to form a correct opinion as to the possibility of recommencing that mission. When I arrived at Khamies-Berg, Brother Threlfall was perfectly restored to health, and fully engaged in various kinds of labour. As I had left Mrs. Shaw a few days after her confinement, and she and the children would have to come up alone in the wagon, Brother Threlfall proposed to me to allow him to go with Jacob to the Fish-River. This was agreed upon, and they immediately began to prepare for the journey, and set off about the last of June, 1825. Jacob Links and Joannes Jager accompanied him, who were companions of his own choosing; and he was to be here again, at the farthest, by October 1st, in order to assist at the public or general meeting. Sometime in August I received from him the following note, bearing the date of July 4th :

"Korase, Monday, July 4th. "We arrived here safely yesterday morning, and preached twice to a congregation of about twenty adults. We tasted a little animal food, the first since we left you. We expect to set off again this evening, or to-morrow morning. We travel slowly. We have heard some alarming accounts of the state of the natives and country beyond the Orange-River. They say Gammap and another chief are dead; that the people of the Warm-Bath are dying of hunger. Some Bastards who live by the mouth of the Great River passed here yesterday. They said all they could to discourage Jacob and Joannes; but these two brave fellows, to use a phrase of Ambrose's, had their courage and confidence steeled, and declared themselves fearless through grace, and that they were not only willing to suffer, but to die in the cause of their Lord Jesus. I am sure they had more courage than I had, for my heart fainted within me; but seeing their strength of faith I got the better of my fears. They are companions to my liking, and often do my soul good, and put me to the blush for the weakness of my faith. They appear to be going on this journey with something of the same feelings that the Apostles of Christ had after their baptism from above. I am happy in my soul, and feel penitent for my sins before God. We have come so far in peace. We often think of you, and our other friends of your Society. Love to all. Yours truly,

"WILLIAM THRELFALL. "The Rev. B. Shaw, Lily Fountain,”

Brother Threlfall and myself had been reading some of the works of St. Ambrose just before he set off, in which the expression was found.

July 19th, he wrote a few lines at the Warm-Bath, where they had remained some time to rest their oxen, and had also purchased others. He says, Tsaumap (whom they found at the Warm-Bath) had given them much information respecting the tribes to the northward: That the old chief was very poor, having been robbed of all his cattle, not by Africaner's people, as had been reported, but by some of the disaffected people of Bethany. He adds, that it will be impossible for them to be at Lily-Fountain by October 1st, on account of the drought, &c.; but that we shall be able to settle the accounts, &c., without him, and charges us not to be uneasy respecting them: That they were designing to proceed the next day. The above note I received August 23d.

Oct. 16th.-I received a letter from Brother Wimmer, of Steinkopff, saying that he had heard the awful news that Brother Threlfall and his companions were murdered. Of this we took no notice, because reports of this kind are frequently circulated. We had long heard that Brother Archbell, and three or four of our people, had been killed by the Bergenaars. It is also reported that Brother Schmelen is no more.

Nov. 5th.-A Namacqua arrived from the Great River, who brought the same report, but differing in many circum

stances connected therewith.

Nov. 13th. Some of the people of Warm-Bath arrived, all of whom declared it as their firm opinion, that our Brethren were killed, and that brother Schmelen would never return from the journey on which he had gone, viz., to the River Koesip. They brought with them several receipts written by Brother Threlfall, bearing the dates of August 6th and 8th, for articles for which Brother Threlfall had received oxen, &c. On the back of one of the receipts was the following note:

"Being rather unkindly handled by this people, in their not finding, or per mitting us to have a guide, we returned here yesterday, after having been to the north four days' journey, and losing one of the oxen. I feel great need of your prayers, and my patience is much tried. These people are very unfeeling and deceitful, but, thank God, we are all in good health, though we doubt of success. Our cattle are so poor that they cannot I think bring us home; but we shall yet try to go farther, and then it is not unlikely but I may send Joannes and a native to you to send oxen to fetch us away. Don't be uneasy about us; we all feel

often much comforted in our souls, and the Lord gives us patience. We are obliged to beg hard to buy meat. My best love to all, particularly to Mrs. Shaw and the children, and Mr. and Mrs. Haddy. Peace be with you.

"WILLIAM THRELFALL. "Warm-Bath, Aug. 6, 1825. "To the Rev. B. Shaw." This is the last note we received from Brother Threlfall.

