asking his reason for desiring a Missionary, he answered, it was that he and his people might be taught the same things that were taught to white people, but he could not tell what things these were. I then requested him to stay with us until sunset, when he would hear some of those things related by Cupido, who was a countryman of his, and my waggon-driver. Dikkop and all his people readily agreed to stay till evening. At sunset the ordinary signal for worship was given, which was by a Hottentot calling out with a loud voice the word Ikkakoo:" in a few minutes, the tent was crowded with Hottentots; and many were seated on the outside, opposite my tent door. Cupido, seated upon a stool, gave out a Psalm in Dutch, which all the Hottentots understand; and he with his fellow Hottentots who were attached to the waggons sang it with much solemnity, to the astonishment of the strangers. Cupido then, with his usual gravity, put on his spectacles, opened his Testament, and read a chapter, from which he addressed his audience; after which, all the company knelt down, and united in prayer to the God of Heaven.

The Hooge-Kraal Hottentots, hearing that Cupido would speak again to them next morning at sun-rise, wrapt themselves up in their sheep-skin cloaks, and slept soundly, under and around my waggons, till the morning, when they had another opportunity of hearing their countryman expound the Scriptures.

In the forenoon, I accompanied a few of them on a visit to their Kraal. When almost within a quarter of a mile of it, I could hardly distinguish the town when pointed to by the Hottentots, on account of the lowness of the wretched huts which composed it. I found the hut of the Chief rather larger than the rest; so that in the centre of it I could stand upright: it was constructed of branches of trees, covered with reeds. I observed no other furniture than two low roughly-made stools, and two or three wooden pails for containing water. One of the stools was placed for me in the middle of the hut, surrounded by the Hottentots who were closely seated on the floor, all anxious to learn the result of the conference.

I then inquired whether they were all desirous of having a Missionary to settle among them, which was answered

unanimously in the affirmative; but, like their Chief, they could not assign any reason, except to be taught the same things which were taught to the white people.

A very aged miserable-looking man coming into the hut during the conference, with scarcely a rag to cover him, excited my attention: he came and took a seat by my side, kissed my hands and legs, and, by most significant gestures, expressed his extreme joy in the prospect of a Missionary coming among them. His conduct having deeply interested me, I asked him whether he knew any thing about Jesus Christ. His answer was truly affecting-"I know no more about any thing than a beast."

Every eye and ear were directed toward me, to learn whether a Missionary would be sent to the Kraal; and when I told them that an excellent Missionary, I had no doubt, would be soon with them, they expressed by signs a degree of joy and delight which I cannot possibly describe.

I then wrote a Letter, in the midst of the Hottentots, to Mr. Pacalt, our Missionary, who was at that time sta tioned at Zwellendam, about 100 miles nearer to Cape Town; and gave it to the Chief, assuring him that if he would take it to Zwellendam, and shew it to the first white person he should find in the street, he would be directed to the house where the Missionary resided, to which he should then go and present the Letter to him; and I was persuaded that he would speedily come with his waggons to Hooge Kraal, and teach them the Word of God. The Chief believed me; for I afterward found that he visited Zwellendam shortly after, and every thing turned out as I had said.

On leaving the Chief's hut, I collected together all the young people, under twenty years of age, to the number of about forty (many of whom had an interesting appearance), and arranged them before me. They all expressed a desire to be taught to read, and promised to attend the Missionary from sunrise to sunset, pointing with their fingers to the east and west.

I then walked with the Chief to a rising ground behind the Kraal, called the Sand-hill, that I might take a view of the grounds which belonged to them: all appeared in a state of nature; so that I marvelled how the people could subsist on so barren a spot. Very few

of them wore any other dress than what was composed of old sheep-skins, and many of their bodies were extremely filthy.

Mr. Pacalt, the Missionary from Zwellendam, arriving soon after my departure, immediately began to teach them, both by his counsel and his example: for he did not content himself with merely exhorting them to relinquish their idle habits and to become industrious, but he accompanied them to their work, with his spade on his shoulder; and laboured along with them in building their houses, digging their gardens, and surrounding them with walls.

