CHAP. IX. 
EFFECTS OF MR. BXRT’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 
