hat his position in that state would depend upon his deeds in the
present one. His ideas on the subject were as wild and uncultivated as
his country. Still he had a belief that by doing certain things he
propitiated the spirit that ruled over the future. May not these simple
but earnest proceedings of the good savage, joined to an ever-present
wish to do right, obtain for him from above (when weighed in the scale
of mercy) the position of the man intrusted with one talent? That he
does not do what is right according to our Christian notions, is often
the result of imperfect instruction, and the want of proper example.
But he is in a less dangerous position than the civilised being who has
received his ten talents in the shape of education, and yet wilfully
neglects to use them in the right way. In judging these Kaffirs, if
there appeared any indication of the good, or what could he admired in
their thoughts or deeds, I placed it on record in my memory, with just
the same impartiality that I did when anything equally bad was shown.

It is too frequently the custom, not only when judging the savage, but
also our own kindred,

"That for some vicious mode of nature in them,
Or
By the o'ergrowth of some complexion,
* * * * * * * * * *
These men--
Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect;
Being nature's livery, or fortune's star--
Their virtues else (be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo)
Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault: The dram of base
Doth all the noble substance often dout,
To his own scandal."

Some of the Kaffir prophets are most wonderfully eloquent and clear.
They will talk for an hour or two without being at a loss for a word,
and, strong in argument, they can bring many examples to make good their
case. They are very gentlemanly in their language, and I do not think
that they use as much personal abuse as do many gifted orators in
civilised countries. An Englishman ought not to underrate their talents
in this particular, or he will probably be worsted in an encounter of
words. A proof of this lawyer-like talent was exhibited by a great
chief near Natal; he was met, however, with equal skill by the officer
who went to him as ambassador. There is no greater crime amongst
savages than for a simple man to accumulate cattle in large quantities,
as it is thought an attempt to rival his chief. When