Dec. 15th.-Brother Schmelen arrived here this evening. It having been reported that he was murdered, we were thankful to see him, and his appearing gave us hope that our Brethren would ere long return again. But when we came to ask his opinion respecting them, he gave us no ground to expect seeing them again in the flesh. However, as he merely came here to seek supplies, and was about to return to Steinkopff, and so soon as his oxen were able, begin his journey to the Cape, I determined to defer writing to you till we should see Brother Schmelen again.

March 20th, 1826.-Brother Schmelen arrived here, on his way to CapeTown; and from the reports which he has heard, though they differ in many of the circumstances, we are almost constrained to believe that our Brethren are no more. It would appear from all the accounts which we have heard, that they left the Warm-Bath about the 9th or 10th of August: that the person whom they procured as a guide to the Fish-River, (not one of the Warm-Bath,) either the first or second night after their departure, having met with two others as wicked as himself, took them to a small kraal of Bushmen, and murdered them some time in the night, after they had laid down to sleep, or early the next morning. It would appear that they killed them merely to obtain the few trifling articles which they had taken with them for the purpose of obtaining food. About the same time, some of the said party went to the house of Brother Schmelen, it is supposed with the design of putting an end to his life, in order to obtain his powder, guns, &c. Happily he was not at home; but Mrs. Schmelen assures us, they sat by her for a considerable time, one of them with a gun in his hand, ready to shoot her; and it could only be attributed to some invisible power that he did not, as she was alone, excepting her child and a few servant girls, the men being all of them absent. If the person who became the guide to Brother Threlfall be the one Brother Schme

len supposes him to have been, he is a cruel ruffian, well known to the different tribes in Namacqualand as a bloodthirsty savage, and is not allowed to reside amongst them. Hence he is said to live by murder and plunder. We should have gone before now, or sent some of our people to the place where it is said the murder was committed, to inquire more particularly into the circumstances of the case, but the season has been so excessively dry, that our horses and oxen are quite unfit to go from home. As the Lord has lately sent us rain, the grass is beginning once more to make its appearance, and in the course of two or three months we hope for an opportunity of accomplishing what we so earnestly desire.

*

Having so much cause to fear that this report is founded on fact, we feel ourselves most strangely in the dark respecting it. That Brother Threlfall should be preserved at Delagoa, while almost all the Portuguese were put to death; that on board of ship, while the crew were dying daily, he should survive many who were much more likely to live than himself; that he should come here, on account of his ill state of health, and by the blessing of God be perfectly restored; that he should undertake the journey which I had fully designed going myself, and fall a sacrifice to the barbarity of a ruffian, in the vicinity of the first place where the Gospel was preached in that country; that myself and others have travelled several degrees beyond the place he reached without the least apprehension of danger; these are circumstances which are to me a complete mystery, and a depth which I cannot fathom. The circumstance was so unexpected, and is so truly mournful and afflictive, that it is scarcely ever out of my mind. Jacob has left a wife, and Joannes a wife and child, to mourn their loss. The only source from which we can derive solace is, that all three were deeply pious men, and fully devoted to God. Not one of them I believe was thirty years of age; all of them were therefore in their bloom; all of them were humble, holy, active, zealous men, from whom we expected great things. All of them promised fair to become pillars in God's house, and be extensively useful in the conversion of the Heathen; but, alas! alas! our hopes are blasted! May we hasten to the sanctuary of God, as our only refuge; may we there hear him say,

*Warm-Bath; where the two Albrechts, Seidenfaden, Tremp, &c., have laboured.

"What you know not now, you shall know hereafter." The reason I have written so largely at present is, that I supposed others would write, and you might consider me negligent. Had I been sure that none had written respecting it, I should have delayed this statement, till we had seen the spot where the affair took place. Although our hope respecting them appears to be quite gone, and none of us believe that they will ever return, yet such re

ports are so common in this country, that I myself should not even now be surprised to see them again. I must now close this melancholy account, having stated all that we know respecting its authenticity. I never stood in more need of your prayers. O remember us, that our faith fail not, and that whatever our end may be, and whenever it may come, we may be found ready to enter into the joy of our

Lord!

