ed into, some of the traders had not kept their faith, but still continued to induce the natives to desert, secreting them, particularly young women, in their wagons, and conveying them by stealth to Port Natal. They said that they were perfectly convinced that I was not aware of this, but, nevertheless, they knew that it was still practised. Another circumstance of some importance was alluded to; the men in charge of the last two prisoners, had been unable to convey them beyond the Tugăla. The information I had received at Port Natal rc

walk of ten miles at that unseasonable hour, not-ing the mutual agreement which had been enterwithstanding which they sang, as they went, one of the most melodious songs I have ever heard. About ten o'clock, a large party of young soldiers (560) arrived with bundles of bushes from the same place; they also entered the town with a song, and, as they passed along in a continued line, seemed like a moving forest. It is perhaps as well that the building mania is now so dominant, as this is the season when they usually go out to war. An entirely new ekanda, or military town, has recently sprung up, not more than three miles to the northward of this-the regiment call-garding them was, that the men, after placing ed Inzimmunzana having been removed from a spot equally distant in an opposite direction.

them in a hut, went in quest of tobacco; and, as might be expected, on their return no prisoners By pacing half the circumference of the exte- were found to guard. The version current here rior fence and the diameter of the interior, I have is widely different. The men, they say, did not calculated the number of houses in the town to leave their charge, but several white men coming be about 1100, and the population about 5500.- to the spot, engaged them in conversation, and, In any other than a military place, the average while their attention was drawn off, rescued the of five individuals to each house, which I have girls, who have never been heard of since. Unforallowed, would be too many, as in those there are tunately they look to me alone for the due performfrequently three or four houses belonging to one ance of the treaty, and shrewdly remark that, notfamily; but in the ekandas no person, with the withstanding letters were sent off at the time, exception of the Indoonas of the regiment, are some to traders then in the country, others to Port permitted to have more than one, which he occu-Natal, still "the words" have not been obeyed. pies generally with two wives and as many servants. Umthlella and Tambooza, who have the privilege of being married, have three houses, one for themselves, and the other two for the accommodation of their wives; but, in the generality of the out-places, at least two thirds of the houses may always be considered as occupied by the women. This afternoon, a quarrel having arisen respecting the thatching of a house, one of the disputants bit the finger of the other severely: the case was immediately referred to Umthlella, who sentenced the assailant to the fine of a cow and a calf. In the afternoon, the women returned from Imbelli-belli, bearing large bundles of bushes upon their heads, and singing as they passed along the following words, the same which they also sang in the night—

Akoosiniki ingonyama izeeswi
Chorus
Haw-haw-haw-haw.
Literally, "Why don't you give-lion-the na-
tions."

The king was so much occupied about the buildings, that he excused himself from attending to the business which I was desirous to bring before him to-day, but desired me, in the mean time, to communicate the particulars to the two Indoonas, who visited me in my hut for that purpose. They both disowned any knowledge of the king's order respecting the traders, first saying that it was on account of their not having previously obtained leave from him; but in this I was enabled to confute them, having been at Congella at the very time when Thomas Halstead (one of them) came up and obtained Dingarn's sanction. John Snelder, the other trader in question, had evidently incensed them by bringing back two Zoolu lads as servants to the very town from whence he had taken them just before the treaty was arranged. Both were taken from him and killed, by an order from Dingarn. They then acknowledged, what I now believe to be the true reason, that, notwithstand

Most gladly would I divest myself of all responsibility in these matters, which are quite foreign to the objects I have in view-but Dingarn has more than once declared that he looks only to me, and will treat with no other; and as the treaty is popular with them, and the king has evinced a decided intention to abide by his word-for the credit of my countrymen, and the permanency of the mission already established in their country, I feel myself bound by a double duty, as far as in me lies, to see it punctually fulfilled. They urged me much to enter upon this subject with them before the king to-morrow; but I told them that it was not right to engage in such matters on God's day, which should be employed in worshipping him. It was therefore agreed that the conference should be held on Monday.

