excuse the illustration) when I inform you that, during the above period, I wore out a pair of good English-made boots, and lamed myself into the bargain.

FIGHT BETWEEN THE BAMANGWATO AND MATEBele.

"While we were scaling the mountain on Friday morning, the Bamangwato had assembled in the haugh already referred to. It seems there was a good deal of talking; and Sekomi (who, besides being chief, is also 'ngaka, or doctor, or sorcerer) was earnestly engaged in reading his dice, and repeating his incantations, when he was interrupted by Khame, who very abruptly informed his father that he was taking up too much time with these things; and that as for himself, he (Khame) wished to fight and to have done with it. The chief, who felt proud of his son, 'pocketed the insult which, in his priestly character, he had sustained, and immediately ordered out the two youngest regiments or "mepato," viz., that of Khame and that of his brother Rhamane. The people were so pleased with the conduct of their young chief, that several old men, who of course did not belong to his regiment, tried to join it as it moved off, but were seen by Sekomi, and ordered back. The two chiefs next in rank to Sekomi also joined Khame's party, followed by a number of their men. So far as I can judge, the whole force under Khame did not exceed two hundred. Of these the majority had guns, and about eight were Before he rode off, Khame was addressed by his father to the effect that he must not imagine he was going on an elephant hunt; that he was marching against men, and not merely men, but Matebele.

mounted on horseback.

"It was late in the afternoon before they came in sight of the Matebele, who, contrary to their usual custom, had been advancing slowly, apparently in no hurry to attack the town. They were marching in three companies, two of which were together, and these the Bamangwato attacked. At first the Machaga, who were armed with spears and shields, made light of the guns, imitating their report; but they soon changed their mind. Moving in compact bodies, every ball told on some of them; so that when charged by those on horseback they gave way, some of them throwing down their arms and fleeing. These, however, were rallied by the others shouting to them that they were disobeying the great law of Moselekatse, which for bade any of his warriors to run from the enemy. While the day was thus with the Bamangwato, the third company of Matebele, which had been following up a cattle track at some distance, hearing the report of firearms, hastened to the scene of action, and seeing how matters were going, crept along under cover of the rank grass, until they got close behind the Bamangwato. They advanced until they were discovered, when they sprang to their feet, and raising their wild war-cry, rushed as one man on the forces of Khame. The retreating Matebele, finding that their comrades had come to their assistance, turned round on their pursuers; so that now the Bamangwato found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Khame shouted to his men to stand; but his authority was soon at an end. Many of the Bamangwate had shown symptoms of fear from the beginning, and fought only after they saw that Khame and his young men were gaining the day. Now, when they beheld Machaga on every side, the old fear of the Matebele seemed to return to them, and they fled in all directions, the horsemen doing their best to cover their retreat. The Matebele did not pursue them far; and the Bamangwato returned during the night, leaving about twenty dead on the field. The loss on the other side was much greater, according to reliable reports which have since been received.

INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.

"Out of many incidents which occurred in the fight, I shall narrate one or two. Pelutona, one of the chief men who went with Khame, being very fat and on foot, soon fell behind in the retreat, and would have been killed but for the gallant conduct of one of his men. This devoted heathen servant put himself between his master and his pursuers, saying to the former, 'Now, take a good breathing, they have to kill me first; and before they do so you will be well rested, and able to escape.' Instead of firing at once at the Matebele (who by this time had a very wholesome dread of the guns), this man kept them at a distance by now and then pointing his gun at them; until at length, thinking they were now far enough from the main body, and seeing that the Bamangwato were not now afraid of them, the Matebele gave up the chase. The following is an instance of a very different description. In the course of the retreat of the Bamangwato, one of them found himself at some distance from the others, and closely pursued by a Letebele. His gun was loaded and cocked too, but he had not courage enough to enable him to stand and fire; so he ran as fast as he could, carrying his gun on his shoulder. To the surprise of both pursuer and pursued, bang went the gun, its terrified bearer still running at the top of his speed. Whether the ball had passed somewhat near to the Letebele is not known; but at any rate he at once gave up the pursuit, evidently of opinion that he was altogether too dangerous a fellow who could thus fire over his shoulder without slackening his pace. Another man was brought to me five days after the battle with nine spear wounds in his arm and body, all of which were deep, and one of which completely maimed one leg. He had shot three Matebele, but was surrounded while reloading, his gun was taken from him, and he himself stabbed and left for dead. Coming to himself during the night, he crawled out of the way to a place of safety; but it took him five days to get home, as he could not walk. The wounds being all clean cuts, soon healed, and he is now quite well.

