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was much lightning, and consequently heavy thunder, it was not heard. Although only what is called the tail of the storm passed over our station, the hail, which was nearly half the size of a hen's egg, barked the trees, and killed some lambs.

On the 30th of March, 1825, we were deeply affected to hear of the death of Peclu, the young prince. This unexpected shock threw a gloom over the whole tribe, and was, as might have been expected, a severe stroke to his parents, who were dotingly fond of him, particularly since his visit to the Cape. To us it was a mysterious event: we had been promising ourselves that his excellent disposition and comparatively enlightened mind would eventually produce a salutary change among his countrymen; but God saw fit, for wise reasons, to deprive us of that means, that we might not be found trusting in an arm of flesh. He died of what is called kuatsi, a disease that appears to be endemial, which assumes the form of a carbuncle, and carries off many cattle; and as the natives will on no account abstain from eating the dead meat, they are often attacked by it. If it happens to be near a vital part, as in the case of Peclu, it is very frequently fatal; if internal and not suppurating outwardly, it is always so. The meat of goats which have died of this disease is particularly noxious, and I have known persons cut off in five days after having eaten it. It is always accompanied by considerable swelling, attended with great stupor, though with comparatively little pain. I write from experience, having had one on my right eyebrow, which gave my constitution a severe shock; and from its position my recovery was considered very doubtful. From long observation I have found it important to give aperient medicines, scarify the pustules, and get some one to suck it, either with an instrument or the mouth, and to apply any kind of cataplasm to promote a discharge; it is also important as much as possible to prevent the individual from being exposed to the cold air.

In this disorder, as in every other, when a person of influence is taken ill or dies, the cause is eagerly sought after, not in the nature of the disease, but in some person who was at enmity with the deceased, or who had acted in some way to excite suspicion. This was very natural in them, as they did not believe in an overruling Providence. It was the universal belief, as well as their wish, that men would live alway, and that death was entirely the result of witchcraft, or medicine imparted by some malignant hand, or of some casualty or want of food. The death of the poor excited but little sorrow, and less surmise; on the other hand, I have known instances when the domestics of a principal man have been murdered in cold blood, just because it was suspected that they had something to do with their master's sickness. Approaching the abode of a sick chief, I was informed by one of his attendants, with an air of satisfaction, that he would now recover, as two of his servants who had been seen scattering more (medicine) somewhere in the neighbourhood of his dwelling, had just been speared; and while he yet spoke the stifled sighs and moans of their widows and children were entering my ears. This chief is now a Christian.

When Peclu died, suspicion fell on the parents of

| his bride, from some little misunderstanding which had existed at his marriage. They would all have been butchered, had not the more enlightened views of Mahura, the king's brother, who had received orders to carry the bloody purpose into effect, induced him to apprise the chief and his family of their danger, that they might flee to the Barolongs, which they did. Mahura and his warriors pursued, but determined not to overtake them. As the law of retaliation was a principle of jurisprudence recognised by the Bechuana rulers, events like those recorded were of almost daily recurrence during the first years of the mission, but which now rarely happen, even for hundreds of miles beyond the missionary stations. Thus the gospel, which has brought the startling sound of immortality to the savage ear, exerts, as a secondary benefit, a salutary influence even among those who do not receive it, and who remain comparatively ignorant of its chief requirements. There are now instances of judicial inflictions, which, though not characterized by the long-digested jurisprudence of civilized countries, are nevertheless immense improvements; and as the influence of the gospel extends, it will transform the dictates of savage ferocity into measures suggested by mercy and wisdom.

Peclu died, and his disconsolate parents and friends sorrowed without hope, and, agreeably to their notions, hated the sight of the fold in which he was interred, the house where he had dwelt, the streets and lanes where he was wont to be seen, and indeed everything associated with the beloved object. This prepared the people for what followed; for though they had returned to the town, the hearts of the relations of the deceased longed to abandon it. While witnessing these trying and mysterious providences, we were often deeply afflicted, to see that all our efforts to induce them to improve these dispensations were of no avail. "Go and teach the marauders not to destroy us," was constantly thrown in our teeth. We much needed Divine grace to enable us to persevere; but it often afforded us strong consolation to know that we were remembered in our native land; and that multitudes of voices were ever ascending to the throne of God on our behalf. We continued our public services, and when the people would not come to us we went to them.

