bers of the Native Church, with their families, that we might mutually express our joy and gratitude at being permitted to see each other again in the flesh-a blessing for which we seemed for so long a time to have been hoping against hope. It was very apparent to me that those visits were visits of the heart-the heart touched by spiritual feeling; it was the welcome of those who rejoiced in the return of a pastor who had already broken to them the bread of life; through whose instrumentality they had already received many blessings; and through whom they hoped to receive still more and still larger blessings. I saw each family for a considerable time separately, informing myself of the progress both of old and young. Some of the young ones had so shot up as to be almost out of knowledge, and many knew me whom I had almost forgotten. I rejoiced to renew that remembrance.

During my absence death has thinned our ranks of some whom we valued much. Among these is Joel, formerly a Catechist at Tripassore. He was an humble and sincere Christian. We loved him in his life for his modest and truthful piety. Our brethren have given me his death-bed testimony, which added a striking seal to the truth of his life. How great the change in him! He had formerly been an assistant to the priest of a temple of Teruvithiammau, a form of Kalee, and had extorted a great deal of money from the ignorant by pretending to cure diseases. The establishment of a school in his neighbourhood, under the instruction of Samathanam, at that time a schoolmaster, was the means of bringing him to a knowledge of Christianity. He encountered great opposition at the first, but remained faithful to the end. It is an interesting circumstance in his history, that, with much pains and perseverance, he had succeeded in teaching two of his children, who are both deaf and dumb, to read and write.

A pleasing proof of the growth of piety and spiritual perception in the church has been furnished to me, in connection with some sermons which I have been lately led to preach. The Lord has afflicted us of late years with many trials; and the fires of persecution are now burning around us. The heathen are raging. The baptism of some recent converts in the Free Church, from the higher classes, has called forth great enmity; and our poor Christians have had to meet scorn and contempt and abuse, and have only been preserved from blows by the British power. I have, therefore, preached at different times from our Lord's words, "I am come to send fire on the earth."-The trial of the three Hebrew Youths;-and Ye are dead, and your life

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is hid with Christ in God." The power of the Holy Ghost was with us. The words found a ready way to the hearts of the people. The more intelligent spoke with tearful gratitude of the blessing they had received. Thus is Christ with his disciples in the fire.

God also mercifully increases our numbers. Since my arrival, I have had the hap piness of admitting five persons to the Lord'stable, and baptizing two adults and six children. Four others have been proposed for the communion of the church. In addition to these there are more than forty applicants for Baptism and the Lord's-supper. So many persons from the poor and despised present much diversity and much weakness of character, but over some I rejoice much. The whole number of church-members is now 114; who, with their families and the ordinary attendants on the means af grace, give us a direct charge of about 350 souls.

Of those who have joined us recently, I have had much satisfaction in Hannah, a young person who has been brought up in one of our Mission Schools. Her piety is simple, modest, true. One of the young men has been a servant of our friend Major Brett, who gave him a good character for propriety of conduct, and I was much pleased with his Christian knowledge and experience. One of the proposed candidates for communion with us is a young man called John Baptist. He found the Lord, or rather was found of him, in Singapore. His mind received a religious bias in his early youth: he became the associate of religious devotees, and went with them to various holy places, and bathed in many holy streams. The Lord showed him the folly of this by the Scriptures, at Singapore. He sought and obtained baptism in the Romish Church. The Priest commanded him not to read the Bible, nor any Protestant book; but he continued to read it, and also went to the Protestant Chapels. He received much benefit from a member of our Native Church, who now resides there. At length he became so much a Protestant that the Priest cursed him from the pulpit. He has now joined himself to us. We receive him joyfully for the truth's sake that is in him. He gives most satisfactory evidences of piety. He speaks with me in English. His words are therefore slow, but rich and fullspring-time words, which show the fulness and the life of the heart from which they come. One has never to linger for a reply --never to complain of want of sympathy. My thoughts fall on a heart full of susceptibility, and the reply comes welling forth instantly. So my heart is glad for him. The Lord keep him faithful to the end!

I was born in 1818, in Pandarapooram, in Tinnevelly. My parents were then idolaters, and I, with them, worshipped Soobramanyan and other gods. Whilst it was thus, the Rev. Messrs. Rhenius and Schmid established a Charity School, and my father and mother sent me there to learn. I was taught the Catechisms and the Scripture, and repeated the lessons to the Master, who questioned me upon them, and gave me various counsels. In addition to this, the Missionaries and Catechists taught daily that idolatry was sinful, and that those who believe in Christ will have their sins forgiven.

