THE KAFFIR PROPHETS. 



ten talents in the shape of education, and yet wilfully 

 neglects to use them in the right way. In judging these 

 Kaffirs, if there appeared any indication of the good, or 

 what could be admired in their thoughts or deeds, I 

 placed it on record in my memory, with just the same 

 impartiality that I did when anything equally bad was 

 shown. 



It is too frequently the custom, not only when judging 

 the savage, but also our own kindred, 



" That for some vicious mode of nature in them, 



Or 



By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, 



* * * * * 



These men, 



Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect ; 

 Being nature's livery, or fortune's star, 

 Their virtues else (be they as pure as grace, 

 As infinite as man may undergo) 

 Shall in the general censure take corruption 

 From that particular fault : The dram of base 

 Doth all the noble substance often dout, 

 To his own scandal." 



Some of the Kaffir prophets are most wonderfully 

 eloquent and clear. They will talk for an hour or two 

 without being at a loss for a word, and, strong in argument, 

 they can bring many examples to make good their case. 

 They are very gentlemanly in their language, and I do 

 not think that they use as much personal abuse as 

 do many gifted orators in civilized countries. An 

 Englishman ought not to underrate their talents in 

 this particular, or he will probably be worsted in an 

 encounter of words. A proof of this lawyer-like talent 