About this time another powerful body from the Orange River, with horses and guns, made an attack on the tribes to the westward of our station, and perpetrated great cruelties, The people again fled in consternation, and, at Mothibi's request, a messenger was despatched to Griqua Town, entreating assistance; but it was not in the power of Waterboer to afford it, however willing he might have been to do so. As we had suffered greatly both in our health and property by the last flight, and as we had no confidence in the old tale which the natives invented, that the enemy would attack us, we resolved to remain at our post. We were encouraged in this by the arrival of Mr. Hughes, with Mr. Millen, a mason, and a few Hottentots from Bethelsdorp, to assist us in the public works of the new station. We barricadoed the reed walls of Mr. Hamilton's house with chests and sacks, that, in case of an attack, which there was reason to apprehend, we might be in some measure

shielded from the shot; but, after a few days of anxiety and alarm, the enemy departed, contenting themselves with large spoils of cattle. The natives had congregated round our temporary dwellings; and there being no prospect of a termination to the distressing inroads from the Orange River and Long Mountains, the people finally resolved to abandon the station. The Bushmen having taken many of their cattle, they appeared inclined to forsake the Kuruman River altogether. The arrival of the six men and their families, under these circumstances, rendered our situation peculiarly trying, from the want of supplies to support them, especially in a country where nothing could be purchased. A hunter was employed to obtain game, while everything, animate and inanimate, calculated in any measure to appease hunger, was ravenously seized for that purpose, in order to prosecute our plan of building the houses, and leading out the water from the bed of the river, supplied by one of the finest fountains in South Africa. This was a work of great labour, and carried forward under the most embarrassing circumstances.

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Such was the liability to attack, that the men, though labouring not half a mile from our dwellings, found it necessary to take their guns with them for fear of a surprise. Our large waterditch, extending nearly two miles, was indeed dug, as the walls of our houses had been built, in troublous times."

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The accompanying sketch gives a correct view of Gasigonyane or Kuruman fountain. It issues from caverns in a little hill, which is composed of blue and grey limestone, mixed with considerable quantities of flint, but not in nodules as found in beds of chalk. From the appearance of the caves, and the irregularity of the strata, one might be led to suppose they have been the results of internal convulsions. The water, which is pure and wholesome, is rather calcareous. It is evident that its source must be at a very great distance, as all the rains which fall on the hills and plains for forty miles round, in one year, could not possibly supply such a stream for one month. Although there are no sandstone formations nearer than thirty miles, great quantities of exceedingly fine sand come from

it, and it appears to boil up out of the smaller springs in front of the larger, and is to be found in deposit in the bed of the river for miles distant. The substratum of the whole of the country, as far as the Orange River, is compact limestone, which in some of the Hamhana hills rises considerably above the neighbouring plain; but these only form the basis of argillaceous hills and iron-schist, on the top of which the compass moves at random, or according to the position in which it is placed. The strata of these schistose formations are often found to bend and curve into all shapes, frequently

exhibiting an appearance of golden asbestos, but extremely hard. The common blue asbestos is to be found at Gamaperi, in the neighbourhood, the same as that found near the Orange River. The limestone extends to Old Lithako, where there are hills of basalt and primitive limestone; among which masses of serpentine rock, of various colours, usually called pipe-stone, are to be met with. Beyond the Batlapi dominions, towards the Molapo, there is abundance of granite, greenstone, &c., while the limestone foundation, towards the west, terminates among the sandy wilds of the southern

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Zahara. Fountains, throughout the whole extent of the limestone basin, are precarious, independent of the causes described in a preceding chapter; nor does that of the Kuruman continue to send forth the torrents it once did. The calcareous effects of the water on the roots of reeds, and other substances, in the neighbourhood of small fountains, show that they were once very large. That of the Kuruman River, which, like many others in South Africa, is largest at its source, is, by evaporation and absorption, lost in its bed, about ten miles to the north-west. The Matlaurin, Mashaua, and Molapo, join the Kuruman, which was once a large river, emptying itself into the Gariep, at a distance below the waterfall.

