The Mission

his acquaintance, and they soon became very intimate. The conversation

through the museums, I have often wished that I had some one near who could explain to me what I wished to know and was puzzled about. But it appears to me that the study o

hology for birds, entomology for insects, conchology for shells, ichthyology for fishes; all very hard names, and enough to frighten a young beginner. B

nd is man,' says the poet,"

hand, and who has so wonderfully apportioned out to all animals the means of their providing for themselves. Not only the external, but the inward structure of animals, shows such variety and ingenuity to surmount all difficulties, and to afford them all the enjoyment their nature is capable of, that after every e

dy in a new and most pleasura

nually making new discoveries. Observe, Mr. Wilmot," said Swinton, picking up a straw which had been blown by the wind o

them as opposite particles

although a vegetable, it is nearly two-thirds composed of the hardest mineral substance we know of. You would scarcely believe tha

very wo

es of animals, is equally sought by plants, dissolved in the same manner, and taken into their bodies; barley

an I am with the flint, which a

by the Dutch to polish wood and brass, on that very account. We know but little yet, but we do know that mineral substances are foun

short time which will be occupied in the remainder of our voyage will not enable me to profit as I should

r as possible into the interior of the country," replie

do the same, although perhaps not in the same direction

a wide field for science, and I can hardly go any where without being well rewarded for my journey; an

standing close to them at the latter portion

onger together. There is nothing that requires more deliberation than the choice of a traveling companion; any serious imperfection of temper may make a journey ver

at pleasu

ion to my reaping the bene

he Cape before. In a former conversation with Mr. Wilmot I have pointed out the manner in which the Cape was first settled

ng the whole of the land south of the Caffre country: the Caffres are wild, courageous savages, whose w

bravely. The Caffres also cultivate their land to a certain extent, and are more cleanly and civilized. The boors on the Caffre frontier were often plundered by the bushmen, and perhaps occasionally by

hem how much easier it would be to grow rich by taking the cattle of the Caffres than by rearing them themselves. If the bushmen stole a few

se a few head of cattle had been stolen by parties unknown, they would pour down upon the Caffres, who had but their assaguays to oppose to destructive fire-arms, set the kraals or villages i

this difference between the Christian boor and the untutored savage: the boors murdered women and children wantonly, the

utch government perm

beyond their control; and in one instance in which the home government had insisted that punishment should be inflicted for some more than common outrage on the part of the boors, the Cape governor ret

of the English-the Hottentots serfs to the land, and treated as the beasts of the field; the

ent soon put an end to su

which the Hottentots and Caffres were victorious, killing the leader of the boors, and pursuing them with great slaughter, till they were stopped by the advance of the English troops. But I can not dwell long upon this period of the Cape history; these wars continued until the natives, throwing themselves upon the protection of the English, were induced to lay down their arms, and the Hottentots to retur

ecessary, at all eve

boors, law was introduced where it had always been set at defiance; they were told that the life of a Hottentot was as important in the eye of God, and in the eye of the law, as that of a Dutch boor, and that the government would hold it as such. Thus was the first blow struck; but another and a heavier was soon to fal

the description which you have been giving. Now, when I hear t

lmot," said Mr. Fairburn; "we will renew our conversation