Memorials of Southern Africa ... Third thousand

Front matter

MEMORIALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, BV BARNABAS SHAW, WESLEYAN MISSIONARY, RESIDENT IN THE COUNTRY NEARLY TWENTY YEARS. (THIRD THOUSAND.) " Cape of storms, thy spectre fled, See, the angel Hope, instead, Lights from heaven upon thy head ; And where Table-Mountain stands, Barbarous hordes from desert sands, Bless the sight with lifted hands." Montgomery. LONDON: SOLD BY J. MASON ; HAMILTON, ADAMS AND CO. ; AND THOMAS RILEY, GOUGH SQUARE. 1841. LONDON : PRINTED BY THOMAS R_LIT, 10, GOUGH SQUARE. TO JAMES HEN WOOD, Esq., OF HULL. W)t jFtitnJj of INTELLECTUAL, MORAL, AND RELIGIOUS IMPROVEMENT, THESE MEMORIALS, AS A TRIBUTE OF FRIENDSHIP, AND UNDER A SENSE OF MANY OBLIGATIONS, ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY THE AUTHOR.

Preface

. The memory of John Wesley, who, regardless of fatigue, personal danger and disgrace, went out into the highways and hedges to call sinners to repentance, and to publish the gospel of peace, cannot but be revered by every right-hearted mis sionary. He was a man who sustained his missionary character to the last; and who, in the 88th year of his age, on the very day before he died. was heard to sing that beautiful mission hymn, — " All glory to God in the sky," &c. When he had breathed out in song, tones fit for angelic ears, — " Thou only art able to bless, And make the glad nations obey, And bid the dire enmity cease, And bow the whole world to thy sway,' VI

PREFACE.

. his strength failed; but on reviving a little, he exclaimed, in holy triumph, " The best of all is, God is with us." He was the chief promoter and patron of itine rant preaching, which he extended through Great Britain, Ireland, the West Indies, and America, with unexampled success. He died March 2, 1791 , after which the missions were successfully carried on under the superintendence of Dr. Coke. At the Conference of 1813, the Doctor expressed an earnest desire to proceed to the East Indies for the purpose of establishing a mission in that idola trous country ; then in the 67th year of his age. Previously to this, he had crossed the Atlantic no less than eighteen times, for missionary objects ; md when some of the Preachers attempted to lissuade him from his Eastern enterprize, he burst nto tears, and exclaimed, in a manner which they mild not resist, " If you will not let me go, you sill break my heart."

He was allowed to go; but vas found dead in his cabin, May the 3rd, in the course of the voyage. Thus, he " ceased at once to work and live." When this excellent man could no longer engage in pleading the cause of missions, both Preachers and people awoke as from a partial slumber ; they saw the necessity of maintaining the ground which Providence had given them, and of increasing their

PREFACE.

. VII exertions to extend it by holding Public Meetings.* * Mr. Everett, adverting to these public meetings which almost immediately followed, observes in his "Village Blacksmith," page 142, eighth Edition ; "It is difficult precisely to determine at this distance of time, with whom the first thought originated, or what was the first sentence that led to them. Mr. Scarth, of Leeds, repeatedly remarked to Mr. W. Dawson, before Dr. Coke took his departure for India, ' The missionary cause must be taken out of the Doctor's hand ; it must be made a public — a common cause.' It is not impossible, that this may have been the germ of the whole. The Dissenters had a public meeting in Leeds, a few months previous to the first public one among the Wesleyans. This having been held in the course of the summer, Messrs. Scarth and Turkington visited the Conference, and expressed their views on the subject to the Rev. George Marsden, stating that something should he done in a more public way for the missionary interest belonging to their own body.

With their views, Mr. M. perfectly coincided. When the embarrassed state of the missionary fund caa e before the Conference, there appeared to be no alternative between reducing the preachers at home, or the missionaries abroad. There was too much zeal and liberality in the body to permit either. The subject was one of deep interest, and did not die at Conference. The Rev. G. Morley, the Leeds superintendent, Thought, that if the Dissenters could raise a Missionary Meeting, the Methodists might also ; and accordingly suggested the subject to his colleagues, Messrs. Bunting and Pilter, who zealously entered into his views. Not satisfied with commencing this 'new thing' in Methodism on their own responsibility, they were desirous of knowing how far the proposal of a public meeting would meet with the countenance of others of their brethren.

