The Watchman

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE

From the Missionary Herald

SOUTHERN AFRICA.

LETTER FROM MR. GROUT.

Dated Feb. 12, 1836.

Concluded.

Readiness to receive Teachers—Decease of Mrs. Grout—Access to Natal—Character of the Zoolahs.

There is also a community of Zoolahs about a week's journey with the waggon in the interior, whom we had not time to see; but from many persons who had seen them and had learned their condition pretty definitely, we concluded there would not be the least difficulty in getting ready access to them. More than this we cannot now say; but if the Lord go before us and with us, as he most signally has done thus far, we shall expect in a few months to write home for a large additional supply of missionaries. At present it appears that, if Dingaan's people are capable of learning to read and write, he will want schools in all parts of his dominions; and if he once says the word, he will be almost out of patience, if he cannot be almost immediately supplied. And if he once sees the utility and practicability of the thing, he will be greatly delighted—this would be a fine one for school-teachers; and I would suggest whether it would not be an important thing, as you have large, loud and urgent calls for missionary help, to look out well qualified teachers, and if we find the door opened, as we trust in God it will be in a few months, to send them here. Infant school teachers would do immense good here; in fact I believe that that kind of instruction would be most generally useful, for a few years, a little modified, even for the older persons. There is even now at Natal, not only no obstacle to such, or to any teachers laboring among the people there, but both white and black people would rejoice exceedingly at it.

Thus can you and the good people who have sent us out see how the Lord has helped us. We have never felt that we were rash or hasty in any of our movements, but I think we have never had our confidence greatly shaken, that we were to be Dingaan's missionaries. We doubt not but we have had the prayers of good people at Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Bethelsdorp, for our success. And I think I can say I have never seen the hand of the Lord so plainly at every step, before and behind us, as in this whole matter. I have not the least doubt but the way has been in a state of preparation during our delay. We seem to have arrived in just the right time. And all our journey, crossing the Togala river almost as by a miracle, our favorable reception by the king, our unexpectedly prosperous journey back, so as to come by ship in three days from Natal, instead of six or seven weeks by land, though we had to travel on foot one hundred and twenty miles, to be in season to sail. Who, I am ready to say, with a christian heart, and such circumstances before him, would not be ready to join our song in the hymn, "Thus far the Lord has led us on," etc.

But I have not yet said all I have to say. Scarcely had we come to anchor in Algoa Bay, when a note came on board, informing us that Mrs. Grout was very ill, and advising us to come off immediately. We did so, and through the kindness of friends we found ourselves in a short time at Bethelsdorp. About the end of December a severe cough and the wasting of her flesh but too plainly told the work going on upon her lungs. She was obliged to keep her bed most of the time, and the doctors soon told her they had no hope that she would recover. The day before our arrival, her life was not expected from one hour to another. She, however, revived a little, but is daily and hourly losing her flesh and strength, and should this hour or the next close her life it would not be unexpected. All this, however, among our blessings, I am not disposed to consider as a frown. It is indeed taking from me my chief and almost my only earthly comfort; but I have to reflect that it is the hand of Him that cannot do wrong which inflicts the blow, and were it not best, he would not do it. I know not his reasons for the course he takes, neither do I feel anxious to know. I would say, "It is the Lord, let him do as seemeth him good."

Before our arrival Mrs. Grout had given up her child, her husband, and all things into the hands of God, and closed up her arrangements for her departure, and was calmly and quietly waiting for the summons; and now she appears as quiet and happy as I can conceive it possible she could be, while in the flesh. While thinking of the good cause in which she has embarked, and especially when she feels what a wide and effectual door is apparently open for us at Natal, she would go and help us; but if the Lord will otherwise, she will give us her blessing, lay her body to rest at Bethelsdorp, and wing her way to glory.

February 25th, Mr. Grout adds—

I have now to communicate to you the distressing intelligence of my dear wife's death. She died February 24th, at a quarter past nine in the evening. We had two weeks thought her getting better, at least she daily gained strength, but her end was peace.

We now have the prospect of entering immediately upon the work of reducing the Zoolah language to writing, giving them instruction and making them elementary school-books. We left Mr. Champion in Dingaan's country. He was to get at Natal as soon as he could, where he was to select the most suitable place for our location, put up a temporary house and make arrangements for our work. Our station with Dingaan must be prominent with us at present and if we succeed with Dingaan, as we hope, we shall probably be able to do but little at Natal till we can get a reinforcement from home. We are here making arrangements as fast as we can to proceed with our families to Natal by land, sending most of our goods and stores by the next ship opportunity. We must go by land ourselves in order to take what animals we want.

We believe it would be perfectly safe for an India ship to call at Natal, and land what it might wish, especially about June or July. A ship may anchor in twelve fathoms water, not more than a mile and a quarter from the landing-place, where with her long boat and one or two boats which the men have in Natal harbor, might in a day or two unlade much cargo. We were at Natal in what is called the most unfavorable season in the year. We arrived December 21st and left February 5th, and captain Haddon said there was not a day in that time when the ship might not have lain safely outside the harbor; but all admit that there are sometimes strong winds from the sea, but they do not continue long, usually changing every day—one day northeast, the next southwest.

From all we could learn we think the Zoolahs have two most remarkable traits of character for a heathen community, honesty and chastity. On our journey and at Dingaan's place, hundreds and hundreds came about our waggon and looked over and handled our dishes and our tools, and for some of them importuned us much, and had many chances that they might have stolen them; but we did not miss a single thing. Such a crime would have been punished with death. And it was very seldom that we detected them in a falsehood. The people all consider white men as a superior race to themselves, and both fear and respect them. Dingaan himself has a regard for white men. So far as safety is concerned, with what I now know of the Zoolahs, I would sooner trust a sister or a wife alone, for days and nights, than in my own country. Indeed I did not apprehend the least danger from them. Mrs. Wood, the only white woman that is now at Natal, (the other came away in the ship with us,) used to travel about among the blacks and whites without the least apparent thought of danger, and as her husband is a carpenter she is left alone much.