MR. SCHMELEN, Missionary of the London Missionary Society, has arrived in Cape Town, from Great Namacqualand, and has brought the melancholy intelligence of the murder of Mr. Threlfall, Wesleyan Missionary, Mr. Threlfall, it appears, left Khamies-Berg, Little Namacqualand, about August last, accompanied by two men, belong ing to that Missionary Station, on an intended journey of discovery to the Damara's Country, with the view of selecting a suitable spot near the coast for the establishment of a Missionary Station. When he arrived at Kam manoup, in Great Namacqualand, the Chief strongly advised him to return; but he determined upon going forward, and prosecuting his intended journey. After having obtained some necessary articles, and hired a guide and several men to accompany him, he proceeded forward. A few days after they left Kammanoup, they arrived at a Bush

KHAMIES-BERG. Extract of a Letter SINCE our arrival here, (August 17th, 1825,) I have been deeply impressed with gratitude to God for his goodness, so conspicuously displayed towards these Namacquas, the people belonging to this Institution; and although the blessed effects of the Gospel here are generally known, yet I think it my duty to bear my testimony to the triumphs of the Cross, with which I myself have been frequently and forcibly impressed. They have been greatly benefited in temporal things; having been taught useful arts, and to cul

man Kraal, where Mr. Threlfall, and the two men who accompanied him from Khamies-Berg, were murdered by their treacherous guide and his companions. One of the men was shot whilst asleep, and the other shortly afterwards. Mr. Threlfall fled to a bush, but was pursued and wounded by a musket shot; when a Bushman, instigated by the villanous guide, pierced him near the heart with his assagai, and killed him. A Bushmau, who was at the Kraal on the night the murder was committed, fled, and gave the information to the people belonging to Mr. Schmelen's Station. The guide was afterwards seen wearing the clothes of Mr. Threlfall.

We understand that Mr. Schmelen was, at the same time, on a similar journey, and was preserved to accom. plish it in safety. He travelled beyond Woolwich-Bay, and reached the Coast, where a vessel was stranded a few years ago.

from Mr. Haddy, dated Jan. 26, 1826. tivate land, sow corn, and make gardens, &c.; having risen from a merely pastoral, to a comparatively agricultural life. Before they had the Gospel, they wandered about with their cattle from place to place," having no certain dwelling-place;" but now many of them have built houses, to dwell in themselves, and barns to preserve "the fruits of the earth." They have also learned the value of property. In former days, many of them were much imposed on, by persons who failed not to take every advantage of their ignorance,

and to use every artifice to obtain their cattle, for articles of but little real value, and to them rather injurious than serviceable; but now they traffic on better terms, by which, of course, their comfort and happiness are greatly promoted. They have been collected together, and form a sort of village, which, for the number it contains, though not in the mode of its formation, may be compared to many in England.

The number of persons who regard Lily-Fountain as their home, is between seven and eight hundred; and though the Namacquas are naturally addicted to wandering, yet now they seldom leave the Institution, unless circumstances compel them to it. The Gospel, the means of grace, their property, friends, &c., all tend to give them an interest in the place, and to unite them together. A rare sight this, in this thinly inhabited and barren part of the globe. They have derived another great advantage from the peace and quiet which they now enjoy,-The absence of those wars and hostilities, which none of the tribes of Africa yet discovered, in a purely heathen state, are free from. Before Christianity was introduced here, their neighbours, the Bushmen, were frequently making attacks on them, and stealing their cattle; the consequence of which was, that much blood was shed. But since they have been concentrated into a body, and have had a Missionary residing among them, they have had nothing to fear either from enemies without, or from any who might be disaffected within. For, on the one hand, the Bushmen dare not venture to attack the Namacquas now; and on the other, the Namacquas will not attack the Bushmen; having been taught by the Gospel, to regard them as the offspring of the

same common Parent.

CAFFRARIA.-Extracts from Mr. Kay's

JAN. 28th, 1826.-The Caffre chiefs, and their company, left Graham's Town this morning; being anxious about home. Various circumstances rendering my return with them impracticable, at the present juncture, the Commandant has very kindly granted them a military escort, to conduct them safely into their own country. Much attention has been paid to them by the English inhabitants; they have received numerous presents, and are going back much gratified with their visit.

The appearance of Dushani, in Albany,

Their spiritual and moral improvement is seen in their regard to truth and sincerity in their intercourse with each other, and with all men. While enveloped in darkness, having "no fear of God before their eyes," but little if any regard was shown to honesty; but on the contrary, he who most excelled in deception, &c., judged himself the most praiseworthy.

Their veneration of Jehovah, as the God of providence, and the Sovereign Disposer of all things, is great and affecting. Although the Namacquas were not idolaters, in the common acceptation; yet many degrading customs and ridiculous ideas prevailed amongst them. Divine light has shone into their hearts, and most, if not all, of these are laid aside. They have been taught to look above the earth for fruits, and higher than the clouds for rain; even to Him who gives both the former and latter rain, and commands the earth to "yield her increase." Of many it may truly be said, Their "conversation is in heaven, from whence they also look for the Saviour." Their souls breathe after God. I have been frequently struck with gratitude and admiration while hearing them in their rudely-constructed huts, offering praise and supplication to the God of Israel; and several times, late at night, after I have gone to rest, I have heard them continuing to sing the songs of Zion.