Sunday, 12th.

"Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in hea· ven and earth is named."-(Ephesians iii. 15.)

Blessed Union! Christ the head!
One family in heaven and earth;
All for whom his blood was shed,-
United by that mystic birth.

Let us then as brethren dwell,

In sweet communion here below;
Of all our Father's goodness tell,

Till joy within each bosom glow.
How sweet to feel we're not our own,

But purchased by his dying love!
Who deigns one family to own

Of saints below and saints above.

Nothing can our union sever—
Bound with links can ne'er decay;
Let us then with joy endeavor
To help each other by the way.

One faith, one hope, one glorious Head,

One common war to wage;
Be love the banner o'er us spread,
While on this toilsome pilgrimage.

See that bright angelic band

Sisters, brothers, gone before; Soon beside them we shall stand, Redeeming mercy to adore.

scarcely a vestige will remain of the burning. No message having been sent from the king, I sent my interpreter to remind him of my wish to leave on this day, and to request an audience previously.

He soon sent to signify his readiness to receive me; and, accompanied by the two Indoonas, we proceeded to the Issigōrdlo, where he appeared, reclining on a head-stool in the door of his house. On being requested to commence the conversa

The victor's palm through grace they bear,- tion, I said that I was desirous to know on what
Of witnesses a glorious cloud;
In all our triumphs still they share,

And strike their golden harps aloud.

Though trials we may yet endure,
Like faith and patience let us prove;
The promises are still as sure,

And grace is free-and God is love!

account two of the traders (mentioning their names) had been sent out of the country; that I had already heard their own statement, but, as there were always two sides to every case, it was necessary to know what charges he brought against them before we could decide what ought to be done in the matter. "Now," he said, "it is my turn to speak"-and related the whole circumstance; from which it would appear that they had given Monday, 13th.-Last night, about seven o'clock, him just cause for offence. The allegations were, the people were suddenly called, and my interpreter that John Snelder, as before stated, had returned came to inform me that the town was on fire. As with some young men, whom he had induced to large bundles of thatching-grass were collected in accompany him to Port Natal, about the time that different parts, adding considerably to the inflam- the treaty was arranged; and that Thomas Halmable materials of the whole place, serious conse-sted had falsely used his name, by informing the quences were at first apprehended. Providentially, Indoona of the town where he was trading, that it the fire broke out on the lee-side, and the wind was the king's order that he should dispose of his drove it across the outer fence. The blaze at first cattle to him. He likewise complained of the gewas terrific; but by the immediate removal of neral conduct of the traders in inducing his people houses for some distance round the ignited quarter, to desert, and conveying them out of his country the communication was soon cut off. The rapi- in their wagons. On this latter point I questiondity with which this was effected was extraordi-ed him closely, in order to ascertain whether, since nary-as many men as could stand round a house, by main strength pulled it up, as it were, by the roots, and in a few minutes the materials were conveyed to a distance. There was no confusion, the Indoonas presiding during the whole time, and issuing the necessary orders.

the negotiation of the treaty, so serious a charge could be substantiated.