Bramley having been then but recently divided from the Leeds circuit — a close union still existed between them, and being con tiguous to each other, these gentlemen proceeded thither, with a view to deliberate with the Rev. W. Naylor and the biographer, who were then stationed on the Bramley circuit. No persuasion was requisite; the propriety, necessity, and practicability of the measure were manifest at once. The Leeds and the Bramley preachers thus took the first decisive and active step in the work, which has since been carried on to such an extent. A correspond-

PREFACE.

. The first meeting was held October 6, 1813, by which a new and mighty impulse was given to the whole Connexion. Collectors in all directions offered their services, and money was poured into the sacred treasury. Doors of usefulness began to open in different quarters of the globe, and young men were raised up, and offered themselves to go to any part of the world. Previous to the Public Missionary Meeting held at Leeds, the Author had felt a desire to present his humble services to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee ; and when he had the privilege of hearing the Eev. R. Watson, at Hull, preach on Rev. xiv. 6, he became fully decided. At the District meeting, held in the City of York, in the spring of 1815, he offered himself for the mission field ; and in the same year he sailed for South Africa.

He had the honour, and it was accom panied with no little labour, of establishing the first Wesleyan Mission Station in the interior of ing chord was soon found to vibrate with pleasure in the breasts of the Rev. Messrs. R. Watson and J. Buckley, of the Wakefieid circuit ; and they were followed by Messrs. Reece and Atmore, of the Bradford and Halifax circuits, who both exulted in the pros pect of so ample a harvest of good. Mr. Bunting organised the first plan ; Mr. Watson wrote the first address ; Mr. Buckley preached the first sermon on the occasion, at Armley, a place belonging to the Bramley circuit ; and the first public meeting was held in the old chapel at Leeds. T. Thompson, Esq., M.P.. •ras in the chair.

PREFACE.

. IX that extensive country, from which he returned in 1837 to his native land. Having spent many years in Africa, he had a favourable opportunity of be coming acquainted with the native tribes, and was earnestly solicited by the Secretaries of the Wes leyan Missionary Society, in 1828, to publish an account of their manners and customs. He had then no time to prepare such a work; but the renewed solicitations of a number of persons, both at home and abroad, have now induced him to accede to their request ; and a number of respectable friends having become Subscribers to these Memorials, there can be no risk in their publica tion. The volume presented to the reader contains a history of the discovery of the grand promon tory of the Cape of Good Hope, and a brief ac count of the commencement and progress of that interesting colony.

Numerous facts relative to missions will also be found, which were never before made public ; and the writer is of opinion, that the Memorials will meet the wishes of those who agree in sentiment with the author of " Mis sionary Enterprises:" viz., "That a work from the pen of a Missionary should not contain just what might be written by one who has never left his native country, but a plain statement of the perplexities with Avhich he has been compelled to X

PREFACE.

. grapple, and the means adopted to overcome them." The notices of natural history, referring to lions, tigers, &c, will be interesting to many ; and the statements respecting the awfully destitute state of the tribes in the regions beyond, it is hoped, will excite the friends of missions to renewed and in creased exertions in the great cause in which they are engaged, till mission stations shall be formed from Great Namacqua-land to Cape Coast Castle, and from Kaffraria to the Red Sea, as the only means of making an end of the inhuman traffic in slaves, which is still carried on to the amazing loss to Africa, of an annual amount of 500,000 human beings. In several instances, the author has derived assistance from the works of respectable writers on South Africa, as Messrs. Barrow, Thompson, and Alexander.

He thinks it proper to make this acknowledgment, as some parts of the work were delivered in the form of lectures, at a public insti tution in Plymouth, and he, on re-writing them, found it impossible, with any degree of correctness, to mark all the quotations. It was the author's design, on commencing these Memorials, to have given some account of the missions carried on by other sections of the Chris tian Church; but he found it incompatible with brevity, and it would have been impossible, in a

PREFACE.

. XI short account, to do the justice they demanded. The different Missionary Societies, as was once observed by the Rev. J. Bunting, D.D., are hke so many ships, which " may appear to crowd each other in the harbour ;" yet, when sailing on the wide sea of heathenism, they have sufficient room. With regard to the valuable missionaries, of dif ferent societies, employed in South Africa, the writer would pray with Moses : " The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you as he hath promised you !" It was originally the author's intention to notice various erroneous statements which have been made by hasty travellers ; but this also he was obliged to abandon. By way of caution, how ever, to the young and inexperienced, he may observe, that a French writer on South Africa, describes whole tribes of natives which never ex isted, except in his own romantic imagination.

Another traveller informs his readers, that the roads in the vicinity of Cape Town are repaired with the tails of cows and oxen; while a third states, "the Hottentots use their bows and arrows with great dexterity ; they shoot their arrows with great force, sending them sometimes through the body of an ox." It is added : " Sometimes persons

PREFACE.

. may be seen at Greenpoint riding on zebras, which are brought from the interior, and generally kept at livery." Every individual who has lived in the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, for a few years, will bear the author of these Memorials out in affirm ing that such statements are altogether without foundation. Epworth, October 29th, 1839.

ADVERTISEMENT.

. Another Edition of the "Memorials" having been called for, the whole has been carefully revised, and a few additions have been made. The Author is happy to know by recent information from Africa that the great work of evangelizing the remote nations in the interior of that country is delightfully progressing, and the desert does rejoice and blossom as the rose. The effects which have been produced by the preaching of the gospel in the midst of savages, prove the work to be of God, — " Blessed be his glorious name for ever ; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory." Amen. Pontefract, January 1st, 1811. ia CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Discovery of the Cape by the Portuguese — Bartholomew Diaz — Vasco de Gama, 1497 — Massacre of seventy-five persons — Contrivance with Cannon — Dutch East India Company sends Van Riebeek, 1G52 — Commencement of Colony — Reinforcement — Religious Services — Provisions — Wild Beasts — Van Riebeek's journey — Price of Provisions in 1665 — Clergymen — Population in 1688 — Hottentot boy — Poetry.

Chapter II

Capture of the Cape by the British, 1795 — Climate — South-Eastcrs — Table Bay — Stone Pier commenced — Cape Town — Buildings — Table Mountain — Inhabitants — India gentlemen — Country-seats — Increase of Population — Fish and Animal Food — Wheat — Capabilities of the Colony — People of colour .. .. . ... . 12

Chapter III

HOTTENTOTS— Origin— Not faithfully described— Mild and timid — Language — Not stupid — No longer under chiefs. NAMACQUAS— Country— Go to a Dutch Governor- Farmer's encroachments — Population — Appearance — Dress — Disposition — Ornaments — Language — Huts — Subsistence — Hunting — Chiefs — Wars — Agriculture, ignoiance of — Superstitions — Music— Dancing — Medicine — Funerals. . A CONTENTS. 27

Chapter IV. Bushmen

— Persons — Clothing — Prodigious appetite — Cruelties — Love of revenge — Language — Dwelling-places — Manner of Hunting — Weapons — Hottentots shot by them — No form of Government — Jealous of strangers — Superstitions — Legend of woman becoming a Lion — Ignorance — CORANNAS— Country— Filthy— Huts— Thompson's Account — Girdle of Famine — Women Sorcerers — No Worship.

