Oh, how great the gullibility and superstition of this people is.

The school is thriving, if not as expected, but pretty much under the circumstances.

Grant, O my Lord and God, that it may become the reason for much praise and thanks in the future.

Captain Grey, who had already been to Br. Teichelmann once, visited the school today and then also me.

( 261 ) I showed him the copy of our collection of words made for Mr. Angas, about which he commented very favorably; he said it was a pity that we hadn't had it printed already and encouraged us to do so now.

With the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes"(209) I wrote a several-sheet report to the company, with the following content:

firstly, in response to the last letter from the Society, about our dispute, about the Anglican worship, polygamy of the natives, money matters, purchase of land, settlement in the interior;
secondly as a report on the general condition of black people, circumcision, bloodletting, infanticide, church services and school, financial matters for my siblings. P. S. Land granted to the natives; Captain Grey and our intention to now print our collection of words that I wrote to Angas, earthquake.

I also sent letters to Mr. Angas(210), my brother Friedrich(211), Pastor Voß(212), and J. M. Heyn(213).

March 30th, 1840.
A small earthquake was felt today; the natives said the earth was begging for graves, which was why many whites and blacks would soon die. A black man from the north had descended into the earth and had now caused it to tremble.

April 1st, 1840.
Somewhat encouraged by the hope that Bertha gave me during my last visit, I went to see her again today. I found her alone with her sister Mathilde and, after the latter had gone away, I spoke to her a lot. She was very strange at first and then persistently convinced that I should and should not hope for anything, and when I reminded her that she had given me some hope the last time, she said that it was a weakness of hers that she was like that. She admitted that her father's idea was the reason why our careless behavior had weighed heavily on her ( 262 ), because even though she had had similar thoughts before, she had never considered it so seriously before. To justify her behavior before God, she cited the words of Christ: