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CHAPTER XII.

Effects of the Missions in promoting Peace among the Native Tribes and Security to the Colonial Frontier.-Testimonies in regard to this point by Mr. Melvill, Colonel Fraser, Dr. Lichtenstein, Mr. Barrow, &c.-Defence of Theopolis in 1819.-Dangers from which the Colony has been saved by the Conciliation of the Hottentots. Objections against the Stations beyond the Colony, as affording a refuge to Deserters and Runaways, &c. refuted.Abuses of the Colonists in supplying the Banditti with Ammunition not restrained by Government.-False allegations of Peterson, the convict, against Africaner's Kraal.

THE beneficial effects which civilized nations or colonies may receive from Christian missions to savage tribes in their neighbourhood is no longer a doubtful, or even a merely theoretical question.

A report had got abroad, at one time, that Christian Africaner and his people were about to leave Namaqualand, with the intention of settling in the neighbourhood of Griqua Town. When Mr. Moffat was on his journey from Africaner's kraal to Lattakoo, he met with a whole tribe of people removing from their former place of abode in quest of new settlements. The reason assigned by them for changing their situation was, the rumour of Africaner's removal. "Africaner," said they, is the bond of peace between all the tribes in this part of the world, and, should he leave it, the whole country will be filled with robbery and murder." When they knew that their apprehension of Africaner's re

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moval was without foundation, they were quite overjoyed, and instantly turned the heads of their cattle, again to take up their abode in the place which they had forsaken.

While the missionaries have been employed in locating the savages among whom they labour, teaching them industrious habits, creating a demand for British manufactures, and increasing their dependence on the colony, there is not a single instance of a tribe thus enjoying the labours of a missionary making war against the colonists, either to injure their persons or deprive them of their property.

Missionary stations are the most efficient agents which can be employed to promote the internal strength of our colonies, and the cheapest and best military posts that a wise government can employ to defend its frontier against the predatory incursions of savage tribes *. While the Caffers, who command about one hundred and fifty miles of our frontier only, have been the scourge and terror of the colony of the Cape, those who have enjoyed the labours of missionaries are, without a single exception, friendly to its security and interests. From the period of Africaner's conversion to Christianity to the present moment, there has not been one drop of colonial blood shed by any of the tribes on the Great Orange river, nor one ounce of powder and shot directed against the colony †.

* See page 72 of this volume. The defeat of the Mantatee hordes by the Griquas, in 1823, is a strong case in point.

†The disturbances which have been occasioned by the Bergenaars on the Orange river, and some slight incursions which have been lately made by the plundering tribes of Bechuanas to recover their stolen cattle, furnish no valid objection to the above remarks. Mr. Melvill's appointment at Griqua Town, with

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Had the system which was carried on along the northern frontier of the colony, previous to the introduction of missionaries into that district, continued, I am warranted in saying, when the extent of the frontier is taken into consideration, that a thousand men would not have been more than necessary for its defence; and, after the preceding statements, I leave every unprejudiced reader to say to whom we are indebted for this saving of expense, and for the security which has been so long enjoyed by the colonists scattered over that country.

In corroboration of the opinions now advanced on this subject, I beg leave to subjoin the following extract of an official letter from Mr. Melvill, the government agent at Griqua Town, addressed to the colonial office.-Mr. Melvill's testimony in favour of missionary labours is, indeed, only the opinion of an individual ; but his opinion was founded upon an intimate acquaintance with this subject, and it is no small recommendation of his sincerity that he must have known that the truth which he there stated was one of the most unwelcome he could have communicated, at the time, to the

out means to make his authority respected, was protested against when it took place by the agent of the London Missionary Society, and by all the missionaries in that quarter. But even the division which was occasioned by this impolitic measure would not have been attended with much injury, had his advice been afterwards taken by the colonial government. The evil, however, instead of being put down at Mr. Melvill's recommendation, was neglected by the colonial government; while it was greatly increased by those within the colony, who, instead of discouraging this banditti, entered into a traffic with them, supplying them with guns, with powder and shot, and spirits and clothing, in exchange for the booty of which they plundered the tribes beyond them.

high quarter to which it was addressed, and that he could not do any thing more likely to give offence than to defend the missions:

"In adverting," says he, "to the danger to which the northern frontier is exposed, I must give it as my decided opinion, that it is missionary influence alone that has hitherto preserved peace between the colony and the tribes beyond it. In the instance of Griqua Town already mentioned, when the Bergenaars came to attack it, the great respect attached to the character of a missionary was most apparent. The spirit of war and revenge that raged against the inhabitants of that place was allayed, and peace established by the presence of Mr. Sas.

"The peace now existing between the Bechuanas and Corannas, round about the Griqua country, (tribes that maintained a constant warfare in former days,) has its origin and continuance in the mission of Griqua Town.

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The Namaqua chief Africaner was a noted murderer and plunderer, and was a terror to the colonists; but it is a well-known fact, that, after a missionary went to reside with him, he was so changed as to become a promoter of peace, not only with the colony, but with all the surrounding tribes; and he received from the colonial government a most liberal gift of a waggon that cost eight hundred rix-dollars, as a testimony of the governor's good-will towards him, which was an act of the best policy for securing the frontier. Some instances can be produced, if necessary, in further proof of what I have advanced.

"I am satisfied, by what has come under my own observation, during a residence of two years and a

half as government agent at Griqua Town, that the only means of civilizing the savage tribes, and preserving the peace of the frontier, is to encourage the missions beyond the colony. I have no manner of doubt but that, if the mission in that country fail, for want of a check upon the Bergenaars, the whole of that part of the country on the frontier will be infested with robbers and murderers. The missionaries have always allayed the spirit of irritation, and prevented contests between the colonists and the savage tribes; their presence preventing the former from dealing unjustly with the savages, and the latter from retaliating when illtreated by the colonists."

We have stated in the preceding pages of this work, and I may here add, that that statement was made on the authority of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Fraser, whose knowledge in military affairs, and whose long residence on the eastern frontier of the colony, rendered him a competent judge of the merits of this question,— that the institution of Theopolis has, from its establishment on the frontier of the colony in 1813, proved equivalent to a military station; and we shall be excused if we here add a few remarks on this subject. The object of our missionary institutions is not to train up soldiers for the army, or to defend our colonies against the attacks of hostile nations; but, if these incidental advantages arise indirectly from the labours of our missionaries, it gives them additional claims upon the humanity and protection of the government under which they labour. How far the labours of our missionaries have contributed to the defence of the eastern frontier of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, the following statements may suffice to illustrate :