The Story of William Threlfall, Missionary Martyr of Namaqualand, with some Account of Jacob Links & Johan Jager who fell with Him

De Luxe first edition in leather binding with gilt titling on the spine and front panel. Patterned end-papers. Binding tight with some rubbing on the spine crown.

Printed by Townshend, Taylor & Snashall and published by the Methodist Publishing Office.

Inscribed by the author on the front free end-paper to the photographer A. Withinshaw, who contributed the two photographs on pages 122 & 140.

William Threlfall was a Wesleyan missionary and martyr. He came to South Africa in 1821 and preached for the 1820 settlers in Albany and Salem (Grahamstown district). He felt an intense desire to preach for the natives and accepted an offer from Capt. W. F. Owen to take him to Delagoa Bay (Mozambique), were he would be able to make contact with many of the scattered tribes along the coast. The unhealthy tropical climate soon became a problem, and he had to return to the Cape to recover from malaria. In 1824 he accompanied Barnabas Shaw to the mission at Leliefontein in Namaqualand to fully recover. In 1825 he joined the Rev. Jacob Links and Johannes Jager, both converted Namaquas, on a mission to the Namaquas who lived north of the Orange River. The intense drought, however, had an adverse effect on the little expedition, and soon after they reached Karasburg (a four day journey north of Warmbad, Namibia) they were forced to turn back due to the loss of an ox and want of a guide. They proceeded from Warmbad (around 10.8.1825) and, after a night or two, al three were murdered by their new guide, Platje Saumap Naugap, and an accomplice, Conghaap, for the sake of their oxen and a few other necessities. Both later confessed to the crimes and were duly sentenced; Naugap was shot, and Conghaap received forty lashes.