tainous, and generally covered with woods sometimes I could hardly convince myself 46 to count on his fingers by an interpreter; for each person whom the interpreter named the chief extended a finger, and when he had counted ten, he struck his hands one against the other and began again. This calculation lasted an hour, and then he found that he had 410 men under his command. In the evening we had domestic worship as before. It was performed in Dutch, and a Hottentot, who knew the Caffre language, translated the explanation of the word of God and the prayers. On the 16th we went to visit a kraal, situated about a league from Fortwilshire, on colonial territory. Before arriving there we met five men on horseback, riding at full speed; we saluted them, but they proceeded without turning their heads. A little further on, three men, of immense stature, were seated at the door of their hut: one of them was staining his body with a sort of ochre, while the others were occupied with their assegais. Stooping down to look into their hut, I saw seven children, more beautiful than any I have ever before met with; and the first thought that struck me in remarking them was, that of the Christian ladies at Paris. "If they were here," said I to myself, "with what delight would they undertake the education of this interesting family!" Having asked where the chief lived, they conducted us to his kraal, where we found him surrounded by about thirty men, all as strong as Hercules, but, like Saul, the chief surpassed all the others in stature. They immediately asked for presents, and especially tobacco. The chief showed his cloak, which was nearly worn out, to Dr. Philip, intimating that he had need of an "In England," said he, other garment. "there are so many chiefs; write to them to send me their old clothes." We then asked them to show us how they conducted their wars; when one of them took a buckler of skin, which covered the whole body, and went through all their military evolutions. The 17th of March was the fair-day at Fortwilshire, and we had never before seen so many Caffres together; there were 1500. We saw them descending the mountains, carrying on their heads the articles they had to sell; some had horns and ox hides, and others mats and baskets. Some had travelled a distance of 100 leagues from the very limits of Caffraria, carrying on their head an enormous ox hide, which they wished to exchange for some buttons. We again saw the chief with whom we had met the preceding evening, and who now paid us a visit attended by all his people. He wore a European dress, fastened around the waist by a shabby girdle; his attendants walked behind him, in three ranks, in great order, and their cloaks resembled those of the ancient Romans, as represented in our poems. Some hours after the fair began. All the Caffres placed themselves in ranks, with their merchandise before them; and 1 in order to prevent the confusion which might have been occasioned by so large a multitude, the sale of each article was in turn announced by the sound of a trumpet. The colonists were extremely anxious to obtain the Caffre commodities, and gave in exchange little hatchets, knives, and buttons; for, with the exception of a very few Caffres, who lived on the frontier, these people attach no value to colonial money. The women were most desirous for handkerchiefs, which they arrange as head-dresses in a very graceful manner; and we remarked, that the coarser the material, the more value they attached to it, as they imagined it would last the longer. Captain Frend had provided us with a soldier to guard our carriages, lest any thing should be stolen from them; but all was conducted with the greatest order, and we witnessed none of those disgraceful contests which so often take place in large European fairs. The same fair occurs every week, and there are never less than 1200 Caffres present. 31 In the evening we were visited by Botma and the old chief Eno, the same that received Dr. Van der Kemp, when he was about to commence a mission in Caffraria. They passed the night in our tent, attended by their principal men. In seeing these men so interesting in their infantine simplicity, but so entirely sensual, and anxious only to satisfy their carnal desires, I was obliged to retire and pour out my heart in secret before the Lord; they appeared to me like children descended from illustrious ancestors, but who were ignorant of their origin. Oh, that they might learn to know their Creator, and the incomprehensible love which he has had for them! I perceived in this moment the grandeur and importance of the message with which God had charged us to them, and I felt as tonished that we could enjoy a moment's rest while they continued at a distance from God. After I returned to the tent, one of us read a portion of Scripture; an old Caffre translated the passage with much feeling, and during the prayer they were all much affected. On the 18th we left Fortwilshire, accompanied by Capt. Frend, governor of the fortress. Scarcely had we crossed the Keiskama, when the country assumed a totally different aspect. While in the colony, we had no sooner descended one hill, than another immediately presented itself before us, while all was scorched by the rays of the sun; but here we discovered at a distance the most beautiful plains, and numberless little valleys crowned with verdure. In the colony the summit of the mountains is almost always covered by rocks, which rise perpendicularly, and which often resemble a wall falling to ruins; but here the highest mountains that we saw were covered with trees, which spread a sweet freshness through the whole country. There the accacias are very numerous, and often planted at regular distances, as the apple trees in Normandy. But, as we advanced, we gradually lost the traces of beaten paths, and were obliged to open new ones for ourselves through the trees; we soon perceived Caffres advancing from behind the wood, armed with their assegais; most of them were entirely naked, and a great many followed us to ask presents. The word they employed for this object was "basila," which they continually repeated in the most graceful manner. In the evening we stopped near a stream to pass the night. Mr. Brownlee and his interpreter, the son of Tchatelion, having heard of our arrival, had come to meet us, and the latter preached to his countrymen, who assembled in great numbers in our tent. On the 19th we set out in the morning to reach the station of Mr. Brownlee. As our course had been directed