Chapter V. Kaffirs

— Origin of name — Person of Males— Colour — A Giant— Females — Dress and Ornaments — Lady with Fifty Necklaces — Marriage — No written Characters — Language — Method of constructing Huts — Occupation — First Plough — Ox Killing— No Fish eaten— Kaffir Mill— Tobacco- Snuff — Corn Magazines — Household Utensils — Hunting — Government — Treatment of Relatives — Punishments — Implements of War — Trade — Ignorance — Superstitions. — ■ BECHUANAS,— Geographical Position— Towns — Subsistence — Method of obtaining Fire — Cannibalism — Tanning —Copper-Smelting — Vegetables — Terrified by Horses' Tails — Beads— Inhuman Mother — Captains — War-scars on the Thigh — Ignorance — Superstition — Rain-Makers — Method of Calculating time — Bleeding — Woman... .. ..36

Chapter VI. Mantatees

,— Till lately Unknown— Origin of Name- Country — Men — Dress — Employment — Ferocity in War — Many Battles — Weapons — Method of attack — Repulse by Griquas in 1824 — Revolting Scenes — Determined Resolution — Connexion with the Portuguese — Ignorance. ZU- LOOS, — Origin — Personal appearance — Chiefly known as Warriors — Weapons — Chaka — His cruelty — 450 men put to death at one time — His Murder — "The Great Black one " — Horrid Barbarities. DAMARAS, — Country — Boy valued at four shillings — Some among the Namacquas —Five Tribes — Iron and Copper found — Amusements — Weapons — Disposition — Ignorance. .. .. ..47 CONTENTS. XV

Chapter VII

The Author's appointment to Africa, 1815— London Ministeis — Gravesend — Lose sight of Land— Bio de Janerio — Slaves — Arrival at Cape Town— Wailing on Government — Restrictions of Dutch Government — Begin Preaching — Serjeant Kendrick— Society of Soldiers— Wynberg— Silver Mine — Simon's Town — Mohammedan — Rev. H. Schmeleu — Namacquas — Resolves on going into the Interior — Passport— Departure— Hard Lodgings— Stick fast ina River— — Marais— Orange Groves — Shooting — Heer Van Aarde's — Uitkomst — Heer H. Van Zeyl's Liberality — Heere Lodgement — Clan William. . . . . . . . . 57

Chapter VIII

Elephant River — Thermometer ]]0° — Meet a Nainacqua Chief — Consultation — Cross the Karree — Forty-five Oxen die — Ascend a Mountain — Hard Work — Met by Namacquas on Oxen — -Arrive at Naamrap — Council held — Ja M) nliecr — Mr. Schmelen's Departure — Lily Fountain — Native Hut — Advantage of being without Furniture — Baboons — Mole Lost — First Sabbath — Garden Seeds — Eating Grass — Begin to Build — Cutting Timber — Masler- Builder — Natives attempt Singing — Interpreter — Effects of the Gospel — Expressions of the People — Private Prayer — Manual Labour, to be attended to by Missionaries— Close of 1816 67

Chapter IX

Child's Grave — Erection of Chapel commenced — People Indolent — Subscription for Food — Work Proceeds— Battle-field — First Baptisms — First Marriage — Visit to a Chief — Horse's Tail — Terrific Roads — Large portion in a wooden dish — Sleep on a Mat — Meeting for Discussion — Visit to a Farmer's Place — Anecdote — Visit to Bushman-land — Fear of Lions — Tedious Grinding — A Nimrod — First Lovefeast CONTENTS.

Chapter X

Rev. E. Edwards — Songs in the night — Files brighten — Harvest — Horses — Thrashing — Children concerned — Jacob Links's Letter — Sketch, a Namacqua Sermon — Death of a Female — Mountain-top — Children delighted — Death of another Child — A Day of Wonder — Curious Dialogue —Destructive Hurricane — Frog swallowed — Juvenile Female Missionaries — Mulatto's Dream — Jan Hagel — Lost in Bushman-land — Two die of thirst — Sleeping on Sand — Puff-adder — Native-cupping — Hot Bath — Rev. J. Archbell — Reed Fountain — Earthquake — Bethel in the Wilderness — Old Namacqua — Children Racing — Bush-boy gains a Prize • 91

Chapter XI

Governor's Order — Hattery commenced — Family Worship — Sabbath employ — Bell received — " Oud Mamma" — Joy of Harvest — Quick Process — Fine Cakes for Reapers — Woman sick in Bushman-land — Death of Chief's wife — Season of Scarcity — Eating Hides — Drunk with Hunger — European Clothing — Congregations Clean — Horrid Murders — Comparative Industry — Rev. T. L. Hodgson's Speech — Plenty of Coin Sown— Good Stimulant 109

