatees had at that time advanced as far, and had takenpossession of, Litakoo, a Bechuana town, containing 16,000 inhabitants;and I will now give, as nearly as I can recollect it, the account of Mr.M., the missionary at Kuruman, who accompanied the Griquas to proposeand effect, if it were possible, an amicable arrangement with theinvaders.

  "He told me that as they proceeded with a small party, ahead of theGriqua force, to effect their purpose, they passed by numbers of theenemy, who had advanced to the pools to drink, and had there sunk downand expired from famine. As they neared the mass of the enemy, theyfound that all the cattle which they had captured were inclosed in thecenter of a vast multitude. They attempted a parley, but the enemystarted forward, and hurled their spears with the most savage fury, andthey were compelled to retreat, finding no hopes of obtaining a parley.

  "The next day it was decided that the Griquas should advance. Theynumbered about one hundred well-mounted and well-armed men. The enemyflew at them with terrible howls, hurling their javelins and clubs;their black dismal appearance, their savage fury, and their hoarse loudvoices producing a strange effect. The Griquas, to prevent their beingsurrounded, very wisely retreated.

  "It was at last decided that the Griquas should fire, and it was hopedthat as the Mantatees ha
d never seen the effects of fire-arms they wouldbe humbled and alarmed, and thus further bloodshed might be prevented.Many of the Mantatees fell; but, although the survivors looked withastonishment upon the dead and their wounded warriors writhing in thedust, they flew with lion-like vengeance at the horsemen, wrenching theweapons from the hands of their dying companions, to replace those whichthey had already discharged at their antagonists.

  "As those who thus stepped out from the main body to attack the Griquaswere the chiefs of the Mantatees, and many of them were killed, theirdeaths, one after the other, disheartened the whole body.

  "After the Griquas had commenced the attack, the Bechuana army came upand assisted with their poisoned arrows, with which they plied theenemy; but a small body of the fierce Mantatees, sallying out, put thewhole of the Bechuanas to flight.

  "After a combat of two hours and a half, the Griquas, finding theirammunition failing, determined, at great risk, to charge the whole body.They did so, and the Mantatees gave way, and fled in a westerlydirection; but they were intercepted by the Griquas, and another chargebeing made, the whole was pell-mell and confusion.

  "Mr. M. says that the scene which now presented itself was most awful,and the state of suspense most cruel. The undulating country around wascovered with warriors--Griquas, Mantatees, and Bechuanas, all inmotion--so that it was impossible to say who were enemies and who werefriends. Clouds of dust rose from the immense masses, some flying,others pursuing; and to their screams and yells were added the bellowingof the oxen, the shouts of the yet unvanquished warriors, the groans ofthe dying, and the wails of women and of children. At last the enemyretreated to the town, which they set in flames, to add to the horror ofthe scene.

  "Then another desperate struggle ensued, the Mantatees attempted toinclose the Griquas in the burning town; but not succeeding, they fledprecipitately. Strange to say, the Mantatee forces were divided into twoparts, and during the time that the Griquas engaged the one, the otherremained in the town, having such confidence in the former that they didnot come to their assistance.

  "When the town was set on fire, both armies united, and retreatedtogether to the northward, in a body of not less than 40,000 warriors.As soon as the Mantatees retreated, the Bechuanas commenced the work ofslaughter. Women and children were butchered without mercy; but as forthe wounded Mantatees, it appeared as if nothing would make them yield.There were many instances of an individual being surrounded by fiftyBechuanas, but as long as life remained he fought.

  "Mr. M. says that he saw more than one instance of a Mantatee fightingwildly against numbers, with ten or twelve arrows and spears pierced inhis body. Struggling with death, the men would rally, raise themselvesfrom the ground, discharge their weapons, and fall dead, theirrevengeful and hostile spirit only ceasing when life was extinct."

  "And yet these same people permitted their own country to be taken fromthem by the Zoolus."

  "Yes, it was so; but want and necessity had turned them into desperatewarriors."

