throughout the different towns and districts of the colony. A few days ago, I had a letter from Mr Robert Hart of Glenavon, Somerset, who has ever taken a deep interest in the temporal and spiritual welfare of the coloured races in South Africa, and who has all along been the tried and steady friend of our mission. With his accustomed hospitality and kindness, he has made his house an asylum for some of the native converts, who have resorted to him for refuge; and has made enquiries concerning others of them who are residing in other places. I send the following list as sent by him to me; on its fidelity all may confidently rely.

COPY-MEMORANDUM of the Native Members of the United Presbyterian Church in Africa, and their present situation and employments, this 19th January, 1852, viz. :

It is not known nor believed that any of the above have any connection with the enemy. There are a number more, though not members, who are steady, and employed on the frontier, in various directions, some of whom I know.

(Signed)

ROBT. HART, Senior.

It is gratifying to learn from Mr Hart, that Notishi, so well known in this country, deservedly esteemed, and supported as a native teacher by the ladies of Greenock, is still able to prosecute her labours amid the native

children, though her sphere of usefulness in the meantime is greatly circumscribed. In a letter I lately had from her, she says-" I still love my work of teaching, but I have rather few children. Twenty is the number. I am much obliged to the dear ladies who still think of me in these times of trouble."

The four persons mentioned by Mr Hart as being at Chumie, are the elders of the church there, who retire into the bush during the day, and come out, usually, morning and evening, to conduct worship in the church, with those who, like themselves, are harbouring near the place, and who live mainly upon roots dug from the soil. I have had no information what is their number, though it is understood to be considerable. Notishi, in her letter, speaking of them, says,-"Those that we left at Chumie are all well, with the exception of Coti, one of the teachers, who died of consumption. Yes, Sir, he is no more in this country of war and sorrows. He is, I hope, entered into the everlasting rest in heaven. Dukwana, Festiri, Tobi, and Nyosi, I am very glad to tell you that these four brethren still carry on the work of God, every Lord's-day, at Chumie. I often hear about them through a cousin of mine.”

Of Pella whom Mr Hart mentions as being at Uitenhage, Mr Cumming, in a letter which I received by last mail from him, and who by this time is on his way home, relates the following incident:— "Pella is working here (at Algoa Bay). The other day he found a ten pound note lying in the street. He brought it to me; and now it lies at the bank, waiting for a claimant. If no one appears, I suppose he will get it back. This is a pleasing instance of principle triumphing over circumstances." He might have added, of grace triumphing over the native covetousness of the Caffre heart.

I feel unwilling, Mr Editor, to occupy much of your precious space, though I have a great inclination to say some things in connection with the causes of the war and mission stations, which hitherto I have not seen fully and fairly stated, and I may yet ask room for them; but, in the meantime, I conclude by quoting a sentence or two from the letter of Notishi, in which she gives vent to her feelings of gratitude to our two missionaries. "Kind Mr Niven," says she, "whom I will never forget so long as I live, for his kindness in time of peace, or in time of war. He is always the same. He and Mr Cumming have been fathers to us all, who came out with them from Caffreland to the colony. I was often very sorry to see the unkind treatment they got from their own countrymen, just because they were kind to us black people. They are well known to be our true friends. Sir, I cannot tell you how sorry I am that our teachers have been obliged to leave us in the wilderness. I may say we are all like sheep-we cannot do without a shepherd. I am sorry for the churches that have been burned again in my country. If I but knew that we shall get Mr Niven back again, then I would rest with great hope amongst all these troubles. Two weeks ago we had Mr Cumming here on a visit, and were very glad to see him looking so well. Please remember me to Mr Niven."

Such are the expressions of affection of Notishi towards the missionaries ; and in these I believe all will concur.

GAVIN STRUTHERS.

throughout the different towns and districts of the colony. A few days ago, I had a letter from Mr Robert Hart of Glenavon, Somerset, who has ever taken a deep interest in the temporal and spiritual welfare of the coloured races in South Africa, and who has all along been the tried and steady friend of our mission. With his accustomed hospitality and kindness, he has made his house an asylum for some of the native converts, who have resorted to him for refuge; and has made enquiries concerning others of them who are residing in other places. I send the following list as sent by him to me; on its fidelity all may confidently rely.

COPY-MEMORANDUM of the Native Members of the United Presbyterian Church in Africa, and their present situation and employments, this 19th January, 1852, viz. :—

It is not known nor believed that any of the above have any connection with the enemy. There are a number more, though not members, who are steady, and employed on the frontier, in various directions, some of whom I know.

It is gratifying to learn from Mr Hart, that Notishi, so well known in this country, deservedly esteemed, and supported as a native teacher by the ladies of Greenock, is still able to prosecute her labours amid the native

children, though her sphere of usefulness in the meantime is greatly circumscribed. In a letter I lately had from her, she says "I still love my work of teaching, but I have rather few children. Twenty is the number. I am much obliged to the dear ladies who still think of me in these times of trouble."

The four persons mentioned by Mr Hart as being at Chumie, are the elders of the church there, who retire into the bush during the day, and come out, usually, morning and evening, to conduct worship in the church, with those who, like themselves, are harbouring near the place, and who live mainly upon roots dug from the soil. I have had no information what is their number, though it is understood to be considerable. Notishi, in her letter, speaking of them, says,- "Those that we left at Chumie are all well, with the exception of Coti, one of the teachers, who died of consumption. Yes, Sir, he is no more in this country of war and sorrows. He is, I hope, entered into the everlasting rest in heaven. Dukwana, Festiri, Tobi, and Nyosi, I am very glad to tell you that these four brethren still carry on the work of God, every Lord's-day, at Chumie. I often hear about them through a cousin of mine."