During this period we were the subjects of great domestic afflictions. Five days after Mrs. M.'s confinement of a boy, he was removed by death, and his remains were the first committed to the burying ground on the new station. Mr. Hughes, who began early to feel the effects of the climate, caught cold, while removing fruit-trees from the lower station to his garden, and was brought to the very gates of death. When, however, we had all given him up he began to amend; but such was the shock that his frame received from the severity of the disease, that his perfect recovery continued for a long time very doubtful; nor did he regain his wonted strength until he had made a visit to the coast, on account of Mrs. Hughes's health; after which he removed to the Griqua mission, in 1827, where he has since laboured with success.

Our situation during the infancy of the new station, I shall not attempt to describe, though it might yield some profitable suggestions to those who may be similarly situated. Some of our newly arrived assistants, finding themselves in a country where the restraints of law were unknown, and not being under the influence of religion, would not submit to the privations which we patiently endured, but murmured exceedingly. Armed robbers were continually making inroads, threatening death and extirpation. We were compelled to work daily at every species of labour, most of which was very heavy, under a burning sun, and in a dry climate, where only one shower had fallen during the preceding twelve months. These are only imperfect samples of our engagements for several years at the new station, while at the same time, the language, which was entirely oral, had to be acquired. A spelling-book, catechism, and small portions of Scripture, were prepared, and even sent to the Cape to be printed in 1825; but, as if our measure of disappointment was not full, they were by some mistake sent to England, and before they could possibly return to our station, we might have had several improved editions.

who was an amiable and sensible man, dissuaded them from such a daring attempt, which could only terminate in their destruction. The chief of the party, convinced of this, resolved on returning; but watching an opportunity, when the cattle of the town where they had received such hospitality and good counsel had gone to the fields, seized on them, and having two or three guns, compelled their owners to flee. Elated with the success of this disgraceful achievement, they returned to the neighbourhood of our station. We said nothing on the subject, except that our hearts were sad. The chief of this band of robbers induced his brother, Mothibi, to convene a public meeting, in order to make a kind of bravado. Spies and sycophants had been sent to hear our judgment on this subject, but they learned nothing more or less than that "we were sorry." This having displeased him, after pointing out to the audience, that we missionaries were the only human beings in the world who did not steal cattle, he declared that, instead of being thereby awed, he would show them and the tribes around, that if his name had hitherto been Molala, (poor,) henceforth he would be a lion, and such should be his name. Thus he spoke, and departed with a company to hunt. One afternoon, seeing a giraffe in the distance, he seized his spear, mounted his horse, and ordered his attendant to follow, with his gun, on another. The master being on the swiftest animal, and evening coming on, he disappeared on the undulating plain, and the servant returned to the rendezvous. Next day, the latter, with some companions, pursued the trail, found where his master had come up with the giraffe, and appeared to have made attempts to stab it, and then, from the course he took, it was evident he had wandered. They slept, and with the returning day continued to pursue his footmarks, which, in the evening, brought them to a spot where a number of lions had been. Beside a bush, where they supposed the chieftain had laid himself down the second night, they found the horse, killed by the lions, but scarcely touched, while the man, his clothes, shoes, saddle, and bridle, were eaten up, and nothing left but the cranium. What was rather remarkable, the master, seeing he was leaving his servant in the rear, turned about and gave him his tinder-box, for fear of losing it himself. Had he retained this, he might have made a fire, which would have protected him from the lions, and led to his earlier discovery. This event was too striking to be overlooked by the people, who had frequently heard of a divine Providence, but they were silent, and endeavoured to relieve their minds, by driving from their memories the visage and vain boastings of him, who had been devoured by the very beast of prey whose name and powers were to be his motto, and the characteristics of his future actions.

our labours, and eventually a report coming from Griqua land, that Waterboer and Cornelius Kok, despairing of aid from the colony, had joined the marauders, all were alarmed; and although we were able to convince them that the reports were unfounded, we could not allay their fears, so that even one who had formerly by his Christian conduct been a source of comfort, as well as an assistance in our work, abandoned us also. Thus we were left, but were still wonderfully supported, realizing the fulfilment of the gracious promise, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." Some of the poorer Bechuanas had learned a little of wagon driving, and other useful things, so that we could occasionally get some assistance from them.

