The Journal of
Joseph Tindall, Missionary in
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Edited by B.A. Tindall Joseph Tindall |
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Joseph Tindall, a
Wesleyan missionary, worked in Concordiaville Mission Station |
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It is
dangerous travelling in Bushman fields. They sometimes
poison pools and fountains of water in order to destroy wild animal which may
chance to drink. They follow the footprints of these till they come upon the
dead. Several pack oxen belonging to the Chief of the Red People drank at one
of the poisoned pools. Most of them died from the effects.
The
case of Hendrik, who caught two Damaras
eating his lamb5 and hanged one on a tree, and beat the other almost
to death was investigated after my departure. Hendrik was ordered to appear before the council. He went
quite beside himself, confessed to hanging the one Damara
and flogging the other almost to death and said he had come to fight, asked why
they did not stand up and drew out a butcher’s knife. This was taken from him,
one man’s arm cut in doing so, and he was secured. He then in a rage asked ‘Who
has seen God? Who has returned from Hell? I do not believe there is such a
place. There is one present whom I will shoot at the first opportunity.’ His
gun and cattle were taken from him and he was beaten on his back. This brought
him to his right mind. The punishment was lighter than he merited, but was as
severe as his judges could inflict, their own unpunished crimes causing them
shame.
Heard of fighting between two Cattle Damaras,
chiefs. Several were killed.
Aug. 11th. Set off with waggon east of station.
Aug. 12th. Out-spanned at Tweefontein, a place where there are two small streams;
disappointed in expectation of a greater quantity of water. He who turns the barren
wilderness etc. can cause these to increase.
13th. Halted among rich and poor
Cattle Damaras. The latter are cattle herds for Ameral and his people. This is an imprudent mixture and
contrary to my advice, which was for each nation to know the bounds of its own
field. May God make this arrangement turn out for the furtherance of the gospel.
14th. Halted at our cattle farm,
about 50 miles east of station The fold quite
surrounded with Damara huts. There were 51 inmates which depend entirely (the milk of a few goats excepted) on
their success, and the success of a few field roots. What can be done for the
thousands of poor Damaras and Hottentots living in
the bush? A great number of rich Damara chiefs are
living apparently at variance with each other, having more or less intercourse
with Hottentot tribes, occupying the same country.
Two influential chiefs have contrary to my advice been permitted to and reside
south of Elephant’s Fountain. In many cases the cattle of both nations drink at
the same water, and this is the occasion of much strife. A short time after we
had unyoked, a rhinoceros made her appearance, directing her course to the waggon, pursued by poor Damaras.
A great many people ran to meet her which threw her into great confusion. She
turned upon one party; others ran up to her, and threw their assegais at her, a
few of which entered her thick hide. One Damara was so bold as to attempt
to hamstring her. Out of compassion to the animal I requested Henry to give her
a musket ball; I quickly gave her a second, which brought her on her side. The Damaras soon divided her. I then went to the water. There
were a few pools of dirty rater and several wells of clear water. The Damaras were standing in the wells, ladling the water out
with deep wooden vessels, and pouring it into troughs out of which the cattle
drank. Several hundred were watered in about an hour and a half. When they were
driven off to graze the wells were secured with thorn boughs. About midday, our
cattle were driven to the water. I followed, anticipating the sight I should
witness, having some knowledge of Hottentot
indifference to the wants and comfort of cattle, having seen it hundreds of
times to my great grief and annoyance. Begging, praying, insisting,
encouraging, appealing to Christian principles, are all of no avail. I have
tried all, and I am still striving, but nothing will do, except the discipline
exercised over the ox and the horse, which, alas, are more knowing than they in
this particular; they drink daily out of the dirty pools, in which their cattle
fight with each other, being angry at having so short a supply. The cattle
hastened to the wells, took a longing gaze at the clean water, then had to turn
off and drink the dirty water of the pools. Yes, the Hottentots pride themselves
on being much superior to the Damaras, for whom they
invariably have a term of contempt; Specially Ameral’s
tribe, who call themselves Oorlams, and expect the Damaras to give them this term of superiority, the origin
and meaning of which I have never been able to ascertain, and all that they
know of it is that, when they were in the service of the Dutch farmers, they
were sometimes encouraged in their work by being told ‘Jou
vader was een gooie Oerlam gewees’.
Nevertheless, they have some good qualities, and now and then I see a glimpse
of shame, which I consider a sign of the dawn of day. O that it might break
forth before they plague the life away of a few missionaries! ‘Cattle-farm’ may
sound strange in the ears of the lend of missions, more than it
would if they could see matters on