Jesus and in rendering them, in their degree, useful members of society, so as to supersede the necessity of any additional remarks. A very concise description of the two settlements shall, therefore, close this chapter.

GRUENEKLOOF has a fine situation north of Table-bay and below Table mountain, about 40 miles from Capetown. The tract of land belonging to the mission contains also Laweskraal and another Hottentot village. Near the premises of the missionaries are two rows of Hottentot houses, some built with stones or unburnt bricks, with gardens adjoining each. At the end of 1815 it contained 290 inhabitants.

GNADENTHAL lies in a valley, formerly called Bavian's Kloof. By repeated grants from government, the land now in the possession of the Brethren, contains about four thousand acres. It is surrounded by high mountains, watered by the river Sonderend and several smaller streams. When the missionaries arrived, it was a barren, uncultivated tract, but by their industry, and the blessing of God upon their labours, they have changed it into a fruitful field, exciting the admiration of all visiters. The large church, with the adjoining school-house and the dwelling of the missionaries, and other buildings, stand by themselves, shaded by large trees. Behind the premises lies an extensive garden, well stocked with different kinds of fruit-trees, besides vegetables in luxuriant abundance. From the garden a broad path, inclosed by rows of trees, leads to the burying ground, which is surrounded by a hedge of roses.

Besides laying out fields in different parts of the valley, formerly considered unfit for culture, they have planted the slopes and glens with poplars, oaks, and various sorts of trees, and inclosed a plot of ground for a vineyard, stocked with two thousand vines.

As early as 1796 they built a smith's shop for the manu factory of knives, different kinds of cutlery, ploughs, &c. In this they employ Hottentots, who are regularly paid. Since then they have likewise erected a carpenter's

shop. A water-mill, built in 1797, not only enables them to grind all the corn requisite for their own consumption and that of their Hottentots, but also to serve many of the neighbouring colonists. By thus setting their converts an example of industry, they have gradually weaned them from their naturally indolent disposition, and made them sensible of the comforts of civilized life. The consequence has been, that most of the inhabitants of the settlement have now as comfortable dwellings, and as good gardens and fields, as many of the peasants. There are but few among the very poorest, who still dress in sheep skins and live in huts, the far greater part are decently clothed, and their houses built either with unburnt bricks, or wattlings, plaistered with clay, with a door and window and a thatched roof.

In 1816 the settlement contained 252 houses and cottages, some built in rows, others standing irregularly here and there through the valley, which is two or three miles in length. Each cottage having a garden, the whole glen has the appearance of an extensive orchard; and in fruitful seasons, the produce of peaches, pears, and different other fruits, is very considerable. The number of inhabitants, at the close of 1816 amounted to one thou sand two hundred and seventy seven.

CHAP. VII.

MISSION IN RUSSIAN ASIA.

IN 1764 the empress of Russia, Catharine the great, issued an edict in favour of the Brethren, and at the same time signified her wish that they would form a settlement on the banks of the Wolga. A general synod of the Brethren's church being that year assembled at Marienborn, a resolution was taken to accept this gracious offer of her imperial majesty. The synod was the more readily disposed to engage in this undertaking, as it induced the hope, that an opportunity might thus be afforded for propagating the gospel in the East, especially among those pagan tribes, who inhabit the confines of Russia and Tartary.

The following year, therefore, five brethren went from Germany to St. Petersburg; and then proceeded to the banks of the Wolga. Having taken possession of a suitable tract of land, they began, with the assistance of some Russians, to erect the necessary buildings, to cultivate the land, and work at their trades. To this place they gave the name of SAREPTA. It furnishes a strong proof of their courage, and still more of God's protection, that five defenceless persons, with only a few Cossaks, given them now and then as a guard, resided a whole year in this desert, without suffering the slightest injury, though travellers were frequently robbed in these parts, and many thousand Calmucs were encamped in their immediate neighbourhood.

