IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

!.0

I.I

1 2.5

•if 1^ 112.2
^ y£ 112.0

!J5 ill U 116

p;^

z'.

'''«^^''>".^-

//,

%"-'>>

v -^

cy^

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

as WIST MAIN STRUT

WIBSTIR.N Y. MStO

(716) 873-4S03

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian inttituta for Historical Microraproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductiona historiquas

Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notas tachniquas at bibliographiquaa

The C(
totha

Tha Instituta has attamptad to obtain tha bast
original copy availabia for filming. Faaturas of this
copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua,
which may altar any of tha imagas in tha
reproduction, or which may significantly change
tha usual method of filming, are che«;ked below.

□ Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

I I Covers damaged/

Couverture endommagte

Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurAe at/ou pelliculAe

□ Cover title missing/
Le

titre de couverture manque

□ Coloured maps/
Cartes gAographiquas an couleur

Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bicua ou noire)

rvi Coloured plates and/or illustrations/

Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur

Bound with other material/
Relii avec d'autres documents

Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion
along interior margin/

La r« liura f trrie peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distorslon le long de la marge intArieuro

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutiea
lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans la texte,
mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas M filmias.

L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur axemplaire
qu'il lui a Ati possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger una
modification dans la mithoda normale de filmage
sont indiqute ci-dessous.

I — I Coloured pages/

Pages de couleur

Pages damaged/
Pages endommagies

Pagos restored and/oi

Pages rostaur^as et/ou pelliculAes

Pages discoloured, stained or foxe<
Pages d^colories, tachettes ou piquies

Pages detached/
Pages ditachies

Showthroughy
Transparence

Quality of prir

Quaiiti inigaia de I'impression

Includes supplementary materii
Comprend du materiel supplAmentaire

Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponible

r~| Pages damaged/

I — I Pagos restored and/or laminated/

rjl Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/

I I Pages detached/

r~yi Showthrough/

rn Quality of print varies/

□ Includes supplementary material/
C<

rn Only edition available/

Their
possil
of th«
filmin

Origir
begin
the la
sion,
other
first F
sion.
or illu

The It
shall I
TINUI
whici

Maps

differ

entire

begin

right

requii

meth(

Additional comments:/
Commentaires supplAmantairas:

Irregular pagination

Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissueo, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les page* totalament ou partieiloment
obscurcies par un feuiilet d'errata, une pelure,
etc., ont At* film*es i nouveau da fapon A
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

[Ilviii, (il-x, (21 [ixl-622 p. Wrinklad pagat may film

slightly out of focui.

This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqu* ci-dessous.

lOX

14X

18X

22X

26X

30X

^HHV)

12X

1SX

aox

24X

28A

32X

tails

du
Ddifier

une
mage

The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:

Ralph Pickard Ball Library
Mount Alliion Univanity

The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

L'exempiaire film* fut reproduit grAce A la
g^nArositA de:

Ralph Pickard Ball Library
Mount Allison Univanity

Les Images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le
plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettet6 de l'exempiaire film*, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.

Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.

Les exemplaires orlginaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprimAe sont fiimte en commenyant
par le premier plat et en tarmlnant soit par la
darnlAre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second
plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
orlginaux sont filmte en commeni^ant par la
premiere page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par
la derniAre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON-
TINUED "), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.

Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la
derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le
cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE". le
symbols V signifie "FIN ".

Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:

Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre
filmAs A des taux de reduction diff Arents.
Lorsqua le document est trop grand pour Atre
reproduit en un seul cllchA, ii est filmA A partir
de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite,
et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre
d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
lllustrent la mAthode.

rrata
to

pelure.
nit

32X

12 3

4 8 6

II'IEIHJ r^ 0,311'llJIL If !B:ill!LO:£Ca:.D a' O 'jr.£LBi :Bf-tu\^i-crn!%y

SVzooo. S^e.V.I

-€(^W4>'] J

^_,^i®i|ieMj3i^,^^^

(

^^^ mm a Series of E^Q^

' ''WR KIRST M18810NM»lfiS A^

»osTo»r.

PBSWTJBIt* ,)T«,MHHm} HT H.MrAI.ITIIlR .

?. ^

,^> ^

Ife

'^\

^tv/ /■,■/■/,■,/ U ,/'//,

■^

■ V

■;

•

■^

■:^

■i

.\.

^■^

- ^

•^

■ ■

V-^-

■vJ

t/1

.' *

!'li

1 1"

^ tj

« * s
^ si

2 ?i S

^ 3 (3
ri ffl r=

^ fi

§ a

g ^

M VI

ii!)iirf)WN'tNf^. .\ ![.,:ripe:u

•^

1^ M

s^'

N-

.\A

?•
^

s ^

:^^

.^N

HoKlAII fiihlUI

ill!!

f \'

-'/ ■<^/f]",

'fi'

iSf

4 ■,,!

i'i

t-A

i <v

MESS

WITH THE «EA]LAMBEa§.

eOLJ..KGK.AT roTTail W THArA.V,-«aE.

THE

ORIGIN AND HISTORY

mssionns;

CONTAIMNQ

FAITHFUL ACCOUNTS

OF THE

VOITAGES, TRAVELS, LABORS AND SITCC

ESSES

OF THE

VARIOUS MISSIONARIES,

WHO HAVE BEEN SENT FORTH TO EVANOELIZE TH^ HEATHEN,
OOMFZLBB FROM AXTTHBimo »OOUaffllfT0,

FOn.MINO A

ILLUSTRATED BV NUMEROUS ENORAVINOS,

;

FIIOM

On.G.NAL DRAWINGS MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THIS WORK

TO >. ,„„„ rRO- THE rR», .« rOUHTII. .„CCE,„V« .UMe^R, PA«T

TH« HlHAMINa KUMBKRS THK 8K(o«D VOLUME. ""ITUTl

Till riR$T, AND

IIV TUB

REV. THOMAS SMITH,

MIHI8T1CR or TRI.MTV CIIAPK.., LONDOW,

REV. JOHN O. CIIOULKS, A. M.

WEWPORT, R. I,

" To iniliut men ll.oroughly with the MU.ionary Spirit,

wo mu,l aciuainl them intimatel, with the Mi.»io„.ry enterpri...".

■ — i>mHe't Mitnmary StrmoH.

XW TWO VOIiVMBS.
VOL. I.

BOSTON-
PUBLISHED BY E. WALKER. AND LINCOLN 6c EDMANDS

ia32.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, by

Samuel Walker,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

PREFACE

of Jehovah, and ,ho revelation he'hL Zeot .hetel wXt l'° T"""'
mercy shall bo di.played to a ruined race The l»!,T . '^ u " '°™ ""^
revolution in the militant church T,« u ^ ''*"" '"'™ """^''^d »

of his pleasure Z, hi nZ '' I '^'"L^"™" ""^ "'«''«"» "'w communication

l.« command was "t yelrth Zd ."'"k 'n ""' " "■""«'" '"'^ ''""'™'' •>"
has been an -W.^?^ JT. t^^r^Sl^^ ^^^^^^ o'^- --' •^-

took upo'n themset ho characT'" " ^7'^.'' " '"'""'"""' "''"' ' '^«''. "-^
mtaionarios. Tol evinl tha tllT' "", ""'^''""''"««<' ""' <<•■«-, of Christia^
.ho work, of tl" devil an" tb^Hsh? """ '° ^r' '""™""'"<«"'y «» destroy
oarly churches «Pptd Tht::^ t trtlrt'l'-of'ttrta'!'" """"'" " ''"

every where, an/i.loTl ^^ '/T .''" ""^ ""'o ".e." they preached Christ
word of the 'Lord pre; ,e; m^^.i ! ''o.r'J: Z"^" -'°" '"» "-• ■""• "■»
make through this dark world if ll >• ,^u " ^'"^'^"^ *""''' "'" e™P«'

principle which no v"d I el^rt 0?" 71 f" 7 T"'"" '" '"" «"""
behovo. and therefore wo Lak r W . ^ " ""'' """'' '=«»<>J'«o", " We

homo, or missionarierarortl sil: I :.' ;:L':;"ofr.rtiLTr •'
~::^aTor;r::'.."r cT '-r '";•,"-"■■ —-^^^^ -^^^^

Sorrows, the Church would exclaim. "Give me ,«,m, that I

\x \\i\

PREFACE.

may dwell ;" she would gain upon the wilderness ; every augmentation would be
the pledge of her future success ; one would become a thousand, the small one a
strong nation, the glory of the Lord would be revealed, and all flesh would soon
see it together.

When I read the Word of God, I am satisfied that the spread of the gospel
throughout the world, is the determination of Heaven. Light and mercy beamed
upon the human family in the first promise ; and for a long line of ages, in
each prophetic vision, and every impartation of predictive knowledge, the reign
of Jesus became more distinctly seen, till, in the fulness of time, the Messiah
came.* Then, with the authority which he possessed us " head over all things
to the church," he delivered the law of the kingdom, a law to remain in perpetual
obhgation. " All power is given to me, in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost ; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
Matt, xxviii. 18, 19. And when I regard the constitution of the gospel as a
remedial system, and mark its invariable results upon the minds of men, under
every possible variety of age, place, and circumstance, I see the necessity and cer-
tainty of its success. I examine the gospel of Jesus Christ, but I find no particle
or element of its nature, which can indicate adaptation to a particular period of time,
or special class of character. It is founded upon the very principles of human
nature, and is intended for the various and perpetually changing relafionships of
our race. It unfolds doctrines, duties, and ordinances, which commend themselves
to the faith, obedience, ond observation of men, in all ages and all climes.
Now, since it is evident that God has always crowned faithful attenii)ts to spread
the gospel with success, does it not follow, that if the sacred task had been per-
formed, that the moral world would, at the present day, have exhibited a lovelier
aspect than it now presents to the view of holy intelligences ? The early Chris-
tians knew their Master's will, and performed their duty; but hardly had the
apostles and their contemporaries fallen asleep, before those who were heirs to
their hopes, were apostates from their practice ; the glory of Christ was bartered,
by those who bore his nanie, for the honor of men ; but he that was crucified
frowned upon them, and then followed ages which are properly called " dark."
This will be illustrated in " The Introduction ;" and I therefore remark, that the
signs of the times most delightfully announce the dawn of that day, which the

• Roinana x»i. 85, 96. PMlm IL 7, 8 j xxU. 37 j Uxll. 10-lS. Micah W. 11 ImUJi h ; hi. 5, ft

PREFACE. .

Scriptures speak of, and which the natural tendency of things tells us must
arnve when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters
cover the sea. »

About forty years ago, combined prayer-meeUngs, for the outpouring of the
Holy Spmt, and the spread of the gospel in heathen lands, introduced a spirit
of acvty among all classes of Christians. On the first Monday evening of
eve,y „„„,h, " the thousands of Israel" united in pressing at the thLe of g^ace

earth, and hy savmg health among all nations;" thus affording a de ightful
earnest of the per.od when " all flesh shall come and pray before God." eZ^.

wI^sL e'Z'o "'"f r" '"'-^''''^-' "''"S',- .he tvill produ^Jtho
way^ Since the opemng of the present century, efforts have been made to spread

reryTartf on, 7f " "'7^" ^"^ "°"'' "' '-"' "-"^ 'he inha^Ln't of
every quarter of the globe; and to the praise of divine grace it is to be recorded

a m,ss,ona,y labors have not been in vain in the Lorl „ i, , el^erTng fact'
that »hc„ proper .nstruments have been employed, the amount of conversio,;
among the heathen will not shrink from a comparison with the same process i"
lands of hght and pr.vjege. Past endeavors ,„ convert the world have Id t le
most ben,g„an. .nfluence upon many portions of the human faml Tl'slnfl
enco has been felt by the Hottentots of Africa, the swarming myriadJ o ont .

.tants of the great Southern Archipelago. Let the gospel be proclaimed and it
must answer the purposes allotted it by God. To doubt the efficacy If gospe
trutb, ,s almost as cruninal as ,o aposta.i^e from its profession. Only sow To
mcorrupfble seed of the wor.l," and it shall never perish. The v""ories of o

cross ,„ Cormth and R „, Ephesus and A.hens^re all to be ep"2, 1

lauU addresses are to be listened to in Ava, Pekin, and other stroL holds "f
papm worslu,., w.th all the spirit-stirring effect which m„rke,l ,1 1 „V 1 „1|

f, :rr ,. :"'?: r ''""""'""^ '■■ "■" 1-""-"^ "f "■« .."-ionarT ntepTs"
.s no to be den,ed, but they are not of a n,ore formidable character than Thl'
wlml. ho gospel has already vanquished. ..The prince of h wo W-'C
marshaled us hosts, and brought all his resources against the King in Z on • b ,
h knows that "the battle is the Lord's;" his judgmtn, has been ifrolured W
ln.gdom ,s eonung to an end. Difficulties do not belong to God, though .her
may afl-ec. h,. servants. The energy of the converting Spirit is mdZnis led
U.e d,vmo compassion, are unexhausted, the precious pronL. whiTl II ted

PREFACE.

patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, remain for our consolation, whilst we carry
forward the.r labors. It ought not to be forgotten, that if success has been great
in the incipient stages of our missioriff to the heathen, we may rationally expect
brighter results from future and more matured operations; although I am far from
supposing that the perfection of human wisdom in device or action, will avail any
thing, separate from the blessing of God. To form a proper estimate of mission-
ary labors, it should be recollected, that a considerable part of past effort has
been devoted to "a vast apparatus of means for attack and defence." Transla-
tions of the Sacred Scriptures have called out the best energies of the ablest
missionaries. Now, translations of Divine Truth, and the production of elementary
books, are but means; yet, to use the language of the late secretary of the Lon-
don Missionary Society, " they are ends as well as means ; they are legitimate
objects of Christian labor ; many of them will not require to be done again, and
the man who has accomplished them ought not to be considered by his brethren
as having lived in vain."

It is delightful to mark the growing interest which the church of God displays
in the conversion of the world. The good news from far countries, which is
contmually received, rejoices the hearts of a multitude, who give God " no rest
tdl he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the wliole earth." Intel-
hgence so important is embraced with avidity by all who are able to appreciate
Its value. As it is impracticable, however, without devoting much time, atten-
tion and money to this object, (without, in fact, purchasing, arranging, and
carefully perusing bundles of reports, volumes of magazines, letters, journals,
and memoirs of missionaries, with various other sources of information,) to obtain
any thing like a correct and luminous view of the societies which have been
organized, and the triumphs which they have achieved in this noble enterprise •
It IS believed that an impartial and connected account of the various missionary
societies now in existence for the spread of the gospel among the heathen, will
have a claim on the attention of the religious public, as peculiarly calculated to
revive pleasing recollections, to animate to fresh effort, and inspire jovous hope in
reference to a cause which has been so signally owned by God. Anxim.s to extend
the knowledge of those great events, which, in recent years, have begun to realize
the visions of ancient prophecy, I have endeavored to furnish a work, which
though moderate in its limits, and accessible to all ranks by its mode of publica-
tion, may form a repository of missionary intelligence, and present a sort of
panoramic view of those various societies, which, diftering from each other in

PREPACE.

names md forms, rewmble .he separate bodies of cavalry, infantry, and artUlery
m a great army, all of whom are subjects of the same king, all arranged teneZ
the same national burner, and aU opposed to one common enemy. *

for"B'Jl!r''°"p''''^'"''- "*"^' •■"" **'^ ""-"Pa'tio" « not designed bxclusively
Mo^aXTu', ^"'''':-«-' Epl-opalians or Congregationalis^. Methodists or
Moravans. but for all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and wh^
are earnestly engaged in promoting the salvation of their fellow crelres Sn
the prosecutton of this design, the utmost pains will be taken to bwTmuse
me„tw«h,nfo,ma.ion, by embodying in the narrative the most valuable "

Tcon.^ „!llh .Te"""";";' •""' ""' "■"'■"'"'- "'"«'■ '-" ---pubird

Win ass. he reader m forming correct ideas of many interesting objects - and an
index will be so contrived, as to form an eoitomo of tL«. • • ^ ' "

to which it will furnish a prompt an^ ZX^fZ^rZ^Z^T''.
the missions which are sustained by American effort will h.? !' T "^

When I was requested to undertake the editorshin of ihi. h- . i • •
.be assistance of my estecned friend, .be ot fer of ,a""7an oft"'""1
which treats of English missions. But before I coul I 1 M V
subject, ho was called to leave the clmrcl, 1 .1, " '"'" "<"" "'»

me„t of that glorious rest, wllh l,c Id so « ' '' , T' "'""' "" ^J"^'
fervor that saUsficd his 111'", of^ho L """",''"""">«''- -'"• »" energy and
with the land aS.r off. T^ R^v ThomLT:"' "''"'" '"' *""' '"""''''

P«.™.„g„„f that excellent .n..y .L ^Zs !?';," uZ^r-tlH: IT ',""
was brought to the knowledire of Chri.t „ i i • """fe"°"- '« early life, he

•■in. .o viint l..™cu.i„n hfs\tm erte?e , 3tr" ''' f'^T^r"''
Sinith was a man of wonderful cner»v • ZJlT ■ ''°"^«''°'''- Mr.

multitudes received their ear LsrZjilnr ^^ ,:: ""'°'""' ''" i"''"' P'"'^'' =
•hey heard this bold ambassador declare . cur of Zr"'T .f ""l'™'' ""
of its law, while he closed by telling ,h„ storv of r„f T, " "'""'''"

of .he man to whom the Lo^l imnuLb .rZ. ',,^T' t"". I''". "^ T""-'
1830, in the 55tl, year of bis age. " ^'^^ *' ""' """"" """' """■ ^''

PREFACE.

With respect to that portion of this work which was furnished by Mr. Smith,
1 would only state, that, eight or nine years having elapsed since its pages were
written, much interesting matter, which has subsequently been developed, will be
incorporated in its appropriate place, and several inaccuracies or misconceptions,
which the nature of the work rendered almost inevitable, will be corrected by later
information, and access to fresh authorities. And here I would gratefully acknowl-
edge my obligations to the Rev. Secretaries of the London Missionary Society,
the Church Missionary Society, the Wesleyan Methodist, and Baptist Missionary
Societies, and the Rev. Joseph Belcher, of London, for the kind assistance which
they have afforded me in the prosecution of this work.

Disappointment may connect itself with the pursuits of commerce and the re-
searches of science, but positive and glorious success is certain to the cause
of missions. The desires of the Son of God must be satisfied ; his power in
heaven and earth is unlimited ; and soon he will reign over a willing world, con-
quered by his love ; for it is written, "The Lord shall be King over all the earth."
The voice of prophecy is solemn testimony to the spread of his power and the
aboundings of his glory. O that " the sacramental host of God's elect" would
make themselves acquainted and familiar with the revealed presages of Zion's
glory ! O that they would ponder the merciful purposes of God respecting the
North and South, and East and West ! O that they would remember that a
Saviour's blood hath sealed the conquest of the multitude which man cannot num-
ber ! Then they would feel, that, truly as there is a God in heaven, the kingdoms
of this world are to become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ ; and, with
an energy and rapture superior to that which once impelled all Europe against
the followers of the false prophet, they would cry out respecting the conversion of
the world, " It is the will of God ! It is the will of God !"

May the Christian church never forget its solemn responsibilities ! May all its
members listen to a voice from the shores of darkness and cruelty, crying, " Come
over and help us ;" to a voice from the grave, which exclaims, " Work while
it is called to-day ;" and to a voice from the most excellent glory, saying, ** Go ye
forth into all the world, and preach my gospel to every creature."

Newport, R. I., March, 1832.

JOHN OVERTON CHOULES.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

Preface, _

Introduction. ^*8es 3—8

The Redeemer of men a missionarv_Tl,« a: „• i
pointed missionaries by hrfa "in u^^In ^tT^^%^^

Cornelius, means of spreading the jro<.npl "'/;'*^*°
view of the labors of the aDos.lpT ^p f "^ "^^ncise

missionary— the field nfll i.kr,-"^ *" °"="^e

0CMuTiS^!Zipl°!','»''»"''}:^'^'«''l'^n

d», and 'c™l5"."h "''"-"" """'■•''I* «"■

sionaries

SSaiion- or;he^-;::-:^ . -r'^'^^ «;-"-

7%irrf C>«/«r^,_Acco.int of ' * ' ' * * * '•^~'

of the Scriptures

^^rniHrj/ Acc

of divine truth greatly extended -Wisd

thp emperor* Phili'pULight
of God display;,f:77 -""'ded -Wisdom and power

rourth p«/«ry._Remarkib]V "conversion
tine the (Jreat-IIis subse ''"'"'"°"
heresy— The gospel iiurod^

«reat-nis subsequent conduc"t-The"A

Constan-
rian

sion
in

of the

Iberiaiis— Many of the"inonk»
•n^^missionary labors-AccLnt 'of Abraham

coiiver-

engage

the

■. 15-17

into Ireland by

■?i P„, "7 "^T'"" ^""P''' introducer
S . Pa r.ci(-Conversion of the Pic
..S'r'"- •""« "f '»'" Franks

ML^:!'':r''-^""y''''!i°'' of EthelbnrV king of Kent-

,. ,^ . king ^rrz2:.[ :':. ;'— ^-p^*- »

Missionaries

the mission— Diffir"nI.ro";*^""-^ '" ^-nRmnrt-Hnccess of

the first Zsiot'Jiel^Mi::'!!^^.!^"''"' "«• -«ny of

"•e nrst missionaries-Missionary labo sof rZn . '
Conversion nf ih» 4K..„; ,_j ,r^ ,. '* "' Colomlv

S vrnth Vrnturv -The'sii^'A n"l « " ' ' \' ''^•-'"

cHu.H-Mi.^ion:!^i;:n:^£nrar^^

Sa^dr's^onidU";^ Batavia and other p.ace»-

aries-A Syrian miVslnf "'''^'°"^'-y-I"sh mission-

character an^pro^re of */'r T 9''in''-The rise,

Eighth Centurv ThlT I ^''^'"netmism 20—^

Bonifac'-ZawTof fcr"'''''^*'' "'^ ^'"'""'J' '=«"«d
lehad among^e SaxmfSj\^"""*"y' """lofVil-
and the Saxons-Nestorti^^ ' ^^•"■*'*=" Charlemagne

of the missionaries of this

''^"•"'■y. 23,24

Tenth Century. — The " irnn n„„'> o' •*"> •**

the age,. .:.... ..! .71. "'°'' '"="^'' missionaries of

Eleventh Cmtuni'.—iy,so'rVclA 'h.i \i"i', ''^*' ^^

of the gospel fn Ilunfarv and S J. ^"/y ;^ar_Succes3
Russians, Poles and n»„- f^^^'^-^'? a^-ong the
Ulfrid and Eschil "''""'-labors and murd?r of

"^o^rts^jr-'^^^'^'^'^--^^^^^^^

countries *^nina, 1 artary and other

...26

-Wor-

-,...26,27

tjormatton — Account of

Lapland '""^ *^"' *° ®''""' America

^£n"n'n ('^"""•^-A field for" missionary labor,

s^.:if K:i':iVhe""';jl^'' ^'""'' t^-

Francis V.vil, m- -''?/'"^''<""«— Accu.,

and Lapland, .7. .'".'!"!?r ''"' *° ®''"''' ^
Seventeenth Centum Tli'n'mV„I.* * V • • • . .27, 28

««lese-Lab:;nf 1^^^^^!^^:^''' ''' ^'"

galese-
aniong

th(! Indi

f.:,, „ n """"« "^ N°'»'' America :.".'r^ ^tZ

nJnT i'^'"'T^-'^'"' ^" of mission^Tle kS of
Denmark sends missionaries to Tranquebrr-Their

Mras'" A «"!^'=««^S£,h"lt=^e undertake' a missiln'o

da?oreil^tT''''J '" ^anjore-Missionaries visit CuS

Triiif ^f^P"' •"'""''' '" Calcutta-Swartz visits

tTcSir'.7ure"r"r'".^'""^ ^""■^ "-'S

uta Btate of the Danish mission in India— S«,i«,..

^'T:T <"-""7/--Calle';^"he ';is;i;,;;rV «Ve-Wifa"
has^^been accomplished, and what ma/ y?t be ex-

* ' 40

CONTENTS.

HISTORY OF THE MISSIONS OF THE MORAVIANS.

CHAPTER I.

MISSION TO GREENLAND.

The United Brethren propose to send the gospel to Green-
land — Matthew and Christian Stach offer themselves as
missionaries, and embark for Greenland — Discourage-
ments after their arrival — Joined by John Beck and
Frederick Boehnish — Danger from famine — More assis-
tants arrive — Success of the mission — Kayaruak is
baptized with his family, and received into the church —
Death of Kayarnak — First church erected — Distress
from famine, cold and storms — A contagious and alarm-
ing distemper prevails — New missionary settlement
called Lichtenfels — Narrow escape of four mission-
aries — Baptism at Lichtenfels — A mission-house and
church built — Death of Frederick Boehnish — Two
hundred baptized at Lichtenfels and New Uerrnhut —

Arrival of Christopher Michael Koenigseer — New mis-
sionary settlement called Lichtenau — The stations
afflicted with a contagious disorder — Remarkable pres-
ervations — A painful catastrophe — Extracts from letters
of the missionaries — Interesting conversions — Intro-
duction of a hymn-book attended with happy effect*^
Account of Beck the missionary — Pleasing accounts
from Beck and Gorcke — Notice of Beck's jubilee —
Interesting account of the labors of Mr. Klcinschmidt —
Letters from Gorcke and Eberle — A new missionary
station called Fredericstall — Pleasing account of it
given by Mr. Kleinschmidt — Prosperity of New Herrn-
hut and Fredericstall,. 41 — 63

CHAPTER II.
MISSION TO THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

St. Thomas — Singular origin of this mission — Leonard
Dober appointed missionary — His arrival and recep-
tion, accompanied by Nitschman — Arrival and labors
of others — First baptism — Death of John Bonike by
lightning — Persecution — Missionaries are imprisoned —
The work of God progresses — Visit of Bishop Watte-
viilt — Death of Frederic Martin — Shipwreck of six
missionaries — Capture of missionaries by a privateer —
Contagious fever — Violent hurricane — Dreadful con-
flagration — Remarkable escape of Mrs. Eberman, who
was wrecked, with her husband, on their passage to
St. Thomas .6:1—68

St. Cnoix — Commencement of this mission — Discourage-
ments — Renewal of exertions — George Ohneberg —
Burning of the mission-house — It is rebuilt — Destruc-
tion of the churcli, dwelling-house, offices, &c. by a
hurricane — Consecration of a new church — State of this
mission as communicated by several individuals, 68 — 70

St. Jan. — Commencement and progress of this mission —
Dreadful hurricane 70, 71

Jamaica — Zechariah G. Caries appointed to this mis-
sion — Favorable commencement — Return of Caries —
Labors of Frederic Schlcgcl — Discouraging circum-

stances attending his death — Arrival of Thomas Ellia
and Joseph Jackson — Jackson's death — Labors of other
missionaries and general progress of the mission —
Arrival and death of several missionaries — Pleasing
account of the mission given by Mr. Ellis 71 — 75

Anticua — Samuel Isles commences his labors in this
island — Place of worship erected at St. John — Death
of Isles and arrival of Mr. Brown — Discouraging cir-
cumstances — God's work prospers amidst persecution —
Sunday schools — The colonial government encourages
the mission — Prosperity of the mission — Evening schools
— Favorable information 75 — 77

Barhadoes — Unfavorable commencement — Benjamin
Bruckshaw, Mr. Bonnet and John Angerman — Dis-
couragements — James Waller and others escape from
shipwreck and robbers — A distressing storm — Bishop
Hueffel's visit — Mr. Taylor's account of this mis-
sion , 77 — 80

St. Chhistopher. — Berkley and Gotwald sent to this
island — Prosperity attends the mission — Dreadful inun-
dation and hurricane — Invasion of the island by a
French fleet — Prosperity — Hurricane — State of the mis-
sion as given by several missionaries 80,81

CHAPTER III.
MISSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA.

Commences with the Indians of the Creek nation — This
station abandoned in consequence of war — Christian
Henry Rauch arrives in Now York from Herrnhut —
His lalwrs among the Indians at Shehomeho— Work
r.fthe Holy Spirit — Visit of couiii Ziiizrndorf — Violent
persecution — On.'idcnhultcn — The gospel preached to

the Iroquois — Indian war — Tragical catastrophe at
Gnadeiihutten — A striking providence — New settle-
ments called Nain and Weikquetauk — Distressing state
of the mission — Conduct of Benjamin Franklin and
the Quakcfn — Renatus — Cessation of hostilities — Set-
tlrmcnt of Fridenshuetten — Extraordinary preserva-

CONTENTS.

tion— Frequent changes of location— The divine bless-
ing attends the mission— Difficulties arise in conse-
quence of war between Great Britain and the American
colonies— Indian barbarities— Hardships of the mis-
sionaries— Horrid massacre of the Christians— Re-
markable escape of two youths— The missionaries are
removed to Detroit-The gospel introduced among the
Oherokees-Indian crueltie»-Death of the laborious

Ul
Zeisberger— Difficulties arising from the war between

ieLKfl ®'r ""' Great Iritain-ConverslTna^d
PrZLu cVu^^ opposer-Death of John Schnall-
StaTnT^i?^ rt mission-Account of Philip Ignatu»~
State of the Cherokee mission-Establishment of an

CHAPTER IV.

MISSION IN

^'tSrii.""* ^""^ ^'^ "" »•="»««— Difficulties at-
nf & /?^ commencement of this mission-Studv
of the native language— Conversion of Indians in the
V cinity of the Oronoko-New difficuIties-The „i^
sion abandoned, 1(^1 in

Sharon, on the SARAMECA.-CommenVement, sup-
pression and renewal of this mission-The missiX
aries attacked by slaves- Arrival and death T new

missionaries-Settlement abandoned, no ni

Hope, ON the Corentvn.-L. C. Daehne commences the
mission amidst a variety of difficulties— A remarkable
escape-Arrival of three missionaries-Building of a
church-Labors of Fischer-School establishedlMi*^

SOUTH AMERICA.

smllPmp'nF'-'^r^^- '"T 'J'o^ning-Destruction of th«
settlement including the mission-house, church. &c

Dy nre — 1 he mission abandoned, i i2__i 1 4

n^v^'V ""* '■'"= SARAMECA.-Conversion of Arabini
^f„ ;r^" anecdote of him-Another of C. L. Schu^
PARAS7;7„r°T®^'"M**~^''"<'" K'^^" up,. 114-116
A numwTf '^'?"*''^"°™"'''''*'"""* "^ '^^ mission-
nParZZ.A ^ interesting anecdotes of the converted

mifsTonT^t.. .'..?"''' ""'^^"^'^'om state of the

SoMMELSDYKBi-De^h 'of 'thV 'fiVs; miMiMwiJlfliutS

of the mission-Its final suspension °...120, la?

InAA^'l 7^ early state of this mission-Education
and death of an Esquimaux boy-Erection of a miss on"
house at Nam-Severe cold-Encouraging Xum
called'^lT nj'-'onaries drowned-A newlettlement
caned OMnA:-Two very remarkable deIiverances_A
third station called flbprrf«/e_Singular loss of J W
Keiman— A remarkable and pleasine event— A tp"
nval of God's work-Dangers occasioLdb; floating"
.ce-An occasion of joy-Singular preservation of a

CHAPTER V.
MISSION IN LABRADOR.

young Esquimaux convert-Gratitude of the Esquimaux
ZJtr '""'^ ''^ God-Remarkable phenomenon"
Another singular preservation— Evidences of real con.
version among the Esquimaux-Pleasing intelligence
from the miss.onaries-Two instances of preservation
from drowning-Letter from Amos Ovangd AjortuHk
a converted Esquimaux-A malignant disorder-A
fourth station caWed Kangertluhoak, 121-1^

George Schmidt labors among the Hottentots-His re-
moval- 1 he mission renewed by Marsveld, Schwinn
and Kuehnel-Various difficulties-Mr. BaUw's nc
count of the mission at Bavian's Kloof-A destructive
epidemical fever-A second settlement called Grucn-
.tfoo/_Favorable circumstances-Rebellion of the
slaves-Anecdote of a tiger-Prophecy of a Hottentot

nrJir ."!,'T"." "."""* ^y ^ I- Latrobe, secretary to
the United Brethren's society in London-A distressing

CHAPTER VI.
MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

torrent from the mountains— Visit from the governor
brd Somerset, and others-New station at Witte
Kevier— The mission troubled by the Caffres- Prosper-
ous state of the settlement-Distress atGnadenthal and
Gruenekloof-Also at Enon-Pleasing account from
?l"f Pff '."'' G/uenekloof-Distressing inundation at
tnon-Effects of the grace of God— Labors of Mr
Leitner among the lepers-Mission among the Tam-
bookies-Noble spirit of a Hottentot 7.134-149

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII.
MISSION IN ASIATIC RUSSIA.

A. MISSIONARY settlement formed on the banks of the
Wolga called Sarepta — Two missionaries visit the
Calmucs — An alarming event — Grabsch and Gruhl visit
the Tschecks — School at Sarepta — Labors of J. Q.
Schill and C. Huebncr among the Calmucs — Parable
of a Gellong — Death of the Calmuc prince — Account

of his funeral— The festival of Good Works— Installa-
tion of a lama — An interesting letter — Conversation
with the lama— Darkness and superstition of the Cal-
mucs — First fruits of this mission — Account of the
Calmuc converts — A distressing fire at Sarepta — Con-
cluding account, 149 165

CHAPTER VIII.
UNSUCCESSFUL MISSIONS.

Lapland. — Three of the United Brethren undertake this
mission — They are thrown into prison — A second at-
tempt to establish this mission fails, 165, 160

Guinea. — All who engage in this mission die, and the
object is abandoned, 166

Algiers. — This mission is attended with some success,
but soon given up 166

Ceylon. — Tl.o opening of this mission is favorable — Mis-
sionaries removed by order of the governor, and the
mission abandoned 166, 167

Peusia. — This mission attended with serious diflicultics
and suspended, 167, 168

EoiPT. — Dr. Hocker undertakes this mission — He visits
Grand Cairo — Letters from the Coptic patriarch —
Hocker leaves the mission — He returns again with
George Pilder — Serious difficulties — attempts to in-
struct the Copts — The sufferings of Mr. Antes from
imprisonment and the bastinado— Mission given
up, 168—174

Nicobar Islands. — The first settlement called the Breth-
ren's Garden — Account of the split snake — Ideas of
the natives concerning God — Their reasonings on the
subject of religion — Missionaries taken by a priva-
teer — Distressing circumstances — The mission aban-
doned 174—177

Island op Tobaco. — Origin and progress of this mis-
sion — Death of the first missionaries — Encouraging
circumstances — Attempts at insurrection — State of the
mission, 178, 179

Principles upon which the brethren conducteb

THEIR LABORS, 179 Igl

Enumeration of all the missionary stations of the United
Brethrm's church, together with the names of the mis-
sionaries employed, towards the close of the year
1830, ...181,182

HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CHAPTER I.

Formation op the society and subsequent proceed-
ings.

Association at Nottingham — Monthly missionary prayer-
meeting — Rev. W. Carey — Formation of the society —
Mr. John Thomas — First converts — Mr. Carey engages
in the mission with Mr, Thomas — Address to the

churches — Plan of the society — Continuation of the
history — death of Rtv. Andrew Fuller— Dr. Ryland
chosen secretary— Death of Dr. Ryland— Painful event
— A NOTICE — Contributions — Missionary stations
— Table of receipts and expenditures — Table op
STATIONS, 183—193

CHAPTER II.
MISSION IN BENGAL.

Difficulties attending its commencement — Letter from
Dr. Carey — Description of the Hindoos — Manner of
worshipping the Riin^-^Otlinr rrrftr.r-.t'Ars — Hir-..-!,
castes — Preaching of Mr. Carey

Church formed at

Mudnabatty — Serious inquirers — The missionaries visit
the saobah — Interesting ceremonies — Account of Igna-
tius Fcrnaiidc!: — A calamitous flood — Account of the
missionaries Marshman, Grant, Brunsdon and Ward

CONTENTS.

They are set apart for this mission— A woman burninff
herself with her husband— Sailing of the missionaries-I
Singular interposition of Divine Providence— Arrival
of the missionaries— Manner of worshipping the sod
Rajn— Death of Mr. Grant— Translation of the IVew
Testament-Happy death of Mr. Fountain-Baptism
of Kristno and others-Mr. Carey appointed professor
of Bengalee and Sanscrit in the college at Fort William
—Pleasing conduct of Kristno— Death of Mr. Bruns-
don— Character and death of Mr. Thomas— Dulol, the
fomous leader-Marriage of Mr. Ward-Account of
Neelo and Seeb Ram Dass— Arrival of Mr. Chamber-
lain and wife— Death and burial of Gokool— Super-
stitious ceremonies— Ordination of Kristno and Petum-
ber Shingo— Affecting scene— Death of Mr. Chamber-
lain— Prosperity of the mission— Arrival of Messrs.
BissMardon, Moore and Rowe-A new church consti-
tuted at Dmagepore-A serious event-Solemn event
—Horrid superstition- Pleasing accounts— An unhao-
py event-Death of Mr. Creighron and Mr. Grant-I^
rampore taken by the English-Opening of a spaciou^

-rblnd^of r "h{l~^7r''^' "^'oWished at Calcutta
—A band of robbers— A drstructive fire— Death of Mr
Mardon-Tiie work of God progresses at Calcutta-
Discouraging occurrence-S«^ng!ng festival-Accou^
of DeepChund-Three females burnt .„ ,Wk ?""*

;< n-.k- r T females burnt to death in a

at-Bathmg of Juggernaut-Interesting account of
luhummud Bakeer-Singular circumstfnce-Exam?
ot the Benevolent Institution at r>iIri..»D_i„

progresses at Calcutta

— ufjiiig uv^uurrcijce — ow'

3p Chund— Three fem;

iathing of Juggernaut-

nmud Bakeer — Singula
nation of the Benevolent Institution at Calcutta— In-
stallation of Lawson and E. Carey-A melancho?v
ZT~£l ^'f m" ^' ^-g»P-^-College at Seraji-
Religious pilgnmagcs-Death of Mr. Ward-Alarminir
rrSe-pTritT.fr. .^^'.^-^-^He stationTn

'^oTrBibie!?!!.?!;:? ">'-- '^--'^i"£!i

CAX.cvTrA.-Review of this mlssioZ-A lisl oftheVorks
n,.hl„h.,, at this press-P/„,. for fire 7pera.

DiNAGEPouE, :::::;::::: ^^~^^i

'^'^""^ • • • :::::::::::::::::i^:S

published
tions

CHAPTER III.

MISSION IN THE BURMAN EMPIRE.
RiGiN of the mission— Festival in the ffohkn tcmnk~A n n;ffi i.- • ,
Burman funeral-Horrid cruelties-Destructh^fi^i K,^"""-""' '" "'« n>'ssion-Mr. Carey visits the k.ng-

iructive lire- 1| Distressing event-Transfer of the mission,. .268-272

Orig

CHAPTER IV,

MISSION IN ORISSA.

The mission commences favorably Wnrshinrv^r. «<• r ., .

hoojya-Suspeusion of .he mission; r.!^.T.! .^^^''"'"'-*^''^''^" featival-Account of Jugunnaf ha Mook-

272—276

Commencement of the mission-Description of the
country and people-Trying circumstances-Encour-
aging prospects-Account of the mission at Patna and
Digah— A religious murder— Striking anecdote—

CHAPTER V.
MISSION IN HINDOOSTAN.

Drowning of a leprous Hindoo-Effects of reading the
Scriptures-A cruel and revolting scene-RemaKe

Sm' "''"'""^ incidents-beath of l5r Rowe-
DiGAn— MoNOHVB— BEN.iKEs, 277—288

CHAPTER VI.
MISSIONS IN THE ASIATIC ISLANDS.

CEYLON.-Preachmg of Mr. Chater-An afflicting occur-
rence—Alarming disease— Conversion of two ^oodhist
priests-Death of Mrs. Chater-Death of Mr. Chater
—Arrival of Mr. Daniel— Prosperous slate of the
mission, J. . ••■•........ 289-293

JAVA.-Labors of Mr. Robinson_Mr. Bruckner's visit to
Pr.m6„««m-Difficulties from fiXB^Chohra morhus-
Translation of the New Testament-Insurrection-
Mr. faruckncr removes, 1^93 ^397

^?f1heB«t^r'5".''f'°"r '■""".^^- Burton-Account
of the Battas-Schoola^Letter from the missionaries-
Stan V /• .. . - —

funeral-

Mahometan views of the world-Description of a
ineral-Cruel amusements-Anecdote of an elephant
-Superstitions of the Battas-The mU«"n T. "„

up,.

mission given
297—306

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII.
MISSION IN THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA.

Orioin of the mission— Death of Mr. Rowe, the first mis-
Bionary— Prosperity of the mission— Death of Mrs.
Coultart— Dei.ih of Mrs. Godden— Death and character
of Mr. Kitching— Attempt to burn Mr. Godden—
Anecdotes of the converts— Mr. Coultart's visits to
Manchmeel and Montego Bay— Interesting account of
a negress— State of the mission— Power of religion
among the negroes— Two hundred and forty-nine bap-
tized m one day— D ath of Mr. Knibb— State of the
mission at Kingston— Interesting anecdotes— State of

the mission at rnffaAs— Interesting facts— Mission at
Spanish Town— At Port Royal— At Old Harbor and
Vere—A striking hct— Mount Charles— Afontego Bay
—Interesting anecdotes— Oooforf Spring— Falmouth
—Anotta Bay— Port Maria— A tabular statement of
the Baptist churches in the island of Jamaica— Oppoai-

tion to the mission, , , 300—325

South America !!!!,. 326

South Africa,. !!!!.'!"* 328

HISTORY OF TlIE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CHAPTER I.

Formation of the society.
Preparatory measures— Circular address— A meeting of

ministers- Another circular— A general convention —
Formation of the society— Choice of officers, 327—331

CHAP

MISSION IN THE

Otaiieite.— Sailing of the missionaries- Arrival at Ota-
r"i~ ■ ?" '■•^'^'^I'*'"" ''y the natives— Commencement
ol their Inlwrs— Striking inci.icntfl— Return of cnpti.iii
VVil.son— More mismonaries sent out— A storm— An
alarm— Captured by a Froiich privntoi-r— Their Irent-
mcni froH. the enemy— They are cnplurod ngniii—
1 lieir miireriuus and return— A painful circumstnnce
nt Otaheite— Murder of Mr. Clode— An afllicting event
—Description of the (rreiit w»r«(— Dentil of Mr. Lewis
—A severe trial— Arrival of more iiiissionarie.s— Death
and character of Pomnre, kin«of Otaheite— Letter from
I omare— 1 roubles at Otaheiio— EncouraRiii^ state of
the mission— A conspiracy—Omheitnu Auxiliary Mis-
sionary Socic'y formcd-Desrripliou of the n„,al mi,,
mon rA«/(r/— Missionary uieetiiiK— Baptism of the kiutf
— Jrogress of the mission— D<'alli of the kiii(j— Ilis
character- Coronnliou of the ymug kiii>:— Ueuuiicia-
tion of idolatry in the island of Kurutu-Iiilroduclion
ol the gospel into various places— Trousjat ion of the
hcripliires — Lach station iiotiri'd seiiarntely, arfi 370

*"',!.'r~".'^"'/*' "^ •''" '"'^••*''"' "• H"- diHlrict of Mntarai
—Of Ahhuru—Or P„para—0( Pare— Of Tain-

'■''/'« 37 1— 373

Hini.*.— .Stale of the iiiissioii .'," ' 374

i.im:,K-R„hy', rinn-ariffin Totrn, and S,*,utlI*Sen

^, "fi'dcrny 374— ;17«

ho. ii'.Tv rsi.AMm.- //,/nAinf ;i7»l 377

Maiaoiti .... .377 ''

TER II.

SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

RAiATEA.or Ulietea.— Origin of this niission— Religious
Slate of the people- Pleasing account of the sta-
tion— Anniversary of the Uaialcn Missionary So-
ciety... 377-4180

I auaa. — !■ avoralile account of this station— Speeches of
the natives at a missionary meeting— Feast of the
childr.'u belonging to the schools— Elfects of the
gospel,... 3H0-~!W4

Hohaiioha— Description of the station— Its pro.^per

w"^ 384, \\H&

Maii'iti, ..^,

Pai MOTH, or pAi.i.isF.n Islands, .'.*!'.*.!.*.'! 380

AisTRAi, Islands, r^i^n

IFauvi'.v Islands,,., , .....380 "187

New Soi Til Wai.iih, '..'.'.'.*.'.*.., .',!W7

NaviiiatouV Islands, !!'. .388

SANDWirii Islands— f)rigin of this missi.m— Letter's of
Mr. Lllis— Discription of //«(rrt//— Pleasing account
ol the station— L<'tler of the king— The king and
queen visit Knubin.j— Their denlli— Mr. Ellis returns
to Europe— Prosperous state of the station,, ,;J88— 301
Tonoataiioo — Coiniiieiueiiieiii of this mission— Murder
of a youth- Supersliiioiis rriiellie.H— The missionaries
meet with dilliculiies- Apostasy of Vreson— An un-
fortunate event — Murder of four missionaries- The

others leave the island !])»4 400

Mah«i KsAs. St. Chhibtina, or Taiiiata 400 401

CONTENTS.

Origin of the mission— Account of Dr. Vanderkemp—
Vanderkemp, Kicherer, Edmonds and Edwards sail fol^

of°?hp?Th~ aT' "/ "'t** voyage-Commencement
of their labors— A battle— Interview with the king of

ll?h H ffi "i: '".'l^ anecdote-The missionaries meet
m„.v1h K T^'^'^'P"?," "'' ^°'* Place-Mission
attacked by plundering Hottentots— Other difficul-

n "*'^' • • 403 — 411

BETirELSDoRP.-Success of the mission-Account of

nIT'"pV^",f"';''^P'"^"'^P^°v''J«n'ial escape
—Death of Mr. Vanderkemp— Rev. John Camobcll
arrives at Bethelsdorp-State of the scMlement-rre
markable providence-Sabbath Bchools-Improveme.U
of the station-A general description of it,. .411!!!^ 9
/^AK RivEH.— A description of the Bushmen- Mr Rich-
erer visits Cape Town-Account of John and Tray
converted Hottentots-Remarkablo deliverances-Mr
Kichcrer goes to Orange river— Difliculties on his
return-He visits Europe with three of the Hottentots
—An affecting incident— Mr. Kicherer returns to Zak

IviVGrj •■•••••••••(•••••« ^10_ Anr

Griqua TowN.-Mr Anderson's'lVbo;; Vn'thU station-
Ihe station visited with the small-pox- Mr. J. Camn-
bells visit to the sctt!e.nent-A remarkable awakening
—Mr. Campbell's second visit— State of the mi.^
*'°i 4i5__4'io

South NAM.jqiMi.A.VD.-Pella-Co.nmonccim'nt" of the
nnssion-Doath of Abraham Albrochl-Discourag^
monts-Uov. J. Campbell visits Pella-State of this
m.ss,on-R,,.,narkal.le conversion of Africaner-Ancc-
.hit^os concerning him-Concluding account of the
"""°" 430—434

CHAPTER HI.
MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

^'"'^Tir'*T^*"^u'?.- "'■ '^'^ Station-State of religion

PaI^, ^.?.! . .?:.''*'' '*34. 435

Stellenbosch, ....'.''.*.'.'!*' Tof

TuLBAOH, ".!!!!'.'.'.! lo^

B08CHESFELD, !.'.*.*.'.'.*.*.*!'..'**.' 43a

Caledon Institution, .'.*.**.'.* '436 '437

Pacaltsdorp or Hoooe KRAAL.-Mr. Campbell's' first
visit to this place— Improvement discovered at his
second visit— Account of Old Simeon— Labors of Mr
racait- Prosperous state of the mission,. . . .437— 440

Gbaham'8 Town **..* ."*.!.'.".".!!!!!.' .'"440

liiEopous.— Commencement of the mission- Destruc-
tion of the settlement by rain— State of the mis-
„*'0". 440 441

ZT'^T^"-^''" ^'•'"" ««"««-I>e8cription of the
place and people-Labors of Messrs. Williams and
kead-Clauns of Caffreland-State of the mS

campi/eL;:::::::::::::::;::::::;::;;;;;:';^;;;^}}

PniLippoLis, 44!

Bushmen Mission, .'.'.'.'.*.'!.'.* 444

Mission to the BACHUANA8._'/,a«„VoollDifficulties
attending the commencement of the mission— Progress
of the mission— Mr. Campbell's description of Kurree-
chanc— His interview with the inhabitants— Anecdote
ol a rhinoceros— Account of Tsousan— Eiicouraeinir

appearances 445—453

Namaqualand. — Komaggas, 4'eo

Steinkopff, .".*.'.*.'.'.*.'! 453

Mai mrirs. — Pnt-t f.rtpi.s

nci-ouiil of ih(^ mission

Mai.a.iasiar— Desci .«tion of tliViMlViid

I heir religion— Trials of the

journey to Tananarive— Hi

CHAPTER IV.
MISSION IN THE AFRICAN ISLANDS.

ioscription of the island—

....454,455

and people —

inissioiiaries — Mr. Jones's

IS reception by the king-

Treaty with the king— The king's proclamation— A
letter from Mr. Jones-Letter from the king of Mada-
gHHcar— Prince Ratatfe visits England— D.ath of Mr
Hro<>ke.s— Pleasing state of the mission- AVi/<rf schools
—Death of the king, 455—466

CHAPTER V,

MISSIONS IN THE EAST INDIES

Thu miuion divided into four district* 4(K}

I. Northern Inoia,
CALri;TTA.— flrigin of this mission-Its progre
cimijel— Kid.lerporo »tation_(7,ris/,;,„

-Union
.trmworu —

";~::i:':«: °i;?f:;?';;t';i::?; i':!«

tii'its til ni.TrcE,

Chinm'raii.— Commencement of the mission- Its pros-
perity— Plan of instruction— Native schools,. 471.--473

Bl^llllAMPOnE, ^jn

Bknahkn.— Description of the city— StVte'of I'li'e'mii.

Si.RAT.— Notice of the. city— Banyan hospital— Fruits of
sabbath schools— Remarkable cases of self-destruction
and murder— Account of OU Bebee 474—477

fli

CONTENTS.

II. Peninsular India.

Madras.— Notice of the city— Commencement of the
mission — Its present state 477 478

VizAOAPATAM.— Commencement of the mission— Schools
—Notice of a converted Bramin— Death of Rev. Georire
Cran— Arrival of Messrs. Gordon and Lee— Death of
Mr. Dea Granges— Publication of the Gospels— Heathen
worship— State of the mission— Death of Mr. Pritchett
—State of the schools— The deputation's account of
the mission— Death of Mr. Gordon— Encouragina
prospects, 478-^

CuDDAPAH.— Labors of Mr. Hawell— Native baptisms-
State of the mission, ^ ^ag

CaiTTooR.— Its situation— Labors and death of Mr* Jen-
nings ,^2

Bbloaum.— A military station-^rig'in' and 'progreVs of
the mission-Labors of Mr. Tavlor— Account of
Dhondapah. " 489.484

DELLARY. — Mission commenced by Mr. Hands His ac-
count of it— Conversion of the soldiers— Mr Reeve
joins Mr. Hands— Ruins of Bianagur- Penance of a
rajah— A festival— Notice of a West Indian— A mur-
derer—Burning of a widow— Interesting occurrence—
lemple of the monkey Hanamunta— Death of Mrs 1
Hands— A juvenile Bible society— Visit from a rajah- I
Notice of a tlml-Tour of Mr. Hands-Tlio inquisi-
tion at Goa— Report of the directors— Last accounts

from the mission — Publications 484 491 '

B.*NiiAi,oiiE.— Description of the town— Forbes and Laid-

ler commence the mission— Samuel Flavel and other

nati>e youths— Prosperous state of the mission. 4J)I i'M

Salem, ' '*'~

C0.MUA1 o.MM, '.!.'.'.".!.'.'!!.* '.'.4m

III. Travancore.

Mission commenced by Mr. Ringeltaubo— Persecution of
the ChriMians at I inevclly—Viows of the natives con-
cerning religion— Report of the directors— Division of
the inm8ion-l>ros,M-rity of the Western Division-State
01 the Lastern Division— Seminary at Nagercoil— Last
accounts from the mmion— Oul-statiom,.. .4iHi— 4m

IV. Ultra Ganges.
China -A general description of the country— Account
of he language, government, religion and morals of
China, given ,n a note-CANXON-Commencement of
this mission by Mr. Morrison— His visit to Pak-ti-ou-
saat- Chinese customs— Mr. Morrison appointed Chi-
ne^ translator to the English factory-Chinese pirates
—Printing of the Acts of the Apostles-Edict against
Chnstianuy-Mr. Morrison's travel^The Christian
and Chinese religion contrasted— Failure of lord
Amherst s embassy— Mahometanism in China— Pajro-
fm!;;::^ . f ^•''"'"n'^Notice of an earthquake and
inundation-Letter from Dr. Morrison-A storm-
Persecution of the Catholic converts-Tryine e»-cntsZ
Death of the emperor-His son ascends ^the' throntl
Notice of a murder-Dr. Morrison's dictionary-Dr.
Morrison visits England-He is presented to the kina-
His return to China-Labors of Afi.-Mn„„s. BridV
man and Abeel join Dr. Morrison-Concluding account
of the mis.sion 4«»7— 510

m'" M r^'^T""'"'^'""'"" "I" ""' •T'ission-Labors of
Mr. Milno-Account of Sabat-Of Lonng-kiiiiLr-fah-
Anglo-Chincse college-Death of Mrs. Milne-D^eath of
lir Mi!m—Conclmlingaccountoftliemission,.'',l(>_510
rXr'~''"^'." °'^*'': Milton-The Anglo-Chinese
college removed to this stntion-ConcIu.ling r-

„ POf* rt.r r.lQ

Pi>Lo PiN.M,, First labors of the mis.ionari^s-J^Uce
ot a lestivnl— Affecting accounts— Rqwrt of the di-
rectors—State of the mission I IIS—.?",

JAVA.-D..s,-rip,ion of Uie ixland-Commenccnuni of the
miss.oii-1 leasing accouiits-Denth of Mr. Simpor-
Arrival ol Mr. Slator-His voyage-Notice of a Hre-
Idolatrous coremon.es-A general account of the mis-
tr,;; ii'^ °' ''' Medhurst-Encouraging statc"";;^

iiir mission y,. -„„

AMi,ovNA.-Mr^ Ham's InlmrS-Hls visit to the i,;i,:i;;,or-

ng IS niHls_( cK,d effects of his second visit-l)!^,ruc.

tionol Idols—Prosperous state of the mission, .W,S_.';:J3

*• 533

DEMKnARA.- «rrA,r^— Mi^Hioii commenced by Mr Wray
— Klfecis ol the gospel— Account of Mr. Pnsi— Kxleii-
sion of th,. ini-sioii— A trviiig event- Mr. Wray re-
moves Iroi.i Kesouvrnir in B.-rbire- Visit of Mr. Elliot—
Mr. Hmilh s.'nt to U.-souveiiir— Anecdote of a slave—

Mr. Sniith s nr<( t of his sialion— Serious diiriculiies

— Jiisurrcciion ot the slaves— Arrest of Mr. Smitli— His

CHAPTER VI.
MISSIONS IN SOUTH AMERICA.

ft''''7l''1 •'""•''■""""i"" "nd imprisonineiit-Lnters
f>o -. Mr S,i„,h-||,s ,lea.h_TlK. c,rcu.„s,,.„ces of li
burial-I iries wnden by one of the .lirerlors-histruc
Uo IS o, ,0 , ,„.,.,ors-Tbe.r pr.H-ee.l.ngs in rHa.io. ,0
M . SiiMh, rial-F,xtr,Ki fr..,.. .he missioimrv Clinmi.
CI.— IroceiMlnig, of parliaineiit-State of (he ,„i*

""" 5;j:»-55a

CHAPTKR VII.
OTHER STATIONS. EDUCATION OF MISSIONARIES 4c d..

SLRr™:":::::::: ««4„f.,m..

M' ' •
KIIITl:RR(Nr <N ,

EurrATioN Of MissioN*niitH,J-ThoGo,, ,,

AcCuuhi of Dr. Bogue 5^,^

.A.->4

.554

5.V.

LlBT OP Stationh,

,VW5

.555, 55M

CONTENTS.

HISTORY OP THE CHTBCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION.

'** •....,, ,567, 558

CHAP

MISSION IN

Formation of the Church Missimary Society f,^ Af •

Mr. Hartwg and o.her^-Di^couragemem^Ane^do.es

TER II.
WEST AFRICA.

ness— An affeciinR scene— F,fi ""^^[""""K '"«='^-
Ita prosperity-Death of M^J^h^" "[-"'^ mission-
ficuJties-Schools-A c,^i';;^°''y«°".-F°"nidable dif-
of the mission .7 "'""" ^"«"'"t'on-Sun,mary
659—576

CHAPTER III.
AUSTRALASIA MISSION livri iTr»T,vT^
A „..„,„„„ .r.,„ J.? '!!':"'''''° "'='' ^'^"^''■' -«» N^W SOUTH ,v...s.

Affeciing interview— Marsden an.l ivri, i '.~

night in the camp of .h^Se^^h t e'sabfi "
Death of Duaterra-Settlement at Rangherii.Si ne";;

settlement — Two chiefs visit P., i j rw-
«cene^Canniba,ism-Lco tofai-tS^^^^
irnd"t '"« •'"^P'^^*'' «' Australnria and NewTea

Holland . .r Zealand-Aborigines of New
570—680

CHAPTER IV.

MISSION IN CALCUTTA amt. kt^„

v^AutUTTA AND NORTHERN INDIA.

Hehcr-EdtaSi!^;"''^ 1 fa'i— Bishop

count of Abd..iXJ^;;XS^b:;!l2^;-;^f

aikCw;;/,!^

Miss C.».W,'L fi, *^ """"''""'"'"""" «'"l «l<-ath—
MISS Cooke , hrst visit to a native school,. . .580-65)3

CHAPTER V.
MISSION IN MADRAS AND SOUTH INDIA.

ing— A healh.-n f.siivn <• ' " " """K pravrr-ineet.
I.'..V.ng the ti.u„da.i,.„ „r „ „„,,i„„ ,.,11..' r '':''»-
do.o-Accoun. of the mission ilMis'l'.'r^^^S

'^sSs'V:.?"'''V'''''"'' ""-'""-Orea. prosperity.^
THAVANr„«r.-(^haract,.r «.f .."'../.ILV^'J •''"<'• "«>
I-atost account of the mission »«»n «m

noMBAv AND wkstrbn fnima" ...!!....; j *.; ;..;;];;,'

Stations of the missionaries — Account of these stations

Superstitious ceremonies — Laying the foundation of a
church — Visit to a dying woman — Strijjing instance
of delusion — Schools — Annual meeting of the mission-
aries — The church at Badagamme— Method of collect-

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI.
MISSION IN CEYLON.

ing hearers — Account of the mission at Kandy—Ai
Cotta — At Badagamme— /it Nellore — State of the mis-
sion generally— The printing departmentr— Concluding
report, 6(»— 610

3;f

CHAPTER VII.
NORTH AMERICAN MISSION.

Location of this mission — Founded by Rev. J. West

Commencement of his labors — Indian method of bury-
ing the dead — Mr. West visits Beaver Creek — Exten-
sion of the mission— Letter of Mr. West— The first
church — Mr. West leaves for England— His journey

to Fort Churchill— Escape from a bear — Indian hiero-
glyphics—Circumstances attending his visit to Churchill
—Interview with the Esquimaux— Melancholy event-
Arrival of Rev. D. T. Jones— Prosperity of the mis-
sion — Summary of the whole, 611 618

CHAPTER VIII.
MISSION IN THE WEST INDIES.
MissioNABT stations— Schools— Catechists— Summary of the mission,

.618, 619

fll

CHAPTER IX.
MISSION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Malta. — Labors of Mr. Jowett — His journey to Palestine
—Labors of Rev. J. Hartley — School in Syra— Con-
clusion G19, 620

Abtssinia. — Missionaries sent out — Their reception

Missionaries in E^pt— Contemplated mission on the
north coast of Africa, 620, 621

Proceedings of the Church Missionary Society at home, , , , noi

622

END OF VOL. I.

AUTHORITIES

CONSULTED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS WORK.

Myers's Geography, 2 vols, quarto, London, 1822.
Ward's History of Hindooism, 2 vols, quarto, Seram

pore.
Brown's History of Missions.
Lord's History of Missions.
Simpson's Ecclesiastical History.
Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History.
Haweis' Ecclesiastical History.
Tyerman and Bennet's Journal.
Ellis's Hawaii.

Ellis's Polynesian Researches.
Missionary Register, 22 vols. 8vo., London.
Harvard's Ceylon.
Watson's Memoirs of Wesley.
Wore's Memoirs of Wesley.
Gillies' Memoirs of Whitefield.
Bower's Lives of the Popes.
Swift's Memoirs of Barr.
Jefferson's Memoirs, by his Widow.
Bennet's Life of Bogue.
MemoiTs of Dr. Waugh.
Morris's Memoirs of Andrew Fuller.
Ryland's Memoirs of Andrew Fuller.
Memoir of Mrs. Judson.
Memoir of Honry Martyn.
United Brethren's Missionary Intelligencer.
English Baptist Magazine.
Evangelical Magazine.
Christian Observer.
Panoplist.

Life of Reginald Heber.
Hober's Travels in India.
Todd's India, 2 vols, quarto, London.
Columbian Star and Latter Day Luminaiy.
Christian Watchman.

Reports of London Missionary Society.

Reports of Wesleyan Missionary Society.

Reports of Baptist Missionary Society.

Reports of Moravian Missionary Society.

Reports of Church Missionary Society.

American Quarterly Register.

Armenian Magazine.

Carnes's Lives of Eminent Missionaries.

Memoirs of Bishop James.

Swan's Letters on Missions.

Malte-Brun's Geography, 3 vols, quarto, Boston.

Lettres Edefianfes.

Swan's Memoirs of Mrs. Patterson.

Campbell's Travels in South Africa.

Latrobe's Journal in South Africa. '

Weal's History of the Puritans.

Watson's Defence of Methodist Missions.

Trial of Smith, the Missionary at Demerara.

Memoirs of Mrs. Matilda Smith.

Dr. Bangs's History of American Methodist Missions.

Crantz's Greenland.

Loskiel's History Brethren's Missions.

Heckewelder's Narrative.

Holmes's History Moravian Church. '

Life of Captain James Wilson.

Williams's Missionary Gazetteer.

Chapin's Missionary Gazetteer.

Pamphlets on the Serampore Missions.

Publications of the American Board of Commissioners

for Foreign Missions.
Publications of the American Baptist Board foi For-

eign Missions.
Publications of the American Episcopal Missionary
Society —Jjc. &c.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE BINDER.

lii

Let the Contents follow the Title-page of each volume, and place the Plates as follows, viz.-

VOL. I.

Frontispiece (The Gospel preached to the Heathen) to face engraved TUle-paee
Awful Death of Mr. Bonike, ■"«'

The Settlement of Gnadenhutten destroyed, and the Missionaries massacred by the

Indians,

' 85

The Place of Professor Carey's Nativity, Paulerspury, Northamptonshire, .... 183
Baptism of Kristno, a Hindoo Convert, 212

Devotees in India sacrificing themselves to the Idol Juggernaut, ...'.'.'* 243

Shipwreck of Felix Carey and Family 271

Drowning a Leper,

Map of Polynesia, '••....'.'. \ ' ^32

The High Priest of Tahiti ceding the District of Matavai to Captain Wilson for the

Missionaries,

' 334

A Prince of Tongataboo strangled as a Sacrifice for his Father's Recovery from Sickness, 395

Perilous Situation of Mr. Veeson at Tongataboo, 397

Rev. J. Campbell crossing the Great River,

View of Calcutta, \

View of Benares, ... ^^

' /^-j^

Mr. Ince showing the Chinese the Folly of their Idolatrous Worship, ... ' ' 519

Part of Regent's Town, a Settlement of liberated Negroes in the Colony of Sierra Leonej 570

Messrs. Marsden and Nicholas passing a Night with the Zealanders 579

Miss Cooke's first Visit to the Schools in India 59,

VOL. II.

Seizure of Dr. Judson, to face engraved Title-page.

Rev. B. Shaw meeting a Hottentot Captain jAg

View of Jerusalem, • • •

Map of Burnmh,

' * * ' 401

INTRODUCTION.

Of a world enveloped in intellectual daZelt TZelef.'^V'^^ '"u'^' evangelization
him, for a season, to exchange the sonrof a JorLrnn.'. .'' *,^" °^J""'« ^'^^^h induced
Father, f the contradict.on f f sinners fudtlej^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^,7 '^ °' '^!, ^''"'^^^^

On these he mused with such evident delight thnt ^Ln T ^^^hsemane and Calvary,
cross seemed swallowed up in the cer attv ofits attrnot- '"'"'T^^'f «»fferings of the
with sacred love, and eyes beaZ-rw thiol . attractions; and with a heart throbbing
will draw all n^ei unto .Cl'' T ^1 t noZroh' 'f ""'""^'' " '' '' ' '^^ "^^^ "P^
him," in that never-to-be-forgotten dr^hen'h "nut ill: ""h''"k'' "^^^ ^^^^ ««^ ^^''^^
appeased the wrath of God, subdued tl.; powers of he 1 nd^ V^u T'^'' "^ *^^'"««>'''"

to all believers ; for then did he » see otlfe travail nJl, . ^"T^ '^^ ^'"^^^n^ of heaven

he arose triumphantly from the Ive ra pr/the^^^ ^"^ ^hen

-and was about to ascend to tbl / ^^ ^ the sting of death in his victorious hand,
were already chanting, "l ft ^^ ^l'^, 3;^"\«^ »^'-' «»"'«V;'^ ^'""'"^ ^^oirs above
doors, and the Kmo o. Glouv sLv7come t - 7h/ ' T-"" '''' ^'^'^ "P' >^« «^«^'-«ting
that, as his last parting injunction he all o lii^ d scX^^^ '^ '^ '-''

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of til ^^' , ? T' ""** ^^'^^'^ «'^ ««"««*.

them to observe all things whatst^er .'^re 1 ^^d'^^^^^^^^^ ""'T ^'^^^'^'"«

oven unto the end of the world " ^'^mmanucu you . and, lo, I am with you alway, ,

ary travels had not yet commenced I^LtZZv^ "^ ^'"'''''^* ' '"^' ^''«"g'' ^h^- '"--on-
character ; the hand of Divine Pov,eLetS^h''"rtT "T '^^''""^ "'^ "^ '"'««-"'^'y
vout men of every nation under 1 eav "n "Ian o ' T'^''' "' '^'''" ""''*t°r«' " do-

with such irresistible power, that about' t^o hn "''7^";'«''^«^«' •>y Poter being attended
constrained to inquire the way of station wo n vl]' 'M"^'^ '""^'"^^^' "^ «'"' «nd

The seed of golpel truth continued tol' « ''""!« .''l "^'^''^^ ^^ ^''^ ^''^^^i^^" -»"'rch.
in« all the attempt! whicrvre ml to i„t nZ/ n'. 7'' "V" "^P"^*'"' -twithstand-
laborswero crowned with such comnVtn ..'''"'-*''*''" ' ""^ ^''^i"" ""wearied

multiplied rapi.lly, n, d'^a T eat roTn ZT' '''"' ''*" "'""^" ""^ ««"^«^ts in Jerusalem
blessing of I eaven ostcd !o vln 1 '^ ^ . "'.° ^"'''' ^''^^ "^'"^'•'"t *« ^he faith." S
Voi..!.^No. J ''''a^ '" "'^''^'^ "P°" ^h« doctrines which they promulgate,!, and the

INTRODUCTION.

power of God was so clearly manifested in the miracles which they wrought, that obstacles
of various kinds gave way before them, and their most implacable enemies found it impossi-
ble efiectually to restrain them. And, though the prince of darkness exulted with malignant
pleasure, over the martyrdom of Stephen, and fanned with vigilance the rising flames of per-
secution, these identical circumstances were overruled, by the wisdom of Jehovah, for the
spread of the gospel, and the cultivation of a desert and barren world. The servants of
Christ were, indeed, " scattered abroad." But what was the result of their dispersion ? Did
they either abjure those tenets the profession of which had exposed them to the most serious dis-
asters, or did they confine within their own bosoms the newly-revealed scheme of redemption ?
Ah, no ! Immovably fixed upon Jesus, as the rock of ages ;— glowing with love to Him, who
had lived as their bright example,— died as their sacrificial substitute,— burst the barriers of
the tomb, as their victorious deliverer, — and ascended into heaven as their eloquent interces-
sor, — they panted to communicate the tidings of mercy to their fellow men, and " went every
where preaching the word," of which they were not ashamed, knowing it to be «' the power
of God unto salvation."

At this memorable period, Philip went to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to the m-
habitants ; who, on hearing the blessed truths which dropped from his lips, and witnessing the
surprising cures which he eflccted in the name of his adorable Master, " gave heed, with one
accord, to the things which were spoken," and with joyfulness of heart enlisted beneath the
banners of the cross. The subsequent interview between this primitive deacon and an offi-
cer of queen Candace was, probably, the first means of introducing the gospel into Ethio-
pia ; and the miraculous conversion of Saul of Tarsus, together with the mission of Peter to
Cornelius, opened " a great door and effectual " for the dissemination of divine truth among
a variety of nations, which had hitherto been sitting in darkness, and in the region of the
shadow of death.

Of the missionary labors of the different apostles we have but very brief accounts, exclu-
sive of those which are either evidently fabulous, or of very questionable authority. The follow-
ing outline, however, which has been selected from the best sources of information, may not be
altogether unacceptable to the reader.

Peter, who had received an express command from the risen Saviour to " feed his sheep,
and tend his lambs," appears to have been eminently ownod and blessed, as an instrument in
the hands of the Holy Ghost, for converting sinners from the error of their ways, and explain-
ing to them the scliome of salvation. For some time, indeed, forgetful of the injunction to
» go into all the world, and preach tiio gospel to every creature,"— unmindful, too, of his own
assertions, that " God would pour out of his Spirit upon alljlesh," and that in Christ, the prom-
ised seed, should " all the kindreds of the earth bo blessed,"— he confined his attention ex-
clusively to his own countrymen, and to the Samaritans ; the latter of whom, though not con-
sidered as Jews, retained the rite of circumcision, and professed a religious observance of the
Mosaic law : but when the Lord had admonished him, by a most remarkable vision, to con-
sider nothing common or unclean which had been divinely cleansed, — and when he perceived
that the unction of the Holy One was poured out upon persons who had no pretensions to
claim affinity with the stock of Israel, his prejudices were effectually removed, and he appears
to have labored with ccjual zeal and success in Greece, Thrace, and Asia Minor ; and to
have extended his travels eastward as far as, or even beyond, Babylon, preaching the glad tid-
ings of redemption both to Jews and Gentiles, and performing such miracles, in the name
of the Lord Jesus, that wc read of instances in which the people " brought forth the sick into

INTRODUCTION,
the streets, and laid them on beds and cnn^h^a ♦». ♦ * i . **

might overshadow some of them "here cl". ""'*.' '^^ '^"^ °^^^*«^ P*««i"g by

^^..c...,andthem..elf--^^

^^^'^^^^l;:^:^^ te„s us that he ..hored

Cilicia PampU, Pisidia, LVcao'nfa Ga^^^^^^^^^ -^^ ^yria. Phc^'nicia, Ara^

Cam, Lysia, Ionia, Lydia, Thracia. Macedonia Th ^^^'^^r.'*' ^^'^^^^ ^roas, Asia
of Cypn,s.Crete,andMelita.orMalt; He Z ' ^ir;^^^^ T' ^'^^''' ^"'^ ^" '^^ i«J-"d
penal city of Rome, and was evidently desirous of ^n '^ '?^"" ^^ *^° ^«^^« i° ^he im-

Spam; but it does not seem that his w Jh, in Zrelct Z ^'^^^^-g^ of salvation into

who was contemporary with this apostle tells us ZHh? "'""^Tu^^' ^'^•"^°^' ^^^^^er,

scattered abroad in Asia Minor, and TreXl^um;^^^^^^^^^ ^™-g the Jews who were
nt Jerusalem, and finally fell a sacrifice to the c u!kv of h' b"t as he resided several years
travels were either frequent or extensive ^ ^''''^' " '" "^^ P'^bable that his

Andrew seems to have chosen Scythia and tho o^-
missionary exertions. He passed along the shore of th^T '°c"*""' ^' '^^ «^«"« °f his
tmm, now called Constantinople; whefe he kbor.H T' ^'"' ^"^ '^''''''^^ toByzan-

Buccess. He afterwards travelled 'through Thrace M^^^^^ ^t 'T"^ ""^ considerable

preachmg repentance and forgiveness of sinTrn '^h ^^' ^^essaly. Achaia, and Epirus :

of Calvary that he might «« abolishTeath,Tnd brin: lif^T;' "'" "'" ^*P^'^^ ^ ^^eVo-
pel. ' Andrew was crucified at Patra,, in AcEaia bf old r ;?""^^^^"ty *« "ght by the gos-
He .s considered, by the modern Greeks, tthrfou'nre'^t.r ^^'^"^ °' '''^' P'«^'"««-

Ph.l.p .s considered as the apostle of Upper Asfn'nV ^ ^°"''''"**"^P°"^^" ^^urch.
Andrew, to have sown the seed of divine truth amonl;. ^"'^ /\«"PP«««d, in conjunction with
ter part of his life, he preached at Hil apo "s „ Ph "!" •"5"'?'*^"ts of Scythia. In the lat-
those blessed truths which he had p 3iaJH IF""' ff '^^'^ ^^ ^^^^'^^ ^"h his blood
was inflicted by hanging him to a p'lZ ^ ^''^ ''^"'^^ faithfulness and affection. Death

Bartholomew, who is suDDosed h
ael. extended his travels as fifr as IndlaTnThlslIdS ^''^''^'^ '''' ^^"^^ ^^"'^ Nathan-
habitants m the revelation of divine truth and „A . ^'' ' ^^"'"^ ^"^ instructed the in-
of the Gospel of St. Matthew. He is alio said' to h ^^''T' P'^^^"*^^ '^'^^ ^^th a copy
the Lesser Asia. '"''^ ''^'^ ^o have preached in Lycaonia, a province of

Thomas, according to the testimonv of T
labored among the Medes, Persians, ParthLriia'l^rirnrr '''"'' ""^ "''''"' missionary, who
gmns ; and travelled as far as the island TaSane whl ' ^"'^"^'^f '^"«' Hyrcanians, and Ma-
Ceylon. When the Portuguese visited IndTar^hJ/' 'T*'''^ *^° *^^^^
certam traditions, and the existence of somel f '"'"'*' "'"^^'y- "^"^y discovered, from
ed there ; and it is asserted thrhe wL ^^X^ monuments, that this apostle had p each
ed that his labors might eventuali; ZTXtl'^ll^^^y.^'^l someBramins, wfofear-

»_f_.,..^. tucii juoiairous superstitions. This

«ii

INTRODUCTION.

took place at Malipur, on the coast of Coromandel. He was carried to Edessa, and there
buried.

Matthew, or Levi, the son of Alpheus, remained for some time in Judea, declaring the
glad tidings of salvation, through his crucified Master ; and there he is said to have written
his Gospel, about the time that the apostles Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom at Rome.
He then went, as a missionary, into Ethiopia, Persia, Parthia, and India ; and, either in the
latter of these places, or in Abyssinia, he was put to death by the enemies of divine revelation.
Simon, who was probably called Zelotes, as having been one of those furious Galileans, who
refused to pay tribute to the Romans, and who was also styled the Canaanite, appears to
have taken a wide range as the field of his missionary labors. He travelled through Egypt,
Cyrene, Asia, Libya, and Mauritania ; and Nicephorus asserts that he introduced the gospel
to Britain, where he preached, and wrought many miracles. Others, however, are of opinion
that he directed his route towards Persia, where he labored till he received the crown of
martyrdom.

John, the beloved disciple, who, from the sublimity of his revelations, and his vindication
of the essential deity of Jesus, was called John the Divine, shared, for some time, with Peter,
in preaching, working miracles, and enduring severe persecution at Jerusalem ; and in Sa-
maria the Holy Ghost was given by imposition of their hands. About A. D. 52, this apos-
tle continued as a pillar of the Christian church in Judea ; and, after that period, he is said
to have carried the word of life to the inhabitants of Parthia and India : but it is more evi-
dent that ho labored for some time in Asia Minor. In the persecution which raged under
Domitian, about A. D. 95, tradition asserts that he was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil ;
but, on coming out unhurt, he was banished to the Isle of Patmos, in the iEgean Sea. Here he
was providentially preserved, and favored with a series of the most important visions. Under
the reign of the emperor Nerva, he was recalled from exile, and returned to Ephesus, where
he continued to preach the gospel of Christ, till, at length, he peacefully breathed out his soul
into the hands of his Redeemer, in the ninety-ninth year of his age.

JuDE, or Judas, not Iscariot, was the son of Cleophas, and brother of James the Less. Ho
commenced his missionary labors in Judea, Galilee, Samaria, and Idumea ; and afterwards
extended his travels to Mesopotamia, Persia, Armenia, and Libya; and, either in the latter
place, or in Persia, the faithfulness of his preaching was rewarded by a cruel death.

James the Less, who, from the exemplary holiness of his life, was surnamed the Jimt, was
an eminent supporter of the church at Jerusalem, where he preached the gospel with un-
wearied perseverance, though he does not seem to have extended his labors beyond the Jew-
ish metropolis. About twenty-four years after our Lord's ascension, the Hebrew rulers,
being violently enraged at the rapid dissemination of evangelic truth, commanded this apos-
tle, then in the ninety-sixth year of his age, to ascend one of the galleries of the temple, and
proclaim to the people that they had deceived themselves in supposing Jesus of Nazareth to
have been the promised Messiah. Fired with holy indignation at these orders, and resolving
to devote the last remains of life and strength to the honor of the Saviour, and the benefit of
mankind, the venerable saint ascended the eminence, and, with a loud voice, asserted that the
crucified son of Mary was the incarnate God, and that he would, in the fulness of time, appear
in the clouds of heaven, as the great Judge of quick and dead. Exasperated by this declara-
tion, the Pharisees threw him headlong over the battlement, and their sanguinary associates
beat out his brains with a fuller's club, whilst he was in the act of praying for his inhuman
murderers.

• ^1

MWRODUCnON.

xiii

and Satan in the heathen world. Thf dT^in oJ .1!^^7k/'"^ ^"'^ the strong-holds of sin
ly rapid, and the united opposition of LtfTorefuK! ^f^' ^P^'"''' *° ^^^« ^een extreme-
learning, and imperial influence feH nklTh P'^^'J"'^'^? '/dolatrous superstitions, philosophic

trines otthe crosCv^W h, thr;h delitereS vvTh T "1 T'*?'''' "^"' ''^''^'^ *^^««« ^oc
panied by the inv/ncible^oSth^riJ Spiri! "*™°«* «-P'-*y. -ere invariably accom-

Christian church was planted i^^ this island S f''"^"f f * '« '^^.'^'^edly of opinion, that a
states that some of them had " n^^^^^^^^^^ '""" "['^^ 'P,^^^>^«= ^ ^usebius distinctly

Theodoret, another lea ned eccTeTasticaTht^^^^^^^^^ '^" BrMMe. :» and

whom " the fishermen, publican and teitrTr^'^'T"' l^" ^J"''"' ^'"'^"^ ^'^^ °^t'°"«
brace the religion of tiie crucified Jesus ' '' ^" ''^''' '^''^' ^"^ '"^^^^^ to em-

th ':;t;\he^:^;:ur B^ ^^ ^^^^ -—able revolt and over-

then began to be successfully puS;frtht;ount^ "'ird tb '" "'"^^^"' *'^^ ^^« ^«^P^»
is supported by those ancient Cambrkn ecord'cXd^hrr^-r "^^" ^^^^^^^^t

the celebrated Caractacus, who after^ wnrl f f '' ^" '^^''' '^ '« ^^^^^d, that

together with his father Llnnl and tie wLl r',^"""'' ^'? ^'''"^^'^ '""'^^ ^^'««»«' --«'
year 53, where they remafnTd" ^ aterl^o'^^^^^^^^^^ P"^°"^'^ ^^ ^-«' ^^^ ^^e

hist:::;;,rc:m:;rsi'^^^^^^^^^^ r "~' ^^^^^ -^--^

they were permitted to return, ^nd were thu^Srd ^^h^ At the expiration of seven years
ducing the gospel into their own countrv if ^ ^ T u ^'^"''''^^'^ opportunity of intro-
and the other two gentiles wih whom th.v. n "^ ''"* '^V^'"' Christians, one an Israelite,
them from Rome,Ld berme iltZe^^^^^^^^^^ accompanied

fro. their anc.nt^uperstUioTs,'rdTsrcli. ^ r^eT n^'^;;: l^lTrifiri ''''^ "'""^

c> i ^d r.s-^-= -~ n£S?^?- - -

sentod as the grandfather of kinw T „n;„. ,.,i, j J^riusn samts. Ihat son isrepre-

Christianity in Siluria, the «v ^ ir; ."' ' ^7'* '-'"^^^"^ ^^' ^^'^ P^<>"^«tioi of

seems to live beeZdlendarofhrr-^ '■''''" *^' '"''^'"''^ '^'"^ ^^^^"'

to have bestowed her Imnd on a ^^ i^ cSvn Y"' ,"" ''"^'^'^ "'' Caractacus. is said

known by the nan.e of Old Sarum ; S Ck d.a in'eof h 7' '^'''' ""^^ ''^'"^^' '« ->-
the wifeofaRon.an senator named Pudens' ""^ ^""^ '"''^''^ >« supposed to have become

foundations which had been laid bv thol in !, I ^"P«'-«tructure of the churches on the •

Thoy also imitated tti example fndSriSn'^^ ^"T^ servants of the Most High.

believers ; and. quitting tSenwn Toum v "Inf f T''"""'.^'^ ^°°^' "'"""^ ^''« necessitous

of the Rcdeem^rLamf.anTtoZlockritrsof ? •" T' ''"'^' ^" ^P^^^^^'^^ '^'^^
ishing for lack of knowled J' A mnn„ .K f J"^ revelation to those who were » per-

enabled to organiL a ChhsHan t7J^^ '"'^ "°^ ^"""'"'^^'^ missionaries, who, on being

Vou I.-NO.T 3 ''''^ '" °"" ""^•'^"' immediately hastened to another, on thf

xhr

INTRODUCTION.

same errand of mercy, we recognize the names of Andronicus, Aristarchus, Crescens, Marcus,
Sylvanus, and Trophimus ; and to these were afterwards added Pantajnus, who travelled into
India, and Irenaeus and Pothinus, who came from Smyrna, and settled themselves in France

To show what brilliant success had attended the preaching of gospel truth, even at this
early period, we need only refer to the remarks of various ancient writers on this subject
Pliny, in writing to the emperor Trajan, about the year 106, expressly says, " The number of
culprits (as he calls the Christians) is become so great as to call for serious consultation ; the
contagion of their superstition having spread not only through cities, but even in villages and
the country." Tertulliati, speaking of the extension of the gospel, about ninety years after-
ward, numbers among those who had previously embraced it, the Dacians, Germans, Scy-
thians, and Sarmatians, together with many of the Getuli, great numbers of the Moors, the
utmost bounds of Spain, various nations of Gaul, and those parts of Britain which were inac-
cessible to the Roman arms. And Arnobius demands, " Is not this a powerful argument for
our faith, that, in so short a time, the sacraments of Christ are diffused over the world ?
that orators, rhetoricians, lawyers, physicians, and philosophers, now love our religion, desl
pismg those things in which they previously trusted? that servants endure cruelty from their
masters, wives submit to be separated from their husbands, and children are content to be dis-
inherited by their parents, rather than abandon the Christian religion ?"

Nor was it merely the diffusion of new principles, or a warm attachment to a new religion
which now claimed the attention of mankind ; but the heavenly purity of those principles
formed a striking contrast with the superstitions of the heathen, and the conduct of the wor-
shippers of Jesus shone forth with refulgent brightness amidst the darkness of pagan vice
Hence Athenagoras, who, toward the end of this century, wrote an apology for the Christian
religion, says, " The Christians made small account of the present life, but were intent only on
contemplating God, and the divine Word who is from him ; what union the Son has with the
Father ; what communion the Father has with the Son ; what the Spirit is ; and what are the
union and distinction subsisting between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit » And the
learned Bardasones of Mesopotamia, in alluding to the influence of the gospel upon the lives
of Its professors, says, "In Parthia polygamy is allowed and practised ; but the Christians of that
country practise it not. In Persia the same may be said with regard to incest. And ,n Bactria
and Gaul, ■^vhere the rites of matrimony are defiled with impunity, the Christians act not thus.
In fact, wherever they reside, their practice triumphs over the worst of customs and the
worst of laws."

The following anecdote of an event, said to have occurred in the year 1G7, is too remarka-
ble m Itself and has been too respectably attested, to be passed over in silence :_" Marcus
Antoninus, being engaged m a war with the Quadi, a people inhabiting those parts of Germany
which are now styled Austria and Bavaria, was exposed to imminent danger, from the extreme heat
of the weather and the want of water for the army. At this juncture, the emperor was inform-
ed, by oneof his officers, that the Melytcnian legion was entirely composed of Christians, who
were accustomed to obtain whatever they desired by their prayers. Antoninus immediately
commanded that they should call upon their God for assistance; and, in obedience to his injunc-
lon, they fell upon their knees, and earnestly besought the Lord to send them rain. Scarcely had
they preferred this solemn and united request, when the sky was suddenly overspread with
clouds, and such a terrific storm of thunder and lightning burst upon their enemies, that they
were panic struck and completely routed ; whilst a copious shower, descending upon the impe-
rial troops, afforded them ample refreshment, though, a few minutes before, they were perish-

INTRODUCnON.

corroborated, a, to the .ubstance of the fact 61"°™,!^!^ ' . "^"'"^^ ''' ^"'^''i'"' •»<>

we^aya.k „ith the late piou, and .eneLw/ZretJ^^^^^^^^^

" Why should it be thought incredihl*. hv „,« i ^^^^^7 °' *"e London Missionary Society

prayer, and sent rain at his eqTes should on"" ?"«*'^°«'/*^^* ^he God who heard El^
plication of a whole legion of Slianslln imthr^r'^'I' occasion, listen to theiup!
"^wlZthrdol^" ^";f- ^"^ thT^^lJ^fSLl^^"'^""' " ^^« glory Of Chrift,

Whilst the hvesanTd^p^rrfrr^^^^^^^^^

fects of those doctrines,_and whilst God him llf "^ . / •""' ^"^'" ""'^ ''«"«fi<^i^i ef-
the highest honor upon faith in the promise 3 DoweroH«''^"'' '"''''''' ^^"^hsafed to put
ing the HolyScriptures occupied tL hrrtsa„drnd, o tl' '"T''^' ^'''''''^'^ ^^^'-^^^^t-
of the people'.' to our adorable Shiloh A.Z ""/' '^*^° P^^^ed for the « gathering

understood, at this time, than any o ht, ^tnJZ'::Tni^ ''' T'""" "^^ >"-« S"t 1^
with equal zeal and diligence, and that whLh wHyied tl^e/.T ' "' ''""^^ were multiplied
cidedly the best. The Syriac, Ethiopian and E^vnt ni ' ''^'■''°" '"^« considered de-

of time but their dates cannot now bTa^celtXrr""' '^^^^^^ ^*"^^'-* ^^-^ance
ever, which they contained were so now^rft n ? P^f >«ion. The blessed truths, how-

that, wherever they were circuTted! tT^ inirtke '\T' '^ ^°' *^^ "^'^ Gh-t.
transformed the moral desert into a garden „„?■?' I ''^'"'^"°"« ^"d fertilizing stream
praise to the once crucified, but iow S n a;d hthte"'^^^^ H T"^ --"-"l-ting t^ribute of
In the third century, the DrocrrP,« J ru . r^ exalted. Saviour.

245, the emperor pl^,tToTh:Sr^^^^

enced by the spirit of the gospel, wasTndLed to make ^ r'^'^'"'^^' ^"'^ ^"^ ""^^ -««-
openly to patronize its friends and adherents Abo^Jh? ^ "''''' ""^ '^' "^^ ^^"gion, and
was greatly extended both in FranceTnd Ger nanT AnT^^^ "'V'^' "^*^* of divine truth
seemed to decline both among pastors and nrnf ^' • ^"^'/t'^ough the power of religion

o barbarians, became a scene^Crab^Tonrion •) T^ '■ T' ^'''' ''^"^ ''^ '"'-d" '
overruled events, that the invaders, by carrvin. Z '^/^.^'^^om and power of God so
forced these persons to become nii^ar Tc' nZrv t"o *; """ """' ^'^"^^'^ ^-hops'

n.n"=G:::;,^^^^^

durmg which time he had reigned in Gaufh J r^ 11' ^"^'^tthe expiration of six years
anny of Maxentms, who had^Ien docl td eZ^^^^^^^^ ^ P-iod to tirtyr.'

most intolerable manner. With tbi. Z ''"'P.'''^'^ "^ ^^ome, and had there acted in th«

thatthoidol.ofhi.sforcfathclco aSrnt':;^"' '''''\ ^ ^^"^'^^'«" "Pon 1 ni ^d
prayer to Jehovah, and his petitions lere 'rrcioXT"' \' ^i'^«^^««d'»--lf in fervent
relates, that, whilst he was on his march a 1^ ""r ^ answered. Eusebius, his biographer
ton.hnient of the army, with this i^cW ti^ T„' g;^^^^^^^^^^ '" ^'^ '-vens. to'thfas:

1 n, ,n ureck. By this overcome. And theaunic his-

XTl

INTRODUCTION.

™

mi ■ i

torian adds, that on the following night, as the emperor was musing on this remarkable cir-
cumstance, our Lord appeared to him with the same figure of a cross, commanding him to
use that symbol as his military ensign.

How far this story may be correctly stated, is certainly open to opinion. Instead of an
actual vision, the whole might probably have been a dream ; but, in either case, it is certain
that, from the time to which we have alluded, the banner of the cross waved over Constantine's
camp, and he not only professed to believe in Jesus, but studied the scriptures with apparent
seriousness and attention, and publicly countenanced the ministers of divine truth.

Having obtained a decisive victory over Maxentius, and made himself master of Rome,
Copstantme placed a spear, formed so as to resemble a cross, in the hand of the statue erect-
ed for him in that city. He also built several churches for the Christians, patronized the
meetings of their bishops, and extended his benevolence to their poor members. He after-
wards took up arms against his colleague, Licinius, who reigned in the east, with pagan prin-
ciples and a persecuting spirit. Licinius was content to put the truth or falsehood of the new
religion on the event of the war, and the result was, that he lost both his dignity and his life.
The external splendor of the church was augmented during the remainder of Constantine's
reign, but her peace was disturbed by the Arian heresy, which came in like an overwhelming
flood ; and, whilst many were carried away by that awful delusion, the friends .of genuine
truth were almost exclusively employed in defending the faith once delivered to the saints.
It is pleasing, however, to relate, that, during this century, the gospel still continued to spread
among the nations of the earth ; and some interesting proofs of this important fact will be
found in the following particulars.

Meropius, a Tyrian philosopher, wishing to explore the interior of Abyssinia, travelled in-
to that country with two young lads who umlcrKtood the Greek language. On their arrival at a
certain place, Meropius was attacked and murdered by the natives ; but the boys, whose names
were Frunicntius and /Edcsiua, wore presented to flio king, who not only spared their lives,
but took them under his immediate jjatroiiago and protection. On the king's death, Frunicntius
was made prime minister, and both the superintendence of the government and the education
of the young prince were committed to him and his relative by the queen downger. Re-
solved to improve the advantage of so exalted u situation for the extension of gospel
truth, the premier inquired of some Roman merchants whether they had met with any
Christians in Abyssinia ; and, having discovered some, he erected a church for their accom-
modation, encouragi'd them to celebratt* their religious rites, and had soon the satisfaction of
perceiving some of the natives flock to the newly-(>rected standard of the Redeemer. On the
king's assuming the reins -of government, Frumenfius solicited permission to return to his
■ own country ; and, on his arrival at Alexandria, he related his adventures to Atharuisius, the
bishop of that city, suggesting the neccissity of sending out some faithful missionary, and stat-
ing the (.robahility of success with which such an attempt might be crowned. Alter mature
deliberation, Athannsiussaid that none was so fit for th<< office as him with whom fh<> propos'M
originated. Frumentius was, therefore, njtpointed the first bishop of the Axumi ; and appears
to have labored for the conversion of souls with unremitting zeal and vigilance in the country
to which he had been so singularly led, and in which he had been providentially preserved
and exalted, for the most important |)urftose.

In thosauH! century, the conver-sion of the Iberians, a people honleriuh "" the Black Sea,
was effected in a very remarkable manner. TheHc ancestors of tin; modern Russians had, in
one of their predatory excursions, taken captive a female Christian of most exemplary piety,

INTRODUCTION.

xtB

Whose holy deportment seemed to excite the respect of these barbarians, and whose cures, in
certam cases and m evidept answer to her prayers, appeared to them completely miraculous
On one occasion, a child belonging to the king was sent, according to the cSstom'of he coun-'

Wir l.'ir ^°™^;.^ho professed the healing art, to be cured of a distemper; but all
then- skill was exerted in vam, and the infant was at length taken to the ChristL captive
w^n'l H h''" 7°gf"»g 'anything to herself, expressed her confidence that the Lord Jesus
who had healed such multitudes, would honor hor faith in him on this occasion. She accord'
mgly presented her supplications to the Lord, and the child was restored. For this important
service, and for the subsequent recovery of the queen herself, through the instrumentalky
of ths Christian's prayers, the king sent her some costly presents ; but she modestly de-

tt GoJ :iTZZToZT ^^ ^^^'' ^-^- "P- ^- -"'<l be the acknowledgmeit of

Z . „„,t, I w™?. ■""[•'"'="•" ■" —ling ".0 Chri,da„ f„i„;, p„„io„|„Hy L" ng
■JIU, „ml„ g |,t milida of llioir fellow men, .1 an ago and under circumstanros ivlion tliov

Z '"'y '••""' ""<"' O"!""*-"' 1° SO fortK into ,he field of acti.o labor. Orre'na kable

in, anco of ,l,« occur, u, ,l,„ conduct of Abraham .ho ascetic, „l,„, for about LlfaTentury
had lived in conformity with the strictest monastic rules • >„hj.. „ . contury,

'"■"i- ';»;,';- -if ™"«-..™ ,h„ idoZrrint: jt t an^trv r=T^^ ;r

in wlucii he Holemniy Hiippl.cuted for the conversion of tho n„„„n. • i *^'^«ctcu a clu rcli,
proceeded to overturn some of thoir altarT tZhL n/l^ ' ami burn uig w.th zeal, ho
wa.s driven from thoir torritorie.,. l4 ! aston Z^^^^^^^ resentment, and ho

and on various occasions exhorted then to C^^tSi^^^^^^^^^^ '"'r!'""'!'

he now encountered very vere treat.uont lo rrZ 1 T ^"'^ ' •""' '''^"^'''

l^r';h::tr:?r.,::':;-!:s:E:r7„rhi;:i;r7^

p- 'i

INTRODUCTION.

Thejifth century affords but few details relative to the cause of missions. St. Patrick, as
he ,s called, however, now visited Ireland with the anxious wish of proving inslru.
mental in the conversion of its. barbarous natives, among whom he.had formerly passed sever-
al years m captivity; and notwithstanding the discouragement which attended his first exer-
tions, he persevered with unshaken fortitude and resolution in his work, till he had erected a
great number of churches, and instructed many of the Irish in the use of letters, as well as in
the truths of the gospel. I or these reasons he is considered as the apostle of Ireland ; but the
vicinity of Glasgow, in Scotland, claims the honor of his birth.

In the same century, the conversion of the southern or lowland Picts is said to have been ef-
fected through the instrumentality of a British bishop named Ninias ; and though they were soon
afterward, reduced by the northern Picts, their heathen conquerors permitted them to retain
the profession of Christianity. The baptism of Clovis, king of the Franks, took place about
the year 496; and it has been justly remarked, that, "notwithstanding he was an ungodly
man he became an instrument, in the hand of an overruling Providence, to promote a cause
of which ho knew not the value." Through the influence of his queen, Clotilda, who was a
zealous Christian, he was induced to profess the faith of the gospel, and he was baptized at
lihcuus, together with his sister and three thousand of his troops ;_a circumstance which
proved prelusive to many signal cflocts in Europe.

In the sixth century, the Roman pontiff, Gregory the Great, sent a number of Benedictine
monks as missionaries into Britain, under the superintendence of Augustine; and a variety
of circumstances proved favorable to their reception. Ethell.crt, king of Kent, the most con-
Bidcrab c ol the Anglo-Saxon princes among whom the inland was, at this time, divided, had
nmrricd Bertha, a pious descendant of Clovi.., and by her inlluonce he was persuaded to as-
sign Augustine and his companions a habitation in the Isle of Tliaiict. He also consented to
hear tlicm preach, and, after receiving the rite of baptism, he gradually introduced the pro-
lession of Christianity among his subjects.

Gregory it seems, had for many years felt extremely anxious that a mission should be sent
to Lnglami and the circumstance which gave rise to his anxiety on that subject has been thua
related :— Walking one day in the market-place, wlion ho was only a presbyter, he observed
some remarkably fine youths, who wore bound with cords, and .'xpusrd to be sold as slaves.
Mruck with their appearance, he stopped an<l asked whence they came ; and on being told
they were natives ol Britain, he inquired whether the inhabitants of that island were pagans or
Uir.stians. Hearing that they were pagans, he heaved a deep sigh, and cxclaimer;-'' Alas!
does the prince of darkness possess such countenances? and are forms so beautiful destitute
of .. vine grace ?" " What," said he, » is the name of the nation?" It was answere.l, » .l^^r//,"
or England. " In truth," said he, " they have nngrlic faces ; it is a pity thc-y should not live
hereafter with angels ! From what part of the island do they come ?" " From Ihira, or Nor-
thumberland. " Then let them be <lelivered /> ira, (i. e. from the wratl. of Go,l,) and called
to the mercy of Christ. What is the name of their king ?" " /•;//,/." "Then," said he,
(continuing to play on the name,) " lot us teach them to sing AlhUijah:'

Charme.l with the success of his first missionaries, Gregory sent over others on the same
piouH errand: and, through their instrumentality, many are said to have been converted to
the hnth ol the gospel. This opening prospect, however, was Hn.,r, and sadiv cLnKlrd, by
the intemperate and impolitic zeal which Augustine (who had I.een con.titufd archl.ishop
Ol the English nation) displayed to c;stubliMh a complete uniformity in customs and discipline.
Ihis was naturally opposed by those prelates and monks in \Vales, who were the successors

INTRODUCTION.

^^^^^^^^ or.e3eeorRo.e. Violet

bnans whose only crime consisted in Their cSntinn^"'"'' ' ^°*^ ^^e unfortunate Cam-

w " '' -'- - ^--- or their -ier raTrsr i^s:^^^^^^^^^ s
p.o w ^j^'^jz^^ tt? i.rar' ^^^" ^^^ — ^- -•^ -e^ «.

attention the accounts which have bengiTero Them bv t "''''" °'/"^'' ^« ^-^^^ with
mg ages For by these accounts it appf^L that the co-'^ ''^"''" *'''' '"*^ ^''^ '"^*="^*^-
oftheir former impiety, 8"perstition,Tnd fi emiousne^^^^^^^^^

a mere outward and nominal profession, the/inS^^ and that, attached to Christ by
and. the authority of his gospel bv thp^ ">«>:'>» effect, renounced the purity of his doctrine

ntes andinstitutfons whifhTey 1 nTed f r^Jr'!?"' T "P^'^'"'°'^ ^^ ^'"^-s
of this century, the conversion of these undviH, 7 • "^^'^ '' *° ^« g'^^n to the writers

tVuV^'T'"''^''' -** «--^- wIchX h:^^^^^^^^^^ '''"^"'^"•*^ "^« principal; ef!

ts behalf But the conduct of the converted nn "'" ^°'P^' ^^''^ ^^^^led to work in

these testimonies ; for certainly, if such „, Laeles hT^ u '"^^''"* ^^ '"^^''^ate the force o?
would have been more suitable to the'^rofesln /'? ^""^^S*** '^'«°"g ^hem, their lies
the doctrines and laws of the gospe mTre^s^rdZ' '", '^''" ."Attachment and oiedieLe 'o
been. Besules, in abandoning their rcient In ? • "'''''"P'^^y ^han they appear to have
inore mfluenced by the examplf and auTori^! of th" "'' ''\ ^''''''' P"^" '' them were
the power of a rational conviction ^d L ? r P""*'^' ^*''^" ^^ ^'^r*^^ of argumenT or
wh.ch many of the first ChristLTmi.ionai^^^^^^^^^ ''^ wretched rn„:' Tn

taken, we shall perceive that they wanted not m„ '^^ '°'^'"" '^'^ ^^ey had under"

taug t, and the discipline they r/coXnded for thT'""'' ? '"'^^^^^ ''''' doctrines they
pcope that was difficult to be perforn.ed or that laid anv'''""l T^'""^ ""^'^''^ '^"^-°"'
pet tcs and pass,o„s. The principal iniuncl s tli ^ •"^^'kable restraint upon their ap-
ha hey should get by hea/t certain sT.rars of ^, 'T''"^ "P"" '^''^^^'^^ proselytes were
and the sa.nts the same religious servlr w "h h " - '^^ P^^ *« ^he images of ChrS
t e gods Nor were they at all delil ^oT " pubL i'" f" "'^ ^""^^^^ ^« *'- statues o
the.r credit ; for they deemed it lawful and Pv.n l '''"'"""S *''« »"««"« "f establishing

eoMve multitude, by representing as p;o ^/u^^^^^^^ ^° '^^^'^ -> 'gnorant and iS

from the most authentic records of the' e times .^' ''"' ""''' "''^''^y ""^ural, as we learn
It was in this century that Colomh nr r i ' .

tam.ng the charge of several other ins itu. ns^^^^^ thirty years, beside re

^u, app.nesH of baptizing the Pictisl/ ^e.^ "n 'ir''"' ^"??''"' '" '"■'"'"'• ^oiomb haj
h.s character an.l p.-rsor. i„ ,„eh high est maX^ Zl ^ ""«''^'''''"8 ^-^'^ ""«! liritonshelci
refer to h„n as ,h„ f.„a| »„ ,1^, i„ ,f^, ^, X^' '? 7^ "" ""^""""o" thing for them o
pern, talent., an.l numeroul »ccon. ." C " imi^'^f^'-- «'>oyal La.^^:
•» 'H l,o„efK.e„co ; unmoved by in.iri..s an I.:.. f '" '" '"' ^^"fions and unbonn le,l

o " r>tjUuiuc3, and win-

INTRODUCTION.

II '

ning the affections, of the most violent enemies of the gospel : he was also fervent and unre-
mitting in devotional exercises, and he expired in the act of transcribing the Holy Scriptures.
The following little anecdote of this extraordinary person places his character in a striking
and affecting contrast with that of the ferocious age and country in which he lived. A
Highland chief having earnestly requested him to pronounce a blessing on his weapons, the
venerable missionary looked up to heaven, and said, " God grant that they may never shed the
blood of man or beast !" His disciples were remarkable for the exemplary holiness of their
lives, and, through the medium of their missionary labors, the northern Picts, the Anglo-Sax-
ons of Mercia and Northumberland, and several of the northern nations of Europe, were
converted, at least, to the name and profession of Christianity.

To the sixth century has also been referred the conversion of the Abasgi, a people of
Scythia; and the Heruli, who resided on the banks of the Danube ; together with that of
Zathus, a prince of the Colchians ; and Almundurus, a prince of the Saracens.

Early in the seventh century, the six Anglo-Saxon kings of the heptarchy, who had hitherto re-
mained under the darkness of their ancient superstition, were induced, partly by the earnest
entreaties of the Roman missionaries, and partly by the persuasions of their fair consorts, to
enter the pale of the church. Paulinus was now appointed bishop of York, and as Christianity
had obtained admission to the abodes of royalty, the number of its adherents incrensed with
great rapidity in all parts of tiie island.

The fire which Augustine's intemperate zeal had kindled was not yet extinguished ; but,
whilst wo sigh over the fact that British ministers should iiavc been stigmatized and treated as
schismatics, merely because they could not consent to submit to the domination of Rome, and
that the peace of the church at home should have been disturbed by an idle quarrel about the
time of keeping Easter,— it is pleasing to record, that some pious individuals were occupied
in the more important business of going forth from the shores of England, Scotland, and Ire-
land, to carry the news of salvation to their neighbors. Among the most famous of these we
may notice VVillebrod, an Anglo-Saxon, and eleven of iiis countrymen, who cross(>d over into
Batavia, for the express purpose of converting the Fricslandcrs to the Christian faith. Hence,
in the year 692, they went info Fosteland, which most writers consider to have been the
same with Helij^M)land ; but being cruelly treated there by Radbod, king of the Frioslanders, who
put one of the missionaries to death, they departed for Cimbria and the neighboring parts of
Denmark. The next year, however, they returned to Fricsland, and proved much more suc-
cessful than they had formerly been, in propagating the knowledge of divine truth. Wille-
brod was ordained archbishop of Wilteburgh, now called Utrecht, and died au.ong the Bata-
vians at an advanced age ; whilst his associates continued to spread the rays of divine light
among the VVestphalians, and the contiguous nations.

Some of the disciples of Colomb appear to have been equally zealous and succrssful at this
period. One of these, named Aidan, is said to have been a bright example of godliness. Ho
made the Scriptures his daily study ; exerted himself on all occasions for the conversion of
infidels and (lie edification of believers ; was remarkably liberal to the poor ; an.l altogether
exhibited a character which would have done honor to tiie purest ages of the Christian church.
Oswald, a British prince, who had been educated and baptized in Scotland, sent for this inde-
fatigable missionary to promote the cause of religion in the north of Britain, and acted per-
sonally as iiis interpreter, Aidan having but an imperfect acquaintance with the English lan-
gua^^e. Other ministers were also invited from I-colm-kil, and several churches appear to have
boon planted by their instrumentality.

INTRODUCTION.

about Wurt8b«rgh. A pagan dukerm.^™hr« *"'T"'V ""^ """'''"«' »' the inMeb
baptized ; b„. kL„ h.v';af?.,Sir"pl^hrm II^ ' '""'""'^ ?' '""'• "■" •"•

mi;?i'.riix «;:,&t±^ r„7bt,l'^'"°:::. ?"" "« ™'-™'-'e»ce of .

on record. ^ ^ °*™^' °^ '^"''''''^ ^»«hops and other ministers are still left

acrimony of their di;putes:::SX"r;ari^^^^^^^^^ ''^" P^^--" '^^ * '«

a severe scourge. This extraordinary^ha^: ter v^Ls a nat^'o of J'"'''"'""^ *''™ '** P^*^^^
Fehx; and, though meanly descended; illiterate anZ tn^Pn. '''^' * '^"y '" ^'^'^'^

a fine countenance, ready elocution, deep cTntnvanc^ '"d.gent circumstances, he possessed
perseverance. In the early part of his life he haTZ^' ""'^f ""^"^, T'''^'^ ^"'^ unwearied
factor ; and in this capacity he h^d occasi'on to tr^v!? T^^""^"^ ^J ^'' ""''"' ^''"^^'^b, as a
was afterwards taken into the sprvforf , '"*"* ^^"^' Palestine and Egypt. He

Christmnity, as professed in the countries which hP Ctr„ a ^l'^""'^^ to agree,

the gross errors of Arius, or wretchedly minS with h ^r''"*^' ""^ ^"''"•" ^^'^^^^^ with
Arabia abounded with Jews, wirhad LT th tllr ' t 7 «»Per«titions ,-Egypt and
other inhabitants were pagans Mahomet h ™, '^! '^"'"^ ^^ Persecution ;-a„d the

mind.formedtherosJurofof seSuna^r"^r - u" '''''' circumstances in his

of paganism, Judaism and Ch istiaS mi.h.T Trl f''**' '''"« " ^^'"P'^^^ compound
classes which he had cont^p at^d ^^C^^m„ T '"' '" '' T'"^*'^*^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ '-««
the most sensual gratificatioZi, tinTo nn^ ? """ '' P"''«"''^'-'y '^^ it would allow of

In the prosecutln of this d "i^^h; w„« ZT^ t '""r" "' f'^''"'^' P'^'^^"'*'^ '» ^^^^nity.
ter of whom was well quailed ?of«..nn7 T ^^ V"'" ""^ "" '"""^'^'^^^^ "'on^, the lat-

and neighbors ; and in a hort Ze ho h.ln^ 7 ^ " ■ •'Pr'"'" ''"'^^^'^y '*"'*^"« '»« f"«nd8

■ — ' ^ i ■ •■••' --^ trrcS

xxu

INTRODUCTION.

li'i

their attempts had proved ineffectual, God had now sent his last and greatest prophet, with
a more ample commission than either Moses or Christ had been entrusted with. He added
that he was expressly commanded not only to promulgate the divine laws, but to subdue, by
force of arms, all who should refuse to believe or obey them ; and for the attainment of this
object he was to establish a kingdom, which should propagate the revealed will of the Most
High through all nations ; that God had decreed utter ruin and destruction to those who should
in any way oppose his prophet's success ; but to all his faithful friends and adherents he had
promised the spoils of the earth, and a paradise abounding with al! sensual enjoyments. He
also artfully represented it as the irnjvocable purpose of Heaven, that those who perished
in fighting his battles, or otherwise piopagating his doctrines, would enjoy an extraordinary
share of honor and pleasure in the mansions prepared for the reception of their disembodied
spirits.

These tenets, together with a number of pretended visions, having been formed into a book
called the Alcoran, the new religion was openly published and promptly received by great num-
bers of the impostor's countrymen. In Mecca, however, where his person was familiar to
the inhabitants, his bold assertions procured him but little credit, and the leading men of the
city formed a plan to cut him off. Mahomet, however, obtained intelligence of their design,
and fled to Medina, whc ro he was received with open arms by a people already dazzled and
deluded by the fame of his doctrines and protended miracles. From this time the Mahom-
etans reckon all events, the era being called in Arabic hegira, or " the flight." This took
place A. D. 622.

By the assistance of the inhabitants of Medina, and by the success which crowned his
artful representations and addresses, ho gradually brought over the mass of his countrymen
to a belief in, or, at least, to an acquiescence with, his doctrines. And the rapid propaga-
tion of his system among the Arabians, was a powerful incentive to its adoption by the inhabi-
tants of Egypt and the East, who were previously disposed for its reception. Pagans, Jews,
and Arians, all abandoned their former professions, and enlisted beneath the banner of the
crescent, which was used as a symbol of the Mahometan faith. In short, tho contagion spread,
like an overwhelming flood, through all parts of Arabia, Syria, Egypt and Persia ; and Ma-
homet, from an obscure individual, became the most powerful monarch of his age. At his
death, which occurred A. D. 631, he leff, two branches of his race, both of whom were consid-
ered as almost divine by their respective subjects. These were the caliphs of Persia and
Egyi)t; the former of whom turned their arms to the west, and subjjigated many countries
in that direction ; whilst the latter directed their attention towards Europe, and, under the
name of Saracens or Moors, reducctl a considerable part of Spain, France, Italy, and
the islands of the Mediterranean. Thus did the successors of the Arabian impostor extend
their religion and their conquests in Asia, Africa and Europe ; and immense numbers of the
human race are still under the power of Mahometan delusion. The Turkish empire, how-
ever, is evidently hastening to its fall ; and it is our happiness to know that the absurdities of
the Alcoran must eventually vanish before the gospel of Christ, Hke the mists of the morning
before the beams of the rising sun.

At the commencement of the fiir/ith century, when ■' considerable part of Germany
was buried in the darkness of pagan superstifion, Winfrid, a Bcn(<]iftino monk, born in
England of illustrious parents, and afterwards known by the name of ".oiiifnco, attended by
two companions, went over into Kriosland, to water the churches wis; »i Willibrod had plant-
ed. Ilo afterwarJa removed to Do v aria and Thuringia ; and, thr; iMiout the greater part of

INTRODUCTION.

He«e even to the frontiers of Saxony, he published the revealed will of God • and in th. v.
719, Gregory the Second made him bishop of the new German rhnrlhl i V ^® ^^"^

attacked and Lied, wTth the XleofTAT *'°°'^""'' '° '^^ P'*'"« of Dockum, he was

Of ferocious pagans', Irtd luhti d^^^^^^^^^^^ ThTGeVlfSS^^.^^'^^"!' '' ^ ''^^
sidered Boniface as the apostle of their cnLvZ a ? " Christians, who had con-

the pagans, whose lives Ze onlv soa L T .7' '"'''^^'^'fj^^^d an army, and conquered
in the truths of ChristtanTt^ ^ ^ consequence of their submitting to be instructed

mis':;:!;S rG^ma^nrS^^^^^^^^^ among those who labored as

Saxons, whilst they were aacrito^rth"; f^^ '""TT ^'^'''' "° ^''""^^y ^^ ^he

turn from such vanfties, and trl"! ^J^^ ^"t^J^: ^"' '"" ^^'^'^^'^ *^^™ *«
aters to such a degree, that the zealous mis fonart wou^n, nK ki'T ^P^-'ated the idol-
the spot, had it not been for the remonstrares oflC"^ Tr '^ ''^"^ ^"«" immolated on
that an ambassador of Heaven ought not to be LiT^t f'^' ""™^'* ^"^°' ^^o contended
from the king of some neighboring natioL L efuvv^ w^^^^^^ '' ^« ^^^^ --«

out molestation, and he continued an acUve anf ullJunaborr T' P'™'"'' '° ^^^'^^ ^^^h-
Villehad, a native of NorthumberlLd I al^o ^h t ^^ ! " ^'""""^ *'" ^'^^^^th.

the Saxons; whose ferociourstrUs ^c^^^^^^^^^^

minated by his instructions, and oLrwhnm^K '.'"''''""''' ^'^^^^ "''"^^ ^^^e illu-

instrumentality. He became bishop of Brinn' ''. r^f- I''' '*'^"^"y ^^^^^ ^h^^^gh hi,

the^o.^^^^^^^^

ute?^XTr;;rioto^^^„t^^^^ ^'^^ «-^^^^^ which contrib-

the Saxons were subdued ; and, wh^n %«„ ll - "" "^ ^""^ ^^'''"^'^ ^^'•"^g'^'

brace the gospel, coercive metholwerradopTeT^LT^^^^^ """t"^ *° '"'"^^ ^^^^ *« '-
What sort of .«„..,,. these were, may ^a^lv Tl c;n.« 7 T' '*'"" '^"P^'^"^ ^^^ ^''^"^ands.
terios were founded, and minister wl appointed to rH ''"'Z'''' "" ^^^°^'« ^"^ monas-

cdgc of divine truth must have been pZe2eIvdffrr^ k'""' '''"^' Senerr.1 knowl-
with the superstitions of the age ^'""Sresmely diffused, though wretchedly intermingled

Clialdoa introduced the liit o^hni . ?"" '*'"'*'^'''^' doctrines, the Nestorians of

Hyrcania, Bactria, M^gil^na rn^tS^ «"^ ^"^ ----es Lo

od with very considerable success ' their labors are said to have been crown-

Frl:.::;^LSi~-;2-^^^^

ed the word of life with much success dnr 1 .1 / """^ '''^°"''"« missionaries preach-

bria and Jutland. Afte the ratHf 7 T' ''^ 'T ^^^^^ ^^^''^ inhabitants of Cim-
gar, hnving been informLl t J t ^y o hrs^cb '^ '"• "'"^"? ""'^ '"'^^"^'^^'^'^ ^-
of Christ, resolved on a visit to Sweden and commonTJr''^"' '''''' '"'''"'*^' '" '^' ''^•^''
named Vitmnr. On their nassaire . v Tl ''^"""•^"^^'^ ^'' ^^y^S^ •" company with a friend

pod our venerable missio^TShiJ etcr I'oS:.:!^ ^^^^^'^^ ^^^ ^^ -^P"

, J- J. ....,j T^/juinc3 whicn ne had col-

iJdf

INTRODUCTION.

P-

lected for the use of the ministiy. Both he and his companion, however, preserved the most
unshaken fortitude on this trying occasion, and having with difficulty got on shore, they gave
tiiemselves up entirely to the guidance of that Being who led the tribes .of Israel in safety
through a pathless wilderness. At length, after walking a very considerable distance, and
sometimes crossing an arm of the sea in a boat, they arrived at Birca, the site of modern
Stockholm. Here they were favorably received by the king, who permitted them to preach
to his subjects, and they had soon the pleasure of witnessing some happy effects result from
their evangelic labors. Returning to Germany, in the year 831, Ansgar was created bishop
of the new church at Hamburgh, and also of the whole north ; and to this dignity the super-
intendence of the church at Bremen was added, A. D. 844. It has been justly remarked,
however, that " the profits attached to this high and honorable charge were very inconsidera-
ble, while the perils and labors in which it involved the pious prelate were truly formidable."
Ansgar travelled frequently among the Danes, Cimbrians, and Swedes, in order to promote the
cause of Christ, to form new churches, and to confirm and establish such as were already
planted ; and upon all occasions he evinced the most ardent zeal and the most complete dis-
interestedness.

Ansgar terminated his life and labors in the year 865, and his confidential friend, Rembert,
was appointed his successor by his dying words. This missionary presided over the churches
in the north for twenty-three years, and encountered many perils both by sea and land, in
propagating the doctrines of his divine Redeemer. From his lips the natives of Branden-
burg first heard the glad tidings of the gospel, and there is reason to hope that some of them
were " turned to the Lord."

About the middle of this century, the standard of the cross began to be unfurled among the
Bulgarians, a Sclavonic people of extraordinary fierceness, who had long proved extremely
troublesome, by their contiguity, to the Greek emperors. The sister of their king, Bogoris,
having been taken prisoner in a military excursion, was carried to Constantinople, where she
heard and embraced the truths of the gospel. Afler some time she was ransomed ; and on her
return home she was so deeply affected by her brother's idolatrous practices, that she used t!'.e
utmost exertions to point out the absurdity of his worship. The king listened attentive-
ly to her arguments, but did not appear inclined to change his religion, till, on the appearance
of a pestilence in his dominions, he was persuaded to pray to the God of the Christians, and
the plague was almost immediately removed. This circumstance convinc>^.I him of the om-
nipotent power of Jesus, and he took an early opportunity of sending to Constantinople for
missionaries, from whom he and many of his subjects received the rite of baptism.

In the same century, the truths of the gospel appear to have been introduced, together with
the use of letters, among the Sclavonians and the Chazari, who resided on the banks of the
Danube; the subjects of the prince of Moravia; thcRussianinhabitantsof the Ukraine; and the
inhabitants of several provinces of Dalmatia. And Dr. Mosheim remarks that the missiona-
ries of this period were superior, both in their principles and conduct, to those of preceding
ages ; as they were more anxious to inform the minds of men than to extend the domina-
tion of the pope, and they made no attempts to add to the number of their converts by rigid
and coercive measures, altogether inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel.

The tenth century has been emphatically styled " an iron age, barren of all goodness ; a lead-
en age, abounding in all wickedness ; and a dark age, remarkable, above all others, for the
scarcity of writers and men of learning." In this deplorable state of the church, however,
some rays of light passed across the gloomy scene, and some pleasing occurrences evinced that

INTRODUCTION.

XXV

the Roman pontiff was in aomp nlLni J ?V '^"'^*'' *°°g"^ ^ the supremacy of

of transubstLi^Lnk Venfed by^^^^^^^^^ '/""TT' ^^^" ^'« '*^^^'^-

as it is in Jesus." ^ ^ '^***'™ ^^^ "^'^ ^P"'* ^^d revealed " the truth

to adopt the ?enets of the RolirclrT^^^^^^^^^ H ^'^ ?""" '^'^^ ''^ ^'^"^ «^ -""«"

r^:^t:dT:::riHi^^^

bec?mTmTre?„;t etdThZ^^^^^^ -me faint dawni'igs of the ChSan faith, now

garians. whom she%ersuaded to cfanr^^^^^^ '^^"g^^ *he Hun-

churches were erecirbishoprics wefe t.nt?^" 'Z'?^ *" '^' '''§" "^ ^^^'^ ^«"' ^^^Phen,
general in all parts of the country ' P'""^''''^" ""^ Christianity became

da^rffrsrre'prmVtL^n?^^^^^^^^^^

the gospel among hLthen nalr The sword ^0"'"' "' ''""'^^' '^"'^ *^^ •^^«"--" ^^
with more success, in the propagation of fh^r .h' ^u T' ""''' '" '°"'^ instances, wielded
Harold of Denma;k and hrsrbS adold I'pt" ! "^""'"'^ "' missionaries. Thus
independence ; and in Norway mu it „dTw ^ "'"""u ""'""' '° ^^""""^ *^»«i' "^^ional
which Olaus vi'sited l^s pZnc^r Bern^^^^^^^^^^^^ r ^ \^^P*'«-^' ^-^ by an army with

tive missionaries of this period ^ndwh! ^"'l^!*'"'" ^nghshmen were among the most ac
fellow laborers in diffeirparts' of tl wn M '^^ ^^'''' "'^^^ ^'"'^ ''''''^ '" '^'"^ ^"^ their
tion of mankind ; and t may be hoped Z ' ' ""' '"'""'^ instrumental in the ciyiliza-
subjects of a true and savfug fehh ^ ' "''"'" '"''"°*=''' '^'" ^^'^^^^^ «'^'« ™-d« the

n,o!;'TmtoM;:;Z'u!:tLtral^^^^^ *'^ 'r^^ ^"*^ '^-^'-^-^ «^ -»•- ^as been
triumphs ofVciLtianf/th' sL,t kiro7r"' '"'""^ °/ '''' "^^^"^^^" ^°^ ^'^^
spread of the gospel, that h"f eaiinnHv „' ^ «^"»"f'•y' ^vas so deeply interested in the
and to their arguiLntsuoeraSn^ accompanied the missionaries from place to place,
recovered by the arm rRobert r." T r'''"T ^"^ff-<^^i«"«te exhortations. In Sicily
come nearly'cxtfn , V :s happ^^^^ ^'^'"^"^ ^'^'.'"-' Christianity, which had bJ:

Danes, the word of God Z IwnTd with . n"""*" ''"^"' tribes of Russians, Poles, and
the effects of the gosnd win IT ^" V'"?"' '""^^'^ ' ^"^ '" ^^^n^^^^k especially,
exclaims cone r in^i ^L^orat tCL" ''"''"^' '''V''' '"^*°"^" ^'^^'"' ^^ Bremen
have been accustom°ed o stg L pra^e T'od , T" 'f. '" '''"^^^ '°^ '^ ''"« ^'"^ ^"^^^
contented with the productions of^.. '"'''^ ^''^* P""^^'*^'^' P^«P'*^ ^ they are now

erly inaccessible on rcou„ of idol^^^^^^^^^^ Contemplate that horrid region, form-

In Sweden Kimr OInl " ^ ! ^ ' """"^ ^'''^J' cordially admit the preachers of the truth ! »

a learned and P^ ^1" iZa^ nlr^ur ,"^' '"^ ''^ T^^'^' ^^ '^^'"^ ^^"^^ ' ^"^ »>-«
till the year lo'>8 whpn hi ^ '^"''' " ''^''''■" *" ^ave labored with great success

ing tw'Tdo^n lilt ido. Th''''"f ^ T"'"'^'^ ''^^ *''^ P'^^"'^"^' '" consequence of his hay-
wa'spuMoS t some oAhe'l' "" ''""W' • ^"^^^^ ^"^'^"^ --^-X' -med ^schil.
the gospel. ^ '^'*S^ *"^^« '" Sweden, whilst in the act of preaching

Vol, 1.— No. 3. 5

XXVI

INTRODUCTION.

The Uoelfth century affords little more than a varied picture of the extension of the Romish
faith by force of arms ; at all events, the zeal of the missionary bishops, who now undertook the
conversion of the pagans, was not only preserved, but crowned with nominal success, by the
patronage and the armies of the respective princes to whom they were attached. Thus, whilst
the bishop of Bamberg, and the archbishops of Upsal and Lunden are held up as apostles
to the Pomeranians, the Finlanders, nvA t'iu heathen tribes on the Baltic, these nations were
in reality compelled to change th.- .. < ]»^.o/i by Boseslaus, duke of Poland, Eric, king of
Sweden, and Waldemar, king o! Dennira k. The Sclavonians, still attached to their ancient
pagan rites, called forth the missionary zeal of Vicelinus, bishop of Oldenburg, aided by the
military forces of Henry, duke of Saxony ; and the Esthonians and Livonians were con-
verted in a similar manner, being literally baptized at the point of the sword.

In the thirteenth century, whilst the crusaders, reckless of human life, and only intent
on the accompliiihment of their enthusiastic projects; joiujnued to shed torrents of blood,
and to disgrace the Christian name and character, a people called tlie Waldenses were raised
up to withstand the usurpation of the Roman pontiffs, and to contend boldly for the doctrines
of divine grace ; nor did they shrink from the righteous cause which they had espoused,
though they were persecuted with such dreadful severity that, in the city of Paris alone, one
hundred and fourteen of their number were consigned to the flames.

Among the idolatrous nations the nominal church was gradually extended, particularly in
the parts inhabiied by the northern pagans, and in the Saracenic territories in Spain ; where
submission to the rite of baptism was too often enforced by carnal and coercive methods.
Some writers have also asserted that, in this century, some of the Tartar princes received
the Christian faith, and that in several parts of China and Tartary, churches were erected
by the missionaries who had been sent out by pope Nicholas III. Whatever might have been
effected, however, seems to have had but a short duration, as a general apostacy took place
a few years afterwards.

The fourteenth century presents us with many instances of Jews embracing the profession
of Christianity ; but when we consider the dreadful sufferings to which that people were in
many places exposed, in consequence of the reports raised and industriously circulated against
them,— reports which stated that they had crucified and eaten Christian children ; that they
had pierced the consecrated wafer, from which issued drops of blood ; and that they had
even poisoned the public fountains ;— it is iiot difficult to discover that they submitted to the
rite of baptism merely to save their lives.

This century was marked by the conversion of the Lithuanians, one of the last European
nations who embraced the gospel. The vacant throne of Poland, and the beautiful daughter
of the preceding sovereign, proved sufficiently powerful, with Jagello, duke of Lithuania, to
emancipate him from his pagan ceremonies ; and, on his entering the pale of the Christian
church, he persuaded his heathen subjects to adopt his new religion, and united his duchy
with the kingdom to which his lovely bride was the legitimate heiress. Missionaries were
again sent into China, Tartary, and the adjacent countries ; and, for a season, they appeared
to labor with considerable success ; but the wars carried on by the Tartars against the Chinese
and other Asiatic nations appear to have been fata! to the cause ; for, on the expulsion of the
last emperor of the race of Jenghis Khan from China, all foreigners were precluded, by a
public decree, from entering into that country.

Thejiftervth century opened a wide and interesting field for missionary zeal and mission-
ary labors, in the newly-discovered hemisphere ; but, alas ! how little was felt on that

INTRODUCTION.
_ . , , xxvii

occasion, beyond an insatiable thirst for irnW i i.«„ i«i • . ,

except cruelties at which humJiZuZi^Ml^^ZJf' " '''""'f *^. °° '^' P«S« ''^^^^'orj,
turns away in disgust ! It has however hi ' ? ^'T ™°<^'^«"««. ^om which religion
writer, tha't " Thf civilizatio'^^trne;?^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ - -«»>le and exceC

duction of Christianity, even in its mo8^!or nn^H w TT' ^''^ P''^™^*^*' ^y ^^e intro-
honored the sun and Lon b; sbgTnTdaX' howl' ^f ''*'"' *^^ ^^-^ of America
The Canadians, and the people of vSink anTkr^^^^^ ^'"5 T^ *=""'"« ^''^'^ A^^^.
tude of idols. They sometimes sacriS iJ ' ^orsh.pped the devil, with a multi-

complain of thirst, 'they quenched iw^h humaTblo^^^^^ ^^^ '^ ""'' ^^PP^^^ ^

worshipped the sun and a variety of idoTs thev oSpS ,K T^ '"habitants of New Spain
and drowned boys and eirls in a LZ Tl ' ^ ^^^"^ ^^^ ^^""'^ o*" "^^^ in sacrifice •

it- All these s/nguinaf;tae > .^^^^^^^^^^^ reTb^ohlh V'^ ^'^' ^"^"^^^^ *° ^««'^^ ^ ^^^

tion of the gospel, blended as itwas wir!ZlT. ""^"^'f^f ' '" consequence of the introduc-

In the sixteenth century, the pure 1 Iht of th "' ^^ /'^f P^^'^^ -"^ Portuguese teachers."

Reformers, began to irradiate the churlh wJfch^rH ', '^T^*" '^^ instrumentality of the

darkness ; and those who had previous vlrroan.H K l^ ^"° ""'"'°P^^ "^^ ^'^"ds and

were now roused to a sense of ^therdSra1ieT« f ^""""*^*»'« y<^'^« «f the Roman pontiff,

Lord^to contend for the faith o:^'lJ^t:r^r^;;::^^' l^ '''^ ''T'^^^' ^he

characters, had, indeed, at an earlier neriod mnT T ^''''^^'^^^ Huss, and other pious

sin," and to burst asunder the cha „« wh ch'p^^^f ., ^n' ^T^'^ *^ ""'"^^'^ " *he man of

of nominal Christians ; but the grand Tnd suroL f l T^ ^^ ""P*"'"^ ^" *he consciences

persevering Luther, wko seemelexpreTsfy f"^^^^^^^^^^^ "^! ^^^^'^^^J/- *he intrepid and

xatrih^^^^^^^^^^^

Molucca islands, Japan, and several other nkr.? ^ravancore, the Island of Ceylon, the
appearinthefollowinganecdote Xavtr h • 1' ""^"'^ '™^ missionary spirit will

extremely perilous, wfs strong ydisfuad J f'om'the atJ '' TMw'^ '"•^^'^" which seemed
ly picture of the dangers he mult encounter frnm^h Tu' ^^ ^'' '^^'""^^' ^''^ ^^^^ ^ li'^e-
the soil, and the barbarity of the fnhabital H '"',"''"'5' ""^ '^' ^"'""^«' '^' «t«"»ty of
he replied, " The nations' which rrftractble .T^ -tened attentively to their remarks,
this mission is for me, because othprr ^"^ opulent wdl never want teachers; bu

abounded in odoriferou woodrand mL?nf"'\f T!' **^ ""'^^'*^''« ''' '' ^^e country
procure them. Should merchants thrh ^ • ''" ^""^"'■^ ^°"'^ ^^ ''^^^^^ in order tl
unfortunate people be kep^^ " o^^^^^^^^^ '"^'P'^, ^\- ----- -^ Shall these

certainly very barbarous and brufaT but ev-^r > ^'""^' of redemption ? Their character is
ble of transforming stones intrchi'ldrel of Ah ^'^ ''°''"'^"" '' ''' *^" ^^'^ ^^ho is capa-
Should I be instrumental in the saj^a Z of t [ *" 'I'Tf^ "^'^ '"^ ^°^^«" ^^eir hearts,
myself amply recompensed for al thldaL one individual among them, I should consider
terrify me." With tLe sentTmenLhe set o[f ^/^'T ^' ^^'^^^ ^^^ endeavor to

made to shake his determinaZ and hi ' ^"^".''^'^^^ /^ '^^ the attempts which were
zeal and self-devotedness rnrt' rat or'r\'' '"'^ '"^ ^^'^ corresponded with his
brace the profession of ChrLtilnky ' '''^""' ''"''" ^'^"8*'*' ^y degrees, to em-

toltt'uTo^edtdirnstrutrArrt^^^ r^^^' T"' *'^ '^^^^ °^ ^^^^- --^--

ouum America. Scarcely, however, had the missinnnrics taken

XXTIII

INTRODUCTION.

up their residence in Brazil, when the apostasy and cruelty of the commandant of the colony
drove them from the country ; and, after a painful and perilous voyage, in which they were
reduced to the most pitiable extremity through famine, they returned to the coast of Bretagne,
just as the master of the vessel had formed the resolution of killing one of the ship's company,
in order to provide food for himself and his fellow sufferers.

About three years afterwards, the celebrated Gustavus Vasa, king of Sweden, sent a mis-
sionary named Michael into Lapland, with a view of promulgating the truths of the gospel in
that cheerless country ; and, as he was aware that, notwithstanding the previous introduction
of Christianity, the natives were at this time completely enslaved by pagan ignorance and
superstition, he issued a royal mandate, commanding them to assemble at a certain period of
the winter to pay their annual tribute, and to receive religious instruction.

At the commencement of the seventeenth centimj, the Dutch, having wrested the island of
Ceylon from the crown of Portugal, attempted to convert the natives to the Protestant faith.
Unfortunately, however, they induced the Cingalese to become hypocrites rather than Chris-
tians, by absurdly ordaining that no native should be admitted to any employment under the
government, unless he subscribed the Helvetic confession, and consented to become a mem-
ber of the reformed church. Tho effect produced by this regulation was precisely that which
might have been anticipated. All who aspired after dignity or office professed their readi-
ness to change their religion ; and as nothing more was required of the candidates for baptism
than a repetition of the Lord's prayer, the ten commandnientH, a short morning and evening
prayer, and a grace before and after meat, they flocked in such numbers to the font, that in
the year 1663, in the district of Jaffnapatam alone, there were, according to the church regis-
ters, 62,558 men and women who professed Christianity, exclusive of 2,587 slaves ; and the
children who had been baptized, within a few years, amounted to 12,387.

During this century, the Nonconformists, who had settled in New England, resolved to make
some attempts for the conversion of the native Indians ; and the exertions of Messrs. Elliot
Bourne, and Mayhew appear to have been crowned with great success. The former of these
devoted missionaries commenced his instructions, in the year 1646, to a few natives about
four or five miles distant from his own house ; and in 1674, the number of towns within the
jurisdiction of Massachusetts colony, inhabited by praying Indians, as they were called, had
increased to fourteen ; and to all of these, in a certain degree, the labors of Mr. Elliot were
extended. Several of these were afterwards taken up, in consequence of hostilities which
took place with a celebrated chief named Pliilip ; but, notwithstanding this discouraging cir-
cumstance, the zealous and affectionate missionary, who obtained, as he well deserved, the ti-
tle of the Apostle of the Indians, continued to preach among them till he was completely worn
out with the infirmities of age. This devoted servant of God translated the whole of the Scrip-
tures, together with several catechisms, tracts, and school books, into the Indian language ;
and in the prosecution of his favorite work he appears to have endured many severe hardships.
Hence he observes, in a letter to a friend, " I have not been dry, night nor day, from the
third day of the week to the sixth ; but at night I have pulled off my boots and wrung out my
stockings, and put them on again ; and thus 1 continue to travel ; but God steps in and helps."
His death, which occurred in 1690, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, was truly happy, and
his last words were, "Welcome, joy!" After his decease, some of the natives, who
had been converted under his ministry, became useful preachers of the gospel ; and some
of them were instrumental in turning many of their pagan countrymen from the error of
their ways.

INTRODUCTION.

that they had experienced a wTofi^^^^^^^ ^^^t '^u T' '^^^'^-'ory evidence

of their conduct, grieved thrsouTZTnV?"''^''''^^^^^

upwards of fort; years! affectionate mstructer, who labored among them

M:^h:Jrs^:iJS^:--s:^^^

-er -ysteries/anTcTrS 'embSr^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ 'f °"^^^ °^*"- °^^'^«-"-

coomes, who had been converted through h! . ^^T'' ^ ""^'^^ ^°'^'*"' °^"»«d Hia-

herald of salvation to manrof Ws 00^/! ! '"^'"'"'"""^^'ty ^^ ^r. Mayhew. was also the

was unfortunately drowned Tn a voya'e TfTT u'^'lV^' '^"''^ "^^^- ^^^hew, who

of Martha's Vine'yard, though „eaHyseventv;!^'''f^'' ^"'''''.' ^^e patentee and governor

attainment of the Indian language Ud'lled to ^^ applied himself sedulously to the

success for about twenty-three years 1 1 vvhl! V • T'^' ''''^ "^"^' acceptance and

work of evangelizing the heathe'n wa's stilt ontLurd?'"v' '° ^^^--"'y -st, the blessed

these, Mr. Zachariah Mayhew, exp Ld b aoT *^ ^^'' P'*'"' descendants. The last of

him terminated the n^issionJ: rCr of this Vr-^' -ghtyc ghth year of his age ; and with

.C.W generations by the. -votednes^Jl^Tlll^lttl;:^^

:jtsr':t:e^^s^-i-^

activity; and the triumphs of the crosf"t '' '"^'tements to zeal, devotedness and

exertions. ^ ^^^ "°''' ^'"^^^^^ achieved, prompted to new and vigorous

aen\\tBrhoVomtXnS T'"'''^'''' ^^ ^^^^ '^^^'^^P^^^-.

on the coast of Coromandtl, with a view to th!' T P'^"7«""g»"en, to Tranquebar,

India. On their arrival, theyZlied him' L''?"^ ""^'^'^ ^«^^'»- '" that part o

guese languages ; and when'they were "Tet addr^^^^^^^^^ V ' "' ''" '^"""^ ^"' ^"^*"-
peared to rest upon their labors ThVv 11 I n r "'''''"'' ^ ««"«id«rable unction ap-

their hearers on Ihe great sub^^^^^^^^ '"'""''^'^^ conversations wiSi

school for the suppo'rt and eZl^Jor^;:::^:,:;^ ^' ^''^ ^^ -P--' a charity

EuroTe:„Te:;tnt':;rtr^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^— r-- '•-- the opposition of the

every privation, and endure eeryspecfes of n7 """T''' ' ''"'''"^' '^"^^^«'' '^ «"bmit to
they had undertaken, they relaleS iZ Pf '""":'«"' ''^thor than abandon the work which

with a considerable ;uppIyormoneyand"th "' ''"' P'^*' ^'^ ^ ^^'P "^"'^^^ ^^^ Europe
Jordan. '^^^ ^''"''^' ^"^ ^^'^^ assistants, named Bocving, Grundler, and

po..„g that low ,«,„„„, are unacquainted with their enterprise It is onlv h. .h ."""""r"" '' Tranquebar, I h.ve only noticed them, sup-
•d, that the hmils of the work will allow a suitable notice ofth.™ II J "'"■?"'''"« <"'<" ^fo"* which have been so generally record-
eonun.nc.ment of the pr.«,nt century. '""" ""^"" """'"?'"'' »»<« inter,sting operation, of th.Chri.ti.„ church, inc. Z

XXX

INTRODUCTION.

i!Ji ;

l*i

t ■"!

In 1710, they began to be patronized by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge,
which had been established a few years previously in London ; and from the directors of
that institution they received an edition of the Portuguese New Testament, for distribution
among the natives, together with a printing press, a quantity of paper, and a fount of Roman
and Italic characters. They were also furnished, by their friends in Germany, with a fount
of Tamul, or Malabar types ; and after some time they erected a letter foundry at Tranque-
bar, and built a paper mill in the ticinity.

The Tamul copy of the Holy Scriptures, by Ziegenbalg, issued from the press in 1715 ;
and, though he and his beloved colleague, Grundlcr, were, within about five years, removed
into the world of spirits, the happy effects produced by their labors were evident in many of
the converted heathen : and in the hands of their successors, Benjamin Schultze, John Hen-
ry Kistenmacher, and Nicholas Dal, the mission was not only preserved but happily extend-
ed. In 1728, Schultze, at the instigation of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge,
undertook a mission to Madras, in which he was eminently successful, notwithstanding the op-
position of the Catholic priests, whose adherents were convinced of their errors, and in-
structed in the truths of God by his preaching and conversation.

Divine Providence was, in the mean time, opening an effectual door for the introduction of
Christianity into the kingdom of Tanjorc, through the instrumentality of an inferior officer in
the army of the rajiih of that country. This young man, wiiose name was Rajanaikcn, and who
had been educated 1.^ the tenets of the Cnthoiic church, wns Bcriously iniprosscd with a sense
of his viieneasnnd wants, m ii sinner, from perufiiiig a meditution on the sufferings of Christ;
and, having subsequently road, with dcoj) attputioii, a copy of the Four Evang'.'lists and the
Acts of thu Apostles, he resolved, on returning to his native land, to quit the army, and to
devote his time to the instruction of his countrymen The missionaries of Tanjorc gladly
employed him as a catecliist ; and, notwithstanding the inveterate fury of his popish enemies,
and the attempts which were sonietiines made upon his life, he |)ursued his hallowed avoca-
tions with unduninished zeal, and he had the satisfaction of perceiving that " his labors were
not in vain in the Lord."

In n.'n, J. A. Sartorius and J. K. Giester, who had "labored in word and doctrine" for
several years at Madras, proceeded to Cuddalore, in order to establish a brimch of their mis-
Bion in that pi. -;e ; and though, at first, the inhabitants evinced but little desire for religious
instruction, the truths of the gospel were attended with the gracious influences of the Holy
Spirit, and many of the natives were ha|)pily " made wise unto salvation."

In 1746, the missionary house at Madras was demolishtd, and the church was converted
into a magazine, by order of the French governor, who captured the city after a siege of six
days, and caused several streets in the Black 'I\iwn to be razed to the ground ; but on iho
restoration of peace, after about three years, the missionaries returned, and the losses which
they had sustained were compf^nsated, on the part of the government, by the grant of a spacious
church, an excellent dwelling-house, a good garden, and a burial ground in an adjacent village.
In 1752, and some following years, the war, which continue*! to rage between the French and
Knglish in India, and in which manyof the native princes took an a.tive part, materially impeded
the operations of the missionaries; and in 175H, Mr. Kiemander, who had quitted Cuddalore,
procoeded to carry the ghul tidings of salvation f«) the unenligluened natives of Calcutta ;—
a movement which appears to have been signally owned and blessed of (Jod.

In I7()i, that enunent and laborious missionary, Christian Frederic Swart/., who had nr-
rived in Tranquebar about twelve years before, visited Trichinapoli, with a view of making

vji!

I .'«*!•♦•

INTRODlj; >N.
. , xxxi

attentive perusal of those sacred oracles whTr ^^^° *^'''"*''y illuminated by an

withheld from the members of the" otn colinit^'V" 't'' '^' ^° pertinaciously
Manuel Jotze da Costa, a Portuguese friar ofTn """"^ '^^'^ "^^^ ^« enumerated

-- Corta, .ho, aaer ma^^ ^^ ^^^^IJl^I^^n:;^^:^

ind:i:::f;^^r;^:;: ---^ Ssr?:^ -^^^-' ^^^ ^-^«" -i««- in

missionaries and upwards of fifty natlrasLi tant the 'h 7' ^^^^. °^^"P-d by thirteen

lurty-thrce chil.lren ; and. in the short spa e of one yLr nint, "TT' f'' ''""^^^'' -^'

hers were added to the dillerent churches ^ ' ''""'''■'''' "^"^ "'"« "ew mem-

the editor would wish to turn away Si ce i^ ol';r"'^ 1 '^ '""'^"' *''--"d men,
o. the sy„,p.thizin, reader. In a'work o hi's IZ ZlT" " '"" • '^^""^"' '^"'^ ^"--
mark, that the n.issionarie., who, in happier ,ncsl2l' '^ n^^"-' ^^ '«»>"» J»«ticc to re-
to tlu. heathen, were now selecte. to recoTo con uL r''" '"'"^'"^ '^""^' ^'"^ ^>'-^''«' «f 'i^
the distribution of th. r.ce which luu be^ ^ t"^^^^ opulent, and tosuperu.tend

niKserublo beings, who tottered like cluidren al 1 ": t the supply of those hundreds of
tons covered whh a slender skin, and e ,^ L T"'"' '"*'' *''" «PP-»ranceof skele-
bodios of those who had literall J peri" T^r want" I '""" "".^ '"^ ''^"^ ' "'^"^^ »''«
and, in some instances, partially devoured \JZ V '" ''""'"' '^''^^^^om aiound them,

On the capitulation' Lf Cuddalor: i^ 1 78^;^ c nfk"';! '"'' ^' '^"^•
rendered some services to the cause of humanllv al.i . l' "'«. '"'««'«n'^'-y in that town,
.ng the French general from deli veri , , Z pL- " tl^e'fr '' '"'/T'f'''- "^ '''--^-
frou. the most cruel .levastation ; a.nl by co ce Z T ""^ "y*^"' ''" P'--««rved it

whon. a,ln.iral SndVein had pro nised to sZnl"? '"''"''""'' '*'''^" Knglish officers
horrors of a dungeon, and frouM. til; "^^^^^^^ "•':'"^^'. '^ ^'^^^''^ ^''«'" '-"' »"«

BO nmu.tained, for a consul.rable time at is o T '''""'' '^"'"'^"** ^''^^"'- '^«»'-

been severely wo.uuled in a recen a'vl , ""^"'''": ""' '"'""'•"''^ "^''^^'''^^y' >^'"> b^'l

a brother ; though, at this t n o o isio^^ S ""' 'T''' '""' *^'"' "'« "^"'-♦-" oC

converted .to a u.aga.ine, and Mr S kc'ltd oT "'7'''1^ ""''"^"'' ^'" ^'»'"='' ^-«
or m his own dwelling. ''''"''' ""''y P"'''«"» '•'*"'« ^vorship in the school,

•• '"="o ="cwca wan iiiviotn

itxxB

INTRODUCTION.

'*4

"■f!

fl»«t

bodies. There was grain enough in the country ; but the inhabitants, having formerly been
denied full payment for the supplies which they furnished, would neither bring it themselves,
nor send in their bullocks, notwithstanding the orders, entreaties and promises of the rajah.
As the enemy was at hand, and the exigencies of the fort were every moment increasing, Mr.
Swartii was, at length, empowered to treat with the people ; and such was their confidence
in that venerable missionary, that he had no sooner circulated letters through the surrounding
district, promising to pay, with his own hands, all persons who should come to the relief of
the fort, than he obtained upwards of a thousand bullocks, and so considerable a (junntity of
corn, that the place was saved, and the inhabitants wece, for the present, effectUHJIy relieved
from their miseries ! Such, indeed, was the high and universal estimation in which this man
of God was held, that a military officer, who has written on the subject of India, assures
us, "the knowlrdjre nnd integrity of this irreproaclial)le missionary retrieved the character of
Europeans from the imputation of general depravity." And ovon Hyder himself, whilst
refusing to negotiate in a certain treaty with other persons, was heard to say, " Send n)e
Swartz ; send me the Christian missionary ; I will treat with him, for him only can I trust."

In 1784, an application was made by some persons residing at Palamcotta, in the south of
India, for a missionary to visit that part of the peninsula, witii ;i view to the evangelixation
of the natives. Several of the native assistants were accordingly despatched thither ; and so
graciously were their exertions owhcmI nnd blessed by the Lord of missions, that within a
short time they formed a church consisting of one hundred persons, some of whom had been
previously heathens, and others llonum Catholics ; and since that period, the congregations
in the south of India have become very nnnierous.

At the conunencement of the yoar 1 7H7, the rajah of Tanjoro, having lost all his own children,
adopted, as his successor, a youth of a noble family, abont ten years of age. A few days be-
fore ins death, he sent for Mr. Swnrtz, and, pointing to the yotuig prince, earnestly solicited
him to become his guardian. The disinterested missionary, howiner, declineil the honor
which was designed for him, and persuaded the dying rajah to place the guardianship of his
adopted son, and the administra'ion of allairs during his minority, in other bauds. Other hon-
ors, however, were reserved for the Christian veteran, which he could not refuse. At his dt!ath,
which occurred in February, 1798, in the seventy-second year of his age, the young |>rince of
Tsnjore shed a Hood of tears over his corpse, covered it with a cloth of gold, and accom-
panied it to the grave ; he also placed his portrait among the pictures of the Hindoo prince's
in th(! hall of audience ; and wrote to Kngland for a monument, to be erected in the ciiurch
where he had long and faithfully published the glad tidings of salvation.

In addition to the Danish missions to India, we must notice that of Mr. Kgede to (ireetdand
in the year 172!. This pious and disinterested serviint of Christ had, for a period td'thirteen
years, felt an uncon(|uerable desire to carry the words of et<>rnal life to the natives of those in-
hos[titable and drtary regions ; nnd, after a variety of attempts and ap|)licati«)ns had successive-
ly proved nliorfive. h<; succeeded in raising a subscription of U|)wu.ds of eight thousand ri.T
dollars, and piircliased a ship to convey liim and some other settlers to (JrJM'iiland, where tlioy
enga!T(>d to remain during the winter. Two other vessels were also freighted, on«' for the
purposes of the whale fishery, the other to bring l>ack an account of the colony ; and it is
pleasing to add, thiit his Danish majesty not only ap|)roved of the uiid(>rtaking, but presented
the missionary with the sum of two hundred rix doll.irs towards liis equipment, and ajipomlod
him a salary of three hundred per annum.

On their arrival in Ctroenlaiiti, after n choerlcss and perilous voyage, Mr. Kgedc and bis

INTRODUCTION.

xxxiii

companions began to erect a house of turf and stonfi • nnH f«r «««,„ ♦• .r.

cordially disposed to assist them in their olrat?l'/w[^^ ^^

the rising fabric was intended f^ rregularhSon .^^'.^ ^'^^1''"'"'' ''°"'«^^^' '^^'

proach of winter, it would be bur 'eS nfhe snow wS^he v^^^ ''^""'u"^' °" '^' ^P"

the ice. and the setUers would inevitabl/be fr^^^^^^^^^^ J-^oras by

by the Europeans, the savages began to feel verrserious anDrionZ ""''" ^T^"'*'"^

of their visit, and entreated their anaeknk« ^^'J T ^PP'^hensions respecting the object

but these ter;ors graduXllred a^d fn' !LrT ^^'^'^^ ''**''" ""^ incantations;

and were visited by them in return ' ' ' ''"'"' '^'^ """^"''"^ "" ^^'^ ^^e colonists.

having desired his eldest son o ketch^out th. ^^^'^'f ^"""'^ 'T *^ ^''''''^- ^^ ^^8^^'
scripture, as the creation o7 the worw\hef^l of ''"''T'^^^ ?"""' ^"^^^ ^^^'^''^^ '"
death, and ascension of our Rodeeme tt '"^"' ^•i^"»'^«••«^' deluge,-the miracles,

-he exhibited these to t^e GreenSr whT'^T the last judgment

ability, their various siglcat o„s TlS draw'" 1. '"'"' '"'^ '•'P''""^''' ^" ^^e best of his
they excited the laughte'r of trra;ive?whrnref;h.:"'" ""f -^^ '"'^'^ ^^^^"^«d' ^^at

The following year, having obiZeTaJ^Zr^r'^^ "'■''''' "'^^«^»»««'^ "P«« them,
of Denmark had resolved tofunpo rtL miS Ir'^'^'p ''?'' '"^ '^" '^^^"^'^"^^ ^hat the king
der to make himself master of X languor Wm^^h'^^ T''''' ^ ^^"^ "° P'^'"« '» °-
natives in his vicinity, notwithstandin^T^ "^'^ ^'" """^^ '^^*'*1"'^"» ^'^^^^ »« the

stench of their hous ';;t" iSr "ol^ tZ""''""^? "^^'^^ he suffered from the filth and
take up their abode w. h i n WuHhre 1 " ""' '"'' y^'"^' Greenlanders to

time to their mstruction in readirgani fn h pZ^^^^^^ '""^'' «^'"«

ed them to attention and emulation bv enrnL„? ' ? of Christianity ; but though he excit-
of their employment, a„<l fn nk I "dj IhnXev'Zl """r' '*"^ «-"^«-- wenry

looking at a piece of paper, and cryin! A '7,^""'* ^^'^ "« '"''''y »" fitting day after daj
shooting birds, they w'e rS enabled to'Le' profit viuT'' 7 ''"a"^' 'T"'' ^^'^'«' ""^
turn of summer, they absconded one afte ano^e an lefrth ^^^°'^'"g'y' «" ^''« re-

sad frustration of his sanguine hopes ^''"" '"'^r"^^" ^^ '"ourn over the

nloJi^r:^7X:r^ ^y ^^^ --^« of Mr. Albert Top ; but

natives appeared to fctl no pi: :^„Te^^^^^^^^

tened attentively to whatever was told hnn ^''V '""*' '*'^«'"^'«"' i''0»gh they lis-

they were taught. Some of thCn nd.l I T'^'"\ q"c«tioned nor contradicted what

imniortality of'the -uT^:; h r:ur"S^^bo^^^ ''''' ''°'^'""«^ ''' ^^e

pel their hearts were evidently unaffected ^ ' ''"' ^^ '''" °'''«' ''"^»'« °'"^''« «<>»-

nii! • JJl^:;:;.^ j^^^^^ rur zs= •'"^•' r -^«^"«"^"« ^»>« ^---^

li"«l«i8hed by the Company at \lraL ZlZ '"■"''''' "^ unsuccessful that it was re

nis for the erection of i fort a m aHmall ' '"^'j ''" "'"' ""^ ''''^•"^' ^««««'«. ^'th materi-
Besides the n.iluarylc^e Ire sev rT Ln "" "^ ''"'^^^ '""'" ^''« P'"^''«''«" "''»•'« -'^ny-
whom had volunte/redt oi^ v ::: :^^^ S^'^'^'Tr'^^ T' "^'"^'''''^ ^ ^"^ '^

riedto females fro.,, the house f correction ."^^ ''"^ "^ """fi^'^'nent and mar-
Two new missionaries, ^foss. s llr^dS *°"'" P"|)"lution of the country.
•vangeli.a.ion of the imtivos: ^ ''^' '"''' "P'"'"*^'^ ^" "'^^'^^ ^r. Egede in tlio
Vol. I.— No. 3. a

ZXXIV

INTRODUCTION.

!J|p

IP'' I

lUi

As the colony had been hitherto fixed on an island, in an unfavorable situation, it was now
removed to a place, some miles distant, on the main land. This new settlement was called
Good Hope ; and a second colony, which had been commenced at Nepisene, about 200
miles to the northward, and subsequently abandoned, was re-established by the new settlers.
The ensuing winter proved extremely disastrous; as, in consequence of the heavy rains
which had fallen during the summer, and the dampness of their new habitations, a malig-
nant disease broke out among the settlers, and many fell victims to its irresistible fury. Great
discontents were consequently excited, and Mr. Egede was severely upbraided as the original
cause of these misfortunes.

In 1731, Christian the Sixth, who had now succeeded to the crown of Denmark, consider-
ing that the money expended on the Greenland mission would never be reimbursed by the
trade, transmitted orders that the colonies should be abandoned, and that all the settlers
should return home. Mr. Egede was allowed the alternative of returning with the others, or
of retaining as many of the settlers as might be willing to stay with him ; but, in the latter case,
he was only to receive such a supply of provisions as would cuffice for one year, and he was ex-
prcss'y told that he must expect no further assistance from government. As none of the col-
onists would consent to remain in so cheerless and drear region, and as the Grcenlanders
besought him not to leave them, he petitioned the governor and the other members of the
council to appoint eight or ten men to remain with him during the winter, to preserve the
buildings and other property of the colony ; and having obtained this boon, he bade adieu to
his former compa moiis and even to his two collcagos, with a heavy foreboding that he might be
abandoned forever.

In 1132, a ship arrived at Greenland with a fresh supply of provisions; and, as a larger
cargo of blubber was sent home this year than in any preceding season, his Danish mnjesty
resolved to re^ew the trade, and he niunificently ordered the sum of two thousand rix dollars
to be appropriated to the support of the mission.

The sorrows, which had for some time past preyed on the spirits of the faithful and devoted
missionary Egede, were dispersed, by this unexpected intelligence, like the mists of the morn-
ing before the rising sun ; his faith, long shaken by storms and tempests, now seemed to take
deeper root than ever ; and his hope, which had recently been almost swallowed up in despair
now revived like the face of the rural landscape on the return of spring. Little did he know,
however, what painful events were behind the curtain of futurity ; and little did he anticipate
how soon his joy would be blighted, how severely his faith would be tried, or how completely,
withm a short period, his hope would be almost overwhelmed by the clouds of affliction and
inexplicable darkness.

The following year, two yuung Grcenlanders, who had been taken out, by the colonists, to
Denmark, were sent back to their native land, as the climate of Europe seemed unfavorable
to their health. One of these, a female, died on the voyage, the other, a boy, arrived at home,
apparently well ; but, after a short time, he was seized with an eruptive disorder, to which
ho eventually fell a victim. A youth employed by Mr. Egede as a sort of catechist among the
other children, was next seized with tin; same disorder, which proved to bo the small pox
snd, as neither the entreaties nor arguments of the missionary could induce the natives to
adopt any plan for preventing the extension of the infection, it soon began to sprcn.l in various
directions, and lew of tliope who were attacked by it survived beyond three days. Such
were the distress nnd consternation excited by this distemper, which had never before appear-
ed in Greenland, that many of the Buflbrors ciihor stabbed or drowned themselvcu, to put a

INTRODUCTION,
speedy termination to their miaerv • anH nno «,„„ u , ""'^

to it. actually stabbed his wi^s fsier and IbZ wTf" ?^^^"g''*«'- had fallen victims
«he had caused their death by witchcraft ^ '"*"* ^^^ '*^^' "°^«' ^^e idea that

Deeply affected by these heart-rending scenes Mr F„n^ *u .

and sometimes sent his son to comfort aL instruct hS V"' ^^outfrom place to place,
gling with their suiferings on the brink of etern tv He ^ ^^^J TT'' ^^° ^«'« ^^^g"
who had recently arrived from Germanv klLdlv J;.. ' . '.^"^^ '^^ ^°'"^^'^" missionaries
houses, and nursed them with unreSj^^teLon T^'^t'l^ T"^ °''*^««'*^^ in their own
own health was materially affecJeT Th!se acTof' rt"f 'l ''''^" '^''°" "'■'«^«'" ^^eir
pression on many of the native, • nn« A I u Christian benevolence made a deep im-
Egede. said to L, wh?nt Se' Z'oftl '^tJuZf '"^ ^'^ 'f'' of deriding^™,
countrymen ever would have done • when wrh„/ .k """^ """"'^ '^^ "« ^^^^ O"-" own

food ; thou hast buried the dead bodils of our MoS l^ T ''''..'^°" ''^'' ^"PP''«^ "« ^^^h
voured by the foxes, the dogs, and the ravoZ h i. "" "'' ^^'"''^ *'*'''^'^'«« ^ave been de-

"it^piiiitradrtLr^^ •" "^'"^""^^^^

Green.:nders r^/u^^r ^twTl f ^ S^^^^^^^^^^^^^ the unfortunate

nearly as far to the south ; and such was Z !fZlVnn \ T ''"^""' "orthward, and
when the traders went into the countrv at i 2h ^ ? ""^ ''"'"^'^^ its progress, that
empty for thirty leagues northward" ^' ^"'^^'^'1"^"^ P«"od, they fo.nd all the houses

^f^^^^^^t;!::::::::^^^^ - ofMr.Egede,Mr.

of the country called I^sco Bay. Tl ese W^^^^^ ^ "^'"''"^ ^ "'^^ ^^'^"^" '^ P^'^

equate for the vigorous prosec^.tion of t^^ nZ o^ 7:rtt Tt i '^^'■- *^^^'^' ^^^" ' ^ '^d"
ed him from the prosecution of his former exerUons ho til a ! '*' '"' ^^" ^'^^'^^ Proclud-
to co.n,nunicate full information as to the ^tHf the mil T'" ^^ Denmark, in orc^er

whirh It might bo most advantageously p osecuted 'Z r .' ^ '" "''^'''" ^'^^ -""""^ W
dccoa.o of Mrs. Egede ; and after laboring more tit „ fiff el v '" T «*'«"gt''«n«d by the
'an.i amidst the most severe trials, hardfh^s a'Zfv^rnJ m 1' '"'7 "'' '"'"^'"^^"^'^
cess, he preached his farewell sermon from that truly aTnronri: ^ "PP"-"";'^ ^^'t'' "ttle suc-
ed in vam, I have spent my strength for noriit ZlTv '^ " P'"'"''^"' " * «'^"'' ' ^''^^'^ 'abor-
the Lor,l, and my work wiU. my God » ^ '"^ '" '"'" ' ^^^ ^^^^''X "^X Judgment is with

^^^^^"Co/r:i::^;;:^^ r »« ^"^ ^i-.. - w^m he gave a

was instituted, in Denmark, for the e ucaTc^ of /niss^o ' '^/""""-ndution, a seminary
sent among the CJreenlanders ; that,T. mSti^n L JtlT"''^ T''^"''' '"^^"'^'''d »« »^o
qu.ro ,1.0 language of that people .d.^uVna Id t^^^ ^''^'^ '"'^ht ac-

""•"e.l.utely on arriving at their respective Icorn • r '"'"■ """ "'" ^"'"^ «*' instruction

„ -.• ^-»ir-iitl3 ■L.JiriS

ZXXVl

INTRODUCTION.

ir*rp

If ''i

ill

tianity. The introduction of the gospel, however, has evidently tended to the diffusion of
civilization among them, and the difference between their manners and those of their pagan
countrymen is sufficiently obvious to every observer.

We must now return to the exertions of the Anglo Americans in the cause of iSivine truth ;
and, in fixing our attention on the province of New Jersey, in this century, we i^hall meet
with a mission which exhibited, in glowing colors, the power of Jehovah's grace on the minds
of the Indians, and which excited the admiration of the Christian world, on account of the
decided piety, the evangelic seal, the unwearied patience, and the steadfast faith, which were
evinced in the conduct of it ; as well as by the splendid success with which it was crowned
by the great Head of the church.

In the spring of 1743, Mr. David Brainerd, a young man of exemplary piety, commenced
bis missionary labors among the Indians, about twenty miles from Albany, in the province
of New York ; and though, in the discharge of his important duties, he endured such ex-
treme hardships that his constitution seemed ready to sink under them, his spirit was cheered
and supported by discovering that his instructions had, even within a short space, made a
serious impression on their consciences. Their reformation of manners was also evident and
decided ; as their idolatrous sacrifices were no longer offered ; their heathenish dances were,
in a considerable measure, given up ; and the religious observance of the sabbath was gen-
erally established. After he had labored among them about twelve months, he advised them
to remove to a place called Stockbridgc, about twenty miles distant, and to place themselves
under the care of the pious Mr. Sergeant ; and with this advice most of them complied.

The following year, Mr. Brainerd proceeded to the Forks of Delaware in Pennsylvania ; but
as the Indians in this part of the country were now greatly diminished, the major part hav-
ing been dispersed, or removed farther back, the number of his hearers was at first very small,
often not exceeding twenty-five, and, even afterwards, they very seldom exceeded forty. Even
these lived at remote distances, so t!iat the little congregation could not be assembled, at the
wish of their missionary, without some difficulty. Here, however, he pursued his evangelic
labors with unremitting zeal and diligence, and invariably combined his exertions with the most
earnest importunities for the divine blessing to crown his instructions with success. lie also
proceeded to visit some Indians at a distance of about thirty miles ; but, as they were just
about to remove to the river Susquehannah, he had but two opportunities of preaching
among thorn. A few of them were at first jealous of his intentions, but they heard him with
seriousness and attention ; and, at ihcir request, he afterwards proceeded to visit them, in
company with a neighboring minister, at their new settlement, and remained among them
several days, preaching regularly when they were ut home; whilst they, in order to benefit
by his instructions, delayed their general hunting match, which was just about to commence.

The following spring he repeated his visit, accompanied by an Indian from the Forks of
Delaware, who acted as his interpreter ; but, in travelling through the wikU^rness, ho was ex-
posed to the most sevoie perils and hardships. One day, being overtaken by a tremendous
storm, having no |)lace of shelter, and being unable to kindle a fire on account of the rain,
which fell in torrents, he resolved to prosecute his journey, in the hope of finding some dwelling
where ho might obtain a temporary refuge ; but, unfortunately, the horsco, both of P^- Brain-
erd and his friend, were so seriously affected by having eaten some poisonous herbage, for
want of better food, that the travellers could n<!ither ride nor lei"l them, but were under the
necessity of driving them on before, and of following on foot. At length, howrvor, thtjy were
providentially directed to a bark hut, where they took up their abode for the night.

INTRODUCTION.

xxxvii

panied with the Jst disLslgtfn^ i^^^^^^^^^^ ""'T'^ "^^^ «" ^g-' —

ships he had recently endured fnTen L nn 1 u ? ' *^^ ^^'"^eq^ence of the hard-
Providentially, how4er he ftnd an nCf u""^^ ^^''^' ^"'^ sometimes in the open air.

andatthee/^iratio;^:?^

^^^Xz:^:i:t:-'^ t \ -r^^^^^ -d ^s mind so

had en'gaged ; coiJid^ring St Toon Irl^^^^^^^ °! ^'^"^^"•"^' ^^'f. ^'^^ ^ -^ich he
plished by his instrumentality Thos! Zl u ^^"' ""^^ "^'''" "'^"'y ^^ '^^ '^««0'»-

cumstance soon occu3 Thfch demoLtt "/f^ ^7 'f'' ^"•"^ ^*' ^^"" ^"''^^•«"' -"^ a cir-
devoted servant to 'MaborTn vl TrT , I ' ^^'^ ^^ '"'^^'^"^ ^^^"^^ "«* ^"ff^rhis
intelhgence which he rece ve^re^p ctir^^^^^^ ''"?;',''' "°"^'*"" '" -"-'l-nce of
Jersey, Mr. Brainerd resolved to vrtTem and tho K 'T' "' ^rossweeksung, in New
extremely discouraging, the natives liZ^i^X loZtr^L T ?J' ^PP?'-^^^ "^^«
gregation consisting only of four women and „f/iM u *'*''' *'^*'^'' ""** *^'« ^^-^^ con-
ceiving a desire in his hearers thm ''"''''■*'"' ^^ *^''** ^^^ satisfaction of per-
some of t^.m actuall^ra^eld ten o fi^^^^^^^ P-^^^^ ^^^ '"« instructions, and
had arrived a„,ong tC n conLnuenlT" f"';^ '''''' ^"^^^ »'-» a missionary
to between forty and fifty pe sons andT I ' ""r ''"'" "^""P^^y ^'^^ «««" augmented
decidedly hostill again^th'e rth;of th ' ot^ ^^^^ ----' '-^ felt
completely slain. Not an objection wITJ?^' T^ ^"*^ opposition seemed now to be
without distinction, were ewS^desfrous oM ' "" '''''"^ ^'^ '^^"''^ ' ''"* «'^ ^"^ young,
their eternal welfare; and they notonriiln ^''"f, '"«^'"^^«d in the things connected with
discourses, but even entrea ed h°m^^ore!^h " '"T'''" seriousness to Mr. Brainerd's
knowledge as possible during Ltn^nurcrtutuL' "^'' ''^' '''' ''''''' ^^'" ^' "-^

thif t^Setrng Se V:;lt rDe'l^ " ^'^ ^"-^ ^ ^ '^^^ ^^ ^^om
terial labors. H. had, alo. very shortlv aftt^ th "'l ""'" '^\ ?"'"'P'^' ''''''' ^*" '"« ""'"«-
his wife, both of whom gave lufficTent cvitnr r S ""''' ^'^ '^"P^'^'"^ **'« interpreter and
and the former, by his zealL the sal at^n of? '*^ their genuine conversion by divine grace ;
to his laborious pastor. " °^ '"' countrymen, proved a truly useful assistanl

tion:onir:in I'd lerr.^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^«""'' ^h« Indiansunder deep convic-

their immortal souls ; ami n\wlrTl r'd! 7"' k""^^^ ^"'"'^"''^ "« *^ ^^'^ -'-^-" of
sions increased in a surprising manner nnd^' '; ' *"' .""''"' '*"''^"« ^'^«'"' ''^^^^ ""Pr««-
of the everlasting gospel, tl.af scare y a d y Tye was'^trs .T"."; ''"^f '^' ''' ''"'^^'""^
and the inquiry became fervent and nLL 7 ^ f *'''" '" *''® P"^''*^ congregations,

The spirit of God, indeed annearedrT "T"^' '''""' " ^^'*^'^^ '"""^ ^« ^'^ ^^ ^« «-ved ?-
in the suitability o his cWtor the ,t'^^^^^ '^-^^'^^

ment, and the invitation of his uosnel T, "' "' '""'^■'' ^'" all-sufficioncy of his atone-
mountain torrents, and precipi utinrrilf ' "' . *" '"''J*''''*^ ""*""' «^0"«» ^'^ «""'«' '^nd

pcde its progress, \uulg'a"iuffu«eBtsH?'" '^^ ''['""' ^"^"P^ '^""^ "^"^♦'^^'•^^ "-''^' '-

Power, whicLrownedLerL^^^^^^^ ''•''^ surroundmg plains, so the Almighty

V0L.I.-N0. 4. ';"''^**^"'0"«of our faithful missionary, overwhelmed the whole assem-

xxxviii

INTRODUCTION.

biy; theold, the middle-aged and the young, all being constrained to bow before its irresistible
influence So deeply were the hearers affected by what they heard of the love of ITruc^ed
Jesus, and what they felt of the vileness and depravity of their own hrnrtl tLv ^ ""'=**'^°
of them, both within and without the house, were aSly cry " ^r mercy and he^^^^^^
scene brought to remembrance that solemn prediction which z'Siarh IVs f^^^^^^^^^
ter m the name of h.s God. " I will pour upon the house of David, and uponThelnLit"
ants of Jerusalem, the spmt of grace and of supplication; and they shall look o„ me whom
they have p.erced ; and they shall mourn for him. as one mourneth for his only son."nd shaU
be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born." ^

This awakening appears to have continued with unabated power for a considerable period
and those who came from a distance to witness so unusual a scene, were, in maiytsfan" es'
brought under the same concern for their souls, and constrained to cry for pardon rdsava
tion Some, who had previously experienced but slight convictions, were now literal y cut
to the heart ; and others, whose souls had been set at liberty, appeared to en ioy peculiar
manifestations of the divine favor, and expressed the most earnest^olicitude to be'ent^l
conformed to the will of Christ. In short, every sermon was productive of some good andt

fiftofn ' ^T^'a^ """■'! ^ "'°"''' '" '^''' ''""^^'•' '^"d administering the rite of baptisfn to
fifteen adult Indians and two children, Mr. Brainerd returned to the Forks of Dolawarr he e

IZ ; "'^^•^^rr i''"^'' ""P^^"^' ^"^'» ^ ^^"^^ «f ^-lig-" than before; in con!
equence of some of them having visited Crossweeksung, and there beheld the power of

stbiect wt't. '/"r""' r'" '"' ^'"'^^^ '^'■"^^^ '^ ''«^- t° instruction, treated the

the^^'sp^rul^r "'"''" '"' •^' ^"' ^^^'"^'^ '"^^^ •^^^-^-^ - ^'-^ «PP-'^- to

nn^nf n tn '^ '''f i^S "'"'',''''* 'l'" Su^quchannah, Mr. Brainerd directed his course toward
an Indian town, called Sliomok.n, about a hundred and twenty miles to the westward. Here

ho ' h'n" • ' 5'r"' '^"' ^'" '"'^'^''*""*« ^^'^^ -«' to amount to three hundred!

though our missionary did not see much above half that number. They were considered a
worthless race, prone to nusch.ef, and strongly addicted to drunkennes;; yet they listened
LnfcUoT """"" "" '^"^"'""' '^"^ '^PP^'^^'^^ ^-'-^ of obtaining further

n.?!'''n?''i7'!."''??''"'''' ''' ^ '''"'" """"'' •^""^^"ta, which he had visite.i on a former

^ess nr.^ .d ', "^\ r"''''"' ""l '''"^ '""^ ^''''' '"'" ^ ''"-""y --I'tio", and appeared
es prejudiced against d.vine truth than some of their countrymen, they now appeared
o be more firmly rooted than ever in their pagan superstitions ; and he found it impo isible to

ofiTLl-IIrf 7"T :^ ' rT' " ''7 ""'^ "-'<-gg--t preparations for the cdebration
ol an Idolatrous toast on the following day.

Deeply disappointed at the failure of his attempt in this quarter, our missionary returned

to Crossweeksung and on resuming his labors, he had the satisfaction to find the same

bles od and powerful effects attend the dispensation of the gospel as before. One day in par-

t.cular, after a solemn and impressive sermon on the new birth, so deep and general an im-

p resHion was nuu^ on the nunds of the Indians, that it is impossible to describe the scene

which ensued. Many, both men and women, old and young, were seen dissolve.l in tears, and

overwhdinod wth mental anguish ; whilst others were rejoicing in God their Savior, and

prnymg that their countrymen might obtain mercy from the Lord.

INTRODUCTION.

wuMh^lTirpt^^L'^^^^^^^^ T"^ ^^^ j"<^-. Which was attenll

of an excellent master, for instructing Indkn' .^17^ V'^^h ""'^''' '^' ««Pe"ntendence
ful branches of learning. He alsradoiteZl r'" '^' ^"'"'•^ ''"^"^g^' ^""^ «»her use-
-ho had embraced ChLani^tand by ht ad v ce 17 ""T". ''f '^"*^^ *" ^»»^«« "«*'-«
at Cranbury, about fifteen mile distam from theTr' forir'''. '° ^T " ''^"'"' ^^"'«'"«"t
the work of clearing and cultivation, and wTthi.^ Htl T .T "'"' ^''' '^"^y commenced
of forty acres with English grain, a^d neaHy l^wl ^^^^ '^' ^°^° "^^^^^^

er/£:Ss:si::::t^r;i^:;^Ti:^?^^

and a most notorious characterTbut'whno: aLe^^^^^^^ ''''' ^ '""•^^"•' ^ -"J-e",

the gospel as applied to the heVrt by Gorthe HoTrho'. V'^"'^'r?hy ^''the power of
Delaware, and sometimes attended Mr nLT a! ■ ^ ^' "^ ''^"^^^ "^^^ ^^^^ Forks of
affected, and he still followed his trafe of rn ""'T'^ ' •^"^' ^^ ^'' ^eart was totally un

ress of the truth among his count'tn ^"^"7 ^^^ '" "'^%'V^'^^' «" ««>«*-'« to the prog-
sung, during a season of most rerSle awaLrn' 'L'"^ 'f'' ^'''''''''' *« Crossweek-
such poignant convictions of sin, that fo .o.ne Z?'h'" '^"' .P'""'' ^' ^^^ •'^^"ght under
possibility of redemption; yet, even , n.isl ' ^°"«'^«'-«d himself lost beyond the

listen to the gospel fand be'ing I en" 1 tS'e'ritt.'' f T'"'^'" ^^^^ ™^^* ---^o
;ng proofs, by his Hfe and depitment? tatS Imd nd.oH . '' '' "'^'''^''' '^' most con vinc-
J'ght, and from the power of Satan unto God '' " "'"'""^ ^'^"^ ^"k»««« »°to

ev^e:t;r:;:i^;^:^ j^r;^^ and privation, was now

to have accelerated the progris of iL disorder On" h ''^"'^^^'^^ Susn.ehannah seems
a cough, nocturnal sweats, and spitting of blood • -^ '^^''T"''"': ^' "•^"''"'^ ''''^'^^y <"••«•»
frequently compelled to sleep in the woods an ' ^ ' ""' '''"'" ^'"'"'"•"S ^^"Ptoms, he was
that he was convinced it wou'ld probai;;t;ve a"^^^^^^^^ T'" ''^. ^^ ^ -^remely faint
no other resource than to climb a youngX tree tl^^f ? ?"' '" '^' °P^" "•^' ''« ^ad
to form some kind of shelter from the heavy dews '" ''' ""''^ '"' '^"''''' "^"^ ^'^"«

of his age. mdelatigable missionary entered into eternal rest, in the SoJh year

broT;:r oT:.rd«^^ -^- the care of Mr. John Brainerd, the younger

the mission continued to incre s an^pro 'l^f ^^^^^^^^^ "^ '^'""^^"^'^ ^^^^ -^ l>'c-ed, tha
of the former converts adorned theirrorssion 1 v rr'"; '" ^ ^^ P'--"g -anner. Most
ers, who had recently joined the settlement "erLnn''?"' '" •' '"''"P'^^^ '''"« ' ^^ oth-
as sumers, and were led to Christ for life «L "PP'""^"tly convmced of their ruined state
made in civilization and useful arts; and the " hon '""''"" ^°"«''^«'-«»>'« Progress was also

In addition to his stated labors amol the non 7 cT '" "" ''"''' °^ i^^^easing prosperity,
casioaally traveled among the ndZs in Ifant^l' 1 r T" '^'^'^^' ^'- J^^'" Brainerd'oc
plan, he sometimes found his congrega L a t ^ '1 ''' T"''^ ' ""'' '^ »^«P^'"S ^his
however, were inclined to remove from their foZ! ^'^^'^''''^^y '^"gmcnted. Whilst some.

others determinately opposed the gospel rndTnonofr""' '"'" '''' ""^^ ""' *"^ instructions

6u»,jci , and, m one of his visits to th« hank- n^ ^i^- «^

INTRODUCTION.

■

lii'

hannah, he met with a most unexpected obstacle. No sooner had he arrived than the In
dians, tutored, most probably, by one of their artful angekoks, informed him they'had just been
favored with a divine revelation, which, after warning them against a few particular vices
and enjoining them to offer certain heathen sacrifices, concluded by informing them that the
Deity, in his wisdom, had created two distinct worlds, one for the white people, and the other
for the Indians; that, in respect to religion, he had commanded these different classes to
worship him in different ways ; and that the white people ought not to intrude into the terri-
tories of their red brethren ; since, whatever specious pretences they might hold out their
only object was the eventual acquisition of gain. We hardly need add, that the poor bewil-
dered souls who could believe and repeat so absurd a tale as this, were by no means disposed
to lend an attentive ear to " the words of truth and soberness."

As the circumstance of the Indians being scattered through the wilderness, in small villages
had hitherto been reckoned one of the most formidable obstacles in the way of their civiliza'
tionand Christian instruction, Mr, J. Brainerd, in 1759, settled his congregation upon a tract
of land purchased on their account by the government of New Jersey, and comprising about
four thousand acres, well adapted for the purposes of general cultivation. Whatever might
have been the cause of the failure, however, it seems that this new arrangement was not crovvn-
ed with the expected success.

Toward the close of the American war, Mr. John Brainerd died ; and in 1783 he was
succeeded m the charge of his congregation, by an Indian, named Daniel Simon, who had
betn ordamed to the work of the ministry. Whatever professions this man might have made
however, or whatever opinion might have been formed of him, it is too evident that he was a
stranger to the vital influence of godliness ; as, on account of inebriety and other irre«ru.
larities, he was very soon suspended from his ofiice ; and it unfortunately happened, that°no
missionary was appointed to succeed him, but the congregation was occasionally visited and
supplied by the neighboring ministers.

Of the nineteenth century it is only necessary to observe, in this introduction, that it has
been justly said to deserve " the honorable distinction of the missionary age," greater exer-
tions having been made, and with more abundant success, tlian in any period since the diffusion
of gospel truth in the primitive ages. This success, under the divine blessing, has resulted
in a great degree, from the formation, plans, and operations, of those missionary societies
which will now demand our attention; and, whilst we look back, with grateful hearts, upon
what /.as been achieved by their instrumentality, may our souls be cheered by a recollection
of those animating words of our blessed Lord, " Ye shall see greater things than these."

" They who prophesied of ihe grace Ihnt shonlil rome," were " holy
men of (io.l, who spake as ilicy wore moved l.v ihu Holy tJhosl "—I IVler
i. II. 2 1'elcri. 21.

Uy Ihc oulpouriiijf of the Holy <lhost, Ihe niwMlcs wcro " cnducil with
power from on IiIkIi j" tin I ilie.i they were <iimlifie(l to Sc Christ's witnesses,
" to Ihe ends of tlic earth."— Acts i. 8. I.uke xxiv. lU.

lie directed Philip lo Ihe cimurh of Kiliiopia— Acts viii. 29.

He <ent Peler to Cornelius.— Arts xi. 12.

He directed the course lo Iw ubsorved by the Gentile converts Acu

XV. 28.

He nHiuired the special miiiisiry of Damahas and Saul.— Acts xiii. J.
He directed Paul, Silas, and Timolhcus, where Ihey ibould, and where
Ihcy should not, preach the gosptl.— Acts xvi. C. 10.

By his direction, Paul testified in Corinlh, thai Jcsns was the Christ,
(Alls xviii. 6); and prepared to visit Jerusalem.— AcLs xix. 21. Acts
XX. 22.

He gave iiiformaticm of what should befall the church generally (Acta
xi. 211), anil indiviiluals particularly.— Ads xxi. 11, Acts xx. 2;l.

He npiMiinled die Christian teachers (Acts xx. 28 ; I Cor. xii. 28) ; and
Icstilied what should be the reception of Iheii message,— Acts xxviii. 25, 27.

When he has seal learhirs— when he has bli'ssed the ministry— and when
he has pillierud a church,— it is ho still, who edifies, instrucls, comforts,
and increase.^ that church.— Arts ii. 3i. 1 Cor, xii.

To the Holy Spirit, thcn'fore, as Lord of the harvest, should prayer Iw
directed for the increase of Missionary leal, and the success of Missionary
exertion

THE

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF MISSIONS.

HISTORY OP THE MISSIONS OP THE UNITED BRETHREN,

OR MORAVIANS.

CHAPTER I.
MISSION TO GREENLAND.

" The dawning day at length appeara,
Tiie day foretold by ancient seers ;
And over Nature's gloomy night
Prevails the morning's rising light."

It has been remarked as a fact worthy of observation
that when tlie United Brethren first undertook to send
out the word of salvation to the benighted and perishing
heathen, their own congregation did not exceed six hun-
dred persons ; and of these the greater part were exiles
from their native land, who, after enduring the most
cruel persecutions on account of their religion, found
a tranquil and hospitable asylum on the estate of
Count Zinzendorf, at Berthelsdorf, in Upper Lusatia.
So ardent was the zeal, however, which glowed in
their bosoms, and so abundantly were their unostenta-
tious attempts owned and blessed by the great Head
of the church, that, within the short period of ten years,
their heralds of salvation erected the banner of the'
cross in various distant regions of the earth ; and
through their instrumentality, it may be confidently
hoped that many, very many, who were formerly " sit-
ting in darkness and in the region of the shadow of
death," are now standing before the throne of the Most '
High, and that multitudes of others will hereafter be
admitted into that " rest which remaineth for the peo-
ple of God."

At the settlement of the brethren in Lusatia, which
they styled Herrnhut, the possibility and duty of con-
veying tiie gospel to Greenland, the West India isl-
ands, &ic. were sometimes made the subjects of con-
versation in the public meetings; and durina, a discus-
•ion of this nature, in the year IIM, somt- ynsuig men

offered themselves to go out as missionaries to the
Greenlanders ; and, early in the ensuing spring, Mat-
thew and Christian Stach proceeded to Copenhagen,
conducted by Christian David, the person at whose in-
stigation Count Zinzendorf had been induced to
receive the Moravian emigrants under his protec-
tion. " There was no need," says one of them, " of
much time or expense for our equipment. The con-
gregation consisted chiefly of poor exiles, who had not
much to give, and we ourselves had nothing but the
clothes on our backs. We had been used to make shift
with little, and did not trouble ourselves how we should
get to Greenland, or how we should live there. The
day before our departure, a friend in Venice sent a do-
nation, and part of this we received for our journey to
Copenhagen. We now, therefore, considered ourselves
richly provided for, and would accept nothing from any
person on the road ; believing that He who had sent us
so timely a supply would furnish us with every thing
requisite for accomplishing our purpose."

On their arrival at Copenhagen, they were kindly
received by Professor Ewald, a member of the Danish
mission college, and by the Rev. Mr. Reuss, chaplain
to his majesty ; and though, for some time, a series of
difficulties appeared likely to impede their progress,
these were providentially obviated ; and, through the
kind offices of Count Pless, first lord of the bed-
chamber, ilic king not only consented lliut they shoulil

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

1.1

| iO "l^" III^H

u 114
lit

L25 III 1.4 i 1.6

^.;^

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

WTA
^V3

13 WIST MAIN STRUT

WHSTIR, NY. MStO

(7i6) 173-4503

go out cs inw«onaries to Greenland, but desired that
others might follow them, and even condescended to
recommend them to the friendship of Mr. Egede. in a
letter written w :ih his own hand.

Whilst they were preparing for their voyage, these
humble and devoted servants of God formed an ac-
quaintance wilh many excellent characters and persons
of distinction, who admired their truly apostolic zeal
and provided them, without solicitation, with a sum of
money adequate to their expenses, and with a variety
of articles for their first settlement.

Being one day in conversation with Count Pless
that nobleman inquired how they proposed to main-
tarn themselves in Greenland. They replied, they
hopeo to subsist by the labor of their hands and the
divine blessing; as it was their intention to build a house
and cultivate a piece of land, that they might not be
burdensome to any. To this he objected that there
was no wood in the country .it for building " Then "
said they, « we will dig a cave in he earth, and dwell
there. Struck with this proof of ardent zeal and
ready self-denial, he exclaimed, " No ; you shall
not be driven to that extremity ; take timber with you
sufficient to build a house ; and accept of these fifty
dollars for that purpose."

On the 10th of April, the missionaries embarked for
Greenland, and, after a safe and speedy voyage ar-
rived m good health and spirits at their place of des-
tination. Here they were cordially welcomed by Mr
Egede ; and, having fixed on a spot for a settlement'
to which they subsequently gave the name of New
Hermhut, they built themselves a house with the tim-
ber which they had brought from Copenhagen : they
also erected a hut in the Greenland style, for the ac-
commodation of any of the natives who might feel in-
chned to come to them for instruction.

They now began to think of adopting some plan for
mamtammg themselves, but U,is was, at first, attended
with considerable difficulty. Being unaccustomed to
hunting and fishing, they could obtain but little by
these occupations ; and. though they Imd purclmsed
an ol( boat from the captain who had broudit them
from Denmark the very first time they went out in
search of drift wood among the islands, they wore
overtaken by a storm ; and, after their return, the boat
with Its htt e cargo was driven away by the wind, a„d
materially damaged, before it was recovered. Consid
ermg these circumstances as designed to warn them
against entangling themselves with the cares of this
present life, tlu-y resolved, when other work failed
to earn something, like their frionds in Europe, by the
humble occupation of spinning.

Mr. Egede, on their arrival, had kindly promised to
assist them to the best of his ability in learning the

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

language of the country, and this promise he was now
sionaries, says a respectable writer. " who *..« «,«k

m :;tTaTrf '"^ P'^ °^ " .™-t raSt
ment of a barbarous language, containing a variety of
declensions and conjugations, di verified by newmlf
and perplexed by suffixes both active and passive must'
have been doubly difficult ; particularly aLhey haTto
commit to memory a copious vocabulary of wCds .he
Greenlanders having many different teLs to express
hesameidea^ And if to this it be added, that they had
.0 learn the Danish language before the; could under-
stand their instructor, the reader will.'^o doubt ad
mire their patience and perseverance "

The terrific scenes which Greenland presented on
he introduction .f the small-pox by one of the „>!

nd"'aft:r"t, " ""'"'^ """'^'^ '" ""' Introduction ;
and, after the prompt assistance which the Moravian
hrethren rendered to Mr. Egede on that occasion, the^
were themselves successively attacked by an e^ptivj
disease, which increased so violently during the win-
ter, that they nearly lost the use of their limbs. Prov-
identially, ho«^ver, they were not all similarly affect-
ed at once. Mr. Egede, also, acted toward them with
the sympathetic attention of a father; and his amiable
wife never omitted an opportu.iity of sending them
some cordial or refreshment ; so that they were merei-
fully supported in the time of their distress, and were
constrained to acknowledge the goodness of the Lord
m the darkest period of their affliction.

In these circumstances did the brethren pass the

firsr year of their abode in Greenland; and as they

did not see how they were likely to effect any good

ma country so awfully depopulated by disease, and

where the natives had hitherto shown no disposition

to associate with them, they began to consider it advis-

able to retuin to Europe. On the arrival of John

Beck and Frederick Boehnish, however, in the char-

acter of assistants, in 17.34, and on their receiving

an assuranc" that the congregation at Hsrrnhut had

resolved to support the mission to the utmost of their

power, their languid hopes were re-animated, and they

resolved to pursue their work with redoubled ar.lor

rhcy now applied themselves to the study of the
language with unremitting diligence, and so far con-
quered Its greatest difficulties as to bo able to hold a
short conversation on ordinary subjects ; but greatly
regretted to find that it contained no terms expressive
of spiritual and divine ideas. Having obtained copies
of some pieces which Mr. Egede had translated, such
as the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed and
the I^,rd's Prayer, they enil.rH.e.l every opportunity
of rru.hng these to the Grecnlnn.lers, re.nin.ling them
of what they had already been taught, and endeavor-

ing to show them the necessity of such subjects mak
ing .n impression on their hearts. Bythesi vi t^|„

equally free from levity, on the one hanrf «nW e

nv Dr^stn i ' "° '^'' "'^y ^""S*" their compa-

visited them m return ; though, in calling upon the
missionaries, It was obvious they had some other objlcl
n v.ew than that of religious instruction. InXd

^ZkTeJtT 'Z " "' '■^^ ^'""^ ""'^'^ -hit

struck their fancy, and it was necessary to be on th^

watch against their little depredations. '

In the year 1735, some ships arrived from Europe •

but, m consequence of forgetfulness or accident no

ZLa \- ^y '^"^ ""-' therefore, involved
n the deepest distress, and had no other prospect but
that of perishing by famine. Their whole st^k"
provisions consisted of a barrel and a hoK f .

P;;t of which they exchaS t Im X":^'
and ship b,scuit; and it unfortunately happened that'
they were less successful i„ fi,l,i„g .^j ^Eg hi

^;^:r;:^etc^rt£:b;:r

.herefore. found it so difficXla JptSZ^ '
on some occasions, they were reduced to the neiSv
of eating shell-fish and sea-weed, to satisfy -"ife eTa ^
ngs of hunger. They were, als , frequently xpose.
to the most imminent peril, in consequence of bZ
compelled to venture out to sea. in q^est of food in
a cn..y boat, and in stormy weather ; and, one of tl e
Imvuig ventured to embark in a Greenland kaiak n
fishing boat, was overset by a sudden sqia 1 «? wi'nS
«nd woui.1 inevitably h„ve been drowL.I, l.a.l "o.

rst:;r ' ^"^ -''- '"^ -'''-^' "— - h^

Trials ,0 severe and accumulated as these were

^vas her mercy to cast their burden upon ,hj F.ord
and the immutability of his favor, „„.| thoall-sufruiciiry
of Ins providence, were ,.«<iousIy manifested in te

-ent aln'r'^ *^f "f"''- '»''-' "'o same God who
ient „ da ly supply, by ravens, to the prophet Elijah
nchned the heart of a (Jreenhm.ler, nL. e.l IppaC*
to come forty leagues from the south, and ,„ soil 'them
Jo." time to ..me. whatever provisions hecoul.l spare'
t.ll Ins own resources were exhausted. A most unex

E ;r:ci^;:~r-'---''-hen:s;m

GREENLAND.

Holland, m the spring of 173G, by a

ir»tltlai*k^*«

! fire's; 'ctLTxi f Lt-:^-;-

o..- friend,, „d ^ ,^ ./dZLTpplLX

of course, most gratefully accepted • and thr^' ^ '
aries reauestfiH .».„. • "^^"^P^^^ > and the mission-

.h. m.,ber of M.uh.w Stteh, . wido,, t^ kZ
five ye,„ of .g,, „,,,, ,,„ , dauuhieA Z, „. '^

"z-T, ^: —'-"». ""^'"-rrv

ITS„ ■"Penmendence of their domestic

acting as missionaries among their own set °"f- "f
themselves sedulously a:d succe!; ul Jto h^at^
ment of the Greenland language.
fi.lTh ""'■■ T^Tl '='"'^""«""'««s were now more cheer
ful than they had been for a considerable time past
but their spirits wore severely depressed by The cJar'
acter and conduct of the savages to whom theyWed

rz^pStr:'r;r,Jt-i5
j::^;iiSor:t-dt~

heir dissolute practices ; and, when foiled in thdr at!

empt, they endeavored to provoke him, by mi mckin;

"s read„.g praying, and singing, or by ^nTerp. nf

hese devotional exercises with their frig'htfJl Z linf
and the deafening noise of their drums. Nay, on some
occasion. ,hey pelted the brethren with sLe, de!
sro,ed their goods, strove to drive their boat o . o

hem in. r"' "";' "" "^"'"""" "'•—ina.mg
.em in their tent. In the midst of dangers, however

the missionaries were mercifully preserved and not-'

wi hstandmg all their severe discouragements, th y re-

solved to continue in the work of the Lord

1. consequence of an alarming report, set on foot

.« n.)7. relative to an intended invasionof the South-
hm.iers. many of the natives fled to the Europeans
for protection ; but no sooner did .hey discovef a

heir fears were unfounded, than they all dispersed

and the missionaries were obliged to search after them

R...ong the islamls. in their old boat, which was now so

loaky and rotten that it was scarcely possible to <.n.«

« wunoui danger. In one of these excursions, they

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

were driven by contrary winds to the southern islands,
where they met with their friend Ippagan, and many
of the Greenlanders. By these people they were re-
ceived with great kindness, and Matthew Stach was
permitted to remain with them about a month, for the
purpose of improving himself in their language. Dur-
ing the time of his visit, their behavior was very va-
riable. At first, they allowed him to converse freely
with them, and to read certain parts of the New Tes-
tament ; but they soon grew weary of these instruc-
tive exercises, and not only refused to listen to his
observations, but annoyed him exceedingly by their
noisy and tumultuous dances. The children, howev-
er, were extremely partial to this devoted servant of
God, and used to run after him with evident marks of
affection. Sometimes he collected them together,
talked with them in the most familiar and pleasing
manner, and asked them a few questions ; but he found
it extremely difficult to fix their attention, and per-
ceived, with regret, that the most trivial object which
attracted their notice was sufficient to obliterate all his
instructions.

A scarcity of provisions, which was severely felt by
the natives, early in 1738, induced many of them to
visit the missionaries ; and among those who came to
solicit food, was a young pagan of the name of Man-
gek, who expressed himself desirous of aking up his
abode with them, provided they would consent to
mamtam him ; and, at the same time, he pledged his
word that they should receive whatever he might take
in hunting or fishing. With this proposal they readily
agreed, and labored day by day to direct his attention
to the concerns of his soul. This, for some time,
seemed a hopeless case ; but at length he began to
discover some deep convictions, and whenever the
missionaries prayed with him, his eyes were suffused
with tears. This was sufficient to excite the displeas-
ure and persecution of his countrymen ; and, accord-
ingly, when they found it impossible to allure him
back to his former heathen practices, thay basely ac
cused him of having stolen different articles from his
instnictors. After a time, he quitted the missionaries
of his own accord ; yet the recolloction of the impres-
sions which had been made upon his heart, through
their instrumentality, inspired them with renewed zeal
in their work, and led them to cry mightily unto the
Lord that his great salvation might even yet appear
to the benighted barbarians by whom they were sur-
rounded.

The prayers which were thus offered with unfeigned
ardor were graciously heard and speedily answer-
ed ; for, although five tedious years had now i oiled
away since the missionaries first landed on the shores
of Greenland, and though, with the exception of the

solitary case just now related, they had seen no fruit
of their labors, the dawning of an interesting day was
now at hand, and the arm of the Lord was ready to
be revealed.

In the beginning of June, a number of Southland-
ers were providentially led to call upon the brethren
whilst John Beck was busily employed in transcrib-
ing a translation of some parts of the New Testament
The natives expressed a wish to know the subject on
which he was writing ; and the missionary gladly em-
braced so favorable an opportunity of sounding in their
ears "the words of eternal life." Accordingly, after
reading a few sentences, he gave them a concise ac-
count of the creation of the worid, the fall of Adam, and
the work of redemption, as effected by our adorable
Saviour ; and, in discoursing on the latter subject, he
was enabled to speak with peculiar affection, pathos,
and energy. He then read to them, from the Gospel
of St. Luke, the beautiful and affecting history of
Christ's agony in Gethsemane. At this juncture, one
of the heathens, named Sayamak, stepped up to the
table, and exclaimed with great earnestness, " How
was that ? Let me hear that again ; for I, too, am de-
sirous to be saved." These expressions, the like of
which had never before dropped from the lips of a
Greenlander, penetrated the missionary's heart with
indescribable emotions, and tears of joy chased each
other down his cheeks whilst he endeavored to set be-
fore his auditors the principal scenes in the life and
death of the Son of God, and to explain the way of
salvation through him. Whilst he was thus engaged,
the other brethren, who had been absent on business,
came home, and joined their fellow-laborer in testify-
ing of tho vileness of ;nan as a sinner, and the precious-
ness of Christ as a Saviour ; and, though a few of the
pagans disliked the subject, and withdrew secretly,
several placed their hands on their mouths, in token
of admiration, and others earnestly solicited that they
might be taught to pray. In short, they exhibited such
a strong desire for religious instruction as had never
been previously witnessed in Greenland ; and when
they went away, they not only expressed an in-
tention of paying the missionaries another visit, but
promised to make their countrymen acquainted with
the important subjects which had so deeply excited
their own attention.

It was soon apparent that Kayarnak was truly con-
vinced by the Spirit of God, and after repeated visiu
to the missionaries, he took up his abode with them.
This stop seems to have been productive of mutual
graiificntion ; as ho was now influlgcd with constant
o|i|iortunities of inquiring more fully into the truths of
Christianity, and they were peculiarly rimrmrd with
the contrast between his character and that of th«

generdityofhi.r^nt,ymen. "When we speak to him »

GREENLAND.

•h. G„.. H»d of L7h r^H^S" ,^ »r™'<«'. \

lions. And soon .«„ ,? ""»f«o»tjr inslroc

o™e„,.nde„t:i7.^r™;„i;r„i:'r''''''''

ary settlement "^-'imy oi the mission-

^n.Uructing the heathen. «„7a? f !" '*?'• "'f'^* <>/

others .ight partak;:fThrs liX:.'::? ''l' ^'"""^^ ^^^^ '^« ^-MWnTZL^TnT'^ *^ '''

success attended the conversationsTh th heh.lV"'. *«:'"-«^''V Me Ae«Men, „nrf3, *" 'J?'' 'if^of

his countrymen on this tmlv • . • ''^ ''«'<1 with wtVA which that chanL ^ f^cnhar bleuing

within the' short siaeo'r"'""^ f'J*"^'' ''''''' ^-"-'"/y *e « nt7f:,r' «"-'^«''- ^Aey aS

«r<y in speaking hZV *'' "' ^'"'''«'- «*"

y apcGKing, but the power of ihp ir^i m

cvuently accompanied the word spot " ^1^ f *""
asaSa^^ourfrom the rorath to cone •^^^""

.oodn':'' "^zrrz T""' ""•^ "^'-'^ ""^

'mentiontotheonirsibLct T-7 "'^''- P"->>1
l.ennanently profi hie to "k". """ '"'''>'*''''«
witl. unutu-raWe gS o :r ho a^ ""' fV ''^'''''
and couhl not venture to ^h K u "'' "'^ Kayarnak,
'"« return. olTZ "'' 'J" ^"'""^« ''"P« "f

«.-i„, .he n?;i^,ir:T^;d'e •i'Sih^-h ^";
-:""^":hr-~^^-^^^^

remained ttdf "and '''"'"''": ,"°' ""'X 'ha. he had
P-pel, hut Uat h »ad T°?'"^"' »'"' «''•'■ "^ «he
and'hi.; fam ; to M?;:?'/'^" ^'"" '"^ ^-'h-
^•«.i .i.lin,,s of 'eter:a.rivltlon ''""""""-'"•^ 'h"

•o«k':p'.tirTh:d'r'N"";i' "'r ^'^-"'«"''-

-questionabl pmlfs "ha^I ""'"V "'"' "'^"^^'^

Severely m ,h„ f.;.i. .f ,u. ^._., . 11 unenlightened c„..„...„„!f f" ° "P°'*"' """'"8 'heir

Vol. 1.1-N„: 4r- ' ^'^ ^— « ^« «.jd ij i„ .heir inquiries^Ai^di:;;;^^!!!:^! """"""y

accompany them, and at length in^ .
laends to return.

before the joy excited by this interesting LZ^Zco
was succeeded l.y „ dark and menacing clo'dTle
bro her..„.l„w of Kayarnak, who also rt'ided ithTl I
brethren, was murdere.l by „ northern han.li.ti, nl^
he pre ouce that he ha.l CK^casioned the death of te
nngleader'sson by son-ery ; „„d „« both Kay„ ^k
and h,s survvmg brother-in-law were threatened vi,
he ame fiue, the fonner resolved to retire with 1
fannly to the south. Against this determinaZ H^
nuss.onanes rcmonstr„...d, under an .ppreh:: ion ,lt
-."h young converts u.igiu be easily lured back "o the
prnctu-es of the heathen. All their exhorta tons „ 'd
entreaties, however, proved ineffectual ; and in the
course „f„ fortnight, they „ot only .saw theolunt ,
«r pped of most of their pupils, hut they were co J
polled to bear the galling reproach that, ,houKr,Z
n..ght succeed in baptizing a few of the G een "J

habits

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

time, they were enabled to render many important
services to the brethren, particularly in respect to the
more perfect attainment of the Graenland language.

Eaily in 1741, Kayarnak was attacked with a
pleurisy, which soon put a termination to his earthly
pilgrimage. During his illness, he exhibited the ut-
most patience and fortitude, and appeared alike regard-
less of woridly concerns, and unaffected by his bodily
sufferings, whilst musing on his adorable Redeemer, and
on the " pleasures which are at his right hand for
evermore." Observing some of his relatives bathed
in tears, he affectionately asked, " Why do you weep
on my account ? Are you not aware that, when be-
lievers die, they go to Jesus, and become partakers of
everiasting joy ? As I was the first of our nation who was
converted by his grace, he has determined that I should
be the first to enter into his presence. He knows how
to provide for you in my absence ; and if you remain
faithful to the end, we shall surely meet again, and
rejoice for ever, before the throne of God and the
Lamb." His dying words appear to have completely
tranquillized the minds of his wife and brother, who
evinced the most pious resignation to the bereavement
which they were called to endure, and solicited the
missionaries to bury him according to the rites of
the Christian religion. Accordingly, on the day of
the funeral, a*\er singing an appropriate hymn, one of
the brethren delivered a short discourse In the house ;
four Greenland youths then carried the body to the
place of interment, where one of the Danish mission-
aries gave a concise exhortation, and the solemnities
were concluded with prayer.

Though the missionaries sustained a severe loss In
the removal of this excellent man, the field of their
usefulness appeared rapidly to extend, and their pros-
pects seemed to brighten in proportion as their labors
of love increased. Wherever the now converts
went in quest of food, they proclaimed the riches
of the grace of Christ ; and, as the consistency of
their conduct harmonized with the truths which fell
from their lips, their savage brethren beheld and heard
them with mingled respect and admiration, and a spirit
of inquiry was widely diffused, which led numbers of
the Greenlanders to the Moravian settlement, anxious
to understand more fully the great truths of divine rev-
elation. The missionaries, however, were extremely
cautious in administering the rite of baptism ; not only
as they had had many and painful proofs that serious
impressions were often very transient among the Green-
landers, but because some of those who had obtained
a theoretical knowledge of the gospel, evinced a spirit
of pride and self-conceit, and wore even desirous of
assuming the character and Importance of teachers
possessing extraordinary acquirements.

In proof of the extensive awakening which took
place, about this time, among the heathen, one of the
baptized Greenlanders informed the missionaries that
he had found his countrymen many leagues to the
north, so anxious to be instructed in the things of God,
that they urged him to spend a whole night with them
in conversation ; and, after he had retired, on the second
night, for the purpose of obuining a little repose, some
of them followed, and constrained him to resume a
subject in which they felt so deeply interested. Even
one of their angekoks, or necromancers, was brought
under such serious impressions, that he wept almost
incessantly during two days, and asserted that he had
dreamed he was in hell, where he witnessed scenes
which it would be utteriy impossible to describe.

This general awakening, after a time, began to
subside ; and the angekoks, aware that their craft was
endangered by the difl^iision of gospel light, invented
and circulated the most absurd and ridiculous stories
respecting the effects of the Christian religion. God,
however, graciously frustrated these attempts of the
enemy of souls, and the little flock of believing natives
increased both in r umbers and in the graces of the
Holy Spirit ; so that, at the close of the year 1748, no
less than two hundred and thirty Greenlanders resided
at New Hermhut, of whom thirty-five had been
baptized in the course of that year. A few of these,
indeed, exhibited many imperfections ; yet, upon the
whole, the brethren had abundant cause to blesa God
for the proofs which were continually manifested in
respect to the Influence of the gospel on their hearts,
binding them to each other in the bonus of fraternal
affection ; rendering them more and more solicitous
for the Improvement of their religious privileges ; and
enabling them, in the hour of sickness and In the arms
of death, to look forward and to look upward with
" a hope full of immortality."

In 1747, the missionaries erected their first church,
the frame and boards of which had been sent by their
friends in Europe ; and in this humble edifice they
had frequently the pleasure of addressing a cor.^.ega-
tion of more than three hundred persons. At the same
time, some commodious storehouses were erected, both
for the brethren and their converts ; and such excel-
lent regulations were adopted in respect to their little
settlement, that the believing Greenlanders were not
only enabled to subsist comfortably themselves, but
they were enabled, in times of scarcity, to extend
their charitable aid to their indigent neighbors.

The winter of 1752 proved more intolerably severe
than any which had occurred in Greenland, in the
memory of even the oldest natives; and in this, as well
as in the two following years, the intensity of the cold
was productive of all the horrors of famine. For a

GREiENLAND.

considerable period, the inleta »>*<> . ^^

that those who att«mn»„^ • '^'npestuous,

wast™,,,hast.,.;e.ed::;Xhe:r^^^^^^^

tore .t.n pieces with herteeth, and devoured itv^thX'
utmost andity. Four children had alieSy Se J
with hunger. We distributed «nong them a pS of
our own scanty pittance, and advised t"emT "^ ^

reluctant to do, as they evinced no inclination to hear

cakmitt's oJT "^ '■'""'"' "*"« "o-superadded the
calamu.es of d«ease; a contagious distemper havine
been unfortunately introduced by some DuL vesrif
which had run in.oBall's river to avoid the icrirmade

ChrirtanX'^r/'"""^^''^ P"^''"' -"^ '•'-he
Christian Greenlanders ; and carried off great numbers
of them, for thirteen or fourteen leaeues ro?.nH .1,
colony. For about the space of threZon.h" 1 1'
such ravages, even at New Hermhut. thatta«X !
day passed without a death or fune al a^rf T„ ^
mstance, four corpses were depos ted ?n Ih! °"^

the same day. iSany other. S\'t iZ^^rj
•n situations where they could not be brought to Se
place of interment. No less than thirty-five S the
Greenland converts were carried off by this disorder •
but whilst the brethren wept over so extensive a„d
unexnected fl hBro.„» . .u. "lensive and

hat those who attempted to ; ourin; ToTfrd
d^d so at the risk of their lives,and seldom succeetS
» far as to shoot a single bird. At this dread uTS
however.only oneof the members belonging tott
mi^ionary settlement perished at sea. HeLtcar'

and r'' '," * r™' '^ '""^ ™P«'"°«"y of the wave
Zrl^ r!'""'^^y ^''^ ""^ "ot •'"own till after a

rhr^kll'TaTf '' '^''r.''" "^y ^'^ '•---^

oLT'T y ''^''""'^*' ^y f^^" ""d ravens.

One day, durmg a terrific tempest, a new and large
boat belonging to the missionaries, was literallv Zh !
to pieces, though it had been dn^Cp'^t beach
and securely fastened to a post • and « 7 T '
afterward, the storm was sTtv^my' trJ^ ."'"
that the mission house and chul were Ztl^ I

""? r 'T' 1 '^'"^ -P'etelyTmlt7°"
rZ^- ^u ^'«-'«»'J«" '^ere now in a truly pitiable
condition being in danger of perishing from Ct Tf

the Z„t2 't^T'"'' ^"' greatly ameliorated by

to extend assistance .n .K„:. ...T'^.^'^'^'^'y "«'-«« I -PPorted the.». poor creatures in the^ mo^t .rvW

in whom they1.a7;:;tvS.ThTr;;l«7f
most pleasing and substantial proofs of he^lSy of
d.v,ne grace in many of their surviving disciples whe„
they saw the readiness with which they undert J^
boar each other's burdens, in respect to'^^he suplt of
the wuiows and orphans of the deceased ; and they were
especially gra.efol for the triumph of divine inSLre
when they saw such of the female convert^^as Ce
.nothers, alternately suckling the helpless infant wh"
nust have perished without their timely aid, an^ who
'f lef m similar circumstances among the heathen'
must have been buried alive ^vlth thfir paren 3 aj
nothing IS so abhorrent to the foelings of a'^Jjreenl'and
woman unacquainted with the gospd. as theTdea "f
noimshmg with her own milk the child of another

Another pleasing instance of the power of eosnel
truth, in expanding the heart and exching to syZ
thy and active benevolence, is thus related in c3,
H.s.ory of Greenland. " „ ,., ^^ ^™» »

brethren, at some of their meetings, to read .0 the^
flock the accounts which they received from their

, congregations m Europe, and esneciallv ,„.h ». J..!.

ii to missions among the heathen." These coniinun"ica"

-extend assistance to t;;;ir*;:;-:nrsri^

support themselves there than at hnll. a u
«„r.i • u .'"''""8 ''««'' frozen around them

aiiye in another. I„ an account of one of their visits

ler:e'^»N::;"'l"l.-\^"' "'-.the missionari
sinpTf L " '"'*""'t'on, which had been lone

smce forsaken, we found fifteen persons half starved
lyng m such a small and low provision hoZ Zt

r rt,r 'r'r-* '^^^ fo^oTr-c're: t:

.0 ul T . ^y '"^ ""« "PO" "nothor, in order

Znl ' '"'' ""y '""^ "« «"'«*^iated that thcv

1. ir. '"7'''«"'-'ve.. oreven tospeaktous'
At length, a man brought in a co„„i« „f Ji... . ^,

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

lioiu were generally heard with a considerable degree
of interest ; but no intelligence ever affected tbem so
deeply as that of the destruction of the Moravian
settlement among the Indians at Gradenhuetten, in
North America. When they were told that most of
the missionaries were either shot or burnt to death, by
the savages in the interest of France, but that the
Indians had escaped to the settlement at Bethlehem,
they burst into tears, and immediately prepared to raise
a little contribution among themselves for their Ameri-
can brethren. ' I,' exclaimed one, ' have a fine
rein-deer skin, which I will give.' ' I,' said a second,
' have a new pair of rein-deer boots, which I will
cheerfidly contribute.' 'And I,' added a third, ' will
send them a seal, that they may have something both to
eat and to burn.' It is hardly requisite to add, that,
however small might be the intrinsic value of such
contributions, tliey were duly appreciated by the
missionaries, and the value of them faithfully trans-
mitted, according to the wish of the simple-hearted
and benevolent donors."

As the congregation at New Herrnhut had now
become very numerous, the missionaries felt anxious to
establish a new settlement, more contiguous to the
Southlanders ; many of whom had repeatedly solicited
them to come and reside in their part of the country.
This wish was no sooner communicated to the congre-
gation in Lusatia, than Matthew Siach, one of the
first founders of the Greenland mission, who had
returned to Europe, after a series of labors, toils and
privations, resolved to go out a second time in behalf
of the heathen, notwithstanding the perils to which
such a step might expose him. Accordingly, in
the month of May, 1758, this heroic soldier of the
cross, accompanied by two assistant brethren, sailed
from Europe, and, after an unusually pleasant voyage,
they arrived in safety at New Herrnhut, grateful for the
success with which past labors had been crowned, and
humbly anticipating a more extenuod diffusion of that
knowledge which is eventually destined to " cover the
earth, as the waters cover the sea."

After resting a few weeks at the mission-house, and
concerting measures with the brethren there, Matthew
Stach and his colleagues, together with four Greenland
families, proceeded in search of a situation for a new
settlement; and, after carefully exploring that part of
the country to which their attention was principally
directed, they fixed upon a small island about three
miles from the main ocean, and at an equal distance
from the Danish factory at Fisher's Bay. This spot
did not afford such a prospect of the sea as they could
have desired ; but it possessed three advantages which
were too imporUnt to be overlooked, viz: fresh water,
which is never totally frozen ; a secure harbor for their

boats; and a strand, which remains open the whole
year, and is at a moderate distance from the sea.
Here, therefore, they pitched their tents, and called
the place of their little encampment Lichtenfels.

