REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS TO THE TWENTIETH GENERAL MEETING OF THE MIS

BIONARY SOCIETY MAY, 14, 1814.

(Continued from p. 526. )

AFRICA.

DURING the past year, the communications from Africa have been peculiarly in teresting. Our dear brother, Mr. Campbell, agreeably to the proposed object of his mission, has visited the various missionary stations in distant parts of South Africa; has suggested many excellent regulations for their improvement; and has fixed upon several new places, in which missionary settlements may probably be established. A minute account of his journies would fill a volume; and such a volume we trust he will supply after his return to England, which is shortly expected:* a very slight sketch is all that can be admitted into this report.

After a careful examination of official papers relating to the missionaries, with which he was indulged, and obtaining passports from his Excellency the Goy ernor, Sir John Cradock, to the Landrosts of the districts through which he was to pass, he left Cape Town on the 21st of February, 1815, accompanied by Mr. Hamines (a valuable friend and agent of our Society,) his son, Mr Bartlett, a catechist, and several Christian Hottentots and others belonging to Bethelsdorp. In a fortnight he reached the Drosdy of George, the inhabitants of which are desirous of having a missionary settled among them. Mr. Campbell promised that Mr. Pacalt should be sent to them for a time, to be succeeded by Mr. Wimmer.

Mr. Campbell reached Bethelsdorp on the 20th of March, and was received by Mr. Read and all the missionary brethren with the most cordial affection, and by the Hottentots with the liveliest expressions of joy.

He witnessed a greater degree of civilization than he was led to expect from the reports in circulation, on his arrival in South Africa. He found at Bethelsdorp, natives exercising the businesses of smiths, carpenters, sawyers, basket-makers, turn

*Mr. Campbell arrived in London, May the 7th, and gave the Society a fall account of his mission on the 12th. It was thought proper, however, to give this concise statement of his proceedings, as well as of the several settlements.

ers, &c. He saw cultivated fields, extending two miles in length, on both sides of a river; their cattle had increased from two hundred and eighteen to two thousand two hundred and six; from three hundred to four hundred calves were produced in a year, not more than fifty of which were in that space of time allowed to be slaughtered. The blessed effects of religion were displayed in benevolent institutions form. ed among them: they had a fund for the support of the poor and sick, which amounted to two hundred and fifty rixd liars; they proposed to build a house for the reception of part of their poor. They had also a common fund for the purpose o improving the settlement, amounting to one hundred and thirty dollars and about thirty head of cattle; and they contribu ted, during the last twelve months, seventy rix dollars in aid of this Society.

Such are the precious fruits of the seed sown among them by Dr Van der Kemp, Messrs. Read, Ulbricht, Wimmer, and other faithful missionaries!-Such are the powerful effects of divine truth among the most degraded of our species, in their civ ilization, as well as in the more important concerns of religion. Thus, we see a Christian church; cultivated fields and gardens; useful manufactories; an hospital; and an Auxiliary Missionary Society among Hottentots! Who now will doubt whether the Gospel ought to be preached to uncivilized nations?

It is peculiarly pleasing to find that the Lord has raised up several native preachers from among the converted Hottentots, who preach to their countrymen with great acceptance and usefulness. One of these preached at Plettenberg's Bay with great success.

From Bethelsdorp Mr. Campbell proceeded through a wild country almost uninhabited, on the borders of Caffreland, in order to fix upon two spots eligible for missionary settlements, in ZUREVELD, near the Great Fish River, the Government having kindly promised to give suf ficient portions of land for that purpose. Two suitable places were accordingly fixed upon, where the land being good, a part of the people now at Bethelsdorp might settle, and to which some of the cattle might occasionally be sent for the sake of better pasture. Here it was agreed. that Mr. Ulbricht, aided by Mr. Bartlett, should assist in forming a settlement.

Mr. Campbell next travelled in a northwesterly direction to Graaf Reinet, where Mr. Kicherer resides, and had the pleas

ure of witnessing the happy effects of his labors; here also he met with John, Mary, and Martha, the Hottentots who visited England in the year 1803.

