ness of pagan superstition dispersed by the rays of divine light, emanating from the sun of righteousness, and the devotees of idolatry and vice made willing to exchange the demoralizing system of a false religion for one, which, besides the spiritual and eternal blessings it confers on its true votaries, promises to elevate their character even in this world, and impart to them the comforts of civilized society; but we find persons in the lowest state of servitude eagerly embracing the doctrine of the gospel, and boldly confessing it before men, though that very confession often served only to rivet their chains, and add | cruel sufferings to their slavery.

Surely that doctrine must be of God, which thus wonderfully influences the minds of the Negroes, and while it inspires those, who believe it, with the hope of eternal felicity in a future life, enables them cheerfully to submit to all the hardships of a state of bondage, and even to rejoice in their slavery, as the means of making them acquainted with true freedom, the freedom of the soul from the fetters of sin. Were it possible to find an excuse for the traffic in human blood, the christian would doubtless find it in this, that a mysterious and merciful providence hath over-ruled it for the salvation of hundreds and thousands, who having come out of much tribulation, and washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, will one day join in the celestial song of praise to him, who was sent to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

CHAP. VI.

MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

THE missionary settlements of the United Brethren in this quarter of the world, lie on its southern extremity, in the colony of the CAPE OF Good Hope. It is a territory of very considerable extent, containing several ridges of high and steep mountains, and barren tracts of land, diversified by fruitful vallies and fine pasture-grounds, and intersected by several large and rapid rivers, which, during the rainy season, are greatly swollen, and often cause destructive inundations. Lying in a southern latitude, the seasons of the year are exactly contrary to ours: so that it is winter at the Cape when it is summer in Europe.

In 1669 the Dutch took possession of this country, and, excepting an interval of a few years during the late war, retained the sovereignty over it, till after the restoration of peace in 1814, when it was finally ceded to England. After the Dutch had made themselves masters of it, they established several colonies, which also served for military stations, or posts, occupied by inferior magistrates. In order to promote the cultivation of the land, it was let to European colonists, on paying a certain impost to government. These settlers, being mostly farmers, took possession of the fruitful districts, and by degrees drove the original inhabitants into the mountains, and barren parts of the country. The only town of note is Capetown, contiguous to Table-bay, and below the Table and Lion mountains. It is a place of considerable importance, and chiefly inhabited by Europeans.

The Hottentots, or original inhabitants, are a pastoral tribe, and consequently lead a roving life; for they never plant, or cultivate the ground; their riches consisting solely in oxen, cows and sheep. Their chief food is milk

and boiled meat, to which they occasionally add some wild roots, either raw or boiled. Their dwellings are low, round huts, terminating in a point at the top. They are covered with skins and mats, and skins are likewise spread on the ground. The opening, left for a door, is so low, that a person must creep into it. A number of huts standing together, is called a Kraal, and is generally built in a circular form. They mostly appoint one to be the captain or chief in each Kraal.

The Hottentots are generally low in stature; have pouting lips and flat noses, like the Negroes, with black hair; the colour of their skin resembling copper. Their clothing consists of a sheep-skin hanging loosely over their shoulders, and another tied round the waist. The former they take off when at work. Both men and women carry a bag, made of the entire skin of a Gazelle, on their backs, which contains their tobacco, pipe, tinder box, &c. They are of a phlegmatic disposition, naturally inclined to indolence, and often spend whole days in sitting or lying on the ground, either smoking tobacco, or sleeping. They have no divine worship, and few, if any, religious ceremonies *, and in their savage state appear a very stupid race, almost void of the power of reflection and reason: without any knowledge of divine subjects, but a vague notion, that there is one great Lord of all, and likewise an evil spirit, or devil. Of the latter, however, they do not seem afraid. They are remarkable for honesty; and never touch the property of others, though constantly lying within their reach. If they find any thing, which has been lost, they faithfully restore it to the owner, and it is an extremely rare case, that a Hottentot, however, strongly tempted by the pinchings of

