and understand them makes us feel amply rewarded for the labour we have had hitherto, and encourages. us to go on to greater things. The first glimpses of our work bearing fruit are also appearing; and although nothing is so successful as success, and it is success we look for, and so far as we are concerned we should not seek to stop short of its attainment, yet it is only God that can give the increase. Wednesday, Nov. 5th.-Printed a lot of large-typed sheets of syllables, and easy words in Luganda. Our fount of these letters is unfortunately incomplete, being only on to p (some dozen or so of each letter), but we have got very good syllables, etc., as far as the letters go. I hope to cast and cut letters for the rest of the alphabet, as the type is very good, and a capital step between the large alphabets, which we print from the wooden blocks, and the small type supplied with the press. Thursday, 6th.-This day is the anniversary of my arrival at this place. Praised be the good and loving Father of all, who has bestowed on us and on our work so much blessing and prosperity since then, in spite of our imperfect service and our constant unfaithfulness. I have much reason to rejoice that matters have turned out as they have done, in spite of the gloomy prospect not many months ago, and the still gloomier forebodings of the members of our mission here. "We are helpers, fellow-creatures, Of the right against the wrong; Yet do we teach in vain ?" A Drama of Exile. "A new name I am getting here-'the Anti-Mukasa.' This das no reference, however, to a sofa-cushion !"-A. M. Mackay. CHAPTER V. HEATHEN SUPERSTITIONS. N his journal at this time Mackay gives very full IN and interesting accounts of some of the superstitious beliefs and practices of the natives; but the chief interest of these records with most people will be the picture they present of the fervent zcal of Mackay, and the restless energy with which he plies Mtesa and the chiefs, sometimes in open court, and then privately one by one, with arguments to break down their superstitions and to receive the Word of God as their guide. His bold and intelligent appeal to the Scriptures seems to have deeply impressed Mtesa, and this habit of referring all questions to the Word of God became in the end the chief factor in the mental and spiritual revolution which in the course of years passed over vast numbers of the Baganda. Sunday, Nov. 30th, 1879.-For our lesson I read and explained the parable of the Great Supper, and tried to make the subject as practical as possible. We did not see the king, but understood that after we left he had an audience, at which only some three or four of the head chiefs were admitted. It is said ΙΟ A. M. M. 145 come to see that the main subject of conversation at court is whether Mukasa, the "spirit," is to Mtesa, or Mtesa be carried to see him. At all events Mukasa has left the Lake, and is now quartered about a mile to the south-west of our shamba. His drums every day are a trial to our ears. He is expected to heal the king by a single word! But he must wait for the new moon before he commences his incantations. Sunday, Dec. 7th.—Went to court, and had prayers in chapel, the place being to-day exceptionally crowded. During prayer, I am happy to say that perfect quiet is preserved, and all, more or less attentively kneel and join in worship. I refuse always to commence until the drum-beating outside and other noises are stopped. During the lesson which follows, I have not been able to get the attention of more than the half of those present, ie., those sitting near. This is partly, if not altogether, due to the Katikiro, who is interpreter from Suahili into Luganda, not talking in a sufficiently loud voice, so as to be heard by all. Hence those behind take to reading whatever they can get their hands on-alphabets, sheets, gospels, etc.; and the disturbance thus produced is by no means small. By tact and quiet requests to leave their papers and listen to the lesson, I think it will be quite possible to gain the attention of all. To-day I stopped in the middle of the parable-the Prodigal Son-to ask a group, who were spelling out a page of syllables |