towards the east yesterday, we now proceeded to the north, towards the source of the Keiskama, when we traversed vast plains covered with flocks. It rained to-day, and we were surprised to see the Caffres cast off their cloaks. The missionary, Brownlee, pointed out to us a mountain, where, some time since, a Caffree, accused of sorcery, had been put to death; after having fastened this unhappy man in his hut, they burnt his body with red hot stones, and in this state he was exposed to the rays of the sun, in a place where there were a number of ants; and it was only after having suffered these horrible torments that they took away his life. 22d March. We remained some days with the missionaries Brownlee and Keyser. The village they have commenced has yet no name; it is situated near the river Buffalo. Besides the dwellings of the There is in the work of Dr. Philip on South Africa a hymn, composed by a Caffre, and which many of the inhabitants of this place know by heart, and often sing together. The air has something in it so simple and yet so solemn, that it drew tears from me the first time we heard it in the church. This need not surprise you, for they themselves were so absorbed in this sacred exercise, that they seemed to have entirely forgotten this world. We attempted to sing this hymn, having obtained the music of it, but it no longer possessed their touching melody. Some 23d. The chief Tchatelion, who lives in the station, came to see us this morning; he is a very intelligent old man. years since he seemed to take much pleasure in following the instructions of the missionaries; but since the Caffres have been at peace with the Europeans, and that consequently the latter have more frequented Caffraria, their example has exercised a fatal influence over him, and he now raises a number of objections. "If your religion is true," said he, "why do the white people behave as they do? If the gospel comes indeed from God, why has he so long delayed to send it to us? You say that there is a devil, and that God is Almighty, why, then, does not God destroy him, and hinder him from injuring men?" We spoke to him of the immortality of the soul, and of the final judgment; he then asked whether, in the other world, MAY, we should bear the same name that we do Before quitting the station of Mr. Brown- While we were at Mount Coke, Mr. Shrewsbury pointed out to us a Caffre covered with scars. This unhappy man himself told us, that having been accused of sorcery by the raimnakee, all the inhabitants of his kraal caused him to undergo the most cruel tortures, and condemned him to be burnt. There is nothing new under the sun; for, not long since, we had in France laws which sentenced sorcerers to the flames. This young man being very robust, was happy enough to escape their hands, and hastened to place himself under the protection of the missionaries at Mount Coke. His accusers enriched themselves with his flocks, and, as he dares not again appear among them, he is ignorant as to the fate of his wife and children. This man one day confessed to Mr. Shrewsbury that he had formerly, in concert with many others, inflicted a similar treatment on an inhabitant of the same kraal, and had shared in the distribution of the spoils. Such an account cast sadness into our hearts, and we found that the work already effected by the missionaries in Caffraria, compared with what remained to be done, was really nothing. On this evening, Dr. Philip offered a prayer so fervent, and which so forcibly expressed all the feelings which we experienced, that no one could restrain his emotion; it seemed to us that God had granted our prayer, and that Caffraria was about to be changed into a land of peace and light. On the 24th we went to Wesleyville, about five leagues from Mount Coke. After having travelled the whole day, through a country where nothing but huts and savages were visible, without a single trace of civilization, we were agreeably surprised to find a complete village in the bosom of Caffraria. Forty men and women came out to welcome us on our arrival. In the evening we went to the chapel; the service was very solemn and instructive. The missionary prayed in the Caffre language, and each petition was repeated in a simple and touching tone by the whole assembly. This form of worship, which a little resembles that of the church of England and of the Moravians, has appeared to us to have this advantage, that each one takes in it a more active part, receives in his memory without difficulty the fun damental truths of religion. In this manner more than one Caffre, who has often repeated in public these words, "Lord have mercy upon us," has learned to pray to God in the secret of his heart. We had a very interesting instance of this the following day at the missionary Young's. The wife of a chief, lately converted to Christianity, prayed with several others in a room which joined ours, and besought God, in her simple language, to disengage her heart from the love of ochre and paint. As the women are accustomed to smear their bodies with a sort of red earth, which is not less desired among the Caf fres than paint and perfume are in Europe, this petition was very significant. At this station a great number of poor people have been received as members of the church, and a still larger number have been baptized. Among the latter is a young chief named Kama. The day after our arrival he came to visit us with another chief of the district: both were clothed in European costume. This dress gave them such an air of dignity, that they might have been taken rather for French officers than Caffres. Mr. Young made them dine with us; and while we were at table their wives came to see us, and to receive from us a present. Kama, who has been baptized, has only one wife, and the religion of Jesus Christ exercises too great an influence over his heart for him to think of taking any more. Pato has, indeed, taken the European costume, but his heart is not changed; his conduct is still heathen, and forms a striking contrast with that of the young and interesting Kama. Among the wives of Pato there is one of a superior rank to the others, and descended from the tribe of the Tambookies. It is from this tribe that the Caffre chiefs take their wives when they wish to ennoble their descendants; and, for the same reason, the Tambookies take their wives from the Caffres. On the 26th of March we stopped on the banks of a stream between Wesleyville and Mount Coke, near which we found a kraal: soon after we were surrounded