as any I have seen in England. When all were satisfied, we had some singing, which the native children love dearly, then all went outside and had some good games and fun, in which our dear missionary joined; the hearts of all seemed to dance with joy. The children were again marched into school, and presented Yaso, my native assistant, who was leaving school to be married, with a very large table, and all expressed their best wishes for her future happiness. The girls of the first class then put into Mr. Birt's hands 18s. 9d.--the proceeds of their own needlework-for the new church. After a little more singing and talking, all retired to their homes highly pleased. I always look forward to these gatherings with as much pleasure as the children. A few days later Mr. Birt, in the name of the parents, invited me to another tea-meeting, when I was presented with a handsome pair of plated candlesticks, which I shall prize as long as I live as a gift from the Kafirs; still more I thank my heavenly Father for the kindly spirit which all have manifested towards me and my work. You will like to hear about our day school. Our numbers are large-117 girls on the rollbook. Seldom less than 104 or 105 present. The majority of the parents seem thoroughly interested in it; seldom a girl absent without the parents asking for leave. I think that this is a step in the right direction. The tone and spirit at the school, the diligence manifested by many, fills our hearts with joy. Some of our poor Kafir children are equal to many European children in progress-Arithmetic, Geography, Reading, Writing, question-answering, and mental exercises, needlework, and singing, fill up our school hours. I have several girls living in my house; sometimes a little shadow darkens the sunshine. You would be interested in one girl I have, Maliwe; she came out with her mother from among her heathen relatives nearly two years ago. Her father died at that time, and left her mother and several children, of whom Maliwe is the eldest; her heathen uncles have made several attempts to have her back. One came to me last week, and demanded her. He said he did SOUTH AFRICA. The Peelton Scholars BY MISS STURROCK. EVERAL of my little friends have sent pleading requests that I would write again for the Magazine. Some have begged that I would tell them all about our life in Africa, others have asked me to relate the events of one day. Well, suppose I give you an account of two very exciting days, and a quiet cne, what will you give in return? You see even in Africa we dont forget our Scotch canniness. In the mission field our time and funds are all claimed by those among whom we labour, so that both are very precious commodities; and if I beg, I hope that some will at least cast a mite into the Master's treasury; but that will be an easy way of helping on the work. We want something more than either silver or gold: I shall ask for both before I finish. I am sure that, had some of our little home friends been here some months ago, they would have opened their eyes. very wide. We had a school tea-meeting paid for by the children themselves. The large school-room, which is very wide and lofty, was beautifully decorated with evergreens, the desk. all put outside, the forms all arranged along the sides of the room; the children filled the sides and gallery, each looking bright and happy. The European friends present said truly that a pleasanter scene could hardly be seen anywhere. Theinfant school-room presented & very tempting appearance-a number of women came to help, and soon filled a number of large trays and baskets with bunsand bread, which made it look like a baker's shop-others made rustic-looking fires outside, and prepared the tea and coffee in immense pots large enough to hold one of the children. The tea-drinking went off as quietly as any I have seen in England. When all were satisfied, we had some singing, which the native children love dearly, then all went outside and had some good games and fun, in which our dear missionary joined; the hearts of all seemed to dance with joy. The children were again marched into school, and presented Yaso, my native assistant, who was leaving school to be married, with a very large table, and all expressed their best wishes for her future happiness. The girls of the first class then put into Mr. Birt's hands 18s. 9d.-the proceeds of their own needlework-for the new church. After a little more singing and talking, all retired to their homes highly pleased. I always look forward to these gatherings with as much pleasure as the children. A few days later Mr. Birt, in the name of the parents, invited me to another tea-meeting, when I was presented with a handsome pair of plated candlesticks, which I shall prize as long as I live as a gift from the Kafirs; still more I thank my heavenly Father for the kindly spirit which all have manifested towards me and my work. You will like to hear about our day school. Our numbers are large-117 girls on the rollbook. Seldom less than 104 or 105 present. The majority of the parents seem thoroughly interested in it; seldom a girl absent without the parents asking for leave. I think that this is a step in the right direction. The tone and spirit at the school, the diligence manifested by many, fills our hearts with joy. Some of our poor Kafir children are equal to many European children in progress-Arithmetic, Geography, Reading, Writing, question-answering, and mental exercises, needlework, and singing, fill up our school hours. I have several girls living in my house; sometimes a little shadow darkens the sunshine. You would be interested in one girl I have, Maliwe; she came out with her mother from among her heathen relatives nearly two years ago. Her father died at that time, and left her mother and several children, of whom Maliwe is the eldest; her heathen uncles have made several attempts to have her back. One came to me last week, and demanded her. He said he did THE SACRED BRAHMIN BULL. MONG the many things for which the sacred city of Benares, in Northern India, is celebrated, not the least remarkable are the Brahmin bulls, which roam about the streets and often block up the narrow ways, and none dare dispute their recognized right to move or stand where they please, as they are consecrated to Mahadeo, the chief god worshipped at Benares. To force them to work or to destroy them would be regarded as a great crime. On one occasion, a Brahmin bull having attempted to eat some cakes out of a poor woman's basket, who was selling sweetmeats on the side of the street, when thrust back by her, turned upon her angrily, and tossed her up on his horns, and killed her on the spot. Yet none interfered to drive the animal away! Sometimes two of them will get up a fight in the streets, and then all passengers are obliged to stop in the blocked-up way until victory for the one or the other has been decided! So much at home are they in the city, that they often mount up the wide staircases, and may be seen at times quietly looking down from the flat roofs of unoccupied houses! Such is the reverence in which these creatures are held, that when a gentleman, who had had his garden haunted and injured by one of them, took down his gun, meaning to go out and shoot him, one of the servants, a devout Hindoo, rushed between him and the bull, crying out, "Shoot me, sir, but let him go!" It is something wonderful to find a man willing to lay down his life for a friend, but here a poor Hindoo was willing to lay down his life for a bull! These animals are favoured in another way-they gather commonly around the temples, and are allowed to have the offerings of rice, flowers, and sweetmeats, presented by the people, while the priests satisfy themselves with the more substantial rupees and gold. Many other things might be stated, but we have said enough to make you understand how important in the estimation of a Hindoo is a Brahmin bull. |