course. Upon entering this populous place, MR. HAMILTON, another of the London Society's Missionaries, met us, welcomed us with great affection, and conducted us to his house, built with his own hands, and which he now converted into a pilgrim's inn. Many also of the poor black sons of HAM came out to meet us, manifesting their friendship by holding forth their sable hands; and the little children, who could not get hold of our hands, caught hold of our clothes. We visited and complimented their King, as is customary for strangers, and then retired.

Friday, 18th. I preached this morning to a large congregation, when the King, with his son at his right hand, sat at my feet. I was obliged to have two interpreters. It was delightful work to preach JESUS to a heathen congregation, with their King sitting below the board which sustained my Bible. In the afternoon I went to his house with an interpreter, in order to make him the usual presents, on which he said, "My heart glad is that you are come." The population of this place is certainly great; but I apprehend it falls far short of the calculations which have stated it at 6 or 7000. However, the accurate number I have not yet been able to ascertain. The Missionaries have already laboured much for the temporal advantage as well as the spiritual benefit of the people. Magicians abound even as in the land of Egypt, in the days of PHARAOH. Sorcery and witchcraft universally prevail, and the King, like him of old, in cases of perplexity, when his thoughts are troubled within him," resorts to his Magicians. Their faith is firm in almost any thing fictitious. Some time ago two females went out of the town to a short distance, and, upon their return, declared they had seen GOD, (whom they call MOREEMO,) and that he had told them not to select any particular place to sow upon for the season, (it being usual for them to choose the valleys, as they retain the moisture,) but to sow any where, or every where, as the rain would descend in abundance on every part of the land. The infatuated people immediately gave heed to these prophetesses. All the women who were able to work went out, and made a large garden to Morcemo, sowing it with all kinds of seeds which they possessed; and this they completed before they attempted to sow their own. The females who had pretended to have seen Moreemo, were abundantly rewarded for their message. O when shall the time arrive when the feet of those shall appear equally "beautiful" upon these dark mountains, "who bring the good

news" of salvation? In November last, they had a severe storm of thunder and lightning, which struck a very large tree in a conspicuous part of the town, and stripped it of its principal boughs. This circumstance caused much and serious aların amongst them, as they immediately inferred from hence that Moreemo was very angry. The people assembled, and marched in warlike order, with tiger-skins upon their backs, battle-axes upon their shoulders, and assagays in their hands, to the foot of the wounded tree: and after many curious preparatory manoeuvres, they took some roots which had been gathered for the purpose; bound the splintered part of the tree; climbed up to the top, and poured water upon it from thence; made a fire, in order to smoke the wounded parts; then, with a loud howl, pointing at the same time with their assagays towards the heavens, they cried, "Poola, poola, poola," (rain, rain, &c.) Thus they endeavour to heal the wounded tree, (to use their own expression,) and thereby cause the displeasure of Moreemo, which they supposed they had by some means incurred, to subside.

Tuesday, 22d. MRS. KAY, having sent the Queen a small present, she came last night with her attendants, bringing, in return, a large disk of thick milk, which is, probably, a fortnight or three weeks old, but nevertheless, as they prepare it, it is a very rich and wholesome food, and considered one of their principal luxuries. I preached this morning from John iii. 33. After service, a fine-looking Chief came up, with some of his people around him, shook hands with us, and with a pleasing earnestness in his countenance, requested that I would return with him, and reside amongst his people, who are situated to the Westward of Leetakoo. "I will," he said, "let you have my house to dwell in, till we build you another." I returned him no positive answer, only that I should visit him and his people shortly, if spared; upon which he exclaimed, "Make haste, make haste, for we are all strangers to that JESUS of whom you speak, not knowing what he came into the world for; but we wish to know, and soon." The above Chief and his people are under King LEISA, who says he should be very glad to receive a Missionary.

Thursday, 24th. I preached this morning from Mark viii. 22, inviting the blind to come to CHRIST for sight. I left New for Old Leetakoo about three, P. M., and, after having travelled about six hours, we rested for the night by the side of a small rivulet. I longed for more intimate union and communion with

the FATHER OF LIGHTS. 1 felt much gratitude of heart this evening to our gracious Benefactor for a little bread and water, by which my fatigued frame was much refreshed.

Saturday, 26th.-We arrived this afternoon at Old Leetakoo, about half past one o'clock, when we were directed to one of their principal places of resort, where we unyoked our oxen, and endeavoured to get a little refreshment, which was almost impossible, the crowd with which we were, in a few minutes, surrounded, being so immense. We came up just as they had concluded the interment of one of their people, who had the night before fallen under the paw of the lion, not far from the

town.

Sunday, 27th. I arose this morning in a place, and amongst a people, where the Sabbath is not known. MR. MOFFATT preached. Much indifference was manifested during service.

After service was concluded, a number of their chiefs assembled together in a circle, seated on the ground; and before I was aware of the subject of their consultation, they had passed an unanimous vote, that I should be invited to come and reside among them, as they were informed that I was a Missionary. On being asked, why they wished to have a Missionary? "BECAUSE," said they, "HE BRINGS PEACE."

At two P.M., I addressed several hundreds of them, who had assembled near our waggons, when they were much more attentive than in the morning, and seemed to listen with some degree of consideration.

Monday, 28th.-We have been surrounded all day with hundreds of the inhabitants. As soon as the sun began to withdraw his rays, they retired to their houses, as the evenings are now cold and frosty, which they cannot bear, They are excessively fond of tobacco and snuff, for which they incessantly beg.

