in the manner of incense to some invisible being. The rain-maker, as usual on such occasions, either was or pretented to be inflated with feelings that were too great for expression. He became much excited, and, after many incoherent and incomprehensible utterances, in a peculiar style of affectation he said, "I cannot obtain rain; there is a hindrance. Something turns or prevents the rain." I saw that this remark produced excitement among the people. It often happens at this point, that some unfortunate man is mentioned as having by witchcraft or evil device restrained the falling of the rain. The result is, of course, that the man becomes a victim to the superstition and rage of the people: he is seized and tormented, with a view to compel him to confess his deeds, and to discover the "umbuti," (bewitching matter or charm,) that its evil influence may be destroyed. Not unfrequently the man or woman, as the case may be, is thrown over a precipice, or murdered in some other manner; and if he escapes with life, after severe torture, his cattle and those of his family are always seized and distributed among the followers of the Chief. Seeing that the proceedings were arriving at a crisis, I now thought it was time for me to speak. I therefore began to address Pato in due Kaffir form, and said that I was a child, I knew nothing of their customs; but I knew what God had told us in His word, and, as I knew it to be the word of truth, I wished with his consent to ask Gqindiva some questions, because I could not understand what he had already said about the rain. This led to the following conversation :

Pato. "You are my Teacher; I wish you to ask questions. I do not myself understand. Speak what you think, and here is Gqindiva: he will explain."

Missionary."Now, Gqindiva, you are the 'Umnini wemvula:' you say you can make rain?"

Rain-maker.-"I do not say so. I say, I seek the rain.”

Missionary." And when you seek it, you find it, and bring it to the country?"

Rain-maker.-"I have often given rain to the country. Here are Pato and other Chiefs, who know that I have done so on former occasions. Why do they come here to ask, if they did not know that I have the rain ?"

Missionary." Well now, I think rain comes from God. Here, in the book," (showing my New Testament,)" it says that God gives rain."

I read aloud, "God in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and GAVE US RAIN FROM HEAVEN, and FRUITFUL SEASONS, filling our hearts with food and gladness." (Acts xiv. 16, 17.) And, speaking to the Heathen assembly, I never felt myself on surer ground than while enlarging on these appropriate words. They arrested much attention, and the interest of the people was at this moment very marked.

Rain-maker." The Book speaks truly. I also say that God gives the

rain."

(I felt this to be a most important admission, and I saw that the Chiefs chuckled at it.)

Missionary.—" How so? You said just now that you have the rain, and you give rain.”

Rain-maker.—“I have the rain: I ask rain from the spirits; and I would give it, but I am hindered."

Missionary." Well, Gqindiva, this is strange. You say you have the rain, and here is the whole country burned with the sun; the ground is hard, nothing grows in the gardens, there is no grass on the commons; the very water in many of the rivers is stagnant." (Turning round, and pointing to his own garden and corn-fields, I continued :) "There are your own lands, with the crops all withering; and yonder, on the hillside, are your own cattle, lean, meager, and ready to perish from want of grass. If you have rain, why not give it without delay? Why do you injure yourself, and kill the country, by suffering this terrible drought to continue?" (Here arose a murmur of approval among the people.)

Rain-maker. (Much excited, apparently very angry, and losing for awhile the self-possession for which all Kaffirs are remarkable on particular and important occasions.)-"I would give rain: I have been trying these three moons to bring rain, but there is something that turns or hinders the rain."

Missionary." Who is it that hinders the rain from falling? and how is it done?" (This question still further increased the excitement. I knew I had pushed the matter to its utmost limit, and the reply might be that some unfortunate Kaffir was the guilty individual. I felt sure, however, that I had sufficient influence over the Chiefs at the time to prevent any immediate personal danger to anyone who might be named. There was a pause for awhile; when suddenly, seeming to recollect himself,)—

Rain-maker.—"Do You ask me who hinders the rain?"
Missionary." It is I who ask."

