The reader will perceive that our work here is, in its details, widely different from that of our brethren in civilized countries. There, on coming to a town or village, they have no sooner obtained a house or barn to preach in, than their main business is begun; and secular affairs happily demand but a comparatively small portion of their attention. Here however, especially in the commencement of a Mission, temporal concerns crowd upon the Missionary in such a manner as to perplex him exceedingly. There being no coach, nor stage waggon, (much less palanquins,) to convey him to his destination, he has, of course, to provide his own vehicle. This, for some time at least, constitutes his only dwelling, containing his furniture, library, provisions, and family beside. To draw it, he must procure oxen; and the care of these in a strange land, infested by wolves, and inhabited by men who deem it no crime to take the whole from him, if any opportunity present itself, is no very pleasant charge. But independently of the danger of their being stolen, the want of water, or the scarcity of grass, often induces the poor animals to stray, which frequently occasions great loss of time and also much trouble. His waggon likewise gets out of repair; it breaks down on the road, and he is far from either wheelwrights or smiths. Consequently both hands and head must be set to work in a manner to which he was hitherto, in all probability, an entire stranger. He is detained by rivers, that were, perhaps, never before crossed by any wheeled vehicle whatever; a ford therefore must be made and huge stones rolled out of the path. The forest affords him no passage; and hence he must cut his way through. The mountain must be climbed and little would it avail, if, instead of setting his shoulder to the wheel, he should stand gazing upon it, saying. "I came not to do work of this kind, to waste my time, to spend my strength, and spoil my hands in this manner. I came only to preach the Gospel." No wonder if Satan should laugh at lan

guage like this, well knowing that, if he can arrest the progress of the Gospel car by the dread of a bridgeless stream, the steeps of an African mountain, the terrific appearance of a savage people, or by circumstances still more trivial, multitudes of immortal spirits would be kept in darkness, and he would have little to fear from Preachers who cannot encounter difficulties of this kind.

The situation of a female Missionary, likewise, is here peculiarly arduous, and often trying in the extreme. Not only does she require all the zeal of a Christian, but also all the fortitude and spirit of an heroine. There being no post or regular medium of communication from one part of the interior to another, the Missionary is sometimes separated from his family for weeks together, without so much as hearing a word from them, or they of him. The hostile disposition of clans whom he may have to visit, the generally disturbed state of the country, and the defenceless position in which the very nature of his work necessarily places him, are, of course, circumstances which naturally tend to excite in his family fears of no ordinary kind. Moreover, rumour represents him as being in imminent danger, and again, as having fallen by the hand of violence; consequently, apprehension, in the entire absence of all means of immediately ascertaining the fact, speedily heightens into distraction. Being on one occasion detained amongst the more distant tribes for nearly two months, report upon report was circulated that the interpreters, and guide, as well as myself, were all murdered, On arriving within about forty miles of the station, we were informed, that all doubt upon the subject had been removed by a party of natives who had passed the hamlet in which we halted the preceding day, and who pretended an acquaintance with all the particulars of the massacre. We had then been travelling the whole day, and night had come on; which circumstance, coupled with the earnest remonstrances of my little party,

-who reprssented it as certain death to cross the plains after sun-set, seeing that the lion and other beasts of prey were prowling about on every hand,—at length prevented my proceeding immediately. But scarcely had day begun to dawn the following morning, before I sallied forth, without either arms or guide, excepting a pocket compass, leaving my fellow travellers to bring on the waggon when they had enjoyed the full length of their slumbers. This adventure, however, had well nigh cost me my life; for having to wade through many miles of deep sand, with a vertical sun in full blaze over head, I had not accomplished half the journey before my strength began to fail, and an indescribable thirst was induced. Nevertheless, I at length reached the station in safety, and with truly grateful feelings to the great Preserver of men. A few minutes prior to my arrival, one of the Missionaries' wives (not knowing that I was at hand) had entered our dwelling to apprise Mrs. Kay of the latest intelligence, confirming all that had gone before respect ing our fate, and to comfort her under the distressing dispensation. At this affecting crisis, while both were standing in the centre of the room, the one relating, and the other weeping, I opened the door, bathed in sweat, covered with dust, and in a state of complete exhaustion. "O dear!" said our friend, "is this he, or is it his ghost?" I must here leave the scene to the reader's imagination, a description of it being not only difficult, but wholly unnecessary.

