ABSTRACT
FOR the following particulars of the early lifeof William Koyi I am indebted to Lovedale: Past and Present, and the account of a humble yet worthy convert from African heathenism will be read with interest. " William Koyi was born of heathen parents at Thomas River in the year 1846. His mother died a Christian. He left his home during the cattlekilling mania in 1857, and went to seek employment among the Dutch farmers in the Colony, earning half-a-crown a week as a waggon-Ieader. About this time his father died, and five years later his mother and two sisters. He left his Dutch employer and worked for five years at one of the wool-washing establishments at Uitenhage, and was promoted to be overseer. From thence he went to work in the stores of Messrs A. C. Stewart & Co., Port Elizabeth, where he remained for about the same number of years. He had never attended school, but now felt the need of
education, and therefore set about learning to read Kafir. He had about this time, 1869, been converted, and been admitted a member of the Wesleyan Church at Port Elizabeth.