by all the neighbouring inhabitants. As there were a great number of children, Mr. Read placed them in a circle round him, and began to instruct them on the new system of infant schools. The children repeated the English with great ease, and were much delighted to imitate all the actions of their master. After this exercise, which had much interested their parents, Dr. Philip spoke to them on the importance of education, and exhorted them to send their children to the school at the neighbouring station. We happened to have a book, which contained a number of engravings, and which we showed to them, and the pictures of Caffres, represented in their costumes, of assegais, and different things relating to their habits, astonished them exceedingly. We then made them understand that this book told us what passed among them, and that if they were instructed they would be able to make similar ones regarding the manners of the white people. Before quitting this interesting tribe, Tchatelion, the disciple of Van der Kemp, of whom I have spoken, read them a chapter from the gospels, and addressed them in a discourse, to which they listened with the deepest attention; and when a prayer was offered, they all prostrated themselves with their faces on the ground, after the manner of the Orientals. (To be continued.) Diew of Publick Affairs. EUROPE. Advices from Britain and France, are as recent as the 31st of March from the for. mer, and the 3d of April from the latter. While nearly the whole of Europe is more or less agitated, nothing of prime importance has transpired during the past month. In BRITAIN, the publick mind is still chiefly occupied by two subjects-the Reform Bill, and the Cholera. The Reform Bill was ordered to its third reading in the Commons, on Thursday, March 22d, by a majority of 116 votes, in a house of 594 members. Last year the majority was 109, there being 581 present. It passed the house finally on the next day. On Monday, 26th, the members of the House of Com mons, led by Lord John Russell and Lord Althorpe, entered the House of Lords, and presented the Reform Bill to the Lord Chancellor. On motion of Earl Grey the Bill was read a first time, and was ordered, after considerable debate, to be read a second time on Thursday, April 5th. It has since been adjourned to the 8th of that month. It appears that certain lords, in debate, expressed their purpose not to vote for the rejection of the Bill, on the second reading, as they did last year; but to favour its going to a committee of the house for discussion. They however declared themselves still hostile to some leading features of the Bill, as too democratick. On the whole, it ap pears, that the passage of the Bill in the House of Lords, is very questionable, except with modifications to which the Commons will probably not consent. It is still stated, that the king and ministry are determined on creating, if necessary, a sufficient number of new lords to ensure the passage of the Bill. The existing nobility are highly indignant at the suggestion of this measure; and we find it hinted in a London paper, that they will, perhaps, affect a tolerance of the Bill till the final vote, and then reject it decisively. We doubt this. Such a course would not only increase the popu lar odium against them, which is already very strong; but the new lords would, in this event, be certainly sent into their house, and the Bill be got up again in a new session of Parliament. The Cholera, it appears, notwithstanding the levity with which it was treated a month ago, was prevalent, and exceedingly fatal, in London. In six days 326 new cases had appeared, and more than half of them had proved fatal. There had been in all, between seven and eight thousand cases in England, and a large proportion of them had terminated in death. This awful calamity had also invaded both Scotland and Ireland-in the former, it had appeared in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in the latter, at Dublin and Belfast. The prospect seemed to be, that it was likely to extend throughout the United Kingdom-with different degrees of violence in different places, but with no certainty of entire exemption in any. The intemperate and the necessitous poor are its favourite victims. There was great agitation still in Ireland, chiefly produced by the demand and refusal of tithes. Some measures of compromise were in prospect, which it was hoped would have a favourable influence. FRANCE was tranquil at the date of the last advices. There had been a serious dis turbance at Grenoble, which had been subdued by a military force, and for which the military authorities had received publick approbation. A treaty had lately been concluded with Belgium, which it was hoped would have a favourable influence in terminating the controversy between that State and Holland. A French military force had entered Ancona, one of the provinces of the Pope's territories in Italy, which had given grievous offence to his holiness; but the French troops maintained their position. France has, for some time, been extremely jealous of the undue influence of Austria, in what are called the States of the Church; and this lodgement of troops in Ancona, appears to be intended to check some of the military movements of Austria. It has been apprehended that the conflicting views of these rival powers, in regard to Italy, would lead to war; but of this there seems to be no great probability at present. The Cholera was prevailing in Paris, and so many of the members of the Chamber of Deputies had left their post, that it was difficult to obtain a quorum to do business. Arrangements were making to relieve and take care of the poor; but dissatisfaction had been excited among them by evil disposed persons, which produced a disturbance that called for the interposition of a military force to restore order. On the 2d of April, the date of the last account, an official report stated that in the preceding twen ty-four hours, there had been 252 new cases and 100 deaths. The disease appears to have spread much more rapidly in Paris than in London. In several other towns and cities, in different parts of the kingdom, this fearful malady was also said to have occurred; but there was no official statement in relation to any city but the capital. SPAIN and PORTUGAL remain in statu quo. Don Pedro was collecting and marshal. ling his forces for the invasion of Portugal at Terceira; and some expectation was entertained that the whole of the Azore or western islands would be brought to make their |