After riding about in different directions, and examining several places along the banks of the Bashee, we came to a large Fengoo hamlet about half past four P. M. Upon our asking for a draught of milk, one of the natives immediately called the Captain out of his hut; and on inquiry it appeared, that the latter was one of the King's Physicians, or rather, one of his favourite magicians. He was one of those exiles whom the feuds of the

interior had driven amongst the Kaffer tribes; but seemed to be much more intelligent and cheerful than the generality of his countrymen. In his countenance were indications of considerable shrewdness; but such a load of hair, grease, and filth, I never beheld on any African's head before. His black woolly ringlets had, apparently, been drawn out to their utmost length. Lumps of fat, and other offensive substances, hung suspended like so many weights from every part of the wig; and the quantity of vermin borne about by this Temboo quack must have been immense. His quioffure, or head-dress, consisted of several small bunches fantastically made out of the otter's skin. He was greatly amused with the curiosity his appearance excited in our minds, and laughed heartily at the minuteness of our examinations.

That such men should treat us with kindness and hospitality is truly matter of astonishment, seeing that the Gospel strikes at the very root of their gains. He cheerfully presented us with a basket of milk agreeably to our desire; in return for which, Mr. H. gave him a halfpenny, informing him that the figure thereon was the likeness of our King. This would, doubtless, be polished immediately, and attached to some part of his wig or mantle. Never had the name of Jesus been heard in that glen before; hence their ignorance of divine things was deplorable indeed.

When returning to my hut in the evening I heard a doleful hum, and the clatter of shields, which were indications of affliction in the neighbourhood, and of another of their nocturnal ceremonies. This they were performing in one of the hovels hard by. The group was altogether most grotesque; and in the back part of the place stood a man who was really as frightful as sin could make him. In his left hand were a bundle of spears, round his loins a panther's skin, and on his head a hairy cap of many colours. To the latter were attached a number of

small thongs which hung down his back in the form of a tail; and with these marks of the beast about him he danced, and put himself into a number of the most disgusting attitudes imaginable, writhing as if in the greatest agony, and, at the same time, keeping up a continual hissing like that of the serpent. When he made a pause I ventured to interrogate him; upon which, he immediately took off some of his trappings and sat down. He very good-naturedly answered all my questions, and did not appear at all offended by my intrusion. "That woman," said he, "is sick; and it is my business to cure." In replying to my remarks on the obvious vanity and utter inefficacy of such a mode of proceeding, he very affectingly said with a sigh, "Yes; but it is the best means we have : it was the custom of our fathers; what then shall we do? Inkose must remember, the poor Temboo is ignorant; he has not the white man's medicine!" Whatever effect the conversation might have upon their minds I know not; but they did not re-commence the ceremony during the night.

Saturday 5th.-Having yesterday determined on a site for the Institution, we this morning proceeded to apprise Voosani of it; but just as Mr. H. and I started for his residence, we met one of his counsellors driving a fat cow, which he had sent as a present. Shortly afterwards, he came up himself, accompanied by a number of warriors and chief Captains; upon which we gave him the particulars of our tour and determination. Of this he fully approved; nor was there a dissentient voice raised by any of his courtiers. Consequently, the thing was immediately ratified without further delay. This done, the waggons were prepared, the oxen put to the yoke, and the Chief and his council, together with a host of other natives, escorted us to the very spot, publicly recognising and establishing our right of settlement, within his domain, in the sight of all the people. "Blessed be the