At first, Mr. Kicherer attemp ed to preach to them systematically; but he found little effect from this. He then had recourse to the method which the Moravians found the most useful, simply preaching the love and death of Jesus Christ, and

He

it; and would advise them to go
aside and pray that the Lord
would teach them; and that he
would cause them by his Spirit,
to know whether he was his
messenger or not.

labors, among thirty or forty
people, first teaching them to
spell Dutch.
The Lord was
now pleased to send them a man
and his wife, who, understand-
ing the language both of the
Hottentots and of the Dutch,
became very useful to them as
their interpreter, &c. The peo-inviting them to come to him,
ple among whom he labored that they might have life.
were chiefly Boschemen; the would tell them, how happy he
most savage and ferocious of found his own heart when the
that country
The doctrine of love of God was shed abroad in
a Supreme Being was entirely
unknown to them; they did not
know they had immortal souls;
but were, in most respects,
"like the beasts that perish."
Their habitations are generally
among the rocks, where they
dig a small round den, about
three feet deep, which they
sometimes cover with reeds.
Here they spend most of their
time in sleep, except when rous-
ed by hunger, when they sally
forth in quest of some wild
beasts; but when unsuccessful
in this attempt, they make shift
to subsist upon snakes, mice or
wild onions and such is their
idleness, that rather than be at
the pains of seeking food, they
will live several days together
without it!

The people being in general afraid to come near an European, Mr. Kicherer was under the necessity of tempting them at first, by giving them a little tobacco; of which they are extravagantly fond. He would then take the opportunity of showing, that the great difference between the Christians and themselves, in the superior comforts enjoyed by the former, was occasioned by their knowledge of God; of whose nature and perfections they would hear with greatastonishment.

He

For a considerable time he re-
mained in painful uncertainty,
whether his labors were blessed
to the real conversion of any of
his hearers. Yet, in this situa-
tion, he was enabled to leave the
matter with God-desiring to
be faithful whether successful
or not. From that time, his la-
bors were greatly blessed.
had the most undoubted evi-
dence of the solid conversion of
many souls. One of the first
of these was a man, called John,
who was brought under deep
convictions of sin; for he had
been a most notorious offender.
He lived but about five or six
months after; during which
time his experience was wonder-
ful. His heart was wholly ta-
ken up with the love of Christ,
so that he could scarcely bear to
speak of worldly things; and
he died rejoicing in the Lord,
saying to his teacher, "I die,
depending on the blood and
righteousness of Christ; I go to
heaven, and there I will wait for
you." His son, who came from
a distance to see his dying fa-
ther, was also converted, obtain-

1

ed his liberty from his master, and is now usefully employed as a school-master in the settle

ment.

year, was indescribable; and they are now eagerly wishing his return by the month of March. No doubt, our readers will earnestly pray that their af fectionate wishes may be gratified, and that he may resume his labors among them with abun dant success. They are, however, supplied in the mean time, by a faithful man of God, raised up in that country.

This is a very slight sketch of the wonderful work of God at Zak River: a full account containing a variety of particulars, interesting and remarkable in no common degree, will, we hear, be shortly published by the Directors; to which we refer our readers for a rich spiritual and intellectual feast.

The three Natives, who, for the reasons mentioned in our last number, accompanied Mr. Kicherer to Europe, have, during their residence in London, at

Mr. Kicherer would sometimes take a walk in the fields, and find, scattered here and there, prostrate on the ground, several of his congregation; and some with a child in each hand, pouring out their souls to God in the most lively and copious strains. Thus was he encourageed to go forward amidst his arduous labors. Before he left Zak River to visit Europe, he had baptized about thirty-four adult persons, and fifty children. He had a stated congregation of about six hundred persons, in a great measure civilized, and dwelling together. He has a building, a pretty large one for a church. The unbaptized live behind his house in huts, a number of which, in a circular form, inclosing their cattle, are called Kraals; while the baptized in-tracted a considerable share of habit houses of the European form, placed in front of his dwelling. He has had the unspeakable satisfaction of perceiving an universal change in the people, who have become literally, as well as spiritually, new creatures. Those who were so filthy, that a civilized person could scarcely approach them, are now clean; instead of being naked, or only covered with a dirty sheep's skin, they are now decently clothed; and those who knew not there was a God, are become devout worshippers of God, and fervent lovers of Jesus Christ; industrious and obliging, bringing up their offspring in the fear of the Lord. The concern of these dear people in parting from their father and pastor for a whole

the public attention. The proofs which they have given of mental power, and religious feeling, have been highly gratifying both to the Philosopher and the Divine. They have been visited by people of very different descriptions-by Sir Joseph Banks, as well as Mr. Rowland. Hill, by persons high in Office, as well as Ministers of the gospel; and all have declared themselves surprised and delighted. These three strangers, now so gentle, intelligent and civilized, were five years ago, like the rest of their tribe, as remote from civilization, and as destitute of all moral sentiments and impressions, as fallen man, under the dominion of the powers of darkness, can well be supposed. On Monday, Dec. 12th,

they, and their much respected pastor, took an affectionate leave of their friends in London, and proceeded to Gravesend, where they embarked on the 21st for Holland, on their return home. They were much impressed with the kind reception which they met with in London, from Christians of every rank and denomination. Their names are, John Van Rooy; Mary, his wife; and Martha Arendse.wards repeated from the pulpit. John is a pure Hottentot without any mixture with another nation; and is a very sensible judicious Christian. Mary is a sprightly woman, and very lively when talking of religion.She and Martha are called Bastard Hottentots ;-one of their parents being Hottentot, and the other Malay.

laziness and filthiness:-he then proceeded to state the methods which he adopted to gain their attention, and to instruct them in the knowledge of the gospel; together with the blessed success which the Lord has graciously given to his labors; some striking instances of which were mentioned. Mr. Kicherer's answers (being given in imperfect English) were after

THE THREE HOTTENTOTS.

ON Monday, November 7, at the Monthly Missionary Prayer-Meeting, held on that evening, at the Scots Church, Miles's Lane, Canon Street, the congregation was gratified with a spectacle as pleasing as it was new. After the first prayer, which was offered up by Mr. Voss, who was for some years the minister of a Christian congregation at Rodizand, in Africa, several questions were proposed by the Secretary to Mr. Kicherer, a native of Holland, who has been a sccessful Missionary, from the Society in London, at Zak River, about 500 miles N. E. of the Cape of Good Hope. His answers to these questions included a general account of the state in which he first found the Hottentots of that country, their wildness, their ignorance of all religion, and their extreme

Three converted Hottentots, a man, named John; his wife, Mary; and an elderly woman, named Martha, were then seated in the desk, where the congregation had an opportunity of seeing them. Questions were proposed to each, by the medium of Mr. Kicherer; and their answers being interpreted by him, were repeated by the Secretary. These answers were highly satisfactory, and shewed that the labors of our dear brother had not been in vain. The following are some of the questions proposed, with the substance of their answers* :—

Q. What did you know of God before the Missionaries ? A. We knew nothing at all of him; we did not know there was any Godt.-Q. What did you then think of yourself? A. I thought I was like a beast; and that when I died, there would be an end.-Q. What have you since learned about yourself? A. I have since learned that I am a poor wicked creature, Q. How is it possible that such a wicked creature can be

*They had no previous intimation what questions would be proposed to them.

+ Some of them venerate a kind of walking leaf, which they will not hurt; and call it a God.

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