establishing four additional sub-stations under the care of Native Teachers, towards the salary of whom Sir George Grey offers a grant of £25 per annum. The schools here are not in the most satisfactory state, partly owing to the want of efficient Teachers, and partly from the fact that the parents of the children can with difficulty be prevailed upon to relinquish the services of the children in the processes of agriculture and otherwise. The buildings at D'Urban are sadly out of repair; but, as an Industrial School is in process of erection, we hope soon to have a more comfortable residence for the Missionary.

Leaving D'Urban, we proceeded to Mount-Coke, and reached this station on the 17th. Of this station I need say but little. In externals it is most creditable to the Society; whilst in the great work of the Missions it is also making satisfactory progress. Our press is here in active operation under the care of Mr. Appleyard, whose only fault is that he works too hard, and is, I fear, wearing himself out by unceasing labour. Mr. Holford assists in the charge of the Circuit, and is rapidly acquiring the Kaffir language. The Watson Institution numbers ten resident pupils, and the dayschool a total of ninety-three scholars : there is also an evening-school for adults, with about seventy-three in the roll. The Institution youths read to me Exodus vi. in English very creditably. Of course they read Kaffir fluently: they are also making fair progress in writing, arithmetic, and geography.

On Sunday, March 21st, I preached at King William's Town. Our English chapel here is just completed, and is an ornament to the town: it is well filled. We have also a native congregation in the town, and two or three sub-stations and preaching-places amongst the natives residing in the neighbourhood.

We were detained at King William's Town, waiting for waggons, until the 26th. I am sorry also to say that Mr. Sargeant, who was to have been one of the party to proceed eastward, was under the necessity of remaining at this place. The health of Mrs. Sargeant, which had been precarious for some time previous, now entirely failed, and it became impossible to move her. Mr. Sargeant and his family are still there; and, I fear, without any prospect of a speedy change. I deeply regret this; for, as stated in my previous letters, we had calculated upon the experience and judgment of Mr. Sargeant as likely to render most efficient service to the re occupation of our Trans

Keian stations. Mr. Sargeant is not, however, idle; he is affording valuable aid to Mr. Dugmore, whose health also is unequal to the full discharge of the many duties of the Circuit,-in fact, the medical men have given their opinion that he (Mr. Dugmore) ought not to preach at all.

On March 31st we crossed the great Kei River. The incidents of the journey I must leave to the pens of our fellowtravellers, to whom they would at least have the charm of novelty. One thing I must remark upon, for it was a matter that deeply affected me, whilst to them who had never seen the country before, it might pass unobserved. It was this, -that, from the day we left King William's Town to the day we reached Clarkebury, a distance of more than one hundred and twenty miles,-travelling through a country formerly teeming with inhabitants, I did not see a single Kaffir, a single kraal, or a single patch of cullivated ground. This tract is one rast wilderness, utterly depopulated by the fearful delusion of which you have heard, whereby the Kaffir tribes slaughtered their cattle and destroyed their means of subsistence. The population that in former days occupied these lands, whose cattle grazed these hills, are become a people "scattered and peeled." Thousands have passed into the Colony to seek a maintenance by labour amongst the farmers; thousands more have passed eastward to those tribes who have escaped this fearful visitation; and thousands more have perished, whose bones now bleach by the deserted homesteads. Some of these sad relics we observed as the waggons passed along. Of a truth the "dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty."

On April 2d we passed Butterworth, halting for a short time near the site of our former Mission here. We found a party of Kaffirs under the command of Major Gawler encamped here, and also a body of mounted police occupying the trading-station. This force has been employed to eject Krili and the remnant of his tribe from the country between the Kei and Bashee rivers, a service which has been most effectually performed, not, I fear, without unnecessary rigour. The policy of this measure of our present Governor I will not now discuss: the effect has been to clear the country of its comparatively few remaining inhabitants; and it is now the design of the Government to fill up the territory by an emigration of Fingoes from the Colony, and Kaffirs from British Kaffraria. How far

this plan will succeed, remains to be seen: it is not unlikely that a considerable number of Fingoes will be located round Butterworth, in which case we shall resume our occupation of the Mission; but at present such a measure is in abeyance. Mr. Hargreaves, who was to have been stationed at Butterworth, will remain at Clarkebury until some further development of the Governor's plans; and, since Mr. Sargeant has found it impossible to reach the latter place, it is just as well that Mr. Hargreaves should be stationed there.

On April 5th we reached Clarkebury. A number of the station-people came out several miles to meet us, overjoyed at the prospect of the residence of a Missionary amongst them once more. Notwithstanding the long period which has elapsed since the death of Mr. Thomas, during which the people have been as sheep without a shepherd, I was much pleased with the general condition of the station. The population is perhaps as large, if not larger than it ever was; the congregations good; and the church, though considerably diminished, still numbers about fifty members, distributed into five classes.

