IDEAS OF A FUTURE STATE. 231 



could discover the false reasoning, but would conclude that 

 it had been taught by the missionary, and would reject, in 

 consequence, all religious instruction. All these Kaffirs 

 seemed to have a capacity for appreciating the beauties of 

 their country, wild and graceful as it is to the English 

 eye, which gazes with delight on the sweet-scented ever- 

 greens and graceful vines. The glories of the European 

 conservatory are here but a common tree or an overgrown 

 weed. Amongst scenes like these, the men I employed 

 as aids in hunting had received their instruction. The 

 heavens and the stars were their wonders and puzzles, 

 spooring, throwing the assagy, and tending the cattle, their 

 courses of study; the wild animals that they frequently 

 encountered had infused into them a dash of their own 

 savage natures ; their barters and ambitions were limited 

 to a few cattle, a blanket, and a gun. 



Every man of whom I inquired, appeared to believe in 

 a future state, and that his position in that state would 

 depend upon his deeds in the present one. His ideas on 

 the subject were as wild and uncultivated as his country. 

 Still he had a belief that by doing certain things he 

 propitiated the spirit that ruled over the future. May 

 not these simple but earnest proceedings of the good 

 savage, joined to an ever-present wish to do right, obtain 

 for him from above (when weighed in the scale of mercy) 

 the position of the man intrusted with one talent ? That 

 he does not do what is right according to our Christian 

 notions, is often the result of imperfect instruction, and 

 the want of proper example. But he is in a less danger- 

 ous position than the civilized being who has received his 



