assisting in the translation of the Scriptures into his native language. While Tzatzoe was occupied in assisting the missionaries, the duties connected with the civil affairs of his tribe were discharged, at his own request, by an elder brother; but Tzatzoe was held in high estimation by the other chiefs of the nation, and frequently consulted in matters of importance; such, in fact, was the influence of his acknowledged integrity and justice, that the subjects of other chiefs often mutually requested him to decide matters in dispute between them. The missionary, by whom these notices are supplied, was once present when two Caffres appeared before the young chief, each claiming as their own a colt they led to the place. In support of their claims, each stated that he was in possession of the dam of the colt. Having listened to their respective statements, Tzatzoe directed them to bring both the animals, and then ordered the colt to be let loose before all the people. This was no sooner done, than it repaired to one of the animals, by which it was immediately recognized, and treated with expressions of evident pleasure; while it was unnoticed by the other animal, which it also seemed to avoid. The dispute was now at an end, and all parties appeared pleased at the manner in which the proprietorship in the animal was so satisfactorily determined. When the late disastrous war broke out between the Caffres and the colonists, Tzatzoe successfully exerted his influence to restrain his tribe from joining their countrymen in entering the colony; and afterwards, when called to assist the colonial government, led his men, four hundred in number, to the field, where he continued with the British forces till peace was made with the Caffres, when, on his return, he found the lands of his tribe in the occupancy of his friends, the colonial forces, who had taken possession of his house, and the grounds, which he had stocked with fruit-trees, and brought under

cultivation; thus depriving him of the fruits of the labours of many years, and obliging him again to begin the formation of his settlement in the uncultivated wilderness.

Speaking of this chief, one of the missionaries in Caffreland, by whom he is well known, thus writes :—

"Tzatzoe possesses considerable talent; his addresses are pointed and powerful, and always command the attention of his hearers. As a preacher, his perfect knowledge of the Caffre character, and his acquaintance with their customs, give him an advantage which few Europeans can attain in preaching to Caffres. But the tact which he displays in combating Caffre prejudices and superstition, is really surprising. I have often listened with delight and astonishment to his discourses, which are so full, so simple, and yet so powerful. The ease, too, with which he can effectually arrest the attention of his countrymen is matter of admiration. Here is a specimen of the great power of God, in reclaiming a savage, and making him an instrument in reclaiming others."

During his residence in South Africa, the late lamented Thomas Pringle visited the Missionary station at the Buffalo river, and has left the following record of his visit:—

A rugged mountain, round whose summit proud,
The eagle sailed, or heaved the thunder-cloud,
Poured, from its cloven breast, a gurgling brook,
Which down the grassy glades its journey took;
Oft bending round, to lave, with rambling tide,
The groves of evergreen on either side.

Fast by this stream, where yet its course was young,
And stooping from the heights, the forest flung

A grateful shadow o'er the narrow dell,

Appeared the Missionary's hermit cell.

Woven of wattled boughs, and thatched with leaves,
The sweet wild jasmine clustering to its eaves,

It stood, with its small casement gleaming through,
Between two ancient cedars; round it grew

Clumps of acacias and young orange bowers,
Pomegranate hedges, gay with scarlet flowers;
And pale-stemmed fig-trees, with their fruit yet green,
And apple blossoms waving light between.

All musical it seemed with humming bees,
And bright-plumed sugar-birds among the trees
Fluttered, like living blossoms.

In the shade

Of a grey rock, that midst the leafy glade
Stood like a giant sentinel, we found
The habitant of this fair spot of ground—
A plain, tall Scottish man, of thoughtful mien;
Grave, but not gloomy. By his side was seen
An ancient chief of Amakosa's race,

With javelin armed, for conflict or for chase;
And seated at their feet, upon the sod,

A youth was reading from the Word of God,
Of Him who came for sinful men to die,
Of every race and tongue beneath the sky.

Unnoticed, towards them we softly stept,
Our friend was rapt in prayer-the warrior wept,
Leaning upon his hand: the youth read on;
And then we hailed the group-the Chieftain's son,
Training to be his country's Christian guide-
And Brownlee, and old Tshatshu, by his side.

THE DEATH OF THE LAST CHILD.

BY THE REV. THOMAS DALE, A. M.

FAREWELL, my young blossom!
The fairest, the fleetest:
The pride of my bosom,

The last-and the sweetest!

On thee my heart centred

All hopes earth could cherish :

The spoiler hath entered,
And thou, too, must perish!

I see thy bloom wasting,
And cannot restore it;
The end now is hasting
"Tis vain to deplore it.
Could prayers detain thee,
As pale thou art lying,
I would not enchain thee
To live ever-dying!

To linger to languish

That life may be sorrow :
Through the night pain and anguish ;
No rest on the morrow.

Oh, soon may deep slumber

In mercy steal o'er thee!

Earth can but encumber,

And Heaven is before thee!

O loveliest! O dearest!

When anguish oppressed thee,

My arm still was nearest,

My prayer still hath blessed thee!

PLANT of ethereal birth!

Too exquisitely wrought

For aliment of earth,

Thy rootless garland, fraught

With breath of Heaven, ruled by mysterious laws,

Its secret life from viewless fountains draws.

Bright emblem of the soul,

That lives on the unseen;
Surmounting all control

And power of things terrene.

Unearthly flower, fed by a heavenly ray!

Thus would we live as children of the day.