the requisite funds for the passage. The missionary board at home was not then so thoroughly organized and in such successful operation as it has been in more recent years, and, accordingly, remittances to missionaries were not only made in smaller amounts than · at present, but were comparatively "few and far between."

"Since then," writes Mr. Agnew in his reference to this matter, "things have changed, a new treasurer has been appointed and remittances are now sent regularly, sufficient to supply liberally the wants of the missionaries."

As he had a gun and a quantity of corrugated iron in his possession, these were converted into cash by sale, transportation was secured with the funds and the last of October found him at Natal, where he remained until his health had in a goodly measure returned.

CHAPTER XIV.

RECUPERATING AT NATAL,

"In this little while' doth it matter,

As we work, and we watch, and we wait,
If we're filling the place He assigns us,
Be its service small or great?
There's only one thing should concern
To find just the work that is ours-
And then, having found it, to do it,
With all our God-given powers.''

us

The circumstances narrated in the last chapter, and which determined Mr. Agnew to visit Natal for rest and recuperation, appear to the writer as a sufficient. justification of his course in going there, and would have been ample warrant for his spending a longer time there than he did. Brief as the visit was it was a great benefit to him, and enabled him to resume his work at Inhambane with a courage and zeal such as were impossible while he was so much of the time in the grip of African fever as he had been for a considerable time prior to his change of climate.

Concerning Natal, or rather the English colony of Natal, where he now spent some time, the "Guide to South Africa" gives the following information:

The history of the European settlement in Natal commences only at the close of the first quarter of the present century. Prior to 1823, only a few vessels had touched on the coast for wood and water, whilst occasionally a shipwrecked crew added something to the knowledge of the country.

In 1823 Lieutenant Farewell landed in the bay on an exploring expedition, and was so pleased with the appearance of the country that he returned to Cape Town with the object of obtaining government sanction to the formation of a trading station. In this he was unsuccessful, but the glowing description he gave induced several adventurous individuals to join him, and as a preliminary step Mr. Fynn was sent overland to obtain a grant of territory from the paramount chief of the Zulus, the terrible Chaka.

A few years before Farewell's arrival, the country had been thickly populated by a large number of independent tribes, who lived in ease and plenty with nothing but an occasional scuffle to disturb their peaceful existence. The sudden inroad of Chaka at the head of his Zulu hordes speedily brought about a change. The discipline which this Napoleon of South Africa had introduced into his army rendered him invincible, and his exterminating policy which spared neither man, woman or child, speedily swept away the inhabitants. It is estimated that over 1,000,000 people were slain during the successive raids of the Zulus west of the Tugela. When the English arrived at the bay, only a few hundred miserable natives, living on roots, and sometimes on one another, remained to drag out a wretched existence, among the kloofs and glens of the mountains. By means of presents, permission to settle at the bay was obtained from Chaka, and three stations were opened, one where the Durban marketplace is now situated, one under the bluffs and one at the mouth of the Umbilo river.

Chaka was assassinated in 1828 by his brother Dingaan, who reigned in his stead. In the meantime many of the remnants of the tribes destroyed by Chaka had assembled for protection round the white settlements, and Dingaan, who regarded the English with no friendly eye, ordered Fynn and Cane to come to his kraal. They wisely declined, and on a force being sent to fetch them, some fighting ensued. The English, with their native allies, retired beyond the Umzimkulu river until the difficulty was finally arranged in 1831, Fynn being recognized as the "Great Chief of the Natal Kaffirs."

A new set of actors now appeared on the scene, namely

the Colonial Boers, who, during their wanderings in the Free State, had found a practicable pass through the Deakensberg. Attracted by the verdant plains beneath, they descended in large numbers into what is now the colony of Natal, gradually pushing on toward the sea. Retief, their selected leader, applied to Dingaan for a grant of territory, which was promised on condition that the Boers should recover on his behalf some cattle stolen from him by a neighboring chief. This service being duly rendered, Retief with one hundred men returned to the king's kraal with the spoil. A document of a formal cession of territory was drawn up and general feasting ensued.

At the close of the festivities, as the Boers were seated on the ground drinking Kaffir beer, the treacherous natives suddenly attacked them, and, after a desperate struggle, killed them to a man. At the same time a large force of Zulus was sent across the Tugela, with instructions to slay every white man, woman and child to be found in Natal. Many of the Boers were surprised in small parties and it is estimated that some 600 were massacred; but, the alarm being given, laagers were formed and the Zulus were eventually repulsed with heavy loss. It was in consequence of these massacres that the district of Weenen (weeping) received its name.

The Boers having received reinforcements from beyond the mountains decided on taking the offensive, and the English settlers at the bay consented to coöperate by leading a force of 1,000 natives across the Tugela near the mouth of the river. This party, under the command of Biggar, unfortunately marched into an ambush and were cut to pieces, both Biggar and Cane falling in the fight and only one white man escaping. The Dutch under Mys also crossed the Tugela and fell into a similar trap, but succeeded in fighting their way through, with heavy loss, both Mys and his son being among the slain. Dingaan took advantage of his success to raid the English settlements, but, fortunately, a vessel lying off the shore saved the inhabitants from otherwise inevitable

massacre.

In 1840 the flag of the Dutch Republic of Natalia was hoisted on the shores of the bay, but the British government after some hesitation refused to acknowledge the indepen