Owing to the want of building materials, the new
settlers exprienced much difficulty in erecting their
houses ; and at the same time, such scarcity prevailed
in their district, that it was hardly possible for them
to provide a subsistence. This calamity was not of
short duration, but unfortunately continued two or
three years, during which period many of the sav-
ages died of absolute want ; and even the Greenland
fannlies at Lichtenfels were at last reduced to the ne-
cessity of feeding principally upon muscles and sea-
weed, which they gathered upon the strand, at low
water. The missionaries themselves having hitherto
been precluded from erecting a storehouse for their
provisions, were often reduced to the most painful
straits, and could afford but Uttle assistance to their
necessitous fellow sufferers.

In addition to the afflictions resulting from the want
of food, the brethren and their companions were expos-
ed to many and severe hardships from the tempestu-
ous state of the sea, and the terrific storms which pre-
vailed on the island. In the month of March, 1759
four of the missionaries, being suddenly overtaken by
a heavy fall of snow, were so completely entangled
among the floating masses of ice, that for some time
it was impracticable to stir in any direction ; and when,
at length, by the most violent efforts in rowing, they
approached the shore, the waves were so boisterous,
that the mere attempt to land seemed to be identified
with inevitable destruction. They had, in fact, given
themselves up as lost; but just as they were devoutly
praying that one of their number might escape, to re-
late the sad destiny of his colleagues, an opening was
providentially made in the ice by the tide, and they
were enabled to land in safety.

In the month of November the weather was so
stormy, that on one occasion, the mission-house wa»
sh iken to its foundations, as if by an earthquake ; not-
withstanding it was very low, and the walls were three
feet nine inches in thickness. Many of the Greenland
houses and boats were also destroyed or materially
damaged ; and in some places immense bodies of ice
were split and torn open by the storm, though the
chasms thus made were almost immediately filled up
by the snow. It is a remarkable fact, that both pre-
vious to and immediately after these tempests, balls
of fire were seen in the air at different places, and one
of them had nearly proved destructive to a house, by-
falling upon the roof.

Amidst all these trials, however, the missionaries
had the satisfaction of seeing «< the work of the Lord

f^A •". •'""^- Notwithsunding the steeo
cliffs «,d rugged valleys which lay between them Z
the natives who resided near the Danish f!^.
of the latter frequently visitedl'Ll't r;~Tf

wiT-.:"r?°"'. r^'^ --^-»"« '-Son

was m,.e on :„e m.nds of others, who came to the
settlement occasionally, and obtained, byTeUes !
general acquaintance with the leading tr'uthsTtiie

-.ofacco^mmodeiions^l-dhtlton^^^^^^^
much inconvenience Thon,;„- l "^""'emm

^cro:d^ T'of ''""^' ' ^^^ p'^^^^''' - ^^-

10 crowd the congregation into the large Greenland

tents, the sixth part of them could scarcely assemb e
n an, one of these, and they were frequen.fy preeTu"

could be comfor.;bly acclmldaL""" '""^^^

At New Herrnliut, in the mean time, the cause of

our adorable Emanuel continued to flourish! maTy^f

tt tretu/""?'"'^: '■"'"*''« -"th,cominued'to

d o s t 1 "f X"'' '"''"' '"'P''^^'^' -"h "-won.
arous tale of the cross, took up their abode with the
believers ; and between tbii-iv La r .

that even those who were the original founders of tl-
mission still labored "in word ani doctri " "ith
diminished zeal and activity ; and it is peculiariy wol-
thy of remark, that notwithstanding the toils they had
endured, the privations they had experienced, and the
penis to w^uch they had been exposed, no one of

teL In r "'"'r rl'*" «"/-«« o^alaring
disease. In the month of July, 1763, however the

.ZrT- ^ '"^ "•'*' ''"''^ f^""' his labors, and

entered into eternal rest, in the fiftv.fnur.K "LcT.

Vol. I — «08. 5 k e. " /'^r^i his

GREENLAND.

and NewV i;!;!"; '"° ""'^™^"'^ of Lichtenfels

In 1773, Christopher Michnpl K^^^i
in Greenland as supLintendem Jf thr •^'''' ""^"^
country; .„d i„ addition tole fahhfS'T".' '" ''^
the various duties connected will discharge of
enabled to render r!o *"' °®*=®' ^e was

brethren rytrc:mp^rk:r2e:ftl " ^''^
which he speedily obtained H«! ''' ""^""8*

advantages of a iLral ?/ \- T^ '^'^^'"^'^ ""^
qualified^ocorrL thetran,!? "'ru' ^"^ «'^« -«"
and he added to thdr t.L 2"^' r" ^'^''^''^^-^^ '

Lmhtenfels. and within a few days' sail from C^
Far we,, ,„3 ^^^^ ^^^^ ^J popuTous L

not less than a thousand inhabitants are said o h^v^
resided w.thm the cin^uit of . few n,;i« ul^
tnorejore, an extensive field was opened formissionaty'

MISSIONS OP THE UNITED BRETHREN.

exertions ; and the faithful and unremitting labors of
the brethren were crowned with the most pleasing
success. Even at first, considerable numbers of the
heathen flocked to hear them preach, so that they
were frequently obliged to worship in the open air,
previous to the erection of a church ; and during the
winter of 1775, nearly two hundred persons took up
their abode with them. In fact, many of these were
baptized at the expiration of a few months ; and, in a
few years, the believing Greenlanders at Lichtenau ex-
ceeded in number those at either of the other settlements.
In 1782, Greenland, was again visited by a direful
and contagious disorder, which appears to have been
unfortunately introduced by a vessel belonging to the
whale fishery ; and during its continuance, its ravages
were so extensive, that, in some places, there were
not sufficient persons in health to tend the sick, or
to commit the bodies of their deceased friends to
the grave. At New Herrnhut, the number of deaths
from April till August, amounted to one hundred and
twenty-five ; and though the disease broke out later at
Lichtenfels and Lichtenau, it proved equally fatal in
those settlements. Whole families were left dfistitiite
by the death of their parents, and the situation of in-
fants at the breast was peculiarly distressing. Among
the heathen Greenlanders the mortality appears to have
been still greater ; so that the population of the whole
country must have been greatly reduced by this
melancholy visitation.

Some new regulations which had been made by the
directors of the Greenland Trading Company, though
designed to benefit the natives in a temporal point of
view, proved highly injurious to their spiritual interests ;
particularly an order which enjoined that fewer
Greenlanders should reside together in one place.
This necessarily led to a partial dispersion of the con-
verts, and compelled them to fix their abode in dif-
ferent situations, at the distance of ten or twelve miles
from the Moravian settlements ; by which means they
were deprived of the regular instructions to which they
had been accustomed. Many of them, indeed, were
so deeply convinced of the danger to which they
were exposed by such a separation from their teachers,
that they gradually returned, and refused to leave the
settlements in future ; and after some time, it was
resolved, in regard to those who were obliged to
go to a distance, that one of the native assistants
should accompany each party, and remain with them
during their absence, regularly keeping up among them
their daily morning and evening devotions. They also
received occasional visits from some of the missionaries,
though, on such occasions, these devoted servants of
God were frequently exposed to the most imminent
danger, from the masses of floating ice, which frequent-

ly intercepted their progress, damaged their boat, and
sometimes threatened to cut off all communication with
the shore.

In their secular employments they were likewise
frequently in peril of their lives ; as will. appear from
the following well authenticated anecdote : — Two of
the brethren having gone to an adjacent island, for the
purpose of obtaining drift-wood for fuel, were so com-
pletely surrounded by the ice, that for several days
their return appeared to be absolutely hopeless.
Their companions at New Herrnhut, alarmed at the
unaccountable length of their absence, repeatedly sent
out some of the converted Greenlanders to ascertain
what had become of them ; but all the efforts of these
men to penetrate through the ice with their boats
proved unavailing. Providentially, however, the two
brethren succeeded in catching a sufficient quantity of
fish to satisfy the cravings of hunger, and, after a consid-
erable time, worked their way to the shore, but at such
a distance, that they were obliged to perform a fatigu-
ing journey over lofty mountains, and across extensive
plains, before they reached the missionary settlement.
The perils to which the missionary Grillich was
exposed, and the providential deliverance which he
experienced on a voyage to Copenhagen, in the year
1798, are too remarkable to be passed over in silence.
In the month of October, this zealous servant of Christ
sailed from Greenland, in a ship belonging to Julianen-
haab, on business connected with the missions ; but
at the expiration of five weeks, the vessel was obliged
to return in consequence of the damage which she had
received from the drift-ice. Early in the ensuing
year, he again set sail in the same ship, but the drift-
ice had now increased in quantity ;' and, after being
completely surrounded by it, from the 18th to the
25th of February, it was deemed advisable to quit the
vessel, with all the property on board. Accordingly,
the whole of the crew, under their captain's directions,
commenced their march over the ice, dragging a boat
after them. Two nights they passed in the open air,
and had no other means of allaying their thirst than by
drinking melted snow. On the third morning, they
launched their boat into open water, and after sailing
about five leagues, once more reached the coast of
Greenland. Soon after they had landed, a terrific
storm arose, accompanied with showers of snow and
sleet ; and it unfortunately happened, that they had
neither food nor shelter for the night. They Iblt
thankful, however, that the tempest had not overtaken
them previous to their reaching the shore ; and the
following day, a favorable breeze sprang up, which
enabled them to proceed in safety to the colony at
Frederichaab. Here brother Grillich experienced
a long delay ; but, by the good providence of his

I^ne Mnster, he .t length arrived safe at Copen-

trie^tSeZrjH "^" '?''"^"°"'' ^H^^-once more
tned the fa.th of the missionaries, and thinned the ranks
of their disciples. The former, however, w^re as
• usua,, humbly submissive to the chasteni;g of 'the
Almighty, and unremittingly attentive to the'sick and
the dy.„g. whilst the latter, weaned from sublunary
attachments, and immovably fixed on the Ro^k of

ifnn.fflTV"""'' '" '°°'' '^-'h - ^h« face with
unruffled calmness, and to contemplate the graved a
bed chamber which had once been honoreTby The
presence of the King of glory, and perfumed wth the
richest odors of the Rose of Sharon

retuniTF.!!^' "'I"""? ""^"'P'^' '" «"emp,ing to
return to Europe, after devoting twentv-six veJ. „f
his hfe to the rauso r^rn^A • /-. , "v six years of

enliaab. The bay being nearly blocked up by drift-ice
Uiey were detained here several weeks • hnf L
Greenlanders having stated that the sea I'as « 'en aTI
short distance, the captain weighed anchor onTagd

motion, through immense fields of ice • hnf «„ ,u
25th, a storm arose from the south-we t,' w ^h dro I
he mountams of ice close upon the ship, and appelL
to menace immediate destruction. The scene wa^
now truly tremendous, and it appeared as if "e lei
sel, with her sails closely reefed, and driving beforeThJ
wind, must inevitably be dashed to atoms At on!

escaped with their boats to an adiacpnt fi^M c ■
when nothing more appeared abovfr u ce^of S
water than the larboard gunwale n„. ■ ■

wreck and just before they qui„ed it, they were
above^their knees m water, and clinging firml/to T

The mariners were now anxious to make toward
he hore which was only about a league distant bm

be a rough, pointed rL, anVd^tute^^^e^rttr

GREENLAND.

except one small spot, at a considerable height which

was covered with shori erass H»r- ,u ^ '

to land the provisions S had been Zl^lf

Sdriven tn^h '' '""'. ''^^'^f'^'^ sailors on board!
cru bed L pile s' T^T' ^T ""'' '''''''^' '"»'«
^s Mr. rS;,, 4LTanli:3;l^lThJi:

were completely soakerf in ^o. • . ' """^ "'^

the midst of a pool" "'' '^'"S' ^ '' ^^"«' ■«»

dolph and the partner of his affectioL wouW w iilin^^v'

Time now passed heavily indepH «•;»», „ • •
arv anH Jiia ^« • ' '""^^"'^'tn our mission-

of d,„„ve„„g Ceenlande, h„«„ L ' » beij

naturally conceived h!. ?J^ ". ^^"""S' they

and we soon felt entirely resigned to A.. wS' '

Th^'tVr "^' "" ""'^'^ be literally fulfilled
-'f'f^ftunaio persons, who had not tasted food-

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

since they left the wreck, and whose existence had
hitherto been prolonged by their occasionally drinking
a little of the fresh water collected in the fissures of
the rock, were now apparently sinking into the arms
of death, when on the 2d of September, as they were
lying down to sleep, the wife of Rudolph happened
to raise herself, and discovered some Greenlanders,
who had been rowing about in their kajaks the whole'
of the day without seeing any persons on the rock,
and who were now proposing to return. From them
the sufferers obtamed a few herrings, but were obliged
to remain on the rock another night, as the Green-
landei^ had no boat for their accommodation. The
followmg evening, however, they were safely conveyed
to the colony of Julianenhaaf, where they learned that
the whole ship's company, with the exception of one
man, had been providentially preserved ; and on the
11th they proceeded to the settlement at Lichtenau,
where then- miraculous deliverance afforded inexpres-
sible pleasure to their fellow-laborers and to the whole
congregation. Here they passed the winter ; and in
the course of the following year they removed to
Lichtenfels, whence they sailed, in one of the Danish
vessels, to Copenhagen.

The rupture between Grieat Britain and Denmark,
m 1807, naturally occasioned an interruption of the
intercourse between Greenland and Europe ; and, as
the medium of obtaining supplies in the former country
was thus shut up, the Moravian brethren at the differ-
ent settlements were much distressed for want of the
necessaries of life. Gloomy apprehensions were, of
course, excited ; and these were considerably aug-
mented by a series of untoward circumstances. One
of the two ships sent out by the British government
was lost in the ice ; and tlie provisions purchased in
London, in 1809, could not be sent, as the fitting out of
vessels from Great Britain to Greenland was found to
be attended with much inconvenience. A Danish
provision ship was, also, unfortunately captured by the
English ; so that only one small vessel arrived in Green-
land during the year, and her cargo was, of course, very
inadequate to supply the various factories on the coast.
At New Herrnhut and Lichtenfels the brethren were
now obliged to use such economy that it was necessary,
as they expressed it, to measure every mouthful they
ate, in order to make their provisions last as long as
possible ; and the following extract of a letter, written
by Mr. Beck, one of the missionaries, in 1813, will
afford some idea of the distress which was felt in the
settlement of Lichtenau.

"In 1807, we received the last regular supplies;
which were sufficient, in addition to what we had saved
m former years, to maintain us for a considerable time ;
and, as we hoped that the interruption occasioned by

the war would not last long, we felt no anxiety ; but
when both the colonists and our brethren at New
Herrnhut and Lichtenfels began to suffer privations,
we cheerfully helped them, out of our store, to various
necessary articles, of which we afterwards felt the
want. In the north, there was still some trade, by
which partial relief was obtained ; but here nothing
could be derived from that source. We thanked God,
however, that we had still the means of supporting
life, though deprivedof many little comforts, as coffee,
sugar, and wine ; and, afterwards, of butter and salt ;
at last, we were the only people that had any tobacco,
the favorite article of barter with the Greenlanders ;
and, with this, we were enabled to purchase birds, fish,
and a small supply of vegetables, together with furs,
for our boats and clothing."

In this situation, both the Moravian brethren and
the colonists remained till the year 1811, when, not-
withstanding the war, the British government humanely
permitted the Danes to send vessels with provisions
to their factories in Greenland; and the congregations
in Europe were enabled, by the same means, to trans-
mit supplies to their faithful missionaries, who, on
receiving them, were filled with emotions of joy and
gratitude.

In 1812, J. C. Kleinschmidt, whose wife had been
removed into the worid of spirits, after a residence of
nearly nineteen years in Greenland, resolved to convey
his young family to Europe, in order to place them m
one of the schools belonging to the United' Brethren.
He accordingly quitted Lichtenfels in the month of
July, and, after a tedious and perilous voyage, he
arrived at New Herrnhut, where he embarked with
four of his children, and the widow and daughter of
another missionary, in a vessel bound for Leith in Scot-
land. At first, the wind was propitious, and they
congratulated themselves on the probability of a pleas-
ant and speedy voyage; but, before they had sailed any
considerable distance, a tremendous storm arose from
the north-west, and raged for three days with unabated
violence. When the tempest was at its height, on the
evening of the 29th, the passengers were alarmed by a
dreadful crash, and the vessel seemed to shake to its
centre, as if from some terrific concussion. The fact was,
that an electric flash had struck the ship, and thrown
down two of the sailors, one of whom expired imme-
diately. The mariners were, of course, thrown into the
utmost consternation, and the captain, pale and agitated,
rushed upon tho deck, exclaiming, '< We are all lost,
and there is not a ship at hand to save us !" It seems
he had anticipated that the vessel had taken fire ;
but this fear was happily unfounded ; and whilst
Kleinschmidt and his widowed sister were solemnly
commending themselves and the dear children to the

Lord Jesus, in whose presence they expected shortly
to appear, the v.dence of the storm gradually suli
sided. A series of severe gales and contrary winds
subsequently prolonged the voyage, and rendered it
necessary to put them on short allowance of water • a
circumstance which was peculiarly distressing to the
children. A few days afterwards, however, the^
amved safely m Leith roads; and, though a gainful
bereavement here awaited our excellent missionary,
yet, whilst he wept over the loss of a beloved child
he acknowledged with unfeigned gratitude the sooth-
ng and affectionate attentions which he received from

^m:lT ~' *"'' ''-' ""' ^" ''^ '''y

Durbg the absence of this excellent man, a most
painful catastrophe occurred in the congregatioL which
he had long served with equal devotednefs and IS
tion. A party of seventeen baptized Greenlanders
having celebrated Christmas at the settlement, wer"
returning to one of the villages, or out-places, as they
are called, m which they resided, by ali order of the
government, for promoting the interests of trade. When
hey set out in their skin boat, it was so intensely cold
that Reaumur s thermometer stood twelve degrees
below the freezing point. On approaching the mLse
of floating ice their fragile bark was soon crushed in
pieces ; but they escaped upon a large ice field and
wandered about for several houi-s. During the night
however, a tremendous storm arose from^he noftl '
which IS supposed to have driven them into the sea'
as they were never heard of afterwards.

Having placed his children in the care of the
brethren at Fulneck, in Yorkshire, and having again
entered into the state of matrimony, Mr. Kleinschmid"
and his wife, with several other brethren and sisters

Greenland; and, after a safe and tolerably pleasant

DiskTn' 'T"'^' '^"y ""^^'^ ^^ Godha'ven,"
renin ,'^i A ^"P*"" ''"'•"S most ungenerously
refused to land them near either of the missionary

settlements.thoughneither the wind northeice preclud-
ed him from setting them ashore atLitchtenfelsorlVew
Hermhut. His conduct, on this occasion, appears to
have been the result of wanton and premeditated
barbamy; for though the sailors repeatedly remon-
strated with him on the cruelty of carrying these
passengers so far out of their way, he continued sailing
on, and merely replied, " Never mind, they have the
summer before them." In consequence of this unfeeling
treatment two of the brethren had to sail back in a
bo.t SIX hundred miles to New Hermhut ; another
amdy were compelled to proceed ninety miles further,
to L«htenfels ; and Mr. and Mrs. Kleinschmidt, afte^
reaching the first of these settlements, had stUI to

GREENLAl^.

perfom . voyage of five hundred mUes before they
amved at Lichtenau. At length, however, by thJ
persevermg care of their Heavenly Father, they all
amved m safety at theL- respective pl«5es of destination,
and forgot, ^idst the congratulations of their beloved
brethren and sisters, the perils to which they had
been so recently exposed. '

.1 '" ^®*^; ?^ ""^'"""'es at New Hermhut had the
pleasure of baptizing an adult convert from heathen-
ism ; and. as such an occurrence had not taken place
•n that setUement for several years, a deeper imLs-
sion than ordinary was made on the minds of all the
spectators. At this time, indeed, there were but few
pagan Greenlanders in the vicinity of this district
most of the inhabitants having been baptized either
by the Moravian or the Danish missionaries, and
instructed in the leading tmths of Christianity.

The winter of 1817 appears to have been unusu-
ally severe, and the frequency of the storms from the
north-east increased the cold to such a degree, that
even the warmest clothing proved insufficient to keep

f . fT'- ^^^ P*^' Greenlanders were now
precluded from cjtaining any subsistence by fishine •
and, as their winter stock of provisions was soon
exhausted, they suflfered severely from hunger at the
approach of spring. This was a source of unspeak-
able grief to the missionaries, whose hearts yearned
over the hosts of half-famished children crying for
food at their doors, whilst pmdence reminded them of
their own limited means, and of the legitimate claims
of fifty-seven boys and sixty giris, then in their own
schools Providential aid, however, was much nearer
than had been anticipated ; for when the natives were
m immment danger of perishing with famine, the
weather suddenly changed, an opening was made in
the ice, and an ample supply of seals and herrings
dispersed the general gloom, and excited the most lively
gratitude to that adorable Being who "openethhis
hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing."
In a letter written at Lichtenau on the 3d of July,
1818, the excellent missionary Beck observes, " Most
of our Greenlanders have learned that most important
lesson, that there is no good in ourselves; but that we
must keep close to Jesus, as poor creatures, standing
in constant need of Am help and mercy. They make
these declarations with full conviction of heart, and we
see manifest proofs that the Holy Spirit is daily guid.ne
them into all tmth. Of the greatest part of our con-
gregation we may say with confidence, that their
words and walk give us great joy and encouragement.
Many of the excluded persons have been led, with
weeping and supplication, to confess the error of their
ways, and to retum to the fold. And those who
reraamed faithful have been preserved in the conviction

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

that real happiness and rest are only to be found in
Jesus.

" Compared with other missions, our increase has
been but small. One girl, however, has been baptized ;
and five families have come to us from the heathen,
all of whom assert that it is their earnest desire to
be converted to Christ. This they continually repeat,
and, in process of time, we shall know whether the
declaration proceeds from their hearts ; for, during
the summer they leave us with the rest, to go in
search of food, and to procure a stock for winter con-
sumption.

" There are many heathen in the south, in the
vicinity of Staatenliook, but their hearts are as cold as
the ice by which they are surrounded. In June, we
had a considerable company here, who accompanied
our people during the herring fishery ; but not one
of them evinced the least inclination to listen to the
truths of the gospel. They all returned home, the
ways of the heathen being more congenial with their
dispositions than those of the people of God. We
hope, however, that a time will yet come, when they
shall not only hear but believe."

In the same year (1818) five families of the believ-
ing Greenlanders, who had hitherto lived in the out-
places, took up their abode at Lichlenfels, regardless
of the displeasure of the traders ; ami as the congrega-
tion knew how essentially both they and their children
would be benefited by residing under the eye of the
missionaries, they received them with the greatest
pleasure and afl^ction. It seemed, indeed, on this
occasion, as if there were a peculiar revival of life
and love among the people, and whenever the church
Was opened for divine worship, it was filled with serious
and attentive hearers. During the Christmas holydays
both old and younn; afforded the most pleasing demon-
strations that the Holy Spirit was progressively leading
them into all truth ; and one day, in particular, a party
of them came, of their own accord, to the front of the
mission-house, and began to sing hymns of praise and
thanksgiving, accompanied by musical instruments, with
such solemnity and devotion, that none of the brethren
within doors could refrain from tears. The singers
themselves were evidently affected by the great truths
which I- ing upon their lips, and one of tliem was heard
to say afterwards, " I have often attended and assisted
at such solemnities ; but 1 never felt what I experi-
enced on this occasion. Surely our Saviour was present
with us to-day. We have made a new and entire
Burrendor of our hearts to him, and he has graciously
ncceptpd them. Oh ! that we may evince our thank-
fulness, by keeping the promises which we have made,
and by living more to his honor!" During this year,
6v8 persons were receivec? into the congregation at |

Lichtenfels, and eleven were admitted to a partici-
pation of the holy communion.

In a letter, dated Lichtenau, June 25, 1819, Jio
missionary Kleinschmidt says, " During the last winter
a great quantity of snow fell, but our Greenlanders
were very constant in their attendance at church.
The Lord our Saviour has shown great mercy towards
us and our people. His love and power have been
manifested among us, and the congregation has
increased both in numbers and in the grace of Jesus
Christ. More adults have been baptized than for
many years past ; and in all our meetings the Lord
has been present to bless us. It was to us an easy
and delightful duty to speak to our people of the suf-
ferings and death of our Saviour ; for their hearts were
prepared to receive the doctrines of the cross, and the
divine power of the word was displayed in their walk
and conversation. Often have we shed tears of joy
and thankfulness for this singular proof of the mercy
of God, towards us ; and when we have joined our
dear people in their songs of praise ' unto Him that
was slain, and hath redeemed us unto God by his
blood,' we have felt an emotion of rapture which words
are inadequate to describe."

The following interesting particulars are extracted
from a letter of Mr. Beck, written at Lichtenau in 'he
same year and month as the preceding communicati in.
"The Southlanders, or those Greenlanders who
live beyond Cape Farewell, though not quite wild,
are ignorant of the things of God, and in reality a
heathen race. Many of them come hither every year
to catch a small species of herrings in our bay ; and,
as our people are at the same place, the way of sal-
vation is sometimes explained to them. Some of them,
indeed, appear to have been led to reflection ; but
they cnnnot resolve for the sake of the gospel, to quit
their own country, and take up their abode with us. A
few parties of them have been here on a visit ; but,
though we spoke seriously to them of the necessity of
convnrsion, not one of them could he persuaded to re-
main with us. Tlio time of their visitation does not seem
yet to Imve arrived ; but if the Lord would open
their hearts, as he did that of their rour>trynian,
Kaynrnak, ihcir present objections would soon vanish,
"Thcio is another description of heathen who live
on this .side of Cape Farewell, and frequently join our
people at what are called the out-pluccs. These have
acquired some knowle<lgc of the truth, and not only
oicasionnlly attend the worship of the believing Green*
landers, but consider themselves as good as those who
have been admitted iriio the church by baptism, because
they have al)an(loned their gross heathenish pracu'cet.
"As to our own congregation, the Ix)rd has been
very gracious throughout the past year, and has pre-

iil'

JIfii
I"

kri*

served among them a true hungering and thirsting after
the word of hfe, that they might find pasture for their
souls Our daily meetings have been numerously
attended, and the eagerness of the people for divine
ordina^.ces has been so great, that, when they have
arrived just at the commencement of the evenine
service, after having spent the whole of the day at
sea, they have come to the church wet, cold and
hungry as they were, without even stopping to take
the slightest refreshment.

" Though the last winter was not so severe as the
precedmg one, yet the sea froze twice to a consider-
able distance from the siiore ; so that the Greenland-
ers were prevented from going out to catch seals. As
early as November, the cold reached the tenth degree
below the freezing point; and, there being no snow,
the springs and brooks were all frozen, which occa^
sioned a great scarcity of freah water. Our people
however, had . tolerable supply of the necessaries
oi lile. and none had cause to complain."

Shortly after this letter was despatched to Europe
two heathen families came to Lichtenau, and afforded
ample cause of rejoicing to the missionaries at that
settlement They had resided for a considerable time
in the neighborliood. and had frequently been visited
and exhorted by the brethren, but never appeared
. ned to attend to the things connected with' their
eternal interests. One of the men. who, for a Ion.
series of years, had been visited by the missionary
Beck, now addressed him to the following effect
How ,s It that, notwithstanding you have so He-
quently spoken to me about Jesus Christ, your words
never made an impression on my heart, but now I
begin to leflect upon them as I never did before ?
What a stupid creature have I been, in approving
the way, ^f „„ , ,,^„_ an.l persisting in the practice
of their customs ! Now, however, I have for the first
^me discovered where true happiness is to be found !"
Th,,s ,^, was fully corroborated by the old man's

l.ft n„ I deportment, «„,|, after a suitable time, ho was
pu he. y baptized, together with bin wife, hist vo sons
and h.s daughtor. and they all asserted, with gS
energy that they l,„,l now no other desire in ,l"o
world ^^^^^^^^^^

Anothor ,,ea„„n Greonlan.ier. who had frequently
t kcl alKuu ,;onvers,o„. h„t apparently without any
de sense of its vast importan..,. was soi.ed with I
d. "r.lor w noh he oonrc-ived ,W,,Ui probably prole
fu.ai. Ho thoretiire desired, notwithstanding hi weak-
ness, ,h„, he might be carried to l.ich.enau; „nd on

GREENLAND.

iR visited by the brethren, |

liis soul lik

;« one who had benn I

lie spoke of the state of

tunately with the Lord for the pardon of his sins, he
expressed such an ardent desire to be admitted nto
he pale of the Christian church, that it was deemed
•mproper to refuse his request, and the rite of baptisrn
was administered to him on his sick bed, whilst a sen
sation of unusual solemnity seemed to pervade the
nunds of all who were assembled both'witJin ^d

eTcraLed '" M '' 'T '"'' '^'"'^''^'^ transaction,t
the mT T ' •" ^' "">«' satisfactory reliance on
the mercy and merits of the Redeemer i and, in the
course of the year, his widow and two children were
united to the congregation by baptism. Several others
expressed a warm desire to become partakers o the
I blessings enjoyed by the people of God, and wi.Wn
he space of twelve months, seventeen Adults, gTt
::X1;.^ ''''' oldandunder,andfifteen LLI

thi J timl"''"''""'"" 1 " ^''^"'^"^ hymn-book, about

theirf ^''"!'«''«)""S natives eagerly adopted it in
their family devotions, and such as' were unable
o read got others to repeat the hymns to .hern!
and bus committed them to memory. "One even

Imu' 'Z ^'- ^"'' "' ^"^^^^'^ ^ GreenLder's
o se,and saw one of our native assistants sitting

in f r""","'""' " ''^ '""'- ""'^ ^ ""'"'- of boyf

ittmg before him, each with his book, employed in

earning the verses, and singing delightfully, whilst

i.e other inmates were quietly listening to them. In

another house, some of our sisters were teaching the

g .Is to s„.g the new tunes, and we have had a general

meeting for singing every week."

In a letter from Liehtenfels, dated June 15, 1820
Uie missionary J G Gorcke, after some remarks on the
manuscript translation of the Now Testament, adverts
to tins subject m the following terms : " We see
already what ^roat benefit «c,-ru3s to us from the
pnntmg and distribution of such works, by the blessing
jvlnch a...o,„pan,ed the new hymn-book, printed m
Oormany aiHl sent tons Inst year. This has been
enlarged by the introdiution of many new hymns
some of winch have tunes hitherto unknown to !"•'
and the use of ,t has infuse.l new life i.-.o that beautiful
part of our worship. Our (Jrconlamlers .spc„,l many
an evening, even till mi.lnigh.,in rca.lii.g, I. .rnin^, and
s".gnig the new hynms „n,l versos; and they hav'- fZ
'iuently expressed their ideas respecting the use of
'<'"' "' a very striking and affecting manner. A.none

.1.0 school chihlrcn. also, the liveliest joy has S
excite, by this valuable present. Some, who saw how
>">.el. those who could rca.l delighted in it, whilst they
thonisn vna wnr,. ......i.i.. ... . . . J

.1." ,.!.., or ..,„„„„, .„., „„i, 1- :::si:^ 1 2:2

ore unable to use it, applied

In t)i<

iiig Willi the utmost
and understand so interesting a book. Nay,

that they might

MISSIONS OP THE UNITED BRETHREN.

many of our youth, of both sexes, who had been in a
state of indifference, or guilty of deviations, have been
awakened by its contents, and constraiued to seeic for
mercy, and have subsequently evinced the greatest
consistency of conduct."

In the course of the preceding summer, two
heathen families arrived at Lichtei.fels on their way to,
and theii return from, the north. As they staid sev-
eral days, and attended the worship of the congrega-
tion, the brethren entered into conversation with them,
and found them ingenuous and unreserved. They
acknowledged the necessity of conversion in order to
the obtaining of everlasting happiness ; but they ob-
served that they could not possibly exchange their
fine southern land for the dreary spot inhabited by the
missionaries. They seemed extremely anxious, how-
ever, that some teachers might be sent to them ; in
which case, they expressed a confldencc that many of
their countrymen would embrace the truths of the gos-
pel. A widow belonging to this party at last made up
her mind to remain with the brethren ; and, as she
was soon and evidently favored with clear views of
her own state as a sinner, and with a thorough con-
viction of the precious truth that " C'-.rist Jesus came
into the world to seek and to save those that were
lost," she was solemnly admitted into the church, by
the name of Magdalen. As no adult heathen had
been previously baptized at Lichtenfels for a period of
seventeen years, the solemn transaction was attended
by such a "melting sense of the presence and grace of
the adorable Redeemer, that every heart was over-
whelmed with indescribable emotions, and every eye
was suffused with tears.

On the 29th of June, the venerable missionary Beck,
then in the eightieth year of his age, celebrated the
jubilee of his missionary labors ; having, on that day,
completed the fiftieth year of his service in Greenland.
He was born in this inhospitable country, where his
parents had been long employed in the work of the
mission ; and, after receiving his educotion in Europe,
ho returned to his native land, as a preacher of the
gospel, on the 29th of June, 1770, being then nearly
thirty years of age ; and, from that time, his labors
were uniformly characterized by zeal and fidelity, an<l
frequently attended with a peculiar blessing. Fn
alluding to this subject, about a foi might before the
completion of the term to which we have directed the
reader's attention, he thus writes : — " It is now fifty
years since I received and accepted my call to serve
this mission, in which my dear fathor was employed
during forty-throo years. The Greenlanders have no
correct idea of such a number of years, and would
not understand the design of a ^uA/iccehibraiion, which
has been proposed. Nay, rather would I celebrate it

m stdlness and private meditation, in humility and a
conscious sense of my unworthiness, and in praising
my merciful Lord and Master, who has shown such
favor to an unprofitable servant. I see many here, to
whom I had the privilege of speaking ' a word in sea-
son,' when they were wild heathen, and I rejoice that
they are now feithful followers of Christ, and adorn
the religion which they profess."

During the last week in July, whilst two of the
missionaries were busily engaged in superintending
the repairs of the church at Lichtenau, the Greenland
assistants were deputed to visit those members of the
congregation whose residences were scattered on the
coast, and to invite them to attend an approaching
celebration of the Lord's supper. This measure was
crowned with the desired success, and numbers came
to the settlement from the out-places, earnestly desirous
of enjoying such a season of spiritual solace and refresh-
ment. It was particularly pleasing to hear that the
conduct of these persons, whilst at a distance from
their teachers, and deprived, in a considerable measuro,
of the means of grace, had been consistent with their
holy profession ; and some of the assistants appeared
truly charmed with the idea that, in a short time,
some of their heathen countrymen would fulfil their
promise of coming to Lichtenau, for the purpose of
hearing the gospel.

On the 4th of August, a boat arrived at the settle-
ment, with a party of heathen Greenlanders, consist-
ing of four widows with their families ; and on the
following day an aged native, called Neppinek, arrived
with his family from the south. As all these persons
had for some time expressed a wish of taking up their
abode near the missionaries, with a view to their spir-
itual instruction, they were received with the greatest
kindness, and the most earnest prayers were offered
on their behalf, that, through the instrumentality of
the brethren, they might be led to an experiment-
al knowledge of the salvation which is in Christ
Jesus.

About ten days after the arrival of these Green-
landers, one of the assistant brethren, named Moritz,
brought the body of liis only son, a youth of thirteen
years of ago, to Lichtenau, for interment. It seems
he had gone, with some of his companions, to bathe
in a pond, and, venturing into too deep water, was
unfortunately drowned lieibre any one could hasten to
his assistance. As ho was a boy of an amiable dispo-
sition, docile, attentive ond obedient, his parents were
overwhelmed with grief in consequence of his untimely
end. They would, indeed, have been utterly inconsola-
ble had not the poignancy of their sorrow been allevi-
ated by the cheering hopo that his disembodied spirit
was removed to a state of cnulcss felicity.

Early m the month of September, a heathen Green-
ander came with h.s family to spend the winter h,
the settlement at Lichtenau, assuring the missionaries
that It was h.s earnest desire to turn to the Lord. Bu
a short time had elapsed since he was exposed to the
most mimment dangerof his life, and this circumstance
might probably have strengthened his pious ^Zl
and resolutions. Having harpooned a large seal, he
wounded animal turned upon him with the most savage
fury, and not only rent a hole in his kajak, but even
a tacked h.s person, tearing his clothes, and wound ng
hnn severely. Providentially, a baptized native hasten^
ed to his assistance at the very juncture when he was
beginningto sink ; and, though the dying seal attacked
Uie new comer with sufficient force to tear a hole in

both tTe Gro' TT r "°" "^"'^^ -'--'«^. -d
On the .H?" ^:^^^y ''^''P''^ ^^"'' 'heir lives.
On he 15th aGreenlander,whohad formerly been
a ca„d.date for baptism, arrived from the south, and
told the brethren that he came for the purpose of
unburdening his mind upon various subjects^ Among
other things he said, « O! that our Saviour would bu!
draw me away from all other objects to himself! I

ZUZT '^-''^ ''•^^"'-S-^' deceiver. n,d
both I and my fanuiy have long since abandoned the
practice of heathenish customs. The heathen who
hve farther southward, have often invited me to ^sk
the n ; but I have invariably refused, because theyl
continued to do the works of the devil. Wofrenuen, y
converse on these subjects, and express a wish It tie
teachers at Lichtenau would come and live with
and instruct us; for though we men can go in o";
kajaks to visit the teachers, our wives Ld chil
dren, who would rejoice in an opportunity of re-

coum'iy.'"'"'"""' "" """'"'"S ^^ ^'"'^ »'-- «wn

ogaher the whole company of ,|,e Greenlandcrs who
des.gne.l ,„ reside wi.l. thom during the winter, th y
had .0 sa,,nu.,.on to discover that there were I'learly
fifty heathen more tlmn in ,|„. preceding winter, who

ad conie among then, for ,he first ,in,e ; and when
they eonnnenee.l their regular services, they were

Tli T ";I ";■" ""■>' ''''' ""'"^^ou^ly and eagerly
attended by all classes. ° ^

With a view to promote the spiritual welfare of the

now comers, a weekly meeting was held expressly for

le. instruction; when the brethren, by .Ulreing

o lead them ,„ n knowledge of , he Lord Jesus Chris,
On one o these occasions, n female native observed'
It IS uideed a crcu.ns.anee which should excite us
^gratitude and ahnsemen,. ,ha, we, who are so lir.l

GREENLAND.

':., , "•"•-■"^^m, mat we, wlio are so lirtle I l>„...,..,„, i... ..:. ... „ . . i-- .-^-i me imtu,

«"nny oi aiteiu.on, have a separate meetinir for mli ii »V n "'./ i" •"'" V'7 "'""'' '" **"'*''" ^^°" »«"»' ;
Vol. I._Nos. 5 &t G. "^ [f' " *""* h*"'' ^"""8 tl>o last winter and this autumn, many

gious instruction. O that we may make a right use of
such an important privilege !" ^

In a letter, dated Lichtenfels, June 2. 1821 th«
m^sionary Gorcke writes to the following effect •_
"Brother K emschmidt, at Lichtenau, has^ow mal
a fair copy of the whole New Testamem in the Green
land language. We have all revised and corrected U
according to our best ability, and it is to be sent to
Lngland this year, to be presented to the venerab e

Brush and Foreign Bible Society, who have geJe !

ou3^ offered to print it for us. The SocLy w'
udge for themselves of the number of copies whTch

will be wanted, when they are informed that theTh ee

congregations under thecareofthe brethren in G een-

land consist of 1278 persons, old and young- com.

pnsmg 359 at New Hermhut, 331 at Lic'hten^ls Id

ova at Lichtenau.

"As to our congregation here, grace and peace from
God our Saviour have ruled among us. and his ^0.1^"
has attended the preaching of the word of his cross
Last year, a female heathen, between seventeenrd

e.ghteenyearsold,cametoresidehere,andgavussome
reason to hope that she would be truly converted unl
Ood; but m an attack of illness, during the months
of Novembe. and Deccmber.she evidently lost gZnd
and her heathenish habits began to re-appear, ^ovv
however, she seems to repent of these absurditie-'
and cries to the Lord, with many tears, for pardon ; sp
that I am again induced to indulge the hope that she
"'ay yet be born again of the Holy Spirit. She
possesses a remarkably good capacity for learning, and
.f her heart was savingly changed, she might be useful
to our mission in a variety of ways "

nry Beck, of Lichtenau. observes, " We have not
ninch to report that is new. as the history of every
year IS .nearly similar to that of the former. However
1 will mention a few occurrences which may bo inter'
csting to you. '

" in 1797, the Danes established a new factory
about tinrty-five miles southward of us, near the island
of Cape farewell, and appointed a Greenland cate-
Hust n, take charge of the congregation, as „ branch
of the mission. The missionary goes thither twice a
yer:r to adimnister baptism to the catechumens, &c.
Hetween that place and Lichtenau, there were, and
still are, sonu. heathen families settled, who always
preferred coming to us, if th..y wanted any thiiiK
W Len we we„, ,0 see our own people i„ the out-places
'" the.r ne,Rhl,orl,.,o,l, from year to year, we visited
tl"'"., and preached the gospel among them, b,„ with-
out any visible effect. It has now pleased the Ix^rd
"■ny opini, to Mwukun their souls ;

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

of them came to us, who appeared to be in earnest for
their conversion. Thirteen fi'^ilts from among the
heathen have already been added to the Christian
church by baptism; and there are several heathen
families, in the islands belonging to this district, who
have declared their intention of coming among us,
and of embracing the truths of the gospel. These'
have been frequently visited, during the winter, by
our Greenland assistants, who were received with
every demonstration of joy.

" One man, who had often been present when the
gospel was preached, but would not hear any thing about
conversion, came hither, at Christmas, with his whole
family, in order to attend our public services ; and
paid the most serious attention to the great truth with
which he was formerly offended. In fact, he appeared
completely changed in his whole deportment, and re-
turned with a resolution to remove hither. Before this
design could be put in execution, however, he was seiz-
ed with a bowel complaint, which threatened speedy
dissolution, and he died, crying to Jesus for mercy, and I
expressing a wish to "J! Greenland assistants, by whom
he was visited, that he might be buried at Lichtenau.
" We will wait and see what the Lord will do for
the south Greenlanders. They are much attached to
their own country, and think there is not a better or
more beautiful place in the world. The time, however,
may soon arrive, when, as in former instances, tliey
may excite others to come and believe the gosi l for
their salvation.

" The number of Greenlanders now belonging to
tiiis settlement is not far short of six hundred ; and
during the winter our people have diligently attended
at church. The building, indeed, is too small, and
frequently could not contain tiie numbers that came
to it, especially when the rite of baptism was admin-
istered. At Christmas and Easter, when the natives
from the out-places come hither, there is no room for
many either U lit or stand."

At New Hermhut, in the mean time, the state of
the congregation wns peculiarly satisfactory. The
meetings of every description wore well attended
during the winter, and the grace bestowed upon the
communicants was clearly demonstrated by the uniform
tenor of their conduct and conversation. The young
people, also, evinced an increasing desire after " tJie
one thing needful ;" and the obedience and docility
of the children afforded ample cause of gratitude
to (Jod. In addition to these mercies, ll;o wyiter
proved remarkably mild, and the missionaries, in gen-
eral, enjoyed an excellent state of health ; though,
in consequent n of the wet weather during the months
of Juno and July, fevers prevailed among many of
the (ireenlandcrs to an alarming dogroo.

A strong desire having existed for some time, to
ascertam the practicability of establishing a fourth
settlenient, m the neighborhood of Staatenhook, or
Cape Farewell, in consequence of the wishes express-
ed by the heathen in that quarter for the introduction
of the gospel among them, the missionary Klein-
schmidt was commissioned by the directors of the
Moravian missions to undertake a reconnoitring voyage,
southward from Lichtenau, during the summer of 182l'
He was directed to obtain the best information concern-
mg the state of the country, and the character and
disposition of the natives of southern Greenland • to
ascertain whether any difficulties existed to prevent
the establishment of a new mission in that district ;
and, finally, to communicate the truths of the gospei
to such of the heathen as might fall in his way, hum-
bly depending on the divine blessing to crown his
labors with success.

With this commission and with the best wishes and
fervent prayers of his fellow laborers, Mr. Klein-
schmidt set out from Lichtenau on the 3d of July,
in company with three native assistants, Benjamin,'
Frederic, and Shem ; the first two having their fam-
ilies with them. Eight Christian females were en-
gaged as rowers ; so that the whole company consisted
of thirteen adults and four children, in two women's
boats.

During the first day they proceeded about thirty Eng-
lish miles, and in the evening they arrived atNennor-
tahk, the last Danish establishment towards the s.... Ji ;
where they experienced a most hospitable reception
from the resident merchant. The kindness which they
here received was tiie more welcome in consequence of
their having just escaped from a violent shower, which
not only drenched their clothes, but threatened to
fill their boats. But their spirits were sadly damped
on hearing that the sea was so completely covered
with drift-ice towards the south, that it would be im-
practicable for their boats to pro<;eed ; and 'to increase
their ai)prohensions, a storm arose from the same
quarter, which might be naturally oxpocied to drive
the ice towards the land, and tlius frustrate the whole
design of their undertaking.

In tiiis exigency Mr. Kleinschinidt cried unto the
Lord for help, and that adorable Being, who ruleth
the waves, and holdeth the winds in the hollow of his
hand, vouclmfed to hear and to answer the petitions of
his faithful servant. On the morning of the 5tli, the
storm died away in silence, the heavy clouds dispersed,
and from the summit of a lofty hill hut little ice wu
to be scon. In fact, the Greenlanders were of opinion
that the frozen masses lii..d beep driven to the north-
ward, and that the storm had rather furthered than im-
peded the progress of the brethren.

On the 6th, they resumed their voyage, having been
joined by a party of heathen from the south; so that
their ittle flotilla was augmented to three boats and
eightkajaksj and, in the forenoon, they passed a lofty

CT^^' "'m '°7^'^^' " ^'"^ y^^'' «in"' '^ boat
filled with Southlanders was upset, and all on board
perished.

"Having heard," says Mr. Kleinschmidt, "that
several boats full of straggling heathen had lately
arrived m this neighborhood, I felt a great desire to
visit them, and to speak to them of the way of sal-
vation. In the evening we cama within sight of their
camp ; and, on our approaching nearer, they invited us
to come forward, promising to accompany us to the
south We found here twelve tents, and as many on
the other side of the water, filled with a considerable
number of people. When I stepped on shore, I found
myself surrounded by a crpwd, all pressing forward to
bid me welcome ; and, before I could begin to address
them, both old and young repeatedly exclaimed, • We
are quite in earnest, we all wish to be converted.'
When I replied, that having such an opinion of them,
1 had felt anxious to visit them and to speak to them
concerning the Saviour, they said, ' You are, then
worthy that we should thank you, and we will nav
attention to your words.' On expressing my surprise
at their numbers, they cried out, ' Did you suppose,
then, hat we heathen in the south, were only a few ?
O no ! we are a great multitude.' Soon after, a poor
old Southlander, named Ajangoak, whom I had seen
twenty years before, at New Herrnhut, and who had
since become blind, came creeping along, supported
by a stick. He appeared deeply affected, aid said,
I repent truly that I formerly paid no attention to
your words, and that I have put off my conversion so
long. am now near unto death ; but I always exhort
my children to remove to your settlement, which thev
have promised to do." ^

Our missionary and his party had no sooner pitched
the.r tents, than the people from the opposite shore
came over m their boats and kajaks, to express their
gratitude for so friendly a visit. Among those who
pressed forward, with pleasure in their countenances,
and "words of welcome " on their lips, were two
jamilies who, on one occasion, had spent a month at
Lichtenfols, and seemed likely to profit from the glad
tidings which then sounded in their ears. The nrs
sionaries were sorry, therefore, when they returned
to the south, as fearing that all their serious impres-
sions would bo soon obliterated; but it now appeared
that the instructions which they had received, remained
indelibly impressed on their memory, and they ex
pressed an earnest desire to devote themselves to th«

GREENLAND.

Jesus.

spiritof inquiry and serious attention prevailed amon^
the generality of the heathen, at this place, that Mr
Kleinschmidt had scarcely time either to eat l;
drink ; his tent being constantly filled, and the entrance
to^U^crowded with Southlanders, anxious for admS

«l'rJn/!'Hf"" P«°P'«'"«»y« this faithful laborer.
I repeatedly explained the object of my visit and
that my brethren had sent me L them, becT 'e we
could not bear the thought that they sh;uld be oZ
but wished to teach them to know Jesus, that tS
might find eternal life and salvation in h m. Thev
rep led, . This, indeed, is the main reason why we
wish to be converted; that, when we die, our souls
may find a safe passage into eternal rest.' I rejoiced
to find that the three native assistants I had brought
with me were never ashamed of the gospel, but con-
fessed Christ boldly before their heathen countrymen-
declaring to them that if they did not turn to Jesus,'
and believe m him, they could never be saved ' We '
said they, 'were children of wrath, and no better than
you ; but we have found pardon and rest for our .souls
with the Saviour.' I frequently heard them conversing
.n this way with their countrymen, and was much
affected by it. especially when they described the love
mercy, truth and grace, which are to be found in
Jesus, and the happiness of living in communion with

After spending the greater part of the day in famil-
•ar and instructive conversation, Mr. Kleinschmidt
proposed holding a public meeting. On the first
mlimation of his design, the people quitted their tents
and assembled to the number of three hundred or up-
wards m the open field. Even blind Aiangoak pro-
cured somebody to lead him to the plice, that he
might not lose so interesting en opportunity. Our
missionary seated himself on an eminence, having his
assistants close to him ; whilst the men sat down on
the right and the women on the left, in regular order.
When all were seated, some of the old people, ad-
dressing the young and the children, desired them to
take off the.r caps, to fold their hands, and to remain
perfectly still. An appropriate hymn was then sung by
the Christian Greenlanders. whose powerful and melo-
dious voices .sounded delightfully among the circum-
jaoent rocks; and Mr. Kleinschmidt and the assistant
Henjaimn delivered two affectionate and highly ani-
mated discourses, to which the heathen listened with
the greatest seriousness and the most unremitting at-
tention. Another hymn was then sung, which closed
the solemnities of this highly interesting day.

11" a!!! ^'*'' '" **"' '"''abitants of the little encamp.
""•' "t ""r misaioiittiy party set out with

- •" •"-•""° iiicmseives lo thn I ...«»» A„. • _ . . "...p-

11 IS, also, pleasing to add. that such a ii'."„'" r"' T"" ^ ""'' '"'^''""'"y P»"y »«« out with
6 an. tnat such a || thom for the south, and they ,vero afterwards joined

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

by two boat3 from the opposite shore; the rowers
observing that they must conduct the visitors to their
habitations near Staatenhook, and there receive them
properly. For some time the voyage proved very
pleasant ; but, on arriving within a short distance of
Staatenhook, the brethren from Lichtenau encountered
such an immense quantity of ice that they could not
venture to penetrate it, but hastened for safety towards
the shore. Most of their friends, however, apparent-
ly regardless of danger, continued to work their way,
both between the fields of ice and agaList a strong
current, and all reached their dwellings in safety.

After spending the sabbath in a small bay called
Nutarmio, and speaking affectionately to the heathen,
concerning the salvation which is in Christ, Mr.
Kleinschmidt feared, from the appearance of the coast,
on the morning of the 9th, that it would be impracti-
cable to proceed any farther. At length, however,
he was informed by a friend, who had been recon-
noitring from the top of a hill, that the ice was rapidly
dispersing, and in a short time the sea became per-
fectly calm. He, therefore, set out immediately with
his companions, and in the evening arrived at a place
called Narksamio, which is the rfouthemmost point of
the continent of Greenland, Staatenhook being an
island divided from it by a narrow channel.

On their approach to Narksamio our party rowed
by an encampment consisting of several tents, and the
inhabitants immediately launched their boats, and fol-
lowed them to the place of debarkation. « These
good-natured people," says Mr. Kleinschmidt, " re-
ceived me with open arms. One of them, in the joy
of his heart, jumped into my boat, and seized my
box of provisions, designing to carry it on shore ; but,
not knowing how to handle it, he turned it bpttom up-
wards, by which much was spilt or otherwise spoiled.
When I afterwards opened it, and the damage became
known, they all expressed the greatest regret, and
observed, in excuse for the poor distressed man, that
he was in such a hurry because he had the greatest
desire to he converted."

Our missionary was now conducted to a spacious
verdant plain, which appeared peculiarly eligihle as a
station for a settlement. It is enclosed by two bays
fit for shipping, the land sloping gradually towards
each ; and from the interior proceeds a brook of fresh
water, ever flowing, and abounding with salmon. The
land, for an extent of several miles, both east and
west, is flat, and covered with birch, juniper bushes,
and dwarf willows, which would afford an ample sup-
ply of fuel ; and the hills, which are of a moderate
height, arc covered with grass to their summits, and
form a striking contrast with the aspect of the western
coast. I

After an interestuig conversation with the natives
on the possibility of some missionaries coming to re-
side among them, Mr. Kleinschmidt addressed them
in the open field, with his usual fervor and affection,
from that beautifiil passage, " Unto you that fear my
name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with heal-
mg in his wings," and the greatest order and solemnity
prevailed during the discourse. The next morning
some aged females expressed a strong desire to hear
something more concerning Jesus ; and the Greenland
assistant, Shem, in speaking to the people, not only
exhorted them to seek the Saviour with full purpose
of heart, but gave them an affecting account of the
mercy of Christ, as illustrated in his own experience.
" Even me," he exclaimed, " wretched sinner as I
was, Jesus did not despise, but sought me with un-
wearied diligence ; and because he is so gracious, he
does not withdraw his power, but resolves to preserve
me as his own property. And thus he is disposed
towards all who have a desire wrought in their souls
to know him, and to be converted by his Holy Spirit."
As the Greenlanders had stated that at the extremity
of the bay there was a considerable quantity of birch
wood, our missionary and two of the native assist-
ants set out in their boat, and, on landing, walked
several miles into the country ; but they found only
low bushes, such as abound in most parts of this dis-
trict. They then began to ascend a lofty hill, in order
to obtain a view towards the eastern sliore, but the
heat was so oppressive, and the inusquitoes Avere so
numerous and troublesome, that thoy were unable to
reach the summit. They discovered a beautiful grassy
valley, however, and a fine lake, both of which ap-
peared to extend to the eastern sea.

Fresh intelligence on the part of the natives induced
Mr. Kleinschmidt and his friends to make a second
excursion, and, accordingly, on the 11 ih, they rowed
the whole day along the coast, leaving Staatenhook
behind them, and the continent of Greenland on the
left ; but their search after wood proved unavailing.
On going on shore, however, to seek quarters for
the night, they were agreeably surprised to find some
tents filled with straggling Greenlanders, who had come
hither in search of provisions ; and a favorable oppor-
tunity was thus afforded of addressing tliem on the
interesting subject of the love of Christ, and his
willingness to save all that come unto God by him.

On the 1 3th, after affectionately commending the
inhabitants of this eastern coast to the care of that
omnipotent Saviour to whom the Father hath promised
" the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost
parts of the earth for his possession," the brethren
set out on their return ; and, though laboring against
both wind and tide, they proceeded without much

GREENLAND.

difficulty till they got round to the western side of
Staatenhook, when the strong north wind came full
upon them. The sea then became so boisterous that
the female rowers were put to great inconvenience,
and the whole party were exposed to hnminent dan-
ger from the violence of the wpves. At length, how-
ever, they were enabled to run into a small bay for
shelter ; and, the following day, they walked across the
country to Narksamio, a distance of about four miles.
Here the inhabitants immediately assembled from both
sides of the water, and our missionary addressed them
on the pathetic subject of our Lord's agony in the
garden ; a subject which, in relation to the conversion
of Kayamak, must be for ever identified with the
success of Christian missions in Greenland. Some
following days were, also, devoted to their spiritual
mstruction, and when the missionary party were about
to leave them, the regret which they evinced was only
equalled by the gratitude which they expressed.

The friends from Lichtenau were accompanied back
to their tents by severaJ of the heathen ; and when
they set out on their return home, they were attended
by a boat full of the inhabitants of Staatenhook, whose
affections had, no doubt, been excited by tho blessed
tidings of salvation which had been brought to their
ears. A northern gale had providentially cleared the
sea of ice ; and, as the female rowers exerted all their
strength, they proceeded with great rapidity, and at
length arrived in perfect safety a: Lichtenau, grateful
for the protection of their Heavenly Father, and
rejoicing in the prospect of the grand object of their
excursion being crowned with ultimate success.

Intelligence relative to the missions in Greenland is
communicated by the brethren Gorcke and Eberie, in
letters dated March and July, 1823. The former of
these, in a communication from Lichtenfels, observes,
•' Though we have, in general, the greatest satisfaction
m observing the Ci.ristian walk and conversation of
our Greenlanders, and their growth in grace at home,
we sometimes feel much uneasiness respecting those
of our young people of both sexes, who are obliged to
attend the seal catching of the colonists in the out-
places ; where they are too apt to become familiar
with persons by whom tiiey are seduced to sin. It is
out of our power to prevent such connections ; partly
because by that occupation they must earn their sub-
sistence, and partly because we are expected by gov-
ernment to encourage our people to serve the mer-
chants in every possible way, in order to promote the
trade of the colony. Wo can do nothing, therefore,
but pray for such poor people, reminding them,
whenever an opportunity occurs, of what they have
heard of the way of salvation, and warning them against
the snares laid fcr thsm by the enemy."

To Mr. Michael Eberie, of Lichtensu, we are indebted
for the following particulars: "As to our congregation
here, we have reason to rejoice over mostof them, and
are particularly encouraged by seeing so many heathen
arrive among us, declaring their sincere desire to hear,
believe, and experience the power of the gospel, and
to become happy followers of Jesus. During the last
winter, thuty persons from among the heathen, and
eight children, were baptized ; thirty-eight were made
partakers of the holy communion ; and nine were re-
ceived into the congregation. During the four years
that I have resided here, one hundred and- sixteen
persons from among the heathen have received the
nte of baptism. At the close of 1822, our congrega-
tion consisted of six hundred and eighty-five persons,
comprising five hundred and seventy-one baptized]
and one hundred and fourteen unbaptized, under m-
struction. And this year we have the prospect of a
still greater increase, as many heathen from the south
have sent us word that they intend to come hither,
and are desirous of tummg with their whole heart to
Jesus."

In a letter from Lichtenfels, June, 1824, Mr. Gorcke
says, " Among young and old, there is a great desire
to be instructed. This is seen by a diligent attention
at church, and, when we speak with the natives individu-
ally, by their thankfulness and love to the Saviour, with
which their hearts and lips overflow." In this letter,
Mr. Gorcke mentions that the success of the mission
had determined them to form a new station, which
was called Fredericstall. The missionary Klein-
schmidt gives the following narrative of this under-
taking, under date October, 1825.

" The participation expressed by you and our Eng-
lish brethren, in the welfare of the mission in Green-
land, and especially in that of this new settlement,
comforts and encourages us greatly.

" I wish we may be able to cheer your hearts with
good news from this place. We can, indeed, truly
declare, with thanks and praise to our gracious Saviour,
that he has helped us hitherto, and done for us above
all we could have expected. Our outward situation,
however, is more uncomfortable than ever, for we have
not as yet benn able to leave our hut, built of sods.
The building materials destined for our dwelling house
are at length arrived. They were brought hither in
women's boats. The frame of the house is set up,
and one half of the roof finished, but we are not
sure whether we shall be able completely to fit up one
or two rooms before the winter sets in. We shall do
our utmost to accomplish this, that we may employ
our large Greenland house entirely as a temporary
chapel, as the frame and wood-work of the newohurch.
jireparod at Copenhagen, could not be brought hither

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

by the ship this year ; and we do not know when it
_ will arrive, much as we stand in need of it, to accom-
modate our increasing congregation, the present
place bemg much too small, and it being unpleasant
to have a crowd pressing upon us, particularly at
baptisms.

" I will first, my dear brother, give you a short
account of our proceedings since autumn, 1824. We
were obliged to live in our tent twelve weeks, to the
17th of October, the day on which we moved into
our little room, being one third of a building, con-
structed 6f sods, in the Greenland fashion. We re-
joice to be able on the 2d of November to consecrate
the other two thirds as a place of worship for our small
congregation. It is twenty-four feet long and sixteen
wide. The Lord, who does not despise the meanest
service in his church, was pleased to grant us on this
day, in this humble temple, a special blessing, and to
fulfil his promise unto us, that wherever even but a
few are assembled in his name, he will be in the midst
of them. Twelve persons were admitted as candi-
dates for baptism.

" Fifty persons have returned hither from Lichtenau,
and have been joined by about 200 heathen from this
neighborhood, so that there are about 250 Green-
landers living here. They put up their winter dwell-
ings on our land, and all express their earnest intention
to turn to Jesus, and be converted. This is, indeed,
a most encouraging beginning, and our little chapel is
already much too small. Though we thought, that,
new as this undertaking was, we should, for the first
winter, have nothing to do, but, as it were, to remove
stones and rubbish, and prepare for our work, it ap-
peared that the Holy Spirit had already wrought such
conviction of the necessity of conversion in the hearts
of the heathen in these parts, that we could confidently
believe, that the day of their visitation was come. On
the 19th of December, forty candidates were made
partakers of holy baptism, and during the winter
months, as the work of the Lord and his spirit became
more and more manifest and effective, many more

were admitted to the same privilege. Since our ar-
rival here, on the 27th of July, 1824, one hundred
and four heathen have been baptized.

« To describe what our God and Saviour has done
for us during this first year of our abode in this place,
is beyond the power of words; we will rather fall at
his feet adoring, and pray that our obedience and
activity in his service may give praise and glory to his
name."

From New Hermhut, Mr. Lehman writes, July 14,
1826, " During the last year we have experienced
manifest proofs of the favor, protection, and govern-
ment of our Lord, in this congregation. Our people
grow m grace, and in the love and knowledge of their
Saviour. Twenty-eight have been admitted to the
Lord's Supper. The joy we experienced in behold-
ing this work of the Lord, and his Spirit, in the hearts
of our people, the love and confidence we enjoy, and
their Christian walk and conversation, makes this
dreary and frozen region a paradise to our souls,"

By intelligence received in 1828 and 1829, it is
stated, that at Fredericstall, '.' 120 children receive
instruction, who distinguish themselves by their dili-
gence." Recent information places this congregation
at over 300 persons, including the baptized, and those
who are on trial.

From New Hermhut, brother John Lehman writes
in 1827, " The number of the congregation is 370;
184 are communicants. I may with confidence call
our flock a people of God."

The Report of the Synodal Committee for 18P/J, at
Hermhut, in Germany, contains the following state-
ment, in reference to Greenland : " Our four settle-
ments have experienced much blessing in the enjoy-
ment of the grace and favor of God. At Frederic-
stall a temporary church had been constructed after
the manner of a Greenland winter house. A provision
house was likewise erected ; and their new church,
built at Copenhagen, had been landed at Julianen-
haab."

ISLAND OF ST. THOMAS.

CHAPTER II. •
ISSIONS TO THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

ST. THOMAS.

In contemplating the singular and interesting origin
of the missions of the United Brethren to the West
Indies, we are forcibly reminded of the question which
occurs m the prophecy of Zechariah, " Who hath
despised the day of small things ?" And, whilst we
trace the important effects resulting from " a word
spoken m season," we are irresistibly constrained to
admire the wisdom, power, and mercy of him who
demanded of the far-famed ancestor of the Jewish
nation, " Is any thing too hard for the Lord ?"

The little maid who had been taken japtive by the
Syrians, and introduced into the service of Naaman's
Wife, proved the honored instrument of directing her
diseased master to the wonder-working prophet of
Israel ; and a negro, named Anthony, who became
acquainted with the servants of Count Zinzendorf
whilst that nobleman was attending the coronation of
Christian VI in 1731, at Copenhagen, first gave rise
to the Idea of sending out missionaries to these be-
nighted islands, where the miseries of personal slavery
were superadded to those of Satanic bondage. This
man, m the course of conversation, stated that he had
a sister in the island of St. Thomas, who, with many
ol her hapless companions, earnestly desired to bo
instructed in the way of salvation, and earnestly im-
plored the God of heaven to send some person to their
^sistance, capable of giving them religious instructions.
This statement was afterwards repeated at Herrnhut,
Anthony having obtained permission to visit that set-
tlement ; and, though it was now added, that the negroes
could obtain no opportunity of attending to the truths
ot the gospel unless their teachers were united with
them m their daily and laborious avocations, two young
men, Leonard Doberand Tobias Leupold, immediately
forme.l the resolution of going to those poor untutored
creatures, and absolutely declared their willingness to
tell themclve, as slaves, should such a step prove
necessary to the accomplishment of their purpose

Most of the congregation seemed to consider this
proposal as the mere effe, vescence of youthful zeal
sad ffiorc than twelve months were suffered to glide

away before any thing was done in consequence of it.
At length however, it was determined that the mat-
ter should be referred to the lot, a method of ascer-
taimng the will of God which is common among the
United Brethren ; and as Dober was thus selected for
he arduous work, he was despatched to Copenhagen

/""l' V^^' """"''"'^ ^y °°« of the brethren
named Nitschman, who was merely to accompany

Tzl^^jr'' " '*• ^'°'""' "'' »^- - --

In their journey to the capital of Denmark, they
visited a number of pious people ; but these almost
uniformly disapproved of their design, and pointed out
the difficulties and dangers to which they would
inevitably be exposed in attempting to carry it into
execution. In fact, there was no individual who en-
couraged them, except the Countess of Stolberg : she
however animated them to go forward; observing,'
that our adorable Redeemer, in whose cause they were
engaged, was worthy that his servants should sacrifice
not only their comforts, but their lives for his sake.

On their arrival at Copenhagen, our travellers were
again assured, by their best friends, that their scheme
was enthusiastic, if not absolutely impracticable. Some
asserted that no vessel would convey them to the
island of St. Thomas; others, admitting the possi-
bihty of their reaching the place of their destina-
tion, contended that there was little or no probability
of their being allowed to preach to the slaves ; and
even the negro, Anthony, having suffered himself to
be prejudiced against the church of the United Breth-
ren, retracted all his former statements respecting his
sister, and her unhappy companions. Regardless, how-
ever, of all the arguments which were used to dissuade
them from pursuing their favorite object, and unmoved
by all the difficulties with which they were surrounded
Dober and his companion resolved to follow their own
convictions of duty ; casting all their care upon him
whase salvation they were so anxious to communicate

to thoir norighinar Tnllnn. .:_ mi- . ,

J. — Q „ ,i„jj5.„ inisunsnakeiisteHd-

lastness not cniy excited the admiration of several

MISSIONS OP THE UNITED BRETHREN.

persons of distinction, but eventually induced them to
befriend and assist the missionaries in their arduous
undertaking.

The brethren, at length, succeeded in obtaining a
passage to St. Thomas, and arrived at that island on
the 13th of December, 1732, after a voyage of about
ten weeks. Their first object was to seek out An-
thony's sister, and they had the happiness to perceive
that both she and many other negroes to whom they
were introduced, heard the word of truth with gladness,
and evinced the most anxious desire for religious instruc-
tion. They had, also, abundant cause of gratitude to
God for his providential mercies ; a friend in Copen-
hagen having, without their knowledge, written to
a well disposed planter, Mr. Lorenzen, who kindly
received them into his house, and gave such full em-
ployment to Nitschman, who was by trade a carpen-
ter, that he was enabled to provide both for himself
and his companion.

Thus situated, the brethren passed their time very
agreeably for about four months, earnestly praying for
the conversion and eternal happiness of the poor slaves
by whom they were surrounded ; but, at the expira-
tion of this time, it became necessary that Nitschman
should return to Europe ; and by his departure, Do-
ber was left without any present means of subsistence ;
as the want of clay of a proper quality rendered it
impracticable for him to pursue his occupation as a
potter. Dark and cheeriess, however, as were his
prospects, he resolved to maintain his post, reposing
all his wants upon that adorable Being who hatii said,
" Thy bread shall be given and thy water shall be'
sure." In a few weeks he obtained the situation of
tutor to the governor's son ; but as the duties of this
situation left him very Httle time for visiting and in-
structing the negroes, he solicited his dismission,
and afterwards lived in great poverty in the village of
Tappus, earning a scanty subsistence by watching on
the plantations, and other services.

During the year 1733, many of the inhabitants of
St. Thomas were carried off by famine and contagious
diseases ; and a rebellion of the negroes at St. Jan
which continued above six months, and was marked
by a series of horrid atrocities, spread terror and con-
sternation through this and the adjacent islands. The
labors of this devoted missionary were, of course, ren-
dered doubly difficult ; but, whilst he was struggling
with poverty, and almost sinking beneath his anxious
cares, a party of fourteen brethren and four sisters
were on their way from Europe, partly designed to aid
in the instruction of the slaves at St. Thomas, and
partly destined to commence a new mission in the
island of St. Croix.

These persons sailed from Stettin on the 12th of

lZ7 ' ?^' ^"' '''*'' ^"^''K^ ""^ "Pl«t« with
hardships and dangers. As the number on board.

mcludmg the crew and passengers, amounted to nearly
a hundred persons, the vessel was most uncomfortably
crowded; and the brethren were confined to a room
below the second deck, only ten feet square, and so
low that they could not even sit upright, but were in
general, obliged to lie on the floor. To add to this
calamity, the violence of the wind and waves some-
times precluded them from going on deck for several
days together; and, after encountering many storms,
the captam was obliged, by stress of weather, to run
into the harbor of Tremmesand, in Norway, where
they were detained three months. On resuming their
voyage, at the end of that time, they had to encounter
many violent gales ; and, on reaching the torrid zone
they were greatly distressed and enfeebled by want of
water and thesmallness of their apartment. At length
however, they landed at St. Thomas on the 11th of
June, and, about two months after their arrival, the
missionary Dober returned to Europe, having been
chosen to fill the office of an elder among the conere-
gation at Herrnhut.

As the brethren who had been left in St. Thomas
unfortunately fell victims to the insalubrity of the
climate, the mission in that island suffered a temporary
suspension. In Dec. 1735, however, Frederic Mar-
tin and John Bonike sailed from the Texel, in order
to renew the mission. Immediately after Martin's
arrival, he assembled the catechumens left by Dober
and addressed them in so pertinent and affectionate a
manner, that they listened to his instructions with
mingled attention and delight; and the negroes from
other plantations, hearing of his kind and conciliatory
manners, were induced to attend him, till, at theexpi-
ration of a few months, he had the pleasure of address-
mg upwards of two hundred individuals, on the great
subjects connected with their eternal salvation. The
saving power of divine truth was also demonstrated in the
conversion of several of his hearers, and, on the 30th
of September, 1736, three persons were admitted into
the church by baptism, as the first fruits of the slaves
in this island. Indeed, the benign influence of the
gospel began to appear so conspicuously in the man-
ners and deportment of many who received religious
instruction, that several of the proprietors felt inclined
to favor the mission, and one of them assisted the
brethren, in the autumn of 1737, to purchase a small
plantation, to which they gave the name of Pomun-
enberg.

Scarcely had the brethren taken possession of this
new settlement, when John Bonike was summoned
into eternity under Very painful circumstances. This
missionaiy had come to the island with the design of

working at his irade. for the Qiinn».. r »* .

the Lord L.L-' ^^ ^"""^^^ himself before
whin a tremendous clap oflr J"'""' ^"''•=^^''«'''

among the ne<rm„<, ,u • " ''"San to spread

.he invasion of w'trSr" 1 'r'""^' ^'"'-'^«
jects, resolved .7 poXfloXt^^^^^^^^^^ ''' ^
work so completely subvekite oTh ^^^''''' "'^'^

Olhers endeavored lo brin. .h. . ?• "° ""■" •

even . ^L, orZ^L-Td Z^LT^TJ,'"'
unhappily prejudiced ajains, the S """""
a memorial lo the Dani.h 1 b""""". presented
e-led in ,».io„^h°'Sit^TE', ■"*'■. "'
mdof the ordinance, admini,,e J? k" \. * .'°"'

lariyof . marriage which h"h.d w ' .■""!• P""™-
hi, a„i,tant Ften'ndlich. Ind .mll^r:^' llTd"
been converted to Christianity ' ° ''"'

M and Freundlich. „ith the ^JTof .J^L^^ t"
been or^n.,,, .,„. .„, „ . „,„„ J*'','"", ^-

ISLAND OP ST. THOMAS.

ly cireumstances S '^^ '"P"'^?'"^^ of his worlds

that of the J^n.^::^:^::::^^'' r

but used ever;' 1" • T"'^ ''''^^'^^ &<>•" him,

from the sna;i;:„7othich" t 'C" 'k '"°^^' '''™
At the time to which wf. ""happily fallen.

was taken up ^:^:^:L2o7,:^1;^1 r '^'

value of ab^ut'fifte n rixlnt" r''''" '''"'' '° ^«
that Martin and FreLKoh '* ^«« "ow suggested

knowledge of this robber' hT ''""^ ''"^ «°™«
summoned to ^^e T^deZ'. *''^^ r ''' "''cordingly

orjudicature.rtl^ivTfolSJCSn'^'S"^''""
now placed in a comnUt^ ^i ^"''"°"- They were

Princfples precluded ttfrot^^^^^^^ ''t ""?^°"'
and their offer of answ^rbg J""^^^^^^^^
strictest veracity, and as fn th« ^ *"" '""'' *''•
proved unsatisflcto" No c„n,r''"'" °^ ^'^'
could induce them to';iola.: tH- ar^f tW^ "''
sciences; and thi. wci. "'""'"ates of their con-
thirty rixdoHars and n '"'''''^" '^'^ ^«'« fi°ed
to raL such a sum ;ir"'"'"'"°^"'«'' '"^^ility
with the wife of7rfu/dlir:„r'"'?' ^° P^^"'
their fine was increased fit I ' '" *^'' '"""'''"'
to ninety rix dla^ ' '° '''^'^' '''"' '•"«"^"''«

But ^yhilst the missionaries were thus for n «
surrounded by clouds and darkness thev ha7,K "'
solation of knowing that « the r;d 7th; T /"""
not bound " and tL „™ i 7 *° ^^^ was

lively inte;es:in' tt^ £"^0?^ 't '^'b '"^'^ *
only continued to meet TogXr with a '"''^''\^^'
spiritual edification, but somSs ^ Jrj •""'''
s.derable numbers under the Sows of S "'"°"'
where they poured out th.i7f ^ P"'™'

anduni.edysinj4ThV';:sro?;h:r^^^^^^^^

allusion to this period. Mr. Martin observes "Since
cri:w"'aL;r°'=°"S-S-- »- been daily'Tn

strj;:i;tdr:„;Li 's;r\?'^'^ '-^

pie. also, have been led Jf serLs reT . k '''"■
confinement ; so that I trus^ Z'Zm'SZIIZ
blessing to the whole country. Even in the iSrt !
good appears to have been doneTaniere is ^ T
a soldier now who ventures to d;f:me I" hZh t
first they were wicked enough in this resp'ect f ''an
not describe what the Lord is doing Mav L „ m

the grace of God, to persevere, waiting on him to
overrule all for his own glory."

Whilst the missionaries remained in confinement, and
before they could convey any intelligence of their mis-
fortunes to their friends in Europe, Count Zinzendorf
was providentially led to visit St. Thomas, and, about
the end of January, 1739, he arrived in that island
with two brethren and their wives, who were designed
to assist in the instruction of the negroes. He imme-
diately waited on the governor, and obtained the liber-
ation of the missionaries ; and it is pleasing to add,
that Fredler himself was subsequently liberated from'
confinement, as no proof could be brought forward to
substantiate the foul and cruel charge which was
brought against him.

Count Zinzendorf was equally surprised and grati-
fied at the extent of the field which God had opened
to the labors of the brethren ; as, at tliis time, the
negroes who regularly attended the preaching of the
gospel amounted to 800. These persons assembled
every evening as soon as they had finished their daily
labors, and, on several occasions, the count addressed
them himself Many of the Europeans, however,
regarded them with the most inveterate hostility ; and
on the day before the departure of their noble visitor,
when the baptized slaves were returning from a fare-
well meeting, they were attacked by a party of white
people, with slicks and drawn swords, and the mission-
ary house at Posaunenberg became a scene of riot
and spoliation ; the glasses, chairs, and other articles
of furniture, being either dashed to pieces or thrown
out at the windows. The governor, indeed, expressed
his strong disapprobation of this outrage, and assured
Zmzendorfthat the missionaries might rely implicitly
on his protection ; yet, scarcely had the count set sail
for Europe, when more flagrant acts of violence were
committed, and it became necessary to hold the meet-
ings for worship in the woods, and to employ watcl,-
men to apprize the congregation of the approach of
their enemies. In a few weeks, however, the fury of
persecution began to subside ; and shortly afterwards
in consequence of the petitions drawn up by the ne'
groes, and presented to the king of Denmark, an order
arrived from Copenhagen, sanctioning the ordination
of tlie missionary Martin, and authorizing him to
preach, to solemnize marriage, and to administer the
sacraments.

The mission now began to assume a very favorable
aspect and Martin and his faithful colleagues pursued
their labors with unremitting assiduity ; as, besides
preaching on their own plantation, the proprietors of
three other estates permitted them t,.. vi. . .'vMr ne<rroes

the glad tidings of salvation. In .viiti . ou i;ns sub-

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

ject, in 1740, Mr. Martin says, « Scarcely . day passes
but some of these poor creatures call upon us, bemoan-
•ng their sin and misery, and praying, with floods of
tears, for divine grace. When we walk out, we fre-
quently observe one and another praying and crying
o the Lord Jesus, to be cleansed from their sins by
his precious blood. The power of the word of atone-
ment, in convincing them of their sinful state, and in
magnifying the riches of divine grace, is truly sur-
pnsing." ^

It appears, from authentic documents, that on one
day forty, and on another ninety, negroes were admitted
into the church by the solemn rite of baptism ; but,
whilst the hearts of the missionaries exulted in the
extension and success of their labors, their constitutions
began to sink, and breaches were fi-equently made
among them by death. In the European congrega-
tions, however, persons were always found possessing
sufficient zeal for the cause of Christ, and sufficient
affection for the souls of men, to induce them to sup-
ply the places of those who had entered into the rest
which remaineth for the people of God.

Inl749, Bishop WatteviUe arrived at St. Thomas
for the purpose of holding a visitation there, and in
the adjacent islands ; and during his stay, which con-
tinued about two months, above a hundred persons
were baptized, comprising many aged, blind, and lame
I persons, who came from a considerable distance
A new awakening, also, arose, and spread with such
rapidity, that, on one sabbath, three hundred and
eighty negroes requested to have their names enrolled
among the catechumens, and in a very short time their
numbers amounted to nine hundred, exclusive of be-
tween two and three hundred children.

The following year was marked by the death of
tliat indefatigable laborer, Frederic Martin, who ex-
changed the toils and sorrows of earth for the joys
and glories of heaven, after he had faithfully publish-
ed the gospel of Jesus to the negroes for a period of
fifteen years. Other hands, however, continued to
cultivate the vineyard which he had left for ever, and
the unction of the Holy Spirit, like the fertilizing dews
ol tlie morning and evening, cause-' r uc!: sruit to bo
brought forth to the honor of God.

In the year 1753, the brethren cJii -> * > ^e of
their plantation from Posaunenber^ _ , _ , Utnnhut;
and, about the same time, they purchased another
estate on the opposite side of the island, whicli they
called Niesky. In each of these places they preach-
ed the Fospel to crowds of attentive hearers, and up-
wards a hundred persons were annually admitted
'nto tl. church by baptism. They also preached
on several estates, by permission of the proprietors,
who became more and more convinced that the instruc-

uonof the negroes tended to their own advantage

thwneserncewaslikewise.occasionallyperforTdr.
small chapel .n the village of Tappus, for their
vemence of the sick and infirm ;a„d in all thel
abors. as well as in the instruction 'of so^elndreds of
children, d.spei.ed through the whole island, the „is.
onar.es received considerable aid from the Ltive a .

w ntv L" "rr'"' "' *''" '-«' «-ounted"
twenty.four, and whose public addresses and private
exhortafons were, in many instances, blessed T the
souls of their sable countrymen.

haJ"so!oI;if "rf'«'-°f ^«""n"nicants in this island
had so cons derably mcreased, that it became neces-

In 1776, a party of six missionaries de^tin«^ .^
labor in this part of the Redeemer" ^hulh
unfortunately shipwrecked off one of he 8^'.."^
«les called Walsey. ProvidenSy, h ^:,^M;
were so near the shore that they all escaped with
We, except one female, who fell among the trlt

«"to7'TrJ'''-'''"'^''"" "^'^ melanchoTst'
pStv bv t "°" ""^ '''"'''^ ""»' Sreat'^bos-
erlS. K P'°P"«»°' of the isle, till they were
enabled to ob.am a passage to Norway ; and earlTb
the followmg spring they proceeded to St. ThomL

An uncommon drought which occurred in 1 78qT„H
lasted nearly three years, occasioned a univer/ fin
ure o the crops, and was attended by the most friSt
ful ca,a™,t.es. As famine prevailed b eveTquan "

able pr.ce, great numbers of the negroes died of want
and others were unable to attend divine worshrp in
co..sequence of their extreme weakness. SeveS of
the planters were induced, by want, to sell thei slaves

ZZ1Z7 *'' '''''''' ^'"^''^" negroes Tet e :
arated from the presence and instructions of the breth

rj Ttr'u'. ''^ "'^''^^ ''^-'-'^ -ere preduded'
from uifihng their religious duties, in conseLence of
their having been appointed to watch the 2nZ
particularly on the sabbath. NotiXirsl'
distresses, however, the work of the Lord Continued
to prosper ; many new hearers attended the p lach
ng of the gospel ; and. in one year, 240 negroe weJe
baptized, by the njissionaries, in St. Thomafand th"
two adjacent islands.

Jr.. '"^^^'/''^ missionary Leupold and his wife

TtZZ^ " ""'•'' ^'^'"' "'^''^^ °" their passagt
St^ Thomas, were captured by an English privafeer
and earned to the island of Tortola. Here they e„:

. o. me r.„g,i,„ ,a„guage rendered their situation

ISLAND OF ST. THOMAS.

still more trying. At length, however, throueh th.
mterference of a German captain, they ;b Zed their
ies^a'tir "^'^ '''-'' '''''''' toth^eplace^f ttT .

Off the coast of St Sr^.l^t'r rnTTaJ
.mpracticable against such a supe ioT C the coT
mandant was under the necessity of capitulati„; T„'
effus.on of human blood was thus happily plvented

Scent 1, h ^''^^'^'Sn^y -^ St. Thomas and the
aajacent isles, however, was soon aeain cedoH to .K„
crown of Denmark, and no events occurred fo^sv

.a?nJr ' "'"" '" ''' '"'^^'°"' -"'^y «^ P««icu-
In the year 1817, a contagious fever prevailed here

and .„ ,he neighboring islands, which fvas ,.2^

fatal to Europeans, and extended its rava.es to the
missionary settlements, where, in less than five weeks
n'ToJ? • '"fr ^"' ^^^ "^ *"« sisters weTe at'

SeA ^ . ""* *"" ^'"^ '^'''''"^'' they were
U elrlX """"V "'^^ "•''^"* ^"^ ^^^'"'•'tive in
us effectsthan any former one remembered by the
oWes inhabitant. At New Hermhut, the roof of the

wh"tV".T""'' ''""^ ' '•'^ ^«»« of the old chur h
which had been converted into a workshop, were com-
pletely rent asunder; the largest trees wer^eX
torn up by the roots or broken in pieces; and the
whde surface of the country seemed covered \^S
earth and stones. At Niesky, the devastations we e
nearly similar; and in the harbor of St. Thomas
many lives were lost ; as all the vessels exceptTi
were driven on Shore, and a great proportion of thei^
crews fell victims to the merciless fury of the storm
1 he missionaries, however, together with their families
and negro servants, were all mercifully preserved, and
heir houses and churches, though severely injured,
remained standing. ^ j"«cu,

has been advancing. In 1825, the missionary Hope
gave pleasing statements respecting the prospects in
the Danish islands as to the grand object, viz. "the
blessing attending, and the fruit arising from the
preaching of the gospel." 0„ the 12th of Feb 1825
there was a dreadful conflagration in the town of St"
1 nomas ; the mission house and church were spared •
but many free iiegroes, belonging to the congregation
at Niesky lost their all. This year, missionaries were

M^ rn'M^r- ""'■"^' '"^ '^"^ ^'""^^ Slates.
Mr. and Mrs. Eberman sailed from Philadelphia, in

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

the brig Seahorse, bound to St. Thomas. At the dis-
tance of about twenty miles on this side of the Capes
of Delaware, the vessel was struck by a violnnt squall,
and instantly tlirown on her side. Brother Ebcrman]
together with other passengers, and the captain and
crew, were enabled to support themselves above water
by holding fast to the rigging. The helpless situaiion
of sister Eberman prevented her, alone, from extricating
herself from the baggage ; which, as the cabin filled
with water, was drifting about, and completely jammed
her in. Providentially, she, by supporting herself on
the floating trunks, was raised up into the most forward
birth in the cabin ; so that, although she was up to
the chin in the water, room was left for respira-
tion. Notwithstanding every exertion on the part of
the captain and crew, it was impossible to come to
her assistance ; nor could an attempt be made to cut
her out, every thing movable having been washed
overboard. But it pleased God to send help in time.
About half an hour after the vessel had been struck,
another outward-bound vessel approached ; and, by
the kind and judicious exertions of her captain, who
boarded m a boat, and brought the necessary tools, a
hole was cut through the side of the vessel, just above
the head of sister Ebernmn ; through this opening
she was drawn out, before life had fled, after she had
remained in imminent danger of death for near an hour.
Bishop Huefl^el, in his journal, seems to have been
much gratified with the various settlements on tiiis
island. At New Herrnhut, he says, •' The burial-
ground is approached by a shady avenu of beautiful
t-ees, and is remarkable for tiie tombs ol a number of
faithful servants and handmaids of the Lord. After
public service, which was attended by a great number
of hearers, I had the favor, for the first time, to bap-
tize two converts from among the heatiien : one couple
were then married according to the forms of our church ;
and m the evening meeting, seven persons, baptized'
as children, were received into the congregation."

In 18si9, the new mission premises at Niesky were
completed, and the brethren had the gratification to
occupy them upon the 7th of July.

ST. CROIX.

In the year 173:), the fine and extensive, but long
neglected, island of St. Croix was sol.l by the crown
of Prance to the Danish West India Company ; and
t .e Lord Ch.mberlain Plcss, having purrhased six
plantations, applied to Count Zinzendorf for some of
the United Brethren to go „ut a. ..v.-rscers of his es-
tutcs, and at the same time to employ themselves in

the religious instruction of the slaves. This request
was no sooner communicated to the congregation, than
several of the brethren and .listers volunteered their
services to form a colony in St. Croix, as they con-
sidered " a great door and effectual " was opened for
the conversion of the negroes ; and, in the month of
August, four married couples and ten unmarried breth-
ren quitted Herrnhut, with the view of proceeding to
St, Croix. Some of them, however, were finally
destined to assist the missionaries in St. Thomas.

After a tedious and dangerous voyage from Copen-
hagen, the colonists arrived at St. Croix in the month
of June, 1734 ; but the insalubrity of the climate,
added to their incessant laoor in clearing the land, had
such an effect upon their health, that they all sicken-
ed, one after another ; and, oefore the expiration of
the year, ten of their number were removed into the
worid of spirits. Their places, indeed, were supplied,
eariy in the ensuing year, by a second company of
eleven persons from Herrnhut ; but these were soon
attacked by the same diseases which had proved fatal
to their predecessors ; and, as the colony did not
answer in other respects, the few who survived either
went to Si. Thomas, or returned to Europe, and the
idea of a settlement in St. Croix was, for the present,
abandoned. The negroes on that island, however,'
were not left wholly destitute of instruction, as the
missionaries in St. Thomas visited them occasionally,
and were successful, at least, in awakening their atten-
tion to the important truths which occasionally sound-
ed in their ears.

In 1740, a colony was again settled in St. Croix,
and Christian Gottlieb Lsrael, George Weber, and the
wife of the latter, removed thither from St. Thomas,
in order to renew the mission, and establish it, if pos-
sible, on a pernwnent basis. A year or two afterward,
the missionary Martin arrived on a visit, and purchased
a sm;ill estate for the brethren : he also baptized two
negro men and two women, who were tli.- first slaves
in this island received into the Chrisiiun clmrrh. The
cliiiinte, however, proved so destructive to the health
of the Europeans, that they were compelled, however
relurt.inily, to quit the scene of their lajiors ; and no
missioiiaiy was siaiioiiod there, for u constancy, till the
year :7r)3.

The first persons who siicreoded in making good
their footing on this island, were (Jeorgi^ Olineherg,
and two other brethren, who wen? joyfiilly received
hy the Christian negroes ; hut both they nnd the
slaves in their neighborhood were, for sonic time, kept
111 a st.ite of conslant iilnrm by the repeated attempts
of some wicked incendiaries to burn their Iiouros. In
some instances, the fire was discovered and extingiii.sh-

ed boror/> if linri Anna •n||rK mi-'U'

much fni?rhief, but

in oincrs.

the huts of the negroes were completely consumer!
and Ohneberg's house was eventually destZel'
though h. furniture was happily rescued ro7tht'
conflagrafon Nothing, however, could shak™ his
resolution of remaining at his post; and, whe„ h
.nflex.b,hty on this point became known, the tor^h of
persecut.on was extinguished, and the mission began

who h T '"'^ " r'""'"^ '"P^'=»' «''«' "'« brethrfn!
who had previously resided on one of the Company^

plantations, purchased an estate of four acres, to whfch
they gave the name of Friedensthal, and ;recTed a
church and dwelling house upon it. The numlerof
persons who attended the preaching of the ^osll
aiso. rapidly increased, and upwards of a huTdred

ri:fo7v:;sr''^ ''-''-' -^^ ^'^ ^"-^ ^T^^'

In 1765, a new mission-house, at the west p„^ „f
.he island, was unfortunately destroyed by "n'he

course of a few yea«, however, in addition to t le r^!

and in 1771 the settlement in this district received
the name of Friedembcrg. received

The ensuing year was a period of severe trial. Bv
a hurncane, which occurred on the 31st of Aun"
^.e church, , he dwelling-houses, and all the offi e of
Fnedensthal, were completely blown down ; the ne vly
e^cted house at Friedensberg was romov;d froTi s
«Uuation and materially injured ; and the bre.h Inand
their families who had sought an asylum i„ their
cellars were, for several hours, kept in constant ex
pectatiun of death. The famine and epidem ^ iek
nss which followed the tempest, swep.^ff .iT^f
the slaves and diminished the number of the missiona
nes^ Amidst the general distress, however, the cause
of Go.l continued to flourish; .|,o ne.roes apncaro.
more and more anxious to ascertain ,1,. way of'suu".
tjon ; and .such was the spirit of hearing among .lu-n.
that, nouv.thstandmg the public services nt Kriodens,h„i

wore held for nearly .w.e!ve mon.hs in , he op"
he au. tory f..e,„e.uly consisted of more 'th „ a
thousand persons, nn.l „,„„y were every month J.
""»« to the privilege of Christian bapLm. s..,
'"'loed, was .he rapi.l progress of .he n.ission, .h„, ,'
soon became desirable ,o ob.ain a .hir.l and more
cen.n.-uls,.u„„on; and, in 177H, „n es.a.c was p„r-
chase.l for .ha. purpose, .o which .he brethren gave
the name of Vrir.dvmfeUi. ^

ant^orr'n"'"""' ^""•'"^"'".'■•"•'"•'rly ,hc command-
ant of St. lho„„,s, and a kin<l patron of .he mission-
aries was „,.p,.in.e,l governor-general of .he Dani.sl.
We, India islands „„d .ook up his residonee in
St. l-roix, which hud been cons.i.u.ed .he sea. of .ho

governmen.. The joy which .his even. dim.,..,!,,. I

the breihron, however, was of short duration ; as .I'.i^'

ISLAND OF ST. CROIX.

oration having been previou ly de Wd L t'

.on of the governor in 1801 ; but the bre hTn «
Friedensberg were severely tried, in consequence ^f
heir mission-house being occupied as an 1.0^^^.
! he British .roops. For some .ime. indeed, .fertu
lar services were performed in the chapel, and Inled
by numerous congregations, but the offensive smell

erable rendered it impossible to meet in such a situa
^on. Some of the missionaries, therefore went Tn
Friedensthal. and others were kindly accommXeS
on a neighboring plantation, for about two monl
when the hospital was removed to the west en7of the

Fnedensfeld was consecrated to the worship of the
hving God and on that interesting occasion 'a gre«

ol the island, comprising several members of the
legisia.ure, assembled together ; indeed, the con.re!
ga .on was so numerous, that not a third par Zw
obtain admittance wi.hin the doors ; and thl ser'c s

blessing ''•^''"'"' •" ""' ""•'"''^'1 -^'' » Pecuhlr

etf. of .he la.e venerable Matthew Wied, da.ed

•nedcnsberg, August. 18*Mn which he sa;s, "as

to the progress of the mission in this island, .houdi we

••anno, speak of any great awakening amo g , ' „L!

Sroes, ye, we may declare, .o ,he praise of God .l"It

'<als many .„ us from among .he hea.hen, who ear-
neslly „„,u,re what they must do .o be .sav^d "

from a le..er,da.od July, ,8^(5. i. appears '.ha, .he
congregation a. F.ie.lensfeld is in a flourishing co !

The mos, Krn,ifyingtes.imony to the state of thing,

, ' , • U"" '.' '^^"""' '" "■*' J""^""' "'■ 'ho venerable
- op Christian (ictlieh Hueffel. la.e superin.cnde.U
<.f he congrega.ions in Nor.h America, and a member
<.f «hecoj^,ference of the Uni.y i„ Saxony, and who
V... c;™...i.,.iu„.^ i,, visit the stations of .he bre.hren,
in th« Leeward West India islands. He writes, April

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

I:jl

SO, 1828, " I went to Friedensfeld, the newest settle-
ment of the brethren in this island. The missiona-
ries received me with joy. I waited upon the govern-
or-general of the Danish islands, Admiral Von Barden-
fleth, who bore testimony to the good effects of
the labors of the brethren, of whom he spoke in the
most favorable terms ; and afterwards gave us many
proofs of his good will. At the communion, the liturgy
was read in Creole, but the prayer in English.
About 400 communicants attended, which was not
their full number. It was quite affecting to me to see
how quietly this large company dispersed toward
evening, among whom were many cripples and lame
people, no doubt still meditating on the blessings
which the Lord had imparted to them."

The account of the state of the mission in St. Croix,
and the other Danish West India islands, is admirably
exhibited in the following letter from Mr. Klingenberg,
dated Nov. 4, 1829.

"In regard to the mission in these islands, which,
as is well known, has existed now for nearly a century,
we can declare, with humble thankfulness to the Lord,
that it still continues to be a light unto all around, and
a striking evidence of the mercy, power and faithful-
ness of God our Saviour. This is apparent not only
in the diligent attendance of the negroes on the means
of grace, and in the blessings vouchsafed on festival
occasions, and particularly at the administration of the
holy communion, but likewise in the walk and conver-
sation of the majority of our church members. We
must at the same time admit, that there are niany,])ar-
ticularly among those who have enjoyed the benefit of
early Christian instruction, from whom we might rea-
sonably expect better things ; and we feel it necessary
to watch and pray fervently, and without ceasing,
against that favorite device of Satan, wliicli consists
in leading men to believe that the religion of Christ is
a mere system, and that the outward profession of
godliness is sufficient, though unar('onip:inic(i by a real
conversion of lieort. In many who apply to us for ad-
mission to the privileges of the church, we could wish
to discover a deeper conviction of their sinfulness,
and a more earnest desire to heronie savingly a(-(juainl-
ed with Jesus as tiicir Saviour ; hut this is an expe-
rience to wiiich the .servants of God who labor in
Christian countries are no strangers. Sometiines
we feel discouraged, because renmrkahle instances ol
the power of divine grace are no longer so frequent as
in fonner times, or as they appear to be in other mis-
sions, wliicii an? only beginning to prosper ; but we are
again cheered liy the discovery, tiiat the work of the
Holy Spirit is proceeding in the hearts of many, of
whom, perhaps, wo hud been tempted to indulge but
feeble hopes. Our conversations with individuals arc

often truly edifying, and we regret the more that the
language in which they are of necessity held renders
it difficult for us to do justice to them. Many an ex-
pression uttered by a poor negro in the Creole lan-
guage, and which, notwithstanding the imperfection,
and the apparent childishness of this dialect, strikes
us as both forcible and apposite, would, if translated
into an European language, sound very weak, and almost
unmeaning. This must account for a defect in our
diaries, which has probably often been noticed by our
European brethren.

" From our benevolent government, and, in general,
we must add, from the white population of these islands,
our missionary work continues to receive every degree
of encouragem'jnt and support. The change which
it has been the instrument in the hand of God of
effecting in the characters and conduct of no inconsid-
erable portion of the negro population, is, indeed, too
evident to be denied. Our governor-general, Mr. Van
Scholten, was pisased to give us a very gratifying
proof of the estimation in which he holds the breth-
ren's mission, during a visit which he paid to Frie-
densfeld, in the beginning of the present year. After
attending divine service in our church, he made par-
ticular inquiries concerning the progress of the mission
in St. Croix, and tiie number of negroes under our
care ; on being informed that the latter amounted to
(5000, he declared, in presence of his attendants, that he
considered it would be for the benefit of the colony, if
a much larger proportion of its population (amounting
to 21,000) was In connection with our church, prom-
ising, at the same time, to promote the cause of the
mission by every means in his power."

ST. JAN.

A few years after the commencement of the mission
in St. Croix, the attention of the bretiiren was provi-
dentially directed to St. Jan, the third ond smallest
of the Danish West India islands. Some of tiiem, in-
deed, had previously visited it, in consequence of a few
of the converts at St. Thomas having been transferred
tiiithor : but, in 17'1I, a circimistance occurred wliidj
was peculiarly adapted to give u powerful impetus to
their exertions. A pious iiinn, named Jens Hasrnus,
an overseer of one of the plantations, who had form-
ed nn acquaintance with the missionnriosat St. Thom-
as, began to address i\w word of salvation to the ne-
groes under his core, and occasionally invited Frederic
Martin and others to come over and assist him in this
labor of love. Great attention was thus excited among
the slaves, and, in the course of a few years, it was so

endent A. the word spoken was attended with a
dmne blessing that a small estate was purchased as a
missionary settlement, and called Bethany L ;^

LLToT^r^r"'^''"^^'^"''"^-''-.^"^^

island of St. Thomas, took up his residence there as
the harbmger of life and salvation to his fellow men

*or some t.me the progress of the mission appea.^.
ed extremely slow ; as the negroes, in too ma'y ."
stances, seemed unconscious of the privileges connected
with the means of grace. After the lapse of a few
years, however, a considerable revival took place, and a
contemporary wnter has justly observed, that, " though
acenT" l";' '""''"^ "" ""'^^ ^reat as i'n the ad-
Lntltt ' r .'^»\P-'"^P'. greater, in propor-

In 1766, the church, which had been unfortunately

blown down by a tempest, was rebuilt, to the S

joy of .he converted negroes, who had been compel ed

for several months, to hold their religious meetingsTn

he open a.r, and to forego the celebration of the

Lord s supper. And, i„ 1782, the brethren purcha d

a house and a p.eceof ground, in another part of he

«land, for the accommodation of those negroes who

were precluded, by distance, from regularly I .^nd!

.ng i.e worship at Bethany. I„ ,L se'^^.Ceni

winch was called E^.aus, a new church waser^ed;

and a m.ss.onary was settled ;-two circumstances

which appeared ,o afford much gratification to the

wlme u.lmb..ants of the neighborhood, as well as to the

peculiar objects of the mission.

In the month of August, 1793, a dreadful hurri-
cane occurred m the West India islands, and provTd
part.cuh.rly destructive at S,. J„n Of ,ho two mis
s-onary settlements, Bethany and E.nn.aus, the fonnor
was most exposed to the fury of the to.npest, and ti.e'o
the scene was truly appalling. The storm com.nenced
m.hoeven.ngof the l.th, and before .norning ,
b ethron and many p^sons, both E..ropenns and peo-
ple of color who had (led to them fro.n ditr-r,... part,
"f n...gborl.„od could scarcely find shelter in any
pf the Innhhugs. Almu, ..jfrlu o'clock the wind sud-
<l-nl.v veercl to the south, when all the houses of the
ncR.oes were swept away in an instant ; an.l. soon

after, thechnrch fell with a trcnendous crash, a, d
ru.ns were wh,.led into ,I,e air, an.l carried t^ a co -
siderahle ..stance ; bonr.ls. bea.ns, rafters and shin.l,.,
flying .n all d.rect.ons. The ,„issi.,n-ho„se. also wn
... the tnost nnn,inent .longer, as i, erncked and .rem-
bie,i to the hmndation, whilst the sea-water, which had
been .Ir.ven upon the roof by the i.npe.uosity of the

C- ;""'";"•:"""' "'^''"""' i"'" nil <1..- apartments,
I rov..Icnlially. however, this wa« "-= -'

With the church and dwelling-hous; of the brJdSTa; ,

ISLAND OF JAMAICA.

It IS to be regretted that a regular historv of tJ.-
missmn in St. Jan has not been publish^ Tt seems
however, that n the year Ifti^ ti,„ "seems,

;.^ brethren on this isCd t!;L;l?S:;rJ

Lh H ' '"'.'"^'"S '=''"'^'«"' """J «f 'h- number 67?
had been admitted to the holy sacrament.

Ihe hurricane which was felt so severelv in <!»

Crotx m the autumn of ,819, also visi dThe s,a„d

alyettrns'"'^^^^^^^^

me storm, and the ram poured into th^ rr^rr.. ■ .
rents All »K„ u K~ , "'^ rooms m tor-

11 the spouts being completely blown away; and S
the negro houses, except one, were utterly'iLs "oyed
The accounts respecting the labors in this island are
kr more scanty than is desirable. For several years
no narrative can be furnished from the ordinary ouZ

and thed.ffidence w.th which they exhibit their glori
oils ac nevements in .he missionary cause, havef U i

in 1828 the Sv -1 1 . » ""'"•'•"h.ng mission," and

JAMAICA.

^In comphance w.th the request of some gentlemen
po^ess,ng consi.lerahie estates in Jamaica.^tl e r" v
^echanah George Caries „n,l two othe biethren
were sent to that island, i., October, HsJ ZZ

•""^ of the gospel. An.l on their airival everv
tl'-ng appearcl propitio..s to their un.lerta , ' IZl
proprietors who ha.l solieite.l -heir assist cen^toiu
•■"Sngcl to s..pp„rt .hem, b... g.vo then, „ L" so and

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

Europeans, also, attended the preaching of Mr. Ca-
ries, and, as they exhibited the most serious attention,
he resolved to address them separately, and had rea-
son to hope that, in some instances at least, the word
spoken was blessed by the Holy Spirit to the conver-
sion of their souls.

Prosperity continued for some time to attend the
exertions of the brethren, who had now two regular
inissionary stations, called Carmel and Emmaut; be-
sides preaching occasionally on Mesopotamia, Bogue,
and Island plantations ; and as the number of cate-'
chumens now amounted to four hundred, and that of
the baptized to seventy-seven, it was judged expedi-
ent that the mission should be strengthened with new
laborers. Some other brethren were accordingly sent
out to Jamaica ; but these, unfortunately, differed in
opinion with their predecessors, and, conceiving that
many of the slaves had been baptized without afford-
mg sufficient proof of their conversion, they establish-
ed a system of greater strictness, which was produc-
Uve of the very worst effects ; as the negroes were
completely discouraged, whilst the zeal of the missiona-
ries was paralyzed, by the interruption of that harmony
which was so essential to their own happiness, and the
success of the cause in which they were mutually en-
mp^' In 1759, Nathanael Seidel was sent over on
a visitation, but his attempts to revive the sinking cause
proved unavailing, and, in the course of the year, he
returned, with Mr. Caries, to Europe.

In 1764, Frederic Schlegel arrived from North
Anaerica, with authority to take upon himself the gen-
eraJsupenntendenceof the mission ; and by his prudent
•nd conciliatory conduct, harmony was restored among
the brethren ; the negro congregations were speedily
augmented ; many of the baptized, who seemed to

have renounced their professionofChristianity,returned
Wth joy to their teachers ; and such success attended
the renewed exertions which were now made in the
name of the Lord, that in the year 1767, the audito-
ry, on one plantation alone, increased to five times its
usual number ; and in that and the following year up-
wards of 230 slaves were admitted to the baptismal
font. '

The death of the amiable Schlegel, which occurred
m the month of September, 1770, proved the harbin-
ger of misfortunes to the mission. The negroes, no
longer anxious to attend the preaching of the gospel
sunk into a state of coldness and indifference ; the
baptized, m some instances, relapsed into paganism •
a distressing scarcity of provisions, and the anticipation
Of a hostile attack in 1778, depressed the spirits of the
brethren ; and the insalubrity of the climate threaten-
ed to sweep them to an untimely grave. Nothing, in
fact, could have encouraged them to remain at their

post but a deep senie of the value of those immortal
souls, to some of whom their labors might be eventu-
ally blessed by the great Head of the church.

In 1797, the progress of the mission was still further
impeded by a rebellion of the Maroons, or runaway
slaves, who occupy several villages in the mountains,
and by the consequent introduction of martial law. The
general tranquillity being disturbed, all business was of
course suspended, and persons of ell ranks were obliged
to bear arms. From this service, however, the mis-
sionanes were happily exempted, and their places of
residence were fortunately at a considerable distance
from the disturbed districts. They were also merci-
fully preserved, the following year, from the depreda-
tions and atrocities of the runaway negroes ; and it
afforded them peculiar pleasure to observe that many
of the slaves who attended their preaching were more
attentive to the gospel than they had been for several
years.

In the spring of 18C0, Joseph Jackson and Thomaa
Elhs, together with their wives, set sail for Jamaica,
at the request of some of the principal planters, who
had kindly undertaken to defray the expenses of their
maintenance, without trenching upon the general funds
of the United Brethren ; and, some time after their
arrival, the affairs of the church began to assume a
more animating aspect.

In 1804, fifty years from the commencement of thi»
mission, the brethren observe, " Though we cannot
exult over an abundant in-gathering of souls, which
these fifty years have produced, or even over our
present prospects, yet we have sufficient cause of grat-
itude to the Urd for having preserved a seed in Ja-
maica, which, in his own good time, may grow up in-
to a r\c\\ harvest. It appears from the church register,
that, from the beginning of this mission to the present
period, 938 negroes have been baptized."

The death of the zealous and excellent missionary
Jackson, which occurred on the 9th of December, 1808,
was a serious loss to the brethren in Jamaica. The
word of his divine Master, however, continued to bo
•jwned and blessed ; and considerable success attended
a regulation which was established in 1812, re-
specting the inslnictiiig of the catechumens in classes.
" It is pleasing," says one of the brethren, " to see
the eagerness with which the negroes attend these
meetings. We are chiefly occupied with preparing
questions and explaining different texts of Scripture;
and as they are all anxious to be able to give suitable
answers, they never absent themselves but from urgpnt
necessity."

In 1815, Mr. Ward and his wife were sent out from
Knglnnd as assistants to the mission in Jamaica ; and,
soon after their arrival, they fixed on a place called

Wilhamsfield, as the most convenient spot for their
residence, having previously taken charge of the in-
struction of the negroes on the Island and Windsor
plantations. On the former there were some baptized
slaves, the gospel having been preached there for a
series of years ; but those belonging to the latter were
Ignorant pagans. The labors of Mr. Ward, in each
of these places, excited a great spirit of attention, and
many of his hearers expressed themselves desirous of
more particular instruction, that they might be pre-
pared for the rite of baptism. The exertions of the
brethren at Carmel were also equally successful, and
the new stations of Elim and Peru appeared to be
the scenes of a very serious and progressive awakening.
In a letter from New Eden, near the Bogue planta-
t.on, Mr. Becker states that twenty-one negroes had
been baptized from Easter 1817, to Easter IsiS, and
that ten had been admitted to the holy communion ;
and he adds, " I may say, with thankfulness of hear
to our Saviour, that our congregation is increasing both
m number and grace. Our place lies in the centre of
four estates ; and, as the negroes from these frequently
at.^nd the meetings, our house is generally crowded
With attentive hearers." o / u

The missionary John Hafa, in a communication
from Carmel, dated April 20, 1819, observes that
since Ins arrival, ten negroes had been baptized, and
one mulatto, formerly admitted into the church of Eng-
land, had been received into the congregation. «' The
number of baptized belonging to Carmel," says this
writer, " ,3 140, and about 200 new people are under
mstruction. Not a sabbath passes, but some new ne-
groes come to us, requesting their names to be written
down, and intimating their desire to hear the gospel
and be converted. I have begun to hold an evening
meetmg on Wednesdays and Fridays, with such as
can attend. During the Passion week, we met everv
evening, and riic place was crowded.

"As to Peru the place of meeting was in a sad
condition when I first arrived, but since that time it
has been put into better order. On the Su.uiay nAer
Easter, I preached there for the first time, and had so
largo an auditory that the place could hardly contain
one half of the negroes who were wailing for me
After the service, I baptized three children, and spoke
w. h eighty-five new people ; but I was then obliged
to leave them, though about fifty others were waiting to
see me. ' °

On the Hthof May, 1820, the church at New
Eden was co„secrnte<I for the celebration of divine wor-
sh.p ; an, the missionary Becker observes, in commu-
ntcatrng tins intelligence, " I, was a day of rejoicing,
as the presence of the Lord was with us, and he filled

our jlonrtp uMil. J.

u ! i..i..t ,^„c,,.^£j ,ru5t ana confidence in hun.

Vol. I.— Nos. 7 Si 8. 19

ISLAND OP JAMAICA.

The buildmg is forty-one feet long and thirty-one broad
and was completely crowded with hearers. Many
mdeed who attended this solemnity could not possi'
bly find room within it ; for as this was the first consecra-
tion of a church belonging to the brethren in Jamaica
many people were led thither by curiosity. After the
public service, eleven adults were baptized, and, in
another nieeting, three persons who had been baptized
when children, were received into the congregation

From Easter 1819 to Easter 1820, ninety-three
persons have been added to the church by baptism or
reception, and nine have been admitted to the Lord's

Zv FH ^' *^" t'' °^ '^'^' '^' congregation at
New Eden consisted, m all, of five hundred and five
persons."

In a letter dated Carmel, February 20, 1821 tho
missionary Hafa observes, « We have been obliged to
S've up going to preach at Peru, too many difficulties
being aid in the way. However, more negroes than
formerly come now to Carmel, so that our place of
meeting has become too small to contain the au-
ditory On the first prayer day this year sixteen adults
were baptized, three received into the congregation,
and twenty added to the class of candidates for baptism.
1 he fields appear ripe for the harvest, and the more the
enemy of souls endeavors to impede the work of God
the more eager the negroes seem to hear and believe'
the gospel. Many now come hither from estates of
which, some time ago, we had not even heard the
names ; and they all say that they desire to escape
from the ^yratll to come, and to learn how they may
become Christians, not only in name, but indeed and
in truth. Much might be done if we could get a
place of our own near the mountains, as there are
many there who are very desirous of hearing the gospel •
hut they live from ten to fifteen miles from this place'
and my other avocations will not permit me to visit
them as I wish."

^ In respect to the congregation at New Eden, Mr
James Light states, in a letter dated June 23 1821
that It then appeared to be in a very prosperous state.'
I he number of hearers," he says, " increases, es-
penally from the coffee plantations in the mountains,
and several from Island estite attend occasionally.
l..e chapel and chape] hou.c command an agreea-
ble prospect. It may be compared to a light shininir
ni d.ukness, reflecting its beams on all around ; and
may tho light of .lie word of Go.l shine from thence
mlo the hearts of many ! When 1 visited that place
on tho 4th of May last, I found that one hundred and
forty-six individuals had been baptized or admitted to
the Urd's supper from Easter 1820, to Easter 1821."

As the missionaries nt Curmol Ua,l >.ur.<.n>»Ji.. :_»

^. .......... ...^ .^.„,^_

ed out to their friends in England the expediency of

forming a settlement in the vicinity of the May day
mountains, it was at length resolved that they should
purchase a house, with some land, in that neighbor-
hood, at a place called Fairfield ; of which Mr. Stob-
wasser observes, " It is in an eligible spot for a mis-
sionary station, as its elevation renders it cool and
healthy, and the climate appears almost European.
The house is convenient, but at present in a dilapi-
dated state, wanting considerable repairs. Its situa-
tion is pretty central for the negroes, retired, and par-
ticularly liked by them, which is a main qualification
for a settlement."

Intelligewce from Jamaica is contained in a letter
from Mr. Becker, dated New Eden, May 20, 1823
and is to the following effect : " I may say with truth
that the Lord has done wonders in this mission. When
I came to this place, twelve years ago, I found very
kw who knew anything more than that they had been
formerly baptized by a missionary. Not long after
I perceived that, by preaching the Redeemer's word
m simplicity, convictions were excited in tiie minds of
the negroes, and their blind eyes began to be opened •
so that many were led to inquire, ' What must we do
to be saved ?' At present this is still more frequently
the case. Our new church, though capable of con-
taining about five hundred persons, is much too small,
as the congregation generally auiouiits to nine hundred'
On the 27th of Ai)ril, twelve persons were baptized
and twenty-two added to tiie list of candidates for bap-
tism. From Easter 1822, to Easter ]8i:i, ninety-
nine adults have been ba|)tized or received into the
congregation, and fifty-two have been admitted to a
participation of the holy communion. Tliese are
mdeed, encouraging proofs of the work of the Holy
Ghost ; and, thmigh, in a few insimices, n spirit of
persecution manifests itself against those who attend
our churcii, we trust the Lord will nown his own
cause with prosperity, and increase the desiio of the
negroes to hear his word, and to exp.^rienco deliver-
ance from the power of sin, by resorting to him for
safety and protection ; an.l we prav that they ,nav
walk worthy of the gospel, be faithful and ol.o.lient in
their respective stations, and in all cirrumstances ap-
prove Ihemselves the children of God."

In 1825, brother Ellis, who is stationed at the new
mission place, calle.l Fairfield, speaks of the pro^iess
of the work of God : " About one hundred slaves
from a.ljacent plantations, lia.l given in their names,'
as desirous of religious instruction. The number of
persons at Fairfield amounted to one thousand and
forty-sever, ; among whom there are two hundred and
sixty-one eominunicnnts, and one hundred and forty-
one baptized members of the church."

In this year, the brethren commenced the erection

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

of a new church at Fairfield, which was opened for
worship m January, 1826. Much encouragement was
afforded to the efforts of the missionaries at Hope-
town, a neighboring plantation, belonging to Mr. Scott
who kindly erected a place of worship. To supply
this station, brother Daniel Hague and his wife sailed
from Liverpool in June, 1825, and arrived at Fair-
field August 10, to the great joy of the brethren and
congregation. But, alas ! how momentary are all
earthly enjoyments. Mr. Ellis writes, " On Wednes-
day, the •24th, brother Hague began to feel slightly
indisposed, and, before morning, fever came on The
next day medical aid was called in, and proper medi-
cine applied, but without the wished-for relief We
continued, under the directions of the doctors, to use
every possible remedy, till Monday, the 29tli, in the
morning, about 7 o'clock, when he departed in peace,
111 firm reliance upon his God and Saviour. This be-'
reavement we believed to be more than we could bear ;
but what were we called upon still to witness !

" Before the departure of our dear brother H., we
had the grief to hear the doctor declare that sister H
had symptoms of the same fever. Every precaution^
ary measure was now taken, if possible, to disperse the
disease, but in vain ; the fever became more and more
alarming. Our attention was now called to brother
Berger, who was seized with head-ache and fever
The whole attention of Dr. Dempster was now taken
up in watching every change which occurred. On
Friday, September 2, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, it
pleased our SaViour to release our dear sister Hague •
and on the following morning, the same happy change
took place with our dear brother Berger. Thus in
the space of five days, was our adult family reduced to
one half the number. Our consolation is to know
that they -dl died in peace, as jiardoned sinners, trust-
ing in the merits of their crucified Saviour.

" Brother Hague said, 'I am unfit to serve the
Saviour; but he knows my heart, and my motives ;
and if I have sinned in reaching out my hand to touch
the ark, Ihumhly crave thy forgiveness, O my Saviour!'
" 'I his was, indeed, a dark dispensation. Mr. Hague
was a young man of extraordinary piety, and fine at-
tainmcnls. He had been a surressfnl teacher in the
school at Fulneck, and had for y.-ars longed most ar-
dently for the period when he should be appointed to
missionary labors. It is well that it was in his heart r
In 1826, the band, of brethren was reinforced by
brother G. Tima-us, and two others. Mr. Tima-us
was removed from his labors by typhus fever, Novem-
ber II, 1827.

Recent intelligence from Carmel, Irwin, New Eden,
and the other stations, is of (he most gratifying nature.
The missionaries have received very acceptable as-

Crh^T''?"'"''™*^'^'*"^"^ his wife from

.llimre's" J ^""«'' S''"- Tl,e circular 7Z

he Zsion »r„t """'"'^ "' "--hut announces

mT Em, S ''\'""«^«« «' «" 'he four stations."

inthefn^l • '^l P'^'P""'^ "'^ »he good cause

n the following, v.ew of the mission, ^vhich he addresses

to the directors in 1830. "uuiesses

'' The progress of the mission in this island contin-
ues, I am thankful to say, on the whole, encouraging
Our auduones at Fairfield are very numerousTaf-
jcularly on Sundays: and, to man/of our heler
he doctnne of Christ crucified, which we preach „'
B mphcay, approves itself as the power of God „„ o
salvation. I„ brother Zorn and L wife, who ely
a good state of health, we possess active and w!E
^sistants who have already become familiar with S
rouune of duty. I„ the early part of September we
had an opportunity of seeing the greater number of
our married people, at a meeting specially appointed

kv ;„d Chr" ."' '"" ' '^'"" '' "J''''=« '" "-ir fidel.
ty and Christian conduct towards one another. The
s.ght of tins company, consisting of one hundred and
e-ghty negro couples, of whom te can believe that
however abandoned some of tliem may 1. "' £„'
.n times past, , hey are now living according to tl^
scriptural institution of marriage, could not fail to xcke
feelings of gratitude in our hearts. The children of
uch parents may be said to enjoy much comfort and
many advantages, in comparison with others, whose
pa ents lead irregular lives. We have, inde d, st II
to lament, that ."stances of unfaithfulness occasionally
occur, even among persons of this class ; but I trus^
they are becomm^ more and more rare ; and, to the
pra.se of our faithful Saviour, we can state, 'that an
nstance has very lately occurred of the influence of

dmne grace, in counteracting the strongest temptation
to tr n re, „,, ,,,^,. ,^. ,^^^^. ^ ^,^^^ ^^ I

^»tl.<ul „. the application of this universal remedy -
Among the new p.-ople who come tons, from ti.ne^o
.me we have not unfrcjuontly observed a willingness
hardly to bo expecte.l, ,o exchange an ilhVit connection
fi>r an honorable alliance ; this, however, is notgenlr-

. ai birr' """' '•'"' "' """""^'' "' ''"' - «« be
incapable, for some time, of understanding even the
form o. go.llnu.ss. Nothing but the poter of I e
gospel IS capable of subduing and effectually reform-
ing such characters."

ISLAND OP ANTIGUA.

ANTIGUA.

The bretliren residiuL^ in St. Thoma-. baH fnr =ume
time, earnestly desired an opportunity of introducing

he word of eternal life among the negroes employed:
n those islands of the West Indies which belonged to
the crown of Great Britain. Their own „urfb2
however, were comparatively so few, their laborTve^;
so arduous, and their constitutions were so frequen!lv
auacked and shaken by disease, that the b nlvo Lm
wish which glowed in their bosoms could notfor a

named s::L;s,t:::;'ji4tvSrtr

hTsT: '"r '"""^ '^P^"^^"- - ''- ai of the
Holy Spirit, of commencing a mission in that island

Having, on his arrival, explained his vie a„d
wishes to the governor, he received some encoura "e
ment and obtained permission from certain prop!

h IT r ''"' P'^""^^'''"^ ' '"'' 'hough bo h
he and h,s wife were afterwards attacked with sick-
ness, and severely straitened in respect to their dr-
cumstances he confidently looked up to God, believ-
■ng that light would arise out of dar'kness, ai^d eom
fornng himsel with the recollection of the' assurance
tliat those who sow m tears shall reap in joy "

For some time the brethren continued to labor
with very little appearance of success ; as but few
o the slaves attended their preaching, and even those
who were baptized were unfortunately removed to
other islands, and thus separated from their teachers
In the year 1761, however, a piece of ground was
purchased in the town of St. John, for the purpose of
a missionary establishment, and a place of worsl^p was
erected for the accommodation of the negroes

In 1764, Samuel Isles was removed, by death, from
the scene of bis labors ; and for about five yea;s th^
nnssion continued in a very languishing state ; but, at
the expiration of that time, a missionary named Brown
arrived from North America, and his labors were so
abundantly blessed, that it soon became necessary to
enlarge the church ; and on that occasion the zeal of
the converted negroes was most pleasingly demonstrat-
etr On coming to the evening meeting, each indi-
vidual brought a few stones and other materials with
him ; the different departments of the work were di-
vided beiween such as were masons and carpenters •
and those who could not assist in enlarging the edifice
provided refreshments for the builders ; so that the
requisite alteration was completed by the voluntary
labor of these poor slaves, after the completion of
their respective daily tasks.

Whilst the most unfeigned gratitude was excited by
this gleam of prosperity, the clouds were beginning to
gather around the missionaries, and their faith was
destined to be exercised by some severe trials. The
brctiiren who had hitherto assisted Mr. Brown were
compelled, by severe indisposition, to leave the island ;

I' *'

a faithful laborer named Brookshaw, who arrived in
ir/1, was, in a few weeks, numbered with the dead ;
the wife of Mr. Brown also fell a victim to disease ;
and, in 1772, the island was visited by a hurricane
which threw down one of the houses on the missiona-
ry settlement, and materially injured the others, though
the church, in which the negroes had sought an asylum,
was providentially preserved.

In the midst of these calamities, however, the work
of God continued to go forward, and, immediately after
the hurricane, a new awakening appeared among the
slaves, and continued to spread in all directions. A
desire for religiousinstruction was, of course, augment-
ed, and, in 1775, the number of persons who attended
public worship amounted to two thousand, and from
ten to twenty were baptized almost every month. A
new and more spacious church was, therefore, erected
in St. John's in 1773 ; and in the following year, a
piece of ground was purchased &t Bailcy-hill, near
the town of Falmouth, for the purpose of forming a
second establishment, for the accommodation of those
negroes who lived at a considerable distance from the
former station. From thii place, which proved incon-
venient, owing to the steepness of the ascent, the
brethren removed, in 1782, to a more eligible spot
which they designated Grace-hill; and, though the
external circumstances of the mission were rather
difficult, the Christian slaves being exposed to famine,
sickness, persecutions, and depredations, and the
island being taken by the French,— the cause of divine
truth remained firm and immovable, and, after the
restoration of peace in 1783, no less than sixty adults
were received into the church at St. John's, by the
rite of baptism, in one day, and in the course of twelve
months the congregations in that town and at Grace-hill
were augmented by the accession of more than
seven hundred persons. The missionaries also
preached, at stated times, in different plantations ;
and one of the native assistants actually built a chapel
at his own expense, sufficiently capacious to accom-
modate four hundred hearers.

Many of the planters were now convinced of the
beneficial effects of the gospel upon their slaves, and
numbers of tiie overseers found, by experience, that
the reproof of the Christian teachers was much more
efficacious than corporeal punisii.nent ; when any of
the slaves, therefore, had committed an offence, they
were sent to the missionaries, instead of being subjected,
as formerly, to the discipline of the whip. Some of the
proprietors, however, were decidedly hostile to the labors
of the brethren , and not only prohibited their negroes from
attending the means of grace, but punished Those who
did so with unexampled severity. For no other offence
Ihan that of attending the preaching, a negro was not

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

on^ cruelly reated by a party of white people, but wa,
even compelled to give his own wife fifty lashes,
because she h« nought the protection of the local
authont.es. Another time an aged female negro,

ted a theft, but, in fact, from hatred of her religion, was
put ,n irons and unmercifully flogged ; and the next
day she was chained to two negroes, and dragged to
the field to work ; but death put a periodio her
sufferings by the way.

Amidst all these persecutions, the church of God
m Antigua resembled the burning bush which Moses
saw m the vicinity of Horeb. The word of the Lord
continued to run, ana was glorified ; the two congre-
gations, m 1788, consisted of more than six thousand
members ; and so many new doors were opened for
preachmg the gospel, that the missionaries were
exceedmgly thankful when they found useful and
zealous assistants in many of their converts, to visit
he sick, give advice and reproof if n"eeded, and report
to tlie missionaries the state of the congregation.
Ihey xvere, however, not employed in preaching.
In 1790, the state of Mr. Brown's health rendered it

'"Tii'^"'..'.''"' ^^ '•'""''^ '^'''^ <'^«"' the West Indies;
and Mr. Watson, who succeeded him in his superin-
tendence of the mission, was, two years afterwards,
removed to the church triumphant. A suitable suc-
cessor, however, was found in the Rev. H. C Tschirpe
and the cause of God continued to be crowned with
such increasing prosperity, that, in 1796, it became
necessary to fonn a third settlement, to which the
brethren gave the name of Grace-bay.

The beginning of the year 1805 was a period of great
anxiety in Antigua, as the proximity of a French fleet
naturally excited apprehensions of an invasion ; and.
on the 10th of March, the town of St. John was thrown
into the utmost confusion, by a report that the enemy
had actually effected a landing. This, however, proved
to be a false alarm, and the island was mercifully
preserved in peace.

In 1810, the missionaries commenced a Sunday
scliool, on the Lancasterian plan of instruction, at St.
John's ; and though, at first, they had but eighty
scholars, that number was soon increased to seven
hundred, and the progress not only of the children,
hut of their parents, who appeared equally anxious for
tuition, both surprised and delighted the teachers. A
scliool was also opened on one of the plantations near
Grace-hill, where the scholars were instructed one day
in every week.

In 1812, owing to the dryness of the season and the
war with America, provisions became extremely dear,
and Indian corn, the principal food of the negroes,
could hardly be obtained at any price. Famine and

disease prevailed, ,n consequence; and more than
two hundred of the congregation at St. John's were in
a short pe«od. consigned to the grave. The faith of

heirGoTT^' '•'"''';' "-^ graciously sustained by
he,r God and Saviour, who not only provided for their
temporal wants, but continued to crown their faithfu
and unremutmg labors with distinguished success.

In 1817 the brethren were encouraged to form a
fourth settlement, by the solicitation of%he coZial
government; which, with the most praiseworthy
hberahty, presented them with ten acres of land for
Uns purpose, together with £1000 currency towards
budAng a church and dwelling-houses, and a grant of
£300 per annum for the support of the missionar es
The propneeors of the adjacent plantations, also, aware
of the benefit which their negroes would receive from
religious mstruction, contributed a handsome sum
towards the erection g{ the necessary buildings. Th"
difficulty of procuring stones was for sometime a
considerable hmdrance to the work; but at leuRth a
quarry was opened about three quarters of a mile from
the spot, and the missionaries obtained such kind
assistance from the masons, carpenters and laborers
belonging to the.r neighbors, that their church U
substantial, well-built edifice, 64 feet by 30 in the
dear) was solemnly consecrated on the 6th of
December, 1818.

To this new settlement, which the brethren named
NewJieldt^yo others were subsequently added, in the
year 1822 one at Cedar-hall, and the other at Mount!
joy ; and if is peculiarly pleasing to add, that in each
of these stations large congregations were collected

.fa 'I". ^uK^f- •^"'^' ^®^^' '^' U»'««d Brethren
celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of
their cluirch at St John's; when it appeared Ihat
there had been baptized and received into the congre-
gation in that town sixteen thousand and ninety-Sne
negroes, young and old ; and that thirty-five mal and
as many female missionaries had been employed in the
important service of making known to their benighted
fellow creatures the way of eternal salvation. And it
- stated by the Rev. C. F. Richter that, between

ISLAND OF BA'RBADOES.

Eas.r 1822 and Easter 1823, f::ZZ^ZZ^
adult negroes had been baptized or received into the
congrcRatioiv at St. John's ; one hundred and four at

fiftel'a; ^ ?;:'" "!.«™-''«y ■> one hundred and
fifteen at Nowfiel.i ; and cighty-nin, at Cedar-hall-
forming a to.a of seven hundred and sixty-five with n'

Bettlemcnts, to the holy communion.

11
In 1825 and 1826. the synod at Hermhut appointed
brother Wright from St. Kitt's, and brethrel M^r
Snnon and K.ppel.from Europe, to the service^fX
mission in Antigua. At this period, 14,823 slave!
were receiving instruction from the brethren

In 1828, the venerable Joseph Newby writes that
tereth, hadbeenencourage'dtoerect'anrit^^^
wh K u i* '' ""'* '° ••epair the premises at Grace-bay
which had sustained injury from the repeated shS
o earthquakes which had occurred in 'the pre^elg

Twelvp rT^i *^'' ''"■' °P""«'' f°' 'he children
Twelve hundred negroes had lately partaken of the

firsuime"!""""""' '"'"'^-'"^ '' "'°™ ^'^ ^ f"' *e

of r." '"'"i.''°" c*"'"'' ^"^ ^""" P^*' »° the education

and the'm •'' ' ''""'^ '" ""' P™-'^ '" -in,
ils 7"°""'^^ --^P"" v-'y interesting exami^
nations.. The questions proposed to the children re-

spectmg the celebrations of the brethren's church Le
answered with propriety. The statement of b^'ther

Say'' 28 IS " ' ';r '"''' '■™™ ^--^'y

May ^8, 1829, is as follows : " The Lord still
continues to bless our endeavors to train up^he ^
dren i„ his nurture and admonition. Some of tSo e
who m .heir childhood, were taught to read in o^'
Sunday schools, have since become worthy meml^rs
of the church. Mr. Newby writes, in August th."
on two recent occasions, there were baptiz;d or
received into the congregation at St. John's fiftl
nine persons, and sixty-four admitted as candidates
Forty-eight persons had received the sacrament of tie
supper, for the first time.

Dy Mr. C. H. Zellner, who entered on his work with
very promising appearances of success.

BARBADOES.

In 1765, two of the United Brethren were sent to
Barbadoes, m order to commence a mission on that
.s and. One of them, however, exchanged time fo

stS V^^'l 'r ^^' ""'' ^"'^«' ' J"-ompanion
seduced by the love of the world, neglected and

finally abandoned the cause in which he had engaged

and a third who was sent to fill up the place of tho

first, soon followed his predecessor to the silent tomb.

The undertaking was, therefore, suspended till the

month of May, 1767 when Mr. Benjamin Bruckshaw

resolved, m humble dependence on the promised aid of

the Holy Spint, to make someattempts forthe renewal

K„.K» ~r ,' .'''^''^'^""cingcoraialjy approved
by the president of the council and the resident clergy,

MISSIONS OP THE* UNITED BRETHREN.

he immediately began to preach to the negroes at
Bridgetown, with the consent of many of the plant-
ers, who not only permitted their slaves to come un-
der the sound of the gospel, but occasionally encour-
aged the missionary by their own attendance.

In the month of August, Mr. Bennet arrived from
North America, and he was soon afterwards joined by
other laborers, to assist in this infant but important
cause ; and as their hearers were continu Ally increas-
ing, they purchased a building, the interior of which
had been burnt, and fitted it up, both as a dwelling-
house and a place of worship. Here the word of
truth appeared to be attended with convincing power,
and six negroes were initiated into the church by bap-
tism. Several of the planters, also, invited the breth-
ren to preach on their estates ; so tliat the aspect of
the mission was, at this time, peculiarly encouraging.
The brightest morning, however, is not unfrequently
overcast by heavy clouds, and the anticipation of ex-
tensive success in Barbadoes was soon succeeded by
painful apprehensions. Many of the slaves, it appear-
ed, had attended the preaching merely from curiosity,
and now began to absent themselves from the means
of grace ; and even among those who might be con-
sidered as stated hearers, tliere were so few indica-
tions of vital godliness, tiiat they could not with
propriety be admitted to the privilege of baptism.
Pecuniary and other difficulties, also, tended to embar-
rass the mission ; and, after the removal of Mr. Bruck-
shaw to Antigua, in 1771, and the death of his col-
league Bennet, the following year, a spirit of dissen-
sion was unhappily excited among the remaining
brethren, and, at length, only one missionary was left
on the island ; so that the instruction of the catechu-
mens could not be prosecuted with requisite diligence,
nor was it practicable to pay that attention to the
state of the baptized, converts which their circuni-
.stances rendered absolutely necessary.

In 1773, some dawnings of success appeared to
attend the zealous labors of John Angerman, whose
whole soul appeared to be engaged in the great work
before him ; but scarcely two years had elapsed when
he was summoned to the presence of his adorable
Master; and, though his successors continued to sow
the precious seed of the gospel, in hope of a harvest
on some future occasion, no change of importance
occurred in the general aspect of affairs for several
years. Very few negroes, except those who had
formerly been baptized, and whose numbers did not
exceed twenty, attended the ministrations of the
brethren ; and even those who assented to the truths
of the gospel, afforded melancholy proofs that their
souls were still under the domination of Satan. The
planters, alao, with a few exceptions, were n nv averse

to the instruction of their slaves ; and, in 1730, a trC'
mendous hurricane involved both the missionaries
and their hearers in the most serious difficulties.

Amidst these trying and discouraging circumstances,
the brethren were enabled to " wait patiently on the
Lord," and to pour out their souls in fervent prayer for
that divine interference which could alone render the
doctrines of the cross effectual to the conversion and
eternal salvation of the " dark bewildered race" by
which they were surrounded. In the year 1790, their
supplications began to be answered, as their congre-
gations visibly increased, and sometimes amounted to
a hundred and fifty ; and, in addition to this, the de-
portment of those negroes who had for some time
been united with the church, became more consistent
with the spirit and temper of the gospel, and several
others, having given satisfactory evidence of their con-
version, were admitted to the rite of baptism. The
proprietors of different plantationsAvere, also, gradually
disposed to lay aside their former prejudices, and the
missionaries were treated with respect and kindness
by the local government.

As the situation hitherto occupied by the brethren
in the parish of St. Thomas was both unhealthy and
inconvenient, and as their dwellings had, for some
time, been in a dilapidated condition, they purchased
a small estate, in 1794, consisting of a spacious house
and four acres of land, very eligibly situated in the
midst of sf>me populous estates, and nearer to the
town than their former residence. To this settlement
they gave the name of Sharon. ■

In the month of November, 1798, Mr. James Wal-
ler and his wife, together with an unmarried sister
named Mary Grant, embarked at Bristol, to proceed to
join the missionaries at Barbadoes ; but the wind
proved adverse, and, after having been driven about
for some time in various directions, they were over-
taken by a dreadful storm, in which the ship became
totally unmanappable,and, at length, struck on a rock,
near the harbor of Kinsale, in Ireland. For tiie space
of four hours, they wore in constant expectation of be-
ing swallowed up by the waves, but the ebbing of the
tide showed them the practicability of reaching the
shore, which was only about two hun<lred yards dis-
tant. At this juncture, however, a gang of robbers,
armed with knives and hatchets, rushed upon them
with the most savage ferocity, and commenced plun-
dering the wreck and threatening the lives of all on
board. Providentially, however, these ruffians were
put to flight by a garty of the military, who fired among
them, and killed four or five of their party ; and the
passengers safely escaped to Kinsale, whence they af-
terwards obtained a passage to Barbadoes.

Towards the close of 1817, the congregation con-

sisted of two hundred and fourteen members, of whom
sixty-eight had been admitted to a participation of the
Lord's supper. It also appears that the whole num-
ber of negroes baptized by the brethren, from the
commencement of the mission, did not exceed three
hundred and thirty adults, and one hundred and fifty
children ; making a total of four hundred and eiehtv
mdlviduals.

Intelligence from the missionaries in Barbadoes is
contamed in a letter of the Rev. C. F. Berg, dated
Sharon, October 18, 1819, and is descriptive of a
storm, which appears to have been more destructive
than any other since the memorable hurricane of 1780
After describing the menacing aspect of the sky
and the violent gusts of wind on the preceding night'
this missionary observes—" On the 13th, in the morn-
ing, the sky had an awful appearance ; and at ten
o c ock, the wind, increasing in strength, began to de-
molish the stable, and to blow off particles of thereof
of the church. I then secured the stable with boards
and nails ; but whilst I was thus employed, both our
negro houses were thrown flat to the ground. At
twelve, it grew exceedingly dark, and now the wind
increased to a most alarming degree of violence, and
torrents of ram poured down with the greatest impet-
uosity. Four of the window shutters of the church
were blown off, which I took up -and nailed on again
though not without danger of my life. While I was
standing in the south door, watching the dreadful scene of
devastation, I was suddenly roused by a violent crack of
the wall, and a quantity of mortar and plastering fall-
ing down, the roof cracking with a dreadful noise.
We were in the old house which stood in the hurri-
cane of 1780 ; but now the water penetrated throu.'h
the roof and windows, and, the floor being inundated,
1 was obliged to make a drain, to let it run off.

" About four o'clock, it began to lighten and thun-
der, the flashes following each other in rapid succes-
sion ; an<l, as the wind was still on the increase, and
one of the large trees in our yard was torn up by the
roots, we did not think ourselves any longer safe in
the house. At five o'clock, the wind abated, and, for
about five minutes, there was a perfect calm ; but it
soon returned with the same violence as before, and
continued till the evening of the 15tli ; the rain, in
the mean time, pouring down in incessant torrents
and sweeping off the ground the spoils of the
tempest.

" Our damage is great, and I may venture to say
that £200 sterling will not repay it ; but it appears
comparatively small when I contemplate the suffer-
ings of our neighbors. All the negro houses are either
blown down or unroofed, and many houses, apnar^ntly
much stronger than our's, are leveled with the ground

ISLAND OF BARBADOES.

According to the statement in the newspaper, one es-
tate IS sunk into the earth, and on another, two larw
houses have been removed more than two hundred
yards. In the town, seven white persons, with their
houses, and all m them, were blown into the sea : and
the produce of the island is either destroyed, or so
materially injured, that dearth and famine sta,; us in
the face. In the midst of all these calamities, how-
much aVIt; ° -l"^" congregation eomfoks me

dren ;f gL T- '' "T^ °^ ''''"' ^^° '^"« 'chil-
dren of God, and lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ
who will preserve and help them." '

In few places is there a greater call for prudence in
the missionary than m this island. Few of the plant-
ers are decidedly in favor of having religious in' ru -
gn imparted to their people, and the faithful servant of
Christ has often had to meet with those who would

: ; ve™ ' F^'^'^^' ^° !'^ '""'''' ''^' ^"^^y -g''

be saved. For several years, the journals of the
brethren afforded but little that can be' deemed inter!

In TI23 an74"^j'" ''"°'' "^ '''''" P^''^"'=« -d faith.
In 1823 and 4, the progress of the mission was more

encouraging, and a greater hunger and thirst after the
«ord of God appeared, than ever before since its
commencement. The missionaries were invited to
twenty different plantations, and Mr. Haynes built a
chapel and missionary residence on his estate, with
the permission of the colonial legislature. In 826
brother Taylor and his wife arrived from Ant,gua,Tnd
were received with great joy by Mr. H. and his family.
Accounts from Sharon and Mount Tabor, in Febru-
ary, 1828, are interesting. Mr. Brunner writes, " At
Sharon we baptized twelve adults, and received seven
as candidates ; and at Tabor, on the same day, five
were admitted to church privileges "

Bishop Hueffel records, in the journal of his visit of
mspection_'<I went to Mount Tabor, on the 27th.
Bro her Taylor's hou.se stands by itself; at the foot of
he hill hes Mr. Haynes's negro village ; the cottages
a.e placed in regular rows, and every other arrange-
ment proves the kind attention which Mr. and Mrs
Haynes pay to the temporal and spiritual welfare of
those whom the Lord, by his providence, has entrust-
ed to their care. After the public service, two adults
were baptized; brother Taylor addressed the candi-
dates for baptism in an impressive discourse ; five per-
sons were received into the congregation "

Before leaving the island, the bishop waited upon
tlie president of the council, and the Right Rev Dr
Coleridge, the lord bishop of Barbadoes, by whom he
was received in a cordial manner, and with expressions
of regard for the brethren's missions.

The success granted to the labors of Mr. Brunner
»n the year 1828, is worthy of grateful notice; one

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

hundred and two adults were baptiied, and fifty-three
children, during that period.

In January, 1830, Mr. Taylor addressed the society
in a letter, from which the following is an extract : —
*' Our gracious Lord is pleased to lay his blessing
upon our feeble testimony of his love to sinners, and
to grant us many cheering proofs that it is not deliv-
ered in vain. The festivals of our Saviour's birlh, and
those of the new year and Epiphany, were seasons of
real refreshing from his presence. At the love-feast
with the children, ninety-seven were present, most of
whom attend our school. In the course of the year
1829, there have been baptized at Sharon sixty-nine
adult negroes, and admitted to the supper fifty-two
persons. The congregation consisted of one hundred
and sixty-one communicants, one hundred and ninety-
seven baptized adults, and one. hundred and tuenty-
four baptized children ; there are ninety-four candi-
dates for baptism and one hundred and sixty-eight
now people ; making the total of individuals under our
care amount to seven hundred and forty-four. At the
same period, the congregation at Tabor consisted of
thirteen communicants, thirty-six baptized adults, and
twenty-seven children ; making, with thirty-seven
candidates for baptism, and fifty-eight new people, an
aggregate of one hundred and seventy-one persons.

ST. CHRISTOPHER.

The brethren in Antigua having been repeatedly
solicited to extend their missionary labors to the neigh-
boring island of St. Christopher, to which mariners
usually give the familiar name of St. Kitt's, Messrs.
Birkby apd Gotwald were sent thither in June, 1777,
and were cordially received by one of the planters,
who had for some time expressed an earnest wish for
the instruction of his slaves in the important truths of
the Christian religion.

Having hired a house in the town of Basseterre,
they commenced preaching to the negroes ; but though
these attended in considerable numbers, and the breth-
ren were countenanced in their undertaking by many
of the proprietors, the progress of the gospel was
comparatively slow, as in 1784, seven years from the
first establisliment of the mission, the number of con-
verts scarcely exceeded forty. These, however, ap-
peared to have been made the subjects of a genuine
change, and their walk and conversation were " ac-
cording to godliness."

In 1785, the brethren purchased a piece of ground
for the establishment of a regular settlement, and the
place of worship which they now erected was so

numerously attended, that a more spacious church
soon became indispensably necessary. This was ac-
cordingly completed in 1789, the believing negroes not
only assisting in the work by manual labor, but also aid-
ing it by pecuniary contributions. On the day of con-
secration, eighteen persons were baptized, and three,
who had previously belonged to other denominations,
were admitted as members of the church. The num-
ber of baptized persons, at this time, amounted to
two hundred and seventy-nine, besides about eighty
catechumens.

A sacred flame was now kindled in the island,
which continued to spread, until, in the course of a
few years, the congregation consisted of two thousand
five hundred persons, and the attendance on public
worship was so numerous, that it was only on the
week-day evenings the hearers could be accommodated
within the walls of the church : on the sabbath, when
the negroes were in the habit of coming from various
distant plantations, great numbers were obliged to re-
main in the open air around the building.

In 1792, the town of Basseterre was visited by a
dreadful inundation, and a hurricane, which raged
in the ensuing autumn, proved extremely destruc-
tive ; but on each of these occasions the missionaries
were mercifully preserved, though their premises
sustained considerable injury. The work of the Lord
also continued to prosper in their hands, and, in the
course of a short time, they obtained the privilege of
preaching to the negroes on no less than fifty plan-
tations.

The invasion of St. Christopher's by a French
fleet, which had previously been anticipated, took
place on the 5th of March, 1805, when General Bal-
bot fixed his head-quarters in the neighborhood of the
missionaries, and stationed a guard of four privates
and a corporal at the entrance of their burial ground.
A capitulation, however, being agreed upon, the ene-
my quitted the island, after levying a contribution,
burning six vessels, spiking the cannon, and destroy-
ing the powder magazine ; and the brethren were
enabled to resume their labors without further fear of
interruption.

For some following years, no occurrence worthy of
particular narration marked the progress of* the mis-
sion in this island. Those who were employed in it,
however, persevered in their interesting work with unre-
mitting zeal and faithfulness ; the vacancies occasioned
by the death of some of their number, were soon sup-
plied by other devoted servants of Christ ; and, in
every year, some of the negroes were received into
the church by baptism, whilst others exchanged
worlds, rejoicing in the grace of God, and in the glo-
rious doctrine of the atonement.

In the year 1819, a new settlement, called 5e<Ae»-
da, began to be formed on the Cayon estate, and on
the 25th ofFebruary, 1821, the church at that place
was solemnly consecrated for the celebration of divine
worship ; a circumstance which appeared to excite
the most fervent gratitude in the breasts of many aged
and infirm negroes, who, on account of their distance
from Basseterre, had previously enjoyed but few op-
portunities of attending, on the sabbath, to hear the
word of God.

On the 9th of September, 1821, the island of St.
Christopher was visited by « dreadful hurricane,
which raged with the greatest fury during several
hours, and was productive of much devastation in
Basseterre, and throughout the country to a considera-
ble extent. The missionaries, however, were era-
ciously preserved in both their settlements; though
most of their fences and enclosures were thrown down
and their houses cracked and trembled in such a man-
ner as to excite the most lively apprehensions.

The Rev. J. Johansen, in a letter from Basseterre,
dated April 12, 1823, observes, " Concerning the
mission in this island, I may say with truth, that the
Lord contmues to bless our poor exertions. On our
communion and prayer days we have manifest proofs
that he is present with us, and there are always some,
who, on those occasions, advance in church privileges.
From Easter 1822 to Easter 1823, one hundred and
fifty-three negroes were either baptized or admitted
at Basseterre, and seventy-two at Bethesda ; making
a total of two hundred and twenty-five. May our
encouragements excite us to pray that the word of the
cross may more and more prove itself to be ' the
power of God,' for the conversion of all who hear it,
that our Saviour may see of the travail of his soul
and be satisfied."

The missionary Sautter writes, April, 1824, from
Basseterre, " One hundred and thirty-three were bap-
Voi,. I.— Nos. 7 & 8. 13

ISLAND OF ST. CHRISTOPHER.

181

tized since Easter 1823, and seventy-two admitted to
the Lord's supper; at Bethesda, one hundred and
eight of the former, and fifty of tiie latter description."
At the end of 1826, the congregation at Basseterre
consisted of one thousand seven hundred and seventy-
seven persons, of whom six hundred and six were
communicants. There were also three hundred and
two candidates for baptism, and five hundred under
gospel instruction ;— total 2579.

At Bethesda, there had been received into the
church, since 1821, three hundred and six adults:
and one hundred and ninety-four children had been
baptized. This congregation consisted of nine hundred
and ninety-five members, three hundred and sixteen
o» whom were communicants, and, with the addition
of catechumens, and candidates for baptism, number-
ed in all 1780 persons.

A letter from brother Hoch, February 6, 1829
mentions, that he has been cheered at Bethesda, " by
several circumstances connected with the course of
the congregation." «< The congregation, at the close
of the year, consisted of four hundred and twenty-four
communicants, three hundred and seventy-eight bap-
tized individuals, four hundred and sixty-six baptized
children, who, with two hundred and two candidates
for baptism, and four hundred and six new people,
form a total of 1876 under our care."

Intelligence from Basseterre, in 1830, from the
missionary Shick, is of a highly gratifying nature, in-
asmuch as It shows the steadfastness of the faith of
the converts in this island. Mr. Shick remarks, " Of
our communicants generally, we can declare with
truth, that they seek to glorify God by thdr walk and
conversation. Nor are we without cheering evidences
that the Spirit of God carries on his work in tKe heart
of many a poor ignorant negro, hading him to inquire
What must I do to be saved ?' "

/.c

6»

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

H»''

CHAPTER III .
MISSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA.

11 I :

A TRACT of land having been offered by the trus-
tees «f Georgia to Count Zinzendorf, and that noble-
man having expressed a hope that an effectual door
was thus opened for the introduction of divine truth
among some of the Indian tribes on the new continent,
a number of the United Brethren left Herrnhut in
November, 1734, and arrived in America the follow-
ing spring.

Having cleared a piece of ground, and formed a set-
tlement near the river Ogache, they immediately
commenced their missioaary labors, by preaching
among the Indians of the Creek nation ; many of
whom resided on an island called Irene, about five
miles from 'he town of Savannah, and possessed a
tolerable knowledge of the English language. They
also established a school for the education of the chil-
dren ; and, for some time, their prospects were very
encouraging, Tiieir exertions, in this quarter, however,
were soon and unexpectedly interrupted, by the
commencement of hostilities between tho Engiisli and
the neighboring Spaniards ; and their refusal to lake
up arms, on that occasion, excited so much dissatisfac-
tion in the minds of the other inhabitants^ that the
brethren were under the necessity of abandoning their
flourishing plantations, and of rrtiring into I'enn-
Bylvania.

In the mean time, Mr. Spangenl)erg, who, with
Messrs. Tiiltschig and Soiffart, iiad condurtcd ilio
colony to Georgia, returned to the congregation at
Herrnhut, and gave such an affecting representation of
the state of the savages in America, that several of the
brethren declared their readiness to devote their ser-
vices, and even their lives, to a mission so important and
truly benevolent. One of those. Christian Henry
Ranch, was accordingly despatched to New York,
where he arrived in July, 1710.

Shortly after his landing, Mr. Rauch was informed
that an embassy of Maliikan Indians had arrived in
tho city, to treat with government. He, therefore,
went inmiediately in searcii of them, and, though their
appearance was extremely ferocious, and they were

evidently in a state of inebriety, he was by no means
discouraged, but waited patiently till they were sober,
and then asked two of them, named Tschoop and
Shabash, whether they wished a teacher to settle
among them and instruct them in the way of salvation.
They immediately intimated their willingness to ac-
cede to such a proposal ; and, in a subsequent inter-
view, it was agreed that he should accompany them
to their residence at Shekomeko, an Indian town
about twenty-five miles to the eastward of North River
on the borders of Connecticut.

On reaching the place of his destination, our mis-
sionary met with a very hospitable reception ; but,
the next day, when he began to speak seriously of
the things of God, the Indians treated his instructions
with derision and contemi)t. Regardless of their be-
havior, however, he persisted in testifying of the
evil of sin, and the necessity of salvation by .Jesus
Christ, visiting them daily in their huts, and travelling
to the adjacent towns ; though, as he neither possessed
a horse nor money to hire a boat, he frequently suf-
fered extremely from heat and fatigue, and was some-
times refused admission into the houses of those to
whom \h\ longed to couununicate the invaluable truths
of the gospel.

Thus he proceeded for some time with little or no
prospect of success ; but, at length, it pleased God
to touch the hearts of tin- two Indians whom he had
first addressed in New York, and whenever ho con-
versed with them of the sufl"erings of the Redeemer,
and the all-suliicieucy of his atonement, their eyes
overdowed with tears, and theyliitterly lamented their
former ignorance' of the true (Jod ond their bigoted
devotion to dumb idols.

The work of the Holy Spirit in the conversion of
these savages was so evident, that the sidijecl soon
Bctpiired publicity ; and the neighboring Christians,
whose atteiitiiin to the gospel seems to liavo been
roused by this extraordinary circmusiance, were anx-
ious of hearing the missionary themselves, lie ac-
cordmgly complied with their «oli<itations to address

them occasionally, and the word spoken appears to

have been owned and blessed to many.

In tills manner Mr. Rauch continued to labor for

about twelve months ; but just as he began to antici-
pate that the seed sown by his instrumentality would
soon produce some fruit to the honor of his adorable
Master, some white people in the neighborhood.'con-
ce.vmg that the conversion of the Indians would prove
injurious to their interest, propagated the basest
reoorts a?ain(!» 1 i>i O..J ..._ii • .. , .

NORTH AMERICA.

..pom »6.i„., „i,„, .„, ..,„'.„';i;^rd z:z:: wTi°"r' T"", 'r '"^ «""'■"' ''•-'^i^'"

■ . ..„ V """gaiuu iiie savages

to threaten his hfe if he did not imu.ediately quit the
place Under these circumstances, he resolved to with-
draw lor a season, and accepted the situation of teacher
in a farmer s family at a short distance. He found it
impossible however, to abandon "the work of an
evangelist," and, though exposed to ,he greatest
indignities and the most imminent danger of liis life he
persisted in visiting the Indians at Sl.ekomeko, ;ili, at
length, his meekness, patience, fortitude, and perse-
verance, completely disarmed their resentment, and
convinced them of the falsehood of the reports which
had been so industriously circulated to his disadvantage.
The fnen.Iship of the Indians was no sooner re-
gamed, than the happiest effects were seen to follow
the preaehmg of the gospel among them. Many were
deeply iinpressed by the relation of the sufferings and
death of Jesus; and, whilst torrent.s of tears streamed
f om their eyes, the renewing gmce of the Holy Spirit
Jone conspicuously i„ ,heir con.Iuc. and conversation.
This was strikingly exemplified in Ts.-hoop. whose
affections had, for a short time, been alienated from
h.s teacher, but who had subsequently and successfully
exerted himself in removing the unfounded pn.judices
of his countrymen. This man, whilst in an unregen-
erate state, was pre-eminent, amoi- his brethmi, in

dnmkemiess. ferocity . ,uu| debauchery, and had actually
crippl.Ml hnnsell in the .service of Satan! Now, how-
• ever, the lion appeared to have be.M, transformed i„,o „
lamb ami the demoniac, when. „„ ,„„,,| „,„.„• „^
could formerly bind, was seen in a state of sanity and
peace, <.|othed with the garments of salvation, and
sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Speakin,.; to the brethren ,,f his own cnversion he
one d.iy said, " I was born among the heatli..n,nnd have
grown old among them, and, therefore, I know how the
heathen ihmk. A preacher once ram,, among us, and
began to tell us that th,.ie was « (iod. We replie.l
'Dost thou think us so ignorant as not to know that >
Kelurn to the place when.e thou earnest.' Another
preacher, who aAerward visite.l us. insisle.l upon the
wickedness of lying, stealing ami intoxication. Wo
•nswered, 'Thou fool, d„st tlun. suppose we are

UnuCMuninipd u'lth th'— '> T> •

repeat thy exhortations ; for who are more notoriou,

liars, thieves or drunkards than thy own people?
After some time, brother Rauch came into my hut.
and addressed me to this effect ; ' I am come to you in
he name of the Lord of heaven and earth. He sends
to inform you that he will deliver you from your
present miserable situation, and render you completely
happy. For this purpose he became a man, gave £
h.e a. ransom, and shed his precious blood for pe •
jshmg sinners.; When he had finished speaking'he
lav down, fnt onoH «.;,i, i.:. • f ■vuig, ue

sound sleep. !. hen began tr;h;::^'<wLn;S:
-an IS this ? There he lies and slee;s ; and, houghl
nnght easdy kill him, and throw his body intolhe
wood.s. this gives him no concern !' At'the sal
time IS words were too deeply rooted in. my mind to

Christ shed for sinners presented itself to my imngi-
nation. I afterward interpreted what I had heard to
my countrymen, and thus, through the grace of God.
an a kening eommenced among us. If, ...erefore
brethren, you would have your words to gain entrance
mong the .athen, continue to preach Christ, and 1
eflicacy of ins sufferings and death "

In 1742, Count Zinzendorf, having engaged to in-
spect the .iifrcrent settlements of LI?.,;:' n
America, paid a visit to Shekpmeko, and had the
pleasure of witnessing the baptism of Tschoop, Sha-
bash and two other Indians, who were admitted into
he church on the 22d of February, „s the first fruits
of the.r nation. The count also made several journey,
.mo the interior by which means a friendly inti. JZe
«ns established with several Indian tribes, .some of
-horn might otherwise have opposed and impeded
the labors ol the missionaries.

The mission now began to assume a most oncour.
a^mg appearance, as the hands of Mr. Rauch were
strengthened by the arrival of some prudent, zealou,
a-Hl courageous fellow laborers ; the young converts
evinced a delightful warmth of heart, whilst speaking

of.heloveo. (iodin(;i.ris,;„nd„,,,„dia,;. ,,,iS
frcMuently came from a distance of twenty miles ,o
•'•■ar the gospel, were so deeply affect Jd by i„
.".I.ress.ve truths, that they were bathe,! in L ,
•l-mng the sermon, a„.l sometimes fell prostrate on t e

, " -^ "^ " 'losirato on tli

groumi, overpowere.l by the aeuteness If ,|,„i, ...nvi^-

loiis, I he missionaries, who live.I an,l ,lie..se,l in the

ndian maimer, also extemle.l their labors to some of

the n..,ghl.ormg towns ; „,^d such a powerful sensation

r"":'"' "" •'"''"•'"- -''ich they prcache,!. ,b„, th^

hear so the savages wore completely melted, and the

stan.inr,l of the cross began alrea,Iy to wave in holy

trmmph aiimlst the str,ine hol.ls of .S„.a„ ^.^ -r -•/

I" March. Hi.-, ten of the converted InWan/'^i

Shekomeko were, for the first time, udmitted to .

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

I'i

I li'i

participation of the holy communion ; and in the
month of July, a new chapel was opened, thirty feet
long and twenty broad, which enabled them more
conveniently to hold their meetings for public worship.
Some rules were also drawn up by the brethren, for
the regulation of their social intercourse, and for the
maintenance of good order in the settlement ; and, at
the close of the year, the number of baptized Indians
amounted to sixty-three, exclusive of those in the
town of Pachpatgoch, where a missionary and his
wife, from Bethlehem, had recently taken up their
abode.

Hitherto, though exercised with trials, and some-
times exposed to vexations, the missionaries had not
met with any serious interruption to their labors ; but,
in the spring of 1746, a most violent persecution was
raised against them by some Europeans in the neigh-
borhood. These persons, having failed in their base
attempts to detach the Indians from their teachers,
and to seduce them into drunkenness and other vices,
now endeavored to alarm their own countrymen, by
representing that the brethren were in league with the
French in Canada, and had been employed to furnish
the savages with arms for the express purpose of
murdering the English. Tliis cruel and absurd report
was spread through the whole country, and excited
such terror in the adjacent town of Sharon, that the
inhabitants remained under arms for a whole week,
and some were so panic-stiuck, that they actually
abandoned their plantations.

The missionaries were now required to serve in the
militia, and on their pleading the exemption to which
they were entitled as ministers of the gospel, they were
dragged from court to court, in order that some charge
might have been substantiated agamst them ; but, as
gold loses none of its purity by passing through the fire,
they were liunornbly acquitted in every instance, and
the most distinguished of the magistrates acknowledf^ed
the purity of their designs uiid llie nlilily of their
exertions. The malice of their enemiuH, however,
was not diminished, though their attempts had thus
far proved abortive. They, therefore, had recourse
to other measures, and not only procured an act of
assembly ordaining that all suspected persons should
take the oath of allegiance, or be banished from the
province, but they succeeded in obtaining another act,
prohibiting the missionaries from instnicting the Indians,
under (he absurd pretence of their being connected with
the French.

Tliough the injustice of this act was felt and
acknowledged by every unprejudiced person, the
brethren considered it iheir duty to obey the authority
of the state ; and, with bleeding hearts, but with
Unshaken confidence in God, ihcy ieft (hcif bt-iuVeti

congregation, and retired to Bethlehem. The Indians,
in the mean time, continued to hold their religious
meetings as usual, and were occasionally visited by
their teachers, though at the risk of severe persecution.
The members of the congregation were soon afterward
invited to remove from the province of New York,
and to settle in the vicinity of Bethlehem till a more
eligible spot could be procured fo- their permanent
residence ; and though, at first, they started several
objections against this proposal, many of them were
soon compelled to embrace it, by the malicious perse-
cution of the white people in their neighborhood, who
forcibly dispossessed them of their lands, and even
applied to the local authorities for a warrant to exter-
minate them, as enemies of the state.

In Apti\, 1746, two families of the emigrants,
consisting of forty -four persons, arrived at Bethlehem,
and erected some huts for their temporary accommo-
dation ; but as an Indian town could not be con-
veniently supported m that situation, the brethren
purchased a tract of land, abbut thirty miles distant,
near the confluence of the rivers Mahony and Lecha.
To this spot the Indians immediately repaired, with a
view to clear and cultivate the ground, and here a new
town was marked out, which they called Gnadenhut-
ten, or Tents of Grace.

On receiving intelligence of the formation of this
settlement, many of the converted Indians, who had
previously refused to quit Shekomeko, were induced to
remove thither ; but the situation of those who still
remained became more and more embarrassing. The
Indians attached to the French army, having made an
irruption into the country, had advanced within a day's
journey of the town, marking their progress by confla-
gration and murder. I'he Christian natives, slill
residing in that settlement, were, therefore, kept in a
state of the most fearful anxiety ; and none of the
brethren had an opportunity of visiting them till the
month of July, when Messrs. Post and Hagon went
thither from Bethlehem. On that occasion, though
the chapel was secured to tl)e Indians by a written
deed of gift, it wns found net I'ssary to give up all idea
of holding meetings for religious worship there, and
the missionaries took leave of Shekomeko with .sor-
rowfid hearts, though with unfeigned gratitiule for that
manifestation of divine mercy, which had here been
afforded to the heathen ; of whom sixty-one adults
had been received into the church by the rite of baptism,
within two years, exclusive of those who had been
admitted to the same privilege at Bethlehem.

At Onadenhutten tin- Indian congregation continued
for several years in a pleasing course, and inrroased to
aliout five hundred pi-rsons ; who evinced the sincerity
uf ilit'ir prufcssiun tiy iiie liHrininiy uhiiii prcvuiied

among them, the industry with which they cultivated
their fields, the solicitude which they expressed for the
rehgious education of their children, and the unshaken
confidence which they reposed on tJ.e grace and power
of the Lord Jesus, in seasons of severe sickness,
and under circumstances of peculiar trial. The mis-
sionaries also evinced their zeal and devotedness to
the cause m which they had engaged, not only by pay-
ing the greatest possible attention to the wants of their
flock at this settlement, but by embracing every op-
portunity of publishing the gospel among the Iroquois,
«n the banks of the Susquehannah. Many perilous
journeys were undertaken with this view, and the
lives of the brethren were sometimes in imminent dan-
ger from the profligacy and inebriety of the ferocious
tnbe whom they labored, but without success, to con-
vert to the faith of Christ: two of their number, ho^v-
ever, obtained permission from the Great Council at
Onondago to reside in the country, in order to gain a
competent knowledge of the language.

In 1752, a numerous embassy of Nantikoks and
Shawanose arrived at Gnadenhutten, and concluded a
solemn league of amity with the brethren. The fol-
lowing spring another embassy arrived attended
by three Iroquois Indians, and proposed that the
congregation should immediately quit their settlement
and remove to Wayomik, a town belonging to the
Shawanose. For this most unexpected proposal, no
reason was assigned ; but it afterward appeared that
the savages, having resolved to join the French in
ho»..mies against the English, were desirous, in the
tirst instance, of providing a safe retreat for their
countrymen, that they might attack the white people
in the neighborhood of Gnadenhutten with ereater
facility. °

Though most of the Christian Indians were decid-
edly averse to the idea of emigration, a party of up-
wards of eighty resolved on removing to Wayon.ik •
but these had scarcely commenced their journey'
when their loss was, in some degree, made up by tile
nrriyal of fifty converts from an establishment about a
day s journey from Bethlehem, whcncMhey had been
expelled by order of the proprietor of the estate. Thij
cirrumstnnre exceedingly cheered the congregation, and

seemed fo.nspiro the native assistants with new zeal and
persevernnreinthedischargeofiheirduties. Thehnavy
clouds, however, which had for some time menaced
tins settlement, were not yet dispersed. They were
not only obliced to pay a «orl of tribute to the Iro-
quois, ns an n,knowledgm..nt of their dependence on
that wnrhko nation, but « new and singular message
was sent to them, to the followin,^ effect: "The

. .u ~,r ""i""!-, in wnoniia^o, speak the

tnith and he not. They rejoice that some of the be-

NORTH AMERICA,

leving Indians have removed to Wayomik; but now
they hft up the remaining Mahikans and Delawares
""! ''V5"? "^T in Wayomik also; for there a fire'

s kindled for them, and there they may plant and
think on God : but if they refuse to hearken to th"s
message, the Great Council will come and cleanse
their ears with a red hot iron (implying that they
wou d bum their houses), and suL them 'through the
liead with musket balls." This menace inducedVme
of the congregation to remove; but the majority re-

otrviir"'"T "'" ''"' ''''''''''' -™« of 'hem
observ ng, m reference to the threat of the Great

Council. "The God who created and redeemed ^is"
also able to protect us, nor need we dread the dis-
pleasure of man, since not a hair can fall from the
head of a Christian without the divine permission."

I he missionaries at this station now began to resume
their Itinerant labors among the heathen residing at a
distance; and, though the journeys which they per-
formed were attended with many inconveniences and
dangers, they considered themselves amply remuner-
ated for all their toils, when, by the instrumentality of
their preaching, converts were added to the church
and those who had already cast in their lot with the
people of God, were seen to continue in the faith and
hope of the gospel. Little did some of them suppose,
whilst thus rejoicing over their occasional visits, thai
so terrific a catastrophe awaited them at home.

On the commencement of hostilities between the
French and English, an Indian war broke out, accom-
panied by It. usual horrors, and spreading consterna-
tion and dismay through, all parts of the country
1 he first outrage was committed in the vicinity of Sho^
mok.n, where three of the Moravian missionaries resid-
ed ; but by the overrulin- providence of God they were
mei-c.fully preserved. The brethren at Gnadenhut-
ten, however, who had resolved to remain at their
post, notwithstanding the imminent danger to which
they were exposed, as friends of the British govern-
ment, were doomed to drink the cup of bitterness,
even to the dregs. In the evening of November 24
1755, Willi.: the brethren in the mission-house were
sitting at supper, they heard an unusual barking of
dogs, followed by the report of a gun. Some of them
immediately went to the <loor, when they perceived
to their unspeakable terror, a party of French Indians'
with their muskets pointed towards the house, and in
llie space of a second, they fired, and killed Martin
i%it8chman on the spot. His wife and some others
were wounded, but they precipitately rushed up'stairs
to the garret, and harricadoed the door .so firmly with
bedsteads, that their savage pursuers found ii ;,...„,..:_
bie to lorce it open. Resolving, however, not to be
disappointed of their prey, the sanguinary monsters set

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

rvi

fire to the house, which, in a short time, was com-
pletely enveloped in flames. Two of the brethren
had previously effected their escape by jumping out
of a back window, and now one of the sisters and a
boy saved their lives by leaping from the burning
roof One of the missionaries, named Fabricius, at-
tempted to follow their example, but, being discovered
by the Indians, they despatciied him with their hatch-
ets, cut away his scalp, and left him lifeless on the
ground. All the others who had fled to the garret
were burned to death. Mr. Senseman, who, on tiie
first alarm, bad gone out at the back door, had the
heart-rending anguish of beholding his wife perish in
this dreadful manner. When literally surrounded by
the devouring element, this excellent woman was
heard to exclaim, in the true spirit of a Christian
martyr, "Dear Saviour! it is nil well." No less
than eleven persons perisiied on this melnncholy oc-
casion, viz. seven missionarie.s, tiiree of their wives,
and a female child only fifteen months old ! The in-
human savages having completed their work of butch-
ery at the mission-house, set fire to the stables, and
thus destroyed all the corn, hay and cattle. They
then regaled themselves with a hearty meal, and de-
parted. They afterward relumed, however, lo burn
the town and ravage the plantations ; but the whole
of the congregation providentially esra])ed, having fled
to the woods, as soon as tiiey saw tiie mission-house in
flames, and were apprized, by one of the brethren, of
the tragical catastrophe.

Dreadful and disastrous as were these events, they
became the means, in the hand of Divine Providence,
of averting a much more extensive calamity. Some
agents of tiie prince of darkness had, at this time,
contrived the destruction of the wiiole estabiisiunent
of tlie United Brethren in North America; and tiie
sparks of suspicion wiiicli had been kindled on a
previous occasion, by intimations of a treasonable
correspondence with the enemy, were now blown into
a flame, by an infamous faiirication in one of the news-
papers, purporting, to be a letter from a French ollicer,
in which he was re|iresenle(l as saying, that " the con-
quest of the English would s(M)n be effected by his
countrymen, as the Indians had already espoused their
cause, and the Moravians, who we-e decidedly friendly
to them, would render every assistance in their pow-
er." The publiraticm of this vile forgery excited
•uch a general feeling of indignation, that in the Jer-
seys a declaration was publicly made, with beat of
Hruinr that Hetlileliem should bo destroyed, and the
most dreadful menaces were added, timt in alt the
Moravian settlements such a carnage should be short-
ly iiuide as Imd never previously been lieanl of in
North America. VV.hilst we shudder, therefore, nt the

calamitous fate of those who perished at Gnadenhut-
ten, we are constrained to admire the stupendous
wisdom of that God, who, by permitting the Indians
in the pay of France to commit such an inhuman
atrocity upon the very people who had been industri-
ously represented as their friends and adherents, estab-
lished the innocence of a slandered community, be-
yond the power of contradiction, and providentially
rescued their other settlements from impending de-
struction.

After the murderous attack on the missionaries at
Gnadenhutten, a few of the converted Indians re-
moved to Wayomik, but the greater part fled to Beth-
lehem, where they were received with fraternal kind-
ness, and treated with the greatest hospitality. This
circumstance, however, tended to involve both the
brethren and their converts in new and trying difficul-
ties. The savages, on the one hand, peremptorily in-
sbted on their countrymen rising in arms against the
English, and even threatened to murder them in case
of refusal ; whilst, on the other, there arose a set of
fanatics among the Europeans, who demanded the to-
tal extermination of the Indian tribes, as a race
accursed of God ; and these were, of course, highly
uicensed against the brethren at Bethlehem, for afford-
hig protection to persons, whom they, in their wisdom,
identified with the ancient Canaanites.

Thus situated, the inhabitants of Bethlehem con-
sidered themselves as sheep ready to be slaughtered,
and knew not, on retiring to rest at night, whether
they should ever again behold the light of day.
Their dependence on the God of their mercies, how-
ever, remained unshaken, and they resolutely deter-
mined to remain at their post. At the same time,
they adopted the most prudent measures for tlieii de-
fence, surrounding the settlement with palisadoes, and
maintaining a constant watch both day and night. They
were thus happily preserved from tlio attacks of the
savages, who continued to ravage the neighboring
country, and to commit the most liorrid barbarities.

After some time, the Indian roiifircKation began to
enjoy repose and tian(|uilliiy benealli the protection of
their kind friends at Hetlileliem; three of the mission-
aries devoted themselves entirely to their instruction;
portions of the Scripture and moral 1 ymns were trans-
lated for their use ; the schools were recommenced
and diligently attended ; and the cliildren frequently
met together, to sing the praises of their (Jod and
Saviour. The converts, also, with very few excep-
tions, remained steadfast in their Christian profession,
and exhibited many satisfactory proofs of the influence
of the gospel oti their hearts and lives.

In the month of June, H.'iT, a piece of land, about

a mijn djsliinl frnni nntlilehc!!!. ■■'n°. kl:

V 6'

....I u..

;iv'a tjy

government for the formation of an Indian settlement-
and here a town was erected, under the superintend'
ence of the brethren, which was called nL TWs
^f^"" ^°«"«': completed than most of the baptized
who. m obed.enca to their savage countrymen had
returned to Wayomik, or fled to the SusqSnah
af or the massacre of the missionaries, reLned and
sohcted permission to reside in the town. The i„-
habuants .ndeed, increased so rapidly, in consequence
of the return of those who had wandered in various
direcfons durmg the late troubles, that, after the lapse
of a short time, it became necessary to divide them
and to form a second settlement for their accommoda-
t on. Accordmgly, the brethren at Bethlehem pur-
cha ed , tract of land, comprising about fourteen iL-
dred «cres, belund the Blue Mountains, and a new
.own called Wech^yetank, was erected under tL inl
spection of one of the missionaries

As the scene of the contest between the French
and Lnghsh was now changed, Pennsylvania and tie
adjacent provmces were happily delivered from the
presence of the hostile savages ; and, for a considerable
time, the mestu.able blessings of peace, repose, an
prosper, ty, continued to be enjoyed in each o the
new so tlen,e„,s. In ,76.3, however, both the inc !
s.ons of the Indians and the clamor of certain Euro-
peans for the extirpation of all the native tribes, were
"nhappdy renewed. A party of Irish freeboo. -r ,
particular declared that any Indian who presumed o
appeann the woods should be instantly shot, and that
If only one white man were murdered in that neighbor-
hood, the most, exemplary vengeance should be takn,
upon all the inhabitants of Nain and Wechquetanlc In
consequence of these menaces, the congregations were
repeatedly harassed by false alarms, and, at length, they
received the appalling intelligence, that an Irish settle-
ment, a few miles from Bethlehem, ha.l been attacke.l
by n party of the savages, who had killed a captain
a lieutenant, several sol.liers, and a person, whose wife'
narrowly escaped, though she ha.l occasioned the awful
disaster, by ineonsidentely expressing her sentiments
m respect to some Indians who lodged in that quarter
This circumstance excited the most serious apprelu-ii-
8.ons ,„ each of the new missionary settlements, nor
«ere they 1^ nny means ui.fouii.led. The very next
day, about nity white men assembled on the opposite

the n.ght, and murder all the inhabitants ; bu, some
person ,n the neighborhood having pointed out the

ddhc.ilty „„d danger of their enterprise, they were in!
ducedto return honie. On the same day, a p„r,y f
he Insh freebooters arrive.1 at WeehqueUmk. vith the
design of destroviuLr il.n .v.|„>i.. „<• .i.! ... . I

place ; but the missionary was fortunate enough tore-

NORTH AMERICA.

strain their fury by some well-timed presents nnH hv
givmg them plenty to eat and drink ^ On '•'. u^
settlement, Wv^er, they were"htd?o"arrfhat^
unless the Indians removed very shortlv X, ' , J
return and massacre them all. L aS^ ^ .re^
pected m the course of the night, as several spies lere"
discovered lurking about, and a fire at a short itrnee
b rayed a neighboring encampment: but as the rab
ell m torrents for several hours', the enemy was nduced
to abandon or postpone his design.
As It was impossible to remain any longer at Wech

t:::t U.e°" '"^-^'-^ ^"^ charge iTiToi"

tovn ^'/. *=«"g''^S^"o" resolved to abandon that

town, and to accept an invitation to one of the breVh

ren s settlements, called Nazareth ; though they we e

under the painful necessity of leaving their gfowing

crops and many of their cattle behind them. Z a!

they were preparing to depart, their attention was excit

ed^by a discharge of fire arms in the neighbori.ood ; a^d

l.e Indians, supposmg that their savage countrymen

had attacke,! some of the settlers, proposed ZZnZ

to the assistance of the latter. The n'ssionary l.ow!

ever represented that their arms should only b t^ed

" self-defence; and it soon afterwards appeared that

te firing had proceeded from a party ofTold;:; ^

hat the savages, against whom it was directed, had

ittu-ed without committing any <lepred»tions.

The inhabitants of Nain. in the mean time, were in
a complete state ot blockade ; the settlers heir;
enraged against tliem. on account of the crue lt£ of
I.eir countrymen, that the converted Indians co id no
onger go to Bethlehem without exposing thei.is Ives
.0 the most severe treatment ; and, even at home, the,
were under the necessity of maintaining a strimva cj
bo. by day and night. Having adopte.l such , sur:,
fcr eir defence as preclude.l the enemy from attack
■ng l-n without danger, they began to'entertain ^
cheering hope that government would soon inter!
pose on their behalf; but this anJcipation was sal
ly 'I'sappomted. One of their members, named Re-
natus. was suddenly apprehended as the Indian who
had murdered an Irish settler ; and, as the widow of
he deceased swore to his identity, he was imme.lia.ely
removed to Philadelphia and thrown into prison The
news of this ciicuinstance spread through the country
uith inconceivable rapidity, and inflamed the rage
of the Europeans to such a pitch of madness, that
the immolation of the two congregations appeared nl-
most inevitable. '

At this critical juncture, an express arrived from
« iMladelphin, with an order from the chief imu^istnite!,.
lliat all the (Christian Indians from ^nin at-J VVr^h
T.etank should deliver up their arms and repair to
that city, where they would be placed under the pro-

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

P.l

tection of the government. This was a source of
deep distress to the converts, who dreaded nothing so
much as the idea of a separation from their teachers ;
but, on being assured that the missionaries would not
forsake them, they resolved to submit to the will of
God ; and on the arrival of the sheriff, they delivered
up their weapons with a degree of composure which
demonstrated the influence of the gospel upon their
minds ; as an Indian, previous to conversion, would
prefer the loss of his head to that of his musket.

The congregation from Nain having joined their
brethren who had recently removed from Wechque-
tank to Nazareth, the whole company set forward on
their journey, accompanied by some of the mission-
aries, on the 8th of November ; and it was truly af-
fecting to behold these poor, unoffending people, among
whom were many sick and infirm, besides women and
children, travelling patiently along, in utter ignorance
of their future destiny. On the road they suffered
much from fatigue and other hardships, and in some
places they were exposed to the insults of the set-
tlers, who loaded them with abuse and maledictions.

On their arrival at Pliiladelphia they were ordered
to be lodged in tho barracks ; but, as the soldiers who
were quartered there peremptorily refused them ad-
mittance, the unfortunate creatures were kept stand-
ing in tho street from ten o'clock in the morning till
three in the afternoon, exposed to the derision and
threatenings of a clamorous mob, ^vho charged them
with all the outrages committed by the savages, and
even talked of murdering them on the spot. At length
the magistrates ordered them to proceed six miles
farther, to Province Island, in the river Delaware ;
where they were lodged in some large buildings, and
kindly supplied by government with whatever they
needed.

They had not been long in this asylum when they
received the distressing intelligence that the town of
Wechquetank had been burnt by some of the infuriat-
ed settlers ; and that some incendiaries had also at-
tempted to set fire to Bethlehem, and had actually
reduced the oil mill to ashes. It was also stated that
a party of Europeans had attacked a number of In-
dians in the village of Canestoga, and murdered four-
teen of them in their huts. The rest having fled to
the town of Lancaster, the magistrates took them un-
der their protection, and lodged them in the work-
house, a strong and secure building. The inhuman mur-
derers, however, marched info the town at noon-day,
broke into the workhouse, and, though the poor, de-
fenceless Indians begged for mercy on their knees, they
butchered them all without pity, and, having thrown
their mangled bodies into the street, they departed with
a shout of malignant triumph, threatening that tho

Indians in Province Island should soon share a 8imi«
lar fate.

A proclamation was now issued by government, of-
fering a considerable reward for the apprehension of
the ringleaders of these assassins. Such was the state
of insubordination at that time, however, and so gen-
eral was the rage of tho white people against the In-
dians, that the magistrates, apprehensive of the most
disastrous consequences, resolved to send the converts
from Province Island to the English army, by the way
of New York. Accordingly, on the 4th of January,
1764, they quitted their asylum, and, on their arrival
at Philadelphia, they were provided with wagons for
the aged, the sick, and the children, and the heavy
baggage ; and were protected from the assaults of the
mob by a party of seventy Highlanders. In all the
towns through which they passed they were grossly in-
sulted by the populace ; but, after about a week's jour-
ney, they arrived in safety at Afnboy, where two sloops
were ready to carry them to their place of destination.
Just as they were preparing to embark, however, a mes-
sage arrived from the governor of New York, strictly
enjoining that no Indian should enter that province, and
even prohibiting the ferryman, undera severe penalty,
from conveying them across the river.

This circumstance was no sooner communicated to
the magistrates at Philadelphia, than orders were issued
for the Indians to return to that city ; and on their
arrival they were lodged in the barracks, and attended
day and night by a military guard. The mob, how-
ever, continued to increase both in number and fury,
so that government found it necessary to make
preparations for repelling their audacity by force.
The guard was, accordingly, doubled ; a rampart was
thrown up in the middle of the square ; and eight
heavy pieces of cannon were phiiited in the front of
the barracks. An association of the citizens, com-
prising many of the young Quakers, was also formed
by the celebrated Benjamin FVuiikiin, and avowed
their readiness to assist in defending the Christian In-
dians. Twice the conspirators meditated an attack,
hut the preparations ma<le by government so com-
pletely overawed them, that they wisely abandoned
so dangerous an enterprise. Some gentlemen were
then deputed to inquire what complaints they had to
make, and, on their asserting tlint several of the Indians
were nmrderers, whom they had seen at Pittsburg, one
of their ringleaders was admitted into the barracks, in
order to point out the culprits. He accordingly ex-
amined them all with minute attention, but was unable
to recognize an individual as chargeable with the
smallest offence. It was then asserted that the Qua-
kers had removed six of the Indians, and concealed
them in a place of safely : but, upon investication.

this charge proved to be totally unfounded. The

hTp^ierttr"'^"'^'^^'^"^^-"^"'"^

During their residence in the barracks, which lasted
nearly fourteen n,onths. the Indians kept up .heir
rehg-ous meetings, and on the sabbath such crowds

could not contain them; the greatest silence and
decorum, however, were invariably preserved, and
mov.?KT' '''? P^'J"'^'''^^ "'■ -"^ny effectually re-

comp n,ed wuh sa-ing power. The Lori's Supper
was also admmistered at stated times, and one of the
m,ss.onaries even opened a school fo; instructing 1 e
youth m the English language ^

Notwithstanding the enjoyment of these privileges
and the generous supply of all their wants bv tS
Bnt.sh government, the Indians began to grow Z
jected and melancholy in a situation which they con
sidered as httle short of imprisonment ; some of 2
young people, impatient of restraint, ex .ibit^d s tron.
symptoms of insubordination ; and o'n the ['o^ZI
of fever and the small pox, which broke out as Ihe
summer advanced, many of .hem began to meditate „
e cape from the barracks. The exhortations and advice

f T I °'^ "-e^'gnafon ; and though, during the
penod of mfection, upwards of fifty pe'rs^. wefe Z
moved from the congregation by death, their loss was
abundantly compensated to the survivors, by the
cheermg reflection that most of them had departed
ejo.cmg m the faith of Christ, and anticipaLg
ready admittance mto that celestial city where the
mhabitam shall not say, " I am sick."

Among the Indians lodging in the barracks, at this
.me, Renatus, whom we have already mentioned as
having been impnsone.l on a charge of murder, appears
to have been placed in the most distressing c ircum-
stances ; three of his nearest relatives having be n
successively corned ofl' by disease, whilst he was in
expectation of being br.n.ght to con.lign punishme,
for a crime of which he was entin y i„„ocent. Wl'
informed of this mournful event, he burst into a flood
of tears, and exrlaimcl, '<0! to lose my father, my

;lr'^i ?:':":'':'^' ''■•)-''■- -fined ^^

NORTH AMERICA.

prison ! This is almost too murl, to bear !" He de-

voted the w ole of his time, however, to reading and

raTmo't'lT'"-'" ••:""'"" '"^ '"«'' ''-nno^en e

acouir ' '•"'"■'■^ '"■'""'• "'"' '"' "•- '"'"-nbly
acquitted .-a c.rcuu.stnnre which proved highly ben-
eficial ,o the brethren, as it complLly removed lo
odium which had so long been ;ast upon thrcin!

verts, and which had rendere.l the mLion itsLf a, I =it>.».:™ -p-. -.- - i • - • - ^ "■ '-

object of generui though most unjust susi.irion i ;•"; """ ""^ '^^^"lanty oi .(., appearance, many

Vol. I.-N08. 7 k 8. ^ ' "°"' j^ " ''''' '*"* '« ""«"'' seriously ,0 the preaching of thJ

On the cessation of hostilities, and the subseauent
restoration of peace, in March, 1765, the IndiaZere
h crated from the barracks, and received theTg" eS
ntelhgence that a tract of land had been ass^ d to
hem as a settlement, on the banks of the Susque!
.annah. 1„ their journey thither, however, theyrd
to encounter a. variety of difficulties; for, as the an^
mosity of the white people had not y;t subid they
were CO „ed to travel by a ver/circuhous ^^^
and hrough extensive forests, where it was necessary
to cut their way for miles together. In some places
the hiUs were so steep and rocky, that they were
obliged to unload the wagons and carry their Llage
forward in detached parcels, so that they hS f o
travel over the same ground repeatedly. At other
..mes their progress was impeded by rivers so broad
and deep, that they were under the necessity of en-
camping on the banks, till they had constructed a

At night they were sometimes forced to lodge in the
swamps, no dry ground being sufficiently contiguous
and whenever they passed through a part of "he
country wluch afforded neither game nor fish, they
were so severely distressed for provisions, that they
were glad to foed upon- wild potatoes, notwithstanding
the unpleasant taste of those roots ; and to satisfy thf

t.ees, and made them suck the juice which exuded
umler the bark. They had also frequently noS o
drink but the muddy water found inlwampy puddle
One night they were greatly alarmed byThe woods
being on fire, and burning with great fory around their
encampment till one o'clock in the morning A
their fatigues and trials, however, were comparatively
forgotten in their religious meetings, which they he d
every evening in the open air, around a large fire
and, after travelling for five weeks, they arrived in
safoiy at the end of their journey.

Having fixed on a convenient spot for a settlement.

they began to ere_ct a town which, when completed

cons.sted of fortyjiouses built of wood, in the European

manner, and thirteen Indian huts, besides a dwelling

for the missionaries, and a neat and spacious chapel

li.e i,.ouiid adjoining the houses was laid out in gar-

dens; an.l between the town and the river a tract of

about two hundred and fifty acres was divi.led into

regular plantations of Indian corn. To this settlement

t u.y gave the name of Frtcdenshuctten, or " Tents

of I'eace."

Soon after the formation of this settlement, great
numbers of Indians flocked to it from various quarters-
"n<l, whilst all of them admired the excellencv of its'

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN,

li'H

gospel, and were filled with concern for their eternal
salvation. The congregation was, of course, pro-
gressively increased, and, in less than two years, it
became necessary to build a larger place of worship.
Two spacious schools were also erected for the use of
the young people ; and the brethren were richly re-
munerated for all their labors by seeing the work of
the Lord prospering in their hand.

In the autumn of 1767, the excellent missionary
David Zeisberger undertook a journey to the Ohio,
as he had been informed that some of the Indians on
the banks of that river were desirous of hearing the
gospel. His first design was to visit Goshgoshuenk ;
and though, on various occasions, he received the
most unfavorable accounts of the people of that place,
he resolutely pressed forward, relying on the goodness
of his cause, and the protection of his Divine Master.
The hardships endured by himself and the two Indian
assistants by whom he was accompanied on this oc-
casion, were very severe ; as they had frequently to
cross extensive plains covered with such high grass
that a man on horseback was nearly hidden by it, and,
after a fall of either rain or dew, the travellers were
completely wetted to tiie skin. As they proceeded,
the aspect of the wilderness became more dreary, and j
they were often compelled to work a patli through
the thickets by day, and to sleep in the open air at
night, exposed to the inconveniences both of cold
and rain.

On their arrival at Goshgoshuenk, it appeared that
the character of the inhabitants was quite as bad as it
had been represented, and that the vilest abomina-
tions of heathenism were practised among them with-
out a blush. They readily consented, however, to
convene an assembly in order to hear the words of
the missionary; and, after due deliberation in their
council, they requested that teachers might he sent to
reside in their town. This circumstance heing com-
municated to the directors of the mission at Bethlehem,
they determined to send Messrs. Zeisberger and
Senseman, with several Indian families from Friedens-
huetten to Goshgoshuenk, to form a regular missionary
station in that town, as there appeared some proba-
bility of introducing the gospel with success, even in
a place which seemed hitherto to have been the
favorite seat of Satan's empire. These two brethren
accordingly set out in April, 1768, accompanied by
their friends Ettwein and Heckenwalder, as far as
Wayomik, where they expected to be joined by the
famdies of the Christian Indians. Here the whole
company, together with their host and his family,
were m the most imminent danger of losing their lives
by an accident, which, however, was mercifully pre-
vented by the interposition of Divine Providence.

The circumstance, which is too interesting to be passed

over in silence, is thus narrated by one of the party :

"The only white man residing at Wayomik was
Mr. Ogden, a shopkeeper, who received us most
kindly, and did every thing in his power to render
our abode as pleasant as possible. His dwelling con-
sisted of two small buildings closely adjoining. In
one of these he kept his articles of trade ; and in the
other, where our baggage was deposited, stood some
barrels of gunpowder. He slept in his shop, out of
which a door communicated with the powder-maga-
zine. As the weather appeared to threaten rain, he
laid a sufficient quantity of straw on the floor of the
latter apartment, for us to sleep upon ; charging us,
however, not to smoke our pipes there, as some grains
of powder might be scattered on the ground, and some
of the barrels were open. When we retired to rest,
our host placed a candle in his own room, in such a
situation that its light shone into our apartment. A
traveller, however, who had accompanied us hither,
drew the candle nearer, to examine a wound in his
faot. Mr. Ogden, at first, expostulated with him on
the danger of bringing the candle so near to the straw ;
but as he promised to use the utmost caution, and to
put the candle out as soon as he had dressed his
wound, our host, at length, yielded to his entreaties,
and closed the inner door. We then lay down, and,
having warned him to take care of the candle, imme-
diately fell asleep. The traveller, also, overcome
with weariness, sunk into a profound slumber before
he had extinguished the light. The next morning,
Zeisberger called me out of the house into the adjoin-
ing wood, and, pulling the candle out of his pocket,
communicated to me what he thought it prudent to
conceal from our hospitiible host. ' My brother,' said
he, ' had not the eye of Him who never slumbereth
nor sl.'C'peth been upon us last night, we should all
have been blown into the air, and no one would have
known how it happened. I slept soundly, being ex-
tremely fatigued, and was in my first sleep, when I
feh as if some one had roused me with a violent shake.
I immediately sat up, and saw the wick of the candle
hanging down on one side, all in a flame, and the
candle itself on the point of falling into the straw,
which I was just in time to prevent. After this I
could not sleep again, but lay silently thanking the
Lord for the extraordinary preservation which we had
experienced.' "

On their arrival at Goshgoshuenk, the brethren
were received with every token of weJcomo, and the
Indians attended in considerable numbers on the
religious services which they established. In a short
time, liowever, the charm of novelty having subsided,
a violent opposition was excited m the breasts of

many, by the jealousy of the chiefs, the artifices of
the sorcerers, and the promulgation of the most un-
founded and absurd accusations against the brethren
Such, m fact, was the hostility now manifested against
the doctnnes of the gospel, that even some who
expressed the greatest satisfaction at the arrival of
Mr. Zeisberger and his companions, now spoke of
theni with malignant hatred, and even proposed that
all the Christians, including, both the missionaries and
their converts, should be put to death and thrown into
tlie river.

Regardless of, these difficulties, and unappalled by
the menacing clouds which began to gather so rapidly
over their heads, the brethren resolved to continue at
their post; and with this design they erected a small
winter house, at a short distance from the town, where
they might celebrate the holy communion with their
own people, and address the truths of the gospel to
them, and to such of the inhabitants of the place as
might wish to attend. This plan was productive of
great good,; not only as the Christian Indians were
enabled to enjoy their solemnities without interruption
but as many others were induced to come under the
sound of the gospel, notwithstanding the abuse and
persecution of their neighbors.

As the missionaries perceived, after some time, that
•he opposition of their enemies rather increased than
subsided, they retired to a convenient though barren
«pot, about fifteen miles distant, oh the opposite bank
Df the river, where they built a new settlement, which
they called Lawunakhannck. In this removal, they
were accompanied by all those Indians who had
become attached to the gospel, and, within a short
time, several of these were admitted into the church
by the rite of baptism. Even the inhabitants of
Goshgoshuenk, by degrees, began to acknowledge the
injustice of their persecution, and the council of that
town were so fully convinced of the disinterested
designs of the missionaries, that they adopted them as
members of the Delaware nation, and begged them
to bury in oblivion all that was past.

The congregation now seemed likely to increase
rapidly in numbers, as Indians from different quarters
were almost continually arriving, with a desire to hear
the gospel ; and the truths which were sounded in
their ears were, by the agency of the Holy Spirit
conveyed to the hearts of many. In the spring of
1770 however, a war broke out between the Seneka
and the Cherokee nations, and the brethren were .o
frequently annoyed by the marching of warriors
through their settlement, that they were again obliged
to emigrate to a more tranquil part of the country.
Accordingly, having embarked on the Ohio and
passed by Pittsburg, they proceeded to the junction

NORTH AMERICA.

of this great river with the Beaver Creek ; and, at the
end of a fortnight, during which they were exposed to
many penis and hardships, they amved at V place
which seemed exactly suited to their purpose, and here
they began to erect a new settlement, to which they cave
the appellation of Friedenstadt, or the "Town of
Peace."

The neighboring Indians were at first overwhelmed
with surprise on seeing a people settle among them
whose manners and customs were so different from
those of the other native tribes, and whose religious
doctrines were so completely at variance with their
own Ideas on the subject of religion. In some, how-
ever, this astonishment was superseded by determined
opposition, particulariy after one of the chiefs had
removed to the settlement, -in consequence of his
attachment to the gospel. This enraged the adverse
party to such a degree, that they annoyed the brethren
m every possible way, disseminating the most un-
founded calumnies against the missionaries; forging
messages in the names of the neighboring chief' to
drive them from the settlement; striving to inveigle
the converts into the sin of drunkenness; and even
threatening to massacre the whole congregation.

Unmoved by all these trials of their faith, the mis-
sionaries continued to teach and preach the glad
tidings of salvation through their adorable Saviour ; and
such a visible blessing attended their labors, that their
briTTT'^ daily,andsome of them might indeed
be considered as « brands taken out of the burning »
To Illustrate this fact, it is only necessary ,o remark,
that one of the party who so inhumanly massacred
he bretlH-en at the settlement on the Mahony some

hearers of the gospel, and was frequently so deeply
affected during sermon, that he shed floods of tears,
hough nothing IS considered so disgraceful by a pagan
Indian as for a man to weep. On this subject a con-
vert once remarked, at a town about thirty miles from
Friedenshuetten, "I would not have wept if my ene-
mies had cut the flesh from my bones; but I now

Tf my iZn.'' ''°' ''" ^°'''^"^'' '''^ "^'"'^' ''«'^"«««

The first person baptized at this settlement was the
«.fe of a blind and venerable chief, who had accom-
pamed he brethren to their former station, and there
cast in his lot with the people of God. On that occa-
sion she was decidedly hostile to the religion adopted
by her husband ; but she was now desirous of profess-
ing her entire allegiance to the Saviour. Many of
he Indians also appeared to be deeply impressed
when they saw her solemnly dedicated by baptism to
a triune Jehovah ; and a celebrated chief, who had
formeriy vaunted that he could confute the missiona-

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

'?{•

ries Dy nis arguments, now became deeply convinced
of the truth, and afforded the most pleasing proofs of
its invincible power.

The treachery of the Iroquois, in clandestinely
selling to the English the land which, in 1765, they
had formally ceded to the Christian Indians at Fried-
enshuetten, compelled the congregation, consisting of
two hundred and forty-one persons, to abandon that
settlement. Accordingly, in the month of June, 1772,
they set out in quest of a new residence, some of them
proceeding by land, and a still greater number by
water ; and, at the expiration of eight weeks," during
which they suffered a variety of almost incredible
hardships, they arrived at Friedenstadt, where they
met with a most cordial reception," and were enabled
to recruit both their strength and spirits, previously to
their removal to a spot which had been obtained for
their future settlement on the banks of the Mus-
kingum.

In consequence of a friendly invitation from the
council of the Delawares, the missionary Zeisberger
had undertaken a journey into their country ; and had
fixed on a tract of land with an excellent spring, a
good soil for plantations, abundance of game, and
every requisite convenience for an Indian town ; and,
on his soliciting a grant of this spot on behalf of the
converts under the care of tlie brethren, the chiefs of
the council readily acceded to his request, and also
made a formal cession of all the adjacent lands within
certain boundaries, comprising a very considerable
territory. They likewise determined that none but
Christian Indians should settle in that district, and that
the natives residing on the borders should neither
disturb the worship of the missionaries, nor prevent
their own countrymen from going to hear the gospel.
On tills eligible spot, therefore, a new town, called
Schoenbrunn, or the " Beautiful Spring," was soon
afterwards erected by five families, under the super-
intendence of the indefatigable Zeisberger ; and these
were now joined by the congregation froni Friedens-
huelten.
I The situation of affairs at Friedenstadt, in the
mean time, became equally painful and alarming. The
repeated encroachments of the heathen Indians occa-
sioned much perplexity, and the consequences of the
trade which they carried on in spirituous liquors
became quite insupjiortable. Sometimes the savages
brought a quantity of rum close to the town, and,
after drinking to excess, they raved like maniacs,
threatening destruction to the missionary, and com-
mitting various acts of outrage. The congregation,
therefore, resolved to quit so unpleasant a neighbor-
hood, and followed their friends to the b-inks of the
Muskingum, where they established a new settle-

ment called Gnadenhuetten, about ten miles below
ocnoenbrunn.

The tranquillity of both these colonies unfortunately
proved of short duration; as, in addition to the con-
tmuance of a petty warfare among the Indian tribes,
hostduies at length commenced between some of
them, and the settlers in Virginia; and, in conse-
quence of the rage of the savages against the white
people, the missionaries were frequently placed in
most perilous circumstances. Numerous troops of
warriors marched through the settlements, some going
upon murderous expeditions, and others returning
with scalps and prisoners, threatening, as they passed,
that both the towns should be attacked and destroyed.
Keports of the most terrifying nature were also circu-
lated with avidity; and several hostile parties actually
appeared in 'the neighborhood, with the design of
seizing on stragglers ; so that the women were driven
from the plantations at noon-day, and all the inhabit-
ants were under the necessity of confining themselves
to their houses, for days and even weeks together.
At length, however, government having assisted the
Virginians with a body of regular troops, the undisci-
phned Indians were soon compelled to submit, and
peace was happily re-established.

Amidst all these perplexing circumstances, the
settlements were not only mercifully i)reserved from
injury but the work of God appeared to increase and
abound, through the instrumentality of a preached
gospel. The chapel at Schoenbrunn, though capable
of containing five hundred persons, was much too
small for the accommodation of the hearers ; and
among the strangers who here heard, for the first
tune, the glad tidings of salvation, were many war-
riors, who were deeply impressed with concern for
their immortal souls, and subsequently requested per
mission to come and reside among the converted
Indians. One of the chiefs, also, was baptized in the
faith of Christ ; and the Indian who was appointed
his successor, declined the offer, choosing rather to
be an humble follower of the Redeemer, than to
occupy the highest rank among his pagan countrymen.
The Indians who had originally invited the breth-
ren into this part of the country, had now formed so
favorable an opinion of their character and labors, that
they not only confirmed their former a.s, in the name
of the whole Delaware nation, but also sent an em-
bassy to them, desiring that a third settlement might
be established in their vicinity. This proposal was
readily agreed to, and a new town, called Lkhtvnau,
was commenced on the east side of \he Muskingum,
to which the missionaries Zeisberger and Hecken-
walder, with eight families from Schoenbrunn, removed
in the month of April, 1766. This little colony was

NORTH AMERICA.

soon increased by the accession of many Indians, who
were induced to renounce their heathen superstitions
and to embrace the faith of the gospel ; and, as the
three settlements were situated at a moderate distance
from each other, a friendly intercourse was kept up
between them, which proved extremely encour-
agmg to the missionaries, and highly profitable to the
souls of their people.

The pleasing prospects which now appeared to be
opening, were soon and suddenly douded, in conse-
quence of the war which had commenced between
Great Britain and her American colonies ; for though
the strictest neutrality was intended to be preserved in
respect to the belligerent powers, the brethren were
placed m such circumstances, that it was almost im-
possible to avoid giving some offence either to the
English, the Americans, or the Indians, who sided
with one or other of the contending parties.

Tiie chiefs of the Delaware council resolved not to
mterfere in the war ; and to this resolution they firmly
adhered. One of their tribes, however, called Mon?ys
secretly withdrew themselves from the body of the na-
tion, and united with the Mingoes, an idle and cruel
race, celebrated for nothing but robbery and murder
They tlien endeavored to gain a party among the enemies
of the mission, and even ventured into the settlements
with the express design of seducing some of the pro-
fessing Indians to join them. In Schoenbrunn this
attempt was unfortunately too successful, as they there
found a number of persons who seemed to rejoice in so
favorable an opportunity of renouncing Christianity •
and though the missionaries spared no pains which
reason could suggest or affection could dictate, to
recover these poor backsliders, they persisted in
returning to their pagan idolatry. It even appeared,
from subsequent intelligence, that the Monsys and
their deluded partisans had formed a plan to murder
the missionaries, or to convey them to Fort Detroit •
as the determination of the Delaware chiefs to remain
strictly neutral was supposed to have resulted entirely
from their advice and influence. The brethren
therefore, resolved to remain no longer in a situation
where the congregation was in such danger of seduc-
tion ; and accordingly they retired, with the majority
of their people, to Lichtenau, whilst the remainder
preferred removing to Gnadenhuetten.

In the autumn of 1777, the brethren at Lichtenau
were informed that a body of two hundred Huron
warriors were marching against that settlement, headed
by one of their chiefs-, who, by way of distinction, was
called the half-king. After mature deliberation, how-
ever. It was deemed practicable to avert the impending
danger by conciliatory measures, and, accordingly ,some
of the Christian Indians set out to meet the Hurons

with a large supply of provisions, and at the same time
an embassy was sent to the half-king, who received
hem kindly, listened attentively to their representa-
tions, and set out the same day for Lichtenau, where
he behaved in the most friendly manner, and main-
tained the strictest order among his warriors. The
maintenance of these, however, was attended with
considerable trouble and expense, and the brethren
fel truly thankful when they took their departure

It was now deemed advisable, in consequence of the
danger to which they were continually exposed, that
most of the missionaries should, for the present, quit
the Indian country and retire to Bethlehem The
intrepid Zeisberger, however, determined to remain at
Lichtenau, and Mr. Edwards chose to continue at
Gnadenhuetten ; and, though the settlements were
twenty miles distant from each other, they kept up, as
far as possible, a regular intercourse ; and in travelling
through the country, they derived essential advantages
from the friendship of the Hurons, which they had
successfully conciliated. At home, however, they
were frequently agitated by alarming reports, and
deeply distressed on witnessing the scenes of cruelty
and misery which passed in review before them ; as
ttie Huron warriors, who were in league with 'the
English, repeatedly traversed their settlements, carry-
ing the scalps or wounded bodies of their enemies as
trophies of their military prowess, and dragging their
uniortunate prisoners to tortures, at the bare idea of
vyliich humanity involuntarily shudders. At length
the Delaware Indians, who had so long favored the
missionaries, and so firmly persisted in taking no part
m the war, were persuaded to unite with the English
against the colonies ; and as all the Indians engaged in
hostilities had resolved that the hatchet should fall
on the head of every one who refused to accept of it
the congregations were now placed between two cruel
enemies.and their destruction appeared to be inevitable •
particularly as the young converts declined to take up
arms, when repeatedly urged to do so by the Dela-
ware chiefs.

Durip- this period of anarchy and confusion, some
considerable changes took place in the settlements of
the brethren. The faithful part of the congregation at
Schoenbrunn had, as we have stated, withdra^vn from
that town ; audit was subsequently deemed expedient
to quit Gnadenhuetten, and to unite the whole of the
mission at Lichtenau. Some inconvenience, however,
attended this arrangement, and it was therefore deter-
mined that part of the Christian Indians should return
to Gnadenhuetten, and that Schoenbrunn should be
rebuilt, though not in the former situation, but on the
opposite side of the river. And as Liehteiiau, which
had been hitherto considered a station of the greatest

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

1.^

1 K

security, now became exposed to the outrages of the
savages, it was thought proper to abandon this town
also, and to form a new settlement about twenty miles
distant, which was called Salem.

It is peculiarly pleasing to relate, that, amidst all the
external trials with which the congregations were
exercised, their faith in God remained unshaken, and
the graces of the Holy Spirit became more and more
apparent in their deportment and conversation. They
seemed, in fact, to be indissolubly united in the bonds
t)f fraternal affection ; and, whilst they enjoyed refresh-
ing communion with each other as brethren, they
evinced a spirit of forgiveness and kindness towards
their enemies, particulariy those who had apostatized
from their Christian profession at Schoenbrunn. For
these unhappy creatures, who had been seduced from
the paths of peace and holiness, they poured out their
most fervent supplications before the throne of grace ;
and their prayers were so far answered, that many of
^he wanderers, especially the young people, were
cgnvinced of their folly, acknowledged their guilt, and,
at their earnest request, were re-admitted into the
bosom of the congregation. The preaching of the
gospel, also, continued to be attended with such a
peculiar unction, that many of the heathen Indians,
who occasionally passed through the settlements, were
melted down beneath its sacred influence; and a
remarkable awakening took place among the juvenile
part of the congregation, who, in the most earnest
manner, and even with tears in their eyes, begged to
be admitted to the rite of baptism.

The Christian Indians and their beloved teachers
now enjoyed an interval of calm repobe, seldom wit-
nessing any of the horrors of the war, except when the
warriors occasionally marched through their settle-
ments. Trials and difficulties, however, still awaited
.hem, and a storm was already gathering, of which they
nad formed no anticipation. The English governor at
Fort Detroit, having formed an unfavorable idea of
the missionaries, whom he considered in the character
jf spies, carrying on a correspondence with the
\mericans, applied to several of the Indian tribes to
jarry off both them and their congregations, whom he
ionsidered as very dangerous neighbors. His propo-
sal having been rejected in a variety of quarters, he
U length applied to the half-king of theHurons, who,
« the instigation of Captain Pipe, one of the Delaware
chiefs, and an inveterate enemy of the mission, consent-
5d to make the attempt.

In the month of August, 1781, the half-king,
accompanied by Captain Pipe, a British officer, and
upwards of three hundred warriors, arrived in the
vicinity of Gnadenhuetten ; !ind assuming the mask of
friendship, proposed the removal of the Christian

Indians as a measure dictated by regard for their safety,
and represented the country to which they wished them
to migrate, as a complete paradise. Finding, however,
that their design was not likely to be accomplished so
easily as they had explected, they laid aside their
seeming friendship, and committed such outrages that
Gnadenhuetten, formerly the seat of peace and indus-
try, was converted into a theatre of riot and depreda-
tion ; and, finally, the missionaries were seized by a
party of Hurons,.and declared prisoners of war. As
they were dragged away from the settlement, one of
the savages directed a tremendous blow with his
lance against the head of Mr. Senseman, but, provi-
dentially, missed his aim. A Monsy Indian then
approached the captives, and seizing each of them by
the hair of the head, shook them violently, and
exclaimed, in a taunting manner, " Welcome among
us, my friends."

The missionaries were now conducted into the camp
of the Delawares, where some of the savages sang over
thepi the death-song, whilst others stripped them to
their shirts, and secured them in two huts, where they
had to sit or lie upon the bare ground, without any
thing but a few rags to shield them from the cold.
Another party of warriors, in the mean time, marched
off for Salem and Schoenbrunn ; and, on their arrival
at those settlements, they plundered the mission-
houses of every thing which they chose, and carried off
such of the missionaries as remained, together with
their wives and children ; singing the death-song as
they led them away. On this occasion, one of the
brethren narrowly escaped being killed by the blow of
a tomahawk; and poor Mrs. Senseman, who had been
confined only three days, was compelled to accompa-
ny these merciless barbarians, in a dark and rainy
night, with her infant at her breast. By the kind
care of her Heavenly Father, however, both she and
the child were preserved from injury ; and she felt
truly thankful that she was enabled to walk, as other-
wise her life and that of her dear otiipring would have
been sacrificed by the Indians.

The next day the prisoners obtained permission to
see each other, and their interview was so tender and
affecting, that even the hearts of the savages were
melted, and the feelings of remorse and sorrow were
visibly depicted in their countenances. The females
who, under all their sufferings, had evinced the most
surprising composure and resignation, were soon liberat-
ed, together with the missionary Micliaol Jung ; but, as
their habitations were almost destroyed, they went to
lodge in the house of another of the brethren named She-
bosh, who, having adopted the Indian mode of life, was
considered as a native by the Hurons, and thus escap-
ed t' e captivity which awaited his coadjutors.

of the Chnstmn Indians caused them to act like our
Lord s discples, when he was apprehended in the
garden of Gethsemane; as they all forsook their
teachers and fled. On arrivingin fhe woods To JveT
hey wept so loud that the air resounded witHhe ;
ame„tat.ons. And when they had recovered tZ
he first impressions of terror, they not only ventured
to return to the settlement, but even recovered many
of the articles which had been stolen from themisTon-
ar.es, or generously purchased them in ordT Zt
they might be restored to their legitimate owner!
Some of them also adopted the plan of carryW
Wankets to the prisoners at a late hour in the elen^,^
and of fetchmg them away very early in the morninl'
that there might be no possibility of their being car nS
ott by thieves during the day

After the brethren had remained in confinement for
several days, the Indian chiefs thought proper to st
them at liberty, enjoining them, ho^vever, to remove
with their people to another partof the countrrTo
comply with this injunction they were aware fhat in
addition to the los. of their three beautiful seulemem
they must leave behind them property of vTioS
descnptions to the amount of twelve thouLnd do I
unfortunately however, there was no alternative and
the continued outract," ..f tho c„ "'«i'»e, ana

them ;n o 1 '^"^^''~ ^' ^''e savages constrained
them, n a short tune, to submit to the prooosed
emigration. proposed

In their removal from the banks of the Muskingum
hey were escorted by a troop of savages, wl o^ uT-'

miles. They went partly by land and partly by
water ; but some of the canoes unfortunately s'^ink'^
and those who were in them lost all their little
Foperty though their lives were providentially saved
Tho e who proceeded by land drove the cattle of
which a numerous herd had been collected from Uvo
of the settlements. In the prosecution of tle'r
tedious journey, the brethren and their wives usualTy
travelled m the midst of their beloved flock One
mormng, however, when the Christian Indians were

•det d '\:T ""^ •'"'r " "''" ^'^ "-'^ -"'I- "-
JZ ' J k'""'!'' ^""''"^ *'^« missionaries away
alone, and whipped their horses till ,he poor animals
became quite unmanageable. In consequence of th
and the swampy state of the road, the wife of Zeis
berger was twice thrown from her horse, and in o le
.nstance was dragged a considerable distance with h"
foot hanging m the stirrup ; but through the goodne!
of God she was preserved from material injury The
wiZrH "'r '"""^^^ «« '•"^^ - ?-!»> e, but, not
n'gni , so that tho imssionaries were not

NORTH AMERICA.

rescued from their perilous situation till the next
mommg. Amidst all the fatigues and harhip" o
Uns migration, however, the most perfect unity^Ld
resignation prevailed among the brethren a^d^hdr
peop e ; not an mdividual was heard to utter a com-
plaint or to express the slightest dissatisfaction S
committmg their case unto the Lord, they wereTnaS

': Tm i" "''"• •" ^^«'' -f-«»S Sr.nTthev
even held their daily meetings on the road ^

At the expiration of four weeks, our travellers nr

Hurons and his warriors left them without any direc!
tions how to proceed. Thus abandoned in a dtsert
country, where there was neither game nor any othe"
provisions, though it had been represented to theri as
a terrestrial paradise, they wandered about for some
time, not knowing how to act. At length, they deter-
mmed to pass the winter in Upper Sandusky rand
having fixed on the most eligible spot which theycodd

smlTutrof r '^^7 -r— . they consfructid
small huts of logs and. bark to shield them from the
inclemency of the weather. Their situation, how!
ever, was truly deplorable, the savages having stolen
their blankets and every other article, on the journey
except their utensils for manufacturing maple sugar •
and their want of provisions being so great, that the
missionary Shebosh, and some of the Christian Indians!
were absolutely compelled to return to the forsaken
settlements on the Muskingum, to fetch the Indian
corn which had been left growing in the plantations.
In this hazardous enterprise, Shebosh and five of his
companions we/e made prisoners, and carried to Pitts-
burg ; but tlie rest of the party returned safely with
four hundred bushels of com. ^

The Christian Indians had only just begun to settle
themselves in Sandusky, when a message Lived from
the governor of Fort Detroit, commanding Ihe mi™
sionaries to repair to that place, and answer the accu-
sations which had been laid against them. Accord-
in^y, four of the brethren, accompanied by as many
Indian assistants, set off without delay; and they were
not only mercifully preserved during their long and
penlous journey, but the providence of God so won-
derfully overruled events on their arrival, that Captain
f ipe, their accuser and inveterate foe, was compelled
to avow their innocence, and t6 acknowledge that he
and the chiefs connected with him were alone to
blame. The ground of their accusation it seems was
in fact, simply this:_The Delaware Indians who, at
that time, were in strict alliance with their Christian
countrymen, occasionally received letters from Pitts-
burg and other places; and, as they could not deci-
pher their contents, they generally applied to the
brethren to read them, and in some instances, to

MISSIONS OF* THE UMTED BRETHREN.

answer them in the name of the chiefs. To have
refiised such a request would have been extremely
ungrateful, and might have led to serious consequences ;
yet, for this innocent service, rendered to him-
self and his associates, had Captain Pipe represented
them as carrying on ,i treasonable correspondence.
The governor, however, was now so thoroughly con-
vinced of their integrity, that he not only declared
them innocent of the crimes alleged against them, but
ordered them to be supplied with clothes and various
articles, of which they had been plundered, and sent
them back to their congregation with an assurance
that their exertions for civilizing and instructing the
Indians in the truth of Christianity had excited his
warmest approbation.