I could not help reflecting this evening on the kind and over-ruling Providence of GOD, who certainly has the hearts of all men in his mighty hand, Were it not for his controuling and preserving power, we should stand in jeopardy every hour, in so distant a country as this, and among such a people. Every man being trained up for war, he carries his battle-axe, assagay, and, very frequently, his bow and arrows, by his side; the latter are poisoned with a deadly root. But we are in the hands of him who hath the "government upon his shoulders;" and "the GOD of JACOB is our salvation, therefore we will not fear."

Tuesday, 29th.-Riding round the town, this afternoon, which is very extensive and populous, I had an opportunity of conversing with many of its inhabitants as I passed along, having an interpreter with me. I asked an old man if he knew any thing of such a person as JESUS CHRIST.? He replied, in a very pertinent manner, "How can I know unless some one tell me?" This answer, so much resembling that of the Eunuch to Philip, constrained me to begin, while sitting on my horse, "to preach unto him JESUS."

Wednesday, 30th.-I felt much pleased to-day in witnessing the industrious habits of the Bootchuanas. In this respect they appear to excel every other tribe, whose manners I have hitherto had an opportunity of observing. The occupation of the men appears to be building, and taking care of the inclosures for their cattle; hunting, in which they are faithful sons of Nimrod; and preparing their wearing-apparel, which consists principally of skins, sewed together with the sinews of goats, sheep, and oxen. Some of their work is beautiful, being wrought in figures, which I should have thought beyond their conception and talents, had I not seen them. The employment of the females is to build the house, make its hedge, dig the garden, and sow the land. Their houses are neatly and uniformly planned, and peculiarly well adapted to a hot climate, admitting both by day and night a free circulation of air, but at the same time without those draughts to which European houses are almost unavoidably subject, and which in this climate are exceedingly dangerous. Each house is encompassed with an excellent hedge, which includes a pretty large threshing-floor. For the preservation of their corn, after it is threshed out of the ear, they erect large pots, formed of clay, under the wing of the house, some of which are large enough to contain ten or twelve sacks of grain.

This work of the females would appear to an European to be intolerable drudgery; but they appear to perform it with the utmost cheerfulness. Their fare consists principally of milk, roots, cor, and a kind of water melon, which they grow in all their gardens. They eat very little animal food. The men possess a remarkable degree of muscular strength. Both sexes are very healthy. Sickness is not at all common, except soreness of the eyes, which is sometimes very severe. They are almost complete strangers to infectious disorders. The aged recollect something of the small-pox raging amongst

them, at some distant period, but so long ago that they have almost forgotten it. The crime of adultery is held by them in the utmost abhorrence.

The majority of these people carry certain pieces of stone, horn, or roots, suspended from their necks in a string, and which they use for magical purposes, according to the direction of their sorcerers. However, I was extremely happy this afternoon, to see that their confidence in them does not render their value inestimable, for one of them gave me a whole string of these articles for a few buttons; and there were numbers standing round who seemed to envy the bargain, and were ready to make a similar exchange.

Sunday, 10th June.-Though in latitude 26° 40, we had ice this morning, near an inch thick; and, during the day, both snow and hail, which rendered our canvass cottages but inhospitable retreats. I preached this morning from Luke i. 77, with considerable pleasure and profit, feeling at liberty, and perfectly at home in my work. O for more of that mind which was in CHRIST, ever seeking to do good to the poor, wretched, blind, and miserable sons and daughters of men.

Thursday, 14th.-I returned this evening about sun-set, to New Leetakoo, or Kroomar, in health and safety, by the blessing and protection of Almighty GOD. We have now been travelling upwards of three months upon this vast and benighted continent, sowing the seed of life in all places where we have come.

About two days' journey (or 48 miles) to the westward of this place, there are two large tribes called the MATSLABOROOS, governed by two chiefs of the name of Lahiesee and Moora. About two and a half east of Old Leetakoo, there are two tribes of Bosjemans; and about a day's journey to the castward of them, there is a tolerably large, but mixed tribe of Bosjeman and Bootchuanas. About a day's journey to the eastward of them again, are other two large tribes of Corannas and Bootchuanas, separated from the last mentioned

tribe only by the Great River, which runs betwixt them. About two days' journey more to the eastward, there is a tribe of Bootchuanas, amounting in number to near 7000 souls, called the Gokas. To the N. E. of the above-mentioned place, (about four days' journey) there is large and populous town, called by the natives Meribahwhey, inhabited by an extensive tribe, called the Tammakas, or Red Caffres. And about five or six hours' journey to the N. of them, is another, almost, if not equally extensive, called the Mashows. About five days eastward of the last mentioned, lie two very large native towns, each containing upwards of 7000 inhabitants. One of them consists wholly of Bootchuanas, who are governed by a chief of the name of Lebenel. The other likewise is inhabited by the same sort of people, in manners and language, but they assume the name Moquannas tribe. Ábout five or six days north of them, is a town, containing about 12,000 souls, of the Marootze tribe.

The further the interior of this long unknown quarter of the globe is penetrated, the greater the population appears. We are now only at its gates. And how deplorable is the fact, that not one of the above-mentioned tribes, numerous as they are, have either a Bible or a Missionary! My very soul yearns over them while I am writing. Here is heathenism indeed, without the least mixture. Here the prophet's words apply in the strictest sense, "Darkness hath covered the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people."

My intention now is to remain at this place a short time: First, for the purpose of obtaining as much informa tion as possible from the London Brethren who are here: Secondly, to learn something of the customs and manners of the natives; but more especially to acquire a knowledge of their language: Thirdly, till I can obtain an interpreter; who at present is not to be found, there being but few who understand both the Dutch and Bootchuana language.

rant Bay, on the high road. It is a place of great respectability. There is a considerable number of white inhabitants, and the majority of them are friendly to our cause; and indeed we have reason to be very thankful that not only the Gentlemen in Bath, but