204 PUBLIC PRAYER MEETING. 
aud prayer-meetings. I saw him in the exer- 
cise of his functions, armed with a bamboo- 
cane, driving his herd to the spiritual pasture. 
He seemed himself to be conscious of the bur- 
lesque attaching to his office,—at least he be- 
haved very absurdly in it, and many a stroke fell 
rather in jest than in earnest. The drollery of 
the driver did not, however, enliven the dejected 
countenances of his flock. 
In the prayer-house, which at first, in my 
simplicity, I had taken for a school, no Mis- 
sionary was present. The assembly consisting, 
except myself, of natives only, though tolera- 
bly quiet, was not so profoundly silent as at 
church. I endeavoured to read in the counte- 
nances of those around me, what might be the 
thoughts which at the moment occupied their 
minds, and few were the eyes which did not, as 
they passed muster, speak of other matter than 
devotion and the Bible. Most of them ap- 
peared engaged in very profane speculations: 
friendly glances occasionally interchanged, be- 
trayed the hopes of the younger devotees ; 
while many a stately Yeri was probably con- 
sidering by what means he should procure from 