The settlers at Sandusky now enjoyed a temporary
repose, and were abundantly refreshed in waiting upon
God in their daily worship. Some additions were
also made to the church by baptism; and those who,
for a season, had been seduced into the paths of error
were made sensible of their guilt, and were affection-
ately restored to their forfeited privileges. But whilst
spiritual consolation abounded, the temporal concerns
of the congregation were truly distressing; as pro-
visions could scarcely be obtained in any way, and
absolute famine, with all its terrors, began to appear
among them. In consequence of the severity of the
winter, there was no forage for the cattle, many of
which perished with hunger ; and the want of the poor
was so extreme, that they greedily devoured the car-
casses of these poor animals. Others lived exclu-
sively on wild potatoes; and, at Christmas, the mis-
sionaries were unable to celebrate 'the holy coin-
inunion, not having either bread or wine sufficient for
that purpose

-impelled by the pressure of the increasing famine,
several parties returned to the seltletnenls on the
Muskingum, as they understood that a great quantity
of corn was still in the fields, superior in quality to
that which was sold at an exorbitant price in San-
dusky. It was also reported that there was now no
longer any danger in visiting that part of tli(. country
In crediting this intelligence, however, the Christian
Indians wore awfully deceived ; as a scene of treach-
ery and murder was, soon afterward, there exhibited
which has scarcely a parallel in the history of the'
most barbarous nations.

Some of those American fanatics whom we have
already noticed, as holding the idea that the Indian
tribes were accursed of Cod, and that it was a posi-
tive duty to attempt their extirpation, were highly
incensed against the governor of Piiishurg, in conso-
qurnce of his having liberated the Christian Indians
wo h,.l hocn taken j.risoncrs with the missionary

Shebosh, at Schoenbrunn; and, as they understood
that the converted natives at Sandusky were some-
times compelled to revisit the Muskingum, in order
to obtain provisions, they barbarously lecolved to
murder those unfortunate creatures, to destroy their
settlements, and then to proceed to Sandusky, and
massacre the residue of the congregation. Accordingly,
in the month of March, 1782, the conspirators, to the
number of about a hundred and sixty,' directed their
steps toward Gnadenhuetten, and, about a mile from
the settlement, they met the son of Mr. Shebosh in
the woods. They immediately fired, and wounded
him so severely that it was impossible for him to
escape ; and though he implored their compassion in
the most touching manner, assuring them that he was
the son of a white Christian, they were deaf to his
entreaties, and barbarously cut him in pieces with
their hatchets. They then proceeded in search of the
Indians, whom they found gathering the corn in their
plantations, and addressed them in such a friendly
manner, professing to pity their misfortunes, and
promising to conduct them to Pittsburg, where their
wants would be supplied, and their persons protected
from their enemies, that the poor, unsuspecting crea-
tures not only treated them in the most hospitable
manner, but even delivered all their weapons into
their ca-e, and showed them the different articles
which they had secreted in the woods.

In the mean time, John Martin, one of the native
assistants, went to Salem, to inform his countrymen at
that place of the arrival and friendly designs of the
Americans; and, as the latter expressed a desire to
see that settlement, a party of them were conducted
thither, and received with tho same hospitality as they
had experienced at Gnadenhuetten. With the most
consummate hypocrisy they here renewed their }>ro-
fessions of fiiciulship, and easily persuaded the unsus-
pecting Indians to accompany them. Before they
entered the town of (Miadenhuctton, however, they
suddenly seized their astonished victims, rohhed them
of their arms, and even of their jmcket knives, and
ciiiricd them bound into the settlement, where their
iiiifortunate brethren were already in a state of rap-
tivity. The unfeeling wretches then assembled in*
council, and resolved, by a majority of votes, that tho
whole of their prisoners should he put to death on the
following (lay.

The Indians being apprized of their sad destiny,
were, at first, naturally overwhelmed with aslonish-
inent and horror. In a short time, however, they he-
cniiie rolh^ted and resigned ; and not only sjient tho
night in .solemn prayer and mutual exhortations, but,
as the morning np|iroaelied, tluy united in singing the
praises of their adorable Redeemer, in whose immo

diate presence they were soon to appear, and at
whose sacred feet they expected, in a fe; hLt

reledTbov:'' ''°°'-^"^'" -°-^' --^^^ «» ""e
The day of execution having arrived, the inhuman

murderers fixed on two houses,_one for tieren
he other for the women ..A children,- to wS
hey gave the horrid but appropriate nam'e of sla'2

bZT S" ^° P°°''' '""°''^»' ''^•'""tures, being

bound w. h ropes, two and two together, were led
"Uo the places appointed for them, and there Lied
and nu,rdere,, ;„ cold blood, without regird^t'
or age In this manner perished no less than
nmety.s.x unoffending person.,, among wl ^m w "
five valuable ass.tants and thirty-five childrenT Tie
patience, p.ety, and resignation with which they met
he.r fate were so remarkable, that even thei Ibo
ca assassms acknowledged "they were good In an
as tljey sang and prayed to their latest bfeath." '

rhe only individuals who escaped this sanguinary
catastrophe were two youths, in whose beh!l/Z

iTrif r ^'"'"'^ ""'««' 1'av.ng fortunately disengaged
Imnself fron. the cords with which he was bound

cellar r. the house whore the women and children
were slaughtered; and, early ,he next morni , h"
made Ins way into a neighboring thicket. Tl e iane
of the other youth was s.ill more' singular. T ,e b ood
tiursty ruflmns gave bin. only one blow on the lea
cut off h,s scalp, and then left him. Af.e " Zl't
time, he recovere.: his senses, and perceived that he

hloo.l. In the nndst of these he saw one of the . on-

to raise Inmseir He, however, remained perfectlv

M- I. ns If he bad been dead, and .his precau.io ; :? J

heinennsol l„.sdeliven„,ee;foi-,jus, ., ,U\ 'Z^,

ure,oneofthen...rdererse-.,ein,and, pej:;
ha, Abel was still nhve, be immedia.ely d Ispatehe d
bnn wih two or ih.ee heavy blows. ' Tlu' o..

you.b , hough su„...ing, he n,o.stani,o pain from bs

wounds lay perfer.ly mo.ionle.ss ,i|| „ig|„. when he

ventured to creep ,o ,he .loor, „„d escaped into the

djacen wood. Hero he me. with his companion wlio

imd . so happdy eluded de.s...uc,i„n; and, llefore,;
quitted their place of coneealmen,, ,hey observed ,he
wrcehes making merry over the success of their m!i !
derous enterprise, and setting fire ,o the houses in

winch.. oy had shed such., .reams of innocent biLT

It subsequently appeared that the Indians had been

nppnml o( the approach of the white nnnn... i.. ."!!!!

NORTH AMERICA.

Srdity T:; "rtr-"^'' .»^« ---^ caution and
uuuuy, yet, on this occas on tbpv ft.if i

supposing that they had nothi^g^o a^^h trfrolT '
Americans, but only from the Lvager ThtiT t^

-u:d trri5?7- ^ ^^^^^^y

them A '"' calamities which awaited

and he i„„' S, ; ZZTJ^ """""^ ""'""'•
.he I„di.„. The'y ZTl, „ XTS" """ "

ir.'rerzti r -»? -•"*- "s:

the town ^ "'^ mortification to find that

lialf-kin^ of ih! r , """"" '° 'commission the

-oke to the brethren, fv;:s:t„ds'^^ "di:: ^^

-..at their bLit:::;.^:::^^^^^^

g.^^ m?„ ' 'T'"!"'"' "" "•-' l-ar.-renc ng
gr. f, ..nd appeared altogether inconsolable. Thf
missionaries, however, pointed out the duty of inphck

^..■on,o.bed^inewill,andthevcn^ri'S
"<-r!,rr, in a fervent and appropriate prayer « eom
".0.1 e them to God, and to'.l.e'word'of L'^ra::""
On leir arrival a. De.roit, on .he U.l. of A .HI

wnl ■"■'" "'"■" '"''S*-'^ '" "'0 barracks 1 ut

Here afterwards permit.ed to remove to a n i'v 1
I'ouso in ,he environs of .he town. Thoy werr i^
, vtsited. in the most friendly manner, by tS goJer l,

I rtspe,t to the charges which ha.l been renewed
ngnmst , hem and explieitly ..„,ed, that ii J:^^^^^^^^
l.'-n. from San.h.sky, it «,, his principal object to
H'scue them from ,h, perils ,o whieh , ey !« ex!
l-.;.l n, tha. set.leinen.. He then gave or lers ,ha
"II «ho.r wan.s shouhl be .supplied from .1 e g v „

tl" S-«l..!. ,o bn,.,i.e children, and to bury .he hW

wlienevertheymigli. be applied .ofi,rtlioi;Xt^^

Ihe liuinu,, n, Sandusky, i„ ,he mean time were

exercised with trials of no ordinary nature. Tl,; S

I .=:v.|mgs wore continued after the .leparture of t^lloi;

II toachers, „„d the assistants exhorted the congreg,.

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

tion, in the most affectionate manner, to adhere stead-
fastly to the truths of the gospel ; but whilst this ad-
vice was suitably received by some, there were others
who evinced the grossest perfidy, and even ascribed
all their misfortunes, and the massacre of their friends
on the Muskingum, to the missionaries. At the same
time the half-king of the Hurons, whose guilty con-
science would not permit him to rest in the vicinity
of a body of Christian Indiansj sent a peremptory order
to the congregation to quit that part of the country.
Conscious of their inability to resist, and distracted by
the confusion recently excited among themselves,
they determined to separate ; and, accordingly, one
party migrated into the territories of the Shawanose,
whilst the remainder fixed their temporary abode near
Pipe-town, with the intention of subsequently removing
nearer to the river Miami.

The reader will, no doubt, be disposed to regret a
circumstance which, for the present, put a period to
a mission once so prosperous and promising ; but " the
ways of God are not as the ways of man," and poor,
shortsighted mortals, instead of even venturing an
opinion upon the mysterious movements of Divine
Providence, should silently await the fulfilment of the
encouraging promise, «' What I do thou knowest not
now, but thou shalt know hereafter." At the very
time that the believing Indians were driven from San-
dusky, the unfeeling wretches who had so recently
imbrued their hands in innocent blood, were ad-
vancing against that settlement. By the dispersion of
the congregation, however, thnir barbarous purpose
was completely frustrated ; and their arrival in this
part of the country proved the prelude to thoir own
destruction, as they were here overtaken by u party of
British and Indian warriors, and the greater part of
them were cut in pieces.

The governor of Detroit now conceived that he
should render the greatest possible service to the
brethren by having them safely removed to Betlile-
heni ; but, on finding (hnt no considerations rould
detach them from the cause of the Indians, and un-
derstanding that they were desirous of forming a new
settlement, to which their poor, dispersed converts
might be invited to return, ho kindly entcr.'d inio a
negotiation with the chiefs of (ho Chippcway tribe,
and obtained from them a grant of land on the banks
of the Huron, alwut twenty miles to ijie north of
Detroit. Ho also furnished them with boats, planks,
provisions, tic. out of the governincnt stores, and
even sent to the dispersed Christian Indians, inviting
them to return to their teachers. As this mossage
was accompanied by a string of wampum, several
families ventured to accept it; ami, in July, lim,
the missionaries removed to the place which had been

procured for their residence, and erected a town which
they called New Gnadenhuetten.

By the unremitting labors of the brethren, the
environs of the new town, which had been formerly
covered with brushwood, and infested with swarms
of stinging insects, were soon transformed into regular
plantations, and the settlement began to assume a
pleasing and cheerful aspect. The inhabitants, how-
ever, were as yet but few in number ; as the greater
part of the Christian Indians remained in the country
of the Twitchees, at a distance of two hundred and
fifty miles. Verbal messages were, indeed, frequently
sent to them by the missionaries; but, in many
instances, the import of these was perverted by the
bearers, who, from interested motives, represented
that it would be extremely unsafe to pass through the
English territory; though, in point of fact, the gov-
ernor of Fort Detroit acted as a friend and a father io
all who needed his assistance in returning to theif
teachers. At the same time, some of the native
chiefs commanded them, in a peremptory tone, to
submit to their fate, and to return to their former
mode of life ; as the gospel would no longer be per-
mitted even to be named in the Indian country.
With the timid and irresolute this language had the
desired effect ; many of them continuing to reside
among the heathen, and some few relapsing into pagan
superstition. Others, however, happily illustrated
the declaration of our blessed Lord, that "Where the
treasure is, there will the heart be also ;" and, alike
regardless of menaces, and unmoved by the probability
of ill-treatment on their journey, they returned to
their teachers the following spring, and once more
realized the indescribable happiness of "dwelling
together in unity," at the foot of the cross. The
settlement was, also, occasionally visited both by
heathen and white people, and some of the former,
convinced of their sinfulness, and constrained to fly
to Christ for life and salvation, were received into the
chunh l.y the rite of baptism.

The termination of a long and sanguinary war. and
the recognition, by Great Britain, of the independence
of the United States of America, in 178;j, seemed to
promrso a season of calm repose to tiio missionaries
and their people; but trials and difficulties still
awaited them. The early and unexpected severity
of the ensuing winter compelled the congregation to
disperse themselves through the country in quest of
provisions, and many of them who, for a considerable
tmic, had subsisted on nothing but wild roots, were in
the most imminent danger of perishing with famine,
when a numerous herd of deer strayed into their
neighborhood, and thus providentially supplied their
pressing wants. It siiould also bo added, that con-

^•Zh » 1 "''"' ''°»'««''ed, during the scarcity,
2f "•: '-t^r^" « D^t'oit; but, on the return of

Sr tS ^fr. "PP"*' '•'^"^^'^^ - industrious?;

to labor, that the demands of their creditors were soon

and satisfactorily liquidated. «e soon

The ensuing harvest proved very productive, and

would flounsh .„ peace and prosperity; but the
Indians, who seemed destined to find no res ing-place
were given to understand, that the Chippewavs'

riTe th'r '"' "'''^'' '""^y ''^' SranteTonT
pretence that it was one of their principal hunting
d. nets; and they were also assured, tha't the mos!
fetal consequences would result from their attempTn.
tocontmue a, New Gnadenhuetten. They aXd

ZfZtlt H "'•''" '" '^"-of -other rLZce
and, by the k.nd assistance of the governor of Detroit
wo procured them a compensatiL of ^io hundr d'
dollars for their houses and plantations, they were
conveyed to the coast of Cayahaga. whe^ the'yTik

tnL '.•",. •^'1 ?■■ '^' P--^^^"*' '" - old. desei^d
town which had been formerly occupied by the tribe
of Indians called Ottaways. k this'place'^^hey ave
he name of Pifgerruk, or "Pilgrim' Rest ;" and
though the season was considerably advanced, they
cleared the ground for plantations, and even ventured
to sow some Indian corn.

During their residence on this spot, they were vis-
ted by heathen Indians of differen. tribes, particularly
he Ottaways, Ch.ppeways, and Delawares, who
appeared desirous of hearing the gospel, dthi
however attempted, from time to time, to seduce
their behoving countrymen from the faith of Chris
and so many alarming, .hough unfounded, reports of
ne V ,.03..1.,,es and impending calami.ie;, hVassed
and dismayed the congregation, that „„othe removal
be me ..Hl..spons„ble. Accordingly, i„ the mon.li o

n, if' ^'^. ''""''"' Pi'K*"-™'', and, proceeding
partly by land and partly by ,ater, arrived,'at leng.I*'
n the vieimty of Pettquotiing, where the; formed a

rx:i;r"'^"'''^-'''^^'^«^««-hena::

As it was the grand object of the missionaries to

communicate the g|„d tidings of salvation to the unin!

truced heathen, their removal to this spot app," r,

o have been immediately overnilod by Divine Pov"

many of whom attended on the public worship a ,d
Home were savingly convinced of tl.o power' and

preciousness of the gospel. Amonir thn,„ ^
tin,. .„.« 11- f^ I '• '»inong tnoso who were
tl us esci led from ,hn slavery of Satan, and brought
>nto the glorious liberlv of .hn .I.il..,„„ „r ^._/ ^^ I
two Indians forineriy noted for the most abandoned I

NORTH AMERICA.

profligacy. One had actually formed « nlo« •

past, of murdering some of the ZonaSes '^^^

even concealed himself with the desien nf ' • •

decid^rl^-i aZ- o7X-Lre7 t
t^mh 7:,^r ?^'" '^"°' I'avingtll.Vedl^
Se;\Se\mo:tr'''"""^'^ "^^P''"6 «»»«
his abode tuh hTltSrT' "Vr "P
lieving Indians, also, who had be- ^'"^ ^^ -■' ^"

thelate troubles, ret^rnt; by dreeslS'^^
and several, who had relapsed for a S Lo „! '™ '

evinced such genuine repentance ThatthT""'
-entuany restored to the'prirg'es 'o^^theTh^
zea and'Tr'^'" ''' ^""^ «™e. exhibited the u,mo«

and harmoniously together; and this is to be found
no where but among yourselves !" ""*

ecl a J\ew Salem without molestation ; but at the nv
piration of that time, they were so serio!!:;"! tyej
by the dealers in rum, and so much alarmed bv^he
recommencement of hostilities between U.e ^ n
and Americans that in April, 1791, the whole coL
gregation, consisting of upwards of two hundred rZ
ons, crossed Lake Erie in thirty canoes, and fixed on
a temporary asylum in the British territory I„ ts^
than twrlve months, however, they experienced such
repeated molestations from some of tlJr whi e '21-
bors, and received sud, threatening messages from t
-ages, in case of their refusing to take u . theTa !
et against the Americans, that they were compelled
o remove to Upper Cana.Ia; where the gove nVnt
md benevolently assigned them a tract of'|„„ " 1"

o thenvor Thames which disembogues into I,ake
S . Clair. Here thcy erected a new settlement
which they called FnirficU ; and such wasthe aTpl-'
cation of the Indians to agriculture and a variety of
.unmifacturos, that ,h.,- not only supplied their own
want, but uere enabled to carry on a beneficial trade
Uh heir neighbors. I, i. „,,o worthy of re^rk
hat. though there were formerly no white se,,|„rs wS
tlnrty leagues of .bis .lis.rict. .ho lands „Hi..„„: ."
f «.rndd were now rnpidly tenanted, and. in a short
time, travellers began to pass so frequently, both by

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN,

land and water, that the missionary station might be
considered as lying in the high road to Niagara.

Shortly after their arrival at Fairfield, the brethren
were frequently visited and attended in their public
meetings by many of the Chippeway and Monsy In-
dians ; few, if any instances of genuine conversion,
however, occurred among the former ; and the latter
were so decidedly inimical to the truth, that they not
only rejected it themselves, but did all in their power
to impede its progress. The dealers in spirituous
liquors also placed many obstacles in the way of the
mission, by seducing the heathen who occasionally
visited the settlement into drunkenness, which soon
obliterated their serious impressions, and led to the
perpetration of various crimes. But, amidst all these
discouragements, the missionaries steadily prosecuted
their Master's work, and cheered themselves with the
pleasing reflection that the professing Indians who
resided with them, were, with few exceptions, walk-
mg according to godliness, and encouraging each other
in the faith and hope of the gospel.

In the summer of 1797, two of the missionaries
were sent to survey the tract of land on which the
towns of Gnadenhuetten, Salem, and Schoenbrunn,
formerly stood ; as the American Congress had kind-
ly granted this district, together with four thousand
acres of ground adjoining each of the settlements, to
the United Brethren, for the express purpose of evan-
gelizing the heathen. On their arrival, they found
the country completely overgrown with long grass,
briers, and brushwood, and infested with bears, snakes,
serpents, and other animals and reptiles, which tlioy
could only dislodge by setting the impervious thicket
on fire. Some ruins of the houses were still standing
at Gnadenhuetten, and the spot where the unoffending
Indians had been so inhumanly butchered was strongly
marked ; many of their bones lying unconsumed
among the extinguished ashes.

After mature deliberation it was determined to re-
new the mission on the banks of the Muskingum ; for
though the Indians have, naturally, nn unronqueralilo
aversion to reside in a place where any of tlieir friends
have been killed, those whose minds had been en-
lightened by the gospel of Christ, had abandoned this
superstition. Accordingly, in the month of August,
1798, the venerable David Zeisbernor, in the seventy-
seventh year of liis ago, set out, with his aged and in-
finn wife, the missionary Mortimer, and several Indian
families, consisting of thirty-three persons, to re-occu-
py a field which had lain dormant for more than seven-
teen years.

On their arrival nt the place of destination, they
fixed on a spot near the former silo of Schoenbnmn,
and erected a town which they called Goihen. This

was the thirteenth Mtdement formed by Zeisberger in
the Indian country, and here both he and his faithful
colleague pursued their ministerial labors with unremit-
tmg zeal and diligence ; and, though their hearers
were comparatively few, the word of truth appears to
have been blessed to some of the heathen, whose
families eventually took up their abode with the
brethren, and made a public profession of Christianity.
In the autumn of 1799, an attempt was made to in-
troduce the gospel among the Cherokee Indians, and,
after various negotiations, two of the brethren, A.
Steiner and G. Byhan, went thither, and took up their
abode in a district, to which they afterwards gave the
name of Spring Place. Here they had various diffi-
culties to encounter ; but the friendship of a gentleman,
named Vann proved of the most essential service to
them ; for his character was so universally respected
by the Indians, that the mere circumstance of enjoy-
ing his patronage might be considered as a complete
security against molestation. Having erected the
necessary buildings, they opened a school for the edu-
cation of Indian boys, and several of the chiefs read-
ily placed their sons there. These, as they became
acquainted with the benefits to be derived from tuition,
appeared to take peculiar pleasure in their studies, par-
ticulariy in learning hymns and portions of Scripture.
They also seemed much impressed, when listening to
the interesting narration of the Saviour's dying love ;
and some of them, after leaving the seminary, kept
up a pleasing correspondence with their teachers.
Many years, indeed, rolled away, before much fi-uit
appeared in respect to the grand design of the mission ;
but that God who hath said that his word siiall not
return unto him void, at length poured out a gracious
unction upon his gospel, so that a considerable number
of the Ciierokccs were induced to abjure their former
superstitions, and some of the most respectable char-
acters in th(!ir nation professed their faith in Christ,
and were received by baptism into the bosom of the'
church.

About twelve months after the commencement of
the mission to the Cliorokccs, the Great Council of
the Delaworo Indians residing on the banks of tho
Woapikamikunk, sent a message to tho brethren at
Goshen, requesting that some perscns might ho ap-
pointed to settle among them, and instruct them in the
princii)les of the Christian religion. Accordingly, in
tho lotter end of February, 1801, Messrs. Kluge and
Luckenbach, with twelve Christian Indians, set out
wuh the view of promulgating the gospel in that part
of the country, and, on their arrival, they were re-
ceived with every demonstration of friendship and
cordiality. The district assigned for their habitation
was situated between nine populous towns, ard great

numbers of the heathen flocked to hear their ^•
courses. Some of these inH„„w " °""

the missionaries, IT^et^ilT" '"T'' "'"^
end of the year 1809 .t ^T ' '^ '*""' »' t^e
inented to twentIT;« '"'' '^"'""'"nity was aug-

contained trtitT^fXr^'c^^^^^^^^^^^

i;er<:jr'm!:i"t;-'-^^^^^^^^^

who hadTvariabttrirHT"'^'''' ''"'' ^-''^-

divested on s au LSv • - "'" ''"'"^^^' ^^
exhibit their hatred a^ainsTtir"^" ^^ '^^an to

threatened to murder tffe^? -^"'P"'' ""'' "^^^

killing their cZ Z TTr'T' "'''' ^^'-'^
suing year thevlrJt^'l """'^ ?''" "''^he en-

it is scLeV plE : :l 'h T- r'^''''^^' '»>«
witho..t a thXf trrr ''"" '^'"•^'^'-' -'-ns
In the month of February IftOR „ cu

council, for Z purpose Text '° ^""^^"'^ "^ ^^""^
witchcraft and secrefno "'^."^'"'""""'•""g the arts of

ressionfrom^JhlTcuSTar'; lr"lr
same time t was resolvpd .),of .1 '""'"^e. At the

denying the crimes Ldfo h • T ''''° P'"'^"^'' '"

down with war hatc""« i"-' "^' '^""''' ''' ^"'

been prisoners'Lf r ^^7 ' "' 'i '^'"y ^"^
erable chief Tettepachsit ofV T"''"'' "'^ ^^"■
Indians by poisonoT in'' ? """« ^'^•'"™>'''•^ '"-"X
still in his^^s ession a'nd f ' T" "*■ "'"^'' "-«

founded chUe.i;;:^:i";;r:ir'"r''''^ ""■

posts and began to roast him o r„ 1^ '' u ',?
to endure his excruciating agoni " tl o 1 , " ''

I>ret«;ndod t'mt l.n l.n.l c ^ ""^^' "'" P""'' old nmn

Christian I J aTZT; '" '"' '"'"^" "^ "-

the n.is.,ionaries, a d a's J^ f' " "" '^ '■'"■'''^•- ''^
vert residing wi h th ,r' A . ' ""' °"'>^ '^°"-
despatched'to tie ^Lem rLri """''"^'/'
force ; and though, on bein. . J^^'"'' ''»" "^vay by
P«chsi,, ,he latt e'r onfest?.! aTlTf ""' '^^"*'-
witlKuu the slightest foui :: «

n:o;=L:'."j'^_-/ ^»^ ^vi.enT„ii:;z:;

. t .... ,„,Kc tno most important discoveries.

NORTH AMERICA.

edraVzsrjtrex^^^^^^^^

in a circle. He then accu^^ ?1» u'^ "" •^°'^"
other aged chief, of the prdce IT"^''''. »"'' '»-
stated that man; persons'haTbe S'"""' ""'*
graye by the former ; and though Tn ' "t'""''^

he ayowed that he had no pSn i^ h *"" *° '^°'''"'''
stated that he had an eS spirit " h'' '^'"'"•°"' ^"
which he could effect stiH gr'e r^i^LT^X''^
cision was highly gratifying to th ^'"®'- ^his de-
all the accufed^'e^^r „d :;tcS^^^^^^^^^
d^ned crimit.ls, that they mirnrelct%r^^^^

to the missionary settlemen , and tffe^^Sf '"
large fire close to the habitatio^ of tLe tethren r '
sm.ck the aged chief on the head wkh a hitch ' J

then e„.e^.ed Z:Z So^r anTj" ^^'Z
bread and tobacco, boasting ofTe' atl '""ll'^i
which they had just perpetfated. tCpI s"d'
howeyer, to intercede with their M.r P'T"^'''
Joshua; and, after thei d plnur L" '""" °'
Luckenbach set out with the dl^L r ."l^^'^nary

consoling that unfortunate prisoner' bul ZT, ''"''
proceeded half wav on Lie " "^'^ > ""t he had not

the distressing lTel.giTa7' "'""r"^ "'=^'^^''

already been iLolatS d bit ^1/""" ""'^

•nies. With these heayy tiding he^ ''T '"""

Christian friends • and LT^ , ^'"•""^'^ '" bis
'"" > ana, as the sett emen* ;»e«if

=.;r;:iii:jts::\;pr:;^^ ^^^ '

Goshen. Joshua, iZl nV teT S T' ^r"" '° *
burning pile, prayed most feryeZ ^ "L'h"'«? °" "'^
and continued either nravinV !, • " ^''^'°"'''

Lord, until his strengt K'ex ::f::,*^r';T' 1° ''''
minated his suffering. An S u ' •'' '^'""'' •^'■-
scene, testified ZtT u " ''''° witnessed the

God.rgifiri^^-r-'"^'"'''''^'''''''^

Joshua's father was one of the two fir,f In^-
were baptised at Bethlehen. in lilS cl. nt ?' "'"'
dorf himself, together with tl.„ ' ^'"'""■

officiating on\hc'olcasio:' " ""^^'"""y B"ttner.

wi'r;"'f:w " rrr" ""•"'' '^ '"^ '-«''-".

lu a lew years, to disseminate the blessinc, ^

;r«^r;'rrzfr: ^»' »''^s.:.

the Creeks ; and with this view sphIo,.. .

108

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BREl'HREN.

Sandusky, and on the banks of the river Flint. Va-
rious untoward circumstances, however, rendered it
impracticable to retain these stations, and the whole of
them were successively though most reluctantly aban-
doned.

On the I7th of November, the church of the United
Brethren was deprived of one of its greatest ornaments,
by the death of the excellent and laborious Zeisber-
ger ; who breathed his last, in the presence of his
brethren and his beloved flock, at Goshen, having at-
tained to the venerable age of eighty-seven years,
seven months, and six days. His life, for upwards of
sixty years, was devoted to the cause of God among
the Indians ; and when the in6rmities of old age rap-
idly increased upon him, he appeared particularly
anxious to complete his translations of portions of
the Scriptures and of discourses into the Delaware
language. He finished the hymn-book now used by the
Indian congregation, which consists principally of hymns
of his own translating, and occupies three hundred
and fifty-eight pages in octavo. In addition to this, he
also translated the Harmony of the Four Gospels, and
many smaller pieces, which, at the time of his decease,
were partly printed, and partly left in manuscript.
He also published a second edition of his Delaware
Spelling Book, and left behind him a valuable gram-
mar in the same language.*

• " Mr. Zeiiborger wm a naUve of Moravia, in Germany, fV^
Whence he emigrated with hia parent*, at an early age, to Herrnhut
in Upper Luaatia, for the sake of obtaining religion, liberty In
1738, he came to thi* country, landed in Georgia, where at that
Ume some of the United Brethren had begun a settlement for the
purpo.e of preaching the goepel to the Creek nation. From thence
he removed to Pennsylvania, and a.si.ted at the commencement of
the aettlemcnt. of Bethlehem and tiizueihr-Extraetedfrom an
obituary nouce rimttmfor lAe PUtsburgk GatUte, by the Ret. B. Morti-
vur,kufaUlfful fellow laborer, teho yet turviret, and uUie well known
and beloved minuter of the congregation in Aete York.

" A. with the death of the Rev. David Zeisbergor, who entered
intotheaorviceof thi. miwion .hortly after iU first commencement,
> period 1. closed, highly interesting as to external incident, and
occurrence, relating to the mission, it may be proper summarily
to state, that from the commencement of this mission among the
Mohicans, in New York and Connecticut states, in 1740, and the
Delaware, in Pennsylvania, a year later, unto the year 1808, inolu-
•ive (a period of near seventy years), between thirteen and four-
teen hundred souls wercf baptized by the brethren ; of whom a con-
(iderable number departed this life in the Chri.lian faith, rejoicing
in the hope of soon being in the presence of their Redeemer ; while
other, who were living in the aanie f.iUi had been prematurely cut
off from the land of the living by an inhuman, lawless band.
Others, again, had, on account of troubles, por.ocutions and wars,
b«en compelled to resort to place* of safety, beyond the reach of their
adversaries. The number of Christian Indian., under the .peciti
car. of niiHionarie. at these .tatiun., exceeded two hundred soul.,
at the tune their much beloved senior miuionary, Zeisberger,
departed this life Kiclii.ive of the ten brethren .n.l ,i,|ers
and onechild, who, in November of the year 17fW>, were murdered,
at their sUtion on Mahony, near the Christian Indian village
Onadenhuetton, six missi.maries have departed thi. life «t their
pcu, vii. Gottlieb Buttnar.in 1746, at Bhtkomeko, an Indian vil-

The congregation at Fairfield continued for several
years in a flourishing state, both in respect to external
prosperity and the consistency and spirituality of the
greater part of its members. The missionaries were,
indeed, occasionally alaimed for the morals of their
young people, by the introduction of the rum trade
into their immediate vicinity, and they had also to regret
that few of the neighboring heathen appeared to be
suitably affected by the word of divine truth; but
whilst they mourned over ^hese circumstances, they
were enabled to rejoice in the gradual illumination and
genuine conversion of many who had been baptized
as children, in the settlement ; and their joy was
abundantly increased when others, who, for a time, had
been seduced into sinful practices, returned with con-
trite hearts and weeping eyes to the foot of the cross,
and humbly entreated that they might be re-admitted
mto the bosom of the church. In the autumn of 1813,
however, inconsequence of the war between America
and Great Britain, the tranquil abodes at Fairfield be-
came the resort of fugitives from the adjacent country ;
the church and school house were occupied by sick
soldiers ; and the Christian Indians were compelled to
abandon the settlement.

In their removal from this spot, where they had
enjoyed the blessings of repose for upwards of twenty
years, they were to be accompanied by one of the

lage then in the province of New York, and bordering on the Con-
necticut river; David Bruce, in 1749, at Pachgatgoch, in Con-
neclicut ; John Hagen, about the year 1750, at Sliamokin, in Penn-
sylyania ; Gottlob Senwman, in 1800, at Fairfield, in Upper Canada ;
William Edward., aged about .evenly, in 1801. at Goshen, on the
Muskingum; and David Zeisberger, at the same place, in 1808-
while at Bethlehem, in the ume year, the two venerable mi.sion*'
ries, (.rube and Youngman, were also called from hence to meet
together m the presence of that Lord and Saviour, whom they m>
faithfully served here below, to receive their reward of him It
IS remarkable that these last three venerable missionaries, who, at
an early period of their lives, had entered into that service with
the resolution to endure, for Christ's sake, all hardships, privation,
persecution, and danger., which might befall them— and who, in-
deed, had, during long .ervice., given proof of their firmnew, by
the numcrou. hard.hips and trials they had endured-should live
to .uch advanced ages a. they did, and therewith enjoy, generally
good health to the la.t. Bernhard Adam Orube, who had been the
flrat mi..i..nary to the Delaware., and spoke their language well,
died at Bctlilehcin.on the WHh of March, 1808, aged ninety-throe
years and three month.. John (ieorge Youngman, first a missionary
to the Mohicans, in Connecticut, and afterwards, for a number of
yearn, the same to the Delawares on the Susquehannah, in Penn-
sylvania, and in the western country, died al.o at Bethlehem, in
July of the .ame year (1808), aged eighty. eight year, .nd three
month. ; and David Zeisberger died in November of the same
year, at Oochen, on the Muskingum, aged eighty-eeven year, and
.even month.. I will only .ubjoin the name, of .uch a. wore ac-
tually employed in the iorvica at the cIom of thi. period of tha
mission. 1808. Tliew are, Benjamin Mortimer, John Schnall,
Abraham Luokenbach and Chri.lian Frederic Dencko, with their
wive. ; and Michael Young, Benjamin Haven and John Joachim
Ilagen, .ingle brethren. "—W«cA«i(Wi/w'» Airru/iM, p. 418.

missionaries named Dencke • h»t »«,« «.k

SchnaU«.dJ„„g,remainetn\hrser:t^^^^^^^^
desig. of retiring as soon as possible to BeieL

mde and a half fro. FairfieldAe'tten^'^ ^^J^t
- J°d A^encans, .n which the latter proved victorfous
In the evening, a number of their oLers ente ed The

c eted stores belonging to the British army ^ AH the
trunks and boxes of the brpth«„ . ^ . ^

even the roofs of thl church L^'^ '^u'"'""''' '"^

searched with the nTostt: fuTtigit 'Td T
next mornine, when thn <,„u- /^'8"*"<=e > and, the

On the arrival of General Harrison wi h
other officers, Mr. Schnall waited uZhim to ''7™'
his protection, and to solirir ^„ "P°" """' 'o ""P'ore

and such part of their hnZlll I '=°'»'^J"'o'-,

diately pacJ up. t: wfefTh /CilT^
mture and hve stock, amounting in value to ;

hundred dollars, were consequently ^eft to r'""'
vade. by^whom the settlement Jas'tn^'^-

mJes higher up the river; but S MrZr
who had remained behind ,i 1 he col „ ? ,^'
rA4iil» nf .!,„ coujd ascortaui thp

result of the engagement, reached that soot l,« f i
U deserted, and was, for some time a a Jos .

and manuscripts, together with tZ f . ''°'''

clothing which' he ifud save i ',, 'S.^ h^r'^r "'
tunes seemed to bo comnietX Ir.^ ' "'"'^"■-
reaching the place of his d.,^™*''' ''^'"' ""

Indian Lndi ^0' «;'':rnd^^'„:7' "r

tears in their eyes, expressed 'their llkSes t Goi
for such an unexpected interview ,, ""^ '° ^""^
that some alanning intellig „ee L In^'^.T'"'"^
gregation ,0 break up their encara,ll„r, "" '°"-
precipitatelv into .h„ .„3 ' - ' r"'' """^ '° '^'"^
" " ' ""' though much con-

NORTH AMERICA.

- 103

fusion had ensued, and oarent, haA u

fromtheirchildren/whilstSyltentonT"^"''*^''
preservation, the whole of the fr^SeTw/r^h "°f
collected in Delaware town with thpf '^^''^

woman, who had been ZideredTrT^T' '''''
from Fairfield. 'uraerea at a short distance

they erected a nSr of tT" '" 1 '"°°^'' ^^''^
for the missionary a„; a ch« ', f""" ^"'^ " ''""^^
was considered^aLerls on T ' "' 'r '''" ^''"^^•«»
to the Americanl^Tr;rrmrrL'r°™^
spring, farther toward the moumls ' '' '"^""S

'Jn the termination of thp w-r .i.
their former station on the rfveTTh ^^ '"'"^^ ''^
residing for some time in hut" on tJe rofTh '"''"u
buildings, thev ereotpH o «„ * '"^"" oW

of the riverTwSh .h "" °° '^' "PP'*^"^ ^ank

^«.V>/r To this ' tcl Z '''' ''' "'^^ °^ ^««'
of 1815, when the ri V ^^ '""'''''^ '" '''« «"'"«"

dredandnine^trtTforw^tye:^

rtv^tr^^gtrr ^^^^ -

savingly converted to G0I: banrr"".'"' "^
of the blessed Trinity, and^i't h 11 ^th'

=^^X:h:=:-i:Eff

which afterward Ipd t« »„ . • '® people,

neighborhood "" '"'^"^'^^ ^^^^J^^"'"? in the

In the month of Sep tern bpr laio .u

missionary John Schnalftxpi ed af N;:'Fa!rS"'
the sixty-s xth vear of h.= . /• . airheld, in

■MlJEnant fevet h,d ""'"."»"" 'he Indians. A
individual, were ,£ei wT „„? 1™ '' ^°""'

oo„,i„.„ey of fci, ,„,,, „j ,3„'™;''" 'J- «>•

104

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

themselves in such a manner as to cherish a hope that
they are looking for something better than paganism.
The re-admission of an Indian, on the 6th of January,
who had been excluded many years back, seemed to
make a favorable impression upon the careless among
our young people, as he had, at one time, been fore-
most in every thing evil, but now appeared before the
congregation as a weeping penitent suing for mercy.
Between Christmas and the new year, a female Indian
who had been taken ill in this settlement, was baptized on
her death-bed, and several days after\vard, she depart-
ed, as we have reason to believe, happily in the Lord."
On the 25th of June, the same correspondent
writes that, though some circumstances of a painful
nature had occurred, the missionaries were enabled to
rejoice that by far the greater part of their congrega-
tion continued to be faithful followers of Christ, and
that their confidence in the help of the Lord was
frequently revived and strengthened by proofs of his
mercy toward them. A new mission house was at
this time partly erected; and it is stated that the
Christian Indians most cheerfully lent their assistance
towards the building, without any remuneration.

After three years had passed away without any of
the heathen being publicly consecrated to God by the
rite of baptism, the missionaries had the pleasure of
baptizing three Indian females; one on Christmas day,
1822,a second on newyear'sday, 1823, and the third on
the feast of the Epiphany. Two of these, an aged wo-
man and her daughter about fourteen years old, had
removed in the preceding spring from the upper Mou-
sy town to New Fairfield, and here their hearts were
opened to the word of the gospel, so that they earnestly
desired to be made partakers of the privileges of the
children of God. The other, who was sister-in-law
to one of the female assistants, had resided four or
five years in the settlement, and, during that time,
had been a diligent attendant on the means of grace,
but had not appeared to desire a closer connection
with the church. Now, however, she entreated with
tears, that she might be baptized ; and as she made a
satisfactory confession of her faith, and avowed her
exclusive dependence for salvation on the all-sufficient
sacrifice of Calvary, her request was granted, and the
divine presence seemed to be enjoyed by ail who
witnessed the solemn ordinance.

In a communication, dated April 8, 1823, Mr.
Luckenbach says, " We celebrated the Passion week
and Easter holydays in peace, and with the blessing
of our Ijord, which was truly manifest in all our meet-
ings. The sugar boiling season is about Easter, and,
if this festival happen early, it is generally productive
of much disturbance. It also creates considerable
inconvenience to our Indians, and prevents them from

attending at church as they otherwise would ; as they
are obliged to take advantage of the time when the
sap runs from the maple trees. We had no reason,
however, to complain, but rather rejoiced to find that,
with few exceptions, they were willing to submit to
any trouble, rather than lose an opportunity of hear-
ing the account of the sufferings, death and resurrec-
tion of our Saviour. An Indian named Simon, who
had been baptized at Petquotting, but had after-
wards left the congregation, and lived for more than
ten years among the wild heathen, returned hither this
spring, and begged most earnestly for re-admission.
He was in a rapid consumption ; and as we believed
he had sought and obtained mercy from him who
treats all returning prodigals with compassion, he was
re-admitted, and assured of the forgiveness of the con-
gregation on his sick bed.

" Many of the boys in the school have made good
progre^, and are able to read their own language well.
They even begin to understand English, and read the
three epistles of St. John in that language. After
hearing single verses four or five times distinctly re-
peated, they learn them by heart, and appear delighted
with this mode of instruction.

" The winter has been excessively severe, and the
snow was so deep that the cattle belonging to the
Indians, which, in general, fare but poorly during that
season, could scarcely find any food, so that many of
them perished. When it began to thaw, the river
Thames rose to an extraordinary height, and if the ice
in it had not floated off before the rise, much damage
would have been done."

From this settlement, October 13, 1823, Mr. Luck-
enbach writes as follows : — " Since my last, the number
of our inhabitants has been augmented by sixteen per-
sons from Goshen, two from among the heathen at
Sandusky, and four of the Monsy tribe. The latter
is a family, consisting of an aged mother, who, four
years ago, was baptized at Old Schoenbnmn, on the
Muskingum, her son, grandson, and great-grandson.
Her son is upwards of fifty years old, and has very
indifferent health. Being asked why he wished to
reside in our settlement, he replied, ' I have no greater
wish that to lay down my hones in this place. All 1
long for is to experience the pardon of my sins,
through the mercy of oar Saviour, before I die, and to
be received by baptism into the Christian church. I
now believe all which I formerly heard at Schoen-
bnmn, concerning our incarnate God and Redeemer,
who died upon the cross to save us from eternal death.
In this place my poor soul derives comfort and good
hope ; and I am therefore come to dwell among the
believers, and to die with them, because among the
heathen I find neither rest nor peace I'

received into the conereeation Th i, \ i ' "'"^
died amoiiKthe heathp„ ""V"" "^ ^^' mother, who

In the diary transmitted by the brp«hr»n T i
bach and Haman, in May 1824 th« u"""^^"'

were "reauestPrf to 7'u ', ^^^ ^'^'^ '•'a' 'hey
tins h!^ I ^ "" ^^^ ^^" ''""^ Philip lena-

my mis-spenl years. I l,,,. Iive,l T ■ ™>^ _,""»''
«fttr I ]„d lef, ,|,e beiievm I Tnl j, ^* ' ""■

DuHng ,„. J, »:: uti„i™;i,x7'"''''

0.U d , „„,i„|y , ,.,., , „,j ,^ J^- Ve. never

ery for n.eroy, Jd rl,.! .' ^i H'w T'T "
.f|». expe„W, ,le nn^rt'eJ: *£,r;;jr'

NORTH AMERICA.

105

giveness of the conereeation n . l-
w.to.e.,erseyeHf,^^^^^^^^

-ho.X«'g«t^ the

mind the maV Lors iotl^ ir^ "^/^""^ '»
w'hich, in the Lu!l ' ; .j^? ^™"' '"'' '«*«™al,

in heartfelt prt' ^1^: ''r' "' °' """'"«
view, we have cause to declare" to S, "^ ^°'"' "^
faithful Head of his chJohl ^ P™'« °^ the
good thing, buuht^h:^^ dote\ru'r '"'^' "°
we deserve. Blessed be his na^I foHt r """ ''"''

consists of two hundred t/ °'' congregation

dred and sev^nty-ont of wl''''" T'^"'' °"^ •>""-
ty-six unbapSed for^l I "" "' ^'"^''^'^ ""'^ ^hir-
bers. Includ nf 'J^''^:^"!"' «'« communicant mem-

number of inhl a'ts "^"7 i^™^ '^^ ^^^^^

amounts to two hundred InH ?' ''°'' °^ ^^^^'
lSO« .1, "unared and twelve persons " 1„

1826, the government in Canada madeZ fi .

dation greatly needed. accommo-

Encouraging letters from New Fairfield Hot»^ 0.1.
January, 1828, state that new year's di; 1 HK
signalized by the baptism of a youn. Cl^n "

woman named Deborah tL IJ ^ ■ ^^''PP^way
attended with a great blessinj ?!^'"%"'%''''d been
heathen, who hfd JL„ f ^ Three fam.hes of the
) WHO naa Deen forced to remove fmm ,u ■

iTSdrrrSrir^'-'"-^---

SIX of whom are communicants, nine adults ,^ot ban-
fzed and thirteen unbaptized children. ^

difJcu;y";frcri:;\,t\r''°" 'r '"''''"-''

r '" resisting the attempts of their nno-n,,
sSs^'irr'^'^"^^ "nchristian'games arj s':^.
ThT" P''"'"' ""^ '^'^'B*' m ardent spirits

The more recent accounts, however, contain theTd
.ntenigence, that many who have hitherto been addict-
ed to ntemperance, appear very desirous to refo m
and that the critical season of sugar-boilin/n«2
wuhout any painPu, exhibitions ; 'Le.\S:J
Luckenbach writes that " scenes of drunkenness had
almost entirely ceased at New Fairfield, and that the
n.ecmg3 were assiduously attended by'manyo 1
heathen who have taken up their residence beW he
town, several of whom seem to be in « ho.eA° -.--

106

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

The new church was solemnly consecrated on the
nth of September 1828, the same day on which,
thirteen years before, the old church had been ded-
icated. On this occasion, the Lord was implored in
a most earnest manner to revive his work in the
congregation. The edifice will accommodate three
hundred persons. At this solemnity the Episcopalian
minister from Chatham was invited, and preached
upon the occasion.

At the close of 1829, this mission was deprived of
the venerable assistant Stephen. He was more than
ninety years of age, and had served his countrymen
in this character upwards of half his life with useful-
ness and pleasure. Mr. Haman, also, was called to
mourn the loss of his excellent wife, who had faith-
fully occupied the sphere allotted to her. The mis-
sion received a pleasing accession in the arrival of
brother and sister Miksch.

Letters from brethren Haman and Miksch were
received in the close of 1830, imparting very encour-
aging accounts of the Indian congregation. A spirit
prevailed which greatly animated the missionaries.
. At the annual festival, two adults were admitted to
holy baptism, three to the communion, and three
others were absolved and readmitted. The whole
number of Indians under the care of the brethren, at
New Fairfield, at the close of 1830, amounted to two
hundred and eighteen souls. Of these, thirty-eight
are communicants, seventy-three baptized adults, six-
ty-eight baptized children, twenty unbaptized adults,
and nineteen unbaptized children.

The settlement at Goshen was, for some time, in a
languishing state ; the Indians residing at that place
being completely surrounded by white settlers, whose
conduct and conversation were productive of the most
injurious consequences ; and so many of the professed
converts had been seduced by their temptations, that
the United Brethren were, at length, under the pain-
ful necessity of suspending the mission. In 1822, the
last missionary, Mr. Bardil, who labored in that quarter,
retired, with his assistant, to Bethlehem, and those of the
Indians who seriously desired the benefit of the means
of grace, removed to New Fairfield, in Canada, where
they were received with every token of affection.

But whilst we regret the unavoidable suspension of
this mission, we are constrained to rejoice in the suc-
cess whicli, after an interval of many years, has attended
the faithful labors of the servants of God among the
Cherokee nation.* In a communication from the Rev.

* The mission in the Cherokee nation began in 1801, by the
Rev. Abraham 8tcinnr,nf Salem, N.C., and was continued byhiin
for a few years, witli the aaaiatance of Gottlieb Byhan, of the aamo
|)laco. It was afterwards served by brother John Gambold and
his faithful wife.

L. D. Schweinitz, dated September 1, 1820, it is
stated, that " The dawn of the day of the Lord has,
of a truth, appeared, and the power of his Holy Spirit
is so conspicuous, that numbers of the Cherokees,
among whom are several who formerly evinced par-
ticular enmity to the word of the cross, now experi-
ence its salutary effects, and inquire what they must
do to be saved." And, in respect to civilization, the
same writer observes, " The Cherokee nation has, of
late, formed its internal government, and the whole
management of its public business, on a new plan.
The English language has been adopted as the official
one, in which the national records are kept, and is
universally gaining ground. Not a few individuals,
and those of influence, have discarded the Indian lan-
guage and customs. Many of the more respectable
have quitted hunting entirely, and become agricultu-
rists ; and their way of life is described as differing
but little from that of the substantial planters in the
United States. All the chiefs, and more especially
the yoiinger among them, zealously espouse the cause
of civilization and instruction, for which a thirst has
become nearly universal. They, at the same time,
greatly favor the missionary and school establish-
ments, which enjoy, in an eminent degree, the confi-
dence and esteem of the nation."

Intelligence from the Cherokee country is contained
in a letter from the Rev. J. R. Schmidt, dated Spring-
place, September 22, 1822, in which he states that
two married women who had, for some time, been
candidates for baptism, had been lately received into
the church by that sacred ordinance, and that about
two hundred persons were present on the interesting
occasion. Mr. Proske was, at this time, laboring at
a station called Oochgdogy, in the absence of Mr.
Gambold, who had been compelled, by an attack of
fever, to return to Spring-place, for that assistance
which his case required.

The brethren who have occupied this interesting
field of labor have laudably turned their attention to
the education of the young. In 1821 , a new mission
was begun at a station called Oochgelogy, under the
care of Mr. Gambold, who, on this account, left
Spring-place. The Cherokee mission, in 1823, passed
into the hands of that branch of the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel which holds its meetings at
Salem, North Carolina. A letter from brother Beuade,
at Salem, dated Dec. 9, 1823, gives the pleasing
intelligence of the solemn dedication of a newly built
church for the negroes in the vicinity. About ninety
were collected upon the occasion. The missionary
Schmidt, in his comnmnicntion to the society, men-
tioned the Christmas season for 1824, as peculiarly
mteresting. " An Indian woman was baptized, together

with her infant daughter and grandson Ti.

"ope 01 a glonous iramortalitv Ti,«

^n conse,„ence1;2Tntr^o7 iS: ^^7
51i«d. to sen SirV ^ r."""^ ^'^"'^^'^^ «"'! <=*-

or^ot%fsti::ttnr^' f-^^^^^^^^^^^^^

enlarged ground for T ''""'/°™«"-'y. and furnished
sheep^f^h„s^'s Lv^'' '.^^ ''^'^ '^' ^^P^'^ed
fold.' A cheer gt^vTof '?"',"!' '"'^ ^''^
hearts of the brethren 1 rfr' ^^"'^^'"'^ '^'
one hundred and fortv Jr ' ^" ^"'^i^nce of

preaching; and tl^^^ Vv rwar",''' ''^ P"^"«
former scholar. NovembTr iT' ""'''P'-^'^^ ''X «
child were baptized ir K. ' '^°'""" ""^^ her

gregation ; Sit' Ipe Td^ ribol^ ^^'""^ ^^"-
to the salvation of souls " Aborth? '' P™^P«"ng
okee nation resolved to etabli h " '"'.''^ '^'"■
printing office at Nevv-TolnrS- "? ""^ ""''
On Christmas dlyS Z 'T^'l ""'^'"^"'•
Oochgelog, was c:LS' SHlTf '^ "
and, earlv in lfi9fi »i, u . ^' ">anner;

truly gladdening and hopefuT ''' "'""" '^'^

vea? inT'' "'' ''■'''' ""^ ''"'^'^ °" throughout this
year, m a very mteresting manner V u. j ,

by his death, has delivered fZ,V ' '''"''

dominion of sin TbJA? v -^ ^°'^^' """l

mm to ,„3 eternal reward.

NORTH AMERICA.

107

This inroad was soon followed hv th^

of brother Eder. from GprlT V. "PP^nt^ent

and obserees "I, . T • ""•'"«•«•• nation,
cons„,„li Jl It"""* '" *""■ "»' -I"

twenty-nine were ™„ ""ly-two aduits, of whom
baptized nd nrbaXTS"' ""' f^""'-^

-iidtentaSnlrrS'-SSr"-
souls. In all onp h„^A j "'' ,'"" , total, fifty-one

we. under th;:-^:^;-^^^^^^^

- o?Ct:fl-^^ --;^^ lg.ga-

o7re^t'^^-«^™^-'^«-emrttr^'r

extracted LmLre„o«!ft'^"''''°"' ""^''^ '«
hem, for 183?.-. ^ ^ '^^ ^"^'''°''' «' Bethle-

beLl's^if rrni- '^ ?'^''"^^^'' - »- »>«-

bation. The work ofT"' " ^'" "'' ^^^^'^ P^O"
the believers Jas in/ 7'"' ^'■"'' '" '^' '^^"'^ of
evident Z' Z *"''""'''."«' ^"PPressed, but it was

politic" Zl\rr:zfiT''"''V' ''^

hopeful state of the mLfon^'^iST, Sprt"/'^
and Oocheeloev thn e„u i oprmg-place

ed : and. af Z',lVpt~\LT.,r''' ""r"-

hLb.enit'dt!:s^s~tLri^
«s;:i:;;i::::.rtt::^5rpt.':i~

»» i. wlula the decision ^f ^^Xt^SLT^
Georgia, that missinpar-- -h • j j • °'

keete„ito,y,.i„Vhe-.nttH.rt;",r[;i:;:

108

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

government, might be considered as its agents, and
therefore likewise exempted from the law, warranted
the return of brother Clauder, who had already retired
into the state of Tennessee, whence he intended,
from time to time, to visit at Oochgeloghy. The de-
cision just alluded to, was, however, in the sequel,
reversed. Accordingly, brother Clauder, along with
other missionaries of different denominations, was
arrested, but immediately liberated, on expressing his
intention to remove, and ten days' notice promised
hhn when that should actually become necessary.
Preparatory to this removal, the cattle, harvest, and
other property at Oochgeloghy were sold, and the
house and plantation committed to the care of William
Abraham Hicks and his son, who removed thither.

On the nth of July, brother Clauder preached his
last sermon at Oochgeloghy, to a respectable auditory,
and then celebrated the communion, with feelings
which can better be imagined than described. Having
taken a mournful leave of the Cherokee brethren and
sisters, and of all their neighbors, this missionary
family, on the 22d of July, left Oochgeloghy, and

arrived at Spring-place on the 23d, after having made
arrangements for the continued edification of the con-
verts at the former place, under the guidance of the
faithful Indian brother, William Abraham Hicks, and
his son, George Augustus. The promise was also
given that brother Byhan, if permitted, would occa-
sionally visit that little flock from Spring-place.
Here the exiled missionary family stopped for a fort-
night, and then, on the 17th of August, proceeded to
Salem, in North Carolina. Brother Byhan continued
his labors at Spring-place without interruption. How
this complicated state of things will finally eventuate,
we cannot see. Certain it is, however, that it enjoins
upon us the duty of incessant prayer and heartfelt
sympathy. We are aware that, in times past, the
Lord has enabled us to thank him for his wondrous
ways, and has, in a particular manner, heretofore pro-
tected our Indian missions, under trials which seemed
insupportable. Can we then doubt, but that, in the
present course of events, his purposes of peace will
finally prevail ? Let us implicitly trust to his all-wise
guidance and his overruling power.

CHAPTER IV

MISSIONS IN SOUTH AMERICA.

PILOERRHUT, ON THE RIO DE BERBICE.

A GENTLEMAN in Amsterdam having requested
that some of the United Brethren would settle on
one of his plantations in Berbice, for the purpose of
instructing his negroes in the truths of Christianity,
Messrs. Daehne and Guettner sailed from Holland in
the month of June, 1738, and in about three months
arrived at the place of their destination. But the
stewards and managers of the estates viewed them
with an eye of jealousy, and appeared determined to
render their situation uncomfortable. The mission-
aries, therefore, were under the necessity of support-
ing themselves by their own labor ; and the hopes
which they had formed relative to the evangelization
of the slaves appeared to be already crushed, as these
poor creatures were treated with a degree of rigor
which rendered it almost impracticable to have any

intercourse with them with a view to the attainment
of their language. The all-seeing God, however,
raised up a friend for his servants in the time of their
distress ; and, through the kindness of a gentleman
belonging to the Surinam Trading Company, they
obtained a tranquil residence in a small tenement
surrounded by a piece of arable land, about a hundred
miles distant from the sea-coast. To this little set-
tlement they gave the name of Pilgerrhut ; and,
having conciliated the esteem and confidence of the
Indians in the neighborhood, some of whom under-
stood a little Dutch, they embraced every opportunity
of instructing them in the great truths of Christianity.
In this labor of love, however, they had to contend
with many difficulties, in consequence of their igno-
rance of the Arawak language, and the occupation of

much of their time by manual lnK„. r

period the congregatioi Th Lit L^ " *^

means of defraying the pvh- *'' "°' "'^

.upportoftheirSsiinarie,' " """'*'"' "" ">«

bri^'^:;o:::::'^xrrth^- --^^

indeed were in , ' li of """'^ r °' ''' ^"'"'-'
the settlement" t "omeT/r "T""^ "'""S''
were visited ahnost eve " dav M " T"""^"^^
ever, resided at great disTan.T"' f"^ ""'""' ''°^-
necessary that the tid nt 'f ?' ""'' '" '^'"^ " ^^'>'
veyed. No sooneVfh ^ r '''''°" '^°"''' »*« "»"-
toLquire a^^raTle•tno^e±^^^^^^^
guage, through the medium of ! '''"'' '""■

had been presented To ttm and thro .' T"'"' "''°
•nentaiity, had been converled t G^J'^h ' V"'""
solved to visit the savaees LtJ ' ^^" '^^^ '^^

and, on this errand .h^ ^ °'^" ''"Stations ;

cessity of can vine th T^/^ ■'° "°' °"h under the ne-

severa'l dayTS hi Hr^'^ ""' P'*^^'^-- <•-

obhged to iadrlougTbro: t^rsTn^d tfr^"''^
the m dst of a fom«f « j "^'vers, and to sleep m

tunate y arrived at th» r j- f"^' "lat they unfor-
were ffomTome aid • .k"" ''"'^ "''^" '^' •"«"
rendered cot^tdy^'bl t'^ ^ '"''^ -«

invariably seized with jJro; at .1 "°'"'" ""^
- -^. -h Piercing siririL"^;

an^I^^^t^.^Xd^'^^^'^^^'^'^^'^^'^
which they had und.wl, ^f"^^*^''^ '" '^e work

the year 7747 thevt ' r^/°^^-r<l 'he close of
that a sp rit of w '^ '"""''' ^'''^ ""^Peakable joy,
of Godtgan ^anT '"•'""•^ -^P^^t-g «he thing
viously toTws tl^ "i "™°"^ "'^ ''^'''''«"- Prl
alreaci^ men iSe \sTis teTthr''' "'" '^^^ "-"

by the blood of ri. ^°°*' "^'^' "'■ redemption

instructions of the - "'ost md.fferent ; so that the

abroa.l, wee received ;r"'"' '"'' " '"'"^ -'^
of Jtme 1748 thf ""Semess, and by the end

into thesis tt;;;; ?!;r. t«^ .•?- -^-d

SOUTH AMERICA.

109

into tl,« .h "-y-"""^ persons had bee
•nto the church by baptism, after nffordin.

the most

satisfactory proofs that their heart.. h^A h

by the grace of the Holy Spirit '" ""'^•"^

Many of the converts now ohminn^ ■ •

erect some huts at PilgerrhuT „„ '"""V"""'""'" ""
of ground in the vicin fy t, l'„S' ^ ''f '^'''^ "^ P-«

this arrangement, the b'r^lSren t re Xir " °'
tam them till thf Pn««»,- oDJiged to mam-

formerly a tutor in the Pr„. « «ev x. &. Schuman,

arnved.'about thi same ^ZT:^::^ \'^"^^"'
intendence of the mission !' ^ •u"'''^ ^^^ '"P^r-
twelve months, heTci 3^^^^^^^
e<Jge of the language, S he Tas' el S' to adr"
the natives without an interpreter ''''^''''

cloud. On the arrivll If ^ ^^''^ ""^ menacing
that some unfavorTble 1'"'" ''''"'°'-' '' «PP«"«'
had reached tCclZ^^Z 1 '""^ '""^^°"
the express orders of thrdLe o^ ^^^^^^^ '^'' ^^
now summoned before .!,„ p ° .. . '^'■^" "^"^
take an oath of a legLe 'o Z ' "' "''""''' *°

somation of Mr &liiin„„ . ?" 'Ii« repre-

the gospel A vLT I. r '"*"■""' ""'* '" «"'brace
iiouDies. Iho missionaripo ,vp.„ ■ . '

Poro,„p,oHl, f„«d.„ ,„-;„., L'lnirS

MISSIONS OF THK UNITKD IJHKTIIKKN.

lli(«ii-fi«t||l(im«Mit, but worn nnlorod to lot thniii livodU-
pt'iKoil ill thiMvooiU, to clotho lilt) rimvoiii, mill to pay
n inx (or oncli ortlinm. It wim iil^o «M|iiirml tlutt tli«
Im'llirtiii nIioiiIiI tiiko tlio oiitli prtvu'rilKul to tliiMii,nii(l
Hpptmr III Hriii!i on tint piinidt', lor tlitt ptirpo^o ol' lining
uxoivisod ill iiiiliinry <liHy. And on ono wciision two
of till' (Miriilimi liulitins worn Coivilily iiikcn iVoin l»il-
Korrhiii.Niid rompolliMl to xiirvn uh xoldiKrH in iliorol-
oiiy ; w riicninsliinco which siiiick niich terror into
tlioir t-oinpiiiiions, tliiii iiiiniy of ilioin Hod prwipiiatrly
into tlio wtiod^ tlioiinh thoy uhi'rwnrd^< voniiinul l»y
dfj^rtM's to riMnrn.

In conjtiMpH'iirt' of iIh'no cin'uniKliiiiopd. nonmof tjut
inisxioiiiiiiiis reiiinicd to Kiiinpo, luii tti(< oihurx pni-
fttrrod tiikiiig tho imih ol' ulli>t;iiiiici< to liiddiiig n finiil
adioii to their helovi'd eoni^regiition.

For neveriil siureodiiiu; yeur^, the lireihreu pursued

llieir lnlior!« without loolesiiiiion ; nnd they hnd ilit>

»«tisfrtition of witno!f«inn the invinrihlo power of the

gospel upon the iiiiiidH of soine of ih(> most ferocious

trilw's, who were cimsiilered iis liiirhuriiuis, even hy the

Aniwnkt, in eonsoipienco of their fenstinu; upon the

He-tli »if their enemies taken captive in war, The

•riiunphs of the eioss were indecil nio.il coinpiciioini

•Miioni!; persons of this deicriplion ; and the greater

pnrt of the eoni;ieu,alion airoided decisive pi»ofs that

ihey were Christians in reality. The nalivi- assisiaiUs

•Uo rcndeii>d the most essenlial services to the mis-

slonaiies, noi only hy iMcasionally visiiinu; nnd dis.

coiirsinn with thoir snvnuo coimtrynien, hut hy accoin-

punying the converts on their hnnlinn or tishini;

eupcthiiiins, and prc-icrvini; ainoiii; iheiii the ohseiv-

unce of daily M>lia;iou» ext>rcises, dnriuB; tlioir Iciiipo-

Mry iihseiic(< Imni the sctllcnient.

At ilie close of the year 17 .'>(">, the por<onsdwellin|;
at IMi;errhui amounted lo two hundred nnd thirty-
three, exclusive of children not yet Impti/.ed ; and
upwards of sixty oth<-rs resideil in the vicinity, lint
whil-t the missionaries were ihiinkfnily conteinplaiinu
the success which had crowned their exertions, pariic-
ularly within the last nine years, dillicniiies ,.f the mosi
painful iialuie awaile.l them, and evenis were permitted
lo tHvia, .i,.t only peculiarly afflictive in tlieins,.|ves,
Imi eveiitimllv suhvernivo of this iinp«)riaiii mission.
^ In I7.*.S. Mr. 'Vhuman was compelleil (o visit
Kui\>p,', and the per-ion intended to supply his pl.ice
boinc disap|H,i,ued of n passnge to Surinam, the selile-
ment at IMtcrrhul was left without an or.laine.i minis.
icr; and. I- the two missionaries who had hitherto acted
a* Hs.isiani, i„ t|„, ,„i„i>,ry. cnild not prosuino to
»dnum^ter the sacraments of haptisni and the Lord's
supp,-r. the spiritual cnjoymenis of the congregation
were seriously impeded. In tho course of the follow-
•ng >e«r. a contagions distemper lin>ke out. and raged

with iineoiiiinon violoiico.iieoonipaniod with u Hciircity,
which progroHKively ineroased to nucIi a degree, thbt
the Indiana liiid no otiiiir food for iiionllis logothor
than wild fruits and rooi-i of the field. In coii-uMpioiico
of llieso calainitio.s, the recently llourishing Hellleniont
of I'ilgerrlmi wan ooinparalively de.seriod, its inlmh-
itants heiiig reduced to twenty-two persons ; hut nH

«'•" '"''"''" ■'<"' fondly anticipated the return id" mor«

auspicious limeM, they resolved lo eoiitimm itt thoir
post, An insurreetioii of ilm negroes in ihe ccdony,
in mm. however, during which the Fori was hiirnti
ami Ihe surrounding country laid waste, eoinpidlud
iheiii loipiit their favorile residence, and to seek llitiir
safely in a precipilatn llighl. They in'coiiliiigly rolirmi
lo Demerara, whence several of the missionaries ro-
turned, hy the first Nhip, to Kurope ; and two, who
remained in expeetulion of inslrneiions from home,
were Niimmoned into eleriiity hefore the ilelerminutiun
of llio dir(>clors could roach them.

SIIAHON ON TIIF. SAKAMKCA.

The congregation at llerrnhiii Imving entered into
an agroemeni with the Dutch Surinam Company for
the esiahlishmeni of a regular selllenieni in llial cidoiiy,
live of the hrelliron wore sent ihither in \T,\\t ; and,
on thoir arrival al ParamarilM), they were pro\idenlially
iiitiodiiced lo ihe notice of a pious citizen naiiiod
Hoemper, who kindly orecled a small house for thoir
lemporary residence, and suhseipieiilly lent llieni tliroo
of his own negroes to assist in the ciiliivation of n
piece of land which ihi'y purchased al a short dislniiro
from the town. Ilei(> they connived lo procure n
siihsisienco hy iinnmal lahor ; hut as they had nciihor
lime nor opportimily for visiting the miii\e Indians,
and as the atiendance of their iieighliois, hoih .lew.s
and nominal Christians, at tho liiiio i\( iheir family
devoluins. was inleidicled hy the government, I hoy
determined to ipiii a spot where every door a|(|iear«'(!
lo he closed against tho arcoinplishineiil of their w islios,
and. alter so.ae lime, ihey transferred their sclilenuMit
to a planlalion on ihe hanks of the Coitika. Iloro
Ihey wore in llio imniediato vicinity of tho lieaihon,
lo whom Ihey hmged lo communicale ihe i',lid iiewn
of salvation ; hut as their aiipiainlance with ihe Am-
wak language was oxlroniely imperfool, llioy could
have hut little intercourse with the natives , and, n*
tho harnumy which hud hilhcrlo suhsisied among
themselves was now unforlunnlely inlerrupled hv dis-
sension, this new station was ahandoneii in 1*15,
some of the lirethien returning lo F.iirope. and others
removing either lo I'ilgerrhut or I'ennsylvuniB.

AAor n Iuiimu of ninn v«ni>. ;. . • . .
«».«t «u,no a, «.„,,„ ZS ' : •'";'«•"' •^'''""'"'"•

of the uumon i . S. "' ,"""'" '"' '''" ^•""-•w«l

.'.iti lMW,X/';l;/''^'---'"'Kly«n„.

mom in ll,.ii , '^"' ''""••""•""loftlio Kovorn.

•"". i" IN..:.: :' ; f :t-"r" "■ ""■ '•"""•^ =

iTcthnrnHmv,,,) ,.,.1 li "/•""'•"•""•""" o(H.,v.,„
tnu.H of I. . I ; T'' " '^'■""' "'■'-" -l-">"

SOUTH AMKUICA.

'"•"i..i.,K l,.l,„,,s. .iH.y .o, ,1 " "'■""""' ""•' ""
ntu'l (or „|| ,|,.,i sMili. I ""•••"^"lv..H ro„„„„,..

'i,,., ;!:; il ; ;z :r '^••'•' '^''-''^^^

-""••K 'iH. i„.a,i ; ;„: ""■•;. «"""-' <•.■....,

'"-•ttl.>„K..a. and rotin,.,| i ," n j. ^3 l' '""''"'•'' "'"

;::"•■ '-» of the ».iH,sion.u.i H 1 . • r "'"'""^
t-livo, r«t„ni,.,l u;i,i. ■'". "iiimMl Mr^hiiinor and

«"v<Tnor ul.. „,,„,;, 2 ;""" "•"^""•""•'f. Tho

In cither ,o . • '"."'• "'" '"'"""^ '^'-^"

"> '"'v (...vail,., . . I .'■ """' ""'""•'■ "I'l"'""

'•''^|... n •;;;:.:;;;:;:' 7 ''r'''"r'^^^^^^^^

^-' '"'.. -..hi and ::.;"':;:;; ;i'^ ""- »-

'" " "i<"t 'lilaoi,l,,,,.,l ... ' '"".He wan alno

'.* .:.,';''■;;.;,■■"'' ,■ « "■», ;;;;;;;■' r''- , •'■ ■■ « ;

''■•''<i'<n.nN,and. ins.Hn.. „. "''''"'^^^^^^^

-'.'I... ;.:;z^r:;::''••^'''• '''••"• '•'"'•'•'

••'"• 'l...i,. ,, ,„„, , ,, ;,. '""^ -..t..s/a,.,o..v proofs

H<'ly Spiri,. " '''"""■'>' 'r''-li....Ml hy ,1,.

•."i;j';:;,l;::":;:i':;.i;"' '^'rp"-.i.iK...i ,.,

f..e.ni,.s, |„.„,.v,.r „,.■,. n. . '' "'...idal.le

"•'"•. ^ i"..'....: :.;,;; :'".""^' ^>-

''■'■- '''''<iii..ri.-sj,X;J,;Tn"'''':'^ "•■'•■'''''•'•J

'•-;;;:--.;o.:oo;i;;;:;:;;;;lt:';:,;''''^'-^

•""'-'|...'.w... ..' ""^•.''''"i '""' "..n.e or ,|,„, i„
•n-H ..dly ,,,,', r;;:"''^' """^'' '•"'^'-' r.| , had

< "'"' ^ -i", only v;,.u.,., , i,, " ' ''^ "'" ""•... rnurn,., „ ,f' " '"''' '"'"-"••. ••-'-' of

of lhe.o I.Mlian. „, ,|h. s. """« "^^'•'"'•''"<<' lo sixiv .'""■"'"'.''"' ''""•^n.^ation. ,„„, in,r,.as,.d

»'"! •l.-i.' .lis-ipl..,, Uy 'onnd, ,d "":^'""n'i<..s ,.,• „.,,,„,. ' " ' V-^r .,.|y j,, „„. ,,„„,,„,,

S'-- , ^' -i-iy. T:^^c:r7 "'" '•"" -':'-.. :..;•;::; ;"", ""• "'"^ ^'-^•

'^"'•," ' -'«•<'-- .■-.....way H|,,v , ' ■"'";"'■>'• K"v.Tnn.n„ and .In . """"'■" ""• '"'"•"'''

«■<-" 'I.-..- I.idin, ,d,„... as ,1.0 1^ '''''•^''^'''•'' ''nh..irn.ntr, r^ r

""•'''""•'> I "leven «,.n, ,„L," . ' """^"'"- fro... dr.w.d of /,. '''''•^' '^'^''' ''"''> •'•'•'"'i'<l..''l. partly

«'"l...>l. rnv,| i,„. „, """" '^^'"''. «"<l from thi. i;' ''"'""■'"'" """-^io-mries were „„,h.r ,," •

"" '^"" ='""• • '"'y 'J'"n contrived ,u so. firo i' """'' '" "" " ''""'"'' '''"''

113

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

'ill

HOPE, ON THE CORENTYN.

It has been already stated, that a tract of land on
the Corentyn was granted to the United Brethren, at
the same time that a settlement was obtained on the
Sarameca. To this station the excellent and indefat-
igable missionary L. C. Daehne went, in April, 1757,
accompanied by a few Indians, who assisted him in
erecting a hut, and clearing a small piece of ground.
In a short time, however, they all forsook him, and
lie was left alone in a dreary wilderness, the haunt of
tigers, serpents, and venomous reptiles. Here, how-
ever, he resolved to remain, in the hope of being
made instrumental to the conversion of some of the
Indians ; though such as occasionally passed his lonely
dwelling, assured him that some of their countrymen
would kill him ; and the soldiers in the Fort sent
to warn him of his danger, and to invite him to place
himself beneath their protection.

" In the month of November," says tliis intrepid
and devoted herald of the cross, "the Caribbee In-
dians resolved to put their threats against me into
execution ; and one day, as I sat at dinner, about fifty
of them arrived in canoes, and surrounded my hut.
This was, indeed, a frightful sight ; some of them
being armed with swords, and others with tomahawks.
I immediately went out to them, however, and, in
the Arawak language, bade them welcome. They
answered, in a surly tone, that I should speak the
Caribbee language ; but I assured tlicm that I did not
understand it. After talking with each other some
time, they asked me, through the medium of their
Arawak interpreter, who had given me permission to
build on their land ; and, on hearing that 1 had acted
by the authority of the governor, they asked what
views I had in coming hither. I then wont up to
their chief, and said, ' My brethren, on the other side
of the great ocean, having heard that there are many
Indians on this river who are ignorant of their Creator,
have .sent me hither, to tell you of your Creator's
love, and what he has done for the salvation of your
souls.' After inquiring whether I was a Frenrhiimn
or a Dutchman, he asked if I had never heard that
the Indians intended to kill me ? I replied, ' Yes, but
I cannot believe it, for some of your nation have lived
with mo, and they can tell you that I am a real friend
of the Indians.' He replied that he had heard so, and
had also been informed that I was a dillbrcnl sort of
Christian from the generality of the white people. I
then said. ' I am your friend ; how is it that vou have
romc to kill me ?' He answered, ' We h.ive done
wrong ;' and upon his saying this, every countenance
•oeme.l altered, and the parly dispersed. The chief.

however, remained some time with me, and inquired
whether other people would come to live here. And
when I assured him that none but my brethren would
come, he appeared pleased, and behaved very kindly.
When he was going away, I asked for some of the
cassabi which I perceived in his pouch, observing that
his people could easily procure more, and I was here
alone and in want. He immediately gave me some
cassabi and fish, and then took leave, with an assurance
that he would often come to see me. Thus my
Saviour delivered me from my foes, and preserve^ me
amidst great dangers ; so that, at the close of the year,
I had constraining cause to thank and adore him."

Besides the danger to which he was exposed from
the pagan Indians, this devoted missionary was also in
inuninent peril of his life from the serpents and wild
beasts, by which his solitary abode was surrounded ;
as appears from the following particulars, narrated by
himself, and published in the " Periodical Accounts
relating to the Missions of the United Brethren."—
I' One evening, being unwell, and going to lie down
in my hammock, I perceived a large serpent descend-
ing upon me from a shelf near the roof of my hut.
In the scuffle which ensued, the creature stung or bit
me two or three times, and, pursuing me closely,
twined itself round my head and neck. Supposing
that this would be the occasion of my death, I wrote with
chalk upon the table, ' A serpent has killed me ;' lest
my brethren should charge the Indians with the deed.
Suddenly, however, that promise of our Saviour was
impressed upon my mind, ' They shall take up ser-
pents, and it shall not hurt them.' And, seizing the
reptile with great force, I tore it loose, and flung it out
of tiie hut. I then laid down to rest, in the neace
of God. '

"There was also n tiger, which, for a long time, kept
near my hut, watching an opportunity, perhaps, to
seize upon its inhabitant. He roared drea.lfully e cry
evening ; and, though I invariably kindled a large fire
before I went to bed, it fre.|uently went out, and
would have proved but a j)oor defence, if the Lord
had not protected me."

In addition to these perils, and the excruriiiling an-
guish wliirh he sometimes endured from the stings of
the black ants, whilst gathering wood for fuel, Daehne
freriuently sulfered severely from hunger, and often
arose in the morning without knowing whether he
shoidd taste a nmrsel of food during the wholi. day.
In this extremity, however, some Indians were gener-
ally led by Divine l»rovidence to visit him, and to re-
lieve his prc-oing wants by sharing with him their lit-
tle portion of cassabi ; and, in some instances, when
ho was completely exhausted uith labor, they kindly
assisted in clearing the groiuid Some of the Warau

SOUTH AMERICA

Indian, indeed, lisuned «lMnlivelv tn il. .1 j j.
"hioh ho „, .„i„„, ,„ com^„i"f !„«',''' ""''"S;

l» ™ chee„J u„de, hi, he.vie,, X.'r'rd

uuuis , as, in addition to the r nafnral ^.„ j r
approaching the habitation of a Lk 1 °^

=SdXirrrrF°=--

iia

that many of ,ho snmJr . l "^ "^ «"«'C'patio„
Many of those- ln.li,.„„ who had heon f„„nerlv r«

fiehls ,„ ,ho n..i^hborhoo,l ; and iho„.l .1 ax

this place ""ea.witii the missionaries at

'orB to ,„i, ,h, sem,n,e« „ „„™ L „d , °°"

i'nrLz:;s:ttr ^ - - ^- *

/ ujiuii me public services, thev d!H «„. i
t'-eir appearance in the church for .vei Td "'
months together. Manv of ti, • I , ^^ ®^^"

indifferent to what xuTujL ' " .^^f^^ ''PP--'' ««

VOL. I._JV„,. y 8, ,„ ^^ II And the following year, during the war between Great

the throne of grace "Wh;;' K ' . "^ before

j»,ified.„,.hr.:t;,t'2iS.:„7;"jrS

ur«c ol ]7,).), „ cnnlaiiiod „|™,rd, „f „ |.„„j j .
««y ml,.l,„.,„,,, „„, „,,„ „„ , 2 b"'^

of 1 .0 Indm,,,, „cro i„ i„„„i„i„„ ,| „, ,",.'"

'" . ™.k ..i,id, h.d Won f.„„„„rf ,„ „„ 1,7,;";;

forward, ,„ ,|,o „,,,,„ ,,„„ „f „,„ ,„„. ^ ■ »'

:: '"; ",'"" ""■>:■ """"i "ini" i-™. .ho; ,■ i

114

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

■fffr

Britain and Holland, Mr. Kluge had the misfortune,
whilst returning from Paramaribo in the vessel belong-
ing to the missionaries, to be captured by an English
privateer, plundered of all his stores, and carried to
Berbice, then occupied by a British force. Here he
was attacked with a violent fit of sickness ; but, by the
kind attentions of the persons with wliom he lodged,
his healtli was restored, and he was afterwards
permitted to ransom his vessel, and to return to the
Corentyn.

The settlement of Hope had been visited, in the
mean time, by a number of the Indians of the Warau
tribe ; and, notwithstanding the peculiar profligacy of
their character, and the supposed limitation of their
mental rapacities, several of them were powerfully
impressed with the truths of the gospel, and in tho
course of the year 1796, thirty-six of their number
came to reside with the brethren, with a view to the
benefit of tlieir religious instructions. Many of the
heathen were also led to tiiis station from different
parts, imploring advice and assistance, in consequence
of an epidemical disease which prevailed about tiiis
tmie ; and the missionaries gladly availed themselves
of so favorable an opportunity of recommending Chris-
tianity as tiie only effectual antidote against the fear
of death.

During tiie years 1797 and 1798, a scarcity pre-
vailed in the country little short of J.solute famine, in
consequence of the plantations having been nearly
destroyed by a prodigious swarm of large ants ; and
such terror was excited by a reported commencement
of hostilities between some of the Indian tribes, that
upwards of two hundred fugitives, including Arawaks
and Waraus, took refuge among the brethren. By
tiie good providence of God, however, both the mis-
sionaries and tlieir flock w( ,■ preserved in the season
of deartii ; and, though the savages did not appear to
derive any benefit during their residence at Hope, the
settlement was improved by their labors ; as they cheer-
fully assisted in clearing the ground in the vicinity, for
tbe purposes of building and for plaiiiutions.

Towards tho close of I7»!>, the numbir of persons
residing with the missionaries at this station amounted
to nearly three hundred ; but within the spare of a
few years, partly in (M)nse(picnc(' of the ravages pro-
duced by the small-pox, and partly owing to the roving
disposition of the Indians, the population was materi-
ally reduced, and in Dcrember, IH(H. it only nmsistcd
of one hundred and forty-six individuals. A consider-
able number of baptized persons, however, were living
scattered among the wood.<i,

In tho month of August, ISOfi, tho entire seltlo-
ment, comprising the church, the mission-house, and
«11 the Indian huts, was destroyed by (iro ; tho flamos

running along the thatched roofs with such impetuous
fury that it was utterly impracticable to arrest their
progress. The fire, which was supposed to have
been kindled by incendiaries, broke out in the after-
noon, whilst the missionaries were taking some refresh-
ment ; and, together with the buildings, destroyed all
the implements of gardening and husbandry, the stores
of the Indians, the tacklo and rigging of the large
boat, and various other articles. Providentially, how-
ever, the brethren succeeded in saving a quantity of
gunpowder, two barrels of flour, the greater part of
their clothes, and their books and manuscripts. They
also felt peculiarly grateful that no individual sustained
any personal injury.

This awful catastrophe was soon afterwards suc-
ceeded by an epidemic disorder, which swept off most,
if not all, of those Indians whose hearts had been
savingly changed by the power of divine grace, and
whose deportment was consistent with the doctrinesof
the gospel. These expired with a satisfactory convic-
tion that he in whom they had believed would receive
their souls unto himself, and raise up their bodies at
the last day ; but, after tlnu removal, the survivors
became so refractory and dissolute, and even evinced
such a spirit of enmity against the gospel, that, in 1808,
the brethren were under the painful necessity of quit-
ting a station where there was no longer any appear-
ance of their labors being crowned with success.

About four years afterward the mission was renewed
at a place about three miles distant from the site of
the former settlement, by Messrs. Genth and Hafa,
who had recently arrived in Surinam ; and two or
three families took up their abode with them, whilst
about thirty baptized Indians resided within a short
distance. As no particular success intended their la-
bors on this spot, however, the brethren removed, in
1817, with five of the Arawaks, to a station on the river
Neukeer, with the hope of proving instrumental to the
conversion of the negroes on the adjacent plantations ;
but even this anticipation seems to have been disap-
iminted, and the station was ultimately relinquished.

BAMBEY, ON THE SARAMECA.

The goveniorof Surinam, having concluded a peace,
in I7(M, with the Bush nei^roes on the river Sarameca,
felt extremely anxious thai .some measures might be
adopted with a view to the melioration of the charac-
ter of that ferocious race, whoso cruelties and dejire-
ilaiions, in lime past, had proved so alarming and inju-
rious to the colonists ; and, as ho judiciously considered
llml nothing was so likely to accomplish this dcsirablo

object as their conversion to P l.ri..;- •• l
the United Brethren trt.ejfo ."""^^^V^''''^^'^''
mission among then, S n T"''''''""^"' "^ '^
S.011, were acfordi„l sfn "i ^'"''ri '''''''' '"'«'
the month of DecemberT7«^ T ^"^"'"ibo in

they were pres:::T:'Z%t%T'' ^"^^"''
the agent of eovernmpnr u "'^ "^S'""^^ hy

Jectof%heirvisra?d„h . u^'P''^"'*' "'« ''^■
•nent they migh trecetf 7'^''' t'' ^''«*^^«' ''««»-
plied to Wmself. "'' '" ^'•''"''' '=°"«'der as if ap-

into the world of sn^r^f .""''""' '"">™"ed

loss in the death of on of th/Th^r '""'''''• "^^^^
who had erected a smal ho efoJ't'""'' ^'''"•'

the brethren had acndled ITJ C"f ' ""^ ^^■''^"
«he lang,.age, they bl'to exn ^"""^ .^"""'"''^^ "'^
of the village the imnortam 7^ ? "'« inhabitants
them from a di ta^ nart '^'^ ""^ '""^ '^'""S*''
plaining the wa^ o aCi^nTZ'^'n'T '''"' °'' -"
Creator and Redeem of J r''^'""'^ ^^'-»' ''-
rl.o^ .i.„ :. , . ' "1 man. 1 his, however, ex

SOUTH AMERICA.

115

pts:svt:r;rpLr"m^r"i' -'-'' - ^-

tucJe to withstanVrere„a^:o'f"h'' '"' '''^ '■°«'-
to despise the vengeance of h •'/.""'"'^""'' ""''
he avowed his convLl^ of h '/t' T^" ''«''°'«
tian religion. As aTrn.? r k '""'' "'^ »''« Chris-
dote has'been related in th P^''' ^""""''"S «"««-
the Missions of he UniteS^ T'"'' ^*'^°"'"« ^^
the arrival of the missY"n ' 7'^''" '-" ^'^^ "^er
Clare that the idlTftl ,"'' i''''"^ ''^^'^ ^^em de-
nor injure them e Im '" '°"'^ "^"^er help

where' the cr^^e or all" """"^ ''^ »''« riveJ
ered as the g^d of the vH ' T' T''"'' "''^ «°"«'d-
on discovering tlcrtjrfh!' 1' '" ''^""' ^ «"d.
his loaded gu^ in his a„ 'to th^ oT"' ' ^'^^''^'"«
' I intend to shoot thee Jfiw i? h " '"^ ''^^''' ••-
bullet will do thee no harm l'./ 7 "' " '"'' '"^
creature, it will kill thee.' He 1 e„ ted '"J.""''^ '
and shot the animal dead." ^'^ ^'^ P'^^^^'

chapel ; but toulT h" c '; IZ "°"^^' .--«'<^ «

they were under the nece sTtv of '"'"'"^ y^"'

negroes lower do.vn the n 7to /T^'l""'' ""

T"r7 """ "eaeemer of man Th.ck """*' I called fiamAcy. HerPl.„, ' ^, P'"^« which they

cted the jealousy of .he idol ,"iesl 'rf''"":'^''-' "- --^ hardship , and wh^^rr"'.''''^ '''' ^° ^"''"''^

who, perceiving that their diabold, ^ ^'""^.'^^««« 5 indifference whicSthe n^ ^'^ '^'"^'^ '"S^^"'''' the

over the loss of those whn L "''^"''ntly to mourn

cessively fell victims to ,i '„ """'ng, but who sue-
were sefzed aft^ tlir arri t:, ''"''' """ ""'■^" 'hey

wi^i^^;:::: r 'i„i;rTr'""^ ^'f'

l"m,was.effarr:;i!r!«'r-^'^«o-e-

who,^;^™i^^^;"'pHests and priest;;;

ger of subversfoi "e 1 Ifd ;r r-^ ''^'^ '" '^-
countrymenthat .LirdS Imk r r;P^'-^"""«"«
with any who should d re ,o "^'''^ '"'^"^'''^

•he whi.e people. Some f l^ZJ: ^'^ «-' «''
s'rous that ,he missionaries sho dd . ' ""'''" ''•'■

but as Arabim the , "^'."h""!'! be p„t ,o death ;

taken them me' h." "'^ "^^^^^ ^' Abini, had'
proper to attack tl"m ^ "'""' "° ''"'' 'hought

Pieceoflandintlev fni.t' "? ?"'"' "" " -'»»
from ,he I,„„,boo can /,;' [''/'"r"''"' '?"'"'"''
•heir friend Arahini b, i ' , 'T^"""''^"'- '^cre

•h-h.c.nnesofXXcln7L':r''':^"'^"-^
deep impression on L m , i 1 ^ ",: '"''"' ''""'° "
sentiments among hisrou, '^ *'"""'^'' hi^

'"•luoed u> attend tlle^r^'!';?'-"'^ -horn wore

won'cn would expose he "'' 7'' """^' "'' 'he

'heir ...d. ,y suei; an no; .T,;:.;;;;;'"' ^•^"^"""- -^

.r^nc;:;;;:'':;^i;;j;;;;;;^^th/bre.,.renh„.,.ho

'he dn.rch by ^iTZj , *"'" '^^■"•■"' ^rabini into

nn.l thoroughly sa.isHedof ,ir'n!I'J'7;'''^ ''™" '""«

'« f-d; nn.l, hey naturally o^:^^^
cious circumstance that il.n ""*^""' " «" '"' nuspi.
tl'e nation shnnul '"! "'V""^' ■•e^pectahle chief of
'"■""'' '° °" «f'eiirst-rruit of their la

cecd him was Ief7 r """' "Pl'^'^'^d to

B-bey.i::,;::;;::^'^-'x-^-onths.at

friends nor a. end m'S^ 7'""'' '"""«"'''''-••

" -no.,. pitiaWe Ln T l'' " "'"'^ """•"'""'^ '"

hi^ Redeemer, ho ev " wa?. n"T- """='"■"' ''^'^ "^

position of liZ PI '^'^ '"'''""'' '''"'■"'^''-
I ■ "I ivnmo I'rovidence on his l>„i,„if

" -T p,.ut.- to tiie j.luntations in the woods On
one occasion, whilst she was absent, he oServod"

116

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

after passing a most restless night, that an immense
swarm of ants had penetrated through the roof, and
were rapidly spreading themselves over the interior of
liis chamber. In a short time they approached his bed,
and by degrees covered his body, entering into his
sores and causing the most intolerable pain. After a
short time, however, they quitted him, and resumed
ti)eir march ; and from that time he gradually recov-
ered his health.

Though, in consequence of the influence of their idol
priestesses, the female negroes had, for a series of
years, peremptorily refused to come under the sound
of the gospel, the superstition of a few at length began
to give way ; and in the year 1780, the wife of Ara-
bini and two other women were baptized, together
with three men and two children. Indeed, a consid-
erable change appears to have been wrought, about
this time, in tiie sentiments of sonic of the heathen,
among whom the converted chief labored most assidu-
ously, in attempting to awaken their attention to the
things connected with their everlasting peace.

In 1785, the roving disposition of the negroes
induced them to remove to the moutl. of the Wara
Creek, and the missionaries were consequently obliged
to fix on another settlement, to which they cave the
name ofNew Bambey. Here two circumst , ■ g oc-
curred which evinced that though the generality of
the negroes had no desire to embrace the truths of the
gospel, they wore, in some degree, open to conviction,
with regard to the exposure of their foolish and cruel
superstitions. On the demise of one of Arabini's fe-
male relatives, who had been the priestess of an idol,
the believing chief considered it his duty to prohibit
the observance of any pagan rites at her funeral. In
his absence, however, the heathen sorcerers pretended
that the corpse would bo immovable till the person
should be discovered who hod occasioned her death.
They were accordingly proceeding to institute this
inquiry, and would, no doubt, have soon fixed on some
unfortunate creature, who must have suffered exami-
nation by torture and subsequent iiniiiolaiion for an im-
aginary crime; but, at this criticnl juncture, Arabini
arrived, and confounded the idolatrous priests by
showing the assembled negroes with what facility the
body might be removed.

The other instance occurred in 1791, when a
woman pretended that she had repeatedly dreamed of
a certain man coming to her with a firebrand in his
hand ; winch she considered as an infallible token that
he possessed the art of mixing poison, for the destruc-
tion of the negroes, and consequently ought to be
commute.! to the flames. A council was accordingly
summoned to decide the fate of the accused person,
and the consequences might Invo proved fatal, hud

not Arabini, in his official capacity, presided at the
consultation. He, however, providentially succeeded
in rescuing the intended victim firom destruction, by
pointiiig out the absurdity and injustice of condemning
an individual upon no other evidence than the dreams
of a distempered imagination.

Subsequently to this period the gospel seemed to
make some progress in the highlands, or upper coun-
try ; and it was remarked by the brethren, that in
those villages where the sorcerers had formerly exer-
cised the most commanding influence, the deepest
impressions were now made by the promulgation of
divine truth. It seems, however, after all the sacri-
fices of the missionaries, in respect of labor, suffering,
and even life itself, that the whole number of negroes
who had been baptized by them, from their first
entrance into the country to the commencement of the
nineteenth century, amounted only to fifty-nine ; and
at that period, no more than forty-nine persons, includ-
ing catechumens, belonged to the congregation.

During some succeeding years, nothing occurred
particularly worthy of relation ; but in 1810, a.refrac-
tory spirit began to appear among many of the
negroes, \vlio, by a host of Satanic emissaries, were
alike excited against the brethren and the colonial
government : and, about three years afterward, a vari-
ety of circumstances occasioned the relinquishment of
a mission which had recently become exceedingly
burdensome in point of expense, whilst its general
aspect was more and more discouraging.

PARAMARIBO.

When the United Brethren first visited the shores
of South America, as the harbingers of redeeming love,
the religious instruction of the slaves in this colony
formed one part of their benevolent designs. In con-
sequence of the circulation of some base and calum-
nious reports, however, the inhabitants were strongly
prejudiced against them, and even the admission of
their neighbors, at the time of family devotion, was
prohibited by the governor. From these circum-
stances it might have bo( ii supposed that no good could
have been effected in the cai>ilal of Surinam ; hut
whilst the doors of the brethren were closed by
authority against those who might have been inclined
to listen occasionally to " the truth as it is in Jesus,"
Christopher Kersten (nid a few of his friends, who
engaged in business in Paramaribo, .mliraccd every
opportunity of communicating instrur unn if) the negroes
whom they hired as journeymen ; asui, after a lapse of
time, they had not only the sali-^faciiou of perceiving

from the European setT. ^ ' f "^ "PP°^'''«"
arrival of .J! ' ""'^ **" "'« subsequent

ererdi/xTeirtiororr^' ^ ^""^^''^-^

considerable nu.nb rs Tked tT T^'^' ""'^
which, in „,any instancenvl ' " ^^'P*^''

mulMd from™" ommb ?° '","'"'' '"''S'™ I"-!

fm .1.0 reader „., be convince.l, byrpcLuf '.'

r.ltCpi::i'tvfr.7r '•''"-' ■" '>"

Christianity A nlhl f fT' "^ ''"'' '""'^^aced
also necels'arily ered -t "o ?" T^^''^^ ^^"^
or ...ese were^diveZ;th:re::t!;r t^^^^^
governor perceived that a female slave 11.0"^
formerly celebrated for her skill in 7' ^'"'"

had lately joined the ct 7 ""'"'S' ''"' ^^''o

a...l evidc^uiy 'il'^re:^:^' ^*""" "'"'"■'
In order to try her since .v," re T'' ''''^'■"^•
into conversation with h^' ■"''*'' '"' ''"""■'"I
n.eamn« ; i;^^::;^P--'''-'ojoinin

"oration forherclpZ e Sledrr',": " "'""■
sal, however, with re nec^f,,! f '''""'' ''"'^ P'-"P«-
•o himself wleMo 'fiP"'"^' '^™"''«''. ""'i appealed

goven,or replied in a frielyTne.Y "'"""''r ""

On another occasion •iv-r> f~ « »

"" ' "^° ^'■•'""'c slaves, who had

SOUTH AMERICA.

117

been united to the church of the breth«
mended by their mistress to pe form !!' ''''''°'"-
tncks for her amusement ; ^d oTtheT "'^^'■°'"»»''=
the impossibility of obev;^„ i, " ^presenting

had ma'de a solemn renuStH^^^^^^^^^ "''^^ '''«'
she threatened them wir H ! '""P^''''"'°"«.

-hment. Regard^ T L ^ """'' 'f '"P'^'^ ?"«-
not only persisted in th. ■"'"'' ''°^^^«^' 'hey

gaveeach other .si .T'"'"''°"« '^^^^^^ but
-it to the s vere^t s Z„' ''^'''^^ "'^>' ^-'d'sub- •
-her than dish^tTar; ^r^^ef '' ''1^'
engagmg in the abominable practices of ..f?'? ^^
Another remarkable instan^ce of plus /or;-. T''''"-'
manifested in the conduct of I T '°""»de was
sixteen years of a.e ilts "''"'' ^°""'' »hout

Jewish rdigion\vS'so WhT'''''' "'^ P^"^^^^^'^ 'he
his admissfon 'i To letirTcr ''^''""^ °^
threatened to have him h T J ^''™'' '''^t he

" T^a," replit^hel rgtusTaV^r'^ '^^ "
but it is not in your power to !„' ^°" """^ '^^ '
Lord Jesus, or fo deprive me oH^'" "' '?"" ''''
hath imparted to my soul" Pro / ^"?f '''^''=*' ^«
boy found a friend Tnd p otect^r " r'""^ "'" P°°'
prevented the Jew from';^:; -srerS '^'^
eut^andtooktheyLglnvetr^r'Sr^-

Bn^^lnrHriLritr'r T' •^^'^-" «-

beenrevolutioniSb; he F'e:c''"t7 """-'^ '"'^
at Paramaribo were pVcTd in r ' ' ""^^""'''"es

faction to perceive, hive ; th! 7hi:t;'^T'■
were increasingly blessed to he convS ionTnd
vers.on of immortal souls ; and in the yTarieoo .hrt

Nothing particular seems tohave transpired forseve
•I years m the history of this missi,^. ; ZTTs
pleasmg to state, the work of the Lord c^nUn ed to
prosper, and, though painful occurrences ZZLl,
happened ,n respect to the seduction or falling ^y
of some of the converts, the n.issionaries had abun^
dant cause of thankfulness, for the general con is encJ
nd p.ety which prevailed among their memb s „nj

andoftheHa.;.^^;.:^:-;!^^;;^^^

118

dialect of the negroes, was also productive of the best
effects, in exciting both children and adults to learn to
read ; and a generous donation of Dutch Bibles and
restanients from the British and Foreign Bible Socie-
ty, enabled many to peruse at leisure those blessed
truths which they had previously heard from the lips
of their teachers. ^

On the 21st of January, 1821, a dreadful confla-
gration took place at Paramaribo, which threatened
complete destruction to the missionary settlement in
that city. Respecting this awful calamity, the breth-
ren observe, in one of their communications, " Be-
tween one and two o'clock in the afternoon, we were
alarmed by the cry of Jirc, and saw an immense vol-
ume of smoke ascending from the east end of the city
Ihe wmd blowing violently from the north-east, with
a clear sky, the conflagration spread with great rapid-
ity, and no resistance could be made, as all the houses
were bu.lt of wood, and the fire engines were out of
order. About midnight, the most beautiful part of
the city was laid in ashes, and both the Lutheran and
Roman Catholic churches had become a prey to the
flames Amidst these terrific scenes we assembled in our
church, and cried unto the Lord in fervent prayer to
save us and our neighbors from destruction. We then
worked hard all night, ,o remove as many of our goods
as possible, bemg zealously assisted by many negroes
belonging to our congregation. Meanwhile the ragine
flames approached nearer and nearer to the missL-
hous^c, and on the 22d, in the morning, they had seized
the houses opposite to us, the wind driving them with
violence tou-ards our premises. A flake of fire falling
on the shingle roof of an outhouse at this moment, it
began already to kindle ; but just then the wind ceas;d,
the fire began to subside, and our dwellings were.nei-
cifu l>' preserved. In our evening worship we return-
ed hnks to that God who alone could and did save
us m the l.ourof danger; and we repeated our thanks-
Srr °" "" '■°"°^^'"« Sunday, in the public service,
winch was very numerously attended.

dred h.n r "'"" 'r^'"^-''"'"- '•«"«. «l>ove four hun-
dred buildings, each comprising three or four .Iwcii-
y, will, outhouses, have been consumed. Many of
our negro brothers and sisters have lost both their
.ouses and all their goods. We have not heard, ho
ever that any of them have lost their lives, thought
.s said , a. many others have perished in the flamts.''
Ihe Rev. J. D. Lutze, in a letter dated May 20,
1 82 observes,-.. As to our mission, the consecp.ence

tin 1. .7 1 .;■""""" ''"^'^ ''^^" ■•""- -'"'-y

about the concerns of their souls, have been led to
seno^ reflection ; and those who believe at all in he
l.ro,.dence of a just and righteous God, consider it as

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

a chastisement received at his hands. The night be-

ore t^, event took place was spent in the 3'rit

ous and outrageous manner, with all kinds of heathen-

.sh games and dancing, as an aft.r celebration of the

^^ZIT f 77^-'- The streets were thronged
with pepple of all descriptions ; the brightness of The
moon favored their purpose; and the uproar, with
shouting, singing, and knocking violently al the doors
of quiet people, was really dreadful. On the follow-
ng Sunday, when our church was crowded with atten-
t.ve hearers, brother Genth, in his sermon, adverted
to the behavior of the populace on that night, andTb-
served that It precisely resembled that of'th; people

slyedTy te.^""°"''''' '^'°'^ ''''' '"'^ "^ '-
" At the end of the year 1820. the congregation at
Paramaribo consisted of nine hundred and'sixV-n"ne
persons, including seven hundred and twenty-two com!
."umcants. ninety-three baptized adults not yetl
n.itte.1 to the Lord's table, and one hundred and fifty,
four baptized children. Besides these there are foy.
eight candidates for baptism ; seventy-two new people
belonging to us. and sixty-five at Fairfield estate
making a total of eleven hundred and fifty-four negroes
under our care." ^ "egroes

In a subsequent communication from the missiona-
nes, reccved at Hervnhut in 1822, they state thatthe
anniversary of the late dreadful visitation had bee.!
observed by them as a day of public thanksgivLg
and tha the general emotion which seemed to prevfi
among the assembled negroes, excited the hope tha
a salutary impression had been made upon their hearts
by the review of past mercies. The; also observe,
a a most remarkable fact, that on the day alluded to
and almost at the same hour in which the conflagra-
t.on burst out .n 1821, they were again alarmed by
he ery of fire. The flames were, in fact, issuing from
an apothecary's shop at no great distance, Ihich
hreatened to mvolve the brethren once more in the
d epcst distress ; but by the exertions of the citizens
they were happily extinguished, before they had oc-
casioned any considerable damage

Intelligence from Paramaribo is contained in a letter
dated March 1, 1824, in which the Rev. W. C. Genth
writes to thefollowing effect :_.. Last year an epidem-
.cal disorder prevailed in this colony, attendell with
a convulsive kind of cough, fever, and. in some in-
stances, with spitting of blood. It was introduced
from Cayenne, and seemed to proceed alon« the coast
from the eastward, nor did it spare the Indians and
Hush negroes. In this city we fared pnmy well, though
many of the negroes were attacked by it ; and dur-
•ng IIS continuance, we were obliged to suspend our
evening meetings, as very few persons could come out,

and the streets were almost deserted Fv» r
had subsided, many nersnn, , ^^"^ "'^'^r 't

lignanc fevers. ^ ^ ""' ^'"' ^""^^ off by ma

i"gJeh;t;ri:at£;"^^p--^«.-'htheb,ess-

we experience that he'rwitZr^r**'' •^""^•'' ^^^
of the word of reconri L^ V'"'^*''"'"^"'«P«^ver

the hearts oJ t ^heare T n ^' ""'^ "«"'f^^' ■"
seventy-six adu ts Ta ^"""^ "'« last year,

added ^to thetlhty th7r 'f b^'''^^^" '--
whole number of our neL • "P"""" ^Jie

of 1823, amounted o one .'""'■'T'*'"' "' *^« <'l-«
of whom seven rltdl tS;!^!' •^'^"'^^-"- '
cants; one hundred and thltvvT '■'.'°"""""'-
yet admitted to the communn^ >'"'"''' ^"' "«'
ninety-two baptized Sr = ""';" ^ '!""''-^ -^
are one hundred and fif v olW/ /' "'"'"' »''«'•«
new people under instSrir '''P''^'"' «-'
hundred and thirty-nine pe'onTTr '"''' "^ '^^'^'^^
hundred and twenty-one n"oes ^'j" ''.'•««•- one
on the plantations of Fairfield R,' . ^^'"^ '° "^'
hoop, where we are at fi! I n ' ^'>"'''«0P' ""d Afoll-
the course of the "a 823 f^ ''^ P''^''^''' ^"^^ '"
baptized on these estls ' '''"'''" P^"''- --«

us 'n^ra^d^s 't;i?rr ^- -s-s visit

ago, and expressed alt ^ 'd: ire foTre^- ' "" '°"«
tion. Thevannpnrn^ .^uesire tor religious mstruc-

tion and fSiT^ChrST ' "" ^-'— vic-

worthy man among tZ'uT'." ''"''''''' ""'^
taught to read and J 1 ' 5 u"'" ^'■'''"■*^" '""""^'-'y
-tion are confolX'-^/t^--''^ and convert

Christian fellowshin amnnl Vi V ^ P^'' niaintains

li«b H.,„„a„ received .l!ir?* ""'"' ••"""■ ««-
Surinam. '" '° "'™ "» 'I'""!!, in

■lay was I. ;„;::::: r''""'","'''"- "■«

Mn.ro|.a.io„ A ...T '"lemnily by a large

'I- in X, i»d ' :: xr.;:,"; "■ "t """»-'•

llicywere i»„oranl F,™,l, i . ^ Ihein, „l,en

SOUTH AMERICA.

119

truiit;t;xr ^^"-^ ''-^^-'' ^-^^ -

the captains of Dutch and a!"'""''''""^'^*^''^"'"

in the port. A large chandelr " "''''^' ^' ^°<=ho'

ident merchant fo te tf "'h '''^'"'^' ">' ^ '«-

the Dutch inscription on t<. To 1""-*^'"'^''' '^«''
of God." ' -^o the praise and glory

to ^^^^^'':''Xt^^^^ had the pleasure

general disposition of the h^ "'^'■°"'' ""^^ the
teresting. ^''^ ''^"^''^ ^as devout and i„.

detdleratLmtnhTm-'-''™' '"^'^''^"'^l S-es a
^v'neh its objects a:eto:;;iri'^« — r in

given uTitj;-^?;:;;:-^"'^' "1 •'^^ h-

doors have also beeroLn.H r^'T '"'' "^^^^ ^^^
gospel into many p ;„SS! °', •''' '"'"•^"'^^ °^ «''o
^vhich are regufaJ^vS W T Tr^' '""" °^
we give to the negroes is rbl«fl ^ instruction

give you an idea^n :e 'vt L VX^"''""" '"«
we first wait for an invitation from ,t ""'"""" *'""
attorney, who may express^! T .1 I^-oP^etor or
struct their negroei:in ZZZ^^:^ ^IfT"''' '"'
ticable for us to attend to th^Ir '^ 'tisprac

days are appointed on the tl.e '^""t"".' " '^^
meet the negroes As »II » , ' " "''"*''' '^'^ may
by water, a LSoat (Lt So' is ''^7-^-^
s<x negroes as rowers bSZ^ ? '"P'°>'^^' ^''b
the missionary from one .f? ^elms-man, to bring

'be fifteen pla^ntZ^n tourc: ^ tZ ^° ^'f ''
sionary for three weeks a, H,„ ? ' ^"P'oys a mis-
different rivers and cre;k3 „d" '''' ''' ^""^^^'^ °»
tance from each other Th I ' ^^''^'^'-able dis-
Boehmer make Lse vovn , '"''■'" ^'"S' "nd
Paramaribo for that nurnr' alternately, and leave

tlieir eondilion TlL ,1 , T ''"»""«W« P«« of

tTons Jf r'! "T'^ •'" "'^ «bove-mentioned pW
t'ons. Here m this city, many persons have^ been
e negro consmirntinn • if tan-, . ,
-'ghty-four adults and fifty-seven cJ.ildrea

dred

130

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

were baptized, and our congregation numbers one
thousand four hundred and seventy-two baptized per-
sons, among whom eight hundred and eighty-eight are
communicants. To these may be added four hundred
and twenty-four new people and candidates for baptism;
in all, two thousand and forty-three negroes under our
care. The preaching of the gospel in our mission ch;!rr>
is attended by a great number of persons of all colors , aud
is made by the spirit of God life and power uoto many
hearts. We, who are weak instruments in the hand of the
Lord, have been enabled to carry on our work uninter-
ruptedly and in health. The schools with our negro chil-
dren have been held with success, and many have been
taught to read the Scriptures in their own language."
In consequence of the prosperous state of the mis-
sion in Surinam, the directors called Mr. Bute to its
service, who, with his wife and child, embarked for
Paramaribo from Gloucester, in Massachusetts. They
arrived at their station on the 25th of May. In 18.30,
the congregation consisted of nearly one thousand
eight hundred members; and Mr. Gen th, who had
made a journey of nineteen days, and visited thirteen
plantations, found much to encourage him in his work
of faith and labor of love.

SOMMELSDYKE.

The laudable aud unremitting exertions of the mis-
sionaries at Paramaribo, in attempting to extend the
blessings of the gospel to the negroes employed
on the plantations in different parts of the colony,
were attentively observed and duly appreciated by
government: and, in 1785, they received the grant of
a tract of land, comprising about fifty acres, on the
banks of the Comniewyne, and near the site of an old
fortification called Sommehdyke.

Much time and money were necessarily expended
in clearing and draining this district, the whole being
a complete swamp, thickly covered with brush-wood ;
and the first two missionaries, Messrs. Haidt and
Clausen, who went thither in the spring of 1786, fell
victims to the unwholesomeness of the situation in the
course of a few weeks. Other devoted men of God,
however, were found to supply their places, and their
faithful ministration was so eminently owned and bless-
ed, that a considerable number of negroes flocked
from the ci'^umjacent estates to hear the word of the
cross ; and before the expiration of the year, there
were not only about n hundred and fifty catechumens
under regular instruction, but upwards of forty per-
sons had been admitted into the church by the sacred
rite ot baotism.

But whilst the brethren were affectionately directing
their sable auditors to the Lord Jesus Christ, as the
only medium of salvation, a formidable obstacle was
thrown in the way of their work by several of the
planters ; some of whom considered all attempts to
evangelize the heathen as superfluous and useless ;
V.' ' t others desired that, if instruction were given to
lii' , iisives, the missionaries should visit tliem on their
;: ,.ective estates ; as there was no way to Sommels-
dyke but by water, and a boat could not always be
procured for their conveyance. A circumstance also
occurred in the month of March, 1788, which was
calculated to increase these difficulties, and to check
the progress of the mission.

Twelvfi ni',;ri^ \, ic on and one man, who longed,
like the sweet singer of Israel, to appear in the courts
of the Lord, having one day obtained permission to visit
Sommelsdyke, set out for that settlement in an old
crazy boat, alike regardless of the condition of their
little vessel, and unmindful of the danger incurred by
its being too heavily laden. They had the happiness
of reaching their place of destination in safety ; and
once more united with the brethren in the delightful
services of the sanctuary. On their return, however,
the boat unfortunately sunk, and three of the females
lost their lives, whilst the others escaped by swimming.
One of the women, after having gained the shore,
plunged thrice into the water, in order to rescue her
beloved companions, but her last exertion was produc-
tive of complete exhaustion, and she fell a victim to the
noble but unsuccessful efforts of sympathizing humanity.
In some instances, as the brethren had anticipated,
the restrictions of the negroes were now increased,
and on one estate particulariy, they were not only pro-
hibited from visiting the missionary station, but they
were even compelled to labor during tliose hours of
the sabbath in which they had formeriy listened with
avidity to the truths of the gospel. The proprietors
and managers of other estates, however, acted with
greater kindness ; and some, who acknowledged the
benefits resulting from Christian instruction, even
promised to provide a boat for their slaves, that they
might not be precluded from attending the house of
God. The mission, therefore, still continued to make
its way under the divine blessing, and at the close of
1789, upwards '-f a hundred baptized negroes belonged
to the congregation at Sommelsdyke, besides a consid-
erable number who were in the liabit of attending reg-
ularly upon the means of grace.

For several succeeding years no circumstance of
particular interest transpired; but the missionaries
steadily persevered in their labors of faith and love,
and the blessing and influence of the Holy Spirit
elTectualiy triumphed over the obstructions which were

LABRADOR.

occasionally placed In their path. Their hearers, also,
for the most part, evinced a growing attachment to
those blessed truths which had ilkiminated their dark
understandings, aiid softened their adamantine hearts •
and notwithstanding the ravages whid» had been made
a few years previous, by the introduction of the small

121

pox, the baptized members of the church, in 1816
amounted to one hundred and four persons. The ill-'
ness of the missionaries, however, and other circum-
.stances which occurred, after the cession of the colony
to the kmg of the Netherlands, led to the suspension
ot the mission at this insalubrious station.

CHAPTER V.
MISSION IN LABRADOR.

The first idea of sending out missionaries to the
Esquimaux, appears to have originated in a conjecture
that a national affinity subsisted between those people
and the Greenlanders ; and, though the excellent and
devoted Matthew Stach did-not succeed in his appli-
cation to the Hudson's Bay Company, for permission
to attempt the evangelization of the Indians belonging
to their factories, a ship was fitted out in 1752 bv
some of the United Brethren, and several other mei^
chants for the purpose of trading on the coast of
l^abrador. Accordingly, four missionaries sailed from
London on the 17tli of May, taking with them the
frame and materials of a house, a boat, various kinds
of seeds, and different implements of agriculture ; and
on their arrival in a fme bay, which, in compliment to
one ol the ship-owners, they called Nisbet's Haven
they went on shore, and fixed on a spot for their
future residence, to which they gave the name of
Uopedale.

After the lapse of a few weeks, the vessel proceed-
ed farther to the northward, with the design of open-
mg a commercial intercourse with the natives on the
coast ; and as the Esquimaux were fearful of ventur-
ing on board, on account of the guns, a party of five
manners went among them in an unarmed boat, un-
der the direction of the mate, Christian Erhardt a
member of the Moravian church, who, in his voyages
to the shores of Greenland, had obtained a tolerable
knowledge of the language, and naturally supposed
he might make himself understood on the present oc-
casion. Neither Erhardt nor his companions, howev-
er returned ; and, as the captain had no other boat
and consequently possessed no means of sending in
search of them, he was under the painful necessity
or SR.hng back to the missionaiies, and of requesting i
Vol. I.— Nos. 11 & 12. 18

their assistance to work the ship in her return to Eu-
rope. As the best of his men were lost, and it was
impracticable to accomplish the voyage without some
aid, they acceded to his request; and as it appeared,
tlie following season, that the persons who had so in-
cautiously gone on shore, without any weapons of de-
fence, had been cruelly murdered, the mission was
for some time abandoned.

Notwithstanding these inauspicious circumstances,
divine mercies were in store for the poor benighted
Esquimaux ; and Jens Haven, who had previously
labored as a missionary in Greenland, sailed from Eng-
land in the spring of 1764, with the hope of conveying
the blessed intelligence of salvation to the inhabitants
of Labrador. On the 4th of September, he obtained
an interview with some of their chiefs, on the island
of Quirpoint, and, to their great astonishment, address-
ed them in a language so analogous to their own, that
they had but little difficulty in comprehending his
meaning. After a short conversation, in which he
professed himself their friend, and stated the important
object of his visit, they persuaded him to accompany
them to their huts on an adjacent island, and on his
arrival he was greeted in the most amicable manner.
Here he repeated his design of instructing them in the
knowledge of God and the things connected with their
everlasting happiness ; and, on bidding them adieu,
he promised to return in the ensuing spring with some
of his brethren, in order to take up his residence
among them.

On his arrival in Newfoundland, Haven was treated
with the greatest kindness by Sir Hugh PaUiser, to
whom he had been recommended, and who assured
him that the establishment of a mission .indorse- the
Esquimaux would be equally agreeable to himself, as

;;fii.l

199

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

governor, and to the board of trade. He, tlierefore,
sailed again for Labrador, in May, 1765, accompanied
by C. L. Drachart, formerly one o{ tlie Danish mis-
sionaries in Greenland, and two other brethren. On.
this occasion, they penetrated farther into the interior
of the country, and on their return to the coast, they
had an opportunity of addressing several hundreds of
the natives, who seemed to listen to them with pro-
found attention ; but on several other occasions, they
either evinced a total indifference to the truths which
were sounded in their ears, or spoke in a way which
demonstrated the hardness of their hearts, and the
blindness of their understandings. Thus, when Dra-
chart endeavored to explain the depravity of all man-
kind in an unconverted state, they acknowledged that
his remarks might be very just in respect to foreigners,
but considered them altogether inapplicable to them-
selves. When he attempted to direct their thoughts
to the person, power, and victorious grace of Christ,
they supposed he alluded to some distinguished war-
rior, who would save them from the aggressions of for-
eigners, and assist them in vanquishing their northern
foes. And when he alluded to the important subjects
of the atonement and regeneration, and told them that
many of the Greenlanders had been washed from their
sins in the Redeemer's blood, they coolly observed- that
those persons must have been extremely wicked to have
rendered such a process necessary. On some occa-
sions, indeed, the savages appeared to entertain feel-
ings of great distrust toward their European visitors ;
and a variety of circumstances seemed to preclude, for
the present, that regular formation of a mission which
the brethren and their friends, both in England and
Germany, so ardently desired.

In the year 1768, an Esquimaux woman and. her
two sons, who had been taken prisoners whilst on a
predatory expedition, were sent to England by the
governor of Newfovmdland ; end the eldest boy, a
youth of about thirteen years of age, was jilaced in the
seminary belonging to the United Bretln-cn at Fuineck,
in Yorkshire. Here he applied himself diligently to
study, and soon made considerable proficiency, both
in reading and writing. He also appeared to be seri-
ously Impressed by the religious instructions which he
received ; and, on most occasions, exhibited a remark-
able quickness of apprehension, united with great do-
cility. But whilst he was progressively acquiring a
fund of knowledge, which it was fondly hoped might,
at some future period, have proved of incalculable
advantage to his countrymen, he was unfortunately
seized with the small pox, and, after having been bap-
tized, at his earnest request, in the name of a Triune
God, his disembodied spirit was removed into those
mansions where the inhabitant shall not say, "I am sick."

The mother of this youth was treated with great
kmdness by several persons of distinction in London ;
and, m consequence of her earnest and repeated solici-
tations, a tract of land ii) Esquimaux bay was granted,
by an order in council, to the United Brethren, for
the express purpose of establishing a mission among
the heathen in that part of the world. A brig ol
about one hundred and twenty tons burthen was then
purchased, with the design of annually visiting Labra-
dor, and trading with the natives ; and, in the month
of May, 1770, Messrs. Haven, Drachart, and Jensen,
sailed from England, in order to explore the coast,
and to fix on a convenient situation for a settlement.
On their arrival they availed themselves of the first
opportunity of preaching the gospel ; and, notwith-
standing the grant which they had previously obtained
from the British government, they deemed it advisable
to purchase fom the savages the piece of ground
which they intended, by the divine permission, to occupy
as a missionary station. They then returned to Eng-
land, to make further preparations for the accomplish-
ment of their benevolent design.

The interest excited by an attempt to introduce
the cheering light of revelation among the wretched
and benigiited Esquimaux was very great ; and seve-
ral members of the Moravian church, both male and
female, avowed their willingness to abandon all the
comforts of civilized society, and to expose themselves
to every species of inconvenience and privation for
the furtherance of so truly important an object. Ac-
cordingly, in the spring of 1771, a company of four-
teen persons, comprising three married couples, a
widower, and seven single brethren, sailed for Lab-
rador, and, after a tedious and hazardous voyage,
arrived, on the ninth of August, at their place of des-
tination.

The day after their arrival, they took possession of
the spot which had been purchased by Haven in the
preceding summer, and gave it the appellation o{ Nain.
They also immediately conunenced the erection of a
mi.ssion-liousc, the frame and materials of which they
had brought from England ; but groat exertions were
required to complete it before the commencement of
winter, which, in these northern regions, is so
intensely cold, that rum placed in the open air freezes
like water, and rectified spirits in a short time become
as thick as oil.

In this situation the brethren could obtain but few
of the necessaries of life ; and, as a considerable delay
occurred in the forwarding of sup|)lies from England
the ensuing year, their provisions were almost entirely
exhausted, and they began to look forward with pain-
ful apprehensions, though with pious resignation, to all
the sufferings connected with famine ; as, in addition

LABRADOR.

to two pieces of meat, they had nothing left but a
quantity of berries, which they had collected from the
hills and dried for the winter. At this critical juncture
however, the brig Amity arrived safely in their harbor,
and their sorrow was turned into joy, by the kind
providence of that adorable Being who "feedeth
the young ravens that cair upon hini," and without
whose express permission not even a sparrow can fall
to the ground.

The conduct of the Esquimaux had been uniformly
friendly towards the brethren from their first arrival •
and, as the latter acted, upon all occasions, in the most
open and mgenuous manner, entire confidence was
soon established, between them. In former times no
European could have passed a night among these sav-
ages, then characterized as thieves and murderers
lyithout the most imminent danger ; but now the mis-
sionanes regardless of the inclemency of the season,
travelled across the ice and snow to visit them in their
winter houses, and were hospitably entertained for sev-
eral days and nights successively. These visits were
afterwards returned ; and, in consequence of the friend-
ly mtercourse thus opened, the natives not only asked
the advice of the brethren in all difficult cases, but
even chose them as umpires in their disputes, and in-
variably submitted to their arbitration. They also lis-
tened with silence and attention to the preaching of
tlie gospel, and in a few instances the hope was enter-
tained that impressions were made which might, at a
subsequent period, be. productive of some fruit to the
honor of the Redeemer. Generally speaking, howev-
er, they were too little acquainted' with their own
guilt and wretchedness to discover the necessity of sal-
vation, or the suitability and preciousness of that
Saviour who was represented to them as the only ref-
uge from the wrath to come. Though devoted to the
gratification of the most brutal passions, and habitually
committing the grossest sins with delight, they were
never destitute of excuses and causes of self-gratula-
tion. Thus the man wJio was notoriously addicted to
lying, consoled himself with the reflection that he had
no propensity to thieving ; the robber exulted because
his hands had never been imbrued in human blood •
and even murderers rejoiced that they were not for-
eigners, wiiom, it seems, they consider as the vilest of
mankind. The angekoks, or sorcerers, also, as might
naturally be expected, employed all their arts to pre-
vent tiieir countrymen from receiving the gospel.

Notwithstanding thes.; sad proofs of intellectual
darkness, tlie missionaries cheered themselves with
the reflection that the word of the Lord could not re-
turn unto him void ; and the following circumstance an-
imated them to persevere, with redoubled zeal, in their
attempts for the conversion of ihe perishing heathen.

123

Amannamed Anauke, whohad beenformerlya fere
cious and desperate character, was at length induced to
attend the preaching of the brethren, and, after hearinR
them repeatedly, he pitched his tent in their settle-
ment, m 1772, and remained there till the month of
November, when he removed to his winter house,
t-ven then his anxiety for further instruction in the
things of God was so great, that he actually returned on

Zll7u- rT'^ °^ '^""''•"S a few days more with
the heralds of the cross ; though the Esquimaux are nev-
er accustomed to travel in that manner; as,in summer,
they pass from one place to another in their kajaks
and in winter, they perform their journeys in sledges'
* roni the time of his second departure, the missionaries
heard-nothing of him till February, 1773, when his wife
came to Nain, and stated that he had died, calling on
the name of the Lord Jesus. She said that, on his
being first seized with the illness which terminated his
mortal existence, he prayed fervently, and expressly
stated that he had no wish to remain any longer on
earth, but felt anxious to depart, that he might be with
Christ. When his end was visibly approaching, his wife
according to the custom of the heathen, began to utter
the most mournful lamentations, and exclaimed, " O'
my dear husband ! canst thou leave me, and thy beloved
children ?" But he calmly replied, " Do not weep
for me : I am going to that dear Redeemer whose love
IS so great towards mankind." Though no Christian
friend was present to direct or influence him, he would
not permit one of the angekoks, who are considered as
the physicians of the Esquimaux, to come near him ;
but committed himself unreservedly into the hands of
that great Physician who descended from heaven to
bind up the broken-hearted, and With whom he was
enabled to hold sweet communion, even when heart
and flesh were failing. After his demise, this person
was invariably spoken of by the natives, as " the man
whom the Saviour took to himself"

As this was a clear and satisfactory proof that the
bow which had been drawn at a venture had not been
drawn in vain, and as many of the heathen residing in
the vicinity of Nain were remarkably attentive to the
gospel, and expressed the most profound reverence for
the name of Jesus, the brethren now resolved to
select from among their hearers such as appeared the
most seriously inclined, and to form them into a class
of catechumens, in order to prepare them, by suitable
instructions for the holy rite of baptism. At the same
time they determined to erect a church capable of
containing some hundreds of persons, as the apartment
in the mission-iiouse which had been hitherto used for
the celebration of divine service could no longer con-
tain the congregation.

In 1774^ four of the missionaries formed the design

124

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

N4»

is I

li i„

nil..
'.Hi i

of exploring the coast to the northward, as the ob-
taining of provisions for the Esquimaux at Nain was
attended with considerable difficulty. They accord-
ingly embarked in a small vessel which had been
sent to them from Newfoundland ; but their expe-
dition proved peculiarly unfortunate, as, after expe-
riencing several disasters, and escaping some imminent
perils, their little bark was driven among the rocks
and dashed to pieces. After passing the .night wi^i
the most anxious feelings, they betook themselves,
early in the morning, to their boat ; but this was soon
wrecked, and two of the brethren, Brasen and Leh-
man, were unfortunately drowned, whilst their com-
panions and the sailors saved their lives by swimming
to a barren rock. Here they suffered severely from
the cravings of hunger and the inclemency of the air ;
and in this situntinn they would, no doubt, have per-
ished, had they not providentially succeeded in drawing
their boat on the rock, and so far repairing its damages,
as to enable them once more to venture themselves
in it. In this shattered little vessel' they embarked
on the fourth day after their sliipwreck, and were for-
tunately perceived by an Esquimaux in hiskajak,who
towed them into the harbor acij* 'ning their settlement.
In the summer of 1775, in compliance with the in-
structions which they had received from Europe,
Messrs. Haven and Jensen set out with the design of
connnencing a new settlement at a place railed Okkak,
about a hundred and fifty miles to the northward of
Naiii. As this spot appeared peculiarly eligible for
the purposes of a mission, being abundantly furnisJM'd
with wood and fresh water, contiguous to an excellent
haven, and surrounded by a numerous population of
the heathen, the land was inunedialely purcliasfd
from the Esipiimaux ; and as soon as the ensuing
season permitted, the m'' sionaries took up their resi-
dence here, and began to preach the glad tidings of
salvation to the natives in the vicinity. At fust they
met with nnicli discouragement ; but, knowing the
goodness of their cau,se, and the onnii|)otent pcmcr
of their Divii-.e Master, they piocecdcti, with unslmken
resolution, in their work, till nt length some iridiciiiions
of siieeess began to appear, and, in nHl.ihfy had
the satisfaction of ministering among thirty-eight per-
sons who had l)e<'u Impii/.cd in the faith of Christ,
besides ten others who, as cat"clnunens, were receiving
particular instruction.

In the journeys ami voyages wlii<-h the hrcthren
had occasionally to perform in these inhospitable re-
gions, ihcy were iier essnrily exposal to nnniy hardships
ond dangers, and the deliverances which they expe-
rienced on some orcasions were truly remarkable.
One instance of this kiiid is too replete with intufcsi
to bo puSstid ovur ii! siit'uce.

W. Turner and S. Liebisch, two of the missionaries,
set out from Nain, one morning in the month of March,
in a sledge drawn by dogs, and accompanied by another
sledge containing two Esquimaux men, a woman, and
a child, in (Jrder to visit the new settlement at Okkak.
As the weather was fine, and the track over the frozen
sea in excellent order, they travelled with facility at
the rate of about six miles an hour, and had every
reason to expect that they should arrive at the end
of their journey in two or three days. After having
passed the islands in the bay, they kept at a consider-
able distance from the shore, both to avoid a high and
rocky promontory, and to gain the smoothest part
of the ice. About eight o'clock, tl^ey met a party
of Esquimaux driving their sledges towards the land,
and were by them dissuaded from proceeding. The
missionaries, however, discovering no cause of alarm,
resolved to prosecute their design ; and though some
of their own companions soon afterward observed that
there was a ground-swell under the ice, and that a
grating, disagreeable noise might he heard on applying
the ear to the surface, yet as the weather remained
clear and the wind blew strong from the north-west,
no sudden change was anticipated.

The travellers continued their progress till the sun
had gained its greatest altitude, and sca>-cely any
alteration had even then become visible in the aspect
of the horizon ; but, as the motion of the sea beneath
the ice became more ])erceptihle, it was judged advi-
sable to keep near the shore. The ice also exhibited
many cracks pikL chasms of more than a foot in width;
hut as these arc very common, and the dogs leap over
them without either fear or (liHiculty, the Esquimaux
appeared to think nothing of their appearance on the
present occasion. In liie afternoo:!, as the sun de-
clined, the sky was gra<lii dly overspread witli clouds,
the wind increased to u stonn, and the snow, both on
ihe ice and the sununits of the iidjueent mountains,
was blown about 1,^ partial whirlwinds till it seemed
t" fill the atmosphere. The ground-swell hud also
increased, by this time, to such a degree, that its ef-
fects becune equally extraordinary and terrific ; for
though the ice was, in some parts, ten or t^velve feet
in thickness, nnd several leagues s(|nure,yet th(' swell
of the sea undernenth gave it such an undulatory
motion, that the sledges nppeiired, in some instuiK-os,
10 be drawn with innnenst- dilliculty over a rising
acclivity, ami shortly after rushed onward with a ve-
hK'ity which seemed to threaten de;,tiiiclion to the
dogs and their drivers. Alarming noises, sitnilnr to
the report of cannon, were mNo hoard in dilferent
directions, tM-casioned by the bursting of the ice at a
distunco.

In this terrific situation, the Esquimaux, who now

perceived that their danger was increasing every mo-
ment, drove as hastily as possible toward the shore ;
but as they approaclied it, the scene became more
and more appalling. The immense masses of ice
which had detached themselves from tho rocks, were
tossed to and fro, and sometimes dashed to atoms
against the precipices, with a noise which, in addition
to the ho.,iing of the wind, the roaring of the waves
and the drifting of the snow, almost deprived our
travellers of the senses both of hearing and seeing.
The dogs were, also, so completely terrified, that it
was scarcely possible to drive them forward ; and as
the only time for effecting a landing was the precise
juncture when the rising and falling body of ice came
to a level with the coast, the attempt was extremely
hazardous. By the good providence of that Saviour
however, who is set forth in the Scriptures of truth,
BS "a hHiing-place from the wind, and a covert from
the tempest," both sledges reached the shore, and, by
dint of persevering exertion, were safely drawn upon
the beach. .

Scarcely had the missionaries and their companions
congratulated each other on tiieir escape, when that
part of the ice which they had so recentl nuitted,
burst asunder, and the water, rushing up from beneath,
precipitate,, it into the sea; and, in the course of a
few seconds, as if i„ obedience to a nroconcerted
signal, the whole frozen mass, extending for .several
miles along the coast, began to break, and to disappear
in large masses amidst the foaming waves The
spectacle which now presented itself was so truly
sublime, and the noise which accom,ianied the disrup-
tion of the ice was so overpowering, that ev.n the
Ls.pmnaux were deeply affected, and the brethren
found It impossible to express, .so fervently as they
could have desired, their thankfulness to God foi his
gracious interjiosition on (..c>ir behalf

As night was now coining on, and -lu,- wind was
IHcrcinKlv col.l, ,|,e Ks.p.imaux constructed what is
called a > n.nv-l.ouse. about ihi.ty p„ces from the beach"-
at nine ., .'lock the whole parly nvpt inio it, grateful
for imj place of refup< from ili,. i,ul..,n,Micy „f ,1,0
watlu-r ; and, after taking some slight refreshment
and .singing a hymn, they lay down to rest. I „.ibisrh
however, was predmled from K|..,-|,i„g, p„rily b^ ,|„;
viol..|it pain arisin.r ,.,„„ „ „„„ ,|,^,„„ ,,_,^, ^

the terrilic roaring ..f tho storm ; and „ i.s u r.-mark-
ahlo (art, that the wakefulness of this missionnry ,aved
the uh.,1,. party from destruction. • AImmii twooVlock
in the m.,riung, .some water fell from the roof of the
.now-house on the lip.s of Mr. U,ibisch. who was
naturally alarmed at fmding il,,,, i, ,„,,i,j ^^^^ „«

fnnifiiittwi ftiitn* K... ■ 1 1

LABRADOR.

retnaiiifd ijujnt, howc

tlQWnL'i>|. till

' • -7 - • ■!-■ tirs;p Jinj^ ncrniuS

more frequent, and, before ho could give an alarm,

1S5

two treme, .i us waves broke successively near the
house, forcing in a large quantity of water, and carry-
ng away the slab of snow which had been placed, in
■eu of a door, at the entrance. The Esquimaux,
however, were soon roused to a sense of their danger
and one of them, with a large knife, opened a passage
hrough the side of the house, which was carried awa^
by an overwhel.nmg body of surl", just as the inmates
thebeT " '"'''^^^^^^'''"'"S'-P-tof

The travellers were thus delivered a second time
from die most imminent peril, by the good hand of
U eir Heavenly Father ; yet as it was scarcely possi-
ble to stand against the wind, the sleet, and the snow
their situation was extremely painful during the re^
mainder of the night. The woman and her child
were wrapped up in a large skin, and before the dawn
"I day, the Esquimaux formed an excavation in tho
snow, to screen them and the two missionaries from
the storm. Licbisch, however, suffered so severely
from the affection in his throat, that he was unable to
respire in such a confined situation, and was obliged
to sit at the entrance, covered ,vith skins, till day-
light, when another snow-house was erected about
eight feet square, and from six to seven feet in
height.

As the brethren, on sotting out from Nain, had an-
ticipated a safe and speedy journey to Okkak, their
sl(K;k of provisions was very .sm.ill,and the Esquimaux
had brought nothing for their own sustenance ; con-
ceiving, no doubt, that their little wants would have
been well and gratuitously supplied. But, us it was
uncertain how long they might be detained in their
present situation, it now became necessary to divide
what remained into regular portions, and it was finally
resolved that no more than a biscuit and a half should
be consumed daily by each individual. In addition
to the privations which they thus suffered, tlie roof
of their snow-hou.sc was gradually nu-hcd by the
breath of its inhabitants, and they were literally soaked
with water, not having un article of clothing dry about
them, nor a dry spot on which they cdiiM rf-pose.
These painful circumstniiccs, together with the unfa-
vorable slate of the weather, and the uncertainty of
their final escape, deeply depressed their spirits, and
threatened to overwhelm them with despair. At
length, however, the sea began to fic(>ze again, and,
after spending six days in this melancholy place, they
set off to return to INain, and happily arrived at that
settlement in safety, to the unspeakable joy of their
friends, who bad .suffered the jiiost distressing anguish
of mind during their absence.

in the month of August, 1782. tho brethren pro-
ceeded to form a third settlemenl, at a jiluco to tlio

fJWi

186

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

■ih

ml i

ill;..

southward of Nain, to which they gave the appella-
tion of Hopedale. This spot had been formerly re-
connoitred, and considered particularly eligible for a
missionary station ; and it was now iioped that great
numbers of the Esquimaux would rejoice in the op-
portunity of receiving religious instruction. This
pleasing anticipation was, for the present, disappoint-
ed ; and for several years the preaching of the gospel on
this spot appeared to be attended with so little success,
tliat both the missionaries and the directors in Europe
felt inclined to relinquish such an unprofitable station.
The great Head of the church, however, had other-
wise determined, and Hopedale, in the sequel, became
tlie scene of an awakening which afterwards extended
its blessed influence to ti)e other settlements, and con-
strained the friends of the Redeemer to exclaim,
" What hath God wrought !"

In 1796, nn epidemical disease broke out in Labra-
dor, and raged for several months with unabiiting sever-
ity ; so that the brethren were under the painful
necessity of suspending their public services for weeks
together, as the Esquimaux wore quite incapable of
leaving their habitations. It was also a source of
ferief to the missionarie? that the time of sickness
proved a season of temptation to some of (heir con-
verts, who, on fiiidiiiu; ijiat the medicines with which
they were su|)plio(i did not immediately relieve them,
had recourse to thei/ old heathenish practices, with a
view to their recovery. Most of these, however,
were subsequently convinced of their sinful folly, and
carne-tly implored the pardon of the con^rettation.
In- the missionary settlements, but few persons fell
victims to this disorder ; but among the surrounding >
heathen, who still rejecterl the gospel of the Redeem-
er, it proved fatal in many instances.

In the month of Deeendier, IH(M), nn event occur-
red which it is impossible to record without sensations
of sorrowful reirret. The excellent missionary J. W.
Reimnn went out one morning from the seiilemerii at
Ho|)e(lale, with the design of procuring some fresh
provisioi.s by shooting ; but as ho did not return in
the course of the day, his friends nntiiralh l.ei;im to
entertain the most distressing appri'hensions. particu-
larly as the country was at this time completely covered
with ice. About sewn o'clock in the eveniiur, four
of the Esquiimuix set olf in (piest of hjin. and, as the
light of the moon was favorable to their object, they
continued their search during the whole of the night,
occwioiiiiHy dise|iari;in!{ their muskets, with the hope
of directing him touanl ihem. Their exertions, how-
over, were uufortunuleiy productive of tu) success ;
an.l though every part whieh could he thought of was
subsp,|„ently esplun,!, his brethren ueri' nev.T able
to discover in what mamiur he had perished, though

of the certainty of his death not the vestige of a doubt
could possibly exist.

At the commencement of 1804, the missionaries
were much discouraged on a review of the small suc-
cess which seemed to have attended their faithful
ministration among the heathen in Labrador; but
before the end of that year, it was their privilege to
behold the dawn of a brighter day, and to witnesii
effects which they were aware could only have been
produced by the agency and influences of the Holy
Spirit. In former times it had been a subject of deep
regret that the instructions received by the Esquimaux
in the different settlements, during the wintei;, were
too generally forgotten in their summer excursions,
when, by associating with their heathen countrymen,
they laid themselves open to temptation, and in many
instances relapsed into their former practices. On
the return of the professing natives to Hopedale, how-
ever, in the year to which we are now alluding, the
brethren were abundantly gratified to find, not only
that they had b6en preserve' from falling into outward
sins, but that they had made the most important ad-
vances in knowledge, faith, and humility, and had
become so deo|)ly sensible of their own depravity as
sinners, and of the power and preciousness of Christ
as a Saviour, that they were enabled to sjieak experi-
mentally of the things of God to those around them ;
and such an unction appeared to attend their artless
but holy and energetic conversation, that many who
had previously posses.sed nothing more than the form
of religion, were now awakened to a sense of its vital
iiiiportance, and began earnestly to incpiire how they
might be delivered from their offences and received
into the divine favor.

The awakening so happily commenced at Hopedale,
soon communicated its sacred influence to Nain. where
it appears to have been promoted !>)■ a reniarkuble
circumslnnee. A young man named Siksigak. who
had formed the design of putting away his Christian
wife, and marrying another who was iittaehed to all
the superstitions of the heathen, happened to arrive
at his mother's lunise in Hopedale at the time that
the family were engaged in their evenintj ilevotion.
He apiieared astonished nt what he saw and heard,
but no impression wits at that time made upon his
mind, neither could lie he dissuaded, after the close
of the domestic service, from his wicked purpose,
either b^ the persuasions of his r-lations, or the advice
and entreaties of the missionaries. The- following
day, however, r special prayer-meetinn was held, in
his presence, for his eouversiim to (iod ; and on that
oeeasi<in his mother, whilst piniring out her supplica-
tions before the throne of grace, oxrluimed, with K

pathos OMil fervor expreisive itf (he !!!>e!i~!!!v :•.( ia-r

feelings "Lord Jesus, behold this my child, whom
I now desire most solemnly to surrender to thee
O condescenu to accept him as thine own, and suffer
not his immortal soul to be lost for ever " Thp
prayer of faith was heard and answered ; the youne
man was immediately convinced of the error of his
ways; his heart was subsequently affected by the
great doctrines of the gospel ; and similar effects were
produced on his favorite companion named Kapik ; so
that^they not only exhibited an entire rhang. of spirit
conduct and conversation, but, on their reu.rn to IVain'
they boldly proclaimed the preciousness of that >ros'
pel which they had fo.md to be the power of God un-
to their own salvation. Their friends were naturally
astonished at this unexpected change, an.l some of
them reated the truths which .Iropped from their lins
wih,lens,on and contempt; but on many of the in-
habitants of the settlement an impression was made
which led to the most beneficial results. Several per-
sons who had formerly possessed nothing more of
Chnst.anity than its mere profession, were now con-
viiK^ed that thoy ha.l hitherto been deceiving themselves
and othors ; an.l whilst they .•ontemplate.l, with feel-
ings of true contrition, ,he hypociisv of their conduct
. an.l ,l,c treachery of their liear.s, they confessed, with'
floods of penitential tears, the sins which they l.a.l
oncecommmed with impunity, but ,ho recollection of
which now humbled them to the dust.

Tho inflligeuco of these interesting everts was
soon conveyed to Okkak, and an awakening took phu'e
at that settlement, which prove.l ,o be of ,he Lrd.
1 his was pnncipally owing to tj,e visit of some Chris-
tum Ksqunnaux from Nain, who. i„ i, f.,,,,,,,, ,,,,|

for the salvation of their co.mtrym,.u, ur„t from one
tent lo another, testifying of ,h,, love of Christ to
ruined .sinners, an.l illustrating his willingness to .save
"II Unit crtie unto him by relating their own experi-
ence. A sacre.l fir.. „„s thus kindled in the hearts of
Ihe.r au.hiors, who voluntarily has„,„,| ,„ the niis-
».onan..s, „ck„owl..,lging the formality and emptiness
ol the.r (ormer pn.lessions, and imploiin. .lir.vtinn in
the way of true and vital go,llin,-ss. Kv.-n the lu.all>..n

from the north. wbo.K'.-asionnllypasse.lthroughOkkak
were evidently .struck Hith a.lmiiali..n at what thev
»aw an.l hear.l. an.l tlu.se wh.,s,. ivsi,|..ne,.s were more
c..nl,«uous. f..|t so .le..ply i„tcreste.l i„ the^Wnr,,,, I
win.'h had pro.lu,.,.,l such ast.,nishin,; eff.Tl.". that thev
res.,lve.l to take up tlu-ir alm.I,. among the Inlievers '
In allu.„on (., « circums!,.n,,M,f this .l..sc.ipiio„.
which .H-enircl in I8().",. ,|„. ,nissi.,nari..s at llop,..lah.
observe,-.. As ., con as i, was known that s.,me of th,

LABRADOR.

heathen had obtained pcrnil

llei

Nion to les'iile „, the ,,,,,.

nent. our Ks.piinpu.x exhibite.l „ .spin, .,1 joy and i
gladncs which u wa« truly nlTecingtowitne,..' From jj

127

their first arrival our people had not failed to speak

to them of the mercy which the Lord had shown !n

leir own conversion, and to preach Jesus to them "

the only Saviour; and now, on perceiving that Thev

were to be inhabitants of the place, they ifa dly k„ew
how o , ^^,^,^^^ ^^^ ^^y ^ y knew

tl oir lUtre a? ""? "!'' '!'"'" '^'''^^"^0, and to Lttfe
tl.o.r httle affairs. It also happened that, early in the

"orning, a party of heathen, who had d cla ed tfat
hey would not ive with the believers, had left ama„

-idehere. Hehadpitp,jrt:;i.o3:cr

but our people filled with love, and anxious to serve

II who wished to be convcrte.I, immediately tooTi^

: cnvn, and removed it into the mi.Ist of their o/n dCell-

proof, of affectionate attention on the part of their
Christian countrymen, and .leclared that (or the fir
"ne in their lives, they had met with persons who
love.l them with disinterested sincerity." '

In or.ler to ascertain the practicability of forming a
new settlement in a more populous par, of the country

he dZr'": ^T ■' """ '^"•'''--- ..ruiertoi
the .Idh.Mdt an.l perilous task of exploring the north-
..u coast which had hitherto remaine.l Lkno^: o

jZ7Z ."".7"'""i ^'•••"^'•"'S'y> in .he month of
jl' n.-, Irill, they embarked in a two-masted shallop
Mongmg to one of the converts name.l Jonathan
» '•'. though considered as chi,.f of his nation a. Kope-
''•'h-. rem dy cngage.l in this ar.luous .service, with the
'■hec-ring hope that he might thus be made instrumental
<"war,ls the m.roduction of the gospel into the Unga-
va country. Il.> appears, in-le..!. ,o have been a .nan
of superior understan.ling. an.l gn.at personal courage
""•I wh..., any of i,i, ,„„„,„,„ represente.l the
1-nls to Vhich 1... w..„|,| be exposcl ii. his intcude.

voyage he ^vo, eph.MVhen I h.-ar peopl.. talk

'""" !'"; ''""«- •>'• '-i-l^ kil'."l, I recoll.'c, '„,„, .lle

"V" .'r Jesus m.luce.l him lo submit to .leatl, for us ;

•"" therefore „ would be no great ma.,..r if we were

"• 1"^" ""r liv,.s in his s,.rvi,.... slu.ul.l that be hi,

pleasure .•onceriiing us."

''"'•;• '•'•••<'."»"i"ing parly, which. hesi.l,.s th.. eapiain
and the nussionaries. consist...| of f.,„, ,.;s,,„i„.,.,.x
f. nihes f,,,.n Hope.lale, an.l a llhl, from Okkak. who
'■••"'""••I 'h- shall.ip in a skin boat, pro.-eede.l with
;;<">^i'l.'n.bl.. .lifficuby. on acount ..f th- ,„„sses .,f
"oatuig ic... till th.-y aniv.Ml a. Nullatailok Ibn , i„ the
•'•"l"l<'«'-.M..,f „.„th laliiu.h.. Here they formed n
lim.- en.ampmcui. an.l remaine.l .m shore till t|„. l.'-.th
ol Jnlv. wh,.,, ,l.,.y pr.H-..,.d..,| towards Nachvak -

wli

tli.ri, 11 I, til.,.

suniiner resilience. Hy these

"ay,

-qmmniis iiii.i fixed their

■Pti

natives I !

ley were cordially

128

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

^■^■^

welcomed, and some of them appeared deeply impress-
ed with the truths of the gospel, particularly one of their
chiefs, who expressed an ardent desire to be converted
to the faith of Christ.

On their arrival at Oppcrnavik, on the 25th of July,
the brethren had the satisfaction of meetinc; with an
Esquimaux named IJttakiyok, who, together with his
family, had waited for their arrival during the wiiole
spring, and had erected signals on the heights around
his tent, that tiiev might not miss him. This was one
of the first natives from whom the niissinnnrius had re-
ceived any distinct account of the Ungava couniry,
and he now rendered them tlje most essential service,
by acting as their guide during the remaining part of
their voyage.

After passing the desert regions to the west of Cape
Chudleigh, and escaping the innninent perils to which
they were exposed by innnense shoals of ico in some
parts, and dangerous whirlpools in others, th(!y discov-
ered two placos suitable for the formation of a mis-
sionary settlement. One of these was a verdant spot,
overgriwif with shrubs, and situate near the nunith of
a river, to which they gave the name of (ieorge's
River, in honor of his Hritannic majesty. The other
place was situated in what they called Unity Hav, near
the c-iuary oftlu' Koksoak, or Sand River, which is be-
tween six and seven hundred miles distant from Okkak,
and about as broad as the Thames at (Jravcsend. Thg
land is level and dry, watered by several rivulets, nnd
producini; a variety of trees, shrubs, plants, and (low-
ers, well known in Europe.

The inhabitants, having never before seen a Eu-
ropean, were, at first, rather reserved ; but, after re-
ceiving a few tiilliug presents, they became familiar
and eonnnimieative, and not only listened attentively
to the conversation of their visitors, but expressed a
strong <lesire liint they would come and settle among
them. After n'muining at ibis place .six days, for the
purpose of exploring the eircumjiicent country, the
Inethren reward-d the services of their friendly pilot,
Utiakiyok. by pn'-cnting him with their skin-bout, and,
on the Itli of October, they arrived in safety at Ok-
kak, after iierformin!? a voyage of between twelve nnd
thirteen hundt'cd miles.

The wintci of I s | 'i commenced .10 early, and proved
so'xtremely inclement, that tlm E-.ipiimaux were pre-
cluded from obtaining their usual stcM'k of provisions ;
ami bad it not hnu for the kiml assistance t)f tliemis-
•ioi.arii'!!. who cheerfully divided with them their own
scanty store, they would have experienced all the hor-
rors of alwohite famine. The fuilh and patience of
the brethren \m ic also severely tried, in the same year,
in consetjuence of the late arrival of their vessel with
•upplies from Europe ; of which the following olliciul

detaUs are given in the sixth volume of the Periodical
Accounts.— "On the 28th of October, 1 8 1 6, the J emima
arrived m the riverfront Labrador, after one of the most
dangerous and fatiguing passages ever known. She ar-
rived at the drift-ice on the Labrador coast, on the 16th
of July. Captain Fraser found it extending two hundred
miles from the land, and, after attemi)ting to get in,
first at Hopedale, then at Nain, and lastly at Okkak,
he was, at length, completely surrounded by ice, and
in the most imnunent danger during six days and nights,
expecting every moment that thoship would be crush-
ed to pieces ; till, after very great exertions, he got to-
wards the outer part of the ice. He was still beset by
it, however, for forty-nine days, and did not reach Okkak
till the 2i)th of August, to the astonishment of all our
brethren, as well as the Escpiiniaux. The very next
day the wholecoast, as far as the eye coidd reach, was
entirely chokeil up by ice ; and, after lying at Okkak
nearly three weeks, ho was twice forced back by it on
his pasiage to Nain, which place he did not reach till
the 22(1 of Septeir' •. After staying the usual time,
Ca|)tain Fraser pr .ceded, on the 3d of October, to
Hopedale, with fine weather,yet, on account of the late-
ness of the season and the (juantity of (irifl-ii^e, with lit-
tle pros|)ect of reaching that settlement. This circum-
stance be mentioned to the brethren at Nain. How-
ever, brother. Kmoeh and his wife, and the two single
brethren Koerner and Christensen, who were noing to
Hoiiedale, went on hoard, and they set sail ; but the
same evening it came on to blow exceedingly hard, with
an innnense fall of snow, and very foguy weather, so
that they could not see the length of the sliip ; and,
being witliin half a mile of a dangerous reef of rocks,
the captain was obliged to carry a press of sail to dear
them, which be did but just accomplish ; for, ufwr that,
the gale increased to such a degree, the wind being
right on shore, that he could not carry sail any longer,
nnd was obliged to lay the ship to, when the sea often
broke over her; and, at last, as every attempt to reach
Hopcilale proved unavailing, he was com|ieile(l tobear
away for England. Another gale, e(pial to a hurri-
cane, was experienced on the 8tb. !»ih and I (lib of
October ; and, during the night beiwccn llio iltli and
lOth, it was so violent that the cajilain expected
the ship v/ould have founrlered. Slii! was, at one liine,
struck by a sea, which twisted her in such a manner,
that the very seams on her larboard side opened, and
the water gushed into the cabin, and into the mate's
berth, as if it came from a |)mn|), and every body at
first supposed her side was stove in : the Lord, how-
ever, was pleased to protect every one from harm,
nnd, considering nil things, the vessel did not suffer
nmlerially, neither was any thing lost.

Tlu' brethren who had been so unexpectedly

brought to Europe, embarked, in the month of June,
1817, for the purpose of resuming their missionary la-
bors ; but after pursuing their voyage for about a month,
they met with an unusual quantity of floating ice, the
masses of which, in some parts, and particularly when
illummated by the sun, exhibited a variety of the most
curious and grotesque appearances ; and in a fort-
night afterward, tiiey encountered a furious storm
which drove them with fearf.il velocity towards
an immense iceberg; but, by the good providence
of God, they passed it in safety. The ensuing
night was extremely dark, the whole face of the sky
being obscured by heavy clouds ; the sea was also
violently agitated by the wind ; and a feeling of hor-
ror was excited by the frequent crushing of the fields
and mountains of ice against each other. Openings
were made indeed, in several places by the fury of
the storm, but this circumstance only increased the
peril of the voyagers ; as whenever their vessel got into
clear water, she naturally proceeded with greater ra-
pidity, and the shocks which she received from coming
into collision with the icebergs became more violent
and alarming. In fact, both the missionaries and the
crew anticipated that the ship would be eventually
dashed to pieces ; and when, after pa.ssing about ten
.ours in this awful situation, they perceived that they
bad got rid of the ice, and were at no great distance
from the coast, they could scarcely believe the evidence
of their senses. They had many other difticulties,
however, to contend with, f„r nearly three weeks
longer ; their passage being frequently impeded, and
sometimes apparently bl,x.ked up ; and it was not till
alter the Jemima had sustained considerable dam-
age, thai ihey succeeded in reaching the harbor of
Hopedalf.

Sou.r „f the Esquimaux converts, in the mean time,
liad been seduced by their heathen visitors to quit the
settlements of Okkak and Hope.iale, and to accom-
pany them ,„ the residence of the Europeans in the
south la a letter from the former station, houever,
dated September f), 18IH, the n.issioM„,i,s observe
' We iMU'e seen several striking and eiu-ournging in-
staneos of the faithfulness of the gooii Shepherd, in
following his straying sheep, and causing them to turn
unto lum. Of those of „„r people who wre lust
year m.luced to go to the south, three families hav"
returned, ,,n.l w.ili true repentance have conlVssed
their error, recpiesting to he re-admitted ; i,s they si.v
that thev '.r. -• d no rest for their souls hut with Jesus
•nd m I..l;-,H ,tuj, with his followers." And in a cmimu-
nication ii-orr Hopodale, re.eived nbom the same lime
the brour: ., write. " Many of the Esquimaux now find
again that pasture for their souls, which, f„r « season, they
bud forsaken ; having been seduced to prefer the husks
Vou I.— Noi. II k IS. ,,,

LABRADOR.

139

of this miserable world to that food which endureth for
ever. It gave us inexpressible pleasure to see two
strayed sheep v.th their families, consisting of fifteen
persons return..g to us. They are now humWy

error^and brought them back to his fold.

h. . T ,? "°' '""^ '""^'' '""'^ 'J""ng the winter
but he cold was very severe, and some of the heXn'
Esquimaux, who had endeavored to seduce their coun"
trymen to go to the south, suffered by it. A v.oZ

SZ ' ' ?^ ""■°^" °" ^''°^« '" "'' ""known and
desert regmn, where no assistance could be obtained
trom he European settlers, they perished mis Sy
by cold and hunger." ^

On the 9tli of August, 1820, the missionaries at
INam had the satisfaction of seeing the new ship call-
ed the Harmony come to an anchor in their bay, just
fifty years after the first vessel arrived there, with
fourteen brethren and sisters on board, with the view
of lormmg a Christian settlement in a land which, pre-
viously to that period, had been covered with tl ick
darkness. They endeavore.l. therefore, to exp;ess
their joy by hoisting two small flags, and a white one.
on which some of the sisters had formed the number
50 with red riband, and surrounded it with a wreath
ot laurel. Their small cannons were also discharged
and answered by the guns of the ship, and the Esqui-
niaux jired their muskets as long as their powder last-
e<l. .,„,ne tunes of hymns expressive of thunksgiving
for divme mercies, were, in the mean time, played on
wind instruments, which, altogether, made a suitable
nnpression on the minds of the converts, and afforded
them a tolerable idea of a jubilee rejoicing. The
"n-ss.onary Kohlmeister explained to them that the
number on the flag was i.uended to denote that this
was the fiftieth time tl.u a ship had come safely to
»he sett!.-,, ent for their sakes. and that the gracious
preservation wiiicli had been afforded during tliat long
period was the cause of the present rejoicing. They
listened to this with profound attention, and then
exclaimed, " Yes ! Jesus is worthy of thanks ! Jesus
IS worthy of thanks, indeed !"

" In the public services ofthe day," the missionaries
observe, "a spirit of joy an.l thanksgiving prevailed
throiighom the whole congregation, and the baptism of
two adults tended greatly to solemnize this festival.
>V.^ I.raised the Lord with heart and voice for all the
w..ml.Ts he hath wrought in behalf of the mission in
Labrador, d.innj, |„,|f „ century ; in which ho haih led,
preserved nnd blessed us abundantly. His mighty
arm hath protected us in many dangers, and the preach-
ing of his cross hath been attended with power and
wit.s t.!« d^monstraiion of his own spirit ; »o ihul manT

I f

130

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

souls have thereby been brought in, as a reward for
the travail of his soul. An account of the commence-
ment of the mission, translated into the Esquimaux
language, was communicated to the congregation, and
heard with great attention and astonishment. They
were, indeed, surprised at the recital of what had been
done for so many years '.vith a view to their benefit."
The jubilee of the mission was also celebrated in
the other settlements with due solemnity, and many of
the Esquimaux afterwards observed that it had been a
most important and blessed season to their souls ; as
they had then been led to consider more seriously
than on any previous occasion, what great tilings the
Lord had done for them, in making them acquainted
with himself and his glorious salvation.

At Hopedale, in the moan time, the brethren were
much gratified by tiio rciuin of one of their young
Esquimaux, who had been for some time absent, and
who now stated that he had experienced the most gra-
cious preservation. It appears, tiiat, on the lOtJi of
June, 1819, he had been carried out to sea upon a
flake of ice, which separated from the main mass in a
terrible storm. In tiiis situation he gave himself up
for lost ; but after some liino, he gained a larger body
of drift ice, and was carried towards an island, on
which he landed. Here he remained about two months,
supporting iiiinself purtiy by the eggs of eider ducks,
and partly by the ducks themselves, wiiich he oc-
casionally caugiit by some cords wliicii he happened
to iiave in his |iossessioii ; and at night lie slejit
beneath the shelter of an overhanging rock. At
lengtii he discovered a piece of wood /loating towards
the shore, ami, having with considendiie trouble form-
ed it into a sort of oar with his pocket knife, he
rowed himself to an island nearer to the main land,
and thence proceeded to two other islands still iiioiv
contiguous. Towards the end of August, or the be-
ginning of September, lie perceived two boats .stee.ing
towards the south ; and, on his signals being discover-
ed, he was delivered from his forlorn and perilous
situation, and carried to the habitation of the South-
landers, where he remained till the ice whs sufliciently
firm to admit of his travelling to Hopedale. VV'|ii|s(
relating these particulars, his eyes overflowed wild joy
and gratitude; and he observed that during his ban-
ishment from human .'society he luvvr felt alone ; as
the Lord Jesus had invariably been his companion,
ills refuge, and his hope, iiotwitlislanding the prospect
before him was truly appalling.

The most important benefits appear to have result-
ed from the translation and printing of ditferent parts
of the New Testament in the Ksquiiuaux language ;
and the following particulars, in illustration of the
gratitude which was excited by tho kind and repeated

donations of the British and Foreign Bible Society,
will, no doubt, prove acceptable to the reader. " Sev-
eral of our Esquimaux at Nain," says the Rev. B. Kohl-
meister, "having been informed of the nature and
aim of the Bible Society, began, of their own accord,
to collect seal's blubber, by way of making up a small
contribution towards the expenses of that society.
Some brought whole seals, or half a seal, or pieces,
according to their ability. Others brought portions of
blubber in the name of their children, requesting, with
the most affecting expressions, that their little offer-
ings might be accepted. Having been told that in
some parts of the world, converts from among the
heathen, who were poorer than they, had cheerfully
contributed their mite towards the furtherance of the
spread of God's holy word, they exclaimed, ' How
long have wc heard the pleasant and comfortable
words respecting Jesus Christ our Saviour, and how
many books have we received treating of him ; and
yet we have never known or considered whence they
came ! We have, indeed, sometimes observed among
ourselves that so many books freely bestowed upon us,
must cost a great deal somewhere ; but we never
knew till now that even poor people have contributed
their little sums for our instruction and comfort. We
are, indeed, poor ; yet we may occasionally bring
some blubber, that others, who are as ignorant as we
were fonncrly, may receive the same gospel, which has
been so sweet to our souls ; and may thereby be
taught to find the way to Jesus.' By these spontane-
ous declarations," Mr. Kohlmeister observes, << a great
impression was made upon our people. Each would
bring something, when they heard how desirous other
nations were to hear the word of God ; and they now
begged me to send their contributions to those gener-
ous friends who printed tho Scriptures for them, that
more heathen might be presented with a hook so far
more precious than any thing else in this world."

At the settli-nient of Okkak, a very remarkable
plienomenon look place on the 7th of July, 1821, of
which the followiii:^ account has been given by Mr.
Joiiatlian iMenty.ell :— " On liie jirecediiig day the
w<'ather was extremely warm, with a singular and
unpleasant smell in the air. In the morning of tho
7th, about seven o'clock, the sky toward tho west
apjieared (piiie hliuk, as if a heavy lluiiider-storm
were rising ; and about half an hour afterwards it be-
came so dark that we could not see to work, and were
obliged to light candles The darkness was equal to
•hnt of midnight, and eontinued till towards ten o'clof..,
when it grew lighter ; hut the sky now exhibited a red,
(iery ap|»earance, as if lighted by some great confl.i-
gration. During the whole time it was perfectly calm.
Some of our Esquimaux, who had been at sea, told

us that something hke ashes had fallen upon their ka-
jaks. They were very much alarmed and affected
and saHl they believed that the last day was approachl
ing, when our Savour would appear in judgment."
in. tn^h "'n'"""'""i««"'«. named Ephraim, belong.
71 ]^f^^^^^^^' ^''l-'enced a peculiar preservation
01 Ins hfe, ,n the month of April, 1822. He went
with five other Esquin.aux, to catch seals at the edge
of the ,ce, about sixty miles from the settlement ; but
^^hen ho was at a considerable distance from his ^om-
pan.o„s,the.ce broke under him; and he had only

3.nk,ng. I„ tins sUuat.on, hanging over the sea, the
cold ben,g mtense.his fingers froze fast to the ice •
and ins crcumstance appears to have been the means'

were not heard, and he remained about a quarter of
an hour m the n.ost dreadful suspense. At length
however, just when his voice began'to fail, 1^. Jas p rl
eived by h,s countrymen, and rescued fr'om destnl
on. H,s remarks on the divine mercy evinced in his
de hverance appear to have been very spiritual and ed!
•fy.g; and he stated that, although his terror and

enabled, w,th compos.,, andresignation.tocommithim-
self unreservedly into the hands of his kedeeme, and
when the danger seemed most imminent, help was
gracously afforded, for which he rendered un e'g ed
hanks to hnn who was alone able to succor him in f uc
distressing circumstances.

in T'^l'^^r' '"""' '"."''"K''"'^^ "-elative to the mission
n Labrador is contained in tbree letters, written at
the respective settlements, and dated on the lOtl , tl e
23d, and the 27th of August, 1823

servo "'"r""""'"f"" '™" ^'""'' ""-" '•^''""•«n ob-
serve,-. 'Many are I he instances which we might ad.luce

»;;.::";i;;;rv''"'' "''"•"'-' ""■■■"-■ ^ •■"™" •

expressed l,n„M.lf„,„s.._.vVl,en,.,,. ,he Z a -
.■■oaches ,ha, you celebrate the holy communl f a,

ninno, be with y„u,my spirit is s,i,..wn,lw;r
"•t .. seeks to be pivscnnnnon, you ; and I i

IXoutbatlamporim.R.dtolKMvid, you ,his time I

-n hen,orer.Joiced,op„r,„kcM,fbis\..lvand J
in tb(> holy sarramont.' '

" A widow, ulio |i.|,| ,,,. ,.,, ,1 1 • ,
„f I ., ''"' Sr>'>*" old 111 the abominations

i;rr:;::'i!;;::'';'™^:™-''' >■■::

LABRADOR.

131

viour

"hicli I heard yesterd

' "■ ■ "i^ III »

•ermon, 'Tli..y tjuu be whole need

iiy m tile
not a physician.

but they that are sick;' and I could not sleep last
n ght, for admiratton and joy.' She then alluded To
other texts which had been imprinted on her memory
and after repeating these passages, 'Twill hav" meZ'
and not sacrifice;' and ' I am come, not to call he
nghteous, but sinners to repentance,' she burst ilto I
flood of tears, and exclaimed, 'Thus our Savi^urhas
dealt with me ; for I was dead in sin, but he has pa^
doned me, and graciously added me to his flocJ-'^

A communicant, who is the father of a large fam-
dy, exclaimed one day, ' Who am I, and what are
niy children, that Jesus shows so mu'ch mercy uno
us ? Should we not be entirely devoted to him ' Yes
.n ee , I feel that he h.s compassion on the poor and
^ther e,s, and provides them with needful subsistence
O . that we could but thank and praise him for it as he
deserves ! I was much distressed to think how I might
provide for my own family, and that of my sister^
" a -idow with four small children ; but I have been
enabled to catch no less than twenly seals, and thu^
Lave enough for some time. All th.^ I des re to as
cribe to the mercy and compassion of my Jesus !>

Another man, who, after remaining long in the
class of candidates for baptism, has, af leng^th, been

Wha thanks shall I render unto my Saviour that he
lias had mercy upon me, and drawn me to himself? I
fee that I am still very deficient, but I am his I pray

qncst of food, 1 may not be led astray, and forget him.
Hefore I was a communicant 1 used to be glad of that
t..ne,that I might spend it uninterruptedly I catchiW
cals; now, however, I do not care for them, but am
desirous of obtaining food for my poor soul, and of re-
ceiving new and abiding impressions of the deatli
and sufferings of Jesus for me.'
^ " During (he last winter," the missionaries continue
ue perccivo<l with great gratitude the traces of re-
newed spiritual life among our ,lear Esquimaux. At
IH. commencement of the season, th,- enemy con-
triveU, by means of some insii,c,.,e persons, to create
confusion among our young peopk. ; but it pleased
tin- l-onl ,o o,,e„ ,]„.ir hearts to receive admonition
and dneenoi, h-omhis holy word, and (o consi.h.r what
( hnst had done and suffer..! ,o re.leom them ; inso-

;7 '•-'-•Imd cause ,o rejoice over the change
•^If ■.t.'.l m iheu- walk and conversation. The scluKfls
an.l daily worship were well attended ; the scholars
showed an eagerness ,o learn, and great dilig,.nce ; and
at the exnn.mation held ui,h them, they all afforded
>'^ i"u,.h pleasure and edification. Duri..^ the last
J'-ni, three adults and seven children were bapii/ed •
five persons were admitted to iho Lor.ls suppn four

won. It"—:.... I :„•.-! i!,- • '' '""'

" 'n<otliccongrrgatKin, miij one depnried

13a

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

this life. The number of inhabitants in this settle-
ment at present is one hundred and eighty-one."

From Okkak the missionaries write to the following
effect :— " In the autumn of last year we were not a
little concerned about the maintenance of our large
congregation at this settlement, as very few seals were
caught. Our Divine Preserver, however, on whom
we exclusively rely, granted such success to the Es-
quimaux afterwards, that they were enabled to lay in
a sufficient stock for the winter, and were not under
the necessity of leaving us before Easter. None of
them, indeed, suffered real want, though we had to
relieve a few of the most indigent from our store.
They acknowledged this with the more lively gratitude,
as the heathen Esquimaux to the north of Okkak suf-
fered exceedingly from famine, and one of them ac-
tually perished with hunger. In this distress, howev-
er, many were brought to a sense of their wretched
state, and a great awakening took place among the
heathen, who began to inquire what they must do to
be saved. Since the commencement of the new year,
fifty-nine persons have come to reside in this place,
and among these there are several who appear truly
desirous of being converted to God. A company of
these poor people moved us to great compassion.
Their emaciated forms exhibited a deplorable picture
of the hunger they had suffered, and proved that
they had been nigh unto doatii. O ! that this visita-
tion might tend to their genuine conversion and their
deliverance from the power of Satan and of sin !

" Since the departure of the siiip, in 182'2, seven
adults and fourteen children have been baptized ; eight
persons have been admitted to a ])articipation of the
Lord's supper, and three into tlie class of can<Iidates
for baptism. One, baptized as a child, was also re-
ceived into tiic congregation. The inhabitants of our
settlement amount to three hundred and forty-one ;
and the schools are diligently attended by one iuni-
dred and forty scholars, whoso i)rofiriency in reading
tiie Holy Scriptures distinctly and with understanding
is considerable, and affords us nnich |)leasiire."

In 1H'2|, the missionaries write from Okkak, —
" Since the new year, (ilty-nine persons have come to
hve here; anioiig whom are several truly desirous of
obtaining pardon and peace with God iliroiigli the merits
of Jesus Christ."

Under the patronage of the British and Foreign
Biblo Society, the work of translating the Scriptures
into the Esquimaux lai.guage has been actively pursued,
and, during this year, more than sixty of the Psalms of
David were completed ; ami from a letter received
from one of the laborious brethren at this station, it
appears that the IJibh; Society produces blessed effects.
" In all the houses and tents of our Christian Esqui-

maux, a chapter is every day read from the New Tes-
tament. We wish you could see one of the congre-
gations offering thanksgiving and praise to that adora-
ble Saviour who suffered and died for them."

Perhaps a better idea cannot be formed of the faith
of these missionaries, or of their temper and feelings,
than may be gathered from the cheerfulness with which
they encounter the privations to which they are ex-
posed in that dreary climate.

From a journal of September, 1826, we read,

" January 19th was a day of joy and gladness, when
we celebrated the forty-ninth anniversary of the mis-
sion here, at Okkak, a corner of the world the most
rough and stormy, but where now the I^ord our Saviour
has fixed his standard." And after other details, they
remark, — " Thus we may say we have spent the year
happily together." And where was this happy year
spent ? In that dismal country, whore the most comincn
vegetables can scarcely arrive at maturity during the
short summer. During this happy year, " the ice and
fogs in July killed all the early plants." Certainly
nothing but faith could enable a European to pass "a
happy year" on the desolate coast of Labrador.

The latest intelligence from this interesting station is
under date of August .1, 1830:—" During the past
winter, we have spent a blessed time with our Esqui-
maux congregation, and the presence of our Lord was
felt in all our meetings, but particularly at baptismal
transactions, confirmations, and the celebration of the
Ivord's supper. The .schools were punctually held,
and diligently attended, and we experienced much sat-
isfaction in the progress made by the scholars. Yet
there are several of the adults who cause us uneasi-
ness, by their apparent indifference to the concerns of
their souls, and some have deviated from the right
way. Their number, however, is comparatively small ;
and oven such declare, that they yet hope to ho truly
converted. The number of inhabitants at Okkak is
three hundred and eighty-eight Esquimaux, of whom
three hundred and fourteen are nu>mbers of the congre-
gation. Thirteen adults, and two children above two
years old, have been baptized ; eight were received
into the congregation ; sixteen became partakers of
the holy connmmion ; six couple were married ; four-
teen children were born ; and three adults and throe
children departed this life.

" We had many visitors last winter, who arrived in
sledges, and again in sunnner, in boats, from the north-
ern coasts. A few of them appeared to pay attention
to our exhortations, and the gospel of our crucified Sa-
viour seemed to make an impression u|)on their minds
One faiTiily .consisting of four persons, remaincfl with us."
In narrating the history of the mission at I lopedale,
the brethren observe, — " Some of our Esipiiniaux

'Ulh

have experienced the especiaJ protection of God in the
preservation of their lives. On the 16th of Novet
her last year, a young man, „„„ed Amos, beingTn Ws
kaj. k fishing, a species of whale, called 1 wZ fish
dashed against and overset his little bark. I pr^

whom he was rescued from a watery grave but hU

gun and all his other implements we4Tr cUe^

o , which to a poor Esquimaux is a very serious mis-

wa o:erselT " ""' T P''"'"^' —^^'00^",

he was floating on his overturned kai-ik Hp H^n
" As to the spiritual course of our V=r.. ■

fonnance of some short anti.e.J, wind 't ." ,Ien
and young people have lenrni Tl • .f '''''^en

supper; one was received inm r»,„ '^'' ^

LABRADOR.

dates for admission to the Lord's tM

eW.n. of „i Hundred .nd^\:r;;:i "Sy

.ion ™ ub„d.x S"i7z •- r,' "-Hr -

likewise o„ ,he i„c™,e " The,, number i.

w:j'si^itni7iirr:?r''""'»'^'
in ■il:dt t'.Tsfr' '■'" ''""'"' """•"»

ra:;Tu.?' ^ "'"'t-^ d-deri-hich cTrl?:^

lunTred am fi^'^'r' , '" '"" "'^^'^^' "P--dsof one
muKlred and fifty of the members at Nain lay ill A

nuss.onary writes-" The .si,„,.,;n„ ,.r ,ulL"- ^
Pio was deplorable in the extreiiie: 'in'l^"^,

¥,\

134

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

every thing is wanting ; nor could the patients assist
one another. In many tents, all the families lay in a
helpless state ; nor could any one give the other so
much as a drop of water. Those who had recovered a
little, walked about as shadows. We were employed
early and late in preparing medicines, visiting and
nursing the sick ; and all our spare time was occupied
in making coffins, and burying the dead; on some
days we liad two or three funerals. Our stock of
medicine was all expended, and at one time, we feared
we should lose the majority of our congregation."

" Our greatest comfort was the state of mind of
those who departed this life. They all declared that
they rejoiced at the prospect of soon seeing him, face to
face, who, by sufferin ;s and death, had redeemed them
from the power of sin, and the fear of the grave. In
watching the departure of many, we felt as though
heaven was indeed opening upon them. Thus the
Lord gPthered in a rich harvest."

In August, 1830, the missionary from Hopedale
writes — " The word of the cross, which' we preach, has,
in the past year, penetrated into the hearts of most jf

those who heard it. Few have remained indifferent,
and we have perceived with joy that many have found,
m the doctnne of Christ's atonement, salvation and
deliverance from the power of sin. Some young peo-
ple, who as yet turn a deaf ear to the exhortations
given, continue in a wayward course, and we wait with
patience for the time when the good Shepherd will
find them, and 8»ing them to his fold. In our schools,
we have the pleasure to see the children making con-
siderable progress, but some of the elder ones learn
very slowly. Those in the first class can read well,
and turn to Scripture texts and hymns with great
facility."

The signal success which has attended the labors of
the brethren in Nain, Hopedale and Okkak, has de-
termined the friends of the cause to undertake a fourth
station, at a place called Kangertlnksoak, about eighty
miles to the north of Okkak. This measure was
strongly urged by the Rev. F. J. Mueller, who returned
to Europe in October, 1829, after a faithful service of
thirty-five years.

CHAPTER VI

MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

An application having been made to tlie congrega-
tion at Herrnhut, for a missionary to go out to the Cape
of Good Hope, for the purpose of introducing the
light of divine revelation among the beniglitod Hot-
tentots, George Schmidt, a zealous and Courageous
herald of the cross, volunteered his services on tliat
occasion ; and, having obtained the sanction of the
directors of the Dutch East India Company, he
sailed from Europe, and, after a tedious voyage,
arrived at his place of destination on the 9th of Julv'
17:37. •"

After waiting upon one of the governors, by whom
lie was treated with great kindness and urbanity, he
fixed his abode about sinenty miles from Cape-town ;
where, with the assistance of two Hottentots, named
Africo and Kibbodo. he erected a hut and laid out a gar-
den. The following spring he removed to a spot near
Serjeant's River, and there collected a number of the
natives, to whom he frccpiently preached, through the

inedium of an interpreter, the glad tidings of salva-
tion. He also established a school for the instruction of
children, which rapidly increased from a small begin-
ning ; and the divine blessing evidently attended his la-
bors. The Hottentots, who regarded him with senti-
ments of united respect and affection, listened with the
most profound attention to his discourses, and, in some
instances, the word preached was applied to the hearts
of the hearers with irresistible power by the Holy
Spirit; so that, in the course of a few years, several
of them were baptized in the faith of Christ.

In the autunm of 1743, circumstances rendered it
expedient that Mr. Schmidt should visit Europe. Ho
therefore placed his little congregation, consisting of
forty-MJven persons, under the care of one of the bap-
tized Hottentots, and set sail for Holliuid ; but on his
arrival in that country, he had the mortification to find
that the East India Company would not permit him
to return ; some persons having thrown out the absurd

and wicked insinuation that the interests of the colony
would be injured by his missionary labors.

Various attempts were made by the United Breth-
ren to procure the removal of the obstacle thus thrown
m their way, and to obtain permission to send to the
Hottentot converts, who continued for a considerable
time to meet together, fondly anticipating the return of
their revered minister; but nothing was effected for
nearly half a century. At length, however, a new
application was made to the directors of the company
at Amsterdam, which was favorably received : and in
the month of July, 1792, Messrs. Marsveld, Schwinn,
and Kuehnel, sailed from Holland, for the purpose of
renewing the mission in South Africa.

On their arrival in Cape-town, they were received
with great condescension by the governor, who assur-
ed hem of his protection, and expressed his anxious
wish for their success. Many pious persons, also,
congratulated them on the important service which
they had undertaken, and fervently blessed God that
a door was at length opened for the dissemination of
divine truth among the ignorant and long neglected
Hottentots.

Having been recommended to take up their abode
at Bavian s Kloof, about a hundred and twenty miles
to the eastward ofCape-town, they set out for that place
on the 20th of December, under the proteetiol oJ a
person named Teunis, the baas or overseer of an
extensive district, who had received orders from
the governor to protect them from molestation, and to
furnish them with all things requisite for their estab-
lishniL-nt. The journey was performed in about four
days, their wagon being drawn by twelve oxen ; and
they had the satisfaction to find that the place which
had been pointed out as the most eligible for a mis-
sionary settlement, was the identical s|K)t where their
excellent brother Schmidt had formerly resided Part
of the wall of his house, indeed, was still standing, and
m the garden were several fruit trees planted by his
hands ; ^yhllst various ruins of walls at a short distance
marked the site of Hie lowly cottages which were once
mhabitud by Ins affectionate hearers. One of the
females wjiom he had baptized by the name of Helena
was also found out, and appeared to have a tolerable
recollertion of her former teacher ; tliougli, being now
eighty years of age, and almost blind, slie acknowl-
edged, that she had forgotten his instructions. A Nqw
Testament in the Dutcli language, however, with
wliicli he had presented her, ha<l been carefully pre-
served as a precious relic, and was now taken out of a
leather bag enclosed in two sheep-skins, to be exhib-
ited to the missionaries.

Such of the Hottentots as remembered Mr. Schmidt
or had heard of his exertions for the benefit of th.eir

SOUTH AFRICA.

136

nation, welcomed the arrival of the brethren with
every mark of innate satisfaction. Others, Towever
whose mmds had been poisoned by the Ditch boo«
mthe vicmity, viewed them with evident feelinVsTf
'^ICZ " \' """'' "^^^ '''"'" ^-d one : S m
ness buTffw tr"'" fatusat first with great kind-'
ness but If we listen to their instructions, more of their
^ount^ymen will come, and transport ul as slay s t^
«atavia. Some other persons were gravely told that
he missionaries were in the habit of be^tilg tE
scholars with the most merciless severity and that
.hey had actually a chest filled with bamL "thfc
were intended to be used as instruments of ciia U j
nent Notwithstanding these and other teS"
eports, however, which were industriously circu a ed
by the agents and emissaries of Satan, the IS:^
h d no sooner erected their house and opened a school
han considerable numbers of the Hottentots flocked
to hear the word of life from their lips ; and, in aThort
.me, their pupils amounted to upward; of forty adul
and more than thirty children. Indeed, they a
evinced the utmost anxiety to learn ; and in the meet
.ngs which were held for divine worship, they listened
with the most reverential silence, and e'^nced by the
emotion visible in their countenances, that seWous
nipressions were made by the word of God upon
their hearts Some of them were accordingly placed
under particular instruction, as preparatory^o tS
InTon^oT *"' ''^"'•^'^ of Christ; and before the

'f f, °™' 'rf " P""'""' ^'^'^ •^^P'i^ed in the name
of the Triune Jehovah.

But whilst the brethren were gratefully praising
heir adorable Master for the success with which ho
had been pleased to crown their attempts, some dark
clouds were beginning to gather around them, and a
variety of painful circumstances were permi ,ed t^
exercise their faith and patience. The anticipation
of an attack upon Cape-town by the French, induced
he governor to order all persons in the colony, capa-
be of bearing arms, to hasten to the defence of that
r, ,7 '• "' I' "'! S'-'^ater part of the male Hottentots
at Uav.an s Klool were thus compelled to remove to
the town their wives and families were left in the
greatest distress, and some of them experienced, for a
season, all the horrors of ftunine ; whilst otlie.; sub-
sisted principally upon wild honey, found in hollow
lees to which they were fortunately directed by acer-
nun bird called the cuculus indicator, or honey guide
Attempts were also made, about the same finie, to
circmscribe the limits of the land belonging to the
settlement; Baas Tuenis, who had hitherto b ^
considered decidedly friendly to the missionaries, now
became their enemy; and Mr. Schwinn, i„ travellinR
to Lape-town, on one occasion, experienced the most

ft!

^>.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

11.25

Li |2.8 iZS
1^ ^ 12.2

IkJUi-

U 11 1.6

S^/

^> ^<V -'^'

'///

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

33 WIST MAIN STRUT

WUSTIR.N.Y. M5S0

(716) •72-4903

VJa

136

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

unkind tre«tni''nt from some of the colonists, wlto pe-
remptorily refused him either lodging or refreshment ;
in consequence of which he was compelled to ride one
night, attended by only a single Hottentot, through a
desert part of the country, infested by runaway slaves,
and too frequently the scene of depredation and
murder.

These, however, were not the only difficulties which
were thrown in the way of the mission ; but in pro-
portion as the Hottentots became attached to their
teachers, the farmers, conceiving their temporal inter-
ests likely to be injured, became so violent in their
opposition, that some of them actually menaced the
brethren with death ; and others, by preferring various
unfounded complaints against them, induced the gov-
ernment to interdict them from building a church ; to
order the principal part of the cattle belonging to their
hearers to be driven from the settlement ; and to pro-
hibit the missionaries, in future, from admitting any
Hottentots among them who could not produce a cer-
tificate from the farmer with whom he had resided,
that his term of servitude had expired. After some
time, however, the orders relative to the removal of
the cattle and the admission of natives at Bavian's
Kloof were revoked ; and though the brethren could
not obtain permission to erect even a temporary place
of worship, they consoled themselves by contemplat-
ing the work of the Holy Spirit as evinced in the
conduct and conversation of their hearers, and by
witnessing the beneficial effects which attended their
exertions in the school, both among the adults and
children.

In the month of .Tune, 1795, a numerous body of
the colonists rose in arms, with the view of obtaining
by force the redress of certain grievances of which
they complained, and among these the attempt to
evangelize the Hottentots occupied a prominent place.
Various alarming reports were consequently spread
through the country, and the settlers at Bavian's Kloof
were, for several weeks, kept in a state of the most
fearful anxiety. One day it was reported that o large
body of the rebels was advancing in order to take the
missionaries and their people prisoners, and transport
them to Batavia ; another day it was said, that the
insurgents had vowed to exterminate oil who should
decline to assist them, and that several of the farmers
had, in consequence, retired precipitately to Cape-
town ; and on another occasion it was confidently os-
sertcd, that the !iettlomcnt had been doomed to de-
struction, and in a few hours would be laid in ashes.
The losi account seemed very likely to be founded in
fact ; and the converted natives, terrified with appro-
henxion, crowded around the mission-house, exclaim-
*n|, " O ! that they would but spare our teachers !"

Many of them also declared their determination to
remain with the brethren to the last extremity ; and
others who, yielding to the impulse of fear, resolv-
ed to flee for shelter to the mountains, took such an
affecting farewell of their beloved instructers that the
latter were scarcely able to return their "parting bene-
dictions.

On the 29th of July, two horsemen arrived at the
mission-house, and stated that Pisani, the leader of the
rebels, who was marching behind the mountains at the
head of eight hundred men, had sent them to inform
the brethren that they must quit Bavian's Kloof within
three days, and remove either to Cape-town or to some
other place inliabited by Dutch colonists, on pain of
being severely punished in the event of refusal. As
resistance in this case would have been little short of
madness, and as delay might have proved extremely
dangerous, the missionaries prepared, whh heavy
hearts, to set out for the Cape ; whilst the Hottentots
expressed their grief in the most affecting manner,
and acknowledged that the removal of their teachers
was a righteous judgment sent from God, in conse-
quence of their unthankfulness and disobedience.

After loading two wagons with their goods, and mak-
ing all other requisite arrangements for their removal,
the brethren took an affectionate farewell of their
beloved flock on the 31st of July ; and, on the 3d
of August, they arrived at Cape-town, where they
were politely received by the commissary, to whom
they explained the cause of their journey. He ap-
peared equally surprised and indignant at the insolence
of Pisani, whom he represented as the ringleader of
only a small party of the insurgents ; but as such a
character might probably have proceeded to extremi-
ties in the event of his orders having been disobeyed,
he sold the missionaries had acted wisely in quitting
their settlement. The appearance of a Britisli force
off Cap«-to« n, however, and the anticipation of an im-
mediate attack, had determined the rebels, for the
present, to suspend their demands, and to unite in re-
pelling the invaders. The missionaries, therefore, after
the lapse of a few days, received permission to return to
their converts, by whom they were received with ev»?ry
demonstration of gratitude and affection. The colony
soon afterwards surrendered to the arms of his Britan-
nic majesty, and the mission at Bavian's Kloof was kind-
ly taken under the protection of the new government.

An interval of repose now succeeded the late trying
circumstances, and, in many instances, the wonl o^ ^he
cross was peculiarly owned and blessed by the great
Heod of the church, to the conviction and conver-
sion of immortal souls. A considerable number of
new people came to the settlement from great
dlitanpoi • th« inatnjclions >iven in th* achno!

appeared to be diligently improved; a church was
erected by the express permission of the English com-
mandant ; and before the close of the year, twenty
adult converts were admitted to the rite of baptism

In the month of February, 1796, the brethren had
a new and convincing proof of the unwearied vigUance
and merciful protection of that good Shepherd by
whom all their concerns were graciously superintend-
ed. Some of the neighboring farmers, who were ex-
tremely mimical to th6 instruction of the Hottentots
had assembled about a hundred armed men, with the
design of murdering the missionaries and destroying
their settlement. Scarcely had they assembled, how-
ever, at their appointed place of rendezvous, when a
notice arrived from the British general, stating that
the plot had been discovered, and that the sliehtest
attempt towards putting it in execution would sub-
ject the conspirators to the most exemplary punish-
ment. Attempts were subsequently made to starve
the brethren and their people, by withholding the
needful supplies of provision ; and, for a short time,
the inhabitants of the settlement were severely ha-
rassed, in consequence of being unable to obtain
either corn, salt, wine, or other necessaries from their
neighbors. The all-wise God, however, in whose
hands arc the hearts of men, so overruled events, that
those very persons who had recently been the most
inveterate gradually began to change their senti-
ments, and sonw, of .hose who had formerly thirsted
for the blood of the missionaries, now began to ac-
knowledge the utility of their labor., and sent a
wagon load of corn to the settlement, at a lower
price than the same article would have produced in
other parts of the country.

Several persons in the colony, and particularly those
residing at Cape-town, were now led by curiosity io
visit Bavian's Kloof; as the reports which had been
circulated respecting that useful and improving settle-
ment had excited a considerable degree of interest.
And among those who were desirous of witnossine
the improvement whicl- had been effected in the
character and conduct of a race formerly so ignorant
and degraded as the Hottentots, was Mr. Barrow
from whose Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa'

the following account is extracted :

"Wo hnlted, late in the evening, at a place called
Bavian s Kloof, whore there is a small establishment
of Moravian missionurios. Early next morning, I was
awakened by some of the finest voices I had ever
lionrd ; nnd, on looking out, I saw a group of female
Hotlontots sitting on the ground. It was Sunday, and
they had assembled thus early to chant their morn-
ing hyirn. They were all neatly dressed in printed
cotton pnrrn A Bij^ht «a v«ry .iifferent Jrom what
Vol. I.—Nos. II & 18. gQ

SOUTH AFRICA.

we had hitherto been in the habit of observing with
regard to this unhappy class of beings, could not f«I
of proving grateful, and at the same time it excited a
degree of curiosity as to the nature of the establish-
ment. The good fathers, who were three in number,
were well disposed to satisfy every question put to
them. They were men of the middle age, plain and
decent m their dress, cleanly in their perLs ; of
modest manners, meek and humble in their deportment,
but nitelhgent and lively in conversation, zealous in
the cause of their mission, yet free from bigotry or
enthusiasm. Everything in the place partook of [hat
neatness and simplicity which were the strongest
features m the outline of their character. The church
which they had constrocted was a plain, neat building ;
their mill for grinding corn was superior to any in the
colony ; and their garden produced abundance of vege-
ah es for the use of the table. Almost every thing
that had been done was by the labor of their own
hands. Agreeably to the rules of the society of
which they are members, each of them had learned
some usefu: profession. One was skilled in every
branch ot' smith's work, the second was a shoemaker,
and the third a tailor.

" These missionaries have succeeded in bringing
together into one society upwards of six hundred
Hottentots, and their numbers are daily increasing.
They live in small huts dispersed over the valleys
to each of which was attached a piece of ground for
raising vego.nhlfis, and their houses and gardens were
very neat and comfortable. Those Hottentots who
chose to learn the respective trades of the missionaries
were paid for their labor as soon as they could earn
wages. Some hired themselves out, by the week
month, or year, to the neighboring peasantry ; others'
made mats and brooms for sale ; some had poultry
and others found means to subsist by their cattle
sheep and horses. Many of the women and children
of soldiers belonging to the Hottentot corps reside at
Bav.ans Kloof, where they are much more likely
to acquire industrious habits than by remaining in the
camp. °

"On Sundays they all regularly attend the per-
formance of divine service, and it is astonishing how
ambitious they are to njipear at church neat and clean.
Of about three hundred that composed the congrew-
tion, about half were dressed in coarse printed cottons,
and the other half in the ancient sheep-skin dresses
«nd It appeared, on inquiry, that the former were the
first who had been brought within the pale of the
church ; a proof that theii external circumstances at
^ast had suffered nothing from their change of life.

I "crsuosinn ani\ oviin.«i- i i ? • .

i - — 1— "=-J convincca tnem, Uiai

cleanhness in their persons not only added much to

lit

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

the comfort of life, but was one of the greatest pre-
servatives of health ; and that the little trifle of money
they had to spare, was much better applied in pro-
curing decent covering for the body, than in the pur-
chase of spirits and tobacco ; articles so far from being
necessaries, that they might justly be considered as
the most pernicious evils,

" The deportment of the Hottentot congregation
during divine service was truly devout. The discourse
delivered by one of the fathers was short, but full of
good sense, pathetic, and well suited to the occasion ;
and tears flowed abundantly from the eyes of those to
whom it was particularly addressed. The females
sang in a style that was plaintive and affecting, and
their voices were, in general, sweet and harmonious."
The arrival of some fresh missionaries from Europe
in 1798, induced the brethren to convert their place
of worship into dwelling-rooms ; and as the number
of inhabitants in the settlement had no;v increased to
upwards of twelve hundred and thirty persons, and
many strangers came, at different times, to hear the
gospel, they resolved to erect a new and spacious
church, capable of containing fifteen hundred hearers.
The foundation was accordingly laid on the 8th of
January, 1799, and on the same day in the ensuing
year it was solemnly consecrated for the celebration
of divine worship. Tiiree hundred and four individ-
uals were, at this time, members of the congiegation,
and of these no less than eighty-four had been admit-
ted to the rite of baptism within the space of twelve
months.

In the month of July, 1800, an epidemical fever
of a bilious nature made its appearance in Bavian's
Kloof, and raged for several months with unremitting
fury ; and when it was at its lieiglit, six, eight, and
even ten deaths occurred in the course of a week.
This visitation was felt the more severely as the farm-
ers in the neighborhood, from a natural dread of in-
fection, were unwilling to employ any of the Hottentots
belonging to the settlement, and these poor creatures
were consequently precluded from obtaining the means
of subsistence. The brethren, hounvcr, did every
thing in their power to ameliorate the distressing situa-
tion of their afflicted people, as will appear from the
following statement of the Rev. C. L. Hose, who had
formerly resided at Labrador, but had been recent-
ly appointed to superintend the mission in South
Africa.

" In order to bo more regular in our attendance on
the sick, we engaged in this duty by rotation, each
missionary and his wife visiting a certain district every
week. In doing this, we had to make ■ circuit
of four or five miles, and our visits were attended
with no little danger to ourselves, as the fever waa I

very infectious. Through the mercy of God, how-
ever, none of us were seriously afiected by it. In
performing this duty, grief and joy alternately pos-
sessed our hearts. When we crept into the Hottentot
huts, and saw the poor people lying, in the greatest
misery, upon nothmg but a sheep-skin spread on the
bare ground, without medical aid, and often without a
morsel to eat, and the convalescent tormented by
hunger, whilst a number of poor naked children were
crying for food, we were overwhelmed ivith sorrow.
We exerted ourselves, indeed, to the utmost of our
power, to procure them nourishment, and the most
necessary medicine ; but our resources were soon ex-
hausted, the number of those who needed relief being
so great ; for scarcely a cottage was without patients,
and in some of them three or four persons were con-
fined at once ; and others, after recovering from the
first attack, were seized a second and even a third
time ; in which case the disease mostly proved fatal.
Then again, when, on discoursing to them of the love
of Jesus, and setting before them the comforts of the
gospel, we saw them listen with eagerness to our
address, forget all their external wretchedness, and
patiently resign themselves to the will of the Lord,
declaring their confident hope that he would receive
them into his everlasting kingdom, and extolling his
goodness in sending teachers, to instruct them in the
knowledge of their Redeemer ; when we saw and
heard all this, we were so greatly strengthened and
encouraged in the performance of our duty, that we
forgot all our pain and sorrow, and our hearts over-
flowed with thanksgivings to God."

The fame of Bavian's Kloof had spread, in the
mean time, to very remote distancrs. and a thirst for
instruction had begun to appear in vaiious directions.
1% the month of January, 1801, a whole family came
to the settlement from the confines of Caffraria, after
a journey of six weeks ; another party of twenty-three
persons arrived, in June, from a very distant part of
the country ; and u man and his wife from the land
of the Bushmen soon followed. Another woman,
who subsequently arrived with her family, stated, that
she understood Bavian's Kloof to be an asylum for
poor distressed sinners like herself, who had become
tiri!(l of the service of Satan, and were desirous of
obtaining rest for tiieir souls. The power of God,
indeed, was evidently manifested at this time, and the
missionaries had abundant cause to rejoice that they
had not labored in vain, nor spent their strength for
nought.

On the conclusion of peace, and the restoration of
the colony to the Dutch, the brethren found a kind
friend and |)a(run in the new governor. General Jansen,
at whose suggestion the name of their settlement was

SOUTH AFRICA.

changed from Savian't Kloof, or Baboon's Glen, to
Chuadenthal, or Gracevale. By his interference, also,
and that of the commissary, M. de Mist, a tract of
cultivated land, which had been unjustly wrested from
the Hottentots by the neighboring farmers, was restored
to its legitimate owners, and further encroachments
were, in a great measure, prevented. One of the
missionaries was likewise appointed chaplain to a
Hottentot corps which had been raised for the defence
of the colony ; and in the discharge of his ministerial
duties in that capacity, he obtained the entire appro-
bation of the constituted authorities.

In the month of January, 1806, the Cape was once
more attacked successfully by a British force ; but,
though the government was transferred into other
hands, the missionaries continued to enjoy the same
favor and protection which had formerly excited their
warmest gratitude. Sir David Baird, and many Eng-
lish officers and gentlemen, visited Gnadenthal in the
most condescending and friendly manner ; and Lord
Caledon, who was appointed governor in 1807, evinced
the most friendly disposition towards the brethren,
and encouraged them to form a second settlement at
a place called Grucnekloof, or Grepn-g)en, in the
high road between Cape-town and Ti. ; ..nha Bay.

To this spot Messrs. Schmitt and Kohrhammer re-
moved, with their wives, in the month of March, 1808,
and took up their residence in a farm-house, the lease
of which had just expired. They then applied to the
Hottentot caption of that district, explaining the ob-
ject they had in view, and requesting him to convene
his people, that the word of salvation might be ad-
dressed to them. About a hundred persons were
accordingly assembled, and, after listening with the
most profound' attention to a solemn and pathetic
discourse, several of them agreed to reside in the
vicinity of the mission-house ; and eighteen lots of
ground were immedintely measured off, for the erec-
tion of their huts, and the formation of their gardens.
The subseciucnt labors of tlie brethren at this new
station were cvidmtly attended with the blessing
of the Holy Spirit , as many of tlieir hearers were
constrained to acknowledge the depravity of their
own hearts, and to cast themselves simply and un-
reservedly upon the grace and mercy of that com-
passionate Saviour, who Imtli been so appropriately
styled " the receiver of sinners." One of them, in
conversing with the missionaries on the state of his
soul, observed, " Wherever 1 am, I cannot help think-
mg that all is not right with me. When I am working
with other men who are speaking on subjects with
which 1 should, in former times, have been highly
gratified, I cannot bear to listen to tiieir cimversation,
bit am e-omjicHcd to retiio luio iho woods, and pray

139

to Christ for mercy ; when I seem to obtain consola-
tion." Another remarked, one day, with great energy,
" I seem to be surrounded by my sins, like a man
sitting in the midst of a fire, and am ready to be con-
sumed by the anguish of my spirit ; but in this situa-
tion I stretch out my arms toward heaven, and ex-
claim. Lord Jesus, suffer some drops of thy heavenly
grace to quench the flame which threatens to de-
stroy me i"

But whilst the brethren were contemplating with
sacred delight these indications of the work of God
upon the minds of the heathen, a circumstance occur-
red which threatened to be productive of the most
disastrous consequences. One night, the slaves in a
district called Hottentot Holland, rose in rebellion, to
the number of three hundred, and resolved to set fire
to Cape-town, to murder all the European males in
the colony, and to reduce the females to slavery.
They had actually seized and bound several of their
masters ; carried off arms, horses, and wagons ; and
committed a variety of depredations. By the prompt
exertions of government, however, this formidable
insurrection was crushed, and the ringleaders of the
plot, with many of their deluded adherents, were
made prisoners by the dragoons, who had been appoint-
ed by Lord Caledon to scour the country in every
direction.

In 1811, an accident occurred at Gruenekloof,
which cannot be related without feelings of sympathy
towards the sufferers, mingled with sentiments of
gratitude to that God who interfered on the behalf
of his servants in the hour of imminent peril. The
neighborhood having been lately annoyed by the
depredations of wolves, a day was fixed for hunting
and destroying those noxious animals. Accordingly,
on the sixth of August, the brethren Schmitt and
Bonatz, accompanied by about thirty Hottentots, set
out in the morning, armed with loaded muskets. At
a short distance from the settlement they discovered
a wolf, and fired at him, but as he was only slightly
wounded, he retreated among the bushes, and effect-
ually eluded their pursuit. Perceiving, after some
time, that there was no probability of discovering the
fugitive, the missionaries determined on giving up the
chase ; but as they were returning homeward, some
of the Hottentots, who had been left behind, exclaim-
ed, that they saw the wolf in an adjacent thicket.
Mr. Schmitt immediately rode back, dismounted from
his horse, and followed the persons by whom he had
been recalled through the almost impervious bushes.
When they reached the middle of the thicket, one
of their dogs started the animal, which proved to be
a tiger. The Hottentots on the outside of the thicket
immediotely provided for their safety by a precipitate

140

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

flight, whilst the persona within proceeded slowly with
their guns pointed, intending to shoot the animal as
soon as it made its appearance; for though it had
been distinctly seen by their companions, the thick-
ness of the bushes had hitherto concealed it from
their view. At length the ferocious creature sprang
unawares upon the Hottentot by whom Mr. Schmitt
was attended, and, throwing him down, began to
lacerate his face. The missionary had scarcely time
to aim his piece, when the monster quitted the Hot-
tentot, and made a spring at him. As his musket
was of no use at such close quarters, he prudently
threw it from him, and shielded his face with his arm,
which the tiger seized close to the elbow. Mr.
Schmitt, however, was providentially enabled with the
same hand to grasp the animal's fore feet, and, seizing
him by the throat with the other, to throw him on the
ground. He then held him firmly down, by kneeling
on his body, till one of the Hottentots arrived to his
assistance, and despatched the formidable savage by
shooting him through the heart. Tlie wounded, mis-
sionary and the Hottentot were then conveyed to the
settlement, where, by the blessing of God on the
medical aid which was procured from the Cape, they
were happily restored ; though the inflammation pro-
duced by the teeth and claws of the tiger was, for
some days, truly alarming.

The mission still continued to enjoy the patronage
and protection of government, and, under the smile
of the Almighty, the converts at each of the settle-
ments appeared to make considerable progress in the
knowledge of divine truth. Many of the heathen,
also, who came from considerable distances, evinced,
by their artless observations, that they had been led
to the brethren by the immediate influence of that
adorable Redeemer who had resolved to bring them
under the sound of his precious gospel. One of them,
in speaking to the missionaries on this subject, remark-
ed, " God has led me in a wonderful way from the
lower country to this settlement. I was first told
about Bavian's Kloof by some travelling natives, who
said that teachers had come across the great waters,
for the express purpose of instructing the Hottentots,
and that, in their discourses, they described an illus-
trious personage, who came down from heaven, in
order to save poor sinners from the black kloof, of
which we had heard such dismal accounts ; and to
introduce them, after death, into a most delightful
country. From that time my thoughts were continu-
ally occupied with the necessity of visiting this place,
but I could not accomplish my dosiro till God in his
providence led me hither." On another occasion a
woman stated that when she was a girl, her ftiiher one
day called his family around him, an I addressed them

to the following effect :— « My dear children, though
you are Hottentots and despised by men, let it be
your study to behave well ; for I have a strong presen.
timent that God will, at some future time, send teach,
ers to our nation from a distant country. As I am
already edTanced in years, it is probable that I may
not live to see that day; but you, who are young, will
hereafter discover that your father has told you the
truth. As soon, therefore, as you are informed that
such people have arrived in our land, hasten to them,
reside wherever they take up their abode, and be
obedient to their instructions." Shortly after the
demise of this Hottentot, his prediction was fulfilled ;
and when the intelligence reached his daughter, she
removed to Gnadenthal, where she was instructed in
the way of salvation, and, after some time, was admit-
ted into the church by the rite of baptism.

The Rev. C. I. Latrohe, the excellent and inde-
fatigable secretary tc the United Brethren's society,
in England, for the furtherance of the gospel among
the heathen, having been appointed to hold a visitation
in this mission, arrived at the Cape on the 24th of
December, 1815, accompanied by four male and two
female missionaries. This visit appears to have been
productive of much benefit, both in a spiritual and
temporal sense ; as the brethren were animated to
proceed in their arduous labors with increasing zeal
and diligence, and various disorders which had for-
merly occurred at Gnadenthal were effectually pre-
vented for the future by the introduction of several sal-
utary rules, and the establishment of a regular police,
consisting principally of fathers of families in the settle-
ment. Mr. Latrohe also assisted at the laying of the
foundation of a church at Gruenekloof, and undertook a
reconnoitring journey into the interior of the country,
with a view to the establishment of a third settlement
in South Africa. This expedition, in which he was
attended by three of the missionaries, and the land
surveyor to the colonial government, occupied rather
more than two months ; and they finally fixed on a
tract of land situate on the banks of the fVitte Revier,
near the frontiers of Caffraria, as the most eligible'
spot for a new missionary station. Having performed
these and other important services, and having had
various opportunities of witnessing the urbanity, con-
descension and benevolence of the governor, the
colonial secretary, and other gentlemen in authority
at the Cape, Mr. Latrohe quitted the shores of Africa
about the end of October, and, after a pleasant and
expeditious voyage, returned in safety to his beloved
charge in London.

In the beginning of December, the inliabitants of
Gnadenthal were suddenly involved in distress by the
descent of a torrent from the mountains, which over-

SOUTH AFRICA.

whelmed great part of their premises with destructive
Tiolence. This calamity has been thus described by
some of the brethren :—•

" On the last day of November, it had rained with-
out mtermission, though not faster than it often does
here ; but on the 1st of December, the rain increased
m an alarmmg degree, and continued, without cessation
or abatement, till the ensuing morning. Our three
brooks coming out of Bavian's Kloof, Siebenvonteyn
valley, and Komland's Kloof, swelled to a prodigious
height, carrying with them trees and large stones, and
threatening general desolation. The noise of the
waters and the rolling stones was terrific, particularly
m Bavian's Kloof, behind our dwellings. In the
kloof itself, which is of considerable width, and through
which the brook commonly winds in a gentle stream,
all the bushy and rocky eminences ^vere completely
covered, and the whole glen becoming too narrow for
the impetuous torrent, it tore away large parts of the
rocks and earth on each side, with all the trees that
had been planted on the slopes. The dike forming
the mill-stream, was in the most imminent danger
of being burst and carried away, as the water had-
made several large apertures in tlie ground, close to
Its foundation. The flood now rushed with surprising
violence out of the opening of the glen, and meeting,
on the left, with resistance from the projecting rocks,
the whole mass of water fell upon a dike made several
years ago, at the expense of government, of which
there was still a part remaining ; and carried ofl^ that
and the greater part of the grove of trees planted by
the missionaries, together with the gardens of the
brethren Leitner and Beinbrech. From hence it
turned, for a short space, into the old bed of Bavian's
Revier, but soon spread and burst through the middle
of the adjoining ground. Here it met the torrent
rushing down from Siebenvonteyn, and uniting itself
with that stream, inundated the whole valley, down
to the river Sonderend, destroying all the groui ds and
gardens of the Hottentots in its course. The hieh
foot-bridge leading from the main part of the settle-
ment to the Caffro kraal, at least fifteen feet above
the level of the brook in dry weather, was covered
and carried away, and the place filled with stones and
sand To the right, behind the burying-ground, the
small brook descending from Komland's Kloof pre-
cipitated itself with equal violence into the settlement
covonnR the land with sand and stones, and wholly
deniohshmg many of the gardens. The walls of many
of the Hottentots' houses were already soaked throuah,
pnd threatened to fall upon the inhabitants ; and as
the ram rather increased than diminished towards
nigiit, the poor people quitted them, and sought for
_. .n„-i. j.r^rr.bcs, aim in houses on more elevated i

141

ground. We opeiied both the church and the school-
house for their reception, and rendered them otherwise
all the assistance in our power. Two men, however,
unfortunately lost theu- lives.

"From the 9th to the 12th, men, women and
chUdren were busily employed in attempting to lead
the Bavian's Revier mto its old channel. This, how-
ever, proved a very difficult undertaking, partly for
want of proper tools, and partly because many of the na-
tives were at work with the farmers. The brook was,
indeed, brought to flow within ite former bed, but the'
banks were but imperfectly secured, and it was found
necessary to leave the main work till after the harvest.
On this occasion, we were much pleased to see such
willingness and diligence as are not always met with
among the people, and are by no means natural to
the Hottentot nation ; and when we spoke with them
of the damage which had been done to their grounds,
they replied, that they had cguse to thank the Lord*
for his mercy, that, notwithstanding their great demerit,
they had been chastised with so mu'-h lenity."

On the 29th of January, 1817, the governor. Lord
C. Somerset, accompanied by his two daughters,
Capjain Sheridan, and Dr. Barry, paid a visit to the
settlement at Gnadenthal, and expressed the highest
gratification whilst surveying the various improvements
in that district. In the evening the whole party at-
tended the celebration of divine service in the church
and appeared much pleased with the singing of the
Hottentots ; and the following day, his excellency and
suite visited the school, the smithy, the cutlery, and
the joiner's shop ; and, before they departed, his lord-
ship presented the brethren, in the names of himself
and his daughters, with three hundred rix dollars, for
the use of the school ;— an example which was gen-
erously followed by Captain Sheridan.

About the middle of July, the weather was very
cold ; it froze hard at night, and the mountains were
completely covered with snow. "During the first
four days of this month," the missionaries observe,
"and eypecially in the nights, the hills aflbrded us a
magnificent spectacle, though not without an alloy of
anxiety. It is here customary to clear the land by
setting the bushes and heath on fire, both for the de-
struction of serpents and other noxious vermin, and •
to produce a crop of good grass ; and on this occa-
sion, a fire had been kindled in a glon, to clear away
the Imish-wood, with a view to jet at the larger trees.
As combustibles were plentiful in the glen, the fire
burnt very fiercely, and set all the heath in a flame,
which ron along in various channels up and down the
sides of the mountains, occasionally doubling the points
of the rocks, and forming, ot a distance. »hn
curious figures.

mnnt

148

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

" As long as the wind blew off oar place, and the
fire kept in uncultivated regions, it was an amusing
sight ; but about noon, on the third day, the wind
changed, and we began to entertain fears for our build-
ings. The fire now descended into Bavian's Kloof,
close behind the settlement, and approached toward
us. The Hottentots were summoned by messengers
sent through the village, and by ringing the church
bell, to help to extinguish the flames ; and, after some
hours of hard labor, a stop was put to their spreading
in the glen, for which we were truly thankful to God ;
as it has sometimes happened that such fires have done
great damage both to dwellings and plantations."

On the 7th of April, 1818, the Rev. H. Schmitt
and his wife, together with three single brethren and
the widow Kohrhammer, arrived at the Witie Revier ;
and with the assistance of he Hottentots who had
accompanied them from Gruenekloof and Gnadenthal,
they began, after a short, time, to clear the ground as-
signed them by government, and to prepare mate-
rials for the erection of a mission-house, a church, and
other buildings. Considerable numbers of the natives
were also induced to attend the preaching of the gos-
pel, and several Hottentot families obtained permission
to reside in the new settlement. But whilst both the
spiritual and temporal labors of the Redeemer's ser-
vants seemed likely to he crowned with the most com-
plete success, a predatory irruption of the Onffres iiiio
the colony, involved the brethren on this spot in the
greatest calamities, and excited in the breasts of their
friends, both in Africa and Europe, the most painful
anxiety on their behalf The following particulars
relative to this distressing event are extracted from a
letter written by Mrs. Schmitt to the Rev. C. I. La-
trobe, and dated March 2, 1819.

"Toward the end of January, repeated reports
of the approach of the Caffres began to make us un-
easy respecting our own safety ; and on the 6th of
February, our anxiety was much increased by a
message from Mr. Scheper, jun., at the Slagboom
farm, informing us that a party of them had entered
the Witte Revier glen, and had stolen one of his oxen
in the night, notwithstanding twenty farmers be-
longing to a commando lay at his house. The com-
mander of these men also sent us a message request-
ing that we would send twenty-two of our Hottentots
well armed to his assistance. This we of course re-
fused, as we hud not so many effective men at our
l>lace, and could not think of leaving our own premises
without protection. The commander, therefore, re-
turned to UitPnhngon ; and the following day, Mr.
Scheper came to us, begging us to take him and his
family into our houses for protection, as he considered
It no longer safe to remain at his own residence. As

he had neither wagons nor men to effect his removal,
we sent two wagons and six Hottentots, little thinking
what would befall us before their return.

" The 9th was a day of terror, such' as none of us
had ever before experienced. In the afternoon, as we
were sittmg in our hut, we heard a plunging in the
river. Thinking that our neighbor Scheper was com-
mg back with his goods, we opened the door towards
the fording place ; but how were we shocked to see
the Caffres issuing out of the thicket, about two minutes'
walk distant from us, with a most horrid yell, and each
carrying a bunch of assagays or javelins in his hand I
At first we could think no other but that their design
was to attack our persons, as the cattle were all out in
the fields. My husband, therefore, called to the Hot-
tentots to be on the alert, and I helped to make as
much noise as I was able, though almost dead with
fright. In a minute our people all ran together, and made
towards the Calfres,.whose intention, we soon saw, was
t6 attack the cattle, which were on their way home.
They met them in the river, which was so full, that
our herdsmen could not cross it without undressing ;
nor did they perceive the Caffres approach till the lat-
ter had succeeded in separating two hundred and thirty-
six head of cattle from the herd. They fired among
the thie/es, but we cannot tell with what effect.