SAREPTA lies near Czarizin, about two thousand miles from Petersburg, on the high road leading to Persia and the East Indies by way of Astrachan. The arrival of several companies of brethren and sisters, in subsequent years, not only increased the number of inhabitants, but in a short period rendered it a very flourishing place. Its si

tuation on a rivulet, called Sarpa, near its confluence into the Wolga, led to the erection of mills; and the fertility of the soil amply rewarded their industry in agriculture, and occasioned the building of a small village, called Schoenbrunn, near the settlement, for the accom modation of those families, who were employed in farming and horticulture. The discovery of a mineral spring, at the distance of about five English miles from the bounda ries of SAREPTA, proved an additional source of prospe rity. Joachim Wier, M. D. the practising physician in the settlement, having analyzed the water of this spring, and found it beneficial in various diseases, submitted a dissertation on it to the imperial college of physicians, which met with their entire approbation. SAREPTA in consequence received a great many visiters who stayed a longer or shorter time, either in the settlement or at the spa, for the use of the water. In some years the number of patients amounted to two or three hundred, among whom were persons of different nations and of high rank, governors of provinces, generals and even princes with their retinues. This concourse of visiters, the subsequent arrival of several German colonists of the Lutheran, Calvinistic, and Roman Catholic communions, who erected villages on the banks of the Wolga, and its situation on the high road, greatly promoted the commercial interests of the place; so that it is now a very flourishing settlement, enjoying the countenance aud protection of the Russian Government and exciting the admiration of travellers; the more so, as it lies in the midst of a vast and nearly uninhabited territory.

The establishment of a flourishing colony, however, was not the primary object the Brethren had in view, when building SAREPTA. They never considered their intention, in erecting this settlement, would be fully attained, unless it should be the means of facilitating their endea vours to propagate the gospel among the heathen, and serve as a place of rendezvous to those brethren and sisters, who might feel disposed to devote themselves to this important service in the East. In order to effect this, they endeavoured to form an acquaintance with the Calmucs in their neighbourhood, and to cultivate their friendship.

The Calmucs lead a pastoral life, roving from place to place, in quest of pasturage for their numerous flocks of sheep, cows, horses, and camels; for they never till the ground nor build any villages, but reside in moveable tents, called Kibitke. They are divided into four hordes or clans, viz. the Kohots, Soongars, Derbets, and Torgots; and though they are subject to the crown of Russia, are allowed to regulate their internal government, both civil and ecclesiastical, according to established usage, and to choose their own sovereign, besides whom they have many hereditary lords, or princes. Their religion is rank polytheism. They venerate one supreme Being; but besides him, believe in a great many inferior gods, who, according to their ideas, govern the world in rotation. They likewise pay divine honour to many thousand deified heroes, called Burchans, whose number is yearly augmented by the deaths of holy persons. Those, who are ambitious to obtain this honour, must be well versed in their sacred writings, repeat many prayers, avoid the killing of any creature, be charitable to the poor and perform other good works. None but the priests can lay claim to this distinction after death, and on this account they are treated with very great respect. They are of dif ferent ranks; some being called gellons and others lamas. To the latter they pay almost divine honours. The Dalai Lama, or grand Lama of Tibet, is the high priest, or the head of their whole superstition. He is said never to die; and they are continually invoking his name. The common people know of no other means of salvation, but by the prayers of their priests, which they purchase with rich offerings. They believe in the transmigration of the soul: whoever, therefore, dies in an unholy state, has to pass through several stages for his purification, before he can indulge the hope of finally becoming a burchan. Their temples are nothing else than moveable tents, hung with very costly silk tapestry, superbly decorated with gold, silver and precious stones, and ornamented with the most grotesque representations of their idols. In many of their religious opinions and rites they bear a strong resemblance to the Roman Catholics. For instance, in the use of the rosary in prayer, the celibacy of the clergy, the observance of fasts, the meritoriousness of