After several years of drought, we had, in the early part of 1826, been blessed with plentiful rains, and the earth was speedily covered with verdure; but our hopes of abundance were soon cut off by swarms of locusts, which infested every part of the country, devouring every species of vegetation. They had not been seen for more than twenty years before, but have never entirely left the country since. They might be seen passing over like an immense cloud, extending from the earth to a considerable height, producing with their wings a great noise. They always proceed nearly in the direction of the wind, those in advance descending to eat anything they light upon, and rising in the rear, as the cloud advances. "They have no king, but they go forth, all of them, by bands," and are gathered together in one place in the evening, where they rest, and from their immense numbers they weigh down the shrubs, and lie at times one on the other, to the depth of several inches. In the morning, when the sun begins to diffuse warmth, they take wing, leaving a large extent without one vestige of verdure; even the plants and shrubs are barked. Wherever they halt for the night, or alight during the day, they become a prey to other animals, and are eaten not only by beasts of prey, but by all kinds of game, serpents, lizards, and frogs. When passing through the air, kites, vultures, crows, and particularly the locust bird, as it is called, may be seen devouring them. When a swarm alights on gardens, or even fields, the crop for one season is destroyed. I have observed a field of young maize devoured in the space of two hours. They eat not only tobacco, and everything vegetable, but also flannel and linen. The natives embrace every opportunity of gathering them, which can be done during the night. Whenever the cloud alight at a place not very distant from a town, the inhabitants turn out with sacks, and often with pack-oxen, gather loads, and return the next day with millions. It has happened that, in gathering them, individuals have been bitten by serpents; and on one occasion a woman had been travelling several miles with a large bundle of locusts on her head, when a serpent, which had been put into the sack with them found its way out. The woman supposing it to be a thong dangling about her shoulders, laid hold of it with her hand, and feeling that it was alive, instantly precipitated both to the ground, and fled. The locusts are prepared for eating, by simple boiling, or rather steaming, as they are put into a large pot with a little water, and covered closely up; after boiling for a

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short time, they are taken out and spread on mats in the sun to dry, when they are winnowed, something like corn, to clear them of their legs and wings; and when perfectly dry, are put into sacks, or laid upon the house floor in a heap. The natives eat them whole, adding a little salt when they can obtain it; or they pound them in a wooden mortar, and when they have reduced them to something like meal, they mix them with a little water, and make a kind of cold stir-about.

When locusts abound, the natives become quite fat, and would even reward any old lady who said that she had coaxed them to alight within reach of the inhabitants. They are, on the whole, not bad food; and when hunger has made them palatable, are eaten as matter of course. When well fed they are almost as good as shrimps. There is a species not eatable, with reddish wings, rather larger than those described, and which, though less numerous, are more destructive. The exploits of these armies, fearful as they are, bear no comparison to the devastation they make before they are able to fly, in which state they are called "boyane." They receive a new name in every stage of their growth, till they reach maturity, when they are called "letsie." They never emerge from the sand, where they are deposited as eggs, till rain has fallen to raise grass for the young progeny. In their course, from which nothing can divert them, they appear like a dark red stream, extending often more than a mile broad; and from their incessant hopping, the dust appears as if alive. Nothing but a broad and rapid torrent could arrest their progress, and that only by drowning them; and if one reached the opposite shore, it would keep the original direction. A small rivulet avails nothing, as they swim dexterously. A line of fire is no barrier, as they leap into it till it is extinguished, and the others walk over the dead. Walls and houses form no impediment; they climb the very chimneys, either obliquely or straight over such obstacles, just as their instinct leads them. All other earthly powers, from the fiercest lion to a marshalled army, are nothing compared with these diminutive insects. The course they have followed, is stripped of every leaf or blade of verdure. It is enough to make the inhabitants of a village turn pale to hear that they are coming in a straight line to their gardens. When a country is not extensive, and is bounded by the sea, the scourge is soon over, the winds carrying them away like clouds to the watery waste, where they alight to rise no more. Thus the immense flights which pass to the south and east, rarely return, but fresh supplies are always pouring down from the north. All human endeavours to diminish their numbers, would appear like atempting to drain the ocean by a pump.

We could not, however, feel otherwise than thankful for this visitation, on account of the poor; for as many thousands of cattle had been taken from the natives, and gardens to an immense extent destroyed, many hundreds of families, but for the locusts, must have perished with hunger. It was not surprising that our scanty supplies, which we were compelled to procure from a distance, were seized by the hungry people. If our oxen or calves were allowed to wander out of sight, they were instantly stolen. One day two noted fellows from the mountains came down on a man who had the charge