Although I heard these truths, I did not properly feel them and receive them in my heart, but practised idolatry, lying, deceit, and abuse, as before. I was then about fifteen years old. One day the schoolmaster, who instructed me, called me and said, "Will your sin be removed by your going to Trichendoor and other places, worshipping idols, and presenting some worthless offerings?" To which I replied, "I think that by this means sin will be removed." He said, "What is said about the pardon of sin in the Christian books you read ?" I replied, "It is there said that the sins of men cannot be forgiven, except through the Saviour." He said, "If it be so, why do you say that sin will be removed by the worship of idols ?" I replied, "I have not sufficient ability to consider these two, and to judge respecting them." He then proved to me by some verses that the Christian Religion

was true.

After adducing the inconsistency of one part of heathenism with another, in proof that heathenism is false and not from God, and that by reading heathen books men are corrupted rather than reformed, he brought forward other proofs, and read John iii. 36, saying, "If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, you will be delivered from the wrath to come, and obtain eternal life. If not,

you will be delivered to the punishment of hell, and when Jesus Christ shall judge at the last day you will be without excuse the Scriptures you have read, and the verses I have now brought forward, will be a witness against you." Thus he earnestly but kindly exhorted me.

At night, before I went to sleep, thinking over what the schoolmaster had said to me in the day-time, I felt that if I believed in Christ, as is required in the Gospel, my sins would be forgiven, and I should be accepted of God; but that, if I went on as I then was, I should dishonour God by offering sheep and fowls, and worshipping idols, and thus become still more guilty, and that sin would not be forgiven.

The next day I went to the school. master, and said I wished to embrace Christianity, and to go to public worship with him. He gladly told me I might come, and directed me to read certain verses, that I might abide firmly in the Christian Religion, and he gave me various counsels. Afterwards, I daily attended the church, and heard the word of God; but some of my relations came to me and said, "You must not embrace Christianity: if you do, you will lose all the pleasures of this world.' I replied, "The joys of the world pass away, but the joy of the Lord will endure for ever. Even now I am happier and more joyful than you are." In order that I might not listen to them, the Schoolmaster repeatedly read to me in 2 Cor. vi., and some other parts of Scrip. ture, and counselled me upon them.

Afterwards on the Sunday, and other days, I read tracts and showed them to my parents, and, though at first they despised, yet by degrees they heard the word of God with much desire, and they also became Christians. At this time the Rev. Mr. Schaffter employed me as a schoolmaster, and appointed me to instruct the children, and to explain the manual of Christian Truth to the Christians. While thus employed, I one Sunday heard the verse,

Towards Fort Beaufort I was benighted on my way. It is now almost impossible to procure horses, and I was obliged to perform the latter part of my journey with only one of an escort, and that in the dark, and had nearly fallen a victim. Within half a mile of Beaufort, and while I was in the act of inwardly thanking God that I had been so far protected in the midst of danger, eight Caffres sprung upon us from the bush, and within three or four yards from us several assagais were thrown, one of which all but grazed my back. The Hottentot soldier who was with me was driven into the bush, and separated from me for a time. This was truly an anxious moment; as I feared he had fallen into the hands of an enemy who gives no quarter. I had reason to fear, also, I might be surrounded, but I could not leave him without an effort to save him. I had not to wait long: he got disentangled, and we escaped unhurt, with the loss of a hired horse, which has since been recovered. It is the surprise of every one who knows the circumstances, that we escaped with our lives. It is the Lord's doing. I pray that the life he has spared may be devoted more to his service. I had little anxiety about myself, but I confess I had much for my dear family.

We met all the Gaika Chiefs, with upwards of two hundred of their followers, armed, in the bush, at the foot of a mountain near Block-Drift. Lieut.-Colonel

Johnstone delivered the Governor's message, and I appeared there only as a friend of peace. I am sorry to say the answer of the Chiefs was not satisfactory. They refuse to lay down their arms and restore the booty stolen from the Colony, but they desire peace on their own terms. They are evidently heartily tired of the war. They have now got nearly all they can get; and, if they continue the war longer, they must, I think; be sufferers, while they may also inflict much suffering on the Colony. We are already pressed for the necessaries of life. The seed-time of the Caffres bas now come, and they are anxious to sow; but they are not willing to give up any thing.