No positive proof was adduced-but so little reliance were they disposed to place upon the professions of any of the traders, that Dingarn plainly avowed he could not depend upon them, since they As soon as a sufficient space was cleared round had so often deceived him before. On this, I asthe flaming houses, a close cordon of men was sured him that the white people at Port Natal formed, who kept their station, with stakes in their were agreed to observe the terms of the treaty; hands, until all apprehension of danger was over. and that he might rely upon it no deserters had Dingarn did not make his appearance, although been received there since that period. That I did the fire took place not far from the Issigōrdlo, but not know they were there, he said, he was quite messengers were frequently passing to acquaint certain, or they would have been sent back; but him how matters were going on. I endeavored he had often spoken on the subject to them, withto persuade them to bring water, but they said it out effect. The word, I replied, which had passwas too far. The only means employed to ex-ed between us should not fall to the ground; if tinguish the fire was by occasionally throwing deserters were found at Port Natal, he might rely dust upon the flaming thatch, which not being upon their being sent back. Dingarn then said, heaped in sufficient quantities, had but little effect. that he considered me as the chief of the white The remarkable glare which was cast upon the people there, and that he should look to me to wild features and gestures of the natives compos- keep things right. I told him that as far as I was ing this immense concurse, all actively employed able this should be done, but that beyond persuain the midst of flaming houses and smoking rub- sion I had no power. His reply was, " You must bish, would have been a fine scene for a painter. have power. I give you all the country called As usual, it is not exactly known how it com- Issibubulungu*-you must be the chief over all menced, though a tolerably shrewd guess may be the people there." I said, that I did not wish for made, since it is stated that a fire was left unat-power; that my object in coming into his country tended in the very house first ignited, during the time the people of that section were called to eat meat, which they always partake of in a group in the open air. Although thirty-two houses were consumed, providentially not a single person was hurt on the occasion. By noon this day the burnt fence had been replaced, and new houses were erecting on the site of those which had been so recently reduced to ashes-before the sun sets,

was only to be a teacher; but, since he had said that he should look to me alone to regulate all matters relating to the white people, I would accept it, in order that I might take these words to the great chief, at Graham's Town (he considers that as the seat of government ;) and if I obtain his sanction also, I should then be enabled to pre

* Literally, the white people's ford.

Between this spot and Amahushani I observed on many of the ridges a stratum of rock, similar to that used as crucibles for melting brass at Unkunginglove. It is a very coarse, soft sandstone; and has the remarkable property of standing any degree of heat.

Wednesday, 15th.-An ox, which had been driven before us from Ukittaketǎni, was killed last night; and by the time we were ready to start this morning the only vestige was a leg,-the remainder having been quietly disposed of by my twelve baggage-bearers, who, as usual, were decorated with fat and fillets of hide bound round their foreheads, the hair hanging over their eyes, which gave them an unusually wild appearance. There had been rain during the night, and the day was one of the coldest I have felt in this country; as a proof, ice was seen in the hollows of some of the ravines which we passed in the early part of the morning, and the grass in those situations was covered with a hoar frost. After traversing the Amaguya mountain-which rises very abruptly, and is seen to a great distance-we reached soon after eleven a small village at its foot, called

for the baggage, I sent a message to the White Shields, requesting Nongalaza to procure the men required. Without waiting for them I proceeded again at three, attended by my interpreter and two servants. Soon after sunset we crept into some dilapidated hunters' huts by the road-side; which, though parly unthatched, afforded a tolerable shelter until the moon arose at two, when I pushed on with my interpreter, leaving the men to follow at day-light.

Friday, 17th.-Reached Berea this afternoon, at a quarter-past three; and soon after rode to Mr. Collis's, six miles distant, in order to acquaint him with the very awkward situation in which Dingarn had placed me, and to inform him of the measures I had in consequence taken with respect to the trade; in all which he expressed his entire concurrence. Returned home at eight; having been fifteen hours on horseback, since two o'clock this morning, and that without a relay. No tidings had been heard respecting the recent deser

ters.