I do not mean to convey the idea that they have all received and obeyed the Gospel; no, much remains yet to be done; but surely these fruits of "the Gospel of the grace of God," call loudly for gratitude, and furnish the most encouraging motives to "be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."

Journal, dated Mount-Coke, Caffreland. has brought to remembrance some circumstances which it may not be uninteresting to notice. The last combined attack made by the Caffres upon the colonists, and which occurred at the time when Graham's Town merely constituted a military station, not long previous to the arrival of the British emigrants in this country, appears to have been commanded by this chief. The Commander of the garrison, hearing that the natives were approaching in a body, sent some parties out to reconnoitre. These, upon coming within view of the sable corps, immediately

gallopped back to the camp with the intelligence. The Caffres perceiving this, took it for granted that they formed the whole strength of the Eng'lish, whose hasty retreat induced them at once to conclude, that they were leaving the field in despair. Under this impression, they made a rapid advance, which they unsuspectingly continued, until close to the mouths of the cannon. At the very moment therefore, when the poor creatures were dreaming of victory, sudden destruction came upon them; a dreadful fire was opened, by which great numbers were destroyed; while numbers more escaped with serious wounds, and broken limbs, which in many cases proved subsequently fatal. One old man, who is now in town with me, acting in the capacity of Herder, received two or three musket balls in different parts of his body; one of which penetrated his left breast, and came out above the shoulderblade. When pointing out the spot where he stood, at the time he was shot, he also informed me that he laid amongst the dead for several hours; (during which period a party of soldiers passed by, examining the bodies ;) but afterwards he managed to creep away on his hands and knees, stuffing his wounds with grass and herbage as he went along, in order to stay the blood; at the same time taking inwardly a kind of purgative herb, and the leaves of certain bushes, which they are in the habit of using for medicinal purposes. He appears to have travelled, in this state, between fifty and sixty miles,a circumstance altogether incredible, excepting to those who are acquainted with the hardihood of the Caffre. His wounds are now perfectly healed; but large scars remain, showing where the balls made their passage. Upon my asking him how he accounted for so remarkable a deliverance and preservation, I was agreeably surprised and pleased with his reply, which he made with much seriousness, and with his hand upon his mouth,-" God Almighty only" (said he) "could have done it; who kept me alive to see this day, and hear his word." He promises fair for becoming a useful man on my station; and the more so, as he has great influence in the tribe.

The recollection of that day, and its scenes, caused the Caffres to approach the spot with trembling; but finding that their former conduct was not so much as named, and that they were every where treated with kindness and hospitality, their apprehensions soon gave place to gratitude. The circumstance

of the young Chief now visiting the colony in so different a character, with so widely different feelings, and without even an assagai in his hand, has creat ed a deep interest in his favour; while the respect which has been manifested towards him, has evidently induced in his mind a high sense of the kindness of our countrymen, and a visible attachment to their character. This materially adds to our influence amongst his subjects; and hence, it cannot but be regarded as an encouraging cir

cumstance.

Feb. 12th, Sabbath.-After a detention of several days in Graham's Town, occasioned by reports that the FishRiver was altogether impassable, we left in the beginning of the week, hoping that we might possibly be able to get through, the rains having in some measure ceased. A number of our kind friends accompanied us to some distance from town, on the day of our departure, and affectionately commended us to God in fervent prayer upon leaving us.

When we arrived on the banks of the river, our people unanimously declared the stream to be unfordable. We therefore still remain encamped, and in a situation somewbat peculiar ;encompassed with a dense forest, extending many miles every way; within hearing of the rush of a sweeping current, the hideous roar of elephants,the howl of wolves,-the scream of birds of prey, and the yells of numbers of baboons, which have their lodgingplaces in the cliffs of a tremendous precipice in front of us. We endeavoured to cheer this gloomy region with hymns of praise, in which our companions (consisting of Caffres and Hottentots) strove to join us. elephant passed within a short distance of our wagon during the evening; and a large herd of these animals came down to drink on the opposite bank last evening. A Dr. G (a Naturalist) being obliged to encamp near this spot last year, had his wagon attacked by one of these huge creatures during the night; it pushed its tusk through the side, and likewise through some chests which were within.

An

15th. The river having fallen, and two men, able to swim well, having arrived from Wesleyville to our assistance, we yoked our oxen about sun-rise, and determined upon making an effort to gain the opposite bank. The stream was still high, and very strong; and one of the wagons was in considerable danger. A soldier from one of the frontier stations, (military,) who was