THE MISSIONARY'S PROPOSAL FOR MEDIATION.

"On Saturday it was confidently expected by the Bamangwato that they would be attacked; and their expectations were confirmed by the reports of the scouts that the Matabele were advancing. It was taken for granted that when enemies whom they formerly despised as unworthy of their steel had met them in the open plain, the Matebele warriors would consider themselves in honour bound to vindicate their character by destroying the town and gardens of those who had been guilty of such temerity. But the day and night passed, and Sabbath dawned, and still the Matebele came not. I conducted Divine service in my house, the congregation under arms, and momentarily expecting the news that the attack had begun. As one means of putting an end to this state of suspense, the idea occurred to me this morning to visit the Matebele camp, with the undefined hope that earnest expostulation might avail to avert further bloodshed. I communicated my desire to Khame and some other Bamangwato, but they unanimously urged me not to go; that my counsels would be unheeded, and my own life placed in danger. They said that when the Bamangwato horsemen first made their appearance on the battle-field, the Matebele called out, 'These are makoa' (white men); and that some might still labour under this impression. Out of curiosity, I called two Matebele refugees, and laid the matter before them. I asked them, if they were still in the Matebele army, and being on duty as sentinels, saw me approaching their camp, what would they do ?-would they

waylay me in the long grass, or meet me openly and demand my business? The men seemed puzzled; hesitated some time; looked at my face and then at one another; and at last replied that they thought they would show themselves to me, and demand my business. On some one asking them if they had taken into account the facts of the late engagement, especially in connexion with the terror inspired by the horsemen, the countenances of the two Matebele assumed a rather embarrassed aspect, and they at length answered, 'Your reception would depend very much on the individual character of the advanced sentinels, and on the particular humour or impulse which was then uppermost in their minds.' 'Does the Teacher know,' continued one of them, that it is reckoned an honour among my former comrades to kill a white man ? It is only old Matebele that can boast of having done so. Then, in the event of any investigation by the chief, it would be easy to say that they thought you were a Boer, or even a native spy.' Their manner, as much as the words of their answer, induced me to relinquish the idea; for I was convinced that the risk incurred in taking this step was not counterbalanced by any wellgrounded hope that my advice would be taken. I remembered that the army of the Matebele had left their country in opposition to the expressed, or, at any rate, well understood wishes of my brethren, Messrs. Thomas and Sykes; and I had no reason for supposing that a stranger would have more influence with them than their own missionaries, or that they themselves would now be more open to reason, after the irritation of a fight in which one-half of their army had been forced to retreat before enemies whom they despised, than they were before they left their own country.

RETREAT OF THE MATEBELE.

Sunday; it was as dark as pitch, and in
Now was the time for the Matebele to

'It rained heavily during the night of every way suitable for deeds of blood. attack; for the firearms of the Bamangwato got more or less out of order, especially the old-fashioned flint muskets, whose owners had frequently nothing but a tattered handkerchief with which to cover the lock. To the astonishment of all, the night, which had been one of discomfort and anxiety, passed over in peace. Early in the morning, however, Sekomi's advanced sentinels brought the intelligence that the Matebele had advanced to the foot of the mountains, within a few minutes' walk of the place where the Bamangwato lay in waiting for them. Every one was in readiness for immediate action. The chief gave orders that no cattle should descend from the hill to drink. We could distinctly hear the report of the guns fired by the Matebele-being those which had fallen into their hands in the fight. After an hour or two spent in this way, it became evident that the enemy did not intend to advance on the town. They were reported as eating water melons, and destroying what they could not eat in the outlying Bamangwato gardens. It was evident they were ready again to fight in the open plain; and it was equally evident that they were afraid to venture into the narrow passes leading to the town of the Bamangwato. In a short time the report came that the enemy was moving off, and afterwards it was ascertained that they were retracing their own steps, and not, as was imagined, moving round the mountains to the more accessible side of the town. The news had a wonderful effect in brightening up the counte nances of the Bamangwato, although they were not without suspicion that the retreat was a feint; and that, as in olden time, the Matebele would return when they thought their enemies would be off their guard. Men were therefore selected

for the purpose of following the enemy and watching their movements. They were to sleep where they slept, and, in the event of their returning to the attack, were to hasten before them and inform the chief. On Tuesday morning a second party was sent off; and in the afternoon the first returned, bringing the intelligence that the Matebele were still retreating. On Wednesday it was ascertained that the oxen, sheep, and goats, which they had secured, and which had remained at a distance from the Bamangwato under strong guards, were being collected by their captors, who were now in full retreat homewards. Feeling convinced that all danger was now over, we this evening re-entered our house, thankfully cherishing the hope that the disturbance and anxiety were now at an end.