Amatchubani; and thence, proceeding by Etandwăni, reached the Injandūna at two. Cokella as we rode up, was seated near the gate with a party of men, warming themselves round a fire. Although they replied to two or three questions which I asked, they appeared for a few minutes to take little notice of us, when suddenly Cokella rose, and saluting me with a loud Dakubōna (I have seen you,) seized me by the hand; the rest all followed his example-some holding me by the arm, others by the wrist, but each, with the most friendly intention, saluting me as they supposed after the English fashion, which, out of compliment to me, they had endeavored to imitate. Besides a list of four men, sixteen women, and five children-all deserters which had been given to me on the day I left Unkunginglove, and which must, no doubt, have greatly annoyed Dingarn, to whom they had just been reported-I was here informed that Bengapi, the principal wife of Zoolu (Indoona of the Black Clomantheleen) had absconded eight days ago, and bad taken the road to Port Natal. Having presented Cokella with the cloth I had Saturday, 18th.-As Dingarn has resolved that promised him for an ingoobo (cloak,) I went on I shall be responsible for the good conduct of immediately to the Black Shields-Cokella, and every individual who crosses his frontier from the the whole of the people assembling at the gate as vicinity of Port Natal, my obvious duty appears to we rode off, wishing me a good journey; and be, without delay, to communicate with his Excelhoping that I should go well on the path." On lency Sir Benjamin D'Urban, the governor of the my arrival, Zoolu, who is a fine-looking chief, with Cape Colony, on the subject, with the hope of oba Roman nose and commanding appearance, came taining his sanction for the appointment of some out of his hut with several attendants. He seem- officer, with sufficient powers to enforce the treaty. ed as little concerned about the fate of his wife as any and regulate the affairs of the settlement. In the of the bystanders; saying, that he hoped she would mean time the trade, with one admitted exception be taken, though he must have been well aware of in favor of Mr. Collis, has been virtually stopped, the cruel death which would assuredly await her having no legal authority to demand a recogni on reaching Unkünginglove. Neither himself zance from each individual trader, without which nor Cokella could charge her with any fault; and guarantee I cannot conscientiously take upon myit appeared to them both (as it certainly did to me) self the responsibility of their future conduct. The a mystery why she should risk her life by going inconvenience which may be felt cannot but be to a place where, if discovered, she would most temporary; and it appeared to me of far more imassuredly be sent back in confinement. It is possi-portance to preclude the possibility of any infracble that she may have buoyed herself up with the hope of security, on hearing of a circumstance which took place just before I last crossed the Tugăla. Two natives from Port Natal had, with the sanction of their white chief, been actually attempting, with the offer of beads, to induce their relatives in the Zoolu country to desert and join them there. These men we met on their return as we were approaching the river, little suspecting their design but the very attempt, so immediately after, and directly opposed to the terms of the treaty then in force, might have led Bengapi to suppose that she would be well received. Both a wife and a child in this country are designated by the term Umtuana, which is puzzling to a stranger; and without further inquiry liable to lead into mistake. For instance, when last in this neighborhood, Zoolu had excused himself from attending the service on Sunday, on the plea that his child was past recovery-or dead; as the messenger expressed it. This child, however, now turns out to have been one of his wives, now convalescent; but who it seems had been in a dangerous state. Reached Mangnenas soon after four; but the baggage did not arrive until some time after. Thursday, 16th.-Crossed the Tugăla, and breakfasted at Mr. Plankenberg's. Not being able to procure a sufficient number of fresh bearers

tion of the treaty, than that the trade should be allowed to proceed in its present unorganized state. The subject, unfortunately, does not rest here, but involves what is of much greater consequence than mere trade-the character of our own countrymen, and the interests of religion and civilization at large. To attempt any amelioration in the condition and habits of the nativesto endeavor to instruct them in the doctrines and practice of vital religion, would, humanly speaking, be futile, while subject to an influence too bancful to be particularized, and daily familiarized to such glaring derelictions from Christian duty, as must tend greatly to compromise any counter effort that might be made by the most devoted and indefatigable missionary exertions. On the other hand, if we consider the mere thread by which personal security is held from day to day-the integrity of a treaty already tacitly infringed-the very existence of a missionary establishment becomes involved in the measures that may be adopted for its punctual fulfilment.