"None but those who have experienced such
troubles can form a correct idea of our situation. We
stood as if fixed to the spot, looking after our lost cat-
tle, as long as we could see them ; and as we heard
frequent shots, we were in doubt whether any of our
herdsmen would return alive ; but oh, how thankful
were we to see them all coming in without having re-
ceived any injury !

" We spent a most distressing night, starting at every
sound, and expecting the Caffres to return and attack
us. All the men kept watch, and all the womnn and
■children were assembled in the long building which
we use as a temporary church. The condition of the
poor Hottentots might have melted a heart of stone.
It had rained heavily the whole day, and all was wet
both within and out of doors. The children were cry-
ing for their usual evening supply of milk, but, as most
of the cows were stolen, their distressed mothers had
nothing to give them. Providentially, however, we
had a good stock of rice, with which we helped them
for the present

" On the lOth, Mr. Scheper arrived, but without his
property. The Caffres had, no doubt, watched the
proceedings both at his and our places, and gave him
tlic meeting in the glen. The cattle were driven before
the wagons by his German servant, and one of our Hot-
tentots. Suddenly a troop of Caffres rushed out of the
bushes, took the man's gun out of his hand, and struck

•tm\>

SOUTH AFRICA.

him dead with their assagays. They also threw an as-
sagay at our Hottentot, but it only pierced his jacket
and he made his" escape to the wagons. It was in
yam to attempt to save the cattle, without endaneer-
mg more hves, the Caffres being too many for them

" Yesterday (March 1), the Cafires paid us a second
visit, and attacked the cattle so slyly, that they were
not perceived till they had separated thirty from the
herd. When they seized upon the fiftt, they exclaim-
ed in Dutch, ' You may take the rest home ; we shall
call for them another time.' To-day the Hottentots
set out to recover the thirty, but they were driven too
far into the woods."

From this period none of the Caffres were seen,
during several weeks, in the vicinity of the Witte
Revicr; and though the brethren considered it ne-
cessary to keep strict watch around their premises,
they resumed their former occupations mth cheerful-
ness, and almost forgot the alarm and loss which they
had suffered; being unfeignedly thankful to God for
the preservation of their lives, and for the continued
means of subsistence. In the evening of the 13th of
April, however, after the celebration of the Lord's
supper, ,t was stated that three Caffres had been seen
between the huts, and the following morning five of
those formidable enemies were observed to pass
through the bushes near the mission-house. As it
was naturally conjectured that they designed to steal
some of the cattle, four of the Hottentots attempted
to trace them, but failing in this, two of them return-
ed, and the other two went on to the herd. There
were now eleven men in charge of the herd, but
whilst they were conversing on the appearance of the
strangers in the settlement, they were most unexpect-
edly attacked by a numerous body of Caffres, who
rushed upon them out of the bushes, in various direc-
tions at the same moment. In opposing the removal
of their cattle, the herdsmen fired their muskets twice •
but their ammunition being now exhausted, nine of
them were overpowered and cruelly murdered by the
robbers, whilst the other two escaped to the mission-
house, with the intelligence of this sad catastrophe

The excellent missionary, Mr. Schmitt, alludinr
to this mournfol event, and to other trying circum-
stances connected with it, observes, in a letter dated
U.tenhagen, July 17, 1819, " It is out of my power to
describe what we and our people have suffered from
the beginning of February to the 17th of April, when
we were obliged to quit the settlement; especially
dunng the last week, when both our minds and bodies
were harassed almost beyond the power of human
strength to bear. The lamentations of the poor
widows and children of the nine murdered Hottentots

pierced our verv hnnrtg and a!! mir -'t -

-._, J 88S!) all Q^if Bitcrapis to sootne

143

^ ^ Th' "?1*''™""'«' «<>™fo" to them, were in
ZLrf ^f !«',«'*"' 'J^-'d ;-the catUe, which had

hitherto supplied them with meat and milk, were all

SkyT^ ""'' "''"""'' *° '''* '^'"''' "■

of 't'hY'nJ"''' '*'" »h« Caffres were still in possession
of the adjacent woods and- mountains, and were not
sure but that every moment a murderous attack might
be made, upon us. Our Hottentots were, therefore
furnished with nine muskets, and a quantity of pow
der and shot; but they had no v entirely lost UieTr
courage, and all our persuasions to make them seek
and bury their brethren were of no avaS foT hey
were apprehensive that if they entered the woods,
they should all share the same fate. Countless, in'
deed, were the sighs, tears and prayers, which we
offered up to our God and Saviour, during these days
oJ horror and anguish.

"There being no oxen left, we could not quit the
place, on account of the aged and infirm, and the chil-
dren ; but on the very day on which the Caffres had
visited us in such a terrible manner, two Hottentots
were found wiHing, m spite of extreme danger, to set
out for Uitenhagen, with the letters which we had
written to Colonel Cuyler, the landrost, and to our
brethren at Gnadenthal. The colonel ^as much af-
fected on hearing what had befallen us, and despatch-
ed, without delay, fifty armed colonists and thirty Hot-
tentots to escort us and our congregation to Uitenhagen.
After having, by God's mercy, survived that night
of terror between the 14th and 15th of April, we be-
gan to pack up the most needful articles of "'-hing
&c. ; and buried many of the heavy goods in the
ground, or concealed them in the thicket ; and on the
17th, we left the Witte Revier, with aching hearts
and truly in deep mourning. Such silence prevailed as
if no more than two or three were setting out. Hav-
ing only five wagons, and those pretty well loaded
the little children could not sit in them, but their
parents or friends carried them in their arms. Every
one of the bigger children, as well as the rest of the
people, took something to carry ; as a young child, a
sheep, or a small parcel.

"The Sunday river being swollen, and the ford
very deep, it required no small skill and exertion to
carry the old and infirm, the sick, the children, and
the sheep, across the stream ; but a party of peasants
who were deeply affected by the fate of the congre-
gation, and showed great compassion for us, placed
themselves in a row, standing up to their breasts in the
water, and handed them to each other. Thus we
crossed the river in safety, and encamped during the
night on the plain. And on our arrival at Uitenh»irfi„
Colonel Cuyler and his lady received us with much

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

compassion, and assisted us, in every way, to the ut-
most of their ability.

" On the 18th of May, brother Hofiman went again,
with a company of Hottentots and some armed boors,
to the Witte Revier. He found every thing burnt by the
Caffires, who had even thrown the doors into the fire, to
get out the iron hinges and fastenings. The unripe corn,
pumpkins, beans, and other vegetables, which we were
compelled to leave behind us, were utterly destroyed,
partly by the Cafiires, and partly by the elephants."

It now appeared that the mission on the Witte Re-
vier, once so promising and replete with interest, must
be finally abandoned. The great Head of the church,
however, had designed otherwise ; and though, in his
inscrutable wisdom, he had permitted his servants to
be driven for a season from that favorite spot, in the
course of a few months his providence opened the
way for their return. Accordingly, in the latter end
of October, peace having been previously concluded
between the Caffres and the colonial government, Mr.
and Mrs. Schmitt, together with the brethren Hall-
beck, Schulz, and Hoffinan, thirty-four Hottentot men,
and women, and a few children, set out from Uiten-
hagen, with the design of re-establishing a station,
which, in former times, had been abundantly blessed
by the presence and approving smile of their Re-
deemer. In speaking.of their removal, and of the com-
mencement of the new settlement, to which the breth-
ren resolved to give the name of Enon, Mrs. Schmitt
writes as follows : —

" From the moment of our leaving the Witte Revier,
I had always a firm belief that we should return and
live here in peace ; but when it was resolved that we
and the single brethren, with all the Hottentot men,
should return hither, I felt a dread which I shall not
attempt to describe. During the whole journey,
however, my heart was engaged in prayer, and
the nearer we approached the place, the more peace
of mind I felt. When we passed the ruins of our
dwellings, I shut my eyes, fearing the sight of them
might make me still more afraid. Here the Hotten-
tots with the wagons made a halt, but brother Hall-
beck and my husband ordered our drivers to proceed
into the midst of the bushes, where we now live.
They obeyed silently, and, leaving the oxen unyoked,
we all assembled in a circle, on the spot where our
house now stands, and falling on our knees, brother
Hallbeck offered up a prayer. Never shall I forget
this hour! Our hearts were filled with peace and
confidence in God.

" As soon as this was ended, the brethren and the
male Hottentots began to clear away the thorn-bushes,
while I, with our maid Louisa, and two widows of the
murdered men, who had come with us of their own

accord, were employed in pitching the tents and pro-
viding victuals.

" On the 24th of November we \)egan to build our
new house, and on this oc6asion, my husband, brother
Hofifman and myself, with some of the Hottentots, all
turned masons ; and we began the new year within the
walls, though the thatch was not yet put upon the roof.
I may truly assert that I never spent a more happy
new year's day. In the aflernoon we treated all those
Hottentots who had assisted at the building with tea
and cakes. They set a table at one end for us, and
brought benches in for themselves. Their conversa-
tion was unreserved and edifying ; and the mercy of
God in bringing us again in safety together, was ex-
tolled by them with humble joy and gratitude."

Of the rapid and interesting improvements which
were subsequently effected at this settlement, a toler-
ably accurate idea may be formed from the following
remarks of the Rev. H. P. Hallbeck, contained in a
letter dated November 30, 1821.

" What I felt at the first sight of this village of the
Lord no language is able to describe. I had, indeed,
been informed of the changes that had taken place here,
since I first witnessed its beginnings ; but even the
lively descriptions given in brother Schmitt's letters
presented things much more faintly than I now saw
ihem with my own eyes. The wilderness and the
impenetrable thicket of 1819 were still present to my
imagination. Judge, therefore, of my surprise, when
I saw that wilderness transformed into fruitful gardens ;
that thicket extirpated, and a fine vineyard planted in
its place ; the lurking places of tigers destroyed, and,
in their stead, the comfortable habitations of men
erected ! Imagine my heart-felt pleasure when, on
the spot where, two years ago, we knelt down in the
fresh track of an elephant, and offered up our first
prayer for the prosperity of his establishment, I now
found a beautiful orange tree, adorned at once with
ripe fruit and fragrant blossoms ; and when, shortly af-
ter my arrival, I was invited to tea under the huge
yellow tree, in the shade of which, but lately, there
were no assemblies but those of wild buffaloes, ele-
phants, and other dreaded inhabitants of the desert.
You used to say, that every tree and shrub planted at
Gnadenthal was an ornament, not only to the place,
but to the gospel ; and you may say, with equal truth,
that every tree and thorn bush which is extirpated
here, to make room for more useful plants, is not so
much a proof of the strength of the human arm, as of
the efficacy of God's holy word ; for by its influence
the work was accomplished. It is certainly more than
I had expected, to find here a piece of ground nearly
three times as large as the great garden at Gnadenthal,
. cleared, leveled, and laid out, as a garden and vine-

SOUTH AFRICA.

yard for the missionaries, besides about forty gardens
of tbe Hottentots ; and all this done amidst a variety
of other needful work, and even in the most distress-
ing times."

At the settlements of Gnadenthal and Gruenekloof
nothing particularly worthy of relation occurred till the
month of July, 1822, when the inhabitants were in-
volved in deep distress, by the rains and floods with
which they were visited. Of the painful circum-
stances connected with this visitation, the following
afiecting details have been given by Mr. Hallbeck :—
" Not only are the gardens at Gruenekloof almost
totally ruined, the large pond filled and turned into a
sand-hillock, several Hottentot cottages thrown down,
and their gardens swept away, but the north-west
gable end of our beautiful church is changed into a
heap of ruins. It was in the night of the 23d that this
dreadful misfortune took place, without any of us per-
ceiving it till the following morning, when we made
the fatal dUcovery. Our consternation and distress
you may more easily imagine than I can possibly de-
scribe ; indeed we are so overwhelmed with care and
trouble on all sides, that as yet we have not been able
to think deliberately on the proper measures to be
adopted in this general emergency. Many thousand
dollars will be required to repair the damage sustain-
ed, and no time must be lost, in order that we may
save the other walls and the roof But at the present
period we can hardly obtain provisions for money, and
the expense and trouble of providing for a number of
laborers will be very great. God only knows how
we shall find our way through the surrounding dark-
ness ! But, after all, there is only one way for us open ;
which is, not to cast away our confidence, but to keep
close to him who alone is able to heal the wounds
which his hand has inflicted.

"At Gnadenthal, though none of the buildings be-
longing to the missionaries have fallen, our poor Hot-
tentots have suffered most severely. Forty-eight
houses have been so materially injured as to be ren-
dered uninhabitable for some time, and of this number
upwards of twenty lie in ruins. Tlie rivulets which
irrigate our valley have overflowed, and damaged some
of the gardens ; but the river Sonderend rose to an
enormous height. All the boats belonging to the
farms higher up the river were carried away, and
picked up by our Hottentots. Great quantities of
trees, bushes, roots and trunks were also brought
down the stream, and collected at the foot of the
bridge ; the wood work of which was now dislodged,
and some of the beams and planks were carried to the
distance of several English miles.

" Besides the loss sustained by the falling of houses,
our Hottentots have also In-.t « grr.^t many cattle, by wet
Vol. I.— Nos. 13 it. 14. 2£

146

and cold. I have this morning made a list cf aU the
oxen which remain, and by this means have discover-

fi? o^u ^l *"""^'*'' ^^"^ ^^'""^ '^^y Po^'^sed on
the 26th of May, one half are either consumed in con-
sequence of famine, or have perished by the severity
01 the weather, in the short space of three months. In
fact we are ruined outright, and all the fond hopes of
progressive improvement, which once cheered the
spirits of the missionaries, will be entirely bliehted
unless God dispose the hearts of benevolent friends to
grant us their assistance. Often have I used that
expression, emaciated with hunger, but never did I
feel the force of the phrase so powerfolly as in these
days, when my door is incessantly besieged by women
and children, who present to my eyes the frightful
reality of what was formeriy only a faint picture in my
imagination."

Whilst the brethren and their respective flocks were
thus severely exercised at Gruenekloof and Gnaden-
thai, the settlers at Enon were also drinking deeply
of the cup of aflJiction, as will appear from the follow-
mg statement, extracted from a letter of the Rev.

J. H. Schmitt, dated September 11, 1822:

" For these two years past our people, generally
speaking, have not tasted a morsel of bread ; for it
was not to be procured in any way. Add to this, that
from their gardens they reaped no vegetables last sum-
mer ; nor could we assist them, in any material degree,
from our stores. They did not lose their confidence,
however, m their heavenly Father, but said, ' He who •
did not abandon us in our most dreadful distress, during
the Caffre war, will not forsake us now.'

" You will say, ' If the Hottentots have no bread or
garden-stuff to eat, by what do they support life ?'
They get buffaloes, by hunting in the woods ; and
sometimes an old worn-out bullock or cow is killed.
They have, likewise, milk ; but, in general, they live
upon fruits growing wild in the fields and forests.
The most nutritious among these is the boer-bohnen, a
kind of wild bean, growing on a tree in the woods ;
but as the elephants happen to be very fond of this
vegetable, they sometimes come and put the Hotten-
tot intruders to flight. The root called <'A:oe is also
found in plenty in the low grounds, among the bushes."
The 6th of January, 1823, was observed at Gna-
denthal with peculiar solemnity, as being the festival
of the Epiphany, and the twenty-third anniversary of
the opening of the church in that settlement. On this
occasion four adults were baptized, eight were receiv-
cd into tile congregation, and of twenty-four persons
who were present as spectators at the holy commu-
nion, eleven were intended to be confirmed previous
to the next celebration of that interesting oriinance.
It also appeared thatTrom the 6th of January, 1800,

146

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

when the church was consecrated, till this anniversary,
one thousand and five adults and eight hundred and
eighty-nine children had here been admitted to the
rite of baptism.

Towards the end of the same year the brethren at
this station were visited by a Hottentot captain named
Absalom Pommer, chief of a kraal at Sandvonteyn,
situated beyond the mountains, about four days' jour-
ney from Gnadenthal. He earnestly entreated the
missionaries to supply his people, amounting to about
fifty persons, with a teacher ; observing that, though
they were blind heathen, they were desirous to hear
the word of God, as their children were growing up
in ignorance, and the parents were incapable of giving
them any instruction. Two of the brethren, Messrs.
Stein and Beinbreck, were accordingly deputed to
visit Sandvonteyn, and the poor people appeared over-
joyed at their arrival. On account of the scanty sup-
ply of water, however, and some other unfavorable
circumstances, it was judged impracticable to form a
settlement in that place ; and the missionaries return-
ed, leaving the poor Hottentots overwhelmed with dis-
appointment.

The following account from Gnadenthal is contain-
ed in a letter of the Rev. H. P. Hallbeck, dated Jan-
uary 21, 1824, in which the writer observes, " We
)iave celebrated a very happy Christmas and entrance
into the new year. Many strangers attended our wor-
ship ; and on new year's day there were so many
Hottentote, slaves, and others, that a particular meet-
ing was held with thenj, in which they were seriously
and affectionately reminded not to neglect the day of
grace, but to seek to obtain the one thing needful. A
deep and salutary impression seemed to be made upon
them. On the 6th of January, thirteen adults were
admitted to the rite of baptism, and three baptized as
children, were received into the congregation. At the
celebration of the holy communion, on the 1 1th, thirty-
two persons were present as spectators, of whom
seventeen will be confirmed next month. It appears to
us, and we are assured by some old and faithful mem-
bers of our congregation, that during the solemn festi-
vals lately celebrated, many have been stirred up to
consider their ways, and to turn unto the Saviour for
pardon and peace."

It is no uncommon thing to hear men assail Cliris-
tian missions under the mask of friendship to science and
civilization. But the attack is vain. Facts prove that
the Bible is the sure harbinger of all the comforts and
charities of life. In 1826, the missionary records in
his Journal—" A new dwclling-nouse is building under
the inspection of a Hottentot mason of Gnadenthal,
and I am surprised at the accuracy, neatness and
expedition with which the woric is done. This Hot-

tentot has not his equal, as a mason, neither among the
Europeans nor the Africans in the whole neighborhood.
I am happy to add, that he is an excellent character,
and a pattern of sobriety, industry, and Christian
temper."

In July, 1828, Mr. Hallbeck mentions, that " three
elderiy people have departed this life in the faith of
Christ, full of hope and happiness. Among them
was a chapel servant and an overseer. It is a token for
good, that when such faithful members of the congrega-
tion leave us, there is no scarcity of approved charac-
ters to supply their places, but a choice among many."
The latest account is from the same missionary,
April, 1830 : " Several members of our missionary
family are at present suffering more or less from indis-
position, though not of so serious a nature, as to unfit
them for active exertion. Meanwhile, the work in
which we are engaged continues to be abundantly
blessed. We have just had the pleasure to see fifty-
two persons of both sexes advanced in the privileges
of the church, many of whom have afforded us much
satisfaction by their simple and experimental declara-
tions. An infant school has been opened with eighty
children at this station. The instructers are young
Hottentots, who have been trained by Mr. Hallbeck.
The total of Hottentots and CafTres at this station is
one thousand three hundred and twenty-two."

From Gruenekloof intelligence is furnished by Mr.
Clemens, in a letter dated November 12, 1823, in
which he remarks, " The character of the Hottentots
belonging to this congregation differs somewhat firom
that of those at Gnadenthal, owing to their vicinity to
the Cape, and their more frequent intercourse with
Europeans. We therefore find them more liable to
be seduced into irregularities, of which we had some
painful instances in the beginning of the present year;
but it pleased the Lord to bring the transgressors to
repentance, and our sorrow was turned into joy, by the
blessing which attended the celebration of the Passion
week and Easter ; when wo truly felt the Redeemer's
presence with us, and a renewed impression was made
upon all our hearts of his love to sinners, and of what
it cost him to deliver us from the power of sin and from
eternal death. Six adults and one child were baptized,
and twenty persons were added or re-admitted to the
congregation."

In 1827, tlie same missionary writes — " The inter-
nal state of our mission varies, yet we often witness evi-
dences of the power of divine grace among our poor Hot-
tentots. Tiie Passion and Easter seasons were periods
of special blessing. Thirty-three were admitted to dif-
ferent congregational privileges, and on Easter Monday
we had a very impressive service, at which eleven adults
were baptized, the greatest number ever baptized at

SOUTH AFRICA.

once at Gruenekldof. Our settlement has considerably
improved since you were here, and iu appearance is
not u Uttle improved by the erection of several walled
houses which do credit to the Hottentots."

In 1830, the mission had encouraging tokens of the
divme presence and approbation. The inhabitants had
mcreased to the number of five hundred and sixty.

At Enon, the circumstances of the brethren and
their little flock continued to be very distressing in the
latter end of 1823, as will appear from the following
extract of a letter written by Mrs. Schmitt on the 2d of
November: " On the 6th of October we had a fine
rain at which there was general rejoicing ; but when.it
continued, with little intermission, for four days and
nights, we began to be alarmed about the rising of the
river. Early on the morning of the 10th, brother
Halter who had the charge of our recently erected mill
went to see whether tlie dam near the river was in
order so as to stand against any body of water which
might be expected to come down ; but there was no
dam to be seen, and he was obliged to flee as quickly as
possible, that the flood might not overtake him. He
had scarcely got into our room, before the river over-
flowed its banks, and we saw the mill in great danger,
as the works were already under water.

" We now, as quickly as possible, and during tor-
rents of rain, brought our corn, flour and all that was
movable, into the loft over the church. We could then
do no more than pray to our Saviour to give us lesir-
nation to his will, and wait the event. Our poor Hot-
tentots fled to us ; many of their houses being washed
down by the flood. All our eyes were fixed on the
mill, which stood in the midst of a fierce and rapid
torrent. In about eight hours the water rose upwards
of sixteen feet, and tiie breadth of the stream, in the
smallest part, was upwards of six hundred feet. Our
beautiful corn field was, I believe, more than five feet
under water, and tiiere was not a single bush or young
tree to be seen. Large trees were torn up by the
roots, and carried by the stream over our corn-land
One of these struck the north-west corner of the mill,
and, giving entrance to the water, soon brought it to
the ground. Part of the wall fell upon the water-
wheel and broke it. The pump, however, remained
standing, and no material damage is done to the mill-
work inside the building. The house would probably
have stood against the torrent, had it not been struck
by the tree. The water was now only four feet from
our dwellings, and we were alarmed for our own
safety ; but about three o'clock in the afternoon, it
began to subside, so that we could spend the night at
ease in our house. Most of the Hottentots, whose
houses had been damaged, lodged in our church. Our
own buildings have suffered no materia! injury, nor

147

our garden and vineyard ; but the lower part of the
Hottentots' gardens, which lie in a line with our com-
land, is entirely swept away. The poor people had
been very diligent in planting, and it was a pleasure
to see how every thing was thriving ; but now all is
carried away, and a bed ol stones covers the ground !
Much as these misfortunes afflict us, however, we
have great reason to thank God that we have built
just on this spot, for there is not so safe a place alonir
the whole river, in case of floods. Had we built
on the old place, we must have fled to the hills : for
nearly all, from one hill to the other, was under water »
In a letter of the Rev. J. H. Schmitt, dated xVo-
vember 15, 1823, the writer observes, "We rejoice
when, by the liberality of our friends in England we
are able to assist the poor people, and especially the
children of the poor. In the beginning of this year,
some very wretched families of the Gunna and Bush-
men's tribes came hither ; and out of mere pity we
could not do otherwise than permit them to stay. We
must provide them with neariy every article of subsist-
ence ; but we are ... warded by perceiving that there is
a manifest work of the Holy Spirit in their souls, and
that the word of the cross proves itself to be the power
of God unto them. These poor people, and many
beside them, give undeniable evidence, that men who
have lived in darkness, and in the practice of every
kind of iniquity, when they receive the gospel into
their Iiearts, truly experience that Jesus has power to
forgive sin, and to deliver the soul from its dominion.
Often do we see these encouraging instances of the
grace of God imparted to the vilest and most degraded
of the human race. Thus they become Christians
indeed, and show, in their lives and conversation, that
they are truly converted. But till a poor ignorant
heathen, by the grace of God and the teaching of his
Spirit accompanying the word, begins to understand
what Jesus has done and suffered, out of love to such
wretclied beings as we all are, and sees the necessity
of turning to him for pardon and rest, all attempts to
bring him into a decent course of hfe, and to civilize him,
will be in vain. He remains dead in sin, and has'
neither inclination nor power to do what God has
commanded, or what good men prescribe for his wel-
fare. I may say this with regard to two Cafires living
here. One is an old man, very feeble, and can work
no longer ;— the other a young, bold, heroic character,
and in liis best years. They are both the same, how-
ever, in their experience of the grace of God in their
souls. The latter was formerly like a wolf, but has
now become a lamb. He often makes me think
of, and pray for, the nation to which he belongs, and of
which I consider that in these two men, the Lord has
given us the first-fruits."

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

In 18S5, there was occasion to lament the conduct
of some of the younger members of the congregation ;
but Mrs. Schmitt, in the following year, testified to
their sincere repentance, and described her school as
in a prosperous condition. On Easter Monday, ten
adul'^ were baptised ; and on the foliGwing Lord's
day, thirty, who had been baptized, and thirteen, ad-
mitted to the Lord's supper since 1825, attended the
usual thanksgiving on that day.

In a communication made in 1828, by the same
missionary, the state of the cause is represented as full
of CDfourageuient. He says, — " The longer I have
been at Enon, the more clearly have I seen, that the
Lord himself directed our steps to this place. The
gospel of our Lord and Saviour is heard with eager
attention and profit, of which we have encouraging
proof, particularly among the new people. We wish
that some of the older inhabitants showed more hun-
ger and thirst after the experience of the grace of their
Saviour.

- " During this year, twenty-seven adults and six-
teen children were baptized. Such days are to us,
and our Hottentot congregation, truly festival days ;
when we see so many added to the church of Christ,
and can believe that he receives them in mercy, as the
reward of the travail of his soul."

It may be necessary to observe, previously to
closing the present chapter, that, in the latter end of
1822, the United Brethren in South Africa were so-
licited by government to undertake the religious in-
struction of a number of lepers, or persons afflicted
with what is there termed the Lazarus disease, for
whom the hospital of Hemel en Anrde had been
erected, in a romantic situation, at the foot of a moun-
tain, called the Tower of Babel, and at a moderate
distance from the sea. The Rev. J. P. Lietner and
his wife accordingly removed thither on the 21st of
December, and had the satisfaction to find that most of
the patients were overjoyed nt their arrival. Some of
them, who had been previously united to the church, at
Gnadenthai or Groenekloof, cxclniined, — " Now we
perreivc tlint our Saviour has indeed heard our proyors,
and sent us help ; for we have often entreated him to
send one of our teachers to us." Oilicis, who were
formerly very wild, and who used to spond f^rcnt jjnrt
of their time in fiddling and dancing, wlieii tlu-y honril
that missionaries had arrived to instruct them in tlio
way of salvation, in their joy broke their fiddles to
pieces, and soon afterward bcciunc serious and atten-
tive hearers, whenever the word of life was dispensed
among tlictn.

Intelligence from this scene of labor is oontoined in
a conununieation from Mr. i^ietnor, dated January 9.
IHV4, in which ho observes, «" As to the preaching of

the gospel in this place, we should deny the power of
our Saviour's grace did we not gratefully declare, that
he has granted his blessing to attend our feeble tebti-
mony. Many a poor Hottentot has thereby become
convinced of his lost condition through sin, and been
taught to seek forgiveness and deliverance from its
thraldom, through the power and mercy of our Re-
deemer. Some of the patients have departed this
life in reliance on the merits of Jesus, with a sure and
joyful hope of everlasting rest and bliss. Thirteen
adults and five children have been added to the church
by holy baptism, and one person has been admitted to
the Lord's supper. In short, we may with truth de-
clare, that the word of atonement has not been preach-
ed here in vain, but has approved itself the power of
God in the hearts of these wretched sufl^erers, who
are, indeed, outcasts from human society. To him be
all the glory."

In December, 1824, Mr. Lietner writes, — " We
have ventured to erect a temporary chapel for the use
of the unfortunate patients. It is thirty-two feet long,
and fifteen broad, and is built in the Hottentot manner,
of stakes and unburnt brick. All the materials we
have procured ourselves, exce|,t the timber, which was
furnished by government ; and the work was perform-
ed by our people without remuneration. The \\hoIe
fas complated within a month, so that we were able, on
the 12th instant, to make a solemn dedication of it to
the Lord, on which occasion four adults were baptized
into the death of Jesus. It was tndy a day of bless-
ing and refreshment from his presence, and we were
now convinced, that he, who is rich in mercy towards
the meanest and most afflicted of his creatures, does
not despise the outcasts among whom we are called to
labor. Brother Lemmertz and his wife, and sister
Bcinbrech, were present with us at this solemnity.
You will understand that our church is of the humblest
description, when I mention that it is without doors,
windows or benches. We trust, however, to obtain
means for the |iiiroliase of these nerossory accommoda-
tions. During the past year, .^eventeen adults have
been hnpti/.ed, four admitted to the holy commnnion,
and twenty-two have become candidates for baptism ;
twenty-eii;lit patients have (le))ai-ted this life, of whom
eiftlit had been baptized ; fifty-one lepers have been
broiiulit hither from various parts of the colony ; so
that the whole ninnher of iiiliahitants is ot present one
hundred and nineteen ; of these, three adults and six
children nre in a healthy state. I can declare with truth,
rnnrerninc; the majority of those who compose our
little (hx'k, tliut it is their sineere desire to live to
Jesus. The word of his patience is the daily spirit-
ual fond, hy u'hicii ihcir hungry souls are nourisiied.
and they arc enabled, amidst nil their afflictions, to re-

ASIATIC RUSSIA.

joice in his salvition. Pray for us, that his precious
word maycontinue to have freecourse and be glorified."
It is gratifying to hear that this leper institution has
been extensively useful. In 1828, Mr. L. writes,—
"Ar'ong the lepers are seventeen slaves; some
of them are truly converted ; their walk and conver-
sation are an honor to the gospel. In 1827, we began
to build a new church, the temporary one being ready
to fall. The building will be eighty feet long, twenty-
two wide. We have cause to rejoice at the manifest
proofs we behold of the work of the Lord and his
Spirit. Mr. J. E. Tietze informs a correspondent on
the 6th July, 1830, that the members of the little
flock at the institution walked worthy of their Chris-
tian profession, and proved, by their whole conversa-
tion, that " they account the sufferings of the pres-
ent time as not worthy to be compared with the glo-
ry that shall follow."

In 1828, a mission was commenced among the
Tambookkies, in a healthy region on the Klipplaats
river. Some of the superabundant population at Enon
was drafted off in the establishment of this new sta-
tion. The brethren Hoffinan and Lemmertz, with
their wives, were kindly received by the chief Bowana,
and that part of the nation under his control. In
1829, an attack from the savage Fetkannas led the
brethren to retire to the military post on Klaas Smit's

149

nver, where they collected a congregation of about
sixty Hottentots and others. The missionaries men-
t.on the foUowmg proof of a noble spirit m a Christian
Hottentot :-« AH the individuals composing oursmdl
flock, twenty-four in number, old and young, are stead-
last m their determination to return to the Klipplaat
as soon as possible. Hendrick Beukes, one of the
most respectable of the Hottentots, who sustained a
loss of mne hundred dollars, his whole stock of cattle
havmg been carried off by the Fetkannas (nineteen
oxen and SIX horses), being asked by brother Lem-
mertz whether he was willing to return, apparently
astonished at the question, replied, ' Yes, sir ; and
not only to the Klipplaat, but I hope one day to assist
in bnnging the gospel to the Fetkannas themselves.'
Sh) speaks a Hottentot, with a wife and family, who
narrowly escaped ^vith his life, after losing nearly all
h.s woridly substance." This is the true missionary
spirit. Ought not such a spirit, displayed by a Hot-
tentot to speak loudly to many a professing Christian
m civilized countries, who, from an excessive attach-
ment to the things of this world, declines, or at least
hesitates, to contribute, either in person or substance,
to the advancement of Christ's kingdom ?

The mission has subsequently been recommenced,
and the faithful laborers are cheered with hope that
the wilderness will soon blossom as the rose

CHAPTER VII.

MISSION IN ASIATIC RUSSIA.

An imperial edict having been issued by Catharine
ihe Great, empress of Russia, in bolialf of the United
Brethren, granting them free permission to sottle in
her dominions, and promising tiioni complete liberty
of conscience, five missionaries sailed from Germany
in 1765, cn<l proceeded to the banks of the Wolga,
where, with tiio assistance of some Ru-ssians, they
formed a settlement, to which they gave the name of
Sarepln. In the course of a few years, this place,
whicli was situated on the high road leading to I'ersia
and India, by the way of Astrachan, become a flourish-
mg and populous little town, and the discovery of a

"! r. -•••'!« tnrr Uisiaiicc OI nvc ITiiios, Umw

tojjother a great number of visitors of different nations.

many of whom remained some time at the settlement
or m the vicinity, for the benefit of the water. '

The primary object of the missionaries, however
111 building Sorepta, was not the establishment of a
nourishing colony, but the introduction of the gospel to
the surrounding heathen, and the securing of an ad-
vantageous station for such of their brethren as might
bo subsequently induced to labor in the same depart-
ment of the Lord's vineyard. They were accordingly
very desirous of forming an acquaintance with the Cal-
imic Tartars, who occupy an immense tract of coun-
try on each side of the Wolga : and their wish, in this
respect, was speedily fulfilled ; as a numerous horde of
that nation encamped in their immediate vicinity loon

160

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

after their arrival, and many of them became the
patients of Dr. Jeachim Wier, the practising physician
in the settlement. Among tlsese was a prince of the
Derbet tribe, who, with his retinue, took up his winter
quarters near Sarepta, in 1767 ; and on his removal,
in the ensuing spring, he invited two of the brethren
to accompany him to the immense plain called the
Great Steppe, assuring them of his friendship and
protection, and promising to facilitate, as far as he
might be able, their attainment of the language. This
proposal was, of course, gratefully accepted ; and for
a period of about two years, the missionaries who had
been selected for this purpose resided witli the Cal-
mucs, following them, with their tents and cattle, in
their occasional migrations, and cheerfully conforming
to their mode of life. During the whole of tliis time
they were treated with civility and kiiidnuss, and were
permitted to preach the gospel, williout even the slight-
est opposition from the priests ; but as no bouelit seem-
ed likely to result from their continued resideiico with
the horde, they relinquished their wanderings, and
confined their missionary instructions to such of the
Tartars as occasionally visited the settlement, or re-
sided within a moderate distance.

In the summer of 1774, an event occurred which
threatened complete destruction to tiie mission, but
which was graciously overruled by the providence of
that God who incessantly watches over the interests
of his people. A formidable troop of insurgents, who
had for some time excilcd terror and dismay by their
devastations in various provinces of the Russian em-
pire, made an irruption into the government of Astra-
chan, reduced the town of Suratof, and completely
routed a parly of the military, who attempted to
check their progress at a place called I'ruleika, within
sixty miles of Sarepta. The brethren were first ap-
prized of these nlarming facts by some fugitives, who
arrived at the settlement on the "iSth of August ; and
about tiio same time they received a message from the
commandant of Czarizin, avowing his total inability to
defend Sarepta, nnd reconuncuding the inluibitnnts to
provide for their safety by immeiiiato fligiit. The
whole of the women and children, accordingly, .set out
the same night, accompani'MJ by sevr ill of the bretii-
ren.and proceeded, partly by laiul and |)iirtly by water,
to Astraclian, where they arrived, after many hard-
ships and perils, on the 7th of September. Sixty-
five of their companions, in the mean time, remained
at Sarepta. anxious to secure their most valuable
property, nnd determined not to abandon their post
till retreat should become indispensable. On the 1st
of SepleinlH-r, iiowever, some very alarming reports
reached the seltlenunt, which induced them to floe
for theif Hrcs ; and it was not uniii the yili tlmi limy

received the joyfiil intelligence of the complete dis-
conofiture of the insurgents. When this was made
known to the fugitives at Astrachan, they all returned,
adoring the God of their mercies that no lives had
been lost on this trying occasion, and that not an
individual of their number had fallen into the hands of
the rebels.

The brethren now resumed their benevolent labora
among the Calmucs, and other pagans, who frequently
visited the settlement, and embraced every opportuni-
ty of declaring and explaining the great truths of Chris-
tianity ; but, though their auditors sometimes appeared
to listen with pleasure to their conversation, no abid-
ing impressions were made upon their minds. At
length, however, they had the gratification of witness-
ing the conversion of a blind Calmuc girl, who had
been educated at Sarepta, and who was not only ad-
mitted to the riteofbaptsim, but subsequently evinced
the genuineness of her faith by the consistency of her
life and conversation, and at length departed out of
time into eternity, confidently relying on the all-suf-
ficicnt atonement of the Son of God.

In the month of November, 1781, two of the
brethren, Messrs. Grabsch and Gruhl, undertook a
journey to Mount Caucasus, in order to ascertain the
truth of some reports which they had heard relative
to a tribe called the Tschccks, in that part of the
country ; who were said to have fled thither from
Europe some centuries ago, and to have still retained
their peculiar customs, and professed the Christian re-
ligion, though their churches were never occupied, as
they were no longer capable of reading the books of
tiieir forefathers, which were tiiere deposited : in fact,
some of the missionaries were ready to conclude, as
the name of Tscheclis is assumed by tiie Bohemians,
that the perse;\s of whom they had thus heard were
the descendants of their countrymen, who, on account
of their religion, were cruelly banished from Moravia,
towards the close of the fifteenth century, nnd are
supposed to have retired to the vicinity of Mount
Caucasus.

On their arrival at Astrachan, our travellers waited
on the governor, who kindly fiirnislied tlu-m with ihe
necessary passports; and, after passing through sev-
eral Tartar villages, they arrived at Ueregu, the in-
habitants of which are bigoteil Mahometans, and in-
veterate enemies of Christianity. Here, therefore,
they found considerable difficulty in procuringa lodging,
till, at length, one man, to oblige their guide, consent*
ed to acf'oinmodato tliem in his house for the night.
Usmei Khan, the prince of the comilry, happened lo
bo in the town at this time, and as they had letters of
recommendation to him, they t(K)k the earliest oppoN
lunity of apprizing him of the object of their Journey.

ASIATIC RUSSIA.

It was some time before he could believe the account
which Grabsch gave of himself and his companion;
but bemg at length satisfied of its veracity, he took
them in his retinue to his residence at Bashlu, and
provided them with a guide to conduct them to the
house of his friend Mahmud at Kubasha, the princi-
pal town belonging to the Tschecks.

On arriving at this place, the missionaries were
equally grieved and disappointed to find that Mahome-
tanism was the religion of the inhabitants. They re-
solved, however, to make every possible inquiry
respecting their origin, their language, their fonner re-
ligion, and their sacred books ; and, in the prosecution
of his anxious research, Gottfried Grabsch actually
visited all the houses, consisting of about five hundred.
He also carefully examined ail the public edifices, and
discovered the remains of three well-built churches
Over the door of one of these was an inscription, but
so nearly obliterated by the hand of time, that no
part of It remamed legible except the number 1215 •
and on the upper part of another ancient church^
which had been originally embellished with a profu-
sion of architectural ornaments, but now converted
into dwelling-houses, several other inscriptions -.ere
visible; but the characters bore no resemblance to
those of any alphabet which he had ever seen

Mahmud, to whom the missionaries had been
recommended by Usmei Khan, treate.l them with
great kindness, and convened ten of the inhabitants of
Kubasha, for the express purpose of procuring the
mformation which they desired. From the united
testimony of these persons it appeared, that their an-
cestors had originally professed the Christian relipjon
but that upwards of three centuries ago they had em-
braced the doctrines of the Koran ; and also that they
had now no books in their possession written in the
characters used by their forefathers, as the Arabic al-
phabet was invariably used by them in writing either
the Turkish, the Tartar, or their own language In
speakmg on the subject of religion they expressed
themselves grateful to God, that ho had mercifully
directed them into the right path ; and assured Mr
Grabsch they could never acknowledge him as a brotii-
er till he renounced the faith of Christ for that of
Mahomet. The remarks of their visitor, however
seemed loinakea favorable impression on their minds'
aiul Mahmud assured him that, whenever ho came to
Kubasha, he would treat l.im with fraternal kindness.
•'What, said Grtth.scli, " thoiiRh I should not turn
Mussulman ?" " O !" replied his host, " all that goes
for nothing !"

On the 17,h of March, 1782, Mr. Grabsch and his
lellow traveller returned to Hashlu. and th;. =s;r,= da-"
J.IO. ceded to Derbeni, where they were received w'ilh

151

the utmost kindness and hospitality by an Annenian
to whom they had letters of recommendation : but on
their attempting to leave that place for Teflis two
days afterward, they were arrested by order of Hashi
«ek, a person superior to the khan in wealth and in-
fluence, and informed that they would be detained till a
quantity of silk should be restored which had been recent-
ly confiscated in the Russian territory. They had the
privdege, however, during their detemion, of walking
about the town; and, on the 18th of April, through
the kind ofBces of a friend at Kislar, they were
permuted to resume their journey, in company with a
caravan. '

On their arrival at the town of Samachia, thev
were mformed that the adjacent village of Wartaschin
contained a congregation of Christians, who were sup-
posed to be the descendants of foreigners, and who had
peremptorily refused, notwithstanding all the threats
and persecutions of their priests, to embrace the doc-
trines of Mahoftiet. The brethren deeply regretted
that they could not, under existing circumstances, visit
these people ; but, having met with one of the inhabit-
ants of the village, he informed them, that the per-
sons who had been described came originally from
Georgia, and were members partly of the Georgian
and partly of the Armenian church.

After a tedious and troublesome journey, in which
they had been compelled to take a circuitous route, to
avoid coming in contact with the Lesgians, who were
returning from a predatory incursion, and marking
their route with depredations, they arrived on the 26th
of June at Teflis, where they were received with the
most distinguished condescension and kindness by the
czar or emperor, Heraclius ; who not only entered into
famihar conversation on the subject of the doctrine
and constitution of the church of the United Brethren
but even wrote a letter to the directors of the missions
in Europe, requesting that some of their members might
be sent to reside in his dominions.

During their stay in Teflis, our travellers felt
anxious to proceed across the mountains, in order to
visit a people called the Tschcgcmzes, resident on the
banks of tlieTsliegem, and conjectured, from the re-
semblance of their name to that of the Tschecks, to
be lineally descended from the ancient brethren of Bo-
hemia. In a conversation, however, with some persons
from that part of the country, Mr. Grobsch was given to
understand that they were the descendants of a Tar-
tar tribe, who had flod from the Russians into the
mountains in the neighboriiood of Asiraclian ; though
the ruins of Christian churches in their immediate
virinity intimated that a diflerent race of people had
formcriy dwelt oii iiiu spot now occupied by them.
Other testimonies, also, induced a belief that the idea

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

respecting the Bohemians was v founded ; and as the
missionaries could not accomplish their intended visit
without great inconvenience, they resolved to abandon
it, and set out for Sarepta, where they arrived in safety
after an absence of about ten months.

The brethren still continued to labor with unweari-
ed patience and unremitting assiduity in their attempts
to disseminate the knowledge of divine truth among
the pagan hordes by whom they were surrounded ;
but as nothing seemed to have been effected among
the adults, they resolved to direct their attention to-
wards thechildren. Accordingly, in 1801 , the mission-
ary Wendling opened a school at Sarepta, to which
one of the Calmuc princes was induced to send his
son, named Makash, for the purpose of learning the
German language ; and the following year several oth-
er children were placed in the new seminary for the
same purpose. In the instruction of these it was
found extremely difficult to fix their attention, yet on
some occasions they appeared to be impressed by
those passages t»f Holy Writ which they were taught
to read ; and Makash, in particular, afforded proofs of
deep reflection, if not of divine influence. Having
one day learned a verse relative to the necessity of
faith, he observed that he had offered up his petitions
to our Redeemer for this inestimable gift, and the bless-
ings connected with it, and he had found such enlarge-
ment of heart upon this occasion, that he hardly know
how to give over praying. Being once asked whether
he considered it a duty to pray for our fellow creatures,
he replied, " I have often prayed tliat our Saviour would
lead my mother and relations to this place, that they
might have nn opportunity of hearing of the way of
salvation ; or that he would send a teacher to them
with this good news." At another time he observed,
that after he had been perusing the history of our
Lord's tempt:itions in the wilderness, he felt strongly
inclined to ub cnt himself from the celebration of di-
vine service ; but soon recollected tiiat this was n temp-
tation of the enemy, and prayed to Jesus to deliver
him from it. " Afterwards," said he, " I rejoiced that
I went to the preaohinp, particularly as the subjert of
temptations was introduced into the sermon, ahil 1 had
cause to bless God that F had not been pcnnitted to
follow my evil inclination."

In the yciir IHOM, the brethren were encouraged by
the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Soci-
ety to undertake the translation of the New Testament
into the Cnlmue language ; and in the same year,
they had the pleasure of ransoming from slavery four
giris of the Kirgese nation; who, through the divine
blessing upon the discourses of their teachers, were
subsequently emnnripatod from the dominion of sin

Artn Ctfnn . I«f./>fi(*l.t ##« n «*■.**».* a..-.. ...!_« _.!.|- *l- -

ms.i ....!.... . „r.!.i...t I.. ., -q,,|5_ aLquttmiaiirr iTitfl ihc

things of God ; and admitted, at Easter, 1810, into the
pale of the church by the rite of baptism. These,
however, with the blind Calmuc female, to whom we
have already alluded, were the only individuals of that
nation who had been considered proper subjects of
baptism after a period of forty-five years, and the
mission was, in consequence of this small success, soon
aflerwards abancioned. The encouragement and
pecuniary assistance of the directors of the London
Missionary Society, however, induced the brethren
to recommence their labors among a people whose
immense numbers, together with the blindness of their
minds and the grossness of their superstitions, render-
ed them peculiar objects of commiseration.

The Calmucs, in what is called the Great Steppe,
amount, according to the most authentic information,
to upwards of sixty thousand. Beyond the limits of
the Steppe, on the banks of the river Wolga, there are
about ten thousand more, who have occasionally em-
braced the Christian faith, and are considered as be-
longing to the Greek church. And besides these,
sixty-five thousand families, speaking the Calmuc lan-
guage, live under the protection of China, having
migrated from Russia in the year 1791.

With an ardent desire of proving instrumental to the
eternal salvation of some individuals among this vast
multitude, the brethren J. (J. Schill and C. Huebner
set out from Sarepta on the 20th of May, 1815, and,
after a hazardous and difficult journey, they arrived
among the Choschut horde, who inhabit a district
about two hundred miles south-east of the missionary
settlement, and fifty miles north-west of Astrachan,
residing in kibitkes, or tents covered with skins, some-
times on one and sometimes on the other bank of the
Wolga, and employing themselves in rearing and feed-
ing of cattle.

Here they were introduced to the Calmuc prince
Tuemmen, to whom they had a letter of recommend-
ation from St. Petersburg, and whom they found sit-
ting in his kibitke, on a rough skin s^^iread on the
ground, barefooted, elnd in black liorse fur, and a
black silk cap on his head. He received them very
kindly, and caused several disites of food to he served
up to them, with plates, knives, forks and spoons, in
tlic European style. He also gave them free permis-
sion to reside in the horde, that they might become
ihorougldy acquainted with the religion and manners
of the nation, and procured for them a eompetent
teacher of the language, in the person of another
prince, named Ds(>halzen, who had rerently left his
tribe on the Don, and had come to reside in this part
of the eotmtry, as a private person.

Their next visit was to the lama or high-priest, who
received them with the utmost courtesy, md readily

ASIATIC RUSSIA.

permitted them to cultivate an acquaintance with the
mferior priests. These are very numerous, and,
together with their disciples, are divided into three
classes, called the Gellong, the Goezul, and the
JManschi; the former being considered of superior
rank. All these sacerdotal orders are profoundly
reverenced by the laity, who are extremely ignorant;
and every thing connected with religion is carefully
enveloped with the veil of mystery. The priests, in-
deed, were extremely cautious in conversing with the
missionaries, and soon began to suspect their real
object in desiring to reside among them. Hence, on
one occasion, a Gellong observed, « All that is neces-
sary to enable you to transact business with the Cal-
mucs who come to Sarepta, is that you should learn to
read and write our language ; you have no need to
trouble yourselves about our gods ; and would do bet-
ter to spend your money at home, and rest satisfied
with having a thorough knowledge of one religion."

This mistrust of the brethren was particulariy appa-
rent, when the Gospel of St. Matthew was published
in the Mongolian language, at the expense of tlie
Petersburg Bible Society. The first intelligence of
this work was conveyed to prince Tuemmen by the
Russian agent resident in the horde, and it appeared
to give him much uneasiness. When two copies, ele-
gantly bound, were presented to him, however, in the
name of prince Galitzin, he received them with
apparent satisfaction, and immediately sent for the
missionaries, to inform them of the circumstance. He
also stated, tliat they had been recommended to his
protection in the letter which accompanied the impe-
rial minister's present ; and assured them, that no in-
dividual, either of the Russian, Calmuc, or Tartar na-
tion, should be suffered to injure them with impunity.
On the 1st of January, 1816, prince Tuemmen
requested an interview with Mr. Sciiill, and proposed
several questions relative to the Christian religion ;
but the whole of these were unimportant, and evident-
ly dictated by mere curiosity. '< He likewise men-
tioned," say the brethren, "that he had sent a copy
of St. Matthew's Gospel to the lama ; but as he bail
very weak eyes, the writing would bo too fine for
him." This expression was perhaps intended to iiave
a double meaning, as we were afterwards led to sup-
jMise, from a declaration made to us by two learned
Cainnirs. Tiiey asked us if we had any writings in
tlieir laimuage ; but upon our showing them the print-
eii (Jospel of St. iVlniihew. they observed, ' That is
>jour (l(K-trinc, and it is ton fine for our eyes.' Priests
of the second and tiiird cjass, however, continued to
request copies of this work, and sometimes went so

fur as to iu)i)i'(ni< nf ilmil.^.,!.'',..,, ..r >i.„ __i .1 i_

- -- — "••''•!? gut^pci, tiiuiigri,

111 ecnenil, they remarked tliat it was very good for
Vol,. I.— -Nos. 13 & M. ' * .^-i

153

Christians, but not for Calmucs. One day a Gellong of
some consequence expressed this opinion by an allegory
After he had read a portion of the gospel, and receiv-
ed from us the desired explanation of it, he wrote
upon a piece of paper as follows :— ' A goose flew to a
fine, clear pond ; but she could not find rest there, and
as soon as she heard the voice of the hunter, she flew
back again to the pond which she had left, but which
she had not forgotten.' We begged that he would ex-
plain this parable, but he was unwilling to do it: the
meaning, however, was sufficiently intelligible."

Only ten copies of the gospel were, at first, sent to the
missionaries from St. Petersburg, for distribution, and
these remained some time in their hands ; but on the
subsequent reception of about ninety copies, they were
sought after with such avidity, that nearly forty were
disposed of in two hours, and in a few days not a sin-
gle copy remained with the brethren. This demand
for the word of divine revelation took place soon after
an event which produced a deep sensation in the
horde, viz. the demise of the prince, after a short ill-
ness. Various offerings of camels, horses, sheep and
money had been made to the priests, in order to pro-
cure the removal of the patient's disorder, which was a
pleurisy, but all proved ineffectual; and, though a
German physician was afterwards brought from Astra-
chan, it appeared that proper assistance had been too
long delayed.

" The prince breathed his last," say the mission-
aries, "in the night between the 10th and 11th of
June old style. To that moment an incessant uproar
had b^en kept up in the idol temples ; where vocifer-
ous prayers and unintermitting drumming indicated the
anxiety of the people for the recovery of their prince ;
but now a universal stillness ensued, and all mourned
the loss of the deceased ; for, though he was seveie
in punisiiing crimes, he knew how to make allowances
for faults and mistakes ; and was consequently both
beloved and feared by his subjects. Gladly would
we have visited him during his last illness, but one
of his attendants had advised us against the attempt,
assuring us that wo should not be admitted. In the
visits whicii we had previously made to him,
we had remarked a continual desire, on his part,
to connect the gospel history with the fables of
his own religion; but as soon as we endeavored
to bring the fundamental truths of Scripture home
to his conscience, he was .seized with a kind of
agitation, which induced him to turn the con-
versation upon other subjects, or to break it ofl*
altogether.

" On the second day after his decease, the inter-
ment took place. At a shori distanco from the en
campment, a niiudtor of Gcllongs constructed the

154

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

tomb in which the body was to be deposited. This
was built of brick, of an oblong form, with a hole in
each of the four sides. A large, iron, three-legged
chair was then placed in the middle of the enclosure,
and above it an iron ring secured by long poles, driven
into the wall. A sufficient quantity of wood, and
several kettles filled with melted butter, were likewise
provided for the occasion.

" After these preparations had been completed, the
funeral procession set out in the following order : —
First, the Lama, seated in a covered car with two
wheels, drawn by ten Gellongs and Goezuls. After
him came the corpse, sitting upright on a litter, and
borne by twelve of the principal servants of his house-
hold. The deceased was attired in a light blue gown,
the head being bound with a yellow silk handkerchief,
aud covered with a Calmuc cap ; and the body was
kept in an erect position by some persons who walked
on each side. Next to the corpse walked two sons
of the prince, the one twenty, and the other seventeen
years of age ; the heir to the throne and another son
being absent. A guard of honor, composed of fifteen
young saisangs, or nobles, armed with spears and
muskets, followed ; and the rear was brought up by
Gellongs with music ; if, indeed, the noise of their
drums and long copper horns may be dignified by that
name.

" The procession having reached the place of sepul-
ture, the deceased was conveyed into the tomb by
some Gellongs, who, together with the corpse, were
concealed from view, during this operation, by a large
white cloth thrown over them. The body being
placed on the three-legged chair, the iron ring was
passed round the neck ; and, the interstices being
filled with wood, the Gellongs began to wall up the
tomb, narrowing it as they advanced. At the top,
instead of a key-stone, an iron kettle was placed, in
the bottom of which was an aperture, and the whole
building was daubed over with melted butter and
chalk.

" While the work was thus proceeding, the Lama
and the other Gellongs were busy in performing their
devotions in a kihitke appointed for the purpose ; the
monotony of their prayers being relieved by the tink-
ling of little bells, of which each person held one in
his hand. The sons of the prince, in the moan time,
stood mourning over the grave, and behind them the
saisangs, with a great concourse of the laity. Soon
after, the Gellongs formed a circle round the tomb ;
set fire to the wood which it contained, by means of
the four apertures already described ; and poured re-
peated libations of melted butter through the upper
opening to increase the strength of the flames. The
whole of the contents being conaumcd, the company

dispersed. The Gellongs, however, first drank tea
together, and some of them remained three days to
watch the tomb. To beguile the time, they amused
themselves by playing at cards ;— a practice in which
no one durst indulge during the life-time of the
prince.

" The deceased was now, according to the idea
prevalent among this people, translated to the com-
pany of the gods, from whom his soul, like that of
every other chief, had originally proceeded. All
that remained of his bones was, on the third day,
carried to another place for preservation ; and the
tomb, containing his ashes, which had been damaged
by the fire, was repaired, to serve as a place of
prayer.

" Thus ended the government of this good-natured
and respectable prince. He had placed no absolute
impediment in the way of the gospel ; but owing to a
predilection for his own religion, he had beheld with
concern the attempts to introduce it among his people.
The distribution of the Gospel of St. Matthew, par-
ticularly, caused him uneasiness ; and he considered
all those who accepted copies of it as persons of a
light and wavering character. On this account it was,
that many who had refused to accept copies during
his life-time, willingly received them when he was no
more."

The brethren were now particularly anxious to dis-
tribute these sacred writings, which they knew, by
personal experience, were able, under the influence
of the Holy Spirit, to make men wise unto salvation ;
but various hindrances were opposed to the accomplish-
ment of their pious wishes. One evening Mr. Schill
paid a visit to a Gel long, in whose house several
persons of the same rank were assembled, in conse-
quence of the arrival of a venerable priest named
Arschi, from the vicinity of Astrachan, who had
acquired the appellation of master by his great learn-
ing. This person, on hearing that Schill was a native
of Germany, remarked, '-The Germans are very
sensible and clever people, but they are not competent
to understand tiic profound mysteries of our religion."
He also slated he iiad received a copy of the Gospel
of St. Mnttiiew from Astrachan ; but that ho could
by no means countenance the distribution of such writ-
ings among the Calmucs, and had therefore visited
the horde for tiie express purpose of repressing it.
Some days after a Gellong, who had accepted one
of the first copies of the Gospel, called upon the
missionaries, and, in the course of conversation, ex-
pressed a strong desire to return the volume which
had been placed in his hands. The brethren observed,
that it would by no means appear friendly to return a
present which he bad once received ; and at the same

ASIATIC RUSSIA.

time assured him that they should feel happy in ac-
cepting any book illustrative of the Calmuc religion ;
but he replied, " Our religious writings are principally
Tangutish, and, as that language is sacred, we never
commit them into the hands of laymen." Several
other persons afterwards returned their copies of the
Gospel ; yet it was pleasing to observe some instances
in which this barbarous people appeared to thirst after
the waters of salvation. One student, in particular,
on obtaining the sacred volume, observed, " I have
borne many blows for the sake of this book, but I
am resolved to have it again ; though, in future, I will
be very cautious how I permit a Gellong to see it."

As the missionaries were allowed to instruct some
of the Calmuc children in reading, they invariably
availed themsejves of that opportunity of speaking of
Christ and his great salvation. Sometimes they were
joined on these occasions, by a few adults, but it too
commonly happened that these, after listening for a
short time, left the company, observing, '< O ! it is
only the history of Jesus !" In fact, the same persons
who would lend their undivided attention to any story
about the angels, seemed as if both their ears and
hearts were closed, when the Lord of angels became
the topic of conversation. The brethren seem, indeed,
to have indulged a sanguine hope that an exception
to this remark would have been found in an aged
woman, the mother of a boy whom the late prince
had appointed to attend on them. Being in an ill
state of health, and particularly afflicted with sore
eyes, and having heard from the narrations of St.
Matthew, that all manner of diseases were healed by
our Redeemer, siio expressed an earnest desire to
obtain relief from his wonder-working hand. The
missionaries therefore embraced this favorable oppor-
tunity of explaining that the help of Jesus was princi-
pally needed by sinners for the cleansing of their souls
by his precious blood ; and they stated, that if she
experienced the healing power of his atonement in
her heart, she would not only be enabled cheerfully
to submit to her present afflictions, but would also be
constrained to rejoice in tlia prospect of approaching
dissohrtion, as the moan of her release from all pain
and sorrow. Tiiese observations seemed very incred-
ible to the person to whom they were addressed, yet
they evidently made a deep impression on her mind ;
and one day she remarked, " Whoever lives entirely
without religion cannot expect any happiness in a
future state ; and tiiounii we Cahnucs are by no means
the worst of people, yet it nnist be acknowledged that
we sin fre(]uently." She then proceeded to relate,
that a great sinner once appmircd before the judgment-
HPut of God, in the world of spirits. The good works
and liie sini of the individual being placed in the

189

balance, the latter immediately preponderated. For-
tunately, however, for the culprit, he had brought
with him a single letter of one of the sacred writings ;
and upon this being added to the good works, the'
scale turned as much in his favor, as it had before
been against him. " This story," say the missionaries,
" gave us the most desirable opportunity of first making
known to her the nature of sin, according to the word
of God ; and then of bearing witness of Jesus, as the
Saviour of sinners, who is ordained to be the Judge
of the quick and the dead ; and whose precious blood
alone can satisfy the demands of Divine Justice against
every guilty transgressor. In consequence of this
conversation she fell into great uneasiness of mind
•but It seemed as if she were kept from us by some
m visible hand. On another occasion, also, she appear-
ed to be affected by our discourse, but we were un-
able to trace any abiding impression made upon her
heart."

Early in September, Serbedshab, the eldest son of
the late prince Tuemmen, arrived from St. Peters-
burg, to assume the reins of government ; and one of
the first duties he had to perform was to offer a sacri-
fice in honor of his deceased father. This was attend-
ed with various ceremonies, and employed the priests
for several days successively ; for which they received
a handsome gratuity. Previous to the arrival of the
prince, indeed, they had exacted a contribution of ten
roubles from the inhabitants of each kibitke, without
distinction of rank or possessions ; and the readiness
with which the people came forward on this occasion
would have done honor to more civilized nations, and
to a better cause. It must be remarked, however,
that it is a grand point with the priests to impress on
the minds of the laity, that great liberality is prelusive
of everiasting happiness ; and from this doctrine they
derive a considerable revenue, particulariy at the
celebration of a singular solemnity styled the Festival
of Good Works, which has been thus described by the

missionaries in their diary for the year 1816 :

" The festival alluded to lasted eight days, during
which the laity were expected to entertain the Gel-
longs. This required a great quantity of butcher's
meat and mare's milk. Eariy in the morning, the
guests, from four to five hundred in number, assembled
under a wide-spreading tent. First they drank tea,
and towards noon regaled themselves with sour mare's
milk ; after which, tea ;md a supper of meat followed.
The intervals between the feasting were filled with the
nuirmuring of long Tangutish prayers, accompanied by
the sound of drums and horns. This constituted the
round of their devotions, every day, from morning till late

at nisht. Tlincnnrhi;

r-.r .!„

StiVal, liuWcVcr, Was

particulajly imposing. All the orders of the priesthood

156

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

assembled together in the great tent; the Lama
and the Gellongs being clothed in a vest of red satin
without sleeves. About the loins they wore a piece
of dark red baize, fastened by a girdle, and over the
shoulders a kind of mantle of yellow silk. They
wore no shirt, so that the arras remained nearly bare.
The Lama was only distinguished from the rest of the
Gellongs by a high yellow cap, pointed at the top.
The great tent stood near his dwelling; and five
kibitkes, l,tted up as temples, belonged to the sacred
enclosu e. Around this place an immense multitude
of persons of both sexes, adults and children, kept
incessantly moving ; and whenever they passed the
temples, they bowed down to the ground, with their
heads -mcovered. They then seated tliemselves, and-
listened for a time to the prayers of the Gellongs.
Towards the end of the ceremonies, the various orders
of the priesthood performed a similar revolution, the
laity meanwhile standing round them in a close circle.
The Lama was supported by two Gellongs, who held
him under the arm-pits ; for, as he generally remains
in a sitting posture, or is supported by others, he finds
walking very difficult. The procession being conclud-
ed, the Lama was brought back into his kibitke, and
the whole multitude flocked around him, to receive
his blessing, which he imparted with imposition of
hands."

In the commencement of 1817, the brethren perceiv-
ed a growing coldness and alienation in the conduct of
the priests ; few of whom now deigned to visit them,
whilst others, on receiving visits from them, behaved
with actual rudeness, and desired them to quit their
kibitkes. Many of the laity, also, who had been warn-
ed against the missionaries, as seducers of the unwary,
advised their neighbors to avoid all intercourse with
them ; and others asserted that all who had accepted
of copies of St. Mathew's Gospel, would eventually
be required to pay for them.

A Gellong, one day, asked the brethren, " Why do
you expend so much money in translating, printing
and gratuitously distributing a book, the doctrines of
which we shall never receive ? Such expense is en-
tirely useless ; for though many of us have your Gos-
pel in our possession, we never peruse it ; as it con-
tains many Russian names which we cannot under-
stand ; and, besides this, we have a suflicicnt stock of
religious writings of our own." At another time they
were accosted in a more indecent manner, by a lialf-
dnmken Calmuc, who charged them, in the most in-
sulting terms, with falsehood and imposture. " You
have given out," said he, " that you reside in our horde
in order to acquire the language, but I have sagacity
enough to discern that your real design is to betray
and sell us. You sneak into our kibitkes, to pry into

our religion and customs, and I have no doubt but you
were sent hither by the emperor for this purpose."
Unmoi'ed by these base calumnies, and probably re-
membering the observation of the wise man, that "A
soft answer tumeth away wrath," the brethren mildly
observed, that they had no other object in view than the
temporal and eternal welfare of the people among
whom they dwelt ; and though the barbarian at first
replied, that he only considered this as an empty pro-
fession, he gradually became more calm, solicited
some tobacco, and said, on receiving it, that he had
merely called on the missionaries to request that they
would make a favorable report of the Calmucs to the
court of St. Petercburg.

To the painful feelings excited by attacks of this
kind were sometimes added the bitter pangs of disap-
pointment in respect to those of whom the most lively
hopes had been formed by the brethren. " By one
Gellong m particular," say they, "we had been treat-
ed in a very friendly and confidential manner. Ho
visited us frequently ; seemed attentive to what was
said on the subject of the counsel cf God concerning
man's salvation ; and confessed, at imes, that the ex-
ercises prescribed by his religion, did not afford him
true peace of mind. We, therefore, conceived hopes
that he was not far from tlic kingdom of God ; and
were so much the more grieved to'^find that his opin-
ion on this subject soon began to waver, and that he
seemed to lose the impression formerly received. At
length he declared that he visited us merely out of
good-will, and that even if he discoursed on religious
subjects, it was chiefly to afford us a little exercise
in the language."

Prince Dschalzen appears to have rendered essen-
tial service to the brethren in their study of the Cal-
muc language, particularly by examining and correct-
ing their lexicon. On visiting them one day, after a
considerable interval, he apologized for his absence
by saying, that he had been busily occupied in com-
mitting to memory a number of written tracts, with a
view of obtaining the remission of his sins ; as he felt
anxious to secure his happiness after death. On hear-
mg this, the missionaries offered him a small tract
pnnted in the Calmuc language, and comprising a
brief statement of tiie fundamental truths of Chris-
tianity. He desired them lo read it to him, and listen-
ed to its contents with the most profound attention ;
but ho appeared hurt at one passage, in which the
wish is expressed that the Cahnurs may abandon their
deceitful religion ; nor was he fully satisfied, though
the brethren endeavored to explain the sense in which
this expression whs to be understood, and the reason
why they were so anxious to make their fellow men
acquainted with the faith of Chris?, ^hich they had,

ASIATIC RUSSIA.

by experience, found to be the only true way to eter-
nal felicity. On hearing, however, that the tract had
been printed at St. Petersburg, with the knowledge
and approbation of prince Galitzin, he dropped the
subject, and retired with an appearance of constrained
friendship.

At his next visit, the prince requested to see the
tract which had been previously read to him, and after
turning to the passage which had wounded his feelings,
he inquired whether this writing formed a part of the
sacred books belonging to the Christians, or whether
It had been written to express the ideas of some indi-
vidual ? The brethren replied that it was confessedly
of human composition, but that it was nevertheless
founded on the word of God ; and, in proof of this
Msertion, they pointed out some quotations from the
Gospel of St. Matthew. On hearing this, he read it
from end to end, and appeared to treat it with all the
reverence which the Calraucs are accustomed to man-
ifest for their sacred writings. He also observed,
" This Jesus seems to be a Burchan," (a person
translated among the gods, and permitted to govern
alternately witli his companions,) " such as we have
in our religion." The Christian reader will not be
surprised, that the brethren should remark, " Both
these interviews left a very mournful and discouraging
impression on our minds."

The reigning prince Serbedshab, on liis first arrival
at the horde, had received the congratulations of the
missionaries in the most courteous manner ; and sub-
sequently afforded them many opportunities of con-
versing with him. Availing tiiemselves of this cir-
cumstance, they one day put into his hand a little
tract relative to the fall of man, and his redemption
by Jesus Christ ; but, though he perused it with great
attention, he merely remarked, on returning it, that, in
respect to the language, it was written very correctly.
He did them the honor, however, of inviting them to
dinner, which consisted of beef and soup, horse-flesh
with mustard, and a turkey with sour cucumbers.

A sister of the prince having been for some time
afflicted with a swelling on her upper lip, she resolved
to go to Sarepta in quest of medical assistance ; and,
on this occasion, her brother sent to inform tlio mis-
sionaries tiial any letters they might wish to send to
their friends in the settlement sliould be duly deliver-
ed. Tliis offer was, of course, accepted with thank-
fulness ; and, after an absence of a few weeks, the
princess, who had been accompanied in her journey
by the venerable Gcllong, Arschi, and four other Cal-
mucs, returned home perfectly cured, and highly grati-
fied by lier visit.

The death of the lama, an event of great impor-
tance lo ihu whole horde, occuiTed towards the close

191

of the year, and he was succeeded in his high dignity
by an individual who came from a considerable dii

SZ'.'^!"t. *""' "'^"''''' '^' appellation of " the
Hermit. The ceremonies observed at his installation,
which took place a few days after his arrival, are thu
described by the brethren :-«« A general assembly of
he people having been convened in the open place

britdr-" r "^^^^'' ^''^ prince' wit'h his
brother and their relations, first entered into each of
these temples, and bowed down before the idol im-
ages; and similar adorations were paid by the com-
mon people, though at a considerable distance. After
several processions of the whole company round the
sacred enclosure, the prince repaired to the great tent
erected in the midst of the temples, and to which the
Gellongs were likewise invited, together with the per-
son to be installed into the vacant dignity. The reign-
ing prince, turning to the latter, addressed him in The
following words .—' I make thee lama, and bow down
before thee.' The new lama now showed himself to
the people, all of whom prostrated themselves before
him on the earth, and afterwards each individual ap-
proached him in the most reverential posture, to re-
ceive the blessings which he imparted by means of a
species of rosary."

At St. Petersburg, in the mean time, an event had
occurred which seemed likely, under the divine bless-
ing, to open " a great door and effectual," for the diffii-
sion of heavenly light among a people who had been
long and awfully enveloped by the dense clouds of ig-
norance and the thick darkness of pagan superstition.
Iwo saisangs, or nobles, of the Chorin-Buraet tribe
of the Mongol nation, had come to the Russian capital,
from the border of the sea of Baikal ; for the purpose
of translating the gospel of St. Matthew into their dia-
lect and character, which differ, in some respect from
those in use among the Calmucs. This journey had
been undertaken at the request of the Petersburg Bi-
ble Society, and with the consent of the prince and
lama of the tribe. Whilst they were engaged in this
important work, it pleased God to enlighten their un-
derstanding, and to convince them so effectually of
the truth, that they avowed the necessity which they
felt of openly confessing Jesus as the Saviour of their
souls ; and, after a short time, they gave a public tes-
timony of their conversion, by writing to the prince of
their nation a letter, the perusal of which will, no
doubt, afford peculiar gratification to the reader :—

" At all times, gracious and benevolent prince and
father of the eleven tribes of the Chorin-Buraet peo-
pie, DiNOBiL Galsano Taischi ! wo wish you to en-
joy peace, joy and honor evermore.

" We have received fmm your exalted person a
letter of friendship and kind greeting, together with

158

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

letters from the nobles in our chancery, and from other
nobles among our people and our families.

" We rejoiced greatly, on reading the contents of
your letter, in which you send us loving exhortations
and words from your heart ; expressing your wish that
we might use . all diligence in the translation of the
sacred gospels. We have nothing further to reply
to it.

" Of the words and doctrine of the most high God
and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we have translated the first
book, called the Gospel according to St. Matthew, into
the Mongolian language and character ; and we shall
soon finish another booic, called the Gospel according
to St. John. As far as we know, we have perfectly
well understood the words of the Calmuc-Mongol
writing and doctrinal language,and have faithfully trans-
lated it into our Mongolian dialect. As the word of
God is clear and plain, we can never be tired of read-
ing it ; and we feel that it is certain truth.

" The most high God and Saviour came into this
world, as into a great wilderness, with the design to
bring together, and unite in one fold, men who were
walking in various ways, in darkness, like straying
sheep, having no owner. It pleased his merciful love
to save and deliver them ; and, therefore, he left his
divine majesty, and came as the Son of God into this
world, being born in a mean condition, and was called
Jesus Christ.

" That he might show us the most exalted Father's
truth, mercy, and love, in all their clearness, he be-
came our light, our trust, and our guide into all truth.
He took on himself the grievous sins and trespasses of
men, and, instead of them, gave us his easy and gen-
tle yoke. Though he could declare to his cruel and
savage enemies, that he might have twelve legions of
holy angels ready, at his beck, to turn them into dust
and ashes, yet he delivered himself up to these ene-
mies, and suffered himself by them to be nailed to the
cross ; and all this he did for us, that we might be in-
separably preserved in his faith, and that men might
be united under his merciful hand. Before the cross,
therefore, all the gods that had previously been on
earth, all idol temples, and all traditions of men, must
vanish. The prophecies have been fulfilled, and that
tree has sprung up, wiiich grows more and more glo-
rious, under whose leaves those related to each other
by religion, thougli widely differing in form, may as-
semble together and build their nests.

" Tlioiigli eighteen iiundrcd years have passed away,
yet this vessel of a reasonable faith, this pearl of a de-
vout iieart, has not yet reached the ears of our Mon-
gols and Buracts. According to our humble concep-
tion, our highly exalted and most gracious emperor is
an instrument in the hand of God ; and the society of

the sacred book of religion called the Biblk is a true
apostle of Jesus Christ.

" We hope to send you the translations of the gos-
pels this summer ; and we are of opinion, that you,
exalted prince, according to the upright and sound
judgment you possess, will receive them with joy.
We likewise believe that the priests, the learned, and
the nobles among our people, and the whole nation,
will rejoice at it. We wish and hope, also, that these
Tunguses on the river Onon, the Selengenskian Mon-
gols, and the Mongols beyond the frontier, may be
converted by it.

" As to yourself, having already made most lauda-
ble attempts to comprehend this doctrine, do not any
longer act according to the will of your old priests.
As you well know the proper aim of religion, you will
soon love the doctrine of Christ.

" When, by the grace of God, both our own peo-
ple, and all who speak the Mongol language, shall
leave their old belief, and receive the doctrine of Je-
sus Christ ; and when they shall walk in the only way
of salvation ; then they will likewise adopt a godly
conversation and good usages; God only can work
faith within us.

"Thus have we, by this letter, laid before you the
feelings and thoughts of our hearts in words of truth.
We have made the same confession to the president
of the society of this holy doctrine, and to other en-
lightened persons, but particularly to our most enlight-
ened teacher, Jacob Isaac Schmidt.

" We are thoroughly and firmly resolved to adopt
the doctrine of the Saviour and true God, Jesus
Christ. Though we are as yet ignorant of the cus-
toms and rites of Christendom ; and when we return
home, shall neither find a teacher, on whose breast
we may lean our heads, nor have a house of God ;
yet, after receiving such convictions of the truth, we
can he satisfied no longer, but must remain true to this
doctrine.

" We hope that our highly exalted and most gra-
cious sovereign (the emperor), on hearing that his
subjects in the uttermost parts of his empire will re-
ceive Christianity, will favor us with wise and worthy
teachers."

A copy of this letter having been sent from St.
Petersburg to the missionaries, they embraced every
opportunity of distributing so interesting and important
a document among the Calmucs of every rank in their
neighborhood. Prince Serbcdshab read it aloud, and
with great seriousness, in the presence of old Arschi,
whose countenance evinced the workings of his mind,
particulariy during the recital of that passage which
warns the prince of the Buraets from suffering himself
to be any longer guided by his old priests. After

ASIATIC RUSSIA.

Serbedshab had concluded the letter, he said, " It ap-
pears then that these Buraet saisangs are inclined to
receive the religion of the Christians ; but will the
rest of their nation be of the same mind ? Whoever
embraces a new faith without a strong predilection for
it, acts improperly, and to become a Christian merely
in name will answer no purpose whatever." The
brethren immediately replied, that this observation
was extremely just ; for it was indispensable that every
one who made a profession of Christianity should be
satisfactorily convinced of the truth of that system ;
they also stated that a change of religion should be
perfectly voluntary, and that no object should be kept
in view by the convert, but the obtaining of rest and
salvation for the immortal soul. In respect to the
saisangs, however, they observed, it was evident, from
their own letter, that they had considered this subject
maturely, and had acted in complete conformity with
the principles laid down.

Soon after the letter had been put into the hands
of the prince, an opportunity occurred for communi-
cating its contents to a company of Gellongs. They
listened to it with evident astonishment, and eagerly
asked whether the converted Buraets designed to be-
come Russians. As this question evidently referred
to the loss of national character, which the Calmucs
consider as one of the vilest degradations, the brethren
reminded them that Jesus was the Saviour of sinners,
without respect to national peculiarities and customs ;
and as no nation enjoyed any particular claim to his
mercies, so, in like manner, none was excluded from
participating in them.

Prince Dschalzen being, about this time, seized with
a fever, the missionaries paid him a visit, and present-
ed him with a copy of the letter from the Buraet no-,
bles. He read it over several times, and endeavored
to find some contradictions in it ; but, failing in this
attempt, he at length acknowledged that the writers
were sensible and clever men. His wife advised him
not to pay so much attention to a production which
might be interesting to Germans, but was not design-
ed for Calmucs. The brethren, however, reminded
her, that the letter had been written by two distin-
guished individuals of the Mongolian nation, and ex-
plained to her, how these persons, who had vainly
sought after rest in their own religion, had obtained
peace and happiness for their souls, through faith in
that gospel which teaches that Jesus shed his all-aton-
ing blood for the remission of sins.

" This remarkable letter," say the brethren, «< found
its way even to the lama himself. Together with
it we had received from Petersburg the - Lord's
prayer, in the Buraet character ; and one day, whilst
the lama was entertaining us with tea and sour mare's

150

milk, we presented him with both these documents.
He mvited brother Schill to sit down by him, and to
read them aloud. This being done, he showed us an
old book, written in the same character, and observed,
' That is the old Mongolian, which is no longer under-
stood among our people ; our characters being of later
date.' To his question, < Why the two Buraets re-
niamed m St. Petersburg ?' we replied, that it was for
the purpose of translating the remaining Scriptures
into the Mongolian. After this he made no further
mquiries m reference to the subject."

As it afterwards appeared that the new lama was
desirous of receiving more frequent visits from the
brethren, they called upon him several times before
the close of the year 1818. It seemed, however, on
these occasions, that he was more anxious to state his
own religious views than to obtain any information
relative to Christianity. One day he descanted at
considerable length, and in an authoritative manner,
upon the ten commandments of the religion of
lama, concluding his remarks with an assurance that
all who observed these precepts should hereafter ob-
tam a good birth. In this expression he evidently
alluded to the doctrine of transmigration ; as the Cal-
mucs believe that the soul of man, when it is not im-
mediately doomed to hell, or translated among the
gods, after death, passes into the body of some living
creature, and in this new form of existence receives
the reward of previous virtues, or the punishment of
past vices, in the peculiar circumstances in which it is
placed. The lama also remarked, that " before the
creation nothing existed but the eternal Life of the
world, by the operation of whose will all things were
brought into being ;" and when asked to whom or what
he alluded as the Life, he replied, that every man and
every living creature might be considered as a part of
It. Having stated that the three greatest yetoc/» were
the Burchan, religion, and the priesthood, and that all
these were united in the lama, he entered into a long
dissertation respecting the cleansing of the heart from
sin ; and on being requested to state in whom this
cleansing power was vested, he pompously exclaimed,
" In whom but man himself?" The brethren, there-
fore, availed themselves of this opportunity of explain-
ing, according to the doctrines of the Bible, that
Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, being alto-
gether free from sin, had, by the shedding of his
blood, procured remission of sins and eternal sal-
vation for all who should believe in him. Likewise
that by him were all things created that are in heaven
and on earth, and consequently both the body and
soul of man. On hearing this, he burst into loud
laughter, and exd.ainnpd, " What ! is there any one
who can create souls ?" The conversation was here

160

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

interrupted by the arrival of some Gellongs ; and the
lama, after remarking that though unnecessary talk-
ing was sinful, it was right and profitable to speak upon
religious subjects, dismissed tlie brethren witli an ex-
hortatbn to pray diligently and to visit him frequently.
" At our next visit," say the missionaries, " the
lama gave us another well-meant admonition. He had
observed that we were in the habit of killing gnats and
other vermin that annoyed us. He remarked that
we ought not to do this, but deal in a more gentle
manner with such creatures ; for though it was true
that they deserved punishment for molesting us, yet
some allowance ouglitto be made for their want of un-
derstanding. Upon our asking wiiat was tJie reason that
the Calmucs subsist almost entirely upon animal food,
although killing cattle is absolutely forbidden by the
principles of their religion, he returned for answer,
that ' every thing in this world was growing worse and
worse, and that it must be confessed tiie decline of true
religion among his nation had been particularly great
in this respect ; for in earlier periods of their history,
they had lived merely upon milk and water-gruel !'
It is worthy of remark, however, that the Calmucs in
this neighborhood always employ the Tartars, who re-
side among them, to slaughter their cattle.

Of the extreme darkness and wretched superstition
of the people among whom the brethren were at this
time laboring, a tolerably accurate idea may be formed
from the following particulars extracted from the diary
of 1818:—

" A saisang died, leaving behind him considerable
property. At his funeral the priests were very busily
engaged. After they had finished some long prayers,
the lama instructed the deceased at great length, how
he must travel to the world of spirits. The best riding
horse of the saisang stood saddled before the door,
provided with a drinking glass ; and this animal, with
other valuable perquisites, fell to the share of the la-
ma. A Gellong afterwards observed to us, ' The sad-
dle-horse belongs now as much as ever to the deceas-
ed ; for thougli the lama takes possession of it, he
makes an aerial horse, after the fashion of the other,
that the saisang may travel upon it to his new place
of abode.' Concerning this shameful transaction,
however, a man of rather low rank expressed his as-
tonishment to us, in words to this effect : ' It is singu-
lar that our priesthood are solicitous merely to provide
for the rich, and that the latter alone are put into the
right way after death ; but that, on the contrary, the
poor are left unheeded, and are obliged to find the way
as well as they can without a ^u:h.'

" Another person asked advii-< i » ^ Ciellon-:; in an
affair of marriage, after he had Liiasc't .(xed upon the
object of his choice, and obtaine-l tho consent of her

parents. The Gellong answered, ' There are great
obstacles m the way of this match ; and though they
may certamly be removed, it will cost at least a hun-
dred roubles.' The poor man, being unable to raise
so large a sum, was consequently under the necessity
of giving up all thoughts of the marriage."

To account for the application made in this instance,
as well as for the abandonment of the intended union]
it may be necessary to remark, that the Gellongs pre-
tend to be perfectly acquainted with every thing rela-
tive to the stars, and plume themselves not a little on
their skill in astrology. They are, of course, frequent-
ly consulted as to the result of various undertakings,
and even the removal of the encampment must be
regulated by their decision, drawn from the supposed
aspects of the celestial bodies. In point of fact, how-
ever, they are so extremely ignorant on the subject of
astronomy, that when the missionaries qpce asked a
Gellong if he knew what occasioned an eclipse of the
sun or moon, he replied, « It may be produced in dif-
ferent ways ; as sometimes the Tengeri, or good spirits,
hold a dance in these regions, and on other occasions
the obscuration is caused by an evil spirit." They
are also entirely unacquainted with the figure of the
earth, and the most common phenomena of nature ;
and as a correct representation of the facts is of no
utility in removing their errors, the brethren justly re-
mark, '< It is no matter of surprise that, if they shut
their ears and understandings against facts which are
intelligible to human reason, they are still more hard-
ened agaiust the receptionof those divine truths which
the Spirit of God alone can explain to man."

In one individual, however, the missionaries had
the happiness of discovering an earnest desire to un-
derstand and embrace the truth of the gospel. To
this man, named Sodnom, they were providentially
led to present a copy of the letter written by the two
Buraets at St. Petersburg, and its contents appeared
to make an immediate and serious impression upon his
mind. " This letter," said he, " is not to be slighted,
for it has been evidently written from genuine convic-
tion of heart. The authors have not acted like the
generality of our Calmucs, who tai ; iv> pains, to ex-
amine inl.^ my thing, but are perfeciiv- iitliiferent
whether the doctrines which tl v- bclipve Uo true
or erroneous. We have, indeed, numerous writings
on the subject of our religion, but they are either so
dark or so contradictory, that it is impossible to obtain
any clear ideas from perusing them. If an explana-
tion I equested of our learned men, they merely re-
ply, iie meaning of religion is very deep.' But
what hwnefit can I derive from writings, the sense of
which is too mysterious for my comprehension ? What
I road I ought to understand, or there should, at least,

be some person able and willing to give me the need-
fill explanation. I am not at all surprised that the two
Buraets have adopted the resolution mentioned in their
letter, and I smcerely wisii they would come hither, that
1 might converse with them on the subject." After a
short pause, during which he probably feared that he had
gone too far, he added, " It would not indeed be right
m me to disbelieve our own religion , yet it is very
possible that though the trunk of the tree be divine
some of the branches may be the' work of human
invention."

The readiness with which this man appeared to re-
ceive divme truth, and the frankness with which he
avowed his convictions, excited the most lively hope
on his behalf, in the breasts of the missionaries!
who resolved to spare no pains in his instruction.
They accordmgly explained to him the necessity of
becoming experimentally acquainted with Jesus as a
Saviour, of obtaining from him the remission of sins, of
being united to him by faith, and of following his bless-
ed example; and these subjects of discourse were so
abundantly blessed by the Holy Spirit, that Sodnom
never appeared so happy as when in the company of
he brethren, notwithstanding the derision and persecu-
tion of his countrymen, who taunted him witli his in-
clination to embrace the religion of the Germans.

On one occasion he expressed his deep regret that
the prince was so indifferent to the great subject of
Christianity, and that the generality of the Calmucs
closed their ears against its momentous truths. The
brethren, however, stated that these were circumstances
which both the word of God and their own experience
led them to anticipate, and reminded him that " not
many wise men after the flesh, not many mii^hty, not
many noble are called ; but that God had chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and
tlie weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty, that no flesh should glory in his
presence ' They also stated that, in the commence-
ment of their mission in Labrador, one of the brethren
had even been murdered by the inhabitants; yet the
mission had not been abandoned, as other laborers
were found willing to risk their lives in attempting to
convey the glad news of salvation to the heathen
This remark deeply afTuctod him, and he exclaimed
with evident emotion, " It must, indeed, be an easy
thing to suflbr death for the sake of Jesus !" Sodnom
was consequently considered as the first-fruits of that
precious seed which, since the renewal of the mission
had been hitherto sown in tears among the Calmucs •
and the bretliren were enabled to close the year 1818
With sensations of joyful gratitude and lively hope, to
which, for a considerable time past, thev had been
almost 'trangers.

Vol.. I.— Nos. 13 &i 14. 23

ASIATIC RUSSIA.

161

The commencement of 1819 proved extremely se-
vere and the greater part of the Calmucs experienced
much loss and trouble ; as many of their cattle perbhed
and It was necessary every day to clear away a laree
Tiantity of the snow, in order to obtain evenVseaT
and unwholesome subsistence for those which su^

7Ji' rr^u '."." ^'^ •"'^""*=^«' ^»»«™ a sufficient
stock of hay had been provided for the winter, ^t
nom, though comparatively of low extraction, and con-
sequently having but little to lose, had his ful share of
the general calamity. His heart, however, remained
firmly fixed upon heavenly things, and his WZZr
he enjoyment of divine grace was evidently unal a" ed
He had, some time since, written to the two Buraets ai
St. Petersburg stating the impression which a copy of
their letter had made upon his mind, and explig
to them his views of the Christian religion ; an.i thf
answer which he received tended greatly t; his en!
couragement. The missionaries also rendered him
an essential service by placing i„ his hands a copy o[
he Gospel according to St. John. He perus.d it with
the most devout attention, and one day emphaticallv
exclaimed "This is the soap which m'ust deanse us
from the defilement of our old system of religion'"
He seemed greatly delighted with the seventeenih

Lord offered up for his disciples, previous to his suf-
of h?'; M ' "r,'°"Sed "dently for that communion
of heart with all believers which the Redeemer solicited
as the portion of his follo^vers ; and, as a proof of this
he ad ressed the brethren at Sarepta, fn a letterto
the following effect : —

"Herewith I approach you who live at a distance
w^hing you rest and joy. Since by the instrumental-
ity of he word of the most high God, who cannot lie,
a small seed has fallen into my heart, I entreat mos
earnestly that you will afford me your assistance, in
st.il further enlightening my mind, remembering me
contmually before the Most High, and commending me
to his grace and favor."

About this time he gave the missionaries to under-
stand that It would be impossible for him any longer to
attend the religious exercises of the Calmucs : that on
account of the change in his sentiments, he had
already suffered much persecution from his wife and
relatives, particularly since his neglected rosary had
been devoured by the mice; and that he was ^ware
his conduct would expose him to the hatred of the
^yhole nation ; yet he said it was his most earnest de-
sire to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and he
added, "1 trust the dear Saviour, according to his
great mercy, will grant me grace to remain faithful to
my resolution of devoting myseif to him."

On another occasion, whilst conversing with the

169

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

brethren respecting the difficulties which attended the
conversion of the Calmucs, he endeavored 'o encour-
age them by saying, " When the sheep are to be
washed, we find every one afraid to enter the water ;
but this is no longer the case, after the first has been
washed," — A few days afterwards, he slated with evi-
dent delight, that he had at length met with a friend,
in one of iiis countrymen, with whom he could con-
verse frriely upon spiritual subjects. This person
had once observed to him, " I am in the service of the
prince, and entirely dependent upon him ; but I should
not wish, on this account, to risk the salvation of my
soul." Sodnoni had also i he pleasure to perceive that
bis daily practice of reading a portion of the gospel in
bis family, though formerly op|U)sed and derided, was
at length productive of the happiest consocjuences.
One of his brethren, who, in time past, exhibited tiio
utmost aversion to hearing liie word of God, now be-
gan to listen to it with seriousness and interest ; nor
was it long before n similar ciumgo became appiirent
in his wife. In the conunencement of the wiiUtr,
when Sodnom bad sometimes continued reading (ill a
late hour, she used to express her impatience, and to
remonstrate against a practice which she observed
could be of no utility, though il occasioned an unneces-
sary consumption of fire-wood Now, however, she
apjiearcd to give the most devout attention to what
was read, and, if the slightest interruption were made
by the children, she iuuuediately suppressed it.

Sodnom, like many other converts, ;.; the ardor of
Jieir first love to Christ, had, for some time, seemed
anxious to preach to his countrymen ; but bavins;, on
one occasion, received from the brelhren a correct
and judicious exposition of that passage, " Whosoever
shall confess me before men, him will 1 also confess
before my Father which is in hciuen ;" he observed,
" I nui now convinced that it is better for me at pre-
sent, to be silent than to speak. Our people are well
versed in asking questions, hut if they are int<Mrognlcd
in lurn. iheir answer is coii'monly an empty va|)()r.
I'erhiips ir might Ik- advisaiile for us to live at some
distance from the rest of liie horde ; for how can the
spark of irulh which is enkindled in llie liciirl, burst
forth into a (lame, if water he incessantly poured upon
it ?" Hut. notwithstanding his conviction on this sub-
ject, and the resolution which he formed, he was never
backward to speak "a word in season" on behalf of
the gospel, or with a view to the edification of the
heathen with whom he happened lo fall into conver-
sation. Henre the brelhren observe th:it n ('aliniic
having one day asked him, in a jeering manner,
whether it were really true tiiat he was desirous in his
old age of becoming acipuiinted with a new religion, |
Sodiiom fcpiica hy asking wiiuihcr obi u^v would ex-

empt him from dying. And, on another occasion,
when a man of the Kirghese nation objected to the
Christian religion, on the ground, that none of the
nobles or the learned men had embraced it, be said,
" If a friend were ic offer you a costly present, would
you ask why he did not bestow it upon a more wealthy
or distinguished person ? or if a quantity of gold were
lying on the summit of a lofty precipice, and our
teachers were to place a ladder, and invite you to
ascend and take away so much of the treasure as you
might think proper, would you wait till some one
greater and wiser than yourself came and swept it all
away ?"

The appearance of a comet, in the month of July,
was considered as indicative of some disaster to the
Calmuc nation, and the Gellongs were busily em|)loyed
in prayers and religious ceremonies, with a view to avert
the evil threatened by the celestial stranger. This led
to a conversation between the prince and the missiona-
ries, in which ilie latter slated explicitly that such a
phenomenon portended nothing relative lo the con-
cerns of mankind, but merely displayed, like the other
heavenl)^ bodies, the glory of the invisible Creator.
The subject was then dropped, as Serbedshab never
appeared inclined to speak of any thing connected
with the (;iirisliau religion. On several occasions,
however, he (leTnonstrale(lasu|)eriority to the prejudices
of his own nation, which rendered it truly desirable
that he might he led to examine for himself the truths
of divine revelation. He even deposed the lama
from his hisrh dignity, and sent him biick lo iht^ jdaco
from ivhich he had originally come, in consetpicnce ot
his having spoken with unbecoming freedom of the
government ; and on another occasion he reduced
the numlicr of (iclloiigs from upwards of six hundred
to two hundred and filly, and informed those that were
dismissed, that ihcy must, in fiiture, pay tribute lo him.
like the rest of his subjects. l\o acl of a similar na-
ture had ever lucviously been heard of among the ('al-
mucs ; but tliounh the greatest astonisliiiient was excit-
ed, not the slightest opposition was made to the will
of a [iriuce, of uhosc wisdom and power the whole
horde had the higju'si opinion.

Some time after the pmmulijation of these decrees,
Serbedshab hciraii lo exhibit a decided liosiiliiy against
the disscniination of the gospel, and would no longer
|>criuit the missiimaries to reside among his people.
Hy this lime, however, the light of divine iruth had
dawned upon twi'uly-fwo of the Culmncs, who ac-
cordingly removed with Mr. S-hill to a spot belonging
to the brethren at Sarepta, and within about an hou.'s
walk from that settlement.

The Rev. Itcnjamin Heichel, in allusion to this
circumsiance, observes, " 1 gliull never forget tiie iin-

ASIATIC RUSSIA.

pression made upon my mind, when I beheld these
dear firstlings from a heathen nation thrust out from
their own people and connections, arrive on our land,
after a wearisome journey, accompanied by their faith-
ful missionary, brother Schill. The weather was
rather unfavorable, but I and some other brethren rode
to meet them, and after the first cordial welcome, we
stopped to see them pass. Brother Schill proceeded
on horseback, accoinpaiiied by a division of the
men ; another division went up the Wolga in a boat ;
and tho main body of the people proceeded along the
high banks of tho river. Then followed, at a short
distance, tho camels, loudod, after the oriental manner,
with the various parts of the kibitkcs, or skin-tents,
upon which the women were seated. These werJ
followed by two Calinuc carts, drawn by horses, and
one by a bullock, loaded, likewise, with tents and their
finnit.ire, on which the young chi!dr(>n were placed.
After the carts followed two loaded bullock.?, as they
had only three camels ; the herd of horned cattle ;
and, lastly, the sheep and goats, driven by the bigger
children. There might be altogether about seventy
head of cattle belonging to them.

" In the countenances of the people, who are mostly,
as it were, babes in faith, and have but just begun to
believe in the power and j)iotection of Jesus, we ob-
served marks of mildness, th.uightfulnes.'!, and deep
reflection, rather than indirations of joy and gladness
of heart. The countenance of Sodnom, whose fea-
tures are those of a genuine Culniuc, but manly and
expressive, seems to show a gentle and contem-
plative mind. Tho Lord has granted him true grace
and a living faith. Ho is truly humble in heart ; and
with his humility he combines n truly apostolical zeal,
fearing neither reproach nor danger, but ever desirous
to promote the ileliveraiice of his countrymen from
the chains of darkness, and to show them the same
way to the Saviour wliii'h he himself has found. As
the next to him in cx|)crienco and grace, I may inen-
. tion his wife. She is of a very mild and quiet dispo-
sition, and does not speak much ; but her expressions
remind us of what is recorded of Mary, ' She kept all
these things, and pondered iliem in her heart.' In-
deed, there are several among them who, when tiiey
walk with their teacher along the coast of ilieir island,
might say to him, as the eunuch said to Philip, ' Here
is water, what doth hinder us to he baptized >'

" During the first days after their arrival, almost the
whole eonKi'ceatioii of Snrepla ueni to see these dear
emigrants, and to bid iheni welcome. As the weather
proved remarkHbly fine, nged brethren and sisters,
widows and hoary-headed men, wen- seen grasping
once more their j.iigiim'^ stait, and creeping uiong
tho road, towards the kibitkes, which stood about three

163

English miles from hence, that they might, with their
own eyes, behold this work of God. We were partic-
ularly affected with what happened to a venerable
brother named Steinman, eighty-three years of age
and one of tho first settlers at Sarepta. He, like
others of the aged fathers of this place, never forgot
Its pristine destination to be the means of introducing
the gospel to the Calmucs. For this he had offered
up Ins daily prayers, and he now desired to see the first-
lings of that heathen nation. He, therefore, seized
his staff, which he had long ago laid aside, and, by the
help of a friendly conductor, reached their camp.
After beholding :hem, and hearing them, in their own
language, sing verses relative to the sufferings, death
and redemption of Jesus their Saviour, he returned
home, thanking and praising God ; and two days after-
ward he closed his eyes and departed in peace."

The kibitkes of the Calmucs were, at first, erected
on the bank of the Wolga, hut they were subsequent-
ly removed to an island in that river, in order to
obtain better pasturage for their cattle, and to avoid
the troublesome visits of their pagan countrymen, of
whom there are many in the vicinity cf Sarepta.

" It has been but seldom," adds Mr. Reichel, " that
tho ice in the Wolga was sufficiently strong to allow
us to walk across it, the winter being unusually mild.
I have attemjited it only twice, in company with some
other brethren, before the hlockrhouse; which the mis-
sionaries are to inhabit, was put np. Sodnoin enter-
tained us very hospitably in his 1. ibitke, with Calmuc tea.
This, however, is not to be compared with that in use
among us. Ii is brought from China, and is of a very
coarse kind, being pressed into hard cukes, something
hke oil-eake, and thus sold. A piece being cut off, is
thrown into an iron pot, and boiled. The tea by it-
self yields an unpleasant decoction, like soap-lees ;
hut by an admixture of fat and salt, it becomes a
sliengiliening and nourishing kind of broth, tho color
of uhich resembles that of chocolate made with milk.
The Calmucs can bear hunger and fatigue mony days,
if they can only get a cup or two of this sort of tea.'
If the cooking of it be cleanly, and the fat, which ig
commonly mutton, be fresh, the taste is not disagreea-
ble. Though I had never tasted it before, I was able
to drink a wlioie cup of it without disgust. The
wooden bowls, out of which tho Calmucs drink this tea,
hold about three or four cups of the eoinmon si/.e.

" We liad not been long with Sodnom before the
other inhaliiiimtM came out of their kibitkes to welcome
us. I had brought a large wheaten loaf with me, and
distributed it among them, us they, accoiding i,, ihoir
custom, sat on the ground. >'othing like q elmir or
stool IS found in their tents ; but they provided us with
saddle-cloths and skins to sit on. During our friendly

164

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

meal, men, women and children were engaged in
smoking tobacco, and much conversation took place ;
but when the repast was finished, they all laid down
their pipes, folded their hands with great devotion,
and sang several hymns in the Calmuc language. We
were deeply affected by the simplicity and earnestness
with which the whole was conducted, and took an
affectionate leave of the dear people.

" O ! what a contrast was this to a meal at which
I was once present, when I visited a heathen Calmuc
family in the Steppe ! Brandy having been distilled
in a sort of kettle, plastered all over with clay and
cow-dung, the father of the family stepped forward,
and began to draw off a portion, performing many
singular ceremonies. First, he threw a spoonful out
at the chimney, then some drops out at the entrance,
and some behind his back, with a view to expel all evil
spirits. His grimaces filled me with such disgust, that
1 lost almost all appetite, and the little that remain-
ed entirely quitted me, when the filthy mess was put
to my lips, the smell of which annoyed me all the day.
"The presence of the Calrnucs has been the means
of much blessing and refreshment to this congregation.
When, on the second Christmas holyday, a report
was made of the manner in which these firstlings had
celebrated the incarnation of our Lord, with their
teachers, and thus for the first time the Saviour of the
world, manifest in the flesh, as an infant in the man-
ger, had been adored and greeted with hymns of praise
and thanksgiving by a portion of the Calmuc nation,
all present were deeply affected. In all the solemni-
ties of this blessed season, and those of the new year,
these dear people were renVenibered before the Lord
with fervent supplication, that he would complete the
work begun in tlieir souls."

From this pleasing and truly interesting scene, and
from the contemplation of that (hnvnini;; of heavenly
light, which had been so long anticipated, and so
anxiously desired, on behalf of the Calmuc nation, it
is now our painful task to direct the render's attention
to an event of n pcruliarly calamitous nature, and to
a disiippointincnt wliirli nuist bo poignantly folt and
deeply deplored by all who are solicitous that the
heathen may be civen to our adorable Jesus for |iis
inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for
his possession.

On the 9tli of August, Ifl-i."). about one o'clock in
the afternoon, a fire broke out in oneof the oiit-liouscs
of liic tobacco manufactory at Sarepta, and spread
with such rapidity that no human efforts could nrrest
its progress. Within about four hours and n iinlf, the
whole of the buildin^s b-longing to the manufactory,
the apothecary's shop, the warden's house, the two
large houses of the single brethren, v,\ih al! (iicir shops ii

and farming premises, and twenty-four dwelling-houses,
were laid in ashes. About three fourths of the settle-
ment were thus destroyed ; and twenty-eight families
seventy single brethren, and about twenty families
of workmen and servants, were deprived of their hab*
itations. It is worthy of remark, however, that when
the fire had reached the most dangerous place, and
had nearly caught the out-buildings of the minister's
house, the progress of the devouring element was
providentially arrested, or it is probable that in half an
hour more the whole settlement would have been
converted into a heap of ruins, and its inhabitants left
without a homo. " But our gracious God," says the
Rev. B. Reichel, " who found it needful to treat us
with paternal severity, would yet, according to the
purposes of his iove, not lay a heavier burden upon
us than we were able to bear, but preserved to us our
beautiful church, and so many dwelling-houses, that,
on the 10th of August, all the inhabitants, both mem-
bers of the congregation and strangers, could be pro-
vided with a place of refuge."

Though it is impossible either to narrate or to
peruse so dreadful a catastrophe without feelings of
deep regret and tender sympathy, the rising sigh is
checked and the starting tear is dried up, by the recol-
lection, that in cases such as this, appeals can never
be made in vain to the benevolence of Christians,
who, however differing in names or modes of worship,
are all united in attachment to our blessed Redeemer,
and in a zealous desire for the eternal salvation of
their fellow creatures. The disappointment, how-
ever, to which allusion has been made, is unfortunately
accompanied by no immediate consolation. The mis-
sionaries nt Sarepta, whilst rejoicing that the power
of the gospel had, at length, been felt and acknowl-
edged by some individuals of the Culnu.c nation,
among whom they had previously labored for so many
years in vain, naturally conceived that a government
so beneficent and paternal as that of tlie present em-
peror of F^issia, would readily grant them permission
to baptize their converts ; and, in future, to instruct
and collect congregiitions of such of the heiithen as
miRlit be made willing to enlist beneath tiie standard
of the cross. Tliis, however, to their surprise and
bitter disii|.pointment. was refused ; on the ground
that his imperial majesty, notuithsianding his good
will toward tin- Tniied Hicihren, has no power to
alter an old ecclesiaslica! law, which ordains that none
of the heathen within the Russian dominions shall bo
permitted to receive the rite of baptism from any
other than the clergy of the (ireek church. In con-
seipience of this riocision, the few Calrnucs who were
brought to the knowledge of the truth, have sijbmittcd
to be baptizot' by the Greek priests.

LAPLAND.

Concemmg the missionaries, who formerly occupied
this field of labor, the following may yet be mentioned :
Mr. Schih received an appointment to serve the mis-
sion m Antigua. Of his colleagues, one, Mr. Loos,
bemg advanced in years, has retired to Sarepta : the

cl' u "■■ P^*""' '" '"'^'''^^y *"S''6«*' •" the service
of the brethren's church in Livonia. Of all, it may

165

be said, that they would most cheerfully return to the
work to which they were formerly appointed, and in
which, amidst trials and hardships, their hearts deliKht-
ed, ,f the door of usefulness, which is for the present
closed, should be again opened, by him who openeth
and no man shuUeth, and who also shutteth and no
man openeth.

CHAPTER VIII.
UNSUCCESSFUL MISSIONS.

LAPLAND.

In the year 1734, three of the United Brethren,
who had, for some time, felt anxious to convey the
glad news of the gospel to the Laplanders, set out
from Herrnhut with that design ; and, after spending
a few months m thecityof Stockholm, they proceeded
to rornea.and travelled through the whole of Swedish
l.aplan(I ; but, on discovering that arrangements had
already been made for the instruction of the natives
m the Chr.stian religion, they directed their route to
that part of the country belonging to Russia

On their arrival at Archangel they met with a party
of Samoiedes, and, after some conversation, it was
agreed that they should accompany them to their
residence ; but no sooner had they iippjied for the
necessary passports, than they were nrrcste<l, on sus-
pic.on of bemg spies in the pay of Sweden, and
were confined in separate apartments i„ the prison
for five weeks ; at the expirulion of which lime they
were placed un.lcr a military escort, in order to be
conveyed to St. I'ctersluirg. in the course of this
journey they had occasion to cross a lake ; hut before

• hey had procu-.l ar, the i,.,, p„ve way, au.l two

of the brethren, with their soldiers who guarded them
were sudd'mly precipitated into the water, liy the
prompt exertions of the tl.ir.l missionary, however
ihoy were nil happily rescued from dcstriK-tion, an,l
llie esteem of the soldiers was so oirecimillv cnncili-
ated by an act to which they were indebted for the
|.reservation of their lives, that the former roughness

mill hriDiiliii. s-f •!...:_ "

: -■ " "«"'"crs wore now exchamted

for comparative kindness. The brethren were once

more thrown into confinement ; but at the end of five
weeks they obtained a passport to return to their own
country.

In 1741, Messrs. Behr and Ostergreen resolved to
attempt a renewal of the Lapland mission ; but this,
like the former, proved to be of no avail. On reach-
ing Tornea, they engaged a native herdsman to con-
duct them across the mountains to Finmark ; and he
accordingly brought them to a : ay in the Frozen sea,
where they were received with great hospitality by
an aged man, who appeared to possess a considerable
share of piety. Here they remained nearly three
months, and then set out, in a boat, for Norwegian
Lapland. The distance which they had to sail was
about two hundred and thirty miles, and the voyage
was extremely dangerous ; as, in the open sea, they
were liable to bo upset by whales, and the rocky
islands along the coast, to which they were compelled
to ictilo when iliowind blew high, might have proved
fatal to their little bark. Towards the latter end
of June, niii, however, they arrived at an island,
lying in the 71st degree of r .rtli latitude, and ho-
longing to Norwegian F.apland, where they had the
good fortune to meet with a pious host in the person
of a justice of the peace. The minister also treated
th.Mii very kindly, and ofli-red Mr. Ostergreen the
situation of schoolmaster ; but as it appeared that
divine worship was regularly performed in this part
of the country every sabbath, and that instruction
was given to the rising generation, the brethren con-
sid-red that no necessity existed for the establishment

166

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

f^f

of a mission, and with this impression they returned
to their native land, after an absence of two years.

GUINEA.

A converted mulatto, named Christian Protten, who
had come over from Guinea to Copenhagen, and there
applied himself to the study of divinity, having be-
come acquainted with count Zinzendorf, expressed an
inclination to return to his native country in tlie char-
acter of a missionary. One of the brethren named
HukufT was accordingly appointed to accompany him,
and they soon afterwards set sail for the coast of
Guinea, where they arrived in 1737. A short time,
however, after their lan«ling, Mr. IIukufT was sum-
moned out of time into eternity ; and though his col-
league remained there a considerable time, and paid
two visits to Europe previous to his death, which oc-
curred in 1769, no particular success appears to have
attended his labors.

Previous to his demise, however, the Guinea Com-
pany at Copenhagen requested the church of the
United Brethren to form a settlement in the vicinity
of one of their factories. Accordingly, on obtaining
the royal sanction, the Rev. Jacob IVIeder and four
assistants proceeded to Guinea in 17(58; but before
they could commence a regular establislunent, Mcder
and two of his collounnes were conveyed to the silent
tomb. The news of thi/ mournful event was no soon-
er received in Germany than several other persons
volunteered tlieir services to fdl up the chasm wliicli
had been thus unexpectedly made by death, anrl four of
tiiem set sail for (iuinea. These, however, all died
before the end of the year 1770, and as the two sm-
vivors of the former party were also carried oil", it was
judged expedient to abandon this truly unfortunate
mission.

ALGIERS.

Count Zinzendorf having been solicited, by the
Dutch admiral Sehiyver, to seiul a minister to the
Chri'itian slaves in Algiers, the request was cuminuni-
cated to the congregation at Herrnhut, and A. V.
Hicliler immediately consented to undertake a mission
which seemed to unite in itself the great and trulv
interesting objects of Christianity and huiuanity. On
his arrival in I7:J!>, this devoted herald of the cross
received tho alarming intelligence that the plagut; was
rnging in tho city. Unrtpp«ili-d, however, by this cir-

cumstance, and solely intent on the glory of his great
Master and the edification and consolation of his suf-
fering fellow creatures, he visited the slaves in the bar-
racks ; relieved, according to his ability, their tempo-
ral wants ; preached to them the gospel of that adora-
ble Jesus who was anointed to proclaim liberty to
the captives, and the opening of the prison to those
that are bound ; and in the season of sickness and the
hour of death, pointed them to the atonement of Cal-
vary, as an unfailing refuge from the wrath to come.
Thus for a time he walked, as it were, in the midst of
the pestilence uninjured, and even when seized by the
plague, it was his mercy to recover. A second attack
of that disorder, however, proved the messenger to
convey him to those bright and peaceful abpdes, where
tho inhabitants are pure from sin, and consequently
exempt from sickness and death.

In 1749, this invaluable missionary was succeeded
by Mr. Charles Nottbok, who seems to have made it
his study to walk in the footsteps of his amiable and
philanthropic predecessor. Ho remained about three
years in the city ; and though, after his departure, the
mission was suspended, it seems that he was not per-
mitted to labor in vain or spend his strength for nought ;
as some of tho slaves to whom he had faithfully preach-
ed tho gospel, on obtaining their liberty, cast in their
lot with the brethren, as members of their paternal
union ; and, after a life of consistent profession, died
rejoicing in the faith of our once crucified but now
risen and exalted Saviour.

CEYLON.

In tho year 1740, Messrs. Eller and Nitschmann,
junior, visited the island of (Ceylon, with an ardent
hope that tlieir labors might be rendered, in .some de-
gree, effectual to the turning of the natives from dark-
ness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.
On their arrival at Columbo, every thing appeared
auspicious to their midertaking, as Mr. Iinlioll", the
governor, received them with the greatest kindness,
and readily agreed to facilitate their jcnuney into tho
interior of the country. The Cingalese to whom they
addressed themselves wore, nt first, very reserved, in
consequence of having been cautioned agnin>-t theiu,
as nuMi whose prinri|iles were completely atheistical.
The absurdity of this idea, however, became suflicient-
ly obvious when they began to speak on religious sub-
jects ; and, after a short lime, the natives appeared to
listen to their discourse both with attention and jjleas-
ure. It unfortunately happened, however, at this
juncture, tiiat Mr. Imiioll retired from his situation f

PERSIA.

and as some persons at Colurabo had begun to hold
devotional meetings in thoir houses, the new govern-
or was persuaded to issue an order for the removal of
the missionaries from the island. Short, however, as
was their stay at Ceylon, they had a pleasing illus-
tration of Jehovah's promise that " his word shall not
return unto him void, but shall accomplish his pleas-
ure, and prosper in the thing whereunto he sent it ;"
as, through their instrumentality, a surgeon named
Christmn Dober was brought to a saving acquaintance
with divine truth, and afterwards removed to one of
the brethren's European settlements, accompanied by
a Malabar, who was also instructed in the things per-
taining to his everlasting peace, and was admitted
mto the church by baptism in 1746.

167

PERSIA.

The United Brethren at Heimhut had for some
time entertained the idea of sending the glad tidings
of salvation to a race of people called the Gaures, or
Gebri, rcsHling in that part of Persia which borders on
Hindoostan, and supposed by some to be the descendants

of the Magi or wise nien.whopresentedlheirgiftsof gold,
frankincense, and myrrh, to the divine Infant at IJeth-
lehem. And in the spring of 1747, Messrs. Hocker
and Rueffer, the former a physician, and the latter a
surgeon, sailed from Europe with the view of com-
mencing the intended mission. On their arrival at
Aleppo they waited upon the British consul, who
readily took then, under his protection, and treated
them with the greatest urbanity and kindness ; but
both he and several other European genllemen strong-
ly dissuaded them from pim-eeding any farther, on ac-
count of the anarchy and misery in which the country
had been recently plunged by the ravages of the celc-
brate.l usurper Nadir Shah, who, among other acts of
barbarity, had eause.l several Jews and Armenians to
bo burnt ahvo, for no other crime than that of l.einK
miable to satisfy his unparalleled rapacity for money.
The missionaries, however, ajipeared lirinly resolved
on prosecuting their journey ; and though they were
subsequently alarmed by intelligence that Nadir had
plundered Ispahan, the capital of Persia, and Kerman,
the principal seat of the Gaures, and that in the latter
place he had caused three jiyramids to be erected
consisting entirely of human heads, they finally re^
solved on advancing to Bagdad, in order to ascertain the
practicability of travelling from thence into Persia.
On the «4th of August they quitted Aleppo in com-

Uanv with n piirnvn.i ,1....: I f— .u . ,

" ■ ' /•/• " — '"" '"' '^ ^^*' ""** com-
prising fifteen hundred camels. In crossing the desert

they usually commenced their march with the rising
of the sun, and continued their progress till noon,
when they halted for about an hour, and refreshed
themselves with coffee. They afterwards travelled
till sunset, when they again stopped till a little after
midnight. They generally supped on boiled rice, and
their beverage was muddy water, which it was neces-
sary to filter through a cloth before it could be drank.
After travelling about thirteen days, they arrived at
a place called Cowis, where the caravans usually sep-
arate mto two bodies, one proceeding to Bagdad, and
the other taking the road to Bassora ; but, to the great
surprise and disappointment of the missionaries, the
whole body, on this occasion, took the latter direction.
Messrs. Hocker and Rueffer were consequently under
the necessity of leaving the caravan. They were en-
abled to proceed to Bagdad, however, by joining a
party of four Jews, who were travelling thither ; and
after remaining a couple of days in that city, they pro-
ceeded with a caravan of two thousand persons to
Shermachan, a frontier town of Persia, where they
halted about three weeks, in consequence of having
heard that the road to Ispahan was infested by a nu-
merous gang of banditti. During their stay at this
place, the brethren were enabled to administer mcdi-
cal assistance to many invalids, and one of their pa-
tients presented them with two beautiful asses for the
prosecution of their journey, as a token of his grati-
tude for the recovery of his health. Such, indeed,
was the fame resulting from their cures, that the gov-
ernor, whose eyes had been put out by command of
Nadir Shah, actually applied to them for the restora-
tion of his sight ; but they convinced him without
difficulty that what he requested was beyond the
power of man, and could only bo effected by the iin-
mediate finger of God.

On the a 1st of October, our travellers resumed their
journey in company with a caravan of about six hun-
dred persons, many of whom were well mounted and
furnished with arms and ammunition ; but before the
expiration of the third <lay, they were suddenly at-
tacked by a tribe of robbers called Ciudes, armed with
sabres, clubs and ja\eliiis. Tluir road, that day, was
at first over a lofty emiiicnee, and then through a val-
ley at the foot of the hills. A party of the banditti,
to the number of fifty or sixty, awaited the arrival of
the caravan in the .alloy, and as soon as they thought
proper to show themselves, a numerous band of their
comrades came running from an adjacent hill towards
the travellers. As their united numbers, however,
did not exceed two hundred, and most of them were
on foot, they iiiight have been repulsed by the armed
hoisomen ; but, after firing a lew shots, they retreated
at full gallop, leaving their unfortunate companions to

168

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

shift for themselves. These were, of couYse, an easy-
prey to the robbers, who not only plundered them of
their property, but treated them with the greatest cru-
elty, fracturing the skulls, cutting off the ears, and
otherwise severely wounding several of them. Dr.
Hooker was pierced in the back and stabbed in his
right side by a javelin ; he was also wounded in the
chin and on the hinder part of his neck ; and for some
time lay senseless on the ground, whilst the marauders
stripped him of his money, watch, clothes, boots, and
stockings, leaving him nothing but his drawers ; and
from the spot where this occurred, he had to walk fif-
teen miles, through the burning heat of the sun, and
over a stony road ; so that his body was almost roast-
ed, and his feet were completely covered with blisters.
On his arrival at the next town, he found many of his
fatigued and terrified fellow travellers, and among the
rest his friend and colleague Rueffer, who had been left
completely naked by the banditti. Both he and
Hocker now were furnished with a few articles of
clothing by a Persian, who conducted them to his
house, and gave them some bread and grapes for their
supper ; but, though they were truly thankful for this
accommodation, and congratulated themselves on be-
ing once more under a friendly shelter, they were so
severely bruised and blistered, that they could scarce-
ly close their eyes during the night. "

On the 1st of November, after travelling for some
days on foot, they were again attacked by a gang of
robbers, who stripped them of the few articles with
which they had been recently supplied, leaving
only a pair of drawers to Dr. Hocker and an old
waistcoat to his companion. They had still a journey of
nine days to accomplish, and the hardships which they
suffered were so great, that nothing but the power of
God and the consolations of their holy religion could
have supported their spirits under them. Their only
sustenance consisted of bread and water ; the heat of
the sun by day and the coldness of the night air af-
fected their health ; and, In respect of lodging, they
considered themselves fortunate when they were per-
mitted to repose their weary bodies in a stable. At
length, however, they arrived at Ispahan, where the
nrltish resident received them into his house, and
kindly supplied all their necessities.

On their explaining to this gentleman the oKyct of
their journey, he stronsjly dissuaded thcnj from at-
tempting to visit theGaures at that time, as the whoh-
country was in a state of distress and confusion, nnd
all the roiuls in that district wore infested with banditti.
He also observed that though the Gaureswere an in-
offensive and industrious race of peopi,., most .,f the.n
had been cither niassancd or driven from thi'ir abodes ;
n-r.-.H!!. — , j.nm ipal place of rosidemo, i

had been twice ransacked and plundered, first by Na-
dir Shah, and afterwards by the Afghans. In conse-
quence of these representations, the brethren remain-
ed about six months at Ispahan, anxiously hoping for
the restoration of tranquillity ; but on hearing from
every quarter that there was no likelihood of the ex-
isting impediments being removed, they resolved to
return to Egypt.

In the month of June, 1748, the brethren left Is-
pahan ; but they had not travelled far before the car-
avan was attacked and plundered by another gang of
robbers. They were now, therefore, stripped, for the
third time, of all their money and most of their clothes,
and on their arrival at Bender Busher they were ragged
and involved in debt. The Dutch agent in this place,
however, received them in the most hospitable manner,
discharged their debts, and kindly forwarded them to
Bassora. From hence they proceeded to Damietta,
in Egypt, where Mr. Rueffer died, after a short illness,
on the 2Gth of July, 1749, and was interred in the
cemetery belonging to the Greeks. And in the month
of February, 1750, his friend and companion, Hocker,
returned to Europe, convinced of the Impracticability,
under existing circumstances, of establishing a mission
among the Gaures.

EGYPT.

Notwithstanding the disappointment which he had
experienced and the hardships which he had endured
in Persia, Dr. Hocker, on his return from that country,
volunteered his services to accomplish an object which
had bee.i for some time contemplated by the United
Brethren ; namely, that of opening a friendly rorre-
spondence with the Christian church in Abyssinia.
This offer being accepted, he left England in the spring
of 175'2, and proceeded to Grand Cairo, where he
practised in his professional capacity, whilst all his
leisure hours were devoted to the acquisition of the
Arabic language, and to the collecting of such in-
formatlon as might eventually subserve the ol.jeet of
his mission. Here he introduced himself to the patri-
arch of the Copts, by whom the Almna or metropolitan
of Abyssinia is consecrated, and had several opportu-
nities of conversing with him, relative to the church
of the I'liiied Brethren, nnd the stale of the Cloptic
and Abyssinian churches. He also presented a let-
ter wrillen by count Zin/.endorf to the patriarch,
who returned an answer, of which the following is an
extract : —

" In the name of the nu'rciful and gracious God, in
whom is salvation. From Mark, the servant of the

EGYPT.

servants of the Lord. The peace of our Lord God, and
the Captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ, which he,
in an upper room at Zion, poured forth upon the as-
sembly of excellent disciples and apostles. May
he pour out this peace upon the beloved, excellent,
and experienced brother the venerable bishop, our
father Aloysius, the liturgist of the Unity of the
Brethren. This is to testify, beloved brother, that
the blessed son and venerable deacon, Ireneus Hock-
er, has delivered unto us your letter, which was full
of affectionate cordial love. We have read it, and it
became unto us a taste of your love to all Christians.
We, in like manner, pray God for you, and for all
his people, that he may exalt the glory of all the
Christians in the habitable world, through the nutri-
tion of his life-giving cross."

In order to explain some parts of this letter, it may
be necessary to inform the reader, that the patriarchs
of the Copts, who are also styled patriarchs of Alex-
andria, Jerusalem, Abyssinia, and Nubia, are all called
after the evangelist Mark, who is supposed to have
founded the first Christian church at Alexandria, and
.the writer of this document was Mark the hundred
and sixth. By Aloysius is intended Lewis, count
Zinzendorf ; and Ireneus is used to express the name
Frederic, or, in German, Friederich, which implies
rich in pence.

Encouraged by the kind treatment which he receiv-
ed from the patriarch, Dr. Hocker went, in the spring
of 1754, to Constantinople, forthe purpose of obtain-
ing a firman, or pass, from the grand signior ; as all
the ports of the Red sea, by wi)ich it was necessary
to enter Abyssinia, were in the possession of the Turks,
and Europeans were not permitted to sail from any of
them wiiliout orders from government. The plague
was, at this time, raging in (he Turkish capital ; yet
our traveller succeeded in his application, and in addi-
tion lo the firman, he procured a recommendatory let-
ter from the Britisli ambassador to the prime minister
of Aftyssinia, wiio had at one time been in the service
of the English. With these documents, and some
letters of introduction from other European ambassa-
dors to the consuls of ilieir respective nations, Dr.
Hocker returned to Egypt, witli the design of com-
mencing his voyage as soon as possible. Tiie death
of the grand signior, however, rendered the finnan
which had been obtained entirely useless, and, as
Egypt soon afterwards became the theatre of violent
political disturbances, our missionary considered it ad-
visable to return to Europe.

But, though tho prosecution of his favorite object
was thus retarded, Hwker was by no means disposed
to abandon it. On tiio contrary, ho persuaded a stu-
dent of divinity, named George Pilder, to quit the
Vol. I.— JNos. 15 k 16 jj4

f«$

brethren s college in Saxony, and to return with him
in 1756, to Grand Cairo. Here they were informed
that the kmg of Abyssinia was dead ; that the crown
had devolved on a child of only seven years old ; and that
all the Greeks had been under the necessity of quitting
the country. The patriarch of the Copts, however,
treated them with the most distinguished kindness, and,
on one occasion, when he had inviled them to attend
what is called a love-feast of the clergy, at his house,
he stated explicitly, that he considered the brethren
as an ancient apostolical church, which had adhered to
the pure doctrine of the apostles, without engaging in
those controversies which arose in later times.

After remaining at Cairo till the autumn of 1758, Dr.
Hocker and his companion, having procured from' the
patriarch a letter of recommendation to the Abuna of
Abyssinia, crossed the country to Suez, and embark-
ed on board a Turkish vessel on the Red sea. After
a tedious and dangerous voyage of eleven days, how-
ever, the ship struck on a rock near the island of
Hassanee, and immediate destruction appeared to be
inevitable. The sailors, indeed, effected their escape
in a boat, but the missionaries were left on the wreck
which was almost entirely submerged beneath the'
water, and were compelled to remain in this alarming
situation till, after a considerable lapse of time, they
were taken on shore. And though they were now
delivered from a watery grave, their condition was
truly distressing during twenty days which they spent
on the island ; as they were not only tormented with
hunger and thirst, and severely affected by the ex-
treme difference in. the temperature of the air by day
and by night, but they were in imminent peril of then-
lives, from the rapacious Arabs, and even from some
of their fellow travellers, who seemed to suspect that
they had very considerable property with them. At
length, however, they had the good fortune to reach
the port of Jidda, on the coast of Arabia.

At this place they were introduced to two Turkish
merQhants, who informed them that the prime minis-
ter of Abyssinia was dangerously ill, and that the re- '
gent had commissioned them lo bring a physician to
his assistance. A most favorable opportunity, there-
fore, appeared to present itself to the brethren for ob-
taininn the accomplishment of their wishes ; but as
they had unfortunately lost their medicine-chest when
the vessel was wrecked near Hassanee, they consider-
ed it advisable to return to Cairo, in order to obtain a
fresh supply of drugs. They availed themselves,
however, of the kindness of the merchants so far as to
transmit by them a letter to the Abuna of Abyssinia,
together with a cony of the enistlc addressed to him
by count Zinzendorf.

On arriving at Limbo, in their return to Egypt, the

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

missionaries found some of the articles which had
been lost when their vessel was wrecked, but the
redeeming of them was attended with a heavy expense.
They then proceeded to Cosseir, in Upper Egypt,
where they were informed that the caravan had de-
parted, and had been attacked and plundered by a
gang of banditti. They, of course, recognized the
hand of divine Providence in the delay which they
had experienced ; and they had, soon afterwards, an
opportunity of travelling with a smaller caravan to a
place called Guena, whence they returned in safety to
Cairo. Here Mr. Pilder was seized with a dangerous
illness, which induced him to return to Europe in 1759 ;
and, about two years after, he was followed by his
friend and companion, who had been a second time
disappointed in his hope of penetrating into Abyssinia.
Unshaken in his views and resolutions by these re-
peated failures, Dr. Hooker returned once more to
Egypt, in 1769, accompanied by another of the breth-
ren, named John Danke ; but on their arrival they
found that Ali Bey had thrown the country into a
state of anarchy and distraction, by his rebellion
against the Porte, and his attempt to place himself on
the tiirone of Egypt. Hocker, however, was received
in the most hospitable manner by his former friends,
and in particular by the clergy of the Greek and
Coptic churches.

In the autumn of 1769, John Antes, one of the
United Brethren, sailed from London, in order to join
the missionaries in Egypt ; and after a voyage of be-
tween six and seven weeks, he arrived at Larnica, on
the island of Cyprus. Here he was seized with a vio-
lent ague and fever; but on hearing that a vessel
bound for Alexandria was lying at the port of Limasol,
about fifteen leagues distant, he resolved to proceed
thitlier, and actually rose from his bed, and packed up
his luggage, during a paroxysm of the disorder. As
his guide understood no language but Greek, the Brit-
ish consul procured a muleteer, to cirry his baggage
and provision, who could speak Italian. This gentle-
man, however, charged him to be en !iis guard, as nei-
ther of his attendants would shrink from enibniing
their hands in the blood of their own parents, if,
by the perpetration of such an act, they were likely to
obtain a considerable booty. Mr. Antes accordingly
loaded a pair of pocket-pistols in the j)resence of tiie
muleteer, and placed them in his belt, before lie quit-
ted Larnica. It was already the dusk of the evening,
and our traveller had not proceeded more than a mile,
when a heavy shower of rain came on, accompanied
with vivid flasiies of lightning and terrific peals of
thunder. As he happened to have a bed-quilt in his
saddle, he threw it over his head, to shield himself
from the storm, and thus, almost blind-folded, followed

his conductors through a desert tract of country, for
three or four hours. The muleteer, in the mean time,
having unfortunately discovered a bottle of spirituous
liquor among the provisions, applied it so frequently
to his lips, that he soon became incapable of guiding
his mule ; and the animal, finding itself no longer un-
der restraint, ran back with its burden to the place
whence it came. The other guide immediately set off
in pursuit of the fugitive, and Mr. Antes was conse-
quently left alone ; though, on account of the enve-
lope around his head, he did not at first perceive that
he was thus deserted. At length, however, he dis-
covered his solitary situation, and, dismounting, tied his
mule by the bridle to some shrubs which grew near the
road, and began to walk back, with the hope of finding
one, at least, of his conductors. It was so extremely
dark, however, that, except at the intervals when the
lightning gleamed around him, he ^ould see nothing
even at the distance of a few feet : he flierefore returned
towardsNhe spot where he had left his mule, but, just as
he reached it, the animal, by a sudden spring, snapped
her bridle, and ran off in the direction for Limasol.
Mr. Antes was now in a state of complete perplexity,
not knowing how to act. After some time, however,
his conductor returned, and though, in consequence of
his ignorance of our traveller's language, he could give
him no intelligence as to the muleteer or the luggage,
he guided him safely through a deep and miry road,
and had the good fortune to secure the runaway mule,
which happened to be quietly feeding by the side of
the path. ^

About midnight they reached a mud-built cottage,
which, though merely a shed, and open on one side,
presented a welcome shelter from the rain, which still
fell heavily and without intermission. After warming
himself at the fire, and partaking of some refreshment,
our missionary was furnished with a great coat, and
conducted into a place where a clean sheet spread upon
a large chest supplied the want of a bed. Truly
liiankful for such an accommodation, he laid himself
down, and, being completely exhausted with fatigue and
anxiety, he fell into a profound sleep, from which he
was only awakened by his guide, about eight o'clock
the next morning.

On resuming their journey the travellers found the
weatiier extremely cold and uncomfortable, and, in
consecpience of the recent storm, the sea was still vio-
lently agitated ; a circumstance which for them was
very unfortunate, as part of their road ran along
tlie sands, and tiic billows rolled so far over (he
shore, that, notwithstanding they were mounted
on their mules, their legs were sometimes literally
drenched with the sea water. Their situation now
was truly pitiable, and Mr. Antes was almost overwhelm-

BGYPT.

ed with despair ; particularly when, on getting clear
of the waves, he alighted with the design of wanning
himself by walking, but was unable, from exhaustion, to
proceed more than two or three hundred yards. With
the assistance of his guide, however, he remounted his
mule ; and, by the kind providence of his heavenly
Father, he arrived, about nine o'clock at night, at his
place of destination ; where he took up his abode with
a Greek, who performed the duties of an English con-
sul at Limasol. He had also the satisfaction, two
days afterwards, of receiving his luggage, with the ex-
ception of a few trifling articles which had excited the
cupidity of the muleteer.

After devoting a few days to repose and refresh-
ment, Mr. Antes set sail for Egypt, but on his arri-
val at Alexandria, he found that the plague had just
broken out in that city. He therefore proceeded
without loss of time ta Rosetta, from which place to
Grand Cairo the voyage is generally performed in
about four days. The wind, however, proving contra-
ry, our unfortunate missionary was detained on board
neariy three weeks in circumstances of the most trying
and painful nature. The vessel in which he embark-
ed was so old and crazy, that the rain penetrated
through the deck into the cabin, and even fell upon his
bed, which he was under the necessity of suspending
by a cord, in order to drain off the water; the provis-
ions which had been laid in for the voyage were near-
ly consumed, and the bread had become mouldy ; the
sailors, convinced that all their calamities were indel-
ibly written in the book of fate, refused to make the
slightest exertion with a view to expedite their progress ;
and on their arriving before the harbor of Cairo, the ves-
sel grounded on a sand-bank in the middle of the river.
Mr. Antes, however, fortunately obtained a boat to
take him on shore, and had, soon afterwards, the grat-
ification of meeting witli his brethren Hocker and
Danke, whose kind attentions were well calculated to
obliterate the recollection of his recent sufferings.

In the beginning of 1773, the celebrated traveller,
Mr. Bruce, who had spent some time in Abyssinia, re-
turned safely to Cairo, and tiius afforded the mission-
aries an opportunity of obtaining correct intelligence
respecting that country ; and, in consequence of the
information which they now obtained, they perceived
cleariy, that their long-cherished hope" of establishing
a mission in that part of the worid must be abandoned.
Mr. Bruce, indeed, assured them that the natives were
so bigoted to the faitli of their own church, and so
inveterate against Europeans, that the moment a
missionary were to open his lips on the subject of re-
ligion, he •%vould fall a sacrifice to their resentment.

But though the views of the brethren on bfih.».!f nf
the Abyssinians were thus completely frustrated, they

resolved, if possible, to promote the interests of Chris-
tianity among the Copts in Egypt, and with this de-
signJMr. Danke sailed in the month of August. 1770
for Girge, in Upper Egypt ; but he was precluded aj
this time from commencing his evangelic labors bv
the arrival of a party of Turkish soldiers, who fixed
their quarters in the same inn where he lodged Bv
these inen, however, he was treated with every mark
of civility and was not only permitted to take his
meals with them, but even hisexpenses were defrayed
by the express orders of their captain, whose friend-
ship, on one occasion, proved of great importance.
Mr. Danke, bemg in the habit of perusing an Arabic
translation of the book of Psalms and the New Tes-
tament, was, one day, accused of reading works in-
imical to the faith of the Koran. The captain, on
hearing tins charge, sternly demanded to see the books •
but after perusing them attentively for a considerable
time he returned them to our missionary with these
words-" I find nothing here but the pure word of
iTod ; you may therefore read in these books without
fear, either by day or night." And, turning to the
persons by whom the accusation had been preferred
he added, "I feel a regard for this Christian ; and
whatever injury he may receive, I shall consider as
done to myself."

In the latter end of September, Mr. Danke visited
Behnesse, an ancient town on the western bank of the
Nile ; and both there and in the adjacent villages he
endeavored to illuminate the minds of the Copts, by
affectionately pointing out the insufficiency of their
fasts, alms, and superstitious ceremonies, as means of
salvation ; and by assuring them that the sufferings
and death of the Redeemer must be conside^d as the
only foundation of hope for lost and ruined sinners.
Some of tiiem, as might have been expected, violently
opposed such a serious attack upon their preconceived
opinions ; whilst others listened with attention to his
arguments, and, in some instances, appeared pleas-
ed with the doctrines which ho inculcated. The faith-
ful herald of tiie cross was naturally led to hope, that
the good seed of tiie gospel would not be scattered
here in vain ; but, after some time, he had reason to
fear that those who professed to enter into his views,
were in reality utter strangers to the truths which he
delivered ; and whilst he was bewailing the hardness
of their hearts and the blindness of their understand-
ing, he was called to exchange the disappointments of
earth for the joys of heaven, on thofilli of October, 1772.
In 1774, Messrs. Roller and Wieniger, two of the
United Brethren, arrived at Alexandria, and were
cordially welcomed by Mr. Antes, who had proceeded
thither io meet them. Here ihey were unavoidably
detained for several weeks, and, during that time, they

172

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

lodged in the same house with some English travellers,
one of whom, a medical man, embraced every oppor-
tunity of displaying his wit and humor at the expense
of reli^on and revelation. As this person had been for-
merly acquainted with Mr. Antes, he frequently visit-
ed the brethren, and appeared to watch them with the
most anxious attention, though he never attempted to
conceal his infidel principles. At length, as he was sit-
ting, one evening, with Mr. Antes, he addressed him in
language to the following effect : — " For some weeks
past I have narrowly observed your conduct and that
of your friends, and I perceive that, though you vnll
never joiii in the diversions or conversation of myself
and my companions, you are perfectly free from that
gloom and reserve which characterize many persons
who call themselves religious, and that, on the contrary,
you always appear happy and clieerful. It seems, in
fact, as if there were something which enables you to
withstand all temptations, and I must now request that
you will have tlie kindness to explain what the secret
is, and in what manner you became possessed of it." —
Mr. Antes immediately replied, " Though I carefully
abstained from intruding my sentiments upon you,
whilst I had reason to suppose they would have been
unfavorably received, yet as you have now proposed
a serious question, 1 will readily answer it in the most
frank and ingenuous manner. Permit me, then, to
state, that I have, for some time, watched you with
close attention, and my smcere commiseration has
been excited by a conviction that you are laboring
under the same disease with which I was afflicted at
a fonner period of my life. I have listened to your
objections against the Christian religion, and have
heard your reasons for refusing to give credit to the
Scriptures ; yet you have told me nothing but what
passed through my own mind in the days of my youth.
I must add, however, that with all my specious reason-
ing, I could, at that time, obtain no rest for my soul ;
and 1 am fully persuaded this is the case with you."
As he did not attempt to deny this fact, our missiona-
ry proceeded to state, that it was by faith in the Son
of God that he had obtained tranqiii'lity of mind, and
that by strength derived from him, lie was enabled to
withstand and overcome the evil propensities of a
corrupt nature. " I still feel," said he, "that in me
dwelleth no good thing, yet whenever my natural
depravity rises and struggles for an ascendency, I
apply to the same source where I first obtained succor,
and am never suffered to apply in vain. This is the
sole cause of that cheerfulness which you have re-
marked in me and my brethren ; as no one has such
abundant cause to be cheerful, as he who possesses
the peace of God in his own soul." The skeptic
listened attentively to this candid statem.ent, and ex-

claimed with a heavy sigh, " I fear there is some truth
in what you have said." He subsequently behaved
to the missionaries with great respect and attention,
and assured Mr. Antes, previously to their leaving
Alexandria, that he would write to him. This promise
however, was never fulfilled, nor did Mr. Antes hear
any more of him by whom it was made, till several
years afterward, when an English gentleman Informed
him that he was thrown from his horse and killed in
the vicinity of Naples.

Whilst the brethren remained in Egypt, that un-
fortunate country was almost constantly involved in
anarchy and confusion, and the beys, who alternately
gained an ascendency in their political struggles, ex-
ercised the most cruel oppressions on the inhabitants
at large, and on European residents in particular. A
striking illustration of this disgraceful fact will appear
in the sufferings inflicted upon Mr. Antes, with the
design of extorting money from him. As this faithful
servant of God resided in a confined part of the town,
and his employment was principally of a sedentary
nature, he was under the necessity of taking frequent
exercise in the open air, for the preservation of his
health. He was, accordingly, in the habit of walking
out every day into the fields, and in winter, when
there was generally plenty of game, he sometimes
took a fowling-piece with him, as the inhabitants of
all classes are at perfect liberty to shoot, such exertion
being toe fatiguing for the indolent Turks. On these
occasions, indeed, it was considered dangc.ous to
meet the beys, or other persons in power, as they
were known to be always ready, from their insatiable
avarice, to extort money under some pretence or
other ; but as they were usually attended by a numer-
ous retinue, and the country was level to a considerable
distance, they were in general easily seen and avoided.
In this manner Mr. Antes had fortunately eluded
them for some years ; but one day, in the month
of November, 1779, whilst he was out shooting with
the secretary to the Venetian consul, he and his
friend were perceived by some mamelukes in the
service of Osman Bey, wiio happened to be returning
home behind some hillocks of rubbish which concealed
them from the view of our missionary. Two of the
mamelukes imm^ediateiy advanced towards the Euro-
peans, at full gallop, with drawn sabres ; and, after
stripping them of their fur coats, shawls, and every
thing of value connected with their dress, they demand-
ed one hundred zechins, equal to about thirty-five
pounds sterling. Mr. Antes replied that they had
not so much money about them, at the same time
offering them his purse. As this, however. Contained
no more than about twenty-five shillings, in small silver
coins, they threw it from them disdainfully, exclaim-

EGYPT.

ing, at the same time, « Give us gold ;" and ten of
their comrades coming up at this juncture, enforced
the demand, swearing that unless he complied imme-
diately, he should be carried before their master.
Mr. Antes assured them that he had no gold with
hum, but stated his willingness to give them some, pro-
vided they would accompany him to his lodgings.
One of them, who appeared the leader of the rest]
told him to go home and fetch it, adding, " We shall
detain your companion, and if you do not return
speedily, his head shall be severed from his body."
As the Venetian could not understand a single sen-
tence of Arabic, and appeared to be already half dead
with terror, our missionary could not bear the thought
of leaving him at the mercy of such unfeeling barba-
rians ; he therefore generously replied that he would
remain with them, whilst his friend went for the money
Scarcely, however, had the unfortunate man proceed-
ed a few yards, when the ruffians rushed upon him,
and stripped him of his few remaining clothes, so that
he was compelled to flee into the city almost naked.
The sun had now set, and as the mamelukes durst
not remain at a distance from their master any longer,
one of them rode up to the bey, and stated that they
had seized a European from whom a considerable sum
might be easily obtained. Orders were, of course,
given to bring the prisoner forward, and Mr. Antes
was immediately dragged to the spot where Osman
was sitting, surrounded by his train of attendants. Our
missionary addressed the tyrant with the usual saluta-
tion, " I place myself under your protection ;" but,
without deigning to give any answer, the bey darted
a furious look at him, and demanded who he was,
and what he was doing in the night? observing'"
at the same time, that he was most probably the
thief who had committed certain depredations a few
days since. Mr., Antes explained that he was retum-
mg into the city half an hour before sunset, when he
was seized by the mamelukes ; and added, that, not-
withstanding they had detained him till it was dark,
it was not yet the regular time for closing the gates.'
Notwithstanding this explanation, our missionary was
ordered to bo conveyed, as a prisoner, to a castle,
situate in a Sandy plain at some distance from the
town. To this place he was literally dragged by a
rope niade of the filaments of the date tree ; and, on
his arrival, he was thrown into a dungeon half under
ground, where he remained for some time, with a
heavy iron chain about his neck, fastened at one end
to a piece of timber, and secured at the other by a
large padlock. On his being, afterward, introduced
into the presence of the bey, that tyrant commanded
his attendants to throw him. down and inflict the "un-
ishment of the bastinado. He was accordingly "thrown

ITS

on a small carpet, by the servants ; who, with a «tron.
staff about two yards long, having a piece of an iron
Cham at each end, confined his legs above the ankles,
and afterwards twisted the staff and chain together in
such a manner as to turn up the soles of his feet. At
this juncture, whilst the servants stood ready to strike
with a strap of about three feet in length, formed
ot the skin of the hippopotamus, and about the thick-
ness of a man's finger, an officer approached our
missionary and whispered in his ear, "Give the bey
a thousand dollars, and you will escape this punish-
ment, and be restored to liberty." Mr. Antes, how-
ever, naturally concluded that, in the event of his
offering such a sum, he would be under the necessity
of openmg his strong box in the presence of an officer
and not only his own property, but some large suras
which he had received for different merchants, would
become the prey of insatiable avarice. He therefor©
replied, « I have no money here," and resolved to
subniit to the most cruel treatme.it, or even death
Itself, rather than involve other persons in his misfor-
tunes. The bastinado was then applied, by command
of Osman ; and, after a second intimation from the
officer had proved in vain, the blows were so severe,
that the pain which they inflicted was excruciating in
the extreme, every stroke being like the application
of a red-hot poker. At length when the bey found
that no money could be obtained by this cruelty, he
remanded the sufferer to his dungeon, where the pon-
derous chain was again passed round his neck. In
about half an hour, however, he was once more brought
before the bey, who, on perceiving the prisoner enter
his apartment, said to one of his officers, " Is this the
man of whom you have been speaking ?" The fellow
having advanced towards our missionary, and looked
steadfastly in his face, as if to recognize his features,
suddenly exclaimed, with uplifted hands, and an air
of the greatest astonishment, " By Allah, this is my
friend, and one of the best men in Grand Cairo. O !
how sorry I am that I was not here sooner to tell you
so !" To this Osman replied, " Then I liberate him
for your sake ; take him away, and if he have lost
anything, exert yourself to get it restored." Mr.
Antes was naturally astonished at this circumstance,
as the man who called himself his friend was, in fact,
a total stranger ; however, he soon discovered that
the whole was a manoeuvre to get rid of him decently,
and to put some cash into the pocket of the officer!
On leaving the bey he was carried to the house of his
pretended deliverer, and the next day, after paying
fees to the amount of about twenty pounds sterling, he
was conveyed to his own chamber, where he remained
confined to his bed about six weeks, before he could
walk even with the aid of crutches. He felt thankful

174

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

to God, however, that he had escaped with his life
from a tyrant to whose capricious cniehy many others
had been previously sacrificed ; the bastinado having
been repeated for two or three days successively to
the number of one or two thousand strokes.* This
dreadful punishment had sometimes, indeed, been
survived by persons of a peculiarly strong constitu-
tion ; but, in most instances, blood had gushed from
the mouth and nostrils of the sufferer, after the inflic-
tion of five or six hundred strokes, and death ensued
shortly afterwards.

The missionaries not only followed the example of
their deceased friend and brother Danke, in repeated-
ly visiting the Copts in the neighborhood of Behnesse,
but they even erected a small house in that place, for
their occasional residence, and for the accommodation
of those who seemed inclined to attend to their in-
structions. All their exertions, however, were attend-
ed with so little success, the idea of penetrating into
Abyssinia was demonstrated to be so impracticable,
and the political state of Egypt became so alarming,
that the mission in this distracted country was, at
length, relinquished, and in 1782 and 1783 the breth-
ren returned to Europe.

NICOBAR ISLANDS.

A commercial establishment having been commenced
by the Danes, about the year 1756, on the Nicobar
islands, in the bay of Bengal, a person of considerable
rank in Copenhagen intimated to some of the United
Brethren, that his Danish majesty was desirous of
their sending out missionaries to that part of the world,
in order to instruct the natives in the truths of Chris-
tianity. This proposal was cheerfully embraced ; and
though it was soon afterwards announced that the
attempt to form a settlement on these islands had
prove* unfortunate, and that most of the colonists
had sunk into an untimely grave, the brethren were
by no means inclined to abandon a project so closely
connected with the best interests of their fellow men.
It was considered advisable, however, that they should
have a Settlement at Tranquebar, on the coast of
Coromandel, in order to support the mission in the
islands. Permission was accordingly obtained from
the court of Denmark for that purpose, and a royal
edict was issued, securing to the missionaries all the

• Thii excellent nun was called from liia ■tifferingi, Doc. 17,
1811. He died at Bristol, England. The fruits of the spirit of
Jesus which dwelt in him, were manifest to all who wore inti-
mataly acquainted with him.

civil and religious privileges which had been solicited
on their behalf.

Several of the brethren now volunteered their ser-
vices in this new undertaking, and in the month of
November, 1759, Messrs. Stahlman, Voelker, and
Butler, with eleven other persons, sailed from Copen-
hagen. On their arrival at Tranquebar, they pur-
chased a piece of ground about a mile distant from
the town, and began to erect a large dwelling-house,
with workshops, out-houses, &c. At this place,
which they called the Brethren's Garden, they ap-
plied themselves diligently to the prosecution of their
respective trades and to the cultivation of their land,
and the different articles which they manufactured
found a ready sale in Tranquebar and the adjacent
settlements. No opportunity occurred, however, for
the introduction of the gospel into the Nicobar islands
till the year 1768, when the Danish Asiatic Company
formed a new commercial establishment on the island
of Nancawery, and six of the brethren immediately
removed thither. Several officers of the company
subsequently arrived from Tranquebar, bringing with
them a large quantity of merchandise, a retinue of
black servants, and a small detachment of soldiers.
To most of these, however, the chmate soon proved
fatal, and, at the expiration of a year and a half, only
two European soldiers, and four Malabar servants,
remained out of the whole party. These were, of
course, withdrawn by the company, and the project
of establishing a factory on such an insalubrious spot
was finally abandoned.

As the missionaries were now left alone, and all
eomumnication between them and their brethren at
Tranquebar was suspended, it became necessary to
charter a vessel for the purpose of supplying them
witii provisions and other articles from the coast of
Coromandel. On this occasion an English gentleman,
named Holford, kindly assisted in fitting ouf a small
ship, which sailed for Nancawery, and brought back
the natural productions of that island. The sale
of them, however, proved insufficient to cover the
expense of the undertaking ; and as it was often ex-
tremely difficult to gain the entrance to the Nicobar
islands, the maintaining of an intercourse with thein
was attended with considerable trouble.

In the month of September, 1778, Messrs. Wange-
man and Haensel sailed for Nancawery, but the former
was summoned into eternity shortly after his arrival ;
and the latter was attacked, in less than a month,
with what is called the seasoning-fever, and was so
extremely ill that no hopes were entertained of his
recovery. One day he arose from his bed in a state
of complete delirium, and attempted to quit the house;
and, on being led hack to his apartment, he fell into

NICOBAR ISLANDS.

strong convulsions, and appeared to be dying. The
brethren, therefore, with prayers and tears, commend-
ed his soul to their heavenly Father ; and, after some
time, judging from his appearance that he had given
up the ghost, they laid him out, and retired to dig a
grave for his interment : but, on their return from
this melancholy task, Mr. Haensel recovered from
his state of insensibility, and, to their unspeakable
astonishment, inquired the cause of their tears. They
then informed him of all that had transpired, and
expressed their gratitude that the preparations for his
funeral had proved to be premature. A considerable
time elapsed, however, before he recovered from this
attack, and, in fact, his health was so seriously affect-
ed, that even after his removal to a more wholesome
climate, he was the subject of intermittent fever, in a
greater or less degree, at regular intervals, till the day
of his death.

During their residence on the Nicobar islands, the
brethren felt extremely anxious, by every means
in their power, to diminish the expenses connected
with the mission ; and, therefore, in addition to their
agricultural labors, they devoted part of their time to
the collecting of serpents, shells, and other natural
curiosities, for which, at that time, there was a ready
sale in different parts of Europe. Mr. Haensel, in
particular, employed himself in this business, and
acquired such skill in his favorite pursuit, that he
could catch the most dangerous rejtiles without any
risk of personal injury ; though the venomous nature
of some of the serpents which he was in the habit
of taking, is such, that a wound inflicted by their fangs,
even after they are dead, is sometimes attended with
fatal consequences. It appears, also, that on one
occasion he was himself bitten by a small serpent
called the split-snake, which is extremely slender,
and capable of insinuating itself into the smallest
hole or crevice. In speaking of his work-room at
the Brethren's Garden, where he usually stuffed, or
preserved in spirits, these and other remarkable ani-
mals, Mr. Haensel observes, << There was a door in a
dark part of my room, with a large clumsy lock upon
it. One evening as I was attempting to open it, I
suddenly felt a prick in my finger, and, at the same
instant, a violent electrical shock, as' if I had been
split asunder. Not thinking of a serpent, I at first
imagined tliat my Malabar boys had, in play, wound
some wire about the handle, and that it was by this I
was hurt. I therefore asked them sharply what they
had done to the door ; but they denied that they had
meddled with it ; and when I made a second attempt
to open it, I was attacked still more violently, and
perceived the blood trickling down my finger. I then
returned into my room, and sucked the wound till

178

I could draw no more blood from it ; after which I
applied to it some spirits of turpentine, and tied it up
with a bandage ; but, being hurried that evening with
other business, I took no further notice of it. In the
night, however, it swelled and was extremely painful
In the morning, when I went into the work-rooraj
I thought I perceived an unpleasant musky smell •
and on approaching the door already mentioned, the
stench was intolerable. I therefore asked the boys
what nasty stuff they had brought into the room ; but
they denied that they knew any thing of the matter.
Having procured a candle, I then discovered the cause
of all the mischief. About six inches of the body of
a young split-snake hung out of the key-hole, perfectly
dead; and on taking off the lock, I found the creature
twisted mto it, and so much wounded by the turn of
the bolt, from my attempt to open the door, that it had
died in consequence. It had been entering the room
through the key-hole, when I accidentally stopped its
progress and was bitten by it ; and, considering the
deadly nature of this serpent's poison, I felt thankful
to God, that, though ignorant of the cause of the
wound, I applied proper remedies to it, in consequence
of which my life was not endangered. I have been
told that the bite of every serpent is accompanied, in
a greater or less degree, by a sensation similar to an
electrical shock. The name of split-snake, which is
given to this animal, we considered as descriptive not
so much of its appearance, as of the singular sensation
occasioned by its bite."

It sometimes happened, in his excursions and re-
searches along the coast, that Mr. Haensel was over-
taken by the night, when at a considerablo disfance
from the abode of his brethren. In this ca; o, how-
ever, he seems to have experienced but littfo incon-
venience from the want of a bed, as he was in the
habit of forming an excavation in the fine white 5aud
which forms the greater part of the beach above high-
water mark, and then lying down to rest, guarded by
his faithful dog. And as the open part of the coast
was never infested by crocodiles, kayraans, or wild
beasts, he incurred no danger by his exposed situation,
though his slumbers were sornetinltes interrupted by
the perambulations of large quantities of crabs, or by
the barking of his vigilant guardian, when these wan-
derers did not keep at a sufficient distance.

With respect to religion, though the natives of the
Nicobar islands are not professed idolaters, they are
m a state of the most deplorable blindness, and they
have so little notion of the nature or attributes of a
Supreme Being, that they have no word in their lan-
guage which is particulariy designed to express the
name of God : the term Jcnallen, which they use in
speaking of him, merely signifying above, or oh AtVA,

176

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

ft if

and being frequently applied to other objects. They
acknowledge, indeed, that such a Being does exist,
and is not inclined to injure them ; but of his good-
ness they have no consistent ideas, and they seem to
think it perfectly unnecessary to make any inquiries
on the subject. But though they pay so little regard
to the Deity, they believe that they are surrounded
by a variety of devils, all of whom are extremely
malignant, and disposed to injure them, though happily
restrained, on some occasions, by the superior abilities
of the sorcerers. To these demons, therefore, they
seem to direct all their religious ceremonies, and tJiey
consider even the creation of the world to have been
effected by the Eeivee or evil spirit, and to his
influence they invariably ascribe whatever thov do
amiss.

In attempting to communicate the glad tidings of
salvation to these poor, benighted creatures, tiie mis-
sionaries had to contend with difficulties of tiie most
discouraging nature ; as they were not only destitute
of grammars, dictionaries, or elementary books of any
description, which might have facilitated the attain-
ment of the language, but tlie natives themselves are,
in general, so extremely indolent, that even common
conversation seems to fatigue tiicm, and they are but
seldom inclined to talk whilst they can contrive to
make themselves understood by signs. And, in addi-
tion to this, both sexes are so fond of chewing betel,
or the areca nut, that they ore seldom seen without a
large piece in ilieir mouths, and this renders llieir
speech so indistinct, that it is by no means easy to
understand tiiem. Notwitlistanding all these obstacles,
however, the brethren contrived to converse witii some
of the inhabitanis.and endeavored to explain to them,
in the best manner they were able, the love of (iod
to helpless sinners, and the way of snlvation through
the atonement of Ciirist. To these imimrtimt truths
thoy seemed to listen attentively, but had evidently
no conception that they themselves were intircsicd in
them. Wlion the missionaries stated, that they had
come from a distant country for the express purpose
of making them acquainted with the Creutor and
Redeemer of mm, they laughed at the assertion,
either considering it incredible, or deeming a visit for
such a purpose very imneressary. Sometimes, when
they were induced to hold a little ronversotion cm the
subject, they said it was not likely that the sufferings
of one individual could atone for the transgressions of
others, and therefore if it were admitted that they
were sinners, thoy could derive no benefit from all
that was staled relative to a crucified Redeemer ; i)ut
they assorted, at the same time, that they were natu-
rally good, am! never committed any thing wrong.
Wh«n ihu bieiJiroii ob»erve(i, in reply, tiiat it was but

recently they had murdered certain persons, and
abused and mutilated their dead bodies in the most
wanton manner ; and asked whether this were to be
considered as a proof of their natural goodness •—
they very coolly answered, " You speak of what you
do not understand : those people were cannibals and
not tit to live." '

Notwithstanding their opposition to :he truths of
the gospel, these islanders evinced the most friendly
disposition towards the missionaries, and in some in-
stances behaved with a degree of generosity which
would have reflected honor upon a civilized people.
The brethren were in the habit of purchasing various
necessary articles from them, and paying them in
tobacco at the current price. In some instances,
however, the natives would apply for their usual por-
tion of tobacco, though they had nothing to barter for
It, and the missionaries never refused to supply them,
until, in consequence of an unexpected delay of their
vessel, their stock was completely exhausted. They
then hiformed the chief, or captain of the village,
that his people would not be expected to bring any
more provisions for the present, as they had nothing
to give in return. This message was duly communi-
cated to the natives, yet they not only brought in the
usual supplies of meat, fruit. Sic, but hung them up
about the mission-house, and went away witliout wait-
ing to hear any thing about payment ; and when the
breiliien called after them, and began to explain the
circumstances in which they were placed, their pur-
veyors generously answered, " Whilst you had plenty
of tobacco, you were always willing to give us as
much as you could spare; and now that you have
none left, wo will supply you with luovisions till your
stwk is recruited." And this promise they faithfully
performed.

In I7HI, three of the brethren, Messrs. Flockiier,
Raiihs.and lleiiirich sailed from Traiiquebar for JVan-
cawery ; hut as the captain could not succeed in
making that island, he proceeded to Junreylon, where
the vess(.| was seized by a French privateer, and the
missionaries were detained about five months, os the
Malay prince refused his permission for their depart-
ure. At the expiration of this time, however, they
contrived to purchase a prow for seventy-five dollars,
and, under cover of the night, they stole away, and
pnxicedod to Nancaweiy ; where they were cordially
welcomed by their l.reihien, though their arrival, at
this juncture, caused them to feel more severely the
want of those supplies of which they had unfortuiiulely
been hitherto disappointed. They alsoclieerfully gave
up the whole stock of their linen and sail-cloth, in
order to supply new sails for the nroWiOnd thus e.".nh!ss{
two of their visitors to return to Tronqiiebar.

In the month of September, 1783. J. Staal set out
from the Brethren's Garden, in order to visit the mis-
sionaries on the Nicobar islands, and to supply them
w,th various necessaries. Ho accordingly embarked
m a ship which had been sent to Tranquebar by the
king of Queda, the captain engaging to set him on
shore at Nancawery. In consequence of the state of
the wind and the current, however, this engagement
could not be fulfilled, and Staal had the moftilation
of bemg earned to Queda, where he was compelled,
during a delay of three months, to sell part of the
goods intended for bis brethren, as he found it impossi-
ble to defend them from the rats. And though, after
many fruitless attempts, he prevailed on a captain to
take h.m to Nancawery, they could not succeed in
reaching the island, and he was under the painful ne-
cessity of returning to the coast of Coromandel,
wuhom having accomplished any part of his original

The missionaries on the Mcobar islands, in the
mean time were most painfully and distressingly cir-
cumstanced. Completelyseparatedfromtheirbrethren, I
destitute of intelligence from their friends, surrounded '
by savages, and compelled, by the exhaustion of their
provisions, to eat rice which was hardly fit for the con-
sumption of animals, they were literally destitute of
all the comforts of life. The cH.nate, as has been al-
ready hinted, was very insalubrious ; the house occu-
pied by the missionaries was so extremely damp, that
their beds and mattresses rotted beneath them ; their
Clothes were old and ragged ; and their boots and
shoes being completely worn out, they were under the
necessity of going barefooted. Under all these cir
cumstances, it is not surprising that they were so ill
and emaciated, as to resemble skeletons covered with
a pale skin and that they were frequently confined to
their wretched abode.

In compliance with the wishes of his Danish majes-
ty, the governor of Tranquebar despatched a vessel, in
the month of August, 1784, to the Nicobar islan<ls, to
supply the necessities of the missionaries, and to on-
able them to maintain the post which they had hitherto
occupied And notwithstanding the extreme difficulty
which had formerly been experienced in attempting to
and Ht Nancawery, the captain, in this instance, made
1.0 island with the greatest fuciliiy.nnd proved equally
fortunuio in two ..thor voyages which ho made to the
same place within a short period of time. Tin. circum-
stance nntnrnlly enlivn„od the spirits of the brethren
who resolve.l to apply themselves with renewed v\Jt

othcirimporlant labors; and having removed a wooden
house of twostories, which had been left by some

ie., i„ ,„^ „ujaccnt isian.i ui binpi)recio.

they began to hope ih„, ,|„.ir health would be mate-
Vou. I._NoH. I5& 10. gj.

NICOBAR ISLANDS.

177

rially improved by their residing i„ ,he upper story
and thus avoidmg those unwholesome dampTby S
they had been so long and so seriously affected Not
withstanding the improvement in their external d.
cumstances, however, there seemed no probabil of
mducing the natives to attend to the truths of the Ls.
pel. It was, therefore, deemed advisable to abandon
Jje mission ; and in the month of September, 1787^
Mr^Haensel, who had now returned to the settlemen
in Tranquebar, was requested to fetch away the only
missionary remaining on the island, and to deliver up
the mission-house and premises to a small party of mil-
" ary by whom he was accompanied. His feelings on
his occasion were poignant in the extreme, particular-
ly when visiting the burial.gro.md, where' deven"f
his beloved brethren had found an untimely grave
whilst thirteen others had died, after their return ^
Tranquebar. of diseases contracted in this unfortunatt
sland. The natives were also deeply affected when
he came to pronounce a final adieu, 'and with manj
tears they begged that he or his friends would once
more return and take up their abode among them

On the continent of India, the mission, though not
attended with such painful circumstances as on the
Nicobar islands was almost equally discouraging ; for,
though the brethren at Tranquebar preached regularly
both ,n the Malabar and Portuguese languages, but few
persons attended „n the means of grace, and they had
no satisfactory evidence that their labors were produc
t.ve of any permanent benefit. At the request of
the Danish Asiatic Society, some of the brethren
removed to Serampore and Calcutta, and took up
their abode m those places, with the anxious hope of
leading some of the Hindoos from their wretched su-
pewtitions to the knowledge and worship of the true
Ood. Here, however, they were doomed to experi-
ence fresh disappointments; and as the mainte-
nance of the settlement on the coast of Coroman-
del was attended with a considerable expense. With-
out the slightest appearance of advantage to the
neighboring heathen, the brethren were gni.lually re-
called to Europe; and in 180;) the last two, who had
been loft to dispose of the houses, land, he, bade
adieu to a country in which they had afforded the
most nbi.ndant proofs of piety, zeal, and devotednes,
to the Lord of missions, though, for reasons only to bo
comprehended by his unlimited wisdom, they were
not |)ermitted to see the acromplishmen' of their nr
dent desires in the illumination iind conversion of a
peoplojiterally " dead in trespasses and sins."*

* Th. reader who wiihoi tooblain more p.rticuUr infornLtlon ^
rirrrjmpnc nicouii n.i..i..ii, 1. refcrrr.! loan iiitere.linB work en.
t.tled,.r,eller.o„tl.e Nicob.r I,l.,.d,, ,., c. J. U.robo/ i" which 'h^
nianiiem, cu.tou«, and character oflhe ielandera ire Uotorilwd. TlUi

ITS

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

ISLAND OF TOBAGO.

A gentleman of considerable property and influence
in Tobago having expressed nn earnest wish that a
mission might be commenced among the negroes on
that island, Mr. Montgomery,* one of the brethren in
Barbadoes, went thitlier in ti<e month of August,

1789, in order to ascertain whether such a measure
were likely to be attended with success. On his ar-
rival he was received with every demonstration of
respect and hospitality, and several of the planters
avowed their intention of giving him their decided
patronage and support. Ho therefore readily acced-
ed to their pressingsolicitatinns, nnd after going to Bar-
badoes, in order to settle his affairs, he rRtnined, in

1790, with his wife, and took up his abode among them.
For some time the slaves flocked in considerable

numbers to hear his sermons ; but as this was the re-
sult of a desire to please their masters, rather than
of any anxiety to profit from the truths of ilie gospel,
they gradually declined in their attendance, and fnuil-
ly absented themselves from the preaching altogether.
In addition to this discouraging circumstance, Mrs.
Montgomery was, in a short time, sununonod into the
unseen world, and her mourning husband was, soon
afterwards, attacked with a disease which compelled
him to return to Barbadoes, where he closed both his
labors and his life.

The mission, which was tlnis unavoidably suspended
80 soon after its connneiici'ment by liiis estimable ser-
vant of God, was renewed by one of the brethren
named S'hirmer, who, together with his wife, arrived
in Tobago on the '-I'M January, 1799, and met with a
most encouraging reception from several of the pro-
prietors of the estates. The slaves also now appear-
ed to be desirous of receiving religious instruction,
and the general aspect of affairs sinm became so
promising, tliat it was deemetl expedient to strengthen
the mission by a reinforcement of laborers, Accord-
ingly, the Hev. John (^hurch, of Bath, (juitted his
beloved flock in that city, and sailed with his wife
for Tobago in IROt); Mr. Schirmer having, in liie
mean time, removed from bis first habiliition toa more
eligible spot, where, in addition to a comfortable house
for the missionaries, a building was fitted up for a
chapel.

F.very thing now appeared favorable to the great
cause in which the brethren bad cheerfully embarked.

tin)* work WM ciiinpilitil rliirfly fViim tlio MH8 nf tlia vrnerahla
lUenMt. il« dvptrtetl thli life ftbrutry 17, 11^13, at Nitiky, in 8t,
Thiimai.

. .r I «.!„..•

p.. tL. Jl.*!..

..i.L.j nu^..

ti«n fori.

Their labors vrere patronized by the colonial govern-
ment ; most of the planters and proprietors were de-
sirous that their negroes might be instructed in the
Christian religion ; and the missionaries were not only
numerously attended whenever they dispensed the
word of life, but, in the course of about twelve months,
no less than twenty of their sable auditors were admit-
ted into the church by the rite of baptism. After some
time, however, the slaves became more remiss in their
attendance, and even among those who had been bap-
tized, there were several who appeared to have con-
tented themselves with the adoption of a new religion
in form, whilst they remained utterly unacquainted
with that renewal of the heart which our blessed Lord
hath declared to be indispensable to the attainment of
eternal life.

In 1801, the negroes on several of the plantations
concerted a plan for murdering all ihe white inhabit-
ants of Tobago, together with all the mulattoes and free
negroes, who might not be inclined to make common
cause with them. The appointed signal for the com-
mencement of this horrid massacre was the firing of
the gun on Christmas eve ; but, by the kind interven-
tion of Divine Providence, the whole conspiracy was
discovered, and, by the prompt and energetic measures
of the government, it was happily preveiiiid from
being carried into execution. It was peculiarly gratify-
ing to the brethren, on this occasion, to find, after the
strictest investigation, that none of the m^groes under
their care were implicated in this sanguinary plot.

A serious fit of illness which attacked Mr. Church,
aiul into which he relapsed after a jiartial recovery,
compelliMl that gentleman to return to Kngland in IHO;),
and the subsecjuent demise of several of the planters
who had been the warmest friends of the gospel in
Tobago, together with other unfavorable circumstances,
occasioned the suspension of the mission, after the
brethren had baptized between fifty and sixty of the
negroes, during their residence on the island.

In conser|uonce of a resolution passed by the mis-
sionary directors to renew their labors on this island,
the Rev. Peter Rickseckor, of Lancaster, Pennsylva-
nia, received a call to enter upon that service, and
embarked from Bridgeport, (^)nnecticut, October 9,
IHsid. With the kind assistance of Mr. Hamilton
and other friends, a now missionary establishment bos
bei'n erected. Early in !8'.i9, Mr. Rickscrker enter-
tained the hope that he should s<M)n see the reward of
the Saviour's sufferings. He preached the gospel
upon six plantations, ind had the satisfaction to cheer
the departiiii: hours of those who died in the full con-
fidence of a Saviour's mercy. The congregation con-
sisted of oiirhtocn noirocs, two of whom bad been
recently baptized.

In the month of July, the mission was strengthened
by the addition of Mr. and Mrs. Eberman from Bar-
badoes, and the operations of the brethren were greatly
facditated in the extension of religious instruction
among the children. One hundred children from five

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

179

estates were visited twice a week. The attention to
public worship now became so great, that the house
would not receive all the worshippers, and the mis-
sionary, on some occasions, had to repeat his dis-
courses.

We extract an article from the Missionary Intelli-
gencer, which gives an interesting view of the princi-
ples upon which the brethren conduct their evangeli-
cal labors ; —

" The internal regulations of the missionary settle-
ments of the United Brethren are the saiiio in every
country. The gospel is proaclied to all lieatiien to
whom the missionaries can gain access, and every one
is invited to bo reconciled to God, tlirough the atone-
ment made by Jesus Christ. Besides the public tes-
timony of the gospel, the missionaries are diliRcntly
employed in visiting and conversing withtlie heathen in
their dwellings. If any are awakened to a sense of
their spiritual depravity, and of their want of a
Saviour, and come to the missionaries for further in-
struction, giving in their names, they are called new
appluanta, and special attention is paid to them. If
thev ccmtinue in their earnest desire to ho saved from
tne power of sin, and to ho introduced into the Chris-
tian church by holy baptism, they are considered as
camMate, for hnptum, and, after previous instruc-
tion, and a convenient time of prolmtion, are hap.
iizcd. If they then prove, by their walk and conver-
sation, that they have not received the grace of God
in vain, they are nccived as approved mimlnr.i of the
congrrjs:alton ; and when they desire to be admitted
to the holy communion, they are first permitted to be
once present, as spectators, and then ronsidf^red as
camliilntvi fir the rimmunion. A fter some time, they
are confrmnl, and '•.dmiitcd as cowmLiiranis. All of
these classes have separate meetings, in which they
are exhorted to make their calling and election sure,
and instructed in all things relating to a godly life.
Separate meetings are also held with other divisions
of the congregolion,— with the children, the single
men, the single women, the married people, the wid-
owers, and the widows,— in which the admonitions and
precej.is given in the Holy Scriptures, for each stale
of life, me inculcated. The bapli/.ed and communi-
cants come at staled seasons to converse individually
With tii," niissionaiios — the men with the missionary
hunscif, and the women with his wifo— by which tt

more perfect knowledge of the congregation is ob-
tained, and an opportunity given for special advice.

" As the brethren lay a great stress upon knowing
the state of every individual belonging to their congre-
gallons, it would be impossible for the missionaries to
do their duty in any manner satisfactory to themselves,
in large missions, unless assistants were found among
the converts, whose exemplary walk and good under-
standing have made them respected by the whole con-
gregation. These are chosen from among both sexes,
and have particular districts assigned them, in which
they visit the people, in their houses or huts, attend
to the sick and infirm, preserve order, endeavor to re-
move dissensions, and promote harmony among the
flock. These assistants meet the missionaries in con-
ference at stated times, at least once a month, and re-
port on the state of the congregation. The missiona-
ries are thereby enabled to know whether their peo-
ple walk in conformity to the rules of the gospel, and
where their personal aid may be most essential. In
some missions, the assistants are also employed occa-
sionally to address the congregation on a week-day,
but not to preach in i iblic, and a special blessing has
attended their simple testimony. Other persons, of
good character, and exemplary conversation, are used
as servants in the chapel, and meet also in conference,
to consult on subjects belonging to outward order in
the congregation. At stated times, in some missions,
a counci/ is held with a number of the most respecta-
ble inhohiiants, chosen by the congregation, in which
all things relating to the welfare of the settlement
come under consideration,

" As to external regulations, they cannot, in all
places, be exactly uniform. Among free heathen, set-
tlements, like those of the brethren in Europe anil the
United States, are more easily formed ; but among
slaves, this is impracticable. Yet every thing that
tends to promote good order, and prevent injury, is
every where inculcated, and the discipline of the
church uniformly exerci.sod. A fron mnn or » -lavs,
who acts contrary to the moral precepts contained iti
the Bible, is excluded cither from the Lord's supper,

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

or the meetings of the baptized, or even, in certain
cases, from all fellowship with the congregation ; for
no situation or prevalency of custom can sanction a
pretext for any kind of disobedience to the rule of
Christ. Such are not re-admitted, until they have
given satisfactory proofs of true repentance. Schools
are established in all the brethren's settlements among
free heathen, as in Greenland, Labrador, among the
Indians in North America, and among the Hottentots.
Though in the West India islands this is not generally
practicable, the children not being under the imme-
diate control of the parents, yet, by persuasion of
some planters, attention has been paid to their instruc-
tion in reading, and Sunday schools have been insti-
tuted in the island of Antigua. For the use of the
schools, spelling-books, a catechism, or summary of
Christian doctrine, and hymn-books, are printed in the
Greenland, Elsquimaux, Delaware, and Creol lan-
guages; and by the liberality of the British and
Foreign Bible Society, the four Gospels, the Acts of
the Apostles, and the Epistles, were printed for the
use of the brethren's missions in Labrador ; a Harmony
of the four Evangelists, in use in the brethren's church,
is also printed in the Greenland and Esquimaux lan-
guages ; the Epistles of St. John have been printed
in the Delaware language by the American Bible So-
ciety, and a Harmony of the four Gospels, in the
same language, by the Female Missionary Society at
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Other parts of the Scrip-
tures, translated into different tongues, but yet only
in manuscript, are in constant use. In all the breth-
ren's settlements, the congregations meet daily, either
in the morning or evening, for social worship ; and on
Sundays, the missionaries are employed, from break of
day till dark, in preaching, meeting the different di-
visions of the congregations, and attending to their
own people, or to heathen visiters under concern for
their salvation. Nor can they be said to be less en-
gaged in spiritual duties on the week-days ; as visiting
the sick, or such as cannot attend them on Sundays,
employs a great part of their time.

" The missions of the brethren are supported by
the voluntary contributions of the members of tlio
church, and of other friends, who have become ac-
quainted with our institutions. It would bo impossi-
ble to maintain so large an establishment, were it not
for the generous support of friends in other denomina-
tions ; the congregations of the brethren being hut
few in number, and the grcnter part of the ptHirer class.
Without the greatest economy, used both by the
brethren at home, who care for the missions, ami by
the missiouaries nl)r<)u(l, the sums subscribed or con-

trihllll'll wmilil full All aliort nf <l... ... i:. rrn..

'- *" ' •*• ' ■^|*'-!i»titmtr. i l.t:

expense of the brethren's missions has greatly increas-

ed. When the expenses attending journeys and
voyages, building and repairs of churches and dwell-
ings, unforeseen occurrences, &c., are taken into con-
sideration, the sum expended is comparatively small •
though large, when compared with the number and
abilities of the contributors. The brethren are there-
fore the more thankful to God, that he inclines the
hearts of many, who have become acquainted with
their missions, to assist in their support. From the
beginning, they sought to put all their missions upon
such a footing, that the expenses might be lessened, and
thus the practicability of extending them become great-
er. This, by the blessing of God, has, in some instances,
succeeded, especially in the Danish West India islands,
in Surinam, and at the Cape of Good Hope, throuo-h the
zeal and diligence of some brethren, who went out to
serve these missions by the work of their hands ; and,
in their various occupations, earned so much as to be
able to contribute considerably towards their support ;
but circumstances will not admit of this method in
every place. The vessel annually sent to the coast
of Labrador, to convey provisions, and keep up a
communication wi'li the missionaries, returns with
skins, bones and oil, the sale of which, of late years,
has nearly covered the expenses of the voyage. The
missionaries receive no stated salaries, but a list of
necessaries is sent from each place annually to the
brethren appointed to take care for the missions, and,
after revision and approbation, the articles wanted are
procured and sent. For the children and widows, and
for missionaries retired from service, provision ih made
in the best way the committee are enabled to fulfd this
obligation.

" Of late years, several associations have been formed
in the brethren's congregations, in aid of the missions,
chiefly by sisters, in conjunction with their femaU
friends in other denominations. They have been
blessed by the Ix)rd in their benevolent exertions, and
assisted the cause by considerable contributions. Par-
ticular thanks are likewise due to the associations form-
ed at Glasgow, I.«ndon, Edinburgh, and other placei,
by friends not belonging to our church, whose lil)erali-
ty, embracing all attem|)ts to spread the gospel among
tile heathen, made them consider .'le brethren's mis-
sions as demanding their particular assistance in their
present impoverished state. Tiiougii actively en-
gaged in every good work, to promote the cause of
God in their own connections, they iiaveof late years
most generously stepped in for our relief Without
tills assistance, we should have been utterly unable to
contimio our exertions.

"The brethren have, by long experience, found that
" tho wokI oi iiie c«)ss is the power oi" («o(i unio sal-
vation to every one that believeth.' They therefore

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

ISl

immediately preach Christ, and him crucified, sowing
the word in tears, with patience and in faith, knowing
that they shall hereafter reap with joy. But there is no
part of the doctrines of the Saviour and his apostles,
which the missionaries do not' gradually endeavor to
inculcate, both before and after baptism ; and, through
the mercy and power of God, the most blessed effects
have attended their labors, and have become conspicu-
ous in the lives and conversation of most of their
converts.

"But who is sufficient for these things? Truly
not man ; no, not the wisest, best, and most zealous
of men. Our sufficiency is of God, to whom be all
the glory for ever and ever !"

In reluctantly taking his leave of the United Breth-
ren, whose labors, sufferings, zeal, and successes have
immortalized their names, and merited the admiration
of "o/Z who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity,"
the editor gratefully acknowledges the assistance which
he has received from the Rev. C. I. Latrobe, the
excellent secretary of the missions of the Unitas Fra-
trum in England.

The following tabular statement is subjoined, which
will present the reader with a comprehensive view of
the various stations now occupied by the brethren
among the heathen, together with the period when
each mission was commenced, and the number of labor-
ers now employed, comprising the wives of the mission-
aries, wlio take an important share in the spiritual con-
cerns of the female converts.

Enumeration of all the Minionary Stations of the
United Brethren's Church, together with the
Names of the Missionaries employed, towards the
close of the year 18.')0.

I. In Greenland. — {Commenced 1733.)

New Herrnhut. — The brethren Lehman and Grillich,

will) tlieir wives, and the single bretiiren Tietzen

and Hcrbrich.
Liohtonruls. — The brcthron El)crIo and Mehlhosc, with

their wives, and tiio single brother Caspar Koegel.
Lichtennu. — The brethren Mueller and John Kocgel,

with their wives, and the single brethren Baus and

Ulbricht.
Fredoricsthal. — Tliehnilhrcn Kleinschinidt and Ihrcr,

with their wives, and the single brother De Fries.—

9S2 persons.

11. In Labbadob. — (1770.)

Nain.— The brethren Lundberg, Morhardt and Henn,

\vith their wives, and the single brother Herzberg.
Hopedale.— The brethren Meisner, Kunath and Ko-

erner, with their wives, and the single brother

Fritsche.
Okkak.— The brethren Stock, Kmoch, and Knaus,

with their wives, and the single brother Glitsch.
Hebron. — The single brethren Beck and Kruth.
Brother Stiirman and his wife, and brother Mentzel, on

a visit in Europe. — 26 persons.

in. In North Amekica. — (1734.)
New Fairfield, (U. C.)— The brethren Luckenbach

and Miksch, with their wives, and brother Haman,

a widower.
Spring-place, (Cherokee.) — Brother Byhan and his

wife.
Oochgelogy, (Cherokee.)— Brother Clauder and his

wife, and the widow sister Gambold. — 10 persons.

-(1732.)

IV. In the Danish West India Islands.

St. Thomas,

New Herrnhut and Niesky. — The brethren Sybrecht,
Damns, H. Wied, Boenhof, Staude, and Schmidt,
with their wives.

St Croix.

Friedensthal, Friedensberg, and Friedensfeld. — The
brethren Klingenberg, Mueller, Eder, Sparmeyer,
Keil, Blitt, and Plaettner, with their wives ; the
widowed brother Freytag, and the widow sisters
Jung and Weber.

St. John's.

Bethany and Emmaus. — The brethren Junghous,
Kleint, Schmitz, and Duelberg, with their wives.
On their way thither, the brethren Popp and H.
Meyer, with their wives, and the single sister Got-
tling.— 42 persons.

V. In the British West India Islands.
Jamaica. — (1754.)

Fairfield, New Eden, Irwlnhill, New Carmel, New
Fulnec, and Mesopotamia. — The brethren Ellis,
Pemsel, Pfeifer, Light, Scholefield, Renkowitz,
Zom, and Ricksecker, with their wives. — 16 per-
sons.

189

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

Antigua.— (1156.)

St. John's, Newfield, Grace-bay, Cedar-hall, Grace-
hill. — ^The brethren Newby, Kochte, Coleman,
Thraen, Muenzer, Zellner, Brunner, Simon, Wright,
and Baine, with their wives. On their way thither,
the brethren Harvey and Coates, with their wives.— ^
34 persons.

St. ««'».— (1775.)
Basseterre and Bethesda.— The brethren Robbins,
Schick, Hoch, and Seitz, with their wives. — 8 per-
sons.

Barbadoet.— (1165.)
Sharon and Mount Tabor.— The brethren Taylor and
Zippel, with their wives. In Europe, on account
of illness, brother and sister Klose. — 6 persons.

Thbago.—'(ll90, resumed 1826.)

Montgomery.— Brother Eberman and his wife. Call-
ed thither, brother and sister Zetzche.— 4 per-
sons.

VI. In Sorinax, S. America.— (1735.)

Paramaribo and Voorzorg.— The brethren Passavant,
Genth, Graf, Boehmer, Hartman, Schmidt, and
Voigt, with their wives. — 14 persons.

VII. In Sodth Africa.— (1736, resumed 1792.)

Gnadenthal.— The brethren Hallbeck, Thomsen, Lut-
tringshausen, Stein, Voigt, Schulz, and Sonderman,
with their wives, and the widow sister Kohrhammer.

Groenekloof.— The brethren Clemens, Lehman, and
Meyer, with their wives.

Hemel-en-Aarde. — Brother Tietze and his wife.

Elim. — The brethren Teutsch and Nauhaus, with their
wives.

Enon. — The brethren Fritsche, Lemmerz, and Hor-
nig, with their wives.

Shiloh.— The brethren HofBnan and Halter, with their
wives. — 37 persons.

According to the above, 209 persons labor in 42
different stations; being an increase of 3 stations and
9 missionaries in the course of the last year.

mSTORY OP THE ElfTGLISH BAPTIST MISSIOITARY SOCIETY.

CHAPTER I.

FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY, SENDING OUT OF ITS FIRST MISSIONARIES,
WITH ITS SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDINGS AT HOME.

It is worthy of remark, that whenever the great
Head of the church has been about to accomplish
some peculiar purpose of mercy towards mankind, he
has invariably poured out a spirit of prayer and suppli-
cation upon his faithful people ; who, like the disciples
on the day of Pentecost, have, " with one accord,"
presented their petitions before the footstool of the
throne of grace, and pleaded the promises on which
their divine and exalted Master had previously encour-
aged them to trust. This was literally the fact, in
respect to the ministers and churches of that denom-
ination, whose ardent zeal for the glory of a crucified
Saviour, and whose patient and unremitting attempts
to convert the slaves of sin and superstition from the
error of their ways, are to be narrated in the follow-
ing pages.

In the year 1784, at a Baptist association held at
Nottingham, it was determined that one hour in the
first Monday evening of every month should be devoted
to solemn and special intercession for the revival of gen-
uine religion and the extension of the Redeemer's king-
dom throughout the eartli ; and, about three years after-
wards, the providence of God brought forward an indi-
vidual to assist in this Iioly cause, who was destined,
in after-times, to render the mc t important and inval-
uable services, both to the Christian and the Pagan
world. This was the Rev. William Carey, of Moul-
ton, in Northainptonsliire, and afterwards of Leices-
ter ; whose mind, from his first • ntrance on the work of
the ministry, appears t(j have been deeply imbued
with conmiiseration for the state of the heathen, and
'vho, from the geogrnpliiral knowledge which he iiad
obtained, mid the peculiar facility which he possessed
in fespect to the attainment of languages, seemed de-
signed by the all-wise God for some undertaking of
more than ordinary interest.

In llie spring of 1791 , at a meeting of ministers held

at Clipstone, in Northamptonshire, the Rev. Messrs.
Sutcliff and Fuller delivered two discourses which
were admirably adapted to fan even the latent sparks
of missionary zeal into a holy flame ; and Mr. Carey,
whose soul was always alive to this important object,
earnestly pressed his brethren, after the conclusion of
the services, to adopt some resolution with a view to
the formation of a society for the evangelization of the
heathen. In this attempt he did not succeed, but as
he was known to have a manuscript in his possession,
entitled, " An Inquiry into the Obligations of Chris-
tians to use Means for the Conversion of the Heathen,"
he was requested to revise and publish it, that it
might be laid before the religious public.

Thenext annual association was held at Nottingham,
and as Mr. Carey was, on that occasion, appointed to
preach before his brethren, it was natural to suppose
that he would bring forward the subject which lay
nearest to his bean, and that his remarks and exhor-
tations would be productive of the happiest effects.
This anticipation, so reasonable in itself, was abun-
dantly verified. The preacher selected for his subject
that beauiifiil passage in the fifty-fourth chapter of
Isaiah, " Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them
stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations ; spare
not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes ;
for thou slialt break fortli on the right hand and on
the left ; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and
make the desolate cities to be inhabited." And, after
stating in his introduction, that the church was here
addressed as a desolate widow, residing in a small
cottage ; that the connnand to enlarge her tent clear-
ly intimated an increase of her family ; and that, to
account for this unexpected change, she was remind-
ed that " her Maker was her husband," who should
be " called the God of the whole earth :"— he took up
the passage as affording legitimate ground for two im-

184

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

portant exhortations, viz. " Expect great things from
God, — and Attempt great things for God." The
truths advanced in this sermon appear to have been
attended with a peculiar unction of the Holy Spirit ;
and in the course of the day, it was resolved that a
plan should be prepared against the next meeting of
ministers at Kettering, for forming a society with a
view to the propagation of the gospel among the hea-
then. Mr. Carey also kindly promised that whatever
profits might arise from his new publication on the
subject, should be applied to the use of the projected
society.

" In agreeing upon a plan," says the writer of a
Brief Narrative of the Baptist Mission in India, " we
had no difficu'ties to encounter from diversity of
opinion ; for in every thing of importance there was
a happy unanimity. We conversed on all subjects,
without debating on any. Tlie general principles on
which the society was formed, were, in respect of civil
government, to yield a cordial and unreserved obedi-
ence in every thing consistent with our duty to God ;
and, in respect of Christians of other denominations]
to cherish a catholic spirit towards them, and engage
in a ready co-operation with them in every thing
which did not require a sacrifice of religious principle.
Considering the present divided state of Christendom,
however, it appeared to us, that each denomination,
by exerting itself separately, would be most likely to
answei' the great ends of a mission. Hence the name
by which we at first chose to designate ourselves was,
'The Particular (or Calvinistic) Baptist Society for
Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen.' But
so far were we from having in view the exclusive pro-
motion of our own peculiar principles as Baptists, that
we were determined, from the beginning, if no oppor-
tunity appeared for sending out missionaries of our own,
that we would assist other societies already in being
among the Presbyterians and tiio Moravians.

" Some of the greatest difiiculties which we had to
encounter were the following. We were inexperien-
ced in the work ;— we know of no opening for a mission
in any one part of the world more tlian anotlior ;— we
had no funds to meet the expense that must attend an
undertaking of the kind ;-our situation in an inland
part of the country was inconvenient for foreign cor-
respondence ;— tlie persons who would have the man-
agement would live at such a distance from each other
as to render fre(picnt consultation impracticable ;— and
finally, m forming a society, there would be danger of its
fa ling under irrHigious influence. From these and
other considerations, those who were expected to
engage m the work, entered upon it with much fear and
irenibling."

On th,. o,i of October, 1792, iii« ministers met at '

Kettering, and, after the public services of the day-
were ended, retired for prayer. They then solemnly
pledged themselves to God, and to each other, to
make a trial for introducing the gospel amongst the
heathen. « And though," as the writer we have just
quoted observes, " they were not insensible to their want
of experience,- tbey hoped that He whose cause it was
would endue them with wisdom, as occasion might re-
quire, and vouchsafe to guide them with his eye." — As to
funds, they opened a subscription at the time, the amount
of which, though only £ 13 2s. 6rf., was considered suffi-
cient for present purposes : and they had no intention of
appealing to the public till a more specific object could
be proposed to their, consideration. In respect of foreign
correspondence, they hoped to find friends at the differ-
ent seaports who would be willing to assist them : and,
as to the difficulty of a number of persons acting in con-
cert, though residing in different parts of the kingdom,
they felt themselves obliged to encounter it as well as
they could, and to supply the want of personal inter-
course by writing. On this account, however, they
found it would be impracticable to nominate a large
acting committee ; or, that the members of it should
go out at certain periods, and others be chosen in their
stead. — Finally ; with respect to preserving the socie-
ty from irreligious influence, though every person who
should subscribe ten pounds at once, or half a guinea
annually, was considered a member ; yet, as the com-
mittee, to whom the management was entrusted, con-
sisted either of ministers or respectable characters in
the different churches, who would act without any
pecuniary reward, and whose places, as they should
die, would be filled up at a general meeting, by others
of like character, it was thought as great a preservative
as human means could suggest. The Rev. Messrs.
Ryland, Hogg, Carey, Sutcliff and Fuller were cho-
sen to fonn the first committee, and Messrs. Hogg
and Fuller were requested to act as the treasurer and
secretary of the infant society.

In the month of November, the committee were in-
formed that Mr. John Thomas, who had been several
years in Bengal,* preaching the gospel to the natives,
was then in the metropolis, endeavoring to establish a
fund for the support of a mission in that benighted

• Tho following is a brief view of the principal ngonU employed
antecedently to tho Enplish Baptist, niiuion, to introduco the reli-
gion of the Bible into Kastern A«ia:—

I. The Black and White Jowa— In tho interior of Malabar
are multitudos of Black Jowii, who removed to India after the de-
Btruction of the first temple. They have received «o deep a com-
plexion from nn Indian aim, aa to bo hardly dintinguiiiliable from
the (lindooa. Tlicy posacfiB aynagoguea, and have obtained from
tho White Jews nonie copies of tho Old Tcstainent. They have
one nynngogiio nt .(ows' Town, near Cochin. At tho same place is a
~ ' --...." :.-->r-, w", i»-t:'»miTtjj itT iiietr tiivn ac-
count, are thu remains of a large body that removed to India after

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

country, and that he was desirous of procuring some
pious and zealous person as a coadjutor m his impor-
tant work. This wa^ considered as an opening in Di-
vine Providence, and it was resolved that inquiries
should be set on foot, in respect to his character, prin-
ciples, abilities and success ; in order that, if satisfacto-

the destruction of the second temple. They first settled at Cran-
eanore, where their numbers were increased by gradual accessions
from Judoa, Spain and otlior places. Hero they continued one
thousand years. They were at last overcome by an Indian prince.
Bome exiles fled to Cochin, and they have received large addiUons
from Lppt and other parts. They have the Old Testament and
m.any Hebrew MS3. It was this colony which excited the curios-
ity of the learned president Stiles, and it was to investigate their
copy of the Pentateuch that ho addressed pir William Jones.

2. The Syrian Christians, who are also known as St. Thomas's
ChrisUans, inhabit the interior of Malabar and Travancore, in the
soutli-west oflndia, and have been there probably from the apostolic
ago. Tradition says that the gospel was planted there by the apos-
tle Thomas, and that he was put to death at Thomas's mount, near
Madras. Ilis tomb for ages was an object of veneration. At Pa-
roor, near Cranganore, there is a church, supposed to be the oldest
in Malabar, that yet bears tlie name of tiiis apostle. " I am satis-
fied," says l)r. Buchanan, " that wo have as good authority for
believing that the apostlo Thomas died in India, as that Peter died
at Home." A primate oflndia was present at the council of Nice in
the year Wi't. When Vasco do Gamn arrived at Cochin, in 1503, he
discovered on the Malabar coast more than one hundred Christian
churches. Many of these societies were compelled by the Portu-
guese, in luo'.), to admit the supremacy of tlio pope. These
churches are called tlje Syro-lloiiiaii Christians. The churches in
tho interior preserved their books, and fled to the mountains.
These are called tho Syrian Christians. InlSt).""), Dr. Buchanan
stated that there wore fifty-five churches, and .ibout fifty thousand
people. From the long inlliience of Christianity on tho habits of the
people, they are more polished and improved than tho inhabitants of
tho northern parts of Ilindostan.

3. Tho Christians of Western Asia, who, from time immemorial,

have travelled into the East in the pursuits of commerce. Many of

those have, at dillbrent periods, settled in the country. There are
now in Iiulla seven Arincni.in, and two Greek churches. The
Arnieniim churches are at Bombay, Surat, Madras, Calcutta, and
three other places in Bengal. The Greek churches are at Calcutta
and Dacca in Bengal.

4. The Roman Catholics.— After Vasco do Gama had discover-
ed the pussaRo by tho capo of Good FIopo, the Portuguese, in about
halfa century, obtained possession of a large number of tho ports in
Persia and India, and establiBlied a line of factories from tho cape of
Good Hope to tho river of CJanton. To these conquests they added
tho nuiuonius islands in the Indian Archipelago. Wherever they
came, they brought not only thcircommerce, but their religion. That
vast extent of sett-board, reaching more than four thousand leagues, is
peopled by their descendants; and in all this long line of country,
their language is spoken and their religion is known. — There aro
oisc) inariy Catholic missions established in Asia. Muratori re-
marks wilh triinnph, " thr' amongst all the marks that serve to dis-
tinguish the ('utholic church from sects delivered over to error, tho
ardent zeal she has ever shown for tho propagation of tho gospel
is one tliul strikes us most. '

5. The Dutch, who established themselves in Asia about a cen-
tury after tho Portuguese— -Many of tho islands fell into their
possession. They labored with success to convert the natives to
tho Christian faith, and to form Protestant churches. They trans-
lated parls of the Bible into the M.ilay and Cingalese languages,
These cliurclies are now in an ignorant and formal state ; but
EuL'lish missionaries aro obtaining access to tliom, and there ii
Vor,. 1. — INos. 1') &, Mi. '26

18S

ry answers were obtained, he might be solicited to go
out under the patronage of the Baptist Society

From a statement which Mr. Thomas transmitted to
the commtttee, it appeared that he had first sailed to
Bengal m the year 1783, as surgeon of the Oxford
ii^ast Indiaman, and that, shortly after his arrival, he

reason to hope that tho present laborers will reap a rich harrert
where Dutch reformers sowed tho precious seed.

6. The English East India Company.-This association wa« in-
corpora ed by queen Elizabeth in tho year ICMO ; and in 1616, the,
bad settlements and factories at Bantam, Jacatra, Surat.Agra, Bram-
Huo ?>! ' "'• •"'«=''»«"' Acl.cn, and many other places. In
im, they removed their factory in Bengal from Hdogly to tha
spot on whicii Calcutta, the present capital of British India, has since
been built. Withimhe last forty years, the dominions of this compa-
ny have been greatly extended. About the year 1795, the earl of
Mornington, an Irish nobleman of an ancient family of the name of
Wellesloy, and now marquis Wellesley, went out to India in the
character of governor-general. During the few years in which
he administered the government of India, the territorial posses-
sions of the company wore almost doubled. His war with Tippoo
Saib, king of Mysore, issued in the destruction of the Mysorean
empire, and tho extinction of the Mahometan power in Ilindostan
He overwhelmed the hitherto invincible Mahrattas, and greatly
reduced Ihoir empire. In this war, the province of Orissa, contaiii.
ing the far-famed temple of Juggernaut, tho Mecca of India, fell
under the dominion of the British. Besides these immense terri-
torial acquisitions, ho formed, on the frontier of tho empire, a league
of strength, by alliance with other nations. Tho comprehensive
mind of this great statesman, in connection with his patron at
home, tho illustrious Pitt, formed great and generous designs for
India. Among other plans which they jointly devised, was an
ecclesiastical estnblishment. This has since been carried into effect,
at an enormous expense ; and it remains to bo seen how far this'
experiment will confirm the experience of all past observation, that
religious establishments aro a dead weight upon religion, or wheth-
er it will subservo tho advancement of that kingdom which is " ml
of this leurhl." AVhen we look at the past, we see onijugh to lead
us to entortain fears for tho future An establishment with magnif-
icent resources, splendid patronage, and mitred pomp, may charm
and dazzlo the poor Hindoo, and the parade and pageantry of an
episcopal progress through the Luid may please multitudes ; but
there is no converting power, no soul-subduing process in all this !
Rather do those appendages conceal tlie simple truth, which the
preacher carries, and divert attention from the solemn concerns
of the eternal state. But tho measure which reflects the highest
honor on this nobleman's administration was tlie erection of tho col-
lego at Fort William, and the collection of one hundred learned men,
from different parts of India, Persia and Arabia, to assist in unlock-
ing tho numerous languages of Asia, and in difi'using the light
of religion and science throughout tho East. To tho little band at
Seramporo tho governor was a Mniconas. Neither with Mahrat-
ta nor Mysore, aro his honors chiefly inscribed, but with tlie<r«M.»/a.
tions of eternal truth, which aro one day to cflect the civilization
and salvation of half the world. By this entrance of the English
into Asia, a wide door has been opened for tho extension of Christian
knowledge. But commerce has been extended without a propor-
tionate enlargement to the Messiah's kingdom. The chaplains
employed by tho company have not always been such men as
Brown, Marlyn and Corrie. We would rather rocogniie these
worthies as true missionaries.

7. In enumerating what had been done for India, previous to tho
formation of tho Baptist mission, it should be slated, that a
Danish mission was also founded, about a century after the Diitrb
and English had obtained a footing ; for tho particulars of which seo
tho Introduction,

186

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

felt anxious to devise some plan for the promulgation
of the gospel in that part of the world ; but his at-
tempts proved unsuccessful at that time, and, having
returned with the vessel to England, he was baptized
in London in 1785. He now began to exhort in
private societies, and to preach occasionally both in
town and country. By the advice of a friend, how-
ever, he sailed a second time for Bengal, in 1786, and
on reaching Calcutta he had the happiness of meeting
with a few serious persons, with whom he held meet-
ings for prayer, and, after some time, he preached to
them every Lord's day in the evening. One of these
Christian friends, a gentleman who has since filled
one of the most honorable offices in the service of the
East India Company, expressed a 'wish that Mr.
Thomas should remain in the country, apply himself
to the study of the language, and endeavor to com-
municate the glad tidings of salvation to the natives.
This proposal, however, was by no means agreeable ;
for, notwithstanding the ardent desire which the sur-
geon felt for the evangelization of the Hindoos, he
had no idea of engaging personally in that work : he
was also averse to the climate, and dreaded the idea
of a protracted separation from his family ; and in
addition to these objections, lie considered, as he had
the charge, in his professional character, of a ship's
company, it would be impossible to obtain the captain's
permission for him to remain in India, or to find another
surgeon to supply his place. « Yet," he observes,
" though I could not accede to the proposal, it would
often recur to my mind, and after a few weeks, I be-
came greatly concerned about the condition of those
multitudes of pagans who were perishing in utter
darkness, and was inflamed with fervent desires to go
and declare the glory of Christ among them. After
much prayer and many tears, therefore, I gave my-
self up to this work, and the Lord removed dilTiculties
out of the way, confirming the mission and comfort-
ing me by adding two seals (both Europeans) to
my first labors, who continue my hope and joy, and
I trust will be my crown at the day of Christ's ap-
pearing.

" I trust, also," continues Mr. Thomas, " that the
door of faith has been opened to the natives, by the
conversion of two or more Hindoos, and by other
striking effects, which, tiiough short of real conversion,
may, in the Lord's own time, prove a great blessing
to many. One of these converts, named Boshoo, is
about thirty-five years of age, possessed of more than
an ordinary capacity, and well educated in the Persian
language. He was recommended to me by an eminent
Persian scholar, and I employed him in the oflice
of my moomhcc, or teacher, all the time I remained
'" """?-^-'' *' '•■■'''^ '»' -vlio chiefly labored with me in

translating the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, the'
Epistle of James, &c., and he often disputes with and
confounds the Bramins, both learned and unlearned,
though he is not a Bramin himself, but of the writer
caste or tribe. This man has a considerable degree of
knowledge and gifts, and I hope they will one day
shine forth to the good of many.

" Of Mohun Chund, a Bramin of some repute, I
once hoped well, though his heart failed him at last ;
and even now, I cannot say that I have given up all
hopes of him. This man resides at Boolahant, about
six miles from Malda, and has a vast number of disci-
ples, who prostrate themselves at his feet wherever
they meet him. When he came to hear me, he was
easily to be distinguished in the crowd, by his fixed
attention ; and, one day, after I had been discoursing
on the subject of prayer, he very gravely asked me,
' When a man prays to God, how many days must
elapse before he receives an answer ?' I then repeated
the account of the woman of Canaan, and other cases,
and he continued to attend and converse on sacred
subjects, till, at length, he seemed to be convinced
that he was a great sinner, that there was no refuge
for him in the Hindoo shasters, and that the gospel
alone was of God, discovering the way of salvation.
He now came frequently to see me, and was considered
by his countrymen as a convert to diristianity ; as he
laid aside his former religious ceremonies, and abso-
lutely forbade that superstitious homage which had
been previously paid to him by the people. He also
talked publicly, in the most persuasive manner, to
other Bramins in favor of the Scriptures.

" On the 28th of June, 1790, Mohun Chund had
been to pay me a visit, and on returning to his own
house, he found there the Bramin Parbotce, who was a
man of title and elevated rank. He was also a very strict
observer of the Hindoo laws and customs, and was,
in fact, a devotee, uncqualed in all the neighborhood
for zeal and accuracy. This man, having heard of
our new shaster, the Bible, was not a little displeased ;
and when he understood that Mohun Chund had been
to see me, he desired him to go and wash his clothes ;
as, having been in the company of an Englishman, he
must be necessarily defiled, and liable to defile others.
He also observed, in order to enforce < ..edience to his
request, that I was unclean, if not Jilihy. The other
Bramin replied, that filthy persons committed filthy
actions ; but he could never say so of the Englishman
whom he had been to visit, and therefore he should
not wash his clothes. Parbotee, however, continued
to insist upon it, and, finding that his injunctions were
not obeyed, he proceeded to do a thing which may
appear trivial to Europeans, but is a very forniidablo
action in the estimation of the Hindoos.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

" The natives of India are much addicted to smok-
ing, and their tobacco is made up into a sort of paste,
with spices, &c. This paste they place on one side'
of a copper-plate, and coals of fire on the other side.
The tobacco being lighted, they then put it on the
upper extremity of a tube, while the lower end runs
down into a shell or other vessel, containing cold
water, and sometimes rose-water, which is very com-
mon there. The smoke is agreeably drawn through
the cooling water, by means of another flexible tube,
which is the pipe, and is generally about twelve feet
long. Now, when Bramins, or others of equal caste,
meet together, it is a constant mark of friendship and
good understanding for the master of the house to
offer this hookah, or pipe, to his visitor, and it is passed
on from one to the other. But when the Bramin of
whom I am speaking gave the hookah to Parbotee,
he emptied the water out of it;— a.n action which is a
kind of formal disgrace among the Hindoos, and proves
a forerunner to the loss of caste, which is considered
worse than death.

" Such a proceeding, before witnesses, could not
escape particular notice, nor fail of drawing the atten-
tion of many, to the great dishonor of Mohun Chund.
He therefore left the company, and went and poured
out his complaint to God in prayer ; and, as the day
was far gone, he returned no more, but retired with his
family to rest.

" About two o'clock in the morning, he was called
up by Parbotee witii vehement cries, and, on opening
the door, he found him in great agitation, earnestly
desiring to hear the gospel ; and entreating that Mohun
Chund would go and pray for him. The latter replied
as well as he could, and took his visitor to the house
of Boshoo the moonshee, where they spent their time
till day-liglit, in reading, praying, and singing. But
matters were not yet explained. Parbotee did not go
to his usual ceremonies, but returned to the moonshee's
house in great trouble of mind, about noon, making his
former requests ; and in answer to repeated inquiries,
he related a very remarkable dream, which bore a near
resemblance to the history of Paul's conversion, and
in whicii he seemed to iiave received divine admonition
and instruction.

" The effects of this dream were visible on the
Ijody and mind of Parbotee for several days ; and, as
I found it very dinicult to administer any consolation
to him, I was afraid tlie consequences migiit soon
prove fatal. He continuerl daily, however, to hear
the gospel, and began to join the rest in singing and
praying ; confessing to all his former folly, and pro-
fessing to believe that the Bible was the only word
of Goii, and Jesus Christ the only Saviour of sinners.
When I left Bengal, he continued to walk in an or-

18*

derly, becoming manner, and gave me and others ereat
satisfaction."

Encouraged by these cheering statements, and sat-
isfactorily convinced that " a great door and effectual"
was now opened for introducing the gospel of salvation
to the inhabitants of the East Indies, the committee
mvited Mr. Thomas to return to Bengal under their
patronage ; and, on their soliciting the Rev. W. Carey
to go out as his colleague, that devoted servant of God
acceded, without hesitation, to their request. The
church at Leicester, also, though sensibly affected by
the prospect of losing so faithful and beloved a pastor
appeared willing to sacrifice their own feelings and
mterests to the great cause of evangelizing the heathen •
and though Mr. Carey's heart was deeply wounded
by the supposed necessity of leaving his family behind
him for a season, the Supreme Disposer of all events
interposed most unexpectedly to remove this cause
of affliction, and the objects of his tender solicitude
consented to accompany him to the scene of his in-
tended labors.

The iKxt object was to calculate the probable ex-
pense of sending out the missionaries, and of obtaining
the means of defraying it. The expense was estimat-
ed at five hundred pounds, and it was necessary that
this sum should be raised within three or four months.
An appeal was, therefore, made to the religious public,
and letters were addressed to the most active ministers
9f the Baptist denomination throughout the kingdom,
requesting their assistance ; and the following extract
from an " Address of the Ministers and Messengers
of the Northampton Association to the associated
Churches," will convince the reader that these meas-
ures were not adopted in vain :

" With gratitude to the God of all grace, and to our
dear brethren in various parts of the kingdom, we
acknowledge that he has stirred up their hearts to
concur with our design, and to send us generous aid
from the distant extremities of the land. You know,
already, how early and how liberally we received en-
couragement from Birmingham, where a corresponding
society was immediately established in aid of the mis-
sion ; and, by the instrumentality of our active friends,
we soon derived further assistance from several churches'
in Warwickshire, Shropshire, and other adjacent coun-
ties. From Yorkshire and its borders, where our
brethren had chosen the subject of Christian zeal for
their last year's letter, we soon received a noble evi-
dence that they had not been meditating on a topic
which they did not feel. The establishment of a so-
ciety there, which sent us £200 in proof of their fra-
ternity, canqpfi our hearts to rrjoico in that union
which flows from the love of Christ. From many of
our sister churches, both in the neighborhood of this

188

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

association, and in more remote parts of the island, we
have received substantial succor; in some instances
unsolicited, and in many beyond our expectations.
From Newcastle and Plymouth-Dock, Cambridge and
Luton, Devizes, Bath, and Frome ; from several places
in Hampshire, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent, have kind
and considerable donations been transmitted. Bristol
and the great metropolis of our land have, also, lent
assistance in this good work, with a generosity for
which the inhabitants of those cities have long been
renowned ; and which the sad shocks given to com-
merce and public credit, before their benefactions
were solicited, could not suppress.

" Nor have our encouragements been received
merely from own denomination. Though this society
honestly acknowledged that its founders were of tiie
Particular Baptist persuasion, we are sure it was not
the interest of a parti/ they wished to promote, but
the glory of our divine I^ord, and the salvation of
immortal souls. Hence it was proposed, at first, if no
opening were soon found for a Baptist mission, to have
requested the Presbyterian and the Moravian brethren,
who had been already employed in laboring among
the heathen, to accept some assistance from our sub-
scriptions ; as, by tiie divine permission, we were
determined to do something toward propagating the
gospel in pagan lands. The providence of God point-
ing out so speedily a sphere of action sufficient to
require all our exertions, prevented this testimony
of our brotherly love for the present ; but He
who knew our iiearts in the request, has inclined our
brethren to show «.» favor. Our pedobaptist brethren
have not looked upon us with a jealous eye ; evan-
gelical Episcopalians, as well as different classes of
dissenters, notwithstanding their difference of judgment
and practice respecting one of the institutions of the
New lestament, have befriended our design ; and
some friends belonging to the i)eople called (Quakers,
who suppose the ordinance from which we are de-
nominated has ceased, have sent in unsolicited aid.
One of the ministers of the Uiiilas Fratrutn sent us
pecuniary assistance ; and another, in a most friendly
letter, expressed his earnest wishes for our success,
and, witii great candor and piety, answered some of our
printed inquiries respecting tlie needful qualifications of
missionaries, and the advice proper to be given them."
On tiie 20tii of March, 179:), tiie missionaries were
solemnly designated for their important work, in a meet-
ing held at Leicester ; and on tiic i;)th of June, they
set sail, on board the Princcssa Maria, a Danish East
Indiaman. The captain treated tliem witii tiie utmost
attention and politeness, and ordered his own cabin to
be divided into two for tiieir accommodation. The wind
and wcatiicr proving favorable, they crossed the line

on the 21st of July, and on the 20th of the ensuing
month they came within sight of the cape of Good
Hope ; but on the night of the 25th, an accident
occurred, which threatened to be productive of the
most disastrous consequences. From cape des
Aquilas, the southernmost part of Africa, a bank
extends into the sea for about eighty leagues, and
when the current which runs upon this bank happens
to meet the wind, the waves are agitated in a tremen-
dous manner. "We were in latitude 38 degrees
south," says Mr. Carey, "and thought ourselves
secure from danger ; but early in the morning I was
awakened by tiie violent motion of the ship, and found
tables, stools, and every thing which was not secured,
rolling about the cabin, whilst the glass and earthen-
ware articles were literally crushed to pieces. Mr.
Tliomas called at the door, to inform me, that we had
carried away our fore and main-top-masts. I arose
and went upon the deck, where the gloom of the
night ; — the sea, like mountains, beating the ship in
all directions ;— the masts, yards, sails, and rigging,
hanging over the sides, with the men upon them,
endeavoring to unrig them and let them loose, formed
a tremendous scene. All on board declared that they
had never been in such a situation before ; and at one
time we concluded tliat the vessel was going to the
bottom. Our ship was about 130 feet long, and was
mounted on an immense wave, at least fifty or sixty
yards higii, from which she plunged head foremost,
with incredible velocity. I saw her going, — I knew
her weight was six hundred tons, — and concluded,
with others, that she could never recover it. I had
but a moment to reflect ; yet I felt composed and re-
signed to die. That I might not be tiirown overboard,
I caught hold of what was next to me. The plunge
was drcadfiil ;— the bow-sprit was under water,.and
the gib-boom was carried away ; but in a moment
I saw the vessel rise again, mounted on another wave,
without having shipped a single hogshead of water.
At last we cleared the wreck ; in eleven days we re-
fitted ; and, except one squall, which carried away our
new main-top-mast, we had nothing to alarm us since.
The carpenter, however, in consequence of the exer-
tions which ho was obliged to make, on account of our
misfortune, caught a cold, which was succeeded first by
a pleurisy, and afterwards by the scurvy, of which he
died, when we were within six days' sail of Bengal."
" After the departure of our brethren," says the
editor of the ' Brief Narrative of the Haptist ftlission,'
" we had time for reflection. In reviewing the
events of a few preceding months, we were much
impressed. We could scarcely believe that such a
number of im[!(<(limo!ifs hnd; in =o short a time, been
removed. The fear and trembling which had possess-

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

ed us at the outset, had insensibly given way to hope
and joy. Upborne by the magnitude of the object,
and by the encouraging promises of God, we had
found difficulties subside as we approached them, and
ways opened beyond all our expectations. The
thouglit of iiaving done something towards enlarging
the boundaries of our Saviour's kingdom, and of res-
cuing poor heathens and Mahometans from under Sa-
tan's yoke, rejoiced our hearts. We were glad, also,
to see the people of God offering so willingly : some
leaving their country, others pouring in their property,
and all uniting in prayers to Heaven for a blessing. A
new bond of union was furnished between distant min-
isters and churches. Some who had backslidden from
God, were restored ; and others, who had long been
poring over their unfruitfulness, and questioning the
reality of their personal religion, having their attention
directed to Christ and his kingdom, lost their fears,
and found that peace which, in other pursuits, they
had sought in vain. Christians of different denomina-
tions discovered a common bond of affection ; and,
instead of always dwelling on things wherein they
differed, found their account in uniting in those where-
in they were agreed. In short, our hearts were en-
larged ; and, if no other good had arisen from the un-
dertaking than the effect produced upon our own minds,
and the minds of Christians in our own country, it was
more than equal to the expense."

As it is perfectly natural that those who examine
the history of a missionary society should, when they
are reading the proceedings of the first institution of
the kind of later ages, inquire as to the constitution
of the society, tins will probably be the most suitable
place to introduce the plan by which this society reg-
ulates its proceedings. It has undergone, at different
times, some slight modifications, but in spirit it has
always been the same. The following document is ex-
tracted from the last annual publication of the society :

"PLAN OF THE SOCIETY.

" I. The name by wiiich the society has been, and
still is, designated, is, < The Particular Baptist Society
for propagating the Gospel among the Heathen ;' or,
' The Haptist Missionary Society.'

