an not be referred to for explanation of any
uncommon word. A person who acted as interpreter to Sir George Cathcart
actually told his excellency that the language of the Basutos was not
capable of expressing the substance of a chief's diplomatic paper, while
every one acquainted with Moshesh, the chief who sent it, well knows
that he could in his own tongue have expressed it without study all over
again in three or four different ways. The interpreter could scarcely
have done as much in English.

This language both rich and poor speak correctly; there is no vulgar
style; but children have a 'patois' of their own, using many words in
their play which men would scorn to repeat. The Bamapela have adopted
a click into their dialect, and a large infusion of the ringing "ny",
which seems to have been for the purpose of preventing others from
understanding them.

The fact of the complete translation of the Bible at a station seven
hundred miles inland from the Cape naturally suggests the question
whether it is likely to be permanently useful, and whether Christianity,
as planted by modern missions, is likely to retain its vitality without
constant supplies of foreign teaching? It would certainly be no cause
for congratulation if the Bechuana Bible seemed at all likely to meet
the fate of Elliot's Choctaw version, a specimen of which may be seen in
the library of one of the American colleges--as God's word in a language
which no living tongue can articulate, nor living mortal understand; but
a better destiny seems in store for this, for the Sichuana language has
been introduced into the new country beyond Lake Ngami. There it is the
court language, and will take a stranger any where through a district
larger than France. The Bechuanas, moreover, in all probability possess
that imperishability which forms so remarkable a feature in the entire
African race.

When converts are made from heathenism by modern missionaries, it
becomes an interesting question whether their faith possesses
the elements of permanence, or is only an exotic too tender for
self-propagation when the fostering care of the foreign cultivators
is withdrawn. If neither habits of self-reliance are cultivated, nor
opportunities given for the exercise of that virtue, the most promising
converts are apt to become like spoiled children. In Madagascar, a few
Christians were left with nothing but the Bible in their hands; and
though exposed to persecution, and eve