On Mr. Campbell's Second Voyage to South Africa, he again visited Hooge Kraal, in June 1819. In his account of this visit he thus de

picts the striking change which had been effected by the blessing of God on the labours of the Missionary, who had been a few months before removed to his heavenly rest :

As we advanced toward Hooge Kraal, the Boors, or Dutch Farmers, who had known me on my former journey in that part of Africa, would frequently assure me, that such a change had been produced on the place and people of Hooge Kraal since I had left it, that I should not know it again. The nearer we approached the settlement, the reports concerning its rapid improvement increased; till at length we arrived on the spot, on the evening of June 2.

I

Next morning, when the sun arose, viewed, from my waggon, the surround. ing scene with great interest. Instead of bare, unproductive ground, I saw two long streets with square-built houses on each side, placed at equal distances from one another, so as to allow sufficient extent of ground to each house for a good garden: a well-built wall, six feet high, was in front of each row of houses, with a gate to each house. On approaching one of them, I found a Hottentot, dressed like a European, standing at his door to receive me with a cheerful smile. "This house is mine!" said he, "and all that garden!" in which I observed there were peach and apricot trees, decked with their delightful blossoms, fig trees, cabbages, potatoes, pumpkins,

water-melons, &c.

I then went across the street to the house of a person known by the name of Old Simeon-the very man who sat

in such a wretched plight, at my side, in the hut, when I first visited the place, and who then said he knew no more about any thing than a brute. I was informed that he had become a Christian, had been baptized, and named Simeon; and, because of his great age, they called him Old Simeon. I found him sitting alone in the house, deaf and blind with age. When they told him who I was, he instantly embraced me with both hands, while streams of tears ran down his sable cheeks. "I have done," said he, "with the world now! I have done with the world now! I am waiting till Jesus Christ says to me, Come! I am just waiting till Jesus Christ says to me, Come!"

The case of this singular monument of the grace of God was very well described by a Missionary who visited Hooge Kraal, on his way to Bethelsdorp,

soon after his conversion. He relates it thus

On Tuesday Evening, April 8th 1817, before we left Hooge Kraal, an old man, about 90 years of age, prayed. He expressed great gratitude to God for sending His Gospel to his nation, and that in HIS days; and particularly for making it efficacious to his own

conversion.

In his youthful days he was the leader of every kind of iniquity. He was a great elephant and buffalo hunter, and had some wonderful escapes from the jaws of death. Once, while hunting, he fell under an elephant, who endeavoured to crush him to death; but he escaped. At another time, he was tossed into the air by a buffalo several times, and was severely bruised: the animal then fell down upon him; but he escaped with life. A few years ago, he was for some time to appearance dead; and was carried to his grave soon after, as is the custom in hot climates but, while the people were in the act of throwing the earth over him, he revived, and soon entirely recovered. The second time Mr. Pacalt preached at Hooge Kraal, he went from the meeting rejoicing; and saying, that the Lord had raised him from Word of God, and believe in Jesus Christ, the dead three times, that he might hear the before he "died the fourth time."

He was baptized last New-Year's Day, and was named Simeon. Mr. Pacalt told us that it was impossible to describe the old man's happiness on that occasion. Heavenly joy had so filled his heart and strengthened his weak frame, that he appeared as lively as a youth, although 90 years of age. He said "Now I am willing to die. Yes, I would rather die than live, that I may go and live for ever and ever with my precious Sa

viour. Before, I was afraid to die: Oh yes, the thoughts of it made my very heart to tremble; but I did not know God and Jesus Christ then. Now, I have no desire to live any longer. I am too old to be able to do

any thing here on earth, in glorifying God my Saviour, or doing good to my fellow Hottentots. I served the devil upward of eighty years, and was ready to go to everlasting fire; but, though a black Hottentot, through infinite mercy I shall go to everlasting happiness. Wonderful love! Wonderful grace! Astonishing mercy!"

