with the spear and with fire. One wave of affliction followed another; one cloud darker than another hung over our prospects, while we were exposed to the mockery and rage of a lawless and independent people. Full oft have my worthy brother functionaries and myself prayed together for faith to maintain our posts, even though we appeared to labour in vain and spend our strength for nought. We felt determined never to leave our posts, even though our external resources should fail. In the mean time the language was acquired; portions of scripture translated; catechisms and hymns composed; and while our eyes were weary of looking upwards-while we were even yet praying the blessing descended; it ran from house to house, from heart to heart, and, in a short time, the whole station seemed to be filled with prayer and praises.

"That_season was one I cannot easily forget. It was indeed a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Many received the truth, and a church was formed. The natives have acquired a taste for reading and writing, and are taught in their own language. We trust we have also taught them to hold converse with heaven, and to meet the king of terrors with unshaken faith.

"I wish I could take the mission and place it before you. You would see what would do your souls good, and arouse you to increased exertions in the cause of missions. How great the change! The untutored savage, instead of entering the church with a wild stare, now decently enters the courts of Jehovah, and listens with attention to the gospel of peace. How great the change in those that believe! I have seen the contrast in deathbed scenes. I have attended the couch of some of the more respectable and informed of the natives; but ah! how gloomy, and how distracting! The untaught Bechu ana, on the article of death, maintains profound silence. The subject of death is revolting to him, and, if he happen for a moment to look to the gloomy prospect, his thoughts start back with horror. Far otherwise in the experience of those who have tasted of the powers of the world to come. I have recently seen the same people on the brink of the grave, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, telling their weeping relations that they die not as the brutes, but die to live for ever.

"They have been taught industrious habits, and to appreciate and be grateful for the boon which has been handed to them by British Christians. A temporary place of worship has been built free of expense to the Society, but this being found insufficient, the foundation of a large building has been laid, to which many have subscribed of the little which they possess. A water-course, extending for

Ch. Adv.-VOL. IX.

miles in length, six feet wide, and from two to ten feet deep, has been dug, and is kept in order by a public subscription made on the station. The station is increasing in size. Its capabilities are great; its prospects are encouraging. The natives have now acquired an unbounded confidence in ús-indeed, they would trust their property and their lives in our hands. Wherever we travel we are viewed as friends, and even our names are sometimes used by the travellers into the interior, to insure safety.

"Our station is very frequently visited by parties of natives from the interior, and what they see and the treatment they experience, inspire their confidence in us, and are preparing the way for the advances of the heralds of the cross. They now begin to appreciate our labours, and would deprecate our leaving their territories. We maintained our post when the natives themselves were driven from their homes by hostile bands, and when we ourselves were surrounded by war, bloodshed, and rapine. From this circumstance they consider us even the lawful owners of the country.

"We have an extensive field of missionary labour. We have hundreds on the mission premises and thousands in the neighbourhood. It must be recollected that the Bechuanas congregate in towns which contain from one hundred to twelve thousand. They call for your sympathy, your assistance, and your prayers. I am persuaded that you have been gratified to hear that considerable portions of the Scriptures have been translated into their language, and are ready for the press.

"By the favour of the Colonial government we have been permitted to print at the government press the Gospel by Luke, which is nearly completed. We are taking a printing press with us, and trust soon to put most of the scriptures into the hands of the natives, among whom there is an increasing desire for knowledge. They are anxious for books. A pastoral people particularly need books: They come from a great distance to hear the gospel. Some time before leaving Lattakoo, I was in the habit every sabbath morning of leaving the station at daylight, on horseback, and visiting two and sometimes three villages at eight miles distance. On these visits I have continually met parties-occasionally a mother, her children, and servants, even before sunrise-coming to enjoy the sabbath services on the station.

"The Bechuana language is extensively spoken. It is not confined to one tribe, or to twenty tribes. I have met with many persons from many different tribes living at a remote distance, and conversed

* From Cape Town to Lattakoo. 3 B

with them in the Bechuana language. I have seen individuals from within the tropics, and found no difficulty in holding converse with them in the Bechuana lan guage; and I have good authority for believing that the Damaras on the western coast, the Mosambiques, the inhabitants of Delogoa Bay and of central Africa, speak different dialects only of the same language.

