484 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITEBATURE, 



This charming little work ought to have a place in every nnrsery. By 

 way of practising what we preach, we shall make our children commit 

 "The Sampler" to memory. It contains maxims which even "children of a 

 larger growth" may study with advantage. 



Narrative of a Journey to the Zoolu Country, in South Africa. By 

 Captain Allen F. Gardiner, R.N. Undertaken in 1835. 

 William Crofts. 



This is a very interesting volume. It must be welcomed by all who feel a 

 curiosity to know something relative to the social and physical condition of that 

 large portion of South Africa called the Zoolu country — a country on which no 

 work, so far as we are aware, has been hitherto published. Captain Gardiner 

 is a shrewd oDserver and an intelligent traveller ; he is one, moreover, who 

 seems to have taken none of the facts wliich he communicates in his work, at 

 second hand. Their accuracy, which, in such a case, is every thing, may con- 

 sequently be relied on. The volume is written in a plain and unambitious 

 manner : the author appears to be more desirous of communicating interest- 

 ing information to his readers than to acquire a literary reputation for him- 

 self. We have not met with a more entertaining book of travels for many a 

 day. It is a work which cannot fail eventually to find its -way into an exten- 

 sive circulation. We are particularly pleased with the tone of enlightened 

 piety which pervades it. It is a most gratifying circumstance when works of 

 travels are written injthis spirit. The volume is full of the most interesting in- 

 formation respecting the state and success of the Wesleyan Methodist Mis- 

 sions in South Africa ; and no man of right feeling can read the particulars 

 he has given us respecting these missions without admiring and rejoicing in the 

 devoted self-denying zeal of those excellent followers of Wesley who, with 

 their lives in their hands, have gone forth to those dark places of the earth to 

 publish abroad the glad tidings of salvation. The friends of missionary ex- 

 ertion will find in Captain Gardiner's work the most gratifying information 

 respecting the progress of the gospel in the Zoolu country. 



As a literary production, also, the volume will be read with much pleasure. 

 It furnishes us with a great deal of curious information regarding the physical 

 condition of the country, and the laws, customs, habits of life, morals, &c., of 

 the inhabitants. As the work only reached us a few days before going to press, 

 we are unable to give such copious extracts as we could wish. The following, 

 on the subject of " Marriage," will be read with interest : — 



" A remarkable distinction is made by these classifying people in the de- 

 signation even of their w-omen. 



An unmarried woman is called an Intoraebi. 



A married woman, but without children, Umfaz. 



A married woman, with children, Eneena- 



" It is not regarded as a matter either of etiquette or of delicacy from which 

 side tl e first proposal of marriage may proceed — the overture is as often made 

 by the women as the men. In the former case, the pseudo bride, accompa- 

 nied by another unrrarried woman, proceeds to the residence of her elect, 

 some married women following them at a distance. Should the proposal be 

 accepted, the matrons come up and commence singing : there are no words 

 to the song, but it is merely a melody of sounds. On the next day a beast is 

 slaughtered, and the bride and bridegroom, with their friends, partake of the 

 feast. It is strictly required that every part of the flesh should be eaten, 

 after which the ceremony called Ingaaziso, or washing with beads, takes 

 place. The newly- married couple, with their friends, being assembled, a ca- 

 labash of water and a basket of beads are brought. The beads are first put 

 into the calabash, and it is then presented to the bride, who pours a little of 

 the water first upon the hands of her husband, and then upon those of her 

 friends, who extend them for the purpose. She then consigns the calabash to 