Here Mr. C. continued about a week, and was favored with an interview with a Mr. Burchel, a botanical traveller in South Africa, who had just returned from an excursion very far north, and who was the first European who had penetrated to that part of Africa from Graaf Reinet. After receiving from him the most valua ble directions and cautions, and accompa nied by the native who had been his 'guide, he commenced his journey to the Orange River, about the 10th of May; Mr. Kicherer, and other friends accompanying him a week's journey, as far as the limits of the colony, preaching, wherever they had opportunity, to the boors and the heathen, some of whom, alas! had never heard of a God, nor had they a word in their language whereby to denote him. He cros sed the wild Boschemen's country until he reached the Orange River, and after travelling about one hundred miles along its banks to the eastward, he found a ford which he safely crossed; he describes the river as wider than the Thames at London Bridge.

On the next day he reached Klaar Water, the Missionary settlement which has long been under the care of the Brethren Anderson, Kramer, and Janz. Here he remained but a few days, and left it, accompanied by Messrs. Anderson, Kok, and Hendrick, in order to explore a large and populous city which had been described to him.

After travelling ten days in the direction N. N. E. they arrived at the city of LATAKKOO, which contains about 1500 houses, neatly built, and about 8000 inhabitants. After waiting ten days for the King Mateebee, who was absent on a jackal-hunt, Mr. Campbell was introduced to him at sunset, and at the very time of the monthly missionary prayermeeting; when our friend requested leave to send missionaries to his people, to acquaint them with the religion of Jesus Christ. After starting several objections to that measure, which Mr. C. was enabled to answer to his complete satisfa. tion, the king gave him this laconic answer'Send them, and I will be a father to them." This conference was repeated publicly, at the request of the king, on the next day, in the presence of his subjects, and the same liberty to send missionaries openly granted.

Here Mr. Campbell obtained the important information, that there were twenty tribes of people north of Latakkoo, who all speak the same language, and who

are reported to be still more civilized. The hope of being able, at a future day, to visit these people by able and faithful missionaries, and to diffuse among them the knowledge of our Savior, so agitated with joy the heart of our zealous brother, that for several successive nights he could scarcely sleep. May the cheering prospect ere long be realized! Our Brother Read had similar impressions, regarding the immense field that is now opened to British Christians.

From Latakkoo Mr. Campbell travelled eastward, and in five days reached a large Coranna town called Malapeetze, where he understood that no white man has been seen before; to this place also he obtained leave from the chief and majority of the inhabitants to send Missiona

ries.

Travelling southward from thence, be went in search of the Malalaren River, and discovered a krall, situated in a most beautiful valley, where Makoon, the chief of all the Boschemen in that part of Afiica, resided; he appeared to be a man of talents, and though he had never before seen a European, he consented to Mr. Campbell's proposal of sending missions there. aiso.

From thence, Mr. C. travelled along the Malalaren River to its junction with the Great Orange River, which he discovered was composed of four smaller rivers, the Mulaluren, the Yellow River, and two others which he named, in compliment to his respected friends, the Governor and Secretary at the Cape, the Cradock and the Alexander. This geographical discovery has since afforded great pleasure to gentlemen of science at the Cape.

Mr. Campbell and his friends then returned to Klaar Water, after a circular tour of six weeks; and Mr. C. continued about a fortnight there to arrange the affairs of that settlement.

Our enterprising brother then proceeded on a route entirely new, directly across the continent of Africa, westward, pursuing nearly the course of the Great Orange River, and on the 13th of September, reached Little Namaqualand, on the western coast, where he had the pleasure of meeting the Missionary Brethren Albrecht, Schmelen, and Ebner, laboring in their usual manner.

From hence Mr. Campbell despatched Mr. Schmelen towards the mouth of the Great River, distant about ten days journey, to ascertain, if possible, whether supplies could be obtained by sea from the Cape. Should this be found practicable, it would be found of inestimable advantage to all the settlers on the banks of that

great river, and save the great labor and heavy expense of long journies by land to and from Cape Town.

