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CHAPTER VIII. 



Sabbath Morning at theChumie — A Heathen Congregation — Anec- 

 dotes — Influence of Superstition — Forest Scenery — Sacred Birds 

 — Astonishment of the CafFers at a Musical Box — Description of 

 the Settlement. 



We rose early on the following morning, and walked 

 down to the Mission House, where we met with Mr. 

 and Mrs. Chalmers, from whom as well as from 

 Mr. and Mrs. Weir, likewise attached to this Station, 

 we received every attention. The sky was remark- 

 ably clear, and the sun shone with a dazzling bright- 

 ness, while the sound of the church bell — for this 

 was the Sabbath morning — imparted an additional 

 degree of interest to this secluded retreat. 



It was a pleasing sight to observe the CafFers 

 issuing in scattered groups from their adjacent huts 

 for the purpose of uniting in the worship of the only 

 true God. On entering the church, an edifice of an 

 octagon form, and capable of accommodating from 

 one hundred and fifty to two hundred persons, we 

 found a considerable number already assembled, 

 among whom were upwards of fifty children. Mr. 

 Chalmers preached in Dutch, and his discourse was 

 translated sentence by sentence into the CafFer lan- 

 guage by a converted native. He took the follow- 