Of Pella whom Mr Hart mentions as being at Uitenhage, Mr Cumming, in a letter which I received by last mail from him, and who by this time is on his way home, relates the following incident:-" "Pella is working here (at Algoa Bay). The other day he found a ten pound note lying in the street. He brought it to me; and now it lies at the bank, waiting for a claimant. If no one appears, I suppose he will get it back. This is a pleasing instance of principle triumphing over circumstances." He might have added, of grace triumphing over the native covetousness of the Caffre heart.

He

I feel unwilling, Mr Editor, to occupy much of your precious space, though I have a great inclination to say some things in connection with the causes of the war and mission stations, which hitherto I have not seen fully and fairly stated, and I may yet ask room for them; but, in the meantime, I conclude by quoting a sentence or two from the letter of Notishi, in which she gives vent to her feelings of gratitude to our two missionaries. "Kind Mr Niven," says she, "whom I will never forget so long as I live, for his kindness in time of peace, or in time of war. He is always the same. and Mr Cumming have been fathers to us all, who came out with them from Caffreland to the colony. I was often very sorry to see the unkind treatment they got from their own countrymen, just because they were kind to us black people. They are well known to be our true friends. Sir, I cannot tell you how sorry I am that our teachers have been obliged to leave us in the wilderness. I may say we are all like sheep-we cannot do without a shepherd. I am sorry for the churches that have been burned again in my country. If I but knew that we shall get Mr Niven back again, then I would rest with great hope amongst all these troubles. Two weeks ago we had Mr Cumming here on a visit, and were very glad to see him looking so well. Please remember me to Mr Niven."

Such are the expressions of affection of Notishi towards the missionaries; and in these I believe all will concur.

GAVIN STRUTHERS.

1

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURE FROM SCOTLAND

No. I.

[Engaged at leisure hours, some years ago, in collecting materials towards the elucidation and illustration of the early Literature of Scotland, the writer had accumulated (as so many side"rays), a variety of ancient manners and customs, traditions and superstitions, and sun-set lingering memories of the PAST in Scotland. Much of this debris throws very interesting and unexpected light on portions of Scripture, in themselves, and with relation to our heathen forefathers and fatherland. It is thought that a few of these Illustrations may not unacceptably nor unprofitably occupy an occasional spare page of our Magazine. A general application and enforcement of the whole shall be given at the close. Meantime. in the words of Hooker.... let it be remembered that "there is in the world no kind of knowledge whereby any part of truth is seen, but we justly account it precious; yea, that principal truth, in comparison of which all other knowledge is vile, may receive from it some kind of light."]

*

*

*

*

"And all Israel stoned him with stones and they raised near him a great heap of stones [that remaineth] unto this day."—Joshua viii. 25, 26.

"And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until even-tide; and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day."-Joshua viii. 29.

"And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him."-2 Samuel xviii. 17.

"Heaps of stones," similar to those raised over the graves of Achan, of the king of Ai, and of Absalom, are still to be met with in the more remote muirs and hill-sides of Scotland. They are called "cairns," and mark the graves, as in Old Testament biography, of men signal either for eminent virtues or for notorious vices. In the former class, are those which were raised over the martyrs on the spots where their reeking corpses were left by a ruthless Claverhouse or Grierson, as has been preserved in many a touching legend and song. In the latter class, are those which were raised over malefactors and suicides, who were anciently buried in biviis on our cross-roads. In either case, the passing traveller was accustomed to throw "a stone" to "the heap ;" and "unto this day" the following proverbial saying is in common use in the Highlands. "Curri mi cloch er do charne," "I will add a stone to your cairn meaning, when you are no more, I will do all possible honour to your memory. In Wales, there is a proverb nearly similar, but it is used as a curse. "Karn ar dy ben literally, "a heap on thy head," i. e., "Ill betide thee." § Several "cairns" have been opened, and sometimes curious "urns

.....

.... •

....

" have been

*Our readers will find a very full and interesting disquisition on "Cairns" in Wilson's "Archæology and Prehistoric Annals of Scotland." [Edinburgh, 1851], pp. 59-65.

We gladly avail ourselves of the following passage from this truly acceptable Work:"One of the most remarkable groups of cairns in Scotland, associated with other primitive monuments, occurs on a small plain washed by the River Nairn, about a mile to the east of the field of Culloden. The whole plain, for upwards of a mile in extent, is covered over with large cairns, encircled by standing stones surrounding them at uniform intervals. Numerous circular groups, or Druidical Temples,' occur in the same neighbourhood, with single monoliths and detached circles of small stones, scarcely visible amid the thick covering of grass and heath, but indicating, in all probability, the sites of ancient buildings, the dwellings of the cairn builders."-P. 63.

Mr Wilson furnishes some interesting details concerning various "Cairns" which have been opened from time to time; and his lively anecdotal remarks give a human interest to these decaying "memorials" of the lonely muir. + See " Gleanings among the Mountains." By the Rev. Robert Simpson, Sanquhar. 1 vol. foolscap 8vo. Pennant's Voyage to the Hebrides, pp. 206 sq.

Rowlands' "Mona Antiqua," p. 50 sq.