Full well do I know and feel, that whenever a minister of the Gospel turns aside to mingle in politics, insomuch has he departed from his evident path of duty. His single, undivided aim should be the glory of his Lord and Master, to whom he must shortly give an account of his stewardship:

and through good report, and evil report, regardless alike of opposition or danger, he will neither lean to his own understanding, nor depend for success upon his own unworthy endeavors; thankful to feel, and to acknowledge, that neither his ability nor his success depends upon himself, but alone proceeds from above. There are, however, situations and circumstances, and this appears to be one, in which it is his duty to use his influence in procuring, and in all cases in supporting, such civil authorities as may be requisite for the suppression of vice, and the well-being of the community in which he resides. Under this view of the whole subject, and although acting at present in the capacity of a missionary, until ordained ministers of the church of England can be induced to occupy these stations, I have resolved to proceed immediately to the colony, for the purpose of obtaining the advice of his excellency the governor, without awaiting the arrival of the trading sloop, now more than three months absent, and whose return may be yet unavoidably protracted.

During my absence, a report has obtained circulation among the natives here (whether true or false I have now no means of ascertaining,) that several of the Zoolu chiefs, with Umthlella at their head, during my last visit, resolved to take my life, alleging that they were suspicious of the influence I had obtained with Dingarn; but that the design was over-ruled by himself and one of his father's widows, named Umkabai. Should there be any real foundation for such a report, I have indeed great cause for gratitude to a merciful God, in having been preserved from the pending danger; but I cannot for a moment entertain the supposition, their conduct having been latterly so friendly, and their desire to place this part of the country under my control having been so openly and so cordially avowed.

With shame our faces let us veil,
Whene'er those gracious words we read,
Our deep ingratitude bewail,-
For pardon, and for mercy plead.

Then, in a world of light above,
Our grateful song will ceaseless be
Worthy the Lamb, whose conquering love
Has reconciled my God to me.

Not more than thirty natives present at the Kafir service, the people not being aware of my return.

Monday, 20th.-Commenced my journey this day, but not so early as I had hoped, having waited some time for the people with my baggage from the Tugăla, and eventually started without it; so that we had no tent by the way. For the sake of speed the section of a wagon, viz. the hind wheels with a platform secured upon the bed, had been prepared; and with this nondescript vehicle and two spans of eight oxen, accompanied by my interpreter and Umpondombeeni, I set out from Berea at one o'clock, and bivouacked for the night on the right bank of the Pongata.

Tuesday, 21st.-Crossed the Mansbitote and Eloffe; and at half-past four descended a steep hill to the Umcamas, whence we continued our route to a rocky stream beyond, stopping, on a hill on the other side, for the night, at a quarterpast six. A piece of loose canvas thrown over the cart formed my tent; my bed, being spread between the wheels on the ground, which, from having so often fared worse, I considered in some respects luxurious.

Wednesday, 22nd. - Although knee-haltered, my horse contrived to stray away during the night; and after sending back to the Umcamas, and vainly searching in all directions, I was obliged to proceed without him, taking my uneasy station at half-past ten upon one of the boxes on the cart, which had no sides. I had not been very long in my new position, when, in passing a wooded defile, the wheel came in contact with a stump, oversetting the vehicle, and tossing my interpreter and myself into the bushes: providentially neither of us was hurt. The difficulty now was to raise the vehicle; two of the oxen were chained for this purpose to the upper wheel, but all our attempts failed to induce them to pull in the right direction; so that it became necessary to take every thing off, and even then it was not without some difficulty that, with our united strength, we were enabled to raise it to its former position. We now found that one of the standards had been broken by the fall; but this, after a little contrivance, we were enabled to remedy. By this accident we were delayed more than an hour. The road soon after descends to the beach, when we crossed the Umpombinyoni. The mattingoolos were still ripe, and many of the trees retained their blossom. The pulp of this fruit is very like raspberry and cream, and partakes in some slight degree of the flavor also. The tree is bushy, with a glossy deep green leaf, and is covered with sharp thorns. The star-shaped blossom is of a delicate white, with a jessamine sent. It is never observed to grow beyond a mile from the coast. There is also another wild fruit