"The effects of missionary labours are far more extensive than people are gene. rally aware. To see the results we must look beyond the pursuits of a missionary station. We must look to distant tribes, and listen to their cry, 'come and help us! The light is reflected from the mountains and plains of the interior. The Barolongs are soliciting missionaries. Sebeque (sometimes called Sebego,) my friend, the king of the Wanketsens, that populous and powerful nation, has repeat edly applied for missionaries. Nor is that the extent of missionary influence. A tribe, nearly four hundred miles to the east, heard of the Lattakoo mission, and, as if a star had been seen, the king of that nation sent two of his powerful men, with their attendants, to see what kind of beings we were. They came, saw our manners, regularly attended divine service, and experienced our kindness. A report having been circulated that some of the tribes, through which they had to pass on their return, intended to murder them, they earnestly solicited me to accompany them back to their own country. I consented; and that journey was to me one of the most interesting I ever took. When I reached the Babarutse, Mokatla, the chief, joined me with a number of his men. We had no sooner entered the territories of Moselekatse than I was treated with the greatest kindness and respect. At every place where I slept I was presented with an ox for slaughter; and as I ap. proached the residence of the king, I received numerous testimonies of the pleasure which he enjoyed in the prospect of seeing me. On the day of our arrival at the metropolis, we saddled our horses and preceded the waggons: we entered a large fold capable of holding 6,000 head of cattle. A semicircle of four hundred warriors, four men deep, stood in the centre, all silent. When we alighted from our horses, according to direction, about three hundred men, who were lying in ambush at the entrance, rushed in and joined the main body. Some war songs were sung, and after three shouts all paused; when

A remarkable fact, that the name of missionaries not only protects the European traveller, but they are looked up to for protection by the natives themselves in passing from one nation to anotherEditor of the Commercial Advertiser.

Moselekatse came walking up to us, and shook hands with us in the most affectionate manner, welcomed us to his town and presented us with refreshments. During the time I stopped there, I had frequent opportunities of conversing with him, and experiencing the greatest kindness. He told me he was at a loss how to express the gratitude which he felt for the attentions I had shown his people who had visited our station. At one of these seasons he addressed me as follows:- My friend, my heart loves you;-you, although a stranger, have loved me; you have fed me, shielded me from danger; you have carried me on your arms and blessed me.' I replied, or rather interrupted him, with saying that I was not sensible of having done him any service of the kind. He rejoined, pointing to the chief men whom he had sent to our station, These are principal men among my chiefs; therefore I sent them to you. There are my eyes, my ears, my mouth; and therefore what you did to them, you did it unto me.' Laying his hand on his breast, he added, with all the ardour of his soul, My heart to-day is whiter than milk'-(signifying great joy). He accompanied me a day's journey from his town, sent me away with blessings, and the last thing which he said was Visit me soon again, and bring missionaries; I wish to have things here as they are at the Lattakoo mission."

6

"My friends, these facts call for our gratitude, and encourage us to hope that the time to favour Africa is come. It is impossible for me to describe what I felt when I met the French brethren, and Mr. and Mrs. Baillie, of our society, at Philippolis. I thanked God, and took courage, and let us hope that these are but pioneers of the legions which France and our friends in England, will yet send forth to join us in the glorious enterprise of making a conquest of the interior.

"Whether we look to the interior or to Cafferland, the prospect brightens and inspires our hopes. The boundaries of God's kingdom are daily extending, and Ethiopia is stretching out her hands unto God. In my late visit to Cafferland, I stood on an eminence and cast my eyes on the spot where Van der Kemp first pitched his tent. How changed the scene! Compared with that period the desert now rejoices. His faith descried at a distance what we now realize. At the grave of our missionary, Williams, I stood with indescribable emotions, and gazed with transport on the host of missionaries of different societies, who hastened into his labours, and who are extending their exertions over the hills and dales of Amakosa."

The resolutions passed were six in number. The following are the 2d and 5th:

"2. That, notwithstanding the numerous efforts which have already been made

The arrival of Messrs. Hervey, Read, and Ramsey, at Calcutta, was mentioned at p. 196. Before their arrival, while detained in the Hoogley river, they repeatedly went on shore, and from what they observed while visiting the people, and seeing and conversing with them on board of the vessel, Mr. Ramsey makes the following

Statement respecting their Condition and Opinions.

After a confinement of 142 days on board the Corvo, I went ashore at Diamond Harbour with Capt. S. and Mr. Read. We walked in various directions for about two hours, and then returned to the vessel. You cannot imagine how grateful I felt, to think that God had preserved us amid the dangers of the deep, brought us safely thus far, and permitted me to put my foot on the shores of India. I endeavoured to lift my heart to God in prayer for my brethren and myself, and for these poor benighted heathen.

