secreted himself in the forest during the night, and on their arrival was but just alive. Scarcely had they got him upon the back of the animal taken to carry him, before the "relentless foe" rushed forth from another part of the wood, and obliged them instantly to flee. The poor dying lad was now precipitated to the ground, and left to perish: the enemy soon afterwards came up, and mercilessly mangled him in a manner too shocking to describe.

All this was related with as much seriousness, as if they were really and greatly distressed by the loss of those that had fallen; whereas, their main object evidently was to convince me of the absolute necessity of a general war; and that, because a few of their number had been killed, hundreds of their opponents ought to be slain. It now therefore became indubitable that our remonstrances had, at least, proved a means of checking their sanguinary designs.

Tuesday, 13th. It is not less pleasing than encouraging to observe, that those of our interpreters who are truly converted to God, are frequently found boldly, though unostentatiously, addressing the multitudes upon divine subjects, and fearlessly answering the objections that are urged by gainsayers against the Gospel. The substance of our sermons being by them familiarly reiterated amidst the different groups around, the seed of truth is much more extensively spread abroad, than even the Missionary himself may be ready to imagine.

One of them this morning walked over to the Chief's residence, which is about a mile from the Mission house, and there met with a considerable number of the Amapakati, or great men, gathered together. He immediately began to interrogate them respecting the reasons why they kept at such a distance from the Mission village, and were so seldom seen in God's house on a Sabbathday. Some pleaded in excuse their ignorance of the day

on which the Sabbath fell; others, the distance at which they resided; and a third class plainly and candidly confessed that they saw nothing which was either profitable or desirable in any of our services. "The great word," said one, "is calculated to lessen our pleasures, and diminish the number of our wives: to this we can never consent." When, by a simple statement of facts, which at once demonstrated the injurious tendency and beastly character of their polygamous customs, he had in a great measure refuted their arguments on this head, they shifted their objections to other grounds. A grand stratagem of the wicked one now discovered itself; and it became fully manifest that many of these deluded men were deterred from coming near us by a dread of sickness and death.

Several of the Caffrarian Chiefs who had long been less or more in habits of intercourse with Europeans, having recently dropped off, a notion has become generally prevalent that it was their intimacy with white men which had, in some unknown manner, rendered them thus subject to the sway of death. In attacking this "strong hold" of superstition, our Christian warrior had recourse to very simple arguments. 'First," said he, if intercourse with white men be the cause of sickness and death, how comes it to pass that we, who live with them, eat with them, talk with them, and labour for them daily, do not all die? And, secondly, how happens it that both Chiefs and people, young as well as old, who have always lived at a distance, and never had any intercourse with them whatever, not only fall sick, but die too? Where is our great Chief Palo, Kahabi, and Khauta? Did they live for ever?' These questions completely silenced them; and after pausing for some time, one of them arose and frankly acknowledged their ignorance, saying, "Ulixo (God) hath given the great Book to the whites; but not to the blacks; therefore are we this day so foolish."

Friday, 23d. In the course of the forenoon we were visited by the Amakwata. All came riding upon large calves and pack-oxen, which they manage with astonishing dexterity. Having approached within a certain distance of the village, they dismounted, and sat down on the side of the opposite hill, where they remained for several hours. Altogether they formed a most grotesque group, every one being daubed, according to custom, with white clay from head to foot. This seems to constitute the visible sign of their uncleanness, and is a prac tice connected with the rite of circumcision, which obtains amongst the Boochuana tribes also.

It was now three months since the painful operation of " cutting off their foreskins was performed; and, agreeably to established usage, they were regarded as standing without the pale of society. None of them were allowed to enter any house or hamlet, excepting the one erected for them, during the whole term of their novitiate. This is usually determined by the appearance of the great northern constellation Izilimela, or Pleiades ; for which the poor lads were beginning to look as anxiously as the Mahommedan does for the new moon, which terminates the fast of Ramazan. They were all very fine youths, about twenty in number: the eldest appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years of age, and the youngest about twelve. The principal boy in the train was a Chief's son and the King's nephew. Their having been circumcised along with this member of Cæsar's family, will constitute the boast of his companions in future years. All dwelt together during the period of their novitiate, and were attended only by the person who performed the operation. He had the sole charge of them, and was required to dress their wounds, prepare their food, and direct their amusements, which were chiefly of a gymnastic and warlike character. On being restored to society again, their temporary dwelling

must be immediately burnt, their bodies washed with pure water, and afterwards anointed with some kind of unctuous matter. New garments are then put upon them, and each is presented with spears by his friends, or by the Chief, who henceforth ranks them amongst the number of his warriors.

In the evening, we held our weekly prayer-meeting, at which a goodly number of the natives attended.

Three

of them prayed most earnestly for the conversion of their ruler, and that he might soon become an example of holiness to his people.

May, 4th. I met the catechumens, whose earnest desire for salvation was evinced in the strongest and most encouraging manner. Had any been here present who are at all doubtful as to the mind of a black being susceptible of the power of divine grace or of the enlightening influences of the Spirit of God, I doubt not but they would have stood confounded, if not convinced. "I am like a withered tree," said a tottering old woman, "which Utixo enkulu might justly have cut down, and cast into the fire; for my sins are both great and many." A young Fengoo, who had been driven from his native country by the wars and commotions of the northern tribes, and who now discovered the gracious hand of Providence while which had been over him in a remarkable manner, in the desert, gave utterance to his feelings by strong cries and tears. He was naturally of a very intrepid and independent spirit; but, when engaged in the worship of God, his lion-like fierceness seemed gradually to melt down into the mildness of a lamb. After closing the meeting, I retired to my study, and there sat musing until a late hour. While thus occupied, sounds and circumstances of a very different character again and again arrested my attention. The night was exceedingly calm; the stars, with their usual brightness, glittered in the firmament; and every thing around me wore the aspect

of perfect serenity. But amidst this pleasing stillness, so fa vourable to contemplation, I heard a voice, yea, voices and these were the voices of a few poor blacks, who, after chatting around their evening fires in the huts hard by, were closing the day with hymns of praise and united prayer to Heaven. One of the verses which they sung, and which they again and again repeated, was the following:

"'t Geloof bemint Hem, en beschouwt,

Zijn mart'ling, dood, en pijn;

Die saak wordt ons nooit oud noch koud,
Tot dat wij bij Hem zijn.”

TRANSLATION.

"Faith loves the Saviour, and beholds
His martyrdom and pain;

The sight shall ne'er be old nor cold,
Until we with him reign."

At the very moment, however, when these were thus engaged, the Pagan inhabitants of a neighbouring hamlet were performing one of their heathenish ceremonies, and making the surrounding valleys echo with their melancholy lavoltas.

Saturday, 15th.-Hinza came to see us this afternoon and observing some of the women busy threshing, he entreated that we would give him a basket of corn for supper. To convince me that he was exceedingly hungry, he contracted himself, and affected to say that his stomach was

perfectly empty. This Kaffer monarch is no more ashamed importunately to beg than the lowest mendicant in the streets of London. Just as he came up several of the natives were about receiving their wages for work done during the week; but every one literally trembled at the thought of my producing any thing in his presence, lest, he should cast an envious eye upon their earnings, and deprive them of the whole. Not, indeed, that he would forcibly seize them; but such is his power and