No human being, whom I ever saw, seemed to have been sunk into a lower state of degradation than Simeon was, when I first saw him, both as to mind and body. The change effected by means of the glorious Gospel of Christ was truly marvellous. He was, indeed, a new man, in every sense: old things had passed away, and all things were become new. In His case, the importance and advantages of sending the Gospel to savage tribes of men most distinctly appear; for it is, in truth, the power of God unto salvation to EVERY one that believeth, whether he be Jew or Heathen, barbarian or Scythian, bondman or freeman: it dispels his ignorance, destroys his prejudices, subdues his corruptions; in short, it changes the lion into a lamb, and humanizes the most brutal character.

The next thing which attracted my attention was the wall which surrounded the whole settlement, for the protection of the gardens from the intrusions of their cattle and of the wild beasts. It was substantially built of excellent sods, cut into the shape of large bricks, which soon become hard, by exposure to the sun. This wall was six feet high, four feet wide at the bottom, and two feet at the top the extent of it was 11,101 feet, when we had it measured; but several thousand feet were added to it before I finally left the settlement. They had formed three extensive enclosures, of the same kind of wall, for keeping their oxen, cows, horses, and sheep, in the night-time. They had also formed two large tanks, or ponds, for preserving a stock of water for the cattle in the dry season.

A Place of Worship had also been erected, capable of seating 200 persons. On the Lord's Day, I was delighted to see the females coming into it, clothed neatly in white and printed cottons; and the men dressed like Europeans, and carrying their Bibles or Testaments under their arms-sitting upon benches, instead of the ground as formerly-and singing the praises of God, with solemnity and harmony, from their Psalmbooks-turning in their Bibles to the

text that was given out-and listening to the Sermon with serious attention. I also found a Church of Christ, consisting of about five-and-forty believing Hottentots, with whom I had several times an opportunity of commemorating the death of our Lord.

On the week-days, I found a School, consisting of 70 children, regularly taught in the Place of Worship. The Teacher was a Hottentot Lad, who was actually a young savage when I first visited the kraal, and who, perhaps, had never seen a printed work in his life: when I first looked in at the door of the school, this lad was mending a pen, which a girl had brought him for that purpose: this action was such a proof of civilization, that, reflecting at the moment on his former savage condition, I was almost overwhelmed. On entering the school, I first visited a row of classes composed of little Hottentot Girls, arranged along the right-hand wall; each class having a printed sheet of paper hanging on the wall before them, and each class furnished with a Monitor to instruct them: the little Monitors seemed to feel a degree of confidence, by finding that they knew more than any in the classes which they taught it was delightful to me to see them pointing to letters with their rod, and requiring of each scholar their several names. Along the opposite wall were arranged classes of little Hottentot Boys, drawn up and employed in a similar manner: the Master was hearing the elder boys and girls read the New Testament in Dutch: these read very well: some were writing in paper books; while others, less advanced, were writing on sand or slates.

Such employments must tend greatly to promote civilized habits among the children, to improve their mental powers, and to render them more industrious; for, in their former state, they had nothing to do but to play and to sleep, the latter of which must have occupied the greater portion of their existence.

I found a considerable extent of cultivated land outside the wall, which the Hottentots plow and sow with wheat every year; though a portion of it is destroyed annually by their cattle getting into it while the herd-boys are fast asleep, and from which no punishment could altogether deter them. An officer of the Hottentot Regiment told me, that had they shot all the Hottentot Soldiers who were found asleep upon

a

also, that the British and Foreign Bible Society in their last Annual Report, and the President in his opening Speech *, in which he declared that these Regulations are retraction and correction of their error," have admitted the impropriety of circulating the Apocrypha, to the utmost extent that fairness and candour can require-the friends present feel no hesitation in continuing their support to the Society with which they have been long united.

