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UMVOTI MISSION STATION, NATAL. 
Umslatuzana, the roofless walls of the mission-house still remain, and the wild jessamine and the convolvulus have 
half mci the decaying timbers with their luxuriant growth,—bright and perfumed blossoms, revelling over those sad and 
melancholy ruins, as if to hide the remembrance of the past. 
“ There the blithe loxia hangs her pensile nest. 
From the wild-olive, bending o'er the rock. 
Beneath whose shadow, in grave mantle drest, 
The Christian pastor taught his swarthy Hock. 
A roofless ruin, scathed by flame and smoke. 
Tells where the decent mission-chapel stood; 
While the baboon with jabbering cry doth mock 
The pilgrim pausing in his pensive mood, 
To ask—‘Why is it thus?—shall evil baffle good?”’ 
The present mission-house at Umvoti is pleasantly situated on the southern bank of the river, about seven miles 
from the coast. Numerous Kafir kraals are scattered around in every direction: to the left of the house are seen the 
school and chapel; the latter on the Sabbath-day presents an animated and striking scene, crowded with sable worshippers, 
all listening attentively to the words of their benevolent instructor: when they all sing a hymn in their soft, sonorous 
dialect, the clicks and stops to which they keep regular time, have a singular, yet pleasing effect. 