Mr. Schmelen was desired after exploring the country, especially the coast of Great Namaqualand, to penetrate, if possible, into the Damara country, to obtain information concerning its inhabitants, and the regions beyond them, known to Europeans only by name. His journey, it is hoped, says Mr. Campbell, "will open such extensive fields of usefulness as will try the faith and liberality of the benevo lent public;" but he adds a sentiment, in which we are certain that the whole So ciety will heartily concur-"that British Christians only require the fields to be fairly laid open before them"-their ample contributions will follow of course.

One circumstance, among the many difficulties and deliverances which Mr. Campbell experienced, must not be omitted. In the midst of that desolate wilderness through which he passed, an attack was one night made on his company by a party of wild Boschemen, who killed one of the Hottentots, and carried off all their oxen, which were more than one hundred. This left the brethren in a situation, the peril and horror of which we can scarcely conceive; for had not their oxen been recovered, their total destruction seemed inevitable. In their trouble they called upon God, put themselves into the best posture of defence they could, and sent a party of Hottentots in pursuit of the plunderers; most happily they overtook them -the Boschemen fled, and the cattle were brought back before morning. Such a memorable deliverance demands the warmest gratitude of the whole Society.

After a journey of nine months, replete with dangers, discoveries, and mercies, our dear brother returned to the Cape in better health than when he set out; for such was then the state of his health, that be scarcely expected to return.

He closes that interesting letter from which this part of the report is extracted, with the most earnest request that six or more missionaries may immediately be sent to Africa to supply the stations proposed. The Directors have not yet been able to accomplish this, but have been taking preparatory measures for the purpose, and are in hope of soon obtaining suitable missionaries both in Britain and in Holland.

The Directors need not enlarge on this interesting intelligence: every member of the Society feels its importance, and will doubtless rejoice in the prospect of a wide diffusion of the blessings of the Gospel, and its concomitant blessings of civilized life and social happiness.

NAMAQUA COUNTRY.

Ir will be recollected, that about the close of the year 1810, Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht, (with many of their people) being under the most painful apprehensions from the threatened invasion of Africaner, a notorious plunderer, left the settlement at Warm Bath, in the Great Namaqua Coun try, removing what they conld of their property, and hiding the rest in the earth; * after several painful removals Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht reached Cape Town, in order to procure the assistance of the Governor. It will also be recollected, that having settled their affairs there, they again journied northward, hoping, if prac ticable, to resume their labors at the Warm Bath. After sustaining extreme hardships aud difficulties for three months, in the wilderness, they reached Silver Fountain, the residence of the friendly Captain Kok. There, it will be remembered, that our most excellent female missionary Mrs. Albrecht, terminated her pilgrimage, and departed to her eternal rest, April 13, 1812.

Sometime after this event, Mr. Albrecht, accompanied by Mr. Schmelen, paid a visit to the Namaquas, south of the Orange River, and preached the Gospel in various places, in some of which deep impressions appeared to have been made. Some of their people wished them to return to Warm Bath, but they were convinced, that on account of the sterility of the country, they would soon be under the necessity of dispersing; they were also under apprehensions of a renewed attack from Africaner; they determined, therefore, on residing for the present at least at Kamiesberg, as being nearer the colony, and because the Orange River would prove a kind of barrier to them from their enemies. Here also they would have nearly the same people to instruct as had formerly lived at the Bath. The ground however is barren and unfit for agriculture; but there are several springs of water. The number of persons residing at this station, were, according to the last

* In August 1812, some of the brethren visited this spot, attended by twelve armed men: they found the place almost without inhabitants: they examined the place where Messrs. Albrecht and Sydenfeden had buried part of their goods, a few of which they found, but the greater part had been carried off. The houses and church were burnt doon, a few walls only were standing. Thus a place in which the Lord had greatly blessed his word was become a heap of ruins, and a habitation of lions. The country around was almost deserted.