Chapter XII

Traveller's Testimony — Mr. Hodgson's Visit — Visit also of G. Thompson, Esq.— Of the Author in 1827— Goes by Sea — Lost in the Sands — Extreme Thirst — Scripture Appropriate — Lying on Sand — Supply of Water — Boer's Assertion — Arrive at Lily Fountain — Rev. R. Haddy's Statement — New Chapel Opened — Author and Family go on a Visit — An aged Woman dancing — Old Keudo in black coat — Child's Grave — Missionary Meeting — Number of Cattle Sir James Alexander — Old Woman with Spectacles — Present State. . . . . . . . . . . . . _*_ jj8 CONTENTS. XVII 150 161 176

Chapter XIII

Prepare lo visit Great Namacqua-land — Speech of Old Links — Steinkopff — In a waste Wilderness — All Lost — Highcoloured Coffee — Orange River — Scenery — Bushwoman — A Human Voice heard — Wooden Horse — Leaky Ship — Eat a Bullock — Lion's Footsteps — Mr. Schmelen — Ox-riding — Fed by a Lion — Sour Milk — Tsaumap's Village — Present of a Bullock — A Novel Sight— Cooking — Eating Marrow — Savoury Meat — Chief on a Cow — Clouds of Dust — Gammap's Village — Preaching by Moonlight- — Consultation with Chiefs — Cold Lodgings — A bold Beggar — Hard riding — A tormenting Thirst — Water — Reach Bethany — Mr. and Mrs. Schmelen.

Chapter XIV

Application to Governor — Mr. Archbell goes to Great Namacqua-land — Sails to Walvisch Bay — Sir J. E. Alexander's Account of it — Climate — Supplies — Desirable Place for a Mission Station — Mr. Archbell removes — Little Namacquas' desire — Chief Abram — His Interview with Mr. Haddy — His arrival at Cape Town — Josiah Nisbett, Esq. — Donation of Two Hundred Pounds — The Rev. E. Cook offers himself — The Rev. R. Watson's Letter — Mr. C. goes to Great Namacqua-land — Meets a Chief — Names the Station Nisbett Bath — Requests another Missionary — Sir James Alexander's Visit — Rev. J. Jackson — A Congregation — — School taught — Chapel built

Chapter XV

Cape Town — Mr. Edwards commences preaching — Class formed — Author begs for a School — Dutch Lady — Messrs. Hodgson and Threlfall — Chapel Opened — School Children — Mr. Beavan's death — Prayer Meetings — Difficulties — A Coloured Woman — Military — Departure for Lily Fountain — Return to Cape Town — Leper Institution — Genadendal — Rev. W. Shrewsbury— Death of Maria Wary — Passage to England — Native Village — Aged Parents — Poetry by Montgomery — Farewell to Parents — Leaving Hull— Anchor in Table Bay — Simon's Town Chapel. CONTENTS.

Chapter XVI

Rev. J. Cameron — Mr. Schmelen — Wesley Chapel opened — Rev. R. Watson's Letter — Rev. R. Snowdall's Death — Mr. Cook— Rev. J. Edgar — Black Woman— Wynberg — Mrs. Hodgson's death — Assisted by different Ministers — Robben Island — Interest ing Class — Sailor's Letter — Author's Answer — Bethel Flag — Preaching on board the Undaunted — Death of Mrs. Thornhill — Somerset, Hottentots' Holland — Premises Purchased — Chapel Opened — Klip Fonteine — Natives Singing — Chapel Opened — Marriages — Stellenbosch — Death of Mrs. Lucas . . 194