" II. The great object of this society is the diffusion
of the knowledge of the religion of Jesus Christ through
the heathen world, by means of the preaching of the
gospel, the translation and publication of the Holy
Scriptures, and the establishment of schools.

" III. All persons subscribing 10s. 6d. per annum,
donors of £10 or upwards, and ministers makins: an-
nual collections on behalf of the sociCty, are considered
as members thereof

169

"IV, A general meeting of the society shall be an-
nually held ; at which the committee pnd officers shall
be chosen for the year ensuing, the auditors of ac-
counts appointed, and any other business pertaining
to the society transacted.

" ^- A^ general committee, consisting of eighty mem-
bers, shall be appointed for the purpose of circulating
missionary intelligence, and promoting the interests of
the society in their respective neighborhoods ; nine
tenths of whom shall be eligible for re-election for the
ensuing year.

" VI. A central committee shall be formed out of
the general committee, more immediately to conduct
the affairs of the society ; which committee shall meet
monthly, in London, on a fixed day, for the despatch
of business.

" VII. Besides the treasurer and secretaries of the
society, who shall be considered members, ex officio,
the central committee shall consist of twenty-five per-
sons ; of whom sixteen shall be resident in London,
or its immediate vicinity, and nine in the country ;
five members to be deemed a quorum. The commit-
tee to be empowered to fill up, pro tempore, any vacan-
cies from death or resignation.

" VIII. All members of the general committee
shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meetings of
the central committee ; and, whenever the attendance of
any member or members shall be particularly desirable,
the central committee shall be empowered to request
such attendance ; in which case, the member or mem-
bers so invited shall be considered as part of the quorum.
" IX. All moneys received on behalf of the socie-
ty shall be lodged in the banns of the treasurer ; and,
when the amount shall exceed £300, it shall be in-
vested in the public funds, in the names of four trus-
tees, to be chosen by the society, until required for the
use of the mission."

To proceed now with our history. A more distinct
reference than can here be made, will be found in the
history of the Bengal mission, to the fire which, in
1812, consumed tlie missionary premises at Seram-
pore. It is mentioned here principally to afford us
the opportunity of remarking the firm hold which the
Baptist mission had now obtained on the regard of
the religious public in every part of the British empire.
To repair the loss of £10,000, more than £12,000
was raised in the course of about two months ; every
class of Christians, both in the established church and
out of it, appeared to vie with eacti other in the promp-
titude, the efficiency, and the kindness of Christian zeal
towards their brethren. Little- doubt can be enter-
tained that tills fire attracted the public ntteniinn, and
excited a large degree of interest in the proceedings of
this mission, both in England and India.

190

BAPnST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The year 1815 was one which must ever dis-
tinguish the annals of the society, on account of the
very severe loss it sustained by the death of the Rev.
Andrew Fuller, its estimable secretary, who, on the
7th of May, after a short illness, entered into his rest.
He had sustained this arduous and important office from
the commencement of the society, and at length fell
a sacrifice to its accumulated labors and cares. He
was admirably qualified for the office, and zealously
and faithfully discharged its duties. At the next meet-
ing of the committee. Dr. Ryland, of Bristol, was re-
quested to undertake the office, j»ro tempore; and, at
the annual meeting in October, this appointment was
confirmed, and the Rev. James Hinton, of Oxford, as-
sociated with him as joint secretary.

In the year 1819, the business of the society having
become far more extensive than formerly, some alter-
ations were made in the manner of conducting it. At
the annual meeting, held at Cambridge, it was resolv-
ed that a central committee should meet monthly, in
London, for the transaction of business ; and from that
time the annual meeting of the society has been iield
also in the metropolis, in the month of June. Mr. Hin-
ton, in consequence of his other numerous and important
engagements, had resigned his office as joint secretary,
and the Rev. John Dyer, then of Reading, was ciiosen
assistant secretary, and, in the following year, requested
to devote himself entirely to the mission as joint
secretary with Dr. Ryland. In 1820, premises were
engaged for the use of the society in London, and at
length a suitable house purchased, at No. 6 Fen court,
Fenchurch street, where its still increasing business is
now carried on. In the year 1825, Dr. Ryland was
rcnioved by death, since which period Mr. Dyer has
been the only secretary.

The year 18s:'7 was marked by an event which, on

several accounts, !ms been a .source of pain to many

of the friends of the society. This was nothing less

than the willidrawincnt of the brethren at Seroinpore,

and the stations immediately connected with it, from

the society at home. Some misunderstanding existed

hptwoen llu- l)rctlircn at Seiampore and the mniinittpe

in England, in reference to the tenure on wliirh the

preinisesat the former place were held, the college w liicli

the brethren tliere had erected, chiefly for literory

objects, and the support required for the out-stotions

connected with .Seram|)ore. A long coriespondenco

look place at diU'crent times. >Ir. Ward nnd Mr.

John Marslunan visited Britain to compose the dilfer-

ences ; but sulisequent changes of views taking piace

on the part of tin- Seroiui)ore brethren, Dr. Marslunan

at length visiteil F.ngland, partly with the view of

proceeding to Deimiurk in oliinin n charter for the

Soramporo college, and partly to bring the afluir wo

have referred to, to a close. AAer long and patient
discussion, at the end of which it was fo>md impracti-
cable to harmonize the views of the parties, ii was
mutually resolved to publish the following

"NOTICE.

" FtH Court, March 83, 1827.
" Several years ago,* it was officially announced,
that, as the missionaries at Serampore had been enabled
so far to exceed the expectations of their first support-
ers, as largely to promote the propagation of the gos-
pel, by funds which they had themselves originated, a
material change had resulted in their relation to the
society from which they sprang; in consequence of
which, the brethren at that station acted independent-
ly in the management of all their concerns.

" Subsequent experience has shown, that the contin-
ued operation of the cause alluded to in the preced-
ing statement, has occasioned considerable embar-
rassment in the practical arrangements of the society
and their brethren at Serampore. The means of ob-
viating this difficulty have been fully and seriously con-
sidered, in a special meeting of the committee assem-
bled to confer with Dr. Marshman on the subject,
which has terminated in the full conviction that, under
present circumstances, it is most expedient that hence-
forward the societj at home and the missionaries at
Serampore should be publicly understood to constitute
two distinct and independent missionary bodlos.

"Under these circumstances, they wish their mutu-
al friends to understand that they feel united, of course,
respecting the general advancement of the Redeemer's
kingdom, and only desire that their respective efforts
may be so conducted as that the blessing of God may
rest upon them.

(Sij-ned)

" Or Uuir^lJu Smnycn hyUrm,

JOSHUA MARSHMAN."

" On M«(/' 0/ tkt CimmillM 0/ Uu
Bwfiigt Mumonwrg AMtcwIy,

JOHN UYER.'

From this period, two societies may be said to have
existed in England, as the friends of the Serampore
brethren soon after formed a committee to collect the
support of British C'hristians ; and have, in connection
with the niiMsionorics themselves, ap|)eaU'd Dm ihly to
the public on their behalf The following table exhib-
its the contributions of the British public to the Ser-
ampore couso, since 1827, to June, IH.H, and the
sucroeding statement will show the present list of their
station.i :

" Prefkc* to p^riodicft! Ac^nuny of lb? B^rifn^of* M!99to>iT ffo.
ii. October, ISSB,

Contributions made in Great Britain for the
Baptist Missionaries at Serampore.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

For the Mistionary Stations,

658

From March, 1827,toNovembor. 1828,
From December 1, 1828, to December

^ 31, 1829, . 646 12

From January to December, 1830, . .1134 2
From December, 1830, to June, 1831, 2779 12

For the Translations.
FromMarch, 1827, to November, 1828, 1391 7 6
From December 1, 1828, to Decem-
ber 31, 1829, 463 04

From January to December, 1830, . . 879 7 6

From December, 1830, to June, 1831, 416 13 8

For the Native iSchools.

FromMarch, 1827, to November, 1828, 404 3 2
From December 1, 1828, to Decem-
ber31, 1829, ,78 2

135

From January to December, 1830, . .
From December, 1830, to Juno, 1831,

For the College at Serampore.

From March, 1827, to November, 1828, 743 13
From December 1, 1828, to Decem-

ber31,1829, gg 3

From January to December, 1830, 10 8

From December, 1830, to June, 1831, 6 11

191

rf.

6
6

We would have gladly furnished our readers with
the accounts of the expenditure of these sums, but that
they niust necessarily be imperfect, as nothing has been
published m England of the disbursements, of a later
date than 1829. The receipts, however, do not meet
he expenditure ; the deficiency is made up, in part at

4'u ^/,r ^''^"'*'"' "'■''"^ missionaries themselves.

Ihe following table can need no explanation. It
was drawn up and dated at Serampore, June 17,
1830, and pubhshed in England at the close of that
year ; — •

SERAMPORE MISSIONARY STATIONS.

Stall's

^tttriinatt SUiliont,

!)orainpore,

Oum-Dum,
Barripore,.
JttMore,. .,
RiiriMul,,.
Oicoa, .. ,.
Aamm,., ,,
Chittagong,

Armkan,. .

Dinn);«pore,
B<>nBr<"«, . .
Allahabad,
Ualhi, ....

iHdo-Bnluk BreUrin.

AWm Prttektrt.

Two,.

1:)

( Akyab, i'ragu-aing '

J Kiinky-won and Ar- '

( rakaii Town, '

Sadamahl,

Dr. Carey

Dr. Maralinian,.. .
J. C. Marahman,.

J. Mack

Joahua How*,....

n. Smylie,

C. C. Rab»holm,..
W. Muckinirham,..
J. Smith, ......!.

O. Leonard

Jainea Rea,

J. Johannea,

Pran-kriihna,..
Soobhroo

Boftiud ia 1839.
Ali«tie..l OUert,

J. C. Fink,
F

lirnatiin rernandet,

VV. 8mitl

\i. Mnckintoali,. ..
J. T. Thonipaon,..

Rnm-Boondur and Bhurun,
Mut'hoor

CKoepoo, Kullaftae, Mco-)

< arung, Konenng, ()ng-^<<ie- J

' „jy'''». «•>« Kyo-jo-rhee, S

Niainul-Ulla, and Uhoodoo,

Itani-daa

BcRtul-dai W

Jheragt
Mimthlf

9(1

U()

lU. Jit. P,

1!M

ita

154 (t

U'i

101

344

10.1

(«

l!»5

Eipnut.

Hi. At. P.

300

673
1440
1104

130
la-iS
i:<44
1313

3t)38

I3n 15

In returning to the revinw of tlio oporations of tlio
society wliich nuist hcnrpfoith \w, considurcd the
pnient insiimtion, ucrnnnot hut Imgrntiried in record-
ing the nitnchment ninnifiistod by tho religious public
towards il. The extension of its opcriuioiis, e!,|)orinlly
in Jnmairn, iind largely iiicronsod its cxpnmliturc ;
while, oNiing probably, i„ p„rf, to the separation we
have just refijrrcd to, there had boon a slight defalca-
tion in its inromo. When tiiis Imd hoen t!.,j case nn.
foiiner (Measions, ihey had honestly stated the fact,
and always found tho British public ready to relievo

13R0

780

834)1 13

15,336 4

them ; but never had flii.s disposition been so remark-
nbly manifested as at the annual meeting of the society
m June, 1829. No sooner had a sinteincnt proceed-
ed from tho committee of a great want of funds,
and an ui^ont appeal been made for help, than r
spirit of ardent lovo to tho causo at once mnnifesied
Itself to a degree that no one had ventured to antici-
pate. Each appeared emulous to excel his brethren
!!•. th.^ •-v-.-.rk of holy bvc ; tho reguiar bii!<incg.s of the
assembly was nearly forgotten, and money and en-
gagements were iianded up in (juick succession to the

19S

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

;i!i

platform, till about £3,000 had been subscribed by
the meeting, which then separated with the liveliest
expressions of praise to God, each appearing to say to
the Author of their joys, " Of thine own have wc given
thee." This sum was increased by the kindness of
absent friends, chiefly in the country, to about £4,800,
which more tlian relieved the society of its embar-
rassments, and enabled the committee, the following
year, to report an increase of their gross receipts to
the amount of nearly £7,000, about £1,200 of which
had been raised at a public meeting at Manchester, a
few months after the noble example had been set in
the metropolis.

Interesting as many other facts, in reference to the
domestic proceedings of this society arc, wo must
draw this part of its history to a close, by presenting
tables, first of its income and expenditure for the last
fourteen years, the only part of its history during
which its accounts have been frnnMo//y drawn out. It
may be of importance to observe, that the society lias
never possessed funded property, but is entirely de-
pendent on the public for the means of providing for
its current expenses.

By way of explaining the table we now lay before
our readers, we would observe, that, under the head
of receipts, we have included whatever sums mav
liave been given, wiiether subscriptions, donations, or
legacies, for the mission, or its particularbranchcs, the
translations and schools. The erprnditure for mix-
sions comprehcniis all sums laid out in educating,
equipping, sending out, and supporting missionaries ;
all remittances to them, their expenses when they
have returned, and all payments made to their widows
and orpiians ; in short, every thing relating to the
missionaries and their work, whether preaching, trans-

lation or education : and under the general head of
incidentals, we have included all rents, taxes, salaries,
printing, stationery, journeys, advertising, )k.c. ; every
thing, indeed, relating to the home management of the
society. A part of the money expended in printing,
&c., falls again into the funds of the institution by the
gale of its publications.

RECKIPTS.

EXPENDITURE.

rtar.

JWuioM.

lyantUuioM.

Educaiim.

Misaions, ^c.

fneidCHtals.

I. : d.

L. >. d.

L. ,. i.

i. .. d.

L. 1. d.

ini8

7123 i;» a

OTCiS 1 1 5J

8M1 I'J fi

1231 8 111

I8HI

WUIl 7 7J

laio 10 10

•«ni3

fifiU 5 3i
11280 3 4

13111; 8 lOl

IHJOt

I'JOO 11* 7

7(K) S 7

2'28 It 54

1021 4 34

i8.;i

l(«l(i t 1}

111'.".) 6 3

cm 13 10

1S055 17 1

I!«i8 1 yl

llliJ

lUISt 6 Ij

I3;h; 2

711 i 2i

1072fi 1 KM

IfilOn G

i(!'.;3

lUK) a

mi 17 fi

1122 (■>

142113 17

imifi 5 5

lUH

'.1737 I« !)

l.l'JI U 11

loiaia

100-211 14 (1

1808 2 !)

iivri

iaio7 (i 10

J31.5 7

1173 3 <J

1I87C !:> 11

21 Ifi 8 7

iiwi;

IIMO 11! I

l.'itW t 'i

■ua 7 I

11020 fi 7

1 l.^l) 2 1 1

11W7

I(l,'il2 1 7

l^i-.i 1(1 10

Si'J 12 6

I2IN)1 13 11

IfilO Ifi 11

IIW!

KlVil » 3

♦HI 11 n

81U fi 4

10:).)4 14 ,'•)

I8fi4 la 3

iiij'j 1

'.i(i:l3 7 H

73 3 7

fillfi Ifi 3

10614 Ifi 1

I.Wl 17 7

l;i;u) 1

iiiir.'.'i i

a; 8 '.)

.301 1 '0

K'lllfi 17 11

I4UI 13 G

itiai 1

nwx 3 J

(i'J3 4. fi

68U 4 4

llim 15 8

lfi'24 7 4

• Tlio Buiiii given f„r ciluoolion thii year cannot lio ncpiiralfil rru::i Ihoio

giviMi fur tlio Ironiluliiinii, anil oro, llioroforo, includoil nndcr llial hoail.

t In lliii year, il wan Jii.ljn,! .luniralilo to allor tlio limo for milking up tlio

annuiiUrciiunl., .,. Ilmt Ihii lino only incluilo. tlio rMolpl. „,„l rx,»nilituro

Irom Oclolwr 1, IMa, to Juno 1, 1890, being . ,K„i«l „f oighl iinMitlii.

The annexed table will show the exertions at pres-
ent making by the Knglish Bajitist Missionary Society,
and the recent slate of their missionary churches
Ihroughout the worlil. We Jiave extracted it from the
Missionary Herald of March, 18;)1. It is pleasing to
know that, in four years, that is, from 18^7 to 18.'jl, the
stmions of the society were more than doubled. The
expenses of each station were calculated from those of
the two preceding years.

TAIM.i: OF ST.VTIONS CONNKCTKO WITH Till: II VPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIKTY.

¥,\tv UiiiKH,

(.'ak 1 lit, Circular KJ..

D". ImI Itatar,.

l>iHir){ii|Hir(S

Il'iwriili

JloiiKtnllah.

Cutwii

Bewry,

Monjiiyr,

Diirnli

AjlllHTf

(-Vvlmi. ('iitiiiiilin,. ,
L«3, Uaiiaws!!..

Muthnary.

A^(ir# Tcatkeri,
Cttttckialt, tr.

Willlnm Vntra,., .
W H I'tarcp, .,
Jiiim'< I't'iiney, . .

W, KolMtinnti

(ifiirjji» IVarcr,. .
Jniufii TliiiiiinH,, ,

W. Ciircy, jiitt.. .
J. VVilliiiiiiauii, ., .

Amlrniv I^nlit*,, .
Williiiiii MiiiirH, ,

JiibM Cnry.

Hlii>iic«cr Uniiiel,

ll„«-l-!_l. u:

C C. Aratnon,..
CfurntOiiiiiil.
Hniijlllilllllep,. . .
('jiiiilriiii,

Iliilnram

Hunntoii,
Mutlmor.
Nftrayaii,
Two,

8thiwtt<

Addtd
liul

an
•11 1)

fnqMirfri.

port I'll

Mtmher*.

.^MMUl

I..

A'Xt

34t> II

U.i| II

*HJ

ni«i Id

;iiNi 10
:i77

[iivrrniii t.
7li7 10

)ITURE.

Incidtnlals.

I. d.

1331

3 111

lam;

8 10|

i(«i

I .»}

I'.Mifl

1 !){

1(110 17 G'l

nwi

5 5

1110(1

2 i)

JlKi

8 7

1 1.W

i!ll

Kill) k; 11

IlI'M. 15 .1

l.WI

17 7

UK) 13 U 1

Kin

7 1.

1 froiii

tlioso

load.

Iliiig

up tlio

f<x))on

lituro

III.

*^li^

ti
»

as
as
«>

4K
M

64
6S

TABUB CONTOnJEO.

tun,

■<UMtl«,ri|dMC........

W«i» IiDiai (JMMiM)..
KianloB, B. «omii Sirwt.

„n>. HMMTWftlMt,

itV'M.aaiiiM.

x"* SPHt *■'***■ •■••••••

nBanMi TowB,

JHwtagaBtjr^....^

•Bvn>4lMM,ia«aM.

2f***'tT:rw'

SHSfi^fau;::::::

OrwiMnul,.
ISirtMuk,...,

16
AnoMi Kmt,..

•l.Alw%B*^,

* Mr. IbwkMr li Mv M Smmpm,
t IV Mwlaw Hm«4 in iMMw ■•

Vol. I.-«J<ro«. 17 b 18.

N. M. Wud.

JUBM

Joahaa

.V. '

Mm Clatka,..
J. M. r^iiffv,.

CtaMUMi Ag.

*«*««*^««*»«ktf«

H, O, T«7l«r

:./!l-.

n«iioia Ouiam. '

W. W. CttOew,.

}^'

Andrews,.

WaSm Koibb,,

/ tIapplM Ibr Um

MM-

it Igr M l — ■■ Bar*
JMU, Cutlow and

hank,

U
ft

flood,,

■uracl Niolidlt..

JaM|*t«rtoa.
loMph Bo«ni,.

I
}

t
I

9
f

■rtMlilww.

196
07

368

1014

19M

184

1847

780

710

aieo

780

171
1100

310

L. t.

6M
«

670

Aim

414S0

ao«e

lb*t>riMtait*f thtJo'
»Mcb rHcwh «Mi i On fl(WM dMMM Un

lolwr*.

Attaaeo.

U-fH*- I '

1»4

BAPTIST MISSIONARY 90CIETT.

CHAPTER II.

MISSION IN BENGAL.

Oh their arriral in Balasore roads, on the 10th of
November, the missionaries landed at a baxaar or mar-
ket, and Mr. Thomas soon began to enter into serious
discourse with the Hindoos. The people immediate-
ly left their merchandise, and assembled under a large
hoTel, for the express purpose of hearing the gospel,
to which they listened with fixed attention and appar-
ent pleasure for about three hours. One of them pre-
pared a dinner for the preacher and his colleague, a
plantain leaf serving bstead of dishes and plates ; and,
previous to their departure, the Europeans were
earnestly entreated to build a house and take up their
abode in the neighborhood.

On their arrival at Calcutta, they had an interview
with Ram Boshoo, but were greatly distressed by the
mtelligence which he gave them. Soon after Mr.
Thomas had quilted India, he went from place to
place, deserted by Englishmen, persecuted by his own
countrymen, and afflicted by a disease which brought
him almost to the borders of the grave. " In this
state," said he, " whilst I was destitute of support for
myself or my family, one of my relations offered to
save me from perishing, on condition of my bowing
down to an idol. I knew that the Roman Catholic
Christians were in the habit of worshipping image*, and
I supposed there might be a command for that practice
in some part of the Bible which I had nc» "oen. After
some hesitation, therefore, I complied ; but I am still
attached to the Christian .-aligion." As a proof of
the alUcbment which he professed, he remained with
the miwiMiaries, and Mr. Carey, who seems to have
entertained sanguine hopes as to his conversion,
notwithstanding his lamentable fall, resolved to em-
ploy him in correcting the translation of the book of
Genesis, which liad been completed during the voyage
from England.

As it had been settled, before the brethren Thomas
and Carey embarked for India, that the society should
grant them an annual stipend till they were able to
provide for themselves, the former took up his abode
in Calcutta, with the view of maintaining himself by
his professional practice, while his colleague hoped to

support himself and his famijy by the cultivation of a
few acres of land at a place called Httshnabad, upon
the river Jubana. Both of the missionaries, however,
had a variety of difficulties to contend with in the
cominencement of their labors ; and Mr. Carey, in
addition to severe domestic affliction, was, for the fint
three or four months, involved in a state of complete
embarrassment. Owing to a variety of unforeseen and
unavoidable circumstances, the investment of money
taken out for his immediate support was sunk,
and both he and his family were consequently left m
a strange land without the means of subsistence. Thia
painful circumstance, together with personal illness,
the sickness of his wife and children, the irreligion
of the Europeans by whom he was surrounded, and
the moral degradation nf the Hindoos, for whose con-
version he ardently longed, pressed heavily upon his
spirits, and sometimes threatened to overwhelm him
in despair. The blessed power of religion, however,
supported him under all his accumulated sorrows ; and
early in 1794, the providence of God appearpd con-
spicuously on behalf of him and his coadjutor. A
gentleman, who afterwards filled some of the most
important offices in the government of India, offered
them the superintendence of two indigo manu-
factories, which he was, at that time, establishing in
the vicinity of Malda. A proposal which opened the
way to the effectual removal of all pecuniary difficul-
ties, and was likely to be productive of the most
beneficial results, by affording each of the missionaries
mfluence over more than a thousand persons, was, of
course, accepted without hesitation. Accordingly, Mr.
Carey fixed his residence at Muc^nabatty, a place
about thirty miles from Malda, and Mr. Thomas settled
at Moypauldiggy, sixteen or seventeen miles farther
to the north.

In a letter addressed to the directors of the society,
and dated January 6, 1795, Mr. Carey observes,
" Tlie wonderful providence of Gwl, which placed ui
in the situation where we now are, must, I conceive,
afford pleasure to all who love the cause of Christ ;
as we may now bo enabled to lend pecuniary aid to

■Tmt^Mm i tmEHQAhM iWI"*!,*!!

Um work of Ood. It has indeed rataided us in our
priacipal work, aa account of the corrupt language
•poken here ; but this is not unconquerable, for, with
the assblance of my moonshee, or interpreter (Ram
Boshoo,) I am enabled to go oui, especially on the
Lord's day, and preach the gospel to the natives. As
the villages in this neighborhood contain but few in-
babitanu, my congregations are consequently small ;
though, in general, composed of all the villagers.
I have preached already in four or five places, and
am extending my sphere of action almost every week.
Of success, however, I can as yet say nothing ; for
often, through the want of a more perfect acquaintance
with the language, I have not been able to obtain the
attention of the people. Last Lord's day, indeed,
was more pleasing. I went to a village inhabited
wholly by professed Mussulmen, but who intermix
some pagan notions with Mahometanism. After dis-
coursing with them upon the evil and universality
of sin, together with the holiness of God, I inquired,
if these things were so, how they could possibly
escape the wrath to come. They appeared confound-
ed, and said they had never heard such things before,
as their teacher had merely told them what were the
duties of the Mahometan religion. I then drew a
parallel between certain parts of the Bible and of the
Koran, and inquired whether the injunction to pray
for our enemies, or the command to exterminate all
unbelievers, were most consistent with the true char-
acter of God. They confessed that the preference
must he given to the Bible, and then promised to
abandon their practices of lying, stealing, offering to
departed souls, Sic.

" I have been visited wit; severe illness, both in
my own person and my family. My wife and eldest
son are just recovered from a dysentery of twelve
months' continuance. I have had two attacks of an
intermittent fever, which was attended with a dysen-
tery also, and reduced me very much ; and one little
boy of five years old has been removed from us by
death. He lay ill about a fortnight, and died of a
mortification in his bowels, caused by a flux and fever ;
but God is infinitely wise, and I feel a sacred pleasure
in acquiescing in his will."

In another letter, dated the same month, Mi*. Carey
•ays, " When my dear boy died, I could not prevail
upon any one to make him a coffin, though we had
carpenters in our own employ ; and it was with diffi-
culty that I engaged four Mussulmen to dig a grave
for him. No one would undertake it alone, and there-
fore so many of them went together, that they might
all participate equally in the shame. We sent seven
or eight miles for two persons to carry him to the
pm&c us isicT^cBi, B«i m tain i and my 'nifc and

195

1 had agreed to do it ourselves, when a lad who
had lost cattt, and our mater (a servant who per-
forms the most servile offices), were induced to re-
lieve us from this painful service. This was on
Saturday, and on Monday the four Mussuhnen came,
and told us that they had lost cute for digging the
grave, and that the head man in their village had
forbidden any of the people to eat, drink, or smoke
with them.

" It is well known that Mahometans have no cvUe 5
but they imagine they have, and the loss of it is to
them as serious a thmg as to the Hindoos. I there-
fore sent for the man, and told him that he must eat,
drink, and smoke with them, or wait till I had sent
to the judge at Dinagepore. After some prevarica-
tion, he agreed, and so the af&u: ended. By this
instance you may judge of our difficulties. Divine
power, however, can subdue all things ; and without
the Holy Spirit, nothing effectual can be done any
where, or under any circumstances."

Shortly after his arrival in India, Mr. Carey, as is
usual with strangers, began to form a very favorable
opinion of the character and manners of the natives.
A little observation, however, convinced him that his
unpressions were deceptive, and that the persons
whom be had considered as characterized by a
variety of moral excellences were, in point of fact,
a covetous, cruel, and deceitfiil race of men. The
following particulars, therefore, have been collected
for the information of the reader, who will thus
be enabled to form a pretty accurate idea of the
people among whom the missionaries had under-
taken, in humble dependence on the aid and blessing
of their adorable Master, to preach the glad tidings
of salvation :

The natives of Bengal are about the size of Euro-
peans ; though, generally speaking, they are rather
shorter. Their complexions are various ; those who
are exposed to the sun, and employed in laborious
avocations, being very black ; whilst others, whose
caste exempts them from servile occupations, are as
white as many Europeans, and, if dressed in a differ-
ent manner, would scarcely be distinguished from
natives of the south of France.

The clothing of the poor consists of a small piece
of cloth, tied as an apron, passed under the body,
and fastened by a piece of packthread, which sur>
rounds the waist. Some of them have a small turban ;
and in cold weather they wear an additional piece
of cloth, whinh is thiown over the shoulders, and
wrapped round the body. Those in better circum-
stances have a longer piece of cloth ; and the Mahom-
etans who can afford it have Jawuu, or frocks, which
Qttr>5 ta iuii ^vuuu iiK« p«iiiOO«U, 'iliey are ail fonii

BAPTIST MlfiSIORART SOCIETY.

of m#4iiigi md other oraanMnls, ■nd dM Hiwiea*
distingmsh thmuelveB from Mnssiilmea hy WMfing *
fataodet round the neek : they elm leave a sand] k»k
of hair on the crown of the head, which they ferm
iato a taii,whibt the diseiplea of Mahomet ihave their
heads entirely. The ladiea wear a piece of cloth
wrapped round them, almoot in the form of a petticoat,
and another piece is thrown loosely o««r their shoul.
ders. They hare, also, a number of omamenu on
the neck, wrists, and ankles, and, when iiill dressed,
they have a large ring in the nose.

Their marriages are contracted in very early life,
sometimes from the age of three or four years, but
generally about the age often or twelve ;_ and, on
these occasions, it is customary for the father of the
wife to make considerable gifts to the father of the
husband. The consent of the parties is not supposed
necessary, as it is merely a bargain between the
parents ; and the principal object of every fkther is
to get his children married, and to expend a large
sum on that Important business. In poor families,
however, the young people are obliged to wait till
they can save money enough to defray the expenses
of the nuptial ceremony.

The origin of the Hindoos is concealed by a veil
of impenetrable darkness ; and their own accounts
are too fabulous to demand notice. Some persons of
intelligence, however, have supposed that the Hilt
Peopk, as they are called, are the aborigines of the
country, who, by former wars, have been driven into
the mountainous district of Bahar. They are said
to be a small people, and utterly distinct m their Ian-
guage, manners, and way of thinking ; yet they are
surrounded by Hindoos on every side.

A striking similarity exists between many of the
practices of the Hindoos and the institutions of the
l^vitical law. Their ideas of contracting uncloanness
by touching a dead person, a bone, a grave, or any
unclean animal, are very analogous to the Jewish
precepts respecting those things ; and it is partinilarly
worthy of remark that, after contracting any accidental
defilement, they invariably bathe, and change their
clothes. Tlie caste, also, seems to bear some resem-
blance to that law which required the tribes to keep
separate, and not to intermarry, lest they should mar
their inheritance ; and the distinctwn of the I/evites
from the rest of the people for holy purposes, and
their division into different orders, seem to bear some
•fRnity to the proper em|Joyment of the Bramins,
*hd to the dilR'rent classes of that tribe. The Bramins
are entirely !ii>])iirated to the maSntenance of literature
and the performance of religiotis ceremonies ; but they
*re divided into several orders, all of whom are
attached to the different tribes of Hindoos, and an

iMked acBowtogly. No om of an iafarior eaate eaa
pwoMlly Mmk» any ofiring to their gods ; but th«
common people bring their oflbringt to the Bn»
mio, who preaeou it to the Debta or demi-god;
and the sacerdotal offices, particularly those cooaeot*
ed with aacrifice, are not performed oven by every
Bramin. Neither is every Bramm qualified to be
a gtroa, or teacher ; but this privilege belonp «%.
oluaively to certain persons, and is hereditary in their
iamilies.

The houses of the Hindoos are erected on each
side a square court which occupies the centre. All
the doors of ti.ese four buildings open into the court,
and the houses are designed, one for the wife and
other female relations; a second for servants and
visitors ; a third for culinary purposes; and the fourth
as a cow-house. The materials with which they are
constructed vary according to the circumstances of the
ownera ; some being of brick, but the generality of
mud, straw, or mat walls. Bamboos, in India, servo
for almost every purpose, and of these the posts of
many houses, the roofe, and the mats which compose
the walls, consist. The floors are earthen, raised
two or three feet above the level, and smeared over
with cow-dung, as are also the mud walls, which
makes them look very smooth and neat. They have
only a ground-floor, but the rooft are, in general, ten
or twelve feet high.

With respect to furniture, the common people have
nothing more than a piece of sackcloth for a bed, and
a pillow stuffed with cotton ; but those of superior
rank have a bedstead made of bamboo and hiced with
packthread. Some also have a metal dish in which
their food k served up, but the greatest number eat
off a plantain-leaf, or a leaf of the water-lily ; and the
Bramins have copper spoons, witlwut handks, some-
thing like an English butter-boat. These, however,
are only used to take up water, in their religious cer-
emonies. Thoir lamps are small earthen vessels, in
the form of oyster-sheJIs, but rather deeper. These
are filled with imistard-oil, and a piece of cloth rolled
up forms the wick.

Their cooking is performed in coarse, unglazed
earthen-ware, and the principal vessel used for this
purpose is called a Aurry. This is nearly of the form
of an iron pot, and is sc-t over the fire, either on
bncks, which are so contrived as that the vessel may
rest on them in tiirce places, the remainder lieing open
to admit the air, or over a hole in the earth, contrived
m the same form ; and this is most common, as it is
very iKH>n prepared. A large jug, of iko sauio ware,
called a kooiiee, and capable of containing alKMit four
quarts, serves hr a bucket, and a Vessel in which water
is usually kept. The wemeii are employed to fetch

I i,

m^M4il^BE!fOAL. ■ ' ■ ■^^^

witor, tndg^nmtlky in the erening, ai in tha time of
the patriavoii AbniMin. Titej ^ea csny two «f
tbae vmmU full, one resting on eseh hip. AnMher
VBBsel faunil in most houses is the lota, containing
aboat a pint and a half, and commonlf made of
hrnsft, bi this they keep milic, water, or any other
liquid.

A hookah, or smolcing tube, is corisidered so indis-
pens^e, that no house is without it ; but its form
varies according to the circumstances of its possessor.
The sort used by the highest class of the natives has
been akeady described in the account of Parbotee's
visit to Mohun Chund ; but the hookah in common
use is made of a cocoa-nut shell, with a hole in the
top, and another small one in the side. A wooden
tube, about twelve inches long, is fixed into the
aperture at the top, and a small earthen vessel, like
the bowl of a tobacco-pipe, is fixed in that, for the
purpose of containing the tobacco and fire. The
cocoa-nut shell is then half filled with water, the
mouth is applied to the hole in the side, and the
smoke of the tobacco is drawn through the water.

With respect to tiie character of the Hindoos, Mr.
Carey observes, " The stories of their benevolence,
humanity, and meekness are all false, and exist only
in the doctrines of the shosters, which have been
neither seen nor heard by the thousandth part of the
people. The very reverse is the case. Lying,
avarice, perfidiousness, cruelty to animals, and servility,
are the most prominent features in their character ;
and though it is taught in their shasters that it is the
same crime to kill a cow or a Bramin, great numbers
of cows arc annually starved to death in the dry season,
merely through tlie avarice and neglect of their owners.
Covetousness and servility are so closely united m
almost every individual, that cheating, lying, and
juggling are esteemed no sins with them ; and the best
among them, though they utter ever so great a false-
hood, do not consider it as an evil, unless you first
charge them to speak the truth. When they defraud
you ever so much, and you charge them with it, they
coolly reply, ' It is the custom of the country.' Most
of the Hindoos, indeed, believe themselves to be
merely a sort of automaton!<r, upon which God acts in
a pliysical manner, and that, consequently, they are
not nccounlable for their own actions. Henoe, if they
bo charged with murder, or detected in thieving, they
will generally answer that their kopal or forehead n
bad. By this they mean, that they were destined to
commit such crimes ; for it is a common opinion
among them, that the fate of every man is written in
his forehead ; and as they include in that opinion all
moral actions, as well as their providential situations,

■^?y €-055rsscf ctsl ittc ^'UUiC CJ incir COBQUCt ii (O be

tttrifaated to God, mm) not to themsdres. Thk
doetrine is tinott oonttan^y arowed when we attempt
to presa on them the mriignity of sin and the guik of
thett aetioas. In « eonver>ati<m which I had, one
day, with a man on this subject, he roundly asserted
that he had never eoramitted a sin in his life ; for,
though many of his actions were unjustifiable, yet it
was not him that committed them, but God. This
notion prevails among them almost universally ; and
to clear themselves of the inconsistency of charging
sin upon a holy Deity, which I have often pressed
them with, they say that no act of God can be sinful,
however great an enormity it might be, if committed
by a man.

" Though the genius of the people in India is as
inventive as that of any other nation, 301 they all
travel on in the beaten road of antiquity ; and every
thing new is generally condemned without a trial.
The eatte is the great obstacle to improvement and
knowledge ; for whatever employment the fathers
followed, the same is pursued by their posterity from
generation to generation, nor can they possibly ex-
change it for any other. All motives to exertion,
inquiry, or mental improvement, are thus, of necessity,
cut off; for the most honorable actions, the most
beneficial discoveries, or the most virtuous conduct,
would secure neither honor nor advantage to a
person of a low caste ; and those of a higher caste,
being universally revered as a sort of demi-gods,
lose none of their reputation through their vice or
ignorance. The consequence is, a stupid content-
ment to remain as they are, a total want of curios-
ity, and complete inattention to the improvement
of the mind. Vacant and indifferent, they plod on
in the path of their forefathers ; and even tmths in
philosophy, geography, astronomy, or any other sci-
ence, if out of their beaten track, make no more
imprcssi<m on their minds, than the sublimer truths
of religion. They suppose the different castes to
be distinct species of animals, and therefore conclude
that it is as possible for them to become some other
kind of animal as to became Christians ; and that the
different forms of worship and habits of life, observed
by particular castes, are as necessary to that caste, as
eating grass is to the support of an ox, or flesh to tha
subsistence of a tiger."

The superstition of these people appears particularly
in their profound veneration for the Bramins, and the
implksit obedience which they yield to all their com-
mands. This probably arose, in the first instance, from
the power assumed by that tribe, to whom even sove-
reign princes are commanded to be obedient. They also
still exercise the prerogative of imposing fines upon
pviiiHis 01 evefy Oilier casie, for utfenccs very trivui

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

in themselves, and arising, b point of (act, out of their
own superstitions. The British government, indeed,
prohibiU the imposition of these fines; but, notwith-
standing this, they are constantly exacted, under the
name of atonements ; and as no complaint is ever
made, from a dread of incurring the curse of the
Bramins, the offenders escape with impunity.

"Tlie Bramins," says Mr. Carey, "are much

feared, because the shasters affirm, that if a Bramin

curse any one, the vengeance imprecated will infallibly

take place. They even record that the sea became

salt, and the sun and moon spotted, by the curse of a

Bramin. They have also an account, which I have

read, of a king, who one day went a bunting into a

thick wood, where he left all bis attendants; and,

being very, thirsty, he wandered to the abode of •

Bramin, who had retired into the forest for devotion.

The holy man was at bis worship, and so completely

absorbed, that he paid no attention to the monarch,

who repeatedly asked him for some water. On this,

the king, seeing a dead serpent near, put it round the

neck of the devotee, and was going away. At this

juncture, however, the son of the Bramin coming in,

and seeing the snake on his father's neck, was very

angry, and pronounced a curse, intimating that a

fabled serpent, called Ty$hak, should bite and kill the

aggressor. The old Bramin, though desirous of

reversing the boy's sentence, was unable to do it ; and,

though every precaution was taken, the king was

bitten and killed by Tyshak."

The Hindoos appear to acknowledge only one God,
whom they call Eihar ot Bhogabon ; and from whom,
they say, proceeded three personal virtues or powers ;
namely, BirmvJia, the creator ; Veeshnoo, the pre-
server ; and Seeb, the destroyer, who will, at last,
destroy all things. Birmmha is not worshipped at all ;
Veeshnooonly by a few ; but Seeb almost universally.
But though the Hindoos and Mahometans ssem
perfectly unanimous in the acknowledgment of one
Supreme Deity, yet, in all parU of India, divine
honors are paid by these different people todemi-gods,
or departed saints ; so that under every great tree
and in every high place may be seen the signs of a
debta or peer ; the former being the name given to
the idol of the Hindoos, and the latter the appellation
bestowed on the object of MahomeUn devotion. The
residences of the debta$ are generally marked by a
stone set up on one end, and daubed with a little
scarlet coloring, and flowers are daily offered and
j»trewed about the place. The peer is distinguished
by a little pile of bricks and mortar, two or three feet
high, a lamp, that is occasionally lighiod, and little
images o{ burnt clay somewhat resembling horses and
olophantt. These images are supposed to afford

pleaaure to the peer, who i. the spirit of some devoat
person that has been buried near the spot, and where
two roads mtersect each other. The devotees brina
offenngs of cakes, fruits, and spices to the peer; and!
havmg got some person, who, perhaps, can neither
read nor write, to repeat some sentence of the Koran
they fall to, and eat them up. Sometimes the leri-
dence of a peer b formed mto a little temple, whwh is
kept very clean, and, when viewed from a distance,
has a picturesque appearance.

In alluding to the deplorable sute both of the
Hmdoos and Mussuhnen, Mr. Carey observes,
" Though the land is fiill of idols, I do not know
that the bulk of the people ever worship them
with an expectation of obtainmg any thing for the
sou/. They universally tell me, that their debtas,
whose images they worship, have a power to afflict
theu: persons, to spoil their crops, and to kill their
chUdren, and will infallibly do this, if they neglect to
make offerings to them ; so that, from what I can
learn, bodily or carnal fear is the only spring of all
their worship.

" The sun," says the same pious and intelligent
missionary, in another part of his correspondence, '< is
supposed to be the governor of all bodily diseases, and
IS therefore worshipped, in order to avert his anger, and
to prevent diseases. Some valetudinarians worehip
bun every Sunday by fasting and offerings ; but he is
annually worshipped on the first Sunday in the month
of Mag, which was last Lord's day, January 14. The
name of this worship is Dhormma Bhau, or Soorjya
Bhau. The manner, it seems, va-ies in some respects
m different places ; but in these paru the women
appear to be the principal actors in the worship ;
though none are excluded, and even Mussulmen have
so far Hindooized as to join in the idolatry, which is
thus conducted : —

" At the dawn of the morning, a great number of
offerings, consisting of fruits, sweetmeats, pigeons, kids
&c. are carried into the open field, ai,d placed in a
row. A small pot, containing about a pint and a half
of water, is placed by each person's offering. A device
made of a certain water plant, and formed so as to
resemble the sun, is placed on the edge of the pot, and
a small twig of mango .ree with a few leaves on it, is
put into it, as people in England put flowers' in
water. The pot, with its appendages, is perhaps in-
tended to represent the sun, as the vivifier of nature.
By each offering is also placed a dhoonachre, a sort of
incense altar, or censer, made of copper. It resembles
a chafling dish, and stands upon a pedestal about
twelve inches high. This ccmuins coals of fire, and
has a kind of incense from time to time thrown into it,
principally the pilch of the tree here called dhoona]

rtx-i'i

BENGAl^-i* y^jvn

Bj eioh oAnrhg KkewiM stands t lamp which is kept
buniing all day; and the women who ofer, uke their
natioa by the oflerings. At sun-rise, they walk fear
times round the whole row of offerings, with the
•moking censers on their heads, and then ratum to
their former sution, where they continue in an erect
posture, fasting the whole day, and occasionally
throwing a little incense into the fire. Towards
evening, the Biamin who attends the ceremony throws
the pigeons up into the air ; but these, being too young
to fly &r, are scrambled for, and carried away by any
one who gets them, for the purpose of eating. The
Bramin also perforates the ears of the kids with a
packing-needle, after which they become the property
of the first person who touches them. About sun-set,
the offerers again take up the smoking censers'
and make three more circuits round the row of
offerings, thus making the whole number seven times
m the day. After this, each person takes up his or
her offering and the lighted lamp, when the lamps are
thrown into a pond, and each one takes his offerine
home, and eats it."

On the three last days of the year, and on new year's
day, a variety of ceremonies are performed by the
Hindoos in honor of Seeb, the destroyer. Some
persons consider the preparations, which commence
seven or eight days eariier, as part of the worship
Itself. This, however, is incorrect, as the time is then
chiefly occupied by beating of drums, and other
mstruments, and by the dancing and grotesque gestic-
ulations of a number of people, called Bhoktears, or
believers, who go about begging money to defray the
expenses attendant on the ceremonies which are to
follow, and which have been thus described bv the
Rev. W.Carey:—

" On the first of the three last days of their year, or
of the month Chytre, the dead bodies of men, if they
can be procured, or if they are not to be had, dead men's
skulls, and pieces of the wood which was employed
in burning the dead, are brought near to a house of
Seeb and Kalie ; where they are placed in the form of
an offering. After a little time, a number of the
Bhoktears appear, dressed some as women; others
with a kind of horrid vizors, like digitated crowns put
over their faces ; others disfigured with paint ; and
some with artificial hair, or hemp, or a bunch of ropes
like a mop on their heads. Some have artificial
tongues, made of sackcloth, reaching to their feet ;
and others go with their tongues put out of their
mouths as far as possible. Some of these men have
swords ; others *Aor^o«, a kind of crooked weapon of
war; some take up a piece of the wood before-
mentioned; others a skull ; and others have earthen
. »n...Tn;j vuiuaining a small qiiajiiiiy

199
of wood, which is oiled and kindled. TtAine oU mto
then- mouths, they spui it, at intervals, mto these
pots of fire, which makes a horrid blare, and is
thus kept up for some' hours. It is accounted a
wonderful interpositkm of Seeb, that their hands are
not burnt, nor even the wood in the pots; but I
suppose the oil preserves both the one and the other,
as they are well oiled all the tmie. After thus paiad'
mg about, the dead bodies, bones and wood are
earned to a river or other water, where they are
thrown m. The people then bathe and go home ; but
toward the close of the night, they meet again, make a
large fire, and dance upon the coals.

"On the second day, they fest more severely than
on any of the other days ; for though on all these
days they eat nothing boiled, on this they eat nothing
but meal of wheat or barley, and abstain from drinking
entirely. In the evening, a burnt offering is presented
to Seeb, of sefamum seed and ghee, or leaves of the
beal tree mixed with ghee, which concludes the
worship of the day.

"The third day is employed in various kinds of
torture, as falling from a stage on iron spikes,— dancing
with threads or bamboos drawn through their sides, or
with spits through their tongues. But as none of these
modes are practised in this neighborhood (Mudna-
batty), the people here end the worship by swinging,
which is not performed till the next day, in the
southern parts.

" The trees are first erected in an open place, and
the bamboo, which turns horizontally, is fixed on
them so as to turn freely, and a rope is suspended from
each end. After this, an offering is made to Seeb, at
the bottom of the tree, by a man who, though not a
Bramin, acts as a priest on this occasion. Ho begins
by laying the different articles in order at the foot of the
tree. These consist of rice, beaten from the husk, but
unboiled ; a wild edible herb, called sanchee ; a branch
of plantain ; some water, and two young pigeons. A
coal of fire is then procured, and a small quantity of
dhoona or Indian pitch thrown upon it. On this they
place a small quantity of the rice and herb ; and the
man who officiates as priest, after appearing to be for
some time engaged in silent prayer, puts a sprig of the
plant upon his own head, where he lets it remain about
the space of a minute. The person who is to swing is
all this time apparently occupied in prayer, with tho
hooks under his feet. The heads of the pigeons are
then pulled off, one after the other, by the priest, and
the blood is made to run down the bottom of the tree,
which concluded the consecrative offering.

" The man who is to swing now prostrates himself
before the tree, aod a person makes a mark, with his
dusty fingers, where the liooks are to be put. Another

900

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

person give.* faim a saiwt clap on one sick of th» back,
and piac' f'i up the skin haid with bis thumb and
fingers ; whila a third passes the hook through, taking
hold of about an inch of the skin. The other hook is,
in like manner, put through the skin of the other side of
the back, and the man gets upon his feet. As he is
rising, some water is thrown in his face. He then
mounts on a man's back, or on some other eminence,
' and the strings which are attached to the hooks in his
back are tied to the rope at one end of the horiaontal
bamboo ; and the rope at the other end is held by seve-
ral men, who, drawing it down, raise up the end on which
the man swings, and by their running round with that
rope, the machine is turned. In swinging, the man de-
scribes a circle of about thirty feet diameter, and he
holds a basket containing the herbs previously oiTered
to Secb, which are thrown down by handsful, but I
saw nobody pick them up.

" Only two men swung this year at this place, and
one of them only five minutes. The other swimg a
quarter of an hour, and smoked his hookah as he
whirled round. In less than two days, I examined
his back, which was quite well, and scarcely the marks
of the hooks were left. When he descended, I saw a
man chew some leaves of the piper betel, the juke of
which he injected from bis mout'n into the wounds ;
he then applied two leaves of the same plant, and tied
on a cloth : no other application was used, except a
squeezing up of the wounds with the hand, and setting
the knee of another man against his breast, which he
pushed hard, holding his shoulders by his hands.
I asked the man who swung, if the pain were not
severe. He said,No;itwasmuchliketlieblteofanant.
" I have endeavored to investigate tlie origin and
design of this custom, but nearly in vain. I am
informed by the Bramins that it is not commanded by
any of the shastors, and the end it is designed to
answer is equally unknown. Some say it is done for
the happiness of those who perform it ; and others,
that it is for the happiness of the rajahs, or other
great men, who have given certain portions of land for
its support. It is not considered in the light of an
atonement, but merely as a custom or show ; yet it is
generally done in consequence of a vow made in
distress.

" The most common account of its origin, and that
which the generality of the natives seem to credit, is
as follows : — A rajah named Ban, wliose daughter was
married to the son of Knstno, was the occasion of it.
It is said that he was a giant, with a terrible form and
a thousand hands ; bu! in consequence of his having
treated his son-m-law very unworthily, Kristno made
war ujwn him, conquered him, cut off his hands,
and unposed this torture upon him. The last fact,

how«v«r, ia laid to b« uncertain, as it is questionaUa
whether Kiistno inflicted this as a punishment, or
whether Ban imposed it oa himself as a penance.

« The ruins of Ban's house are still shown, close to
the river Pumabobbha, and his daughter's house is said
to be on the other side of the river. Some pillars stili
remaniing on the spot, and the large roads whwh go
near it, especially a high road by his house, from Gour
to Assam, and two stone bridges over the Tanguan
river, the ruias of which are in the vicinity, are all
considered as indicative of the greatness of Ban. The
numerous quantity of large stones sculptured with
representatrons of Hindoo debtas, show that these
bridges were very magnificent ; and every stone must
have been brought either from Bootan or from the
mountains in Bahar ; an astonishing distance !"

The Hindoos usually bum their dead by the side
of a river, and always leave a vessel filled with water
by the spot. The poor people, however, only throw
their dead into the river, where they are devoured by
kites, crows, and various animals. If an opulent
Hindoo be taken ill, and his disease be considered
dangerous, he is conveyed to the banks of the Gunga,
or holy river : for Mr. Carey states, that the whole
of tlie Ganges is noi accounted sacred, but merely
some parts of it ; and the holy water, after leaving the
great river, runs into smaller streams, one of which is
called the Ho<^ly. The sick and dying, therefore, are
carried to these holy places, where they are carefully
watched till they expire. The Mussulmen in India
bury their dead, and regulariy mourn over their graves
once a month.

There were originally four castes among the
Hindoos, namely, the Bramin, the ketra, the bice, and
thesoodra. Of these, the first were worshippers or the-
ologists; the second, kings and soldiers; the third,
merchants and husbandmen ; and the fourth, servants
and mechanics. Of these castes or tribes, however,
only the first and the last now remain ; the ketra and
the bice having been extinct ever since the commence-
ment of the present age, which was nearly as far back as
the time of the creation, according to the Mosaic account.
There are, however, many inferior branches in each of
the divisions, and even some of these are again
subdivided. Thus the lowest order of the soodras is
divided into several classes, as mat-makers, shoemakers
(comprking skinners, tanners, and curriers), bird and
snake catchers, and many others. The derivation of
the term caite has not been satisfactorily explained.
It does not appear, however, to have any thing in it of a
religious nature, hut merely expressesadistinction of the
tril)es, as connected with certain avocations and trades.
Nor docs it extend any further than to eating and
drinking, intermeddling with each other's employmenta.

llMMaCfeiHiM'fyig'tnMng «fuih oth«r;<' WeHOMottHm
OM^ wriMdi/Hwjr eat'ths fiiNMtef ttiO^MTiif nowKtM
hwrvtooehetf hv> Thtfs « BniiJiii' my panhtM like
cfttiewdn^dr «ven of a Ahigsalmui, butnone «x6«pt
OMof Ms own tribe ttuif'>0i)okit fei' him; A Hiiido«
•Iso may smoke the same tobacco which a MshemetM
has jttst been iisipg; but be mint take off" part of the
lHX*ah wbiefi comains the tobateo, and must not
snoke thJNNfgb thto same water.

Hie lorattf caste, though sometimes occasioned by the
most ttifling incidents, is attended with tlie most serious
consequences; as not only the individual himself is
viewed with contempt and abhorrence, hvt it sometimes
hap^iens that his wife and children lose caste themselves,
in consequence of his misfortune, and are thus involved
in bis disgrace and ruin. Noris it possible to remedy
the evil thus sustained ; for though, in one instance
which came under Mr. Carey's notice, a man who
had forfeited his caste througba wcwnan in the femily
being obliged to live with a Mussulman, offered a lack
of rupees, or about ten thousand pounds, to have it
restored, his application was unavailing^ **»*>!,' »,

As soon as the missionaries were completely Settled
in their respective ftctories, they established schools
for the education of the children belonging to the
workmen under their inspection, and to other
natives in the vicinity ; but the extreme ignorance
and poverty of the parents induced them to take
away their offspring on the slightest occasion, and in
some Instances it became necessary to remunerate the
pupils for their attendance. Regardless of these
discouraging circumstances, however, the brethren
persisted in their benevolent attempt of instructing the
rising generation. They also continued to preach the
gospel etery sabbath, and frequently on week-days,
to a considerable number of persons, and in a manner
particulariy adapted to their circumstances and super-
stitions ; as will appear from the following description,
communicated by the Rev. W. Carey to the committee

of the Baptist Missionary Society :

" I wish to say something about the manner of my
preaching, but scarcely know how. As a specimen,
however, I will describe one season at a large village
called Ghinsurah, about four miles from Mudnabatty.
When I arrived, I *aw an idolatrous temple finely built
with bricks ; and, in order to excite attention, Tasked
what place that was. They said it was a thakoorme,
or female debta. I asked If it were alive ; and, on
their replying in the affirmative, I said, « Well, I wll go
and see her ;' but on my advancing to\vards the place,
they all cried out, ' Pfo, sir, no ; it is only a stone.' I
thefr removed to a little distance under a tamarind
*r!°: ?"'! ^^ ^^^ singing « Rengnlee hymn. By
TTiTS ntSe a pretty large Concourse of people had
Vor,. I.— Nos. 17 & 18. 88

th«i t»ii^ df Otfte It i* olivious that ^r ouTi
text, and regulariy di««dMjg if, cftuW nfet beof any »»•
t* thttte whe>Md tii^ MMM v w«rd of Hie Bible in
their lives. I* tberefctw (Kreli UpWn the Worth of the
soul. Its iaileti state, tfte goat of all iheh who had
broken God's rightedusfci^; ahd t«e IjJbjwMibiKtrtif
obtaining pardon at the exjienseofthehdnorof divine
justice. I then inquired what way of salvation, con-
sistent With the righteousness of God, was proposed in
any of their shasters. « They speak,' said I, « of nihe
incarnations of Veeshnoo past, and one to come ; but
not one of them is pretended to be for the salvation of a
sinner. They were only to preserve a family, to kill
a giant, to make war against tyrants, &c., all of which
God could have accomplished without tliese incarna-
tions" I then observed how miserable they must be
whose whole religion only respected the body, and
Whose shasters could point out no salvation for the
soul ; at the same time setting before them the way of
life by the sufferings and death of Christ.

" At another place, in preaching froAi- Christ lieing
sent'to bless, m turning every one from their iniquities,
I observed the su|^eriority of the g6spel to all other
writings, and of Chrikt to all pretendfed saviours, in
that particular point, that heUeving in ChHtt wot
universally accompanied with turning from iniquity ;
and I contended that their worship must be false ; for
they made images, and presented offerings to them,
and were abundant in their religious ceremonies, but
not a man among them had turned from his iniquity.
' There are,' said I, 'among you liars, thieves, whore-
mongers, and men filled with deceit, and as you were
last year, so are you this ; nor can you be more holy till
you renounce your wicked worship and idolatrous
practices, and embrace the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ.'

" This is the method of preaching that I use among
them ; and nothing of this kind appears to give them
offence. Many, indeed , wish to hear ; bn t many others
abhor the thoughts of the gospel. The Bramins fear
to lose their gain, the higher castes dread the loss of
their honor, and the poor tremble at the vengeance
of their debtas."

Whilst the brethren thus faithfully exposed the de-
cettfulness of pagan worship, and pointed to the Lamb
of God as the only unfailing refuge fi-om the wrath to
come, they evinced the most compassionate and be-
nevolent disposition towards the i^oor by whom they
were surrounded. Mr. Thomas was particulariy at-
tentive to such as were afflicted with illness, and in.
many instances, under ifhe divine blessing, effected the
most sufnfisinff cures. Tc hirs. indesHi. i)if! — ~.r— .
ance of an act of mercy was evidently the highest

9oa

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

gr»tificatioo, and the loUoiring circumstance, related by
himself, wiU serve to depict, in glowing colors, the
lympathetii} teoderoess of liis heart : —
* " A few dsjrs ago, a young woman came to my door«
complaining of being very ill ; and it appeared that she
had come twelve or fourteen miles, by degrees, from
the city of Dinagepore, to ask relief of me. I saw
her bloated in the face and hands, as though she had
that sort of dropsy called anatarca. I also under^
stood she had a fever, with a variety of other pains
and diseases ; and she told me that she had neither
food to eat nor a home to go to. I gave her what she
wanted, and in a few days she appeared much better.
About three days ago, however, as I was riding out,
she called to me, and seemed to be in a more lan-
guishing way than before. I found her hut was too
cold, and rode up to another, where a crippled Mus-
sulman and all his family are living on what little they
get from me. I begged them to let this poor creature
come in to sleep, as the nights are cold ; but they
said, no, she was not a Mahometan, and, therefore, if
she came in, they must turn out. I rode back and
^sked her, ' Are you a Mahometan ?' ' No.' 'A Hin-
doo ?• ' No.' ' What are you then ?' With mde-
scribablo anguish she replied, ' 1 am a child of a com-
mon prostitute.' I now pitied her more than ever,
knowing that no native of this country would pity or
relieve her in her complicated distress, because she
was of no catte. I then told the family that her dis-
tress was the greatest, and they must remove into some
of the more distant houses, and she must be admitted
immediately, as the day was far gone ; so they parted
off one end of the house, and let her come in ; and,
as she was of no caste, she gladly partook of food
which was dressed by us ; so I sent her some fr^'vl and
chicken broth, and she was visited by Mrs. Thomas and
Mrs. Carey, who acquainted me more particularly with
her diseased situation. The evening before the last, she
complained of cold, and I sent her some warm broth, and
a person to make her a fire. I thought, however, she
could hardly survive the night, and the first word I heard
the next morning was that the poor creature was dead.
" Yesterday morning, I called a Mahometan servant,
and told bun this poor woman must be buried, and I
committed the interment to him, telling him that I
would pay whatever charges were necessary. He said,
' Very well,' and went out ; but soon returned, saying
that no Mussulman would bury her, because she was
not of their religion, I then sent him out among the
lowest of the Hindoos, but they also refused. At last
one man undertook it, on condition of being well paid ;
but in a short time he returned and stated that he
could not dig a grave for her ; as by so doing he
should lose his cas e, and no one, afterw^, would

either eat or drink with him. He imbed the body «y
be thrown mto sn adjacent pond, or into the next field,
whore the jackals might devour it in the ttight. How-
ever, at last I prevailed j a grave was dug, the poor
woman was buried, and I find I have securod lh« man
his caste."

On the first of November, 1795, the roissionarie*
formed a church at Mudnabatty, consisting of them*
selves, and two Englishmen named Long and Powel^
who had come over with the design of settling in
Bengal, and had submitted to the rite of baptism.
They were now, therefore, enabled to commemorate
the death of their adorable Redeemer at the sacral
mental table ; and whilst mquiring with the prophet,
" Who hath despised the day of small things }" they
were encouraged to look forward, with the cheering
hope, that, in the time of God's appointmwit, " the
little one should become a thousand."

In the spring of 1796, Mr. John Fountain, a mem-
ber of the church at Eagle street, London, wasrecom*
mended to the directors of the society, as a young
man whose heart was engaged in the work of missions ;
and, after the most satisfactory investigation of his
character and abilities, he was taken under the patron*
age of the committee, and sent out to the assistance
of the brethren in Bengal, where he arrived in safety
on the 5th of September.

About this time , some encouraging appearances began
to cheer the spurits of the missionaries, who previous.
ly seemed to have labored almost in vain. " The first,
sabbath I spent at Mudnabatty," says Mr. Fountain,
" was a very affecting one ; a relation of which may
not be unacceptable. But I must first tell you that,
on the day after my arrival, one of the idolatrous
feasts of the Hindoos was celebrated. They had
been drumming and dancing before the idol three days
and nights, but this evening it was to be thrown into the
river. Brother Carey went among them, and spoke,
for some time, respecting the folly and sinfulness of
their practice ; but not being able to procure their at-
tention, he addressed himself to the officiating Bramin
and some of the wildest devotees, who were much
ashamed before him, and went away. Just as he had
left them, a letter was brought from brother Thomas,
statmg that he hoped a good work was begun at Moy-
pauldiggy, and requesting brother Carey to come over
and speak to the people. We accordingly went on
the Saturday ; and on the sabbath, at sun-rise, worship
began, when nearly a hundred people were assembled.
After prayer, brother Thomas preached from Ezekiel,
xxxvl 27, ' I will put my Spirit within you;' and
brother Carey preached from Acts, iv. 12, ' Neither
i$ there salvation in any other.' Great attention was
paid by all present, and, after breakfast, three persons

rrarx* bengausim T??rr*iA«

oaiM to oonverM widi our brethren, coacercing tbe
state of their souls. They seem to be hopeful ch«rto«
ten, and are daily ia the habit of jHraying together. One
<rf them, named Yardte, is a man of good natural
abibtie8,and seems to possess much Christian simplici-
ty. They appeared deeply affected when I informed
them, through the medium of brother Thomas, that
the people of England were praying earnestly for
their salvation. ' What !' said they, ' do they pray
for tu 7' ' r /

"At half past three o'clock, the natives assembled
more numerously than in the morning. The brethren
Thomas and Carey preached, the former from Acts,
xvu. 30, and the latter from Psalm Ixxxix. 15; and
they both declared that I had witnessed more atten-
tion and seriousness, my first sabbath, than they had
seen all the three years they had spent in India."

In the month of March, 1797, the missionaries set
out on an expedition to the Bootan country, snd in
about four days arrived at that part of it which is be-
low the hills. They then went to a place called Go-
palgunge, and waited on a Bootea officer called the
Jtnkof, who received them very kindly, and appeared
much pleased with the different articles which they
had brought for his acceptance. They found that it
would be necessary to see some other officer, and to
get a regular permission to ascend the hills. During
the greatest part of the day, however, they remained
m the jmkof 's house, which consisted of two stories,
and was constructed of bamboos and mats, with pUlars'
of what is called the saul tree. He presented them
with some pieces of bacon about twelve inclies long ; but
these were so stale as to be offensive at a considerable
distance. After this, he treated them with a tea called
rtir^a, which seems to have been nearly similar to the
CrJmuo tea, already noticed in our account of the mis-
sions of the United Brethren ; as it is made into cakes
with some composiUon, and, when used, is mixed with
boiling water, salt, and ghee, or butter melted down,
and thus preserved for use. The missionaries found
It impossible to swallow this beverage, though the
Bootea drank copiously of it ; and whilst they were
sensible of the kind intentions of their host, they
were fearful lest he should injure himself by his re-
peated applications to their rum bottle. His country-
men, indeed, profess to consider drunkenness as highly
disgraceful ; yet they are taught to drink ardent spirits
almost as soon as they can talk, and in all their houses
It IS common to see pitchers of Bengal arrack, of
which they drink as freely as if it were water.

The Booteaa or Botes, as they call themselves,
are a short, robust people, and, in respect to their
complexion, dress and appearance, have a pretty near
rass^>,l8n6e {oa:WcBihcr.bcaton and aihleiic £nglish

wagoner. The higher renk,, however, bat* a gow
m«ni someUimg like a gentleman's morning go?n.,
made of red, blue, or green stuff, wkh large figured
wrought m It hke diaper. The dress of the women
consists of a petticoat, and a cloth fastened from the
shoulders to the waist, in such a manner, that, over
the breast, it forms a large pouch, which they use for
the purposes of a pocket. Their complexion is tol-
erahly fair ; their hair is parted on the top of the head :
and they invariably go whhout caps ; though different
coverings for the head are worn by the men, at least
by those in official situations.

From Gopalgunge the missionaries went to Bote-
Haut to see the Soobah, who is a kind of viceroy,
and the greatest officer in these parts. A letter hav'
mgbeen forwarded to him by the jinkof, he sent two
horses for them, and the jinkof himself accompanied
them. " The procession," says Mr. Carey, « was the
most cunous that could well be imagined, yet it strongly
proved their great attention to us. A band of Bengal
music, if such it can be called, preceded us. We had
six horsemen, and servants, and a number of specta-
tors, besides people to convey our tents and baggage
which, m travelling by land in this country, must be
carried on men's shoulders. On one horse was the
Jinkof, led by two men; notwithstanding which, he
was sometimes first, sometimes last, and sometimes
turning round; his horse being ungovernable; and
every mile or two, he was stopping to drink spirits.
A Hindoo on another horse was much like him, except
in drinking; and we had enough to do to keep our
horses out of the way ; to effect which, we were
always wheeling either to the right or the left.
, On our approaching the town, a number of females
met us and made their ialaam, by putting their hands to
their heads and gently bowmg ; after which they ran
before the horses ; and all the inhabitants of the place,
I should suppose to the number of two or three thou-
sand, joined the precession."

In this manner the missionaries went to the house of
the soobah, who received them with great politeness,
and presented them with a white silk scarf, in the
name of the grand lama, a red one b bis own name,
and another red one in the name of a friend. After
receiving these presents, they ascended, by a ladder, to
his house, which was something like that of the jinkof,
but larger and more elegant ; comprising four rooms on
the upper story, which were entirely covered with mats.
At the farther end of the prinoipal room was the seat
of the soobah, elevated about two feet from the floor,
covered with red cloth, and hung round with curtains
of thin gauze. Here the missioMrias'were seated by
the side of the soobah. On two udes of the same
apartment were 4eats foi i^th* strwnii, jmatls. jritji,

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

pUuiks of flttul timber, but oomvd with aickclolh. A
window of about twelve inches deep, mtde of isttiee
woric, ran throughout the sides on which the seats of
the servants were placed ; and just above the window
was a curtain of white cotton, on which were hung a
variety of shields, helni<!ts, bows, and arrows. The
lower part of the building appeared to be occupied
as stabling, itc.

The distirlguished urbanity of the soobah is said
to have exceeded every thing which our European
visitors could have imagined, and his generosity was
equally striking. " He insisted," says Mr. Carey,
" on supplying all our people with every thing they
wanted ; and if we did btu cast our eyes on any ob-
ject in the room, he immediately presented us with one
of the same sort. Irdoed, he soomed to interpret
our looks before wo wore aware, and in this manner
he presented each of us, that night, with a sword,
shield, and helmet ; also with a cup made of a very
light, beautiful wood, used by all the Booteas in
drinking.

" In eating, the soobah imitated our manners so
quickly and exactly, that he appeared as free as if he
had spent his life with Europeans, though he had never
seen any of them before. We partook of his food ;
though I confess the idea of the jinkof's bacon made
me eat ratlior sparingly.

" We then talked about Bootan and respecting the
gospel ; and the appellation of lama was given to us,
which appears to mean teacher, and which title is
emphatically given to the grand lama.

" We found that the soobah had determined to give
the people a testimany of his friendship for us in a pub-
lic manner ; and the next day was fixed for the ptit-
formance of the ceremony in our tent in the market
place. Accordingly, we got instructed in the neces-
sary etiquette, and informed him that, as we had
only come a short journey, to see the country, we
were not provided with English rioths, *ic., for pres-
ents. The time being come, however, we were waited
on by the sixtbah, followed by all his servanta, both
Booioas and Hindoos. Being seated, we exchanged
eaci) (ivo rupees, and five pieces of betel, in sight
of the %vhole town ; and having chewed betel for the
first time in our lives, we embraced three times in the
oriental manner, and afterwards shook hands in the
English manner. The soolwh then made each of us
a pn'Mcnt of a piece of rich thhang wrought wth gold,
a Bootan ItlankM, and the tail of xn miimal called the
Choar cow.

" Whi-n the ceremony was over, we were conducted
to tlie soobah'i house, where we found another officer ;
I believe th» itmk—l, or attorney of the court below
the hills. This idmi wee iuat iIm MvMWi nt all ».

had seen. He sit on the soobdi's seat like a statu*,
not rising whelt we entered; though the soobnh,
a much greater man, always dM. When we sat
down, he began a long discourse with the others
in the Bootan language ; and, as we could not un-
derstand him, we also conversed with each other
in English. All this time, a servant, by his orders,
held a lighted torch just in our faces, that he might
stare at us. He then asked how many servants we
kept, and whether we had a tent ; this was to ascertain
whether we were great men or not. Our answers,
however, were very brief, and did not p*» lAm
satisfaction. * f»r« m.ioii^f

" After exchanging a few angry words with the
soobah, he took his leave abruptly ; and when he was
gone, the soobah appeared transported with rage, and
threatened him dreadfully. He tore off his upper
garment, seized a kind of dagger, called a rrecc, stuck
it into the table, beat his breast, and threatened to go
after him and kill him. We endeavored to appease
him, however, and were successful.

" Our people were now much afraid ; for though
the Hindoos had hitherto expressed the greatest con-
fidence in the gentleness of the natives, they now began
to propagate a number of sanguinary tales, and noth-
ing was talked of hut the insincerity of the Booteas.
As for ourselves, we were not quite so timid, thmigh
we were not without our cogitations. We told them,
however, to run away for their lives if any danger
appeared. For fear of wild elephants, we had taken
a gun or two ; hut we ordered that no piece should be
loaded, nor any additional precaution manifested,
though we were certain the people could not sleep
much that night. We then commended ourselves
to God in prayer, and retired to rest.

" The next morning, the soobah came with hit usual
friendship, and brought more presents, which we re-
ceived, and took our leave. He then sent us away
with every honor, that he could heap upon us ; as a
band of music, guides to show us the way, ko. In
short, the whole of his conduct toward us was invari-
ably as generous, polite, and friendly as 1 ever witness-
ed. I suppose the conduct of the vakeel arose from
his thinking himself to be a great man, ami somewhat
slighted, in not receiving any present from us ; but in
truth we had nothing to present. The soobah pro-
posed paying us a visiit in a short time. Should ho do
this, I hope to improve the interview, for the great
end of settling a mission in that country.

" So great a r^ontmat I have never before seen
between two neighboring nations, as th« lltndooa and
Booteas. The former are a small, puny, timid people ;
the latter, atlilelic and fearless. They have a written

,.-- ^ —J I .—

rr>Ttcs3 «is

*' K-* •

'BEflTCm*/^ 'm'£-H4^

rt. Thd nsmesof the lettera ore the same as the
BsB^kie, with a few exceptions, and aie written in
the same order, with only this difference, iJbat the
BOBgalees have five letters in a line of the Alphabet,
but the Booteas liave only four.
•' •' Bootan isa very large country, subject to the dibn>
jdl. The iama-goroo, as they call him, is, I think, only
oonsidered as a representative of God ; and they have
his image in their houses, about the size of a large roan's
tlmnb. The soobah said, ' there was a greater object
of worship, who could only be seen by the mind.'"

Besides preaching sutedly in their respective vil-
lages, the missionaries made frequent excursions into
the circumjacent country, for the purpose of instructing
the inhabitanu in the way of salvation. " 1 have a
district," says Mr. Carey, "of about twenty miles
square, where I am continually going from place to
place, to publish tlie gospel ; and this space comprises
about two hundred villages. My manner of travelling
IS with two small boats, one of which serves me to
lodge in, and the other for cooking my f 1. All my
fiimiture I carry with me from place to place, namely,
a chair, a table, a bed, and a lamp, but I repair to my
boats for food and lodging. There are several rivers
la this part of the country, which renders it very con-
venient for travelling."

From the city of Dinagepore, about thirty miles
distant from Mudnabatty, and containing a population
equal to that of Birmingham or Manchester, a letter
was received signed by five Hindoos, intimating that,
about three y.-ars before that time, the Bramin Mohun
Ghund had been there, and had told them a little about
the gospel of Christ ; promising also to send them
certain parts of the translation, but which had not been
received. The object of the letter was to request a
sight of the translation, and to solicit that some person
might visit them, who should be capable of giving
them further instruction.

About the same time, the missionaries were given
to understand that a Mr. Ignatius Fernandez, a gen-
tleman of Portuguese extraction, residing in Dinage-
pore, was extremely desirous of hearing the gospel.
Messrs. Foimtain and Powell accordingly visited him,
and road and explained several parts of Ccripture at
his request ; and the next ssbbath ho spent with them
at Moypaul, where, for the first time ii s life, Im heard
a gospel sermon. He appeared to ei.iaracp the truth
whh much readiness s, d affection ; and shortly after-
wards, he erected a place of wowliip, at his own ex-
pense, m Dinagepore ; nnd ex»'rted himself ns much
as possible, by conversing with the Hindoos in that
ohy, to prepossess them with favorable sentiments of
Chrisllnnity. Here, also, the missionnrics were iniro-
tfucod to tevoral gentlomen, whow treatment toward

^myu pMMdiarly kini tted tfcspcetful, and wbtm
acq»aiMM,co purortiiiwd to pwve hHsWy •d«M«eoas,
on account of their emintot fcdowledgeof the Sbniderit

In a letter dated Mudnafeawy, July 4, 1798, Mr

C^afey says, " At this ibiie «U my attebUonfe cirfled to

do what I can to repair the ravages of a very calamitoia

•ood, which has just swept away all the prospects of

»hi8 year; and of which yon can scarcely form aocti-

ceptwn. About ten daya ago, I went all over this

neighborhood, when the prospecu were charming ; the

fieWs being covered with rice, hemp, indigo, gourds,

and cucumbers; but on Friday last, I went over the

same parte m a boat, when not a vestige of any thing

appeared ; all being a level plain of water from two

to twenty feet deep. On the west of our house the

rivers Tanguan and Kankir form an island, of about

three mdes broad and ten long ; whilst a similar island

IS formed on the east by the Brohmanni and Purna-

bobbha. These four rivers may be seen from our house ;

and from Octob«rtoMay,are all insignificant streams,

about three feet and a half deep. Now, however, a

boat of a hundred tons will not only go down the rivers,

but over ell the islands formed by them, and to ah

extent far below the conflux of the rivers ; so that two

large lakes of three miles wide, and at least fifty miles

long, are formed by this flood. They are both within

sight of our house, and will dry up in October. The

p^und will then be resown and produce fine crops.

There are several villages in which the waters have

nsen to the eaves of the houses."

As the brethren in India had repeatedly and earnest-
ly requested that more missionaries might be sent out tb
their assistance, the directors of the society felt pecu-
hariy anxious to engage some persons of piety, pru-
dence, and intelligence, for that purpose ; and, in the
autumn of 1798, they fixed their attention on Mt.
Wdham Ward, a member of the Baptist church in
George street, Hull ; who, being engaged in the print-
ing business, was thus addressed, on on*, occasion, by
the Rev. W. Carey, previous to his ombarkstion for
Bengal :— " If the Lord bless our attempts, we shall
want a person in your line, to enable us to print the
Scriptures ; and I hope you will come after us," This
hint seems to have made an indelible impression on
the mind of Mr. Ward ; and though, after his intro-
duction to the ministry, he had various invitations lo
settle in England, his mind seems to have lieen inva-
riably dh-ected toward India. The committee, there-
fore, apphed to the Rev. Mr. Fawcett, of Ewood Hall,
under whoso tuition he had been placed, nnd, after
receiving the most satisfactory answers to the querlts

quarifioationi, they hvlltd him to preach at Ketterhtg

906

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

before a meeting of ministers in the month of Octo-
ber; and suhsequently determined that he should be
sept out in the ensuing spring.
^ About the same time, another suitable person for the
mission was brought under the notice of the committee.
This was Mr. Daniel Brunsdon, who came originally
from the neighborhood of Pershore, in Worcestershire,
but afterwards fixed his residence in Bristol, and, in
1795, became a member of the church at Broadmead
in that city. Here he heard a discourse, in the month
of July, 1798, which excited a strong desire in his
mind to devote his life to the service of the perishing
heathen; and this wbh was communicated to the
committee ; who, ader conversing with him on the
subject, placed him under the care of the Rev. Mr.
Sutcliffe, of Olney, that his qualifications might be
more fully ascertained, and suitable instructions com-
municated. In tiiat situation he remained about seven
months ; during which period he not only made con-
siderable proficiency in various branches of knowledge,
but occasionally preached in the neighborhood with
acceptance, and conducted himself with such piety,
prudence and modesty, that his approaching departure
was anticipated with feelings of general regret.

A third candidate for the office of a missionary to
India, was Mr. William Grant, who also was a member
of the Baptist church at Broadmead, Bristol, and
whose history is well worthy of attention.

At the early age of sixteen years, he had the mis-
fortune to become acquainted with a young man of
deistical principles, who succeeded but too well in in-
spiring him with a contempt for the truths of Christian-
ity, and with an attachment to the opinions and writings
of that abominable infidel, Vultaire. And though,after
remaining a professed deist for about two years, hu was
tMurtially reclaimed by the perusal of a work which an
acquaintance put into his hands, he soon relapsed into
his former principles, and even proceeded still further ;
being fully prepared for the adoption of atheism, and
solicitous to read every thing he could meet with in iu
favor. He could now, of course, commit the gnissest
sins without any feeling of compunction, and it was
only the ill state of his health which prevented him
from serving the prince of darkness with UHbounded
devotedncss, both of soul and body

Nowiihstandiiig the lengths whioh he went in in-
iquity, however, and the exertions which he used to
bring all his acquaintance into the same stale of iriiml,
ho was frequently convinced of the inconsistency of
his atheistical principles, ami, by looking closely into
the writings from whirh ho had imbibed them, ho
gradually discovered their falsehood. At the same
time, by devoting his Rttcmiun to subjecU of anatomy
»nd natural philosophy, be perceived such obvious

vestiges of an intelligent first cause in all the works of
creation, that he was irresistibly compelled once more
to recognize the existence of a Ood.

Soon after this, he became acquainted with Mr.
Marshman, a member of the church at Broadmead,
and by him iie was induced, after some time, to attend
on the public means of grace. The conversations^
also, which his new friend held with him, at different
times, on the spirituality of the divine law, the neces.
sity of God's discountenancing transgression, and th»
indispensahility of an atonement for transgression, wer»
so abundantly blessed to his soul, that he was gradu-
ally brought to acknowledge the inspiration of the Holy
Scriptures, to abhor himself as a sinner before God,
and to cast himself unreservedly on the Lord Jesua
Christ for life and salvation.

After he had been baptized and received as a mem-
ber of the church at Broadmead, he felt an ardent
desire to devote himself to the service of the Redeemer
in Bengal ; and his views and feelings on this occasion

will be most suitably expressed m his own words : •

" I have earnestly prayed," says he, " that God would
enable both me and my wife to give ourselves wholly
unto him. I am conscious of no other motive than a
view to the glory of God, and compassion for my
fellow creatures, especially for the poor heathen, who
are daily perishing by thousands for the lack of knowl-
edge. My greatest discouragement arises from a sense
of own unfitness ; but I beseech the Almighty that he
would enlighten my mind by his Holy Spirit, and give
me more enlarged views of his character and govern-
ment ; but more especially that I may continually be
makiiig fresh discoveries of that wisdom and provi-
dence wherein he has abounded in the plan of redemp-
tion toward miserable sinners : so that, from a view of
the riches of divine grace, in having rescued my soul
from destruction, 1 may feel increasing compassion lor
those who are strangers to tlie glorious truths of the
gospel."

Scarcely had Mr. Grant expressed his desire to un-
furl tlie standaid of tiie cross among the benighted
and superstitious inhabitants of India, when his friend,
Mr. Marshman, was actuated by a sii liiar wish ; and
though his wife at first appeared reluctant to quit her
native land, yet, after mature deliberation and earnest
prayer, she cordially acquiesced. Mr. M. received
his first religious impressions in the vicinity of West-
bury I^igh ; but after his removal to Bristol, he wa*
cho<«on master of a charity schuui supported by the
congregation at Broadmead, and in June, 1794, he
booame a member of the church. After this, lie
evinced a peculiar thirst for useful knowledge, and an
inclinatioo to the work of the ministry ; and in ounse-
quence of bis attendinc an hour evarv dav at ilie

"frmtrfp BENGAutt 'rm^ijsfi

Baptbl academy, he obtained a toleraWe acquaintance
with th« LaUn, Greek, and Hebrew languages, and, af-
ter he entertained the idea of going out as a missionary,
he transcribed the substance of some Asiatic grammars.
In the month of April, 1799, the Rev. A. Fuller,
being in London, engaged with the supercargo of an
American ship, the Criterion, for the passage of eight
missionaries, namely, Mr. and Mrs. Marshman, Mr.
and Mrs. Grant, Mr. and Mrs. Brunsdon, Mr. Ward,
and Miss Tidd ; the latter of whom had for some time
corresponded with Mr. Fountain with the approbation of
her friends, and now designed to bestow her hand upon
that faithful and zealous servant of tiie Redeemer. The
master of the ship, captain Wickes, was not present at
the agreement with the supercargo, but, on hearipg of it,

he wrote to one of the committee as follows : " When

I was informed that the passengers we are to take out
were Christian missionaries, truly my heart rejoiced.
It brought strongly to my mind a desire which I had
felt some years past, that I might have the command
of a ship which should convey some of these messen-
gers of peace to the heathen ; and now it seems that
God is about to grant me my desire. I am the master
of theCr«erion,and am not ashamed to confess myself
a lover of the gospel, and of them that preach it;
provided they preach not themselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord, of whatever denomination they may be. I
have been several days preparing the ship for the
reception of these passengers, but little thought who
they were. Tell them I will have every thing as
comfortable as possible, and that they may be entirely
separate from every other person in the vessel, if they
choose it, except myself and two mates, who will be
in the same apartment."

The missionaries had now but a short time to take
leave of their friends, and to prepare for the voyage ;
and as they were so distantly situated, they could not
all meet together in the country without a considerable
and unnecessary expense. Two distinct meetings were
held, therefore, one at Bristol, and the other atOlney,
in which the brethren residing in those places were
solemnly designated to their important service, by
prayer and imposition of hands. And in the instruc-
tions which they received on that occasion, they were
charged to " beware, both from a principle of con-
science, and from a regard to their own interest
and that of the mission, of intermeddling with any
political concerns ; to be obi'dient to the laws in all
civil aflairs ; to respect magistra'es, both suprwmo and
subordinate, and teach tlip same things to others ;
and, finally, to apply themselves wholly to the all-im-^
portint concerns of that > <"angelical service to which
they had professed solemnly to devote themselves."
i iiBjr Were iiiv fttiiuiidvd that, however gross nuKht

be the Idolatries and heathenish superstitions which
might faU under their notice, it would be their duty
sedulously to avoid aU rudeness, insult, or interruption,
during the observance of such superstitions ; observinic
no other methods but those of Christ and his apostles
namely, the persevering use of Scripture, reason!
prayer, meekness and lore.

During these transactions at home, the Rev W
Carey had an opportunity, in returning one day from
Calcutta, of witnessing, for the first time, the dreadful
ceremony of a woman burning herself with the corpse
of her husband. He observes, " We were near ihe
village of Noyai Serai, and. as it was evening, we
got out of our boat to walk ; when we saw a num-
ber of people assembled on tiie river side. I asked
for what purpose they were met ; and they told me
to burn the body of a dead man. I inquired whether
his widow would bum with him ; they replied in the
affirmative, and pointed to the woman. She was
standing by the pile, which was made of large billets
of wood, about two feet and a half high, four feet
long, and two wide ; on the top of which lay the dead
body of her husband. Her nearest relation stood by
her, and near her was a small basket of sweetmeats.
I asked whether this were the woman's choice, or
whether she were brought to it by any improper influ-
ence ; they answered that it was perfectiy voluntary.
I talked till reasoning was of no use ; and then began to
exclaim with all my might against what they were doing,
telling them that it was a shocking murder. They told
me it was a great act of holiness, and added, in a surly
tone, that if I did not like to witness it, I might go
farther ofl: I told them, however, that I was resolved
to stay and see the -lurder, and that I should certainly
bear witness of it at the tribunal of God.

" I next addressed myself to the woman, entreating
her not to throw away her life, and assuring her that no
evil would result from her refusing to burn. But she,
in the calmest manner, ascended the pile, and danced
on it, with her hands extended, as ,. in the utmost
tranquillity of spirit. Previous to hei nounting the
pile, the relation whose offce it was to sot fire to it, led
her six times round it, at two intervals ; that is, thrice
at each circumat..bulation. As she went round, she
scattered the sweetmeats among the people, who
picked them up, and ate them, a^ very holy things.
This h^ing ended, and she having mounted the pile
and danced as above-mentioned, in order to show her
contempt of death, and that her sacrifice was voluntary,
she lay down by the corpse, putting one aim under it^
neck and the other over it. A quantity of dry cocoa
leaves and other substances were then heaped over
the bodies to a considerable lioiKht, and shee. or msltsd
preserved butter, was poured on the top. Two bam

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

boos wei* n«zt put over tbain and fadd-firmly dowii^
«iMi fire wa» put to the pile, which inunediateljr
bhied very fiercely, owing to the dry aod Gombustible
awterials of which it wu compoted.
!,« No sooner were the flames kindlod, than all the
faople set up a loud shout, so that it was impmwiUe
to have heard the woman, had she groaned or even
cried aloud ; and she could not move or struggle, on
account of the bamboos, which are held down like
the levers of a press. We strongly objected to their
using these bamboos, and insisted that it was emph^-'
iiig force to prevent the woman from getting up when
the fire reached her. But they declared it was only
done to keep the pile from falling down. We could
not bear to see any more,^ and lefl the dpot, exclaim*
ing loudly against the murder, and filled with horror
at what we had witnessed,"

On the $25th of May, the missionaries and their wives
set sail from liondon, and were peculiarly happy in
finding that the captain was not only inclined to attend
their morning and evening devotions, but even consent-
ed to take his turn with them in addressing the Lord
of missions on their behalf. He also encouraged them
to preach on the sabbath to the ship's crew ; and, with
tears in his eyes, entreated the men to listen with seri-
ousness and attention to the word ** the gospel.

Off Margate, on the 28th May, Mr. Ward composed
the following verses : —

" O chwge the wave* to b«w our flienda
la safety o'er the deep ;
Let tlie rough tompeit speed their way,
Or bid its ftirjr deep.

Whene'er tiiy loiui { ulsim food news,

Beneath the baoiui. » shade,
Let the poor Hindoo feel its power,

And grace his soul. pervade.

* I > «• ■

O let the heavenly shaater spread ;

Bid Dramins preach tlie word ;
And may all India's tribes become

One catU to serve the Lord !"

After some time, the brethren set up n school, for the
gratuitous instnicilon of the poor sailors, in reading,
writing and arithmetn ; and every man and boy in the
vessel, who wished to avail themselves of the oppor-
timity, were taken under tuition. " Among these,"
says Mr, Marshman, " are six negro mariners,* all of
whom arc learning to read ; and it is truly affecting to
see their assiduity and solicitude to learn ; particularly
the rook, « stout black, about thirty, who comes
nmntng in vith his spelling-book all over dirt and
grease, and seems never tited of reading. We are
in hope that this may pave the way to something

fesSls^r : sn-- ns ?,;" i~-r-! ' rjSy aitcfiiOOn, SoiSn of iis (j

talk and read to as many of the sailors between dodts
as choose to attend. Yesterday I 'spoke ' fiimiUttly
with them about divine things for more tbanan hour ;
almost all of them being present, and some veiy
attentive."

In passing St. Jago, one of the cape d« Verd
islands, a singular interposition of Divine Providence
was manifested on the behah' of our missionaries, wMeh
is thns noticed by Mr. Marshman, in his journal :
" We had for some days been looking out for land';
but the weather being hazy, the eaptain had not been
able to take any observations for the two preceding
days, so that we were obliged to steer entirely by
guess, though it was necessary to pass between several
small islands. Our situation was, therefore, extremely
critical, especially as we were in the middle of the
night ; yet our ship was providentially guided into the
widest and clearest part of the channel, and when we
came within sight of the land, we found ourselves just
where we should have been, had we gone by the most
exact observations. We saw land, too, at the most
seasonable time of the day, about one o'clock in the
afternoon. Tlie weather being hazy, we did not discover
it till we were within the distance of about two leagues,
and we were steering, as it were, just through the
midst of the islarids. Had we not, therefore, instantly
altered ourc(nirse,wemiist have been on shore quickly ;
but had it been in the night instead of the day, we should
have been in a ver}' perilous situation. Hence, we could
not but consider the hand of our God as immediately dis-
played on our behalf, in the whole of this circumstance."

The following verses, composed by the Rev. W.
Ward, soon after this occurrence, are creditable to the
pious gratitude of that invaluable missionary, and will,
no doubt, prove acceptable to the reader: —

*■ Thus far our Saviour's tender care
Has brought us safely o'er the deep;
And charged the winds and waves to spare
A few, the meanest of his sheep.

O ! let our souls with praise record

The thousand morcirs we nnjoy,
Beneath the salbgnard nf our I<ord,

Kept aa the apple of hie 9ye,

The burning heat, th<' threst'niDg fee,
The teni|N)st's ragt-, th<i lightning'* power;

Each his eternal (J^dhoad nhov.
And wait on him ttirough every hour.

Yes, we are safo beneath thy shade,

And so atiall bn 'midst India's boat :
What should a miMionery dread,

unite QcTits cnnxcn ai jcsus iCli r

r ..» e ,■■# w

There, eweeteM Bmian I let thf oroM
Wis many Hindoo hearta to tiiee :

Thia ahall make up for every Iom,
Whilit thou art oum eternally.'

BEWOAt*^^^

f|'f4»

On the 13th of October, the missionaries amved at
Senimpore, in good health and spirits; and after
spending a few days at an inn, they took a house,
where they awaited a communication from Mr. Carey •
as they could not, at present, obtain permission to «J
into the mterior of the country.

As the weather happened to be extremely pleasant,
Mr. Ward occasionally amused himself with walking
m the town ; and one evening followed his India con!
ductor to the hut of a Portuguese, where he found an
old man of seventy-three stretched on his bed, calling
on the name of Jesus, and speaking of his dolorous
suflermgs and precious blood. «' I did not obtain sat-
isfaction," says Mr. Ward, "respecting his real
Christianity ; but the name of Jesus on the tongue of
a copper-colored man here, is like the unexpected
meeting of a friend. We went forward in our walk
and came to a place in the open air, where the natives
were assembled to worship their god Ram, whose
Instory is too long for me to narrate. In this worship,
the priest stood in the midst of a number of natives
who sat on the grass. In one hand he held a kind of
brush made of buffalo's hair; and in the other, two
pieces of brass, ,vhlcl., on being shaken together,
sounded like bells. His face was painted, and two o^
three chains, made of shells, he, were suspended
rom Ins neck. During very short intervals of singing
by five young men standing at his back, he addressed
two or three sentences to his hearers, exhorting them
to repeat the name of Ram, and to avoid that which
was bad. Some of the natives, however, were at
work, making nets, while they professed to be worship-
ping their god."

On the 27th of October, Mr. Grant appealed to be
indisposed with a , old, attended with a kind of stupor ;
and four days afterward, on being raised from his bed,
a fit seized him, "or rather," as it has been well ex-
pressed, " Death struck him with his dart, and claimed
nun as his prisoner."
" When the physician came," says Mr. Brtinsdon,
ho ordered hot water in bottles to be applied to his
hands and feet, which (he warmth of life had in a
great measure forsaken. He said he was in no pain
an. could feel the heat of the water. He spoke but
little, however, all the time of his illness, and the
interval of rea-ion, from Monday to Thursday, was very
short, ho being generally in a kind of stupor. I sat by
hiin whil.H. the rest were gone to dinner, and gavo him
some roasted fowl, which he chewed whilst lalwring
■'■•■' ••«"!,?, btu Was unable lo hwaiiuw it. I then

Vol.. I.— Nos. 17 k 18.

h« -om«W«g to drtek which he took out of .he .pobn'
wy eagerly. I feit his band lying on a botlSrf
water, but it vna still cold : he raised it slightly npMMif
my hand, and laid it down i^in, lo<*mg'atL':^
placid countenance but unable, thwogh weakness, to
speak to me. I left the room for . few minutes, tr^
3n returning he appeared much the same as in .
former fit. The doctor then amved, and told us he
was dymg; and a few minutes afterward he breathed
his last, without a sigh, a gi«an or a struggle excent th*
trembling of his limbs from the convulsive IS^' ^
wife, poor woman, was greatly distressed, yet she was
supported far beyond what could have be'en expit^
It was, indeed, a mournful stroke to us all, vet we
were not left to sorrow as those without hope.

" In the night, our captain arrived, and in the mora-
ing, brother Forsyth, one of the missionaries employed
by the tendon Sociefy. About eleven o'clock, we
proceeded to the Danish burial-ground. Brother
* ors, ci, walked before the corpse, which was borne br
1 ortuguese men ; my wife and sister Tidd followed

k".*J w" 1^" '""P*"'" """^ ^""•'" Marshman ; and
brother Ward and myself closed the short and simple
train of mourners. At the grave, brother FoiJth
gave out an appropriate hymn, read the fifteenth chap-
ter of Paul s first epistle to the Corinthians, and closed
in prayer."

The next sabbath, Mr. Ward preached in the
morning, from I Cor. xv. 54, Death i, swalhtved up
in victory ; and in the evening, he preached from Isaiah
IV. 6, 7, Jonah wa, exceeding glad of the gowd,
but Ood prepared a worm, when the morning rose the
»'^tdat, and it smote the gourd, that it withered.
At the former of these services, the governor and two
other European gentlemen attended ; and both the
discourses were admirably adapted to console and
animate the bereaved friends and fellow laborers of
the deceased.

On the ninth of November, Mr. Fountain arrived at
berampore, and three days afterwards was married, at
Calcutta, to Miss Tidd, by the Rev. Mr. Buchanan,
who treated them in the most friendly manner, and
declined accepting the usual fees.

" Circumstances at this time," says the editor of the
Brxtf Narrative, •' were difficult and delicate. Mr
Carey had.made all the interest he could, that the
missionaries and their wives might be permitted to
proceed and settle i., ;ho neighborhood of Malda- but
without effect. .' they could «f>t rnme to 'him
therefore, the only alternative was, whether he sho..J,J
go to them, or whether the nould labor separai.Hy.
The decision of this question was the object of Mr.
Ward's visitinit Mudnahattv. in mnmnanu ~.:.i. hm- >

■ .• J ,- "TT'i iTiF. ru-.i

gave II Mrs. Fountain.
»9

810

BAPTIST mSSlUNARY SOCIETY.

'* In mpect of Mudnabatty," continues the swne
writer, " ^e factmy at that place had, owing to the
failura of the crops, been given up; and Mr.
Carey, with a view to provide for the mission, had
taken a small place at Kidderpore, about twelve miles
distant ; where he intended to carry on a little business,
and to erect some dwellings for the other missionaries.
The relinquishing of this undertaking would be a loss
of five hundred pounds. They had also formed a
church ; God had given them some Europeans for
their hire ; a degree of light had been difiused among
the natives ; a school was estublished ; the state of
things at Dinagepore was promising ; and, in the event
of a removal, the society would be burdened with new
expenses, iic. On the other hand, Mr. Carey's
engagements at Mudnabatty were within a few weeks
of terminating ; at Serampore the missionaries would
meet with protection and acc($mmodation ; the great
ends of the mission were likely to be answered in that
situation rather than in the other ; and the country was
more populous. All things consiJ .^d, therefore,
Mr. Carey determined to remove, as a necessity seemed
to be laid upon hiin ; and on the tenth of January,
1800, he arrived at Serampore, whore he v-m intro-
duced to the governor, and received in Zita most
friendly manner."

Having purchased a house with a tolerably spacious
piece of ground by the river side, the brethren drew up a
plan of family government. All the missionaries were
to preach and pray in turn ; and one was appointed to
superintend the domestic concerns for a month, and
then another. Mr. Carey was appointed treasurer,
and keeper of the medicine chest ; and Mr. Fountain
consented to accept cho Dffice of librarian. Saturday
evening was devoted to the adjustment of any differ-
ences wiiich might arise during the week ; and it was
finally resolved that nn one should engage in any
private trade ; but that whatever was done by any
member of the family, should be considered as done
for the general benefit of the mission.

Mr. Carey's translation of the Old and New Testa-
ment was now nearly completed ; and as ho had
recently purchased a press, and agreed with a letter-
founder at Calcutta for a supply of types, advertise-
ments were issued for subscribers to the Bengalee
Bible. It was also announced, that the missionaries,
with a view to their support, designed to attend
to printing in general ; and that they also Intended to
open a school, under the superintendence of Mr. and
Mrs. Marshman. This plan appeared likely to be
crowned with success ; and, as on encoumgement at
the commencomei.t of their undertaking, they were
promised the printing of tie ofhcial papers 1 r the
Danish government, and th j teaching of the govciaoc's

children. The first shoet of the Bengalee New Tes-
tament was struck off about the middle of May ; and by
the 20th of July, forty pupils were collected in the
school, the children of natives being taught gratuitously.
On the 20th of August, the mission sustained a
severe loss in the removal of Mr. Fountain, who was
one of the only three brethren who could preach to the
natives, and in consequence of his knowledge of music,
he usually led the singing in ivorship. " He died,"
says Mr. Powell, " at the house of Mr. Fernandez, at
Dinagepore, of a dysentery, or rather a complication of
disorders, which preyed on him for several weeks, and
baffled the power of medicine. Having been requested
to make indigo for a worthy fKend at this place
(Moypauldiggy), he wrote to ma in July last, stating
that he was very unwell, and that if the Lord did not
bless the voyage, he could hardly expect to return.
On his arrival here, I perceived that he was exceed-
ingly ill, and I feared he was nigh the grave.
After staying here a few days, I accompanied him and
Mrs. Fountain to Dinagepore, where the assistance
of one of the company's surgeons was procured ; but
after experiencing a few favorable symptoms, his
disorder assumed a threatening appearance. Death,
however, presented no terrors to him, but Dr. Young's
description of a dying Christian was completely
realized : —

* The chamber where the good man meet* Iiu fkte
la privileg'd above the common walk
Of virtuous life ; juat on the verge of heav'n.'

" The doctor who attended him said, that he
never saw a person so composed, resigned, and
prepared for death as Mr. Fountain ; and expressed
an earnest wish that he might die like him. And it was
indeed evident, as our dear friend one day expressed
himself with peculiar emphasis, that he was safe, and
happy, and going to his heavenly Father. He desired
that all the natives who knew him might be informed
that he was not afraid to die ; — that there was no
saviour but Christ ; — and that if they did not believe in
him, they must perish forever. The peaceful state of
his mind appears to have been truly profitable. Two
gentlemen in particulir, who are in the habit of visiting
him three or four times every day, professed to have
derived great benefit from witnessing such tranquillity
in a dying believer. ' Surely,' said one of them, ' this
must be genuine religion, which sticks so firmly by a
man in his dying ni iiients !' Mr. Fernandez, also,
who behaved towards him with tl.< <:reatest kindness
and tendenifss, is much establish ' i^ faith by seeing
his happy departure. He order. .1 a coffin to be made
for him, and the corpse uos asrc^ited to the grave by a
guard of the company's so'^i ;>■ v ailed sepoys, and the

BENGAL.

•fTlAH

judge and chief magistrate of the place attended the
funeral."

When the reader is reminded that this truly valua-
ble missionary left behind him a widow, to whom he
had been married little more than nine months, and
who shortly afterwards gave birth to a fatherless infant
in a strange land, the following remarks of the Rev.
Joshua Marshman will, no doubt, be deemed truly
appropriate :— " O ! what a dispensation is this ! To
his disconsolate widow,— to us,— and to our dear
friends in England :— how mysterious ! A man in the
prime of life, only thirty-three years of age, who had
just acquired the language, and of whose usefulness we
had formed considerable expectations. Yet he is
taken away from his work, his brethren, and his
spouse ! We have a Saviour, however, who still lives ;
and we desire to bow in silent submission to his wise
and righteous will."

Eariy in the month of November, an afflicted lady
came up the river from Calcutta. She intended to
have gone farther ; but, her strength being exhausted,
she stopped ot Serampore, and engaged apartments at
the hotel. Here she inquired for an English prayer-
book ; but nothing of that description was in the house.
Her desire was then communicated to the missionaries ;
but they had not the means of furnishing her with
what she wanted. Mr. Marshman, however, wrote
her a friendly note, and accompanied it with two
books, illustrative of that salvation which is only to
be found in Jesus. The next morning, she came in
her palanquin to the mission-house, apparently in great
distress of mind. She said that she had been a great
sinner, and had long resisted conviction ; — that, in
affliction, she had often resolved to amend her ways,

but had as often relapsed into folly again ; and that

lately, in particular, she had been attempting to pray,
but was much discouraged, having no one to converse
with on such subjects. She stated, however, that
she had been induced, by Mr. Marshman's note, to
make her case known to the missionaries ; and she
now begged to be allowed to remain during family
worship. This request was, of course, granted. She
was, also, affectionately directed to Jesus, as the only
refuge from the wrath tocome,andoneof the brethren
gave out that beautiful and appropriate hymn, " Come,
ye sinners, poor and wretched," with which she
appeared to be deeply aflbcted. After this, she
regulariy repeated her visits every day, and seemed
more and more desirous of ascertaining the scriptural
way of salvation ; and she appeared to drink in the
words which fell from Mr. Marshman's lips, as he
discoursed on the sufferinRS and atonement of the
Redeemer, as the only ground of a sinner's acceptance

before God. In a nhnr* linw* -Ka r-t ! •- r' t

Alt

where she died, it is hoped, in the faith of the gospel i
and her decease appears to have been blewed to h«r
widowed husband, who afterwards joined the Baptist
church in Bengal, and married, for his second wife,
the widow of one of the missionaries.

Mr. Thomas, who had for some time been preach-
ing at Bheerbhoom, now paid « visit to Serampore
tuid brought with him a Hindoo named Faklra, of
whom he entertained the most sanguine hopes. Fakira
of his own accord proposed to be baptised ; and on
being examined before the church, all were fully
satisfied with the profession which he made ; but
before the time appointed for the ceremony, he left
Serampore, and went among his relations, in order
as he said, to fetch away his child. There it is proba'
ble his resolution failed him, or his friends detuned
him by force, as the missionaries neither saw nor
heard any more of him.

During this visit, the conversations and devotional
exercises of Mr. Thomas were observed to be more
than usually solemn and impressive. He himself
observes in his journal, " On hearing ofthe out-pouruig
of the Holy Spirit in America, it became very desirable
that the Lord should remember tu ; and it appeared
most exceedingly necessary to me, the vilest of all.
I longed for the unction of God's Spirit, and did ask
for it believingly ; especially about midnight, when I
was enabled to pour out strong cries and supplications."
At his desire, a weekly prayer-meeting was established,
for the success of the mission ; and about this time it
was observed that not only Mr. Carey, but all the
missionaries, seemed particulariy led to discourse on
the sufferings and death of Jesus ; a subject which
the Moravian brethren found to be so abundantly
blessed to the conversion of the heathen.

On the 25th of November, Mr. Thomas was called
to attend a Hindoo named Kristno,one of whose arms
was dislocated. After the operation of reducing it,
our missionary talked very seriously to the sufferer,
who wept and even sobbed aloud, whilst listening to
the glad tidings of salvation by the blood of the cross.
Gokool, another Hindoo, who resided at a short dis-
tance, was present at the time, and appeared to pay
great attention to all that was said. Two or three
days afterward, Kristno was anxious to go to the mis-
sion-house for instruction, for he said Mr. Tliomas
had not only cured his arm, but had told him how to
escape the wrath to come. He and Gokool, accord-
ingly, went together and hoard the word ; and though
the wife and family of Gokool deserted him, in con-
sequence of his supposed attachment to the gospel,
those of Kristno appeared to be like-minded with
himself, and on being subsequently visited and in-
biiucleil by the missionaries, thoy avowed their in-

tia

BAPTIST MISSIOIf ARY SOCIETY.

Mnttoo of OMtiag m ^kmit lot with tlie pooplo of
God.

On the 9M of Dooember, KrutM inii Gokeol
OMM wid «te pubiioly with the missionarios, and thus
vduntarily renouaood thoir caste ; which had hitherto
b^n considered as an almost impregnable fortress.
" AJl our servants," says Mr. Ward, " were oompietelx
astonished ; so many persons had confidently said thai
BO Hindoo would erer lose his caste for the gospel.
Our brother Thomas has waited fifteen years, and
duown away much upon deceitfol characters ; brother
Carey has, also, waited till hope or his own success
has nearly expired ; and after all, God has done it
with perfect ease ! Thus the door of faith is opened
to the Gentiles : Who shall shut it ? The chain of the
caste is bndcen : Who shall mend it ?

" This evening, Gokool, Kristno, Rasoo, his wife,
and his wife's sister, came to make profession of the
name of Christ, in order to be baptized. Gokool
said, before the missionaries came to India, he had
spent years m searching for a way of happiness, in
poojahs, holy places in the river, &c. but all in
vain. When he heard the gospel, he could not
rest, but conversed with Kristno respecting the agita-
tion of his mind; and, on one occasion, he and
another man sat up a whole night ulking about it.
He said he had had great fears about his sins, but
these had left him whilst he was employed in musing
upon Christ. He now renounced all dependence on
his former worship and all connection with it ; stating
that he considered himself as the servant of Jesus
and only felt anxious to obey his commands. When
asked whether he thought the Hindoo shasters were
true or false, he said he could not tell decidedly what
part of them might be founded in truth or otherwise ;
but he was well convinced that they did not point out
the way of salvation.

" Kristno's wife's sister first heard of the Redeemer
from Gokool. Her account was clear and simple,
and, considering how little time she had heard, it
astonished us all. Her sister, whom we expected
would say but little, pleased us much. They both
acknowledged that the words of Christ had softened
their hearts, had removed their sins, and had become
all in all to them. Kristno concluded. He, as well
as Gokool, had heard the word of Ufe from the lips
of brother Fountain, not without some efl'ect ; and
when his ami was dislocated, both he and Gokool
were so much a&cted, that, as the latter expressed
It, thoir hearu were nailed to Christ," On hearing
these testimonies to the power and success of the
gospel, Mr. Thomas was almost overcome with joy ;
and at the close of the meeting, the whole of the
musionaries.with (heir relatives and friends, stood un.

and smg the hymn wUch begins wkh •« Salvation. O.
the joyful sound !"

No sooner was it ncnaed abroad that these persons
had lost caste, than the whole neighborhood was in a
complete uproar. About two thousand people, ani-
mated with indignation against the new converts,
assembled in a tumultuous manner, and dragged Kristno
and his ftmily before the Danish magistrate. He,
however, instead of censuring their conduct, dismissed
them with commendations for having chosen the way
of truth. Being defeated in this attempt, the mob
preferred a fresh charge against Kristno, stating that
he had refused to deliver up his daughter to a young
Hindoo, to whom she had been contracted in marriage
about four years before, but had been sent back to her
parents, for a certain time, on account of her tender
age. The parties having all appeared before the
governor, the giri avowed her intention of embracing
Christianity along with her father ; whilst the young
man who claimed her, positively refused to change
bis religion. The governor, therefore, told him ex-
plicitly, that he could not think of delivering up a
Christian female to a heathen mm, and there was,
consequently, no way for him to obtain his wishes but
by renouncing his idolatrous worship and practices.
He also sent a sepoy to watch at Kristno's house
during the night, and kindly assured the missionaries
that no one should be permitted to molest them whilst
they were administering the rite of baptism to their
converts.

Notwithstanding the tumult which had been thus
excited, Kristno remained firm and immovable in his
resolution ; but his female relatives and Gokool were
so far intimidated by the violence of the mob, or over-
come by the representations and entreaties of their
friends, that they sent to the mission-house, requesting
that their baptism might be delayed for s e>v weeks.
The next day, which happened to be the last sabbath
in the year, was appointed for the baptismal ceremony ;
and the governor, together with a considerable number
of Europeans, Portuguese, Hindoos, and Mussuhnen,
attenJed on the bank of the Hoogly, in front of the
mission-house. The service having commenced with
a Bengalee hymn, Mr. Carey spoke, for a short time,
in the same language, disclaiming the idea of any
virtue being attached to the river, and stating that the
Hindoo about to be baptised professed, by this act,
to renounce all his debtas and sinful practices, and to
put on the Lord Jesus. He then went down into the
water, with his son Felix, a youth of about fifteen,
whom he immersed with the usual English form ; and
the same ceremony was afterwards repeated with
Kristno, in Bengalee. The spectators, on this occa-
sion. hAhflVAH with thft vmntAct Atu^mm^v mnA Atu*nrttwn *

BENOikL.

duny, isdeed, Mcmed to be impressed with peculiar
soiemnity ; and the governor was so much a&eted
that be could not restrain his tears. " When Kristno
came from dressing," says Mr. Ward, ««a German
lady, who had witnessed the ceremony, took him by
the hand, and held him for some moments ; and,
tlMugh unable to make him understand a single word,
I could see that she thanked him from her heart

for having renounced the worship of devils. It was,

indeed, an interesting spectacle to see brother Carey
leading down into the water hia eldest son, a missionary
in early youth, and the first native who had fortitude
Buflkient to renounce his caste. In the afternoon,
the Lord's supper was celebrated in Bengalee for
the first time, and, at the termination of sol-

emn ordinance, Kristno stated that his heart was full
of joy."

The subsequent conversations which this convert
held with his family, and the fervent prayers which
he offered on their behalf, appear to have been pro-
ductive of the happiest results ; and on the 18th
of January, 1801, his wife's sister, named Joymooni,
was baptized, together with Mr. Fernandes, and
joined the church. On this occasion, the converted
female remarked that she had discovered a treasure
in Christ incomparably greater than every thing
else in the world; whilst Kristno observed, that,
having found mercy himself, his thoughts and de-
sires were now principally directed to the salvation
of others.

About this time, Mr. Ward called on a Scottish
gentleman who had met with some severe tem-
poral losses. He had received a religious edwation,
and this had operated to a considerable degree as a
restraint, till he arrived in India, when he unfortunate-
ly became like too many other Europeans. " Ten
years ago," says Mr. Ward, " his troubles caine ou ;
but they failed of producing any good effect upon him.
Five years since, he came to Serampore, but he still
continued without God, till he attended our worship ;
when he felt a new species of joy, and a union of
affisction to us. Since that time, he has read the most
valuable books in our library, and has been a constant
attendant on our ministry. Now be states that his
Bible is a new book, the law being new, and the plan
of salvation precious ; — that his afflictions appear in
a different and interesting light ; — and that his happiest
hours are those which are spent before the throne of
grace."

One day, whilst Mr. Ward was speaking about the
things of God in Kristno's house, a widow named
Unna, who resided in the family, was observed to
Uflten with the most profound attentioB, and tears were |

Sif

seen to roll down her clweks ; the, aoon afterward,
visited the mission-house, in company with the other
females, and said to Mr. Carey, "I was formeriy
totally unmindful of myiin«,but I now perceive that I
am a sea of sin." On the Idth of February, ahe made
an open profession of the Redeemer's name ; and a>
Kristno's wife, Rasoo, appeared to be decidedly of the
same mind, they were both baptised on the ensuing
sabbath.

In consequence of these repeated baptizings, the
parents of those children who had been placed in the
Bengalee school, removed them as soon as possible,
lest they also should be mdnced to adopt the Christian
religion. The only native children left for instruction,
therefore, were those of Kristno, to whom the mis-
sionaries paid the greatest possible attention, with the
pleasing anticipation that they might, at a future
period, be induced to enlist beneath the same banner
which was now the joy and rejoicing of their father's
heart.

The piety, prudence, and circumspection of the
Hindoo converts afibrded great consolation to the mis-
sionaries ; one of whom observes respecting them,
" Though they are plain, simple people, and the greater
part of them women, yet they have been enabled to
despise caste; to withstand the reproaches, ridicule,
and persecution of their neighbors and countrymen ;
and to speak boldly the word of our Lord Jesus to
them that know not the truth." Their manner of
speaking also on spiritual subjects appears to have
been equally singular and impressive. "Christ,"
said one of them, "is my joy, my hope, my all I If
worldly concerns draw my nund from him, I say,
' Mind, why dost thou leave Christ ? There is no
other Saviour, and if thou leave him, thou must fall
into hell. I charge thee, therefore. Mind, that thou
adhere closely to Christ.' "—Another of these con-
verts observed, one day, " I was formerly in prison ;
but the light of the gospel came to the prison
door, and I obtained my liberty. My prayer now is,
that Satan may never be permitted to imprison me
again."

About this time, the missionaries had the high
gratification of publishing the Bengalee New Testa-
ment, an object which had long been near their hearts ;
as they were perfectly aware of the vast importance
of presenting the Holy Scriptures to the Hindoos in
their nativn language. Copies were presented to the
governor, and die governor-general, which wore re-
ceived in the most friendly and condescending manne' ;
and the missbnaries had now abundant encourage-
ment to sing the following verses, composed by tlw
Rev. J. Murahnian ;— .

S14

%....

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

" Hail, proeioo* book divine !

niomined by thy nys,
We nee ftom deatli and ain,
And tune a Sariour** praise !
The shades of error, dark as night,
Vanish before thy radiant light

We bless the God of grace

Who hath his word revealed
To this bewildered race.
So long in darkness held ;
His loye designs ; his people pray ;
His providence prepares the way !

Now shall the Hindoos learn
The glories of our Bang ;
Nor to blind goroot turn,
Nor idol praises sing :
DifiUsing heavenly light around.
This book their tkattert shall confound.

Deign, gracious Saviour, tieign,

To smile upon thy word ;

Let millions now obtain

Salvation from the Lord :

Nor let its growing coi^questa stay,

Till earth exult to own its sway !**

Soon after the publication of the Testament, Mr.
Carey was appointed, by marquis Wellesley, as teacher
of the Bengalee and Sanscrit languages in the college
of Fort William. This appointment was altogether
unexpected ; and when the application was made to
him, Mr. Carey had some hesitation in acceding to it,
under the idea that it might interfere with his proper
work as a missionary ; nor did he accept of it till he
had consulted with his brethren ; who were unani-
mously of opinion that it was more likely to promote
than to obstnict the great design of the mission. He
was subsequently raised to the rank of a professor in
the college, with a salary of a thousand rupees a
month, or about fifteen hundred pounds per annum ;
and the whole of this sum, in conformity with the
rules laid down by himself and his coadjutors, he gen-
erously added to the missionary stock.

On the lOtli of April, Kristno's eldest daughter,
Golok, was seized, at a short distance from her father's
house, and carried off by two men, one of whom was
the Hindoo to whom she had been contracted in mar-
riage. On an alarm being given, Kristno pursued, and
overtook the men ; but they beat him unmercifully, and
crossed the river on their way to Calcutta. In passing
■ police station, Golok cried out for justice, and the
persons who were carrying her off were, of course,
deuined. On being brought before a magistrate, she
said, " I have heard ol the love and sufferings of
Christ, and these things have fastened upon my mind.
I am. therefore, a rihrisiian frnm «>»>:..« - i .

willing to go with this man." The magistrate replied,
that he could not separate her from her husband, but
he would take care that she should be at liberty to
profess what religion she thought proper. This promise,
however, he either could not or did not perform ; and
thr young woman was left, sorely against her own
r<i( f . il much to the regret of Kristno and his family,
\a •ne hands of an idolater.

On the 8th of May, whilst the inhabitants were
wrapped in profound slumber, a party of miliury en-
tered Serampore, and hoisted the British flag, without
a gun firing, or a drum beating. " At ten o'clock," says
Mr. Ward, " we and others were desired to appear at
the governmen' »>- • v In the governor's hall we
found se . . ;al British officers, ar.l in an adjoining room,
the new English governor, with colonel Bie standing
by his side. When we presented ourselves, the colonel
assured us we might go on with our school and our
preaching in the same peaceful way as when under his
government. The English commissioner also politely
assured us that we were at liberty to follow our avoca-
tions as usual. We then withdrew, contrasting our
situation with what it might have been, and acknowl-
edging how exceedingly divine mercies were multiplied
toward us."

On the 29th, Gokool, who had given in bis expe-
rience before the church with Kristno, but who had
drawn back, in consequence of the severe opposition
which he had met with from his wife and iiis other
relatives, now resolved to join the gospel standard, let
the consequences be what they might. Accordingly,
after the missionaries had repeatedly conversed with
him, and felt convinced of his sincerity, he was admitted
to the rite of baptism ; and his wife, who had formerly
evinced a most determined spirit of persecution, came,
of ber own accord, to witness the ceremony, and, to
the surprise and joy of the brethren, seemed to express
some approbation of the gospel.

The following day, Mr. Carey accompanied Kristno
to Calcutta, to see his daughter ; and after conversing
affectionately with the family, he proceeded to speak
of the way of salvation to a crowd of people who had
assembled on the outside of the house. In a short
time, however, he heard one of them, who had learned
a little English, exclaim, "A rascal ! a rascal !" and
clearly perceived that something mischievous was in
agitation. He, therefore, closed his discourse, stepped
into his palanquin, and desired the bearers to carry
him away. This, however, was opposed by the mob;
and had not our missionary acted on the occasion with
great decision and intrepidity, it is highly probable
that he would have been assassinated.

The apostolic injunction to be "not slothful in
business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,"

BENGAL.

seems to h«ve been engraren on the heart and illus-
trated in the conductor Kristno ; who, whilst diligently
applying himself to his occupation as a carpenter,
embraced every opportunity of addressing some seri-
ous and profitable observations to such of the natives
as happened to come within hearing, whilst he was at
work ; and the following remarks may be considered
as a specimen of his colloquial divinity : " In all
your worship there is no fruit. None of the debtas
died for sinners ; but I have heard from English peo-
ple, in my own language, that the Son of God became
incarnate, to die for guilty men, and suffered inde-
scribable agonies in their stead. This is the greatest
love of which I ever heard ; and at the house of the
missionaries I have seen such love as I never saw be-
fore. When a man believes in Christ, he receives a
new mind ; for this is the fruit of becoming a Chris-
tian." Nor did he confine his religious conversations
to his own countrymen, for when attacked by Euro-
peans or Americans, he always proved himself" valiant
for the truth." " Being at work lately," says Mr.
Ward, « at the house of a Danish gentleman, the lady
asked him whether he had not become a Christian ;
on his replying in the affirmative, she laughed in his
face, and asked him how many rupees he had got ; he
replied that he had weightier reasons than rupees, and
then spoke of the love and salvation of Christ. His
answers have always put to silence the ignorance of
these foolish people." Another day, whilst he was
doing some work at the hotel, two Englishmen derided
him on his having embraced Christianity ; but when
he began to speak to them of the unparalleled love of
Christ, of salvation by him, and of the wickedness of
Europeans in India, they were confounded and speech-
less before this newly-converted Hindoo ! He one
day addressed an aged Portuguese, whose conduct was
inconsistent, telling him that he had laid hold of noth-
ing but the name of Christ ; and at another time,
seeing one of the same nation in a violent passion, he
gently reminded him, that if he had laid hold of the
Redeemer's love instead of his name only, he could not
have acted in so intemperate a manner.

In the beginning of July, the mission sustained a
severe loss in the death of Mr. Brunsdon, of whom
the following interesting account has been given by the
Rev. W. Ward, in a letter dated July 22, 1801 :—

" About the 7th of December, our brother began
to feel very poorly, with what we thought to be a cold,
contracted by standing on the damp floor of the print-
ing office, where we were employed in composing the
Bengalee Testament. He seemed to have a great
deal of bile on his stomach, and, shortly afterwards,
had a bad cough, attended with a considerable degree
of fever. We called in naadical assistance : but !:e

915

contmued growing worse, so that we anticipated fatal
consequences. On the arrival of brother Thomas,
however, the prescribed use of the warm bath produced
a surprising alteration for the better, and from this
period the patient began gradually to amend, though
he still labored under a slow fever.

" Whilst his health seemed gradually improving, he
sometimes appeared apprehensive of losing that happy
frame of mind, and those pecHhar enjoyments, which
he had possessed when more severely afflicted- As
soon as he was able, he went almost daily to the house
of Knstno, to read the Scriptures and converse a little ;
and this he evidently enjoyed very much. Kristno's
wife, who at that time was led aside to idolatry, and
felt averse to the gospel, told me, the other day, that
she should always remember Mr. Brunsdon, who used
to read the word of God, and speak to her, when her
mind was hardened ; as by these means she was con-
vinced of her error, and constrained to unite with the
church of the Redeemer.

" Towards the end of February, our brother became
worse again ; and on the 1st of March, he went with
his wife to Calcutta, to consult an eminent physician,
whose benevolent attention to our departed colleague
has left an indelible sense of obligation on our minds.
He now learned that his principal complamt was aii
enlargement of the spleen, which had been coming on
for some time ; and on this being stated to him, he recol
lected that he had been long troubled with a pain in
his side, for which he could not account.

" On the 8th of Marchj I went to Calcutta, when
he was so much reduced, that I was alarmed and
shocked to see him. From the 14th, he appeared to
be getting worse, and on the 28th, some shivering fits
excited very painful apprehensions concerning him.
Through the greater part of the next month, however,
he appeared to be recovering; and towards the end of
it, he returned home with his wife, who was near the
time of her confinement. At thb time he supposed that
he caught cold, as his throat became sore ; and on his
return to Calcutta, about the 16th of June, it was so
severely ulcerated that he could with difficulty swallow
either food or liquid. This impediment increased, till
one day, on going to see him, I procured a pipe to
convey liquid down his throat ; and with this instru-
ment he made incessant efforts to swallow, but all
proved ineffectual. The ulcer in his throat was now
inaccessible to medicine, and injections of bark became
necessary to keep him alive. I continued with him
till midnight ; and, after taking a little rest, returned
to Serampore in the morning, not expecting any
sudden change for the better or the worse.

" Two days after, we received a letter informing u»
of his departure. Kc died between twelve aad one

«)«

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

o'di^k io th* BMning of July 3, in the twenty-fiHuth
jFMr of hi* age. For sottie hours before bia death, he
•ppaured to suffer severely, and bis cries were truly dia-
tiessing. His last moments, however, were tranquil,
though be was quite insensible. Indeed, such a degree
of derangement existed during the greater part of bis
last affliction, that he was unable either to think upon
or feel his situation. The day before bis death, be was
imwilliog that his wife should leave hira at all ; saying,
' I shall go— I shall go !' He also called the servants
to his bed-side, and bade them adieu, but seemed much
discomposed.

" As soon as we received intelligence of his death,
brother Carey and I went to Calcutta ; and, in the
evening, the brethren Carey, Marshman, and myself,
the friend at whose house our coadjutor had breathed
his last, and sisters Brunsdon and Grant, followed his
remains to the grave. Brother Carey went through
the religious exercises of the interment, in Bengalee
and in English ; which consisted of singing, exhortation,
and prayer. And a number of natives were present,
who seemed somewhat affected with the word, and
with the solemnity of the scene." ^

Komal, the wife of Qokool, had now become an
attentive hearer of the gospel, and appeared snxious
to make an open profession of her attachment to the
cause of the Redeemer ; and the substance of her
experience, as communicated to the church, was to
the following effect : — She had eloped from her hus-
band on account of his inclination to embrace Christi-
anity ; and when her adopted son went after her, and
earnestly besought her to return, she rejected all his
entreaties with anger, though, at the same time, her
conscience intimated that she was acting wrong. When
she came back, and heard her husband talk more about
the gospel, she seemed struck with the surprising love
of Christ in giving himself a ransom for guilty and
perishing creatures, and began to feel, for the first time,
that $he was a sinner. When Gokool was baptized,
she felt'a secret pleasure in contemplating the cere-
mony, which she was incapable of explaining. At
length, after experiencing much distress about the state
of her soul, she resolved to cast herself unreservedly
upon the Lord Jesus for eternal salvation, and deter-
mined to be publicly baptized in his name, let her
countrymen say what they would. As she was always
considered of a frank and open temper, and the mis-
sionaries had no reason to apprehend being imposed
upon by her statement, they gladly admitted her into
their community, and on the 4th of October, she made
a formal renunciation, in baptism, of all her idolatrous
tenets and practices. «' We have now," says Mr.
Marshman, " six baptized Hindoos, whom we consider
more precious thait the most beautiful gems in the

uBiveme. Wo need great prudence, howover, in oar
conduct towards them ; as w« are obHged to encour-
age, to strengthen, to counteract, to advise, to disap>
prove, and to instruct ; and yet to do all in such t
manner as to endear the Saviour to them«and to retain
our own place in their affections."

About the same time, the house and garden adjoin-
ing the mission-house, and occupying about four acre*
of land, were ofiered for sale, and purchased by the
brethren ; who, by this addition to their premises, had
sufficient room, not only for their schools and th«
business which they carried on in printing and book-
binding, but they had also sufficient accommodation
for any new missionaries that might be sent out from
Europe.

In the same month, the number of the missionaries
was once more reduced by the removal of the Rev.
John Thomas ; and as he is distinguished by his hav-
ing been the first person, who, in modern ages, intro-
duced the gospel to the Hindoos, a brief sketch of his
peculiar, yet interesting character, may probably be
acceptable to the reader.

" From the first interview that took place between
him and the society," says the writer of a memdr
published in the Periodical Account*, " we perceived
in him a great degree of sensibility, mixed with seri-
ousness and deep devotion ; and every letter that has
been received from him has breathed, in a greater ox
less degree, the same spirit. His afflictions and disap-
pointments (than whom 'ew men had more in so short
a life) appear to have led hirn much to God, and to a
realizing application of the strong consolations of the
gospel. He seldom walked in an even path; but
either appeared full of cheerful and active love, or as
if destitute of hope. His joys bordered on ecstacy,
his sorrows on despondency. These extremes of feel-
ing rendered him capable of speaking and writing in
a manner peculiar to himself; and it was evident that
almost every thing which dropped from his lips came
directly from his heart.

" His talents were exactly adapted to that kind of
preaching to which he was called, namely, a lively,
metaphorical, and pointed address, dictated by the
circumstances of the moment, and maintained amidst
the interruptions and contradictions of a pagan audi-
ence." In order to illustrate this fact, the author of
the memoir observes, "A large company of Bramins,
pundits, and others, having one day assembled to hear
him, one of the most learned, named Mahashoi, offer-
ed to dispute with him, and began by saying, ' God is
in every thing, and therefore every thing is God.
You are God, and I am God !' ' Fie ! Mahashoi,'
exclaimed Mr. Thomas, ' why do you utter such words ?
Sahaib (meaning himself )% in his clothes : therefore

BCMGAL.

SIT

(pulling off hk hitt, Md tlirowing it on the ground)
this hat is Ssbaiii i Mo, Mvhasboi, you md I ue dying
men, hit God liveih for ever.' This short answer
eompletely silenced his opponent, and fixed the MVen-
tion or the people ; while, as he expressed it, he went
on to proclaim one Ood, <me Saviour, one way, and
one tatte; without, and beside which, all the inven-
tions of men were to be esteemed as nothing.

" Another time, when he was warning the natives
of their sin and danger, a subtle Bramin interrupted
him by inquiring, ' Who created good and evil ?' ' I
know your question of old, 'said the preacher; <and I
understand your meaning too. If a roan revile his
fiither or mother, you consider him a wicked wretch ;
and if he revile his goroo, or teacher, you reckon him
still mora profligate. But what is this,' continued he,
turning and appealing to the people, < what is this in
comparison with the words of this Bramin, who reviles
God ? That adorable Being is not only holy himself,
but all his works ure holy also. Both men and devils
were created in a state of holiness, though they have
rendered themselves vile. He, therefore, who imputes
their sin to God is a wretch, who reproaches his
Maker.

" On another occasion, whilst travelling through the
country, he saw a concourse of people assembling for
the worship of one of their gods, and, passing through
the crowd, placed himself on an elevated spot, by the
side of the idol. The attention of all the worship-
pers was immediately fixed on him, wondering what
he, being a European, intended to do. After beckon-
ing for silence, he gravely pointed with his finger to
the image, and then turning his face to the people, as
if by way of appeal, he exclaimed, ' It has eyes ....
but it cannot see !' — And, proceeding to point out the
different parts which he named, he added, < It has
ears .... but it cannot hear ! — It has hands .... but
it cannot handle ! — It has a mouth .... but it cannot
speak ; neither is there any breath in it !' At this
juncture, an old man in the crowd, stung by these
self-evident truths, exclaimed, ' It has feet, but it can-
not run away !' This unexpected exclamation was
received with a general shout ; the officiating Bramins
were covered with shame ; and the worship for that
time was given up.

" He had a mode of speaking and writing to persons
in genteel life that generally succeeded in reaching
their consciences without giving them offence. One
day, as he was fitting in a gentleman's house at Cal-
cutta, the captain of an Indiaman came in, and began
to curse and swear in the most dreadful manner. Mr.
Thomas, turning himself to his friend, related an
anecdote of a person greatly addicted to swearins,
but wiio, on going into a sober family, entirely left

Vol. I.— Nos. 19 & 20.

off < Now,' said Mr. Thonu, ' ke did this jowaly
for hi* wwn sake, a^ Srom tba iiMr of maa : ho»
much more easy,' continued he, « would it be to nfoun
from such a practice, if weieand God I'— The captain
swore no more while Jnliis company ; and on meeting
him the next day by hifoself, he introduced the sub.
ject, confessing that he was the moot wicked of roea,
though he had been taught better ; but attempting to
excuse himself by aaying it was a habit, and he could
not help it. ' That, sir,' replied Mr. Thomas, ' mokes
your cose worse. If a man get intoxicated once, that
is tad ; but if, by a succession of acts, he have contract-
ed a habit of drunkenness, and cannot avoid it, his cose
is bad indeed ! You should confess your sin to God,
rather than to man : this he has directed you to do,
and this is the way to forsake it and to find piercy.'

" Mr. Thomos was a man to whom no one who knew
him could feel indifferent. He must he either esteemed
or disliked. In most cases, his social and affectionate
deportment excited attachment ; and even in instances
where he has given offence to his friends, a single
interview was generally suflicient to dissipate resent-
ment, and to rekindle former affection.

" His sympathy and generosity, as a medical man,
toward the afflicted Hindoos, though a luxury to his
mind, often affected his health; and, unless gratitude
be unknown among them (as it is said they have no
word in their language which expresses the ideo), his
name will, for some time at least, be gratefully re-
membered."

Respecting the death of this warm-hearted and ex-
cellent missionary,, Mr. Powell writes as follows : —
" You have been accustomed, of late, to receive
gloomy tidings from India ; that the plains of Hindoos-
tan have been the graves of the missionaries. So<m
after one messenger had announced the death of Mr.
Grant, another claimed the attention of your listening
ear, and declared the departure of Mr. Fountain. A
third followed his steps, and repeated the mourqiul tale,
that Mr. Brunsdon was taken away ; and now I have to
tell you, that Mr. Thomas has put off his armor, and
quitted the field of ^tion ! In October, 1799, we
exulted that the missionary cause was so well supported
and strengthened ; that there were seven brethren
engaged in this glorious undertaking. Little did we
then suppose that the period was so near when their
number would be reduced to three !

" You knew enough of Mr. Thomas to feel his loss,
and shed a tear over his memory. Wearied with the
storms and tempests of life, and agitated on the sea of
adversity, he longed for his dismissal, that he might
be with Christ, and enjoy that ' rest which remaineth
for the neonle of God.' Anoallinc as the kinr nf
terrors is to the wicked, his frowns were seldom

118

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

exhibited to our departed friend. He saw this awful
messenger with an angel's face, anxiously waited for
his summons, and anticipated those sublime pleasures
which he was soon permitted to enjoy.

" Toward the close of his illness, his pains were
exceedingly great. He had periodical returns of cold
fits, then a raging fever, then violent vomitings, and
afterwards a dreadful oppression in the stomach, which
threatened speedy suffocation ; so that it occasioned
the most painful sensations to the friends about him.
His mind, however, was divinely supported ; as all his
hopes centred in Christ, and he kne.trno rock but the
Rock of ages. When unable .o read, his mind being well
oioi'ed with scripture, he would frequently repeat pas-
sages appropriate to his condition ; and once, when in
extreme pain, he cried out, ' O death ! \vhere is thy
sting ?' At length, after languishing about a forinight,
he breathed his last on the 13th of October, and was
buried by the side of Mr. Fountain." The Rev. W.
Carey preached a sermon on the occasion of his re-
moval, from John xxi. 19, "This spake he, signify-
ing by what death he should fiorify God."

Whilst death was thus (hinning the ranks of tlic
missionaries, the survivors continued to labor in their
holy and iniporlant vocation with inextinguishable
real and unremitting diligence. In the evening, they
usually went into the streets of Soramporo, wliore
they conversed and disputed on religious subjects with
the natives, and occasionally distributed papers among
thcui, consisting of plain and forrihic addresses to the
consciences of sinners ; and tiiough many of the peo-
ple treated them with derision and insult, yet others
were inclined to listen to their argunu>nts and to peruse
their tracts. In fact, the very opposition which they
experienced proved suh irvicnt lo the cause of the
gospel, as leading to a public controversy, fmni which
the Braminswere compelit:! to retreat, or to hear thoni-
selvcs and their religion exposod to contempt before
the popidace, who had hitherto regarded tlu-rn as a
sort of demi-gods. Some of the brethren, also, itin-
erated through the country, preaching the glad news
of salvalion to nudiitude.s wluvhud never before heard
U, — distributing thousands of printed papers, — and
leaving several copies of the New Testament in such
places as appeared most eligible. During one of these
excursions, Mr. WunI wnt one day detained by a
police oflicer on tiio ground that he wus aciiiig in op-
position to the views and wishes of the Kasl India Com-
pany, in causing ilie natives to losn caste. Our mis-
••ohHry assured him, however, that the papers which
ho distributed were entirely religious; and on his
ofToring to nign them with his own name, ho was int-
niedistoly liberated. The tracts thus signed were
aoiu for oiuminaiion to Ciicutla ; whftre

persons alleged that it was improper to attack the
religion of the natives ; whilst others contended that
there was nothing more in the papers than had been
invariably tolerated in the Roman Catholics, residing
in the company's territories. The subject was there-
fore, dropped, and, during the administration of mar-
quis Wellesley, nothing more was heard respecting it.
The year 1802 was introduced by a solemn thanks-
giving to God for his past mercies, and with the bap-
tizing of a Hindoo of the writer caste, named Petumber
Shingo. This man was so forcibly impressed by the
contents of a religious tract which had been put into
his hands, that he walked from his residence at Foote-
pore to the mission-house, a distance of forty miles,
in order to find out the author and to hear the gospel.
He stated that he had read many liooks, and had been
long inquiring the way of salvation with great anxietv,
but could not find it among tiie Bramins, or in the
Hindoo system ; he had, therefore, long since aban-
doned his idolatrous worship ; and in the truths con-
tained in this paper, he had found the way of life. A
few days after this explanation, he threw away his caste
by eating with the missionaries, and subse(piently to
his baptisut ho maintained such a consistent and re-
spectable ciiarnctnr, that the brethren vere induced to
appoint him their Bengalee schoolmaster.

During the first three months of this year, there
was much to animate the zeal of the missionaries, and
much, at the .same time, to exercise '.heir faith and
patience. In consequence of the distribution of tracts
at Jessore, in the preceding October, several persons
nrrived from that district, expressing a uish to obtain
copies of the NewTestPuient ; many others, both Hin-
doos and Mussuhuen, come to the brethren, incjuiring
the way of salvation ; avsd several F.uropeans, who
hud heard the gospel from their lips, appeared to be
Tuade truly sensible of the things of God, as co.incct-
ed with th/'ir etcrntil welfare. Pleasing anticipations
were also formed, in consecpience of llu! dissemination of
some excellent " Letters on the Evidences of Chris-
tianity," wliieh had tyeen previ'msly published in the
Calcutta Ga/.elte, and wre now rei>rinted nt Seram-
pore. On the other hand,soiiic difllcidlies arose witii
respect to finding employment for the new converts ;
and, in .some instances, the wives ol those who had
renouijccd their pagan religion, refused to live with
them any longer, nnd some unpleasnnt circumstances
in the conduct of the baptized called imperatively for
iiu> exercise of fnithfid nnd wholesome di'ciplinc.
Well itiiglit Mr. Carey say, in a comnumication ad-
dressed to the Rev. Andrew Ftdler, " With regard to
the native converts, you must not suppose they are
without fault!!, or that their kncirle'liru s!>.d st!-:>.!!!!!e<K!
•re equal to those of Christiana in £n|lRud. Vv^e have

BENGAL.

to contend with the versatility of their minds, to bear
with their precipitancy, to nurse them like children in
the ways of knowledge ; somet:mes to rebuke sharp-
ly, sometimes to refrain for the present ; sometimes to
expostulate, sometimes to entreat; and often to carry
all to the throne of grace, and there pour out our
complainis before God. 1 sometimes compare our
situation to that of a parent who has a numerous
family. He must work hard to maintain them ; is
often full of anxious care about them ; and lias much
to endure from their dulness, indolence, or perverse-
ness ; yet still he loves them, because they are his
children, and his affection and anxiety for their future
welfare, mingle pleasure and enjoyment with all his
labors and with all his cares."

On the 4tli of April, the brethren had the satisfac-
tion of baptizing a native who had previously lost
caste, of the name of Syam Doss. Ho liad occasion-
ally heard the gospel in the streets and lanes of Se-
rampore, and was, at length, induced to come to the
mission-house, where he confessed himself to be a
great sinner, and stated his conviction that salvation
was not to be found in the religion of the Hindoos.
On his appearing before the church, ho said that
he was 1, rn a cacsto. but Irst his caste in conse-
quence of having become acquainted with a feringa
woman, with whom he had lived about thirty-five
years in an im|)ropcr intercourse; but sirue his arrival
at Seramporo, ho had bee.i publicly married. After
hearing preaching !n the streets two or three times, he
was led to muso continually upon the death of Christ
as suffered for sinners, and this sacrifice he now nvowed
as his only 1io|K! and ()k'u for salvation. Subsequently
to liis baptism, he proved to bo a siinplo-lioarted and
truly pious tiiaracter, and was iiiade iiistruinoiital
to the conversion of one of his coiinlryineii. It is,
therefore, with painful emotion, the historian is com-
pelled to add, that, in the autumn of the same year
in whi( h ho solomiily dedicated hinisolf ,o the service
of the true God, ho wan cruelly murdered, in return-
ing fi.im a part of iho country where it was hoped
that the Sun of Hishtcousnoss had liogun to rise
upon the benighted po|Mdalion, with healing under his
'viiigs.

Alwut the satne ,:ic tlini thisconveit was admitted
into the church, a llramin cume to Seiampore, stating
that ho livod with D.ilol. the famous leader of a now
Himloo seel, of the origin of which the following par-
ticulars liavjbeonconimunieaietl by Mr, Marshman :—

" About forty years ago, a man. by l.irtli n cow-
keoper, gradually attained lo considemhle reputation
by pretending to cure diseases The natives are sur-
prismgly credulous on this submct t chansis. isicsr-fs-
Uou», holy w«t«r, &c. being in the hiplicsl repute

319

among them. This man, pretending to much sanctity,
drew a great number of people to him, who wero
afflicted with various disorders. To these he gave his
choron amreeta, or amreeta of his foot, taken, no
doubt, from some neighboring ditch; and with 'this
potion he added his blessing, telling his patients to
disregard all debtas, to believe in one God, and to
obey their goroo, as he took it for granted that they
would henceforth resrard him in that character. Among
the great number of those who drank the water of
immortality from his foot, some individuals, of course,
recovered. This appearing to them as the evident
effect of the man's benediction, attached them com-
pletely to his interest; hence they chose him for their
goroo or teacher, and were liberal in their presents to
him. His fame, gradually increasing, drew people
from all parts of the country, and laid the foundation
of a sect which now includes some thousands. The
leader died ; but his widow, desirous of preserving so
lucrative a concern for her son, dispensed the choron
amreeta herself, till he attained to years of maturity.
This son, named Ram Dulol, has settled at the village of
Ghospara, on the opposite side of the river, about eight
miles beyond Chinsurah, and twenty above us. Here he
lives almost in the style and splendor of a rajah, liberally
supported by his devotees, who assemble there from
nil parts of the country, several times in the year, and
seldom come empty-huiided. I have heard that some
of tlicin present him wit"; a hundred rupees at onee.

" His disciples seem io have hut few distinguishing
tenets : the principal are, that caste is nothing, that
the debtas are nothing, and that the Bramins are
nothing. To the power and influence of the latter,
Dulol has succeeded ; but in the first two points they
are by no means consistent ; for though they asseinblo
and eat together every year, yet they dissemble the
fact, and retain their rank in their respective castes
and families ; and, while they profess lo despise the
debtas, they continue their worship, to which they
give the name of outward xeork. They retain the
horrid idea, that (iod, being in us, is the author of
every motion, and consequently of all sin. This sect,
however, may ho considered, in some degree, as a
furtherance to the gospel ; as the chains of superstition
are, to a certain extent, loosened by them."

The Brainin, who had lieen sent to Serainpore by
Dulol, informed the missionaries that hb master had
desired him to get hapti/ed first, and tiien to inform
thorn that he himself would follow, and bring with him
several thousands of his disciples. The bii>tliren,
tlierefore, iliough disregarding this idle tab., resolved
lo pay him a visit ; parlieularly as Krisino, (iokool,

Stfi St-'ii:e iiti:-rr,, 'triio Trrrc i>>rnii>iiy Oi iiiii !ifi;i, EttVtt

it ai their o|tinion that if the gospel were; only proarhed

BAPTIST MISBICWAHY SOCIETY.

at Ohoipat«, it wowM be embraoed #ith cheeriulneas.
Accordingly, <M the 16;h of April, Messrs. Carey and
MaurshmaB, aeoOni]^ied by Krbino, set 6ff in a boat
CD this tepcditioa, <irtd the following day, about noon,
arrived at the creAk ieadihg to (he house of this br-
famed personage.

Going on shore whilst their dinner was preparmg in
the boat, the missionaries met with a Bramin accom-
panied by a few husbandmen ; and one of the latter
availed himself of this opportunity of asking Mr. Carey
whether it w^re reasonable that, in consequence of a
cow dying, he should be obliged to give a rupee to
his own Bramin, and to be put to the additional
expense of feasting four others. Mr. Carey of course
replied in the negative, and proceeded not only to
invalidate the assumed authority of the Bramin?, but
also to demonstrate the insufficiency and absurdity
of the Hindoo religion, and to point out the revealed
will of God, in the Scriptures of truth, as the only
way of eternal salvation. Ho also distributed pa-
pers to such of the party as were capable of read-
ing them, and Kristno undertook to explain their
contents.

About three o'clock in the afternoon, they came
within sight of Dulol's house, which proved to be
a stately edifice, exceeding that of many rajahs, and
surrounded by garners filled with grain, which, having
been presented by his deluded followers, evinced the
profitableness of his tradu. At a short distance was a
large post erected for swinging ; and a little farther
was a raiU, or carriage with several wheels, made in
imitation of that of Juggernaut, and designed for the
same purposes. Dulol had been on a visit to Calcut-
ta ; but whilst our missionaries were conversing with a
considerable number of his followers, it was announced
that he had just returned, and would grant them an
audience.

" In a few moments," says Mr. Marshman, " we
were 'ishcrod into his garden, where chairs were set
for us, and a pink sntin cushion for him. The great
man appeared a figure no loss plump than Harchus,
about twenty years of age. Kristno stood behind us,
facing his former master, with the New Testament in
his hand. A few of Dulol's select followers were ad-
mitted, and the rest disappeared at a nod. The con-
versation was opened by brother Carey, who stated
our visit to l>e for the purpose of having some discourse
iin the i.nportant subject of salvaticm. Dulol, in the
most insinuating manner, asked what we meant by sin
and hell, denying their existence, and inquiring, as
(ind was in us, how sin could be there, since none
were eapable of resisting him ; much time was thus
^pent, in interrogations on one side, and in explanations
on the vtho'. Tnc mamsai wss intporiant ; kh",

though aware tkat we coold not be eonfoted, we were
fearful of bia evading ns; which would have been
ooBstnied, by him and ha disciples throughout tfae
country, into a triumph over the gospel.

" After 8<mie time, we said. You are a master.
' Yes.' If your servants disobey you, bow do you act ?
' I punish them.' Then God is our master, and will
punish our disobedience. ' Ood is not like man ; he
lives in us.' It is true, in a certain sense, that he
lives in us ; as the life, reason, and understanding
which we possess are his gifts ; but these have been
bestowed upon us that we may serve, and not disobey
him. Suppose you send a servant to Calcutta, with a
largo sum, to purchase a variety of articles for your
use, and he go to a house of ill fame and live there on
your money. Any person seeing him, and recognising
him as your servant, might say, What a profligate
man is Dulol ! he actually keeps one of his servants at
a house of infamy ! But if I'lis were said in your hear-
ing, you would naturally reply. It is true he lives there
on my money ; but I gave it to him for a very differ-
ent purpose, and will punish him when he returns
home. ' God is not like us ; he can sway the mind ;
and, therefore, it is impossible to draw a parallel.'
We grant it ; but for the sake of argument, we will
suppose you equally capable of influencing the mind
of your servant. If, then, you, after solemnly warning
him of the consequences of disobedience, turn his
mind, which was not previously disobedient, and incline
him,who would otherwise have been unwilling, to spend
your money in lewdness and intemperance, will not
people naturally exclaim. What a villain is his masterl
Now, it is in this way that you represent the Deity,
when you assert, that he, being within us, causes us to
I'ommit those very crimes which he has forbiddsn un-
der the severest penalties.

" This statement quite disconcerted Dulol ; who,
indeed, attempted several evasions, but altogether in
vain. Brother Carey then told him, that God had
sent his word hither to reveal the true way of salva-
tion, and that wc had brought a copy for his nrreptance.
At this, he was evidently disconcerted ; as if convinced
that the mere taking of the lM>ok would be a virtual
abandonment of all his pretensions. He, therciure, said,
' This is tho flrst time I have seen you ; and though your
words are very good, we must be better acquainted
before I can receive your book.* Seeing it wjudd be
in vain to press him, we withdraw ; lolling him that
we should be happy to see him at Serampore ; that
our wish was only to examine, in a free and candid
manner, for the snko of discovering divine tnith ; and
that, as we had found the w<ird of God a sovereign
remedy when wc ourselves were sick unto death, we
w«rr« lisiuntiiy ioiiviiinii to snuudsvC !« ts otnsrS| wnsm

w« knew tobe^«bori^ under the same disease,
thus, in mutusl good humor, we parted."

On the 10th of May, Mr. Ward was married to
Mrs. Fountain ; and for the first time the nuptial cere-
mony was performed by the missionaries ; all their
previous marriages having been solemnized by an Eng-
lish clergyman. Mr. Carey introduced the business
by a few words, and read a form of marriage agree-
ment, which had been drawn up with the concurrence
of the civil authorities. Mr. Ward then took the
bride by her hand, and walked up to the table, saying,
" We sign this our solemn covenant to each other."
They then signed it, and about a dozen friends, Euro-
pean and Bengalee, added their signatures. After this,
Mr. Carey delivered a very appropriate address on the
relative duties of husband and wife, and made an
interesting allusion to ti.s situation of the missionary
family, in which all personal and individual interests
were swallowed up in the general . interest of the
whole. A short prayer concluded the service, and
some fruit and other articles were distributed among
the native friends by the bridegroom.

About a fortnight after this, three Mussulmen came
from a distance of nearly sixty miles to inquire after
the neta way. They consented to stay a few days
with the missionaries : and, though they ajjpeared to
find much difficulty in the doctrine of the Trinity, the
sonship of Christ, 8ic., they listened with grjat atten-
tion to all that was told them concerning the plan of sal-
vation, and stated their objections with great candor and
ingenuousness. In fact, they appeared nuich pleased
with their visit, and earnestly invitt-d the brethren to
their villages, promising to accompany them through
that part of the country.

The evening preceding their departure, Kristno's
eldest daughter, Golok, having previously returned to
her father's house, and expressed an earnest desire for
baptism, gave in her experience before the church.
The substance of it was, that she had first heard the
gospel from her father, soon after the missionaries had
removed to Sorampore, and was then convinced that
she needed sudi a Saviour as was revealed therein.
When carried off by hor husband, she still remained
attached tnChristianity.and was, on one occasion, over-
heard whilst pouring out her soul in prayer before
Jesus. This procured her a severe beating from her
husband ; and she was aQorwards under the necessity
of praying silently. Whan repeatedly urged to eat
things offered to the Hindoo gods, she constantly or.d
peremptorily refused, saying that dumb idols could do
nothing towards the salvation of the soul. She appear-
ed suitably affected by the idea of being in'niittod into
fellowship with the people of God; and on the first sab-

BEN6AL.

And

8»l

of the samo month, Miss Rumohr, a German Udf
residing at Serampor*, went Ibrowgh the same religious
ceremony; and on the 4th of July, four more natives
were baptised ; namely, Peroo, a Mussulman ; Bbanit,
a Hindoo ; Petumber Mittre, a kaist firom Jessie, and
Dropodee, his wife.

Towards the latter end of July, on^ of the Mussul-
nien, who had solicited the missionaries to visit their
villages, came again, for the purpose of conducting
any of them who were inclined to go thither. The
only person capable of undertaking so 1 ig a journey
was Mr. Marshman. He, however, readily consented,
and took with him the new converts, Petumber Mittre
and Bharut.

On their areival at the place of their destination,
situated in the district of Jessore, near the river Isa-
muty, they found about two hundred persons, com-
prisuig Mussulmen and Hindoos ; the latter of whom
were formerly of various orders, but had for several
years renounced the gradations of caste altogether.
Many of them, indeed, appeared to be convinced of
the absurdity and wickedness both of the Hindoo and
Mahometan faith, and expressed a strong desire to
hear the gospel, confessing thai they were totally ig-
norant of the right way. Mr. Marshman's reception,
therefore, exceeded his most sanguine expectations ;
and on his arriving at the place appointed for preach-
ing, the people came flocking together, and, sitting
down on the grass, desired iiim to enter immediately
on the subject. After having listened with profound
attention for about half an hour, they requested the
preacher to rest, and take some refreshment. He did
so, and then resumed his discourse. They heard most
attentively, occasionally proposing questions, and re-
quiring proof for every thing that was advanced, hut
in the most candid and friendly manner. Some of
the ideas brought forward made an evident impression
on them ; particularly that of God's hatred of sin being
more strikingly manifested m the death of his Son,
than it would have been in the everiasting puni^^hment
of the whole posterity of Adam.

After discoursing for three or four hours, Mr. Marsh-
man observed, that they must bo weary, and proposed
retiring to his boat To this they readily acceded ;
but they followed him to the water side, and, whilst
he lay down to sleep, they entered into close conver-
sation with Petumber Mittre. In nlwut two hourc, our
missionary arose, and renewed his pleasing and truly
inipoi tunt w ork. Taking as the basis of his disoourte
those beautiful words of the apostle, " Wo pray you,
in Christ's stead, be yo reconciled to God," he de-
scribed tiieawfuldistance which sin had placed l>ctwoen
(lod and man, and showed the utter insuflicioncy of
baihin June, was baptised by Mr. Carey. On the i;iih il all other ways of reconciliation than that pointed out

^^p

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

in the gospel. After this, the hearers retired to a
viranda, where they spent the evening, sitting around
their visitors, and asking questions relative to Ciirist,
the resurrection, and a future state. At nine o'clock,
Mr. Marshraan retired, full of astonishment and thank-
fulness at what had transpired in the day.

" These people, amounting to some hundreds,"
says the editor of the Brief Narrative, " had, for the
last fourteen years, begun to dislike the idolatry of the
country ; and, attaching themselves to a grave, elderly
man, named Neelo, as their goroo or teacher, had,
from that time, been inquiring after the right way.
The old man had taught them that there was
one God, who alone was to be worshipped ; that sin
was to be forsaken ; and that a further revelation was
to be expected ; and it was in consequence of his
having heard of the missionaries, that a person was
sent to Serampore, to request them to visit their part
of the country. After Mr. Marshman had spent the
Lord's day among them, the old man look him aside,
for private conversation, and appeared to be very
averse from the system of the Bramins, and very
friendly to the gospel, as opposed to it ; reconimend-
ing tlio latter, also, to his people, as the revelation
which he had encouraged them to expect.

After our missionary had set out on his return, Pe-
tumber Mittre told him of another famous goroo,
named Sceb Ram Dass, who had rejerted idolatry,
and had drawn to liimself nearly twenty tiiousand disci-
ples, Hindoos and Mussuhnen. Petuniher added that
he had once been among the number of his followers,
and seemed to think it probable tiiat botii the goroo
and his adherents might be nov- inclined to hear the
gospel. He, therefore, despatched a note to his former
teacher, accompanied with a written intimation from
Mr. Murshmnn, tliat he was coming to prcarh the
word of the living God to all who might feel inclined
to r.ssemble and hear it.

"Being now witliin ton miles of Juggordundiikatly,
the residence of this man," says Mr. Marslmi<m, " I
thoiight it would not bo liino thrown away to call there.
But the road was cxreediiig difficult. By land, the
kolls of water rendered it almost imi)ussable ; and by
water, it wao a long and ivdious way. However, on
the !8th of Augu.st, we set olT, about three o'chxk in
the morning, with our Imats, and wandered in the rire
fiehN. Hero it was truly curious to see the boats
makini^ their way, with comparnlivo ouso, though the
corn was so high, that it was scarcely possible to per-
ceive any water. As we were prweoding, wo s-w
two Bramins at a distance, and one of them came up
10 us. We l<.ld him, in a few words, that his shaslor-i
were false, and his deblas wick.id, and, consequently,
'.hat he could nevor be saved by consultinjs or wor-

shipping them. We also told him of the death of
Christ, as the only atonement for siu, and gave him
some papers to take home with him.

" About two o'clock in the afternoon, there being
not more than twelve inches of water in the field we
were obliged to stop, near something like a bazaar
where Petumber met with some of Ram Daas's peo>
pie. They appeared pleased with our errand ; led us
by a passable way; and sent one of their ni-mber
bfcfore, to provide a boat, that we might go up a small
river called the Byetna, to the habitation of Ram Dass.
We arrived aboet six o'clock ; but the aspect of Jug-
gerdundakatty was widely different from that of Ghos-
para. Here, indeed, were storehouses well filled, and
heaps of grain in the yard, which I suppose they had
been cleaning ; but, though every thing wore the ap-
pearance of plenty, here was no magnificence ; noth-
ing but mud walls.

" The old man wi sitting in the shade, on a blanket,
surrounded by a , of his followers. He ordered
a mat for me, and in a few moments nearly a hundred
of his disciples seated themselves on the ground around
us. We now entered on the subject of the gospel,
and the goroo, who listened with apparent approbation,
said that my words were true, and frequently con-
versed with his attendants. After a conversation of
more than two hours, in which 1 described the neces-
sity of Christ's death, and the impossibility of being
reconciled to God without such an atonement, 1 pre-
sented him with a Testament, which he received kindly ;
and, in return, treated me with milk, plantains, and
sweetmeats ; requesting me to remain with him a few
days. His .son, named Sonutoii, a fine youth about
twenty yenis of age, mo\^ took mq into a room re-
sembling an out-house in a farm-yard in England, only
the floor and mud walls »erc rall><T smoother. Hero
he spread a mat foi me to sleep on ; whilst the old
man eoiitimicd conversing with Bharut and Petumber
lill nearly midnight.

" The next morning, at sun-rising, the old gentle-
man had a place swept in his orejiaid, where u blanket
"as .spread for him.self, mats were brought for the poo-
pie, and a chuir was phiceil for mo. Two Bramins,
who reside in the vicinity, and who, 1 afterwards found,
hud imbibed something of the old man's sentiments,
joined our parly, uiuj proved to be very pleasant and
sensible men. As the goroo was busily employed in
smokiii)!;, I directed my discourse |)rincipally to them,
and went over nearly the same ground as on the pre-
toding evening. They seemed to hear with approbu-
iion, and made some pertinent ob.servatioiis ; hut when
I asked whother they rejected idolatry, they appeared
unwilling to answer. When ihey unilerstood that I
had papers with me, tlicy wished to ho made a- quaiiilud

BENGAL.

with their contents; and on my reading one of them,
containing a summary of the gospel, they seemed
much pleased, and spoke highly of it, as containing
'good words.'

" We now retired to the house, and they gave me
railk and plantains for breakfast ; whilst Sonaton, the
goroo's son, sat down in the yprd, with a circle around
him, and read one of the tracts of twenty pages quite
through. I afterwards committed about three hundred
of these tracts, and three Testaments, to the care of
Sonaton, to be distributed as he thought proper among
his father's followers. After 1 had dined on rice, fish,
butter, and plantains, the old gentleman took me
aside, and desired that what God had given us to do
might be done quickly ; and Sonaton, with six or
seven otiier persons, accompanied me down the Byetna
in my way home."

On the a7tli of September, three of Neelo's friends
arrived at Serampore, with the intelligence that the
Bramms of Luckphool (the place of their residence)
had raised a violent persecution against them, subse-
quently to Mr. Marshuian's visit. That faithful servant
of God had been hung in effigy soon after his depart-
ure ; the papers which had been distributed by him
were torn in pieces, and hung up near the houses of
those who had received them ; other papers of a
scurrilous tendency had been exhibited ; and the mes-
sengers, on sotting out for Serampore, were hissed
away by a deluded mob. Notwithstanding these dis-
couraging circumstances, however, Me is. Wnrd and
Carey visited ilio scone of persecution in the follow-
ing months, and had much conversation with Neelo
and lis friends, who agreed to set up a srhool, and
even jiroposod building a place for the celebration of
Christian worship.

The year 180;) was introduced with some unpleas-
ant occurrences nmoiig the native converts, and Kristno,
though an upright character, by giving way to an
irrilabihty of tempor, produced a schism in the church,
which, without the most prudent management, might
have led to very serious conso(|uonres. The particu-
lars are thus related by Mr. Ward .— •< When Felix
Carey, !'etuinl)cr,l{«m bass and I went.on r.ord'»-day
morning, January «, to worship at Kristno's house, we
found that he had already commonred the service
himself After singing, I expected he would have left
Uio maPf^rs.ient to me or Felix ; but he engaged in
prayer, yiid «(!arwards began a kind of sermon, ob-
•orvin^ l!i»f, as this was the beginning of the year, ho
inte-ried n iiegin to preach. Aitoi the sermon, they
joineo II, singing, and Kristno prayed again. I was
grieved at mis irregularity, and withdrew in silence.
In tha afternoon, Krisino proceeded still further: he
a4fr.in?5t5fei{ the Ixird'i iupper, •iiU ilm native mem-

383

hers attended. His zeal appears to have been excited
by a feeling of jealousy, in consequence of our having
sent Petumber to preach at a place called Sooksau-
gur.'' It is pleasing to add that, by the forbearance
and friendly expostulations of the missionaries, Kristno
was soon convinced of his error, and all was happilv
rectified. ^^ •'

About the same time, symptoms of repentance were
discovered in Gokool, who had been previously ex-
eluded from the church for intemperate conduct ; and
two new visitors, Boodhessa and Kristno Presaud
arrived at Serampore, anxiously inquiring after the way
of salvation. The former was a Mussulman, who
having seen one of the printed tracts, and conferred
with his acquaintance respecting its contents, had come
an eight days' journey, in quest of further intelligence.
The latter was a young Bramin from Dahatta. On
the 22d of January, they were both baptized ; and as
Boodhessa was extremely anxious that some person
might go with him to his part of the country, where
he stated that there were some thousands who had
totally renounced the Koran, and the Hindoo shasters,
Kristno was appointed for that purpose.

A few days afterward, Mr. Chamberiain, who had
been solemnly designated as a missionary to India, in
the preceding year, arrived with his wife at Seram-
pore. Here he and his beloved partner received a
truly cordial welcome from the missionaries, and the
.lativc converts (who anxiously inquired whether their
new brother and sister had left father, mother,
brothers, or sisters) evinced a peculiar degree of in-
terest and attachment on this occasion. " They can-
not speak our language," said one of them, " but we
perceive that all ojr hearts are one, and that we are
completely united in T .■ death of Christ."

On the (5th of March, Petumber Shingo began
preaching in Bengalee to a mixed congregation ol
Hindoos, Mahometans, Armenians, and Europeans.
After praying for a short time with feivornnd consist-
ency, ho sat down, and, with his hands joined together
and stretched out, solicited the attention of his auditors.
Ho then spoke for an hour, with great faithfulness and
propriety, and closed the service with prayer. The
missionaries felt completely satisfied with the manner
in which ho acquitted himscli j and as this was the
first sermon delivered by a native, they considered
it as an important era in the history of the mission.

On the 4th of Ajiril, Kristno Presaud was married
to Oiiundu, Kristno's second daughter, and the nuptial
ceremony was performed mucli in the same way as
Mr. Ward's had been. The dpy following, (he new
married -ouplo and the missionaries had a supper at
Kristno's house, consisting of curry, fried fish, vezett-
bies, fee. ; and whilst they all sat down together.

BAPTIST MISSION ARV SOCIETY.

>nthout distinction of c<dor Or country, som* of the
migfabon looked on with the greatest astonbhment.
It was, indeed, a new and singular sight in a land
where the diffisrence between clean and unclean is so
scrupulously regarded, and might be justly considered
as a glorious triumph over the caste.

On the fourth sabbath in April, Kristno Presaud,
Ram Roiun, and some other converts, attempted to
communicate the glad tidings of salvation to the in-
habitants of Budabatty ; but, though some persons
listened to them with sciousness and attention, they
met with the most violent opposition from the mob,
who abused and threatened them, as feringas, as de-
stroyers of caste, and as having eaten fowb, eggs, and
other prohibited articles of food. On their attempting
to return, some of the populace began to beat them,
putting their hands on the back of their necks, and
ferociously pushing them forward ; and a man who was
a civil officer grazed the point of a spear against the
body of one of them. Finding that all these Insults
were endured with patience and meekness, the deluded
idolaters threw cow-dung mixed with gunga water at
them ; talked of making them a necklace of old shoes ;
and threatened that if ever they appeared there again,
their lives should be sacrificed. As they were prepar-
ing to depart, the converted natives attempted to pray;
but the infuriated multitude began, with one consent,
to boot and clap their hands, in order to drown their
voices ; so that they were compelled to desist.

The native convert Gokool had, for some time,
appeared to be drawing near his end, and, on the 7th
of October, he entered into that " rest which remaineth
for the people of God." About two hours before, he
called his professing countrymen around him to sing
and pray, and appeared to be perfectly resigned and
tranquil. " Some of the neighbors," says Mr. Marsh-
nan, " had been persuading him, the day before, to
employ a native doctor ; but he peremptorily refused,
saying, he would have no physician but Jesus Christ.
On their asking, ' How is it that you, who have turned
to Christ, should be thus afflicted ?' he replied, ' My
affliction is on account of my sins : my Lord docs all
things well !' Observing Koniul (who was a most
affectionate wifi;) in tears, ho said, ' Why do you
weep for me ?' From the beginning of his illness he
had little hope of recovery ; yet he never murmured,
nor appeared at all anxious for medicine. His patience,
indeed, was astonishing, and his tranquil and happy
end has made a deep impression on our friends, who
fVequonlly say to each other, ' May my mind bt n$
Ookool't wa$ !' "

As this was Uh< first convert»ul native who had died,
th* missionaries felt anvioun to sot such an example
of (^hriftian burial as might be favorable to the Kosoel.

Accordingly, they ordered some carpenters in tbeiir
employ to make a decent coffin, and this was covered,
both within and on the outside, by> Kristno, at his own
expense, with white muslin. A great number of people
having assembled to witness the interment, two of the
brethren and two of the professing natives took up
the corpse, and, with the assistance of two others,
carried it to the grave. " Here," says Mr. Marshman,
" we sang two appropriate hymns ; and, as the crowd
was still accumulating, I endeavored to show the
grounds of our joyfiil hope, even in death, referring
to the deceased for a proof of its efficacy. I told the
spectators that he had been a great sinner, as they all
knew, and therefore could find no way of salvation in
the Hindoo system; but when he heard of Jesus
Christ, he received him as a suitable and all-sufficient
Saviour, and, putting his trust in him, died full of a
tranquil hope. After entreating them to consider their
own state, i offered up a prayer, sang a Bengalee
hymn, and distributed some papers among the people,
who probably amounted to about five hundred. They
seemed much struck with the novelty of the scene,
and with the love which Christians manifest toward
each other, even in death ; so widely different from
their practice of throwing their relations half dead into
the river, or burning their bodies, with, perhaps, a
solitary attendant."

In the course of this year (1803), the directors
presented a copy of the Bengalee New Testament
and of the Pentateuch to his late majesty, by whom
they were graciously accepted ; and about the same
time, measures were adopted for translating the Holy
Scriptures into various other oriental languages.

In the niontli of January, 1804, Mr. Chamberlain
and Felix Carey, accompanied by two of the native
converts, went to Saugur island, for the purpose of
distributing Testaments and religious tracts among the
Hindoos, who assemble there in immense crowds, at
that season of the year, to bathe in the Gunga Saugor,
or the confluence of the river Hoogley and the sea.
As they approached the island, they were overwhelmed
with astonishment at the prodigious number of boats,
which seemed jammed together for a vast extent,
whilst multitudes upon multitudes of |)eople had pitch-
ed theii tents on shore, partly on a large sand-bank,
and partly in the jungle. Here an immensely populcus
town had beeri raised in a very few days, full of streets,
lanes, and bazaars ; in which many sorts of trade w..u
going on, with all the hurry and bustle of the most
flourishing city. On our visitors leaving the hohts
and goi.ig among the pnopie, th^y witnessed tlic works
of idolatry and blind superstition. Crowds of infatuat-
ed men, women, and children, high and low, rich
and Door. were bathine in the

river and worshinninE

BENGAL.

SS5

Gunga, by making salaams, and spreading offerings
of rice, flowers, and cowries, for the goddess to take
on the return of the tide. Formerly it was customary
for manj of the devotees to sacrifice themselves or
their children to the sharks and alligators, which abound
in this part of the river ; but the East India Company
have now prohibited this horrid practice, and have
stationed sepoys along the side of the water, effectually
to prevent it. The mud and water of this place are
accounted so sacred, that they are carried, in large
quantities, on men's shoulders, to a distance of some
hundreds of miles ; and the worshipperr> who resort
hither cai;efully daub themselves with the former, and
sprinkle their bodies with the latter, under the idea
that they are thus cleansed from all moral defilement.
Many of the boats were filled with people, some of
whom presented the most disgusting sight that can be
easily imagined. Their hair and beards had been
suffered to grow to an enormous length ; their clothing
was scarcely sufficient for the purpose of decency ;
and their bodies were covered with figures of the most
odious and abominable description. Some of these
wretched creatures i ,d performed a journey of four
or five months, with no other view than that of bathing
in the Gunga Saugor !

" As we passed along," says Mr. Chamberlain, " I
began our work by asking a man why he was come
hither, and then desiring Felix to carry on the con-
versation ; and, though the people were, at first, greatly
surprised to see Sakatbs or Europeans among them,
they made their salaams to us, and were very attentive,
wliilst Felix and Kristno addressed some of them,
and I endeavored to speak to many more. Never,
indeed, had I greater satisfaction than whilst engaged
in conversing seriously with them, and distributing
tracts and Testaments. The seriousness with which
tlio people listened to that which was spoken, their
eagerness for the books, and the peculiarity of their
circumstances, never having heard of tlie Saviour be-
fore, gave me such pleasure as I am unable to express.
Two respectable persons, to wliom I spoke with some
liberty respecting the death of our blessed Lord,
heard with great attention, and the oldest man was so
much affected, that tears gushed into his eyes and
rolled down his cheeks." The multitude assembled
on this occasion was computed at upwards of a hun-
dred thousand persons ; and most of those to whom
books or tmcts were c<ven, had come from distant
parts of the country, where the way of salvation had
never Iwen explained, and the blessings of the frnspel
were utterly unknown.

A few days afterward, Mr. Fernandci, who had

fliatrir

a t ri }\i 1 1 1 n dr or^m a

»n<l T,

octntvtAsn ta «#

place called Culna, had an opportunity, on his return.
Vol.. I.— Nos. l!)«i .H). 31

of witnessing some of the melancholy effects of supers
stition and the Hindoo shasters. About ten o'clock
at night, hearing the groans of some person on shore,
apparently in great distress, this gentleman sent some
of his rowers to ascertain what was the matter ; and
they returned with the intelligence that a poor sick
man, afflicted with the bloody flux, and considered
incurable, had been brought to the side of the river,
and there left to expire by himself. " On being in-
formed of this," says Mr. Fernandez, "I wished to
give him some castor oil ; but while I was preparing
the medicine, we saw a pack of dogs and jackals
dragging and voraciously devouring something near
the little hut where this poor creature lay. 1 imme*
diately despatched some of my people, with a Ught, to
see what li wbs ; uiiJ on ilieir return they brought the
melancholy news that the man was actually killed,
and partly devoured by these ferocious animals ; and
in about two hours more, the whole body was com-
pletely consumed ! My heart ached exceedingly
whilst musing on this shocking occurrence, and I felt
acutely for the poor, unenlightened Hindoos !"•

Early in February, Kristno and Petumber Shingo
were solemnly set apart for the work of the ministry,
with prayer and imposition of hands, and on the same
day, a prayer-meeting was held for imploring a blessing
on the undertaking of Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain,
who were about to remove to Cutwa, where they
afterwards took a piece of ground for a new missionary
station. Two more schools were also opened, in the
month of May, under the superintendence of native
teachers, one at Bishoohurry, and the other at Arenda ;
where adults, as well as children, were encouraged to
attend for instruction.

On the 7th of July, one of the converted natives,
named Totaram, was called to exchange w jrlds, after
a short illness ; and all who knew him, both Europeans
and heathen, were constrained to bear testimony to
the correctness of his walk and conversation. He
was buried in the cemetery belonging to the mission-
aries, and those who had been made the happy instru-
ments of instructing him in the things of God, cheer-
fully assisted in conveying his mortal remains to their
long home. " Carrying the corpse of a brother on
our shoulders," soys Mr. Ward, " would probably
shock any European who should hear of it ; but the
natives said it was great love, and proved that wo did
not forsake those who joined themselves unto us,
oven to the last. We sang at the orsivo ; bn-iher
Marshman addressed the spectators ; and \ clossd
with prayer."

Towanis the latter end of August, a most tender
..„.) «av. : i^^ _.u;_i. i i,- :_._!..

styled *■ a missionary conflict," was exhibited at Seram-

926

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

mnn

1^! I

pore, and has been thus described in the journal of
the Rev. W. Ward :—

" I was, one day, sitting among our native brethren
at the Bengalee school, hearing them read and explain
a portion of the Scriptures m turn, when a venerable,
gray-headed, and well-dressed Bramin came in ; and,
standing before me, said, with joined hands, and in a
supplicating tone of voice, < Sahib ! I am come to ask
an alms. Yes !' said he hastily, and beginning to
weep, ' I am come to solicit an . . . alms.' As he
continued standing, with his hands in a supplicating
posture, and tears falling from his eyes, I requested
him to explain his meaning, observing that his appear-
ance did not convey the idea of his wanting any
pecuniary assistance. Being pressed on this subject,
he at length entreated me lu give hhu his ouu, puint-
ing, at the same time, into the midst of our native
brethren. On asking to which of the pupils he alluded,
he pointed out a young Bramin named Soroop, and,
setting up a plaintive cry, said, ' Thai is my son !'
We now endeavored to console the old man, and at
length persuaded him to sit down upon the viranda.
Here, however, he began to weep again, and said, that
the youth's mother was dying with grief, and that
if he would only go home and see her, he should be
M liberty either to remain there, or to return again,
according to his own inclination. I asked his name
and place of abode ; and he said he lived about twenty-
eight miles off, mentioning the name of the village.
I told him, that since his son had come among us,
no control had been exercised over him, and that he
was now at full liberty to act according to the dictates
of his own mind. On my saying this, he appeared
completely overcome, and threw himself at my feet,
thanking me with a flood of tears. I prevailed upon
him to rise, and endeavored to assuage his grief ; but,
at the same time, asked him how he could bear the
thought of taking his son back into Hindooism, and
leading him to hell, now he had begun to think about
Christ, and was learning the way to heaven. At all
events, 1 told him, Soroop must remain with us
during the night, that his mind might become perfectly
calm, and that he might pray for divine direction ;
and then, in the morning, if he would come, and his
son chose to go with him, no obstacle should be thrown
in his way. The o'd Bramin, however, seemed very
reluctant to agree to this proposal; observing that
Soroop's jKwr old mother was really dying with grief,

.... and if he would but go, and, if he did not

like to stay, ho iniKht write a deed of separation for
tlie preservation of their caste, and that then he might
do as he thought proper. I told him, if his son were
a child, he might lay his commands upon him ; but
that, imving atiained to tlie age of nearly twenty years,

he ought to be allowed to choose a religion for him-
self. To this the old man assented, observing that it
was certainly, not m his power now to effect any thing
by force.

" After some time, the Bramin called his son aside,
and set up a lamentable cry, weeping over him, and
earnestly entreating him to comply with his request ;
so that I was much afraid lest the tenderness and
excessive grief of the old man should overcome our
pupil. He, however, appeared firmly resolved not
to go, and when his father was going out, after con-
senting that he should remain with us during the night,
he went lip to one of our aged brethren, and fell at
his feet, assuring him 'that he would not return home ;
for that, if he did, he should inevitably go to hell.
Going out at the door of the school-house, I found that
the old man had fallen down in an agony of grief, and
that some of his disciples were raising him up, and
endeavoring to persuade him to go with them. I also
tried to moderate his grief, and at length he got up
and walked away with his disciples.

" The next morning a number of people assembled
at the school with Soroop's father : the son, however,
persisted that he would not return home now, but
said he would gq soon, meaning after he should have
been baptized. At length a person, who seemed to
be a particular friend of the old Bramin, inquired
whether Soroop had eaten among our brethren, and
was answered in the affirmative. Finding, therefore,
that he would not go, and that ho had already lost
caste, they were under the necessity of departing
without him ; though the old man declared that he
would never return to his habitation without his son,
but would rather lie down and die in Serampore." —
Soroop was admitted into the church, by the rite of
baptism, in the month of September, with two other
young natives of the writer caste. And there is
reason to suppose that the illness of his mother, so
affectingly described by the old Bramin, was a mere
pretence to inveigle the son once more into the snares
of idolatry.

In the month of October, Ram Mohun, a converted
native, who had been baptized in the spring, preached
to about forty of his countrymen at Calcutta, with
great freedom and consistency, declaring unto them
the atonement of Christ as the only mean of salvation.
The husband of Golok, Kristno's eldest daughter, also
came to reside with her in her father's house, and
consented to come under the sound of the gospel ; and
Mr. Felix Carsy was married to a young woman at
Calcutta, by the Rev. Mr. Buchanan.

The 14th of November was marked by llie death of
Mrs. Chamberlain, whose amiable spirit and character
had endeared her to all with whom she was arquniiited.

BENGAL.

227

It seems to have been the mutual wish of herself and
the sisters at Serampore, that she should have returned
from Cutwa, previously to her confinement. This,
however, was rendered impracticable ; and, notwith-
standing the merciful deliverance which she experi-
enced in the hour of nature's sorrow, it appeared that
Death had been permitted to mark her out as one of
his victims ; and in a few days she expired, with
unshaken confidence in that blessed Redeemer, on
whom she had been previously enabled to cast all her
concerns and to centre all her hopes.

In alluding to this melancholy subject, Mr. Marsh-
man, who had been deputed by the female friends at
Seramp' -e to conduct Mrs. Chamberlain thither,
remarks, " The agony of her dear, bereaved partner I
must leave you to figure to yourself; it is too much
for me to write. Indeed it pierces me to the soul,
even now, to think of his hanging over the lifeless
clay, and exclaiming, ' O ! my dear Hannah ! Speak to
me once more, my beloved Hannah !' By the promise
of a handsome reward, I got some carpenters to make a
coffin, and by the same motive induced the gardener
and another man to assist me in digging a grave ; but
though this was just at the top of the garden, and only
about thirty yards distant from the house, I could not
prevail on any of the servants to assist me in conveying
the corpse thither. My dear afflicted brother and
myself, therefore, by slow degrees, conveyed the
precious remains of the deceased to the spot destined
for their repose till the resurre.ction of the just ; and
a short prayer in the Bengalee concluded the mourn-
ful scene."

At the close of 1804, the missionaries speak of
having baptized seventeen persons in the course of
the year ; and though some irregularities and defections
had occurred among their members, they were by no
means disheartened ; on the contrary, Mr. Carey, in
a letter dated December 12, says that, notwithstanding
their disappointments from individuals, he conceives
the church to be, upon the whole, in a more promising
state than it had been at any former period since the
commencement of the mission.

The year 1805 was introduced with a plan for
erecting a new place of worship at Calcutta, where the
gospel had been hitherto preached in a private house ;
and at a meeting held on the subject, on the first of
January, four thousand eight hundred rupees were
advanced, a: the commencement of a subscription
toward carrying so desirable an object into effect.

Towards t>ie latter end of February, four new
missionaries, Bfessrs. Blss, Mardon, Moore, and Rowe,
who had been designated for this important work in

tiic 3uiu:iir: ui

„i* ■ n^.rk

ctj.3, 3nti naa set ssii lur luiiid, by way
of America, early in the ensuing year, arrived in safety

at Serampore, after a tedious and perilous voyage ;
and were taken into the church in a very solemn and
affectionate manner. Mr. Moore, in communicating
this intelligence to a friend in England, gives a concise
description of the mission-house, to which he and his
brethren were now introduced, and which will, no
doubt, be acceptable to the reader : —

" The mission-house is pleasantly situated on the
banks of a river, about half a mile wide. As soon as
we ascend the bank, which is rather steep, we pass
through a gate into a lawn, one hundred and twenty
feet by ninety. The first apartment we enter by a
flight of steps from the green is the museum, which
is about sixty feet by twenty-four ; and at each end
there is a room of the same dimensions. The
apartment used for preaching is of the same size as
the museum, with a room at each end, twenty-four
feet square. The next is the hall, or dining-room,
ninety-five feet by twenty-one. The houses belong-
ing to the brethren Carey and Ward, form the two
wings in front adjoining the hall. We occupy one of
the rooms at the end of the museum, and have a-full view
of lord Wellesley's park. Brother Marshman's habi-
tation is not quite so large as the mission-house, and is
about a hundred yards farther up the river. The girls'
school is kept in it ; but the boys' school is situated
between the two houses, as are also the printing and
binding office, and the foundery for the types. There
are several other buildings on the premises, which
consist of about eight acres of land."

On the 28th of March, an extensive piece of
ground, with several buildings upon it, adjoining the
mission premises, being put up to auction, it was
deemed advisable to secure it ; and accordingly it
was purchased by the brethren, for the sum of
fourteen thousand rupees, or about eighteen hundred
pounds sterling. The missionaries state, that they
were under the necessity of borrowing money to
effect this purchase ; but one warehouse belonging to
the estate was let for nearly sufficient to pay the
interest.

On the 18th of May, colonel Die died, in the
seventy-fifth yearorhis age, universally respected and
lamented as a governor. His mind had been culti-
vated by a liberal education ; his sentiments were noble
and enlarged ; and he revered good men of all denom-
inations ; whilst modem infidelity was the object of
his contempt and detestation. A ray of divine light
appears to have cheered his dying hours, and for a
great part of the night preceding his dissolution, he
seemed fully engaged in pouring out his supplications
before the blessed Redeemer. The next morning, he
was suieumiy interred by tiie Rev. W. Carey ; and
his funeral was attended by all the missionaries, and

938

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

by most of the Europeans resident in the settlement.
"The natives seemed to be overwhehned with grief on
this solemn occasion, and afiectingly observed to each
Other, " Never shall we see another such a master !"
The venerable native convert, Petumber Shingo,
had, for some time, been extremely ill, and on the Slst of
August, he was permitted to enter into those peaceful
mansions, "where the wicked cease from troubling,
and where the weary are at rest. " On being vinted by
Mr. Ward, the good old man observed, "I do not
attribute it to my own wisdom, or to my own goodness,
that I became a Chr stian. O ! no ; it is all of grace !
I have used means for my recovery, but in vain. God
is my only hope. Life is good, but to be wholly
emancipated is much better." On Mr. Ward remind-
ing him that one grand design of affliction is that of
weaning the heart from the world, he replied, " I have
a wife, a daughter, and a son-in-law ; and I have
endeavored, by the most earnest persuasions, to imluce
them to embrace the gospel ; but, as they have refused,
I am weaned from them all, and the only way in which
I can no<v demonstrate my affection towards them is by
praying for their salvation." By his lingering illness
his body was reduced almost to a skeleton, but his
soul was filled with the hope of a glorious immortality,
and his reason was in full exercise to the last. A
little before his departure, he called the native
brethren who were at hand, and requested them to
sing a Bengalee hymn composed by Kristno, and
entitled, " Salvation by the blood and righteousness of
Christ." Whilst they were thus engaged, tears of
joy bedewed his placid countenance, and in this happy
frame of mind he breathed out his soul into the hands
of that dear Redeemer, in whom, as he expressed
himself, he had found that peace which Paul so
devoutly wished on behalf of the churches to whom
he addressed his epistles.

The next morning, the remains of this excellent man
were conveyed to the grave, by three native and three
European brethren, whilst the rest walked in procession,
singing his favorite hymn. A considerable number of
spectators attended the funeral solemnity ; and in the
course of the day, two persons called upon the mission-
aries, and stated that their minds had been so deep-
ly impressed with what they hadi seen and heard
on the occasion, that they had resolved to abjure the
Hindoo system, and to embrace the doctrines of the
gospel. It is pleasing to add, that the widow of
Petumber was afterwards inclined to profess the faith
of Christ, and to cast in her lot among his disciples.
She stated that, for a considerable time, her mind had
been hardened against the gospel ; but that her

1....1 i>

unucf ni3 amiction, ana
his happy death, had convinced her of the excellence

of the religion which he had professed, and had finally
determined her to embrace the same gospel which he
had found so unspeakably precious.

In the month of September, Messrs. Moore, W.
Carey, jun., and three of the native brethren, set out
on a missionary tour through the country to Dhacca
stopping occasionally in their voyage, at different
villages, where they conversed with the natives, and
distributed religious tracts. In the first sixty or
seventy miles, it appeared that many of the people had
either received printed papers or heard something about
" the new way" before ; and this, in some instances,
rendered them averse to reading or hearing any thing
more on the subject ; but others evinced a spirit of
inquiry. On their arrival at Dhacca, their boat was
surrounded by such a concourse'of natives, that they
were under the necessity of putting off seven or eight
yards from the shore, and even then the people
followed them into the water. Here they remained
about an hour and a half, and distributed neariy four
thousand pamphlets ; but on removing their station
toward the centre of the city, they were interrupted,
first by a collector, and afterwards by a magistrate,
who alleged that the tracts had excited uneasiness
amongtheBramins, and, therefore, insisted on their pro-
ceeding no further in distributing them. On their return,
thsy called upon a congregation of Hindoo Catholics,
and went into their chapel, which exhibited many
vestiges of gross idolatry. As the priest was absent,
the people would not venture to receive a New Tes-
tament which was offered to them. Some individuals,
however, were willing to take the tracts, and they all
appeared pleased with the visit of the missionaries,
with whom they entered into familiar conversation.
On hearing that some of their countrymen, whom they
saw with the brethren, not only believed in Christ, but
were in the habit of preaching his gospel, they were
evidently astonished, and one of them emphatically
exclaimed, "They have the tr«e shaster." Though
there did not appear to be any thing like true religion
among these people, the missionaries were struck with
the difference observable in their manners when com-
pared with those of the pagan natives.

In the beginning of October, the Rev. Messrs.
Marshman and Ward were ciiosen co-pastors with the
Rev. W. Carey, over the church at Serampore, and
Messrs. Mardon, Moore, Biss, and Rowe, with Kristno
and Kristno Presaud, were set apart to the office of
deacons. During this and the two following months,
twenty-one persons were baptized, seven of whom
came from Kreeshnopore, and appear to have been
first led to inquire after the way of salvation, in con-
sequence of some iiacis unci a New Tesimnent having
been left at that lagc. One of them, referring to

BENGAL.

229

Mr. Ward's having declared concerning the Testament,
that it was designed for the use of the inhabitants at
large, but that he who could read the best should keep
it, and communicate its contents to all who wished to
hear them, said he had got it ; and that the perusal of
it had so completely changed his ideas, that he was
compelled to abandon idolatry, and to place all his
confidence in a crucified Redeemer. Ten out of the
twenty-one converts were baptized on the third of
November, on which occasion Mr. Biss observes, " A
solemn seriousness pervaded the company ; and some
who seemed to know nothing of the power of religion
shed tears at the sight. When Onunda, the wife of
Kristno Presaud, went into the water, her husband
was so much affected, that he had scarcely sufficient
strength to sustain it. Unable to stand any longer, he
sat down in the midst of his brethren, and burst into
a flood of tears ; whilst he seemed to be pouring
out his soul before God, in thankfulness for his
mercy, and in prayer for his wife's future preserva-
tion."

Captain Wickes having visited London in the
autumn of this year, the committee requested him to
convey to their missionaries m India the sum of one
thousand guineas, which had been collected in England,
Scotland, and Ireland, towards the translation of the
Scriptures into various oriental languages. On the
captain's arrival in, America, he expressed a wish,
through the medium of the public papers, that the
friends of religion in his country would lend their
assistance to this important work ; and, in consequence
of this intimation, the ministers and congregations
of different denominations came forward with such
cheerfulness, that the original sum was more than
doubled, and transmitted in dollars to Serampore.

In January, 1806, a new church of eight members
was constituted for Dinagepore, and Mr. Fernandez
was chosen and ordained tlieir pastor. " Two of the
members," says Mr. Carey, " are the first-fruits of
that part of the country where brother Thomas and
I labored so long and without success. Their names
are Heduran and Nundakeshur, and they were bap-
tized by brother Ward on the Lord's day previous to
the ordination. This is the second Baptist church
formed in Bengal, and one in which we greatly de-
light."

A piece of ground having been purchased for the
erection of a new chapel in what is called the Loll
Bazaar, at Calcutta, it was deemed advisable to con-
struct a shed or temporary mat-house, previous to the
commencement of the intended edifice. A place of

f]iis ilnQnrintinn nrao af\rn\rAinrA%r /\nAnAr1 ^m *1«.^ lot ^r

J, . a-;-"i " -' '"

June, when a crowd of natives attended, and large
quantities of tracts were distributed among them. But

though many appeared to listen with seriousness to
the word of salvation, a spirit of decided hostility-
was excited in the breasts of others ; and, before the
end of the month, the brethren, in walking through
the streets, were followed by multitudes of people,
clapping their hands, and assailing them with the
coarsest invectives. " Some," says Mr. Ward,
" abuse them as foreigners, others for losing caste ;
some call them Yesoo Khriest, alluding to the name
of our Redeemer, and, bowing to them, say, ' Salaam,
Yesoo Khriest !' whilst others point at them as they
pass along, and exclaim, * There goes Salla, Yesoo
Khriest !' When they see me walking by, they
cry out, ' That is him — that is the Hindoo padree !*
And others ask the native brethren why they did
not go a begging to their houses, rather than become
feringas."

The greatest possible anxiety was also evinced by
some idolatrous parents to withdraw their children
from the tuition and protection of the missionaries at "
Serampore, and, in some instances, where persuasion
proved inefiectual, coercive measures were employed
for the accomplishment of this purpose, as will appear
from the following anecdote :—

The mother of a youth named Ghorachund came,
one day, to the school, bathed in tears, and apparently
in a state of distraction, claiming her son. He was
desired to go aside and comfort his mother ; and one
of the native brethren explained to her that he was
perfectly happy, and employed in learning the way to
heaven. The lad also assured her that he had fully
made up his mind to embrace Christianity, and, there-
fore, would not return home till he had been baptized.
The Woman still appeared quite irreconcilable, and,
after threatening to drown herself in the Gunga, she
laid a formal complaint before the Danish magis-
trate. Ghorachund was accordingly sent for, and
strictly questioned ; but as he stated explicitly that it
was his own desire to become a Christian, and as the
fact was elicited, during the examination, that if the
boy were given up to his relatives, they intended to
put him in irons, and confine him to the house, the
magistrate decided that he should be left to act accord-
ing to his own inclinations.

Though foiled in this attempt, the mother and her
friends were still resolutely bent on accomplishing
their design ; and the next morning, whilst Mr. Ward
was sitting in the printing-office, he received the in-
telligence that some persons were carrying off Ghora-
chund by force. "I went out," says he, "and saw
the boat passing by our house, with this lad in it, held

— 1 — «.,

,..„! «...

Ti j.,„.,,„„g

1" >

him by the neck. The boy was crying out bitterly.
I roused brother Marshman from his Chinese reverie,

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

€^J^

1.0

I.I

11.25

IA£12.8

Utob,

1.4 11.6

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

33 WIST MAIN STRUT
WnSTH.N.Y 14SM

(716) iri-ooa

980

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

and in a minute the whole family, school and servants
were on the oanks of the river. William Carey
jumped into our boat, which was floating by the side
opposite our house ; and the boatmen and other
servants put it off, and began to pursue the other, in
which they were carrying off Ghorachund ; whilst
we all followed by the side, anxiously watching the
chase. William and his companions rowed as if life
and death were depending, and the fugitives were not
less active. Our boat being much heavier than the
other, the chaso seemed very doubtful. We followed
the boau as far as the eye could reach ; but our
friends gained very little distance on the objects of
their pursuit. I then obtamed a telescope, and, aAer
looking some tii.ie, perceived William come up with
the enemy, and rescue tiie young man. A scuffle
ensued ; but the idolaters wete very much frightened,
particularly a Bramin, under whose directions they had
probably actnd. The mother also appeared in a dis-
tracted state, and struck her head against the bottom
of the boat, when she found that further resistance
was in vain. Ghorachuud, however, was full of joy
at his happy deliverance, and was brought back, in
our boat, in triumph."

After their return to Serampore, the missionaries
discovered that two of the native brethren had been
ill-treated and thrown into prison, on a charge of hav-
ing beaten a Bramin in the struggle, when Ghorachund
was carried off. It seems that this youth was going
from the mission house to the Bengalee school, in
company with a baptised native, called Kassenaut,
and an inquirer named Bhyrub. As they were passing
a flight of steps adjoining the guard-house, some per-
sons from a boat came up, and seized on Ghorachund ;
when a scuffle ensued, and a numerous mob collected.
The soldiers on guard and the populace assisted the
idolaters, and the youth was finally conveyed into the
boat. A man then preferred a charge against Bhyrub
and Kassenaut, for beating a Bramin ; and, in con-
sequence of this, they were not only committed to
prison, but were very roughly handled by the mob,
m their way thither. Mr. Ward, however, on being
apprized of the circumstance, addressed a letter to
Mr. Otttt Bie, the nephew of the Imo governor ; and,
in the course of the evening, the native brethren were
set at liberty.

About this time, an event occurred, which threatened
the serious interruption, if not the complete subversion,
of the Baptut mission in India. On the arrival of two
new missionaries, Messrs. Chater and Robinson, with
their wives, at Calcutta, some demur was made, at
the police office, u to being permitted to proceed to
Serampore : and on Mr, Csfoy'' isauiriss ints ths !! cs
business, the next day^ he was informed, by one of

the magistrates, that, " as the East India Company did
not think proper to mterfere with the prejudices of
the natives, it was the express desire of the governor-
general that Mr. Carey and his colleagues would not."
The request thus communicated, as explaiood by the
magistrates, amounted to this :— «' The riissionaries
were neither to preach to the Hindoos, nor to suffer
the native converts to preach ; they were i.ot -to dis-
tribute religious tracts, nor to employ other persons
with a view to their distribution; in short, they
were not to adopt any measures, by conversation
or otherwise, for persuading the natives to embrace
Christianity." Some of these restrictions, however,
were subsequently softened, in a conversation between
a friend of the missionaries and the magistrates. " It
was not meant," they said, "to prohibit Mr. Carey or
his brethren from preaching at Serampore, or in their
own house at Calcutta, only they must not preach in
the Loll Bazaar. It was not intended to prevent
their circulating the Scriptures, but merely the tracts
abusing the Hindoo religion. And, finally, it was not
designed to prohibit the native converts from convers-
ing with their countrymen on the subject of Chris-
tianity ; only they must not go out under the sanction
of the missionaries."

This interference, on the part of the British govern-
ment, seems to iiave been occasioned by a feeling of
alarm which had been recently excited in the country,
by an account of a disastrous mutiny which had broken
out among the native troops at Vellore. It was not
insinuated, however, that the preaching or writing
of the Baptist brethren had, in any way, contributed
to that tragical event. On the contrary, the magis-
trates frankly acknowledged, that they were perfectly
satisfied both with the character and conduct of the
missionaries, and that no complaint had ever been
preferred agaikist them.

The missionaries now went on much as usual, though
devoting less of their time to itinerant excursions, and
precluded, by the prohibition of government, from
preaching in the Loll Basaar. Several Americans
and Portuguese, however, then residing in Calcutta,
were no soo.ier apprized of this circumstance, than
they cheerfully came forward, and fitted up places for
their accommodation on their own premises. Messrs.
Mardoii and Chamberlain were, also, diligently engaged
in promulgaJing the truths of Christianity in the in-
terior of the country ; but, in the month of Spptomber,
the latter smtajned a most heavy affliction in the dv .t^i
of his second wife. Tlie melancholy tale is thus
nanated by himself: " As my dear wife began to look
forward to the period of her confinement, she wu

sud

to this she felt partly inclined : but in consideratitm

BENGAL.

of the dktanee, the state of the river at that time rf
the year, and her own timidity on the water, she fear>
ed it might be a kiaiardous attempt, and for a time
had composed her mind to wait the event at Cutwa.
At length, however, the bud^erow arrived from Semm-
P««, accompanied with a pressing request that she
would return with it to the mission family ; and she
therefore resolved to go down.

" On the 17th, we went on board, with two of our
children, and sailed for Serampore ; and, though the
river was very rough, she did not appear so timonius
as I had expected. We went on till evening, when,
alas ! she found the trying hour was at hand ! We
were now so far from home, that it was in vain to think
of returning, especially as the stream was against
us ; and Serampore was still at a great distance. To
afford her as much composure as possible, I stopped the
budgerow, and put the ohildren on board the cooking
boat ; and about three hours afterwards, the birth of a
fine infant filled our hearu with thankfulness. Dan-
gerous symptoms, however, subsequently ensued, and
about six o'clock the next morning, I perceived a sud-
den alteration in her countenance. I spoke to her . . .
but received no answer. She breathed gently a few
raomenu .... then closed her eyes .... and fell
asleep in Jesus I O ! what a night, and what a disnial
day ! We were now between Culna and Santipore,
and had yei a long distance to go. Foreseeing the
event, I had previously ordered the boat to go out
mto the stream, and to make all speed, so that in the
evening we arrived at Serampore ; and, the next morn-
ing, the remains of my dear departed were conveyed,
by the brethren, to the mission burial ground, and
committed to their kindred dustl"

Towards the close of the year, an event occurnd
more than ordinarily solemn and impressive. Three
persons from Luckphool, who had long professed to
believe the doctrines of Christianity, but who had
hitherto declined an open profession of them, came on
a visit to Serampore. In conversing with one of them,
named Sookur Bishess, the brethren solemnly warned
him of the danger of temporizing in a matter of such
vast importance, and assured him that if he were
ashamed of the gospel Itefore men, Christ would be
ashamed of him before his Father and the holy angels.
He said he was fully convinced that tliere was no other
way to heaven, but by the rtonement of Jesus, and
that if he thought himself near death, he would im-
mediately and openly avow himself as his disciple.
He was then reminded of the uncertainly of Kfe, and
earnestly entreated to consider whether his unwilling-
ness to make a public profession of the truth did not
proceed from a secret attachment to his sins, or to hb.
fearing the ridicule of men more than the wrath of

S8I

God. Little, however, did those who expostulated
with him so faithfully, imagine that he would so soon
and so awfully realize the truth of their observations.
Only six days after his return, he was murdered m bis
own village, with circumstances of peculiar barbarity.
It seems he had for some tinie been carrying on a
criminal intercourse with a woman, some of whose re-
lations belonged to a gang of robbers who infested that
part of the country, and seemed to bid defiance to the
constituted authorities. Such, indeed, was their con-
summate audacity, that when one of thorn, who had
been taken and brought to trial, was asked by a magis-
trate,how many men he had killed in his Kfe-time, the
ruffian impudenUy replied, " Ask a fisherman how
many fish he has caught in his life-time !" These
men bad been long determined to take an ample re-
venge on Sookur Bishess, and on hearing that he had
just come back from Serampore, where they conceived
he had obtained a sum 6f money froih the missiona-
ries, they, one night, beset the house where he and
the woman were, and, after bringing them out bound,
set fire to the premises, and threatened to throw him
into the flames, unless, he would instantly show thein
where his treasure was concealed. Hoping, probably, to
mak»his escape, he led them to a tree at some distance,
and told them to dig beneath it. After hboring for
some time, they discovered that he had deceived them,
and inunediately resolved to sacrifice his life to their
resentment. Accordingly, one of them piereed him
through with a spear, and shed out his bowels ; a sec-
ond wounded him severely across his breast ; and a
third completed this tragical catastrophe> by severing
his head from his body I

On the 9th of January, 1807, the missionaries re-
ceived the painful intelligence that a woman was to be
burnt with the corpse of her husband, at a short dis-
t«nee from their premises. Several of them, therefore,
hastened to the spot ; but, before their arrival, the
funeral pile was in flames, and exhibited a horrible
spectacle. The spectators also evinced the most
brutal indifl^erence and levity, whilst the poor creature
was burning alive before their eyes ; sp that it appear-
ed as if every spark of humanity had been completely
extinguished in their breasts by this horrid and revolt-
ing superstition. " That," says Mr. Marshman," which
added to the cruelty was the smallness of the fire, which
did not consist of so much wood as we consume in dress-
ing a dinner ! I saw the legs of the unfortunste victim
hanging out of the fire whilst her body was in flames.
After some time, they took a bamboo, ten or twelve
feet long, with which they pushed and beat the un-

- — ~ '2- ~ r — * « "■ " ■"" *-" 5-*.-.*

wood, by throwing thn unconsumed pieces into the
middle. Perceiving the legi hanging out, they struck

ads

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

them repeatedif with the bamboo, in order to bruk
the ligatures which listened them at the knees. At
length they succeeded b bendhig them upwards into
the fire ; the skb and muscles giving Ivay, and discov-
ering the knee sockets bare, with the balls of the leg
bones ! — ^A sight wtuch I need not say made me thrill
with horror.

" Timing to a young Bramin, who was the princi-
pal actor in this horrid tragedy, I told him that the
system which allowed of tlM«e cruelties could no more
proceed from Go4 than darkness from the sun ; and
solemnly warned him that he must hereafter appear at
the bar of Ood, to answer for this inhuman murder.
With a savage and contemptuous grin, he replied, that
< he gloried in it^ and felt the highest pleasure in per-
forming such a ceremony.' I tiien turned to the peo-
ple, and on my beginning to expostulate with them,
one person remarked, that the woman had sacrificed
herself of her own accord, and had ascended the pile
as a matter of pleasure. ' Why, then, did you confine
her down with that large bamboo ?' It was replied, that
this was necessary, to prevent her from running away.
* What !' said I, ' would she have run away from that
which she craisidered n pleasure ?' I next addressed
a youth of about nineteen, who had been induced to
let fire to the funeral pile that was to consume both
his parents. ' You have murdered your mother,' said
I ; 'your sin is, therefore, very great, though the guilt
of the Bramin who urged you to 'he perpetration of
such a deed b still greater. How will you bear the
reflection that you have destroysd your only -jurviving
par?n» ?' He seemed to feel the force of what was
said to him, as, his eyes were suilused withteus ; but
just at this instant that hardened wretch, the Bramin,
rushed in and drew him away.

" You expect, perhaps, to hear that the unhappy
woman thus immolated was the widow of some Bra-
min of high rank. She was, however, merely the
wife of a barber at Serampore, who had died that
ilioming, leaving the son I have mentioned, and a
daughter of about eleven years of age. Thus hu this
vile superstition aggravated the common miseries of life,
and left those children stripped of both their patents
in one day ! Nor is this an uncommon case. It often
happens to children far more helpless than these, and
in some instances to children possessed of property,
which is then left, as well as themselves, iothe mercy
of those who have decoyed their mother to their
father's funeral pile !"

About the same time, a Hindoo, named Seeboo
Roy, was summoned out of time irtto eternity, and
appears to have died with unshaken reliance on the

nf »luk

■viaI Ui« attMnttnn tA fliwin* ikaiiflM

was excited, in the first instance, by some tracts, which

he had obtained at one of d-a great assemblies of bis
countrymen, and he afterwards went for fiirther in-
struction to the missiosary autia^ at Cutwa. Han
be seems to have been aatisfiicunily convinced of the
iruth of the Christian ralif^ ; and, as-he possessed
eonsideraUe influence m his own village, on his
return thither he opened his house for Uie wor-
ship of Christ, and afiectibnately recommended the
word of 6ud to his neighbors, as containing the only
consistent scheme of salvation. Being suddenly
takeh ill with a violent cold and vomiting, his
friends came to see him, and earnestly exhorted
him to call upon Doorgha, and other heathen gods ;
but he gave them to understand that he neither
could nor would do any such thing. He earnestly
entreated that they would take him to Cutwa, saying,
" If 1 do not go thither, I shall never be well." He
also begged of his wife that his remains might be
buried ; and, in discoursing with those who had been
in the habit of meeting with him on the Lord's day,
he solemnly charged them not to forsake the assembling
of themselves together, nor to cease from proclaiming
the glories of the Redeemer. " I am going," said he,
" but we shall so<ui see each other again." He also
spoke to his wife concerning the satisfactory nature of
his hope in Christ, and the vanity of all other ways of
salvation ; and in consequence of listening attentively
to his observations, she was enabled to bear the mo-
ment of separation with a degree of calmness and for-
titude, instead of beating her forehead and uttering the
most piercing cries, according to the custom of her
countrywomen. After the death of Seebo, however,
his relations insisted on burning the body, threatening
that, if the widow refused, they ' ould have nothing
mora to do with her ; and, as she hud no where to go,
and no resource, she was compelled to submit, not-
withstanding her husband's solemn injunction to the
contrary.

Towards the end of January, the missionaries re-
ceived some cheering accounts from Malda, where the
native preachers, who had for some time been hilrar-
ing in tliat district, ware heard with considerable in-
terest, and treated with the greatest kindness by their
countrymen, who sometimes attended their religious
services in bodies of five or six hundred, when no
Europeans were present. At Jesaore, the converts
were formed into a regular church, of which two na-
tives, named Ram Mohun and Kawnee, wore chosen
deacons. At Cutwa, Mr. Chamberiain, and several
of the Christian natives, labored with unremitting dili-
gence and considerable success, and the brethren were
formed into a church. The aspect of aflfairs at Dinage-

MMMk «»«»« «la«* MMUMMuuf A till t ^/ui vK ■ t RiiniffnnnpA. iKtf*

Riissbnariea lamented that they were placed under some

,//

•J^

y'^VKm BEMOiitfc;!/ Tiiirq/n

rettrictioMt jrMfhoy-jiraMeikdt. vithumkatodwdor, in
tnii»i*tia« m& pnintiBg thaHaij Scv^tufoi, ud« upon
tlM wbtola* tiMir effoita to proaa'dgnte the gladi tidiogB
of calration wen but Utile diiaiouhed.
-.: In the month of Me/,i a. petition. to gomniaiBnt isr
leave to erect a ne\r chapel in Calcutta was lignedby
one hundred and fifteen of the inhabitanU of that city,
and was favorably received. The utmost exertions
were, therefore, used to complete this edifice, which
(including the veranda or portico, designed for the ac-
oonunodation of the natives, whose religious scruples
would not permit them to enter the building itself)
was designed to be seventy feet square, and to have
galleries on three sides. In April and May, ten per-
sons were baptized ; among whom were a highly respect-
able Portuguese family of Calcutta ; via. Mr. and M«.
Deroaio, and two of their daughters.

In the months of June and July, several Europeans
corresponded with the missionaries, and afforded pleas-
ing hope, t))at a work cf divine grace had been com-
menced among them. One of these had been reproved
for his profane language by a converted Hindoo in
Calcutta, and from that time he became seriously
anxious concerning his salvation. Another, on visiting
Serampore, and going with Mr. Chater t-- see some of the
baptised natives, was overwhelmed iv i ^ shame, whilst
contrasting their attainments in divine knowledge with
his own ignorance. And a third was led to see and con-
fess the necessity of a change of heart, in consequence
of his conversation with a serious young lady, whom he
afterwards marr.dd. " We are acquainted," says Mr.
Moore, " with other persons in Calcutta, most of whom
we knew not four months ago, but who now afford us
sanguine hope."

" Soon aAer this," says the editor of the Brief
Narrative, " an event occurred which filled the friends
of the mission with deep concern, and furnished its
adversaries with a momentary triumph. A tract,
which had been printed in Bengalee, and which, in
that language, contained nothing offensive, was put
into the hands of a native to be translated into Persic.
Tlie translation beina; finished, it was, through the
pressure of business, inadvertently printed, without
being first inspected by the missionaries. It proved,
unhappily, that the translator had introduced several
strong epithets, calling Mahomet n tyrant, fcc, which,
it was alleged, would iiritate hisrollowors ; and, though
no such effects had been produced, yet, a copy of it
being conveyed to a person in office under government,
it was taken up in a serious manner. Mr. Carey was sent
for ; hut, being unacquainted with the circumstances of
the case, he could only acknowledge the impropriety of
the epithets, and promise to inquire into the inuse of their
appearance in the tract in question. Had the object
Vol.. I.— Nos. 19 L 20. ,3sj

908

of tht puty ba«a natrely topwwut.ihe diMarb«ie«
of the public tranquUlity, thing* wooM have tennis
Brted here: Mr. Carey, on learaiag partieulars.
would faa.Ta arndf an apology, and oomcud whatever
was mipioper. But, bdbre he had time to do thiij
proceecfiiigs wen. commenced, wbieb, had they been
earned into execution, nuist have been not only mia-
ous to the miasbn, hut greatly injurious to the cause of
Christianity in India. In oonsequenoe, however, of
an explanation, and the presenutioa of a respectful
memorial to the govemor-geneml, the most serious part
of the proceedmgs was formally revoked. On this oc-
caaion, two of the misswnaries waited on hb lordship,
to thank him for the candor with whwh he had attended
to their memorial ; to which he replied, that nothing
more was necessary than a mere examihation of the
subject ; on which, every thing appeared in a clear
and fiivorable light."

As two other tracts, however, beaides that in Persic,
had been considered olgeotionable, it was requested
that the missionaries should print nothing of the sort
in future, without previously submitting the copy to
the inspection of government. Cotuiderable iif.
ficulties were ako experienced, during the whole
month of September, by the missionaries, who were
prohibited from preaohiiig to the Armenians and Portu-
guese m Calcutu, and were no longer permitted, even
«)ccasionally, to officiate among the soldien in Fort Wil-
liam. The enemies of rehgion, of oouiae, began to
triumph; its friends were discouraged ; and it was cur-
rently reported that the Baptist biethran would ba
driven out of India. By the good providence of
God, howev»ir these heavy clouds were gradually
dispersed, snd i:he concerns of th9 oisaran went on
much as before. , , », .

Towards the latter end of the year, several of the
native brethren were diligently employed in preaching
the gospel in the neighb<»hood of Goaroalty ; and
from the journal of two of the laborers, named Deep
Chund and Ram Prcsaud, it app«an that, travelling
through a considerable number of villages, they daily
addressed their countrymen on the great concerns oif
salvation. At a place called Pumeab, they preached
two days successively, in the market-place, to great
multitudes, some of whom listened with the mmt se-
rious attention, whilst others slighted and derided the
word of life. " In the latter part jf our journey,"
they observe, " the gospel was a new sound, and vast
numbers lipard it who never heaid before, and may
never hear again, or know its intrinsh: value, till they
see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven.
We suffered much affliction ; but Qod mipported us,
and f^n^hlod us to DFodsiin i\is S£?tfHif's isvs tn n^-n'*
thousands. May ho give it success, no that we may

984

BAPTIST MISMONARr SOCIETY.

mMt mae with jojr iMraafter, to wbom it amy have
prored good news indeed 1"

About thia time, the IHends of the mission sustained
a serero loss m the death of Mr. Creighton of Goamal-
ty, and Mr. Grant of Miniary, whose indefiuigable
lahota in establishing schools, circulating the Scrip-
tures, and otherwise prooMMing the cause of Chris-
tianity, were of great importance. The former had
drawn up some Taluahle thoughts ou the establishment
of schooltt, and the latter bequeathed twenty thousand
rupees (about £8500) to the Baptist mission; ten
thousand to the translations, and ten thousand for the
support of an evangelical ministry in what is called
the mission church in Calcutta. In consequence of
the removal of these excellent men, Mr. Mardon was
subsequently sUtioced at Goamalty, and Mr. Moore at

Toward the latter end of January, 1808, Serampore
was Uken by the English, on the ground of a rupture
between Great Britain and Denmark ; but this event
made no difference in the situation of the missionaries,
who observe, " During the course of this month, we
have had a considerable addition to our audience, not
only on the sabbath, but at our family worship. This
has induced us several times to add a serious exhorta-
tion to our daily regular exercises ; and it has been
truly pleasing to observe the attention of those who
have been present."

On the 25th of April, an eminent Hindoo Christian,
whose name was Futick, and who had been instru-
mental in the conversion of his mother, his sister, and
three of his neighbors, died at Serampore, with a hope
fill! of immortality, and afforded another blessed proof
that the missionaries in Bengal had not been permitted
to labor in vain, or to spend their strength for nought.
" Futick came down from Dinagepore," says Mr.
Ward, " with a disorder upon him, which was never
wholly removed, though he was better at some times
than at others. For many months before his denth,
he was much afflicted ; yet, in all his afflictions, he
never appeared to think worse of the gospel, nor was
his faith in the saving power of Christ diminished by
any of them. We have recently witnessed a case,
however, the very reverse of this. A female who
had professed to believe in Christ, but who had, for
some time, appeared to be a suspicious character, at-
tributed the severity of her sufferings, in a protnlcted
illness, to the anger of the gods whom she had aban-
doned, and at last put a period to her own existence !
\ '« A little hefora the last heavy renim of his afflic-
tion, he seemed considerably better, and did some
business in the printing-office. During this state of
convalescence, for two or three days together, he was

Verv iMrnaat •■• kU »AA..^m^— •- .1.- t> : i ..l

ert^employed in the oiBoo, warning them against peiw
wsting u their rejectioa of the gospel. Some who
heard hwi supposed that he might be bearing his lait
testimony for God to these hardened men ; and this
proved to he the fact, as in a day or two afterward, he
was taken ill, and every one who saw bun perceived
the most unequivocal symptoms of his approaching
dissolution.

"On the evening before his death, I called upon
him, and found him conversing with his mother on the
subject of worldly-mindedness ; warning her against
it, and urging the necessity of her being prep'wed to
die. Not being able to stay long, I went home, but,
according to promise, returned between nine and ten
o'clock the same evening. Futick was then worse,
and the rattling in his throat might be heard to a con-
siderable distance ; yet he was sitting up, and on see-
ing me, he briefly recapitulated the incidents of his
life, subsequent to his conversion.

" After a short pause, I asked him respecting his
present prospects and his hope of sal vaiion. The dear
man, collecting all the breath he could, said, with pe-
culiar force and emphasis, ' I have not a doubt . of
obtaining salvation by the death of Christ.' On my
inquiring if he had any uneasiness about leaving the
worid, he replied by quoting that beautiful passage,
' Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God !'
and added some very appropriate reflections on the
vanity of all creature enjoyments.

" Some of the native brethren sat up with him dur-
ing the night, and about one o'clock in the morning, he
was asked whether they should sing ; he answered m
the affirmative, and they continued singing for some
time. About half past five, Kristno engaged in prayer,
and, almost immediately afterward, Futick's happy
spirit was wafted to tlie realms of bliss."