That where Foreign Societies consent to receive, and engage to distribute faithfully as received, copies of the pure Scriptures, bound without any addition, this Meeting considers the sanction of that mode of distribution of the Word of God as involving no violation or compromise whatever of the principle on which the Bible Society is esta

blished.

-That the friends of the Bible Cause now present can no longer delay an unequivocal expression of their affectionate attachment to their brethren and fellow-labourers of the London Committee; and an assurance of their cordial good wishes and fervent prayers for the continued, renewed, and multiplied aids of the Holy Spirit, in all the gifts of wisdom and of grace, needful for conducting the affairs of that most important Institution.

-That, in establishing a medium of communication with the British and Foreign Bible Society, this Meeting disclaims all hostility toward Bible Societies acting on other principles; and expresses its hope, that, in a field so wide, and open to such variety of agency, the labours of all these Societies may be useful in promoting the common object which they have in view.

-That the following Gentlemen be a Committee of Correspondence with the British and Foreign Bible Society; viz. John Campbell, Esq. of Carbrook, Chairman-Rev. Dr. Peddie, Treasurer-Hon. Mr. Hewitt-Rev.

John Aikman-Rev. T. Brown-Rev. Dr. Belfrage-Rev. Mr. Bewley-Rev. G. Cullen -Rev. Patrick Comrie-Rev. B. GoldingRev. Edward Grindrod-Rev. James Harper -Rev. John Smart-Rev. Dr. PatersonRev. John Watson-Rev. Richard Wynne -Captain Wauchope, R. N.-Captain Knox

John M'Whirter, Esq. M.D.-W. N. Grant, Esq.Alex. Stuart, Esq.-J. S. Blackwood, Esq.- Mark Watt, Esq.-G. Yule, Esq. Secretaries: Rev. Henry Grey, Rev. John Brown, and Rev. Edward Craig. It is stated

Several Letters from Members of the London Committee, and others, were

read by the Gentlemen present, highly satisfactory on particular points on which doubts had been raised and inquiries in stituted.

These proceedings having been laid before the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, at a Meeting held on the 2d of July,

it was

See Monthly Extracts, No. 118, p. 2.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY

That this Committee have received with cordial satisfaction the above Declaration of attachment and confidence on the part of so many respectable friends of the Bible in Edinburgh; and are anxious to assure them, that it is upon the principles asserted in that Declaration that they rejoice to accept of their promised co-operation.

Eagerness for the Scriptures in the RomanCatholic Schools in Glasgow.

The Secretary of a Society in Glasgow for the support of RomanCatholic Schools in that city writes, in May

I am again compelled, by the returning necessities of the Glasgow CatholicSchools' Society, to solicit for them a further grant of Bibles and New Testaments. You have deemed this Institution worthy of your patronage and aid on former occasions, when you made liberal and most acceptable grants of the Scriptures for their use; and the Schools have in no respect fallen off in point of interest and importance. The Seventh Annual Meeting was held on the 16th of November: there were at that time receiving education, not fewer than 1400 persons; of whom 635 were reading in the Old or New Testament, and engaged in writing and arithmetic. The Teachers mention various gratifying instances of early proficiency, and bear testimony to the general good conduct of the pupils : one of them says, in a Letter addressed

to me

I can state with pleasure, that the pressure of the times seems to have no effect on the

clothing of my scholars: they attend the school decently clad, and remarkably clean; and, while their improvement in education is equal to my most sanguine expectations, their orderly and obedient conduct and their attention to my admonitions excite a joyful anticipation that they will be excellent citizens and useful members of society.

One other quotation from the Report peculiar feature of the Society may not be uninteresting, as it marks a

The Roman-Catholic Priesthood of other countries have sometimes been charged with a desire to impede the progress of education,

especially where it embraces the reading of

the Sacred Scriptures; but the Protestant part of the Directors are bound by truth and fairness to avow, that the interest which the Roman-Catholic Pastors of this city evince in the prosperity of the Institution, and the unreserved cordiality with which they co-operate in administering the entire plan of in