In 1807, the Rev. Robert Morrison was sent by the London Missionary Society to Macao, with a particular vicar to the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Chinese language. In learning the language he had to make it as much a matter of secrecy as if he had been plotting the overthrow of the government ; the persons who assisted him trembled for their own safety, should they be discovered. In January, he published the New Testament, part of it translated by himself, and pat t of it taken from a valuable MS. in the British :Mu seum, a transcript of which he carried with him from England. He now proceeded with a translation of the Old Testament, and it is expected that it will soon be completed. Besides these works, Dr. Morrison pub lished several others, chiefly of a philological nature, with the view of assisting the future student in acquiring the Chinese language. In April 1815, the Rev. William Mylne, who had been sent out to assist him in his labours, proceeded to Malacca with the view of esta blishing a branch of the Chinese mission in that country, as they found themselves greatly restricted in their labours at Macao. Here he was joined by other mis sionaries, and an extensive establishment was formed by their united exertions. They instituted schools for Chinese, Malay, and Malabar children ; they printed various walks in the Chinese and Malay languages; they forwarded them in great numbers to the different settlements in the archipelago where the Chinese re sided, to Siam, Cochin-China, and even to China itself: and they are now erecting a college for the cultivation of Chinese and European literature.
In 1792, the Moravians, or United Brethren, sent mis sionaries among the Hottentots in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope. Here they at first met with violent opposition from many of the colonists : the grossest calumnies were circulated with respect to their designs, and a conspiracy was even formed against their life. The success, however, with which their exertions were crowned, amply recompensed them for all the dif ficulties and trials which they encountered during the first years of their residence in that country. They have now two flourishing settlements, the one about 120, tic other 40 miles from Cape Town; and they lately began a third near the borders of Caffraria. Since the commencement of the mission, they have baptized about two thousand of the Hottentots, a large proportion of whom, we have reason to suppose, are an ornament to their Christian profession. Besides christianizing so large a number of these wretched outcasts of society, they have been singularly successful in improving their external condition, and in promoting civilization among them. Bavians Kloof, the first settlement which they established in this country, lies in a valley surrounded by high mountains, watered by the river Sonderend and several smaller streams. When the missionaries first settled at this place it was a perfect wilderness, yet such are the improvements they have made upon it, that it now looks like a kind of paradise. Some of the Hot tentots' houses consist of four apartments, which are white-washed, and look remarkably neat and clean ; others are still mean and dirty. To every house is at tached a garden, surrounded with bright green quince hedges, and full of peach and other fruit trees, the bloom of which perfumes the air with its delicious fra grance. Their growth is so rapid and promising, that, in the cultivation of his garden, many a llottentot has lost his national character of idleness and sloth, and ac (riled a relish for an active industrious life. The whole
settlement is about a mile in length, and a quarter of a mile in breadth. The gardens are so numerous and so beautiful, that the whole looks like a city in the midst of a wood. a But in order," says 1)r. Lichtenstein, in his Travels through Southern Africa, « to form a just estimate of these excellent men, their manner of con ducting themselves to the Hottentots must be seen : the mildness, vet dignity with which they instruct them, and the effect which has already been produced in im proving the condition of their uncivilized brethren, is truly admirable. It is the more astonishing, since all has been accomplished by persuasion and exhortation : no violence or even harshness has ever been employed." It has been often stated as a circumstance highly honourable to the Moravian missionaries, that in their missions among barbarous tribes, they endeavour to civilize them before they attempt to christianize them ; but nothing could possibly be more contrary to fact. With them Christian instruction is from the very first the primary object, and is considered as the grand en gine of civilization. Both, in fact, are carried on at the same time, and have mutually a powerful influence in promoting each other,—a plan unquestionably much more rational than that which is commonly attributed to them, and for which they have obtained so much cre dit. In 1819, the new settlement which the Brethren had formed near the borders of CafTraria, was entirely destroyed by the CafTres in the course of their late eruptions into the colony : several of the Hottentots were murdered, and upwards of 600 head of cattle be longing to them and the missionaries carried away ; but since the restoration of peace, the Brethren have again returned to that part of the country.
In 1798, Dr. Vanderkemp, a Dutch physician of con siderable eminence, and three other young men, were sent by the London Missionary Society to South Africa. In that country this Society has now no fewer than twelve settlements, some of them within the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, others beyond its boundaries. At these different places, many thousands of heathen of various nations have enjoyed the benefit of Christian instruction ; and upwards of fifteen hundred have been admitted by baptism into the bosom of the church. Dr. Vanderkemp, and others of the missionaries, have been censured for neglecting to promote civilization among the people under their care ; but though there appears to have been some foundation for the charge, they were by no means so negligent in this respect as their ene mies alleged. As the Hottentots were extremely indo lent, it was early a maxim with them to teach them the necessity of industry, by allowing them to feel the sor rows of want, and to give them nothing but what they earned by their own labour, except such as, through age or sickness, were unable to work. The beneficial effects of this system was evident in the improved habits of the people, and in the vast increase of their wealth. They not only possess large her ds of cattle, sheep and goats ; but, where it is practicable, have cultivated con siderable tracts of land, and planted excellent gardens. Of late years, the missionaries, in consequence of the accusations which were brought against them, have paid more particular attention to the civilization of the people under their care ; and, though they have many obstacles to encounter, yet in some of the stations the progress of improvement has been uncommonly rapid.