During the summer of this year, the members of
the infant church at Goamalty had a large portion of
affliction. Mr. Mardon, for some time, was deprived
of his voice : and both he and Mrs. Mardon were
very ill for a long time, and obliged to leave the sta-
tion, in order to obtain medical assistance. The na-
tives wept on their departure. There was also much
affliction among them ; so that, for the greater part of
the season, they were unable to engage in any active
labors. " But to show," as Mr. Mardon says, " that
success does not depend on the strength and exertions
of poor mortals, the Lord continued to work among
the heathen for his great name's sake." They had be-
gun with only seven members ; but Mr. Ephraim Bur-
ford, who had engaged in the indigo business, in the
neighborhood of Goamalty, joined them by dismission
from the church at Serampore ; and, on Ixird's day,
Jjiufi iy, louf oiiiei^ were bt>|*tiB«iJ, via. Mr, Johniuu

■WT%J--^-\S>

BElfOA'l;:

::jifr-*> * n

iss

(m iMiiMuit in the indigo werb) tnd tiwM nntivM ;
whieh nttde Uieir number twelve. Mr. Merdon tiao
■peak* of seTemI more, of whose oonvermoo he
entertained great hopes, and of two persons in particu-
lar, who had died, and whose death was attended with
some circumstances peculiarly affecting.

One of these was a bjrraggee, of the name of Sub-
hasingha, of the rqpoot caste, who was gdng on a
pilgrimage to the temple of Juggernaut. Mr. Mardon,
observing him to stop under a tree at Goamalty, and
being unable, at that time, to speak much himself,
requested Kristno Dass to go and converse with him.
He accordingly went, and told him of the sufferings
and death of Christ for the salvation of sinners. The
poor man seemed to feel the subject as suited to his
case. He said, he would take Christ for his refiige,
and, instead of prosecuting his journey to Juggernaut,
would stop and hear more of the word of God ;
believing that by this his soul would be purified. " On
hearing this," says Mr. Mardon," Kristno came to me,
almost in raptures, to know what he should do. I
requested him to take the man to his house, and
instruct him in the way of salvation. I went over
shortly after, and spoke to him a little my:elf. He
was very attentive. In the course of the day,
the native brethren, especially Kristno, conversed
with him freely, and in the evening, directed their
prayers particularly on his behalf He ate with them
without hesitation, seemingly regardless of his
caste ; and even threw off his poita and necklace, as
useless things. His body was in a very weak state.
The next morning, he appeared as usual, but in a few
hours lost his speech, nnd seemed to be in pain.
About three in the afternoon, suirounded by us all, he
died. May we not hope that this was a brand plucked
out of the burning ?"

Anothe- was a Hindoo, an inquirer after the way of
salvation, whose name was Heeradee. " Nearly two
months ago, " says Mr. Mardon, in a letter dated
September 6, " he was bitten by a mad jackal in the
comer of his mouth. It is only a week yesterday
since I heard of it j when the natives brought him
hither, to get some medicines for him. On Monday
last, he began to feel the effects of the bite, and
concluded he should die. Mrs. Mardon went over
twice to see him. He was very earnest in prayer,
not only for himself, but also for the church, that the
Ix>rd would pour out his blessing upon it. He was
much engaged in prayer the following night. Yester-
day he began to exhibit such strong symptoms of
madness, that the native brethren were afraid to
approach him, and, in the evening, it became necos-
cary to fasten him down to the boHstBgd. Towards
morning, the fit<i of frenay orca-iionally subsided, and

he aediiioasly improved every hi«id iitiirval by en-
gapng in prayer, or talking about the Redeemer. He
was, also, manifestly favored with th« exereise of
reason in hb departing moments, and expired with th«
language of supplication on his lips. He has left«
widow and two children to lament his loss."

During three of the summer months, twelve mem-
bers were added to the church at Serampcov; and
Deep Chund, who, for a season, had been inveigled
by his countrymen into idolatrous practices, came back
with every symptom of contrition, and was again received
into communion, after an appropriate and affectionate
address, in which he was warned to walk more warily
for the future. The account which he gave of his
temporary apostasy, the state of his mind under it,
and the effects which had been produced by several
visits from bis brethren, and by a letter from the
church, were extremely affecting, and proved to
demonstration that conscience had not been altogether
silent, whilst he was engaging m the abominations of
the heathen. y

On the demise of the Danish clergyman at Seram-
pore, the majority of the inhabitants expressed a strong
desire that the missionaries might be permitted to
succeed him. A petition to that eflect was, accordingly,
presented to the governor-general, and, by his lord-
ship's permission, the parish church was, from that
time, occupied by some of the Baptist brethren ; who,
however, declined accepting any pecuniary compensa-
tion for their services. In a letter dated November
29, the missionaries state, that Kristno, the first Chris-
tian convert, was stationed at Calcutta, 'vhere he
found constant employment, in preaching and convers-
ing about the things ofOnd, sometimes to the natives,
and sometimes to Europeans. They also mention
their having obtained access to the prison and the
dispensary, where they had the most favorable oppor-
tunities of explaining the way of salvation to the
afflicted and wretched inmates.

On the 1st of January, 1809, the new chapel was
opened at Calcutta ; and though, including the pur-
chase of the ground, the erection of this spacious edi-
fice amounted to upwards of thirty thousand rupees, or
nearly four thousand pounds, the greater part of that
sum had been raised by private contributions. Indeed,
Calcutta had now become to the missionaries one of
their most important spheres of labor, and the princi-
pal scene of their success ; and the improvement of a
religious nature, tvhich had thci.'e taken place within a
few years, was highly gratifying to the friends of the
Redeemer. When the brethren first attempted to
erect the standard of the cross in this large and popu-

Iraia Altar aft «>*mm KsmmaIIh •!«« aahm* mX IbwaI!..! « ■>_ J

;" yj' ■' — -V ' -■ •" — 'S"" """

infidelity ; and when they preached their first sermons,

BAPTIST BnSNOIfAltT SOCIETY.

tbuy nrcM 4t44oi»;«Mewi«d ky mora diu.fiB..or#;
down ji — B WW , : V0W, .bammw, partly through ,Uw
wat n i w aul i ty »f lh<.B«ptMti» aad partly in ooiuwt
fueDM oCdn fiutUul labma of some eFangeiioal^Jw-
firmeo who were Mitlad in this part, the light of di vine
truth had been happily diffiised, and there were now
several hindnda of-serious Cbruiiana in Calcutta.

During the month of January, Mr. Chamberlain
took a joucaey, on honebaok, into Bbeerboom
and Burdwaa, preaching the gospel to considerable
numbers of peaceable and attentive hearers, and sleep-
ing frequently on a mat, spread beneath the branches
of some umbrageous tree. He first went to a fair at a
place called Kendula, where he was engaged in
preaching nearly a whob day, and found such peculiar
pleasure ia the work, tliat be observes, " he never
spent a happier day in his V'-y." Having distributed
several thousands of religious tracts, and a considera-
ble number of TestamenU, he felt inclined to spend
the sabbath at Lakorakoonda, where it seems there
were several persons favorably disposed to the gospel,
and with whom he had formed a previous acquaintance.
Here be spent four days, and was constantly employed,
during that time, in explaining to the people the way
of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Soon after the return of this faithful and laborious
missionary, Messrs. Robinson and W. Carey, jun.,
accompanied by two of the native converts, Scbuk-rain
and Ghorachund, made a second attempt at forming a
settlement at or near Botehaut, near the Bootan
country, on the borders of Thibet. On the 25th of
March, they arrived, after a fatiguing journey on horse-
back, at Barbaree, where they passed the sabbath ;
and on Monday evening they arrived within two miles
of Botehaut. Here they were desirous of procuring
an eligible spot of ground for the erection of a house,
but could find none that was secure from inundation in
the rainy season. On the 28th, a large market being
held at Botehaut, they sent their two native compan-
ions thither, in quest of intelligence. These were
treated with the utmost civility both by the Booteas
and Bengalees ; and the katma, or chief magistrate of
the place, said that if the missionaries chose to write
liiui a letter, expressing their wish to visit Botehaut,
lie would send them an inviution. This hint was of
course aUended to by the brethren, who addressed a
note to the katma the following day ; and in the course
of a few hours they received a reply, in which the
itwgistrate invited them to " come and stay with him a
few days, and tell him all their joys and sorrows,"
adding, that '* the next morning he would send his
musicians and dancing giris to meet them."

" On the 30th, after breakfast," says Mr. Robinson,
" we set off. end arrivnd m nr>>»i>n.i> u^f„^

mat •i»hei,bjrih« ««i«i«B, « rt. a„oing gW,, wA
whoee <)o»i«Df we M«U ^^ ^iUiagly dispewe.
Going wtoth» naartot-pUce, • seal w«s prepared &r
us under a tfee, with aaoiher fi>r the katma, whose
bouse w«a at a short distance. After we had wwted
a few minutes, the Utma came to reoeive us, and on
his approach we advaoemi a tew steps tsward him,
respeotAilly taking off our hats. He alao took off hk
hat, which was made ofhamboo or eane, and appeared
large enough to serve as an umbrella. He then
presented us with two dirty Bootan handkerchiefs, and
we, in return, gave him a spy-glass. After shaking
hands with both of us at once, and requesting us to
be seated, he asked us to take a cup of his tea, which
we accepted. A few wahiuts, which the Booteas had
brouglH from the mountains, were after^vards presented
to us, and the katma conducted us to a Bengalee
house, which he had prepared for our reception, and
gave orders, before he left us, that we, our attendanU,
and our hwses, should be supplied with provisions.

" After he was gone, the Booteas came to see us, and
expressed much admiration at perceiving that we were
clothed from head to foot, which, however, they
acknowledged was a good preservative from.being bitten
by flies. But the grand object of their inquiry was,
whether we had any liquor. We, therefore, gave them
a little rum, well diluted with water, of which they
drank eagerly.

" After dinner, we received another visit from the
katma, to whom we presented a watch. He liked it
very well, but hid evidently no idea of its value; and
on n 1)1)1} ing it to liis ear, he asked if it were not a
chaiin. We embraced this opportunity of intimating
our wish to live in the vicinity of Botehaut, and asked
if we might come to the market when we pleased. To
this he readily agreed, but gave no hint that we might
reside there ; and on our inquiring whether we might
go up the mountains, he said, ' Not till we had o' ained
a pass from the king.' After tea, we discoursed with
him about learning the Bootan language, that we might
ascertain whether lie had any feeling of jealousy on
that subject ; but he appeared perfectly free, telling us
the names of several things in that language, and observ-
ing that we should be able to learn it by a few months' ap-
plication. Before he left us, he gave strict orders that
guards should be placed round the house, and told the
people that if they stole the least article belonging to U8,he
would send them to the king, and have them beheaded."

The next day , <he missionaries were formally received
into the friendship of «bo katma, by a ceremony like
that which look place between the jinkof and Messrs.
Thomas and Carey in 1797 ; and, after taking
leave, they returned to Barbaree, whore a spot of
gfOiutd Was promised for tho croction of a hibiittiivu.

.r*m.i:yr^''. iBXXCMiE^ T»rr=i>pi

Iin«,'hmrrr«r^ th»tw<MwtiTe eoAverts trate Mk«a W)
itt»<tiMtMr. Wi CMe]r<iruuiid«rthefi«e«witf«rm«to>
ing whb tham to DuMgepore ; and Mr. RhMiMoii Mn-
■dtf, in eomequMce oT fttif^e, «nd an knprudem
CTpwuiv to the ran, wu •fterwards ssiMd «HA «
fever, which endangered hit life ; 'thMgh.hy Ibe divine
Uesting oo the means presoribcd, he was mersifolly
nstored to health.

In the month of July, tDr. Carey complet«d bts
teaasktion of the whole Bible into the Bengriee
language. Oh the day he finished it, he felt unwell,
but to finish his prescribed task, he exerted hims«lf
more than ordinary. Whilst sitting with his col-
leagues at dbiner, they were specking of what he had
been enabled to accomplish since his arrival in India,
aod ene of ihem inquired how much more he thought
of <k>ing. He replied, that the work which he had
already allotted himself in the difibrent translations
would take him upwards of twenty years, at the rate
he now went on. The same evening, he was seised
with a fever, which rose to such an alarming height,
that, for several days, his iiriends entertained scarcely
any hopes of his recovery. At length, however, the
united prayers of the church on bis behalf were
graciously heard and answered, and he was once more
enabled to resume his important avocations.

Towards the close of the year, the receipt of some
interesting intelligence from Binninghnm, reUUive to
the schools established in .-.^t to.vn, induced the
missionaries to make a similar attempt at Calcutta,
where thousands of poor children, belonging to the
Portuguese Catholics, were wandering about the
streets, exposed to nvery species of vice, and in a state
of complete wretchedness. Accordingly, Mr. Marsh-
man preached a sermon on the occasion, and made a
collection for the purpose of immediately commencing
a school, to be supported by voluntary conttibutions,
and to be called the " Benevolent Institution for
instructing the children of indigent Christians."

On the 21st of March, 1810, Mr. Robinson returned
to Barbarce, from which he had, for some time, been
absent, on account of severe indisposition ; and, in a
letter addressed to Mr. Marishman,he soys, "Our situ-
ation here is pleasant and healthy ; we have a fine
circulation of air; and, on the whole, a good prospect,
which is improved by a view of the mountains. The
weatiier, also, is much cooler than at Serampore, in
consequence of the frequent breezes from the north-
east. The surrounding country is not thinly peopled ;
on the contrary, I suppose there may be two thousand
persons who attend our market twice a week, and
there are several other large markets at no great
distance. I have now nad preaching at my house
tliree sabbaths. On the first, niy heaters were few

awi i«MRrt«ive ; en ihe t^jtt,iwppbst mtitt xntB
fo«y"m«n prwew, b«sides'ti'nuHAer of Wo««i, «i«
tome heard tHtfa «tt«Mkw. 'l«».'IiehF» ««(• . w^
h*d mot«^ bbthMMdes w§{mia»ti', m that the h^
WW fiHed» w(i 'fceftirB 1 'h«d donci mutohon hrt
ctAeoted 'abetM th6\dd6ri^ - . i. , ,,

In a snb9equem'connm»fcatJrti,^lfte» Jane I*, th«
«Bae writer obserres : " Some of my heaters Ksten
vrtth attention, «id tm «(f the di9cours<^ ftfterwards ;
but others are more indHferent. Ilteinost that any ^
them have tmdewobd Is, that It ia- wrong t» worship
their gods. One day, just-as I had done preachmg,
four meDj'ftom a distant phce, came to inqnne what
this new doctrine was. I talked with them a consiB*
erable thne, and they seemed mterested; I also g»ve
them a few tracts ; but the number of people capable
of -reading, hi this part of the country, is extremely
small," The following month, Mrs. Robinson was
summoned into^he worW of spirits, and her childreir
were tiken, under the protection of MrS. Marshman,
to Serampore. On this occasion , her widowed husband
observes to one of the missionaries, "I am Kke a man
amazed, and can scarcely credit the reality of my- own
situation. Never could any passage of Scripture be
more applicable than that of Isaiah is to my case, ' He
that walketh in darkness and hath no light, let him trust
in the name of the Lord, and stay himself upon his God.*
I am, indeed, without any light, except tliat whiih fsith
afibrds ; and my faith is so weak that, like a glim-
mering taper, it only serves to prevent total darkness.
I must now come to Serampore ; and I hope yon wlU
look out for somebody to return with me, as I do not
think I can live by myself at a place where, but a few
days ago, I had a wife and two children !" ''

In other stations, the aspect of afikirs, during this
year, was very encouraging. At Dinagepore 'and
Goamahy, things went on happily ; b Jessore, the
church had increased to nearly sixty members • at
Lakra Kroonda, an opulent Hindoo merchant, who
had formeriy kept a house of gods, cast them »;»
away ; and, with others like-minded, met on thr
sabbath day, for the purposes of reading the Scriptures,
and worshipping, as well as they know how, the living
and true God. At Calcutta, also, the word of the
gospel appeared to have free course, and to be attended
with considerable success. " Kristno," says a pious
member of the church in that city, " appears to gather
strength of body from his unremitting exertions. He
spares no labor, exhibits no symptoms of fiitigue, but
flies wherever duty calls, and actually preaches at
fourteen difl^rent places in the course of the week
besides regularly visiting several private families. He

Seemii. inrtnml. tn havA all tha saaal «<* • .,....— .

^ _ _..„.,,_ ...„jypj.j^

With ail the experience of a father. When I think of

BAPTIST MISSKHVART SOCIETY.

fmu labon, and thoaB of the other missionarie*,
ftMching the gospel hera seven times in a wedi,
the monthly prayer and weekly experience meetings,
the eatechiiing ot children after morning worriiip, the
meeting on sabbath erenmgs for imparting rel^ious
intelligence, seven estaUished prayer-meetings in dif-
ferent parts of the city, and the many iainily altars
recently erected ; I cannot but conclude that these
are earnests of what we hope for, — the conversion of
multitudes of our feUow sinners."

In January, 181 1, Mr. Robinsra returned to Barba-
ree, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Cornish, two
members of the Baptist church at Calcutta. They
•nrived oo Saturday the 19th, and during the foUow-
ing Monday and Tuesday, they were employed in
arranging various articles, and in writing to the Soobah
of Chemerchee, requesting permission to pay him a
vint. The letter was to have been sent off the next
morning, and they hoped, in about a fortnight, to have
obtained an introduction into Bootan. "But," as
llr. Robinson justly remarks, " we know not what a
day may bring forth i"

On Tuesday night, about twelve o'clock, the watch-
man awoke Mr. Cornish, and told him that he had
seen a man of suspicious appearance about the premises.
On receiving this intelligence, Mr. Cornish arose, and,
supposing that there was only a single thief, fired his
gun, and again lay down to rest. Just as he was fall-
ing asleep, however, he was roused by a band of fifty
or sixty robbers, armed with spears, attacking the
house. His windows were instantly forced open, and
his poruble desk pulled out ; and on his aiming a
blow at one of the ruffians with the butt-end of his
gun, two spears were immediately aimed at him from
the windows, and be received a slight wound in the
side.* Meanwhile, Mr. Robinson, whose apartment
had not yet been attacked, put on a few of his clothes,
and, not knowing the number of the robbers, nor how
they were armed, formed the intention of resisting
them. He, accordingly, passed them in the dark,
and went into the pantry, for the purpose of arming
himself with a knife. At that instant, the robbers set
fire to some straw, for the sake of light, and, on seeing
the knife in his hand, two of them struck at him with
their spears, but, happily, without effect. Perceiving,
by this time, that resistance would be in vain, he
opened the back door, and went to the room of Mr,
and Mrs. Cornish, hoping to get them out of the
windows, and entreating them to come away, lest they
should be murdered. " O ! Mr. Robinson !" exclaim-
ed Mrs. Cornish, " do uke my poor child !" He did
so ; and the others immediately followed. Mrs. Cor-
nish ran towards the stable ; and, in following her,
they found the cook lying on the ground. Thinking

he might be asleep^ they shook him ; but he answmd
with a deep, hollow groan. They now made the best
of their way over a ditch which surrmmded the prem-
ises ; and, having wandered to a place about a mile
distant, where there was no foot-path, they sat down
on the cold ground till the morning.

Shortly after day,-break, they ventured to return to
their habitation, where they beheld a tragical scene
indeed. A few yards from the front door lay the
mangled corpse of the man who had the care of the
horses^ and at a short distance from the back door lay
the murdered cook. The washer-man, also, had re-
ceived several severe wounds, of which he afterwards
died. On the outside of the bouse a variety of books,
papers, boxes, and other articles, were scattered about,
and stained with blood ; and within, all was ccmfusion
and destruction. Things capable of being broken
were literally dashed to atoms ; the books were thrown
in heaps, or scattered about the apartments ; and th«
clothes, excepting a few articles which the robbers
had probably dropped in their haste, were all carried
away. The total loss in property of different kinds
was supposed to amount to two thousand rupees, or
about two hundred and fifty pounds*

Dreadfiil and appalling, however, as was this disas-
ter, the providence of God was cleariy manifested on
behalf of his servants ; as, in making their escape
from the house, they were mercifully directed into the
only way by which it was possible to elude destruction.
" In that corner of the garden where the stable was,"
says Mr. Cornish, " there was no gateway, which at
every other corner there was, and at each of these
three gateways ruffians were placed, to guard the
entrance ; so that, if we had attempted to pass through
any of them, we must, in all probability, have been
murdered." Mr. Cornish adds, " After getting over
the ditch, we first made our way to a few adjoining
houses, where wo knelt down, and returned thanks to
God for our marvellous escape ; and in a short but
earnest prayer, implored his protection for the re-
maindcr of the night. W9 then wandered into tho
fields, and sat down under a bush, with scarcely any
clothing. Even here our fears were not at an end.
The shaking of a leaf made us tremble ; and, to ren-
der it still worse, my little boy was so cold that it waa
with much difficulty we could keep him from crying,
which might have discovered the place of our retreat
to the robbers, had they passed in that direction.

"My little apprentice girl, Jannetta, on the first
alarm, ran out of our bed-room into the pantry ; so
that she knew nothing of our escaping through the
window. She says, the murderers, coming into the
pantry, and seeing her, exclaimed, ' Here is one of the

Sahib's ngcsle.' One of *h

'•S! S?5tvi!cu iicr vivsvta

. ''immmm ■ BENGAL..

ih.%

989

for money, but, finding n<»e, he was going to put her
to death ; when, hohiing up her bands to another
of the ruffians, she said, < I am but a poor little girl :
do not kill me.* The fellow replied, * Show us where
the money is, and you shall not be hurt.' She accord-
ingly directed them to the two bed-rooms, into which
they all rushed ; whilst she embraced the opportunity
of escaping out at the back door, and concealed her-
self in the store room."

In addition to the loss of bis property, Mr. Robinson
had, on this melancholy occasion, received no fewer
than five wounds ; one on his right knee, one on his
left arm, one on the abdomen, and another on the
breast ; and had not the spear struck against the bone,
the last of these would probably have proved mortal.
The wound in Mr. Cornish's side might, also, have
been fatal, had it not been for a similar circumstance.
In this disUressed state, and with scarcely sufficient
clothes to cover them, they set out, on Wednesday
morning, for Dinagepore, and were three days on their
journey. " During the first two days," says Mr.
Cornish, " my poor wife walked thirty-two miles, as
we could procure no conveyance for her ; and being
lame, in consequsnce of having wounded her foot on
Tuesday night, she sat down and wept, toward the
last, almost every quarter of a mile. I tied my little
child to the back of a native man who accompanied
us ; and thus we proceeded till we came to a canvass
manufactory, where we procured a palanquin and
bearers." On their arrival at Dinagepore, they were
received in the most affectionate manner by Mr. and
Mrs. Fernandez and other friends, who supplied their
wants with the utmost promptitude, and exerted them-
selves unremittingly to soothe their distresses. The
reader will, no doubt, be gratified to find that, though
the robbers for some time eluded the arm of justice,
they were at length taken and brought to punishment.
Three of them were hanged ; several were condemned
to perpetual imprisonment, and thirty-nine lashes with
the kora ; the others were imprisoned for a stipulated
time, and scourged in the same manner ; and all of
them were to be employed in hard labor.

In the month of April, the plan suggested by Dr.
Bell, and aflerwards improved by Mr. Lancaster, was
introduced into the school at Calcutta ; by which it
became practicable at once to increase the number
of pupils and to diminish the expense. A piece
of ground was, also, purchased, and a new school-
house erected, capable of accommodating eight hun-
dred children ; and among the pupils subsequently
admitted was a poor Malay boy, who had been stolen
from a neighboring island, for the purpose of being
sold for food to the Battas, a nation of cannibals ;
and who was actually fattening for sale, when he was

piovidentially rescued hom his nrtal situktion by
captain Williams, one of the subscribeis to the in-
stitution.

In Fort William an opposition was raised against
the gospel by one of the officers, and the religious
meetings' which had been formerly held there, in the
house of an EInglish sergeant, were mterdicted. The
native preachers, however, continued to visit the Fort,
without interruption ; and in Calcutta and the vic'mity,
many were consuntly coming forward, awakened by
the instrumentaUty of these faithful servants of God.
"Not having time to visit the people," says Dr.
Carey, "I appropriate every Thursday evening to
receiving the visiu of inquirers. Seldom fewer than
twenty come ; and the simple confession of their sin-
ful state,— the unvarnished declaration of their former
ignorance, — their expressions of trust in Christ, and
gratitude towards him, — together with the accounts
of their spiritual conflicts, often attended with tean,
which almost choke their utterance, — presents a scene
of which you can scarcely form an adequate idea." '■■*

In March, 1812, a calamitous event occurred at
Serampore, which, for a short season, retarded the
progress of the missionaries in their great and truly
important work of publishing the Holy Scriptures in
the difiierent languages of the East ; and which excited
the most lively feelings of regret and commiseration
in the bosoms of all good men, without regard to sect
or denomination. One evening, about six o'clock,
a fire was discovered in the printing-office, in a large
range of shelves, filled with paper of various descrip-
tions. At this time there were only one or two ser-
vants remaining in the office. Mr. Ward, who was
writing in an adjoining room, was no sooner apprized
of the accident, than he hastened to the spot where
the fire had broken out, and called for water to quench
it : the flames, however, had now reached the middle
of the shelves, and resisted all the efibrts that could
be made by the few persons on the spot. In a few
minutes, the office was so completely filled with smoke,
that Mr. Ward was almost suffi>cated in endeavoring
to get out, and one of the servants who was with him
actually fell down senSeless before he could reach the
door, and was saved from death only by being dragged
into the open air. The whole of the window-shutters,
twenty-four in number, were fastened with iron bars,
placed across, and pinned within ; so that it was
extremely difficult to force them open. It seemed
advisable, indeed, to keep all the doors and windovra
shut, in order to exclude the air, and thus to smother
the flames as much as possible. Mr. Ward now
ascended the roof, pierced it above the part where
the fire was burning, and poured in an abundance
of water. This plan so far succeeded, that four hours

BAPTIST MISfilOlfARY SOCIETY.

after tktt first' ibim iras giTen, Uw flames ww« coa«
fiBe4 to the abalvea irtienoe they had originaUy kaoed,
and even there they were materially diminished. The
quiatky of water whksh waa thrown in where it was
jnraMioable was so great, that in the adj«anin§ press-
Ntom it was an high u the ankles, and the steaaa and
moke which filled the office wen so thick, that a
candle would not bunt there even for a few seconds'
The heat, also, was so intense, that it was impossible
for any one to stand a moment witbm the walb. At
tins juncture, some persons violently urged the opening
of all the windows, in order to get out the tables,
ficames fi>r the cases, and other articles ; but as hours
would have been occupied in doing this, and as the
opening of one or two oniy, would have given fresh
vigor to the flame:^, which were now languid and con-
fined to the lower part of the office, the missionaries
objected to it. This, however, did not prevent some
well-meaning but injudicious friends from breaking
open one of the windows opposite the fire, whilst
Messrs. Mu-shtuan and Ward were busily employed
in other places. In a few muiutes, Mr. Marshman
perceived, through the cloud of steam and smoke,
a flake of fire blown into the middle of the office ;
and he mstantly conveyed the alarming intelligence
to his colleague, who was superintending the pouring
of water through the roof on the shelves. Mr. Ward
now ran to the room at the entrance of the office,
and the most remote from the fire ; and, by the active
assistance of several European friends, succeeded in
cutting open the windows, and dragging out his writing-
table, which conuined the deeds of the premises,
together with many other valuable writings. Then
gping to the opposite room, he cut open the windows
there, and dragged out the enclosed shelves, contain-
ing a complete series of accounts, from the com-
mencement of the mission. This last attempt was
made in the very face of the fire ; and before it was
fully accomplished, the whole building, two hundred
feet in length, exhibited one mass of conflagration.
About midnight, the roof fell in ; and as the wind,
which had previously blown pretty hard, was now
calm, the fire ascended in a straight line, like the.
flame of a candle on a table, and happily terminated
without injuring any of the contiguous buildings, though
some of them were not more than twelve feet distant.
When it was evident that the fire would extend no
farther, all the members of the mission family, old and
young, sat down in front of the office, and continued
till near two o'clock in the morning, condoling with
each other on their dreadful misfortune, yet acknowl-
edging the goodness of their hea anly Father, in pre-
venting the conflagration from spreading farther.
Though the door which separated the press-room

from the otbw part of the office was burnt, and though
die beams in that room were soorched, such was th«
activity of the people in pulling out the presses, tntt>
they were aU preserved. The paper-mill, also^ with
the matrices, moulds and apparatus for letter-founding,,
were in a place adjoining the oflice, which the fira
did not enter, and wen all happily saved. In the
printing-office, the frames, cases, tables for stones,
and consumable articles of all descriptions, were de-
stroyed ; various brass and copper utensiki were melted ;
the thick Chunar imposing stones were split asunder
by the intense heat ; and the melted types ran lik«
a stream of water along the plaster floor. On clearing
away some of the ruins, however, Mr. Ward had the
satisfaction to find that the steel punches for the differ-
ent founts in all the Indian languages, which had
occupied naore than ten yeart in fabricating, were
neither destroyed nor injured. About eight thousand
pounds of type metal were also recovered from the
general wreck ; so that on the third day after the fire,,
the letter founders and pundits were set to work in a
large builduig, which, for several years past, had been
let as a warehouse, and of which the keys had been,
given up only a few days before. In about a fortnight
afterwards, the casting of types was regularly resumed |
and such were the energy and zeal of the missionaries,
that, in the course of a few months, no less than eight
diflerent versions of the Scriptures were again in the
press. The loss sustained, including the building,
amounted to nearly ten thousand pounds ; but this
was more than supplied by the contributions of the
friends of religion, at home and abroad, as soon as the
disaster was publicly known.

In the course of this year (1812), several of the
children of the missionaries were removed by death ;
and Mr. Mardon, after losing his wife and his youngest
son and daughter, within the space of a few months,
was himself summoned, very unexpectedly, into the
worid of spirits, on the 23d of May. In the evening
of that day, he was walking, by moonlight, in the
garden, from nine to ten o'clock ; after which he took a
little bread and milk for his supper, and retired to bed
about eleven. He had previously fastened all the
doors ; but, after a few minutes, he called for his
young servant Roopa, who, with the watchman, came
to the window, and told him they could not get in, as
he had secured the gate. M'. Mardon desired them
to break it open, and, after explaining to them that
he felt extremely ill, he despatched the watchman in
quest of his friend Mr. Ellerton. " On my arrival,"
says that gentleman, in a letter to Mr. Ward, " I found
our brother sweating profusely, and his hands some-
what cold. He told me that he felt very strangely,
or rather as if he had lost his feelings, but had no pain.

t¥'*i>im > BEnatm^ "^'^r*^.

MHtie, to tAmm b» Mgcaocb ; but he Bxprmed ■ £>•
HiwtothatneKWK NoHoiowing what eh« to gw«
kiim I mHls.faint s buin of wum Im, whidk he dnmk;
•■d. w» bbtb began to hofm that the disorder was
mtnty seme accidental attaek, wbieb wtiold pas* off
in a few hours. Abmit two in the raoniing, I left n^
people with bia»y and retumed home to" get a little
sleep} but I had scarcely dosed my eyes when a
miMenger cnne to infenn me that Mr. Mardoa had
g(Ow» worse. I aecordingly hastened to dress myself
•nd go to him ; but before I could reach the honse,
he had breathed bis last."

" Th«s," observes another correspondent, "it has
pleased God, m the midst of a useAil course, to arrest
our fellow-laborer. His disease was so rapid, that on
his death-bed he could say but little : yet what he did
utter, indieated a temper most submissire to the divine
will ; and to those who performed the affecting offices
of friendship toward him, in his last moments, it was
evident, that, in the midst of his suflerings, he was
occupied in thinking of Him who bad redeemed his
sonl with inconceivable agonies on the cross. To the
society his loss is great : he was cordially attached to
the doctrines of divine grace, and may with justice be
reckoned amongst the most upright of men."

An opening for the gospel had, in the mean time,
presented itself in the eastern part of Bengal. Mr.
Cornish, who, with his friend Robinson, so narrowly
escaped assassination on the borders of Bootan, had
the offer of a situation in an indigo manufactory in the
vicinity of Dacca ; and the brethren at Serampore,
conceiving it might be subservient to the diffusion
of divine truth, advised him to accept of it. He
did so, and took with him a converted young Bramin,
named Bhagvat, whom he engaged to support out
of his own salary. " The first Lord's day," says
Mr Cornish, " was a pleasant one, and such as many
of the good people in England would have enjoyed.
It was spent mostly in the open air, under the shade
of a large tree, where we had chairs for the accommo'
dation of our guests, who amounted to about sixty.
Bhagvat preached an excellent sermon from John i. 1.
' In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God.' The audience
appeared to bo well pleased ; and since that time,
Bhagvat has made several excursions round the coun-
try, with considerable effect."

"In Calcutta," say the missionaries, at the close
of 181 a-, "the word of life appears to grow exceed-
ingly ; and a desire to make known the gospel, in a
greater or less degree, seems to prevail there through-
out the church. Many, in consequence, have been
por, in the course of the yeaf. A great
Vol. I.— Nos. 21 & 22. 33

^fiv^ia/vlii;

wwk appoMs to bt silently going forwud h Oi
ttranty-feoitb ragimeM, ttow hi the fert ; tad e^
■wive bretbfen eoatime steadily tolibor in the gttapri,
RMking it known both to sauiB wwMbKeti «■« ft«il
boose to house. Cricntta, hmtiMd, k beeoiw oil
of the most favored spots to be foand in India ; at ^
is either stately or occasionally the scene of tkl
labors of no less than ten European evaagelied m!^
isters, besides the native preachers, whose eserdooa
are, perhaps, ecpud to those of all the others"

The year 1813 commeneed with an oecuiteno*
which, for a season, assumed a very menacing aspcd(«
and occasioned moeh anxiety to the Baptist bretlnea
in Inttta. In the month of January, inquiries wet*
made by the Bengal government, why Messrs. LmncM^
Johns, and Robinson (the first two of wlwia Md
recently arrived at Serampore) bad prooemfed by
way of America, instead of coming direct from Ei^
land, with the permission of the court of cKreofortL
Several letters were exchanged on this subject ; b«t
at length, on the 12th of Mateh, the missionarieB
received a communication, in the name of the govemofi-
general in counci , tating that these new raissionalltti
must return to Europe by the fleet (hen under de^tcM,
Mr. RoWnson had previously sailed for Java ; and ia
Mr. Lawson had begun to prepare a fount of Chinese
types at the mission-house, the governw-genertt was
induced, by this circumstance, to relax the severity
of the mandate, in his favor. No attention, however,
was paid to the applications on behalf of Mr. Johns;
on the contrary, the order for his return w«w peremp-
torily confirmed, and he was given tb under8«»nd that,
in case of non-compliance, he WOuM be apprehended
and carried forcibly on board. He was, of course,
obliged to submit, and retumed to Ikigland, aftet
spending only a few months in Bengal.

The state of the mission, however, was, at this
time, extremely prosperous. In various parts of th«
country, the gospel had attracted increasing attention,
and in some instances it appeared to impress the
minds of natives of the highest rank. Early in the
spring, several Hindoos of respectability, from Gun^
dulpara and Vans-variya, visited the missioifaries, and
attended the Bengalee worship on the sabbath, lodging
at the house of Kristno. That zealous preacher,
also, who had for some time expressed a wish to plank
the standard of the cross m the north-eastern e:x-
tremity of Bengal, was sent, with the native brother
Ghorachund, to a place called Silhet, in that part
of the country ; and both there and at Pandooa, still
farther distant, he was favorably received, and pufc
lished the glad tidings of salvation with considerable
success. f

In the month of May, the superstition caHed tire

848

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

churuk, or swinging festival, was duly observed, tc-
cording to annual custom, ai Serampore and Calcutta.
At the former place, there were fewer posts erected
than usual, but amongst the swingers was one female.
A mun fell from a stage thirty cubits high, and broke
his back ; and another fell from one of the swinging
posts, but was i.ot severely injured. Some days after
the first swinging, certain natives revive the ceremo-
nies ; and as Mr. Ward was, at this last period, pass-
ing through Calcutta, he saw several, Hindoos hanging
by the heels over a slov/ fire, as an act of devotion.
To prove, however, that these poor creatures do not
expose themselves to such torments by their own
choice, it is only necessary to state, that, in the year
to which we are now alluding, several of the natives
employed in the missionary printing-office entreated
Mr. Ward to protr:t them from being dragged into
these pretended voluntary practices. " This applica-
tion," says Mr. Ward, " brought L^fore us facts which
we were by no means aware of It seems that the
Hindoo landlords, and other persons of property, insist
upon certain of their tenants and dependants perform-
ing these ceremonies, and that they expect, and even
forcibly compel, multitudes, every year, to join the
processions of the tunyasea, as they are called, who
parade the streets, piercing their sides, tongues, &ic.
To avoid this compulsion, many indigent young men
leave their houses and conceal themselves ; but they
are sure of being beaten when they are caught, or
of having their huts pulled down. When the lands
and riches of the country were in few hands, this
influence of the grett carried all before it ; and it is
still widely felt in compelling dependants to assist in
public shows, and to contribute toward the expense
of splendid ceremonies. Through divine goodness,
however, the influence of commerce, the more general
difiusion of wealth, and the intercourse of Europear.i),
are gradually raising the Hindoos from this state of
abject dependence on their spiritual tyrants ; and thus
providential events are operating, together with the
gospel, to produce a happy change in the great mass
of the population, particularly in the more enlightened
parts of Bengal."

.In the mouth of September, a public disputation
of the students in the college of Fort Willinni, at
Calcutta, was held before the right honoruble lord
Minto, as visitor of the college ; and on that occasion
his lordship was pleased to observe, " I profess a very
•incero pleasure in bringing the literary merits of Mr.
Marshman, and the other reverend members of the
Serampore mission, to the notice of the public, and in
bearing my testimony to the great and extraordinary
labors, which constancy and energy in their numerous
and various occupations, tmve enabled this modest i'

and raflpectable eommuaity to aoeompliBh. I am akd
equally gratified by the opportunity wbioh their lite-
rary achievements aC.rd, of expressing ray regard i.:«
the exemplary worth of their lives, and the beneficent
principle which distinguishes and presides in the various
useful establishments which they have formed, and
which are conducted by themselves."

About this time, the missionaries were deprived, by
the stroke of death, of one of their itinerant natives,
Deep Chund,who has been already introduced to the
notice of our readers. As a specimen of his deter-
mined perseverance in his sacred labors and bis patience
under persecution, the following anecdote was relatiid
to Mr. Ward, by another native, after his exertions
on earth were terminated, and he had reached the
hnven of eternal rest. Having gone, on a certain
occasion, with two of his converted countrymen. Deep
Chund found a Poktuguese man sitting at his door on
a chair, and, entering into conversation with him, pro
posed that he and his friends should be allowed to
smoke out of his hookah. The man, greatly astonished,
turned around and inquired what they meant -, and
asked whether they, as being Bengalees, would really
smoke with him. They replied that they were Chris-
tians, and despised no man, coi.^idering all to be chil-
dren of one father. Pleased with this frankness, ind
agreeably surprised to hear that Hindoos were the
p ofessors of Christianity, the Portuguese gave them
his hookah, and ordered three chairs to be brought for
them : this, however, they declined, and sat down on
the ground. Several of the villagers had, by thia
time, arrived on the spot, and great numbers more
were speedily collected, when they began to sing a
hymn in Bengalee. At the close of the hymn, a
prayer was offered up, and Deep Chund, with the
Testament in his hand, proceeded lo address the
listening strangers, in a manner which evidently rivet-
ed their attention, and excited the admiration of the
two native brethren. After some time, however, a
Bramin interrupted the speaker with some opprobrious
language, and, being mortifled at the reply which he
received, he began beating Deep Chund, who received
this ill usage without any resistance. One of his
companior s, being of a more irascible temper, was
provoked to utter some threats ; but Deep Chund
immediately restrained him by saying, " My brother,
let us remember that wc are the disciples of Him
who was < led as a lamb to the slaughter ;' t nd who,
in the midst of his cruel murderers, looked steadfastly
toward heaven, prayiu)^ that they might bo forgiven,
when il wos only necessary for him to have looked
upon them in anger, in order to have reduced them to
irshcs." The Portuguese man was so delighted with
this observation, Itiat ho appeared ready to clasp the

.tT3VHf*' BENGAL^ M rmm^n

948

htnerant in hb armi, and most of the auditors wera

eridestly struck with this new thing in the land

men praying for their persecutors I

During his last and long-protracted illness, Deep
Chund invariably avowed his rejection of every refuge,
but thb« which God hath set forth in the gospel ; and
in his last moments, when visited by Messrs. Ward
and Marshman, be appeared to be sweetly supported
by his hope in Christ. Many pleasing expressions
had also dropped from his lips, during several pre-
ceding days, all tending to demonstrate his allegiance
and attachment to that adorable Redeemer who was
" delivered for his ofTencGS, and raised again for his
justification."

Towards the close of the year, one of the clerks in
the mission printing-office stated, one day, that he had
seen three females burnt to death in a pit at a place
called Vidya-vatee, about three miles to the northward
of Serampore. When the flames had ascended to a
considerable height, the women leaped into the pit,
amidst the clangor of Hindoo music, and the shouts
of the surrounding multitude, and were immediately
covered by the burning combustibles. They were
the wives of a Telinga rajah, who had left his family
at this place, whilst he went on a pilgrimage to
Benares, where he died. At the time they plunged
into the burning pit, they wore all adorned with a
profusion of gold ornaments, and each of the widows
held in her hand some trifling article which had be-
longed to the deceased rajah.

The progress of the translations during this year is
thus described in a letter by Dr. Carey, dated Decem-
ber 14 :— " Wo are, at this time, engaged in translating
the Bible into twenty-one languages, including the
Bengalee, which is finished. This week we obtained
a person to assist in the translation of the Scriptures
into the Kassas' language. This is an independent
nation of mountaineers, lying between the eastern
border of Ber.gol and the northern frontier of the
Burmnn empire. About a fortnight ago, we obtained
help for the Sindli and Wuch languages. The country
of Sindh lies on the east hunk of tlio Indus, nhout
five hundred miles from the sea ; uiul that of Wuch
continues along the same shore till it joins (ho Punjab.
I believe we have now all tlie languages in that part,
except that of Kutch, which I hope will soon be
brought within our reach. We have not yet been
able to secure the languoges of Nepnla, Bootan, Muni-
poora, Sinm, and abo<it five or six tribes of raountain-
cnrs ; but, besides these, I nm not acquainted with
any language on the continent of India, into which
tlie word of God la not under translatioo."

■"" "■' ■•■' i"!"'*.", i~i'j, 9utiiC oi ins misSiuMMiieit

had an opportunity of witnessing the bathing of Jug-

gernaut, at the village cf Muhesha, adjoining Seram-
pore, where is a celebrated image of that idol. On
this occasion, all the landing places were crowded
with Hindoo bathers, anticipating the most important
benefits from the ablutions performed on such an
interesting occasion. At the appointed hour, the god
was brought out of his 'temple, in the arms of five or
six stout Bramins, and carried to a brick elevation at
a short distance, where he was drawn up by cords,
and placed on a seat. The Bramins then waited the
arrival of the land owner ; and, on his coming forward,
they commenced the ceremony of ablution, pounng
water on the head of their god, from the sacred conch,
through a cylinder having a thousand perforations.
This was attended with the repetition of certain for-
mulas ; and during the act of bathing, thousands of
spectators were seen testifying their homage and adora-
tion ; some with their hands raised to the head, others
stretching out their arms toward heaven, and others
prostrating themselves on the ground. After a short
time, however, they all retired, and the idol was carried
back to his temple.

On the 19th, the same god was placed in his
monstrous car, and dragged, by the crowd, about a
quarter of a mile. There tl e car remains eight days,
for the mob to gaze at, whilst the deity is carried, in
the arms of the Bramins, to the temple of his nephew
Radha-Bullubha. "This year," says one of the
brethren, " on account of the heavy rains, the people
were comparatively few, and the car stuck fast in the
mud ; — a disaster which was attributed by some of the
devotees to the prayers of »he native Christians. At
length, the Bramins hit upon a most fortunate expedi-
ent. They brought out Radha-Bullubha, and as soon
as Juggernaut saw his nephew, the car rolled on with-
out further obstruction, assisted by the enthusiasm
of the mob, who were loo much delighted with tliis
new miracle to attribute it to their own increased eflforti.
On the 28th, the god returned in the same order as
he came out, and this was the termination of the
festival ; by tiie annual observance of which, the pro-
prietors of the two temples realize the sum of about
two thousand rupees."

At the total wane of the moon, in the same month,
the idol is exhibited to the populace, after having been
newly painted ; and, on this occasion, great numbers
of Hindoos visit his temple with a variety of offerings.
It is a fact, however, equally singular and ludicrous,
that fur fourteen days preceding, in consequence of
having been touched by a aoodra painter, the god
is considered to be in a state of uncUanneii, and
during that time is neither fed nor worshipped.

About tiie same time, a nativu of ahiraui, in Persia,
named Muhummud Bakur, was baptised at Seranipore,

944

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

aAw •zperienoiog the most sev«re treatment in ooo*
stqueooe of his fxhuei conviction of tbe truth of
the Christian religion. Happening to be at Daooa,
about fourteen months previous to his baptism, he met
with a gentleman who talked seriously with him re-
specting Christianity, and the false pretenaions of the
Arabian impostor. Bakur, who wai at this time about
twenty years of age, was at first strongly prejudiced
against the truth ; but, on perusing part of the New
Testament, his opinions were shaken, and the light of
conviction began to dawn upon his mind. He shortly
afterwards removed from Dacca, and came to Seram-
pore, where he remained nearly three months under
instruction. At the expiration of this time, he had
occasion to go to Calcutta, to recover a trifling sum of
money, and was under the necessity of calling at the
house of an opulent Mussulman. Here he was treat-
ed with every mark of external respect, but in the
tobacco which he smoked was mixed some intoxicat-
"•S '•™g. which rendered him completely insensible.
Whilst in this state, his clothes were cut to pieces, and
he was conveyed on board a ship lying off Calcutta,
and just on the point of sailing for Muscat. After
•ome time, he recovered his senses, and found himself
in the hold of the vessel. He Uien attempted to go
upon deck, and complain to the pilot that the captain
was carrying him away without his consent ; but he
was beaten on the head, and in various parts of his
body, in the WHWt violent manner. His hands and feet
were also tied, and in this state he was kept till the
pilot left the vessel and they were out at sea. He was
then brought on deck, and compelled to assist in work-
ing the ship, with no other allowance than three
biscuits and some water every day. He was also
three times tied up by the arms in the burning sun,
and ordered, under pain of more severe tortures, to
renounce Christ. His resolution, however, was invinci-
ble, and he boldly defied their menaces, telling ihem
that he was no longer a Mahometan, but a Christian.
After sailing sixteen doys, a violent storm obliged
them to put in at Ooa. Here, during the darkness of
the night, Bakur let himself Hown into a small boat,
and got safely to land ; where he prevailed on a Por-
tuguese man to afford him an asylum till the departure
of the ship. He then had a passage given him to
Bombay, by a European who was desirous of obtain-
ing some instruction in the P».r8ic language. From
thence he worked his passage to Madras ; and on his
arrival in that city, ho was introilucod to the Rev. Mr.
Loveless, by whom ho was treated with the greatest
poesible kindness, and at whose recommendation the
" Friend ia Need Society," at that place, paid his
passage to Calcutta ; whence he hastened to Senm-
pore, to mform the brethren of his joyful deliverance.

and to mdce a pnl^ profeaaion of that gospel whieh
had supported and comforted hia mind under all bis
afflictions.

Various demands for assistance in other quarters
having left tbe station at Serampore very destitute of
itinerant preachers, the missionaries procured the dis-
charge from the army of Mr. William Smith, a young
man of remarkably promising gifts, whose distinguished
piety and blameless conduct had invariably rendered
him beloved and respected wherever his lot had been
cast. The church were also much gratified by the
restoration of three of the native members, who bad
been for some time excluded on account of some gross
improprieties ; but who, having evinced unequivocal
symptoms of repentance, were now, with the consent
of the whole body, restored to a participation in those
important privileges which they had unhappily forfeit*
ed by their own imprudence.

In Calcutta, the most beneficial effects continued to
attend the preaching of the gospel, and a considerabh
number both of natives and Europeans were added to
the church. Here, also, a circumstance altogether
unprecedented occurred, which was well calculated to
excite the attention of the natives, and to place the
Christian religion in an interesting light. "Certain
Hindoos," say the brethren, " had committed a rob-
bery to a very considerable amount, and the evidence
against them was so clear, that their condemnation
and execution were inevitable. During their confine-
ment in the prison, however,one of the native converts,
named Kanta, visited them repeatedly, read to them
the news of pardoning mercy through a crucified Re-
deemer, and occasionally prayed with them. By one
or two of them those attentions were received with
pleasure; and, as they became seriously attentive, it is
possible that divine mercy may have reached their
hearts, as it did that of the thief on the cross. At all
events, two of them requested Kanta to attend thera
to the place of execution, and with this request he
cheerfully complied. This was, indeed, a novel
spectacle to the crowds of Hindoos who were present ;
and the conduct of one of their converted country-
men thus attending dying criminals, with the anxious
wish of proving instrumental to their salvation, con-
trasted with that of a Bramin conducting a hapless
mother to the funeral pile, for the sake of securing her
death, — we have reason to hope was not wholly lost
on those Hindoos in Calcutta who begin to reflect on
the nature of the gospel, and whoso number appears
to ho gradually increasing."

Eariy in 1815, Mr. Smith was fully employed in
preaching daily in Serampore or the adjacent villages,

printing-office. In many instances, he found attentivt

frarxfe bengal. vm'PiM\

crowds, who appeared much gratified with what they
beard. Certain peru of the TesUment were dis*
tributed among the hearers ; and, on some days, Mr.
Smith and his colleague held ccmrersations in different
places, and had separate groups of auditors.

About the same time, the native convert Neelo
visited several places in the vicinity of Serampoie.
At a place called Chatra, he, one day, found some
mendicants, to whom he communicated the doctrines
of the gospel. Expressing their admiration at that
stupendous love which induced Go-J to give his only
begotten Son to die as a substitute for sinners, they
asked, " Are all our works and sacrifices unavailing to
our salvation ? Are they all done away by this great
sacrifice ?" The preacher, in reply, stated the all-
sufficiency of the Redeemer's atonement, and the way
in which it was accepted by bis Father ; and they re-
tired apparently thankful for the intelligence which
they had received. At Bhudrcshwura, be met with
two men who had obuined some rice which had been
rendered sacred by having been offered to the great
idol in Orissa ; and, as a considerable number of per-
sons assembled about them, this afforded him a favor-
able opportunity of directing their attention towards
"the true bread that cometh down from heaven, and
giveth life unto the world." And he had the satisfac-
tion to perceive that several females were bathed in
tears whilst he was describing the salvation of sinners
as having been effected by the dolorous agonies and
death of the Son of God. At another place, called
Chundra-Nugura, an oilman listened to his conversa-
tion till a crowd collected, when Neelo drew their at-
tention to the oilman's bullock, which, with a bandage
over its eyes, patiently went its daily rounds. " This,"
said he, " is an exact representation of your state un-
der the Bramins: they first blind you, and then make
you perform your rounds of service, hke this poor an-
imal." On his way back to Serampore, he mot some
people carrying loads to the market, and thus accosted
them : " These loads you will soon lay down ; but
there is another load which you know not how to got
rid of." On their asking to what load he alluded, he
replied, " The burden of your sins ;" and then, in the
most pathetic and affectionate manner, directed them
to that compassionate Saviour who hath said, " Come
unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden,
and I will give you rest." The word spoken, on this
occasion, seemed to make a deep impression on the
persons to whom it was addressed, and some of them
oven promised to call at Serampore, for the purpose of
receiving further instruction.

On the a7th of November, the mission premises at
Serampore were visitml by the right honorable earl
Moira, lady lx>udoun. the bishop of Calcutta, captain

FitEclflreiiee, and sereral ladies and gendemen belo^g£
ing to lord Moira's suite. These distinguished persoa-
ages went over the different parts of the establishment,
o«aminmg every thing with attention, and remarktflg
that, though they had heard very favorable accounts
of the institution, yet it greatly exceeded their ezpeetS'
tions. The most pleasing sensations, however, were
evidently enjoyed by the visitors when they entered
the room appropriated to those learned natives who
are employed in the ira„,Utk>n of the Holy Scriptures.
The sight of Hindoos of profound erudition, from
almost every province in India, engaged in the great
work of preparing translations of this blessed book for all
thesecountries, appeared greatly to interest his loidship,
lady Loudoun, and the learned prelate. When th«
Afghan pundit was recognised, he was immediately
pronounced to be a Jew, and his own declaration that
he was Beni Israel, proved that the opinion formed by
the company was well founded. Another of the pun-
dits, called the Mit'hilee, afforded a striking example
of the powers of memory ; as it appeared that he was
capable of repeating the whole of Panini's grammar,
and some of the works of his commenutors, amount-
ing in the whole to eighty-six thousand lines ! After
spending about two hours at the mission-house, the no-
ble party retired, evidently gratified with their visit ;
and on his return to Barrack pore, earl Moira wrote to
Dr. Carey, enclosing an order for two hundred rupees,
as a present to the workmen.

The following month, a public examination of the
children educated in the Benevolent Institution in
Calcutta, was held before a considerable number of
the friends of that excellent charity. " It was truly
interesting," says an eye-witness, " to see the progress
of these poor children, of six, seven, and ten years of
age, who went through various exeicises in reading,
spelling, writing from dictation, and accounu, in a
manner that would have done credit to any school in
India : but when between two and three hundred boys
and girls, taken from the poor hovels of Calcutta, stood
up to sing one of Watts's inimitable hymns, and espe-
cially when these lines occurred, —

' WMIo others oarly learn to iwtsr,

And curiv, and lie, and steal.
Lord, I am taught tby name to fear,

And do thy holy will,—'

every heart seemed melted with those charming emotioos
which benevolent minds alone are privileged to feel."
After a concise address from the Rev. W. Ward,
thanking the masters and monitors for their care aai
auention, and exhorting the children to behave with
propriety, and to attend on the means of grace durini

• l.« k-I..J !■«_ #-1 j^ ^ . _ __ _ . *

* ""j"~j-, i-T. \^s^^j- Guuixu Up ttii ai'piupriaM

prayer, and the school was dismissed for the vaoatioo.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

On the 11th of January, IP^B, Messn. Lawson
and Eustace Carey were inslaiied as co-paalors over
the Baptist church at Calcutta. After an appropriate
hymn and an introductory prayer, Mr. Ward explain-
ed the dififerent forms of church government, and par-
ticularly of that under which the members present
were then acting. This was followed by questions
respecting the choice of the pastors, and by a confes-
sion of faith from each of them. After the imposition
- of hands by the three senior ministers, Dr. Carey of-
fered up the installation prayer, and gave an excellent
charge to the brethren from Col. iv. 17. Dr. Marsh-
man then addressed the church from Philippians ii. 16 ;
and Mr. Ward, in fervent pjrayer, closed the solemn
service, which was equally interesting and impressive.

Early in the spring of this year, Kristno took a
journey from Goamalty to Mandaroo, where it appears
the gospel had never previously been heard, nor liad
any portion of the Scriptures been seen by the inhab-
itants. At the fair held at this place, where about
twenty thousand persons were assembled, multitudes
listened to his discourses with deep attention, and he
had a favorable opportunity of giving away religious
tracts. He also entered into conversation with two
men of influence, one of whom accepted some of the
books, and promised that he would not only peruse
them attentively himself, but that he would also read
them to his followers. Another man, a vir oe,
placed himself under the instruction of Kristno, and
even expressed a desire to be baptized ; but, for the
present, he seemed intimidated, lest, on publicly
avowing his profession of the Christian religion, he
should be deprived of the means of obtaining a sub-
sistence.

At Dinagepore, Mr. Fernandez had, about the same
time, no less' than seven inquirers from Purncah ; who
appeared much gratified with the information they
received relat ^ to the way of salvation, and express-
ed the greatest thankfulness when he presented each
of them with a copy of St. Luke's Gospel, together
with seven other copies in the Nagaree character, and
two in Persic, for their friends at home. Some time
after, a man, two women, and a girl about ten years
old, having renounced their castes, came over to Di-
nagepore. The man, having left behind him a wife
and three cliildren, was questioned as to the motive
which had induced him to leave both his family and
his caste ; and he ingenuously replied that ho had no
other object in view than the salvation of his soul.
He afterwards cndoavore<l, fhough in vain, to persuade
his wife to rnme over and join him. Mr. Fehiandei,
also, sent for her, and used every argument to induce
her to comply with her husband's request ; but all
^fuVeti unavaiiiug, and ih« iuH the place in evident

displeasure, taking the children with her. As the sit-
uation of this district was found to be very insalubrious,
the missionary station was subsequently removed, by
government, to a more healthy spot, called English
Bazaar. .^^

In Cutwa and its vicinity, the aspect of afiairs was
increasingly encouraging, and both Mr. W. Carey
and the native preachers appear to have labored with
unremitting ardor, m carrying the news of salvation to
n considerable distance around this station. At Jes-
sore, also, several members were added to the church,
and others, who, for a season, had deviated from the
paths of truth or rectitude, were happily restored.
Mr. Smith, in addition to his arduous labors in the dif>
ferent villages near Serampore, carried the glad tidings
of the gospel to Berhampore, where he preached and
distributed tracts to a considerable number of persons;
and tlien proceeded to Moorshedabad, the ancient
capital of Bengal. Here he collected a great crowd
of Mussulmen, many of whom appeared greatly as-
tonished at what they heard, and gladly received cer-
tain portions of the Scriptures in the Persic and Ben-
galee languages, together with a considerable number
of tracts. Some of the most respectable Mahometans
reasoned with the preacher for a considerable time,
and said they could prove, from the Koran, that
both the Old and the New Testaments were abolished.
Mr. Smith then repeated that declaration of our bless-
ed IjotA, " Heaven and ear'h shall pass away, but
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled." This put them to silence, and
they willingly received the books which were offered
for their acceptance.

Toward the close of the year, Mr. W. Carey un-
dertook a long journey, for the purpose of visiting the
distant settlement of Chittagong. " 1 found," snys he,
" the brethren Dc Bruyn and Baudry in good health,
and warm in the cause of our divine Master. They
go out almost every day, when it is not too hot, to the
circumjacent markets, and there testify of Christ:
they have, also, frequent visits from their neighbors,
and, in various ways, appear to be spreading the light
of the gospel around. On my way to Chittagong, I
heard, from the natives, that they are in the habit of
giving away hooks and instructing the people ; and I
have no doubt but they are truly active and diligent in
their work. One of De Bruyn's members is a drum-
mer, natnod Domingo Rcvt-iro, who received a tract
and the Psalms of David, at Dacca, some years ago.
This poor man used to go from place to place, and
from house to house, with the Psalms, to obtain
.some instruction, but could find no one capable of
giving him the information which he required. About
eight years ago, ho removed from Dnrrn to Cliittngnng ;

#T.,ii'

BENGAL.

but wandered about as before, thirsting for instruction,
till at last he met with De Bruyn, who gave him the
satisfaction which he had so long and earnestly desir-
ed. He has since joined the church, and is now a
warm-hearted Christian.

In the month of January, 1817, the native preach-
er Bhagvat ceased from his labors, and entered into rest,
after having uniformly maintained the utmost consisten-
cy in his Christian character. He had, for some time
past, been stationed at Silhet, among a number of poor,
destitute Portuguese, who were formerly so deeply
sunk in ignorance, that they were in the habit of wor-
shipping an old tattered copy of a Popish catechism,
which is now deposited in the museum of the Baptist
academy at Bristol. Upon some of these poor crea-
tures, however, the light of divine truth appears to
have dawned ; and on the decease of Bhagvat, a Mr.
De Silvas took upon himself the charge of their in-
struction.

Some native brethren who visited Dacca in the
course of the spring, were cordially received in that
city ; and had frequent opportunities of conversing
with the natives in the school-house, and distributing
among them copies of the sacred Scriptures, both in
the Persic and Bengalee languages. On the first sab-
bath which they spent here, one of them, named Rama-
Prusad, preached, in Hindee, to a congregation of about
forty people, mostly respectable Greeks and Armeni-
ans, with a few persons of caste. Few, if any, of
these had ever heard a sermon before : however, as
they perfectly understood the language, they all listen-
ed with the most profound attention ; some of them,
indeed, appeared to be deeply affected, as tears were
seen to roll down their cheeks during the discourse,
and, on their departure, they shook the preacher
heartily by the hand, using a term which i-nplies " ex-
cellent, excellent !" A Greek priest, also, expressed
the most lively joy at hearing, for the first time, a
converted Hindoo preach Jesus Cjirist, according to
the Scriptures. On his leaving the school, he observed,
" Solomon says, ' There is nothing new under the sun ;'
but I have seen a new thing to-day ; — an idolater
preachingChrfst, in a manner which has not only excit-
ed my astonishment, but charmed my heart. I have,
therefore, be?n blessed on this occasion."

During their residence at this place, the native
brethren received some information relative to a Inidy
of Hindoos, a few miles from Dacca, who have en-
tirely 'ejected the laws of the Bramins, and, in a great
measure, the practice of idolatry ; but they still retain
many of their prejudices respecting caste, and still
more of those which connect sin with the use of cer-
tam kinds of food. On receiving this intelligence, the
brethren hastened to convey to them the glad tidings

S47

of the.gospel, and in several instances, they appeared
to lend a favorable ear to the great truths which, tot
the first time, were submitted to their attention. ir
At Chittagong, affairs appeared to be peculiarly
prosperous, this year, till an event occurred, which
rendered that station the scene of mourning, and de-
prived the missionaries of a faithful brother and an in-
valuable assistant. Upon the borders of this place u an
extensive tract of country, inhabited by an intelligent
and ingenuous race of people called Mugs ; in reality,
natives of Arakan, whose language, manners and
habits are neariy similar to those of the Burmans,
under whose government they formerly were; but,
about thirty years ago, they placed themselves beneath
the protection of the British government. Some of
these people having visited Chittagong about the year
1815, in the way of business, heard of De Bruyn,
who was zealously laboring among the inhabitante,
and highly esteemed by them for the mildness and in-
tegrity of his conduct. This led them to seek an in-
terview with him, in order to ascertain the nature of
the doctrine which he was teaching. What they heard
from his lips excited their attention ; and the commu-
nications which they made, on their return, to their
countrymen, induced others to visit Chittagong, for
the purpose of receiving instruction. The word of
God was now attended with a divine unction, so that two
or three of the Mugs made an open confession of their
faith in Christ, and, notwithstanding the opposition of
their own priests, the sacred work proceeded till be-
tween sixty and seventy of these foreigners had sub-
mitted to the rite of baptism, and there were satis-
factory grounds for anticipating a still wider diffusion
of heavenly knowledge among their nation.

" The great enemy of souls, however," say the
missionaries, "beheld, with an evil eye, these attempts
to rescue from his grasp those over whom he had so
long tyrannized without opposition, and meditated a
blow in a way little expected. Among those who
came to De Bruyn for instruction, was a young man,
born at Rangoon, the son of a native of France and a
Burman woman. This individual our brother had
taken into his house, and treated as his own son ; la-
boring to instruct him in the knowledge of Christian-
ity, with the pleasing hope of his being herealler a
useful instrument in promulgating the gospel. Latter-
ly, however, this young man had given much concern
to his preceptor, by the impropriety of his conduct ;
and, .in the month of September, a circumstance oc-
curred, which seems to have induced brother De Bruyn
to reprove him with more severity than usual. Satan,
watching his opportunity, immediately inflamed the
passion of this headstrong youth to such a degree,
I that he seized a knife, and plunged it into the side of

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

has pkMM beaefiwlor ; wImv after languishing a day an4
aBight,expii«d ; not, however, before he had written to
the judge of the district, excusing the rash deed of his
nurderar, and entreating that he might not be punisb-
«4L His remains were accompanied to the grave, the
next day, by nearly all the European inhabitants, by
whom be was held in high estimation, and who ex-
pressed the most feeling re^et at his untimely end.
Thus, in about the fiftieth year of his age, were we sud-
denly deprived of a most useful and esteemed l»other,
who had patiently persevered in his work, through
•ml report and good report, till, at length, it pleased
God to crown his labors, beyond those of almost any
ether brother yet engaged in the mission."

In allusion to the state of affiiirs in this part of the
vineyard, and to those converte, who, by the barba-
KHis assa^ination of De Bruyn, were left as sheep
without a shepherd, one of the missionaries writes
tlHis, in a letter addressed to the Rev. Dr. Ryland,
•nd dated July 28, 1818 :— " There are now, in the
province of Chittagong, not less than ninety-one
persons who have made a public profession of their
attachment to Christ ; and amongst these individuals,
who constitu'e the church, there are five who act as
iostructers of their brethren. These, however, hav-
ing so recently been converted from heathenism, and not
yet possessing the Scriptures in their own language,
must be exceedingly ignorant, and their ideas very con-
fused. The people, therefore, cannot at present be ad-
equately supplied with the waters of life ; and as the
members reside at three distinct places, I conceive the
station will be an arduous one, from the difficulty there
will be in keeping up a communication between them.
I do not think, however, that the circumstances attend-
ing De Bruyn's death should at all discourage any
missionary from going thitiier."

At the annual drawing fortii of Juggernaut's car, at
Muhesha, an obstruction occurred this year similar to
that which has been already narrated ; but on this
occasion, the proprietor of the sacred vehicle lament-
ed, in the most bitter terms, the ruin which this un-
fortunate event was supposed to have entailed on one
af his ancestors, by whom the car had been built.
The Hindoos imagine that a man continues immortal
so long as any important work which he maj have
executed continues to flourish ; but as the stopping of
the car defeated the purpose for which it was made,
it was taken for granted tliut the workman by whom
it had been built had now fallen from his immortality.
After Juggernaut had remained stationary during tlie
wliole of the night, and the renewed etibrts of the
populace, in the morning, proved ineffectual to ad-
vance his progress even a single step, some persons
•lluded to the success which had attended the bringing

fwth of Radba.B«ikibba» «■ a fanner occasion^ and
suggested the propriety of again resorting to the saaw
expedient. This advice was adopted ; but when the
idol had come to a certain disUnce, the priests who
supported him on their shoulders declared that he
would proceed no farther ; as he had never gone to a
greater distance from his own temple, and be was not
inclined to deviate firom his usual course. 'nin,howw
ever, as the reader may easily suppose, was a mere ar>
tifice to obtain money ; and, after a long and waim
debate between the owner of the car and the proprietors
of Radlia-BuUubha's temple, the priests consented,
for fifty rupees counted down upon the spot, that their
god should pass the limits prescribed by their avaric&
On the advance of the idol, the populace, who had
the honor of drawing Juggernaut, made such a violent
efibrt, that the car began to move, and the air resound-
ed with acclamations. This enthusiasm of joy, how-
eve :, soon subsided, as the ponderous vehicle, after
advancing a few yards, again became immovable, and
Radha-Bullubha was obliged to return home without
his relative.

In consequence of Juggernaut's absence, the visits
to the temple of Radha-Bullubha were very few, and
the offerings extremely trifling. After various con-
sultations, therefore, between the priests of both tem-
ples, Juggernaut was silently conveyed to his nephew's
temple on the evening of the third day. The devo.
tees, however, were filled with anxiety at the misfor*
tune wliich had taken place, and a variety of opinions
were expressed respecting the cause of so great a
calamity. Some said that the proprietor of the car,
contrary to his usual custom, had partaken of food
before the car was drawn forth ; others affirmed that
their deity was incensed at the temerity of one of the
proprietors, who had touched it, whilst in a sute of
defilement from a dead body ; and a third class insisted
that the wrath of the god had been excited by his
hands having been made of silver instead of gold.
One of the Bramins, in the mean time, pretended to
have dreamed that Juggernaut had appeared to him,
and told him that his car must not be expected to
move, unless a number of human victirtis were immo-
lated by being thrown under the wheels. Alarmed
at the rumor of this protended dream, and knowing
the dreadful consequences to which it might lead, if
insisted on by the Bramins, the missionaries at Seram*
pore inunediately drew up and printed a tract of eight
pages, in which they explained that the car had been
merely impeded by the state of the ground, and en-
treated the natives to consider what ihey could gain
by worshipping, as the " Lord of the Worid," a sense-
less log of woo<l ; pointing tJiom, at the same time, to
the living and true God, as waitina to be aracious to

mVMV* t .JOSUiMAf -[VfT'J^fl

yill in everjr MdiMti wkoi t«n» to bimt: thr«Hgh b»<4ear
.160s- Tbi» bwt ymm quietly ciftsuktad among the
hpffopi*; mi nothmg mora ww heufd of the Mcrifioe
<«(! ;bunuB viatkns.

In th« month of Auguat^a plot of gnrand adjoining
<he miinian premises atiSerampore was pumbtaed for
the erection of a college, the plan of which had already
been published in diffisrent parts of India, and had re-
cei¥ed the sanetioD and patron^e of the most noble
the raan]uis of Hastings and other distinguished per-
■onages. In order, however, that the designs of this
new and important institution may be clearly under-
•tood, we shall uke the liberty of laying before the
reader an extract of a letter published by the Rev.
W. Ward on this interesting subject : —

"Besides the improvement of converted natives
who may be selected for the work of the mmistry.or
ft)r missionary employment. Dr. Carey and his breth-
ren hope that some pious Hindoos may be capable of
acquiring a higher education ; and that, after becom-
mg good Sungskrit, as well as Hebrew and Greek
scholars, they may be successfully employed as trans-
lators of the divine Word into languages, with the
structure of which they will be perfectly familiar.
The dialects of India are so numerous, that it can
hardly be expected that the Holy Scriptures will be
very soon rendered into all of them ; and when that
shall have been accomplished, tlieir improvement and
perfection can only be hoped for through the revision
of learned Christian natives. The children of Eng-
lish misrionaries, who may be the subject of saving
influences, and may be called to the work of the mis-
sion, will find in this college that education which may
prepare them to become the most ef&cient agents in
the gathering in of the heathen.

" It is further intended, that a respectable but infe-
rior education should be given at this college, to a
number of the children of converted Hindoos and
Mussulmen, go as to qualify tlieiu for situations in life
by which they may procure a decent livelihood, and
roar and educate their families. Hereby some amends
may be made to tlieir parents and themselves, for the
deprivations to which they have been subjected by
the loss of caste ; and thus will be wiped away the
dreadful reproach common throughout every part of
India, that the feringas (the Christians) are sunk the
lowest of all castes in vice and ignorance.

" Finally, this college is proposed to bo open and
gratuitous to all denominations of Christians, and to as
many heathen scholars as choose to avail themselves
of its exercises and lectures, provided they maintain
themselves."

In the same spirit of candor and liberality, Dr.
Mnrshraan observes, hi allusion to tliis Institution,

Vol. 1 yor. 21 & 22.

«Qar college will' lw«pea to «» ; wM n» FMobi^
tilt, or EpiscoiMlkny or OtHvkmsti or Annimaai «t
ovett Roman Catholic, w^l ever hb conMreimd tO'M»
tend a lecture which! would oftnd his ooMbiMM.
We humbly trust thkt it will b*i made a blessing to the
cause; every {Hoas> youth, wh<r can make known th«
truth in English, may heM receive what instruction
he needs ; every pious native youth, whole heart is
toward the service <rf the sanctuary, will, we trusty be
thoroughly furnished; every native youth, of talent*,
Christian by mere profession, may here teoeive th«t
Indian classical education, which will raise him in HtH
erature above the generality of the Bramins, while he
is also instructed m the Scriptures ; and enable him to
defend and do honor to Christianity, whether he serve
society in a legal, medical, or literary capacity, or be
engaged in commerce: and from all these. we may
reasonably hope, that a body of native translators
will be formed, which will improve the translations in
their own languages, for beyond What any foreigner will
soon be able to do; and, finally, every ingenuous
heathen youth, who loves knowledge, and is able to
support himself, may attend the lectures in the college
and live out of it, according to his own ideas of caste,
as long as he complies with its rules in pouit of mo-
rality and diligent attendance."

Towards the close of this year (1818), the mission-
aries opened three new places of worship, built in the
simple Hindoo style, in difiiirent parts of the ciiy, call-
ed Entally, Molungah, and Kalmgah. At the former,
the attendance was generally small, the population in
this part being scattered, and of a low description ; in
the second, the congregation, which almost exclusively
consisted of Hindoos, sometimes exceeded a hundred
persons ; and in the last, the attendance was sometimes
very numerous. " We meet with little or no inter-
ruptitm," say the missionaries, " either in our regular
places of worship or in the open aur. But what we
have most to lament is that universal levity of charac-
ter, and that total deficiency of principles and ideas,
upon all moral and divine subjects, which render the
natives fatally indisposed to think or speak with the
least solemnity upon the most awful and momentous
concerns. Sometimes, out of fifty or a hundred peo-
ple, there are many who, judging from appearances,
might be considered as engaged in serious reflection :
but all in an instant, some of them will toss up their
heads, turn it off with a sneer or jest, start from the
place, and take with them ten or fifteen others.

" A Bengalee of some respectability, hearing the
gospel at this place, expressed an earnest desire, one
day, to obtain a New Testament, which we readily
cava him. A few dav!<i nrtRrtvnrrj^ h* carne in nttr
house, and begged another for one of his friends.

9Sft

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

He, likewise, took trnj an asswtment of tracts, and
expressed his conviction of the truth of all he had
read. In about a fortnight, he came again, and inlbrm-
ed us that five or six more Bengalees, residing in a
village a few miles from Cakutu, were thoroughly
satisfied as to the truth of ChrisUsQitjr, and were will-
ing to come among us. We requested him to return
home, and bring them to us, and he departed with Uie
fairest prfessions; but we have heard no more of him
or hu fir'snds. This circumstance is but a solitary in-
stance vf the trials to which we, as missionaries, are
exposed, and which demand the affectionate sympa-
thy and unremitting prayers of ourChristian brethren."

In the spring of 1 8 1 9, a piece of ground was taken by
the missionaries, at a place called Doorgapoor, between
three and four miles from their residence in Calcutta,
for the purpose of forming a station as completely na-
tive as possible. A bungalow and a chapel for Ben-
galee worship were accordingly erected, and it was
determined that the brethren should reside there al-
ternately for the period of six months. " The situa-
tion," says one of the missionaries, " is highly advan-
tageous ; as it is so far out of the city as to possess
all the quiet of the country, and yet so contiguous,
that in about ten minutes we can get into the thickest
of the population. The front of the chapel is on the
edge of a road which serves as a great thoroughfare
between Calcutta and a number of very populous
vdlages ; here, therefore, numerous congregations are
collected ewery day, and tracts are distributed to con-
siderable numbers."

Mr. Adam, who first engaged to spend a portion of
his time at this new station, informs us, that, one day,
throe respectable natives came, according to appoint-
ment, to converse with him on the subject of religion ;
and, after some time, they professed to feel interested
in the propagation of Christianity in India, and ear-
nestfy recommended the establishment of schools for
the instruction of youth in the English language. But
on Mr. Adam remarking that the instruction of Hin-
doo femahi in their own language appeared peculiarly
desirable, the oldest and most intelligent of the visitors
carelessly replied, " What have wo to do with themJ let
them remain as they arc." " I reminded him," says our
missionary, " that they, as well as we, had souls, which
must be saved or lost for ever ; but that they were,
with scarcely a single exception, passing on to eternity,
ignorant of the only way of salvation, — shut out from
the society of Europeans, by whom they might bo
instructed, — and entirely neglected by their own coun-
trymen, who did not allow them even to learn to read.
' They do not know how to go to heaven,' said ho,
' but they know how to go to hell, and kt them go.' "
Suraly. whiUt (Hir readers ezclsiR; with M*

A J

How hu4 k the heart of man untU it is aoAenedby
the grace of Ood !" they wiU rejoice to recoUect thttt,
by the unremitting exertions of the misaionuies, and
the cheerful contributions of the religious publk,
schools for the instruction of native females *av« been
aabsequently established in India, and have been at-
tended with the most beneficial consequences.

Among the inquirers at Calcutta, m the commenee-
ment of 1820, was a very singular character, who had
resided at Kalec Ghaut for four years, having engaged
m a vow of perpetual silence, whksh he had scrupu-
lously observed during the whole of that time. At
length, however, a religious tract was introduced to
his notice, which so far convinced his judgment as to
put an end to this ridiculous penance. " When I first
saw him," says Dr. Carey, *' he had as many super-
stitious ideas as ever I knew a man to possess ; but
now he appears to have parted with his nostrums, and
to trust wholly on Christ. When he first walked m
the streets of Calcutta, with our friend John Peter,
several of the principal persons came down from their
houses, and prostrated themselves at his feet; but
they soon discovered their mistake. He formeriy
wore a number of necklaces made of snakes' bones ;
but all of these, with other external appearances of
superstition, he has now cast off, and is, in my opin-
ion, truly a partaker of the grace of God."

Having already noticed that ground had been pur-
chased at Serampore, for the erection of a college, it
would be almost inexcusable to omit the following in-
teresting particulars relative to the progress of the
edifice, as communicated, in 1820, by Dr. Marshman
to a gentleman at Liverpool : —

" The college is in an advancing state, and we have
strong reason to hope it will prove an extensive bless-
ing to the cause of God in India. The buildings
appear to us a most important part, as without them a
single step cannot be taken in a place where there arc
none to be hired for the purpose, as in England ; and
when these are completed, I have little doubt that the
institution will be fiilly supported. We have been
hitherto exceedingly favored of Providence in the
steps we have taken. We have been enabled, by
purchasing five or six parcels of ground, to obtain
confessedly the best situation for the college in the
presidency of Fort William, and perhaps in India,
when the retired situation of Serampore, and yet its
vicinity to the capital, are considered. It is a fine
open spot, on the banks of the river, and precisely
opposite the country residence of the governor-gene-
ral of India, from which the river parts it, which is
there about six hundred yards wide. But what ren-
ders it of the greatest value to us is, that it is contig-
uous (o the premises on which We live, so iiiai the

' 'f^mmp- ijimmm*.^: - THr^t.>i i

tboraagfa ud perpMuttmperinteiKtonM of ttie edllt^e
» tberabf saoored ; it being improbable that m insti*
tudoi, ia whieh we so much delight, sbooM not be
wMchfolljr superintended when it is next dow to us.
Ob this spot it Appeared desirable to erect a building
"uflSdenily spacious to contain the natives, who will
naturally assemble there from all parts of the country,
when th« examinations and disputations are held in
their own language ; a measure which will carry the
sa»o» of the tn-ths discussed there from year to year
throughout the country. We have, therefore, nearly
completed a building which contains a library and
museum below, a hall for examination above, and
a suite of rooms above and below on ea<A side, amount-
ing to twelve, six on each side. The hall, above
which is the chief room, will be sixty-six feet wide,
and ninety-five long, terminating in a bow of a semicir-
cular form, thirty-one feet in diameter, and having
seven windows to throw light through the hall. These
windows termmate in a semicircle, and are fifteen feet
in height. The hall will be supported by two rows of
pillars of the Ionic order. The extent of the front is
one hundred and thirty-one feet, the plinth is four feet,
the library twenty in height, and the hall will be
twenty.four. The whole height will be nearly sixty
feet. The entrance will contain a viranda, supported
by six pillars of the Doric order, five feet at the base.
The number of doors and windows in the whole build-
ing will be one hundred and thirty-two. The expense
of this building, and suites of rooms separate from it
for four professors, we intend to meet ourselves, unless
prevented by the liberality of the public. We at first
intended to devote thereto twenty thousand rupees,
but on carefully weighing the vast importaiice of the
object, we determined, if it appeared necessary, to
meet the whole, though it should be eighty thousand
rupees, or ten thousand pounds, which we expect will
cover the whole of the buildings. After this, we trust
the Lord will stir up the public to support it, and if
pot, that he will enable us to meet all deficiencies.
The unoccupied rooms can be occupied by students
till we can obtain four able professors. The whole of
the college premises will, I think, include eight acres,
which leaves abundant room for the erection of apart-
ments for the students, numerous as they may be, and,
the principal buildings being finished, the cost of these
will be a trifle."

In the month of March, 1821, a new chapel for
English worship was opened at Calcutta, the expense
of the building, amounting to about £3000, having
been nearly defrayed by voluntary contributions in the
vicinity. A chapel for Bengalee worship, which had

tuKkn

js* 'lie e .-.pciiac uf a pious female servant,

having been found too distant from the road, was taken

down, about tho Mme time, and grotmd pneured fbr
lebuildrag it in a more populous neighboriiood. A
itew Station was also occupied in the suburb called
Howrah, inhabited by a cOnsiderabl<> number of Eog-
lishmen, and by thousands of nations who were all
previously destitute of the means of grace ; and a sub-
scription was set on foot for the purpose of erecting a
new place of worship at Dum-dum, a military statira
some miles distant from Calcutta, where pleasing evi-
dences were aflTorded of the blessed eflfects of divine
truth. In allusion to this circumstance, the brethren
observe, " That a number of poor soldiers, who rejected
all the calls of the gospel in their youth, and left their
native country, generally speaking, destitute of any
religious attachment, should be arrested by the vmco
of the Good Shepherd, and thus induced to relinquuh
revelings and dissipation, and to attach themselves to
the self-denying duties of piety in this heathen coun-
try, must be contemplated with deep and pleasing in-
terest by all who wait and pray for the progress of
divine truth m these re^ons. For, as the example
of thousands of our countrymen has hitherto proved
one of the principal stumbling-blocks in the way of
disseminating the gospel, so we may hope that the
conduct, the prayers, and probably the personal ex-
ertions of these people, may, in some measure, help
to repair the injury done to the cause of God in for-
mer years, and finally entail a blessing upon many
who are ready to perish."

On the 30th of May, the pious and amiable wife of
Dr. Carey was removed into the " house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens," after an illness of
five days, in which her mind was so graciously sup-
ported, that death appeared to be completely disarmed
of all its terrors.

In a brief memoir of this excellent woman, publish-
ed by the Baptist brethren, it is said, " She in general
enjoyed much of the consolations of religion, and,
though greatly afflicted, a pleasing cheerfijlness gene-
rally pervaded her conversation. She, indeed, possess-
ed great activity of mind. She was constantly out
with the dawn of the morning when the weather per-
mitted, in her little carriage, drawn by one bearer ;
and again in the evening, as soon as the sun was suf-
ficiently low. She thus spent nearly three hours daily
in the open air. It was probably this vigorous and reg-
ular course which, as the means, carried her beyond the
age of threescore years (twenty-one of them spent in
Indiq), notwithstanding the weakness of her constitution. '
" About three weeks before her death, her sight,
which had enabled her hitherto to read the smallest
print without glasses, failed at once, without any pre-
vious indispusition, and was afterwards restored oni*'^
in a partial degree. This seemed to indicate the

BAPTIST MISSiOKABY SOCIETY.

«p|>l«M0bi*g diMoliiti«B of her oKwtal fraaaM* ami *»
SBch the appeared to regard it. Sbet hotrevwp, irtili
eootinued bar momiog aod eveoing airings ; but on tha
tweMf-fifth of May, aa «be wa« rctumiag Id th«
evening, within a few hundred yards of ber own bouse,
she was seised with a kind of fit which deprived her
ot perception. From this spasm she recovered in
about an boar ; but her perception aod memory were
evidently impaired, of which, however, she seemed
scarcely conscious. About five in the afternoon of
the next day, as she was sitting and conversing cheer-
fiiUy with her husband, she experienced another con-
volsive attack, but recovered in about the same time
as before. On Lord's day, the 27th, she seemed
so wen as to give hopes of her recovery. But on
Monday, she bad five attacks in about fifteen hours.
Of these, however, while she suffered little pain in
them, she retained no subsequent recollection ; but
they evidently left her memory and perception more
and more impaired. During Monday night, she had
two more attacks, and one on Tuesday morning.
This was followed by an ardent fever, which con-
tinued till her decease, between twelve and one on
Wednesday morning.

" On the Lord's day and Monday, she appeared
quite sensible that this was the breaking up of her
earthly tabernacle ; but to her husband, who conversed
with her on the probable issue, she strongly expressed
her willingness to depart and be with Christ. In
this serene and happy state she continued, sensation
gradually lessening, without apparent pain, till it
Appeared wholly to depart, which it did some hours
before her release from the body. She was interred
on Wednesday evening, in the mission burying-ground
at Serampore. At the grave, Dr. Marshman gave out
that h^mn of Watts, 'Why do we mourn departed
friends ?' and addressed the spectators ; and the Rev.
Mr. Hough concluded in prayer. Dr. Marshman
afterwards preached a funeral sermon for her from
2 Cor. V. I : • For we know that if our earthly house
of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building
of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens,' selected by Dr. Carey for the occasion.
Most of the members of the Danish government at-
tended, with other gentlemen of Serampore, to testify
their respect for her memory."

The aspect of affairs, during the remainder of this
year, seems to have been very encouraging at the
different stations in Bengal.

At Dinaqepore, such considerable additions had
been made to the church, that its members now
amounted to seventy-two persons, and others were
expected shortly to join it. Idolatry, also, appeared to
be f apidiy declining aincng itic natives of that district ;

in fTOofof^hiohrMff. FnmwMki idUa ui, that ene^i
them, tome time Kgo, raid • whole cluster of Seeb'«.
tempiea, nbout ten or twelve b number, with thtui
idols, to a persod who baa oonverled pait of the gad»<
into stones for grinding paint! ""There are, idsa^>
some large temples," says he, " built by former rajah%'
and dedicated to their favorite idols, wlw^ wre new i
in a dilapidated state, and some ^tbem already fallen
to the ground ; but the present rajah neither troublea ,
himself to repair these or to erect new ones. Th«
establishroeBt allowed by the late and former rajah
amounted annually to about twenty-five thousand
runees ; but it is now reduced to a few hundreda, ana .
even this is rapidly diminishing. Thus, as Dagon fell,
before the ark of the Lord, shall idolatry fijl before ,
the gospel." ,

In the district of Jesaore, four Hindoos had been
recently baptized ; and Mr. Thomas and five native
assistants seem to have been constantly engaged in
itinerating among the numerous villages, and commuiii> ,.
eating the glad tidings of salvation to all who were in>
clined to hsten to the joyful sound. At Moonhtdabad, ,
Mr. Sutton had assembled about two hundred children ,
in the schools under his direction ; and embraced every
opportunity of distributing tracts, and of preaching the
gospel in the streets and markets of that populous city. ;
And at Dacca, Mr. Leonard, who had been mercifully
restored from severe indisposition, continued to lahw
with unremitting zeal and energy in the cause of God
and truth. A public examination of the Bengalee and
Persian schools under the superintendence of thii ,
missionary, afforded a most gratifying proof of the
improvement of the pupils, and evinced that a degree
of interest had been excited in their minds which was ,
likely to be productive of the most beneficial effects.
" Many of the boys," says Mr. Leonard, " had to
come nearly three miles fasting : they were collected
before eight o'clock, and were detained till three in
the afternoon ; yet the only regret that appeared upon
any of their countenances, arose from not being favor-
ed with an opportunity of reading before the com-
mittee, whilst those who were so happy as to obtain a
hearing could scarcely be persuaded to leave off, and
in the end went away in triumph."

Another incident may be mentioned, to show that
the desire for information was not confined to the
youth training in the schools. At the celebration of
one of the Hindoo idolatrous festivals, when it was
computed that nearly two hundred thousand persons
were assembled, some members of Mr. Leonard's
family (he being absent at the time) ventured to
commence the distribution of tracts, which, it would
appear, had not been attempted on such an occasion
before. No sooner was this known, than thousands

TTSry^iPi s :.>BENGAI*^ ■7v»T«?*n

fl/r#aUveB «saenibl«4 about t)n» g»te, filled ibe gwdan
jud the, house, sod would not depart till eaob had
Received a book. The distribution occupied five
JIHCceiaive days, on the first of which alone, more
than three thousand individuals were supplied I
} la the month of March, 1832, a kuid of tuttee or vol-
untary sacrifice of a widow took place iu Bengal, which
corroborates the account given by the Rev. W. Ward ui
bis " Farewell Leuers," of tlve horrid custom of females
being, in some instances, buried alive with their
deceased husbands. The facts are thus deuiled in a
Bengalee newspaper :— " On the morning of the 27th
of March, the widow, an interesting young girl of sixteen
years of age, came out of the town, attended by
musicians and crowds of people, to select the spot on
wliich her existence was to terminate. She held m
her hand a naked dagger, with which she drew a drcle
on the spot she fixed upon, and, turning round, she
atruck the dagger three times in the ground, and return-
ed to the town in tlie same manner she had come out.
As soon as she retired, some men commenced digging
the pit. At about half past four o'clock in the evening,
ahe came out to complete the dreadful sacrifice. The
procession stopped at intervals, and men, with their
bodies painted in the most hideous manner, danced
before her, during which time she distributed betle,
fiic. to those about her. When she arrived at the fatal
spot, she took the hand of her father for a second or
two, and after taking off her jewels and ornaments, she
descended into the pit by a foot-path, which had been
cut slanting into it for this purpose, and seated herself
at the bottom of it ; in this posture her head and neck
were the only parts visible. The corpse of her
husband was then placed in the hole, with his head
upon her lap, and the pit was filled up with mud and
earth, so as to cover her shoulders. A man then
came forward and placed a cocoa-nut under her chin, on
which her head rested, inclining a little forward. A
large basket full of fine river sand was placed, so that,
on removing the props, the sand might fall at once
upon her and suffocate her ; but owing to the rottenness
of the basket, the props were not so speedily removed
as they ought to have been, and the sand, therefore,
fell gradually upon her. At this moment, there was a
general shout and clapping of hands, set up by the
assembled multitudes, in whose faces joy and mirth
alone were visible. Thus terminated the existence of
lliis poor creature, whom no entreaties could induce to
forego the resolution she had formed. She appeared
during the ceremony in all the merriment imaginable,
jU)d quite indifferent to the fate that awaited her!"

.About two months after this painful occurrence, the
tnissionaries at Doorgapore had an opportunity of
w^^BvSSJBg soijic Oi tlie iriisertcs c-ndurcu by the deluded

Hiadooa io tlKpflrfimivic* of dieir re)igj»in ]h19«»
Hfia; whiob *'• «ooiwe«»liag,|oU BM«d,,«wi»

gne poor maotf say ifa|» brathira, "mho Mtiowl
last year to viail Juggernaut, Ihs made his way to.wi
la very great distress, after losing his wife upon the waj,
and spendmg all his money. . He has scarcely aUt of
cloth to cover him ; and has two infant children, oae
of which was born upon the road, and for want of suit-
able acfiommodatjon, and through the fatigue of the
journey, caused the mother's death. The poor man
is grievously emaciated, and the babes are almost lost
for want of care and tood. The younger child,
however^has beeai getting milk every day since its
arrival, and is now somewhat revived, but the mm^^
still very weak. ' '

Another person, m ihnost a dying condition, came
as far as our place, having started for Gunga Saugor a
few months since, but, being taken ill by the way, was,
as is usual b these cases, entirely abandoned by bis
feUow travellers, and left to perish without succor.
When he reached this station, he was quite unable to
sund or walk, totally destitute of all money and
olothmg. He lived for a few days in our chapel by
the road side, hut having removed him to a small room
nearer our own house, he died about the middle of
the next day. So miserable is the service of Satao,
and so hopeless is the case of poor wretched idolaters
— deluded and enslaved, and rendered as sheep
destined to the slaughter 1 The above instances are
related not because they are rare, but because they
chanced to fall under our notice. Multitudes, if
sought after, might be found in similar circumstances
every day, and in almost every direction. The thou-
sands who die from these wearisome journeys every
year, unheeded and unpitied by all, but by Him who
watches the falling of sparrows, and who numbers the
hairs of our heads, none can estimate. Lord ! hasten
Aw blessed dominion, who ' delivereth the needy when
he crieth ; the poor, also, and him that hath no helper.' "
On the 12th of August, the brethren at Calcutta
sustained a severe loss in tlie death of Mr. Harle, a
young missionary of great promise, who appears to have
been esteemed and beloved by all who knew him.
During his illness, he manifested much resignation and
heavenly-mindcduess ; and the last words he was heard
to utter were, " All is well ! All is well !"

This bereavement was followed, soon after, by the
death of Anunda, a most interesting young Bramin,
who had evidently received the truth in the love thereof.
He died of the cholera morbus, and his case affords a
striking proof of the rapidity with which that terrible
disease hurries away its victims. The preceding even-
ing itc preaciieU at a place about a mile from his rest-

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

dme* with bit oMiil vigor aad •nimation, uid, after rap'
paTtratiredtorMt apparently in porfeothodth. About
duree o'clock in the morning, however, he was attacked
by tbia awful malady, and in six hours was a lifeless
•orpse. '* It is angular," say the brethren, " that
about the same time, poor old Kristnodied ; and thus
the irst and last of the native converts in this country,
finished theircourse nearly tt^^ether, rejoicing in a well-
grounded hope of eternal life."

In the month erf' January, 18S3, Dr. Carey remarks,
that the reports from the difibrent stations in Bengal
were as gratifying as they ever had been at any former
period of the mission. " In Jessore," says he, " all
the inhabitants of one village, except five houses, have
either made an open profession of the gospel, or are
in a pleasing train toward it. Several villages near
Dacca are full of inquirers. Many persons have been
added to the churches at Dinagepore, Chittagong,
Calcutta, Serampore, and other places. Schools are
also much encouraged, and generally well attended ;
and female education, especially in Calcutta, is carried
on with great success."

Scarcely was this pleasing intelligence transmit-
ted to England, when a circumstance occurred,
which inflicted a poignant wound on the mission
Amily at Serampore, and excited a feeling of deep
and mournful regret in the bosoms of all the Redeem-
er's friends who were made acquainted with the
" heavy tidings." This was the sudden and most
unexpected death of the Rev. W. Ward, who had
recently visited the shores of Great Britain and
America, as an angel of mercy, pleading on behalf of
the perishing heathen; and who was engaged in
writing an appeal to European Christians in favor of
missionary exertions, when his pen was laid aside
for ever!

On the Monday preceding his demise, he was
at the monthly prayer-meeting held at the IjoM Bazaar
chapel in Calcutta ; and on that occasion he used the
following expression, strongly indicative of unfeigned
humility, and an ardent desire for the success of the
gospel : " O Lord, if thou seest me unfit for the
carrying on of thy cause, and that it is injured by my
coldness and want of spirituality, O remove me, and
put others more worthy in my room ; but let thy
kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth, whoever
be the instruments." The following Wednesday, he
preached a very impressive sermon ; and the next day,
was busily occupied in the printing-office till one o'clock,
when he went in to his dinner, and complained of
drowsiness. About two hours aOersvatd, Dr. Carey
was sent for, and found him eytrcT;v _• si, with an
attack of that dreadful disease, th« '{>.:. vlie ''hmen.
Two medicd gentlemen were insiaeiL '..■ y sTitied is,

and throughout the night hopes were entertained that
thepatient would recover. The all-wise God , however,
had determined otherwise; and about a quarter before
five o'clock on Friday evening, this invaluable mission-
ary was called to exchange the toils and sorrows of
time for the repose and joys of eternity. His fiineral
wu attended by a large concourse of people, and the
address delivered at the grave ' by the venerable
founder of the mission, who had been recently
deprived, by death, of his son Felix, was more than
ordinarily affecting. A funeral sermon was also
preached by Mr. Sutton, from Numbers xxiii. 10,
" Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my
last end be like his."

In the month of April, a very neat and commodious
chapel was opened at Howrah, in the neighborhood of
Calcutta ; and though the expense amounted to about
ten thousand rupees, nearly the whole had been
already defrayed by private subscriptions. A great
spirit of hearing, also, appeared to have been ex-
cited among the inhabitants, of whom it is remarked
that the major part were in the habit of assembling on
the Lord's day, to visit his holy sanctuary ; though
only three years previous, this place was without a
gleam of gospel light, except when any of the brethren
came to the house of a friend, and spoke to a few
individuals that could be collected together. Pleasing,
however, as was the present aspect of affairs, in respect
to attendance on the means of grace, the state of the
unconverted Hindoos, at this place, excited emotions
of the mo!i« painful description in the breasts of those
who longed for their eternal salvation ; and one
instance of their extreme apathy to the misfortunes of
their fellow creatures, as related by an eye-witness,
will prove to demonstration how much the influences of
the gospel are needed to introduce a spirit of affection
and sympathy among this idolatrous and unfeeling
nation. A small native hut had accidentally taken
fire ; and as it was situated to windward of the vil-
lage, comprising about twenty thatched huts, these
were in imminent danger of being all destroyed.
"The fire," says Mr. Statham, the resident mission-
ary at this station, " was very brillian , '^■om the nature
of the materials, — bamboos, mats and stfaw. \ per-
ceived it from the viranda where T ^ and
imiDediately mounted my horse t tov. j.dsit.
Before I got there, about five dwellings were totally
consumed, and two others were on fire. It was
astonishing to see the apparent and total want of sympa-
thy in tho minds of the natives present. Though above
a thou ofthem were assembled from the neighboring
large vi :;e of Sulkea, not one would assist in extinguish-
ing the flames, but seemed to enjoy the bonfire. No

means were adopted to arrest the

r>l' tk<

eco»=

BEiiQAh.r •^•^rm^ift

iagration, except by thow wretched creatures wboee
hots were on fire. Qa my remonatrating witb the
ipaotatort, and entreating them to lend a helping
band to their neighbors, these were the answers:

*Mjf bouse is not on fire — Who will give me pay 1

What power have /over fire ?— To be frunU will be
worse than to «ee Jire.' Thus they suffered the
flames to spread, until they had now consumed nearly
half the pUoe, and from one of the huts, which had
just taken fire, a dreadful screaming and lamentation
issued. On inquiry, I found it was from a poor,
decrepit old woman : I urged them to fly to her
rescue, Oh the horrid feelings they evinced ! ' She is

not my mother — She is too old to gain salt Her

time is come—We shall see a suttee.' I offered them
gifts if they would go into the house with me and bring
her out. The name of rupees has something of an
electric charm upon them ; for no sooner was this
heard than so many ran to her relief, that they could
not all touch even the cot on which she lay. However,
the poor creature was saved for that time ; but none'
but those of the lowest caste dared, even for luere't
sake, to carry a sick person. The lofty Bramina stood
unconcerned spectators, and reprobated the conduct
of some lascars from the ships, whom I had prevailed
on to endeavor to extingubh the flames, whicli was
soon effected by pulling down a small hut tliat was in
the line of communication with the others. With regard
to the poor woman thus saved, she had been so terri-
fied, that her illness was increased, and her merciless
sons conveyed her to the river-side to die. There I
found her, three days after, just able to speak once,

but no more : she died in about half an hour : it

via$ evidcttt that mud had been put into her mouth.
Oh, when, when shall we behold the glorious day of
deliverance approach ? Nothing but the rays of
heavenly light can dispel such horrid clouds of
superstition !"

In the month of October, a most alarming inunda-
tion occurred at Howrah, in consequence of the em-
bankments of a large river, about twenty mjles to the
westward of that station, giving way; so that the
waters, suddenly rushing into the circumjacent country,
swept all before them. In the compound, or yard,
belonging to Mr. Statham's house, the water rose three
feet in six hours, and the inmates were obliged to
procure boats and flee for their lives. The roads
were crowded with poor natives, wading through the
flood, breast high, carrying their few movables upon
their heads, and uttering the most piteous lamentations.
On being questioned as to the probable cause of this
afllictive visitation, some of them said that Kreeshna
had again assumed the shape of a fish, and occasioned
too inundatioa by iasiiiug the waters with bis tail ;

others laid the tmimity ti«l been pneimd b* the
T'u*^/."*'*'*"*^ fckeer.or religioiu mendicw,!,
who bad been recently Ul treated by sonie eooliea ia
the neighborhood ; but the greater part oontented
themselves with observing that it waa the result of
fate. The missionary was under the necessity of
removing to a house about two miles distant ; but, u
a few days, the waters subsided, and owing to the
exertions of the magistrates in causing drains to be
dug m various directions, the country became dry
sooner than bad been anticipated. Much and severe
calamity, however, had been endured, in the mean
time, by some of the natives. «' I, one day, took a
boat," says Mr. Statham, « and went into the jungles,
fearing that some poor creatures might have been left
behind, and it soon appeared that my fears were too
well founded. As we approached a thick clump of
bamboos, we heard a feeble voice calling for help.
It was that of au old man, who, with his wife, was up
to the chin in water, and, as neither of the*m could
swim, they were afraid to stir from the top of their
thatched roof, the mud walls of their house having
fidlen. We took them into our boat ; but ihtsy were
so completely exhausted, that it was with great diffi-
culty they were restored to any thing like animation.
We found a young man, in a similar manner, upon his
fallen roof, but no entreaties could induce him to get
into the boat ; as he said all his property, consisting
of two skins of oil and a box with a few clothes, lay
beneath the ruins, and he would lose his life rather
than abandon them. Opposite my dwelling, the Mus-
sulmen have a small mosque, and about fifty of them
surrounded it, up to their waists in water, crying out
incessantly, for about six hours, Allah ! Allah 1 I was
naturally reminded of these words of Christ, ' Use
not vain repetitions, as the heathen do ; for they think
they shall be heard for their much speaking.' On
their quitting the mosque, I sent a number of tracts
to them ; but though some received them, they were
rejected by others, whose countenances indicated
their disappointment and displeasure that the water*
had not retired. When, at length, the Inundatioa
subsided, a mournful sight presented itself; hundreds
of habitations having been completely swept away,
and the country deserted. The inhabitants, however,
are now returning, and have nearly rebuilt all their
houses."

The following extract of a letter, written by the
Rev. Dr. Carey, towards the close of December,
1823, contains much interesting intelligence : —

" I once more address you from the land of the
living ; a mercy which, about two months ago, I had
no expectation of, nor did any one else expect it. On
the tith of October, 1 went to Calcutta to preach, and

BAPTIST MISSIOflAJtir SOCIETY.

labiiaed wuh • Aiwid iboMrt BoidBq^ht. Wiwn I>got
OHi of tlw boat, close to our owa prerains, my foot
ifipped ua.:' '. InU. My friend also fell ir ho mom
plaM> I paneived, however, that I could not get
up, Bor make the smallest efibrt to rise. The boat''
men, therefore, carried me into the house, and ray
fijend, who was a medical man, examined my hurt.
Ib the mean time, the Danish surgeon was called in,
ud it was feared that the hip joint had received a
violent contusion, if it were not luxated. This, how-
ever, proved not to be the ease.

" The day after the hurt, and the two suoceediog
days, one hundred and ten leeches were applied to the
thigh, and, except excruciating agony, all appeared fa-
rorable. I had no fever, or other bad symptom, till
rix>ut the tenth day, when I was seized with a most
alarming fever, attended with a violent cough and ex-
pectoration. Lord Amherst very kindly sent bis own
uirgeon, to report my state of health to him. During
this, unexpectedly, and unperceived by all, an abscess
was formed, 1 believe, on fhe liver ; and the subsequent
discharge of pus, which was very copious, continued for
at least a month, with such violence, as often to threaten
nte with sufiboation. From all these afflictions I am,
through nnercy, restored ; but I am stiM very weak,
and the injured limb is very painAil, so that I am
unable to walk two steps v.'ithout cnAches. My
strength, however, is sensibly increasing, and the
physician, who attended mo during the illness, says
he has no doubt of my perlect recovery.

" During my confinement in October, such a quan-
tity of water came down from tlie western hillt: that
it completely inundated the whole country, for about
one hundred miles in length, and the same in breadth.
Tlie Ganges was filled by the flood, so as to spread
far on cvsry side. Serampore was under water. We
had three feet water in our garden for seven or eight
days. Almost all the houses of the nativas, in all timt
vast extent of country, fell. Their cattle were swept
away, and the people — men, women, and children.
Some gained elevated spots, .vhere the water still rose
so high as to threaten them with death. Others
climbed trees, and some floated on the roofs of their
ruined houses. One of the church missionaries, Mr.
Jetter, who had accompanied Mr. Thoniason and some
other gentlemen to Rurdnun, to examine the schools
there, called on mo on his r(!turn,nnd (rove me a most
distressing .iccount of the fall of houses, the loss of
property, and the violent rushing of wafer, so that
none, not even the best swimmers, durst leave the
places where they were. He fasted for three days.

" This inundation was very dostnictivo to tho mis-
Minn nfcinls^s^ A ^lip of the ^arth took nia;^^ on the
bank of the river, near my house, and gradually ap-

piottehed it, till oalft iboW ten feet were left, and tkift
ceackcd. At last, two fissures i^tpeaied in the foumbt*
tion and wall of the bouse itseUL Tfaia was a sigMd
for me to remove, and a house built for a professor in
the coUege being empty, I removed to it, and, thraugh
mercy, am now comfortably settled there, Durnx
this illness, I received the constant news of the eon-
cem of all our religious friends for me. Our younger
brethren visited me, as did some of th«) iAdependeat
uid church brethren, and many who make no profes-
sion of religmn at all. f.i
" Now, through the gracious providence of 60^
t am again restored to my work, and daily do a little,
as my strength will admit. The printing of the transla-
tions is now going forward, almost as usual : but I
have not yet been able to attend to my duties in
college, and only one day to those of translator of the
laws and regulations of the governor-general in council ;
an office to which I was this year appointed.

" The affairs of the mission are more extended,
and, I trust, in as prosperous a state as at any former
time. There are now many of other denominations
employed in missions, and I rejoice to say that we are all
workers tc'gether therein. There is no ill-will towards
each other : but on every hand a spirit of love and
mutual co-operation prevails. The various reports
published will give you a tolerably correct idea of the
progress of the gospel. Female schools have been
set iri, and much encouraged. I think we have six-
teen, containing two hundred and twenty children,
at Serampore and its neighborhood, all regularly visited
by brother Ward's two daughters, brother Marshman's
daup;liter, Felix's widow and eldest daughter, and
another young lady, a member of the church. The
native churches were never in a better state, and
the aspect of the mission is, in every respect, en-
coiirnging."

In tliu letter just presented to the reader from the
pen of Dr. Carey, it is very properly remarked that
the missions in Bengal had become extended. On
this account, and that our readers may be able more
readily »o refer to the history of sny important station
in which they may feel interested, it appears desirablo
that we should somewhat minutely state the facts
connected with each of the more important places,
and then generally glance ot the others. '

SERAMPORE.

The station at Serampore, then, both becntisc> of Its
long standing, and of its being the jwnripnl seat of

• I. A *iM*M«lM«ln9ui AM»%An»« *A filiiim thfl tirlAritv. It \m
, , — ... . . ^- J . . --

probably known to the majority of our readers, that

SERAMPORt. ^^"^^^

Serampore is a Danish settlement, by the Danes fre-
quently called Fredericksnagore ; and is situated on
the western banks of the Hoogly, a branch of the
Ganges, fifteen miles north of Calcutta. Amidst many
discouraging circumstances which occurred about the
time of Mr. Ward's death, there were some of a very
different kind. " A valuable addition," says the Re-
port of 1824, " has been made to the number of
laborers there, in the person of a Mr. Williamson,
a native of Scotland, who, after receiving a liberal
education in his own country, went out to India in the
medical profession ; but having there experienced the
power of the gospel for himself, he has relinquished all
other pursuits to engage in making it known toothers.
Several additions have been made to tiie church, and
the efforts used hy the various native preachers con-
nected with the station, are said to be far more regular
and extensive than formerly. Besides visiting the
villages around, three little chapels have lately been
erected in the town of Serampore. Tracts have also
been distributed to a great extent, no less than eight
thousand having been given away at a single festival.
Various means are employed to promote tlie edifica-
tion and usefulness of the native converts at large.
Once a week, they assemble for improvement in scrip-
tural knowledge, when they are encouraged to express
their own sentiments on chosen passages of the sacred
volume, and the Commentary of the lato excellent
Mr. Scott is read to them in Benguiev.'. They have
even instituted a Native Missionary Society, managed
almost entirely by tiiemsolves ; one result of which is,
the publication of a small montiily work in Bengalee,
entitled, " Tlie Increase of Christ's Kingdom ;" and
such is already the extent of the native Christian pub-
lic in Bengal, that the sale of this publication, though
at a very low price, nearly covers the expenses.

" The sui^cess of the experiments in female educa-
tion, first niiule by our junior missionaries at Calcutta,
and afterwards, on a more extended scale, by Miss
Cooke, (now Mrs. Wilson,) having atiracted the atten-
tion of our senior brethren, they have entcrtd, with
liieir ciiaract(!iisiic zeal, on tiiis dopartinenf also, and
at the date of our last communications on this subject,
they had established, in and around Serampore, seven-
teen schools, in which nearly three hundred female
cliildri'ii were receiving instruction."

Ahout the close of the year 18-24, the brethren at
this station, among other intorosiing comnumications,
forwaidud to the committco at home the following

pleasing accomii of the death of a native Christian :

" It is with unfeigned grief wo record the death
of our beloved young friend K(nnul, the senior Chris-
tian student in the college. Hii «im a youth of supe-
rior iil.iliiies, of exenipliiry diiigenoo in his studies,
Vol.. 1.— Nos. ai 84 iiii. 36

and, what was of infinitely greater importanti^, of
fervent piety. We believe there was no individuU
in our church, who secured to himself more general
and warm attachment. Long laboring under bodily
affliction, he seemed ever to have in view his departure
to another world. By the blessing of God, it made
him heavenly-minded, not morose or melancholy.
He died suddenly on the 17tb of July, and was buried
the next evening. While the funeral procession
moved slowly along, the corpse of our deceased brother
being borne by his native fellow Christians, and accom-
panied by the brethren of the mission then at home,
as well as by his fellow students, many a weeping eye
bore testimony to his worth, and at his grave more
than two hundred natives stood with fixed attention,
while brother M. pointed them to the source of his
deceased Christian brother's excellence of character,
and of his joyful hope in death, and contrasted it with
the vain hope their delusions give. There wera
sorrowing hearts, and no liptless indifference there.
There was humble adoration of the gracious Dispose*
of all events, and not the horrible insult of living
sacrifices. Even heathens could not fail to mark
the difference between the Christian and the heathen
funeral : the one decent and solemn, full of joyful
hope and tender sympathy ; the other without hope
and without sympathy, the most unfeeling indifference
marking the countenances of the few individuals who
witness the scene."

About three months after the death of Komul, the
brethren were called to commit to the grave Mr.
Albrecht, a valuable missionary, who had accompanied
Mr. John Marshman to India. He was educated at
the missionary seminary at Basle, under the pious Dr.
Blumhardt, and from his more recent connections in
India, as well as from the continent of Europe, the
society had many high testimonies to his learning and
piety.

The Report of 1885 furnishes a pleasing account of
two examinations, one of the students in the college,
and the other of the pupils in the female schools ;
both of which presented an interesting prospect in
reference to the rising generation.

" The formerof these examinations was conducted by
Dr. Carey , in January, in the presence of his excellency
the governor of Serampore, and many other respectable
persons, both European and native. The proficiency
made by the students in the Sungskrit and English lan-
guagns, astronomy, geography, and other branches of
knowledge, was highly satisfactory. Nor was the ex-
amination of the female schools less encouraging. Two
hundred and thirty little girls were present, many of

■i>l.....% .«««:. .„.J _-_-J. r .!._;_ : - A

l> the cheerfulness and animation visible in their counts-

869

BAPnST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

nances, seemed almost insensibly to fill the company
with pleasure and deligiit. From a statement of the
female schools established in India, by benevolent
individuals of different denominations, drawn up and
published by our brethren in June last, it appears that
the whole number was seventy-five, containing one
thousand three hundred ninety-four pupils ; a number
which, tiiough sumll compared with the vast population
of the country, sulHciently proves that the system is
making sure and steady progress."

At the beginning of this year, the stations more
immediately in connection with Serampore were
placed under the direction of the council of the college,
but continued to receive, for some time longer, direct
aid from the society at home ; in each of the years
1824 and 1 825, £ 1 000 being remitted towards their
support.

From an account drawn up by the bretliren at
Serampore, and dated January 1st, 1827, we present
the following extract :— " Tiie church that bus been,
through tiio mercy of God, planted at this station,
consists at present of sixty-seven members in full
communion. Mnetecn of these are Europeans, or
descendants of such, and include a few friends resident
iti the settlement, in addition to the members of tiie
different families connected witii the mission. Four
more reside at IJarrackporc, on the opposite side of
the river ; and the remainder are natives of the country,
turned from idols to serve the living and true God.
The accessions to the church during the |)iist year,
have been such as to fdl our hearts with the liveliest grati
tude. Of thirteen who have beenbapti/.ed and received
into the cimrch, one is an elderly gentleman residing
in the town ; two others, the daughters of Mr. Ward
and Mr. F. Carey ; three more, English students in
Serampore college, viz. John Smith, son of brother
Smith of IJenares, Josliua Uowe, eldest son of our late
brother Howe of Digali, and James Domingo ; five
othetl are native students hi the college, of Christian
parentage ; another was for years a student also, but
has recently been taken into employment in the
printing-ofKre ; and tiie last was long a servant in
the college, and has since been engaged as a domestic
in the mission family. It is highly gratifying that all
the senior students in the college are now members of
the church, and that tiieir general deportment is such
as becomes their profession."

In the year 1828, the ntissionarios at Serampore
were called to mourn over the death of the honorable
Jacob Krcfting, U(o venerable governor of the settle.
ment. Not merely hod he always manifested the most
kind and obliging conduct towards all the members of
the miisiun, from its very communcemont j but, under

God, it might be said that it owed its continued exut-
ence to him. On one occasion, when it was consid-
ered necessary to the security of the British govern-
ment in India, to expel the missionaries from the
country, colonel KreAing was desired to withdraw his
protection from the members of the mission, and send
them to Calcutta, that they might be at the dispo-
sal of their own government ; but he generously
and finnly refused, on the solid plea that the mission-
aries had received protection directly from the Danish
court, who alone could revoke it. By his influence
the mission always stood in high favor with the court
of Denmark, and in every thing he proved himself a
kind and efficient friend.

From this period up to the end of 1830, no very
striking events appear to have occurred at Serampore.
The services of religion have been continued, and the
blessing of Utaven has rested upon them ; the
Scriptures and leligious tracts continued to be exten-
sively circulated ; the college was increasing in the
number of its students, and the inferior schools appear
to have been prosperous. Tlie college at Fort
VVillium, however, having been closed by the govern-
ment. Dr. Carey's income had been very considerably
lessened, and a strong appeal has been successfully
addressed to the British public for additional aid.

Translations.

This appears to be the most suitable place to intro-
duce a brief reference to the translations of the sacred
volume, which have proceeded from the missionaries
at Serampore, and those inuiiediately connected with
thein. Wo furnish lhi.s account from the " Minth
Memoir of tiie Translations ant^ Editions of the Sacred
Scriptures, conducted by the Serampore Missionaries,"
dated Senimpore, December 31, 1822, and published
ill England the following year. We believe thi?
is the last |mblisiied document on the subject, and are
given to understand that the period since its publica-
tion has been principally devoted to the improvement
of the versions therein referred to. We are sure that
this part of our work will he perused with interest, as
the Irnnslalions carried on at Serampore formed, for
many years, the prominent feature of the English
Baptist .Missionary So<!iety.

This Report states that, exclusive of the Chintn,
the Ni.:w Tkstamknt is published in liecniy of the
languages of India. They are,

FiilislMit
Cofflmcneed. •tPron.

I . The Bengalee ; Cth edition in the

press 1794 1801

ThcHindee; Sd edition in the press 1608 1611

.'itm:Mm GALCUTTA.

36l»

Commaaced.
5j,,JJ'he Sungskrtt ; 2d edition in the

press 1803

The Orissa ; 2d edition in the press 1803
5. The Mahratta; 2d edition in the

press . . 1804

The Telinga 1805

The Sikh 1807

The Gujuratee 1807

The Kunkuna 1808

10. The Kurnata 1808

The Pushtoo or Affghan 1811

The Assamee 1811

Tiie Wutch or Multanee 1812

The Bikaneer 1813

15. The Kashineer 1810

The Biiugulkhund 1814

Tlie Maruwar 1814

The Nepalee 1812

Tlie Flarotce 1815

20. The Kanojfl I8I4

The Chinese ; 2d edition of the

gospels printed .....'... 4^1806

Fioiriwd
MPnM.

1810
1811

1811
1818
1815
1820
1819
1822
1819
1819
1819
1820
1820
1821
1021
1821
1822
1822

1817

1801
1811

Of the accuracy of these translations abundant evi-
dence is afforded !n the document from which these
tables are given, in a variety of testimonials from learn-
ed natives in different parts of India.

The f(»llo\ving list exhibits the ten versions now in
the press, with the period of their commencement,
and the state of their progress at press :

The Jumbno, 1814

The Munipoor 1814

The Miigudh, 1814

The Khnspo 1814

The Oojjuyunee, 1815

The Bruj 1815

The Kiimnoun, 1815

Tlu! Bhi/tnoor 1HI6

The Sree-nugur,orGurwal, IHIfl
The Palpa, 1817

To these may be added the Kythcr edition, which
is the Hiiidee in the current Nngiiree cl)aracter, ciiief-
ly used by the mercantile and trading classes, and
■/hich had advanced at press as far as the Acts of the
Ajiostles

The Second Part of this Momoir in^hidos the four
transhilinns of the Old Testament now pro<'.oedinR ;
two second editions of the Olil Testament, and four of
the New. It may not bo improper if we here submit
to tba rnadnr n brief view isf w!:::! \'.^-i itp^n :!.-.n" r'-'~-
live to the Old Testambnt, as well as the Now.

printed to

Phd.

ni.

2 Cor

xiii

Rom.

xiii.

Acts

xix.

Phil.

2 Cor

ii.

Luke

Rom.

xiv.

Luke

xi.

Matt.

xxvi

Statt of the Vernotu of the Old Te$tament. ^
The Bengalee ; second edition advanced to 1 Sam. xx.
The Sungskrtt ; second edition advanced to Exod. xxxi.
The Orissa ; first edition finished at press in 1819. **
The Mahratta; first edition printed ofT in 1820.
The Chinese ; finished at press April, 1822.
The Sikh ; Pentateuch and Historical Books printed }'

Prophetic printed to Jer. xiii. i

The Assamee ; Pentateuch finished, Historical Books

begun. j

The Pushtoo or Affghan ;• Pentateuch advanced to

Deut. XXX. *

The Kashmeer ; Pentateuch advanced to Gen. xxxvi.
TheTeltnga; Pentateuch printed; and the version

resigned to the Madras Bible Society.

The missionaries add, "The Old Testament, now
printed off in Chinese, forms the Sixth version com-
pleted here of the whole Scriptures in the difl«rent In-
dian languages. This was finished at press in April this
year ; and thus, after sixteen years of unremitting labor,
we have been enabled, through the good hand of our
God upon us, to redeem our pledge to the Christian pub-
lic by presenting them witho CAjne»ejBt6/e complete."

The other translations of the sacred volume, in
which our English Baptist brethren have been en-
gaged, will be found referred to under the places in
which they have been carried on.

CALCUTTA.

We are not aware that we r-n proceed better in our
continuation of the history of this most important
station, than by introducing the following important
document, drawn up by Mr. Yates of Calcutta, at tha
request of the committee, when on a visit to England,
for the benefit of his health ; and published in the
Missionary Herald for February, 1828.

" I. Rkvikw or THE Baptist Mission in Calcutta.

" The missionaries now resident in Calcutta com-
menced their united operations there in the year
1817 ; a course wiiich they felt themselves constrain-
ed to adopt, in consequence of their conscientious
disapproval of the steps then iiken by the missiona-
ries at Serani|M>re, in asserting I heir independence of
the society in England, as exprensed in their letter of
that year. There was then no place in the metropo-
lis of the East, nr indued in all India, devoted to na-
tive worship. They, therefore, like their predeces-

highways to preach to the natives. Having perso-

960

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

vered io this way for tome time, with great inconve-
nience, they thought it would be desirable to raise sheds
in different parts of the city, to which they could con-
stantly resort ; which led to the building of the native
chapels. At first, however, they had no means of
building a place, nor were they certain, if one were
built, that the natives would enter it to hear the gos-
pel. The first consideration led them to form an
Auxiliary Missionary Society, by whose assistance
they were enabled to raise one chapel ; and this, upon
trial, succeeded far beyopd expectation, as crowds
flocked to hear the word wlicnever it was opened.
The plan, proving successful, was extended, and has
since been adopted by all denominations of Christians
inCalcutta; so that there are now many places raised
by the liberality of Christians on the spot, where the
gospel is faithfully preached, and where a number
have been brought to the knowledge of the truth.
Five such places are now connected with the Baptist
Society, in one or other of which there is preaching
every day. Besides the assistance which the Euro-
pean brethren are able to render, Carapeit, Kirkpntrick,
and Panchoo, are constantly employed in preaching in
them to numerous congregations.

" After some time, the missionaries commenced
worship in their own private house on a sabbath even-
ing, the day being employed in preaching to the
heathen. Having formed themselves into a small
church, they continued gradually to receive additions,
till it was thought necessary to build another English
place of worship. A spot of ground having been ob-
tained about two miles from the Bow (or I^al) Bazar
chapel, the building was commenced, which, including
the ground, cost '2(5,000 rupees. By the strenuous
exertions of the church, and the generosity of the
public, this sum was raised in Calcutta, and the place
is now out of debt. The church consists of about
ninety members; and, though the majority of tlieni lire
poor, they willingly contribute, according to titeir ability,
to the spread of the gospel. Hent in Calcutta being
exceedingly high, they had no prospect of supporting
a minister, unless they couhl surmount this obstacle ;
they have, therefore, lately purchased a piece of
ground adjoining the chapel, for which, and building a
wall round it, they have already paid, and their next
effort will be to raise the dwelling-house. In addition
to these exertjons, thoy defray the current expenses
of their own chapel, and of the native places of wor-
ship in the city. Thoy have, also, lately formed a
Ladies' Association, which it is expected will be able
to maintain the station at Doorgapore.

" When the missionaries had entered on their lalwrs
among the native.^, they found the great need of a
press, to print tracts and various |M>rtionf of the Scrip-

tures for distribution. They bad, however, then no
means of getting one, and still less prospect of obtain-
ing a printer ; but it was not long before Mr. Pearce,
having found it impracticable to remain at Serampore,
came down to Calcutta and joined them. This enabled
them to commence their operations in the printing de-
partment. Their beginning was, indeed, a small one,
their whole establishment consisting of only one press,
and one fount of Bengalee types, with three or four
natives to work them. Having no prospect of assist-
ance, either in India or England, they were left en-
tirely to their own resources, which, under the blessing
of God, were gradually enlarged, so that there are in
the office now as many presses as employ seventy-four
men, and as many types as are sufficient to print in
forty* languages or dialects. In addition to these, a
foundery is connected with the office, capable of sup-
plying its increasing demands. The Harmony of the
Gospels has been printed and widely circulated in the
Bengalee and Hindoostanee languages. A new version
of the Psalms has been prepared and printed for the
Calcutta Bible Society, and the secretary of that in-
stitution at th^time expressed his hopes that these
labors might Be extended to the other parts of the
sacred volume, the society being desirous of procuring
improved versions of the Scriptures in those languages
in which their circulation is extensive.

" The following is a complete list of the works hith-
erto published at this press : —

Satucrit.

"I. A prammar of the Sanscrh Language on a
new plan.

" 2. Vocabulary, with Interpretations in Bengalee
and English.

" 3. Sanscrit Reader.

" 4. Elements of Natural History.

" 5. Harmony of the Four Gospels.

Bengalee.

" 1. Epitome of Natural Philosophy and Natural
History, in Bengalee, niid also in Bengalee and English.

" ii. Elements of Ancient History, including Egypt,
Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome.

" 3. A new Translation of the Psalms of David.

Arabic.

"]. The Arabic Reader; being n Selection of
Pieces from different Arabian Authors, designed as an
Introduction to the Ijonguage.

•" In oxplMtation of m IntgH a niiinlK«r, it may tw iitiwiMry to
•Utr, UiKt oiM< Jimiitiif lyiH'H will, in winir iiulancpi, wrvf fur wveral
nflhc dinli'clii. In a fow in«lnnofii, nijain, liowrvrr, acrrral foiinta
of dilTorrnt aiipi an- nrcUrd for one language. •

CALCUTTA. ' -'.i-^-'^^^'

<iEi> fo*?ia-#; :»-#■ Hindoottanee.

"I. Introduction to the Hindooatonee Language,
IB three parts.

" a. Idiomatic Exercises, or Student's Assistant.
«i('3. Harmony of the Gospels.
i'."4. Pleasing Instructer.

Engl%$h.

" 1. Life of Chamberlain.

" 2. Essays on Important Subjects.

" 3. Lawson's Funeral Sermon and Memoir.

" 4. Three Essays on the Burning of Widows,

"The above were prepared by Mr. Yates, and
to them may be added the following works in Ben-
galee:

" I. A Geography, and Geographical Copy Books,
by Mr. Pearce.

" 8. Natural History of remarkable Animals, by
Messrs. Lawson and Pearce.

" 3. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans,
by Mr. Carey.

"4. Harmony of the Gospels, chiefly by Mr.
Carey.

" 5. A number of Tracts, in which all the mission-
aries have taken a part.

" Besides preparing the preceding, the missionaries
have also edited a considerable number of other works.

" Being furnished with the means requisite for car-
rying on their work amongst the natives, the mission-
aries now began to think of extending their labors from
the city to the suburbs of Calcutta. Their first at-
tempts were made by going out a week at a time in
rotation. Finding, by this experiment, that the plan
afforded great opportunities of usefulness, they became
anxious to find out a spot where they could reside and
continue their exertions for a longer period. Through
the influence of one of their pundits, they succeeded
in renting of a native a large piece of ground at Door-
gaporu, for two hundred rupees a year, on which they
immediately commenced building a bungalow for the
residence of the European missionary, a house for the
native preacher, and a chupel near the road. Besides
its local advantages, 'Sis place ia contiguous to several
others of importance, particularly Burehnugur and
Chitpore. In the former place, a chapel has been
built, and in the latter, a congregation can almost at any
time l)e obtained under a tree. The method of sup-
plying Duurgapore, at first, was by each brother going
thither in turn for six months ; but this afte-.vards be-
ing found inconvenient, brother Carey occupied it alto-
gether, having Panchoo for his assistant, and it is now
occupied b/ Mr. G. Pearce. That interesting young

Bramin, Anunda, who, it is confidently, hoped !A'ndwt^
glory, was one of the first fruits of the gospel at this
station ; and while it can supply some pleasing instances
of conversion, it has also for some time past exhib-
ited an appearance of general improvement. The
neighbors were heretofore much addicted to intoxica-
tion and quarreling, but they have latterly been much
reformed, and many of them have, at their own re-
quest, had preaching in the chapel once a week, in the
evening, after they had finished the labprs of the day,
and have paid the expense of lighting the place them-
selves. At Burehnugur, too, the word is heard with
great attention.

" Not long after the missionaries had established the
station at Doorgapore, a new scene of labor presented
itself to their view at Howrah ; which, being the great
thoroughfare between Calcutta and the upper provinces,
afforded the best opportunities for diffusing religious
knowledge, and for the . xercise of talent, both native and
European. Messrs. Townley and Keith used to go over
and preach there on the sabbath to the English, while
they themselves frequently went over in the week to
address the natives. But neither the Independent
missionaries nor themselves were able to continue these
labors. About this period, Mr. Statham came down
to Calcutta, and the Independent brethren havin" stated
that they did not intend further to occupy the station,
it was agreed, at the particular request of a number
of friends at Howrah, that he should reside there. By
his exertions, an English chapel was raised : a large
burying-ground was also procured, which has since
been walled in, at considerable expense, by the govern-
ment. A church was formed, of which he became
the pastor, and which is now supplied by Mr. G. Pearce
and Mr. Kirkpatrick, though both of them are more
particularly devoted to the natives, for whose use two
places of worship have been raised.

" While their prospects of usefulness were thus ex-
tending, it appeared to the missionaries desirable that
the society should have some fixed establishment in
Calcutta, particularly as great inconvenience was ex-
perienced in the printing department for want of room.
This subject, therefore, was pressed upon the attention
of the committee, by whom it was projwsed that the mis
sionarios should devote the 2<»,(M)0 rupees which they
had acquired to this object, ond that to this sum they
would add 10,000 more. These instructions being re-
ceived, the brethren proceeded immediately to look out
for a convenient ..ite ; and, through the kind offices of
Mr. Jonathan Carey, they were enabled to obtain of a
native four beegahs of ground adjoining the English
chapel to the south, which cost between 19 ond 20,000
rupees ; a sum which, considering the extent and sit-
uation of the ground, was reckoned very reasonable.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

"After employing an architect, and receiving an esti-
mate of the expense of the proposed buildings, they
found that, including the ground, they would come to
between 50 and 60,000 rupees. They proposed,
therefore, to the committee, that instead of 10,000
rupees, one half of the aggregate expense should be
furnished by the society, leaving the missionaries to
pay the other. Not doubting that this proposal would
be acceded to, the building was commenced, and a
large house and printing-office have been erected.
The deeds of Biis property are now in the hands of
the committ ;e, who will, of course, adopt such meas-
ures as they may deem necessary to secure it to the
use of the society in perpetuity.

" Another object of importance, which occupied
the attention of the Calcutta raissionaiies, was the ed-
ucation of young men for the work of the mission in
India. They deemed it unadvisable to send out young
men as missionaries, who had received no previous in-
struction for the work ; or to educate youths for this
important office, who were not members of a Chris-
tian church. They chose, therefore, for several years,
rather to attempt nothing than to act on either of these
plans. For the last three years, however, they liave
had opportunities of engaging in this work, upon a
system altogether compatible with their own views,
and have now a prospect, with the assistance of the
society, of carrying it to a much greater extent. It is
true, that, had they possessed more time and strength,
they might have extended their labors in this depart-
ment ; because the committee engaged, that if the
20,000 rupees, the interest of which the missionaries
had appropriated to this object, should be expended
on missionary premises, they would support any young
men as students, that were members of a Christian
church, and appeared to possess abilities for tlic work of
the ministry. One such young man (Mr. Kirkpntrick)
has been educated, and is now settled at Ilownih ;
another is under a course of instruction, and several
more have offered tlicmselves as candidates : indeed,
there are so many pious youth now in Calcutta, cajjuble
of being employed in the society's service, that it is
only necessary for the committee to determine what
number they shall bo able to support.

" With regard to the instruction of the rising gen-
eration in India, a plan has been discovered, which
will save the Christian public an immense expenditure.
At first, all the schools to which missionaries Inul ac-
cess were supiu.rted by them ; but when it was found
that the Hindoos had no objection to pay the masters
for instruciinp their sons, it was immediately perceived
that every objert would be accomplished, if they could
get proper books introduced into the Hindoo schools,
instead of the trash used by the natives. This im-

pression being general, two societies were formed for
this specific purpose— the < School ' and the * School-
Book Society.' The one is engaged in preparing
books ; and the other, purchasing them at half the
cost price, distributes them in such schools as they can
bring under their superintendence. The inducement
held out to the natives to place their schools under the
care of the School Society is, that they shall be sup-
plied with books gratis. The masters also receive a
trifling sum, according to the proficiency of their
scholars, at the quarterly examinations held at some
one of the Baboos' houses. There are now in Cal-
cutta more than three thousand youths under the influ-
ence of this society. The books which they read be-
ing printed by the School-Book Society, all come un-
der the revision of the missionaries, and are printed
at the mission press. Still, however, as these socie-
ties provide only for the moral instruction of the na-
tives, it belongs to the friends of the gospel to make
moie decided efforts for their religious improvement.
Under this conviction, the missionaries in Calcutta
formed another society, denominated the ' Christian
School Society ;' but it is to be lamented that they
have not obtained that support which the importance
of their object led them to anticipate. There are,
however, two schools of a Christian character con-
nected with the Baptist mission in Calcutta. In these
the boys learn the Scriptures, catechisms, and hymns,
by heart, and receive religious instruction. These are
like Sunday schools in England, only that the natives,
having no sabbath, are taught every day, instead of
once a week. M'hatever may be the result of these
attempts, as to the conversion of individuals, there can
be no doubt they will exert a beneficial influence upon
general society ; nor can any one justly despair of
their being useful to individuals, when he is informed
of the case of the Bramin Sceboo, at Cutwa, who, af-
ter having been educated in a school of this desciip-
tion, becumo a decided Christian, and an eloquent
preacher of the gospel.

" In the native female schools, the missionaries have
succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations.
They had the honor of first entering into this field of
labor, and that too at a lime when almost every one
believed the attempt would prove abortive. They
commenced with one school, and have now fifteen ;
with the expectation of raising several more. Nor is it
merely in what they have been enabled to do that they
rejoice, but also in what others have been led (o at-
tempt and necoinplish. Many of tlio highest rniik in
India now patronize these efforis, and ladies of the
first respectability arc on the managing committees ;
even the natives tliemselves begin to feel llio iiiipor-
tuncc of these exerliuns. uiid one uC thfusi lius ju*"**"

•f.

CALCUTTA^ tvrfT / n

fids

forward with 20,000 rupees to erect a central female
school for the Church Missionary Society. From a
review of the whole, therefore,.your missionaries bless
God, that, though it has pleased Him to exercise them
with many trials, yet it hath pleased Him also to
crown their feeble efforts with his blessing.

" n. Plan for the future Operations of the
Mission in Calcutta.

" It is proposed that the missionaries should be en-
gaged, upon a more comprehensive and enlarged plan,
in carrying forward the following branches of labor ;
viz. the Preaching of the Gospel ; the Translating
and Printing of the Scriptures, Tracts, &;c. ; the In-
struction of young men for ihe work of the Mission ;
and the Superintendence of Schools.

Preaching.

" Under this head there are three departments of
labor : —

"1. Native Preaching. — To supply the native
chapels, and the wants of from six to eight hundred
thousand people, our society ought not to have less
than two preachers; one for the Bengalee, and another
for the Hindoostanee ; and each to be supplied with a
native assistant. In like manner a preacher and assist-
ant are nofossary at Doorgapore.

"2. Enjijiish Preaching. — An experienced and zeal-
ous minister, of superior education, ought to be en-
gaged for the congregation in the Circular road ; be-
cause the church is increasing in numbers, and in the
possession of those means by which it can serve the
mission.

"3. Itineracies. — The preceding departments being
supplied, arrangements can be made, without any addi-
tional strength, for devoting about three months in every
year to itineracies among the natives, in parts distant
from Calcutta ; as this could be accomplished by a
European brother, accompanied by one or two native
assistants.

Trantlatton$.

" Under this head are included Versions of the
Scriptures, Tracts, and School-books. Of these, the
two latter being provided for by tiio Tract and School-
book Societies, it is necessary to notice only tiie for-
mer ; and in doing so, there are two things which merit
consideration — the work to bo done, and the means to
be used for its execution.

" I. The work to he done consists of two parts —
the improvement of versions which require now edi-
tions, and the completion of those which have not
yei gone through the first edition. The latter belong

properly to Dr. Carey, who has commenced them ;
and the former must devolve upon those who succeed

him in this work. On this it may be remarked :

" 1. The improvement of the versions already ex-
ecuted, is a work which must appear obviously neces-
sary and important in the view of all who pay
the slightest attention to the subject. Every
one knows that this has been requisite for the
translations of the sacre'd Scriptures made into the
European languages ; and the Serampore missionaries
have recorded their conviction of the same truth, in
the seventh report of their Translations, in the follow-
ing terms :

'"Respecting the leading languages of India, and
those which are spoken through the largest extent of
country, they apprehend that there can be but one
opinion on the subject, among all those who feel inter-
ested in the planting of the gospel in India. In these,
not only should the whole of the Scriptures be given,
but successive and improved editions of them be pub-
lished, as they may be required, till the version be ren-
dered complete, and the country evangelized.'

" 2. Acting under this conviction, the former trans-
lators have already encouraged others to engage in this
work, when they have found persons competent for it,
as may be learned from the seventh memoir, already
quoted, in which it is stated — ' The edition of the
Hindee New Testament being nearly exhausted, and
the Rev. J. Chamberlain having prepared another
version in this language, for which his long residence
in the western provinces of India, and his intimate ac-
quaintance with their popular dialects, eminently fit
him, the brethren at Serampore have resolved in this
edition to print his version of the New Testament
instead of their otvn ; as a comparison of independent
versions, made by persons long and intimately acquaint-
ed with the language, will be of the utmost value in
ultimately forming a correct, chaste, and perspicuous
version.'

" 3. The Bible Society in Calcutta expressed, in
their last report, their willingness to encourage new
translations undertaken by competent persons, as the
only means of obtaining complete versions of the
Scriptures in the Eastern languages.

" II. The means for its exeattion. — Here it h
necessary to inquire, how far present means are ineffi-
cient, and what additional means are requisite. The
following considerations may serve to explain both
these points : —

" 1. The advanced age of Dr. Carey, and the num-
ber of new versions which he has yet to complete,
render it impossible for him to pay much attention to
the improvement of old ones : especially as death has
long since deprived him of the assistance of his son

>i.i

964

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Felix, who was a very good Oriental scholar, and ren>
dered his father material aid in preparing the last edi-
tion of the Bengalee Bible.

" 9. This work cannot be intrusted to the natives.
It has been suggested that the college students might
be ultimately fitted for it, but this can never be, for
.. two obvious reasons : first, because they will never be
sufficiently acquainted with the original languages;
and secondly, if they were," sUch is the character of the
natives, that the most learned among them are not to
be depended upon, without strict European superin-
tendence.

" 3. No person can be fitted for this work without
going through several years of previous study and prep-
aration for it. It may be set down as a general rule,
that no person ought to engage alone in a translation
of the Scriptures into any language, until he has studied
that language with close attention for at least seven years.

" 4. The plan, therefore, which seems most desira-
ble for the society to adopt, is to encourage all their
missionaries in this work. Let any one who is pos-
sessed of suitable qualifications, and who has studied
a language for a sufficient time on the spot where it is
spoken, be encouraged to give in it an improved ver-
sion of the Scriptures, if he thinks it absolutely neces-
sary. Tills has been done partially, and why should
it not be adopted as a general principle ?

" 5. All the expense required of the society, till
any version was finished, would be the support of a
learned native In connection with the missionary ; and
after it was completed, if the Bible Society should
not print it, it could be printed at the lowest rate pos-
sible at their own press in Calcutta, and the expense
might be further lessened by their sending out a quan-
tity of paper for the purpose.

Itntruclio7*-for the Mini$try.

" The great expense attending European missiona-
ries, and the unfriendliness of the climate to their con-
stitutions, renders it highly desirable that diligent atten-
tion should be paid to the cultivation of all such talent
as may be found on the spot, adapted to the purposes
of the Christian ministry among the heathen.

" 1. All individuals of this description, who have
been received Into church fellowship, should be con-
sidered eligible for instruction, whether natives, Indians,
Of Europeans.

" 2. In some cases, the students may be able,
wholly or partially, to support themselves, and then
nothing would be required gralii but education ; but
more generally they must be entirely supported, either
on the mission premises, or by allowing them a sum suf-
ficient to live upon among their friends, and requiring
their attendance at slated hours.

"3. The expense must devolve entirely on the
society, but perhaps benevolent individuals may be
found in England and- in India, who would be disposed
each to support an individual student at their own ex-
pense ; in which case, the student so supported might
correspond with his patron.

" 4. The plan of studies should include, besides
the ordinary branches of scientific information, a reg-
ular and diligent attention to theology ; the English,
Sanscrit, Bengalee, Arabic, Hlndoostanee, Latin,
Greek, and Hebrew languages ; and an examination
of the Hindoo sacred literature. By the last, the
students will acquire a knowledge of all the ideas of
the natives on the most important subjects of religion,
and on the best modes of combating the popular ar-
guments in favor of the shastras and against Chris-
tianity.

" 5. A select library will be required for the use of
the students, and they may be engaged in useful pre-
paratory labors among the natives, and otherwise
during the period in which they are receiving in-
struction.

Schools.

"These necessarily divide themselves into two
branches, boys and girls.

" I. Boys' Schoob. — ^These may be classed under
three distinct heads : —

" 1. Common schools. — These are supported by
the natives, and partially by the government and the
Indian public. They need no more support.

" 2. Christian schools. — Of these there are at pres-
ent too few ; but they may be increased, provided the
religious public will encourage them.

" 3. Private instruction. — Some children have been
given up by their idolatrous parents entirely, and educat-
ed privately under the Immediate superintendence of
missionaries. This plan has been adopted with suc-
cess by the American missionaries in Ceylon ; but has
not yet been tried in Calcutta.

" II. Girls' Schools. — Those in Calcutta will in fu-
ture come under two heads : —

" 1. General schools. — In these, religious instruction
is Introduced. Their numbers may be increased ac-
cording to the contributions raised for them. They
arc, most of them, supported by small associations
formed for the purpose in England and elsewhere.
The sum furnished for each school has been sufficient
for its support, but something further is needed to meet
the expense of ground rent and building, which, in
Calcutta, Is very great.

" 2. Central schools. — A central school is to be
formed on the mission premises, In which a mmiber
nf ivirls tnlf on ffQtn •hfiiT idolatrous Gonnsctions arc to

CALCUTTA.

bt* tau^t ttitun *Xt»ns!v6!y> and fitted to become
ieacheM df the getteral schools.

" The pWcedihg plan has been cattied intb tetite
dperatbn in most of its pfarts. To complete it, the
following additional aid will be needed : —

" 1. A pefson who tan officiate as minister of the
Cihmlar Road Chapel, and as divinity tutor to the
youWg niien.

" 2. An allowance for yeatiy itineracies among the
natives.

" 9. A sum for translation sufficient to enaMe the
tnlssionaries to print some important parts of the Scrip-
tures, tvhich might be turned into mimediate use, and
serve as specimens of what a complete e*tion would
be, and what it would cost. After this, it is pnAabk
that the BiWe Society might print the complete
edition.

" 4. Suppart for a certain number df students.
Supposmg the expense for each, taken one with
another, to be the same as in England, what shall the
mimber be, and what period of tnne shall they continue
then- studies ?

•' 5. A small annual contribution of books to the
library.

" 6. Something under the head of Female Educa-
tion, to support the Central school, and to assist in
the erection of that and others."

If we may now be allowed, for a moment or two,
to go back for the three or four past years, to glean
up a few fragments of information, we may remark,
that many pleasing circumstances occurred to comfort
the hearts and hands of our brethren in this city.
Much of the noisy and unbecoming clamor, which
formerly prevailed in their religious assemblies, sub-
sided ; Bramins, Hindoos and Catholics were con-
verted ; and genuine piety was observed among the
young. At Howrah, Mr. Statham mentions a pleas-
ing instance illustrative of the value of the Bengalee
Bible :—

" One poor old woman was sick a few days ago,
and sent for me ; she appeared to be very ill indeed,
yet calm and resigned. On my asking her how she
felt with regard to entering on an eternal world, she
said, ' It will be a happy change for me.' I asked
the grounds of such a hope. She clasped her Ben-
galee Bible, which lay by her cot, and said, 'I find
Christ here, Christ in my heart, and Christ is in
heaven. He died for poor sinners like me. I know
he is able to save me. I believe he ivill.' And
then she prayed so sweetly, that I could not forbear
crying out. «Oh. that my latter end may be like
hers.' "

Vol.. I.— Nos. 23 8i 24. 36

985

la addition to these facts, it was evident that, «a
the whole, the spirit of opposition to missions wis
dying away, female instruction was becoming popular,
and additional missionaries were atrivhig from England.
All these things inspired the hopes of the Caleott*
brethren, and enabled them with new zeal to perseTVre
in their labors. In addition to the assistance derived
from England, Mr. Robinson had been compelled by
affliction to remove from Sumatra, and had settled as
pastor with the brethren already sustaining that office ;
Dr. Carey, in consequence of his multiplied engage-
ments, especially in connection with i!he tranrfations,
having resigned.

Bat, while favored with all these enconragements,
and many more, and amidst their increasing labors,
and manifold calls for the extension of the great woik,
our brethren were visited by death. Several native;,
wfco promised fair for great usefulness, were remov«d,
and one of the European missionaries, Mr. John
Lawson, a man of emraent piety, talent, and usetfrd*
ness, was cut off in the prime of fife, and in the mtidst
of his usefril labors. Men of piety, of every denom-
ination, feh that in him they had lost a brother and u
friend ; while an affectionate widow and numerous
family had still greater reason to mourn over the pain-
ftil stroke. Nor was even this all. Mr. Eustace
Carey, who, for many years, had successfully labored
in Bengal, was compelled to revisit his native land,
from which his health has not even yet allbwed bim
to return. These were events eminently adapted to
impress the minds of good men with the sovereignty
of Jehovah in the progress of his own work, and we
doubt not that they accomplished this object.

We now feel ourselves at liberty to pursue the
history of the station at Calcutta from the period to
which Mr. Yates's account relates ; and proceed there-
fore to remark, that the report of the society, for the
year ending with June, 1828, states that the removal
of Mr. Board I nan, " a valuable missionary from our
American brethren, to Burmah, the sphere for which
he was originuily destined," with the temporary illness
of several other brethren, had lessened the work which
would otherwise have been done, but that yet, both
in the church in the Circular Road, and among the
soldiers in the Fort, much good had been effected. In
the six chapf Is erected for the use of the natives,
it was calculated that more than a thousand persons,
every month, heard the word of life. An auxiliary
society was tliis year formed among the ladies of the
Circular Ro -^ Chapel, and liberal contributions made
to the obje< I ; and female education continued to
extend itself The Report adds : —

"Before " s c]cac. ntsr Rornjint ftf this stst?«r., it
may be remi ked, that a patient perseverance in mis-

866

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

sionarjr «ffi>rta discloses new obstacles to the progress
of divine truth. One of a very serious description
exists in the present state of the Hindoo law of in-
heritance. This code, established in remote times,
ratified by the Mussulmans, and still in force, enacts,
that all who forfeit their caste, lose, at the same time,
all patrimonial rights ; so that no man of respectable
station in society can profess himself a Christian, with-
out being plunged at once into utter desttiution. There
is reason to suppose, that several Bengalees of prop-
erty and influence are convinced of tlie truth and
excellence of the Christian faith, but fear to avow
their sentiments, because of the inevitable conse-
quence. While we know that he who cordially re-
ceives the gospel, and lives under the vital influence
of its power, will count all things but loss, for the
excellence of the knowledge of Christ, it is most
earnestly to be desired that the day may speedily
arrive, when such obstacles as these to its fair and
unprejudiced examination shall for ever disappear."

In passing on to the report of 1829, we are gratified
to learn that the church at Lai Bazaar chapel, under
the care of Mr. Robinson, contained 102 members,
and that many circumstances were encouraging his
labors. The native church, the care of which devolved
on Mr. C. C Aratoon, during Mr. Yates's return to
England, was not without evidence of the divine re-
gard. Arrangements were then making for the erec-
tion of a new chapel for these native Christians ; and
though less had been done in direct preaching to the
heathen than could have been desired, yet all had
labored in proportion to their strength, and the smiles
of Heaven had rested upon them.

The Report of 1830 states that, during the pre-
ceding year, no less than forty-three persons had been
added to Mr. Robinson's church, twenty-seven of
whom had been idolaters ; by the help of two native
preachers, who were employed under the direction
of Mr. Robinson, considerable attention was paid to
several villages ; Mr. Yates, who returned to Calcutta
the beginning of tiiis year, had become pastor of tiie
church in the Circular Road ; while Aratoon and others
were preaching to the natives. This report further
states, that types were prepared for a new and greatly
improved edition of the Bengalee New Testament ;
and that the Mission Boarding School, intended as an
asylum for the children of native Christians, and others
whose destitute condition seems to require it, appears
to go on well, though as yet on a contracted scale.

"With reference to the character of the native
converts generally, the following remarks deserve
attention :— ' Amongst all their imperfections,' say our
brethren, ' we, who see every part of their character,

the liveliest emotions

V«teR iiRm iR %u6nt GCCaSiOil

of gratitude and praise ; so as to exclaim, ' What has
God wrought !' especially when they are seen collect-
ed together on the Lord's day, in the house of God,
listening to the glad tidings of mercy, bending pros-
trate in the presence of the invisible Jehovah, and in
harmonious strains hymning his sacred praises. At
such times, the mind is involuntarily led to call to
remembrance the comparative difference of their former
vile, disgusting, and soul-destructive worship before
hideous idols. The native Christians, like ourselves,
are far from being perfect. If the gospel has not
wrought in them perfect purity, however, it has proved
the power of God in delivering them from Hindooism.
In their houses, not a vestige of idolatry is to be seen.
They are not to be found mixing with the idolatrous
processions, nor are the great bolydays of the heathen
regarded by them. Resort to the conjurer in sickness,
the observance of lucky and unlucky days, the making
vows for the obtaining of favors, the pretended ex-
travagant and noisy grief of those who have lost their
relatives, witli many other superstitious, heathenish
customs and vices, do not pollute their characters.
In observing this difference between their present and
their former condition, it cannot fail to afford us the
purest joy ; and enable us to hear with their deficien-
cies with mure putieiice, hoping that increased knowl-
edge of the Word of God will eventually redeem
them from all their remaining imperfections.' "

The Ictest Report of the society, read in June last,
informs us, that both the churches in Calcutta had,
during the past year, received pleasing additions ; that
four native assistants had been added to those pre-
viously employed ; that Mr. W. H. Pearce had be-
come pastor of the native church, and that the Ben-
galee New Testament was by that time, probably,
published ; — the female schools and benevolent institu-
tions continued to prosper, and the missionaries at
Calcutta had been enabled, from the profits of the
printing-office, to present 10,000 rupees or £1000 to
the committee of the society, who directed it to be
spent in missionary operations.

Our space will not allow us to enter into the details
of all these facts, nor to notice the many deaths con-
stantly occurring in the missionary field ; but the
following account of the decease of a member of one
of these churches appears too interesting to be omitted.
It is furnished by Mr. W. H. Pearce, and with its
relation we shall close our account of the churches in
the city of Calcutta.

" The native brother referred to was ill for several
weeks, during which I observed, in my visits, a very
perceptible meetening for the change, which, as after-
wards appeared, it was the will of God that he should
undergo. His conscience was tender, so that he wept

CUTWA. le *5f,it

46?

over hU linfulaess and hardness of heart ; he became
more indifferent to the world, and more anxious about
eternal realities ; manifested much desire for prayer
and religious conversation, and exhibited more grati-
tude to God for his mercy in calling him to the
knowledge of bis gospel, and a more entire reliance
on Christ as the Saviour of his soul. For some days
before his death, he lay in a kind of stupor ; and
seemed conscious only for a short time, when roused.
But, on the night of his departure, he appeared to
awake as from sleep, and very wonderfully to revive.
He sat up and conversed with the greatest self-posses-
sion with his wife and child, and a native preacher,
who were attending him ; by the latter of whom the
following relation of the conversation was given. The
wife of the dying man (who is herself a member
of the church, and was the means of his conversion)
said to him, ' Well, do you put faith in Christ as the
Saviour ?' He replied very emphatically, ' Undoubt-
edly, undoubtedly, yes, undoubtedly, I believe in him
entirely for salvation.' At one time he said repeatedly,
' Come, Lord Jesus ; why dost thou delay ? I am
ready ; open unto me the door of life.' His wife
said to him, ' Alas ! you are dying ; what will become
of me ?' He replied, ' I have committed you into the
hands of God our Father.' She said, ' But what will
become of the boy V (an interesting youth of nine
years of age.) He said, ' Christ our Saviour will
take care of him.' He then called the little boy to
him, and embraced him ; when his wife said, ' Ah !
what right have we to treasures that are only lent ?'
Soon after this, he called her to him, laid hold of her
hand affectionately, and said, 'We are yet united in
affection.' She replied, ' Yes, not in life only, but
for ever.' Then, taking her hand, he prayed for her
and the child, and said to his wife, ' Then can you
let me depart to-day V She replied, ' Yes, I can ;
why should I prevent you from going to the Saviour ?
I will not hinder your entering the gate of life ever-
lasting.' At his desire, his attendants then began
singing the Evening Hymn, in Bengalee ; and, when
tiiat was concluded, they commenced, at his request,
another on death, of which the chorus is, * Every
tiling on earth is but vanity, O brother ; but the love
of Christ, that alone is substance.' While they were
singing this hymn, he fell back on his bed, breathed
a gentle sigh, and expired."

DINAGEPORE.

In this town, situated nearly two hundred and thirty
miles north of Serampore.and containing a population
of about forty thousand persons, the second Baptist

church in Bengal was formed, of eight members, in
January, 1806, and Mr. Ignatius Fernandez, one of
the earliest native converu to the mission, was at the
same time ordained as its pastor. This worthy man
established a manufactory here of coarse paper, by
which means the families of many of the members of
the church have been supported. In addition to the
information already communicated in reference to this
station, we are gratified to add, that the schools have
continued to prosper ; that several of the natives have,
at different times, been raised up to assist their aged
pastor in his beloved work ; a Bungalow chapel has
been built in the western part of the town, which
is well attended ; and the church consists of nearly
one hundred members. Mr. Fernandez, who was not
only the pastor of this church, but met its expenses,
died at Serampore on December 26, 1830, in his 74th
year, and is succeeded by Mr. Hugh Smylie, who was
raised up in India.

CUTWA.

The station in this place, situated in the district of
Burdwan, seventy-five miles N. N. W. of Calcutta,
dates its origin, in 1804, from the labors of Mr. Cham-
berlain, as an itinerant. For many years past, it has
been under the care of Mr. W. Carey, Jr., whose
labors, and those of the liative assistants under his
direction, have been very useful. By his instrumen-
tality, a foundation was laid for the present church at
Beerbhoom, of which Mr. Williamson is the valued
and useful pastor. After many discouragements, for
the two or three last years, Mr. Carey has been grat-
ified to see an increased attention to the gospel, fre-
quent additions to his church, and an interest excited
in the cause of female education. The schools under
the care of Mrs. Carey contained in 1830 one hundred
and twenty girls.

For the other stations in this province, we must re-
fer to the tabular statements.

Before, however, we leave this part of the world,
we feel constrained to introduce the following animated
sketch of the results of missionary labors, as furnished
by Mr. George Pearce, who left England in the year
1826, — written soon after his arrival in India : —

<< It has struck me, from what I have observed during
the short time I have been in this country, that much
more is doing here than the generality of people in
England are aware of I have heard persons there
use a kind of desponding language in reference to
India, as though what had already been accomplished
was not a sufficient return for the money and labor
bestowed, or afforded encouragement to proceed. But
could such persons see what is now visible in India —

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

ia the nmeirtl •( EuropeaB pngucBc»— 4be number
of Emopsaa duntiaii* — the readioess with which this
put of loeietjr aid the cause of Chriatiaa benevolence
in ererj finro ;— ^ouM they see the natires emwding
to boar the vord of liie, mriting the preachen to
visit tkeaa again— -pre^ice fleeing before the truth—
■dhooki filled with chitdrea, male and female— the
press pouring fitrth the Scriptures and r^ious tracts

in maay langaagcs, and to aU parts of this extensive
country ^— and finally, were they privileged to sonoand
the table of the Lord, with numbers of native Chri*'
tiavi, of whose conversion, if they knew tbero, they
could have no da»bt>^hey would then see in all tbia
tbe finger of Ood, as evidently as Belshamr saw tfa«
hand'writiag' upon the wall."

CHAPTER III.

MISSION IN THE BURMAN EMPIRE.

When the labors of the Baptist brethren in Bengal
were unexpectedly placed under various restrictions,
those zealous and devoted servants of God were in-
duced to. direct their attention to other parts of the
East ; and, in the month of January, I807, Messrs.
Chater and Mardon, having consented to undertake
an exploratory visit to the Biirman empire, with a
view to the commencement of a new mission, set
■ail for Rangoon, one of the principal cities of that
country.

I After a voyage of about eighteen days, diey arrived
in< safety at the placeof destination, and were received
in the most friendly manner by some English gentle-
naen, to whom they had been recommended by a friend
in Calcutta. They were also treated with great civility
by the shawbundar or intendant of the port ; and by
one of the Catholic priests, who resided in the vicinity
of the town, and appeared much pleased with their
conversation ; and after a few days, they had an oppor-
tunity of gratifying their curiosity with a view of the
pagodas to which the natives pay their adorations.
These were of various dimensions, in a pyramidal
form, and the upper part covered with gold. They
had likewise an opportunity of seeing various kinds
of images ; one of which, placed in a recumbent pos-
ture, appeared to be neariy thirty feet long, riclily
gijded, and having eyes of glass.

In a communication, dated February 20, the mis-
sionaries observe, "The Burmans, with a number
of Siamese, who traffic in the country, have, for several
days past, held a great festival, in what is called the
5-oWen /enip/e, nearly three miles from town ; bringing

a quantity of images made of bamboo.

.1..

mented with wax and flowers, and presenting them
to the pagoda. One of the largest of these was an
octagonal spire, about fifty feet high, covered with
colored paper, borne on the shoulders of twelve men
round the pagoda, accompanied by a train of people,
and several telapoys or priests, who held wax candles
and small pendants in their hands. These were dis-
tributed among the populace ; and afterwards they all
bowed down towards the pagoda, whilst the priests
repeated a few words. On rising from the ground,
they stuck the pendants about the figure, and the
candles round the pagoda, which they immediately
lighted. This was all that had any appearance of
devotion ; as the rest of the ceremony consisted of a
display of fire-works, and multitudes of people running
about with lamps and candles in their hands."

A few weeks afterward, the missionaries had an
opportunity of witnessing the ceremonies of a Burman
funeral. The corpse was deposited in a coffin of
decent appearance, covered with a white cloth, and
carried, by means of a large bier, on the shoulders
of about a dozen men, to the appointed place, pre-
ceded by a band of music. On their arrival at the
scene of the last obsequies, the bearers removed
tlie bier from their shoulders, and, waving it to and
fro several times, lowered it gradually to the ground.
The coffin was then placed on some large billets of
wood, which had been previously laid in order, and a
yellow cloth was thrown over it. Various oflcrings
of fruit were next presented, and a priest was brought
forward in a palanquin, in which he performed a short
ceremony. Two other priests followed, and apparently
repeated the same fonnuia as theit predecessor ; the

BUHMAN EMPlRfe.

969

diusie hmring prtviousljr ceas«d, tind! all (msent, eji-
cept th« officiating priest, preietnftg the most solMnn
SileMe. The tem^rary corerirtg was thfen iemoied
front the coffirt ; a pottton of wood was placed oref
«Ii6 body, and fire was applied to the funeral pile.
It appeared, however, that h; is the custom in this
couhtry to inter the ashes of the deceased after the
flames which hav6 consilAnred the corpse are extin-
guished.

Oti the 23t! of May, the two brethren returnee^ to
Serampbre, and explfessed the rtiost sanguine hop<es in
Respect to the establishment of a mission in the Bur-
ftian empire. Mr. Mardon, however, having subse-
cpently declined the undertaking, on the pica of ill
health, Mi'. Felix Carey volunteered his services, aiid!
was chosen as his successor.

In the month of November, Messrs. Chater and
Felix Carey, with their respective families, wert
affectioilately dismissed by the brethren at Serampore,
for the purpose of forming themselves into a church
previously to their embarkation ; and on Mr. Chater
being chosen as the pastor of the new interest, a
solemn charge was delivered to him, by the founder
of the Bengal mission, from those words of the apostle,
« Take heed unto thyself, and thy doctrine." The
most appropriate and affectionate instructions were
also delivered to him and to his colleague ; and, be-
fore they went on board, at Calcutta, a special meeting
was held for the express purpose of commending them
and theirs to the favor and protection of the Almighty.

Shortly after his arrival at Rangoon, Mr. Carey,
who had previously studied medicine, and walked the
hospital at Calcutta, introduced the practice of vacci-
nation into Burmah ; and, after inoculating several
persons in the city, he was sent for by the maywoon,
or viceroy, to perform the operation on his children.
He, accordingly, proceeded to the palace, accompanied
by an English shawbundar as his interpreter, and, in
compliance with the custom of the country, took off
his shoes at the upper steps, before he entered the
inner apartment. He then approached the maywoon,
as all the officers of government, and all who wait
upon him, do, upon his hands and knees, and sat down
on a carpet, by the side of his interpreter. After the
governor had made several inquiries concerning the
nature of the cow-pox, Mr. Carey vaccinated three
of his children, and six other persons belonging to the
family. The wife of the maywoon, at first, appeared
extremely averse to the wish of her husband ; but,
after a short time, she sat quietly down by Mr. Carey,
and surveyed attentively the whole process, with
which she seemed entirely satisfied.

The missionaries and their families were, for some
time, involved in considerable difficulty, for want of a

Sriiiable habitation, and Vk eMis«(|uenc« i^ (hei* iH§.
bility to proottre b^ead^ aS thai article of fotod could
not, at this juncture, b* obtained iti Rangobtj ; aid
though a supply subsequently arrived frttn Calcutti,-
th* health of Mrs. Chater and Mii». F. Carey i^as Ho
seriously dfected, that thiy were urtde* the neAessity
of returning, with their two children, to Seramport,-
about the middle of May, 1808. f

A short time previbus to theh^ retiirii, tbe M]&iiin^
article, ifelative to the dreadful punishments ihflicted
for various offences, in the Burman dokninions, had
been inserted in one of the Cafcutta newspapers, on
the authority of an English gentleman recently arrived
from that country : —

" A man, fb»' chewmg opium, was put to death by
crucifixion, in which red-hot nails were used : hi thiS
position his belly was ripped open, and in that horrid
situation he' was left tio exph-e. His eritraib, lying at
his feet, were devoured by crows and vultures, a con-
^derable time before the unfortunate creature ceas^
to breathe ; and of thfa circumstance he appeared ttf
be sensible ! — Another unhappy wretch, for getting
intoxicated, had hot lead poured down his throat,
in small quantities, of about half a glass fiill : the first
two caused a strong smoke to issue from his mouth,
of which he was apparently sensible ; but the third
dose put an immediate termination to his existence.
Two deserters from the Burman army, after having
their legs cut off above the knees, were nailed up by
their hands with red-hot nails, and the hair of their
heads being tied firmly to a pole, they were left to
bleed to death. These miserable wretches remained
alive for some hours, during which their slnieks and
cries were so distressing, that no person in (i.e utfjacent
houses could obtain any repose during the night. It
was also stated that the wives and children of iiiese
sufferers were, on a future day, to be b'own up with
gunpowder.

" It appears that the viceroy who ordered these un-
paralleled tortures, had, during a long administration,
executed the duties of his office with the greatest
mildness and benevolence ; screening many offenders
from the rigor of the laws ; but in consequence of his
own son having been decapitated at the court of Ava,
for having chewed opium, he solemnly vowed, in a
fit of desperation, that the sanguinary criminal code
of his country should henceforth be enforced without
mitigation."

The reader, whose feelings have, no doubt, been
shocked by this terrific statement, is probably inclined
both to think and to hope that the facts alluded to
must have been greatly exaggerated. The mission-
aries, however, in writing to their friends, observe,
" What you have heard of the punishments in this

S70

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

country is true ;" and Mr. F. Carey, alluding to the
may woon, says, " His time is much taken up in giving
orders for executions. Five or six persons convicted
of murder have been crucified, and their bellies ripped
up while alive. One had his legs cut off, for running
away from the army ; one for drinking a glass of
brandy (which is considered an offence against their
gods, as well as against the laws of the empire,) had
boiling lead poured down his throat ; and two women,
who have committed murder, are doomed to be dc-
voured by a tiger."

''^he niedica! skill of Mr. Carey procured him such
high reputation among the Bunnans, and his introduc-
tion of vaccination had so completely conciliated the
esteem of the m^vvoon, that he was one day encour-
aged to try his interest with that personage on the
score of humanity. Accordingly, having seen a poor
creature suspended on a cross, for an offence which
appeared to have been comparatively trivial, he hasten-
ed to the palace, and though the viceroy had forbidden
anyone to speak on the behalf of this criminal, be not
only ventured to implore a remission of his sentence,
but actually refused to quit the viceroy's presence till
he granted his petition. After much reluctance, the
maywoon granted the boon of mercy, and an order
was given for the culprit's liberation. This, however,
had still to pass through various forms of oflicc, and
when Mr. Carey, at length, repaired with it to the
cross, not one of the officers in attendance upon the
execution would read it witiiout a reward. Our mis-
sionary, therefore, was under tiie necessity of promis-
ing thcui a piece of cloth to induce them to take down
the poor bleeding sufferer, who, having been nailed
to the cross nearly seven hours, seemed to have merely
slrengtli enough left to thank his humane deliverer.
Mr. Carey then took him to his own house, care-
fully dressed his wounds, and treated him with the
utmost attention until his health was completely re-
stored. The fellow, however, proved to be a thorough-
ly depraved character ; as, after his recovery, he was
again detected in '.hieving, and taken into custody.
" The agonies of a cross," says Mr. Carey, " were
insuflicicnt to reclaim him."

A divclllng-housc for the missionaries, and a place
of worsliip, were erected at Rangoon, and a handsome
sum was subscribed by the mcrciianls residing in the
neighborhood towards tlie expense. Towards the
end of 1809, however, Mr. Clmter observes, that so
little inclination towards the things of God was evinced
even by the Euro|)can inhabitunts, that though the
new chapel had been open for worship on three suc-
cessive subbaths, not an individual residing in the
place tame near it. At the same time he speaks of
iiiu aspect of anairs as very giooniy and di.snouraging,

in consequence of the Bunnan government being em*
broiled in hostilities with the Siamese, and the coimtry
being, in consequence, involved in confusion. Soon
afterwards, the whole town of Rangoon, excepting a
few huts and the houses of the two principal officers,
was completely burnt down ; and the city of Munipoor,
the capital of the empire, shared a similar fate. It i<;
stated by a British captain, who happened to be there
at the time, that forty thousand houses were destroyed,
and before he came away it was ascertained that no
fewer than two hundred and fifty persons had lost
their lives. It seems to have been the work of an
incendiary, as the flames burst out in several parts
of the city at the same time. The fort, the .royal
palace, tiie palaces of the princes, and the public
buildings, were ail iaid in ashes.

The general appearance of things now became worse
and worse ; and in the summer of 1811, Mr. Chater
observes, " The country is completely torn to pieces,
as the Mugs and Rachmurs have revolted and cut
off the Burman government ; and the Burmans them-
selves are forming large parties under the different
princes. Rangoon is threatened, and will most likely
be attacked, though probably not till after the rainy
season." Soon after tliis communication, Mr. Chater
relinquished his situation at Rangoon, and pitched
upon Columbo, in the island of Ceylon, as the scene
of his future labors.

Mr. Carey was now left alone at the mission-house,
busily employed in translating the scriptures into the
Burman language, till the autumn of 1812, when he
visited his friends at Serampore, in order to put one
or two of the gospels to press, and to consult his
venerable father and the other brethren on some sub-
jects connected with the mission. Hero he remained
till the latter end of November, and then returned
with a new and respectable colleague, named Kerr,
who was likely to prove a great acquisition as an
instrument in the evangelizing of tiio heathen The
state of his he»lth, however, precluded hiui from re^
maining in Uurmah, and in less than twelve months
lie was under the necessity of returning lo Serampore.

The differi'Mces with the Siamese liaving ben ad-
justed, and the Burman government re-eslublished,
Mr. Carey was ordered, in the summer of 1813, to
proceed to the court at Ava, for the purpose of inocu-
latmg some of the royal family ; and though lie hap-
pened to have none of the vaccine virus in his pusses*
siun, he was received with the greatest kindne.Hs, both
by his Burman majesty and the prince, and was assured
that all the expenses of his journey and ' oyage should
be defrayed, lie had the honor, iinieud, of spending
several hours with llio king and prince, conversing on
various subjects, and occasionally venturing to suggest

BUR MAN EMPIRE.

871

some things by which the empire might be improved.
When speaking of the missionaries, his majesty asked
why they, and the Christians in connection with them,
did not worship images, like the Portuguese ? Mr.
Carey, in reply, quoted a sentence from some of the
Burman writings, and hinted that it was impracticable
to form an image of an invisible spirit. The king
immediately turned to his courtiers, saying, " He is
right ;" and, as a token of his royal favor, he gave
our missionary a gold medal, with an honorary title ;
at the sama time suggesting, that if he thought proper
to adopt the Burman dress, he would present him
with several costly suits of apparel. This honor,
however, Mr. Carey declined, respectfully stating that
he was ready to serve his majesty on all occasions,
but that he could not change his dress nor his religion.
Mr. Carey was sent back to Rangoon in a gilded
boat, and a ship was ordered to convey him to Bengal,
in order to obtain a new supply of virus for the pur-
pose of vaccination. This was accordingly procured ;
and, in August, 1814, he embarked with* his wife and
family, on board the viceroy's plea.sure boat, to join a
brig which was waiting in the Great River to convey
him again to Ava. After some doys, he reached this
vessel in safety ; but scarcely had she got under weigh,
when the sky began to assume a very menacing ap-
pearance ; a severe squall came on, while she was
stemming a rapid current ; and in a few minutes
she upset and soon filled with water. " Perceiving
our condition," says Mr. Carey, " I rushed into the
cabin, to save, if possible, my wife and children,
with the other females. The cabin windows, how-
ever, were open, and the moment I entered, the im-
petus of the water from without closed the door upon
me. I now expected nothing; less than instant death ;
as the water was gushing in from all sides, and I knew
not by what means to extricate myself During tiiis
short period, (for the fiunl .scene was closed in the
space of five minutes,) I could hear the screams of my
wife and children, who were only sc|)araied from me
by a canvass screen, but could find no opening till the
woter made one. I then sprang forward, and handed
my wife and children, with two other little girls, and
the nurse, out of the cabin window, upon the broad-
side of the vessel. In the confiision of the moment,
I had some hope that tlie vessel would flout ; but no
sooner had I got through the window, than I perceived
she was already going down. Now nil my hopes
failed ; my wife flinging to me on one side, — a lear
child on the other,— a rapid current underneath, — and
tho rest of the crow shrieking in every direction I
Had the jolly-boat been noar us at this instant, not a

I I I L^-- 1 - 1---- -I ^^ rM. _ . . _

r'Jtii riau i^wCi: I'jzi ; tj;:i s.ic ..33 not. I nit VC'iliui i>t?ftiitii

to sink under us, and we were all out of our depth,

amidst a heavy sea. My wife still clung to me ; but
as I sunk, she quitted her hold, and I saw her no more.
I again rose to the surface of the water, and thought
I saw my little boy floating at a distance, but could
not get to him. I also perceived the heads of some
of the crew in various directions, but no appearance
of the vessel. In this state of perturbation, I gave
myself up for lost, whilst the waves were rolling over
my head. By some means, however, I contrived to
tear off my shirt, and to disentangle myself from my
pantaloons ; and thus, through the mercy of God, I
was enabled to float on shore, though with the utmost
difficulty. When I reached the land, I was too much
exhausted to get upon my feet : providentially, how-
ever, one of the lascars, who had floated ashore at
the same place, drew me up into a grass jungle,
where I sat, up to my breast in water, till a boat came
to my assistance. I was then taken to a town called
Dhunoobhoo, but hardly in my senses. As soon as 1
was somewhat recovered, I made every inquiry about
my wife and children, but could learn nothing concern-
ing them, except that one of my servants, with the
assistance of an oflicer, had picked up the body of
my little girl, and buried it in the jungles opposite
to the town. I afterwards found that my wife and
two children, with the two little girls, the nurse, the
cook, the gunner, and two lascars, had all lost their
lives ; and though boats were sent out, in every direc-
tion, in quest of liie bodies and the wreck, not a single
vestige was to be seen or heard of !

" I have lost all that I was worth in this vain world
and can say, let it go : but tho loss of my beloved
wife and my dear infants lies near my heart. Yet
what can I say ? It is the hand of the Lord, and none
con say unto him, ' Why doesi thou thus ?' Only this
one thing I crave, that the remainder of my days may
be devoted, with a single eye, to his glory, in the
establishment of his cause among tho heathen."

The pious wish expressed by this unfortiiiiuto young
man, who, in less than one hour, had been df|)iived
of the partner of his iilfection, his little boy, iiiid his
infant daughter, was never realized ; as the snares
of a heathen court proved more injurious to the spirit-
imlity of his mind than all his se»or(^ ufllictions. On
his return to Ava, Iwth tlie king and the prince ap-
peared to sympathize deeply with his misfortune, and
made him a most liberal compensation for the loss
of his property. His majesty also appointed him his
riinh(i.ssador to Calcutta, fur the purpose of arrungina
some differences which existed between the two
governments ; and conferred on him the equi|)ago of
a prince, consisting of a rod umbrella with an ivory
iup, a guid beiui box, a goid cup, and a sword q*
state.

BAPTIST MtSistof^Aftl* SbciETY.

Daszled by the hohon thus lavishly conferred upon
Him, Mr. Felix Carey now relinquished the humble
cHliracier of a missionary, and proceeded oh hb em-
blssy to Calcutta, tp the deep regtet of his pious and
venerible father. His connection with the Burman
government, however, was of short duration ; and aftier
being subsequently employed by an eastern rajah, he
i^tumed to Serampore, where he was employed in
translating and compiling various literary works till
the time of his death. The superintendence of the
mission in the Burman empire had, in the mean time,
been transferred to some brethren connected with a

society in Ahiiericii ; AM thou'gh hbthiiig a^pSaTs td
have been effected, ih the wdy of conversion, by the
persons sent out frbm Scrank^ore, thie translations
which they made of certtiin p&rts df the Holy Scrip-
tures, aUd the compilation of a grammar of the Bur-
man language, by Mr. F. C4rey, ^ould, ho ioaVt,
render the most important service to their isuc'cessbrs,
and, it is hoped, to the natives themselves, at a future
period. We dare not say, therefore, that either their
time or the money of the society to which they be-
longed was spent in vain.

CHAPTER IV

MISSION IN oklSSA

In the spring of 1809, the Baptist brethren had in
contemplation a new mission to the province of Orissa,
in which Mr. John Peter, formerly a member of the
Armenian church, was to be engaged as a principal ;
and early in January, 1810, that zealous and eloquent
Bengalee preacher, accompanied by his family, set
out for the town of Balasore, which had been selected
as the most suitable place for the commencement
of his labors.

The voyage was attended with considerable diffi-
culty and danger, and one day the vessel stnick upon
the sands, where it remained about seven hours. By
the good providence of God, however, our missionary
reached his place of destination in perfect safety ;
and, though he frankly acknowledged the purport
of his visit, ho met with no opposition. On the
contrary, between one and two hundred persons, com-
prising several opulent Bengalees and Orissa banker
and merchants, with a few Portuguese, attended tlio
celebration of divine service in his house, on the ensu-
ing sabbath, and nil bclinved with the utmost decorum.
A spirit of inquiry, indeed, appeared to have been
excited, in consequence of some of them having pre-
viously heard and embraced the gospel at Calcutta ;
and several individuals, after conversing with the
preacher till ten o'clock at night, requested to \w
furnished with some of the tracts or Testaments, of
which ho had br<niEht an ample supply, both in th<<
Ucnpalee and Orissa languages. The country at

large, however, in a religious point of view, was found
to be truly deplorable ; and Mr. Peter observes, " The
bones and skulls of dead men, the worshippers of
Juggernaut, lie about the streets, especially on the
river side ; whilst hundreds of survivors are going
almost every day to perform their devotions before
this great idol. 1 endeavor, however, to make known
to them the incarnation, life, and death of our I^ord
Jesus Christ ; showing that he came into the world
for the express purpose of saving sinners ; pointing
out their absolute need of such a Saviour ; and assur-
ing tln;m that without his atonement there can bo no
forgiveness."

As our missionary preached occasionally in English,
many of the European officers and ladies at Balasore
were sometimes induced to attend worship in his
house ; and the word spoktii appears to have been
owned and blessed, by the Holy Spirit, to several
soldiers in the service of the East India Company ;
six of whom, in the course of a few months, were
publicly baptized, with several other persons resident
in the neighborhood, and seemed to evince, by their
conduct and conversation, that they were really imder
the divine influence of the gospel Mr, Peer also
speaks of an Orissa lady, who had "a good report
through the whole town of Balasore," and who died
in the failh of the gospel. " She rontinuetl her at-

able, and was, at the fhn } of her decease, a candidate

ORISSA.

878

for baptism. We used W go and pray with her fre-
quently, and one of her last expressions was, ' Yes,
I am' going to Jesus 1' She was interred in a coffin in
the English burial ground, and all the country-bom
native infantry of the eighth regiment respectfiilly
attended her remains to the grave."

In the spring of 1811, the worship of Juggernaut,
in Orissa, seems to have been more numerously
attended than usual ; as Mr. Peter speaks of four or
five thousand devotees from Bengal having passed
through Balasore, in their V7ay to the idol's temple ;
and two of his members, Messrs. Smith and Green,
residing at Cuttack, observe, in a letter to Mr. Ward,
" You would iiave been astonished had you seen the
immense number of pilgrims crossing the river at this
place. As far as the eye could reach, we could see
no end of the ranks, the appearance of which reminded
us of an army going to battle. If they could not
procure boats, they would cross the river in some
other way, though in so doing they incurred the risk
of losing their lives. They seemed, in fact, to be
regardless of danger, and to have no fear of being
carried away by the rapidity of the stream. You
may easily conceive what a mtiltitude of men, women,
and children, must have assembled at the temple,
when you are told that they literally trod upon each
other ii> approaching the gate, and that about a hun-
dred and fifty persons were killed in the crowd ! Ten
sepoys from each company, of all the battalions from
Barackpore to this station, had permission to visit the
temple. A temporary famine was produced in the
country, and great numbers of the pilgrims perished
with hunger and thirst. We attempted to reason with
some of them, but it was all in vain, and they cut
short the conversation by exclaiming, ' Whether we
survive or not, we are resolved to see the temple
of Juggernaut before we die.' Many individuals also
sacrificed themselves to their imaginary deity, in the
hope of obtaining eternal life, by laying themselves
flat on their backs, for the express purpose of being
crushed to death beneath the wheels of the idol's
ponilerous car."

In some instances, however, the exertions of the
brethren apjioar to hnvo produced a considerable
effect. " A sepoy," says Mr. Smith, " took me to
his habitation, that I might explain the way of salva-
tion to some men who were then on their way to the
temple ; and, after they had listened atlontivoly to
my observations respecting the dyine love of our Ijord
Jesus, one of the prinripnl men anmng them observed,
' You ipciik the word of truth, and all that you have
snid Itiis struck into my heart.' And another exclaimed.

v::i nt-:ti ii*.:

thai they worship idols of wood and stone.
Vol,. I.— Nos. «3 hi ^«.

In the month of Norcmber, Mr. Pater undertook
a journey to Cuttack, a distance of more than a huD*
dred milei ; and at every place which aiibrdftd ta
opportunity, he preached the absolute necessity of
fleeing to Jesus, as the only Saviour from the wrath
to come. At a place called Soora he preached twice^
in the public market, to upwards of two hundred
Oriyas ; and, after worship, a considerable number
of them, comprising both Bramins and Soodras, came
to the room which he had hired for the night, and
gladly received some religious tracts, together with
three Testaments, and four Psalters. They made
many inquiries concerning the gospel, and some of
them conceived such an exalted idea of the wisdom
and sanctity of their new teacher, that they actually
fell down to worship him. He, however, immediately
raised them, and directed their attention to that God
who is alone entitled to receive the adoration of his
creatures.

In an adjacent village, occupied by a large popula-
tion of Bramins, Soodras, and Mussulmen, the inhab-
itants not only listened with seriousness and attention
to our missionary, but earnestly entreated him to re-
main with them, and explain more fully the way of
salvation by Jesus Christ. " I was so fully employed,"
says he, " in explaining the word, and answering
questions, that I could scarcely find time to take any
refreshment ; as from eight o'clock in the morning
till nine in the evening, I had, at difl^rent times, more
than fifty persons in my apartment. Some sat down
with me for two hours at a time, reading the scrip-
tures, or hearing them explained ; whilst others earn-
estly solicited me for a Testament or a tract ; and
when they had succeeded in their application, appeared
as joyful as if they had obtdined some prize of immense
value. Others, after listening attentively for some
time, expressed their conviction, by exclaiming, ' All
this is true — it is certainly true. We have been com-
pletely blind ; our religion is false, our debtas are
unclean, and this is the only way of salvation !' "

Early in February, 1912, this faithful laborer in
the liord's vineyard had an opportunity of introducing
the New Testament, in the Orissa language, into the
very temple of Juggernaut. He accordingly distributed
sovcrni copies among the principal persons belonging
to that place, and gave one of them into the hands
of one of the purichas, or principal ministers of the
idol ; accompanying his gift with an ardent prayer,
that the intense darkness of superstition might be
speedily dispersed by the glorious light of divine rev-
elation. In the autumn of the same year, he and his
friciul Kristno Dass, who had recently become his
cQad'utor. went to a place called Poorooha-pota, and
preached from Romans i. «1 , 5J2, 83. " It being the

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

last day of the festival of Juggernaut," says Mr. Pe-
ter, "more than a thousand persons were assembled,
and three cars of the god were dragged along. In the
midst of this crowd I stood upon a chair, and preach-
ed the everlasting gospel. The people, almost to a
man, left the cars, and, surrounding me, heard the
word with attention. We sang three hymns ; preach-
ed and prayed twice ; and distributed fifteen Orissa
New Testaments and Psalters, besides many tracts.
One Oriya was insulted by his countrymen for accept-
ing a Testament : their derision, however, made no
impression on him ; he received the book, and went
his way. On this occasion, several military officers,
with their ladies, were present, upon elephants."

In January, 1813, Mr. Peter visited the brethren
at Calcutta, travelling by land, and preaching tlie gos-
pel in various places ; at first in the Orissa language,
which he now spoke with tolerable fluency, and, as
he drew near to Bengal, in the Bengalee. At one place
he found a great number of persons assembled to
bathe in the river ; and the sons of the rajah were
present in palanquins, surrounded by a numerous reti-
nue. " In the midst of the crowd," says ho, " I as-
cended the bridge on horseback, and asked several of
the natives to explain the object of their batiiing.
They said it was the Maghee festival, or the first of the
month, and therefore they were going to bathe, in order
to obtain the remission of their sins. Perceiving that I
was about to address the people, the whole crowd
surrounded me, and the rajah's sons came and stood
near my horse, listening with great attention. A pun-
dit observing that I preached an invuibU God, de-
manded some proof of his existence. I immediately
uked him whether he could $ee his soul, and whether,
because of its invisibility, he doubted whether he
possessed one. He frankly answered, ' Certainly not.'
' Such, then,' rejoined I, ' is the living and true God :
he is invisible to us, though every where present.' "
The people expressed themselves satisfied with this
familiar illustration, and readily received a great many
Orissa tracts and New Testaments, which were offer-
ed for their acceptance. In (he month of April, Mr.
Peter returned to Balasore ; and, somj time aAer, his
valuable assistant, Krisino Dass, entered into the " rest
which remaineth for the people of God."

On the last day of August, a tiger made its appear-
ance in the town, about half a milu from Mr. Peter's
house, on the way to Old Balasore. The European
gentlemen, the troops, and a body of natives, amounting
in (he whole to about a thousand men. ajuenibtod for the
purpose of hunting it, and, after some Ume, (he ferocious
animal was killed by half a dogen balls. B«for« this
waa effected, however, nine persons were severely
wounded, and one of tham. >' •

..!_ Ji-j

-jreu OS uic

foliowmg day. A tigress, accompanied by one of her
cubs, afterwards entered the town from a neighboring
jungle ; but though she was heard to roar during the
night, she appears to have reUred without doing any
particular mischief.

The following month great numbers of people as-
sembled at an idolatrous festival, held at a certain
house in Balasore. Mr. Peter considered such an op-
portunity too precious to be lost ; and accordingly
stood for some hours at the door, preaching the gospel,
and distributing religious tracts to about two hundred
persons, who listened to his observations with the ut-
most seriousness and attention. On the company
leaving the house, and proceeding with their idols to
the side of the river, our missionary went with them ;
and, in the midst of about ten thousand people, kept
on his horse, bearing testimony ap;<(inst their idolatry ;
declaring that there was but one true God ; and pro-
claiming Jesus as the only and precidus Saviour of poor
and perishing sinners. He succeeded in gaining the
attention of the greater part of the multitude, and
might have distributed thousands of tracts, if he had
had them ; as the populace appeared anxious to receive
and peruse them. At length he retired, with the as-
sistance of three Europeans, who cleared the way ;
and when the shades of night closed around him, he
had the satisfaction of reflecting that the gospel had
obtained a hearing among so great a multitude of the
idolaters of Orissa, and that many had been constrain-
ed to acknowledge the only true God, and his coequal
Son, Jesus Christ, whom to know aright is life eternal.
In the month of January, 1814, great astonishment
was excited in Balasore, by the conversion of a Bra-
min of high rank, named Jugunat'ha Mookhoojya, to
the Christian religion. This man, who was of a rich
family, and well versed both in the Orissa and Ben-
galee languages, was so thoroughly convinced of (he

(ru(h of the gospel, that he renounced his caste,

threw away his poita, or sacred thread, — and ate pub-
licly with Mr. Peter, to whom he expressed an earnest
desire for baptisnt. One evening, whilst our mission-
ary was reading and explaining to him part of the Ben-
galee Testament, he expressed his joy that Christ was
able to dispossess Satan even of his strong holds ; and
observed, " The dcbtas ara evil spi-ils ; and the fol-
lowers of Jesus have power from him to oveicome the
devil and all his temptations. I am growing fearless
of the power of debtas, and all persecutors. I know
that God alone has the power to kill and to give life,
and that without his permission neither good nor evil
can befall me. If he be my Redeemer, therefore, I
will not fear what man can do. Should the people of
my caste kill mo, I will not fear ; since I hope that
ii«iV«u is seoured to me by Jesus, the Sod of God.

f*»^4* ' .*' -!>•

orissa:

.j^4f ""'Vl^fMf'S*

«7i

From this time may 1 appear before all men a decided
follower of Christ. I hope the Lord will receive me,
and keep me for ever, as his own child : for though I
am the greatest of sinners, I bless the Almighty, and
will thank him for ever, that he has brought me out
of darkness into his marvellous light."

Language such as this was calculated to inflame the
resentment of his idolatrous countrymen, and he soon
became an object of their persecution ; so that, on his
passing by the bazaar, the populace pelted him with
dust and stones ; and one night he was beaten severe-
ly in the street by a gentleman's servant. It was,
also, rumored that his relatives intended to kill him.
None of these things, however, were sufficient to shake
his faith in the gospel ; on the contrary, he afforded
such satisfactory proofs of genuine attachment to the
Redeemer, that Mr. Peter considered himself fully
justified in proposing him as a candidate for admission
into the little church at Balasore ; and in the meeting
held on that occasion, the converted Bramin gave the
following account of himself: —

" In my youth I learned the Bengalee language
well, so as to gain the esteem of my father and friends ;
and at twenty years of age, I began to instruct the
children of Diaram-baboo, giving my earnings to my
father. At this time I worshipped Doorga, and was
superstitiously attached to my goroo, or spiritual teach-
er ; but on meeting with some vishnuvas, I was per-
suaded to abandon the former object of my adoration,
and to take refuge in the power of Radha Krishna.
I now wandered about with the viragees for three
years, visiting the holy places ; but during the whole
of this time I was in a state of the deepest profligncy ;
and to add to my misery, a grievous sickness fell
upon me.

" I had returned home ; but again left my father's
house, wandering to Guya and other places. My re-
lations prevailed upon me to return to the worship of
the goddess Doorga, and I again entered into the em-
ployment of Diaram-baboo. I had previously heard
of Mr. Peter's teaching the doctrine of one God and
one Saviour ; but I found that the person embracing
this religion must lose caste ; and for some time I in-
quired no further respecting the gospel, though my
mind was agitated with many anxious thoughts about
salvation, and the great First Cause of all things. At
length, however, after conversing, at a gentleman's
house, with Kristno Dnss, I was induced to call upon
Mr. Peter; who gave moan account of God, the cre-
ation, tiie fall and general depravity of man, and the
way of salvation by Christ. I went home and thought
much of this new way. A few days atlerward, I called
again on Mr. Peter, who was explaining to another
person the stupendous love of Jesus, as dis|)layed in

his incarnation, miracles, death, resurreetibii, tu!d i^
cension ; observing, at the same time, that salvatioit
was secured for all who should believe in him ; but
that the Hindoo writings were false and deceptive. I
was .nuch affected by this discourse, but was afraid of
the anger of the gods and of my friends. Mr. Peter,
however, removed some of my fears, and at length 1
came to this conclusion : — ^There is no certainty of
salvation in the Hindoo shasters, which are full of
contradictions. I must answer for myself before God.
If my friends and countryn^n do not embrace the
gospel, it is because they do not understand it. I will
lead the way, and possibly they may follow. After
this, I remained in a state of suspense about a fortnight.
But at last I called again upon Mr. Peter, and remain-
ed in conversation with him till the dinner was served
up. I then sat down and dined with him, regarding
no longer the loss of caste, nor fearing the anger
either of gods or friends. I soon offered myself as a
candidate for baptism ; but he put me off, and from
that time I have remained with him, reading and hear-
ing the word of God, and going with my instructer from
village to village."

This statement being considered satisfactory, Jugun-
nat'ha Mookhoojya was baptized, on the 6rst sabbath
in March, in the presence of all Mr. Peter's congre-
gation and about a hundred natives. And after the
conclusion of the service, an Oriya, named Khosalee,
told his countrymen, both near the tank where the
baptismal rite was administered, and on his way home,
that their shasters were all false ; but that the shaster
of Jesus was certainly true.

A few weeks al\er the baptism of this native, Mr.
Peter was afflicted with a disorder which brought him
almost to the borders of the grave. Some of the
Oriyas immediately asserted that he had fallen under
the displeasure of their gods for presuming to despise
them, and to take away the caste of a Bramin ; at
the same time expressing a confident expectation that
his crimes would be punished with death. Others,
however, were heard to .say, " None of our deities can
punish Kim : he belongs to the great invisible God,
who will protect him in sickness, and afterwards restore
him to health."

When our missionary was so far recovered as to
walk about the town, he called two or three times
upon a respectable Mussulman in the company's ser-
vice, who received him with tiie greatest respect ; enter-
ed freely into conversation on the subject of religion ;
and twice sent a present to the house of his new ac-
quaintance. He also gave him permission to smoke
in his silver hookah ; at the same time quoting the
authority of certain writings, to convince his frienda
that Mahometans might eat with persons of a different

919

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

religion, provided they did not join them in eating
pork or drinking wine. Some of his Aiends objected
that Mr. Peter had eaten pork, but the Mussulman
got rid of this obstacle by saying, " He has utuhed hit
mouth since then." Speaking of thb man, Mr. Peter
obserTcs, " He opens his Arabic Koran, and I open
to him the treasures of the gospel. He is very de-
vout in his way, praying, and reading five times daily.
He has, also, a Peer Saheb, a native of Arabia, with
hhn, and his two followers. He has a New Testament
of his own in Persic, but in manuscript ; and I have
placed in his hands the Old Testament, which he is
now perusing. He says, however, that according to
the Koran, he cannot believe God has a Son, though
he considers Jesus to have been a holy prophet, mirac-
ulously bom of a virgin."

As his bodily health increased, Mr. Peter resumed
his puiilic labors among the heathen ; and early in
December he preached in four different places on the
same day. Whilst he was closing the last of these
services with prayer, some of the hearers appeared to
be deeply affected ; and eleven men, with the same
number of women, and four children, accompanied
him home for further instruction. He gave them a
place in the grounds belonging to his house, where they
might cook and eat their provisions j and generously
supplied them with some rice, split peas, milk, spices,
tobacco, fire-pots and fuel ; at the same time permit-
ting them to sleep beneath the shade of the trees.
They appeared truly sensible of this kindness, and
observed to each other, " This man not only instructs
us in the way of salvation, but also supplies our tem-
poral wants !" When they had supped, Mr. Peter
and hii wife sang a hymn with them ; and the former,
after engaging in prayer, inquired whether they believ-
ed in that Jesus whom he had preached to them as
the only Redeemer from sin and hell. They replied,
one by one, in the affirmative, and repeated his sacred
name. The next rooming they set out, on the road

leading to Juggernaut's temple, but assured their faosi
they should no longer worship that idol.

In a letter dated January 6, 1816, Mr. Peter writes,
«' I have distributed a number of Testamenu and tracts
in the course of the last year ; and have recently vis-
ited several new villages, where the people heard with
attention, and received books. There are some Bra-
mins who peruse the Scriptures every week ; and two
others appear to be anxiously seeking the salvation of
their souls, as they are in the habit of reading the
New Testament, and Dr. Guise's Explanation, every
day ; and they assure me that they pray in secret to
Jehovah, through Jesus Christ, to open their under-
standings. When I call upon them, they will even
forsake their dinner to listen to my conversation, or to
ask me something connected with the subject of eter-
nal life. Since my first arrival at Balasore, thirty-four
persons, natives and Europeans, have been baptized;
some of whom have been taken to heaven, and several
others are now residing at Allahabad, Chunar, Dum-
dum, and other places. I am informed there is a
dreadful sickness at Ganjam, like the plague, of which
nearly three hundred persons die every day. The
magistrates and officers have all left the district, and
only a few of the natives remain.

In the comiMencement of 1817, the province of
Orissa was thrown into a state of great alarm by the
approach of the Pindarees ; which, together with the
very indifferent state of his health, compelled Mr.
Peter to remove to Calcutta ; and since that time the
mission in this part of the country has oeen suspended.
Sufficient proof, however, has been afforded, by the
facts already related, that, during the promulgation of
the gospel in this land of idolatry, that animating
promise was literally accomplished which declares,
" The word that goeth out of my mouth shall not
return unto me void ; but it shall accomplish that
which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing where-
to I sent it."

HINUOOSTAN.

ant

-M-: if^Mftm^^'

CHAPTER V.

MISSION IN HINDOOSTAN.

The Rev. Mr. Moore and his wife having been for
some time at Patna, and it being considered expedient
that an attempt should be made to introduce the gos-
pel into Agra, it was resolved, in the commencement
of 1811, to form a regular mission in Hindoos'.an,
which should comprise each of these important places.
Accordingly, on the 2l3t of January, Messrs. Cham-
bvlain and Peacock, with their families, and a baptized
Hindoo, named Vrundavun, set out from Serampore,
to occupy the new station ; for which purpose it was
necessary to perform a journey up the Ganges of about
a thousand miles.

On the 18th of March, Mr. Chamberlain addressed
a letter to his friends from Ghazepoor, in which he
says, " We have proceeded upwards of six hundred
miles in two months, without any storm to incommode
us ; and, till within these few days, the weather has
been rather too cold than too hot. Indeed, both my
hands and feet have ached with cold, for the first time
since I lelV Europe. So far as I can judge of Hindoos-
tan, the climate is preferable to that of Bengal. The
air seems clearer ; and, though the heat may be
more intense in the middle of the day, yet, hitherto,
the mornings and evenings have been very pleasant.
The country produces very little rice, but wheat,
barley and peas are in great abundance. The natives
are different from the Bengalees in their appearance.
The men, though equally superstitious, are less com-
plaisant ; and the women differ from those of Bengal
in their clothing, which seems to be cumbersome.
I have also remarked, what L not much to the honor
of the men, that the females here are in greater sub-
jection, and the lower classes work much harder than
in Bengal."

On the arrival of the mi sionaries at Allahabad,
their boatmen refused to proceed any farther without
receiving a larger sum of money than they had pre-
viously demanded. As they persisted in this resolution
for the whole of the day, they were given into custody,
and a letter was despatched to the nearest magistrate ;
but before an answer could be received, the men
became conscious of their error, and cuuseuieU iu

abide by their original agreement. This unexpecte*
delay seems to have been the occasion of the intro-
duction of the gospel into the city, which the brethren,
in their anxiety to reach the place of their destination,
would otherwise have passed by. " Being detained
here till the Lord's day," says Mr. Chamberlain,
"brother Peacock, myself, and Vrundavun, went,
after breakfast, into the more populous part of the city,
and were fully employed during the remainder of the
morning. The news of our going to Agra appears to
have preceded our progress ; as, in different places,
we met with people inquiring for the sahibs who
gave away the new shatter. Hence, on making our
appearance in this city, the people came about us in
great numbers. In the evening, I stood by tiie river-
side, and preached to several hundreds, among whom
I also distributed many tracts and parts of the New
Testament. In general, tliey heard with attention, and
received the books with eagerness.

" On Monday morning, Vrundavun and I went out
early, and conversed with a number of people, and,
before we had returned to our boat, many were wait-
ing for us by the river-side. After breakfast, I preached
to them the glad tidings of the kingdom of God ; and,
when the sun became too hot, I went into the boat,
where I was engaged, without intermission, till the
evening, in reading, exhorting, and distributing books
to those who were anxious to obtain them. I have
been in many places where the word of God has ex-
cited much attention ; but never saw a greater spirit
of inquiry after the new way than was discovered at
Allahabad. Hindoos and Mussulmen, learned and
unlearned, all seemed eager to hear the Word of salva-
tion ; and, even after we had left the city, several
persons followed us, in quest of books, to a distance
of eight or nine miles."

On the nth of May, our missionaries arrived at
Agra, which they describe as a large city, with an
increasing population ; though exhibiting, in many
parts, a mere heap of ruins. Here they were kjndly
received by the person to whom they had been recora-
lueutied by their brethren at Scfainpofc ] 53d, aitsr s

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

short time, a sergeant-major in the Fort, accommoda-
ted them with the use of his quarters for the celebra-
tion of divine service on the Lord's day, and on
Thursday evenings. Severe afflictions, however, were
permitted to exercise the faith and patience of those
who had undertaken to erect the banner of the cross
on a spot where Satan had so long held undisturbed
dominion. Mr. Chamberlain was attacked with a
disorder which confined him to the house nearly six-
teen weeks ; two of his children were snatched from
him, in the interim, by the icy hand of death ; and
the friend who had so kindly furnished a temporary
place for the preaching of the gospel, and with whom
the brethren had taken sweet counsel, whilst convers-
ing together on the things of God, fell down, one day,
and almost instt itaneously expired !

Early in 1812, the missionaries were prohibited, by
a military order, from preaching in the Fort ; and, in
consequence of Mr. Chamberlain addressing a note
on the subject to the commanding officer, a communi-
cation was made by that gentleman to government,
and an order arrived for Mr. Chamberlain to be sent
down to the presidency. The Agra magistrate, how-
ever, who was intrusted with the execution of this
order, behaved with the utmost kindness and urbanity,
ordering the persons who should have had the charge
of him, to attend him to Calcutta as his servants. It
is also pleasing to add, that on his arrival and appear-
ance at the office of the police, nothing more was raid
to him than that he wa» at liberty.

Notwithstanding this occurrence, and the trying
dispensations by which it was preceded, the aspect
of affairs at Agra began to brighten. Mr. Peacock
remained at the station, regularly keeping up family
prayer, and performing public worship in the mission-
house ; a pleasing change became apparent in the
conduct and deportment of several of the neighbors,
who exchanged their former amusements of cards,
backgammon, iic. for the perusal of the Scriptures,
and the worship of God ; one lady set up a school on
her own premises and at her own expense, besides
contributing, in the space of a few months, the sum
of five hundred and fifty rupees towards the support
of tlie mission ; and, though the gospel had been ex-
cluded from the Fort, one of the soldiers was baptized,
and others seemed inclined to follow his example.

Mr. Moore having, in the mean time, removed with
Mr. Rowe, and two native brethren, to a new station
at Digah, about fifteen miles from his former residence,
it became necessary to place the superintendence of
affairs at Patna in other hands. A young man named
Thompson, of promising talents and character, bom
in the country, and united to the church at Calcutta,
was selected for this purpose, and on the 85th of

April, after being affectionately commended to God,
by his former pastors and brethren, he set out for the
scene of his intended labors, accompanied by his wife,
his mother, and two friends, who, previously to their
quitting the presidency, had formed themselves into m
distinct church.

On his arrival at Patna, he took a house in a popu-
lous neighborhood, and in the vicinity of the great
bazaars ; and before the expiration of three days, he
commenced his evangelical labors, reasoning and ex-
postulating with all who chose to visit him at his
hours of family worship ; and in the other parts of
the day, conversing with the inhabitanu in their shops,
or publicly preaching Christ to the people, many of
whom listened with streaming eyes to his discourses,
and expressed the most earnest desire to hear something
more of the way of salvation. In the space of a few
weeks, indeed, such attention was excited, and the
labors of our young missionary became so acceptable,
that he was invited to preach at the houses of four
different persons who had attended his ministry ; a
plot of ground was generously offered for erecting a
new place of worship ; both Bramins and Mussulmen
began to read the New Tes'ament with lively interest ;
even some of his Roman Catholic hearers expressed
a wish to be baptized ; and a Hindoostanee school
was opened with sixteen children and some adults.

Of the affairs of Digah the following account is
given by Mr. Moore, in a communication dated Janu-
ary 26, 1813, and addressed to the Rev. Dr. Ryland:
" Digah is a central situation between Calcutta and
the upper provinces, and begins to be known as such
by the religious people in this country ; as English
merchants and others, travelling to and fro, often
spend their sabbaths with us. The mission premises
are well situated, having the public road as a boundary
on one side, and the Ganges on the other. The
ground on which the bungalow stands, which is the
property of the mission, measures four thousand one
hundred and ninety-seven feet by six hundred and
forty-four ; and, at a moderate computation, is worth
seven thousand rupees, or eight hundred and seventy-
five pounds sterling. Tlie original cost was three
thousand rupees, and we have laid out much of the
profits of our school (in which we have now sixteen
boarders and three day scholars) in repairing and
improving the buildings. Our native free school has
alKJUt forty boys, and I hope soon to increase it to a
hundred. A worthy young friend in the army, who
has B))ent most of his spare time with us for several
months past, has given fifty rupees towards building a
new school-room for the native children, which is now
erecting."

The same writer then nlludes to n rcljiriniis ninrdnj-

HINDOOSTAN.

of nrhicli.he had been an eye-witness in one of his
itinerating excursions, and which he relates as follows :
" On hearing the people belonging to the boat observe
that a leper was going to be drowned, I looked out,
and saw, on the bank of the river, a poor creature
without fingers or toes, but, in other respects, appar-
ently healthy. He was eating very heartily, and was
surrounded by several people, who appeared to have
conducted him to the spot. The bank being high, I
could not get out of the boat till we had proceeded to
a considerable distance from the place where he was.
I then landed, and began running towards the spot ;
but, at this juncture, the people in the boat called out,
' He is drowned ! he is drowned !' His attendants,
who seemed to be his relations, had assisted him down
the bank of the river ; but whether they pushed him
in, or whether he went in of his own accord, I cannot
tell. The bank, however, was so precipitous that he
could not possibly get out again. He made great ef-
forts, at first, to reach the opposite side ; but had he
been a good swimmer, he could not have got out, the
stream was so rapid. I saw him struggle much before
he sank to rise no more a living inau. I endeavored
to impress on the persons who attended him the hei-
nousness of the crime which they had perpetrated ; but
they only smiled at the concern which I evinced, and
said they had merely complied with the wishes of the
deceased, who, they added, had lost both his hands
and his feet."

The following anecdote was related to Mr. Moore
by a military officer, who had had the gratification of
rescuing a fellow, creature from a watery grave.

" Perceiving a man in the Ganges, in the dusk of the
evening, I called out to the boatmen to render him some
assistance ; but they coolly replied, ' Sir, he is gone ; — he
belongs to God.'—' Well,' said I, ' get him out of the
water, and God may have him hereafter.' The poor
creature was then taken up, almost at the last gasp, and
I gave him some brandy, calling it physic. As soon
as he could speak, he piteously exclaimed, ' O ! sir,
my caste is gone !' < No, no,' I rejoined, ' it is medi-
cine.' — ' Ah, sir ! it is not that to which I allude. My
family will never receive me ! I am an outcast !'
* What !' said I, ' because your life has been preserv-
ed ?' ' Yes.' ' Then such a family is not worthy your
attention.' "

Towards the close of the same year, Mr. Thomp-
son was an eye-witness of the drowning of a leprous Hin-
doo woman, in the deepest part of the river at Patna.
On the 12th of November, about one o'clock in the
afternoon, a person came nmning to the mission-house
with the intelligence that this poor creature was then
going by, amidst the noise of drums and trumpets,
and accompanied by a large concourse of natives.

279

Mr. Thompson and one of his friends immediately
went to the great road, where they saw the woman,
seated in a sort of palanquin, made of slit bamboos,
ornamented with colored paper, and supported partly
by men and partly by women. She appeared to be
in great pain during the procession. On her arriving
at the ghaut, or landing-place, where a boat was wait-
ing to receive her, our missionary approached her pal-
anquin, and inquired whether she were acting in com-
pliance with her own inclinations. She immediately
answererf in the affirmative. " How long," said he,
" have you been afflicted ?" « Three years." " What
time haK elapsed since you formed the determina-
tion to act thus ?" "About three months." " Have
you any relatives surviving?" " No, none." Mr.
Thompson then observed, that if he had been
previous!/ acquainted with her intention, he should
certainly )iave endeavored to have shown her the folly
and impiety of it. But she repeated that the in-
tended ricrifice was perfectly voluntary on her part,
and the result of cool deliberation ; though when ques-
tioned on the nature of her expectations in thus destroy-
ing he 1 self, she was unable to give any satisfactory
reply, and evinced the most awful ignorance of a fu-
ture St ite. Mr. Thompson then addressed her in the
most solemn and pathetic manner, on the duty of sub-
mitting to the will of God in all things, and the dreadful
consequences of provoking his justice by an act of
suicide. This seemed to produce a temporary effect
on her mind, as she hung down her head and appeared
to hesitate. The attendants, however, began to ex-
claim, " God has called her ; let her depart :" and
the poor creature immediately added, " Do not dis-
suade me, but permit me to execute my purpose."
Scarcely had she uttered these words, when she was
hurried into the boat, and, on reaching the deepest part
of the stream, she was let down with her palanquin
into the river. " I distinctly saw her," says Mr.
Thompson, " before she was drowned, and fixed my
eyes on her about half a minute, when she disappear-
ed ; and, in less than a minute afterwards, the box or
palanquin in which she had been placed, was seen
floating down the stream."

In the mean time a door seemed to bo providential-
ly opened for the introduction of the gospel into Sird-
hana, a small independent state, about sixty miles
north of Delhi, and twelve days' journey above Agra.
The begum or native princess of this state, who had
some years before embraced the Roman Catholic re-
ligion, without imbibing the bigoted and intolerant
sentiments of its adherents, invited Mr. Chamberlain
to visit her territories, and intrusted him with the edu-
cation of her adnnted scs^ s. vcuth of between fiv^
and six years old. "I am, most of the morning,"

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Mys Mr. Chamberlain, "engaged with this charge ; and
during the rest of the day and evening, I have to at-
tend to the education of two scholars at home, and to the
translation of the Scriptures into the Hindee language,
in which I have great delight. I have, also, two or three
native schools, for the instruction of children ; and,
though most of the Catholics are more averse to read-
ing the Scriptures tlian the Hindoos, one of these ap-
pears to be effectually convinced of his errors, and
carefully peruses the word of God for himself: and
one of my servants, a Hindoo of the writer class, has
avowed himself a Christian ; so that even here some
{learnings of hope appear to encourage me." After
some time, however, Mr. Chamberlain was tinder the
necessity of relinquishing this station, and of returning
to Serampore.

In the month of January, 1814, Norman Kerr, and
a native brother named Kureera, with the family of
the latter, left Serampore, with the design of forming
a missionary station in the city of Allahabad, situate
about half way between Patna and Agra. On the 21st
of March, they arrived at the place of their destina-
tion, and met with a very favorable reception ; many
of the inhabitants expressing themselves gratified by
their visit, and applying with evident eagerness for
copies of the Holy Scriptures. A nabob of Luck-
now, and several other persons of respectability, resid-
ing at a distance, sent to them for the same purpose,
and several Mussulmen not only solicited that some
portion of the word of God miglit be put into their hands,
but that the nature and design of its contents might be
explained to them. The brethren having found two
or three friends at this station who had been baptized by
Mr. John Peter, formed themselves into a church, and
received them into communion : and two Hindoos, con-
vinced of the veracity and preciousness of the gospel,
were subsequently added to them by the rite of baptism.

In a communication from Patna, dated March 31,
1815, Mr. Tliompson writes: — "Having heard that
multitudes of Hindoos were to assemble at a place
called Bikut-poora for the purpose of bathing and of
pouring water on a stone contained in the temple, — I
went thither ; and having obtained a seat on part of
the trunk of a shady tree of immense thickness, raised
about five feet from ilic ground, vast numbers of peo-
ple soon flocked together ; and encouraged me greatly
by their attention, their ability to read, and their read-
iness in accepting my books. I was so completely
occupied with declaring the incarnation, life, death,
resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus, that I was
questioned but little respecting Hindooism. A poor
viragee, who had held up one of his arms for several
years, as an act of merit, appeared very desirous of

tirin<r ttio

..1.)

account of the crowd. Observing this, I desii«d tb«
people to make way for him, and when became close,
I asked whether it were the word of God which
he wished to hear. He nodded assent ; and af-
ter I had spoken to him on the subjects of the atone-
ment, unbelief, and self-righteousness, be request-
ed me to give him a book. One of the by-standers
(on being asked by a friend what benefit was to be
derived from reading those books) said, < What is ob-
tained by a thousand years' penance, you will obtain
by reading and believing the words of wisdom which
these books contain.' "

On the 4th of April, a native of Bootan, named
Kiaba, whose mind had been gradually enlightened, in
consequence of bis attentive perusal of the Scripture
and the kind explanations of Mr. Thompson, was pub-
licly baptized ; and he afterwards proved a useful aux-
iliary to his instructer, in distributing books and tracts
to those who were anxious to receive them.

About this time, Mr. Kerr, who had hitherto labor-
ed diligently, with the native convert Kureem, at Alla-
habad, was engaged by a son of the emperor of Delhi
to instruct him in the English language ; and, a short
time afterwards, in the prospect of a situation in
which he might be able to provide for himself, he re-
signed the sahiry hitherto allowed him by the society;
though designing still to employ himself as a mission-
ary, and, also, to superintend the exertions of three
or four converted natives, whose conversations with
their countrymen, in some instances, appear to have
been productive of much benefit. Some pleasing in-
stances of this fact occur in the journal of one of them,
named At'hmarara, which was transmitted by Mr.
Kerr to the brethren at Serampore. On one occasion,
a viragee, who had listened attentively to his discourse,
exclaimed, " I cordially approve of your words," and
added (casting away his images), "I will henceforth
worship God, who is a spirit." On another occasion,
a Bramin said, " It is, indeed, in vain to look for sal-
vation, except to Christ." Another Bramin observed,
" The world is in darkness, but your words are cer-
tainly true. I am aware that Juggernaut is merely a
log of wood, but my subsistence is obtained by mis-
leading others." And two natives, after attending to
a simple and pathetic account of the Redeemer's life
and deatii, cried out, " Blessed incarnation ! blessed
death ! and blessed be the person who instructed you
in these great truths !"

In a letter, dated Patna, April 16, 1816, Mr. Thomp-
son informs one of his correspondents at Serampore,
that three instances had recently come under his obser-
vation,which serve to demonstrate that the translation of
the Holy Scriptures into the Hijidoc language is well

..nJ«»>«».l I,.. .1 m: I L^.i. I I I :ii:. »_

HINDOOSTAN.

»81

" The first instance," says he, " is that of a well-
informed and aged gosaee ; who, after having travelled
much, has, for the last 6ve years, taken up his resi-
dence in Patna. Some things I heard of this man,
induced me to visit him about three weeks ago ; when,
in the course of our conversation, he made such fre-
quent and apt allusions, and with such a serious spirit,
to the words of Christ, — to the gospel history, — to the
Acts of the Apostles, — and to the Epistles, as rejoiced
my heart, and convinced me that this man, if he did
not really believe in the Redeemer, had, at least, a
good theoretical knowledge of the great truths of rev-
elation ; and which he certainly obtained from the sim-
ple perusal of the Hindee New Testament, without
ever consulting a single Christian on the subject. As
he is very grave and reserved, I did not, before my
third or fourth visit, obtain a sight of the book to which
he owes all the light and knowledge he enjoys, and
the separation from idolatry, which he is proud to pro-
fess It appears, that one of his disciples having ob-
tained from me (about four years ago) a copy of the
New Testament in Hindee, carried it to his goroo for
approval : the old man had, for thirty years, entertain-
ed doubts relative to the Hindoo system ; and this
book came most opportunely to his help, and he re-
ceived it as an invaluable prize, even as the gift of
God, and was not satisfied till he had read it quite
through : then, wishing to teach his disciples a more
perfect way, he regularly read and discoursed from
the word of God, to from ten to seventy of them ; some
of whom, after a time, said to him, ' Father, you wish to
wean our minds from our shasters : we cannot regard
what you say, or we shall be turned out of our caste.'
Unhappily, this hint had some effect on the mind of
the old man ; for, on my first visiting him, I perceived
he was ' loath to forego the world's applause,' by re-
signing his gosaceship, and sitting as an humble disciple
at the feet of Jesus. This made me apply our Lord's
expression to him, ' How can ye believe, which re-
ceive honor one of another, and seek not the honor
which Cometh from God ?'

