New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-11-09
TH RIB u N e.
From Taits Magazine.
ou.grR MISSION TO fHE MAURlTIUs
AND SOUTH AFRICA.

p.,kbouse found occasion TO make soElc re-
,,,.,t, ,ba Importance of which should be kept
in view by all those who select and send io!ih
missionaries to unciviiized tribes. TheingenUlty
of missionaries, IS handicratsmen, has been IA
mean instrument in advancing the higher CO.
jects OF their labrs. 80,
The present missionary. who 10 placed here oy
an arrangement between the Berlin ana me
South African Missionary Societies, IS p'ous
man, but does not possess much Kno"'eoe' u
handicraft trades. Some knowledge OF thsse Is
highly desirable in q missionary, ootn 10 eaaoie
him to make his own dwelling comfortable, and
TO teach useful arts TO those amongst Hhom ne 10
placed. The missionary being alive to the I'm
portance of such arts, had adopted measares 10
re, some of the youths instructed in smiths
Tsrk, &c. The Ho;tentots were voluntarily
building him house, being only supplied at the
expense of the Society with one meal DAY.
In advancing to Bethelsdorp, MIR. BscAh0use
records fact new TO US IN natural history
namely, bullocks contending with dogs for bones,
and cattle often standing chawiag bones in TAG
hraals or folds in this country. Ia another place,
we find the dogs displaying better taste, by &C.
vour1ng the grapes Of the missionaries. ne re-
oret TO learn that the station Of Bstheisdorp WAS
not found in very satisfactory condition, though
the causes may be but temporary.
Anaccident, one of many, having befalen their
wagon, the travellers obtained this pleasing
glimpse of a chief and family group of Caffres.
We accompanied Wallace Hewitson on a visit
to the Caffre chief Macomo. He was reading
contiguously, and at whose place considerable
number of Caffres were assembled to celebrate
the marriage of one of this chiefs soma In The
minority Of Sandil, the principal chicfof the Gal
ka Cafes, Mscomo was sort OF regent. The
Binkwater is little winding river, on rocsy
bed. bordered with willows and other trees; near
to it's side Maoomo had hut and tent. The
bride of his sor was of The Tambookie tribe, the
chiefs not being allowed to marry into their own
tribes If they violate this rule, the sons OF such
wives are not considered the SUCCESSORS OF the
ohisftainship of Their fathers. Macomo met us
courteously, and introduced us to several OF bis
own wives, and to the bdde; but, as we had no
interpreter, we could make little out in conve.s.
ton, we understanding but Idle Of Dutch, which
Some of them spoke, and they but little Of Eli
plish. 1t was their milking. tune when we pas
sed two of their cattle kraals. at one OF which
they kindly offered us milk. The chief and sew
eral other men were seated on the ground near
tho tent. They were dressed in karosses or cloaks
of skin, with the hair on; that of the chief was
of leopard skin, which is seldom worn but by men
Of rank, and is expensive. Prepared OK hides are
the kind chiefly used; the inside, which is worn
outward is 20 worked away, as, in good kaross' S,
60 be fibrous, looking much like hair; it Is color
ed almost black, with preparation in which
grease is large constituent. Tho Harnesses of
the women have piece attached at the bacS of
the neck, of about four inches in width and reach
ing to the heels, covered with brass buttons;
they also often wear the shell Of small tortoise,
suspended from the shoulder of the laross. Sey
eral of the women had head dresses on the PIES
ent occasion, in the form 0f square bags Zoo
high, standing erect and transYeriely covered
with small white beads; most of them had also
numerous rings Of thick brass wire around ttc'r
R-ms. They had much tho genera. aspect OF an
order of nuns. The bodies ana limbs Of bothsex
es exhibited dressing of red ochre and grease
We were RECALLED with milk, which was brought
in closely woven basket. Returning to The
wagon, we were accompanied by two Cafffes !;
the errand of enc of theai was to bring back four
pocket hendke.chefs for the wives OF the ch ief
and of hs son, and little tobacco for the chief.
They inquired for brandy by it's Dutch name
brandywyn-and were informed that VIC used no
strong drink at the same time we denounced the
evil consequences of It's use.
The travellers were in he vicinity of Phiiipt,n,
where Mr.. Backhouse makes The following OBJ.
duction of Christianity on the condition of the
women of Caffrelaud, as of every other region /:
Before tho introduction of Christianity into
Caffraria, the wives of the Caffres cultivated the
ground, the men disdainipg such toll. On the
introduction of ploughs, the men made compari-
sons between the quantity of work performed by
them and by the women. A chief named Tncpo,
who received plough from the contribution made
by many friends for tho promotion of agriculture
among the native tnbes, sent message in 1912,
acknowledging gratefully the present, which 10
called {" a strong wife"
In the course of The day, had an interesting
interview with several niatronly Christian wo.
raen of the Nooka family of Coma Caff es.
Their nephew had been our guido In Cafraria,
and we had proposed that ne should accompany
us beyond the G,eat Orange River. They toak
the subject unde, grave consideration, and, ROT
withstanding their willingness TO do ANYTHING in
their power to promote the cause OF the Redecm-
or, they came to the conclusion that it was cot
their duty 10 give him up Tor this service :
Their deliboraiiop reminded me much 81
the manner in which questions of import
anco are treated in the meetings for disci-
pline of the Society of FRIENDS; and / have
no doubt that they were enabled to come
to a right judgment IN the matter. The manner
ia which they expressed Their sympathy Tor my
companion aud myself, and thai: belief that the
Lord would provide for US, was both affecting and
comforting
MIR. Backhouss gives little information con.
corning the political state of the colony, or OF the
emgrant settlements at Natal; and the vasiou;
missionary reports from South Africa arc now SC
frequent and regular, that he has little to com.
munioate Of missionary enterprises, beyond his
personal experiences in the course of his pilgrim
age. Instead of copying out any of his reports
from the missionary stations visited we select his
picture of happy and hospitahle family, which
conveys very favorable impression of the tcne
and scope OF this Quaker joarnal.
. We reached the Uitkomst early, and were
again received with that frank hospitality fol
which Hendrix and Maria c. Van Zyi arc noted,
and which is especially shown TO sii VINO labor IN
the Gospel from real love to the truth. la the
evening We had a religious opportunity with the
family and servants. Here all were cared for,
and taught to read, whatever might be their cir
-, ,alor fhc 1ipr NJ The