CHAP. IX. EFFECTS OF MR. BIRT'S LABOURS. 239 



Mr. Birt along the course of the river, passing a number of 

 plantations, in some of which the people were at work. The 

 land seemed to be exceedingly good, and capable of greatly- 

 extended cultivation. 



The Sabbath which I spent at this station was a day of 

 much interest. The Sunday-school was thronged, and many 

 of the children read the English Scriptures remarkably well. 

 The place of worship was so small, that only adults could be 

 admitted; all the young people, therefore, were obliged to 

 remain away. About two hundred communicants partook of 

 the ordinance of the Lord's Supper with great propriety and 

 seriousness of demeanour. Throughout the day, I was struck 

 with the earnestness and gravity which characterised the 

 Caffres in their language and behaviour. Their singing was 

 remarkably correct, their voices good, and they avoided an 

 error which I had observed elsewhere — that of being much 

 too loud. 



The next day the missionaries stationed amongst the 

 Caffres held, at Peelton, their quarterly meeting, and we were 

 glad to be present to confer with them unitedly on the pro- 

 gress of their important work. The communications made 

 by the missionaries present, respecting the spiritual state of 

 their people, were far more satisfactory and encouraging than 

 could have been expected, considering how recent was the 

 termination of the war and how disastrous its effects. They 

 were all likewise much encouraged by the favourable manner 

 in which the governor, on his late visit to the Caffre frontier, 

 had noticed their labours, assuring them of his satisfaction, 

 and of his assistance, as far as practicable, in promoting, on a 

 religious basis, what he regarded as of the utmost importance, 

 — the education, industry, and general civilisation of the 

 people. 



On the following day, the 3rd of April, we visited the 

 schools, and were exceedingly gratified with the extent to 