" The second instance is a rajpoot living at Ghutora,
fourteen miles north of Patna. This man, under dis-
tress of mind, occasioned by bodily affliction, read the
Hindee New Testament through, and also a tract and
the hymn-book ; all of which he met with at the house
of an old gosaee in his village. Being desirous of
conversing with a Christian, and of opening his mind
to him, he often put himself in the way of gentlemen,
but failed to attract attention : once, he sat under the
shade of a tamarind tree, and sang several hymns, and
repeated great part of the tract ; but the tree being
near a gentleman's bungalow, his servants bade hira
be quiet. When this expedient failed, he came to

Patna, and found out my house, but I was then up the
country ; however, after he had called two or three
times, he saw me, and would have fallen at my feet,
but I prevented him. He staid a few days, and, with-
out hesitation, ate with us. He seemed much to en-
joy the seasons of worship, but in prayer he delighted
most. Having a family, he returned to his village with
his friends, but they have promised to return.

"The last instance is that of the gosaee, at whose
house the rajpoot read the New Testament. He ob-
tained it from me two years since ; and has both read
it himself, and caused others to read it. I saw him at
Hajee-poora about a fortnight ago, and was much pleas-
ed with his knowledge of the word of God. He reprov-
ed a rich Bramin for having dances at the bathing
festival, to allure people into sin. He has requested
me to go over to Ghutora, and spend a few days, for
the purpose of satisfying his mind in certain particu-
lars about the religion of Christ.

" These silent and stated readings of the New Tes-
tament are, in all probability, very numerous, and may,
in the end, be attended with a greater degree of suc-
cess tlian we can at present conceive."

The same missionary observes, in another commu-
nication, " Some time since, a lady desired a copy of
the New Testament, in Hindee, for the Romish priest
then at Bettia ; she obtained the book, and lost no
time in sending it over, with three servants ; but, most
unfortunately, the boat was overtaken with a storm,
and every soul perished in the midst of the river. I
encouraged her to make another attempt to put the
word of God into the hands of the priest ; and,
an opportunity soon offering, I sent her the large
Hindee New Testament : the priest is now removed
to Lucknow, and thither the book is sent. At this
lady's, I lately saw a Hindoo Christian from Bettia,
named Philip : the simplicity of manners, and love of
the truth, which this man manifested, induced me to
spend several hours with him. He, with others, had
asked the priest for a copy of the New Testament ;
but, to their mortification and astonishment, none of
their priests would allow them to read the book. With
the most lively gratitude did this hungry toul accept the
Pentateuch, the New Testament, and the Scripture-
selection, with tracts, catechisms, and hymn-books : he
departed,with promises to give the books a wide circu-
lation among his brethren, some of whom, he is certain,
will rejoice to search the Scriptures for themselves."

In the spring of this year (1816), Mr. Mackintosh,
who had previously labored with much zeal and dili-
gence at Agra, removed to the populous city of Alla-
habad ; and in the month of August he was joined by
a native preacher named Nriputa Sing, who, after re-
maininK there some time, proceeded to Lucknow,

Vol. L— Nos. 23 & 24.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Early in 1817, Mr. Thompson undertook some
itinerating journeys, in order to extend the knowledge
of the crucified Redeemer ; and at one place, where
he preached, on his return from the city of Lucknow,
a land-owner made the following remark, which is too
important in itself, and too replete with encouragement
to the friends of missions, to be passed over in silence :
— " It may be very true that the East India Company,
and the gentlemen residing here, have nothing to do
with your work ; but you have adopted the most cer-
tain method of making the people of this country
Christians. For instance, I accept one of your books,
and peruse it at my leisure, and, whether I adopt the
sentiments which it contains or not, I leave the book
in my family. After my decease, my son, conceiving
that I would have nothing useless or improper in my
possession, will look into the volume, understand its
contents, consider it as his father's bequest, and event-
ually embrace the Christian religion."

At Allahabad, in the month of January, 1818, a
cruel and revolting scene was witnessed by the native
preacher Nriputa. Two Mahratta women consigned
themselves to the Ganges, after worshipping the river,
in the presence of an immense crowd of people.
Nriputa spoke to them, and, in the most feeling man-
ner, pointed out the absurdity and the delusive nature
of the intended sacrifice, as a mean of obtaining salva-
tion. He faithfully warned the spectators, also, of
the horrid nature of this self-murder, and assured them
that all who should be concerned in it %vouId draw
upon themselves the just vengeance of the Almighty.
Regardless of. all his arguments and warnings, how-
ever, the two females got into a boat, with three
women of the same caste ; who, without evincing the
slightest appearance of feeling, deliberately tied two
large pots filled with water round the waist of each,
and thus helped them to sink ! «' It is astonishing,"
say the brethren, " that though a man, by the Hindoo
law, is brought to account for killing an animal, the
property of another, they have not prohibited this
barbarous practice !"

In communicating a detail of his missionary labors,
in this city, to the Rev. W. Ward, Mr. Mackintosh
observes, in a letter dated April 15, — " A devotee
called an Ughorpunt'hee, of a strange appearance,
having a tortoise-shell on his shoulder, and a crook in
his hand, showed great attachment to us for two or
three days, and attended our worship; he was desirous
of becoming an inquirer, and promised to come over
to us when an opportunity offered, but he was then
with his goroo, who was also very desirous of seeing
me, having heard of us, and of our belief in Christ,
many miles from hence. Accordingly I went to this
man, on the 22d of March. I found him near the

Fort, with some villagers about him armed, and the
above-mentioned disciple close by him ; he is his chief
waiter. His looks were grim and dreadful, having his
face blackened ; a human skull, with the upper jaw
and teeth to it, hung before him, suspended by an iron
chain round his neck ; his ankles were environed with
a heavy iron chain ; he was stark naked, and his body
appeared to be much emaciated. I asked him what
was the object of his worship. He said, four things,
air, water, earth, and fire ; and that he should mingle
in these four elements after death. « Then,' I said,
' it appears you have no future prospects. But why
do you go through such penances, when you believe
you are to be annihilated, and to have no existence
after this life ? Surely you are taken in the snares of
Satan, deceiving your own soul, and feeding upon
ambition, that men may fall down at your feet and
worship you as a god ; and because this flatters you,
therefore you go through such penances.' He told
me, that he had been in this state for twelve years,
and meant to continue in it till death delivered him
from it. When I came up to him, he was worshipping
fire. I advised him to throw away these delusions."
The state of these deluded and unhappy creatures
was, at this time, rendered peculiarly affecting by a
calamitous disease, which had, for some months, been
raging among them, and which, in the wide range
of its infection, is supposed to have swept away not
less than a million of victims to an untimely grave.
" God has been pleased," says Mr. Mackintosh, " to
send the axe into this part of the country, and num-
bers are daily hewn down by the stroke of death.
The Bramins are busily employed in imposing upon
the inhabitants, by exacyng offerings to appease the
goddess Kalee ; and a man is frequently sent through
the streets, to excite attention by beating a drum, and
to enjoin the populace to present offerings of rice,
cowries, or flour, in order to obtain a removal of the
plague. And the drowning of Hindoos at the junction
of the two rivers is so common, that no one seems
inclined to prevent these shocking instances of self-
murder."

Mr. Thompson, in the mean time, had removed
from Patna to Delhi ; embracing every opportunity
which occurred, during his journey, of communicating
the tidings of salvation to the inhabitants of the vil-
lages through which he passed. Soon after his arrival
in the imperial city, the disease which has already
been noticed broke out there, and almost immediately
selected as its victims five members of the royal
family, whilst many of inferior rank were also num-
bered with the dead. " O ! what multitudes," exclaims
Mr. Tliompson, " are dying hourly ! In one day,
twenty-five corpses were carried past our house : and

HINDOOSTAN.

yet only a fourth or fifth part of the deceased are
brought this way. The emperor, affected to the last
degree for his subjects, has visited the chief musjid,
or place pf prayer, with the hope of averting the
wrath which seems to have gone forth among all
descriptions of people." Here this faithful missionary
bad an opportunity of distributing many copies of the
gospels among the Afghans, who, though now profess-
ing the religion of Mahomet, are supposed to be line-
ally descended from the ten tribes of Israel. Some
of them, indeed, admitted this fact, and strongly so-
licited Mr. Thompson to accompany them to the place
of their residence ; assuring him that their country-
men would gladly receive and attentively peruse the
word of divine inspiration.

In the year 1819, some persons appear to have
been benefited by Mr. Thompson's ministry at Delhi ;
and several gentlemen residing in that city not only
expressed an earnest desire for the moral improvement
of the natives, but evinced the sincerity of that expres-
sion by transmitting a handsome donation towards the
support of the college at Serampore. At Digah, in
the same year, the preaching of the gospel was more
numerously attended than formerly, and the native
schools were as prosperous as might be expected from
the limited scale on which they were conducted. In
Allahabad and its vicinity, the light of divine truth
was gradually diffused by the unwearied exertions of
Mr. Mackintosh ; and at Benares, which, for many
ages, had been the strong hold of superstition, a Mr.
Smith labored with such success, that several of the
inhabitants were publicly baptized in the faith of the
gospel ; and, among others, two Bramins, one of whom
occasionally attended his teacher in his itinerating
excursions, and confirmed his testimony respecting the
way of salvation.

In 1 820, the station at Digah sustained a loss in
the death of a Mr. Stewart, who had been studying
the Hindoostanee language, with the hope of being
employed in promulgatiag the truths of the everlasting
gospel among the benighted heathen. Some other cir-
cumstances also occurred to try the faith and patience
of the brethren at this place. Still, however, they
had reason to hope that their labor would not be in
vain in the Lord. " Some time since," say they,
" a man named Narion came to us from Chandpore,
a village about sixty miles north of Digah. He then
expressed a wish to be baptized, and appeared equally
anxious to be employed as an itinerant. Thinking
the latter desire rather premature, we were induced
to question the sincerity of his profession ; and there-
fore advised him to return to his native village, to
resume his occupation, and to do all in his power for
the spiritual benefit of his neighbors ; promising that

one of our native brethren should call on him after
the expiration of a few months, and that we would
subsequently consider the propriety of his baptism.
With this advice he readily complied, and we have
since been informed, that, notwithstanding he works
hard at his trade, he spends a part of every day in
reading and explaining the Scriptures to his relatives
and neighbors. In some instances, as might have
been expected, Narion has become an object of per-
secution among those of his own caste. It seems,
however, that he is fully determined to persevere ;
and in this resolution he has been encouraged by
the pleasing circumstance that no less than ten in-
dividuals of his own family have been induced, by
his instrumentality, to make a complete renunciation
of their idolatrous practices, and to avow themselves
of one mind respecting the gospel."

In the course of the following year, considerable
progress appears to have been made in the important
work of native education at this place ; as the number
of schools had now increased to seven, and contained,
in the whole, one hundred and seventy-eight boys and
forty-eight girls. Even at this period, however, serious
obstacles continued to be thrown in the way of the
order and improvement of these seminaries, in con-
sequence of the extreme ignorance and mercenary
character of the parents of many of the pupils. In
one instance, a female school was actually deserted in
consequence of a report that all the scholars were to
be shipped off for England ; and another was broken
up, because, after the children had attended for some
time, it was discovered that they were to receive no
pecuniary compensation for their trouble !

In the same year, the nativ e preacher Vrinda-vunda
bade adieu to the changing scenes of time, and enter-
ed into the blissful realities of the unseen world. " Our
respected brother," says Mr. Rowe, " has finished his
course, and is gone to receive his crown. He has,
indeed, died in a good old age ; but we, notwithstand-
ing, wished and hoped that his valuable life might have
been spared to a more distant period. I could never
ascertain his age, but suppose it must have been up-
wards of fourscore years. He used to say that he
was more than a hundred ; but the data on which he
made his calculations were uncertain. Our departed
friend was a precious fruit of the labors of brother
Chamberlain at Cutwa, and I trust he will be his joy
and crown in the day of the Lord Jesus. He was
not without his imperfections ; but a love to God, and
an ardent concern for the prosperity of the cause
of Christ, were predominant in his soul. Few men
have labored so diligently among the heathen. I have
often been surnrised. charmed, and humbled, when
witnessing his labors in the gospel. He was hero

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

• few inonths ago, on an itinerant excursion, and I
thought he then seemed to be more alive than ever.
His companionij in travel told me, he would then walk
from twenty to thirty niiles a day ; and after taking
some refreshment, would converse, with much life,
about divine subjects, till midnight. I have seldom
heard him utter a sentence which had not some refer-
ence to spiritual things ; and, indeed, to spiritualize
on every thing he saw and heard, was habitual to him.
Thus, for instance, if he saw a bullock go by, loaded
with bags of sugar, he would draw a comparison be-
tween the bullock, and those who have the word of
God and the means of grace at hand, but know nothing
of their sweetness. In short, his whole soul seemed
to be full of Christ and bis salvation, and he was ready
to impart that soul to his perishing countrymen. His
tongue is now silent in death ; but in the great day,
he will appear as an awful witness against thousands
who have heard the gospel from b\r lips in vain."

Mr. Thompson in the mean tlm'j had been diligently
•ngaged in different itinerati"g excursions, to a con-
siderable distance beyond Delhi, for the purpose of
more widely disseminating the blessed truths of the
•verlasting gospel ; and the following incidents, which
occurred in one of his journeys to the northward, are
too interesting to bo passed over in silence.

An aged Bramin who, in consequence of a four
years' leprosy, had worms literally crawling upon him,
was brought to a place called Gurmookteeshwur, as
he had expressed a wish to put an end to his bo<lily
fufTerings by drowning himself. His relations, who
were tired of him, and his neighbors, who thought it
a merit to persuade him to such an act, as well as the
H.-amins, who were interested in the poor man's im-
molating himself, all seemed anxious that he should
destroy himself. The Bramins and pundits even
repeated verses in Sungskrit, to encourage liim in hit
dreadful resolution, and to dotcr him from changing
his purpose. In this state of things, the poor creature,
hearing of Mr. Thompson, sent a message requiring
his sanction to the intended suicide, and promising to
abide by his counsel, whether it were to desist from,
or prosecute his purpose. " I went," says our mis-
sionary, " and found the pitiable object unable to move.
I placed his conduct before him in its proper light,
and warned him of tlie awful consequences of pcr-
■svering in his murderous resolution. I added, that
ts suffering was inseparable ( om sinful creatures, it
bframc him to humble himself under the hand of (»o<i,
who took this method to convince him of sin, by
making him both see and feel what a bitter and evil
thing it is. 1 then held up the Saviour to him, and
SS^ifet: him he haii cvrfy hlcssins in his pnvvcr to
Iwstow. At first, the old man would listen to nothing,

but desired 1 would acquiesce in his horrid wish,
which, he said, would be the completion of his happi-
ness. I again went over the same grounds to dissasf**
him, but feared I should not prevail. He started
another objection, by asking who was to support him *
his relatives being heartily tired of him, and having
sent him thus far only to get rid of him. Having
removed this objection, he paused, then seemed vexed,
and began to weep. After this, he listened with great
attention, and suddenly exclaimed, with joy in his
countenance, ' Blessed, blessed be your instruction !
Blessed be the God who sent you ! Blessed be your
father and mother ! Blessed be you and the instruc-
tions you have given me ! I will not drown myself,
but return to my village, and wait, as you have advised,
till my time comes to be freed from this suffering by
death.' An hour or two after this interview, he returned
to his village, Bhyna, near Dholpore, forty miles east
of Meenit. On my return, I endeavored to interest
the Mahometan tuhseeldar of the district in the preser-
vation of the poor man, and he commanded his rela-
tions to see tiiat he had a house, and every necessary
afforded him."

The other incident relates to the fate of a Hindee
gospel of St. Luke, and a religious tract, called The
Gospe'i Messenger, given away at Hurdwar fair. " A
respectable Hindoo of Ray-poora," .soys Mr. Thomp-
son, " brought a letter of introduction, from a gentle-
man, and a Hindee gospel of Luke, of which, on my
asking him, he gave the following account : — Two
Hramins coming into his father's village with two
gospels, the old man was anxious to know what they
contained : he was answered briefly, that they were
part of the Sahib's shastcrs, which iiad been freely
given them at the fair. The old man expressed a wish
to possess at least one ropy, hut he could prevail on
neither to part with a copy for him. He offered holf
a rupee, then a nipee, hut was still refused ; but this
did not abate his tlesire for the book. In the moan time,
a viragoo, who had perhaps visited some of our mis-
sionary stations, and been disappointed in his worldly
expectations, expressed his astonishment at Hindoos,
who retoinod their integrity, being so desirous of read-
ing the lK)oks of the ftringas. 'The instant,' said he,
'any one reads the book, he is sure to lose his caste,
and become a feringa ; what have you to do with such
a wicked book ? Throw it into the Ganges.' Such an
account of tiu) book and its effects stunned .dl present,
and had its rffert with iho most ignorant of the two
Hrnmins, who immediately held out his hand to the
old gentlenian, and offered him tho book ho so mtich
desired, saying, ' Take it, sir; I have no occasion for
inin ImmiK.' i Ti« iMiiur, HH Tttt Whs ti |it-r»uii >>! miMie
consideration, perhaps did not like to be influenced

HINDOOSTAN.

entirely hj a vrandering stranger, and therefore took
the book without hesitation ; on which the viragee at-
tacked the old man in very angry language. The ton,
fearing the consequences, interposed, and said to the
viragee, ' What is it to you, if we take and read the
book ?' ' Go, go,' replied the viragee, ' and become a
Mussulman and aferinga, and lost your holiness.' The
son, who had read the tract, replied, < How do I lose
ray holiness ? If this book had taught me to lie, steal,
and commit every iniquity,! should then have thought
it bad, and have thrown it away ; but instead of this,
it teaches the way to heaven.' Thus the struggle be-
tween these two men ended in the book being receiv-
ed. Every such instance makes it more and more
evident that the Lord Jesus has a people in Hindoos-
tan whom he will one day call forth to declare his
praise. Surely it was not in vain that he said, when
he died, he should not die for one nation only, but that
he should gather together :n one the children of God
that were scattered abroad."

In a letter dated Digah, July 4, 1822, Mr. Rowe
observes, — " A native rajah is now living in one of
the bungalows belonging to the society ; and there
are some circumstances connected with this event, that
possess an interest in which I am sure you will partici-
pate. The rajah lives in the eastern style, and of
course is surrounded with Bramins, and a great num-
ber of servants of various descriptions. Since he fnsl
came, he has frequently called to see us, and manifests
much cordiality in reciprocating any little attention
that we pay him ; but appears reserved in his in-
terviews with regard to religion. He tells me that
he allows himself about six hours out of the twenty-four
for sleep ; a few for eating and attending to the neces-
sary business of life ; and the remainder ho occupies
in his devotions. Indeed, ho seems to labor, in his
way, with all his might, fur the salvation of his soul.
I generally see iiim once or twice a day performing
his ablutions in llic Ganges. On these occasions, the
Bramins in attendance usui.i'y form tiiomselves into a
circle outside of him. I know not wliy tlioy do this,
unless it he that the rajah thus shows his respect for
them, by giving tliem tlie first chance of being carried
off by an ailiealor. At first the rajah and liis follow-
ers were very inquisitive ol)out our sacred writings,
and made frequent applications for them. Wo fur-
nished them with the New Tcstaineiit in Sujigskrit,
Hind(Mislanpo, and i'crsian ; as also with a number
of tracts, catochijins, &ic. Among timse who have
bntMi poruHing the word of life, is the rajah's family
lihysician ; ho often calls, and sometimes brings a Bia-
niin or two with him ; but he has latterly become ex-
ceedingly cautious, lie one day toUi usttiut lie iiad rom-
iiiciiccd reading our Scriptures, but on (lerceivingtlmt

what he read tended to a change of mind, ha loft <i£
' If I were to become a Christian,' said he, ' I should
lose my situation, friends, and property ; and I should
not then be able to procure horses, and other things
in whksh I delight.' Another man, who is one of tha
rajah's body-guard, professes to have his naind much
affected by what he has read ; and I suppose, from
concomitant circumstances, there is some reality in it.
He procured the Hindoostanee New Testament soon
after his arrival, and it is evident from the questions
he has asked from time to time, relative to the life
and miracles of our Lord, that he has read some of
the gospels very carefully. At one time he said,
' Every line carries home conviction to my heart.' At
another, ' I have reed the shasters and the Koran ;
they contain a great deal of unreasonable stuff: but'
(putting his hand on the New Testament), he em-
phatically exclaimed, ' this is truth !' 'This man
openly professes to have undergone a change of mind,
and, in consequence of his profession, is exposed to a
considerable degree of persecution. He says, the
rajah himself possesses much liberality of mind, and
that he one day evinced it by saying to his opposers,
' All religions are good ; let him alone.' Some of the
Bramins, however, and particularly a Mussulman in
the rajah's service, oppose him with great violence.
They watch him closely, to prevent him from reading
or having any conversation with us. His opposers fre-
quently extinguish his lamp, or snatch the book out of
his hand, to prevent him from reading. They show
their resentment by calling him a Christian, refusing
to eat with him, and not allowing him to touch any of
their things ; though he has done nothing to forfeit his
caste, except professing his change of mind with his
lips. He appears to be in earnest, watches for oppor-
tunities to read in private, and generally contrives
to attend our Hindoostanee worship on Lord's day
evening."

Ill 1823, on Mr. Thompson's return from a visit to
Scruinporc, a circuiiistuiico occurre<l ul Delhi, liighly
gratifying to that devoted servant of Christ, and which
excited a considerable sensation in the iiiipcriul city.
An aged Braiiiin, held in the highest estimation among
his neighbors for his attainments in Sungskrit litera-
ture, after hearing the gospel for some time, publicly
renounced idolatry; and, notwithstanding all the efforts
made, both to allure and terrify him from his purpose,
openly professed his faith in Christ, and was baptized
in iiie proKciice of iiiuiiy spoctHtois, On this uCCur*
rencc, the Serainpore brethren remark, "This renun-
ciation of Hindoolsm by an aged Brumin, eminent for
his knowledge of the shasters, and the siicred language
of tiie liindoo'4, being in that part of tiie country qyiie
a new thing, has procured much attention to the doc*

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

trine of the gospel. It seems to show, among other
things, the laftty with which Christianity may be pro-
mulgated in the darkest parts of India. All the threat-
ened opposition to this man's open profession of Chris-
tianity, ended in a few expressions of personal dislike
from his old acquaintance, on account of the course he
had taken, and his having tacitly condemned them and
all their religious observances, by nobly daring to follow
his own convictions of the truth.' For all this, how-
ever, he wtB prepared, and by sustaining the whole in
the spirit of genuine Christianity, he in a great meas-
ure disarmed the resentment of his neighbors and ac-
quaintance. So completely quiet were they, indeed,
in the expression of their dislike, that, at the time of
his baptism, the attention of the lowest person in the
native police was not ofEcially called to the trans-
action."

At Benares, the church, under the care of Mr.
Smith, consisted at tiiis time of twelve members, among
whom several Bramins were included. Ram-dass, a
native itinerant, was employed as a coadjutor with tiie
pastor ; and the European inhabitants of the city had
lately subscribed, almost without solicitation, a thousand
rupees to assist in erecting a small place of worsiiip.
At Allahabad, formerly infamous on account of the
dreadful scenes of self-destruction annually perpetrat-
ed there, the aspect of afiairs was unfavorable ; as
Mr. Mackintosh and his native companion, Rughoo,
seemed unable to make much impression upon the Hin-
doo population of that large city. An English friend,
however, in token of gratitude for the benefit derived
from the preaching of the European missionary,
generously presented him with two thousand rupees,
to build a house for the worship of the living God.

Intelligence connected with the mission to Dignh,
details another of those affecting dispensations by
which the friends of the gospel are taught to bow in
humble submission to the will of Him who hatii said,
" What I do thou knowcst not now, but thou shalt
know hereafter." Mr. Rowe, who had lonp; and dili-
gently labored at this station, was removed by death,
on the 1 1th of October, after a short illness, attribut-
ed to a cold taken in returning at night froni a neigh
boring village, where ho had been preaching. " Thus,"
the brethren observe, "our soriciy has been suddenly
deprived of an able and diligent roadjutor, who had
for twenty years been actively engaged in promoting
its object in India. His time of life might have affordtul
a reasonable hope of prolonged activity ; as ho was only
forty-two years of age , hut ' God sceth not as man
seeth.' By such dispensations as these he exhorts us,
in th« most impressive manner, to fix our hopes and

expectations on Himself alone."

or_ . .. - -

TT c j.Toposc aavpning now, lor i I«w raOfiiuuU, to ii

some two or three of the principal stations in this put of
the eastern world, and then referring our readers, for
additional particulars, to the tabular statements in p. 1 9S.
Our first reference, then, will be to Digah.

DIQAH.

For a while after the death of Mr. Rowe, the sta-
tion was maintained by the vigorous and persevering
exertions of his widow ; who superintended the
schools, and directed the proceedings of the native
itinerants. After a while, Mr. Burton, who had been
under the painful necessity of leaving Java, removed
here, and was soon after called to mourn over the
death of his excellent wife. She was, in the true
sense of the word, a female missionary ; and after
having been useful in the holy cause, she expired in
the full possession of the peace and hope which the
gospel alone can impart. The Report of 1828 says,
" From Digah intelligence has been received, extend-
ing totiie close of 1827, which is of a very gratifying
nature. Amidst the sorrows of bereavement, Mr.
Burton has been cheered by evident indications of a
■livinc blessing on his labors. Twenty-nine individuals
have been baptized and added to the church, among
whom was one whole household, nominally professors of
tile Roman Catholic faith. Among the native itinerants
associiitcMl with Mr. Burton in missionary work, one,
called Hurry Das, was baptized eleven years ago by
Mr. Chnmberlain, and continues to this day to adorn
tlic gospel he has so long professed. There are eight
hoys' schools at this station, containing obout two hun-
dred and fifty children ; hut those for native females
have, since the death of Mrs. Burton, been of neces-
sity discontinued. Some English gentlemen in the
noighhorhood have kindly subscribed towards the ex-
pense of till! schools."

But tiiis ha ppy prospect of the prosperity of the cause
of Christ at Olgah was destined soon to bo blighted. In
the next annual Report of the society, its committee were
called on to say, " We have been recently visited with t
very afflirtive dispensolion, in the unexpected removal
of our faithful and laborious missionary brother, Mr.
Burton, who expired, after a few days' illness, at
Bankipore, near Dipah, on the sixth of September
last. Of his diligent application to the duties of bis
office, we have had to make honorable mention in our for-
mer Reports ; aixt those ro|)resentaiions are ftdly Imme
out by those who had the opportunity of closer obter-
validn. ' From the time of his arrival nt the station,'
say our Calcutta brethren, ' he h«<l applied himself
with much ardor to the acquisition of the language,
and the prosecution of missionary objects ; nor was hf

MONGHYR.

without the high satis&ctioii of seeing his efforts crown-
ed with success, having had many seals to his ministry
unong the European soldiers and others. Between
caring for the English congregation, laboring among
the natives himself, and directing the exertions of
others in the same department of service, and attending
to eight schools, his hands and his time were fully
occupied. His heart, however, was in the work, and
his desire for the salvation of the heathen led him to
project other plans of usefulness, and he was waiting
till the cold season to carry them into effect. It was
well that it was in his heart to do such things, though
He whom he served thought good to call him home
before he could accomplish his designs.' "

Such was the respect in which this good man was
held, that a medical gentleman in the neighborhood
accommodated him during his illness in his own house,
and rendered him every assistance which professional
skill, combined with anxious and affectionate solicitude,
could suggest. The soldiers, also, to whom he had
been accustomed to preach, evinced the high estima-
tion in which they held him, by coming out of their
cantonments, and requesting permission to carry his
body to the grave, a distance of not less than four
miles.

After this affecting removal of Mr. Burton, Mr.
Leslie, of Monghyr, though residing at a distance of
more than a hundred miles, frequently visited Digah,
and had the pleasure of seeing the work of the Lord
prospering there, notwithstanding all the disadvantages
under which it labored for the want of an European
missionary. Twenty-nine persons were in one year
added to the church, some of whom had been bigoted
Catholics. Mr. Lawrence, from England, embarked
in June last for this interestin station.

MONGIIVR.

In this large city, which has long been a place
visited by invalids of the British army, for the benefit
of their healtli, the standard of the gospel was first
erected by the Into Rev. John Chaniborlain, who,
after devoting many years to itinerant labors, settled
here in the year 1816, and renminod pastor of the
church ho formed till his death. In preaching and
translating, he was indefatigable ; ho employed two
native assistants, and with them his days wore fre-
quently given to prearliing, rihI his evenings to the
Hinduwoo translation ; but in the midst of his useful-
ness, t\w Hi.port of |H«a, ttftcr referring to the de-
clining state of his health for several preceding years,
announces his (innili <>n <l>u .:.ii. ..r i\ ■ .

ceding, on his voyage homewards ; and adds, " By

the death of Mr. Chamberlain, the society has lost *
lealous and disinterested missionary, who, for nearly
twenty years, has made full proof of his ministry. He
was eminent for decision of character ; for an inflexible
adherence to what he considered to be truth ; and for
siich a warm attachment to missionary labors, as led
him often to exert himself beyond what his frame could
well sustain. As a preioher to the natives, he was
probably the most impressive ever heard in India ; and
his translation of the New Testament into the Brij
Basha dialect, which is now printing at Serampore, is
understood to exhibit ample proof of his suierior
proficiency as an oriental scholar." Mrs. Chamberiain
continued for a while to reside at Monghyr, and to
regulate the movements of the three native itinerants
who labored on the station ; and evidences continued
to be given that the work of God did not end at Mr.
Chamberiain's death.

In 1824, Mr. Andrew Leslie, an able minister, who
had been educated at the Bristol college under the
care of the Rev. Dr. Ryland, arrived at Monghyr
from England, and found things, both in the church
and the schools, in a very encouraging state ; and,
having applied with great assiduity to the study of
Hindoostanee on the voyage, he was able, within six
months after his arrival, to address the natives in their
own language. In 1825, he could report that nine
persons had been added to his church, and that thirteen
schools were under his care. In the following year,
however, amidst all the pleasing scenes which cheered
his heart, he had to commit to the grave, after but
one day's illness, his beloved and amiable wife, of
whom an interesting memoir has since been published
in England.

The Report of 1828 states :— «' Though it does not
appear that any considerable accession has been made
of late to the church at Monghyr, and not a few
of the European members have been removed by the
fluctuations to which Indian society is so subject, yet
the prospect is so encouraging, as to lead Mr. Lesho
Rrntelilly to remark, that 'things never looked so
well as at present.' The steady and persevering
exertions of our missionary brethren, Leslie and Moore,
and of the native assistants under their direction, seem
to have produced a very powerful excitement mong
Hindoos and Mussulmen.in various classes of society,
both in Monghyr itself, and to a considerable distance
around it. One incident, which may be quoted in
illustration of this ^ituiuiiient, will prove tliat the con-
science may sometimes be powerfully affected with
alurm and disquietude, even after a long life has been
spent under the hardening and debasing, influence
of hoaihen idoiuiiy. ■ X very old man,' soys Mr.
Leslie, ' seeing one of our native Christians, culled to

BAPTIST MISSIONART SOCIETY.

him to oome to his door uid spoak with him. The
Cbiwtian went. The old man began bjr saying, < I
am very poor, and have no money in my house ; I am
anxious to aslc you some questions, but I cannot pay
you.' The Christian said, < I wish for no money ;
please propose your questions.' The old man then
sud, ' I have seen with my own eyes my son's son's
son's sons, and they are all dead. Now I wish to
know whether I shall see them all again in another world.'
The Christian having answered this question, the old
man further said — ' Now I wish to know whether they
will receive as much punishment for their sins as
I shall, who have lived longer than they all.' This
question being also answered, the old man said, ' I,
from my great t^e, and from my many sins, perceive
that I am carrying to the grave a very heavy burden,
and I know not how to be delivered from it.' Jesus
then being made known to him as the bearer of his
burden, he was very much affected — if I mistake not,
even to weeping. 1 have told the native Christians
to be sure that they return to the old man. Who
can tell but he may be one of those in whom God
will glorify himself by calling him at the eleventh
hour ?' "

In this same year, Mr. L., in order to facilitate the
attendance of the natives on the gospel, erected a neat
and substantial place of worship, in tiie fashion of the
country, in the very centre of the population, on ground
given for the purpose by the authorities of the station.
The result far exceeded his expectation; he was
soon compelled to enlarge it ; and several persons de-
clared their attachment to Christ and his gospel, un-
der circumstances of opposition and danger which
strongly attested the depth of their convictions, and
the sincerity of their professions. The following year
he was compelled to build an additional chapel, and
erery thing has since contributed to encourage him.

The last Report says, " Although it does not appear
that any recent additions have been made to the chmob
at Monghyr, Mr. LesUe speaks with grateful satisfte*
tion of the encouragement he derives from the gene-
ral appearances around him. He is much asnsted in
his itinerant exertions, at the fairs and other places of
large resort, by the native Christians, whom he em-
ploys in distributing tracts and gospels, and in convers-
ing with their countrymen about the gospel. One of
those whom he last baptised is thus engaged, and dis-
covers indications of superior talents for usefulness,
combined with great humihty. Since the erection of
his new place for native worship, the name of Christ
has become very widely known. The inhabitants of
villages distant three days' journey from Monghyr have
heard the gospel, and its contents have become the
theme of frequent conversation among them. The
schools at this station prosper much. Seventy, at least,
of the pupils can read the Scriptures well, and more
than a hundred can repeat great portions of Watts's
Catechism. Instances frequently occur to prove that
idolatry is losing its hold on the minds of the children ;
while a spirit of prayer seems increasingly to prevail
among the members of the church."

BENARES.

In addition to the statements we have already given,
in reference to the proceedings of the missionaries at
this ancient seat of Braminical learning, four hundred
and sixty miles west of Calcutta, wilh a population of
200,000souls, we can now add that, in 1827, Mr. Smith
opened a place of worship at Hunnooinan-gunj. He
has been active in his itinerant labors ; has promoted
the establishment of schools with pleasing success ;
but notwithstanding all this, his church is very small.

CEYLON.

989

CHAPTER VI.

MISSIONS IN THE ASIATIC ISLANDS.

CEYLON.

In the month of Fehruary, 1812, Mr. Chater was
recommended toattdmpt the estabhshment of a mission-
ary station in the city of Columbo, the capital of this
island ; as it was stated that there were, at that time,
no missionaries in that part of the country, nor any
one nearer than Point de Galle, about a hundred miles
distant ; though Columbo and its vicinity were repre-
sented as containing a population of nearly fifty thou-
sand souls, generally bearing the Christian name, but
literally perishing for lack of spiritual knowledge.
One circumstance particularly favorable to the under-
taking was, that a fount of Cingalese types, for print-
ing an edition of the New Testament in thatJanguage,
was then casting, under the patronage of the Calcutta
Auxiliary Bible Society at Seratnpore ; and the pres-
ident and secretary of that society expressed their
decided approbation of the projected mission, as tend-
ing to bring their new type into operation and effect.

On the 20th of March, Mr. and Mrs. Chater em-
barked for the island of Ceylon, and, after a voyage
of about twenty-six days, arrived in safety at Columbo,
where they were received with much kindness by the
governor, and some other gentlemen of the colony ;
and though no immediate opening appeared in respect
to their principal object, their proposal of establishing
a school was cordially approved. The periodical ac-
counts of the Baptist Missionary Society were also intro-
duced among some respectable persons, who appear-
ed rather friendly to the object ; and on the first of
August, an Auxiliary Bible Society was formed in the
city of Columbo. In addition to these pleasing cir-
cumstances, our missionary soon afterwards obtained
permission to preach in English, previously to his ac-
quiring the Cingalese language ; and three friends agreed
to purchase a warehouse, and to put it in decent repair,
for the celebration of divine worship. It should like-
wise be remarked, that on the demise of the minister
of the Dutch church in Columbo, the Rev. Mr. Palm
was appoinicij to the cnrc of tho COii|!,regiaioii ; unil in
this excellent servant of Christ, Mr. Chater found an
agreeable neighbor and a cordial friend.

Vol. I.— No8. 25 &i 26. 39

In the month of August,1813,our missionary observes,
in a communication to the society, " I preach twice a
week in English, on Lord's day evening and Wednesday
evening. And though our congregation, at present, is but
small,! entertain hopes that I shall live to see the day
when our place of worship, which is capable of accom-
modating about two hundred hearers, will need enlarge-
ment. At present, Columbo is, indeed, a valley of
dry bones ; but unpromising as appearances now are,
it is my prayer and my expectation that a church will
be formed here, which will be a nursery for missionaries
who may go forth and preach ' Christ crucified,' not
to the Cingalese only, but to the Candians also. It is
the hope of such things that makes preaching in Eng-
lish a work of tenfold more delight than it otherwise
possibly could be."

In the ensuing spring, Mr. Chater began to preach
to the Cingalese, through the medium of an interpre-
ter. " I have been directing one of my Dutch friends,"
says he, " to try if he could not find out some Cinga-
lese families, to whom I might endeavor to impart
some spiritual benefit. He has accordingly found a
makandaram, who is a well-disposed man, and much
wishes for religious instruction, for himself, his family,
and his neighbors. I go to his house, which is two
miles from the Fort, every sabbath morning at seven
o'clock, and he welcomes me in the most cordial man-
ner. On the first occasion, only his own family wert
present ; but on the following sabbath, he had collected
fourteen or fifteen grown persons, besides children, of
whom eight or nine were females. The mahandaram
can speak no English ; but he has brought a nephew
to mo, who speaks it better than almost any Cingalese
I have heard ; and it is he who acts as my interpreter.
This, whilst it is an immediate attempt at doing good,
will help mc forward in the longuagemore than almost
any thing else. But I earnestly long for the time whea
I shall bo able to preach to them, in their own language,
without any such assistance."

On tho last .sabbath in May, a young man, named
Siorce, formerly a member of the Dutch church, waa

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

publicly baptized by Mr. Chater ; and, as a little Bap-
tist church had now been formed in Columbo, the or-
dinance of the Lord's supper was solemnly adminis-
tered on that day week. About the same time,
some pious soldiers belonging to the seventy-third
regiment, who had recently come from New South
Wales, obtained leave to attend the services of the
sanctuary, and appeared likely to strengthen the infant
cause.

Mr. Chater now seems to have turned his attention
to the attainment of the Portuguese language, which,
he observes, is more generally used in Columbo than
any other. A friend, named Armour, had previously
preached in our missionary's place of worship in that
tongue, and had a good attendance ; and the first time
Mr. Chater undertook to preach in Portuguese, seats
could not be obtained by more than one half of the
persons who flocked together to hear the gospel. The
services in English, however, and the preaching in
Cingalese, by an interpreter, seem to have been but
very thinly attended.

Among the most attentive and apparently serious
of Mr. Chater's hearers, in the spring of 1815, was an
Irish Catholic soldier, who, some time previous, had
been condemned to be shot, but received a pardon at
the awful moment when, as he supposed, his eyes were
closed for ever upon rI! subiiuiary objects. " 1 visited
him," says our missionary, " nncp or twire in tliR con-
demned cell, before 1 was capable of making the least
impression on his mind, though he considered himself,
cren at that time, to be a penitent. When I leftliim,
on the Saturday, I told him I could not entertain the
least hope respecting his state ; as it appeared to me
that he was, to that moment, an entire stranger to gen-
uine repentance, and that if he were not immediately
constrained to mourn for his sins, I feared he would
weep and wail over the consequences of them for
ever. On visiting him the next morning, however, 1
found him in a very diflerent state, — deeply sensible
of his guilt, misery and helplessness ; and I then be-
gan to direct his attention to the Lamb of God.wiiose
blood cleanseth from all sin ; and tiiougli he was de-
plorably ignorant, 1 hoped that he was enabled to
place his entire trust in the great atoning sacrifice.
On Monday morning, the time appointed for his exe-
cution, he appeared prepared to meet death, and, on
leaving his cell, he exclaimed, ' This is a blessed day !
the best I have ever seen!' In proceeding to tlio
spot where he expected to exchange lime fori'tornity,
1 earnestly warned him against all false dependencies,
and pointed him to Jesus, as the only Saviour, Advo-
cate, and Intercessor. He returned appropriate an-

uuroi'a in nil ivitr r.Ku#ii.i..^*.nnu n».l «......«»...! 1

— ■ — • ' J w....... ,. M,,., «|.j...^,.-., v._fin|nj::ru

and happy. In the course of the same week, we com-

menced a prayor-meeting at our house in the Fort ;
at which the pardoned culprit attended, though he w«s
obliged to march for Candy at two o'clock the next
morning ; and as he has been brought to attend regu-
larly upon the means of grace, we hope and pray
that it may not prove in vain."

A circumstance now occurred which was, indeed,
calculated to put the faith and patience of our excel-
lent missionary and his wife to a severe test, and
which, like many other events already narrated, serves
to demonstrate the absolute necessity of holding all
our earthly blessings with a loose hand, whilst our best
and warmest affections are placed on things above,
where Christ, our never-failing friend, sitteth at the
right hand of God.

In a letter, dated March 7, 1815, Mr. Chater ob-
serves to a friend at Calcutta, " As we have now five
sons, Pnd the means of educating and providing for
them in this country are so scanty, we have embraced
a favorable opportunity that offered, of sending the
two eldest home to the care of my wife's father. You
will conclude that with the fear of God before our
eyes, we could not take a step of so much importance
without mature deliberation and much prayer. We
have only to pay two hundred rix dollars each for their
mess ; for, as the vessel is a transport, chartered by
government, the passage is free. We have also met
with n suitable person, who will take care of them
without requiring any other recompense than her pro-
visions while on board, which will be readily granted
her from the mess. Should they never become mis-
sionaries, we shall be more pleased with the idea of
their being in England than here. And if tliey are
designed by the Head of the Church to labor for
him, we conceive that they will gain much more than
they will lose, by going home. Tiiey will have to
learn the languages of this country as we do ; but
they will obtain an enlargement of idea, a store of
knowledge, and energies of body and mind to do good,
such as they could not acquire here. And if they
are (pialified and disposed to become missionaries,
their parents being engaged in the work, will be, we
may suppose, an additional inducement to lead them
on." Such were tiie views and feelings of this affec-
tionate parent, when preparing to hid adieu, for a short
season, to two of his beloved children, with whom ho
informs us he took ' a pleasant trip' to Point do Galle,
previous to their embarkation in the Arniston. He,
however, who dweiioth in the thick darkness, and
whose mysterious providences are fur beyond the reach
of huniAn comprehension, rendered the separation
final till the morning of the resurrection. Tiie ves.sel
iii •.viiich iiiC- dear jutiihs ei:ihafkt;ti, with Itifti ami lady
Molesworth,and other passengers, unfortunately struck

CEYLON.

on a rock in Black Bay, near the Cape, and with the
exception of the carpenter and six seamen, every soul
on board perished !

In a letter addressed to Dr. Carey on this mournful

subject, the bereaved father writes as follows : " With

respect to myself, I am confident, that with the sensi-
bihty I possess (which I believe religion has had a
considerable share in producing), no hand but that
which inflicted the stroke could have supported me
under it. But if it came with so much weight upon
me, in what way must it be supposed to have fallen
upon my dear wife ? All who are acquainted with her
know that her sensibility is at all times acute, and her
present circumstances must render it more so. What
then, must have been her feelings, on hearing tid-
ings which, with all the self-possession I am master
Ot.l could communicate only in broken sei.teiices !
Half an hour before the heavy news was made known
to me, we had been talking about the dear fellows,
and concluding that they must then be near our na-
tive land. Two kind friends came and informed me
of the calamity in the best manner they could have
done. I conceived that I was the most proper person
to break the matter to my dear wife, and accordingly
undertook to do it. But owing to the distress I felt
on hearing of our loss, and what I feared might be
the sad consequence of it to her, my feelings were
such as imagination can but faintly represent. I was
able to say, with some composure, ' My dear, we must
prepare for trials.' A pale countenance and a trembling
frame convinced her, that the trial for which we had
to prepare was no ordinary one. She conceived I had
been seized with such a fit of fainting as at the com-
mencement of a severe affliction, more than two years
ago, and that I thought it would be fatal. During
the time t\m a full heart prevented me from proceed-
ing, she continued saying, < Oh ! what is the matter?
Tell me, tell me, do lell me !' At length, I uttered

the words, ' My dear, the Arniston !' This was

enough. All that she could say for nearly a quarter

of an hour after that, was, ' Oh ! don't tell me I

cannot hear it 1 cannot bear it !' Oh ! how did

my heart overflow witii gratitude, when, without the
occurrence of tho event 1 so much dreaded, she began
to feel so much composure, as to enable me to con-
verse and reason with her. Never did I feel tho
need of the consolations of religion before, as on that
day ; nor did I ever so sensibly experience them.
We spent tho whole day together ; and the peru.sal
of Stonnctt's excellent sermon, on the words, ' Bo
still, and know that I am God,' was made of the
most essential service to us. My dear wife was sup-
Furicu, ann has l.e«.. i!,„s far brought through the
trial, in a manner that has exceeded my expectations.

891

We have found, in our affliction, a fulfilment of that
exceeding great and precious promise, ' When thou
passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee •*
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt
not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon
thee.'

" From other sources of information you will per-
ceive that, great as our loss is, it was not the greatest
that was sustained. Colonel Giels, of his majesty's
seventy-third regiment, lost four fine boys ; all the
sons he had. The daughter of the honorable and
reverend Mr. Twisleton that perished, was a fine
young lady, quite doted upon by her parents. Mrs.
Twisleton has been so overwhelmed with sorrow, that
there is reason to fear, she will never be the same
person again. Had I not enjoyed the peculiar sup-
ports of religion, I believe I should have watered my
bed with tears every night. As it is, I have pursued
my work without any interruption."

In alluding to the affairs of the mission in 1817
this tricu and devoted servant of the Redeemer ob-
serves, " I still find life a chequered scene, but I have
several sources of encouragement and consolation •
and It IS with no small pleasure I inform you that
translating into Cingalese, with the aid of a Bramin
named Dhun, is become an easy and pleasant work to
me. Our congregations, in general, are small, but the
Lord does not seem to have forsaken us. On tho
contrary, one after another is reclaimed from a life of
sin, and, so far as we can judge, they appear to become
new creatures in Christ Jesus. When we recollect
what a glorious change this is, both in its cause and
consequences, how can we think of it, but with joy
and gratitude ? Two of our members, who appear to
be Christians of the right stamp, recently left this
place for England ; and it is truly satisfactory to reflect
that they found ' the pearl of great price' whilst in
Colombo. Since their departure, three more have
proposed themselves for baptism, and a fourth hos"
joined our experience-meeting, who affords good
evidence that he has 'received with meekness the
engrafted word.' Some others, also, are under serious
impressions, which we hope will terminate well."

In 1818, new stations were occupied by a Mr. Grif-
fith and by Mr. Sierce (the latter of whom had, for
some time, given himself up to the missionary cause),
at Point de Galle, and at a village called Hurgwell,'
about twenty miles from Columbo, on the road to
Candia. At each of these places schools were estab-
lished for the instruction of the rising generation, and

the resnprtivo tniacumuriaa tiva-ig^A tX. 1 I .•

I •!••. 'iiri!iac:rc3, DOtn

111 local and itinerant labors, to make known the way
of salvation among a people who are represented as

999

BAPriST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

oompletely sunnounded by the clouds of ignorance and
superstition.

Towards the latter end of 1819, the labors of Mr.
Cbater, at Colunibo, were considerably impeded, in
consequence of the alarming prevalence of the small-
pox in that part of the island. " Of this disease,"
he observes, in a letter dated November 12, " five
thousand persons are said to have been already carried
off in this city, and it still continues to rage. It is
called in Cingalese the great sickness, and nothing is
so much dreaded by the natives. Among them,
especially in villages, if a person discover any symp-
toms of it, even his nearest relatives instantly abandon
him, and leave him to his fate. One reason assigned
for this is, that the smell of the disorder is peculiarly
attractive to the tigers, and that the persons who are
affected with it are almost sure to be carried off by
them. Defore this alarming disease broke out, several
of my Cingalese acquaintance seemed desirous of join-
ing our church, and concerning two of them I had
reason to hope the best ; but, at present, every thing
of this kind is completely at a stand, and several plans
which I had begun to form, relative to our schools,
have been entirely disconcerted." In the course of the
same year, Mr. Griffith was compelled, by extreme
ill health, to quit his station at Point de Galle, and to
return to England.

Early in the ensuing year, the aspect of affairs at
Colombo began to brighten ; as the attendance on
public worship, both in the Portuguese and Cingalese
languages, was much more numerous than it had been
for some time past ; new openings presented them-
selves for the introduction of the gospel into some
of the adjacent villages; and three natives of Ceylon,
two of whom had formerly been Boodhist priests, ex-
pressed an inclination to make a public avowal of their
change of faith by submitting to the rite of baptism.

But whilst these circumstances were calculated to
cheer and encourage the spirits of Mr. Chater, the
dark clouds of affliction were already gathering in the
distant horizon, and a storm was shortly to assail him,
which once more compelled him to exclaim, with the
psalmist, " Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
The health of Mrs. Chater, which had, for a consider-
able time, been evidently declining, became, at length,
so seriously impaired, that she was advised, by her
physician, to undertake a voyage, as the only probable
means of recovery. She accordingly embarked, early
in 1820, with her seven children, designing to revisit
her native land ; but on reaching St. Helena, on the
12th of May, she found herself too ill to proceed any
farther. She, therefore, sent her five eldest children
to iUii^l&iiU, ttiid delciiiiiiieU (u reiimin suine luiie
where she was, with the two youngest. In the course

of a few days, she gave birth to two mfants, and tft«r
languishing till the 5th of June, her disembodied spirit
was removed to those celestial mansions of which it is
recorded, "The inhabitant shall not say I am sick."
It is pleasmg to add, that during her trying illness she
received the most humane and sympathetic attentions
from his excellency the governor, the junior chaplain
of the colony, and their ladies, and many other in-
habitants ; and after her decease, the most affectionate
care was taken of her motherless infants, till they
could be safely conveyed to England.

When the intelligence of this distressing event
reached Colurabo, it required all the fortitude of Mr.
Chater to sustain so severe a shock. The same God,
however, who had poured the wine and oil of heavenly
consolation into the wounds inflicted by the shipwreck
of his beloved sons, now soothed the pangs produced
by this new and heart-rending bereavement. The
blessed oracles of truth, also, as is usual in the day
of severe affliction, presented a variety of supports in
appropriate and animating promises ; whilst Christian
friends of various denominations affectionately hastened
to the ' house of mourning,' and literally vied with
each other in attempting to administer relief to the
wounded spirit of their afflicted brother.

The following extract is from the Report of the
Baptist Missionary Society for 1824 : — " No additions
have recently been made to the little church under
the care of Mr. Chater ; on the contrary, he has been
called to the painful duty of separating two persons
from its communion, on account of conduct inconsistent
with their profession. Under tnese discouragements,
it has been peculiarly gratifying to him, that, in the
course of the last year, he and his associates in that
important work have completed the translation of the
whole Bible into the Cingalese language. After a
strict examination by intelligent natives, this transla-
tion has been highly approved ; and it is now undergo-
ing a careful revision, that, in a second edition, it may
issue from the press in a form still more adapted for
general circulation. Since his active engagements in
this department have terminated, Mr. Chater has re-
vised his Cingalese grammar. He has also published
a tract in that langus ;e, and another in the Portuguese ;
which are well received by the natives, and will, we
trust, contribute, in some degree, under the divine bless-
ing, to rouse them from that lamentable indifference to
religion which now so generally prevails."

It is gratifying to state that, in 1825, the accounts
were more encouraging. Mr. Chater had enjoyed the
plea-ire of baptizing eight persons, who were most
of them young, and saw several others anxiously in-
tent on iheii eiernai weifarc. A ncv.' piaee of worship
was completed at Hangwcll, in which Mr. Siers of-

JAVA.

898

ficiated, while he continued to conduct the schools in
that and other villages. For two or three subsequent
jears, most of the statements received from Ceylon
were of a very encouraging kind. The churches,
both at Columbo and Hangwell, continued to increase ;
several female schools were established, which, with
those previously formed for boys, flourished ; native
Cingalese were successfully employed to read the
Scriptures to their neighbors ; one or two native youths
were called to the ministry ; a threatened illness ap-
peared to be removed ; and it was hoped that the
harmony in which this devoted missionary lived with
hu brethren of different denominations would remain
long uninterrupted.

But, alas ! we have often seen, that, as soon as the
great Head of the church has deeply impressed the
minds of his people with the peculiar adaptation of an
instrument to accomplish hb purposes, it is removed,
to show them how easily he can do his work without
it. In 1829, intelligence was received in England,
that, in the hope of re-invigorating a frame worn out
by the unremitting labors of two-and-twenty years in
a tropical clime, Mr. Chater had set sail for hb native
country ; but the disease had made so fatal a progress,
that when he had been on board but eight days, he
was removed to receive the reward of his zealous and
successful labors. •

It may be readily imagined, that, deprived of the
labors of so indefatigable a missionary, the station at
Colombo would greatly suffer. Mr. Siers, however,
did his utmost to supply the place of his deceased
friend, in which he was kindly assisted by the Rev.
B. Clough, of the Wesleyan connection ; and pleasing
additions were made to the churches. Still urgent
entreaties were made for poother European agent, and
the committee at home were desirous of sending one.
Under these circumstances, they were highly gratified
to receive an offer from one of their own number to
fill the vacant post. The Rev. Ebenezer Daniel had,
for many years, very efficiently occupied an important
station at Luton, in Bedfordshire ; but feeling the supe-
rior claims of the heathen world, amidst the fears of
an affectionate people he resigned his office, to bear
the glad tidings to distant lands. " After a favorable
and speedy voyage," says the Report of 1831, "Mr.
Daniel and his family arrived at their destined port
on the 14th of August, 1830. They were received
with the greatest kindness by all the Christian friends
in Columbo, and with the liveliest joy by those more
immediately connected with ourselves. Mr. Daniel
began his labors by preaching twice in, the Fort on the
day of his landing, and proceeded without delay to
examine into the state of affairs, both at Columbo and
at Hangwell. After having been so long without a

resident missionary, it was to be expected that the
concerns of the mission would be found m h declining
state ; but much, under God, may be hoped for iroia
the strenuous efforts of our respected brother to revive
the cause. Having devoted some little time to the
study of the Cingalese previously to his embarkation,
and pursued it on his voyage, he was the better pre-
pared to avail hunself of the services of a native
teacher ; but, without waiting till he was able to ad-
dress the people in their own tongue, he has preached
very frequently among them, by means of an interpre-
ter, in the different places of worship belonging to the
society, and in the open air. Two persons are engaged
as readers of the Scriptures, in the Cingalese and
Portuguese languages, who go from house to house to
read the Word of God to all who are willing to hear
it. Ten native schools, seven for boys, and three
for girls, containing b the whole nearly four hundred
children, are inspected by a constant visitor, who not
only superintends the schools, but in the villages talks
to the adults on the way of salvation by Jesus Christ.
Many of the Cingalese children in the schools, it is
stated, have answered the questions proposed to them
in a way which would have done credit to children in
England. In addition to these schools, Mr. Daniel
has established, with the assistance of his family,
Sunday-schools in each of his three congregations in
Colombo, the number of pupils in which was about
one hundred. In the midst of these exertions, Mr.
Daniel was cheered with the evidence that his ministry
had already been rendered useful. Several persons
appeared to receive hopeful impressions under the
very first sermons he delivered ; and at the date of

his last letters — about three months after his landing

sixteen members had been added to the church. On
the whole, we have great reason to rejoice in the re-
vival which has taken place at this important station."

JAVA.

On the 2d of March, 1813, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson
left Calcutta, with a view to form a missionary station
on the isle of Java; and on the 1st of May, they
anciiored in Batavia roads, after a safe and pleasant
voyage. At Weltevreden they were taken into the
house of a pion friend, who appeared truly anxious
to render them comfortable ; and their arrival was
hailtid with peculiar pleasure by a considerable number
of the soldiers, some of whom had been in the habit

of linldin? rplliriniiR mpntinira Dmnn<r tl>amo.%l..«- -_J

-- — r-. -^ -J- — j^ >....,..,^,., r^--.^ auu

now avowed their willingness to submit to the rite of
baptism. Accordingly, after preaching repeatedly in

S94

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY

the cantonments, Mr. Robinson baptized eight persons
on the 30th of May, in the presence of a few Malays,
who were perfectly attentive and decorous in their con*
duct, though no one could explain to them the nature
of the ceremony, by which their curiosity was strongly
excited. A Christian church was, afterwards, regularly
formed, and the Lord's supper was celebrated with
more than ordinary solemnity. An old sei^eant, who
happened to be present as a spectator on that occasion,
was subsequently heard to say to some of his friends,
that he had been to a place where he had kneejed
more than he had ever done in all the former part of
his life. " Never," said he, " did I witness such
a solemn ordinance before ! and as for those fellows
who partook of it, I am determined to keep a strict
eye upon them ; and if they go back from their pro-
fession, or do any thing that is wrong, I will run them
through the body !"

Elated by the first impressions which appeared to
attend the preaching of the gospel among the military,
our missionary was led to observe, in a letter, dated
June 24, and addressed to Dr. Marshman, " Almost
every sermon among the soldiers seems to be blessed,
either to the edification of those who have already
believed, or to the fastening of impressions on the
minds of sinners. In such circumstances it is, indeed,
a pleasure to preach ; for I go to the place of worship
fully expecting to do good to the souls of men, and,
blessed be God, my expectations are not disappointed.
Could you see how attentive these poor men are to
the word of life, you would almost weep for joy at the
sight : — you would scarcely perceive an individual
move hand or foot, during the discourse ; — all seeming
to hear as for eternity !" Circumstances, however,
afterwards occurred which called loudly for the exer-
cise of severe discipline ; and, early in April, 1814,
Mr. Robinson states, " I have now no more employ-
ment among the soldiers ; the whole regiment, with
the exception of one company, having been sent on
an expedition, and when that business is finished, they
will, most probably, be stationed at Samarang."

" Since the departure of the soldiers," he adds,
"I have been employed in seeking out some new
friends among the Malay Ciirlstians ; and on the sab-
bath before last, I found about six or seven met together
In a house where they expected a visit from me. I
asked for the Malay Bible, read a few verses, and
took courage, (pt the first time, to speak a few words
to them from what I had read. When I had finished
my remarks, I engaged in prayer for a few minutes,
and thus concluded the first meeting 1 ever held in
the Malay language. Finding that this attempt was
we'i! feeetved, I -.vent .-igain, the next sabbulh even-
ing ; and though I was, at first, considerably abashed,

by finding the number of my hearers much increased,
I was enabled to speak for about half an hour ; and,
if the testimony of my auditors may be believed, the
greater part of what I said was understood." .

In the month of May, Mr. Robinson received per-
mission to preach in the Malay church ; which he
considered as opening a prospect of great usefulness
as the congregation frequently exceeded one hundred
and fifty persons, including people of all ranks, from
the most opulent inhabitant to the humble slave, and
consisting partly of Dutch, partly of country-bom,
and partly of what are called the native Christians.
He also applied himself sedulously to the instruction
of the children whom he had collected in a school of
his own establishing ; and, on some occasions, he car-
ried the good news of salvation to a village about ten
miles distant, where the poor Ignorant people (though
possessing a place of worship) had received no visit of
a religious tendency for the long period of ten years.

In the summer of 1815, Mr. Robinson appears to''
have suffered severely from illness, and another mis-
sionary, named Trowt, who had, some time since,
arrived to his assistance, was similarly affected, though
in a slighter degree. By the good hand of God, how-
ever, they were both raised up to pursue their truly
Important labors ; and the latter, with the consent of
the brethren at Serampo«, undertook the formation
of a new station at Samarang ; whilst Mr. Robinson
removed to a more salubrious situation than that which
he had recently occupied. i

A few weeks after his arrival at Samarang, Mr.
Trowt received a visit from the udhiputi of the place,
accompanied by his two sons, who had been for some
time at Serampore, and the old aji, their uncle. Mr.
Trowt stated the object of his mission to be the gene-
ral dissemination of knowledge and the spread of the
gospel ; and gave his visitors some account of the
Bible and missionary societies, and of the system of
education pursued in England. The noble chief
listened with attentive admiration, and often placed
his hand upon his heart, while he expressed his pleas-
ure and delight. He also declared unequivocally,
that the Introduction of knowledge among his people
was an object so congenial with the feelings of his
soul, that he would encourage those persons to the
utmost who would engage in the work, and would even
devote one quarter of his income towards its support !
On being shown an Arabic Bible, he said he was not
perfectly acquainted with the language, but he thought
he could translate from it into Javanese. " I entreated
him," says Mr. Trowt, " to receive it from me, as a
testimony of respect ; whlcii he did, with expressions
of the dce|)esi obligation. On my mentioning a press,
he entered, at once, on an enumeration of the benefits

JAVA.

that would result from it, and compared books to seeds,
which, being planted in the school, would in a few
years produce teachers, who might be scattered over
all the country. On telling him how our society and
other societies were supported, and that I had, at one
tmie, collected a penny a week from children and
servants, to enable missionaries to instruct the poor
, heathen, he was uncommonly affected. I then pro-
posed his writing a letter to the society, to request
more missionaries, and to state his willingness to render
them assistance. This he readily promised to do •
and after spending some considerable time in the dis-
cussion of religious subjects, he left me with an intima-
tion that he wished to place his youngest son under
my care, and observed, that if he had not to attend
the sittings of the government, he would visit me
almost every day."

.J^'a Z'fr' u"'' ''r""'"^ missionary, to whom we
are indebted for this relation of a visit which evidently
cheered his own heart, and inspired in his breast thi
most sanguine hopes, was only permitted for a short
period to continue his labors at Samarang. His almost
unremitting application to his studies so seriously af-
fected his constitution, as ultimately to cause him to
fall a prey to a liver and bowel complaint, with which
he had previously struggled for a considerable time He
was carried off on the 25th of October, 1816, rather in
an unexpected manner ; his ardor in his work not
suffering him to pay that attention to the state of his
disease which it indispensably required. " His labors
however," as the editor of the ' Periodical Accounts'
observes « tended to encourage and invigorate his
brother Bruckner, whom he left to follow in his foot-
steps, and to carry forward that translation of the
sacred Scriptures into the Javanese language, on which
the heart of the deceased was so intently fixed." On
the 27th of December, also, Mr. and Mrs. Philips
who had been despatched from London, for the purpose
of strengthening the Samarang station in the island
of Java, arrived safely at Batavia, and proceeded
soon afterwards, to the place of their destination

In the course of this year (1816), Mr. Bruckner
paid a visit to a place called Prembanan, which he
considers to have been, in ancient times, the principal
.seat of idolatry in Java, and of which he has given

the following interesting account :

"On first approaching the place, I perceived noth-
mg but a hill, or a large heap of stones ; but my guide
caused me to climb up the ascent, and I saw it was a
large temple composed altogether of hewn stones,
about fourteen cubic inches each, and every stone
had a tenon by which it was fastened to „„n,I.or i„
tins manner the whole temple was built up, from its
foundation to its top, without any cement. It must

396

have been a huge edifice when it flourished, for all
the hill on which this temple stood was formed of
the same sort of stones, which I think had fallen from
the edifice from time to time, and had formed that
m. The temple itself consisted of a room about
twenty-five feet high and ten square. There was but
one miage m it of the human shape. It represented
a woman, on whose head were a crown and other
ornaments ; the upper half of the body was naked,
and the lower part dressed in royal apparel. It was
hewn of entire stone ; its seat was also a large stone.
It appeared that the sepoys, who were numerous about
that place, paid their homage to this lady, for her
forehead was smeared with some yellow and red colors
I went to the other side of the hill, where there was
another temple, which was not so large as the former;
in thL there sat a huge image shaped like a man, but
having an elephant's head. But here the sepoys did
not seem to pay any attention. I then went on to
another h,!l composed of the same kind of hewn stones,
m which there was a cavern, but no image. There
are withm the circumference of half an hour's walk
perhaps more than ten of these hUlocks which contain
caverns, and seem to have been used as temples.
But I was tired in climbing up and down them, and
gave my curiosity no further indulgence ; except that
I went on from those parts, for about ten minutes,
farther to the west, where there are to be seen the
remains of a royal palace built up with tiles and cement
It appears from these remains that this must have
been a magnificent building. The windows are lofty,
and the remaining sculpture is admirable. This palace
seems to have been surrounded by an extensive wall ;
for, about sixty paces from the edifice itself, on each
side, IS an entrance or gate, making altogether four.
On each side of the gate-ways at the entrance sit two
colossal images in human shape, of hewn stone, which
undoubtedly must represent certain guardians, accord-
ing to the remains of heathen mythology amongst the
Javanese in which such beings are mentioned. Prob-
ably this palace was inhabited, whilst idolatry was
flourishing in the vicinity ; so that human power and
the power of darkness might mutually assist each other
in resisting light and reason. I have not hitherto been
able to trace any thing in the Javanese books in refer-
ence to this place, neither do the Javanese themselves
know any thing properly of it. All seems to have
been lost for want of writing.

" Besides these, I have seen several images scattered
abroad in different places. I saw lately one huge
image like a man, whose crown and other apparel con-
sisted of human skuiis, and his seat was composed
of similar emblems of mortality. Another I saw at
the same time, of the same bigness as the first, arrayed

296

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

like a king, having four arms, and holding in each
hand a diflferent weapon. There was also a very large
cow, ornamented with shells and other toys; and
another image in human shape of a smaller size, hav-
ing a cow beneath its feet. I have also seen some
with three heads, and a number of arms, perhaps ten
or upwards, holding in each hand a different kind of
weapon ; also some which had but one head and
many arms. To these I observed the sepoys paid
great reverence."

From this period the three missionaries, Messrs.
Robinson, Bruckner and Philips, proceeded with
equal zeal and assiduity in endeavoring, by all the
means within their power, to spread abroad the savor
of the Redeemer's name, in their respective spheres
of operation. In the month of July, 1817, however,
Mr. Philips was attacked with a fever, and a cold on
the lungs, which gave a most severe shock to his con-
stitution ; and though (in consequence of removing
to a more salubrious situation, and adhering strictly to
the advice of the medical man by whom he was at-
tended) his cough abated, and his strength appeared,
for a short period, to increase ; yet, on his resuming
his labors, his former complaints returned with increas-
ed violence, and by the commencement of March,
1818, he was compelled to desist from his work alto-
gether. The case of our missionary was now pro-
nounced hopeless, without a speedy removal from the
island ; and in these circumstances he was under the
necessity of returning to England, just at the time, as
he expresses it, when he had begun, in some measure,
to realize his expectations. " I had learned the Ma-
lay language," says he, " sufficiently to be able to read
and converse fluently, and to conduct worship in it ;
and I had so far overcome the difficulties of the Ja-
vanese, as to be able to translate into it with some
degree of readiness. The English gentlemen residing
at Samarang had also been stirred up, by a circular
which I had addressed to them, at the commencement
of the year, to enter into a monthly subscription for
defraying the expenses of public worship in English,
which I was to conduct. Thus to relinquish my pros-
pects of success, therefore, was a painful task ; yet so
alarming were my symptoms, and so rapid was the
decay of nature, that I appeared to be tottering on
the brink of the grave ; and the united voice of the
few friends who knew my situation, and who saw me
struggling with a disease which threatened speedily to
put a stop to my exertions, urged me, while the spark
of life remained, to adopt the only probable means of
restoring me to health."

In a communication from Weltevreden, dated Sep-
tember28,1818,andaddressftdtotheRev. Dr. Ryland,
Mr. Robinson writes, " After preaching the word for

a long period, with scarcely any success, it has pleas-
ed the Lord to give me a little encouragement. A
Chinaman, bom at Batavia, has avowed himself a dis-
ciple of Jesus, and was baptized last Lord's day,
in the presence of a great concourse of spectators.
The place of baptism was a river which runs just on
the outside of the old fortifications of Batavia, and
opposite to that part of the town which is inhabited
by the Chinese. Many Dutchmen and Portuguese
were present, to whom the sight was as novel as to
the Chinamen and Malays. After we came up out of
the water, we went into the house of a Malay to
change our clothes, and it was with difficulty the
crowd were prevented from forcing their way in at the
door ; for they had an idea that I was going to cut off
the Chinaman's tail, and dress him in the European fash-
ion, and they were exceedingly anxious to see this
wonderful ceremony. 1 had, indeed, told them, in
my addrpss at the water-sidp, that he would neither
change his drps« nor his name ; but they could not
believe that he would appear in his Chinese habit
again, till they were convinced by ocular demonstra-
tion. His name is The'an, which, in the Chinese lan-
guage, signifies heaven, a name by no means improper
for a Christian. He seems to be a truly converted
man, and gives very gratifying evidence of a real work
of grace upon his heart. Several of his countrymen
have recently attended the means of grace ; but some
of them yesterday declared their intention of coming
no more, lest (to use their own phrase) they should
be induced to become Dutchmen. There are still
two Chinamen, however, who have not taken the
alarm ; and they both say that were they fit subjects
for baptism, they would not scruple to be baptized."
Nothing worthy of relation occurs in the history of
the mission till the month of June, 1821, when Mr.
Robinson, by the advice of his friends, and with the
decided approbation of the committee in London,
relinquished his engagements at Batavia, and removed
to Bencoolen. To account for this step, it may be
proper to state, that from the period of the restora-
tion of Java to the Dutch government, the missiona-
ries on that island had been subject to considera-
ble restrictions in the prosecution of their im-
portant labors ; and, though hopes had been enter-
tained, in consequence of an application to the king
of the Netherlands, in 1818, that such restrictions
would have been removed, these hopes were not re-
alized. The situation of Mr. Robinson had, therefore,
for some time been rendered unpleasant, and the dawn-
ing prospect of his usefulness was almost entirely over-
cast. About the same time, he received an invitation
to Bencoolen, where a more extensive field for his
exertions presented itself; and, after mature delibera-

SUMATRA.

tk» and -etmMt pnytr, be acceded to the prqpoi^
urangemeiit.

This year (1891) appeal to have been a seaaon of
j^uliar distress to the inhabitantt of Java. In con-
sequence of a complete failure m the crop of rice,
owing to want of rain, provisions rose to an enormous
price ; and many of the poor, rendered desperate bjr
(*want, ha^ recourse to a system of nocturnal depreda-
'^'tion. Through the negligence of the people and the
dryness of the weather, about thirty fires also occurred
at Samarang and in the adjacent villages, within a period
:? of six months ; and as the houses of the natives are
all constructed of bamboo and straw, it may be easily
conceived that when a conflagration breaks out, hun-
dreds of such buildings must necessarily fall a prey to
the devouring flames. In addition to these calamities,
the cholera morbut broke out in the island, and raged
so awfully, that Mr. Bruckner remarks, upwards of
fifty bodies were, for a long period, carried daily to
the grave by the road adjoining his premises, exclu-
■ive of all which were taken in other directions.
" Thousands," says he, in a letter, dated September
11, " have been carried ofi"; and, though the sickness
ia abated in a considerable measure, it does not yet
cease, but, m some districts, continues to rage violent-
ly. Several persons have been carried off", with whom
I used to meet occasionally, and some of whom I en-
tertained a hope that they might, one day, give them-
selves up to the Saviour. Four have died on my
premises, within a short period, who were either lodg-
ers or servanU of mine. The Lord has been so mer-
ciful to me and my family, however, that we have
been still preserved in the midst of danger. Even my
little ones, who are now five in number, have, on the
whole, enjoyed tolerably good health all the time ;
and I have been enabled, though occasionally feelbg
a little inconvenience, to go on with my work."

In the course of the ensuing year, Mr. Bruckner re-
moved from Samarang to a place called Sulatlga, about
forty miles distant inland. This measure was adopted at
the suggestion of several European friends, who were
decidedly of opinion that the change would be beneficial
to the health of our missionary and his family, the cli-
mate being more salubrious than that of Samarang. He
was also encouraged to suppose that he might here
prosecute his labors with a better prospect of success;
as the inhabitants of this district seemed to be less
bigoted to the dogmas of Mahomet than those with
whom he had been formerly conversant, and, in some
mstances, they listened to the great truths of ihe gospel
with the utmost seriousness and attention.

Intelligence relative to this mission is contained in
the Annual Report for 1824, and is as follows : " From
the island of Java we have no very encouraging details

Vol. I.— Nos. 25 k 26. 40

to eommMntoatei StiU it must not be foi^tt^ tbst
otte impolrtaiiit taotaom haa been efiiBeted^ trhkb iltMn
would be an ample recompense for the eXertioiis made
by the society in thia quarter. We allude tothetittW-
lation of the New Tesifament into the Jivanese li^
guage, happily completed by Mr. Bruckner, our tabb^
rious missionary at Sulatiga ; some portions of which,
we have reason to believe, have, ere now, been print-
ed at the lithographic pregs, forwarded for that pUf|Kie
to Bencoolen. In exertions to communicate religloas
mstruction, Mr. Bruckner has been " instant in season^,
and out of season ;" and he appears to be much
respected by his Mahometan neighbors, thou^ he
has not yet perceived those higher results of his la-
bors, which would constitute their most gratifying re-
compense."

The Javanese translation of the Scriptures, already
alluded to, attracted the friendly notice and aid
of the Netheriands Bible Society, and other sim-
ilar institutions on the continent of Europe. Mr.
Bruckner was, shortly after this, by a formidaUe
insurrection of the natives against their Dutch masters,
driven from the eastern side of the islapd ; when he
repaired to Batavia, where he hoped to be able more
efficiently to superintend the printing of his New Tester
ment. Even this work, however, was soon suspended,
and he removed to the adjoining island of Sumatra,
and ultimately to Serampore, where his translation has
since been printed. Thus, though the society has not
been able to maintain a living missionary in this im-
portant country, it has proved an auxiliary to fijtttre
efibrts, and we trust will prove a signal blessing to its
benighted inhabitants, by furnishing them with the
lively oracles of God.

SUMATRA.

The island of Sumatra being considered as a station
of peculiar importance, not only as affording ac-
cess to grent numbers of heathen, but as a central
spot in which some acquaintance may be gained with
the numerous languages spoken in the eastern Archi-
pelago, Mr. Nathaniel Ward was sent thither fi'om Cal-
cutta with a printing-press, in the spring of 1819;
and Messrs. Evans and Burton having been designated
in London for the same station, arrived in safety at the
place of their destination, on the 9th of June, 1820,
after experiencing the greatest possible kindness from
the junior chaplain at St. Helena, his amiable lady,
and other nious friends in that lalnnJ.

The morning after their arrival in Bencoolen roads,
they received an intimation from the governor, sir

298

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Thomas Stamford RaiBes (to whom they had trans-
mitted their letters of recommendation), that he would
be glad to see them on shore as soon as convenient,
assuring them that preparations had been made for
their immediate accommodation. Shortly after, the
Rev. Mr. Winter, the chaplain, came on board, to
invite them to his house, and informed them that Mr.
N. Ward had been for some months absent, on a visit
to Batavia ; but that, previously to his departure, he
had purchased a large house for the purposes of the
mission ; and thai the governor had ordered it to be
prepared for their rece))tion.

After passing a couple of days beneath the hospita-
ble roof of Mr. Winter, our missionaries were accom-
panied by that gentleman to the government house,
and introduced to sir T. S. Raffles, with whom they
had a short but very pleasant interview He received
them in the most friendly manner ; welcomed them
to the settlement ; and told them that their exertions
were much needed ; observing that a wide field of
usefulness' lay open before tiieni, and promising to
facilitate tl.air endeavors as much as possible.

In a subsequent interview, when Messrs. Evans and
Burton ventured to ask his excellency's opinion as to
the number of missionaries necessary for the island, he
said he had written to the Rev. Dr. Ryland, request-
ing him to send us many as he could ; adding, that
there should not be fewer than two or three at any
place, to render their labors effective ; particularly at
Sumatra, where, he observed, there were three millions
of souls perishing in ignorance and misery, none of
whom were strongly prejudiced in favor of their false
religion, and by far the greater part were completely
destitute of all ideas of a religious nature.

The governor having hinted the expediency of visit-
ing some of the northern parts, on the same side the
island as Fort Marlborough, — particularly Pudang,
Nattal, Tapanooly, and the small island of Mas, with
a view of ascertaining the most eligible place for the

establishment of a second missionary station, Mr.

Burton obtained a passage in a gentleman's boat to
Nattal, and, in his way, touched at Padang, which ho
reached in five di.ys.

" This plare," says he, " was taken by the English
during the war, but was restored to tiie Dutch by the
late Ireaiy. The interior from hence is nuich supe-
rior to any other part of the island, in point of culti-
vation, population, and traftic. It is the grand entrance
fo the Mrni^iunciiliow country, furtnerly the seat of
the universid government of the island, where tho
Malayan language is supposed to bo spoken by nearly
a million of people ; and presents, I should suppose,
a iiitiih more extensive ami interesting lu-Jd lor a Ma-
layan mission than any other part of the Archipelago.

" The European population of Padang are princi-
pally English, and Dutch persons educated in England.
The resident and most of the civil servants were under
sir T. S. Raffles, in Java, and .show that they have
not attended such a master in vain. There is here a
Dutch minister ; but as he can only preach in his own
language, which few of the people understand, he
cannot be very extensively useful. I attended church
on the Sabbath, and should have preached after the
Dutch service, had we not expected, at the time I
was asked, to sail early on that morning. I promised
to do so on my return, should I be there on t
Sunday.

" We staid at Padang six days, during which time
I was more than hospitably entertained at the house
of captain Kemp, a Scotch gentleman and Madras
mercliant. I lef> the place, hoping that a field so
apparently ' white unto harvest,' would not long want
an arduous and godly laborer. I endeavored to obtain
tho average price of most necessary articles of con-
sumption, and an. of opinion that a missionary might
live for half the sum at Padang that he would require
at Marlborough.

" After leaving Padang, three days' delightful sail-
ing brought us to Nattal, the quiet and retired residence
of John Prince, Esq. a man whose uprightness, be-
nevolence, misfortunes, and hospitality, have gained
hhn the sympathy and admiration of the east. Here
is a small fort, similar to those of the other English
residences of the coast, in the midst of which stand*
Mr. Prince's house. Near him are a few Europeans,
and descendants of Europeans, whom he has taken
under his protection, who, with all the natives in the
vicinity, look up to him as their father and best friend.
He is now forty-five years of age, and has lived in
this seclusion since the ago of fifteen ; yet he is so
much the gentleman in his manners, that good judges
have said, the first society in Europe could not im-
prove him. It is certain that his admirable conduct
towards the natives, both in his dealings with them as
a merchant, and his treatment of those iminediately
in his service, has been attended with such happy
effects, that the Malays of Nattal aie much superior
to any oihers. His influence among the chiefs is so
great, that when they have disagreed among them-
selves and declared war, he has oftin, by bringing
them together and mere persuasion, completely recon-
ciled them, and left them friends.

" You will not wonder that from such a man a mis-
sionary should receive a cordial welcome. Ho enter-
tained me in the kindest maimer, and expressed his
wish to afford me whatever assistance he could, in
the formation and prosecution of my plant. I was
happy, and I trust grateful, in the assurance of the

SUMATRA.

friendship of one so experienced and capable of afford-
ing such efficient aid to the mission.

" On one occasion, sir T. S. Raffles recommended
us to direct our attention particularly to the Batta peo-
ple ; and Mr. Prince agreed with him and many
others, in thinking that they afford a most promising
field for missionary exertions. He thinks them in
number about five hundred thousand; and it is cer-
tainly a very curious circumstance, and to a missionary
among them a most encouraging fact, that of a people
who are fully proved to be cannibals, more than one
half should be able to read and write ! With such a
door already open, what might not be effected amongst
them ? At how many quarters, in how many ways,
do the strong holds of Satan lie here exposed to our
attack ! Their alphabet is the most simple I have
seen, and will be particularly easy to print.

" We were not long in coming to the conclusion
that our future labors must be for the welfare of the
Battas ; and to fix on the most suitable "';icc for our
residence, was the next thing to be thoiu ,1 of Mr.
Prince was of opinion, at first, that Nattal possessed
the greatest advantages ; hut, upon further inquiry,
we determined to settle at Tapanooly. This is a
small island, about eighty miles north of Nattal, situ-
ated just in the mouth of Tapanooly bay, in which,
it is said, ail the fleets in the world might ride securely
in any weather, and scarcely even bo seen from the
main land at its entrance. On this island there is a
native bazn.ir, and a house belonging to Mr. Prince,
which is now occupied by one of his assistants and
this person's sister. Five or six of the Batta rivers,
flowing from the heart of the country, fall into the
bay, which are navigable for several miles up, and
have many towns and villages situated on their banks :
so you may readily conceive the advantagei of this
place as a mission station.

"Having concluded upon the situation, I was un-
willing to lose the time that would bo required in going
to see it, thinking it best to return and bring my dear
wife and balm as early as possible. But as Mr. Prince
was intending to visit Tapanooly at that time, and
kindly ofl^ored to take me with him in hii boat, and
introduce me at onre to the native chiefs, I thought it
best to comply. This arrangement, ' wevcr, Provi-
dence did not favor. Other plans wj o laid out for
me, whilst I was thus * ontriving my own movements.
Wiicn our trunks were on board, and we were all
ready to sail, hoping to complete our voyage in two
days, a violent gale of wind sprung up, called on this
coast a Sumatran, or north-wester, which lasted for
sevfMtti <i«y!i, miii riMHiiTcd it impoBsibie for us to
move ; and even when the winds did abate, still con-
tinuing in the same qutrtor, it was not improbable but

299

that our voyage might have occupied a month, though
the distance was, as I have before mentioned, but
eighty miles.

" In this uncertainty, Mr. Prince thought it best for
me to take the course of the winds, and return to
Marlborough by a native boat, which was to sail in a
few days ; engaging at the same time to make every ar-
rangement for us in his power at Tapanooly. It was
necessary the native chiefs should be made acquainted
with our object, and their permission obtained for our
settlement among them ; also that materials should be
preparing for the erection of a wooden house ; such
as the felling of trees, making planks, &c. These Mr.
Prince kindly offered to manage for me in considera-
tion of our speedy return. But the chief inducement
for my being at Marlborough as early as possible was,
that I might get every thing packed and arranged to
leave with a brig, which he intended to send down in
about a month, and so accomplish our removal without
expense to the society. The native boat not sailing
so early as we expected, he sent me down in one of his
own to Padang, not fearing but that I should readily
get a passage from thot place. I heard afterivards
that the boat in which I should have sailed, was lost
near Bencoolen. O the watchful care of our heavenly
Father ! This was not the only instance in which I
had distinctly to mark, and with gratitude to record,
his immediate interposition on my behalf during my
absence from home.

" After waiting six days at Padang, impatient to
return to my dear wife and babe, and having no pros-
pect of a conveyance, I prevailed upon captain K'inp
to sell me a goo<l-sized jolly-boat for one hundred
dollars, in which I determined (certainly very rashly
and ignorantly), if possible, to make Marlborough,
a distance of nearly three hundred miles. I accord-
ingly procured three seamen, plenty of rice and water,
a goat and two kids, and put to sea, with no other
covering than our shade over the place where I sat at
the helm. It happened that an American vessel was
leaving just at the time, to which I was permitted to
attach my boat, as far as our course was the same.
From the liospitable men who formed this ship's com-
pany, I received the greotest possible attention and
kindness. They took mo into their vessel, and treated
mo with the best it afforded, and, on parting, wished
mo to name whatever tlioy had on board which I
tlioiiglit would make me more comfortable, and I
should have it. One of them gave me a volume of
the ' Christian Observer.'

" After sailing with them a day and a half, they put
me into my Imat abt)tit four in the afternoon, and we
parted with mutual regret, and not without many foam
on their part, I am persuaded, for the fate of my poor

800

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

bark. There was certainly good reason for apprehen-
sion, for we were forty miles from land — the wind had
blown strong from the north-west all the day, and the
heavens gathered blackness as the night came on—
there was nearly as heary a sea, I think, as we had
in any part of our voyage from England — so heavy,
indeed, that it was with the utmost difficulty, after
taking in most of the sail, they could bring my boat
along-side their vessel. As every thing depended on
the stability of my own mind in these circumstances,
I can ascribe it to nothing short of an interposition of
kind Providence, that my courage still held out — but
it did, even on being informed, immediately after we
had left the vessel, that we had no fire in the boat, nor
the means of procuring a light for the night. I had
not been in the boat many minutes, when 1 became
exceedingly sick, for the first time at sea. I took my
seat at the helm, however, and steered the whole
night. In the morning, we saw land, and found that
our course had been perfectly correct. The following
day, pleasant sailing — winds light — but the next night
was very alarming. Think of us in an open boat,
eighteen feet long, close in to a reefy, and consequently
a most dangerous shore, carried rapidly along by fear-
ful north-west squalls, accompanied with heavy rain —
our compass broken with the tossing nt the beginning
of the night, nor any light to see it, had it been in
order, so dark indeed that we could not see five yards
before us, and you will not wonder that all courage
failed. You may form, perhaps, a fnint idea of such
a situation, but to enter fully into the feelings we pos-
sessed when the storm was hushed and the morning
broke, discovering to us the footsteps of Him in the
deep, who had guided us safely tlirough the horrors
of the night, almost in a direct course tounrds our
desired haven, is as impossible as for inn to describe
them. Through mercy, I arrived in pi-ace at .Marlbo-
rough, on the fourth day after leaving Padunp, not a
little gratified to find all friends, particularly my dear
wife and babe, in good hoaltli."

Of the religion of the people called liattat, to
whom Mr. Ilurton alludes in tiie prcrediiig romiinmi-
cation, the following conrise account was ilrinvn ii|) by
Mr. Prince, at tlio requom and for the iiifonnotion of
the honorable sir T. S. Ruffles : —

«• The present religion of the Dallas is a compound
of the most ridiculous and barbarous superstitions,
founiled on human depravity. They do not, however,
worsiiip images ; but believe in the exlMieme of certain
deities, whose attributes bcMpouk the existence of a
bettor race of people than the present. Their names
and descriptions are as follow :

•■ De« Baitah a»tft aitrr, tiio creator and lather
of all — who appointed three brothcij — liataragourou,

Seeree Padah, and Mahalabhoolan — his vakeels, or
agents, to instruct mankind.

" Bataragourou is the god of justice, and is de-
scribed literally under the following character : < Fish
in the wears he will restore to their element ; property
forgotten he will return ; a measure filled to the brim,
a just balance, and upright judgment are his.'

" These are the principles Bataragourou was ap-
pointed to instil into the minds of mankind ; but the
Battas acknowledge themselves strangers- to their
adoption.

" Seeree Padah is the god of mercy : ' He will
repair the clothes that are torn — give meat to the
hungry — drink to the thirsty — health to the sick-
relief to the oppressed — advice to the weak, and shelter
to the friendless.'

" Mahalabhoolan soon quarrelled with his brothers,
separated from them, and set up the practice of tenets
directly opposite to theirs ; hence he is described as—
' The .source of discord and contention, — the instigator
of malice and revenge, — the inciter of anger, — the
source of fraud, deceit, lying, hypocrisy, and murder.'

" Of these three brothers, you will not wonder that
the last is most powerful, or that he has most adhe-
rents. The Battas acknowledge that they apply to,
and beseech him, when they have followed any of
those vices, and they also acknowledge that petitions
are very rarely offered to the other deities. They
name a fifth, ' Naggahpadonah,' who is said, like
Atlas, to support the world, which they describe to
consist of seven folds beneath, and as many above.

" A person called the Dattoo, who is skilled in
every sort of superstition, is the only resemblance of
a priest among ihoin. Every village has one of these.
Tiie only ceremony practised of a religious nature,
as far as I can hear, is the custom of invoking the
shades of their ancestors. This is done at pleasure,
in prosperity or in adversity. The process of the
ceremony is as follows : —

"A wooden iiiask is made to represent the features
of the deceased ; this is worn by a clever fellow, who
is dressed in all the regalia of a rajah, and he is wor-
shipped as the living represontativu of the departed
object of their regard.

" A feast is made in honor of the dead, which lasts
for three days. The performer exercises all the
authority that his skill suggests, and mixes his say-
ings with prophecies suited to the wishes of the
audience.

" The influence of the Dattoo over the deluded
Battas is such, that they will engnfte in no undertaking,
however trilling, without first consulting him. He
ex|MHinds all their religious books, and, according to
his interpretation, a day is chosen M propitious to

SUMATRA.

their object, whetlier that be a suit, a journey, or the
commencement of hostilities.

" The moral conduct of these people appears to be
influenced by all the vile passions of an irregular and
irritable constitution. Truth is seldom regarded, when
in tiie way of their interests or feelings ; and honesty
is never founded on principle, but on the fear of de-
tection. The general tenor of their lives has obliterat-
ed the recoUeciion and practice of the laws of Seeree
Padah, and Bataragourou, and they have no priesthood,
no rajah to recall them, or to reprove their obstinate
adherence to the principles of Mahalabhoolan, who is
certainly no other than the devil,

" I am sure," adds Mr. Prince, in concluding his
account, " that Ciiristiau missionaries would find an
ample field for their labors among this people ; <br it
is not ignorance of what is virtuous and good, but, as
they themselves acknowledge, natural depravity, that
must be assigned us the principal cause of their pres-
ent deplorable morals."

During the absence of Mr. Burton, the care of a
school which had been established at Bencoolen rest-
ed entirely with Mr. Evans ; but, as his strength prov-
ed inadef,..ato to the united exertions of conducting that
establishment and of studying tiie native language, he
resolved, on the return of his colleague, to remove to
Padang. As that settlement was under the jurisdic-
tion of the Dutch, however, it became necessary that
he should, in the first instance, go thither alone, in
order to obtain penuission to settle there, before ho at-
tempted to remove his wife and child. He accord-
ingly sailed from Jiencoolen on the '2 1st of December,
and on the aSth arrived at Padung, where he found
the Dutch resident, a Mr. Dupuy, fully dispoood to
accede to his wishes. Thus encouraged, ho ungaged
a house, ui the rate of twrnty-five dollars per mojith ;
and soon afterwards relumed, to convey Mrs. Evans
and hor infant to this nuw mi.ssionury station.

Early in the spring of 1821, at the suggestion of
some British and Aniericon gentlemen, visiting Padang
for conunorrial purposes, Mr. Evans commenced the
celebration of divine worship on the sabbath, and
the attendance was more numerous than could have
been exported. The Dutch resident, uIho, a|)poarod
frienilly to the formation of scIkkjIs anumg the natives,
and a few children were collected mid I'lacod under
the care of Mrs. Evans.

In a letter from Messrs. Word and Robinson, dated
Henroolon, October 6, 18'.il, those nnssionarios ob-
serve, "Our attention has been directed to the native
schooIs.asB very imporlH-<t subject in the present stale
nftho natjvn nnnijlnlinn ! ani\ u/q doubt !!<>t that vnt: u;:!!
be highly gratified with the progress which has Iwon
made in every department of them. We projMwed

«^

to the governor, some time since, to commenco an
Anglo-Malayan school for the children of half-castes,
respectable natives and Chinese ; to be supported
partly by public contribution, and partly by a. small
monthly charge to the children ; this latter, we thought,
would tend to promote the esteem of education. His
excellency kindly acceded to our proposal, and put
into our hands a sum which had been formerly sanc-
tioned by the supreme government, but had not been
fully appropriated. The schools, we think, are better
attended than might be expected. Upwards of one
hundred scholars are daily present at those about the
settlement, and we already observe a growing dispo-
sition to appreciate education. As this advances, of
course the number will increase ; and we have reason
to hope that, at no very distant period, the bulk of the
rising generation will be able to read, and will be
supplied with books by ourselves. We have lately
received a petition from six villages, at a distance,
for schools, to which the natives promise to send near
two hundred children. These we are now commen-
cing, and hope, in the course of time, to extend the sys-
tem as far as thirty miles around us.

" Our Malay congregation still continues, but it has
not been so numerous of late as it was at first. The
novelty of it is beginning to subside, and we may now
expect a small number regularly. We go out amongst
the natives to converse with them, and we generally
find some who are attentive and interested in what
they hear ; we find, indeed, very little disposition to
oppose, and whenever we meet it, it proves very feeble.
This we attribute to the little real progress which Ma-
homotanism hos made amongst the people. There
appears, in fact, tc je a degree of scepticism very gen-
erally prevalent anongst them, in regard to tliBt re-
ligion, which we have observed in no other Malay
country. We shall, of course, avail ourselves of this
circumstance in our intercourse with them, and en-
deavor to inculcate the doctrine of r.idences.

" A considerable number of hymr-t)ooks, both in
the Arabic and the Roman character, nave been given
away, and not a few cop.es of the gospel of Matthew.
They have, in most cases, been applied for at our own
house ; and, inquiring particularly what use was made
of them, wo found they were chiefly wanted to learn
to road out of,"

In another communication, dated January S, 1822,
our missionaries write, " Wo regret that we have not
been able, during the Inst three months, to accom-
plish all that we antieipnied. Unforeseen difticultios
have much impeded our progress, both with respect to
•.::r j;rc~ ann 3r!io».i.-.. io luniier einrient liio rviaiay
department of the press, we need, at least, one good
Malay com|M)sitor ; but this is still a desideratum.

803

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Several Malays have, at diiTerent times, entered our
service, for the purpose of learning to compose ; but
no sooner did they perceive that this acquisition re-
quired a little mental exertion, and a moderately close
application to business, than they left us in disgust.
So averse are Malays to every thing that requires dili-
gence and attention, that out of a number who enter-
ed the office, only one remains ; and as he is far from
being an efficient workman, our Malay printing pro-
ceeds but slowly. A Scripture tract, containing the
history of the creation of the world and the fall of
man, will, we hope, soon issue from the press ; as also
a small book of lessons, designed for the use of the
native schools ; but besides these, we have nothing
else likely to appear at present.
. " A small work on geography has been undertaken,
but in this very little progress has at present been
made. This little work will not be confined to first
principles ; as it is hoped that others, besides school-
boys, will read a book which professes to furnisli them
with information concerning the world which they in-
habit. A knowledge of geography will not make men
Christians, but a few correct geographical ideas, if re-
ceived into the mind, must, we think, do something
towards weakening the faith of Mahometans in the
Koran. According to them, the euith is a plain, con-
sisting of seven stories, and bounded by a high moun-
tain, or, as we should term it, by a chain of mountains :
this mountain they cull mount Kaf; and tht-y believe it
to be inhabited by a race of genii, some of whom are
infidels, and some good Mussuli.ien. They suppose
the earth is suppoi'ted by angels, who bear it up on
their hands. These angels landon the horns of a cow ;
the cow stands on a Horn , this stone is supported by
a fish ; under this fwh is a sea ; under this sea, dark-
ness ; and under this darkness, hell. These ideas arc
not those of the vulgar only ; they arc contained in
their books, and form what may be called the ortho-
dox creed on the subject ; and the Koran itself recog-
nizes this absurd system. If, then, w? can succeed in
convincing these poor ignorant people that the earth is
a globe, and that several navigators have actually sailed
round it, their implicit faith in the declarations of the
Koran, and those of their other religious lK)oks,mustof
course bo shaken. Some of those natives, who have
been most in tiie lial)il of conversing with Europeans,
do already reject their own absurd theory ; but, for
want of a plain statement of things in their own lan-
guage, their ideas arc very confused."

One soliliiili morning, the brethren visited a place
called the Nens village, where they entered into conver-
sation uitli a |>riest, who, from his appearance, was
i5Ui.|i\»~Ci4 TO uc no* iv~7> ztmn n^niy ycsta t*i uilC. nc
ingenuously acknowledged that he was unacquainted

with the way of salvation, but obstinately refused to
listen to any instruction. He only regretted that he
could not perform the pilgrimage to Mecca, as he
seemed fully convinced that a visit to such a holy
place must necessarily be productive of the most ben-
eficial consequences. The missionaries endeavored,
in the most solemn and atiectionate manner, to warn
him of his danger ; but all vheir attempts proved un-
availing, and he coolly replied, " God made me, and
God made hell ; what reason have I, therefore, to be
afraid of hell ?" To explain this remark, it may be
necessary to state, that the disciples of Mahomet sup-
pose hell to be a living creature, kept chained under
the care of an angel ; and that, after the resurrection,
when all mankind are assembled in the valley where
they are to be judged, it will be led, by its keeper, to
this valley for the purpose of punishing the wicked.

The Neas people, in their own country, are hea-
thens ; but many of them, since they have resided in
Bencoolen, have adopted the doctrines of the Koran.
Those who still adhere to piranism arc, in all things,
extremely superstitious ; so that even in the operation
of felling timber, they invariably place a little grass,
or a few leaves, on the stump, to propitiate the de-
parted spirit of the tree ! One of tiieir funerals was
seen by the missionaries, and is described as follows : —

" The corpse (that of a poor old woman) was placed
on a bier covered with a cloth, and carried to the
grave on the shoulders of four men. The place of
sepulture was very shallow, with a cavity on one side
for the reception of the body. The cloth being taken
off the bier, the deceased appeared in herusual dress,
with her face, hands and feet uncovered. The corpse
was laid on its back in the cavity ; several clods of earth
were placed near the head ; and the cavity was tiicn
closed up with two boards. It was said that the clods of
earth were designed to assi.st the deceased in conveying
intelligence to her friends in the other world ; but in
what particular way they were supposed tohe of service,
could not he ascertained. A bamboo was placed per-
pendicularly in the grave, one end of it touchinu; the
bottom, near the hea<l of the corpse, whilst on the
other end, which rose several feet above the surface
of the ground, a white streamer was placed. At the
ex|iiration of a month from the time of interment,
this ImmbiM) wiis to be drawn up, in order tiint the
spirit of the deceased nwglit ascend through the aper-
ture, to attend a fciist made at the grave."

Mr, Burton, in tlic mean tinu), hail taken a journey
into the country of the Battiis ; and though our |)re-
R(;ribe<l limits preclude the admi.H!<ion of even an out-
line of his journal, the following particulars relaltMJ by
iiiiit itft} loo ini*}rc5itfi^ io uc pso^cn ovrr »*» ^iiriiro.

In writing from a |)lace called Linguahuyesi, he

SUMATRA.

•ays, " I am just returned from a long walk to the ba-
zaar, which is situated on the top of an adjacent hill,
and commands a delightful prospect of the river and'
the circumjacent country. Here were about one hun-
dred persons, amusing themselves with a most cruel
game. A small stake is driven into the earth, and a
circle drawn round it, which is divided into four equal
parts. In each of the partitions different individuals
place equal sums of money ; and to the stake is tied
a young fowl, which, on having iu throat cut, flutters
about for a short time, and then expires. The person
whose money happens to be in the partition where the
fowl lies after its death, sweeps the stakes ; and the
circle is usually divided into as many parts as there
are persons who are desirous of joining in the amuse-
ment. The man officiating as cut-throat, on this occa-
sion, was the iman or priest of the place. The cruel
and hardening influence which this game must liuve on
the dispositions of the people is sufficiently obvious.
It has become such a favorite in these parts, however,
that both fowls and eggs are difllcult to be procured]
at Natlal, at any price."— At another place which he
visited, in the course of his journey, Mr. Burton ob-
serves, " By nine o'clockin the morning, a concourse
of people had assembled in the bazaar, and were en-
gaged boisterously in the game of chickens, which I
have already described. When I went up to them, I
was astonished to find, at so eariy an hour, not fewer
than twenty dead fowls, weltering in their blood !"

At a village called Palampungan, in which a white
person had never before been seen, our missionary was
awakened, about two hours after he had retired to rest,
by the sepoys who slept in the same room, and who
were much alarmed by the noise of tigers around the
house. " They endeavored," says Mr. Burton, " to
conceal their fears from me, but I heard and under-
stood the expressions, ' Awake ! awake ! hear tho
tigers !' though tittered in a whisper. We soon lienid
an elephant, at no great distance, making the wood
crash horribly beneath his ponderous feet. About half-
past eleven, we heard him distinctly approaciiing us,
and the men became much alarmed, nor were their fears
entirely groundless ; for it was almost neces.^nry, from
the peculiar situation of our house, that he sliould pass
very near us, and, as they justly observed, if he had
but rubbed against it, ho must have upset us. The
house consisted but of one room about twelve feet
square, elevated al)out ten feet frum the ground, on
four crazy posts. We sat round our dim lamp, with
muskets in our hands, waiting his approach, in anxious
suspense. Jusi at twelve o'clock, he came up to us,
and, at the same moment, a tiger sprung fiithor (ron!
under tho house, or from some place close to it. We
opened a small window, from which I fired my fowl-

303

ing-piece, and two of the sepoys endeavored to follow
my example, but their pieces unfortunately missed
fire. Both the animals, however, made off: About
an hour afterwards, we heard the elephant at a distance,
and one or two tigers much nearer. The sepoys'
therefore, fired twice from the windows, after which
we retired to rest for the remainder of the night."

The last extract which we shall make from Mr.
Burton's highly interesting narrative relates to the ob-
taining gold dust from the bed of a river, and which
«, in substance, as follows :

The course of the stream is, in the first place, di-
verted, by means of a strong rampart of stones, so as
to leave part of the bed dry. Here, after digging to
the depth of eight or nine feet, the workmen meet
With a black mud, which is taken to the water in a
wooden trencher, and washed in the running stream,
ull nothing seems to remain except a sand resembling
iron-fihngs. Among this sand, however, the keen eye
of me person employed discovers small pieces of pure
gold ; and after these are separated, the remaining sand is
thrown away. The water which collects in the mine
durmg the night occasions considerable trouble, in
emptying it the following morning; but this is d'one
with great expertness, by means of a swing basket.
The profits are not so great as might be expected ; as
It seems at the time of our missionary's visit, there
were three men working in ihe mine, and they stated
that they could not earn more than about three rupees
per day.

One evening, in the month of April, 1822, whilst
the missionaries were busily employed in distributing
religious tracts among the populace, in what is called
the IVIariborough bazaar, the cry of Fire ! was heard •
and, on turning towards Old Bencoolen, they observed
a cokmn of dense black smoke rising from" an extent
of flame which seemed to envelope the whole bazaar.
The native school-room was situated near the cen-
tre of the bazaar, and there was every probability that
it would fall a prey to the conflagration. One of the
(iatoos or native magistrates, who had been burnt out
of his house, had, however, taken up his abode in it,
ond, to tho joy of the missionaries, it was saved from'
destruction. The conduct of the people, whilst the
fire was raging, was quite characteristic. When about
thirty houses had been consumed, a gentleman from
Mariborough h.-p;. .ed to arrive, having taken a ride
at the time, in ih -. direction, ly^ fou„d ,,,g ^^^-^^^
looking at the fire with the utmosi unconcern, satisfv-
ing the-nselvos with the ! • cf that it was a <! 'k.,'.,!
calamity, vhich could neithr be averted nor remrrfJ-if

articles out of their shops or houses, before the flames
fastened upon them. And, although one range of the

ao4

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

buildings stood on the very brink of the river, no one
thought of attempting to obstruct the progress of the
fire. The gentleman from Marlborough, however, no
sooner arrived, than he began to concert measures for
the prevention of further mischief He directed that
a house or two should be pulled down on each side of
the street; but he was under the necessity of com-
mencing the business himself, and of using both per-
suasive and coercive measures, before he copld induce
a single individual to join him in his exertions. He
persisted, however, in his laudable attempt, and though
the breeze continued strong, the fire was, at length,
completely subdued, after about thirty-five houses had
been laid in ashes. The sabbath after this disaster,
the missionaries resumed their station at the school-
room, where the datoo was still living, and where about
twenty persons pssembled,and listened with seriousness
and attention, for about three hours, to the truths of
the everlasting gospel.

At Padang, Mr. Evans appears to l.i .e experienced
some difficulties ; partly through the jealous suspicions
of some of the Europeans by whom he was surround-
ed, and partly in consequence of a war "Mch the
Dutch were carrying on in the interior. 'Inis excel-
lent missionary was also occasionally affected in his
health ; and he and Mrs. Evans were called to sustain
a severe trial in the death of their eldest child, who
expired after an illness of only two days. None of
these painful circumstancns, however, were permitted
to retard the great work of making known the way of
salvation ; but both in Padang and the adjacent villages,
Mr. Evans labored, by nil the means in his power, to
instruct those who were perishing for lack of knowl-
edge. In narrating a visit, which he paid to the in-
habitants of a populous village called Pone, in the
month of July, he observes, " Having procured a man
to conduct us in search of persons to whom we could
talk and disfiljule books, our guide took us to one of
the padrai, whoso daily employment it is to teach
youth to read the Koran and other religious books, but
not to understand any of the contents. We found
him in his school-house, with a few persons, but his
srliolars were not come. I conversed with him for
some time, and likewise read to him from several books,
partindnrly an account of the creation of the world
ami tin; fall of man, recently published at Boncoolcii,
in the form of a tract. He listened with apparent
attention and pleasure, and when I gave hini some of
the trarts, he promised both to peruse and distribute
them. His com|ianions also appeared very attentive,
and received the books wnich were given xh u with
greiit thnnkfuiness.

We next went to the house of the principal pttUra,
whom wo found in the miu«t of about thirty pupils.

He is a decrepit old man, but apparently very much
revered. His scholars were all employed, either in
reading or writing Arabic, though I suppose not one in
ten understood a single word. The house in which
they were assembled was large, and, in one respect,
resembled most literary retreats, as it was a complete
picture of confusion. Indeed, it wmdd be in vain for
me to attempt a particular desr.iption of it. There
were pens and ink, paper and books, rice and dirt,
rags and relics, in every part of the spacious room ;
where all sat without any apparent order, except the
old man, who had a comer to himself, which appear*
ed to serve him for the purposes of eating, drinking,
lecturing, ond sleeping. The old gentleman received
us very coolly, and appeared very suspicious ; nor was
it till after a long conference, that I could persuade him
to receive a single book, or even to look into one. At
last he read a little of the New Testament, and some
of his pupils followed his example. The news of our
visit seemed to spread rapidly, for many persons came
in to sec us. I talked with them for about an hour,
and gave books to all who could read ; after which we
took our leave. One of the men who accompanied ui
expressed much pleasure at seeing us come away in
safety, as he had entertained serious apprehensions on
our account ; for these peoj)le are such fanatics, that
they would not hesitate to kill any one whom they
supposed to be desirous of inducing them to change
their religion.

Mr. Burton, in the mean time, had finally deter-
mined on taking up his residence at a Batta village call-
ed Sebolga, on the nearest partof the main, about two
miles distant from the small island of Punchon, on which
is the company's settlement. Of the inhabitants of
this part of Sumatra, a faithfiil and affecting represen-
tation has been given by the missionary, who nobly re-
solved to devote his labors to their instruction, and
which will, no doubt, prove acceptable to the reader.

"Our friends in England can form but a faint idea
how thick and gross the darkness is, with which these
people arc emphatically covered. It is really surpris-
ing with what perfei-i ignorance of every thing beyond
the mere vicinity of their birth-place, they can pass
through the world ; and as to a future state, their
minds present a perfect blank. To our questions upon
this subject, wo have usually received such answers as
the following — ' When we die, there is an end of us ;
periiaps our souls become jins (d'vils), and (ly about in
the air for a time, and then peri-ii ' The earth, for any
thing wo know, will exist for ev' f .' I cannot yet dis-
cover that they offer STrifices u< any class of beings.
They invoke all the jins in \ 5y>dy, and the spirits of
their ancestors — ot depi: . ■ ! leacltors or cnnjiirei-i —
of Napa, the fabled serpenv ; f the Hindoos— and of

SUMATRA.

tU the rich men in the world, dead and living, to assist
them in seeking gold, rice, clothes, &;c. A funeral is
always welcomed for the good things attending it ; as
it is a time of great feasting, when the relations of the
deceased always kill as many buffaloes, or hogs, as
their circumstances will admit, and after the interment,
suspend the heads of these animals, with some rice
and water, near the grave, that the departed spirit, in
visiting the body, may be gratified by seeing the re-
spect done to his memory, and (if so inclined) take
some refreshment. The body is never interred till
the feasting is ended ; in consequence of which, a
rajah is someeimes preserved above ground three
months ! They suppose that the spirit may at any
time be called to tiie grave by the beating of gongs ;
and accordingly, at certain periods, they assemble at
the tomb in great numbers fyr tills purpose. After
much dancing, &.C., one of the near relations of the
deceased supposes, or pretends to suppose, that he is
possessed by the spirit of the departed, and, being no
longer himself, becomes identified with him. In this
new character, he tells the multitude that he is come
to meet them from bis wanderings in the air — that he
wishes to eat buffalo and rice — to drink arrack, and
to obtain a new suit of clothes, all of which are im-
mediately given to him. After some time, the spirit
departs, and he is left to hiniseH". If lie be questioned
about what passed in his mind during tiiis possession,
he replies that he had no longer his own thoughts,
and that he knows nothing about it. One would think
it impossible that so gross a deception as this could bo
practised with effect upon any but the very young ;
yet all classes pretend to believe it. Though they
look upon Satan as the head of their jins, their estima-
tion of his intellect is miserably mean, as may bo
judged from the ease with which they suppose him to
be deceived. When a person becomes exceedingly
ill, so that his relations are apprehensive of his death,
or that Satan is about to take him, it is common for
them to dress up an image, and take it to the door at
night, when they suppose the prince of the power of
the air is about to enter, and accost him in such terms
as these : ' Ah, Satan ! are you coming to take away
our friend, and distress us? Well, if you will have
him — there he is' (throwing out the image) ; ' take
him away.' Should the sick man after this recover,
they fully believe that they have thus succeeded in
cheating the devil ! Alas ! they have never been
visited by the day-spring from on high ; but darkness
hero covers the earth, and gros» darkness the people !
From seeing the state of these poojilo, we are strongly

l.«a>.«tn.ln/l lty-.«mr .vvukn* n ■« a.... ^UU — .a! iV. ^ ^t.-^ 1.1 1

- o ■" "■ •■""ptstJinss sur iiiai wjcsscn

gospel which brings ' life and immortality to light,'

and of the duty incumbent upon us — to diffuse, as

Vol. I.— JNos. 25 Si 2ti. 41

widely as possible amongst our benighted fellow-men,
this glorious light from heaven."

In the Report of the Baptist Missionary Society,
for 1824, the pleasing intelligence is communicated,
that notwithstanding the moral debasement of the
population, many of the natives have listened with
the most serious attention to the words of eternal life,
and have thus induced a hope that the time is rapidly
approaching when they shall be delivered from their
present awful state, and be brought into the light and
liberty of the gospel of Christ. It is also stated, that
Mr. Burton has composed two or three Scripture tracts
in the Batta language, which have already excited
great attention, and promise to be attended by the
happiest effects.

From the same source of recent information it
appears, liiat Messrs. Robinson and Ward have per-
severed in tiieir work at Bencoolen, with unremitting
zeal and unwearied assiduity ; so that a considerable
number of New Testaments and religious tracts have
been put into circulation,— and the schools, which are
conducted as nearly as possible on the British system,
have become increasingly efficient. Among the Ma-
lays also, with whom conversations have been held on
subjects connected with their eternal happiness, some
improvement has become perceptible ; and a female
native of Amboyna, convinced of her ruined state as
a sinner, and led to Jesus as a Saviour, by the instru-
mentality of Mr. Robinson's ministry, has been admit-
tc'l into the church by the ordinance of baptism.

At Padang, the missionary prospect appears to be
brightening ; many opportunities having occurred of
circulating tracts and gospels in the Malay language ;
whilst the sciiools have been augmented by several
pupils belonging to native families of distinction, whoso
influonco, at a future period, may prove highly bene-
ficial ; and Mr. Evans, by the exercise of great pru-
dence and a patient continuance in well-doing, has
surmounted many of the difficulties with which he
had formerly to contend, and has conciliated the respect
and fHtocm of the Uutcii authorities in the settlement.
One European has also been baptized ; another has
expressed a desire to follow his example ; and a learned
native, by whom Mr. Evans has been instructed in
the language, has evinced a strong des'.e to become
acquainted with the truths of the Bible.

Very shortly after the events already related, the
island of Sumatra was transferred to the Dutch gov-
ernment, and a considerable change was therefore
made in the condition and prospects of the mission.
Mr. Robinson of Bencoolen became afflicted with
npnpicsy, unn was cofripeiieii, Wiih ins iiiimiy, to
remove to Bengal ; leaving Mr. Ward, for a season,
to distribute the tracts he had prepared, and to super

806

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

intend the schools. In July, 1825, Mr. Burton, with
his family, and the females of the Orphan Institution,
under the care of Mrs. Burton, were compelled, from
a regard to personal safety, to leave Sebolga ; and,
ader a perilous voyage, they reached Calcutta the
following month. When he thus left this scene of
action, he was engaged in compiling a dictionary,
English, Malay, and Batak ; having previously com-
pleted a translation of the Gospel of John. He after-
wards settled at Digah, where he finished his honorable
and successful course. At Padang, Mr. Evans was
not exposed to the same dangers as Mr. Burton ; as
the members of the European government treated
him with much personal respect. But while they
sanctioned his schools, they so far complied with the

obstinate prejudices of the natives, as to impose re*
strictions on the direct promulgation of the gospel ; in
consequence of which, in connection with the bad
state of his health, he returned to EngUnd. As,
however, the prospect appeared for a while to brighten,
Mr. Ward, already mentioned, together with Mr.
Bruckner, was appointed to labor there, and premises
were purchased for the use of the society ; but it was
soon discovered that the political state of the island
was such as to render the suspension of their work
desirable. Still it is gratifying to know, that, after
the cessation of direct missionary efforts, Mr. Ward
was enabled, without expense to the society, to carry
forward, and to complete, his translation of the New
Testament.

CHAPTER VII.

MISSION IN THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA

Iw compliance with the soliciiation of a mulatto
Baptist preacher, named Moses Baker, who had for
some years labored among tlie negroes in Jamaica,
the committee resolved on attempting the formation
of a regular mission in tiiat island ; and, on tiie 8th
of December, I8I3, Mr. John Rowe, a young man
of exemplary piety and diligence, a student in the
college at Bristol, was solemnly designated to the
work of the ministry, with a view to his settling in the
West Indies. On the 31st of the same month, he
sailed, with his wife, from Bristol, and on the 23d of
February, 1814, he arrived at Montego Bay, wlienco
he proceeded to Flainstead, the residence of Mr.
Baker, about twelve miles from Falmouth.

In the month of April, our missionary took a house
at Falmoulii, and opened a school, with tiie hope of
lessening the expenses of the conunittee on his account.
He also opened a gratuitous sabbath-school, for the
children of poor people, and slaves whose owners
would permit them to attend. And previously to his
attempting to preach, he waited <m u neighboring
magistrate, to afiprize him of his design. This gentle-
man not only readily gave his permission, but assured
Mr. Rowe that, so long as he continued to act with
propriety, iic ^miid use liis interest to promote the
objects of the mission ; and, as a proof of his solicitude

for the benefit of tiie school, he placed the child of a
slave under Mr. Rowe's instructions. Preaching was
then regularly commenced, and the persons who
assembled to hear the word of life, both negroes and
white people, conducted themselves with the utmost
decorum and apparent attention ; though a spirit of per-
secution had, for several years previous, raged in the
island, and numbers of the inhabitants wrr o said to bo
stroniily prejudiced against the Baptist denomination.
On the 21st of November, 1815, Mr. Lee Compere,
accompanied by his wife, and two of the members of
Dr. Ryland's church in Broadmead, sailed from Bris-
tol, to occupy other stations in Jamaica, with an
especial view to the instruction of the slaves, and the
children of slaves, under the Sanction of their respec-
tive proprietors. On their arrival, they at first fixed
their residence near Old Harbor, St. Dorothy ; but
afterwards removed to Kingston, at the pressing invi-
tation of the negro Baptists, who are said to amount
to some thousands, in and near that place. Here Mr.
Compere obtained a license from the mayor ; and he
had the pleasing prospect of becoming useful among
those who, as he expresses it, " had been led into
various extravagances and mistakes, for want of some
one to teach them the way ol Uod morn perfectly,
and had been split into parties, under the guidancs

JAMAICA.

of ignorant or unskilful preachers ; though there were
^ among them a considerable number of truly pious
people."

Mr. Rowe,in the mean time, whose conduct, during
his residence on the island, had uniformly evinced his
earnest desire to promote the spiritual welfare of all
around hinj, in connection with the most anxious con-
cern not to give unnecessary offence by taking a step
out of his proper line, was suddenly called from the
field of labor to the enjoyment of everlasting rest.
On the 21st of June, 1816, he left Falmouth for
Montego Bay, apparently in good health ; but on the
86th, he sent a message to Moses Baker, earnestly
desirmg to see him ; and before tiiat venerable preacher
could arrive, he had breathed his last. His wife had
been previously seized with the fever to which he fell
a victim, and was confined to her bed at the time of
his death ; but it pleased God to restore her to health,
and she subsequently returned in safety to Bristol.

Towards the latter end of July, Mr. Compere was
much gratified with hearing that a remarkable awak-
emng had appeared among the slaves on three or four
different estates ; and in the afternoon of the last
Lord's-day in that month, his congregation appeared
to be unusually affected under the Word, which excited
him to pray with peculiar earnestness for the out-
pouring of the Holy Spirit on himself, and on the
people. "1 felt," says he, "as I never felt before,
while speaking of the sufferings of the Redeemer, and
enjoyed an uncommon degree of utterance, accompa-
nied with an agonizing desire of plucking immortal
souls, as brands, from the everlasting burnings. Many
of my hearers also appeared to be exceedingly im-
pressed, and the greater part were bathed in tears."

In a letter, dated January 8, 1817, this missionary
observes, " I had the pleasure, last Lord's-day, of bap-
tizing twenty-two men and twenty-eight women ; and
the next day I administered the same rite to a sailor,
who could. not leave his vessel on the sabbath. I
hope," he adds, " that you will not be deterred from
sending us an assistant, though I cannot, at present,
engas;o that ho could be supported here, except by
the lociety. But surely you should pity our case,
and not send all your charities to the rich and luxuriant
soil of Hindoostan, but consider the barren and deserted
isles of the west. Here are many souls continually
heaving a sigh to England, and, in their broken lan-
guage, crying out, • O buckra ! buckra no care for
poor black man's soul. Buckra know God in England.
O buckra ! come over that great water, and instruct
we poor negro !' "

This affecting appeal to thn foelinss of ths rrstrirr-.U-
tee appears to have been unnecessary, as it had been
already determined that an auxiliary should be sent

811

out ; and on the 7th of February, Mr. James Coultart,
formerly a student at Bristol, was solemnly set apart
for that important service. On the 9thof Mayjie
arrived in Kingston harbor, and in less than a fortnight,
succeeded in obtaining a license to preach among the'
negroes the unsearchable riches of Christ. Both be
and Mrs. Coultart, however, were much grieved on
finding Mr. Compere in such a debilitated state, from
repeated attacks of the ague, that he was scarcely
able to walk across his apartment; and when he
partially recovered, he judged it advisable to quit the
West Indies, and remove to America.

Thus unexpectedly deprived of his fellow-laborer in
the gospel vineyard, and left to sustain the entire weight
of the mission in which he had merely anticipated
employment as an assistant, Mr. Coultart was doomed
to encounter still more serious difficulties, and to sub-
mit to a loss much more afflictive. He was for some
time severely afflicted in his own person ; and toward
the close of September, the partner of his affections
was seized with a violent fever, which, in a short time,
put a period to her mortal existence.

In a letter, dated October 23, 1817, our bereaved
missionary observes, in allusion to this painful event,
" My dear and invaluable partner appeared to have a
presentiment of her approaching release, about a fort-
night before her fatal disease commenced ; and warned
me gently to prepare for the event, assuring me that
it would take place in a %'ery short time. But, in-
stead of thinking of the intelligence so tenderly com-
municated, I anticipated the pleasure of her pious
society for many years. I fondly hoped, that God
would spare a life so eminently devoted to himself;
that he would pity me, and grant me the enjoyment
of the advantage I derived from her holy life, pure
conversation, and fervent and frequent prayers : but
divine goodness lent her for a little while, and the
same goodness has speedily recalled her. She inform-
ed me that she was confident of the favor of her God,
yet, if it were his will, she would gladly live a little'
longer for my sake, as she knew that her removal
would leave me in a very distressing and forlorn con-
dition. I am happy, in some measure, in reflecting on
the character she has left behind. It will prove the
most honorable and lasting monument to her memory.
She was known through a very limited circle ; but her
qualifications for the great work in which she engaged
with her whole heart, commanded respect from all
who had the pleasure of knowing her. She was
interred in Kingston church-yard, where I purchased
a small piece of ground for a burying-place, on account
of no .« hitc pcroon over being buiieij in ijie Baptist
ground. Mr. Man, the rector of this city, performed
the last solemn office, and would have preached a

soe

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

funeral sermon, had not indisposition prevented him.
He employed the Rev. Mr. Phillips, of St. John's,
for that service ; and would receive nothing for his
trouble. He has since sent me a very polite invitation
to his house, which I intend to accept, as soon as I
am sufficiently recovered. I was seized, two days
after my dear partner, with an intermittent feve, , ,"
was obliged to be removed to the house of a mtViatto
lady belonging to our society. The same apoihernry
"and physician attended us both, from whom I learnt
the true state of Mrs. Coultart's health, not being able
to see her, till a few moments preceding her dtiath,
when I made those about me convey me to her room.
It was the most afflicting scene I ever experienced,
but they hurried me away from it. I saw no more of
it, nor could I rise to see her funeral pass. My soul
seems gone up after hers, to the confines of immor-
tality, and wishes it could pass the vale of death,
and see her, in that blessed society which she has
joined.

" Since my last, we have baptized one hundred
and eighty persons, many of whom gave a very pleas-
ing account of the change which they had experi-
enced, and they still continue to adorn tlieir profes-
sion."

Subsequently to the date of this communication,
Mr. Coultart's indisposition increased to such an alarm-
ing degree, that it became indispensably necessary for
him to return, at least for a season, to England. Two
other missionarieswere, therefore, designated for Jamai-
ca, namely, Messrs. Kitching and Godden ; the former
of whom proceeded, in the autumn of 1818, to iiis
place of destination, and the latter sailed from England
early in the ensuing spring.

Their reception appears to have been extremely
kind, and they were encouraged by the circumstance
of the congregation increasing so rapidly, tiiat it became
necessary to enlarge the place of worship, so as to
accommodate two hundred and fifty persons more than
had ever previously attended. Scarcely, however, had
they entered fully upon their labors, and congratulated
themselves on the promising aspect of the mission,
when Mr. Godden was deprived, by a fatal disease,
of his amiable and excellent wife ; and within less
than two months after that afflictive providence, Mr.
Kitching, who had transmitted the " heavy tidings"
to England, was himself numbered with the dead ;
as will appear from the following extract of a letter,
addressed to the Rev. Dr. Steadman, by a friend in
the vicinity of Kinj,.ion, and dated December 23,
1819 :—

to favor Kingston with a faithful minister, and me with
an estimable friend, in the Rev. C. Kitching, late a

pupil of yours, and to whom I know you were sin-
cerely attached ; and I am sure, in communicating to
you the lamentable tidings of his being called to take
up his rest where sin and sorrow are not known, it
will cause a pang, which only the conviction of his
having taken up that rest, can at all alleviate. On
". I's-day, the 5th instant, he felt very unwell indeed ;
J -" bad done so the day before, and had been obliged
to keep his bed nearly the whole of the Saturday, and
on the sabbath morning was so indisposed, that he
had some thoughts of not preaching ; but, fearing lest
a report would go abroad that he was very ill, and he
should, in consequence, alarm those who were inter-
ested for him h^ ''."•irmined on going to the chapel ;
and, as !i axpressed hnuiself nffer his sermon was finish-
ed, felt as if the subject (which was the salvation of
sinners, through Christ the Redeemer) had given him
new strength. As it was the first sabbath in the
month, the death of the dear Redeemer was com-
memorated in the afternoon. I never recollect him
more solemn or affectionate in his address to the people
on the occasion, or more earnest in his persuasions for
their continuing firm in their attachment to Him whose
followers they publicly professed to be. I returned
with him in his chaise to his home. Mrs. Kitching,
from being indisposed, was unable to attend, and I
left him with his dear little infant lying asleep on his
arm, apparently much better than he had b< en through
the day. Circumstances did not permit my seeing
him again until the Wednesday following, and then
only for a few minutes, as it was the evening on
which he met the leaders of the church — ^but he did
not then complain of being particularly ill, although
far from well.

" On Thursday morning he was seized with a violent
head-ache, and every symptom of a severe bilious
attack ; but notiiing serious was apprehended, nor was
medical aid called in until the next day. When the
doctor saw him, he expressed it as his opinion that it
was an affection of the liver, with an accompanying
fever. He continued from this time until his departure
took place, which was on the evening of Saturday,
the 18th, varying but little; sometimes a little better,
and at others worse, and never free from pain entirely ;
seldom able to converse, and always in a state of ex-
treme debility. The state of his mind, however, con-
tinued unchanged, and his latter end was that of a
Christian ascending to Him who claimed him. His
faith in health was fixed upon Him whom it was his
delight to preach ; and in sickness he found Him a
sure and certain help. ' Oh,' said he in his sickness,
t ]tci\it ■»rec!oi!?. is re!ii?ion in mv situation !' Th6 Bap-
tist friends did all in their power, that seemed likely
to be serviceable ; but how vain on such occasions is

JAMAICA.

309

the help of man I Towards his latter moments, the
medicine ho took rather bewildered him ; but at times
he was perfectly collected, and was observed to move
his lips, as if in the exercise of silent prayer. His
last moments were easy, and he scarcely uttered a
groan when his spirit left its mortal tabernacle.

"Thus has been removed from amongst us, one
whose memory will be held precious by those who
had the happiness of knowing him — whose character
can only be estimated by those who had the opportu-
nity of seeing him in various trying situations — and
under the most perplexing difficulties. His loss, as a
friend, is not felt by me alone ; and He who views
the heart, and knoweth it altogether, knows how deeply
it has affected me, and what pain it causes me in
retracing this sad event through its different stages ; —
his loss, as a friend, will be felt by the poor and
afflicted, whose burthens he was ever ready to lighten,

and whose comfort he was ever ready to increase ;

but his loss is greatest to the missionary cause in this
island. Alas ! that is incalculable. Many have been
the tears I have seen him shed, when lamenting the
depravity of those over whose souls he endeavored
to watch ; but it was a high privilege allowed him,
a week before his illness commenced, that, in attending
the death-bed of one of the society, she told iiini that
she owed her hopes in heaven to impressions she had
received under his preaching ; that she was then living
in the open indulgence of sin, and had been recalled
from the iniquitous state she was in, unto the knowl-
edge of Jesus Christ the Lord. Many more, I have
no doubt, will, at the great day, acknowledge him as
the instrument of their possessing eternal life.

" Tlie different magistrates and gentlemen whom
his situation required him to know, highly and sin-
cerely respected him, and placed great confidence in
him. The attachment the people bore towards him
cannot he estimated by a more sure criterion, than
that, at the period of his burial, there were at least
five thousand people present ; and, I may say, not an
eye was dry. About seven hundred walked in pro-
cession after the hearse ; and there were several gen-
tlemen's equipages in attendance. But how shall
I tell you that the same grave contained his dear little
boy, whose three months' pilgrimage te.-niinated on
the same day as his parent ! Thus our dear sister
Kitching is at once a widow and childless ! What
shall we say to these things ? They are, no doubt, the
act of a great and gracious God, who cannot err."

Mr. Coultart, in the mean time, having derived
much benefit from a residence of several months in
England, and having entered a second time into tlie
conjugal state, returned to Jamaica, and resumed his
missionary labors at Kingston, in that island. In his

public ministrations, however, he appears to have suf-
fered severely from the confined limits of the place
of worship, and the heat arising from an overflowing
congregation. Hence he observes, in a communication
addressed to the Rev. Dr. Ryland, " I have had the
curiosity to ascertain the temperature of the pulpit,
when we are all assembled on the Lord's-day, and,
though it stands between two large windows without
glass, it is, on an average, one hundred and twenty
degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer. Is it any won-
der, therefore, that your missionaries die, when you
add to this the dreadful effluvia from the blacks, and
that the doors and windows are as full as if the people
were packed into them ? Yet what can be done ? I
cannot order any of them to withdraw ; for hundreds
go away that cannot hear my voice, and will not come
again, as there is no prospect of accommodation."

At Spanish Town, the scene of Mr. Godden's la-
bors, a most brutal attempt was made, in the month
of July, 1820, to burn that devoted servant of the
Redeemer in his bed ; and though this barbarous
design was happily prevented by the interposition of
Divine Providence, the house in which our missionary
resided was reduced to ashes, and his health, which
had been previously in a delicate state, was much
affected by the alarm connected with so lamentable a
catastrophe. "After attending the prayer-meeting
on the evening of July 17," says Mr. G , " I re-
tired to rest, hoping to witness greater things in the
church in future. But, alas ! in the dead of the night,
my servant alarmed me with the cry of ' Fire, fire '.'
Flames already blazed from a negro house, almost as
high as the branches of a neighboring tamarind tree ;
and on turning my eyes down the street, in a southerly
direction, I saw the shingles of my front piazza on
fire, the flames not more than three feet high. I imme-
diately ran to the front door, calling for water, which
with a saucepan I threw up, and nearly extinguished
the fire. One shingle, however, continued to burn,
in spite of all my exertions, and soon communicated
the flames to a part where they could not be over-
come. Perceiving that the house must inevitably be
destroyed, I ran to the bed-room, slipped on some
articles of dress, seized the drawers which contained
some of my wife's clothes, and two hundred and fifty
pounds belonging to the church, and dragged them out.
When I had proceeded about two yards with my load,
part of the roof and ceiling of the hall fell in with a
dreadful crash, near my shoulder, and effectually cut
off all further communication with the bed-room. I
then assisted in dragging from another apartment the

bonlr-rimpc cnfii nnri cnTo mriii'Ict iU#k Aini.-.n> ^^T «l.:«~1s..
T. " ■"" o"' -"-"o'^^

and ceilings, and quantities of melted lead. I cer-
tainly escaped, that night, with greater danger and

810

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

less warning than Lot from Sodom ; as in five minutes
from the first alarm, I was in the street with all I could
save. Had I slept three minutes longer, another must
have said to you, ' Godden has been burnt in his bed.'
And if the breeze had not providentially subsided as
it did, Spanish Town, on the next morning, would, in
all probability, have presented one scene of desolation.

" The negro house was set on fire by its tenant,
a negro slave of most horrid character, and known by
the name of Old Tom. This fellow fired his master's
premises some years ago, for which he had been long
confined in the work-house. There he again per-
formed the work of an incendiary with impunity, and,
having subsequently got out of his confinement, he
lived with a woman whose freedom he purchased ; and
he now seemed to think he might act as he pleased.
The woman, feeling her consequence, as being no
longer a slave, threatened, as the story goes, to abandon
her paramour, and to get married, and join the Baptists.
It is evident, however, that she never thought of join-
ing us ; her language, of course, was only designed to
irritate, and a woful irritation it has proved in respect
of me. The two fires were so situated, that the direc-
tion of the wind precluded the possibility of any par-
ticles from "the one communicating with the other ; and
it has, therefore, been concluded that the old negro
had kindled both. He was met by some of the per-
sons who were first called to the spot, with two chairs
and some other furniture, apparently unconcerned
about the fire ; and from that time nothing was seen
or heard of him till the Saturday following, when he
was found lying dead, about four or five miles from
town, most liorridly mangled by hogs, dogs, and crows ;
the latter of which had plucked out his eyes. A bottle
and some rum, with a mug, supposed to have contained
poison, together with his clothes and two knives, were
found near and upon him. A coroner's inquest was
subsequently held upon the body, and a verdict was
given, that the deceased had poisoned himself in a fit
of despair."

The following well-authenticated anecdote affords
an affecting proof of the strong attachment felt by the
negro Christians, in the West Indies, toward their
spiritual instructers : —

In the night of the fire at Spanish Town, a female
slave, who had been previously baptized, exerted her-
self greatly in carrying water from the river, in order
to assist in extinguishing the flames. When her
strength was nearly exhausted, she eagerly inquired
of the by-standors, "Where my ministerT" A person
answered, " He has been burnt in his bed." The
poor creature was so affected by this dreadful intelli-
gence, that she fell down and expired immediately,
without uttering another word I

At Kingston, in the mean time« Mr. . Coultart
had commenced the erection of a neat substantial
chapel, situated on lofty ground, near the entrance
into the city, and calculated to hold two thousand
persons. He had, also, many encouraging proofs that
the power of God attended the dispensation of the
word of truth ; as nearly two hundred persons had
been admitted into church fellowship within the space
of twelve months, and the utmost caution appears to
have been exercised in attempting to discriminate
between mere professors and the genuine disciples of
the Redeemer. The artless expressions of some of
these African converts are very affecting. " A poor
slave," says Mr. Coultart, " came to my house one
morning to tell me, ' that his heart trouble him much.'
He burst into tears, saying, ' O, massa, me too bad
for Jesus Christ ; me heart work too strong for him —
it rise up against me — it give me no rest at all — me
try for sleep, it no sleep — it go dis way, it go dat
way — it no go to Jesus Christ at all, massa. O, massa,
what me do, what me do ? Will Jesus Christ let me
perish ?' Here he was so completely overwhelmed,
as not to be able to say any more for a considerable
time ; then, quieting himself a little, he said, with
much feeling, ' Me never do noting good for Jesus,
yet him die for sinners ! O may be, him die for me.'
Another, after relating how her mind had been first
awakened to serious concern, and that a friend to
whom she had communicated her feelings, had advised
her to pray, added, ' She den go back an bow down
on her sinful knee, and tell God she no wish to keep
on sin ; but she no worthy to come, for she had done
no good ting, but only eat sin, and drink sin, and peak
sin, and tink sin, all her sinful life ; and now, massa,'
she said in great agony, and with tears of disappoint-
ment, ' sin no leave me yet, massa ' " The same
missionary relates the following anecdote, tending to
show how highly these poor people value their re-
ligious privileges. " A slave wished his owner to give
him permission to attend with God's people to pray ;
his answer was, ' No, I will rather sell you to any one
who will buy you.' 'Will you,' said he, 'suffer me
to buy myself free, if me can ?' ' If you do, you
shall pay dearly for your freedom ; as you are going
to pray, two hundred and fifty pounds is your price.'
' Well, massa,' said the negro (who knew tlmt the
common price for a slave was about one hundred and
forty pounds), ' it a great deal of money, but me rnust
pray; if God will help me, mo will try and pay you.'
He has been a long time working hard, and at last
sold all himself and his wife had, except his blanket,
to purchase liberty to pray in public, or, in other
words, to meet witli those who love Jesus Christ !"
Who can wonder tlmt, with instances like these in

view, Mr. Coultart should exclaim, " I am really lost
in gratitude ; God is found of many here, who, a very
little time ago, sought not after him. Not an iota
of praise belongs to me; my heart would disdain it.
It is unquestionably God's doing, however marvellous
in our eyes !"

Toward the close of the year, Mr. Coultart was
mduced by the pressing invitation of a friend to pay
a visit to the parish of Manchineel ; and the following
relation of his journey, as given by himself, will, no
doubt, prove acceptable to the reader :

" Manchineel is sixty-thvee miles from Kingston.
The road is remarkably rough, and in many parts
interestmgly dangerous to a good and well mounted
rider. The way I travelled commands, at irregular
distances, an extensive view of the sea, with a variety
of bays and ports, which contain but few English
vessels at this season of the year. The estates are
numerous, and the cane-fields rich in their appearance,
as the time of harvest is near. I had, for miles of my
way, not more than a few inches to spare between
me and a precipice of five hundred feet ! Towards
the interior the view is, in general, very limited, though
at intervals the most varied and delightful prospects
burst upon the eye. I should think that the aspect
of this country is, in general, the most original and
striking of any in the world.

" Set out on Friday from Yillahs, twenty miles from
Kingston, which I rode on the Thursday evening
Reached Morant Bay on the same morning, about
SIX, and remained there during the heat of the day
This place is pleasantly situated, and has a small fort
with guns of very heavy calibre. Port Morant is the
next place of any consequence ; but it has few housps
compared with the latter, and no chapel or church
near, that I could hear of. Bath is the next stage •
but, though a neat and elegant little village, has no
place for the accommodation of travellers. The cotton
trees about this place seemed decorated with ten
thousand living lamps, perpetually shifting their posi-
tion, and now and then dancing, in fairy-like confusion
among the thick and verdant foliage. A stranger
brought from your side of the Atlantic, not having
heard of these earthly luminaries, might have supposed
himself traveUing among the stars. The way to catrli
as many as you please, is to take a fiery stick, and
blow upon It, making a kind of intermitting light, like
that which the files tiiemselves keep up. By the
time I had reached the top of a very high mountain, at
the most easterly part of the island, the sun was just
rising, amidst the inexpressible grandeur of a western
sky, and illuminating with his first ravs the unhmken
bosom of the sea. Whilst waiting beneath a tree, to
shelter myself a little from a heavy shower, I saw, to

JAMAICA. Ijj

my great astonishment, a company of those beetles
called Hercules, rolling some ponderous balls of goats'
dung before them up the hill. The rapidity of their
march was amazing, considering the large size of the
ball they rolled on before them, and the clay, too, which
It had accumulated in passing over the wet ground.
I soon after arrived at the termination of my fatiguing
journey." ■> o &

Mr. Coultart was also induced to make an excursion
^ Montego Bay, where he found the venerable Moses
Baker blind with age. Our missionary was much
gratified with the interview, and received, from the
proprietor of the estate on which Mr. Baker resides,
a most satisfactory testimony to the moral improve-
ment which had taken place among his negroes in
consequence of the pious instructions of that excellent
man. So convinced, indeed, was the gentleman
alluded to, of the advantages resulting from an attend-
ance upon the gospel, that he expressed an earnest
wish for some person to be sent thither, under the
sanction of the Baptist Missionary Society, who might
take charge of the congregation which Mr. Baker was
now unable to supply, in consequence of his years
and attendant infirmities. A Mr. Henry Tripp was
afterwards induced to accept of this situation ; and, as
a pathetic appeal had been made to the committee' on
behalf of the negroes residing at Manchineel, it was
determined to send out a missionary who might instruct
them in the things connected with their everlasting
peace ; Mr. Joshua Tinson, who had been for some
years educating under the patronage of the society,
was accordingly se.ected for this important service.

In the month of August, 1821, a considerable mor-
tality appears to have occurred among the members
of the Baptist church at Kingston, so that no less than
nine persons were removed in the course of one week.
Among these was a female African, named Brooks j
\vho had long adorned the gospel by the consistency
of her walk and conversation, and of whom a highly
interesting account has been published in the Mission-
ary Herald, which is in substance as follows :—

" Her parents, she used to say, were remarkably
fond of her, being their only child : their little hut
was situated at no great distance from the sea : and
she was large enougli to stroll some way from home,
which she did one day whilst her mother was engaged'
in some domestic duty. A party of British sailors,
who had been on the watch for such unoffending vic-
tims, laid hold of her, and carried her on board their
ship. She wept bitterly, under the apprehension that
they would soon eat her, as she could not think of
any thing else they eould possibly do wilJi her. She
was so sad that she could not eat the food they offered
her. The loss of her dear parents, and her fears, so

diS

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

II i

wrought upon her mind, that ^ fever attacked her, and
nearly relieved her from her more degraded oppressors.
After recovering a little, she arrived in Kingston, and
saw some beef in the market. She then said to her-
self, ' Now I see how they cut up we fnor tings to sell
and eat !' The cargo was "ent to America, herself
excepted : her now disconsolate husband was then in
the employ of the person to whom the cargo was con-
signed, and he entreated his master not to send this
young girl away, as she appeared to him rather supe-
rior to the others. After a time she became afflicted ;
God told her mind, she said, that she was a great sin-
ner; she believed it, and felt that poignant distress which
some convinced and hopeless sinners feel. She then
went to a minister, and by him was told to go to Je-
sus Christ, which, after some time, she ventured to do.
Her own words are, ' Massa, me feel me distress, me
heart quite big wi grief, for God no do me no wrong,
him do all good for me, me do all bad to him. Ah,
massa, me heart too full an too hard, me eye no weep,
but someting so gentle come through me heart, den
me eye fill, and God make me feel dot him so good to
notice poor me, dat me tiirow meself down and weep
quite a flood !' The black man wl- had obtained per-
mission for her to stop on the island, now purchased her
from his employer, married her, and went to live at a
short distance from tiie town : but her husband was
not pious ; he persecuted her much, used her badly,
and threatened to put her away because slie prayed.
She said tiiat she often wept and prayed on hiti ac-
count, but he still remained the same impenitent per-
son. One night in particular, when lie fell asleep,
she arose and prayed earnestly for his conversion ;
and soon after she had returned to bed, he awoke,
weeping very bitterly having been disturl)e<l in a
dream. He cried, My wife, my dear wife, get up
and pray for me piwr sinner — you husband lost ! O
him lost !' In the morninj; he was still deeply im-
pressed, and it appears that he was afterwards jiappily
made a subjocl of divine grace. Ilotli he and his wift
were now most exemplary in every Christian duty.
She lived nine, and sometimes twelve miles from
Kingston, but siie was most reB;nlar in her attendance;
an ultciitive hearer, and, during divine service, was
generally biitlied in tears. She had a strong desire to
rend liiu Hiltle, but said, ' she should not live to read
It all .' but she wished to learn two or three verses of
some psalm that suited her. When she heard the first
two verses of the hundred and tiiird, she said, ' Yes,
leuch me these, em help lo pcuk God's gmMlness, for
him so g<x)d (o me poor ting, dat me nc know how to

tell lliin !«n. nnij hi:ii own uijrija bijai.' SKfi liusd !n

learn litem; but she is gone to heaven to repeat them
lo lier good Ixird that the loved so much. She died

of a short illness, an1f w(i»^ when Mr. Coultart saw her
last, insensible from severe fever."

On the a7th of January, 1822, the new chapel at
Kingston was opened, and was both numerously and
respectably attended. Many hundreds of people,
indeed, were waiting for admission an hour and a half
before the commencement of worship ; and when the
doors were opened, the place would have been filled
to excess at the first rush, had not persons been sta-
tioned to keep the galleries clear for strangers. Up-
wards of two thousand persons were numbered within
the edifice, and about five hundred were accommodated
with benches on the outside. Mr. Coultart having
offered some remarks on the reports and other state-
ments of the society, some unknown gentlemen were
induced not only to espouse but to advocate the cause,-
and to solicit the public to support an institution which
appeared " so likely to be advantageous to the gene-
ral welfare." On the first sabbath in March, the
Lord's supper was administered, in the new edifice, to
about sixteen hundred communicants, and Mr. Godden
came over from Spanish Town, to assist in the pleas-
ing solemnities of the day.

Mr. and Mrs. Tinson had, in the mean time, arrived
in safety at Jamaica ; and the former, on visiting Man-
chineel, in company with Mr. Coultart, wis received
with every demonstration of affection and respect by
the poor negroes, at whose importunate (solicitations
he was sent, and with the utmost kwidness and cor-
diality by the worthy rector of the parish, and several
other gentlemen of high respectability. Some unex-
pected difrictillios, however, arose, by which he was
prevented obtaining a license for that parish, and con-
seipiently found it necessary to return to Kingston.
This disappointment, tluujuh not a little painful at first,
seems to have l)eeii <ivcrrule<l for good ; and to have
proved the means of intro'i-icing him to a new and ex-
tensive sphere ol usefulness among the negro popula-
tion of the inolropolis. He found flint, indci'duknlly
of Mr. Cotillnrt's congregation, which, of itself, was
evidently more tlinii enough to nrrii|iy nil hin atten-
tion, and exhaust his sJrengtli, in that oppressive cli-
innle, a lar^e body of colored persons hail been in the
hahit of meeting together for iliviiie worship fur some
years, but under great disatlvnntnges as to the means
of insiniction. From t'lis society Mr. Tinson receiv-
ed, soon after his return from Manchinecl, a very ur-
gent request to settle over tlicm, with u hich he ihought
it his duty to comply. Licenses were reniiii) gniiiled
by the magistrates, both for Mr. Tinson and the pluco
of worship which ho designed to occupy ; and a church

.... f.

n • - 1 '^

which large additions were subsequently made.
Ai s«ion an il was tseertnincd that Mr. Tin'on would

JAMAICA.

remain in Kingston, the committee determined to send
out another missionary, who might be enabled to sup-
ply the necessities of Manchineel ; and Mr. Thomas
Knibb, of Bristol, was solemnly designated for that
new and apparently important station. He according-
ly sailed for Jamaica, with Mrs. Knibb, on the 10th of
Deceirber, 1822, and, by the end of the following
month, arrived in safety. When he landed, however,
he found that both Mr. Coultart and Mr. Tinson were
scarcely recovered from alarming illnesses, and that the
atter was so fully engaged with his own people, that
he could render no assistance to Mr. Coultart, whose
multiplied labors and numerous members, consisting
of two thousand seven hundred persons, rendered im-
mediate help absolutely necessary. A new opening,
too, of the most encouraging nature, had just present-
ed itsell at the neighboring town of Fort Royal ; be-
sides winch, the large free school domantled the ser-
vices of a pious and experienced teaciier. These con-
sideruiions induced the friends to pause before they
could determine on Mr. Knibb's leaving Kingston ;
and after due deliberation, and earnest praver for
direction, they all concluded that it was his duty to
reniaui,— a decision whicii, on being communicated to
the con, .iiiiee, was higlily rpproved.

In a letter, dated March 18, 1822. Mr. Knibb writes
as follows:-" You have, peihnps, been inf„niie,l that
we have opfued a house at l>ort Koyal, about five
miles liom Kingston, on the opposite side of the har-
bor. The place is much loo small to aceoniniodate
those who u.sh to attend. In order to acconnno.late
more, Mr. Coultart has junt purchased a large house,
m an excellent situation, built five years ago, ai.-i
vvbich then cost one thousand five hundred pouiuis.
Me has obiained it for one thousand j.ounds curien.-y,
or rather more than si hundred pounds sterling. It
will hold more than lour hundred neople, quite as
many as we can expect (o attend ; and it is built in
such a manm^r that it could ea^ly be enlarged at a
tnllu,g expense. About three hundred and fifty
pounds remain of the .h-bt of our n. n ,.bap,.|, which
wo expect will be paid in less than l^^o months, i'ort
Hoynl is a very wicked place. A short time ago, it
coul.l \,e wi.h Sodom and (iomorrah in wickedness
Once it was w'x.l.y swall..vvp,| „,, l,y ,„, ,.a,ii„|„„k(^, .
nnd, 111 IHI I. almost the uholo town was consumed by
fire. It will alford sincere pleasure to the friends of
the Saviour to lenm that to these p.oi le the gospel is
now preached. Twenty-one persons are received as
candidates for baptism. It is „ pleasant trip for us in
tt canoe, and we hav.. reason to hope it will be hii'li-
-y -_.ijt.5i.„ ,.,„{„ iicajiti. iho people imv aii ex-
penses." ' •

A letter of the same date, from Mr. Coultart, com-
V oL. I, Not,. 27 &i 2a 4g

8id

municates various instances of the power of religion
among the negroes, as exhibited in that trying hour
when all other aid proves utterly unavailing. '

" We have had much sickness among our members,
01 late, and many deaths, as also some pleasing testi-
monies of their happy prospects. A poor negro man
called to invite me to the sick-bed of his friend • I
went, and found him stretched upon a mattress on the
floor, his hands folded and resting on his breast, with
his eyes shut, apparently in earnest prayer. After the
lapse of a minute or two, he opened his eyes, and.
stretching out his hand, said, 'Ah, massa, you know
Adam ! here him he now: me often hear you voice in
prayer, me often hear you praise— once more, massa
let me hear you voice. O sing, sing de praise of Je'
sus once more ; and den, may be, while you sing, mo
steal away to Jesus.' Placing his wrist upon the finger
points of the other hand, and raising his elbow to give
the hand a rapid descent, so that nothing could rest upon
«t, he said, ' So the world tan wime now ; it ready to
trow me off, but O me hope, me hope, me will den
fa into de arms of Jesus.' Another said, after I bad
talked with him and prayed, and was leaving, ' Fare-
well ! to-morrow, massa, before sunrise on you, me
shal bcnl Jesus,me shall go singing from thi.s bad
"orl.l. These predictions were literally fulfilled,

"A negro woman, at the parish-house, being near
death, .MM-.t for mo. I foun.l her in a very small room
on the floor, with her mistress standing bv. 1 remind-
ed her of her worthlessness. 'O yes, me noting
worth, me know, but me mu,t go to Jesus. So long
me do bad, mo conduct to Jesus very bad ' 1 «aid
'Yes, you deserve bell.' ' C) yos, though mo no know
what hell mean, but if it mean, me ^fMjad forr/«bad,
me deserve to get de worst-but me must hope an try
Jesus. ' Do you think Jesus will receive you ?' < Ah
massa, hini love mc when me well ! yes, him love mo
den, now him send sick, htm no going to trow me off
now. No, no ! now me sick and near do grave, none
care for me like my Jesus.' "

Well may the jiious mi.ssionary who relates these
anecdotes exclaim, " It is worth more than all I rould
name on earth to see such scenes as these. They do
not often occur; but when they do, they morethan
comiiensate for all the past of sorrow."

In the last report of the Baptist Society, it is stated
llinl, 111 the course of the year 182.1. some hundreds
of members were added to the churches in Kingston
under the care of Messrs. Coultart and Tiu.son ; though
tiie former .,f tli..se br.-tluen was, for several months,
unavoidably absent, having been under the ..^i-.f.,}
necessity of conveying Mrs. Coultart to Knglilnd for
the benefit of her health. |„ consequence of the
continued ill health of Mr. Cuidden, and a domestic

814

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

bereavement sustained by Mr. Tripp, those faithful
laborers were also under the necessity of quitting the
West Indies ; and, in order to supply the vacanciiis
occasioned hy their removal, three other missionaries
were sent out by tiie committee, — Mr. Phillips to
Anotta Bay, Mr. Phillipo to Spanish Town, and Mr.
Burchell to Montego Bay. The former of these re-
mained some time at Kingston, during the absence
of Mr. Coultart, and commenced his work on the last
sabbath of 18'23, by baptizing, in the new chapel,
one hundred and forty-eight persons, whose characters
had previously undergone the strictest scrutiny ; and
on the same day, an addition of one hundred and one
persons was made to the second church under the
care of Mr. Tinson. He afterwards proceeded to his
destination, on the north part -of the island, which
presented an extensive sphere of usefulness. Mr.
Phillipo, though disappointed in the first instance
of obtaining a license, was treated with the utmost
respect and kindness by several of the nutgistrates,
and other respectable inhabitants. And ^Ir. Burchell
commenced his public services with such encouraging
success, that the premises occupied as a meeting-house
soon became too small for his congregation ; a spacious
building in the centre of the town was, therefore,
subsequently obtained for the purpose of religions
worship; and, on the las' sabhaili in Feliruary, 1H4I,
he had the satisfaction of forming a small Christian
churMi in this new station.

On the Gtli of April, Mr. Coultart returned to
Kingston, after a safe and pleasant passage, and had
the satisfaction of fnuling all the missionary brethren
and their families in good health ; but within the short
space of three weeks, he was called to witness the
unexpected removal of Mr. Knibb, who was taken ill
on the '2!2(l, and expiriMl on the evening of lh< •J.'ilh.
Of this truly affecting event, Mr. Coultart has given
the following imi)ressive account : —

" l)n llic VVediu'sday prior to his death, our friend
Mr. Knihh came nj) from Port Uoyn', « lien" he had
remained about eight days for the bcnelit of the air :
he breakfasted with us, and seemed in good spirits
and tolenihie lienllh. On the same eveuint', he eoni-
plained of the water disagreeing niili liiin, and had a
restless night. On Thursday morning, I went to see
him, and foimd him nnirh weakened liy the pain of
tiie pretediiig nighl. An apothecary had been with
liim, and returned while I was there : he pronotmced
his complaint the colic, a very eonmion and (lani;eron<<
disease in this country. It wb'* the third allack he
had lUKtained within the space of twelve mnnths.
An medicine *ircved hiefli^ctiiiil 1 did tmi nsf? Iilisi
au,ain until the Sunday evenint;, being exceedimrly
busy ; but I sent a inessenger pretty often, who brought

favorable reports at times, saying the pain had subsided,
only his nights had been sleepless. Mr. Tinson called
on the Lord's-day evening, on his way home from
Mr. Knibb's house, and desired me to step up, as he
perceived a great change, and the physician, for whom
I sent, desired the aid of another. One of the oldest
and most scientific practitioners on the island was
accordingly called in. I was there — he examined his
pulse, or rather the wrist, for the pulse was gone —
his legs were cold to the knees — his hands and arms
clammy and cold — his features lengthened and sharp —
his eyes sunk, and indicating intense anxiety ; yet he
spoke to me with great clearness and strength — told
me his mmd was fixed on Jesus — and that he was
confident of safety : yet it was not a joyous, but a
solenni period. Oh, it ivas a solemn period ! — ho
saw his widow and fatherless babe ; he had previously
taken his leave of them — there was now no cordial
embrace, no kind adieu^ as wight have been expected
at a parting like this. The (irst feelings of eternity had
come u|)on him, and all his wishes and his prayers
were fixed on his own inmiortal soul. The hiccups
came on, an unerring symptom of death. The
palsied hand and slightly contracted fingers, showed
so obviously imd impressively the close of the struggle
with the last enemy, that I think I can never forget
it. The scene has made an indelib'e impression on
my senses. We shall long feel deeply the loss of so
faithful and indefatigable a Christian. May Almighty
(iod sanctify this mysterious dispensation, and direct
the committee to find another to fill the existing
vacancy."

As the stations in Jamaica, from this time, began
considerably to increase, both in number and impor-
tance, it may be desiral>le henceforth to relate the cir-
cumstances connected with each, and then to detail
some fads relating to them generally,

KiNosTON. The place of Mr. Knibb, in this city,
was supplied in January, l>^'i!f, by Mr. W. Knibb, a
younger brother of the deceased missionary, who,
both at Kingston and Falmouth, whore he at pres-^nt
labors, has been eminently uiefid. On the l")lh of tho
fi)llowing month, Mr. Knibb thus uddresseil a friend in
lirisiol :—

*' Through the merciful care of our heavenly Father,
we arrived in safety at Port Morant,on Salinday, the
l'2ih ; and, on the Wednesday following, rpaehed the
spot which is to be the scene of our future labors.
At Port Morani, we were treated with the greatest
kindno'is by a gentleman named F. On tho sabbath,
un anur nlujut f'flv sluvcs who had wiilked sixteen
miles in a burning stm to hear a sermon, many of
whom do not have any thing to eat tho whole day.

JAMAICA.

As soon as we passed Port Royal, a canoe came to
us, which we liad no sooner entered, than—' Please
massa, you massa Knibb ?' ' Yes.' ' Me thought so-
so like your broder ; me be glad to see you ; we
thought you drowned ; we hab been looking for you
dis month.' On lunding, another hailed us— < O ! massa
preacJier come ! Me must carry someting, me be so
glad.' We procured a wherry, and reached Kingston
in less than an hour, where we met with a hearty
reception. The next morning, I visited the school.
The chddreh leaped for joy ; indeed, they could not
refrain from dancing, for a negro must express his joy.
Their writing is excellent, and they appear to improve
greatly. Could you visit the school, you would say,
My dear brother lias not rim in vain, neither labored in
vain. Some of the children have excellent capacities,
and retentive memories. One little girl repeated
several chapters of tiie Bible, and tiie whole of Dr.
Watts's Divine Songs, at one time.

It will afford you sincere pleasure to learn that Mr.
Coultart has obtained permission to preach by candle-
light, (or, rather, oil-light,) which he does every
Thursday evening. I.ast Thursday, the chapel was
filled, and nearly three thousand joined in singing,

' Praine God, from whom all blessings flow, &,c.' "

No less than four hundred and (ifly mendjers were
that year added to Mv. ( "oultarl's church alone ; and on
the (Irst Sabbath in lM>^(],two thousand communicants
met in his spacious chapel to partake of tiie supper
of the Ijord. The day-school cdiiiiiiued to prosper,
•» did also n Sunday-school of two hundred children]
taiigiit by the most respectable persons in the church
and congregation. The church under the rare of Mr.
Tinson, though less favorably situated for a congrega-
tion, also continued to increase.

Soon after this, Mr. Coultart was comp.dled, on
account of Mrs. Coultart's health, to ri'iiiin for a while
to Knuland, during which time the in-ighiuiring mis-
sionaries carried on public worship in his chapel.
Many highly respectable persons attended the public
examination of the children of the school in December,
IH'2r»; and its con<liiciors had the gratification of
stating that many of its lornier pupils had become
members of the church. During this year, abo. a
more convenii-nf chapel was opened for the use
of Mr. Tinsiui's congr-gation. On Mr. Coujtart's
return from Englan;!, he vns honored with still in-
creased success ; but Mr. 7'inson being visited with
domestic affliction, and his own health being iinpairt-d,
ho sailed for the United Stales, and afterwards for

ICnrrlitkitl n*i.l ••...•.. »«._,) 4.^ _ I I 1 ■ ^ .

— —7 '-titirt? lu munvra iannr ariil iinflul-

ness in IH'iiJ. In the year last named, an auxiliary
ta the parent Institution was formed at Kingston, in

818

the presence of several magistrates and members of
the house of assembly ; and a day school for females
was also erected.

But, amidst all these encouraging circumstances, it
is painful to state that the health, both of Mr. and
Mrs. Coultart, was found unequal to the duties which
devolved upon them. For a season, they removed
to Mount Charles, a more healthy part of the island ;
but ultimately they found it necessary to return to
England ; and it is feared that the zealous and suc-
cessful labors of our valued brother, continued for
about fourteen years, will no more be renewed in
Jamaica.

In the anticipation of Mr. Coultart's retirement
from Kingston, the committee were very anxious to
provide a minister, who, if the church should concur
in the appointment, might succeed to the charge of
that important station. It seemed highly desirable to
find one who should combine with other requisites for
the oflice a degree of experience in pastoral duties.
Their attention having been directed to the Rev.
John Shoveller, formerly of Penzance, whose charac-
ter and talents are advantageously known in many of
our churches, it was ascertained that the suoject had
previously rested with considerable weight on his own
mind ; and, after mature consideration, .'le felt him-
self called on to undertake this service, and sailed for
Jamaica in the month of March, 1831. He arrived
at Kingston on the .30th of April, and the impressions
made on his mind by what he saw and heard may be
learnt from the following extracts of a letter under the
date of June 6tli : —

" My time is fully occupied, and it is a blessed
occupancy. I feel that 1 am living usefully, and
should it please our Lord to jireaerve my health and
strength, I believe that I shall be ns happy in this
service as I can expect to be on this side heaven.
Yesterday was a delightful day ; the attendance in
fliis capacious chapel most numerous ; the people
devoutly attentive ; and many of them evidently much
affected under the preaching of the word. In the
afternoon, when they stood u|) by hundreds to sing,
after partaking of the brei'd and wine at the Lord's
table, the hymn,

• How swpptly ftwAil in tho pUce,
With ChriHt within Uio duors,' &c., *

and especially the verse,

' Wo long to ioo thy churchci (\ill,' &c.,

my heart truly thrilled within me at witnessing the
wonderful grace of God.

'• I am much interested with tho simple evangelical
piety of many of the black people. Here are Chris-
tians uf various altainmunts and (^ifts, as it is witli you

tl«

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

in England ; but the doctrine of the cross is the solace
of them all. During the past three weeks, I have
been much engaged in the quarterly renewing of
tickets for communion, so that I have had an oppor-
tunity of conversing witii several hundreds of members
and inquirers. I find the knowledge and the power of
expression among the people very various, and many
are more shrewd und intelligent than I had expected.

" Those who have had much intercourse with the
white people, do not so much use the negro dialect.
You would, however, be much interested, I am sure,
with the remarks of some of the poor people both of
town and country. ' I hope,' said I to one of them,
'you love the Lord Jesus.' 'Oh! yes, my dear
massa, me must love him — he first loved me — him too
good to me — took upon him the sins that was to con-
demn me.' I'o another, ' Well, my friend,' said I,
'whom do you trust to for your salvation?' 'Ah!
me trust to Massa Jesus Christ.' On asking anotiier
if he loved the Saviour, ho took off his hat, and show-
ing me his gray woolly head, ' Ah ! Jesus,' said he,
'take care'of me long time, when I was taken from
Africa, and bring me to the gospel, and take care of
me till now : — me must love him.'

" I am much interested with the schools here, and
Lave now a class of the best scholars of both sexes,
who come to uk- once or twice a week to .spend nii
hour for religious instruction. Some of these are |
black, others cliildren of color. I anticipate, in <!e-
pendencc on the divine blessing, some useliiliiess from
this exercise."

The last report of the slate of the second church
in Kingston, informs us that it continued in a very
prosperous condition. Sixty-seven, during the year,
had been added to its mniiber, besides fit'ty-seven
otliers lit Yallahi, a station to which a inort' distinct
reference will be shortly made. A remark made by
our respected brother, Mr. Tinson, when speakinif of
the accounts given by candidates for church feliowsiiip
prior to their ndinission, deserves attention, (>spcciHlly
as wo conceive it applies, generally, to the ncicro eon-
verts. " In many instauce«, where tin- greatest mental
poverty prevails on almost every suhjcrt but religion,
the irradiation of mind manifested in regard to divine
things is evidently such as nothing but the Spirit of
God c-ould imparl."

Hef.;rLMvi- i<ave this interosiing station ul Kingston,
we must introduce to our readers several interesting
anecdote? ronnrrtrd with it, e»en thoui;h it may
compel us to abridge our accotmt of other places.

In a letter, written by Mr. Coultart to Dr. Myland,
^Aer mentioning that, at the close of lrt4<|, he had

,»«|iltiM-.! uiw iiuiuircd ariii ihiriy prrsims, making a || luce looking towards the l>oly UwcJIing-placo ol (»od,
total, during the year, of four hundred and fifty, — H hii eyei shut, and hii tongue moat devoutly telling

he proceeds to narrate the following affecting inci-
dent : —

" I called, the other evening, upon one of our poor
members, that was supposed to be dying. I asked

him how his mind was ; what his thoughts of death

' Quite happy,' was his reply, < and ready to go.'
I said, ' Take care ; don't deceive yourself; you have
been a vile sinner, a sad, worthless creature, both to
God and his church ; take care, don't build on the
sand.' Ho seemed astonished for a minute or two,
and was silent ; then, as if he had collected all his
energy, and free! himself from the hand of death, he
sprang up on his bed, saying, ' No, minister, no ; 1 am
not deceived ; you are clear of my blood.' I said,
' Let that be to me ; your time is short ; ask God to
forgive you for Christ's sake ; let nothing take your
attention from Jesus i.ow ; cry to him till you feel his
love.' 1 prayed with him, and left him. In a day or
two, some one car again, and said he was dying.
I hastened to his jd-side. There stood his friends,
and his weeping companion sat by him on the bed.
He was dreadfully convulsed, and when he opened
his eyes and saw me, he cried out very loud, ' Minister,
bless you ; 1 am safe ; Jesus Christ has not forgotten
a poor, wicked, worthless sinner. No, I am a dying
man : but thank thee, O Saviour, for the gospel, for
thyself; come, and take poor me. — Come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly.' My heart leaped for joy to see this poor
lilnrk brand plucked out of the fire. 1 never saw
such ecstasy in death before — looked on him in his last
agony in amazement, and said, ' Surely the blood of
(Jlirist speaketh better things than that of Abel.' i thank
(jod 1 crossed the Atlantic to see this, to receive the bles-
sing and the delightful testimony of this poor descend-
ant of Canaan, going where there is no more curse."
Mr. Coultart thus writes : —

" Kingston, Manh 17, IH^t?.

" On Easter Sunday, we hope to baptize about
seventy persons, who have been seriously examined as
to their faith and practice, some of whom have given us
pleasiiiK satisfaction as to their fitness for the fellowship
of saints. One old man was asked if he ever prayed.
His reply was, ' Yes, massa ; how can me lib (live)
without |)rny r' ' Many do livi-, it was rciiiaiked, who
never pray ; und ynu once did not pray.' ' Yes, ma.ssa,
but since mo know myself, me no able to lib if me do
not pray.' ' I a?u glad to hear you say so: well, you can
make me hear what you say when you pray to CkmI.
' Yes, inassn wish it.' ' I shall bo glad to hear.' Hero
he stands before my vision still ; his hands lifted up
and rlaspod in each other, his wrinkled and latooed

JAMAICA.

Hun who hears prayer, that he is a poor neger, and
did not know how to speak to one great God who
make ail tingt. ' But do, oh ! dou great God, cut de
string of dy poor neger's dumb tongue, dat liiin may
peak de trut (truth) ! Oh I opan him blind eye, dat
hmi may see into him own heart ! Lord, open him
deaf ear, dat him may hear a Jesus peak to him, an
take Jesus, de Son of God, into him heart ! O Lord,
dy poor neger come to dee ; neber let him go again ;
hold hvmfasi, hold him fast, good Lord, for Jesus'
talc, !'

"Another old member, a Mrs. K., wlw has been
long afflicted, has been recently removed to the world
ol spirits. Her sufferings were so severe, that she sel-
dom closed her eyes in sleep, yer she enjoyed an amaz-
tngporcton of happiness during the decay of her earth-
ly house. It was remarked that siie had suffered long.
Ves, shti said, ' a little time in pain seem long to we
poor tings; but God been so good, ,lat ilc time no
seem so lieavy, an me been looking ebery day for de
blessed Jesus to come and fetch him poor servant.' It
was said, • Do you feel assured you shall be for ever
where Jesus is?' ' Yes,' she answered, ' Jesus pur-
chas-; me wi him blood ; and though me a poor ting,
and no sarvis to any one, yet him love me, and him
won t ding me away. Yes, niassr, I shall soon bo
wid Jesus, and den I shall get some rest. Yes, yes,
liini i>oor sarvaiit will soon be in him bosom— him too
good, hiin too good r It is impossible to say what I
felt (o see her so emaciated, so dci'i Iv afflicted that
she cauld scarcely breathe; yet to inysdf and Mr.
Kiiibb she spoke will, such energy as to surprise us
mto tears. Religion, had it done no more than this,
has procured one happy exit from der.tli to life, one
glorious iriumph for a daughter of Ham, on whom the
curse of slavery rested heavily for many years.

" Mr. Kiiibb lias just sent me his account of the
same person, w bom ho .saw a day or two later than I
did, as 1 was laid up with a slight fever at the time.

I transcribe what of it differs from the above. " A

day or two before her death, I found her lying on a
•nat, her head supported by a chest, which I suppose
contauied her little ail. As 1 entered, she attempted
to raise her emnriated frame, but wns unable. Her
eye glistened with delight when she said, 'Oh
massn, me glail to see you. 1 have prayed I might
not vii-. !,, : :■ I tell you how good Jesus is— him too
good, hi.n too good.' 1 endeavored to impress upon
her niM; a sense of her uuwortliiness. 'Oh, me
kiio.-. w,' g(M)d for noting ; but Jesus die for me, and
me no afraid to die an go to him.' 1 prayed with her,
and, taking her hand as I came away, 1 snid, « My
Irieiid, I wish you aiialMindaiil eiitrnnce into the king-
dom of God's dear Son !' She smiled, and said, ' Say

dtT

how dye (faiewell) for me to me minis' Mr. Coul-
tart ; tell him that I wish him may have iwo crowns
when him come to heaven.' I was told by a near
neighbor, tftat when she was unable to rise, she would
be earned to the door, and thare, in prayer with her
fellow servants, recommend that Jesus who was her
all. Even this one instance of the love and tender
mercy of Christ Jesus to a sinner, was worth crossing
the Atlantic again to witness. How thankful should I
be that a good God has blessed my labors !"

One anecdote more, in connection with Kingston,
and we will pass on. A minister in England forward-
ed, several years ago, the following narrative to the
secretary of the society : —

" Some few years since, I was preaching at Plym-
outh, -vhen a request was sent to the pulpit to this
effect:— 'The thanksgivings of this congregation are
desired to Almighty God, by the captain, passen-

gers, and crew of the , West Indiaman, for

their merciful escape from shipwreck during the late
awful tempest.'

" The following day, I went on board the vessel,
accompanied by some pious friends from the shore,
and, in conversation with the jiassengers, a lady thus
expressed herself:-^ Oh, sir, what an invaluable bless-
I ing must personal religion be! Never did I see it more
I exemplified than in my poor negress, Ellen, during the
dreadful storm. When we were tossed to the heavens,
and sunk again to the depths, and expecting every
succeeding wave would break over the vessel, and en-
tonil) us all, my mind was in a horrible state— I was
afraid to die— I could not think of appearing before
God but in dread dismay— Ellen would come to me
and say, with all possible composure, ' Never mine,
missec, look to Jesu Christ— he gave— he rule de sea
— be pre])arfd to die.'

" ' And when, sir, we neared the shore, and were at
a loss to know on what part of the coast we were got,
fearing every minute to be dashed to atoms on the
rocks, my mind still in a most distracted state— I fear-
ed to die— I know nothing of religion,— poor Ellen,
with the .same composure as before, came to mo and
said, ' Uon't be fear, misseo— look to Jesu Christ-
he do rock— no shipwreck on dat rock— he save io the
utmost— don't be fear, missec- look to Jesu Christ.'
I determined, 1 hope in divine strength, that if ever
we reached the shore in safety, I would seek to pos-
sess that religion which so supported the heart of a
poor negro in the midst 'S such dreadful circumstances.'
" Of course (continued the minister) I wished to
see this poor, yet rich, African. She was ctdled to
the cab.in, bs;t as I wished our conversaiion to }.» iieiird
by the sailors, I desired her to go on deck, which she
did, and wo followed.

818

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETV.

" Mniiter. ' Well, Ellen, I am glad to find that
you know something of Jesus Christ.'

" Ellen. ' Jesu Christ, massa ! — Oh, he be very
good to my soul : — Jesu Christ ! — Oh, he very dear
to me.'

" Minister. ' How long is it, Ellen, since you first
knew the Saviour, who is so precious to you ?'

" Ellen. ' Why, massa, some time ago, me hear
Massa Kitching* preach about de blessed Jesu. He
say to we black people, de blessed Jesu come down
from de good world ; he pity we poor sinners. We
die or he die — he die dat we no die — he suffer on de
cross — he spill precious blood for we poor sinners.
Me feel me sinner — me cry — me pray to Jesu, and he
save me by precious blood. Oh 1 Jesu Christ very
good — he save me.'

" Minister. ' And when did you see Mr. Kitching
last, Ellen ?'

" Ellen. ' Missee Kitching, sir, de fever take him
— he lie bed — he call we black peoples his children-
he say, Come round de bed, my children ; — ho den
say, My children, I go to God — meet me before my
God ; I go to God — meet me before my God ; and
den he fall asleep.'

" Minister. ' Oh then, Ellen, Mr. Kitching is dead,
is he ?'

" Ellen. • Dead, sir ! Oli no, Rfassa Kitching no
die ; he fell aslooi), and he sleep till do trumpet of the
archangel wake him, and den he go to God. Ycs,de
trumpet of the archangel wake him, and den he go up
to God. Massa Kitching no die, ho fall asleep.'

" Enviable ChristiiHiiiy, which enables a poor African
to regard death as a sleep, from which the aichangel's
trump will awake, and summon to the eternal society
and enjoyment of that prcciou.-s Redeemer, whom,
having not seen, I l;ope we love."

From Kingston, the capital of the island, we turn
to the Yai.lahs, to which a reference has been already
made. It is situated about twenty miles from the city
just named ; and the church was commenced in IS.W,
by the occasional preachingof .Mr. Tinson, who speed-
ily collected a large congregation. It is a subordinate
station to the second church at Kinf:,ston, and contain-
ed, in April, IS.'Jl, one hundred and three members.
It has not jet been fmored with a pastor exclusively
devoted to its interests.

!' is prohahlc that the annexed account of the origin
o<" this station, us fiirnishi'd by Mr, Tinson to Mr.
Dyer, in a letter dated July 15, 1830, may be inter-
esting to our readers.

'• Since we came back,! have opened a new station

■ Mr. Cl.rintniilicr Kilching, who died tt Kiiimton. D«c<.iubar
W, Iblit.

at Yallahs, about nineteen or twenty miles from Kings-
ton, where I preach once a fortnight. We had mem-
bers belonging to our church in that neighborhood, but
they could seldom attend in Kingston. Much interest
has been excited, and some opposition ; but the latter
has only increased the former, and God is blessing the
word abundantly. Many come to hear ; and on the
27th ult., I baptized thirty-eight persons, and, with
thirty dismissed from our church in Kingston, formed
them into a church at Yallahs. Although the day was
exceedingly wet, the place could not hold the people.
On the Saturday, some of our poor friends from the
estates employed the day allowed them to work their
grounds, in preparing for the baptism. We had some
difficulty in fixing on a place for the administration of
the solemn rite, as we could not venture into the sea,
from the heavy swell which generally prevails on that
part of the coast. We at last determined on baptiz-
ing in the river, close to the sea beach, an excellent
place formed by the sea wasiiing the sand inte the
river's mouth ; but our friends hesitated at first, being
told that a large alligator had been seen there a few
days before. Assured, however, that if there were
alligators in the liver, they would not attack us, unless
greatly provoited, and having no intention to provoke
them, we commenced our preparations. Three booths
were erected on the beach, the river was explored, to
ascertain its depth, the nature of its bottom, &ic., and
rods were fixed, to diow how far and in what direc-
tion it was necessary to go, to obtain a sufficient depth
of water and a secure footing. Early on the sabbath
morning, we repaired to the place; it had rained heav-
ily nearly the wliole night, and the morning was very
wet ; hui there had never been a baptism intheneigh-
boriiood before ; many of the people had never seen
the ordinance administered, and had heard strange
things concerning it — that we dipped the persons three
times in a .state of nudity, with their heads downwards
&ic., so that great interest was excited ; and, notwith-
standing the inclemency of the weather, we had a
huge concourse of spectators. The greatest solemni-
ty prevailed, and I hope the Lord was with us of a
truth. I have more than once bapti/.ed above a hun-
dred at u time, hut never before do I renieiid)er feel-
ing sufh pleasure in administering the ordinance as I
did on this cK-casion. Several, who never witnessed
the ordinance befi)re, on being asked what they thou '>»
of it (for our peoj)le are not backward in making such
inquiries), replied, it appeared exceedingly scdeinn
and impressive. We saw nothing of the alligator,
tiiough one was caught the same day a little distance
from the river, measuring about eleven feet in len;.;lh."

Spanish Town will next claim our attention. This

JAMAICA.

place, situated about fourteen miles from Kingston,
has a population computed at ten thousand, and is the
seat of the government. We have already noticed
the formation of the church by Mr. Godden, and have
seen that Mr. Philiipo became his successor, who yet
continues to fill the pastorate. The commencement
of his ministry was somewhat discouraging. He was
called for a season to labor under ill health ; and hav-
ing surmounted this, an attempt was made, which,
however.was effectually resisted, to compel him to serve
in the ranks of the military ; and when this difficulty
also was overcome, his chapel was found exceedingly
inconvenient, and a barrier to his extended usefulness.
Anew place was erected, and handsome contributions
were made towards the expense tiius incurred, both by
many white gentlemen in the neighborliood, and the
slaves themselves. Schools were established on an
extensive scale ; and at one period not less than thirty
children of Jewish families were included among their
pupils. Mr. Baylis was sent, in 1826, to the assist-
ance of Mr. Philiipo, with whom he remained till the
new church at Mount Charles needed his assistance,
when lie was sue -eded by Mr. Andrews, a young
man baptized on the spot, who had previously been
engaged in conducting schools in the army. In 1828,
not less than four hundred and twenty-five persons
were received into the church ; all of whom, by their
examinations before admission, and their consistent
conduct after it, gave ground to hope they were sav-
ingly acquainted with divine truth. Between three
and four hundred children are taui;lit in the schools on
this station. Mr. P.'s health, however, has latterly
greatly suffered in consequence of his unwearied ex-
ertions, and the society hope shortly to be able to
render him effectual assistance. This, indeed, would
have been given before now, but for the sudden and
affecting death of Mr. John Gritlith, a short time ago,
only a few days after his arrlvid on tlin island.

We nmst now ijroreed to relate one or two interest-
ing facts connected with Spanish Town, and then pass
on, remarking by the nay that the church here con-
sists of more than one thousand members, and that it
has subordinate stations at Garden Hill, Passage Fort
and Kiiigswood.

A year or two since, Mr. Philiipo writes : — « A few
days ago, when meeting with several female members
of the church, according to weekly custou), for the
purpose of inquiring »•> to their religious ex( jrienrc,
and niKuit the texts, liic. of the preceding sabbath, I
thought it my duty to reprove one of them, an old negro
woman, for being so siddom able to repeat them. On
this she rose up and thus addressed me, witli n\\ »ho
marks of natural eloquence, the tears starting from her
eyes as she spoke :— ' Me dear minisia, me no able for

819

■*)^
remember de tex. Me henry de word, and drink him
down, fast as minista can speak, an me go home— no
say rotin to no passon— shut meself up in de room-
say. Now me link on de tex, an carry to minista— But
O, me sweet massa ! me head too bad— him can't car-
ry notin. Me heary de precious word— me feel de

precious word — me understand de precious word an

me rejoice when me heary it, but till (still) me no able
for recollec it, me heart so hard— debil so busy, him
tief de word out me heart, make me cry. Massa, me
poo ting, me no able for read none at all, ebery ting
me had, me would give to read God's word like de
dear childrens in de cool, den me would read de tex
two three times, till him no lif (leave) my mine (mind).'
On my asking why she had not endeavored to read
before she was so old, and why she had not got one of
the school children to read to her, she replied—' Me
do beg one boy to go some time, but been (since) me
old free woman, no able for work much, me wants to
heary de Bible read all day long. Me minista I me
wants for pend me whole time now for sarve me pre-
cious massa Jesus, an when sometime me no fine one
boy for read to me, meself take up de Bible, open it,
hold it to me eye so (taking up a book, holding it
close to her eyes, and looking at it intensely), and den
when me fine me can't understand, me trow it on de
table, sit down and cry— yes, me massa, me poor
neger quite sorry him no know.'

" This I believe," adds Mr. Philiipo, « to have
been the sincere expression of this poor creature's
heart; nor is it the only instance of the kind I have
witnessed. Numbers I have heard express the same
regret, as deeply, though perhaps with less emotion."
In January, 1830, a letter from Mr. Philiipo to the
connnittee in England contained the following intelli-
gence : —

" Last sabbath day, I baptized one hundred and
twenty-three persons ; and many more are waiting to
testify their attachment in a similar manner to him
who hath loved them, and, I trust, washed them in
Ins blood. It may be thought that, by the admission
of such numbers, sufficient caution is not exercised by
the church in receiving them as candidates ; but let
me assure you that, to the best of my knowledge, I
have never administered this sacred ordinance to one
from whom I could have conscientiously withheld it.

" The following will give you some idea of the spirit-
ual knowledge which most of thorn manifested at their
examiniition before the church a few J.iyg ago.

"Minister. 'You profess to love and serve the
Lord Jesus Christ. What do yu love and serve him
for ?*

" Candidate. 'Him pill him precious blood to re-
deoni«««,'o poo 'sinner, n)as»u.'

320

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

[!i

" M. ' How do you know that he shed his blood
for you ?'

" C. ' Because me is poo sinner, and me no lub
him once, but truly feel me lub him now.'

" M. ' Then you did not always love him ?'

" C. ' No, massa ; me no always lub him, for true —
rae love de world and de tings of the world, but me
no like for heary bout Massa Jesus, none 'tall.'

" M. ' Do you like to hear about him now ?'

" C ' O my massa ! who me like for heary bout,
if no like for heary bout Massa Jesus ? Him too good
to me poo sinner.'

" M. ' What first stirred you up to pray ?'

" C. ' Me go to chapel, and heary minister sa,
' Xept ye repent, ye all likewise perish ;' an me feel
mucli upon it ; feel me no do one ting right ; and
if me dead, me go to hell ; and beg one broder for
set me off to pray to Massa Jesus to have mercy on
me poor soul.'

" M. ' And do you think that God has changed
your sinful heart ?'

" C. ' Me hope so, massa. Me feel myself poo
sinner till : worser and worser me seem for get ebery
day ; but me heart fix pon precious Massa Jesus, and
me pray me for dead sooner den me no lub and sarve
him.'

" M. ' But how is it that you are getting worse, if
you have a new heart ?'

" C. ' Massa, me no know — me feel two sometin^
widin me, one good, turra bad — me heart go and come ;
him neber tan pon one ting good. Sometime one sa,
Tom, go to chapel ; — turra one sa. Me no go to-night,
me quite tired, and de ground wet and cold. Sometime
one say, Tom, pray and tank Massa Jesus ; — turra
one sa. Him too late for pray now, must tan till
morrow. So, massa, me can't tell mesclf sometime
what me is.'

" M. ' Have you felt more happy, since you have
made a profession of the religion of Jesus, than be-
fore ?'

" C ' O yes, my massa ; befotiuio, when me sick,
me fraid for dead ; but me no fraid for dead again.
Massa Jesus take away him ting ; so liim no able for
hurt one a de little ones who believe in him.'

" M. ' And do you really think that you are one
of tliiif little flock w'lom he will make victorious over
death r'

" C. ' Massa, me tndy feel me poo miserable sinner,
no able for to do any ting good in him sight, but me got
no oder to call upon, nedder to |)ut my trust in, but
Massa Jesus, and in de precious blood. Don't him
say, iiim no oast out none dat come to him ?'

" M. ' Wiio is Jesus Christ C and liow do you know
that he is able and willing to forgive your sins ?'

" C. ' Him de Son of God, and don't massa self
tell us him neber turn poor sinners from de door of
mercy ?'

" M. ' As you say you take no more pleasure in
the things of the world, what do you delight in
now ?'

" C. ' Me lub Jesus Christ now, and for do him
commandment. Me lub me church — me lub me
broder and sister — me lub for heary God's word — me
lub for sing and pray — and all ting, massa, and me
own heart tell me, me precious Massa Jesus lub.'

" M. ' Why do you wish to be baptized ?'

" C. ' To pattern after Massa Jesus. Him bury
under de water, rise up again, so me wish for follow
him.'

" M. ' Do you think that will help to wash away
your sins, and make you more prepared for heaven ?'

" C. ' Only Massa Jesus' blood wash away my
sins, and make me fit for heaven. Baptize, dat make
de world 'linow me no belongs to dem again, but me
take up de cross, follow Massa Jesus.'

" M. ' What do you think of the Lord's supper ?
Is it, think you, the real body and blood of Christ
that you see on a sacrament-day on the table ?' .

" C. ' No, it only bread and wine to remember us
dat like massa broke de bread, so Massa Jesus body
was broke for we ])oor sinner, and de wine show wo
how him blood pill for we too.'

" iVf . 'Well, if we were to receive you into the
church, do you think you would have any duties to
perform towards it ?'

" C. ' Yes, massa. Me mus'nt get grief when me
broder and sister tell me do wrong — me must lub mo
minister — all me broder and sister, — tend me church
regular, and do all me can for bring all de poo sinner
like meself, sillin in de cave of darkness, to Jesus
Christ.' "

We have already seen that in 1822, the missionaries
at Kingston began to preach the gospel at Port
Royal, situated about six or seven miles from that
city ; and which, till it was nearly destroyed by a
treniencious eartli(juako in 1()!M5, was considered the
capital of Jamaica. Many persons from this place
for a while attended at Kingston ; but the congregation
so greatly increased, that, in 1H'2(>, a church was form-
ed here, and Mr. Knibb, now of Falmouth, \in(lertook
its charge. The cause has continued to flourish, the
cliapel has been enlarged, and, though Mr. Knibb has
been removed froni the station, evidences arc yet af-
forded that the faitlifid word is not published in vain.

We now solicit the attention of our readers to the
churches at Old Harbor, and Vebe. At the former

JAMAICA.

331

place, Mr. Phillipo appears to have commenced
pn^aching about the year 1825, when a new chapel
was erected at the expense of individuals residing in
the neighborhood. He was . 'terwards assisted in
these labors by Mr. Baylis, when he resided at Mount
Charles. In 1829, Mr. H. C. Taylor, who had re-
sided in the island, as a catechist, under the direction
of a kindred society, having become a Baptist, was
ordained over a church formed about the same time.
Here, and at Vere, where a church has since been
formed, he is very busily employed, with very delight-
ful success ; having the charge of from five to six
hundred members, more than one half of which were
added during the past year.

As one specimen, among many others, of the ten-
dency of slavery to harden the heart, and the power
of religion to enable a man to bear up under persecu-
tion for Christ's sake, we may refer to a fact mentioned
by Mr. Taylor, in a letter dated October 7, 1830 : —
A member of his church a short time before " was
convicted of the crime of ' preaching, as they term it,'
sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and to be
flogged. The latter part of his sentence was executed,"
saya Mr. Taylor, " very severely, as his poor back
evinces by scars which extend from his ears down to
his loins ; the consequence of which was, he was dis-
abled for some weeks, and his life was in danger. He
is now better, bears up with Christian fortitude, and is
laboring under prison discipline." Every reader will
feel indignant at the idea of such outrages being com-
mitted under the sanction of law, and ardently long
for the period, we trust not far distant, when justice
shall be rendered to those who have so long borne the
iron yoke.

More than one reference has already been made to
Mount Charles, the circumstances of which we
advert to for a moment. It is an inland situation,
about 20 miles north of Kingston ; its air is considered
very healthy, and it stands very conveniently for the
attendance of large congregations. A plot of ground
was purchased here, in 1825, for tlie erection of mis-
sionary premises, and many, persons on the spot con-
tributed liberally for the promotion of the object.
In 1827, a church was formed, and Mr. Baylis, who
had previously assisted Mr. Phillipo at Spanish Town,
became its pastor. Nearly one hundred and forty
persons ware baptized here the first year. Sabbath-
schools hive since been established, and a subordinate
station entered on at Sion Hill. Mr. Baylis has f ince
removed ti> Port Maria.

MoNTEGo Bat, a town of great commercial im-
portance, V/ith a population estimated at six thousand,

and situated in a parish containing twenty-five thousand
negroes, next invites our attention. In 1823, Mr.
Thomas Burchell was sent out from England, and
fixed his residence at this place, commencing his labors
with a very pleasing prospect of success, though he
formed his church with but twelve members. He soon
found it necessary to obtain a more extensive chapel,
and procured a large building in the centre of the
town, formerly used as a court-house, and afterwards
as a theatre. He met with much opposition, over
which he eventually triumphed. Very large congre-
gations attended ; urgent and repeated applications
were made from neighboring towns for religious in-
struction ; to which Mr. Burchell attended, as far as
possible, till his health became seriously injure'' ; on
which account he was compelled to visit England.
While there, he collected considerable sums of money
towards the erection of a spacious new chapel, which
also was soon crowded with attentive hearers, a great
number of whom gave decisive evidences of conversion
to God. Talents for usefulness discovered themselves
among the members of the church, and the stations at
Putney and Gumey's Mount are now supplied from
Montego Bay with Christian instruction ; while Fal-
mouth, and Crooked Spring, originally supplied in this
way, have now separate churches. Efforts so great
as these demanded help, and Mr. Mann was sent out
to assist Mr. Burchell, who labored, first here, and
afterwards at Falmouth, for about four years, with
distinguished success ; when, after only a fewdays' ill-
ness, he was removed to his rest, February 17, 1830.
The last Report of the society, read in June, 1831,
states that, " The attention of Mr. Burchell has been
much occupied by various arrangements respecting
chapels, &c., at the various and rapidly increasing
subordinate stations in that part of the island. Still
his ministry is greatly blessed ; and, although several
hundreds have ceased to attend at his chapel, in con-
sequence of having been provided with the means of
grace nearer home, they can scarcely find room for
the numbers who flock to hear the gospel. Seven
years have not elapsed since Mr. Burchell formed the
churclt in that town, with twelve members only, in a
small upper room ; now, the whole area of a buHding
seventy feet square hardly sufllces to contain those
who come together to commemorate the death of their
Lord ; the church comprises upwards of fifteen hun-
dred members, besides ' inquirers' to a still greater
number. We are grieved to add, that some of those
very men, whose slaves are taught, not only the fear
of God, but honesty and sobriety also, so far from
being sensible of their obligations to Christian mis-
sionaries, are devising new methods of vexatious
molestation. A local tax of considerable amount has

Vol. I— Nos. 27 & 28.

322

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

been imposed on the chapel ; and, as Mr. Burchell
pnperly declined the payment, until he could ascer-
tain the legality of the impost, the lamps used for their
erening worship have been seized, and sold by public
auction ! Continual exertion has greatly weakened
Mr. Burchell's constitution, originally very robust -
but it is hoped that the addition of Mr. Gardner, who
joined his brethren on the north side of the island at
the beginning of the year, will considerably diminish
the necessity for his travelling, which, under the burn-
ing sun of Jamaica, is attended with no small danger
to health, and even to life itself"

Mr. Burchell has, since that time, again visited Eng-
land for the benefit of his health.

From the many interesting anecdotes connected
with this place, illustrative of the blessings of faith in

Christ, we select the following two or three :

" During the period of persecution to which we
shall hereafter more fully advert, two persons, connect-
ed with Mr. Burchell's congregation at Montegobay,
had their houses levelled with the ground, tiieir feet
made fast in the stocks, and were sent in chains to the
work-house, charged with the heinous offence of pray-
ing to the God of heaven. One of these, however,
proved so completely incorrigible, that they were
absolutely obliged to give him up in despair. Having
nothing to do besides, in the jail, he spent his time,
morning, noon, and night, singing and calling upon
God ; which so annoyed the jailer, that he repeatedly
went into his cell and thrashed him. But the more
flogging, the more praying ; till at length the jailer
brought him again before the court for tins sin. The
poor man, however, resolutely declared his purpose
to pray. ' If you let me go,' said he, ' me will pray ;
if you keep me in prison, me will pray ; if you flog me,
me will pray ; pray me must, and pray me will !' The
jailer was fairly confounded ; and rather than be annoy-
ed any longer by this ' praying fellow,' he gave up his
fees, and a part of the fine was remitted ; and so the
man was dismissed, to go and pray elsewhere !"

After Mr. Burchell had visited England, as before
named, in 1826, he gave, on his return, the following

account of the manner in which he was received :

" On my arrival at .Montego Bay, Jan. 30, I was
welcomed in the most affectionate manner by tlic poor
people. Their expressions of pleasure, accompanied
with many tears, were truly affecting, and greatly en-
deared them to me. Numbers crowded to the wharf,
and many came off to the ship in boats and canoes,'
to tell massa, ' How d'ye ?' and bid him welcome. At
our morning prayer-meeting, the following sabbath
(when our chapel was thoroughly crowded), the
prayers of our friends were indescribably affecting.
' O Massa Jesus, we tank de—O Massa Christ, we soul

bless de-de take we Shepherd home-de give him
strengt---de bring him back— bless de Lord, O we
soul. Now, Massa Jesua, bless we Shepherd— help
him to peak dy word-help him to peak to every sin-
ner m de four corners of dis Montego Bay, dat dey
may hear and fall down before we Saviour.' It being
rumored that I should be at Falmouth last Sunday,
great numbers crowded to me to bid me welcome, so
that the house I occupied was crowded for several
hours with poor negroes, who said, if they could but
see my face, to see that I was indeed come at last,
they would be satisfied ; and as they saw me, many
of them, in the fulness of their joy, exclaimed—' Now
we heart too glad ; massa come at last, for true.' The
people were brought by parties, and introduced bv the
mdividualwho had been instrumental in ' haling' them,
as they called it, i. e. persuading them to come and
hear the gospel, and cultivating a concern for their
souls. After talking with several of these parties, one
of our members, a female, came to me. ' Well, massa,
me very glad to see you ; me too glad ; me come to
let massa see me family ;' when she introduced to
me above one hundred persons, adding, ' Me have
more dan dees, behind ; me will bring next Sunday to
massa.' This woman is a slave, but possessing con-
siderable knowledge of the gospel and the way of sal-
vation, and she has thus exerted herself, travelling
from place to place, and has been the means of ' pick-
ing up,' as she terms it, above two hundred poor sin-
ners. She has been called to suffer much for her zeal
and her attachment to Christ; but in the midst of many
threats, she has boldly declared, ' by dehelp of Massa
Christ, to hale all she can to de gospel.'

In giving an account of the examination of a num-
ber of candidates for baptism, Mr. B. says—" I asked
one, named Peter, if he loved Jesus Christ. Peter—
' Massa, me love Christ ? Dat me do, to me very
heart.' 'But how do you know you love Jesus
Christ ?' Peter—' How me know ? Massa Christ no
de Son of God ? Him no come into dis world and pill
his blood for we poorncger ?— Howme know me love
Christ ? Who me love, me no love him ? Who wort
love, if hiin no wort ? Me love him, massa, me feel
It ; dat how me know.' "

Long as we have been staying on this station, we
cannot retire from it without giving an account, furnish-
ed by Mr. Burchell, of a conversation held with one
of his members on his death-bed.

" Calling on this poor man one day, when he was
very ill, I said, ' Well, my friend, do you think God
unkind for afflicting you so severely ?'
"A. 'No, massa.'

(i- ' Don't you feel soinetimcs disposed to con»-
plain ?'

JAMAICA.

" A, ' No, pray to God not to let me.'

" Q. « What makes you feel resigned ?'

" A. ' Me know God do no wrong ; him know what
is best ; him do best.

" Q. ' Have you ever felt sorry for coming to
Christ?'

" A. ' O, no ; me feel sorry me no come before ;
me too glad me hear of Jesus Christ.'

" Q- ' How do you feel in the prospect of death ?'

" A. ' Me feel happy.'

" Q. ' What makes you happy ?'

" A. ' De love of Christ.'

" Q. ' Do you think your prayers will take you to
heaven ?'

"A. 'No, no.'

" Q. ' But do not you expect to go there, because
you are not so wicked as before, but are become a
member of the church ?'

" A. ' No, me no have one good ting to tink of,
nothing but Christ, him precious blood.'

*' Q. ' Why do you thmk Christ will receive you ?'

" A. ' Me love him ; me love him to me heart.'

" Q. ' But will he be willing ?'

" A. ' Ah, massa, him no pill him precious blood ?
Him no say, Come unto me ? Me know him true.'

" Q. ' Would you like to meet your Christian friends
again on earth ?'

'• A. ' Me would like to tell all me broders and sis-
ters to love Christ more, to keep nearer to God. Me
feel de more prayer, de nearer we keep to God, de
happier we be.'

" Again, a few days before his death : —

" Q. ' Well, friend, you appear very low.'

" A. ' Yes, massa, but de Lord is very good.'

" Q. ' Do you feel much fear of death ?'

'■ A. ' No, massa ; Jesus promise to be wid me.'

" Q. ' Where do you think you will go when you
die?

"A. '1 tink I shall go home.'

*' Q. ' But where is the home you mean.'

" A. ' Where Jesus is.'

" Q. ' What do you think of religion now ?' (At
this he brightened up).

" A. ' Ah, massa, what become of poor neger, if
him no hear religion ? What me tink ' Me feci — me
no able to tell what me feel. It good ; it make neger
happy to die.'

" Q- * Would you wish to recover again?'

"A. 'Me too weak.'

" Q. * Well, but if God were to give you your own
will, how would you act ?'

" Ai ' Why' n>e hesitated, and replied^ ' no no

my will no do j me no want my will — God'a will is
best' "

3S3

Mr. Burchell adds the brief, but comprehensive
testimony, ' He lived consistently, and died happily.*

We have already informed our readers, that, seve-
ral years ago, Mr. Burchell, of Montego Bay, in con-
nection with his valuable colleague, Mr. Mann, occa-
sionally preached at Crooked Spring, with very grat-
ifying success. About 1826, a church was formed
here, who, in 1830, resolved on the erection of a very
large meeting-house ; and in this latter year, Mr. W.
W. Cantlow became their pastor. We regret, how-
ever, to add, that the state of his health has compelled
him to leave this very promising station for England,

It will be, probably, recollected by many of our
readers, that the Baptist mission in Jamaica was com-
menced at Falmouth, in 1813, by Mr. John Rowe,
an account of whose death has been already given.
Various circumstances compelled the society, after his
removal, to withhold its aid from this important town,
till about 1826, when Messrs. Burchell and Mann
occasionally visited it; and in 1827 a church was
formed of sixty-seven members ; some of whom
ascribed their first serious impressions to Mr. Rowe's
ministry. Mr. Mann was, for a short time, the pastor
of this church. The following account of the choice
of his successor, as given by Mr. Burchell, must be
considered interesting : —

" Soon after the decease of our excellent brother,
Mr. Mann, who was honored with such signal success
in his ministry at Falmouth, the church proceeded to
the choice of another pastor ; and the mode in which
this important business was transacted ought to be
mentioned. Happy would it be if our churches at
home, on such occasions, uniformly displayed so much
of Christian love and unanimity as this society did,
which has existed but a very few years, and is composed,
for the most part, of slaves. I called a church meet-
ing," says air. Burchell, "when between four and five
hundred members were present (special prayer meet-
ings having been previously held). At this meeting,
I endeavored to impress on their minds the importance
of being influenced by pure motives ; and, having ad-
dressed them in as conscientious a manner as I possi-
bly could, I proposed Mr. Knibb, and requested a
show of hands. I never saw such a scene. The
whole church, to an individual, simultaneously rose up,
and held up both hands, and then burst into tears !
My feelings were overcome, and I wept with them.
This, I said, is truly the Lord's doing. Such a feeling
I never witnessed before. Had you and the commit-

of Providence is clear and plain, and would have said
lo brother Knibb/ Gcihou,and the Lord go with thee.*

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

■U lU |2.2

1.25 1.4

Ii4

6" -

►

<>.

•T

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

c?>^

33 WIST MAIN STRUT
WHSTIR.N.Y. MSIO

(71 A) iri^soa

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

"bk'^tfnung this unanimous and afiectionate invi-
Ution u a clear evidence of the divine will, Mr. Knibb
removed to Falmouth, though he had much to attach
him to the station at Savanna la Mar. The letters
since received from him contain much to awaken grat-
itude and hope."

The suborOinate stations connected with Falmouth
are JRto Bueno, Stewart'* Town, Oxford and Cam-
bridge, and Arcadia.

We proceed now to dwell on the facts connected
with Anotta Bat. This station was commenced by
Mr. Ebenezer Phillips, who left England with Mr.
Fhillipo. His ministry excited immediate attention ;
an obvious improvement soon took place in the morals
of many, and som ; e'tperienced a saving change of
heart. A church of forty members was formed in
1624 ; a school also was established, and all appeared
prorcismg, when death suddenly hurried both Mr. and
Mrs. Phillips to an early grave. In 1887, Mr. Flood
succeeded Mr. Phillips in his office, since which time
a new chapel bait been erected ; but the bad state of
Mr. Flood's health has induced him to return, for a

short season, to his native land. CkarUi Tovi% and
Buff Bay are subordinate stations to AnotU Bay.

Port Mama is thr last station in Jamaica to which
we can partreularly advert. On the return of Mr.
Coultart from England, in 1827, Mr. Burtbn, who
had partly supplied his pulpit during his absence,
was at liberty to proceed to Port Maria, where he
found a few persons fully disposed to receive him
and his message with gratitude and joy. Here he built
a new meeting-house, sixty feet by forty, and soon
after, retiring, was succeeded by Mr. Baylis, whose la-
bors have been greatly owned of God. Ora Cabeua
and Bra- Head churches are affiliated with this.

The length to which the accounts of the principal
stations on this island have ahnost imperceptibly
extended, totally prevents our going into detail as
to those at Ann'i Bay, Ocho Biot, Savanna la
Mar, Manehioneal, Lucea, Fuller' t-Field, itc. &c.
The state of such of them as form the Association
will be seen in the following table, printed by the
brethren on the island ;—

TABULAR STATEMENT OF THE BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA,

AS «»■» AT TRB MEaTl.fa OF THE A»WU*t ASBOCIATIon, HBLD l.f rALMOUTH, Olf THB riRIT AND FITB FOUOWIHa DATS

OF APRIL, 1831.

TV numW qf ptrtont conntded with that churrKu, denominaUd Inquirtr*, it about 17,000.

CHURCHES.

Kingstnn, Eut Queen Swoet,

^1 Hanover Street, . . .

YaUahi, . . .

Smuiisli Town,

Moutego Bay,

Oumoy'a Mount,

Falmouth,

Anotta Bay,

Charlrx Town,

Port Maria,

Ora Calieaca,

Brae Hea<l

Mount Charles,

Old Hartmr.

Haycfl Haviuina,
Cr<H>kml S|
Port
Hi. Ann'i
Orhu Rina,
Savanna la Mar,
FullerVKinld, . .
Rio Bueno, ...
SK'wtn ■ Town, ,
Lueea, ,

>kml Spriiii,
RnvaL . . . .
innVi Bay, . .

Tottl,

PASTOIta

Mr. Cnuliart,
Mr. Tinsuii, .

Mr. Phil)iiK>, .
Mr. Burrhell,

Mr. Knilih,
Mr. FIcmhI,

Mr. Baylia,

Mr. Taylor, .

Mr. Cniillow, . .
Mr. Clarke, . . .
Mr. Nicliuls, . .

Mr. tlartlner, . . .
Mr. Whitehnmo,.
Mr. Abbott, . , , '.

Incnua during iIm Vm.

114

tJ7

117

370

.11

ai(t
m
m

104
18
33

ISO
ITS*
88
33
91
IS
IC
9

1041 393

:is

13
3

10
4

3
3

31
74

10
5

1
9

Ueenue durini Uw Year.

DM. M Mtar EwhAd

10
97

5
19

3
1

13
9

170

1
9

119

IC
11

9
14

111

CInr
IncreBM

103

l.'ill

345

915

100

179
7H
91
59

10
9
S8
74
50

Tolal Nrnn-

IHT of

If ember*.

1031

9037

7I»

103

1030

l.'S79

195

885

510

119

410

310

965

957

793

909

198

loe

_60_
10,838

r pcTTCTS asnc:

3 ssai sasr vBBrelu!, aa !Jm« Mk' lien ■

■ preTKumy tmfMtma, up«n rt«tvMmnslMa.

JAMAICA.

9t$

This it, probably, the best place to notice the oppo-
sition with which Christian missions, and the Baptist
missionaries especially, have had to contend from the
kioal authorities of Jamaica. It is quite consutent
with the principles and practice of slavery to oppose
Christianity and the extension of knowledge ; we are
not, therefore, at all surprised to learn that an unchristian
and violen: spirit has, at different times, shown itself
•gainst our brethren, which, but for the determined
spirit of the British gdvemment, in checking their uncon-
stitutional conduct, would have done much to prevent
the good that has been effected.

On the aad December, 18S6, a consolidated slave
law passed the House of Assembly, in which several
clauses were introduced equally unjust and injurious.
Among other restrictions, a missionary was prohibited,
under pain of fine and imprisonment, from receiving
any contributions from the negroes who attended his
ministry. Application was made to the government
at home, who instantly disallowed the ict, anc^. distinct-
ly avowed a fixed determination to allow no unneces-
sary infringement on the religious liberty of any class
of his majesty's subjects.

" When it was found that this attempt to bring the
missionaries under the arbitrary clauses of the slave
act had failed, a committee was appointed by the
House of Assembly ■ to inquire into the establishment
and proceedings of the sectarians, and to report there-
on.' By this committee some of our brethren were ex-
amined in the month of December, 1826, having been
required to attend at Spanish Town for that purpose,
much to their inconvenience and expense ; soon
after which a report was presented, from tlie commit-
tee, professing to be founded on these examinations,
and the depositions of several other persons, in which
charges are brought against the missionaries uf such a
nature as, if true, would overwhelm , them with dis-
grace and infamy.

" Several indivi<luals were examined (on oath, if we
understond riglitly) before this committee,* by whom
a report was subsequently made to the House of As-
sembly, gravely slating, as the result of their investi-
gations, that the principal object of tht lertnriatu wat
to extort money from their congregations by every
pouible pretext, and by the moti indecent expedient! —
that they inculcated the doctrines of equality and the
rights of man, and preached and taught sedition,
•ven from the pulpit — that they occasioned abject pov-
triy, loss of comfort, and discontent among the slaves
frequenting the chapels, and deterioration of proper-

* Ai K •pMlimn nf th« erldriKW proound on Uili ocouion, it ii
Staled that one o( iIicm- wilnpHpt wu broiurht up br • ooniUblc.
toing Id ouatodjT oil » charge of aMaull and robbery.

ty to their matters ; — and that such was theur outrage-
ous thirst for gain — they recommended females to prot-
titute themselves to get money for contribution!

" In vain did our brethren apply for a copy of the
depositions on which the report in question was found-
ed—in vain did they call on their opponents, through
the public journals, to substantiate the foul charges
brought against them. The document was sent home,
with all the formality of a veracious official record,
and with express directions that it should be widely
circulated through the kingdom, in order that the Brit-
ish public might learn the true character of the men
to whom it referred. These instructions, however,
were not obeyed — a fact of itself sufficient to prove
the kind of estimation in which the < Sectarian Report'
was held by the influential and well-informed parties
in England to whose care it was intrusted."

Undismayed by this prudent check to their hostility,
the House of Assembly ventured, in December, 1829,
upon a still bolder act of annoyance. The slave law,
with all its persecuting clauses, was once more reenact'
ed ; and, as il in defiance of the just reprobation with
which the British government had mar'.(ed those enact-
ments, their severity was increased. Meetings for
divine worship, by dissenting teachers, were not to be
held between sunset and sunrise — a regulation which,
if it had been carried into effect, would have operated
to have destroyed many of the stations, and debarred
thousands of the poor negroes from the only means to
which they had access of learning the truths connect-
ed with their eternal salvation. Urgent applications
were again made to the British government, and his
present majesty, William IV., in council, was gracious-
ly pleased to follow the example of his royal prede-
cessor, in disallowing the act in question, thus afford-
ing an auspicious pledge, which subsequent events
have tended only to confirm, of the just estimation in
which the British sovereign holds the civil and re-
ligious liberties of his subjects, and of his firm resolution
to maintain them. When this decision was made
known in Jamaica, the advocates of intolerance felt
that it was hopeless to persevere in their attempts,
and the bill has since passed the House of Assembly,
divested of those clauses which they were so anxious
to introduce. These are evt3nts in which it becomes
us gratefully to rejoice, especially as thoy indicate the
watchful care of the Supreme and Universal Ruler,
who guides all events according to the counsel of his
own will. May the time soon arrive when every
other impediment to the cause of righteousness and
truth, in our colonies, shall be removed, and (he word
of the Lord have free course and be glorifiod !

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

SOUTH AMERICA.

In the year 1822, the attention of the committee
of the Baptist Missionary Society was directed to the
British settlement of Hondckas, in the bay of Mexi-
co, as an eroinendy important missionary station. A
missionary placed here, it was stated, would not only
have access to the negroes of the settlement, but to
the Musquito Indians, who inhabit a large tract of
country to the S. E., and who are very friendly to the
English. As a free passage was offered to a suitable
agent by a kind friend, Mr. James Bourne, a student
at Bradford, offered himself for the service, and set
sail in April of that year. It was found, however,

that some imporUnt obstacles presented themselrea
to immediate success. Mr. B. has continued iaithfii].
ly and constantly to preach the word, to educate the
young, to distribute tracts, and in every possible way
to do good. He has erected, partly with aid obtained
on the spot, a new chapel, has a respectable congrega-
tion ; and notwithstanding personal and domestic af-
flictions, and difficulties arising from human depravity,
and false religion, he has certainly scattered around
him great benefits. This gentleman visited the United
States in 1827, and is remembered with interest by
many of the churches.

SOUTH AFRICA.

That the English Baptist Missionary Society are
desirous of extending theh- important labors, and of
widely diffiisin^ the blessings of the gospel, must have
been evident Trora the statements we have already giv-
en ; and the following extract from their Report, pre-
sented in June, 1831, will show that new doors of
usefulness are opening before them ; may they enter,
and occupy with success.

" To this brief summary of the state of affairs in our
existing missions, it is proper to add that some steps
have recently beeu taken towards occupying a new
station in the very extensive field of South Africa.
Urgent representations on this subject have repeatedly
been made to the committee by some friends, connected
with our denomination, at Graham's Town, in the dis-
trict of Albany ; and their applications were powerfully
seconded by missionary brethren from other societies.

residing at and near that town. The committee were
at first inclined to suppose that Mr. Bruckner might
remove thither with advantage, after he had completed
the publication of the Javanese New TesUment ; but,
as his views did not coincide with tiieir own, they
have considered themselves called on to send a
minister from this country ; the Rev. W. Davies, lata
pastor of the church at Lake Lane, Portsea, has de-
voted himself to this service, and will probably sail in
a few weeks. Should the divine favor rest on this
new undertaking, our society will then have, for the
first time, stations in each nunrter of the heathen
world. May that blessing be dbvoutly sought, and our
proceedings at all times be conducted in that spirit of
humility, self-denial, and simple dependence upon di-
vine aid, which !>hall constitute a certain pledge that
it shall be imparted."

mSTORT OP THE LONDON MISSION/ RT SOCIETY.

CHAPTER I.

FORMATION OP THE SOCIETY.

It is now the pleasing task of the historian to relate
the foi-mation of a society, which, desirous of merging
party names in one grand combination for the diiilision
of divine light through a benighted world, extended
the hand of cordial fellowship to all the genuine
friends of the Redeemer ; and erected a banner, be-
neath which both ministers and private Christians of
evangelical sentiments, but of differr nt (denominations,
might, without the slightest sacnir . of religious prin-
ciple, concentrate all their energies with a view to the
spread of the gospel, the exahation of Christ, and the
salvation of souls.

A visit that the Rev. David Bogue, of Gosport,
made to Br.atol, in order to supply the Tabernacle,
a -church erected by George Whitfield, gave rise to
the actual resolution of uniting different bodies of
Christians in the glorious work. The parlor of the
Tabernacle House is called " the cradle of the Mis-
sionary Society."

An Address to Evangelical Dissenters by Mr.
Bogue, published in the Evangelical Magazine for
September, 1794, excited considerable interest among
those who were truly desirous of witnessing the ex-
tension of the kingdom of Christ ; and, after several
private conversations had been held upon the subject,
the first concert! I meeting, with a view to the forma-
tion of the society, took place on the 4th of November.
It is said to have consisted of " a small but glowing
and harmonious circle of ministers of various con-
nections and denominations." From this time, the
friends of the perishing heathen afipeared evidently to
increase both in numbers and coi diality ; and, in the
month of January, 1795, it was deemed expedient to
ascertain the disposition, and to solicit the assistance,
of evangelical ministers in the metropolis. The fol-
lowing " Address to Christian Ministers, and all other
Friends of Christiar.ily, on the subject of missions to

the Heathen," was accordingly drawn up, and sent in
various directions as a circular ; and was also inserted,
about the same time, in the magazine.

" The address which appeared in ihe Evangelical
Magazine of last September, on the subject of sending
missionaries to preach the gospel among Pagan nations,
seems to have awakened considerable attention. Many
acknowledge the desirableness of the object ; some
lament, with tears, its having been so long neglected ;
and numbers only wait with anxiety for an oppor-
tunity of exerting themselves in so glorious a cause.

" That something may be done with effect, it is
hoped that not only evangelical Dissenters and Meth-
odists will be found generally disposed to unite in
instituting a society for this express purpose, but that
many members of the Established Church, of evan-
gelical sentiments, and of lively zeal for the cause of
Christ, will aho favor us with their kind cooperation.
Indeed, the increase of union and friendly intercourse
among Christians of diflferent denominations at home,
is one of the happy effects which will immediately
flow from an institution of this nature.

" In order to the organization of such a society, it
has been proposed that a General Meeting of Minis-
ters should be held in London, early in the ensuing
summer. In the mean while, that such a meeting
may be brought forward with advantage, it is warmly
wished that ministers, and others who favor the design,
would immediately begin to exert themselves m their
particular spheres.

