50 THE PLOUGH. 



at first in his meritorious design, through the super- 

 stitious prejudices of the natives, he nevertheless per- 

 severed in his charitable efforts, until they became 

 daily more impressed with a sense of his beneficial 

 labours, and began quietly to acquiesce in his plans 

 for thus ameliorating the condition of their unhappy 

 females. The practice being customary among the 

 Caffers to bestow on those who have distinguished 

 themselves by any particular exploit some appella- 

 tion characteristic of their deeds, an opportunity was 

 readily seized by them in the present instance of con- 

 ferring on Mr. Shaw, for his indefatigable exertions 

 in favour of the sex, the name of Umkeneto Umfazi, 

 signifying " shield of the women;" — a title by which 

 he was known amongst the tribes, and of which he 

 had just reason to feel proud. 



Amongst other services attributable to the zeal of 

 Christian Missionaries, it may not be amiss to men- 

 tion on this occasion the introduction of the plough, 

 which is now more or less adopted at their various 

 stations ; — thus alleviating the laborious drudgery of 

 those tasks imposed principally on the female popu- 

 lation, and tending to prove that Christianity scatters 

 in its progress the seeds of civilization and of social 

 order. When this new implement of agriculture 

 was first introduced at Wesleyville, the Chief fol- 

 lowed its track along the field in silent admiration ; 

 and coming up to the assembled spectators, exclaimed, 

 in allusion to the advantages to be derived from its 