I was pleased with the appearance of the paddy fields, the cocoa-nut trees, the bananas, &c., and the large flocks of sheep and goats and herds of cattle; but as I felt more concern for the people, we directed our course towards their dwellings. On our way we were met by three females; but more of these again. When we ar

"

rived, we found their houses were made of mud, and covered with bamboo rods and leaves. We entered the houses and found them quite cool; they are from the ground to the eaves about seven feet, and from the floor to the top about twelve feet. We saw nothing to answer the purpose of chairs. Here and there a mat was spread upon the floor. Before the doors we saw rice spread on mats and drying in the sun; and near to it cow-dung spread to dry for fuel. The most of the men seemed to be busily employed in making a kind of net work, and paid very little attention to us, seeming to be absorbed in their own concerns. We were able through Captain S. to make various inquiries respecting things. After we were tired of looking at the men and their houses, we went into the house occupied by the females. Their rooms were adorned with the pictures of their temples and gods. Some of them I saw together with their tom-toms, or drums, which they use at their festivals and worship, similar to the toy-drum which may be had in the shops of our cities. Near the door was a hole dug in the earth, which serves for an oven. I saw only one pot, which was used for the purposes of cooking. In this they boil their rice and make their gee, an article which they use instead of butter. 'The females were clad in muslin from head to foot, having their On their foreheads were the marks of the hair plaited with a good deal of neatness. beast, the idols they worship. On their arms, wrists, and ancles, were silver rings and clasps, and on their feet were sandals. They appeared to be lost to every refined moral feeling. Oh when shall the daughters of India receive and love the truth of the gospel! If the daughters of Zion in America could but see what I have this day seen, they would pray more fervently for the salvation of those who sit in this benighted region.

In returning to the ship we passed a burying ground, where a number of the English lie buried; but had not time to turn aside to read the inscriptions on the tomb-stones. The natives brought us back in good season, and I felt much refreshed in consequence of my walk.

About six o'clock we cast anchor. And on the shore about a quarter of a mile from us, we saw the natives burning the body of a man. At a distance several persons stood with their backs towards the body, while five men were busily employed in burning it. The body being burnt, a part of the ashes was taken and thrown into the river, and the people then dispersed.

Half an hour afterwards we heard the sound of the tom-toms, and the noise of the people shouting aloud and singing. They were at their worship. Oh how my soul sickened at the noise. Are these, I asked, immortal beings? Yes, and they too have souls to be saved! But oh how

benighted they are. of superstition and these slaves of the liberty.

Lord, break the spell sin speedily, and set adversary of God at

After tea I fell into conversation with a Hindoo Sicar, and talked with him for nearly an hour. As he could talk some English, we made out pretty well to understand each other. I began by asking him what that noise meant which I heard; upon which the following dialogue took place:

"It is a Hindoo festival," said he. "The Hindoos pray to God now, then at eight o'clock again." How often do they have their festivals or meetings? "Every day." What day is your Sabbath? "Hindoos have no Sunday like English people. They pray every day." Why do not you go to them now? "I not know any body there. If I had friends, then I go." What do they do there? "Make a fire, catch hands, dance around, and sing." What then? "At eleven o'clock they go to bed." Do the women do so too? "No; no; no woman come there. They stay in the house." Have they gods with them there? "Yes." Do they pray to them? "Yes." What is the use of that? They cannot hear or see. "I know Hindoo religion foolish. I like English much." Can you read the English? "Not much." Did you ever read our Bible? "I read a little. Not much. We have a Bible too." Our Bible tells us that there is only one Godand he made all things. "Yes. My Bible say so too-one God bigger than all the others-great many gods. He made you white and me black. He give you your Bible, and me mine." What do you think of Jesus Christ? "I not much like him." Why? "My people all hate me, if I do." Do not you think the religion of the Eng

lish people better than yours? "Yes, more good." Why then do you not turn from your idols, since you know it is foolish to worship them? "I know. Our Bible say all Hindoos will be Christians after a while." How long? "About forty years." In forty years? "Yes, in forty years all Hindoos be Christians." Why do you not turn now? "The full time not come yet." This answer filled me with wonder: I could not but lift my heart to God in prayer, and say, oh Lord hasten that blessed day. I continued, if a hundred Hindoos would become Christians and throw away their idols, would you do so too? He replied, "I turn if great many do." Then you know that you ought to worship our God? "Yes." Why do you not then? "My father hate me; I lose caste; my people not speak to me any more. I do not like that." Then you are more afraid to make your father angry, than you are to offend God. He smiled and said, "Yes." Have you a brother? "Yes." Do you love him? "Yes." If your brother should turn to be a Christian, would you love him then? "No. I hate him." Why hate him? "My father say so, and padre say so too." If your brother should come to your house, and be sick, and ask you to take him in, would you do it? "No." If he should ask you for a little rice, would you give him any? "I love my brother, but I not give him any thing." Would you let him lie at the door and die, and not give him any thing? "Yes; not touch him." What! let your brother die! "Yes." Oh how true it is that the heathen are without natural affection! I added, I would not do so, if you were my brother. "I know Christian not do so. Hindoo religion foolish, not good."

$152 35

$10

3

5

18 00

125 00

Amount

75 00

$370 35