Rain-maker.-"You are THE HINDRANCE."

Missionary." How do I hinder the rain from falling?"

Rain-maker.—“I have slaughtered cattle, and offered to the spirits; I have often burned herbs. When the clouds come up from the sea, and spread over all the land, and the rain is ready to fall, that thing which you have brought into the country and set up on a pole on the hill at Etwecu, (Wesleyville,) goes tinkle-tinkle-tinkle; and immediately the clouds begin to scatter, they disappear, and no rain can fall.”

Missionary." Now I know that you speak lies. God never told you that the bell which calls the people to worship Him is the means of preventing the rain from falling. I will tell you what I think: Perhaps God sends these droughts because the people seek from you and other rainmakers, who are only men, what they should ask from Him only."

I followed up this observation by many others: and, as the day was far spent, and there did not seem much probability, from the turn which had been given to the affair, that any Kaffir kraal would be "eaten up" (as

the phrase among the Kaffirs runs) in punishment for preventing the rain, the Chiefs and people seemed anxious to return home. After devouring the flesh of two oxen which had been killed as food for the people, we all went to our respective places of abode.

On the way home, and afterwards for several days, there was no small stir among the natives about the recent discussion between the Missionary and the rain-maker; only a small portion of which is reported above. Opinions were greatly divided. Some believed the rain-maker, while others, both among the Chiefs and the people, inclined to think that the words of the Missionary were stronger and more convincing than those of Gчindiva. Soon after, the Chiefs asked me what was now to be done. The drought continued in unmitigated severity; and the chapel-bell, the alleged cause of so much mischief, was still tinkled for school, or worship, or both, every day. Some of the native residents of the Mission-village— no doubt acted upon by the prevailing fears of the people at large-came to the Missionary, and urged that, although they had no belief in Gqindiva's word, yet it might be well that we should cease from using the bell till after rain had fallen, as otherwise all who resided at the Mission-village would lie under a very painful imputation, which might produce most unpleasant results. It is not easy for those who live in a Christian country, under the protection of just and equal laws, to understand the uneasiness which was felt, and thus expressed, by some of the people and Chiefs, of whose kindly feelings toward the Missionaries there was no doubt. It was a time of perplexity; but duty seemed to be plain. It was resolved, in humble dependence upon God, to give no countenance to the prevailing superstition by yielding the point. The bell continued to be rung, as usual. But the Missionary told the Chiefs and the people in the neighbourhood, that he would hold a special meeting for prayer, to ask rain from God. He was very careful to explain that no Teacher sent from God could give rain; that God is the Giver of every good gift; but that He has told us to pray to Him in our time of need. Hence the Missionary proposed to set apart a whole day for fasting and prayer, and at certain intervals during the day to call together the people at the chapel, by ringing of the bell, that they might humble themselves and offer their solemn and earnest petitions. Chiefs and people very readily acceded to this arrangement. On the appointed day the fast was rigorously observed; so much so, that applications were made to the Missionary to know whether the infants at the breast should be permitted to receive their usual nourishment! The several services of that memorable day were attended by a large number of people, including the principal Chiefs. Much was said on the subject in various brief addresses. Many fervent prayers were offered by the members of the Mission-families, male and female, and also by several native conGod was pleased in His infinite mercy to answer for Himself. Just as the people were beginning to assemble for the evening service, (the last for the day,) drops of rain began to fall slowly, and without any very great promise of a copious flood. But, while the service was proceeding,

verts.

the clouds were rolling up from the direction of the great Southern Ocean; and, at the time of its close, the rain was falling in heavy showers. It increased during the night, and became continuous, coming down heavily hour after hour. All the smaller streams were speedily overflowing; and on the third day some of the people came to the Missionary and said, "The rivers are overflowing their banks, and washing away some of the gardens : would it not now be well to thank God, and tell Him that it is enough, and pray that He may now withhold His hand?" Truly, all acknowledged that this was "GOD'S RAIN." Gqindiva and his profession fell into disrepute in all that neighbourhood; and, for many years after, the Chiefs and counsellors of the Amagonak waybie never made another application to a rain-maker.