Chapter XVII

W. E. Underwood, Esq. — Wynberg — Open air Preaching — Sanction of Governor — Extinction of Slavery — Rev. R. Watson's Letter — St. George's Church — Rondebosch and Camp Ground — Eerste Rivier — Preaching under Oak Tree — Opposition of Field Cornet — Amusing Dialogue — Woman singing him to silence — Somerset — Death of Mrs. Shrewsbury — Three Mohammedans under sentence of death — Caledon Baths — Preach in the Reformed Church — Rev. R. Giddy — Mr. Edwards — Mr. T. L. Hodgson — Remove to Wynberg — Rev. W. Shaw arrives — Sydney-street Chapel opened — Diep Rivier — Coloured people hold a Prayer Meeting — Sail for England. .. .. .. .. 216

Chapter XVIII. Albany

— Arrangements of the Colonial Government — Graham's Town— Success. KAFFRARIA,— Rev. W. Shaw — Pato, Conga, and Kama — The Tambookie Country — Mr. Whitworth — Dooshani — Islambie — Kind Reception — Hintza — Vossani — Sanctity ofthe Sabbath — Fingoe Mission — Wesleyville — Beka — Mount Coke — Butterworth — Rev. U. Haddy — Clarkebury — Morley — Amapondo — Capai — Love of War — Desire for Missionaries — Missionary Meeting at Wesleyville, held in the Open Air — Lieut. Col. Somerset presides — Speeches ot' the Chiefs — Graham's Town — Printing Press — Watson Institution. .. .. .. CONTENTS. XIX

Chapter XIX. Bechuanas

Rev. Messrs. Kay and Melville— Leetakoo ■ — ProvidentialOpenings — Rev. S. Broadbent — Griqua Town — Rev. T. L. Hodgson — Makwasse Mountains — Sifonell — Rev. J. Archbell — Plaat Berg — Happy Death — Buchnaap — The Pot Dance — Missionary Success — Rev. J. Edwards — Desire for the Word — Want of Natural Affection — Thaba Unchu — Prosperity — Dying Testimony — Mr. Jenkins — Corannas — Field of the Slain — Umpukani — Famine — Mantatees — Predictions — Sekonyale — Sword prepares the way for the Gospel— Thaba Unchu— Rev. R. Giddy—Thirst for Knowledge — Lishuani — Rev. W. H. Garner — Maperani — Quickening — Umpukani — Aged Persons baptized — Polygamy Discountenanced — Mr. Allison — Sons of Chiefs converted — Sekonyale Silo — Baraputsi — How to cut off supply of Slaves — Exhortation. . . . . . . . . 250

Chapter XX

Native Characters — Jantje Wildschot — Joannes Jaager — Jacob Links — Andries Orang — Peter Links — Eva Bartels —Diana 266

Chapter XXI

Natural History — Lions — Tigers — Wolves — Serpents — Cameleoparls— Springboks— Gemsboks— Zebras — Hippopotami — Rhinoceroses— Elephants — Porcupines — Locusts — Bees — Ostriches. 296

Appendix

. Brief account of the late Rev. W. Threlfall— Arrival— Letter- Sails for Delagoa— Fever— Arrives in Table Bay— All sick on board— Letter— At Lily Fountain— Goes to Great Namacqua land — Last Letter— Murdered — Testimony of Colleagues- Lines by J. Montgomery, Esq. —conclusion.

Chapter I. Discovery Of The Cape By The Portuguese

—BARTHOLOMEW DIAZ — VASCO DE GAMA, 1497 MASSACRE OF SEVENTY-FIVE PERSONS — CONTRIVANCE WITH CANNON DUTCH EAST INDIA COMPANY SENDS VAN RIEBEEK, 1652 — COMMENCEMENT OF COLONY REINFORCEMENT RELIGIOUS SERVICES — PROVISIONS WILD BEASTS VAN RIEBEEK'S JOURNEY PRICE OF PRO VISIONS IN 1665 — POPULATION IN 1688 HOTTENTOT BOY POETRY. " History," observes Cicero, " is the evidence of ages, the light of truth, the life of manners, and the school of life." That period of time when the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope was effected, is decidedly one of the most important eras in the annals of modern history. For this, as well as many other very valuable geographical discoveries, we are indebted to that spirit of enterprize which characterized the Portuguese nation, at the commencement, and during the continuance, of the fifteenth century ; prosecuted chiefly under the direction of Prince Henry, Duke of Visco, son of the reigning monarch, John I., and descended, on the maternal side, from the royal line of England.