Macomo was more subdued than the

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others, and seems much inclined to break off from the Caffres and join the Govern- · ment; but how far he would like to submit is yet uncertain. He said to me, privately, "I am willing to put myself in the hands of the Government, but let me live at my old place." I have of course informed his Excellency of this. Macomo has much influence, and great activity in war. The people look much to him. He was very unwell when we met him. War is a horrid thing in all its bearings. They who only read of war may like it, but few can like it who see it. The Lord grant peace to this distracted country! I suppose the troops will again have to move forward -they had partly retired for want of food. This circumstance, I dare say, had led the Caffres to think they might make peace on easy terms. I am disposed to think that when the troops move onward the Caffres will manifest their submission. I think their ammunition is now nearly gone. They have often formerly succeeded by talking; but if the troops again move forward, they will begin to see that something more serious is intended. I hope at least that a portion of them will submit; and if even a few do so, the confederacy will be much affected, if not destroyed. If the common people could only see in operation what I believe to be the intentions of the Government, they would generally come in; and it would be a great blessing to themselves and the Colony,

I took with me into Caffreland, several of my Caffre church-members, who spoke, at my request, with Macomo and some of the people. The converts think that Macomo will soon give in; and if he does, that many of the people will gladly follow. I cannot at present speak with much certainty myself. I have hope, but there is yet much darkness. If the peace is to be permanent and satisfactory, the Caffres must be to some considerable extent subdued. I trust that this may be effected so as to promote their best interests. At present they seem bent on their own destruction. We are, indeed, called to humiliation and prayer. May these trials be sanctified to all concerned!

I am happy still to state that the Lord continues to bless the ordinances of his appointment, in this portion of his vineyard. Amid sore famine and war in our immediate neighbourhood, and many trying emergencies, we still witness the power of redeeming love in those who come out from among the heathen, and show by their walk and conversation that they are the children of God. It is cheering also to report, that our school becomes more and more interesting; for, besides believers and their children making proficiency in reading, writing, and in general knowledge, a considerable number of the heathen show that they are not deficient in the same acquirements. Our Sabbath-school, meeting twice every Lord's day, is well attended, and proves a great blessing to many. The church, which numbers about 110 members, appears truly as a light shining in a dark place, and testifies to the victory of virtue over vice, of truth over falsehood, and the kingdom of our Lord over the kingdoms of this world. It begins to have a great moral influence in keeping down strife, in checking those who would willingly go on commandoes, (or plundering expeditions), and in bringing others to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.

Death has been again visiting us, and two female believers have bidden a final adieu to all earthly things. The first, Eliza Demond, the wife of a tradesman living among the Bameiras: as she lived, so she departed, full of faith, and a cheering hope that she was to be for ever with the Lord. Her husband, who has lately become impressed under the preaching of the word at Touns, gives the following testimony:

"Her trust was wholly

in God; while she was in health she attended regularly to the means of grace and to the duties incumbent on a follower of Jesus. During her short illness, she said frequently, with confidence, that her peace was sure with God: she depended upon Christ alone for salvation, and was thankful that she was brought to the knowledge of the truth before her departure."

The other, Mamaelangue, an old and experienced believer, who lived many years at Kuruman. Having come to this neighbourhood lately, in a very infirm state, she was brought to the Mission-premises depending entirely upon us for food and comfort, being forsaken by her only son, and

all her relations and friends. She originally came from the interior, whence she fled, with her son upon her back, in a time of war, and took refuge at Kuruman. Having become impressed under the preaching of the Gospel, she made a public profession of her faith, and ever after walked as a consistent Christian. She had always a good report among her teachers and her fellow Christians; and when her last illness came upon her, she longed very much to enter into the joy of her Lord. Though she lost the power of speech before her death, her devotedness and consistency assure us that she departed full of peace and hope.

The past summer has been so intensely hot, and latterly being almost without rain, the crops were completely destroyed, and consequently a very grievous famine presses hard upon all. On this account Mahura and his people have concluded to leave Touns; and, as a step towards the interior, to remain at Mamusa, the place of Mosheu, a little more than two days from this; and, on account of the war between the Baharutse and the Corannas, I think that this is the best that could be done. Almost all the cattle and flocks, with many of the people, have already gone. It is true that many hardships must be endured, and another temporary residence must be erected, where the people will remain, before we have looked out a suitable place for a more permanent abode; but these things we have ever been anticipating. With gratitude do we rejoice in all that our Almighty Father has been pleased to bring upon this most interesting people. He has planted a church among them, and made it prosperous. He has blessed the daily means of instruction, and is increasing the desire for it. He has made us to be listened to, and respected, even by those that previously were our inveterate foes. He has increased the number of the people, which, if permanently settled, would still more increase; and, as a field of Missionary labour, as all the brethren know, it is not exceeded by another on the north of the Great River.

With pleasure I have to relate, that I baptized and received into church-fellowship last Lord's day four adults, who have come out from among the heathen, and joined the people of God in this land of the shadow of death.