  "I wonder they never thought of going back and recovering their owncountry. They would have been a match for the Zoolus. Is that the end oftheir history, Swinton?"

  "No, not quite. But perhaps you are tired?"

  "Oh, no. Pray go on."

  "The Mantatees, although defeated by the Griquas, soon recovered theircourage, and intelligence came that they were about to make a descentupon Kuruman, where the missionaries had their station. The Mantatees,having been informed that the Griquas had gone home, now determined torevenge themselves upon the Bechuanas, whom they considered but as thedust under their feet.

  "On this information, Mr. M. wrote to Waterboer, who commanded theGriquas, requesting his immediate return; but Waterboer replied that animmense body of Mantatees were coming down upon the Griquas by the Valor Yellow River, and that they were forced to remain, to defend theirown property, advising Mr. M. to retreat with his family to the Griquatown, and put themselves under their protection.

  "As they could no longer remain, the mission station was abandoned, andthe missionaries, with their wives and families, retreated to Griquatown. They had not, however, been long at Griqua town before newsarrived that both the bodies of Mantatees had altered their routes.One portion of them went eastward, toward the country from which theyhad been driven by the Zoolus, and another, it appears, took possessionof the country near the sources of the Orange River, where for manyyears they carried on a predatory warfare with the tribes in thatdistrict. At last a portion of them were incorporated, and settled downon that part which is now known as the Mantatee new country; theremainder made an irruption into the eastern Caffre country, where theywere known as the Ficani."

  "And what became of them?"

  "They defeated one or two of the Caffre chiefs, and the Caffres imploredthe assistance of the English colonists, which was granted, and a largearmed force was sent out against the invaders. They were foundlocated--for they had built a town--near the sources of the UmtataRiver. The Caffres joined with all their forces, and the Ficani weresurprised. A horrid slaughter took place; muskets, artillery andCongreve rockets were poured upon the unfortunate wretches, who werehemmed in on all sides by the Caffres, and the unfortunate Ficani may besaid to have been exterminated, for the Caffres spared neither man,woman nor child. Such is the history of the Mantatees; their destructionwas horrible, but perhaps unavoidable."

  "Very true," observed Alexander; "I can not help thinking thatdesolating contests like these are permitted by a controlling Providenceas chastisements, yet with a gracious end; for, surely it was betterthat they should meet with immediate death, than linger till famine putan end to their misery. This is certain, that they must have beendestroyed, or others destroyed to make room for them. In either case agreat sacrifice of life was to be incurred. War, dreadful as it is indetail, appears to be one of the necessary evils of human existence, anda means by which we do not increase so rapidly as to devour each other.

  "I don't know whether you have made the observation, but it appears tome the plague and cholera are almost necessary in the countries wherethey break out; and it is very remarkable that the latter disease nevermade its appearance in Europe (at least not for centuries, I may say)until after peace had been established, and the increase of populationwas so rapid.

  "During the many years that Europe was devastated and the populationthinned by war, we had no cholera, and but little of one or two otherepidemics which have since been very fatal. What I mean to infer is,that the hand of Providence may be seen in all this. Thus sanguinarywars and the desolating ravages of disease, which are in themselvesafflictive visitations, and probably chastisements for national sins,may nevertheless have the effect, in some cases, of preventing themiseries which result from an undue increase of population."

  "You may be quite right, Alexander," observed Swinton; "the ways ofHeaven are inscrutably mysterious, and when we offer up prayers for theremoval of what may appear to be a heavy calamity, we may be deprecatingthat which in the end may prove a mercy."

  "One thing I could not help remarking in your narrative, Swinton,"observed the Major, "which is the position of the missionaries duringthis scene of terror. You passed it slightly over, but it must have beenmost trying."

  "Most surely it was."

  "And yet I have not only read but heard much said against them, andstrong opposition made to subscriptions for their support."