* They are said to observe an annual festival on the day when the Seven Stars appear, which happens at the beginning of summer. As soon as they become visible, the parents wake the children and take them into the field, to show them the stars. All the inhabitants of the Kraal then meet together. to dance and sing. They sing words to the following effect: O Sita, (or Toiqua,) thou father over our heads, give us rain, that all our fruits may ripen, and we may have food in plenty. Grant us a good year, that we may not be obliged to rob the white people, nor they to come and kill us," Per Acct. Vol. v. p. 106.

hunger, will become guilty of theft. Formerly the educa tion of their children was very severe, and they never suffered those of both sexes to mix together, except at festivities; and even then the elder boys and girls were committed to the care of some respectable old matrons. Their veneration for aged people was great. Persons guilty of adultery, or fornication, were either killed or banished; and various means used to preserve morality. Their want of cleanliness, arising from their clothing and mode of living, is very offensive to Europeans.

After the Dutch had taken possession of the country, many Hottentots were hired as servants by the colonists, or farmers, who frequently treated them in a very oppres sive manner, and, instead of bestowing any pains on their moral improvement, seemed rather resolved to perpetuate their degradation. But, since British law has been introduced in the country, the Hottentots have been relieved from the oppressive yoke of servitude, under which they formerly groaned. Most of the farmers have imbibed more liberal principles; and the blessing, which God hath laid upon their instruction in christianity, has shown, that they are neither beyond the reach of divine mercy, nor incapable of acquiring habits of industry, and improv ing in moral character.

The Bosjemans form another tribe of pagans, inhabiting this country. This tribe lives beyond the Snow mountains in the Pampus hills, several hundred miles in the interior. They are properly descendants of the tame Hottentots, fi. e. those who live among the farmers,) and are a much more numerous tribe. By the cruel treatment of the colonists, who hunted them like wild beasts, often murdering hundreds at a time, they were driven into the woods and mountains. When pinched by hunger, they in their turn attack the farmers, and drive away their cattle. A Bosjeman, a son of their King, who became a convert to christianity, and lived at GNADENTHAL, once gave the missionaries the following account of his nation:

"The power of their King is absolute, and he exer cises an uncontrolled right over the very lives of his sub

jects. They suffer no stranger to live among them; and if any of their people go away and become christians, they dare not return, as in that case they are sure of being murdered They are divided into various clans or hordes, each of which obeys the oldest man as its chief, but these are subordinate to the king. They live chiefly by plunder. Formerly they, as well as all the other Hottentots, were a quiet and well-disposed people, but being deprived of their land, and robbed of their cattle by the Europeans, they became, in their turn, savage, and given to plunder. They perform a kind of religious worship to two rocks; the one representing a male and the other a female. When going out to hunt they implore the aid of these pretended deities, to provide them with food, First they go to the male rock and strike against it with a stick. If it sounds, they believe the report is heard in heaven, and that they will have success. But if they get nothing, they repair to the female rock, of which they pretend, that it is inhabited by a malicious spirit, and beat it well, upbraiding it, saying: Why do you, by your hidden arms, cause all the game to be shot dead, so that we can find none.' If they have succeeded, they extol the virtues of these stone gods.”

A third heathen nation in South Africa, of whom some have embraced the gospel, are the Caffres. They inhabit the territory beyond the Great Fish River, which divides it from the country of the Hottentots. They are tall and well-proportioned; their skin is jet black, their eyes large and their teeth very white. They dress in skins, and decorate themselves with rings, corals, &c. Their huts are more convenient than those of the Hottentots, and their land more fertile; and they apply themselves with greater industry to the cultivation of their fields and gardens. Regarding their religious notions, a Caffre woman residing in the mission-settlement, once related the following: "We know there is a God by his great works, and we worship him. In a thunder-storm, if the lightning strikes into any place near a Kraal, all the Caffres put away the clothes they have on, wash themselves, and dress in their cleanest clothes. Then the oldest man erects a high pole on the spot, where the lightning struck. On this pole all