The buildings at Clarkebury are in a most dilapidated state. The large chapel erected by the late Mr. Gladwin is falling down, and is, in fact, in so dangerous a condition that I refused to hold any service in it, and cautioned the people against its further occupation. A new chapel must be erected; and Mr. Hargreaves at once opened a subscriptionlist for that object, and before our return to Clarkebury on the way home, had collected a considerable sum. The dwelling-house, too, requires extensive repairs, to effect which I engaged an artisan; and ere this, I suppose the greater part of the work is completed.

Our party here separated. Mr. Hargreaves remained at Clarkebury. Mr. and Mrs. Gedye proceeded to Morley. Mr. and Mrs. Longden, myself and wife, travelled together as far as the ford of the Umtata, when they proceeded direct to Buntingville, and we to Shawbury. The distance to each of these stations from Clarkebury is about four days' journey with a waggon.

After crossing the Umtata, I made a detour on horseback for the purpose of visiting the site of Beechamwood, where our late brother Thomas met his lamentable end. The station, and indeed the whole neighbourhood, is quite deserted; not a soul near. It was with some difficulty that we found the grave of our

departed brother. The houses are burnt down, and, with the exception of the garden-fence, and the trees which stand amid the rank grass, little remains to mark the spot.

It was a most unfortunate selection of a site for our Mission; for, though a beautiful spot, and possessing natural advantages of no ordinary kind, it is situate in the very centre of a disputed border-land, and at the very time of the formation of the station no less than three Chiefs remonstrated against its occupation on this very ground. I am convinced that it was a false step,-and dearly have we paid for it. Had the country been previously populated, presenting a fresh and promising field for Missionary labour, it would have been a different thing; but this was not the case. A number of people, drawn from existing stations, moved to this locality, mainly because of the superior physical recommendations it possessed, regardless of the one fatal objection that it could never, under existing circumstances, be a land of peace. One of the Native Teachers, who had resided here at the time of Mr. Thomas's death, and who himself had lost a son in one of the attacks made on the station, had commenced building a hut in the hope of our resuming the station; but when I met him at Shawbury, I told him that such a measure was out of the question, and appointed him to another locality.

Wednesday, April 14th, we arrived at Shawbury, situated on a small stream which runs into the Tsitsa. The Tsitsa is, without exception, the finest river I have seen in South Africa, and the portion of it in the immediate vicinity of Shawbury is densely populated.

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The Shawbury people came out to meet us in full costume, with their shields and assegais, horses and guns; and, in the exuberance of their joy, gave us a reception more like that of the entrance of a General into some garrison, than of a peaceable Missionary into a station. salute was fired by such as owned firearms; and as some of the guns were shotted, and the balls whistled in the air, we felt this mark of respect to be more complimentary than safe. This is a very promising Mission. We have a good chapel here, but no permanent Mission-house. Everything is very creditable to the Native Teacher, who for so long a time has been left in charge of this station. There is also a schoolmaster, who has a day-school of about seventy children; but, like so many of our schools in Kaffirland, this school is

in a very inefficient state. Good Teachers, and a better supply of school-material, are everywhere wanted.

The only station which I was unable to visit is a sub-station connected with

Shawbury, at which Mr. Hulley, a Catechist, resides. This station is with the Amabaca tribe, and is about thirty miles from Shawbury; but so bad a road, that it would have occupied several days to visit it. Mr. Hulley subsequently met me at the Umtata, when we discussed several important matters connected with the conduct of our Mission there.

Leaving Shawbury, we proceeded to Buntingville, which place we reached on Saturday, April 17th.

The cattle disease, which has been so prevalent in the Colony and part of Kaffirland, has not yet reached this part, and the people are consequently much afraid of its introduction. Cattle from other parts are not permitted to pass the limits of the tribe, and we were therefore obliged to leave our own oxen a distance of some ten or twelve miles away from the station, and engage fresh oxen to convey the waggon thither. The man brought his own cattle and gear, and even proceeded to wash the pole of the waggon to prevent infection.

Buntingville is the only station that has continued to have a resident Missionary. Mr. C. White has been here for some years. We consequently found things in a more prosperous condition than on those stations which have been left without a Missionary. The buildings require, however, considerable repair, and some enlargement. I had here the pleasure to meet Mr. Jenkins, from Palmerton. The stations of Palmerton and Buntingville are both with the same tribe, the Amampondo; but Methodistically they are in separate Districts; the former in the Natal District, and the latter in the Albany and Kaffraria District. This is in many respects an undesirable arrangement, and I hope some day to see it altered. Mr. John Longden remains at Buntingville, and Mr. C. White proceeds to Shawbury.

Re-crossing the Umtata, we next visited Morley, and found Mr. and Mrs. Gedye almost settled there. The route to Morley from Buntingville on horseback is but a distance of about thirty miles with the waggon it occupied us four days. This difference arises from the impracticability of crossing the river with a waggon, except at the one ford which is far up the stream. Morley, like Clarkebury, has now a population considerably increased by those causes

which have operated so prejudicially in British Kaffraria, Mr. Gedye has entered upon his work with spirit, and with every prospect of success.