It is painful to add that Gqindiva remained a very violent opponent of Christianity, and the new ideas it was introducing into the country; for many, who did not yield to "the soul-converting grace," embraced views not in accordance with the old superstition. The most determined Heathens were, in general, the most restless people in the country. This rain-maker was associated with a number of Kaffirs, of the Amambalu and Imidanke tribes, who were noted robbers, often making forays into the Colony, and robbing the cattle-kraals of the Dutch and English settlers. They removed, after the events narrated above, to a place near where the present FortPeddie stands. During the Kaffir war of 1834-5, they were most conspicuous in their daring attacks upon the colonists, and were at length attacked in retaliation by some British troops and settlers. Gqindiva showed much bravery, exposed himself greatly in resisting the troops, and ended his career by being shot down, with others of his companions, while fighting against a Government which had no other desire than to maintain peace and order in the country.

"LEARN FIRST TO SHOW PIETY AT HOME."

(1 TIM. V. 4.)

THE word "piety" is one of comprehensive meaning: it is often used to denote all experimental and practical godliness, implying repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, love to God, love to our fellowcreatures, and habitual obedience to God's commandments. And our piety must be shown: not, as it were, hung out for show; not ostentatiously and self-righteously displayed; not unnecessarily talked about; but still shown. The sun, moon, and stars require no herald-voice to proclaim their character: they are "for ever singing as they shine," and singing by their shining, "The hand that made us is Divine." "Let your light so shine before

From "A Homily for Christian Families," recently published, by the Rev. Edward Nye.

men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." The home-circle is an orbit in which every disciple of the Lord Jesus may steadily and beneficially emit the light of grace. St. Paul's injunction applies to all who sustain any one of the home-relations.

"Piety at home" requires that we impart to our children suitable instruction. We have to furnish the mind, and form the habits, for the future. Hence the child should be led, by home direction and encouragement, into every accessible pathway of useful knowledge. But, above all, we must assiduously study to promote a knowledge of the word and will of God. With reference to His statutes, our heavenly Father says to every earthly father, "Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." "Thou shalt teach" no instruction conveyed by Minister or school-teacher can relieve the parent of his responsibility. Home-piety dictates that parental instruction be sustained and enforced by consistent example. Children will then feel the hallowing, attractive, and elevating power of goodness.

A neat farm-house, long known as the happy Christian home of a large family, stands in the midst of orchards and gardens, in one of the most verdant and fertile parts of Somerset. As the many children grew into youth and maturity, they gave their hearts to God, and joined the village Society. "What was there in your house," I once asked the eldest daughter, then a married lady, "that contributed to the early conversion of yourself, and all your brothers and sisters?" "We always felt," she replied, "that our father and mother were indeed what they professed to be, disciples of the Lord Jesus. All their conversation and conduct at home enforced the instruction received in the house of God. I think I never heard from the lips of my parents any observation concerning an absent Minister, Preacher, or church-member, that could raise in my mind a prejudice or suspicion against any to whose preaching we listened, or whom I knew as professing Christians. There was no home-barrier to our early salvation: the word of the Lord had free course.'

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Piety at home" will rear and maintain the altar of family-worship. There, home-blessings will be thankfully acknowledged, home-wants spread before God, and home-sins confessed. If there be no day in which Satan will not make some assault on the happiness of that sacred enclosure, -no day without home-trials, home-duties, home-infirmities, and homeblessings; then let there be no day without the family-reading of the Scriptures, and family praise and prayer.

"Piety at home" will not be complete unless there be home rule and discipline. A throne must be there; and you, the father, must fill it. A sceptre must be there; and you-not the son, daughter, or servant-must sway it. And there must be laws and appropriate government. You need not make the throne prominent, or brandish the sceptre, or talk much about the laws.