This prince, to whom were entrusted the growing power and resources of his country, first planned the route to India round the continent of Africa ; but was not permitted to witness the completion of that important design. The well-established hopes of B the Duke of Visco were, however, soon realized by his nephew John II., who prosecuted all his designs with renewed vigour. Bartholomew Diaz was employed by this sovereign on a voyage of discovery. After having traced nearly a thousand miles of new country, and endured incalculable hard ships, he at length came in sight of the Cape which termi nates South Africa ; but he proceeded no further, fancying that he had arrived at the boundary of the earth, and being intimidated with the darkness and tempests with which he was surrounded. On account of the heavy gales which he experienced, he gave it the name of " Cabo des totos Tormentos," or the Cape of Storms ; which, how ever, was subsequently exchanged by John II. of Portugal, for Cabo du buonne Esperanse," or Cape of Good Hope, from the prospect which it afforded him of opening a maritime path to India.

" Vasco de Gama, Columbus, and Magelhaens, were at this time all engaged in the Portuguese service, and forming themselves in the nautical and enterprizing school which was founded by Prince Henry, for those wonderful and splendid discoveries which soon after immortalized their names. Gama, patronized by Emanuel II., who succeeded John II. of Portugal, was appointed to the command of a small expedition for the discovery of India. Three sloops of war and a store-ship, manned with only one hundred and sixty men, were fitted out, for hostility was not the purpose of this humane and peaceful enter prize. . There is something in true genius which seems to be essentially connected with humanity. Gama and Columbus prosecuted their discoveries upon the most liberal principles, seeking to benefit, not to destroy their species."* " To return to the discoveries of Gama.

About four miles from Lisbon there is a chapel on the sea side. To this, the day before their departure, Gama conducted the * Cape of Good Hope Literary Gazette. companions of his expedition. He was to encounter an ocean untried, and dreaded as unnavigable ; and he did not scruple to solicit the Divine aid and protection. Such conduct on the part of Gama was as strictly compatible with the soundest reason, as the solar warmth is united with the solar light. The whole night was spent in the chapel in prayer for success. On the next day when the adventurers marched to the ships, the shores presented one of the most solemn and affecting scenes, perhaps, recorded in history. The beach was covered with the inhabitants of Lisbon. A numerous procession of re ligious persons sung anthems, and offered up supplications to heaven.

The vast multitude caught the fire of devotion, and joined aloud in the prayers for the preservation and prosperity of the adventurers. The relations, friends, and acquaintance of such, wept ; all were affected ; the sigh was general ; Gama himself shed some manly tears on parting with his friends ; but he hurried over the tender scene, and hastened on board, with all the alacrity of hope. Immediately he gave his sails to the wind, and so much affected were the many thousands that beheld his departure, that they remained immoveable on the shore, till the fleet, under full sail, vanished from their sight."* It was on the 8th of July, 1497, that Gama left the Tagus, and his voyage was extremely tempestuous. During any gloomy interval of the storm, the sailors, wearied out with fatigue, surrounded their commander and implored him to return homewards.

But Gama's resolution was unalterable ; and having suppressed a formidable conspi racy against himself, in which all the pilots were ring leaders, he, with his brother and a steady band of adherents, stood night and day at the helm. On the twentieth of November, hope was turned to fruition. Vasco de Gama rounded the Cape, which had long been the boundary of navigation. Soon after this event, the king of Portugal dispatched ships with orders to touch there. Fearful of • Cape of Good Hope Literary Gazette. approaching the main land, they anchored near Robben Island, which is at the entrance of Table Bay, and pro ceeded from thence with their boats to see the natives. On one occasion, while a number of Portuguese were on shore with the Hottentots, a serious disturbance took place. One of the sailors having a pair of buckles on his shoes, which attracted the attention of the savages, and he being unwilling to part with them, some misunder standing arose, which ended in the massacre of seventy five persons, among whom were Franciscus de Almyda, deputy king of Portugal, who was shot with a poisoned arrow, and two of his captains.