It has been arranged that the people of the Umdumbi, amongst whom we have a number of members, should move to the vicinity of Morley. The place they have occupied hitherto is, in consequence of tribal wars, no longer safe for them; whilst that to which they will remove is in every respect a desirable one, and more especially as they will now be within reach of a much greater amount of pastoral care than before.

Several minor arrangements have been made, tending, I trust, to the advancement of our great work; but I fear to detail these, lest my communication become wearisome.

I believe our re-occupation of these stations has been made at a most favourable juncture; that we are finding a "people prepared of the Lord;" and that "the time, the set time, to favour the land" is come.

Re-passing Clarkebury, where we found Mr. Hargreaves actively engaged in his work, we crossed the mountain-range, and entered the upper Tambookie district. My first object was to reach the station occupied by Mr. Wakeford; and, whilst at Clarkebury, I had asked the Chief Joey to give me a guide to that place. A guide was accordingly provided; but we discovered on the second day of our journey that he knew absolutely nothing of the route we ought to travel. The consequence was that, instead of reaching Mr. Wakeford's, we arrived, after four days' journey, at one of the Church of England Missions called St. Mark's, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Waters: this was at least two days' journey out of our way, and was a great disappointment. Mr. Waters received us very kindly, and showed us every attention. Besides Mr. Waters, there is a large staff of Agents in this Mission, which appears to be a flourishing one. A few months ago a serious calamity occurred in the burning down of the Mission-house; whereby much property was destroyed. Part of the premises consisted of an iron house; but this too was totally destroyed. attended evening prayers in the small chapel, which was filled with an attentive congregation. Our translation of the Liturgy was used, portions of which were chanted and intoned with effect. Mr. Waters has above one hundred Kaffir children under his care, who are supported at the expense of the Government, being principally orphans and children of

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many people as were within our reach, our commission from Christ being, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to eve y creature.' I also informed him that if he and his people were at all accessible, I would visit them as soon as possible, and preach to them. After a long conversation, he thanked me for my words, which he said were very good, and told me that, although I looked very young, I was his father; and that, if I would visit and preach to him and his people, he would do as I said.—Rev. Edwin Gedye, Morley, May 28th, 1858.

29th.

Preparation for the Sabbath. I read, likewise, several chapters of Watson's Institutes.

Sunday, 30th.-The morning was very wet, threatening altogether to break up the services: nevertheless, there was a tolerably good attendance. I visited the school in the afternoon, overlooking all the classes, and hearing some of the boys and girls read. A few read tolerably well, but only a few. I gave them an address, founded on the Bible lesson, Psalm xxiii. 4; after which I closed the school. The evening proved fair; and, long before service-time, the people flocked to the preaching-room, reminding one of the expression, "fly as doves to their windows." The room was filled with a very devout and attentive audience, to which I discoursed from Isaiah lv. 6, 7. Perhaps there were present between three and four hundred souls. May the bread cast upon the waters be seen after many days!

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June 2d. I held a service at five o'clock this morning. It was exceedingly wet; yet between twenty and thirty persons were present. After extemporaneous prayer, I read the Litany. preached in the evening. The weather was very unfavourable; so much so, that I expected no one to be out, especially considering the state of the roads; yet about one hundred were assembled to hear the word of life. Surely this people must be desirous of instruction, when they will wade through so much mud

and water to the house of the Lord. What a reflection this on the conduct of some who have been long blessed with spiritual privileges, who yet allow the veriest trifles to keep them from the means of grace! I preached from Psalm cxxviii. 1. After preaching, I read the Rules of the Society, making such remarks as seemed suitable under the circumstances. I hope to commence a class-meeting with three or four on Monday night next. There are a few seriously-disposed persons, who would be glad of the instruction to be obtained at such a means of grace, and who will, no doubt, avail themselves of it as soon as they understand the matter.

Sunday, 6th.-I preached in the morning and evening to large and attentive congregations. In the afternoon I visited the Sabbath-school. There is a great lack of Teachers; but I hope soon to supply that defect. There is a wide field of operations here. May the Lord pour down abundantly of His Holy Spirit, and make this wilderness as the garden of the Lord!

7th. The weather to-day very much affected the attendance of the children in the school. This evening I commenced a class-meeting with five persons,- Mrs. Shrewsbury, the School-Teacher, a member from the George-Town Circuit, who is working here at present, and is likely to do so for some time, and two others. May the little one become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation!

9th. I held service this morning at five o'clock. I feel the want of one or two praying ones. I cannot hold a prayer-meeting for want of efficient help. I preached in the evening. There was a tolerable muster, considering the state of the weather.

19th. I spent a part of this afternoon in visiting some of the people on the estate. Saturday, though not so desirable a day for visiting on my own account, is yet the best day for the estate people, as it is their idol-day, and they are then most likely to be found at home. I visited some of the Coolies, taking each house, seria tim, whatever kind of tenant. To these poor deluded people I spoke of the love of God. Some of them promised to send their children to school, and one or two said they would attend the service. Many of them speak English very well. Just now they are parading the place with their idols; and until their present ceremonies are ended they are not likely to pay much practical attention to spiritual things. Inaccessible, however, as they appear to be, they