CRUELTY TO A MATEBELE CAPTIVE.

"On Thursday the message was brought to the chief, Sekomi, that a Letebele, found without spear or shield, had been taken prisoner, and that they awaited his orders as to his fate. The order was that he should be put to death. I learned this from Khame, only after the men had left who were to kill him; but immediately hastened to the chief, and expostulated with him as to the cruelty as well as bad policy of such conduct. He at once despatched another messenger to countermand his order, telling me he had given me the man's life. But what was my regret to see the first messengers make into the kotta while I was still there, and announce that the King's command had been obeyed. The poor defenceless wretch had been put to death, although, as I afterwards learned, he pleaded with pitiable earnestness that his life should be spared, and he brought to Sekomi.

INDISCRIMINATE SLAUGHTER BY THE MATEBELE.

"In this incursion the warriors of Moselekatse have more than sustained their character for bloodthirstiness. They have butchered old men, women, and little children at the Bamangwato cattle posts. Young women and grown up boys and girls they spared, driving them as captives; the former to cultivate their gardens, and the latter to be trained as Machaga, or warriors.

“After their departure from this place, the Matebele perpetrated, on an extensive scale, one of those treacherous and bloody deeds so characteristic of heathen warfare in this country. You are aware that Mahukua Bechuana chief, whose town lies (or rather lay) between this and the Matebele country-occupied this district as a vassal of Moselekatse. His brother, Kirekilwe, who formerly occupied a similar position, apparently desirous of independence, fled southwards some years ago, and became a chief man under Sekomi. Some months ago he suddenly deserted the Bamangwato, and, with his wives and one or two followers, fled to Seleka, a petty chief, to the east of this. As soon as the Matebele passed southwards to attack the Bamangwato, Kirekilwe left Seleka's town, and joined his brother Mahuku at the town of the latter. It is said that these two brothers instigated Moselekatse to attack Sekomi; but that the chief gave his warriors permission only to steal the cattle, and forbade them to attempt to assail the Bamangwato in their fastnesses. When the army returned and reported their loss from the Bamangwato guns, in an engagement in the open plain-informing the chief that three of his own sons were among the slain-Moselekatse would seem to have suspected treachery on the part of his Bechuana dependents, Mahuku and Kirekilwe. They had instigated him to the raid, and then they had given information to his enemies. They had called him to

This letter, written on the eve of his departure for TAMATAVE, is dated August 13th. We trust that he may have been favoured with the special protection of Divine Providence on his journey to the capital, where we are sure he would be received with the warmest cordiality, both by our Missionary Brethren and many of the native Christians, who affectionately remember him as one of their fathers in Christ. The primary object with which the Directors have accepted the services of Mr. C. for a season, is to aid in the erection of the MEMORIAL CHURCHES, and other buildings connected with the Mission; but, from his knowledge of the language, and of the people, he will be able very materially to contribute also, both to their social and religious improvement.

By the last Mauritius mail the gratifying intelligence reached us of the safe arrival, at PORT LOUIS, on the 5th of September, of our four Missionary Brethren and their wives, the Revs. Messrs. KESSLER, HARTLEY, BRIGGS, and PEARSE. Mr. Kessler, the writer of the letter, informs us that, through the mercy of God, they had had an agreeable and very favourable voyage, and had arrived in safety and good health. Of course they were grieved and astounded by the intelligence which they first received on their arrival, of the Revolution in Madagascar, and the death of Radama; but they would learn from Mr. Ellis that the Queen and her ministers were expecting their arrival with every feeling of good will, with assurances both of their personal safety and their ministerial freedom, and we trust that by the end of that month they would reach ANTANANARIVO, and enter on their labours.

OUTRAGES OF THE PERUVIAN SLAVERS IN THE SOUTH

PACIFIC.

We cannot refrain from again presenting to our readers a specimen of the intelligence which reaches us on this most distressing and revolting subject, by every successive Australian mail. The letters of our Missionaries abound with bitter lamentations over the sufferings of the unhappy Islanders, kidnapped by the inhuman officers and crews of the Peruvian slavers. It may be naturally supposed that their indignation against these unprincipled tyrants is expressed in no measured terms, coupled with the earnest hope that the British Government will vigorously employ effectus. measures for liberating the captives and punishing their oppressors. The subjoined statement on this painful subject, copied from the "Sydney Morning Herald," of the 21st August, is not the production of a missionary, who might be supposed to write with affection and partiality towards his suffering converts, but it is the plain unvarnished tale of an English sailor, the Captain of a vessel trading in the South Pacific, an