File:South Africa (1909) (14804063303).jpg

Identifier: southafric00colv (find matches)
Title: South Africa
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Colvin, Ian Duncan, 1877-1938
Subjects:
Publisher: London Edinburgh, T.C. & E.C. Jack
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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ind Valentyn debating points oftheology with a Hottentot at this very farm of Zand-vliet a few years afterwards, so it is fair to suppose thatCalden had something of the missionary zeal, while onhis side Sheik Joseph was renowned for his piety. Anddoubtless also Simon van der Stel, that wise, enlightened,and gracious old man, took no little interest in hisvisitor, and he treated him handsomely, if we may judgefrom the long bill of maintenance, a heavy burdon onour revenue, as it is ruefully represented to the Com-pany by Simons successor. The Sheik died in 1699,the year that Simon resigned. His death took place onthe 23rd of May, and his followers laid him to rest in theland of his exile, and no doubt built the tomb, since itis mentioned by Valentyn, who visited the place notlong afterwards. Before his death his kinsman, theKing of Goa, had earnestly petitioned for the return ofthe exile; but the Company would not even allow hisbones to be removed, as they feared that they might be170
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The Coming of Sheik Joseph A CAPE PILGRIMAGE converted into objects of worship, and it was onlylong afterwards that his people were allowed to return.Then leave was at last given : the Government in Indiawrote that if his body were carried away no notice wasto be taken ; but this cannot have been done, since theFaithful still worship at his tomb. From the indications given by Valentyn, as well asthe reverential memory which has outlasted two hundredyears among his humble kinsmen, the Malays of CapeTown, we may imagine that Sheik Joseph was noordinary man. He was not only of noble birth, but ofunusual piety, a great warrior, a great prince, and alsoa priest deep in the knowledge of holy things. Let ushope that in his exile his faith consoled him for theoutrages of fortune. He could not but have longed forthe palms and spices of his native land, which he wasdoomed never again to see; but it is a kind of com-pensation that his tomb should still be visited by hisown people, and that the i

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