  "I grant it, but it is because people know that a great deal of moneyhas been subscribed, and do not know the uses to which it is applied.They hear reports read, and find perhaps that the light of the Gospelhas but as yet glimmered in one place or another; that in other placesall labor has hitherto been thrown away. They forget that it is thegrain of mustard-seed which is to become a great tree, and spread itsbranches; they wish for immoderate returns, and are thereforedisappointed. Of course I can not give an opinion as to the manner inwhich the missions are conducted in other countries; but as I havevisited most of the missions in these parts, I c
an honestly assert, andI think you have already yourself seen enough to agree with me, that themoney intrusted to the societies is not thrown away or lavishlyexpended; the missionaries labor with their own hands, and almostprovide for their own support."

  "There I agree with you, Swinton," replied Alexander; "but what are theobjections raised against them? for now that I have seen them with myown eyes, I can not imagine what they can be."

  "The objections which I have heard, and have so often attempted torefute, are, that the generality of missionaries are a fanatical classof men, who are more anxious to inculcate the peculiar tenets of theirown sects and denominations than the religion of our Saviour; that mostof them are uneducated and vulgar men--many of them very intemperate andvery injudicious--some few of them of bad moral character; and thattheir exertions, if they have used them--whether to civilize or toChristianize the people among whom they are sent--have not been followedby any commensurate results."

  "And now let us have your replies to these many objections."

  "It is no doubt true that the missionaries who are laboring among thesavages of the interior are, many, if not most of them, people oflimited education. Indeed, the major portion of them have been broughtup as mechanics. But I much question whether men of higher attainmentsand more cultivated minds would be better adapted to meet the capacitiesof unintellectual barbarians. A highly-educated man may be appreciatedamong those who are educated themselves; but how can he be appreciatedby the savage? On the contrary, the savage looks with much more respectupon a man who can forge iron, repair his weapons, and excite hisastonishment by his cunning workmanship; for then the savage perceivesand acknowledges his superiority, which in the man of intellect he wouldnever discover.

  "Besides, admitting that it would be preferable to employ persons ofhigher mental attainments, where are they to be found? Could you expect,when so many laborers are required in the vineyard, a sufficient numberof volunteers among the young men brought up at the universities? Wouldthey be able to submit to those privations, and incur those hardships,to which the African missionaries are exposed? Would they be able towork hard and labor for their daily bread, or be willing to encountersuch toil and such danger as must be encountered by those who are senthere? I fear not. And allow me here to remark, that at the firstpreaching of Christianity it was not talented and educated men who wereselected by our Saviour; out of the twelve, the Apostle Paul was theonly one who had such claims.

  "If we had beheld the Galilean fishermen mending their nets, should wehave ever imagined that those humble laborers were to be the people whoshould afterward regenerate the world?--should overthrow the idolatriesand crumble the superstitions of ancient empires and kingdoms?--and thatwhat they--uneducated, but, we admit, divinely inspired andsupported--had taught should be joyfully received, as it is now, we maysay, from the rising to the setting of the sun, to the utmost boundariesof the earth?"

  "Most truly and most admirably argued, Swinton," replied Alexander. "TheAlmighty, as if to prove how insignificant in his sight is all humanpower, has often made use of the meanest instruments to accomplish thegreatest ends. Who knows but that even our keeping holy the Sabbath-dayin the desert may be productive of some good, and be the humble means ofadvancing the Divine cause? We must ever bear in mind the counsel, 'Inthe morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; forthou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whetherthey both shall be alike good.'"

  "Surely so," replied Swinton; "the natives consider us as a superiorrace; they see our worship, and they are led to think that must be rightwhich they perceive is done by those to whom they look up as theirsuperiors. It may induce them to inquire and to receiveinformation--eventually to be enrolled among the followers of ourSaviour. It is, however, not to be denied that in some few instancespersons have been chosen for the office of missionaries who have provedthemselves unworthy; but that must and will ever be the case wherehuman agents are employed. But it argues no more against the generalrespectability and utility of the missionaries as a body, than theadmission of the traitor Judas among the apostles. To the efficacy oftheir works, and their zeal in the cause, I myself, having visited thestation, have no hesitation in bearing testimony. Indeed I can not butadmire the exemplary fortitude, the wonderful patience and perseverance,which the missionaries have displayed.

  "These devoted men are to be found in the remotest deserts, accompanyingthe wild and wandering savages from place to place, suffering fromhunger and from thirst, destitute of almost every comfort, and at timeswithout even the necessaries of life. Some of them have withoutmurmuring spent their whole lives in such service; and yet their zeal isset down as fanaticism by those who remain at home, and assert that themoney raised for their equipment is thrown away. Happily, they have notlooked for their reward in this world, but have built their hopes uponthat which is to come."

  "That the people who joined the Mission stations have become morecivilized, and that they are very superior to their countrymen, iscertain," observed the Major; "but have you seen any proof ofChristianity having produced any remarkably good effect among thenatives?--I mean one that might be brought forward as convincingevidence to those who have shown themselves inimical or lukewarm in thecause."

  "Yes," replied Swinton, "the history of Africaner is one; and there areothers, although not so prominent as that of the party to whom I refer."

  "Well, Swinton, you must now be again taxed. You must give us thehistory of Africaner."

  "That I will, with pleasure, that you may be able to narrate it, whenrequired, in support of the missions. Africaner was a chief, and adescendant of chiefs of the Hottentot nation, who once pastured theirown flocks and herds on their own native hills, within a hundred milesof Cape Town. As the Dutch colonists at the Cape increased, so did they,as Mr. Fairburn has stated to Alexander, dispossess the Hottentots oftheir lands, and the Hottentots, unable to oppose their invaders,gradually found themselves more and more remote from the possessions oftheir forefathers.

  "After a time, Africaner and his diminished clan found themselvescompelled to join and take service under a Dutch boor, and for some timeproved himself a most faithful shepherd in looking after and securingthe herds of his employer. Had the Dutch boor behaved with commonhumanity, not to say gratitude, toward those who served him so well, hemight now have been alive; but, like all the rest of his countrymen, heconsidered the Hottentots as mere beasts of burden, and at any momentaryanger they were murdered and hunted down as if they were wild animals.

  "Africaner saw his clan daily diminished by the barbarity of his feudalmaster, and at last resolved upon no further submission. As the Bushmenwere continually making attempts upon the cattle of the boor, Africanerand his people had not only been well trained to fire-arms, but had themconstantly in their possession. His assumed master, having an idea thatthere would be a revolt, resolved upon sending a portion of Africaner'speople to a distant spot, where he intended to secure them, and by theirdestruction weaken the power of the clan.

  "This, as he was a sort of magistrate, he had the power to enforce; butAfricaner, suspecting his views, resolved to defeat them. Order afterorder was sent to the huts of Africaner and his people. They positivelyrefused to comply. They requested to be paid for their long services,and be permitted to retire further into the interior. This was sternlydenied, and they were ordered to appear at the house of the boor.Fearful of violence, yet accustomed to obey his order, Africaner and hisbrothers went up; but one of his brothers concealed his gun under hiscloak. On their arrival, the boor came out and felled Africaner to theground. His brother immediately shot the boor with his gun, and thus didthe miscreant meet with the just reward of his villainies and murder.

  "The wife, who had witnessed the murder of her husband, shrieked andimplored mercy; they told her that she need not be alarmed, butrequested that the guns and ammunition in the house should be deliveredup to them, which was immediately done. Africaner then hastened back tohis people, co
llected them and all his cattle, with what effects theycould take with them, and directed his course to the Orange River.

  "He was soon out of the reach of his pursuers, for it required time inso scattered a district to collect a sufficient force. Africaner fixedhis abode upon the banks of the Orange River, and afterward a chiefceding to him his dominion in Great Namaqua land, the territory becamehis by right as well as by conquest. I think I had better leave off now;it is getting late, and we must to bed, if we are to start earlyto-morrow morning."

  "We will have mercy upon you, Swinton, and defer our impatience," saidthe Major. "Good-night to you, and may you not have a lion's serenade."

  "No, I hope not; their music is too loud to be agreeable;--good-night."