" It may be asked, tVhat can be done ?— In answer
to this inquiry, the following hints are suggested :

" Let each individual, who is affectionately sealoui
in the cause, take every proper opportunity, by con-
versation and hv luttor In on<t.....«. •_ •

_ _. . _ ..,,,„. JJJJ.J._.J.J_

the same sacred fire to others. Let him try to im-
press his friends, not only with the general importance

LONDON MISStONAItY SOCIETY.

of this business, but with the idea of its being practi-
cable and expedient, in concurrenco with others, to
do something in it now. And where the force of
ugdment seems to take effect, let him further endeavor
to persuade his friends to come forward with pecuniary
support By all the methods which a prudent zeal
can suggest, let him make up as large a list as possible
of respectable names and subscriptions. Proceeding
in this manner, it is impossible to say what extensive
success may soon follow the exertions even of a few
individuals. To such as shall subscribe, it may not
be amiss to hint the impropriety of diminishing their
former liberality to other religious institutions, in order
to extend it to this new undertaking. The Lord does
not approve of ' robbery for burnt-offering.* What is
given, should either be saved from some article of
unnecessary expenditure, or taken from what would
otherwise be laid up in store.

" By such eiibrts as these, a Christian may engage
the support of his friends in behalf of this important
enterprise ; but never let it be forgotten, that it be-
longeth to ' Him who hath the key of David, who
openeth and no man shutteth,' to open ' a great and
effectual door' for the propagation of his ,^pel. To
Htm, therefore, let every eye be directed ! The
great mean of obtaining his blessing on our benevolent
exertions is prayer. Perhaps God's putting it in our
hearts to engage in this excellent design, is an answer
to the prayers of many of his people for a series of
ages. Let us then take encouragement to stir up
ourselves, and others in our several connections, to
extraordinary prayer, for the pouring out of the Spirit
from on high, to direct and prosper this great attempt.
For this pur]H>se, the laudable example of our brethren
in Warwickshire is worthy of general notice ; who
have set apart the first Monday of every month, at
seven o'clock in the evening, as a season of united
prayer for the success of such attempts to spread the
gospel through the world. ' Ye that make mention
of the Lord, keep not silence ; give him no rest till
he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the
earth.'

" Already has Divine Providence begun to smile on
this infant design. In the Evangclicil Magazine for
November, ont gentleman promises £100 to the
society, as soon as it is established ; and £500 more
are promised by another gentleman, for the equipment
of the first six missionaries to the South Sea islands.
The warmest gratitude is duo to tlicno two generous
friends of the Christian interest in heathen lands, and
their animating example is worthy of being held up
to general imitation.

" But the ardor ol our joy is somewhat damped by
the opposite consideration, that even among serious

and opulent professors of religk>n, $ome are to be
found of a timid, cold, contracted spirit, who lose all
their zeal in a false prudential delicacy, and who are
ever crying out, ' A lion is in the way 1' when any
benevolent scheme is projected, so arduous and exten*
sive as this before us. With such aa object m view,
obstacles and opposition are to be expected ; but what
difficulty presents itself in this case, which by sove-
reign grace heretofore has not been, and may still be
surmounted ? Even the temper of the times, which
some would insinuate as unfovorable to our views, is,
however specious, no valid objection. That divine
oracle is a sufficient reply, 'He that observeth the
winds will not sow.' Besides, the faithful page of
history tells us, that times of the most gloomy and
unpromising aspect have, by the wisdom and power
of the great Head of the church, < rather tended to
the furtherance of the gospel.' Was it not in the
reigns of Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero, that ' so mightily
grew the word of the Lord, and pievailed ?'

" What remains, then, but that (laying aside all
excuses) we put our hand to the work with vigor and
speed. Perhaps some wish to wait till they see their
seniors go before them ; but this is a false modesty.
Procrastination ai^ues a torpid indifference. To be
'forward to every good work,' rauks high both as a
ministerial and Christian virtue. A few successive
moments will terminate our present life, and with it,
all opportunities of ' serving the will ol God in our
generation,' or of ' seeking tb*? profit of many, that
ihcy may be saved.' Every argument that recom-
mends the object at all, tends also to stimulate to
instant exertion. The glory of God— the constraining
influence of redeeming love — the deplorable condition
of countless millions, who never heard of the great
salvation, and ' are ready to perish for lack of knowl-
edge'— our awful responsibility for the use we make
of the privileges and talents intrusted to us — and
finally, the exalted honor and felicity awaiting those
who < shall have turned many to righteousness' — are
powerful incentives to speed and diligence in this
noble design.

" It is pleasing to anticipate the wide-extended
happiness of heathens wher. converted to Christ, and
brought ' to know the joyful sound ;' an anticipation
which, by the smiles of Heaven upon our endeavors,
we may by and by see partly realised. As yet, it is
only matter of prayer and contemplation — but if many
hands set early to the work, who knows, but before we
ourselves are numbered with the dead, we may have
cause to adopt that gratulatory, triumphant song of the
apostle — < Now, thanks be to God, who ahvays causcth
us to triumph in Chntt, and by us makutn manii'osi
the savor of his knowledge in every place.'

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

" Yet a little while, and the latter-day glory shall
chine fti:th with a reviving splendor ; when, according
to the predictions of the infalHblo word, ' the knowl-
edge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters
cover the sta : his name shall endure for ever : his
name shall be continued as long as the sun : men
shall be blessed in him ; and all nations shall call him
blessed.' "

On the 15th of the same month, a respectable body
of mmisters met av the Castle and Falcon inn. Alders-
gate street, and appointed a committee of correspond-
ence, jor the purpose of collecting the sentiments of
their brethren in the country, relative to the great
plan under contemplation ; and to the circular letter
drawn up on that occasion, such answers were receiv-
•4 i ii '.niious parts, as aftbrded the greatest encour-
agement. One minister commences his reply by say-
ing, " Your kind letter I consider as an answer from
above. It has long been my wish, my prayer, and
my hope, that God would send forth his light and his
truth among the poor heathen. And for the promo-
tion of this cause I will plead, preach, and spare no
exertion." Another observes, " We have all done
too little for the souls of men, and the honor of our
great Master. We have blessed ourselves in tlie pos-
session of gospel privileges, and have almost forgotten
our fellow men, in other parts of the world, sunk in
sin, and perishing in horrible darkness. Verily, we
have sinned in this matter. May we be forgiven, and
may we do so no more ! Let us all rise up to the work
of God, and he will bless the labor of our hands."

As it was now sufficiently obvious that the sparks
of heavenly zeal, wliicli had for a long time been se-
cretly cherished in tiie bosoms of God's servants, were
ready to burst forth into a flame, it only remained to
conrantrate the feelings of pious benevolence, and to
form a regularly organized plan of combined operation.
A general meeting was, therefore, appointed to be
held in the month of September, and the following
circular letter was extensively dispersed among minis-
ters, both in town and in the country,

" Detr Brother in the Lord,

" You have most probably been made ac-
quainted that some of your fellow-laborers in the gos-
pel of Christ, of different denominations, practising
infant baptism, have united for tiie purpose of estab-
lishing a society to support missions in heathen and
unenlightened countries. The committee, whose
names are subscribed to this address, compose a part
of the number who have mot for several months past

In I ./\«i#tf%n tr« aaAlf (Iim I «xn<l*a ^Ibu.^*!^., ., I 1.1 *

— , — _ _...._ -.itTijlit-tl HiJU UIC33mg

on this benevolent design. Though our plan is dis-

incl from the undertakings of the Moravian Brethren,

Vol. L— Nos. 27 &t 88, 44

dd9

and the churches wlio hold the necessity of adult im-
mersion, we are far from opposing or disapproving their
laudable endeavors ; on the contrary, we applaud their
zeal, and rejoice in their success, accounting it our
duty to imitate their truly primitive example. At the
same time, it is our desire to attempt an improvement
of the plan on which they have proceeded, by an ex-
tension of its limits, both in the foundation and super-
structure of the intended edifice. We therefore ear-
nestly invite all who hold the truth in love, to unite
in exertions which may hereafter be found extensively
successful.

"Early in the present year, we wrote to several
ministers in the various counties of England, soliciting
their cooperation, and requesting them to make known
our communications in their respective vicinities and
connections. A small printed address has been also
widely circulated ; and, through the medium of the
Evangelical Magazine, the subject has been frequent-
rly recommended to general attention. By the answers
received, both from individuals and associated minis-
ters, our expectations are exceedingly flattered ; as
they contain expressions of the most lively pleasure,
with which our brethren concur in our design, and also
assurances of their determination to afford us their
most strenuous support. At length, it has been re-
solved to hold a general meeting in London, on the
22d, 23d, and 24th days of September, for the pur-
pose of forming a permanent society, and deciding
upon the best mode of carrying our wishes into full
effect. In prospect of this solemn assembly, we ad-
dress you, dear brother, as one who, we trust, feels no
less interested than any of us, in the advancement of
the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. The success
of the attempt appears, under God, to be almost
wholly with the ministers of Jesus, and where they
lead, their flocks will probably follow— what Mey have
faith and love to undertake, tiie people will easily find
means to execute. For our own parts, we do not
imagine that the zeal of gospel ministers will be found
wanting, as they know and believe that the kingdom
of their I^rd is already universal in point of right,
and must hereafter become so in fact. We hope,
dear brother, that you, in particular, honored with the
fellowship of this ministry, are ready to stand amo
the foremost in whatever way the Lord is pleased
call you. Deeming it inexcusable to remain inactit
we have done, and through grace will continue to
what we can. We now apply to you for assistance
wo put the cause into your hands — into yours, as
much as any man's,— trusting that it will not fail for
want 01 your support ; ain! iliat if it should stop short
of its great end, it will be as far beyond your station
as your unwearied endeavors can advance it.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

" We request you, dear brother, to make the con-
gregation over which the Lord hath placed you, ac-
quainted with our design, and to recommend it ear-
nestly to their serious, devotional, and practical regard.
Improve every opportunity your situation affords of
conferring with your neighboring brethren, upon the
best means of strengthening our hands in this good
work. Where congregations cannot depute their min-
ister to assist at our deliberations, we earnestly recom-
mend that such as are associated together will delegate,
at least, one of their number for that purpose ; and
others, no doubt, will help us by their intercessions at
the throne of grace.

"After all, the chief difficulty will be to find
proper missionaries — men of God, full of faith, and of
the Holy Ghost. We expect, however, to hear from
many places, that the Lord has been stirring up the
hearts of fit persons to this glorious work. Permit us
to ask, Is there among your acquaintance any one de-
sirous to take advantage of the opportunity which, we
trust, will shortly be furnished, to become instrument-
al in conveying the glad tidings of redemption into
the regions of the shadow of death ? Your own judg-
ment, and that of your friends, as to the best manner
of proceeding, in order to find such instruments, will
be highly acceptable.

" If it please the great I^ord of the harvest to send
forth many laborers into the wide-extended field of
the heathen world, considerable funds will be neces-
sary, that the most distant climes may be visited with
the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
It is, therefore, desirable to form some estimate of what
can be done, in the various Christian societies that give
attention to this call. If each congregation contribute
something, however small the ability of many may be,
the aggregate amount will be considerable. Uy the
more affluent, a due regard, we hope, will be paid to
the example of princely generosity already given by
some who have set their shoulders to this sublime
work.

" The time of the proposed meeting speedily ap-
proaches. What your hand finds to do, dear brother,
do it with all your might. Millions of immortal souls
call upon us for the word of salvation. Thehonorof
the holy and blessed Redeemer is bleeding in every cli-
mate, through the crimes of \vick(3d men who assume
the Christian name. What ought to be our feelings and
exertions ? Shall we not liope that the age of cold in-
difference is past, and that the Spirit of Christ has kindled
in, our hearts an unextinguisliable flame of love to God
and man ? May he guide and prosper all your labors
of love among the people of your immedlutn chante»
and smile upon whatever you undertake for the fur-
therance of this grand object.

" Commending both it and you to his grapious pat-
ronage, we remain your affectionate brethren and
servants for Jesus' sake,

" Joseph Brooksbank, John Re}molds,
" John Eyre, WiHiam Smith,

" Samuel Greatheed, James Steven,
" John Love, Alexander Waugh,

« W. F. Piatt, Matthew Wilks.

" P. S. As the genera! concurrence in the formation
of the plan is an object much to be desired, we shall be
happy to see you among us ; hoping to derive pleasure
from your company, and assistance firom your talents."

On Monday evening, September 21, a consultation
of the friends of the infant institution was held at the
Castle and Falcon, and the numerous and highly re-
spectable assembly of ministers and others convened
on that occasion, exhibited an aspect of united serious-
ness, ardor and cordiality.

Sir Egerton Leigh, Bart., having been called to the
chair, Mr. Boden, of Henley, offered up a solemn and
appropriate prayer; Mr. Steven, of Crown court,
gave a concise account of the measures which had been
already adopted ; and Mr. Love, of Artillery street, who
had acted as secretary to the committee of correspond-
ence, read a number of interesting lettera from the
country, which served to demonstrate that the sympa-
thies, both of ministers and private Christians, had
already been excited, " from east to west, and from
north to south," on behalf of the poor and perishing
heathen. The Rev. Dr. Haweis, of Aldwinkle, next
addressed the meeting, on the practicability of finding
suitable missionaries, and read some pleasing commu-
nications from persons who had generously offered to
devote themselves to this arduous service. And after
the important resolution had been unanimously passed
for establishing a society forthwith, for f'le purpose of
sending the gospel to heathen and other unenlighten-
ed countries, the Rev. J. Eyre, of Homeiton, read
the sketch of a plan, which had been prepared by the
committee, and which was now determined to be laid
before the general meeting on the cnfiuing day. Sub-
scription books were then opened ; the thanks of the
meeting were voted to the ministers who had sanction-
ed the projected design, by their presence or episto-
lary communications ; to the gentlemen of the com-
mittee who had drawn up the plan ; and to the chair-
man, for his polite attention to the business of the
evening. The whole was concluded with prayer by
the Rev. Rowland Hill ; and the assembly broke up
with a feeling of delight, " which," it has justly been
remsfked. " the hisrhs^s! sTrfiti^slinii f^f s^nssssltiv s?s-
ricc , ambition, or party leal , could never have inspired."
The following day, t very large congregation u

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

sembled at Spa-fields chapel, and the Rev. Dr. Ha-
weis delivered a highly animating discourse from Mark
xvi. 15, 16. At the conclusion of the public worship,
a numerous body of ministers and lay brethren, in the
area of the chapel, formed themselves into a society,
in the presence of a multitude of spectators, who
tarried to witness this interesting part of the proceed-
ings, and the Rev. Mr. Kingsbury, of Southampton,
was chosen to be president of the meeting. After
prayer by the chairman, the Rev. J. Eyre introduced
the plan which had been prepared for the considera-
tion of this meeting ; and, after it had been delibe-
rately discussed, and in a few instances altered or
corrected, it was unanimously adopted. In the even-
ing, a second service was held at the Scots' church, in
Crown court, Covent Garden ; and a most appropri-
ate sermon was preached by the Rev. G. Burder, to
whose invaluable services and unremitting exertions
the Missionary Society has, for many years, been un-
der the deepest obligations.

On Wednesday and the following day, four other
solemn assemblies for worship were successively held
at Haberdashers' Hall, the Tabernacle, Surry Chap-
el, and Tottenham-court Chapel ; where the great
cause of missions was pleaded with the utmost solem-
nity, ardor, and affection, by the Rev. Messrs. Great-
heed, Hey, Hill, and Bogue ; and where the unction
of the Holy Spirit appeared to be poured out in a
peculiar manner, both upon the ministers and the peo-
ple. Every opportunity, indeed, seemed to be " a
time of refreshing from the presenceof the Lord ;"—
an enlargement of heart was felt by many, who, in
former times, had scarcely given a thought to the state
of the perishing heathen ; and the benevolent offer-
ings of the hand were, in many instances accompanied
with the fervent prayers of the soul, that this new at-
tempt to illumine and evangelize a dark and sinful
world, might be abundantly owned and blessed, to the
augmentation of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the
deliverance of immortal souls from the cruel thraldom
of Satanic bondage.

" The unanimity and fervor of the assembly, on en-
tering on this greatest of all schemes, the evangelizing
of the world, created bursts of joy which nothing could
express but tears. The Christian world seemed to
awake as from a dream, wondering that they could
have been so long asleep, while the groans of a dying
world were calling upon them for the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Another consideration that rendered these
seasons unspeakably delightful, was the visible union
of Christians of all denominations ; who, for the first

tune. fnriri>ltinir thotr ni>».. „.«:...!: ■ .- ■•..

= 1 ; i"-jvrin;tr3 Sim jjartiajities,

assembled in the same place, sang the same hymns, unit-
ed m the same prayers, and felt themselves one in Christ.

331

" This sentiment was so universal, that when Mr.
Bogue, in the course of his sc.mon, said, * We ar«
called, this evening, to the funeral of bigotry ; and I
hope it will be buried so deep as never to rise again,'
the whole vast body of people manifested their con-
currence, and could scarcely refrain from one gen-
eral shout of joy. Such a scene was perhaps never
beheld in our world ; and afforded a glorious earnest
of that nobler assembly, where we shall meet all the
redeemed, and, before the throne of the Lamb, shall
smg, as in the last hymn of the service, < Crown him,
crown him, crown him Lord of all.' "•

In the afternoon of Friday, September 25, the gen-
eral meeting was convened, for the last time, at the
Castle and Falcon, in Aldersgate street. The Rev.
Mr. Percy having been called to the chair, and the
blessing of the Almighty solemnly invoked, Joseph
Hardcastle,Esq.,was nominated to fill the office of treas-
urer to the new society ; and though the modesty of
that excellent man threw some objections in the way,
these were soon overruled, and he was elected with
the greatest unanimity. The meeting then proceeded
to the election of twenty-five directors, when the fol-
lowing ministers and lay gentlemen were unanimously
chosen ; the Reverend Messrs. Boden, Bogue, Brooks-
bank, Burder, Eyre, Greatheed, Haweis, Hey, Hill,
Lambert, Leigh, Love, Mends, Parsons, Piatt, Rey-
nolds, Steven, Waughf and Wilks ; and Messrs. Foys-
ter, Neal, Stokes, West, John Wilson, and Thomas
Wilson. To this list were afterwards added, with the
entire approbation of the meeting, the Rev. Messrs.
Audley and Saltern, and Messrs. Alday, Campbell,
Cowie, Steven, end Taylor ; all of whom were nomi-
nated by the directors previously chosen. The Rev.
Mr. Love and Mr. Shrubsole were afterwards appoint-
ed secretaries to the society; and the meeting conclud-
ed, as it had commenced, with unanimity, prayer, and
praise.

n*.^'""°i!^°C ""^ ^^ ^""'^ ^«"«' ° ^' ^y •''«'" Bennett,
U. D., p. 179, London edition.

t It ought to be recorded, that the Rev. Dr. Waugh had the hon-
or to be tlie framer of Uie fitndamental principle of Oie London
MiMionary Society. Thi» rcnolution, which ia prewrved in the
recorda of the »ciety in his own hand- writing, ia aa follows ;— " Aa
the union of Qoda people of varioua denominations, in carrying
on thia great work, is a moat desirable object ; ao, to prevent, if poa-
aible, any cause of future dissension, it is declared to be a flmda-
menUl principle of the Missionary Society, that our deaign ia not
to send Presbyterianism, Independency, Epiaoopaoy, or any other
form of church order and government (about which there may be
a diflerence of opinion among serious persons), but the glorioua
gospel of the blessed God, to the heathen; and it shall be left (aa
it ought to be left) to the minds of the persona whom God may coll
into the feUowship of his Son fVom among them, to assume for them-
_!t=s r-K-h Tvtta m church gGTcmmeiil ■■ lu Uieiu ahoi! appear
moat agreeable to the word of God."— JTsmoira qf Iht Ret. JlUxMnitr
Waugk, D. D., »y Rm>. Jamei Hay, M. .4., and Ret. Henry Btlfrage
D. D p. sua, London ediUon, 1630. » v "»

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CHAPTER II.

MISSION IN THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

OTAHEITE*

Previous to the dissolution of the first general
meeting of the Missionary Society, the directors had
resolved, in humble dependence on the aid of their
Divine Master, to commence their operations by a
mission to the islands of the Pacific ocean, which had
been brought to light in the voyages of discovery
made by command of his majesty George the Third ;
■nd which, however uninviting to the ambitious pro-
jects of the warrior, and the anxious speculations of
commerce, seemed to present an open door for the in-
traduction of the gospel to a people who were in the
most deplorable state of ignorance, and whose beauti-
ful country was literally filled with the habitations of
cruelty. With this view, subscriptions were raised to
a considerable extent ; a committee of examination
was formed ; a number of zealous persons expressed
their willingness to consecrate the remainder of their
days to the instruction of the heathen ; and on the
lOth of August, 1796, thirty missionaries, with six
vomen and three children, embarked at London, on
board the Duff, a vessel purchased by the society for
the sum of five thousand pounds, and intended to be
commanded by captain Wilson, a gentleman who had
for some years retired to aflluence and ease from the
East India service, but who voluntarily tendered his
assistance on this highly interesting occasion.!

A gentle breeze springing up from the west-north-
wost, the mariners weighed anchor, and hoisted the
missionary flag at the mizzen top-gallant-mast head ;
three silver doves on a purple field, bearing olive
branches in their bills. Multitudes of pious persons
had been previously flw^king around the vessel in

* This iiluid i* now uiually called Tahiti, and ii lo dciigntled
by the govrrnmcnt uid tlic miuinnuira.

f Thf miMionary bund coniiited of llic fnllowtng individuaU :—
fonr ordained niiniitrn, a aurgeon, and twenty-fire otiier aettlen
or miMionaries, being pioua peraona who had previoualr been en-
gaged in buaineaa of difierent kinda, and were highly neceaaary to
impart the principlea and habila of eivilitation to tlia South Sea

Botton edition, 18JN.

boats, to take their leave ; and as the heralds of di-
vine mercy sailed down the river, singing the praises
of their exalted Saviour, the scene became more deep-
ly aflfecting. The sailors in the different ships which
they passed, viewed them with silent astonishment,
whilst the serious people who had assembled on each
side of the river, waving their hats, bade these servants
of God a long and affectionate adieu. From Graves-
end, Chatham, and Sheerness, many of the friends of
the institution met the vessel, bringing with them, ia
token of affection, supplies of poultry, and such other
stores as they considered might be acceptable.

On their arrival at Spithead, the wife of one of the
lay missionaries, having suffered severely from sea-
sickness, was induced to abandon the prosecution of
the voyage, and, at her urgent request, was set on shore.
Her husband was evidently grieved and disappointed
in the frustration of an object on which he had fixed
his mind ; but the directors considered it would be
highly improf.er to separate man and wife, and he was
accordingly sent from the ship with the suffering and
dejected invalid. Here, also, James Cover, son of
one of the ordained missionaries, died, in the last
stage of a consumption, and was committed to the
silent tomb, till the morning of the resurrection.

At Portsmouth, the Duff was detained nearly a
month, whilst waiting for a convoy. This delay, how-
ever, though extremely mortifying in the first instance,
was productive of beneficial consequences to the mis-
sion ; as it afforded the most satisfactory proof of the
steadiness of the persons engaged, and enabled them
to procure, from a friendly clergyman, an authentic
detail of the transactions of the mutineers at Otaheite,
during an abode of about two years, together with an
interesting account of the country, and a vocabulary
sufficiently copious to supply the missionaries with
the rudiments of the language, and to furnish them
with a variety of such phrases as would be most abso-
lutely necesaiiry in the ccmmescement of en inter*
course with the natives.

OTAHEITE.

333

At length, after various delays and disappointments,
our missionaries sailed from England on the 25th of
Sepitember, and, af\er a safe and pleasant passage
of about seven weeks, arrived in the harbor of Rio
Janeiro, on the coast of Brazil. Here they refitted their
rigging, laid in stores of water, wine, live stock, &c.
and procured a variety of seeds and plants, which, it
was supposed, might be successfully cultivated in Ota-
heite. They then resumed their voyage, intending to go
round by cape Horn ; but they met with such contrary
gales, and were repeatedly exposed to such imminent
peril, that the captain relinquished his original plan, and
determined to take the eastern passage, though he was
aware that to reach Otaheite by the nearest course,
they must run about fourteen thousand miles, though the
way by cape Horn did not exceed half that distance.
As the sea, at this time, ran tremendously high, and
they were apprehensive of receiving some serious
damage, they shaped their course right before it, till it
gradually became smoother. In the course of the
first four days, they ran six hundred and forty miles
by their log, and were then detained some time by
easterly winds. When they were at length enabled
to proceed, the gale blow with great violence, the sea
running mountains high, — the clouds appearing low,
thick, and gloomy, — and the vessel scudding before
the wind with surprising swiftness, but shipping com-
paratively very little water.

On the nth of February, 1797, our voyagers en-
countered the most severe and awful storm they had
yet experienced ; but though the billows rose to an
enormous height, and it rained with extreme violence
for about eight hours, their little bark sustained no in-
jury. Four days afterward, they were threatened
with a dreadful calamity, in consequence of the negli-
gence of a man, who suffered a pitch-kettle to boil
over, whilst the carpenter was employed in caulking
the docks. The person, however, by whose inatten-
tion the accident was occasioned, had sufficient pres-
ence of mind to lift the blazing vessel off the fire, and
thus prevented the conflagration which must otherwise
have seized on the sails and rigging,

In the afternoon of the 1st of March, such inmiense
quantities of rain descended for about two hours, that
nearly a tun of water was caught by the missionaries.
About three hours of fine weather succeeded ; but, at
the expiration of that time, the clouds assumed a
gloomy aspect, and such an alarming night commenced,
that orders were given to furl every sail except the
foresail, and to lay to. , The rain now descended in
more violent torrents than before, accompanied, from

-— - '"^"'i "'i'l iti^ iHO^l Viriu i;a3iic3

of lightning and tremendous peals of thunder, which
•eemed to shake the Duff to her centre at every clap.

At length, however, that omnipotent Saviour, who hold-
eth the winds and the waves in the hollow of his hand,
graciously interfered on the behalf of his afl^ighted
servants, and hushed to silence the fury of the storm.

On Saturday, the 4th of March, the island of Ota-
heite was discovered at a considerable distance ; and,
by seven o'clock the next morning, the missionaries
got abreast of the district of Atabooroo ; when seven-
ty-four canoes, many of them double ones, each car-
rying about twenty persons, put off from the shore,
and paddled rapidly toward them. About a hundred
of the natives crowded on board, in spite of every
exertion to prevent them, and began dancing and ca-
pering about the decks like frantic persons, exclaiming,
" Taio, Taio !" and occasionally uttering a few sen-
tences of broken English. The missionaries were both
surprised and disappointed whilst viewing the disorder-
ly conduct of their visitors, and inhaling the smell of
the cocoa-nut oil with which their bodies were smeared ;
but the momentary prejudice thus excited was soon re-
moved by the vivacity, good nature, and apparent in-
genuousness of the Otaheitans ; who, on some of the
great guns being hoisted out of the hold, for the ex-
press purpose of overawing them, evinced that they
were as free from the apprehension as from the inten-
tion of mischief, by cheerfully assisting in placing those
weapons of destruction on their respective carriages.

When the first transports of their astonishment and
delight had subsided, many of the natives voluntarily
quitted the vessel, and others were driven away by
Manne Manne, a venerable old man, who called him-
self a priest of the eatooa. Those that remained,
about forty in number, were now given to understand
that a solemn service was to be performed in honor
of the God of Britain, and they accordingly conduct-
ed themselves with great decorum whilst Mr. Cover
prayed and preached ; but when the singing commenced,
they were evidently overwhelmed with amazement, and
occasionally talked and laughed with each other, whilst
expressing the pleasure which they experienced. A
nod of the head, however, was sufficient to bring them
to order, and, upon the whole, they behaved with great
quietness and attention.

Two Swedes, dressed in the same manner as the
Otaheitans, and tatooed, like them, about the legs
and arms, now came on board, and gave the following
account of themselves : — The younger, a native of
Stockholm, and about thirty years of age, stated that
on the 6th of March, 1792, the Matilda was cast away
on the south side of the island ; and that he and his
companions were at first plundered, but subsequently
treated with kindness by the natives. Since llial time,
the captain and most of the crew had returned home-
ward by different methods, but he had thought proper

834

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

to remain on the island. The other, named Peter
Haggerstein, stated that he wa? bom in Swedish Fin-
land, and had been left here by the cap'ain of the
Daedalus. Both of them spoke tolerable finglish,
and as they were well acquainted with the Otaheitan
language, the missionaries naturally anticipated that
they might render them an important service in the
character of interpreters.

In the course of conversation with these men, it
appeared that Manne Manne was not only a person of
considerable consequence, as being nearly related to
the royal family, but was also the chief priest in Ota-
heite and Eimeo. The following day, therefore, he
was admitted to the taionhip with the captain, which
he appeared extremely anxious to obtain. This, in the
South Sea islands, is a sort of sacred temporary friend-
ship, commenced and ratified by an exchange of names
between the respective parties. The taio furnishes
his visitor with provisions during his visit, and expects,
in return, some trifling present of beads, nails, or other
similar articles ; which, in general, are considered as
a sufficient remuneration for all his attentions. Tlie
old priest, however, was evidently desirous of some-
thing more valuable ; as, on his interchanging names
with captain Wilson, and wrapping a large piece of
cloth round his body, he requested to be furnished
with a musket, some shot, and gunpowder. To this
request his taio did not think fit to accede, but Manne
Manne was assured that his friendly offices should be
amply repaid ; and with this he appeared to be com-
pletely satisfied.

The Duff now proceeded to an anchorage in Ma-
tavai bay ; and, in the course of the afternoon, the
captain, accompanied by Manne Manne, the two
Swedes, and a few of the missionaries, went on shore,
to look at a house, situated on point Venus, and said
to have been built by Pomare, the king's father, for
captain Bligh, who had intimated a design of return-
ing and settling on the island. It was a large, spacious
building, of an oblong figure, one hundred and eight
feet long, and forty-eight wide. The roof was beauti-
fully thatched with leaves of the palm tree, and sup-
ported by three rows of wooden pillars, from nine to
eighteen feet in height, and about six feet distant from
each other ; and the sides of the house were prettily
formed of screens of bamboo, leaving an opening of
about twenty feet in the middle, for the purposes of
ingress and egress.

"A few days after his arrival, captain Wilson
obtained an interview with Otoo, the king, and, through
the medium of one of the Swedes, informed him of
the object and design of the voyage. He stated that
a number of good men had left their native country
ana veiled Oiaheite, solely with the view of rendering '

an important service to him and to his subjects, by
instrucUng them in the most useful and excellent
things ; and that, in the event of their settling on the
island, they only required the grant of a piece of land
sufficiently stocked with bread-fruit and cocoa-nut
trees, and so large as to contain a garden, and admit
of houses being built upon it. He also observed that
they would engage to abstain from any interference m
the wars of the natives, and would never use their
weapons, but for the purpose of self-defence. But
the chiefs and people were not satisfied with giving
them the large and commodious Fare Beritani (British
house), as they called the one they had built for
Bligh, but readily ceded to captain Wilson and the
missionaries, in an official and formal manner, the
whole district of Matavai, in which their habitation
was situated. The late Pomare and his queen, with
Otoo his father, and Idia his mother, and the most
influential persons in the nation, were preffent ; and
Manne Manne, the chief priest of the island, was the
principal agent for the natives on the occasion. The
accompanying plate, representing this singular transac-
tion, is taken from an original painting in the possession
of Mrs. Wilson, relict of the late captain Wilson. It
exhibits not only the rich luxuriance of the scenery, but
the expression, dress and tatooing of the natives, with
remarkable fidelity and spirit. The two figures on
men's shoulders are the late king and queen. Near
the queen, on the right, stands Peter the Swede, thfir
interpreter, and behind him stands Idia, the mother
of the king. The person seated on the right hand is
the chief of the district ; behind him stand Mr. and
Mrs. Henry, Mr. Jefferson and others. The principal
person on this side is captain Wilson ; between him
and his nephew, captain W. Wilson, stands a child
of Mr. Hassel ; Mrs. Hassel, with an infant, is before
them. On the left, next to the king, stands his father,
Pomare, the upper part of his body uncovered, in
homage to his son, and behind him Hapai, the king's
grandfather. The high priest appears in a crouching
position, addressing captain Wilson and surrendering
the district.

The next morning the missionaries went on shore
with their chests and beds, and took possession of
their house, which they enclosed with a thick railing
of bamboo, to prevent the natives from crowding upon
them. Tlie different apartments were next marked out,
and the necessary partitions commenced ; but as the
natives had to fetch the materials from a considerable
distance, this part of the work proceeded but slowly,
though one man stripped his own house, in order to
expedite it. In the arrangement which was made, all
the rooms intended to he occunied by the missicnaries
were at one end of the building; and, to preclude th»

OTAMEITE,

possibility of dispute, were chosen by lot. Next to
them, were apartmente designed for a store-room, a
Ubrary.and a place for the surgeonand his medicines;
and the remaining space, into which the outer doors
opened, was set apart for the celebration of divine
worship.

On the ensuing sabbath, the brethren considered it
advisable to call the attention of the Otaheitans to the
important subject of their mission, and it was agreed
that Mr. Jefferson should address them, through the
medium of Andrew, the Swede, as interpreter. Ac-
cordmgly, at three o'clock in the afternoon, they met
for this purpose, several of the natives being present,
both within and without the house ; and as soon as
they discovered that the speaker's discourse was
addressed to them, they placed themselves in a posture
of attention. They also proposed several pertinent
questions, and particularly inquired whether the mes-
sage of the British God were sent to the toutous, or
servants, as well as to the king and the chiefs. They
were of course answered in the affirmative, and Mr.
Jefferson, pointing to his brethren, told them that they
were the servants of the only true God, who, notwith-
standing all men had offended him, was a gracious and
merciful Being; conferring, on those who believed his
word, great blessings in the present life, and removing
them to a state of unspeakable felicity after death.
Otoo, the king, was present on this occasion, but the
discourse did not appear to make any impression on
his mind.

On the next Lord's-day, Seth Kelso and John
Harris, who had chosen the islands of Tongataboo
and St. Christina as the scenes of their evangelical
labors, were solemnly set apart at the mission-house,
for the important work of the ministry. Mr. Jefferson
asked the usual questions of the candidates respecting
their object and design ; Mr. Cover delivered the
charge, and preached an appropriate sermon ; and
Messrs. Lewis and Eyre prayed at the commencement
and the conclusion of the service. The sacrament
of the Lord's supper was also administered on this
interesting occasion, and, for the first time, the bread-
fruit of Otaheite was used as a symbol of the body
of Christ, and received in commemoration of his
dying love.

On discovering that a society of Otaheitans, distin-
guished by the name of Areois, were in the habit of
destroying their neiv-born infants, the missionaries
considered it an imperative duty to make some attempts
with a view to the prevention of such an atrocious
practice. Accordingly, on being visited, one day, by

an Areois iind Wm wifo th" lit' f «-! -

advanced state of pregnancy, they remonstrated, in
he most earnest and affectionate manner, against a

335

crime so unnatural in itself, and so highly offensive to
the Divine Dispenser of life and death ; and proposed,
at the same time, to take every child which should
be bom under their own care, after providing a house
for the accommodation of the mothers during their
confinement. The female appeared to feel the work-
ings of nature in her bosom, and seemed perfectly
willing that her infant should be spared ; but the brutal
chief was obstinately bent on its destruction. Ho
acknowledged, indeed, that it was a sanguinary act,
but pleaded in excuse, that it had been a practice
long established, and urged, that if it were to b«
generally abandoned, the loss of all the piivilege*
enjoyed by the Areois, and even the dissolution of
their society, must inevitably ensue. After being
solemnly warned by the brethren, and threatened with
the loss of their friendship, he retired with an air of
dejection, though apparently resolved on the immola-
tion of his innocent offspring ; but in the course of a
few days, he returned, and promised that if the babe
were bom alive, it should be placed at their disposal.
Anxious t( troduce the blessings of civilization
together with the instructions of Christianity, the mis-
sionaries embraced an early opportunity of rendering
the Otaheitans familiar with some of the most use-
ful mechanical arts. They accordingly constructed
a saw-pit, for the purpose of cutting timber into
planks; and, in the month of April, having com-
pleted the erection of a forge, Messrs. Hassel and
Hodges began to work at their trade as smiths. The
natives immediately flocked around them, evincing
the utmost astonishment and pleasure ; but on seeing
the sparks of fire which flew in profusion around the
anvil, and on hearing the hissing of the hot iron when
thrown into water, their fears proved stronger than
their curiosity, and they fled, with the utmost precipi-
tation, in various directions. Pomare, who was present
on this occasion, was so completely charmed with the
operations of the bellows and the forge, that he caught
the blacksmith in his arms, all dirty as he was, and
joined noses with him, as a silent but forcible expres-
sion of the highest satisfaction.

Several instances occurred in which the missionaries
had an opportunity of witnessing the superstition and
simplicity of the people to whom they had conveyed
the glad tidings of salvation. Temarree, a chief priest
from Papara, who, on account of his supposed power,
was called an eatooa, or a god, paid them a visit but
had scarcely entered their house, when he was over-
whelmed with the utmost astonishment and terror, by
the striking of a cuckoo clock ; and old Pyetea, the
chief of tiie district of Matavai, who happened to
come in at the same time, observed that he had
brought the bird some bread-fruit, as it must be neces-

336

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

sarily starved if no one gave it food. On another
occasion, one of the bretliren, walking with an Otahei-
tan, took occasion, from the beauties of the circum-
jacent country, to allude to Jehovah, as the Creator
of all things. The native replied, he had no doubt
but that the God of whom he wac told had formed all
things in Britain, but he contondjd that his influence
did not extend to Otaheite. On the contrary, he
ascribed the interesting scenes which they were then
contemplating to different deities ; one of whom, he
said, had reached up and stuck the stars in the sky,
and another, named Mawwa, had fastened ropes to the
sun, for the purpose of regulating the progress of that
luminary. The missionary then endeavored to un-
deceive him with respect to the artifices of the priests,
snd stated that the three great gods Oro, Tane, and
Taroa, to whom sacrifices were usually offered on
occasions of peculiar extrenuty, were, in reality, noth-
ing more than the work of men's hands. To this he
replie<t, that they intimated their displeasure by speak-
ing to the people ; but, on being urged to explain how
this was done, ho said, " On these occasions one of
the priests rolls himself in a bundle of cloth, ami
exclaims, in a shrill, squeaking voice, ' I an] angry :
fetch me hogs; kill a man, and then my anger will be
appeased.' "

In an excursion which some of the missionaries
made, with a view to ascertain the populousness of
the island, they visited one chief whose house con-
tained a variety of wooden deities, said to preside
over the nwi, moon, and stars, men, women, and
children, and different animals. Each of these gods
was armed with a sword, axe, or hannner, and it was
gravely asserted that with these weapons any neglect
or insult would be i)nnishcil, unless the oll'iiider ex-
piated his crime by a prompt and arceptable sacrifice.
On their return, one of the brethren, named Kroomhall,
llirough fatigue and catching cold, was confined to
his bed by an attack of fever. One of the priests
iinmediulely asserted that this visitation was the effect
of an Oialieitan eatooa's displeasure, and predicted
that it would terminate in death. Mr. Mrooinliall,
however, derided ihi' ideii of danger from a beiui;
which had no exi^^lenre, but in the imagination of his
deluded worshippers ; and said that his affliction,
which had be<'n sent by the living Jehcvnh, would be
removed by the same I)ivine Personage tlu; following
day. This reniark Mas inslaiilly spread among the
natives, and our nussionary began to fear that he lind
flpokcn loo hastily of his recovery, and that (Jod
inittht be dishonored in the event of his illnes.s con-
tir.iime. U( liirrefure |Miuitrii oui his soul in oarnesi i
mippliralions before the throne of grace, and tie Ixntl I
WM graciously pleased to hoar and answer tlio voice I

of prayer. During the night, he enjoyed a refreshing
sleep, and on the morrow he was enabled to quit his
bed, and exhibited evident symptoms of recovery, to
the astonishment of the Otaheitans, and particularly
of the priest, whose prediction had been so completely
falsified, and who now anxiously inquired whether the
disease had really been removed by the God of Britain.
Mr. Broondiall embraced this opportunity of reasoning
on the absurdity of the Otaheitan superstitions, and
on the folly of worship|)ing imaginary beings as gods.
The priest, however, obstinately persisted in asserting
that various deities, both good and bad, presided over
Otaheite, and that it was necessary to pray to the
former, i-i order to counteract the influence of the
latter. He also insisted that unless the food eaten by
the natives were blessed by a priest, those who partook
of it would be immediately possessed and destroyed
by the evil deities ; but on being assured that the
missionaries had no apprehension on that score, he
walked away, evidently ashamed and put to silence.

Captain Wilson, who had, in the mean time, con-
veyed some of the missionaries to the islands of Ton-
gataboo and St. Christina, now returned to Otaheite,
and had the satisfaction to find that the brethren in
that place wern highly respected, and most hospitably
treated, both by the chiefs and the peop" ?. Otoo
and his wife, indeed, had, upon one occasion, brought
a large present to Mr. and Mrs. Cover, desiring to
become their adopted children, and promising to re-
gard them as their parents ; Fomare and Idia also
heggerl that this wish of the king and <pieen might be
granted ; and such immense quantities of jjrovisions
were poured in upon the missionaries from various
(piarters, that, at one time, they had not less than
a wagon load of fruit, besides a profusion of hogs
and poultry. Kncouraged by these circumstances,
the cajjlain finally (piiited the island, and after revisit-
ing the other settlements, and touching at Canton for
a cargo of lea, he returned to England in the begin-
ning of July, niW.

The directors of the Missionary Society, having
acquainted the friends o( ilie institution, as soon as
llu-y possibly could, with the leading circumstances
of tlie voyage, re(piesled that a day of public thanks-
Eiving mii;ht be observed on (he (iih of AugujI, being
the first Mimday in the month, when the prayer meet-
ings of the s<MMety are usuall) liehl throughout the
kingdom, that all, whose hearts ha\o been interested in
the work, might have an opportimity of uniting, at iho
same lime, in the same jileasing and reasonable service.
They appointed Mr. (irilhn of I'ortsea. to whoso church
iiiptain Wilson belonged, to preach on the iMcnsion
at Surry chapel in the morning, and Dr. Haweis, as
being one of the oldest ministers in the direction, and

OTAHEITE.

who first proposed the mission to the Pacific ocean,
to praach at Zion chapel in the evening. These
extensive places were soon filled with serious and
respectable auditories. The whole services were
conducted with the utmost solemnity, the presence
of God was happily experienced by preachers and
hearers, and never, perhaps, was gratitude more warm-
ly expressed on any public occasion.

Dr. Haweis, in his thanksgiving sermon, expressed
his admiration in glowing eloquence. " In this voy-
age," he observes, " to tell of all His wonders, my
time would fail, and my ability be unequal. 1 will
just refr"-sh your memory with the following hints
of some of the great things done for us, in the
swiftness, the safety, the health, and success of the
voyage.

" The $u!iftne*t of the passage. This will be the
admiration of every nautical man by profession. Who
ever heard, in the most prosperous voyage of the ablest
navigators, of one hundred and eighty-three degrees of
longitude passed in the short space of fifty-one days ?
Moving often at the rate of two hundred and twenty
or thirty miles a day, and so steadily before the wind
as seldom even to interrapt the daily exercises of
prayer and praise, of study, or repose !

" Shall we not with thankfulness admire the safety
of the conveyance ! Not a mast sprung, not a yard lost,
not a sail split, not an anchor left behind ! To trav-
erse more than twice the circumference of the globe —
especially amidst lurking shoals, the hidden rocks,
and low islands of the Southern ocean, must, it is
well known, be full of danger. They felt it, and
sometimes were at their wit's end, going up to heaven
and sinking down into the dee|)— shook by the pealing
thunder — embayed without a passage, and once sus-
pended on the dreadful reef 1 read, and trembled.
But he that dwelletii under the defence of the Most
High, shall be safe under the shadow of the Almighty.
1 was ushamed, humbled, comforted, exulted, when, in
the midst of the most awful scone, I hear one of my
brethren, ' We took the wings of faith, and fled in
prayer to the God of our mercies ; and when wo hod
sung a hymn, presently the storm abated, and wo lay
down comfortably and fell asleep.' Ah ! ' So he
givcth his beloved sleep.'

" Shall we not gratefiliy notice their health 7 What
t miracle of mercy hath our vessel been ! Of about
sixty persons, during neariy a two years' voyage, not
one has been lost : not only a hair of their head Imtli
not perished, but those who have returned are • fat
and well liking ;' and ahuost every man and woman
ore reputed in better health than when they left the
shores of their nativity. What disousc, inisory, and
famine, have wo not often hoard of in voyages of far

Vol. I. INos. «y & 30, 45

less extent and duration ! The great Physician had
determined that the inhabitants of this ark should not
complain, ' I am sick.' Few vessels have ever been
so long without touching for refreshments ; or per-
formed so vast a run, as thirteen thousand eight hun-
dred miles, without the sight of \enA ; but except the
common well known efiects of the sea, or. the indis-
position of one individual, not a scorbutic complaint
appeared, no spreading fever, no infectious disorder,
no dangerous accident, or broken bone. Passing
through climates so different— tender women and chil-
dren, many who had never seen the sea till they
embarked upon it, unaccustomed to such food, or
accommodation, they reached Otaheite, after a five
months' voyage, without an individual sick. All the
way they had plenty of provisions, their water sweet,
abundant, and never failing ; and not a creature want-
ing any manner of thing that was good. Whilst we
record the mighty acts of the Lord, let future voyagers
learn from captain Wilson, what care, cleanliness,
proper food, and unremitted attention, can, under the
divine benediction, do for the health of those ' who
occupy their business in great waters.' "

An account of the voyage was published by order of
the directors, for the benefi. of the society, written prin-
cipally by Mr. William Wilson, the chief officer, with a
number of beautiful views, maps and charts. Prefixed
is a scientific discourse on the geography and history of
the South Sea islands, where the missionaries have set-
tled. Appended to the voyage is a detailed account
of the natural and civil state of Otaheite. The whole
composed fronf the papers of Mr. Wilson, the captain,
and the missionaries, under the superintendence of a
committee of directors appointed for the purpose.

" When the welcome arrival of the Duff," say the
directors, " had called us into the house of God again,
on the 6th of August, to testify our thankfulness for
mercies so dlstinguisliod, we could not but feel the
obligations laid upon us to renew our exertions, and
pursue an object so plainly pointed out by the happy
coincidences attending our first successful voyage. At
a special general meeting, therefore, held the next

day, it was most cordially and unanimously re«)lved

That the directors be authorized to employ a ship
belonging to the society on another voyage to the
Pacific ocean, for the purposes of supplying our
brethren who have settled there, with assistance in
their labors; of adding to their number, where circum-
stances may render It necessary ; and of planting the
gospel in other islands of that ocean, where it shall
aiipcnr most elieible. from their extent, nomjlntics^
or other favorable circumstances.

" The sca'ion advancing required peculiar diligence;
and as so much was to he done in a few weeks, our

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

renewed efforts immediately commenced. The
committee of provision and conveyance engaged to
accomplish every thing respecting the ship ; and
the committee of examination applied themselves
to the arduous task of looking round for a sufficient
number of well qualified missionaries, in addition to
the few they had already accepted, and of making
preparations for their equipment. We are overwhelm-
ed at the reflection of the wondrous goodness of
God, in the spirit instantly stirred up from one end
of the kingdom to tiie other. Offers of service
poured in upon us. Single and married brethren pre-
sented themselves, ready to quit every thing dear to
them, and embark in the self-denying service. The
candidates soon were more numerous than our ship
was capable of conveying. All appeared with testi-
monials of their Christian conduct from their ministers
and others. Carefully and repeatedly they were ex-
amined, as to their experience, principles, abilities,
and motives, and such of them were selected as
appeared the most proper for the work.

" Among these were men not only apt to teach, as
preachers pnd catechists, the iruth as it is in Jesus,
but botanists, agriculturists, ingenious artisans in sev-
eral branches, and, Tvhat we very particularly needed,
six of the brethren were instructed in the knowledge
of medicine and surgery, and two of the sisters in the
practice of midwifery. For two of these medical
persons, and one of the most valuable mechanics, we
were indebted to our coadjutors in missionary labors
in Edinburgh, one of the best schools for the science
of medicine ; and from the same society we have
lately received the liberal present of £4(H), in token
of their affection and esteem, and as fellow-workers
and sharers with us in all our mercies.

" Every individual of these missionaries loft, appar-
ently, comfortable stations, ami some of them we know
relinquished even advantageous prospects. \Vc had
reason to believe none v.ero urged by necessity, or a
love of change, to engage in the work, but by a deliber-
ate choice, as the date in wliicii tiioy could most
effectually glorify (J.td in their bodies and in their
spirits, which are his.

"Our wannest desires were naturally directed to
that honored insl.ument, r- tiiin Wilson, to conduct
our second enterprise lo (ho IVifir oronn, ns ho had
embarked in the first with such disiniercstecl zeal, and
executed it with such wisdom, pntienre, fidelity, nnd
success, as not only crowned our wishes, but exceoded
our most sanguine hopes, llensons, Aijly conclusive,
however, prevented his compliance with our request,
whilst no man mora readily anil aciivelv enzazed is
forward the important design. Providenlial circum-
stances, also, occurred, which deprived ui of hii

nephew, to whom we chieliy owe our journals, charta,
and drawings ; but Mr. Robson, who had sailed with
captain Wilson, and highly approved himself for his
ability, diligence, nautical skill, and exemplary Chris-
tian conduct, was judged, by our committee of nautical
directors, fully adequate to the charge ; and the Rev-
erend Mr. Howell, of Knaresborough, offering his
services as a missionary, was joined with tho captain
in the superintendence of the missionaries, and en-
gaged to keep all the journals, and assist the committee
chosen among themselves for the regulation of their
afiairs. The instructions given to them have been
laid before the public in the Evangelical Magazine.
And after the most attentive review of the mission-
aries chosen, and the steps which have hitherto been
taken, we have reason to hope that this mission will
terminate no less favorably tlirji the lormer. But we
presume not to place our dependence on any humaa
care and foresight. We know that the blessing must
come from Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church.
His wisdom must guide them, his power protect them,
and his Spirit alone is able to subdue the unruly wills
and affections of sinful men, unite them in the bonds
of love, animate them with zeal and fervor, and fill
them with all the fulness of God, for the work and
warfare in which they are engaged. To him we have
surrendered them ; and shall not cease to follow them
with our ardent prayers. We know in whom wo have
believed ; his mercies we have experienced in a similar
situation ; and this God is our God for ever and ever ;
he shall be our guide even unto death."

The missionaries sent out on this occasion consisted
of ten married couples, with seven children, and nine-
teen single brethren ; and, in bidding them adieu,
some of the directors parted with their dearest con-
nections not only without regret, but rejoicing that
those who were united to them by the endearing ties
both of friendship and consanguinity, were disposed
to make such a noble sacrifice for the cause of Christ,
and were counted worthy to share in such an lionorablo
service. They embarked in October, and had an
unpleasant voyage to Portsmouth, where the vessel
was detained several weeks by contrary winds ; yet
no man's heart failed, nor did the women evince any
diminution of their zeal or courage. At length, on
the aOth of December, they weighed anchor, and with
a fair wind sailed under the convoy of tho Aniphion
frigate ; and, though they were aftcnvarcis compelled
to put back, in consequence of tho wind shifting, they
were more fortunate tho next evening, and got under
way with a fine breeze from tho east.

— r-T:;!Tt~.:3;-, t::c rrmu cic-n" naro, tnc :ca ran

high, and most of the missionaries were severely indis-
posed. And two days afterwards, in consequence

OTAHEITE.

of the increasing violence of the storm, and the ves-
sel '.laving already shipped several seas, the hatches
were battened down ; yet, notwithstanding this precau-
tion, most of the articles between decks were soon set
afloat. The billows, in the mean time, beat the ship
with a degree of violence which made her tremble
from stem to stern. One sea, indeed, ran so high,
that the spray went over the mizzen-mast head, and a
vast quantity of water forced its way down into the cab-
in, which occasioned a loud and general exclamation of
alarm. At midnight, a solemn silence prevailed for
some time, which was interrupted only by the roaring
of the sea, the falling and breaking of various articles,
and the occasional expressions of fear which were ut-
tered respecting the imminent danger of the ship.
These mournful sounds, however, gradually died away,
the wind abated, and, on the morning of the 28th,
the hatches were unbattened, and the brethren were
once more permitted to come upon deck.

On the 2d of January, 1799, the brethren lost their
convoy, and the following day they were alarmed by
the appearance of a strange sail bearing down upon
them, which they conceived might probably be a French
privateer. On a near approach, however, she i oved
to be an American brig from Philadelphia, and bound
to Leghorn. Another sail came in view on the 15th,
just after the Duff had crossed the tropic and entered
the torrid zone ; but she pursued her course, apparent-
ly regardless of the missionary vessel.

On the morning of the 30th, a more serious alarm
was excited by the appearance of a ship of war and
a schooner, the latter of which was most probably a
prize. As the schooner was immediately sent off, and
the ship gave chase to our missionaries, cajitain Uob-
son crowded all the sail he could ; placed extra ropes
where he conceived they might be necessary, as it
blew hard ; and prepared the guns for action ; as lie,
with the officers and seamen, considered it tiieir duty
to resist the capture of the vessel. Hope and fear
now preponderated alternately in every bosom, and
many an anxious look was cast behind on ilieir pursuer ;
but, at length, about three o'clock in the afternoon,
she abandoned the chase, and loft them to continue
their voyage in peace.

Nothing further transpired worthy of narration till
the 19th of February, when they canio within sight of
cape Frio, and oxpooicd, within a .short time, to an-
chor in the harlmr of Rio Janeiro. The morning was
riear and fmo.nnd a strange nail was discovered astern,
at a considernhlo distance, and apparently riiiing at

. — .. - _.. — _„ ,.rr,:3i:i:-a. snc V.a" uUcr-

wards seen under way, but this rircuinstancc seems to
have excited little or no attention among the mission-
aries, most of whom were busily employed ; some in

washing their clothes, that they might be ready to go
on shore ; and others in writing to their friends, anx-
ious to give them the earliest intelligence of their prog-
ress and safoty It seemed improbable, indeed, that
an enemy's vessel should be cruising in that quarter,
where it was so likely to fall into the hands of the
Portuguese ; and many of the persons on board were
of opinion that the ship they had seen was the Porpus,
bound to New South Wales, as she had not reached
Portsmouth when the convoy sailed. The day was .
accordingly spent in perfect security, and, about ten
o'clock at night, the captain and most of the passen-
gers retired to rest, without the slightest apprehension
of impending danger. What, then, was their astonish-
ment, when the strange vessel, which had been rapid-
ly approaching them by the aid of her sweeps, and
had advanced with her port-holes closed, the more ef-
fectually to conceal her design, fired a gun to bring
them to! A light squall springing up, the moon,
which had hitherto shone brightly, was obscured by
dense clouds, and it began to rain heavily. The
first shot was soon succeeded by a second, which fell
so near the Duff as to be distinctly heard in the air.
Still both the captain and the missionaries were inclin-
ed to hope that there was no real danger ; and with
this idea they attempted to support the spirits of the
females, w ho, as might naturally ha expected, were in
a state of the most anxious apprehension. The Atal
truth, however, was soon communicated. The enemy,
having previously hailed them in English, sternly
ordered the boat to be sent alongside, threatening, in
case of refusal, to sink them to the bottom of the sea.
The first mate immediately went on board, and soon
returned with the appalling intelligence, that the Duff
was a prize, and that all the men must instantly quit
lier,and place themselves at the disposal of the enemy.
The effect which this communication produced on the
feelings of the captain, the missionaries, and the crew,
may bo more easily imagined than described. The
married brethren in particular were agonized at the
thought of leaving their beloved wives and children
at the merry of a banditti, subsisting by pillage, and
inured to scenes of blood. Little time, however, was
ufforded for reflection, as the officers who had come on
lioard, armed with cutlasses, would not even permit those
who were unprovided with a change of apparel to col-
lect H few articles together ; but both the missionaries
and the crew wore driven into the boat with as little
ceremony as if they had been sheep appointed to bo
slaughtered.

Wii ituciiing iiie enemy's vessel, the unlortunale
prisoners were placed on the quarter-deck, under the
clmrge of several sentinels ; and here they had an
opportunity of contrasting their recent peaceful and

340

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

pious enjoyments, wiu, the tumultuous noise, the for-
bidding appearance, and the barbarous manners of the
unfeeling wretches by whom they were now surrounded.
In this pitiable aud heart-rending situation they re-
mained till two o'clock in the morning, when they
were ordered to go below, and were immediately com-
pp"ed, at the point of the sword, to enter a place be-
twu^n decks, where there was scarcely room for them
to lie, and where it was impossible to stand upright.
In this horrid situation, where they were obliged to
spend their nights whilst on board the privateer, the
heat was so intense, the air so close, and the smell so
offensive, that they were in imminent danger of suffo-
cation. The boards on which they slept were also so
uneven, that some of them were two inches above the
other ; and, in addition to this, they were dread-
fully annoyed by vermin falling from the dirty ham-
mocks above them ; whilst the sentinels who stood on
guard, in passing to and from the lantern, trod over
them, and frequently thrust the points of their swords
between them, to feel for room where they might put
their feet.

The first morning after their capture, our missiona-
ries were allowed to come on deck about six o'clock,
and their first anxiety was to look after the ship which
contained some of their dearest relatives and connec-
tions; but it is impossible to describe the anguish
which pervaded their bosoms, when ll beheld her
steering a course directly opposite to their own, and
gradually disappearing in the distance. At the same
time they learned from captain Kobson, that the ves-
sel in which they were now confined, was a French
privateer commanded by captain Carbonelle ; and that
there was no possibility of the Duff" being ransomed, as
she was to be taken to the Spanish port of Monto Video,
in South America; and the privateer, having come up-
on a thres months' cniiso, would not return into port
till 10 expiration of that time, unless two or three
valuable prizes should bo captured in the interim.

The daily allowanceof our unfortunate missionaries,
during their inournful captivity, is said to have been
at follows : — For breakfast, they had biscuit and but-
ter, half a pint of water, and alKJUt a glass of brandy ;
for dinner, a small piece of salted pork, in a tub with
vinegar, the same portion of brandy, and nearly a
pint of water: one knife was nlloiied for the use of
twelve persons, and t.nken awny iiniiiedialely liie meal
was finished. Supper wim .served at five o'clock,
which consisted of horse-beans or peas, with broken
biscuit, boiled in water, and appearini^ nearly as thick
as mud. This was served u|i in a tub, with half a

nini nf walMf^ and the lisus! slloi^'fsttm r-S s-\i-±ts

It has been justly said, that " the brethren now knew
the value of water by painful experienco of the want

of it. Such as, in England, 'bey would not have em.
ployed to wash their hands, they were now glad to use
for quenching their thirst ; and even of this, though
they were almost fainting beneath the heat of a ver-
tical sun, they had but a scanty allowance in twenty-
four hours. The sailors, also, cruelly plundered them
of what little property any of them happened to pos-
sess, and c^p-i such as, on the night of their capture,
had brought with them a small bundle of clothes, were;
by the rapacity of these brutes in human form, left
without a second shirt, and were literally obliged to
go without linen whilst they washed the only one re-
maining in their pos»ession." The captain,chief mate,
and Mr. Howell, however, were much better accom-
modated than their suffering companions, and were
even admitted to the table of the French commander ;
who, on becoming acquainted with their character and
the design of their voyage, seemed disposed to alle-
viate the horrors of their captivity, and intimated that
the hard treatment endured by their friends was, in
respect to himself, the result of necessity, and not of
inclination. " Had he known, he said, who they were,
and with what views they had left their nativa land,
he would sooner have given £500 out of his own pock-
et, than have met with them; but as it was, the
laws of his country, and the claims of his officers and
men, compelled him to act as he did."

During the night of February 21, the privateer cap-
tured a Portuguese brig, laden with salt. When the
captain was brought on board, he supposed M. Car-
bonelle to be an Englishman, as the linguist had ad-
dressed him in good English. This pleasing delusion,
however, was soon dissipated, and the unfortunate
captive, on learning that he was in the power of the
French, declared himself totally ruined, as the whole
of his property consisted in his vessel and her cargo.
Another brip, employed as a Lisbon packet, was sub-
sequently taken, near the entrance of the harbor of
Rio Janeiro, after a chase of several hours ; but be-
fore the enemy came up with her, the captain had
taken the precaution of sending all the passengers,
letters and money on shore in the long-boat, which
happily got sofe to land. A tliini prise was captured
before day-break on the 1st of March, which proved
to be a Portuguese slave-ship, come from the cape of
Good Hope, and Wind for Rio Janeiro. Captain
Carbonelle was, therefore, induced to alter his original
design in respect to the extent of his cruise, and
avowed his intention of sailing immediately for Monte
Video, in the Rio de la Plata, to the great joy of the
missionaries, who considered that the period of their
rsptiruy wuusa 03 tiiUa prutiuciitisiiy shortcnon.

Tlie brethren now agreed to write a petition to the
French captain, to grant them their beds and wearing

OTAHEITE.

apparel, and also to interest himself with the Spanish
governor to prevent them from being confined as pris-
oners, and, if possible, to obtain their liberty. A pe-
tition to this effect was accordingly drawn up, and pre-
sented to M. Carbonelle ; who replied that be would
do as much for them as lay in his power.

On the morning of the 13th of March, they entered
the Rio de la Plata ; and, on entering the harbor of
Monte Video, they received the welcome intelligence
that the Duff had safely arrived, and that the women
and children, who had not yet disembarked, were in
perfect health. In the afternoon, two of Mr. Gregory's
children, and a daughter of Mr. Jones, came onboaj-d
to see ti)eir fathei-s, and remained about an hour ; and
the following morning the married brethren were per-
mitted to visit their wives on board the Duff. The
meeting which ensued was, as may be easily conceiv-
ed, of the most affecting nature ; and the narration
which the females gave of their voyage to Monte Vi-
deo, and the treatment they had received, was calcu-
lated to inspire the most fervent gratitude to that God,
who, in the midst of his paternal chastisement, had
remembered mercy, and had constrained the enemy
to treat these poor defenceless captives with every
mark of respect and sympathizing kindness.

It seems that, immediately after their separation
from their beloved husbands, each of the female mis-
sionaries took possession of her own cabin door, scarce-
ly knowing what conjectures to form, but earnestly
looking up to " the Friend of the friendless" for succor
and protection. After a short time, a French officer,
accompanied by a sailor, came down from the deck,
and went round to each cabin, thrusting his sword un-
der the beds, to ascertain whether any men had been
secreted there ; but in all other respects, behaved
with the utmost respect and politeness. The children,
in the mean time, were wrapped in a profound slumber,
totally unconscious of the disaster which had befallen
their unhappy parents. These were pointed out to
the officer, on his entering the cabins of Messrs. Jones
and Gregory ; and, uAer he was satisfied that no per-
son had been concealed, he returned on deck, and
placed a sentinel at the hatchway, to prevent ony of
the soancn from going below. Shortly afterwards,
the ladies received the welcome intelligence that the
English surgeon, Mr. Turner, had been kindly permit-
ted by M. Carbonelle to return or board the Duff,
lest, in case of illness, his professional assistance might
be needed.

From this time, the wives of our missionaries ex-
perienced the most liberal treatment from the prize-
master and his officers, who appeared to sympathize
with their misfortune, and evidently determined to
render their captivity as light as possible. The most

scrupulous regard, indeed, was paid to their cotiTe-
nience and comfort ; and with respect to the supply of
their table, they were repeatedly told that they had
only to mention what they wished for, and, if it were
in the ship, it should be immediately given them.
And upon then: arrival at Monte Video, on the Sd of
March, they were supplied with a variety of fruits,
which, after the time they had been at sea, must havn
proved highly acceptable.

After the missionaries had formed a variety of con«
jectures respecting the manner in which they should
be disposed of by their captors, they were given to
understand that the Spanish governor had granted his
permission for the debarkation of the women and chil-
dren, and that a house was prepared for their recep-
tion ; but that the landing of the men had been pro-
hibited by an order from the viceroy at Buenos Ayres,
who was violently prejudiced against them, on account
of their religion. It was stated, however, that the
married brethren might visit their wives occasionally
in the day time, and return on board, provided that
they were careful to keep out of the sight of the gov-
ernor. This hint was of course taken, with feelings
of lively gratitude ; and during their stay in South
America, the brethren, instead of being confined as
prisoners of war, were permitted to go about without
molestation, and were, in many instances, supplied by
the natives with the best their tables afforded. Two
of the females being near the time of their confine-
ment, and the house selected for their temporary resi-
dence being extremely inconvenient, a gentleman. of
Monte Video generously granted them the use of his
country house, with all the accommodations it was
capable of affording. With the situation and conve-
niences of this charming place they were completely
fascinated ; and the garden and orchard, which were
attached to the dwelling, exiiibited one of the most
luxuriant scenes of fertility that can possibly be imagin-
ed. Some of the trees were apparently ready to break
down beneath a load of fruit, whilst apples, peaches,
nectarines, &c,, lay perishing on the ground in im-
mense profusion ; esculent vegetables of various kinds
presented an abundant supply for culinary purposes ;
and a translucent stream, which ran along the bottom
of the orchard, furnished the family with excellent
fish and salubrious water, Still, however, amidst all
the kindness they received, and all the blessings with
which they were surrounded, the Europeans felt that
they were strangers in a foreign land ; and when they
reflected on the afflictions with which they had been

visited. and thn hnrrinn u-liich «till misniAH fi

nr n ■aaann

at least, to shut out every prospect of usefulness, their
bosoms heaved with involuntary sighs, and the tear of
regret occasionally rolled unbidden down their cheeks.

343

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Shortly after his arnvtl at Monte Video, captain
Robson appears to have formed the pleasing anticipa-
:ion of ransoming the Duff, through the medium of
bills of exchange drawn upon the Missionary Society.
The crew of the privateer, however, being anxious for
their prize-money, this desirable object could not be ob-
tained without the immediate payment of cash ; which,
in the existing circumstances of the brethren, could
not possibly be tendered. An attempt was then made
to negotiate for the purchase of one of the brigs cap-
tured by the Grand Buonaparte, and, after some time,
the bargain was considered as 6naily closed ; but whilst
the missionaries were arranging their future plans, and
stating their willingness to go, some to the cape of
Good Hope, and otiiers to Sierra Leone, whilst a few
expressed a wish to return to England, it was discov-
ered that the vessel was already sold to a Portuguese
merchant. In addition to this disappointment, thi
brethren received the appalling intelligence that the
Spanish viceroy bad issued orders for them all to be
detained as prisoners, if they did not quit the country
within a very short period. After a few days, how-
ever, captain Carbonelle procured a passage for them
to Kio Janeiro, in the vessel of which they had been
disappointed, and kindly advanced them a considera-
ble sum, on account of the society, for the purchase
of stores for their voyage.

On the 8th of May, after bidding adieu to their
kind and generous friends in Monte Video, captain
Robson and the missionaries embarked on board the
Portuguese brig Postiliihio de Amerique, and the next
evening sailed for Rio Janeiro. They expected to
perform the voyage in about a fortnight, but, in con-
sequence of adverse winds, it occupied nearly a month,
and, as the vessel was small, they were much incon-
venienced for want of room during their passage. At
length they began to congratulate themselves on a
near approach to their " desired haven ;" but, at this
juncture, they were alarmed by a fleet of about thirty
ships ; one of which (a frigate of forty guns) bore
down upon them, and, though she proved to be a Por-
tuguese, they found, after a short communication with
the commodore, that they were once more placed in a
state of captivity ; the brig in which they had obtain-
ed their passage having been purchased without hav-
ing been regularly condemned, and the merchant who
had made the purchase having been previously charg-
ed with some illegal practices as a smuggler.

Our unfortunate missionaries were now divided into
two compnnics, pnrt of them being taken on board the
Medusa, the conunodore's ship, of seventy-four guns,
and the remainder Iming removed into the Amazon
frigate, whilst captain Hobson remained in the captur-
ed brig. The situation of the prisoners in the respec-

tive vessels to which they were conveyed was strik-
ingly diflferent. On board the Amazon, they were
treated with the utmost humanity and kindness, and
indulged with every accommodation, by the captain
and his officers, who evidently commiserated the hard-
ship of their situation, and resolved, as far as possible,
to alleviate the rigor of their captivity. Those who
had the misfortune to be carried on board the Medu-
sa, however, found themselves at the mercy of the
most brutal, unfeeling tyrants, who seemed to enjoy
nothing so much as the power of inflicting misery up-
on their helpless and unoffending prisoners. After
fasting some time, the missionary party in this vessel
were served with black beans and putrescent beef,
which they could not possibly eat, and which was
brought to them in a tub, without bread, or any allow-
ance of water. As a substitute for the former, they
had a beaten root, which appeared somewhat like saw-
dust ; and, in respect to the latter, they were inform-
ed that none could be given them till the morrow.
On retiring for the night, it appeared that the place
allotted for five women and two children, was in the
centre of the Portuguese sailors, from whom they were
divided only by a piece of canvass, and the space thus
apportioned was so small as to be completely covered
by two mattresses. The next morning a scanty sup-
ply of water was furnished, but not a drop was allow-
ed for the parched and almost perishing children, till
Mr. Jones had repeatedly entreated on their behalf.
At length, however, he succeeded in obtaining an allow-
ance of a quart (wine measure) for each of the adults,
and a pint for each child, for twenty-four hours.

For some time, both the commodore and his first
captain pretended to consider the missionaries as con-
victs, who had been doomed to expiate their crimes
in exile, but who had by some means contrived to ef-
fect their escape. This, however, was, in all proba-
bility, mere pretext for inflicting upon them the vile
degradation and unmanly cruelties which have been
already noticed ; and, after the lapse of two or three
weeks, the exemplary conduct of the brethren com-
pelled even those unfeeling miscreants, who had pre-
viously delighted in torturing their feelings by the
grossest violations of common decency, to ameliorate
their sufferings, and to grant them rather better treat-
ment. The Rev. Mr. Howell, for instance, who was
reduced to a most pitiable state, in consequence of
illness and his inability to eat the filthy provisions
served up to him, was furnished with a bed in one of
the cabins, and admitted to the commodore's table ;
and one of the missionary's wives, whose health was
in ■ vAfy delicate state^ was afterwards induls^ed with
similar privileges, though she had formerly been treat-
ed in the most unfeeling manner.

OTAMEUTfi.

■ -.sAfter edcounteribg some severe gales, and giving
chase to several strange vessels, one of which was
captured, they arrived at Lisbon, on the SSd of Sep-
tember ; and here our missionaries not only obtained
their liberty, but Mr. Gregory and his family were
gratuitously accommodated, by an English gentleman,
with an elegant suite of apartments, the rent of which
was 18 moidores, or £24 6s. per month. Arrange-
mente were soon afterwards made for their return to
their native land ; and, with the exception of Mrs.
Hughes, who died at Lisbon, and was interred in the
Protestant burial-ground in that city, they were all per-
mitted to reach the British shores in safety.

Having thus briefly related the principal events of
the second missionary voyage, we must now revert to
the affairs of Otaheite, where a circumstance occurred
which induced most of the brethren in that island to
abandon the scene of their labors, and threatened the
mission itself with complete annihilation.

Early in the month of March, 1798, the ship Nauti-
lus, having performed a long and most perilous voyage,
anchored in Matavai bay, with the view to undergo-
ing some repairs, taking in water, &c. ; and, on this
occasion, both the officers and crew were traated very
kindly by the missionaries, who cheerfully rendered
them every assistance in their power. A fter a few
days, they set sail, intending to prosecute their voyage,
but were soon compelled to return by adverse winds
and a violent storm. Shortly after this, two of the
seamen belonging to the Nautilus, and five natives of
Ow'iyhee, who happened to be on board, escaped
from the vessel, and concealed themselves on shore.
Some of the chiefs appeared inclined to protect the
deserters ; but the captain resolved, if possible, tore-
cover them, particularly the mariners ; and, with this
view, he prevailed on the brethren to send a deputa-
tion to the king, and the other principal chiefs, Po-
raare and Temaree, that the fugitives might be deliver-
ed up. Accordingly, Messrs. Brooinhall, Jefferson,
Main, and W. Puckey, waited first on Temaree, and
requested that he would accompany them to the king.
To this he readily acceded, and, on reaching the royal
habitation, they found his Otaheitan majesty busily em-
ployed in cleaning a small-tooth comb ! He received
them with apparent cordiality, and desired them to ex-
plain their business; but on finding that Pomare was at
a place about two miles distant, they stated that they
wished him to be present before they entered upon
the subject of their visit ; and, as they conceived that
some delay might occur in the event of their sending
a messenger, they resolved to go personally, and per-

j_..^. ••—•!! fj tHc iraurooi nisson.

VVhen they had proceeded about three quarters of
a mile, and were approaching the bank of a river,

which it tvaii necessary to ford, they were surrounded by
nearly thirty of the natives ; three or four of whom sud-
denly laid hold on Mr. Broomhall's coat, which he was
carrying under his arm, and endeavored to wrest it from
him. Surprised at this conduct, Mr. Jefferson hastened
to the assistance of his friend ; but before he could
receive an answer to the questions which he addressed
to the assailants, he perceived Puckey lying on the
ground, at a short distance, surrounded by several
Otaheitans, who were eageriy tearing off his clothes,
and afterwards dragged him to the river, by the hair
of the head, as if intending to drown him. In an op-
posite direction, he discovered Main in the hands of
some others, who were stripping him with avidity ;
and, in the space of a few seconds, Jefferson himself
was seized and stripped by four or five of the natives,
whocontended violently with each other for the different
articles of his dress, and, in the scuffle, dragged him
through the river with the most unfeeling brutality,
so that he fully expected to have been murdered ;
though, by the kind intervention of an ever- vigilant
Providence, he sustained no material injury. Main
and Puckey, in the mean time, were hurried along,
completely naked, with the exception of a narrow
strip of cloth fastened round their loins ; whilst some
of the natives, who had taken no part in this disgrace-
ful outrage, seemed inclined to rescue them from the
hands of their enemies, and many of the Otaheitan
females evinced their feelings of regret and compassion
by their tears.

The ruffians who had seized on Mr. Jefferson and
his brethren, now seemed undetermined how to dis-
pose of them ; but, at length, they consented to con-
duct them to Pomare, whom they found, with his wife
Idia and a few attendants, under a shed by the sea-
side. The missionaries had no sooner stated their
complaint, than they were humanely furnished with
cloth sufficient to cover them, and were solemnly as-
sured of protection for the future ; and, after they
had rested themselves for about an hour, they were
accompanied, both by Pomare and Idia, on their return
to Matavai. As they approached the spot where they
had been so inhumanly stripped and maltreated,
they were joined by Mr. Broomhall ; who, after nar-
rowly escaping assassination, was permitted to retain
his shirt, watch, and trowsers. About eight o'clock
in the evening, they arrived at the mission-house, to
the great joy of their brethren, who had received intel-
ligence of the recent outrage, and had also been induced
to suppose, by various reports, that the natives had
meditated a regular ^ttack upon their little settlement,
ihe next day, Muiuie Manne, the old high-priest,
came to Matavai, with a message from Pomare to the
four brethren who had been so cruelly treated, and

944

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

brought with him achickeo and a young plantain tree,
•8 an atouement and peace-offering. He also gave
them to understand, that most of the articles of which
they had been plundered should be forthwith restored.
Eleven of the missionaries, however, namely, Messrs.
Cover, Clode, Cook, Hassel, Henry, Hodges, Main,
Oakes, J. Puckey, W. Puckey, and W. Smith, con-
ceiving their lives to be in imminent danger, in conse-
quence of this painful occurrence, agreed with captain
Bishop, of the Nautilus, to convey them, with four
women and four children, to Port Jackson. They
accordingly embarked without delay, and, after an
unpleasant voyage of about six weeks, they arrived at
the place of their destination, where they were received
in the most polite and friendly manner by the governor,
and by the Rev. Messrs. Johnson and Marsden, the
excelle.^t chaplains of the settlement ; who encouraged
them to exert themselves in promoting the interests
of the colony where they had sought an asylum.*
Instead of achieving any thing for the honor of the
gospel, however, some of them afforded melancholy
proof that Otaheite wou'd not have been eventually
benefited by their continuance on that island ; whilst
others, who, notwithstanding their attachment to the
Redeemer, had suffered their fears to triumph in the
season of adversity, were doomed to sufibr more
severe trials in New South Wales, than any of their
brethren who remained at their post, trusting in God
for their preservation. Mr. Hassel was dangerously
wounded, and robbed of nearly the whole of his prop-
erty, by a gang of villains, who broke into his lodging
near Paramatta ; and Mr. Clode was inhumanly
murdered in the vicinity of Sydney, as will appear
from the following communication firom the Rev. Mr.
Johnson to Joseph Hardcastle, Esq., the late treasurer
of the Missionary Society, dated August 26, 1799: —
" By this time, I suppose, you have heard that part
of the missionaries sent first to Otaheite, have left
that Island, and have come to Port Jackson. These
gentlemen arrived here on the 14lh of May, 1798, at
a time when I was confined to my room through a
long and severe sickness. Upon their first arrival,
Messrs. Cover and Henry, with their families, spent
a few days with us, after which they removed up to

• The deciaion of thow who left Tthiti m«y appear prematarr ;
but it ik not eaay to form a oorreot eatjmale of tho dangera to which
they were expoaed. This maj be illuitrated Oom the fact atated
by Mr. Ellii ;— " Otn, called Pomare alnce hia flither'a death, ha*
often told Mr. NotI, that, after the departure of the DnfT, fVeqiiently,
when he haa been carried on men'a ahouldera round the raaidenoe
of the miaaionariea, Peter the Swede, who haa been with him, haa
aaid, when tho miaaionariea hare been kneeling down in prayer
at their fWmily worahlp, ' See, tJiejr are all down on their kneea,
qtiite «eteneeleaa ; how eaally your people might raah upon them,
and kill them all! and then their proparty would be youra.' " —
KUu't Polynuian Ratarcka, p. 6!), rol. i. London edition.

Paramatu, about fifteen miles from Sydney, where
they still reside.

" Owing to my indispoaition, it was some time after
before I became acquainted with any other of the
missionaries ; and with one or two I did not feel dis-
posed to claim any acquaintance, and fear the society
have been deceived in them ; but I wish to be excused
saying more upon that subject. A consciousness of
my own infirmities makes me delicate in exposing
those of others — to their own Master they must stand
or fall. The apostle's motto, I wish, on all occasions,
to make my own : ' Be not high minded, but fear.'

" During the time of my illness, Mr. Samuel Clode
frequently called upon me, and, I believe, was pretty
well acquainted with the nature of my indisposition ;
and soon after I recovered, a friendly intimacy was
formed between us, and, I confess, the more I came
to know of him, the more I esteemed him. But it
has pleased God to remove my friend away from me,
to meet him no more till it pleases him to remove me
likewise from this vale of sin and misery. I will now,
sir, give you a short account of this painful and mel-
ancholy event.

" Mr. Clode, some weeks previous to this, had sig-
nified to me his intention of returning to England, and
at that time was preparing things necessary for tho
voyage. He had spoken to captain Wilkinson, of the
Indispensable, and had so far agreed with him, that
the captain had begun to provide a cabin for him ; but,
alas ! a cabin of a different kind awaited him. A
soldier, of the name of Jones, had for some time owed
Mr. Clode a sum of money. Mr. Clode now thought
It necessary to ask for it, and, after some altercation,
Jones desired him to call on Tuesday, the 2d of
July, In the artemoon, and he would settle with him.

"On Tuesday, about four o'clock, he called at my
house, sat a few minutes, and then took his leave for
the night, promising to call the next morning, and to
bring with him something for my little boy, who was
at that time Indisposed. But truly it may be said, we
know not what a day may bring forth ; for the next
morning, instead of seeing my friend, tidings were
brought me that he was murdered, and had been found
In a saw-pit under water, his skull fractured in different
parts, and his throat cut from ear to ear ! Judge, sir,
of my surprise and horror upon receiving this Informa-
tion. A kind of stupor seized me — I could not believe
it — It appeared as a dream ; but recollecting myself,
I Immediately went and acquainted his excellency,
the governor, with the melancholy news. The gov-
ernor, with several other officers, went with me to the
■^tscs. where we found everv thlnz as w!is represent-
ed ; — a scene so shocking as I never shall forget, but
too painful and distressing for me fully to relate.

OTAHEITE.

" It pleased God, however, that this horrid inimler
did not remain long concealed ; divine justice and
vengeance soon pursued and overtoc^ his cruel and
blood-thirsty murderers. News of this shocking event
soon spread in all directions. Numbers of all descrip-
tions of persons ran to the spot ; Jones, the man
above-mentioned, among the rest, and who had the
audacity to impute the murder to the person who
found my friend in this melancholy state. But this
wretch's crime, and his base intention in throwing it
upon another, were both soon discovered. Suspicions
falling upon Jones, the path leading from the pit to
his house was closely examined, and blood traced
(besides some of the deceased's brain laid in different
places) to the very door; and, on making further
search in the house, blood was discovered in different
parts, particularly in a small skilling, where, as after-
wards appeared, my friend was dragged after this
horrid butcher had knocked him down. An axe was
found with blood and brains upon it, though it had
been previously washed ; a knife and blanket were
discovered in the same state ; and, upon examining
the person of Jones, blood was found upon one of his
fingers. These, and other circumstances, fully con-
firmed the suspicion of his guilt. Jones, his wife, and
two men who lived in their house, were immediately
apprehended, and the next day, a criminal court was
convened purposely to try them, when Jones, his
wife, and Elbray, were convicted upon the clearest
evidence ; and, most probably, the fourth, though
acquitted, was a party concerned. After their con-
viction, I officially visited these three horrid mokisters ;
who, for the purpose of obtaining a more full con-
fession of this murder, and others which Jones was
conjectured to have committed, were put into sep-
arate places. Jones continued hardened to the last,
his wife little better ; but Elbray, stung with remorse,
made a full confession of the whole transaction, which
I took down in writing, and was to the following effect :
" The scheme was flrst planned hy Jones and his
wife on the Sunday ; Elbray was asked to assist in it,
but at first refused. Jones, however, to gain him over,
gave him several drams of spirits, and, on the morning
of Tuesday, he consented. Trotman (the other man
that was tried, but acquitted) was sent with Jones's
two children to a settler's farm for turnips. Mr. Clode
was at that time in the town, and, expecting him to
return home before dinner, it was the intention of the
other three to despatch him before Trotman and the
children returned ; but Mr. Clode not returning so
soon as was expected, this scheme failed. About
four o'clock, two other !inlHir>ra called in to drink te°.
At that time, Jones and Elbray were looking out for
their victim, and seeinj; him coming down the hill at
Vol. I.— Nos. 29 it 30. 46

a distance, they went into the house, and Jones pro'
posed that his wife, together with the two soldiers
and Trotman, and the children, should go to look at
a piece of wood, which was said to be cutting for the
purpose of a canoe ; a proposal which was immediately
embraced. Mr. Clode, who by this time had come
to the door, was now asked in, and a chair was set for
him by the table to settle his accounts with Jtmes.
An axe was placed in the comer of the room, and
with this Elbray, coming behind him, was to knock
him down. He accordingly took it in his hand ; but,
his heart failing him, he laid it down again, and went out
of the house. On entering, in a few moments, be heard
the first blow given by Jones, who repeated his blows
so often, that Elbray at last cried out, ' For God's sake,
Jones, you have knocked him all to pieces !' They
then dragged him into the skilling, and after they had
both come out, Jones went in again, and coming out
a second time, took up a large knife. Elbray asked
him what he was goifig to do with it : he replied, with
an oath, ' He moves ; he is not dead ;' and, taking the
knife, went in once more, and cut his throat, from ear
to ear, and then returned, both the knife and his hands
reeking with blood. This he immediately washed,
whilst Elbray scattered ashes over the room to conceal
the blood upon the floor. The window-shutters were
then closed, the tea-things set against the company
returned ; and, after tea, liquor was set upon the
table, and Several songs were sung by Jones, his wife,
and others. About nine o'clock, Jones and Elbray
went out, when they dragged the body of the deceased
through a hole in the skilling, and taking it upon their
shoulders, carried it to the pit, threw it in, and covered
it over with green boughs. They then returned to
their company, and kept up their jovial mirth till after
midnight.

" The providence of God was singularly manifest
in bringing this horrid murder to light. A man had
been at work, hoeing for several days, upon the
ground round this pit, and in the evening used
to leave his hoe on this spot. Going to work
the next morning, and looking for his hoe, he was
surprised to see so many green boughs laid over the
pit ; and suspecting that some stolen property might
be there concealed, he put in his hoe and removed
the boughs, when he immediately saw the hand of a
dead man. On his calling to a person who was cut-
ting firewood at a short distance, three or four others
came at the same time, Jones among the rest, and
immediately charged the man that first discovered

Mr. Clode in this woful plight, with the murder, and

...._•«.! •.. ,:- {.:. I ■- !.u . I II — „L:.r i

"......-.. trr it^ fri5 iiKiius mm a iioiiunrri^-iiicx, anu

take him into the camp a prisoner. The miscreant
then came into camp with others, to bring tidings of

146

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

tb« murder ; expressed his concern for the fate, of a
man he so much loved, and to whom he was indebted
for his attention to him and family, in times of sick-
ness ; and again endeavored to throw the crime upon
the man that first discovered the body. From the
tale he told, and other circumstances concurring, the
man was committed to prison ; but, at the very time
Jones was thus speaking, another man came up, and
■aid to Jones — ' You are the murderer; blood has
been traced from the pit directly to your house.' He
then began to protest his innocence, and to repeat
what I have before related. His house, his body, &tc.
were examined : he was taken to the pit, ordered to
look at the body, and to touch it. He replied, ' Yes,
I will, and kiss him too, if you please, for I loved him
as my brother.'

" That thw unfeeling wretch had reason to love
Mr. Clode, you may easily perceive by his wife's dec-
laration to me whilst under sentence. Speaking to
her of this horrid business, and lamenting the unhappy
end of a friend I so much esteemed, she replied, ' Oh,
sir, that dear man was the saving both of my life and
the Ufe of my husband. His attention to Trotman was,
also, such as I never saw in any other person in my
life : three times a day he came to visit him, washing
and cleansing his sores ; and had it not been for his at-
tention, he would have surely lost liis iiand.'

"By an order from the governor, the house in which
the murder was committed was pulled down on the
Saturday, and burnt to ashes ; a temporary gallows
was erected upon the same spot, and at twel ye o'clock
these three inhuman wretches were taken out, and
conveyed in a cart to the place, where, having discharg-
ed my duty as chaplain, they were launched into eter-
nity, to appear at the tribunal of a righteous, sin-aveng-
ing God. The bodies of the two men were hung in
chains near the place ; that of the woman was given
to the surgeons for dissection.

" In the interim, I gave directions to have the body
of my deceased friend brought into the town, to a
small hut of my own, and ordered a decent coffin to
be made. Numbers came to see him, and many la-
mented his untimely end. On Friday, his remains
were committed to the silent grave. The pall was
borne by five surgeons and captain Wilkinson. His
excellency the governor walked with me before the
corpse. Messrs. Cover, Henry, Hussel, Smith, Oakes,
and the two Puckeys followed, and after them several
officers and others. After having read the burial ser-
vice, a hymn was sung, and I spoke a litlle ujion the
melancholy occasion. Many of the spectators were
in tears, and I was so much affected myself, that I could

"-.• " '■■> •"•' B^T^ iiuth.-c, trial I purposca to prcacn

a discourse on the Sunday but one next ensuing."

The aspect of the Olaheitan mission was now ex-
tremely gloomy :— the sun which had shone so auspi-
ciously on the arrival of the Duff, seemed to have
gone down at noon-day; — the fascinatinj; piospect
which had opened to the view, and had warmed the
hearts of the friends of the Redeemer in England, was
now enveloped with clouds and darkness ; — and it ap-
peared as if the lamp of divine truth must be necessa-
rily withdrawn from a people who " knew not the day
of their visitation." The all-wise and infinitely gra-
cious God, however, had incalculable blessings in store
for Otaheite ; and, notwithstanding the departure of
their brethren, — their own numerical weakness, — and
the serious perils to which they were exposed, — seven
of the missionaries, namely, Messrs. Bicknell, Broom-
hall, Eyre, Harris, Jefferson, Lewis, and Nott, resolv-
ed to continue at their post, and to commit themselves
unreservedly to the care and keeping of that Omnipo-
tent Saviour, whose precious gospel they were most
anxious to promulgate among the benighted idolaten
by whom they were surrounded.

As the missionaries were perfectly aware of the cu-
pidity of Pomare, by whose connivance, or that of the
king, they had already suffered various depredations,
they considered it advisable, on the departure of their
brethren, to deliver up the public store-room and the
blacksmith's shop, with all their contents, into the hands
of that chief They also intimated their willingness
to surrender to him their private property of every
description, if he desired it ; but this he had sufficient
honor to decline. Notwithstanding their precaution,
however, the Europeans were frequently alarmed by
intelligence that the mission-house was marked out for
spoliation and destruction ; and on several occasions
tiiey were actually plundered of various articles. Hos-
tilities were also kindled in the district of Pare, in con-
sequence of Pomare having killed two of the men who
had so cruelly treated the four missionaries. The chief,
however, having in vain made overtures of peace to
the malcontents, attacked them with a numerous force,
drove them back to the mountains, slew about fifteen
of them, and reduced thoir houses to ashes; after
wiiich there was no further difficulty in bringing them
to terms of accommodation.

Towards the close of August, a circumstance occur-
red which was calculated to place in a striking point
of view the prejudices and impatience of the natives
under affliction, whilst it menaced one of the mission-
aries with the heaviest visitation o( the king's displeas-
ure ; — Just as the brethren had sat down to dinner,
Pomare, accompanied by a number of Otaheitans,
came into the house, and stated that a serious accident
had happened at the huhu, or gt'eai iiuuae, in Pare,
occasioned by the explosion of a considerable quantity

OTAHEITE.

of gunpowder. As he urgently solicited immediate
usktance, Mr. Broomhall left his repast, to mix up
some suitable ingredients ; and, accompanied by Mr.
Harris, set off in a single canoe to one of the points
of Pare, and then proceeded as quickly as possible to
the nanu, where they found Temaree, the chief of
Papara, lying on his bed in a most wretched, mangled
state. Mr. Broomhall immediately began to apply
what he had prepared, with a camel's hairbrush, to the
lacerated skin of the sufferer, who was apparently more
passive under the operation than might have been ex-
pected. On the missionaries repealing their visit the
following day, however, they were greatly surprised at
the appearance of the patient, who was daubed over
with a thick white paste, which, on inquiry, proved to
be the scrapings of yams. Both the chief and his
wife seemed highly offended with Mr. Broomhall, for
having applied a composition which had been produc-
tive of pain, and which they believed to have been
cursed by the God of Britain. As Temaree appeared
unwilling to receive any further assistance, the breth-
ren went in quest of 6ve other persons who had been
dreadfully injured by the same accident, though they
had hitherto been left in their pitiable situation, every
attention having been devoted to the great chief. Two
of the five permitted Mr. Broomhall to dress their
wounds, but the others would not suffer him to touch
them.

After calling at the house of an acquaintance, the
brethren returned to visit Temaree, and at this time
Otoo and his consort were riding, in their usual style,
upon tiie shoulders of their attendants, in front of the
house. " I now," says Mr. Harris, " asked brother
Broomhall to go out, in order that we might speak to
the king. We accordingly went, and I addressed him
with one of the usual salutations. It was returned in
silence, and with a fallen countenance, which always
denotes his wrath, and often precedes the command
kill him ; for he thinks no more of sacrificing a man
than of cutting off a dog's neck. I saw plainly that
his executioners knew his thoughts, and their eyes
were fixed in a peculiar manner on me and on him,
watching his motions. Otoo laid his hand on my shoul-
der, and called one of his men to him. I cleariy saw
that mischief was impending; but, laboring to conceal
my alarm, I withdrew, on pretence of looking at an
animal which had been presented by a European cap-
tain, and which, at this juncture, caught my eye. I
then advanced a few steps farther towards brother
Broomhall, who, with a countenance resembling the
color of writing-paper, said, 'Let us go; there is some-
thing the matter.' I readily accednH to his mnt-Gn,
and we went off towards Matavai, though, I confess, t
never expected to reach it ; conceiving, as I did, that

the scenes of March 96 were again about to be acted,
only in a more tragksal manner."

In alluding to the death of Temaree, which seems
to have occurred on the 8th of September, Mr. Harris
observes, " This awful visitation is evidently to us a
singular interposition of Providence, though time alone
can unfold its consequences. There seemed to be such
a rooted jealousy subsisting between Pomare, Idia|
and the deceased, that we were in daily expectation
of an open rupture ; and though he behaved towards
us with civility, the few times he happened to visit us,
we have some reason to suppose that he and Otoo
were the principal agents in causing the four brethren
to be stripped at Pare."

Many considerable presents had been made to the
deceased chief, and he hnd a number of muskets ; but
his grand object was gunpowder, of which he had re-
ceived several pounds from one of the ships last at
Otaheite. The largeness of the grain having induced
him to question whether the Europeans had furnished
him with real powder, he proposed to his attendants to
ascertain the fact by an experiment. Accordingly a
pistol was loaded, and unthinkingly fired over the
whole quantity of powder received ; which, on the fall-
ing of a spark, instantaneously exploded. The natives
were not, at first, aware of the injury they had receir-
ed ; but wlien the smoke had dispersed, and they be-
gan to rub those partsof their bodies which appeared to
be fouled by the powder, they were terrified on perceiv-
ing the skin peel off under their fingers ; and several of
them instantly plunged into an adjacent river ; whilst
intelligence of the disaster was conveyed to Pomare,
who happened to be at Matavai, and immediately ap-
plied to the missionaries for assistance.

On the 18th of November, the missionaries were
informed that Otoo and Manne Manne had usurped
the power over all the larger peninsula, and excluded
Pomare from exercising authority in any part of the
same. If this were the result of Manne Manne's in-
trigues, however, he was not long permhted to triumph
in his success ; as, on the 3d of December, the mis-
sionaries received intelligence that he was killed,
and that the servants both of Idia and of Otoo were
plundering his property. The prevalent report relative
to this catastrophe was as follows : — Pomare having
sent word to his wife, in a private manner, that the old
priest must be put out of the way, Idia went repeat-
edly to the king, in order to procure his consent to the
measures which she intended to adopt. Otoo was, at
first, very unwilling to sacrifice a man with whom he
was in close alliance ; but, at length, yielded to the

.^..t.-.....,..,.^ ... ,,!:* 111./11161. 1 lit: iitTAt iiiuriiiiig ixic UB-

suspecting Manne Manne was overtaken near One-tree
Hill, by Fare-roa, (the man with whom Idia had for

848

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

some time cohabited) and one of the Sandwich ialanden.
After a short conversation, Fare-roa smote his victmi
on the head with a stone, and the high-priest, who had
been long venerated by the natives as possessing pe-
culiar influence with their gods, sunk helpless and un-
protected into the arms of death, beneath the treacher-
ous blow of an assassin. His corpse was afterwards
conveyed to the great morai in Pare, of which the fol-
lowing description has been given by Mr. Jefferson : —
" This morai, or place appointed for the worship
of the eatooa, stands on a sandy point of land, pro-
jecting a little way out towards the sea, and forming a
small bay on each side. I arrived, in company with
an Otaheitan priest, between eleven and twelve o'clock
in the forenoon, and observed a number of bread-fruit,
cocoa-nut, and other trees, growing close to the morai.
Before we entered, my guide gathered a bunch of
green leaves, that grew upon the beach ; and, as soon
as we came to the accustomed place for making offer-
ings, he threw them upon the pavement, and re-
peated, in a careless manner, a few words soliciting the
favor of the deity supposed to preside there. The
place where this ceremony was performed is dedicated
to their principal eatooa, called Oro, and is a rough
stone pavement about eighteen feet square. At the
norfli end, opposite to the sea, is a large pile of stones,
upwards of five feet high, three or four feet wide, and
about eighteen feet long. Upon the top are several
pieces of board, some of them six feet long and twelve
inches broad ; the ends being slit into five parts, to rep-
resent a human hand, with the fingers a little extended.
At the south end are set up five stones, three of which
are larger than the other two. These are designed to
mark out the places of the officiating priests, both of su-
perior and inferior rank ; who sit cross-legged upon the
pavement, supporting their backs against the stones,
and in this posture, with their faces towards the pile of
stones and boards, they present their prayers. The
middle space is where the human victims are slaugh-
tered, by being knocked on the head with stones and
a club ; after which, a principal priest scoops out the
eyes of the murdered person, and, holding them in his
hands, presents them to the king, who opens his mouth,
as if intending to swallow tlu-ni. When this ceremony
is concluded, the carcass is thrown into a pit, and cov-
ered with stones; onH, from tlie number of pits sur-
rounding the place, as well as from the expressions of
my conductor, I apprehend that many hundreds of
men and women have been here sacrificed by the abom-
inable superstition of il'.&se idolaters. Besides tlio
captives taken in war, i!ie bodies of those slain in bat-
tle, or those cut off by tb" ' iiwmnd of the king, or
thai are purposely uamoiKK-ii i uiiv niiier part under
his jurisdKtion, are bp;ught ^.;^ his inorai, that prayers

may be made over them, previously to their inters
ment.

" A little to the right of this pavement of blood,
and nearer towards the point, is an altar to Oro, raised
upon three rows of wooden pillars, thirteen in a row,
neariy seven feet liigh, and four or five feet broad ; the
top being covered with cocoa-nut leaves, and the front
and ends decorated with leaves of the sugar cane.so fixed
that they may hang down like long fringes. Upon this
altar was a large hog, with other offerings of fish,
bread-fiuit, and mountain plantains. A little more to
the right, was the frame of an altar going to decay,
dedicated to an imaginary deity named Ore-madooa ;
and a few yards farther, toward the extremity of the
land, appeared a pile of stones, ten or twelve feet
high, and about twenty in length, sacred to a marine
god called Tupah, and said to be the occasional ^ene
of human sacrifices. By this time, however, I was
tired and disgusted with these awful proofs of man s
apostasy, and of Satan's power over him ; and there-
fore desired my guide to withdraw."

On the first intelligence of Manne Manne's death,
much confusion ensued in Pare, and the friends of the
deceased dispersed themselves in various directions.
One of his relatives was exposed to the most immuient
peril, hut hud his life saved m a manner too interesting
to be passed over in silence. At the commencement
of the tumult, this man was sitting quietly in his hut,
which was quickly surrounded by a barbarous mob,
who seemed only intent on marking their progress with
destruction. A savage, thirsting for blood, saw this
person, and instantly lifted up an English axe, for the
pur]M>se of despatching him. The deadly weapon was,
for a moment, poised in the air, when a by-stander
exclaimed, " Hold ! you must not kill him ; for Idia
has commanded that his life shall be spared." 7i"his
assertion, it seems, had no foundation in truth, and was
merely the result of a sudden impulse on the mind of
the speaker. Happily, however, it proved the mean
of tiie poor man's deliverance. The man, who would
otherwise have imhnied his hands in innocent blood,
dropped his axe on hearing the name of Idia ; and on
the rescued victim being c s ve-! !-> the dwelling of
till king's mother, she generour'-' '. -lUfd him of pr»>-
tertion, and took him into ' (.: "r . x.

In the month of Noven , , j9, nio brethren re-
ceived intelligence of the death of Mr. Lewis, who,
for upwards of fifteen months past, had been in a state
of excommunication from the church, in consequence
of his determination to cohabit with one of the native
Jemales as his wife. Under such ciroumstances, the
news was peculiarly painful, and after the most carefiil
investigation, the real cause of his dissolution, which
was sudden and unexpected, remained shrouded in

OTAHEITE.

mystery ; though there was every reason to suppose
that he had been murdered by some of the natives, on
account of the woman for whom he had forfeited his
most important privileges, and with whom he appears
to have lived very unliappily. One of the missiona-
ries who went to examine the corpse of his former
friend and colleague, observes, that, in consequence of
the strong suspicions which had been excited in his
mmd, by what he had heard, he determined to obtain
all the uiformation that he possibly could, in his way
to Ahonoo, where the deceased had resided ; and, ac-
cordingly, called at every house where he conceived
any intelligence could be procured ; but the' accounts
which he received were very contradictory. " The
first person," says he, "of whom I inquired, told me,
that, like a man out of his senses, Mr. Lewis ran against
the boards of Jiis room, first on one side, then on
the other ; and at last, rushing out at the door, he
threw himself headlong among the stones, and thus
deprived himself of existence. Another said that he
was taken ill, and died in his bed, about the middle of
the day ; whilst others asserted that an evil spirit had
entered into him, and destroyed him by violence.
When I arrived at the house of the deceased, I found
his body laid on a bedstead, on the outside of his
sleeping room, and covered with a piece of white
Otaheilan cloth. Upon uncovering liis face, there
appeared a bruise upon the upper part of his fore-
head, somewhat larger than half a crown; and
other bruises were visible on his right cheek-bone, his
left eye-brow, and the bridge of his nose. Upon
the rigiit side of his face there was a deep wound,
as though mflicted with some sharp instrument, and
which extended a little below the right comer of his
mouth.

" After I had examined the body, I desired the fe-
male with whom he lived to give me an account of
what she had observed in his conduct previous to his
death, and I particularly inquired whether he had been
angry with her. She replied in the affirmative, but said
she had done nothing to offend him. I then asked if he
had been displeased with any of her countrymen ; and
she admitted that he had ; but assured me their only
ofience consisted in having entered his garden. Now
the man who cooked her food had previously told me,
that Mr. Lewis had seen some of the natives standing
behind the post of his door, and beckoning to his wife
to come out to them, and that his anger had been ex-
cited by her stepping aside. I then asked her what he
did to the people ; upon which a man who appeared
to act as the woman's prompter, said, ' Tell him that
he scolded, drove us away, and threatened us if we
aiieinptcd to come again.' Then (thinking probably
that I did not understand him) he tunied to his com-

84»

panions, and said, in a private manner, ' That is one
part; but tay nothing about $tonet folloteing.' .

" In answer to other inquuries respecting the deceas-
ed, I was told that he remained in his garden till near
dusk, and afterwards ate his supper, though very spar-
ingly. He was still displeased with the person whom
he considered as his wife, and desired her to go homo
to her parents ; but, after some time, he seemed willuig
to be reconciled, and engaged, as usual, in reading and
prayer. He then prepared his bed ; but before he laid
himself down, he went out at the door, and remained
some time. At last the female heard him fall, and
after calling to him without receiving any answer, she
took a lamp b her hand, and found that he liad fallen
upon a stone, and was bleeding profusely. She then
ran for her parents, who resided within about twenty
yards of the house, but before they came to his assist-
ance, he had breathed his last." After the interment
of the corpse, the missionaries were assured, botli by
the king and his father, that if Mr. Lewis liad been
murdered, the district in which he lived should be ut-
teriy destroyed; and many of the inhabitant of Aho-
noo actually fled to the mountains, under an idea that
Po.nare had resolved on their extirpation. The breth-
ren, however, endeavored to point out the cruelty and
wickedness of punishing the innocent with the guilty;
and, as there was no actual proof of the supposed
assassination, they exerted themselves strenuously and
successfully to prevent any efiusion of human blood.

On the 6th of January, the missionaries had the sat-
isfaction to welcome to their band, Mr. and Mrs. Hen-
ry, who returned from Port Jackson ui a whale ship.
Mr. Henry was the only one of the number who left,
that resumed his labors in Tahiti.

In the month of June, 1800, the missionaries were
severely tried by a new and unexpected afillction. Mr.
Broomhall, who had for some time past evmced much
coldness and indifference in respect to the things of God,
and upon some occasions had actually withdrawn from
the religious services of the brethren, in order to avoid
engaging in prayer, at length avowed that his principles
had undergone a complete revolution, and that he no
longer believed even m the immortality of the soul ;
though he ingenuously acknowledged that he was now
destitute of that felicity which he had formerly enjoy-
ed. This, of course, led to a correspondence, and to
various meetings, in which every argument that could
have been dictated by love to an immortal soul,
jealousy for the honor of the Redeemer, and anxiety
on account of the heathen, was brought forward, to
convince him of his error, to warn him of liis danger,
and to lure him back to the paths of peace. Unfor-
tunately, however, arguments, expostulations, entrea-
ties, and warnings, were all brought forward in vain ;

880

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

■nd it became the painful but poreraptory duty of the
jitthren 6rst to suspend, and cf--..vards to excommu-
nicate, a man who, after all his religious profession,
seemed entirely devoted to the principles of infidelity.
Previous to this infliction of church discipline, he had
formed an intimacy with a native female, but was soon
left by her, and he took the earliest opportunity of
quitting the island. His departure was advantageous
to the mission, as his influence on the minds of t!ie
inhabitants was to be dreaded ; but it proved peculiarly
painful to the little band of bretliren. They followed
him \viiii their supplications. It has since appeared,
that he engaged in navigation, and traded in tlie Indian
seas. Years elapsed without any information respect-
ing him. In 1809, he was in Calcutta, laboring under
severe illness ; and, his mind being awakeiicd to a
perception of his awful state, he obtained a private
interview with Dr. Marshman and Mr. Ward, the
Baptist missionaries at Serampore. Mr. Ward writes
from Calcutta, May 8, 1809, and says that, " after a
little conversation on the state of his soul, lie added,

' You now behold an apostate missionary. I am

Broomliall, wlio left his brethren nine years ago. Is
It possible you can behold we without despising me ?'
Dr. Marshman entreated this returning prodigal to be
assured of the utrrost love on our part ; encouraged
him in his dctcrinination to return to his missionary
brethren, and promised to intercede on his behalf"
Shortly after .this occurrence, Mr. Uroondiall embark-
ed on another voyage, pu-;-osing, on his r(Murn, to
dis|)osc of his vessel, and dtvote the remainder of
bis days to the cause which ho had dishonored and
abandoned. From that voyage ho was not permitted
to return. Tiie ve.isel was never heard of after leaving
poit.

During these orcurrcnces in Otaheite, the directors
in England had sent out twelve new misssionnries in
the Koyul Admiral, a ship with convicts for Port
Jackson, coininanded by captain William Wilson, who
had been appointed one of the mates of the Dufl', in
both tiie voyages which that vessel made to the South
seas. Shortly after quitting the Mritish shores, it was
perceived that tiie prisoners were seriously affi'cted
with various diseases ; and, as they approached the
torri<l zone, a putrid fever broke out among them,
which, in addition to scurvy and dysentery, spread,
with alarming rapidity, botii among the convicts and
the sailors ; and alwut forty persons, including Mr.
Tt'rncr, the surgeon, and Mr. Morris, one of the
brethren, weie swept away to an untimely grave. The
rest of the missionories, however, were mercifully

prcscrrcti ; ant: nitrr

isnncu ifiG ruFi-

victs in New South Wales, they arrived in safety at
Otaheite, on the lOth of July, 1801.

His majesty's sloop of war the Porpoise had been
previously sent to the island from Port Jackson, for
the purpose of salting pork for the colony, and lay at
anchor with several canoes about her ; but the moment
the Royal Admiral appeared in sight, the natives
paddled hastily toward her, and crowded on board ;
most of them recognizing the captain, and seeming to
vie with each other m congratulations and professions
of friendship. They were particularly curious to
know who were the brethren that had come to join
the rest ; and, on their being pointed out, they em-
braced them warmly, and paid them unremitting at-
tentions during thu remainder of the evening.

After landing and making the requisite arrangements
for the incorporation of the old and new missionaries,
captain Wilson observes, " We went, by appointment,
to meet the king, Pomare, Idia, and some other chiefs ;
and through the medium of an interpreter, I spoke to
thein cuiicerning the reasons which had first induced
the missionaries to visit the island, the reception
which had been given them, and the benefits which
had already resulted from their residence in the country.
' also mentioned a few instances in which they haJ
been ill treated, end endeavored to convince them
how easy it would he for me to retaliate ; but, 1 added,
though these facts were known in Britain, the chiefs
of that country were still so desirous of the welfare
of i!;e Olaheitans, shat they had sent other men in
the room of those whom their violence had driven
away. Then taking each of the new missionaries by
the hand, and leading them to each of the chiefs,
1 introduced them by name. With this ceremony
they were much delighted, and promised to protect
thfiii to the utmost of their power. Hefore we retired,
Poiimro asked whether the new comers would fight
for hitii ; and, on my replying that iliey would never
take up arms except in thi'ir own defem.e, 1 believe
their value sunk considerably in his estimation. He
replied, however, ' I'^ery well, 'f they will not fight,
I will fight for them ; but it seems very odd that king
George, who has so many fighting .iien, should send
none to my assistance !' "

When the Royal Admiral was about to quit Otaheite,
Mr. Read, one of the new missionaries, being dissatis-
fied with some of the regulations drawn up by his
brethren, re-emborked, with a view to go to the capo
of (Jood Hoi)0 ; and captain Wilson succeeded in re-
moving from the inland throe runaway seamen, who had,
for some time, been enemies to all good, disturbers of
the public peace, and a complete nuisance to society.

Though the missicmaries had endeavored, from llioir
nrsi tirriVrii in Otuiieiic, lo convey sf»iMC inca ni inc
truths ol Christianity to the natives through the
medium of on interpreter, it was not till the com-

OTAHEITE.

mcncement of the year 1802, that they were enabled
to preach in the language of the country. In the
month of February in that year, however, Messrs.
Nott and Elder set out on a circuit round the island ;
knd in little more than thirty days, they had the satis-
faction of proclaiming the gospel of salvation in all
the districts except that of Atehura. The congrega-
tions which they assembled varied in numbers, from
sixteen or twenty to a hundred and sixty persons ;
and in many instances the hearers seemed to pay con-
siderable attention, and even asked various questions
concerning Jehovah and his Son Jesus Christ : some
of them, also, appeared to credit the assertion that
the heavens and tiie earth were created by the power
of Jehovah ; and seemed peculiarly struck with the
fact that no less an atonement for sin could satisfy
him than the incarnation and deatii of his own Son.
Others, as might have been expected, were careless
and indifferent ; and at one place, where a gieat
number of the natives were assembled for the purpose
of fishing, only thirty-five persons could be induced
to leave their employment for a short time, in order
to attend to the things connected witii their eternal
peace.

The two missionaries arrived in the district of Ate-
hura in the latter end of March, when a religious
festival was held in honor of Oro, wiiicli, tliougii
only a shapeless log of wood, was worshipped as the
great god of tiie Oiaheitnns. When tiiey reached
the place of meeting, Pomare was offering a present
of five or six large hogs to this imaginary deity, on
board a sacred canoe. Tiio brethren, therefore,
resolved to improve so favorable an ojjportunity of
conversing with tiio chief, on the existence of the
true God, the absurdity of idol worship, the only
expiation for sin, the approacii of a judgment day,
and the eternal misery of the disobedient. Pomare
at first seemed iirnvilling to hear ; but the persons
around hnn continued liie conversation by asking
questions ; and at length he said, that he would attend
to the new religion.

A dispute subsiMiuenlly arose, at this place, between
Otoo and the Ateluirans, wliicli not only interrupted
the tranquillity of the island, but unhajipily orcasionnd
a serious rebellion, nn<l a considciuiiio effusion of
blood. The king having cndcavorod, but without
•(Toct, to persuade the iiiiiabilunls of Alehurn to give
up their venerated doily lo him, at length look it from
tiiPin by foM-e. This naturally inflniiicd the resent-
ment of the Ateluirans, who immedialcly resolved to
revenge so gross an insult, and, on finding themselves
Jutiieii iiy jioiiio of the Mirmimding districts, liiev com-
menced a furious war against the king's adherents,
whom they completely vanquished in their first battles,

and, in some instances, treated them with the most
wanton cruelty. Both Otoo and Pomare were now
seriously alarmed at the progress and success of the
rebels, who seemed to acquire fresh confidence as they
were enabled to mark their route with destruction.
By the assistance of captain Bishop and his men,
however, who happened to be on the island, ia
consequence of their ship, the Norfolk, having been
forced on shore in a violent gale, the royalisu sub-
sequently obtained some advantages ; and, on the
arrival of captain Simpson in the Nautilus, the king
and his friends had the satisfaction of witnessing the
complete discomfiture of the insurgents; who, on dis-
covering the British sailors, were overwhelmed with
consternation, and fled in all directions, leaving Rua,
their ringleader, and seventeen other persons dead on
the field of battle. Peace was soon afterwards con
eluded ; and the missionaries, who had been seriously
alarmed for their personal safety during the late com-
motions, had now an opportunity of presenting their
heart-felt praises to that adorable Saviour, by whose
good providence they had been shielded from appar-
ently inevitable ruin.

In the month of October, the brethren Jefferson
and Scott went out on a preaching excursion round
the island, and, in the course of their journey, they
had the privilege of addressing the word of salvation
to about three thousand seven hundred persons ; many
of whom a])peared to listen to them with serious
attention, and some of them caught up almost every
sentence that was uttered with great avidity and ad-
miration. Others, however, evinced the utmost indif-
ference ; and in one district, where the inhabitants
had been recently visited by a <lreadful mortality, the
utmost levity and insensibility were apparent. Indeed,
the missionaries found it impossible either to make
them sensible of the value of their immortal souls,
or to convey to them any consistent idea of the nature
of the soul itself The generality of them seemed
to consider it as something residing in another world,
and only visiting the body at certain times, as in
cases of dreams, &tc. It is not matter of surprise,
therefore, that the most solemn trullis shoull have
been received by these benighted idolaters with care-
lessness, and, in some instances, with laugiitor.

In December, I80a, Mr. Bicknell, in company with
Mr. Wilson, made a voyage to Kimeo, and preached
to many of its natives, who seemed to listen with
earnestness, and re(pu;sled future instruction.

On the ;)d of September, 1803, the inissionnriea
received intelligence of the sudden death of Pomare :
anil on going to I'are, several of them saw the corpse,

and were informed of the following particulars :

AAer dinner, Pomare and two of his attendants got

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

into a single canoe, and paddled toward the brig Dart,
which was then lying near the island. When they
hnd almost reached the vessel, the chief felt a sudden
pain in his back, which caused him to raise himself up
with a jerk, and put his hand to the part affected ; but
he had no sooner done this, than he fell with his face
toward the bottom of the canoe, the paddle dropped
from his hand, and he shortly uAerwards expired
without uttering a word. Tlie canoe immediately
rdturned to land, and the body was deposited in a
house, whilst messengers were despatched in different
directions, to communicate the news of this solemn
and unexpected circumstance.

Pomare, at the time of his death, appears to have
been between fifly and sixty years of age, and is de-
scribed by the missionaries as " tall, stout, and well-
proportioned ; grave in countenance, majestic in de-
portment, and affable in behavior." He was born in
Pare, and by hereditary right, was chief of that district
only. The notice of the English navigators, however,
laid a foundation for his future aggrandizement ; and,
by the assistance of the deserters from various ships
that visited Otaheite, particularly the crew of the
Bounty, ho gradually acquired a greater extent of
authority and territory than any individual had ever
previously |)osse.s9cd in the island. As a governor
he was said to be oppressive, yet it was generally
acknowledged that Otaheite enjoyed much greater
tranquillity during his reign, thtin whilst the chief of
every district was independent of his neighbors. Pos-
sessing an active mind, and a considerable share of
perseverance, he devoted much of his time and atte-.i-
tion to the erection of houses, the building of canoes,
•nd the ctdtivation of the ground ; and the works
of these descriptions which he accomplished, place
both his talents and his |>ower in an interesting point
of view.

As to his morals, Pomare was a poor, ignorant
heathen, who considered nothing sinful but the npRlect
of Ills idolatrous devotions, to which lie was, at all
times, extrcuiely attentive. Hence, (he brctlirrn
observe, that a great niinilx'r of inorais and altars had
been built, by his command, all over the island, and
hundreds of his subjects wore immolated from lime
to time, to propitiate his idols, besides the solenm and
frequent presentation of hogs, fish, canoes, clothes,
•nd other offerinKs. To the missionaries, however,
he was always friendly, and though it is probible he
miitht secretly ridicule or conlemn the doctrines of
the cross, as heint; comjilctely opposed to his own re-
ligious views and principles, be never threw an obstacle
in the way of the promulgation of divine tnith within
lii< jurisdiction,
'llio death of so powerful t protector naturally

excited in the minds of the brethren some apprehen*
sions as to their future safety ; and, at their earnest
solicitation, the captain of the Dart deferred sailing
until the following day ; when they were assured,
both by the king and his mother, that they might
pursue their labocs without the slightest dread of
molestation.

During the years 1804 and 1805, the missionaries
continued, under various discouraging circumstances,
to preach the gospel of Christ in the most faithful and
affectionate manner ; resolving, whether men would
hear, or whether they would forbear, to deliver their
own souls from ^uilt, and to use every means in their
power for the promulgation of those truths which
they had found, by personal experience, so indi;!pen-
sable to the enjoyment of true felicity. Tliey also
proceeded to form a regular Otaheitan vocabulary,
comprising upwards of two thousand words ; in forming
this, the Roman characters were employed ; sounds
in the Tuhitian language attached to them, and a
native name affixed to each, for the purpose of facil-
itating the introduction of letters among the people.
The missionaries also prepared acatechism, and Messrs.
Scott and Davis, notwithstanding a variety of almost
insuperable obstacles, applied themselves so diligently
to the instruction of the native children, that many
of them began to make considerable progress in an
acquaintance with what may be termed the rudiments
of the Christian religion.

In 1606, Mr. Kelly and his family relinquished mis-
sionary lalwrs, and sailed for Fort Jackson.

The ravages of disease, produce<l by the vicioua
habits of the people, and increased by the importation
of maladies of foreign origin, desolated the island,
and induced the directois lo send out Mr. Warner as
surgeon to the mission, which he joined in 1807.

The king, who, on the demise of his father, assumed
the name of Pomare, had, for a considerable time,
ajiplied himself, under the instnictions of his European
friends, to attain the art of writing ; and his atlempls
were crowned with such success, that, in the beginning
of 1807, ho was enabled lo address the following letter
to the Missionary Society, having first composed it by
himself in the Otaheitan language, and afterwards
transcribed the Knglish translation drawn up fur him
by the brethren.

"MaUnai, OUJuilt, Jan. IH, 1H07.
"Fnir.NDs,

" I wish you every blessing in your residence
in your country, with success in teoching this bad
land, this foolish land, this witked land, this land
which is ignorant of good, this land that knowoth not
the true Ood, this regardless land.

OTAHEITE.

" «« Friends, I with you health and proiperity ; may
I also live, and may Jehovah save us all.

" Friendx, with respect to your letter you wrote to
me, I have this to say to you, that your business
with me, and your wishes, I fully consent to, and
shall consequently banish Oro, and send him to
Raiatea.

" Friends, I do therefore believe, and shall obey
your word.

" Friends, I hope you also will consent to my request,
which is this ; I wish you to send a great number of
men, women, and children here.

" Friends, send also property and cloth for us, and
we also will adopt English customs.

" Friends, send also plenty of muskets and powder,
for wars are frequent in our country. Should I be
killed, you will have nothing in Tahiti : do not come
here when I am dead. Tahiti is a regardless rountry,
and should I die with sickness, do not come here.
This also I wish, that you would send me all the
CMrious things that you have in Englond.— Also send
mo every thing necessory for writing,— paper, ink, and
pens, in abundanc<^ ; let no writing utensil be wanting.

" Friends, I have done, and hove nothing at all
more to ask you for. As for your desire to instnict
Tahiti, 'tis what I fully acquiesce in. 'Tis a common
thing for people not to understand at first, but your
object is good, and I fully consent to it, and shall
cast ofl" all evil customs.

" What I say is truth, and no lie, it is the real
truth.

" This is all I hove to write, I have done.

" Friends, write to me, that I moy know what you
have to say ;

" I wish you life and every blessing.

'• May I also live, and may Jehovah save us all.
" I'oMAnE, King of Tahiti, &c. &c.
" For my frirndi, the Miitionary Society, fjondon."

Sit

The year 1808 commenced tranquilly ; but, on the
night of November 6th, a reljciiion broke out in the
district of Matovoi, and soon spread throughout the
island. Six of the missionaries, therefore, with the
women and chililron, retired to Huahine, in the brig
Perseverance, which, at this critical time, had provi-
dentially touched at Otahoile. The remaining four,
Messrs. Hnyward, Nott, Scott, and Wilson, continued
with the king ; but they v,ero, soon afterwards, com-
pelled to remove to Eimeo, the royalists having been
completely defeated in an engogement, and the houses,
garden, and plontations belonging to the brethren,

I _ — . .,,.^^^ „j, jjjj. insurgents.

Pomaro himself followed them in about three weeks,
and after some time, all of thorn, with the exception

Vot« I.— Nus. 'J!) k 30. 47

of Mr. Nott, joiiwd their colleagues in Haahine, whei«
they were treated in the most friendly manner by th«
natives.

In October, 1809, the brig Hibemia, captain Camp-
bell, and the Venus schooner, arrived at Huahine, and
brought intelligence that Pomare, who, in the interim,
had returned to Otaheite, found it impossible to reduce
his revolted subjects to allegiance. As the re-estab-
lishment of his authority was, therefore, very proble-
matical, and even in case of such a result, much
bloodshed might be previously anticipated, the mil-
sionaries considered it their duty to retire to New
South Wales, till they should receive directions from
England as to their ulterior destination. Accordingly,
the whole of the brethren, except Messrs. Nott and
Hayward, embarked in the Hibemia; and, on the
17tli of February, 1810, they arrived at Port Jackson,
after narrowly escaping shipwreck among the rocki
of the Fejee islands.

The arrival of the missionaries was no sooner au>
nounced to the governor, than his excellency appear-
ed disposed to treat them with the greatest kindness,
promising them the privileges of settlers, and recom-
mending that some of them should undertake the in-
struction of youth. About the same time, the Rev.
Mr. Marsden returned from a visit to England ; and
by the active and benevolent exertions of that piout
and amiable clergyman, the married brethren were
provided with comfortable accommodations, and the
single men were put in a way of supporting themselves
in useful and respectable situations.

The mission to the South Sea islands now seemed
to be finally closed, and t' -se devoted servants of
Christ, who had so long and patiently labored amidst
innumerable difficulties and increasing dangers, were
constrained to feor that they had " spent their strength
for nought," and that the resources of the society
had been partially exhausted in vain. The Redeemer,
however, to whom " all power is given in heaven and
in earth," had " thoughts of mercy" for Tahiti, and
had graciously determined that the seed of his gospel,
which had been sown in tears, and which was now
considered as scattered by the winds, should at length
germinate, and produce a glorious harvest ; that the
clouds, which had so long obscured the Otaheitan
horijion, should be dispersed by the light of his counte-
nance ; that the idols of the Pacific ocean should fall
before hin blood-stninod cross, 'ike Dagon before the
ark ; and that the wisdom of his providence, the
power of his arm, the faithfulness of his promises,
and the triumphs of liis grace, should pour confusion
on tne sneers of inri<i«!iiy, — ttu»h io niienco the mourn-
ful lamentations of disappointed thousands, — and stim-
ulate his faithful heralds to new and increased exertions

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

in the cause of divine truth. Whilst the missionaries,
therefore, were sedulously endeavoring to do all the
good in their power in New South Wales, they felt
an unconquerable desire to resume their important
work on the islands which they had reluctantly quitted ;
and, on the other hand, Pomare was so sensibly af-
fected by the loss of their company and advice, that
he repeatedly wrote to them in the most affec-
tionate terms, expressing the deepest sorrow at their
absence, and entreating them to retuni as soon as
possible. Tranquillity was, also, gradually restored
between the king and his revolted subjects, and, under
these encouraging circumstances, five of the mission-
aries (Messrs. Bicknell, Davies, Henry, Scott, and
Wilson) sailed from Port Jackson in the autumn of
1811, and rejoined Mr. Nott, who alone remained
with the king, at Eimeo.

After their return, Pomare evinced the sincerity of
his professions by the evident partiality which he
showed for the society of the missionaries. In fact, he
never appeared so happy as wiien in tlieir company ;
and in the summer, he gladdened their hearts by
declaring to them his entire conviction of the
truth of the gospel. It appeared that, during the
absence of the missionaries, he had scrupulously
observed the Christian Sabbath ; and that he had
expressed the deepest contrition on account of his
former life. One of the laborers in this interesting
mission observes, that " Pomare had, for some time
past, shown iiis contempt for the idols of his ancestors,
and his desire to bo taught a more excellent way, that
he might obtain the favor of the true God. The
natives had watched the rhonge in his mind uitii the
most fearful apprehension, as to its results upon the
minds of his subjects. They wore powerfully ntriTted
on one occasion, when a present was brout;lit liin)
of a turtle, which was always held snrriMJ, and dressed
with sacred fire within the precincts of the temple, part
of it being invariably offcrtid to the idol. The attend-
ants were proceeding with the turtle to the niarae,
when Pomare called thcni hack, and lolij tlicin to pre-
pare an oven, to bake it in his own kitclicn, and serve
it up, without offering it to the idol. The pcojilo
around were astonishrd, mid could luiniiy liclimc the
kini^ was in a stalt" of sanity, or was rt-nily in ciinit'st.
The kini( repeated his (lirertion ; a fire was maile, the
turtle baked, and service! up nt tne next ri'past. The
people of the king's household stood, in inuleexpeeln-
tion of some fearful visiiiition of the god's nnaer. as
soon as the king should touch a inorsel of the fish ; by
which he had, in this instance, committed, as they
imagined, an act of darini; impiety. The kini; rut up
the turtle and began to eat it, inviting some that sat at
meat with him to do the same ; but no one could bo

induced to touch it, as they expected every moment to
see him either fall down dead, or seized with strong
convulsions. The king endeavored to convince his
companions that their idea of the power of the gods
was altogether imaginary, and that they had been the
subjects of complete delusion ; but the people could
not believe him ; and, although the meal was finished
without any evil result, they carried away the dishes
with many expressions of astonishment, confidently
expecting some judgment would overtake him before
tl»e morrow, for they could not believe that an act
of sacrilege, such as he had been guilty of, could be
committed with impunity.

" The conduct and conversation of Pomare in refer-
ence to the gods, on this and similar occasions, must
necessarily have weakened the influeiiCe of idolatry
on the minds of those by whom he was attended ; and
if it produced no immediate and salutary effect on them,
it doubtless confirmed his own belief in the vanity of
idols, and the folly of indulging either hope or ibar
respecting them. A number of the principal chiefs of
the Leeward islands, as well as the adherents to his
cause and the friends of his family in Tahiti,
constantly resided with the king, after his expidsion
from the island of his ancestors, and accompanied him
on his return to resume his former government. He
spared no efforts favorably to impress them in regard
to Christianity ; but to no purpose for a long time.
When he offered himself for bai)tism, he stated that he
had endeavored to persuade Tamatoa, his father-in-law,
and Tapoa, the king and principal chief of Raiatoa, to
renounce idolatry and become the disciples of Jesus
Christ; but they had assured him, whatever ho might
do, they would adhere to Oro. Others expressed the
same dotenniiiation ; and I'omare came forward alone,
re(|uestiiig baptism, and desiring to hear and obey the
word of God, as he said ' he desired to ho happy after
death, and to be saved at the day of jinlgment.*
He did not confine his efforts to private conversation,
hut in pidilic council urged upon Tauiutoa and Maliine,
the chiefs of Kaiaiea and Huahine, the adoption of the
Christian religion ; hereby publicly evincing his own
detenninatiim to adhere to the choice he had
made.

" The missionaries had every reason to believe the
king was sincere in his desires to Itecomn a true
follower of Christ ; but as they then deemed only
those who were true converts to Christianity, proper
subjects for the Christian ritt of Imptism, and feared
that his mind might not be sufficiently informed on tho
nature Bn<i design of that ordinance, and that ho was
rather an enmost inquirer after divine truth, than an
actual possessor of its moral principle and spiritual
influence, they proposed to him to defer his baptism

OTAHEITE.

until he had received more ample instruction. They
were also desirous to receive additional evidence of his
■incerity, and of the uprightness and purity of his con-
duct, during a longer period than they had yet observed
it. The king acquiesced in their proposal, and re-
quested their instructions.

" At the same time that the king thus publicly
desired to profess Christianity, he proposed to erect a
large and substantial building for the worship of the
true God. His own affairs remained unsettled and
, discouraging ; he was still an exile in Eimeo, and
rumors of war not only prevailed in Tahiti, but inva-
sion threatened Eimeo. Tliis island the missionaries
considered only as a temporary residence, till they
should be able to resume their labors in Tahiti,
or establish a mission in the Leeward islands, and
therefore recommended him to defer it. But he
replied, ' No ; let us not mind these things ; let it
be built.'

" Shortly after this important event, which may justly
be considered as tiie dawning of that day, and the first
ray of that light, which has since shed such lustre, and
beamed with such splendor and power, upon these
isles of the sea, two chiefs arrived from Tahiti, inviting
Pomare to return and resume his government, prom-
ising an amicable adjustment of their differences. The
interests of iiis kingdom appeared to require his concur-
rence with their proposal ; and on tiie thirteenth of
August, in less than a month after the pleasing event
referred to, he sailed with them from Eimeo, followed
by the chiefs and people from the Leeward islands, and
most of the inhabitants of Papetoai and its vicinity.
His departure, in this critical slate of mind, was much
to be regretted, as it deprived him of the instructions
of his teachers, exposed him to many temptations and
much persecution.

" Fomaro, in infancy, had been rocked in the cradle
of paganism, and trained under its inllucnce tiirough
subsequent life. His fatlior, Pomare, and his mother,
[din, were probably more infatuated witii idolafy, and
more uniformly attached to the idols, and every insti-
tution connected with their worship, than even the
priests, or perhaps any otlier individuals in the islands.
He had been curly ond often initiated in all the mys-
teries of falsehood and uboniination connected with
the system, and had engancd with avidity in the bloody
and nmrderous rit.s of idol worship. In addition to
this, ho had been niirtured amid the debasing and
llol'uti^^ iniinorulity, for which his country, ever since
its discovery, had been distinguished; and although
his ideas of the moral perfections of the tri ; God might
Iw but indistinct, mid his views of the iiiiriiy rcijijired
Ml the gospel hut i.artiul, yet it might nuturuliy be
expected, that the convictions of guilt in such an indi-

vidual, when first awakened to a sense of the nature
and consequence of sin, would be deep and severe.
That this was actually the case, appears from several
letters which he wrote to' the missionaries soon after
his arrival in Tahiti, as well as from the conversation
they had with him on the subject.

" In a letter, dated Tahiti, September 25, 1812, he
thus expresses himself: « May the anger of Jehovah
be appeased towards me, who am a wicked man, guilty
of accumulated crimes, of regardlessness and ignorance
of the true God, and of an obstinate perseverance in
wickedness 1 May Jehovah also pardon my foolishness,
unbelief and rejection of the truth I May Jehovah give
me his good Spirit to sanctify my heart, that I may love
what is good, and that I may be enabled to put away all
my evil customs, and become one of his people, and be
saved through Jesus Christ, our only Saviour 1 I am a
wicked man, and m\ sins are great and accumulated.
But O, that we may all be saved, through Jesus
Christ.' Referring to his illness about this time, he
said,^ ' My affliction is great ; but if I can only obtain
God's favor before I die, I shall cotmt myself well. But,
oh, should I die with my sins unpardoned, it will be ill
indeed with me. O ! may my sins be pardoned, and
my soul saved, through Jesus Christ! May Jeho-
vah regard me before I die, and then I shall rejoice,
because I have obtained the favor of Jehovah.'

" In another letter, written about a fortnight after-
wards, he observes, ' I continue to pray to God with-
out ceasing. Regardless of other things, I am concern-
ed only that my soul may be saved by Jesus Christ!
It is my earnest desire that I may become one of Jeho-
vah's people ; and that God may turn away his anger
from me, which I deserve, for tny wickedness, my igno-
rance of him, and my occumulated crimes !' In Februa-
ry, 181.3, he wrote to the following effect: 'The Almigh-
ty can (or will) make me good. 1 venture with my guilt
(or evil deeds) to Jesus Christ, though I am not equal-
led in wickedness, not equalled in guilt, not equalled in
obstinate disobedience, and rejection of the truth,
hoping tiiat this very wicked man may be saved by
Jehovah Jesus Christ.'

" Such was the interesting state of Pomare's mind,
at the close of the year 181'i, and the commencement
of 18i;i. At the same time that this event shed such
light upon the prospects of 'ho missionaries, other cir-
cumstances concurred, to confirm them in the convic-
tion, that God was about to favor, in a signal manner,
their enterprise, to follow their labors with his blessing,
and with still greater success. Of one or two other
natives they had every reason to hope most favorably ;
w.!!.s nne, who died about ihis time, leu a pleasing
testimony behind, of repentance and reliance on the
pardoning mercy of God,

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

During the yean 1813 and 1814, the blessing of
God was abundantly poured out upon the labors of
the brethren at Eimeo ; so that, in the spring of the
latter year, they had the satisfaction to report to the
directors that no less than fifty of the natives had re-
nounced their idols, and desired to be considered as
the worsliippers of Jehovah. They also stated that
these persons were generally regular in their attend-
ance on the means of instruction ; that they strictly
observed the sabbath, asked a blessing on their meals,
p.ayed in private and with their families, and associat-
ed for devotional practices ; and that, whilst they ex-
hibited an evident and striking improvement in their
outward deportment, they expressed a constant and
ardent desire for the forgiveness of their sins, and the
renewal of their hearts by the gracious influence of the
Holy Spirit.

Messrs. Hayward and Nott, in the mean time, had
visited the islands of Huahine, Raiatea, and Taliaa;
and at each of these places tliey succeeded in conven-
ing a number of the inhabitants, who listened with
apparent seriousness and attention to the glad tidings
of salvation by the death of Christ. At Huahine,
indeed, a young chief, by whom they were treated
with distinguished kindness, professed his cordial
reception of the Christian religion, solemnly ab-
juring his false gods, and earnestly desiring that
some of the brethren might be sent to reside on his
island.

In the commencement of the year 1815, the con-
gregation at Eimeo was considerably increased by an
influx of strangers from other islands, whose earnest
desire to receive religious instruction, prompted them
from time to time to visit this place. The congrega-
tion, in general, consisted of about three hundrtd,a.\\A
the number of persons who had requested their names
to be written down, as professed worshippers of the
true God, was increased to upwards of two hundred ;
the pupils in the schools, of whom the major part
were adults, was about two hundred and tiity. Of
those who had desired their nanies to bo inscribed as
worshippers of Joliovah, four iiidiviiliiuls (one man
and three women) died about this time, coiifossins
their sins and avowing the great atonement set forth
by the gospel as the only grmmd of their hope for
eternal life. Tiio priest of I'apetoai (the district in
which the brethren resided) also omiiraeetl the gospel
of Christ, renounrod idolatry, and publicly ronnnittcd
his god to the flames. His cxarn|)io was speedily fol-
lowed by many of the natives, and not only were the
former objects of superstitious worsiiip cast into the
fire, but the moraisami altars were destroyed, and even
ilie wood of wiiich liiey were composed was used to
dress common food, of which difl^ercnt classes and

both sexes partook indiscriminately, in direct violation
of ancient customs and prohibitions.

The interesting account respecting the discovery of
a spirit of inquiry in Tahiti, is taken from Ellis's Poly-
nesian Researches : —

" The communications between Tahiti and Eimeo
were now frequent, and the repeated accounts of Po-
mare's persevering and laudable endeavors to enlighten
the minds of his subjects, were not the only cheering
tidings they received. Mr. Bicknell went over in a
vessel bound to the Pearl islands, and in a few days
returned, with the pleasing report that a spirit of in-
quiry had been awakened among some of the inhabit-
ants of that island, that two of those they had former-
ly instructed, had occasionally met to pray to God.
In order to ascertain the nature and extent of the
anxiety which had been excited, and to confer with tho
individuals under its influence, Messrs. Scott and Hay-
ward, having been deputed by their companions to
visit Tahiti, sailed over from Eimeo, on the 15th of
June, 1813. Although the king was residing in Ma-
lavai, they landed in the district of Pare, and proceed-
ing to the valley of Hautaua, they learned that the re-
port was correct, and that in the neighborhood there
were some who had renounced idolatry, and professed
to believe in Jehovah, the true God.

" On the following morning, according to the usual
practice when travelling among the people, they re-
tired to the bushes near their lodgings, for meditation
and secret prayer. The houses of the natives, how-
ever larpe they might be, never contained more than
one room ; and were generally so crowded with peo-
jile, that retirement was altogether unattainable.
Willie seeking this about the dawn of the day, on the
nioniinp after their arrival, Mr. Scott heard a voice at
no preat distance from his retreat. It was not a few
detaclied sentences that were spoken, but a continued
address ; not in the lively tone of conversation, but
solemn, as devotion ; or pathetic, as the voice of 1am-
cntntion and supplication.

" A variety of feelings led him to approach the spot
whencG these sounds proceeded, in order to hear more
distinctly. O, what hallowed music must have broke
upon his listening ear, and what raj)iurc must have
thrilled his soul, when he distinctly recognized the voice
of prayer, and heard a native, in tho accents of his
mother-tongue, with on order that proved his sincerity,
addressing petitions and thanksgivings to the throne of
mercy ! It was the first time lit- know that a native on
Tahiti's shores had prayed to any but his idols ; it was
the first native voice in praise ond prayer that he had
ever heard, and he listened Blmost entranced with. !h»
propriety and glowing language of devotion, then cm.
ployed, until his feelings could be restrained no longer

OTAHEITE,

Tears of joy started from his gladdened eye, and roll-
ed in swift succession down his cheeks, while he could
hardly forbear rushing to the spot, and clasping m his
arms the unconscious author of his ecstasy. He stood
transfixed as it were to the spot, till the native retired ;
when he bowed his knees, and, screened from hu-
man observation by the verdant shrubs, offered up, un-
der the canopy of heaven, his grateful adoration to the
Most High, under all the melting of soul and the ex-
citement of spirit, which the unprecedented, unexpect-
ed, though long-desired, events of the morning had
inspired. When the missionaries met at the house in
which they had lodged, the good tidings were commu-
nicated ; the individual was sought out; and they were
cheered with the simple yet affecting account he gave
of what God had done for his own soul, and of the
pleasing state of the minds of several of his coun-
trymen.

" His namj was then Oiio, though it is now Pete-
ro; he had formerly been an inmate of the mission
family at Matavai, and had received instructions tliere.
He has since been a useful member of the community,
and is still a consistent member of a Christian society ;
in which he has for some years sustained, with credit
to himself and advantage to the church, the office of
deacon. He had occasionally been with the king since
his return to Tahiti, and some remarks from Pomare
had . I wakened convictions of sin in his conscience.
Anxious to obtain direction and relief, yei having no
one to whom ho could unburden his mind with hopes
of suitable guidance, he applied to Tuahine, who had
for a long time lived wit!' the missionaries ; hence Oito
inferred he would be u„ . to direct his mind aright.
Tuahine has since rendered the most important ser-
vices to the mission, in aiding Mr. No» with the trans-
lations. When the Gospel by John and the Acts of
the Apostles were finished, and Mr. Nottleft Huahine,
in July, 1819, ho removed to Raiaten, his native
island, and has since been not only a useful mem-
ber of society, and an ornament to the religion he
proffsses, but an officer in the Christian church in
Raiatea.

" Tuahine's mind, on the subject of the Christian
religion, was in a state resembling that of Oito's. Their
conversation deepened their impressions; they fre-
quently mot afterwards for this purpose, and often
retired to the privacy of the sequestered valleys or
verdant shrubberies adjacent to their dwellinj;*, for con-
versation and prayer. The singidarity of their con-
duct, together with the report of the change in the
sentiments of the king, soon attracted observation :

. . — ..,_,, .,5^..j^ ..... several y~.!ng men anfl uoys

attached themselves to Oito and Tuahine, and this lit-
tle banil, without any missionary to teach them, or

even before any one was acquainted with the circum-
stance, agreed to refrain from worshipping the idols

from the evil practices cf their country— to observe
the sabbath day,— -and to worship Jehovah alone.
They had established among themselves a prayer
meeting, which they held on the sabbath, and often
assembled at other times for social worship.

" This intelligence was like life from the dead to the
missionaries ; they thanked God, and took courage ;
but before commencing their journey round Tahiti, they
wrote to their brethren in Eimeo an account of what they
had seen and heard ; declaring all that they had heard
was true, that God had « also granted to the Gentiles
repentance unto life,' that some had cast away their
idols, and were stretching out their hands in prayer to
God, &c. The effect of their letter was scarcely less
on the minds of the missionaries in Eimeo, than the
recital had been to themselves in Tahiti. They were
deeply affected, even unto tears. I have often heard
Mr. Nott speak, with evident indications of strong
feeling, of the emotions with which this letter was read.
And when we consider the long and cheerless years,
which he and some of his associates had spent in
fruitless, hopeless toil on that unpromising field, the
slightest prospect of an ultimate harvest, which these
facts certainly warranted, was adapted to produce un-
usual and exalted joys, — emphatically a missionary's
own,— joys ' that a stranger intermeddleth not with.'
" Messrs. Scott and Hay ward made the tour of Ta-
hiti, preaching to the people whenever they could col-
lect a congregation, and then returned to Eimeo with
Tuahine, Oito, and their companions, — who accom-
panied them in order to attend the school, and receive
more full instruction in those things, respecting which,
though formerly so indifferent, they were now most
anxious to be informed.

"Tuahine was born in the island of Raiatea, but
had been some time residing in the inland parts of the
district of Pare. Oito was an inhabitant, if not a na-
tive, of Hautaua, and in this lovely, verdant, and seques-
tered valley, the first native meeting for prayer was held,
and the first associated vows were paid to Heaven."

Besides the worshippers of Eimeo and Otaheite,
several persons had made a public renunciation of idol-
atry in the islands of Raiatea, Huahine, and Tapua-
manu ; so that the whole number of those who were
ridiculed by their ungodly countrymen, in the differ-
ent islands, as the Bure Atun, or praying people,
amounted to upwards of five hundred persons, includ-
ing some of the principal chiefs.

It has been justly remarked, that wherever the
gospel of Christ obtains a successful entrance, the
powers of darkness invariably attempt to check its
progress, by the agency of ungodly men. And this fact

8S8

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

was strikingly exemplified in the conduct of the idol-
atrous chiefs at Otaheite ; who, indignant at the apos-
tasy of their countrymen from the ancient worship,
and exasperated by a report that the king's daughter
was to be educated in the Christian religion, resolved,
at once, to check the progress of what they consid-
ered an alarming evil. A confederacy was according-
ly formed between the chiefs of Pare, Hapaiano, and
Matavai, against the Bure Atua, or praying people,
all of whom were to be massacred without mercy in
one night. This design was afterwards communicated
to the chiefs of Atehura and Papara ; who, though
formerly the rivals and enemies of the projectors,
readily entered into their sanguinary project, and pre-
pared to join them without delay. The night of the
7th of July was fixed upon for its execution ; but the
ever-watchful Providence of that God who knoweth
the hearts and devices of all men, and preserveth them
who put their trust in his name, frustrated the wicked
intentions of the conspirators. While some of the
chiefs lingered in their operations, intelligence of their
design was secretly conveyed to the converts, who
immediately got on board their canoes and retired to
Eimeo.

The disappointed chiefs now quarrelled among them-
selves. The Porionu party, who were the original
conspirators, were attacked by the Atehurans, whom
they had invited to join them ; an engagement ensued,
and the former were completely defeated. On this
occasion, many natives were killed, and, among tiie rest,
a principal chief, who liad instigated the attack. The
victorious party, having been joined by the people of
Papara and Taiarabu, proceeded through the whole of
the north-east part of tiie island, burning and plundering
wherever they came ; and from the borders of Ate-
hura northward, round to the isthmus, the country was
converted into a scene of ruin and desolation.

Pomare, in the mean time, remained at Eimeo, re-
ceiving all the refugees who sought an asylum in that
island, but observing a strict neutrality in respect to
liic war. In fact, he repeatedly sent pacific messages
to the chiefs of the conquering party, who as repeat-
edly declared that they were at peace with him, al-
though still at variance among themselves, the grounds
of their old contentions being yet unsettled. At length,
after a season of great anxiety and gloomy suspense,
a prospect of peace seemed to open, and the Otahei-
tans, who had fled from their merciless persecutors,
were invited to return and resume the possession of
their lands. This invitation was of course complied
with ; but an ancient custom made it necessary that
the king and his people should accompany the refu-
gees, in order to leiiiataio tiieni, by a public form, in
their former possessions.

As Pomare and his attendants approached the shores
of Otaheite, the idolatrous party assembled on the
beach to oppose his landing, and actually fired on
his people. By the express orders of the king,
however, the fire was not returned, but a pacific mes-
sage was sent to the assailants. This led to an appar-
ent reconciliation, and several of the people were quiet-
ly reinstated in their possessions.

The temporary calm which ensued proved to be
deceitful and of short duration. The heathen party
still thirsted for the blood of the Christians ; and, on
the 12th of November, which happened to be the sab-
bath, they made a sudden and impetuous attack upon
the king and the other converts, when they were as-
sembled for divine worship, conceiving that, on such
an occasion, they might easily throw the whole body
into confusion. In this, however, they were disap-
pointed. Providentially, the missionaries had warned
the praying people, before they returned to Otaheite,
of the probability, in case the war was renewed, of
such a stratagem being attempted. In consequence
of this caution, the congregation had assembled under
arms ; and although they were at first thrown into some
disorder, they soon formed for repelling their assailants,
and an obstinate engagement ensued, in which several
fell on both sides.

Among the friends of Pomare, who engaged on this
occasion, were many refugees, from the other partiea
who had not embraced Christianity; but the converts
refused to place any dependence on these, and boldly
took the lead in facing the enemy ; and, as they could
not all come into action at once, those who had a few
moments' respite, fell down upon their knees and cried
to Jehovah for mercy and protection, earnestly beseech-
ing him to support his own cause against the idolaters.
Soon after the commencement of the engagement, Upu-
fara, the chief of Papara, who was the principal instiga-
tor of the attack, was slain ; and his adherents were
immediately thrown into the utmost confusion, so that
Pomare obtained a complete victory. Instead of resort-
ing to vindictive measures, the king conducted himself
towards the vanquished with the utmost lenity and
moderation. He gave orders that they should not be
pursued, and that the women and children particular-
ly should be kindly treated. These commands were
strictly observed ; not a single woman or child was
hurt, nor was tiie property of the conquered plunder-
ed. The bodies of those who fell in the engagement,
contrary to the former barbarous practice, were de-
cently interred, and the corpse of the hostile chief
was removed, in a respectful manner, to his own dis-
trict. These lenient proceedings produced the hap-
piest etTect on the nunds ot the idolaters. 'I'hcy
unanimously declared that they would trust their gods

OTAHEITE.

no longer — that the priests had grossly deceived them
— and that they would henceforth embrace the new
religion, so distinguished by its benevolence, mildness,
and clemency.

On the evening of the day following that of the
battle, the professors of the Christian faith assembled
together to adore and praise Jehovah for the deliver-
ance which he had wrought on their behalf. On this
occasion, they were joined by many who had till then
Ijeen zealous worshippers of idols. After these events,
Pomare was, by universal consent, restored to his for-
mer government of Otaheite and its dependencies ; and
proceeded to appoint chiefs in the respective districts,
some of whom had, for a long time, made a public
profession of Christianity, and had for several months
attended the means of religious instruction with the
missionaries in Eimeo.

In consequence of these events, idolatry was en-
tirely abolished, both in Otaheite and Eimeo ; and
these, together with the small islands of Tapua-manu
and Tetaroa, became altogether, in profession at least.
Christian islands. Their idols and morals were destroy-
ed, human sacrifices and infant murder were abol-
ished, and the people were every whore earnestly in-
viting the missionaries to come and instruct them in the
knowledge of the Christian religion. In every place
the sabbath was strictly observed ; and houses for the
worship of the true God were erected in almost every
district.

" This astonishing and delightful revolution," says
the editor of a Narrative of the Mission to Otaheite,
" extended to the Leeward islands. Tapa, the prin-
cipal chief, publicly renounced idolatry and embraced
Christianity. His example was followed by most of
the other chiefs, and a large majority of the people
of the four Society islands ; viz. Huahine, Raiatea,
Tahaa, and Borabora. At the latter island, two
of the chiefs, named Tefaora and Mai, distinguished
themselves by their zeal in destroying the idols, and
erecting a place for the worship of the true God. The
chiefs of these islands repeatedly sent messages to
the missionaries, earnestly entreating them to send
some of their number to teach them also, and Mai,
the chief in Borabora, sent them a letter to remind
them that Jesus Christ and his apostles did not con-
fine their instructions to one place or country.

" The missionaries, Messrs. Hayward and Nott, had
been preaching the gospel all round Eimeo, in which
island it had \wn\ embraced by about twelve hundred
persons. They found in every district a place built
for Christian worship, in which the people had held
pinyer-mrrtings turee tiines evefy sabbath nay, and
once every Wednesday. Almost every house had
family worship daily, and most of the people retired

for private devotion twice, and sometimes three times,
a day. They had also made tours round Huahine,
Raiatea, and Tahaa, and had visited Borabora : and
they calculated that in these islands nearly four thou-
sand people had embraced the Christian religion.

" Messrs. Hayward and Nott had likewise visited
Otaheite, and had been twice round the island preach-
ing the gospel in every district to attentive congrega-
tions, which often consisted of more than four hun-
dred persons, and of never less than one hundred.
Fifty places of worship had been erected, in which
the people met for prayer, &c. They commenced
their journey at Pare, and closed it at Matavai, their
former residence. They had not been long in the
latter district, before many of their old neighbors came
and asked the missionaries to spend the sabbath with
them, and said, if they would again reside among
them, not only the ground where their houses and gar-
dens were formerly situated, but the whole of the dis-
trict should be theirs. This invitation happened on
the 6th of March, exactly nineteen years since the
first missionaries were landed on the shores of Ota-
heite. Messrs. Hayward and Nott, during their tour,
every where experienced kindness and hospitality from
the natives. Mr. Nott, besides preaching to them,
employed much of his time in hearing and answering
the numerous questions which they proposed, relative
to the conduct which they ought to observe under
their new profession, both as to religious and civil mat-
ters. Mr. Hayward was principally occupied in teach-
ing them to read, and in distributing spelling-books ;
of which, if he had possessed tham, he might have
given away many hundreds more."

On the 13th of May, 1818, a general meeting was
convened in the district of Papetoia, Eimeo, in imita-
tion of the meetings held in London, when about two
thousand of the natives assembled, and agreed to
fprm an " Otaheitan Auxiliary Missionary Society,"
to aid the parent society in England, in sending the
gospel to other nations. Mr. Nott preached on the
occasion to this large auditory, who were very atten-
tive ; after which the king delivered a sensible and in-
teresting address, of considerable length, on the pro-
priety of forming the proposed society. With a view
to excite the people to emulation in this good work,
he adverted to the formation of similar societies among
the Hottentots, in Africa, and to their contributions of
sheep or other property, in places where they had no
money. He also reminded them of the labor which
they had performed, and the pains they had taken for
their false gods, and showed how trifling the offerings
lliey were called upon to make to the true God were,
in comparison with those they formerly offered to their
idols ; observing, further, that even their lives were

860

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

wcrificed to the god, that was indeed no god, being
nothing but a piece of wood or cocoa-nut husk ! He
then recommended that they should collect a little
property for the spread of the gospel in other islands,
where U was not yet enjoyed. He explained to them
that a great quantity of money roust necessarily be
given to the captains or owners of ships for the con-
veyance of missionaries from one part of the world to
another, and that this had been furnished by the per-
sons in England, who wished the word of God tpgrow,
giving little money, which, being collected together,
made great money ; and that by these means the
Otaheitans enjoyed the blessings of the gospel, and
that he therefore thought it was right that they should
use their endeavors to send it to other lands, who
are now as they once were. He observed, that al-
thougii they had no money, they might give pigs, ar-
row-root, cocoa-nut oil, and cotton, to buy money with.
" Yet," said he, " let it not be by compulsion, but
voluntary. He that desires the word of God to grow
where it has been planted, and to be taken to coun-
tries miserable as ours was before it came here, will
contribute freely and liberally towards promoting its
extension. He who is insensible to its call, or igno-
rant of its benefits, will not exert himself with this
view. So let it be. Let him not be called an illiber-
al man, neither let the chiefs, his superiors, be angry
with him on that account." Such was the substance
of the king's speech. When he drew to the close of
it, he proposed that all persons present, who approv-
ed of the plan, and were willing to unite in promoting
it, should hold up their right hands. A most interest-
ing sight ensued, when in an instant every hand in the
assembly was raised to signify their readiness to unite
in the glorious work of spreading the gospel of Jesus
Christ among the unenlightened heathen. Pomare
then read the rules of the proposed society ; persons
were appointed as treasurers and secretaries in the
several districts of the islands, and the people dis-
persed apparently highly gratified.

Shortly after this meeting, preparations were made
for conveying the brethren who had recently arrived
from England, to several diftercnt stations in the Wind-
ward and Leeward islands, according to a previous ar-
rangement, in which they had respectively concurred.
A brig called the Haweis, built at Eimeo by the mission-
aries, and launched in December, 1817, had now com-
pleted her rigging, and was nearly ready for sea. She
sailed early in the month of June, and from this time
until the close of the year, was employed among the
islands, partly in removing the missionaries, and part-
ly in procuring a cargo of native produce (chiefly sall-
o.. jsnr.; sn-. cocoa-niii o:iy for the colony of New
South Wales. She finally left the islands, having Mr.

James Hayward, misaionory, on board, on the 1st of
January, 1819, and arrived at Port Jackson on the
17th of the following month, commanded by captain
John Nicholson, and navigated by a crew, consisting
of seven Europeans and six South se« islanders.

The month of May, 1819, was a season replete
with interest at Otaheite, as will appear from the fol-
lowing extracts of a circular printed at the mission-
press in Eimeo: — "The king, Pomare, has lately
erected a very extensive building at Papara, in the
district of Pare, in Otaheite, and devoted it to the
meetings of the missionary society, which was form-
ed among the Otaheitans last year. This building we
denominate the Royal Mission chapel, and its dimen-
sions are as (bilow : — It is seven hundred and twelve
feet long, by fifty-four feet wide. The ridge-pole, or
middle, is supported by thirty-six massy pillars of the
bread-fruit tree. The outside pillars around the house
are two hundred and eighty. It has one hundred
and tliirty-three windows with sliding shutters, and
twenty-nine doors; the ends are of a semicircular
form. There are three square pulpits, about two hun-
dred and sixty feet distant from each other, and the
extreme ones about one hundred feet from the ends
of tlie house. It is filled with forms, except an area
before each pulpit, and laid with clean grass. The
rafters are covered with a fine kind of fringed matting,
which is very neatly bound on with cords of various
r >lors ; and the ends of the matting are left hanging
down, like the naval and military Qai" in St. Paul's
cathedral. The whole building is surrounded with a
strong fence of wood, and the space between it and
the building is filled with gravel.

" Pomare has lately expressed an earnest desire for
baptism, engaging to devote himself to the Lord, and
to put away every sin and every appearance of evil.
He has had conferences with some of the brethren on
this subject, and has also written a letter to us, ex-
pressing a deep sense of his sinfulness and unworthi-
ness, a firm dependence upon the blood of Christ for
pardon, and an earnest desire to devote himself to the
Ijord in baptism. As it appeared to be the voice of
the whole nation, and particularly oT the most pious
chiefs, and as his conduct has been so constant and
persevering in teaching and promoting good things, we
resolved, in humble dependence upon divine grace, to
baptize him on Lord's day, the 16th instant.

" On Monday, the 10th, the brethren assembled at
Papara, and found the people encamped on each side
of it along the sea-beach, to the extent of about four
miles. They soon assembled together to pay their
respects to the king, and made a grand appearance,
buing Ueceiiliy uilired in wjiiie uulivu ciuthiilg. ihe
brethren met the king and chiefs in the usual place of

OTAHEITE.

Sit

worship, according to the appointment of Pomare,
who had judiciously arranged all the services and
business of the week. Brother Darling began, with
singing, reading the Scriptures, and prayer. The
king then proceeded to business. He first wrote his
own name, and his gift to the missionary society (viz.
eight hogs) ; and having written the name of his prin-
cipal governor, treasurer, and secretary, he desired
each of us to write our names, with our donations. In
the same manner he proceeded with all the governors,
writing their names and contributions. Pomare then
called on brother Crook to conclude the meeting with
a short exhortation, singing, and prayer.

" Tuesday was the day appointed for opening the
Royal Mission chapel. About eleven o'clock, we
met the king at the east end of the house. He was
dressed in a white shirt, with a neat variegated mat
around his loins, and a tiputa over all, colored and
ornamented with red and yellow. The queen and
principal women were dressed in native clothing, with
an English frill about the neck. We took our stations
according to appointment ; brother Piatt in the west
pulpit, brother Darling in the middle, and brother
Crook in the east. The king sat in the east end of
the chapel. Brother Bourne, from the middle pulpit,
commenced the service, by giving out a hymn in our
Otaheitan collection, in a very shrill, penetrating voice,
which was heard from one end of the house to the
other. The whole congregation stood up and sang.
Each preacher then read the fourteenth chapter of
St. Luke's Gospel, and prayed. Three sermons com-
menced about the same time ; brother Darling's text
was Isaiah Ivi. 7, / will make them joyful in my house
of prayer; brother Piatt's text, Luke xiv. 22, And
yet there is room; and brother Crook's, Exod. xx. 24,
In all places where I record my name, I will come unto
thee, and I will bless thee. The sermons being ended
much about the same time, all the congregation again
sang, and the whole was concluded with prayer. The
scene was striking beyond description : no confusion
ensued from three speakers preaching all at once in
the same building, they being at so great a distance
from each other. The cast end was so much crowded,
that the preacher could not pass through the aisle,
and with difficulty got to his station through a door
behind the pulpit. The number of hearers in the
whole chapel is supposed to have been between five
and six thousand. Every thing exceeded our most
sanguine expectations. Apprehensions were enter-
tained from bringing together the inhabitants of differ-
ent districts, who formerly had been at variance, and
Poinnre hnd inknn tl<R i^fecciution to "lace two prin-
cipal persons, on whom he could depend, at each door
and window : hut every thing was very peaceable
Vol. I.— Kos. 31 & 32. 48

and orderly, and not tb« least disturbtoce occurred.
< Surely,' said some, ' there will be no war ; for all
the people have left their arms at home, and have
brought the old and decrepit, the children, the lame,
and the blind !' — a thing that was never done in any
of then: great meetings before. We met together in
the afternoon, to attend to the internal concerns of
the society, and departed to our lodgings much
gratified, and praising God for what we had seen and
heard.

The Rev. William Ellis, describing this building,
says, " Although divested of every thing like stateli-
ness or grandeur, the first visit I paid to the chapel
left a strong impression on my mind. I entered from
the west ; and the perspective of a vista, extending
upwards of seven hundred feet, partially illuminated
by the bright glow of strong noon-day light entering
through the windows, which were opened at distant
intervals, along the lengthened pile of pillars that
supported the rafters ; the clean rustic appearance of
the grass-spread floor ; the uniformity of the simple
and rude benches extending throughout the whole
building ; the pulpits raised above them, heightened
the eflfect of the perspective. The reflections also
associated with the purpose for which it had been
erected, and the recent events in the history of the peo-
ple, whose first national Christian temple I was visiting,
awakened a train of solemn and grateful emotions."

It has appeared matter of surprise to many, that the
natives should desire, or the missionaries recommend,
the erection of such a large place of worship. The
royal chapel at Papara is, however, the only one of
the kind in the islands. It originated entirely with
the king, and in its erection the missionaries took no
part. The king, determined on his purpose, levied a
requisition for materials and labor on the chiefs and
people of Tahiti and Eimeo, by whose combined
efforts it was ultimately finished. The missionaries
were far from approving of the scale on which Pomare
was proceeding ; and, on more than one occasion, some
expressed their regret that so much time and property
should be appropriated to the erection of a building
which would be of far less general utility than one of
smaller dimensions. But the king was not thus to be
diverted from his original design ; and, however inju-
dicious the plan he pursued might be, the motives by
which he was influenced were certainly commendable.
He frequently observed, that the heaviest labor and
the most spacious and enduring buildings ever erected,
were in connection with the worship of their former
deities, illustrating his remarks by allusion to the
Ratsor.a! msraes at ^-itehura and Tautira, declaring,
at the same time, his conviction that the religion of
the Bible was so much superior to that under

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

which they formerly lived, that they ought to erect a
rauch better place for the homage of Jehovah than
had ever been reared for the dark mysteries and cruel
sacrifices connected with the worship of their idols.
Pomare experienced great satisfaction in superintend-
ing its erection, and in marking its progress. He was
present, surrounded by thousands of his subjects,
when it was set apart to the sacred purpose for which
it had been built ; and his feelings on that occasion
were no doubt of a delightful kind — very different
from those of his father ; who, when the missionaries
built their little chapel at Matavai, sent a large fish,
requesting it might be suspended in the temple of the
God of Britain, that he might secure his favor.*

" Wednesday, being the anniversary of the mission-
ary society, was regarded with peculiar interest. About
half past ten, the king arrived, and the people began
to enter the chapel in great multitudes. Brother
Henry occupied the east pulpit, and preached from
Psalm Ixxxvi. 8, 9, Among the gods there is none
like unto thee, &c. Brother Wilson, in the middle
pulpit, preached from Isaiah xxxv. 2, TTiey shall see
the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our
God, &c. Brother Bicknell, in the west pulpit,
preached from Luke x. 2, Pray yc therefore the Lord
of the harvest that he would send forth laborers, &c.
In the afternoon, about half past three, we assembled
again. Brother Darling, in the east pulpit, preached
from 2 Thess. iii. 1, Pray for us, &c. Brother
Bourne, in the middle pulpit, preached from Psalm
cxxxvi. 1, O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is
good ; and brother Crook, in the west pulpit, preached
from Luke xvi. 9, Make to yourselves friends. Sic.
We retired in the evening, praising God, and entreat-
ing him to bless all our attempts to spread his glory,
and promote his honor.

" Having as a nation embraced Cliristianity, tliey
were unanimous in desiring that their civil and judicial
proceedings should be in perfect accordance with the
spirit and principles of the Christian religion. Hence,
they were led to seek the advice of their teachers, as
to the means they should adopt for accomplishing
this object. The missionaries invariably told them
that it was no part of their original design to attempt
any change in their political and civil institutions, as
such ; that these matters belonged to the chiefs and
governors of the people, and not to the teachers of
the religion of Jesus Christ. To this they generally
replied, that, under the former idolatrous system, they
should have been prepared to act in any emergency,
but they were not familiar with the principles of Chris-
tianity in their application to the ordinary relations

* See Polyneiiui ReicuchM, London edition, 1830.

of life, especially in reference to the punishment of
crime.

" In compliance with these solicitations, the mis-
sionaries illustrated the general principles of Scrip-
ture, that in all the public stations they sustained,
they were to do unto others as they would that others
should do unto them ; that with regard to government,
Christianity taught its disciples to fear God, and honor
the king ; that the power which existed was appointed
of God ; and that magistrates were for a terror to
evil doers, and a praise to them that do well. These
general principles were presented and enforced as the
grounds of proceeding in all affairs of a civil or politi-
cal nature.

" The missionaries, though frequently appealed to,
generally left the determination of the matter to their
own discretion, declining to identify themselves with
either party, in any of their differences. They prom-
ised, however, to the chiefs such assistance as they
could render in the preparation of their code of laws,
and constitution of government, but were exceedingly
anxious that it should be the production of the king
and chiefs, and not of themselves. They had hitherto
avoided interfering with the government and politics
of the people, and had never given even their advice,
excepting when solicited by the chiefs. When the
conduct of petty chiefs or others had affected their
own servants, or persons in their employment, if they
have taken any steps, it has been as members of the
community, and not as ministers of religion.

" After the introduction of Christianity, the chiefs
were among the first to perceive that the sanguinary
modes of punishment to which they had been accus-
tomed were incompatible with the spirit and precepts
of the gospel, and earnestly desired to substitute
measures that should harmonize with the new order
of things. The king applied for assistance in this
matter, soon after the general cliange that took place
in 1815. The missionaries advised him to call a
general council of the chiefs, and consult with them
on the plans most suitable to be adopted. Whether
his recollection of tiie unpropitious termination of
former councils influenced him, or whether he was
unwilling to delegate any of that power to others with
which, heretofore, he had been solely invested, is un-
certain ; but he objected to the assembling of the
chiefs at that time, still requesting advice and counsel
from the missionaries. This they readily afforded,
l)olh as to the general principles of the British con-
stitution, the declarations of Scripture, and the prac-
tice of Christian nations. Their own sentiments in
reference to their duty at this time, will best appear
from the following extract of a public letter, bearing
date July 2, 1817 :—

OTAHEITE.

" ' During many years of our residence in these
islands, we most careAilly avoided meddling with their
civil and political affuirs, except in a few instances
where we endeavored to promote peace between con-
tending parties. At present, however, it appears
almost impossible for us, in every respect, to follow
the same line of conduct. We have told the king
and chiefs, that, being strangers, and having come to
their country as teachers of the word of the true God,
and the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, we will
have nothing further to do with their civil concerns,
than to give them good advice ; and with that view,
several letters have passed between us and the king.
We have advised him to call a general meeting of all
the principal chiefs, and, with their assistance and
approbation, adopt such laws and regulations as would
tend to the good of the community, and the stability
of his government ; and that in these things, if he
desired it, we would give him the best advice in our
power, and inform him of what is contained in the
word of God, and also of the laws and customs of our
own country, and other civilized nations.'

" The first code of laws was that enacted in Tahiti
in the year 1819 ; it was prepared by the king and a
few of the chiefs, with the advice and direction of the
missionaries, especially Mr. Nott, whose prudence and
caution cannot be too highly spoken of, and by whom
it was almost framed. The code was remarkably
simple and brief, including only eighteen articles. It
was not altogether such as the missionaries would
have wished the nation to adopt, but it was perhaps
better suited to the partial light the people at that
time possessed, and to the peculiar disposition of
Pomare. He was exceedingly jealous of his rights
and prerogatives, and unwilling that the chiefs should
assume the least control over his proceedings, or par-
ticipate in his power. His will still continued to be
law, in all matters not included in their code ; and
with regard to the revenue which the people were
required to furnish for his use, he would admit of no
rule but his own necessities, and consequently con-
tinued to levy exactions, as his ambition or commercial
engagements might require.

" The missionaries would have regarded with higher
satisfaction an improvement in the principles recog-
nized as the basis of the relation subsisting between
the king, chiefs, and people — some division of the
power of government — enactments proportioning the
produce of the soil to be furnished for the king, and
securing the remainder to the cultivators. But hav-
ing recommended these points to the consideration
of the rulers, they did not think it iheir duty to
express any dissatisfaction with the code, imperfect
as it was.

" The thirteenth day of May was appointed for the
promulgation of the new laws ; and the spacious
chapel which the king had recently erected was chosen
as the edifice in which this important event should
take place. It was thought no desecration of a build-
ing reared for public devotion, and solemnly appropri-
ated to the worship of the Almighty, and other pur-
poses directly connected with the promotion of his
praise, that the grave and serious engagements by
which the nation agreed to regulate their social inter-
course, should be ratified in a spot where they were
led to expect a more than ordinary participation of
the divine benediction. During the forenoon, the
chiefs and people of Tahiti and Eimeo assembled in
the royal chapel ; and about the middle of the day,
the king and his attendants entered. The missionaries
were also present ; but, regarding it as a civil engage-
ment, attended only as spectators. The king, how-
ever, requested Mr. Crook to solicit the divine bless-
ing on the object of the meeting. He therefore read
a suitable portion of the sacred volume, and implored
the sanction of the King of kings upon the proceedings
that were to follow. Nothing could be more appro-
priate than thus acknowledging the Power by whom
kings reign, and seeking his blessing upon those
engagements by which their public conduct was to be
regulated. The divine benediction having been thus
sought, the king, who had previously taken his station
in the central pulpit, arose, and, after viewing for a
few moments the thousands of his subjects that were
gathered round him, commenced the interesting pro-
ceedings of the day, by addressing Tati, die biother
and successor of the late Upufara, who n -s the leader
of the idolatrous and rebel army defeated in November,
1815. ' Tati,' said the king, ' what i.s yo ir dusire ?
What can I do for you ?' Tati, who sat nearly oppo-
site the pulpit, arose and said, ' Those are what we
want — the papers you hold in your hand — the laws ;
give them to us, that we may have them in our hands,
that we may regard them, and do what is right.' The
king then addressed himself to Utami, the good chief
of Teoropaa, and in an affectionate manner said,
' Utami, and what is your desire ?' He replied, ' One
thing only is desired by us all, that which Tati has
expressed — the laws, which you hold in your hand.'
The king then addressed Arahu, the chief of Eimeo,
and Veve, the chief of Taiarabu, nearly in the same
manner, and they replied as the others had done.
Pomare then proceeded to read and comment upon
the laws respecting murder, theft, trespass, stolen
property, lost property, sabbath-breaking, rebellion,
marriage, adultery, the judges, court-houses, &c., ia
eighteen articles. After reading and explaining the
several particulars, he asked the chiefs if they approved

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

of them. They replied, aloud, ' We agree to them —
w* heartily agree to them.' The king then addressed
the people, and desired them, if they approved of the
laws, to signify the same by holding up their right
hands. This was unanimously done, with a remarka-
ble rushing noise, owing to the thousands of arms being
lifted at once. When Pomare came to the law on
rebellion, stirring up war, &(c., he seemed inclined to
pass it over, but after a while proceeded. At the
conclusion of that article, Tati was not content with
signifying his approbation in the usual way only, but,
standing up, he called in a spirited manner to all his
people to lift up their hands again, even both hands,
he setting the example, which was universally
followed. Thus all the articles were passed and
approved.

" The public business of the day was closed by Mr.
Henry's offering a prayer unto him by whom kings
reign, and princes decree judgment ; and the people
retired to their respective dwellings.

" Pomare subsequently intimated his intention of
appropriating Palnierston's island as a place of banish-
ment for Tahitian convicts, and proposed to the mis-
sionaries to publish his request that no vessel should re-
move any who might be thus exiled. The laws which
the king read to the people were written by himself,
and formed, probably, the first written code that ever
existed in the islands ; and he afterwards wrote out,
in a fair, legible and excellent hand, a copy for the
press. Printed copies wore distributed among the peo-
ple, but the original manuscript in the king's hand-
writing, signed by himself, is in the possession of the
London Missionary Society. The laws were printed
on a large sheet cf paper, and not only sent to every
chief and magistrate throughout both islands, but [lostcd
up in most of the public pinres.

" The sentence to be passed on individuals who
should be found guilty of many of the crimes prohibited
by thes<rlaws was loft to the discretion of the judge or
magistrate ; but to several the penalty of death was
annexed ; and only a few months after their tniactinont,
the sentence of capital punishment was paisod on two
individuals, whose names were Papahia and Koropao.
They were inhabitants of the district of Atehuni,
and were executed on the 'i.'>tli of Orlobt-r, |HI9, for
attempting to overturn the government. PupaliinhntI
been a distinguished ivarrior, and was in the very prime
of life. He was a man of a hold and daring character,
and of turbulent conduct. He came several limes to
my hcHise, during our resiileiice at Kinico ; and
although, in consequence of his restless and violent
bchariof, ! Wa5 iiOi pfepojaeSsrd in his farOT, iny
personal acquaintance made me feel additional in-
terest in the melancholy fate of the firit malefactor,

on whom the dreadful sentence of the law was inflicted.
The lives of these unhappy men were not taken by
thrusting a spear through the body, or beating out the
brains with a club, or by decapitation, which were the
former modes of punishment, but they were hanged on
a cocoa-nut tree, in a conspicuous part of the district."*

The circular letter before quoted, in continuing an
account of the interesting transactions of this important
week, states, " On Friday we attended to the business
of the missionary society. We met the king, as
president, and all the governors, officers, and members,
in the royal mission chapel. Brother Bicknell began
with a short address, singing and prayer. Brother
Wilson then addressed Tati and the society, and con-
cluded by moving, ' Thanks to Pomare for his princely
conduct as president of this society, and for his royal
contribution ; and that he be requested to take his
seat as president.' Utami rose, and supported the
motion, which was afterwards put, by Tati, and unan-
imously agreed to. The king then took his seat, and
addressed the people, exhorting them to be firm in their
attachment to the society, and tocontinuetheirsubscrip-
tions and support till death. The people, to signify
their consent to what Pomare had said, immediately
held up their hands.

Brother Darling then addressed the president, and
spoke of the encouraging circumstances of the society,
moving, ' That the treasurer put the property on
board the first convenient ship, and send it to
the best market ; and that the secretary do write a
letter to accompany it, to the Rev. George Burder,
secretary to the parent society, and that the net
proceeds be remitted to the treasurer of the missionary
society in Ijondon.' Tliis was seconded by Tati, when
the president put it, and it was carried unanimously.
Brother Crook then spoke of the great quantity of
property in the hands of the treasurer, and concluded
by moving, 'That a vole of thanks be given to the
treasurer and secretary,' which was also carried
unanimously. Brother Bourne proposed, ' That a
vole of thanks be given to all the governors in their
various (le|tarlments for their diligent and active
services on account of the society.' Hitoli seconded
the motion, which, In-ing put, was universally agreed to.
Brother Plait then moved, ' That the thanks of the
nieoting h" given to the various treasurers and secre-
taries under the respective governors.' Brother
Crook supportnd this motion, which was also carried,
liastly, brother Henry proposed, ' That a vote of
thanks ho given to the governors, officers and mem-
bers of Kimno, for their active, coiiperation.' Thii
mntinn was aoiy sU|i|n)iimi tiy AtttiriiVi, kiuI OSiTimi,

* Kllli'i PolynvtUn RMwuehM, vol. U.
Mittioa,

p. 3KfT, LoDdon, Fittl

OTAHEITE.

like all the rest, by an universal show of hands. The
king next addressed the governors, officers, and
members of the society, exhorting them to persevere
in this delightful work ; observing that due notice
would be given them as to what was to be collected
for the next year, whether oil, cotton or any other
article. Brother Crook addressed the whole society,
and exhorted them to persevere in this glorious work,
which rejoiced our hearts, and would certainly cause
the hearts of thousands to rejoice with us. The meet-
ing was then concluded by singing and prayer.

'I On sabbath day, the 16tli,the congregations were
again assembled in the chapel royal. The people
. were not so numerous as before, as, in consequence of
their having been so long from home, many had returned
to procure food. Ilowever, we had still between four
and Ave thousand hearers. Brother Wilson occupied
the east pulpft, brother Henry the west, and brother
, Bicknell the middle. They all preached from the
same subject— the commission of our Lord to his
disciples, to teach and baptize all nations, Matt, xxviii.
18—20. The sermons being ended, wo all surrounded
the king, who was seated in the centre, near the
middle pulpit. Brother Bourne commenced by giving
out a hymn, which was sung by the congregation.
Brother Bicknell engaged in prayer, which being
ended, the king stood up. Brother Bicknell stood on
the steps of the pulpit, and taking the water from the
basin, held by brother Henry, poured it on his head,
baptizing him in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost. Fomare was observed to lift up his eyes
to heaven, and to move his lips with an indistinct
sound. The sight was very affecling, especially to our
older brethren, who had been watciiing over him for
so many years. Brother Bicknell addressed the king
with firmness, yet with much feeling, entreating him
to walk worthy of his high profession in the conspicu-
ous situation ho would now hold before the eyes of
men, angels, and God himself Brother Henry ad-
dressed the people, exhorting them to follow the
example of their king, and to give themselves up to the
Lord. Another hymn was then sung, and brother
Wilson concluded the whole with prayer. Poniaro
shook hands nflbrtionately with all the missionaries,
they being sialioned, by his own desire, at his right and
loft hand; and after the ceremony, he returned to his
Mmp."

Mr. Ellis, in relation to this event, observes, that
•* the emotions tssociaied with it must have been
intense and interesting, especially to the two older
missionaries who had performed the rile, H« had been
id»riiitie<i wiUiiiiec.hivr events of their lives ; upwards
of two-and-twenty years had rt)lled by since the provi-
dence of Ood first brought them acquainted with him,

365

otthe shores of Matavai, and in connection with that
in:erview, which memory would, prob».bly, present in
strong and vivid colors on this occasion, they, perhaps
recollected the opinion formed of him, by the humane
commander of the Duff, that he appeared the last
person likely to embrace the gospel. Yet, amid the
thickest darkness that had ever veiled their prospects
through him the first cheering ray of dawning light had
broken upon them : he was their first convert ; in
every difficulty he had been their steady friend; in
every labor a ready coadjutor; and had now publicly
professed that his faith was grounded on that Rock
whereon their own was fixed, and his hopes, with
theirs, derived from one common source. What
intense and mingled hopes and fears must have per-
vaded their hearts ! What hallowed joy must they have
felt in anticipation of his being, with them, an heir of
unmortality, chastened with appalling, and not un-
grounded, fears that, after all, he might become a
cast-away !"

On the 19th of May, 1821, the Rev. Daniel Tyer-
man, late of Newjwrt, in the Isle of Wight, and George
Bennet, Esq., of Sheffield, having kindly agreed to go
out as a deputation to the South sea islands, sailed in
the Tuscan whaler, from Spithead, in company with
the Rev. T. Jones, missionary, and Messrs. Armitage
and Blossom, artisans, and their wives ; and on the
22d of August they addressed a letter to the direct-
ors, of which the following is an extract :

" While traversing the torrid zone, the 'sun was not
permitted to smite us by day, nor the moon by night.'
Wo wore sensible of the heat, but not more inconve-
nienced by it than we have been in our own country.
The thunder and lightning did us no harm ; indeed, our
captain says, he never experienced so little in passing
between the tropics in any former voyage. And yet,
to remind us of the obligutions to gratitude under
which we are laid, and to occasion thanksgivings to
God on our behalf, by our dear friends in England, we
may mention one or two instances of dang( r from
which wo have been delivered.

" One night, during a storm of thunder and light-
ning, with squalls, when both the captain and chief
mate were on deck, a ball of fire fell into the sea, with
a great noise, just over our iee-bow, which both those
gentlemen thought would probably have proved fatal
to us, had it fallen on the ship ; and ihey mentioned
an instance in which a similar ball of fire had proved
destructive to a vessel in the British channel not lone
ago. *

" On Wednesday night lust, also fdurms ■ -nG-t
tremendous gale, which continued four days), the
captain, aftera dreadful clap of thunder, which seemed
consentaneous with the vivid lightning, cried out to

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

both or us by name, desiring that we would pray
to God for mercy upon us all, saying, ' It is all over !'
and at the same time himself praying earnestly for
mercy. At this moment, another most terrific flash
of lightning and burst of thunder took place, and was
followed immediately with what he and we conceived
to be the rushing in of the waves between decks, as at
some great chasm made by the electric fluid ; but
which we soon found to have been occasioned by a
fall of hailstones, many of which were as large as the
first joint of a man's finger, and which fell with such
intense force, that they left a mark and sensation of
pain on every face which was struck by them. The
chief mate said, that the men stood aghast, and,
though many of them were accustomed to storms at
tea, they crowded round him like sheep, and could
hardly be prevailed upon to attend to the needful du-
ties of the ship, which at this period were the more
perilous, on account of the main sheet having been
torn from their hands by the fury of the gale, and
which was then dashing about with a violence which
would have proved fatal to any one whom it might
have struck. But (his awful night passed over, and
at twelve the next day the pale moderated, so that
we were enabled to proceed (though on a dreadfully
agitated ocean), without having a mast sprung or
struck, a .^ail carried away or ripped, a timber injured,
or a person harmed !

" During this gale, our minds were kept in entire
peace and repose on our Heavenly Father, ' who
manages the seas, and rides upon the storm.' Our
female friends were alarmed, but not greatly. Thus
gently does God deal with us !"

On (he 25th of Scptenihcr, the deputation arrived
at Tahiti, and under that date, in their journal, they
write — " Tabid, ' the desire of our eyes,' came upon
us at sunrise, in all its grandeur and loveliness ; —
more grand in (he height of its mountains, and mora
lovely in the luxuriance of its valleys, than our imagi-
nations had ever pictured it from the desrrip(ions of
former visi(ors and missionaries. We had before us,
in exquisitely undulated outline, the two peninsulas
of which Tahiti consists; the whole nMilered more
striking by the shadowy obscurity which clouds of
different hues and density cast over it. In n few hours,
fts we drew nearer, the beautiful region unveiled itself
in all its enchanting variety of hills and plains, woods
and water* ; hills, green up to their peaks, twice the
height of Snowden ; plains spaciously opening fnmi
between the highlands towards the shore, where the
dwellings of (ho popula(ion were thickly sprinkled

eUa/lxi

growth and tropical ramifications, so diflitrent from
British (otatl scen«ry ; and water tmrsting in brilliant

cascades from the rocky eminences, then widening m
rivulets through the valleys to the sea."

On the 3d of December, the deputation wrote
from Eimeo to the following eflbct : —

" We are in health and comfort up to the present
moment, and have been more delighted with the vw-
tories and blessed results of preaching and lining the
gospel of Christ than we are able to express, at every
station where we have already been in Otaheite, and
in this island. Thulv' the half was not told us I'
God has indeed done great things here, in a civil,
moral, and religious view. Tlie people here exhibit
as literal and pleasing a proof of being ' turned from
darkness un(o ligh(, and from the power of Satan unto
God,' as can be conceived.

" A nation of pilferers has become eminently trust-
worthy. A people formerly universally addicted to
lasciviousness, in all its forms, have become modest
and vir(uous in (he highest degree ; those who, a few
years ago, despised all forms of religion except their
own horrid and cruel superstitions, have universally
declared (heir ap;^°iroba(ion of Chris(iani(y, — study
diligently those parts of (he Christian Scriptures which
have been translated for them, — ask earnestly for more,
— and appear conscientiously to regulate themselves
by those sacred oracles, under the <lirection of their
kind teachers, whose self-denying zeal and persever-
ance have been almost as remarkable as the success
with which God has been pleased to honor them.

" The king was unwell, and was at this island when
we arrived in Otaheite. He soon made two obliging
communications to us, through our excellent friend, Mr.
INott, in which be expressed his hope of soon being at
Matavai to receive us. On finding, however, that be
rather grew worse than better, we came over to Eimeo,
and were received by him with (he utmost demonstra-
tions of kindness, and with marked tokens of respect ;
Messrs. Nod and Henry accompanying us, and inter-
preting for us. His information, for a person who has
read only the Taheitan language, appeared to us con-
siderable, from the questions ho asked respecting our
society's labors, their success, and their in(ended fields
of lalior ; also his inquiries respecdng (he civil aflairs
of England and of Europe.

" You have leiimod, wo trust, from letters sent
home before we reached Otaheite, that the transla-
tions and printing are going on well. Matthew and
John are printed in the Taheitan language, and are in
innumerable hands. The book of Genesis, Joshua, (he
Psalms, Isaiah, the Acts, the Epistle to the Komans,
and the oth< i Epistles, are in course of translation,

/ .U» k.

The grarniiiar and dictionary are not in so forward a
state ; but both these are so important, that we hope

OTAHEITE.

to make a more encouraging report of their progress at
no distant period.

" We are gratified in observing, almost every where,
many marlis of improvement; better houses and
chapels having been built, or in preparation for be-
ing built, at nearly every station ; rapid improvement
in reading and writing ; European dresses partially
superseding the Taheitan ; the chiefs ingeniously and
diligently building their own boats in the European
form, with European tools ; many cultivating tobacco
and sugar; and nearly all manufacturing cocoa-nut oil.
" Among other marks of improvement, we must
mention a road, which is already made to a consider-
able extent, and which is intended to go round the
whole island. This is of very great and obvious im-
portance. It has been formed by persons who were
punished, according to the new laws, for evil doing ;
and the intention is, that it shall be completed by per-
sons of that description. It is remarkable that these
persons have no need to be superintended in their labor,
but they uniformly perform the portion of work allotted
to them. Before this, there was no road in any part of
the island, except the narrow winding tracts by which
the natives found their way from one place to another."
The king's illness continued to increase rapidly, and
on the 7th of December, Mr. Crook was requested,
by a messenger, to attend inunediately, as Pomare
had fainted. He accordingly hastened to the royal
residence, with Mr. Redfern, a surgeon, from Port
Jackson, and found that the patient's end was fast
approaching. After he had revived, Mr. Crook re-
minded him that, though he was a great sinner, the
Lord Jesus was a great Saviour, and lie alone could
aid him in the article of deatii. The dying monarch
replied empiialically, Jaui alone ! and then sank into
a kind of stupor, which continued till about eight
o'clock, when his spirit was sununoned into the unseen
world. The scone at this moment was peculiarly
affecting, and, after Mr. Crook had offered up a short
prayer, a general weeping commenced aumng the rela-
tives around the bed, who, in a kind of mournful chant,
lamented the loss of their beloved king.

The next morning, the corpse was removed to Pa-
para, where a coflin was made of the broad-fruit tree,
and decently covered with English black cloth. It
measured nearly seven foot in length ; two feet ten
inches at the shoulders, two feet at the head, and
twenty-one inohoi at ilio feet. On the 1 Itii, tiio ile-
ceased was solemnly interred in a now stone tomb,
near the royal mission chapel ; and all the missionaries
of Otahoiie and Eimoowere present, except Mr. Dar-
""s> ^"^i nappeii«a to tie on ■ iour in Tainrabu. The
•olemn occasion was improved, for the benefit of the
concourse of nativoi who attended, by Mc<<sra. Davies,

Wii

Nott, and Henry ; after which the king's guards fired
several rounds, and the vessels in the harbor fire*
minute guns. In the evening, the missionaries held
an English service in the chapel, which was attended
by a number of their countrymen from on board the
vessels then lying at anchor near the island.

The deceased prince stood full six feet two Inches
high, and was proportionably stout. He stooped,
however, in walking, and in general appeared reserved
and gloomy. He was also naturally indolent, and sel-
dom walked out, except for the purpose of bath-
ing. He possessed a capacious mind, and was evi-
dently superior to his countrymen in knowledge of
every kind. Naturally fond of power, he wished to
have both the persons and property of his subjects at
his entire disposal, and by the people generally he was
much feared. He inherited from his father a partiality for
foreigners, yet it is remarkable, that he ivas more averse
tiian his subjects to the adoption of European customs.
He proved himself, however, to be a warm friend to
the missionaries ; who, on the occasion of his death,
justly acknowledged their gratitude to God, for the
countenance, protection and favor which they had in-
variably enjoyed under his government.

Pomare, at the time of his decease, was about for-
ty-seven years of age, and appears to have been three
times married. His first wife, Tetua, died without
issue, in 1806. By his second wife, Tamtaria, he had
issue, Aimata, his only surviving daughter. By his
third wife, Tano (the queen dowager), he had two
sons, of whom the first died in 1818 ; the other, who
survives, is acknowledged the successor of his father,
by the title of Pomare the Third. This arrangement
was made by the late prince ; who also directed that
the queen and her sister should remain in Otaheite,
superintending the education of the royal children,
and governing the kingdom with the advice of all the
principal chiefs.

Pomaro directed that the young king should bo
solemnly crowned in the European manner, and
requested that all the missionaries would attend and
take their part in the ceremony. Pomare's dying
charge was, " If my fon grow up a good man, receive
him as your king ; if a bad one, banish him to Huahine."
In accordance with this request, the ceremony took
place at Papara, April, ai, ISili ; and as it was the
first coronation that had taken place since the intro-
duction of Christianity, it excited great interest among
tlio people. The following is an account of the
pageant as transmitted by one of tlie missionaries : —

" O^dif 6/ Vroctiiiun.

" 1. A female native conducting two girls with bas-
kets of flowers, to be scattered along the way leading to

AHA

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

the place of the coronation, which was about liair a mile
distant, in a field where two platforms of stones, one
raised higher than the other, had been erected for the
convenience of performing the ceremony.

*' 2. Tiie wives and children of the missionaries who
were present.

" 3. One of the supreme judges, Maliine, carrying
the large Bible, with one of the senior missionaries,
Mr. Nott, and one of the gentlemen of the deputation,
the Rev. D. Tyerman, on the right hand, and another
senior missionary, Mr. Henry, and the other gentle-
man of the deputation, G. Bennet, Esq., on the left
band.

" 4. All the other missionaries and friends who were
present, four abreast.

" 5. Three of the supreme judges abreast, the one
in the centre, Utami, carrying the code of laws.

" 6. The other three supreme judges abreast, the
one in the centre, Tati, carrying the crown.

" 7. The king, seated on his chair, carried by four
stout boys, sons of the chiefs, and four others supi)ort-
ing the canopy over his head.

" 8. The king's mother and sister, on his right hand,
and his aunts on his left.

" I). Pomare, the king's brother-in-law, close behind
the king.

" 10. Tapa, and the other parents of the royal fam-
ily, with the anointing oil and the tables.

" II. All the governors, four abreast.

" 18. The district judges, four abreast.

" 13. All the magistrates, four abreast.

" Arrangement at the Coronation.

" On the arrival of the procession at the place of
the coronation —

" 1. The wives and childnni of the missionaries, and
friends, were seated on each side of the upper plaiform.

" 2. The king was seated on his chair in the middle
of the platfonn, with the canopy over his head, the
tables |>laced before liiui, u|)on which the crown was
placed in the centre, the Bible on the right side, and
the laws on the left, with n small vial containing the
anointing oil.

" 3. The queen and her daughter were seated close
•t the king's right hand, and next to them one half of
the missionaries, one of the gentlemen of the deputa-
tion, and one half of the supreme judges.

" 4. ( ;iose at the king's left hand, his adopted moth-
er and her sisters ; next to them the other half of the
missionaries, the other gentleman of the de|mtation,
and the r«'st of the supreme judges.

" 5. Close behind ilin kintr. Po!>>ars. the kins'a
brother-in-law, and on his right and left hand, the fathers
of the royal family. Brother Davies, who was ap-

pointed to act as speaker for the king, sat close by
him.

" 6. On the lower platform all the governors and dis-
trict judges were seated on one side, and their wives
on the other. On the governors' platfonn, and close
to the royal or upper platform, on each side, the singers
were placed.

" 7. In front of and round about the governors'
platform, the children were seated, and next to them
the women. Next to the women all the magistrates
were seated, and behind them the multitude.

" After the ceremony of the coronation was closed,
a herald proclaimed freedom to all who were under
the sentence of the law, snying, ' Let those that have
been banished return to their lands, and let every man
and w Oman be freed from every penalty ; and let all
be exhorted to become good members of society, &c.' "

The gospel, in the mean time, had been gradually
making its way among the other isles of the Pacific
(X'can. Even in the Paumotu islands, inhabited by a
race of people proverbial for their gross superstitions,
detestoble vices, and ferocious cnielty, the account of
what had transpired in Otaheite produced such a won-
derful eflTect, that many of the people, with two or three
of the chiefs, threw away their idols and abjured hea-
thenism ; and the sacred flame thus kindled continued
to bum brighter and brighter, till three of these islands
in the dangerous ArchiiMjIago embraced the gospel, and
gladly n-ceived, from native teachers, progressive in-
struction in the great things of God.

The renunciation of idolatry, in tiie island of Ru-
rutu, was, also, unexpectedly effected, nnd was attend-
ed with some peculiaHy interesting and encouraging
circvunsiances, as will appear from the following stote-
meiit of Messrs. Threlkcld and Williams, missionaries
at Huiatea: —

" We, one day, perceived a strange sail at sea, which
made towards the reef, nnd appeared to Ik; determined
to Imxurd nuuiini; on it, instead of bearing up for the
proper harbor ; a practice resorted to by the natives
when in extremity. Perreiving their inuninent danger,
the cliiefs manned our Imats, and went off to pilot the
strangers safely into the liarlmr. When they arrived,
we found they were natives of the island of Runitu.
They had come from Mou lihi, and touched, on their
voyage, at Boroboro, but coidd not get in for the con-
trary wind. They had been «lrifted about at sea for
three weeks, and latterly without either food or water,
except sea-water, which they were obliged to drink.
Contrary winds drove them (Wmh their own island ; but
the I»rd, to whose merciful designs winds and waves

.,,..jj{. j,,,.|„.,j^ £,,„. ptiiutru iiicni tisniicr.

" They were exceedingly astonished at the difference
of cuitunu hero, particularly in seeing men and women

Mung together, and the Areoi society, their dance*.
Md every lascivious amusement, completoly put away.
When they heard of the new system of religion, and
saw the people worshipping the living and true God,
they were convinced of its propriety and superiority,
and immediately began to learn to read.

" The chief, with his wife and a few others, went on
•hore at Borabora. Mr. Orsmond, the missionary at
that station, paid every attention to ihem during their
short stay ; gave them books, and began to teach them
to read ; but ns the canoe and the greater part of the
people were at Raiatea, they soon followed. Thev
were about twenty-five in number, men and women.
We set apart a certain time for their instruction, sup-
phed them all with elementary books, and gave them
in charge to our deacons, who wore very much pleased
with, and diligent in the discharge of their nexv office.
Iheir language being somewhat different, the deacons
could make themselves understood better than we could
" Auura, their chief, paid particular attention, as
well as his wife: the greater part of the others ap-
peared indolent. He appeared to appreciate the
worth of knowledge, and the value of the good tidings
of salvation; and his questions upon our discourses
were such as surprised not only the Raiateans, but
ourselves also We think he possesses a very acute
judgment so far as he knows. We do not Ln, in
hus speaking, to be understood that we believe him
to be what would bo called in England a converted
character, though we have indubitable evidence that
he IS a true convert from idolatry to Christianity. God
hath called them out of darkness to the knowledge
of his Son Jesus Christ. May they soon really know
liim, whom to know aright is ..tcrnni lifo ! Auura was
contmually expressing his anxious desire to return to

he knowledge he had obtained of the true Go<l. and
his Son Jesus Christ, expressing his f.ars in nn affec
tionate manner,.that when ho got ba.k he should find

theTn ' " "'" '"" *'"'"' '''"'' '"^"'"^ *le*troying

" The brig Hope, captain Grimes, from Ixjndon,
happening to touch at Raiatea, wo mentioned to the
captain our wish to got these poor people to their own
island ; he, with a readiness which does himthehiKh-
est credit offered immediately to touch at their island,
and to take our boat in tow, that we miRht have an
<.p|K,rtumty to open a communication with the natives.
We sent for Auura, the chief, an.l his wife, who were
highly delighted with the prospect of returning, hut he
raised an objection to going to his land of .l«rkn....
"...«,« m fart some one with Imn to instruct him and
MS people. \V„ w,re raH.p, „, ^ ,„^, ,,^^^ ,^ ^^^ .

however, we immediately called the deacons, informed'

OTAHEITE.

who would volunteer their services to go as .eJhe«
to these poor people. They assembled the church
when two canrie forwaid, we hope with the .pirTtTnd
anguage of the pjophet of old, • Her« ^ w'e ; sJnl
us. They were the very men we should have chosen
had we thought it pnident to nominate ; but we l3l it'
to him who disposes the hearts and thoughts of men
according to his own will.

" Mahamene, a deacon, having a wife, but no chil-
dren, was one ; Puna, a steady, and we hope a tX
pious man, havmg a wife, with two children, was the
other; they were both men we could ill spare, on ac!
count of their steadiness and our confidence iii ,hem •
but such character are the only p,«per persons fo;
such a work ; therefore every other consid^tion was
obliged to give way. To select a crew to bring^ack
our boat was the next consideration; and this took up
he greatest part of the night, as they had but a short
time to get ready for the ship.

" The next morning, the brig got under weigh ; and,
after most affectionately committing Mahamene and
Puna, with their wives and little ones, to the care of
our I^rd and God, in the presence of the congreRa-
t.on, we gave to each a letter in English and Tal^it.n.
recognizing them as under the patrenage of the London
Missionary Society, with our sanction, and recommend-
>ng them to any cajitains of vessels that might touch
at Kurutu. "

"As the vessel lay outside the reef, we were pre-

■Z"^ ^,T T^. " '•''';"'«'• ««'-vi'^e ; but, though short.
It was 1« 1, affcuing and interesting. At length we
conducted our new fellow-laborers to the brig The
captam paid every attention ; took our boat in tow and
departed leavmg us anxiously waning to hear in due
season of the.r reception and success-nor were we
disapiiointod.

" After a little more than a month's absence, wo
.a<l the pleasure of seeing the b.,at return, laden with
the gods o( the heathen taken in this bloodless war
won by the power of him who is the Prince of Peace'
And on reading the intelligence communicated by our
friends, we felt, ,,t.ri.aps, something of that holy joy
that the angelic hosts will experience when they shall
«hout . The kingdon,, of this uorld arc becoL th,
kinfrdom of our Ood and of hi* Christ.' "

From the letters sent, on this occasion, by the two
native teachers, it appears, that immediately after tho
return of Am.ra, a meeting of the chiefs was convened,
and s,H,h cogent arguments were breiight forAvanl in be.
.m!! u. the vnnsiian ft^i.^jon, that the assembly formally
•lecreed the abandonment of idolatry. In order how-
over, to put the power of their gods to the test, it x,u
agreed, that before carrying this resolution into effect

370

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

they should, conirary to their established usage, eat
together the next day, in company witii their wives
and children. If any died according t() the predictions
of the priests, who asserted that any female presum-
ing to eat either hog or turtle — or niiy oliier person
vanturing to eat upon a sacred place — would he inev-
itably devoured by the evil spirit, then they would not
renounce their idols ; hut if no o\w were injured, lliey
would destroy them all. They nucordingly met lU the
time appointed, and after satisfy ing their appetites with
out drawing upon themselves tlui threatened calamity,
they proceeded to the demolition of the nioriiis, and
agreed to send their helpless deities to the missionaries
at Kuiutca.

It is worthy of remork, that when the hont with
Auura and (lie native teochors first reached the shore,
lhos<f persons, with their companions, knelt down (o
return thanks to (iod for their preservation, not know-
ing that the spot wos sacred to Oroo, one of the idols.
The Uurutuans sai<l iinmediatcly, " These people will
die I" The parly also ate inadvertently on a sarnd
spot. WJRii tiu> Rurutuans saw that, they said, " No
doubt they will die for this trespass on the sacred
giXMunl,"' and looked earnestly, expecting some one to
have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly ; luU after
they had l(H<ked a consideraiile tinu>, and saw no harm
come to them, they (diunged their minds, and said,
'•Surely theirs is the truth; hut, perhaps, the goil will
come in the niii,lit and kill lliem — we will wait and
see." One man actually went in the night to the
wife of the chief (Auura), who also ate a part of a
hog or turtle on the $acrril spot, ami said, " Are you
.Mill alive?"' N\'hen the morning arrived, and the Uu-
rutuans found that no harm had happened to any of
them, they became exceeilingly disgusted at their
havint^ been so long deceived by the evil spirit.

It is pleasing to adil. that the gospel was, aNo, suc-
cessfully introduced, partly by tiu> breihreu laboring
under the auspices of the luissicmary swiely, and
partly by native teachers, into Taliaa, an island sitiuited
about two miles to the north of Itaiaten, ami connect-
ed with it by a reef, which seems impassable losliips;
— into Muiaoiti, usually called Sir Charles Saunders's
island ; — into Maupiti, or Maurna, forty miles westward
of Horalnira ; — into the Harvey islands, in semcof which
the inliabitanis had never seen a ship sinre the visit
(if captain Cook ; — and into the islands of Uaivavai,
ilinintara, and Tubouai, which (with Hurutu, aheody
noticed) form the principal part of the Haivavai group.
And it is a fuel Uw interesting to be passed over in
silence, that Mr. Noit and the Otahoitan teachers ar-
rived at TuiK)UBi just in time iu prevent a war wiiich was
to have coininenced on the ensuing morning. The
hostile parties were encamped about a mile distant

•roin each other, fidly prepared for action. On the
arrival of the strangers from Otaheite, however, and
the distribution of a great number of Tahoitan spell-
ing-books antong the natives, the implements of death
were universally laid aside ; the thirst of vengeance
no longer occupied the breasts of the warriors ; but
all seemed onxious to avail themselves of instruction,
and, instead of imbruing their hands in each other's
blood, they exhibited o most gratifying and <leliglitful
spectacle, whilst learning the first rudiments of letters,
as preparatoiy to their acquiring the knowledge of that
ins|)in!d volume which pidilishcs peace between heaven
ami earth, and which predicts the approach of that-
blessed period when the destrtictivo art of war shall
be learned no more for ever.

In the report of the directors of the missionary
society for the present year (1H4I), it is stated that
" the child' authority over Otaheite and Kimeo is ot
present exercised, not by the regent, but by Poamro
Vahine, sister of the queen dowager. She is a mem-
ber of the eluncli at I'apacte, and is considered as a
pious woman. All the branches of the royal family
reside in the district of Pare, where they have threo
or four establisluiu'nts. The young king has acquired
a little of the F.nglish language, and discovers a de-
cided partiality for the nnssionaries, ond a preference
of their inanni-r of living. Ainiata, his sister-in-law,
now about fourti-en years of oge, was married, in the
early part of 1H>2;1, to I'omare of Tahaa, a youth of
about sixteen, descended from the race of Otaheitan
princes, and strongly attached to (Christianity."

To the same interesting dm-ument we are indebted
for tire information, that in the mouth of May, IHii.*!,
the nuM\ber of bapli/ed natives in what are callecl tho
(ieorgian and Swiety islands only, ainom\ti'd to }),;!()(),
including ■'),Ht»0 adults, and JJ.StM) children ; that of
these individuals, about HOO were miMubers of churches ;
and that 'i..')l)(( adults, and ii.M'it) children, were ini-
der school instructicni. It also apjienrs, in res|)cct
to the 'I'aheilttu version of the Holy Scriptures, that
the whole of the (iospi^ls by Matthew, Ijuke, and
John, with the Ai'ls of the Apostles, were printed,
ami either eircidaleil or ready for circidaticm ; that ten
of the epistles of l'a>il were revised for press, nnd
alM)nt to be printed ; that the epistles of ,)ohn and
.Jtuie were Irnn-italed, though not revised ; and that
the books of (Jenesis, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I'snims,
isaiah, Daniel and Jonah were chiefly under revision.

The missionary staticnis in these islands having re-
ceived Knropenn names, from the deputation, we slioll
hcHMfter rccogni/.e them by their new ajipellations.

We shall now detail, as far as our int'onnaiion ex-
tends, iln> progress of the missions in tho several islands
under distinct heads.

OTAHEITE.

TAHITI.

District or Matavai.

fVaugh Town, and Ilankey City.

During; tlio year ondiiiir May, 1823, the number
baptiiod in this station was, of ailults, ono hundred
nnd twenty ; of children, ono liundrod ; candidates
for baptism, oi|^htoen ; addition to the connnnnicanls,
tliirty-throo ; making a total of ono hundred and eight :
marriages during the sanio period, twelve.

In October, |H-^'i, a connnodious chnpel, one hun-
dred feet by forty, was opened. The nund)er of the
congregation attending this place of worship is ropro-
sonted as very encouraging. The deputation say,
•' Here is great reason for thanksgiving to God. The
profession of the gospel is luiivcrsal ; the Lord's day
is observed with great strictnciss ; every family has an
altar dedicated lo the Most High ; nnd we have reason
to bqie that there is much real religion in (he conirre-
gation."'

Mr. Ilaywnrd, who had been a faithful missionary
for twenty-one years, was this year compelled to re-
linquish his labors, in consequence of the ill lienllh of
Mrs. Hayward; ami Mr. Nott, afler a diliKeut service
of thirty years, returned to Kii^huul. TIk. church nt
Hankey (^iiy, which had enjoyed iheminislry of Mr.
Nott, was unit(!il with that at VVaughTown, under the
care of Mr. Wilson.

From the report of the society for lH«(i, the fol-
lowing is an extract in reference to this station for the
past year.—" The number of new members admitted
ia ono hundred and sovonly-onc, of whom twenty
have since removed to other stations. The attend-
ance on the sabbath is large. 'I'he confereuco moelings,
whi(!h had been discontinued, have been resumed.
The luunber who attend is now considerable, and the
ofTect oi)parently benedcial. Three oilier lueelings
are held on the week days for conversations respec-
tively with the candidates for comiiiuuion, with the
l)apti«e(l, and with the candidates for baptism. Tiieso
conversations relate in part to the nature and design
of baprism and the Lord's supper, and to the sermons
of the preceding sabbath. A few members of the
church have (le|i«rtcd this life with a gowl hope of
glory. Among these was the chief woman of the dis-
trict of Miilavai, named Moenanu, who dicil at the
(if^e of thirty-five. Sbo had been a member of the
cimrch four yearn, and bad acted conformably to hir
C'liristiun prol'ession."

^fr. Wilson was troubled for a coimid<Mal)le time by
two persons, wjio protended to bo inspired b/ the

871

Spirit of Oorf, and empowered to work miraclei, and
declared that there was "no sin here, nor puniihment
hereafter." Several of tiie members were leducod from
the soundness of the faith, nnd were removed from Chri».
tian fellowship. At Hankey City, at the lastreporti,
the school contained two hundred scholars, the congre-
gallon amounted to three hundred persons, and the
church consisted of ono hundred and twonty-fivo mem-
bers In addition to the .schools, meetings and duties
of the sabbath, Mr. Nott is engaged in the revision of
a uniform edition of the Talieitan New Testament

District or Atehura.

liimler't Point,

Mr. Darling and Mr. Hourne were the first who oc-
cupied this now flourishing settlement: they came in
IHI!>, They continued to laboi together until Jan-
uary, lH«ii, when Mr. Bourne removed to Tabon.
The deputation observe, that Mr. Darling has learnetl
the art of printing, "and now conducts the press with
an edicienc.y which is highly creditable both to his
talents and industry. He has printed the Acts of the
Apostles, the Tiiheitan giHimnar, a tract which ho
himself translated into the language. He hos now in
baud ten of the epistles of I'aiil, translated by Mr.
Davies.

In IH'iti, the following ofliciul return was made
from this siailement :— " The total number of the
bapii/ed is, of adults, four hundred and twenty ; of
I'.hildren, three hundred and eighty-six. Of the lat-
ter, many are now grown up. The number received
into the church during the past yeor is thirty-nine ;
that <if regular comiminiconts one hundred and nine.
Many candidates for communion are under preparato-
ry inslriiciion,

In 18!i7, the report mentions that an endemic had
been v<'ry prevalent. It carried off thirtjcn adults
and fourteen children. Among the deceosed was a
deacon of the church, named Aiherd-, a truly piong
num. active in bis office nnd the schools. Ho had of-
■ered his si-rvices as a lenchrrlo some of the surrounding
islands, but no opportunity had occurred for th.it pur-
pose. Jesus Christ wns the subject of his daily med-
itation. Ho died in pencn. Of the children who
died, two or three of the boys gave pleasing evidence
of a spiritual change.

From the letters of the deputation, and from the

reiiorls of tlli< snrintv. it nnnoara tU«t •!.:. ....: .•-

making steady progress. Tho weekly meetings ar*
numerously and regularly attended. The day schools
for udiilis and children are in a nourishing state. Tho

yra

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Tftheittn public library for the Windward islands,
formed at this settlement, has been enriched by many
preaents. A new mission-house, a spacious school-
house, and several good dwelling-houses, hare been
erected, and a new road has been made throughout the
district. The congregation usually consists of between
eight hundred and nine hundred. The people mani-
fest a desire for religious improvement, and many ap-
pear anxious to share the gracious influence of the
Holy Spirit. During the six months previous to the
date of the latest intelligence (1831), upwards of
twenty members had been added to the church.

District or Papara.
Hataeit Toum.

This place received its name in honor of Dr. Ha-
weis, the zealous patron of the mission. Imme-
diately after the change from heathenism to Christian-
ity took place, in 1816, a large chapel was erected at
Haweis Town, measuring ninety feet by thirty-three.
It was the first Christian chapel erected after the
change, and was used till October, 1823, when an ex-
cellent place of worship was opened. The length of
the new house is one hundred and twenty-one feet by
fifty-seven, and contiguous to it is a plastered school-
room, seventy-three feet by twenty-three feet. A church
was formed on Congregational principles, in 1820. Tlie
deputation afford an honorable testimony to the zeal and
fidelity of Mr. Daviesand his coadjutors. In 1826, Mr.
Davies completed translations of the Epistles of James,
Peter, John, and Jude, and also the book of Psalms.
This mission sustained a heavy loss in the removal by
death of Mrs. Davies. This melancholy event look
place while her husband was absent from home on a
visit to some of the islands.

In the report for 1828 is the following general ac-
count of baptized communicants, 8ic., in the three
districts of Paparn, Papeuriri, ond Papeari, which will
be read with interest : —

Baplixtd.

Ctmmu.

nU*Ht».

DM.

KttU

Y«u.

Adulu.

Chihim.

1820

251

185

1821

1832

109

108

18*1

142

117

1824

172

115

1825

131

iS^

1327

838

735

402 29

In 1830, Mr. Davies, addressing the secretary, com-
plains of the indifference of spiritual things among many
of those who have by baptism made a profession of
Christianity ; yet he communicates the pleasing intel-
ligence that, in other respects, the station is not with-
out indications of the divine favor and care.

At the last accounts, the school at Haweis Town
contained one hundred and ninety-four children, and
five hundred adults ; the school at the Branch station,
Papeuriri, seventy children ; and that at Papeari, fifty ;
making the total number of scholars, three hundred
and fourteen children, and five hundred adults : of the
former, one hundred and sixty-three were boys, and
one hundred and fifty-one giris ; and of the latter, two
hundred and ninety were men, and two hundred and
ten females. The average congregation was about
nine hundred, and the mission-chapel was capable of
admitting sixteen hundred persons.

District or Pare.
mik$U Harbor.

In May, 1823, thrfee hundred and ninety-five adults
had been baptized at this station. The whole number
of communicants was seventy-two. The report for
1824 states,

" Some of the congregation, and one or two mem-
bers of the church, have been ensnared by tempta-
tions to intchiperance, presented to them by ships in
the harbor. The individuals implicated have acknowl-
edged their guilt, apparently with a penitent mind.
A day of fasting, prayer, and solemn humiliation, was
held shortly after, which appears to have been attend-
ed with very good effect.

" The weekly meetings for conversation with tho
baptized, and with candidates for baptism, are contin-
ued, and not without encouragement.

" For the benefit of crews of vessels which, from
time to time, enter the harbor, Mr. Crook has estab-
lished an English service on sabbath morning. The
attendance fluctuates between fifteen and fifty, accord-
ing to the number of the ships at anchor.

" A neat school-house has been erected for native
giris, upwards of fifty of whom attend. This school is
conducted by Mr. Crook's two eldest daughters.

" A new school-house, fitted up on the Lancaste-
rian plan, has been built for the boys, of whom tho
number is about eighty.

" Much of Mr. Crook's time continues to be occu-
pied in administering medical assistance to the sick
and diseased.

" A new and commodious mission-house has been

OTAHEI'M!.

erected in the front of the public road. This has been
done by the nati'^es."

In 1827; Mr. Pritchard, who commenced his labors
in 1895, began to preach in Taheitan, and commenced
an English and Taheitan Dictionary, which he hopes
will afford considerable facilities for the acquisition of
the latter language.

Wilks's Harbor is now a flourishing seaport. This
circumstance, though it favors, in some respect, the
temporal prosperity of the people, exposes them to
peculiar temptations. The frequent arrivals of ves-
sels at this station afford frequent opponunities for
preaching to seamen, and distributing religious tracts.
" His majesty's sloop of war Satellite, captain Laws,
visited Tahiti in the month of March, 1829. The
visit of captain Laws was encouraging to tiie mission-
aries, and salutary in its influence on the people.
Captain Laws expressed himself gratified with the
progress of the children, and surprised to find that so
many could read fluently, and write correctly from dic-
tation. In token, of his approbation, he gave pres-
ents to the teachers, and those of the scholars who
produced the best specimens of penmanship, and testi-
monials of good conduct."

Mr. Prilchard has established an institution for the
education of native teachers, and the missionaries
anticipate very favorable results from the advantages
its members will receive. The institution was com-
menced with five individuals. When the last accounts
were received, the number of students was ten.

Taiahapu.
Bogue't Town.

Mr. Crook left Wilks's Harbor in October, 1823,
and settled here at the request of the inhabitants. They
built for him and his numerous family a commodious
house. The congregation, at this period, consisted of
about five hundred.

Mr. Crook, in a letter respecting his people, who,
previously to his arrival, had not enjoyed flie benefits
of a resident missionary, writes,

" We are going on comfortably, and I hope success-
fully, at Taiarapu. Our number is continually increas-
ing. Wo have forty-seven members in the church,
and as many as forty-three are candidates for the lord's
supper, and earnestly desire admittance. They all
give a consistent account of themselves and of the
ordinance, and nothing immoral has been laid to their
"•~"g" ] ""t we waTii something more decisive of ploiy
in their clmacter. In some things they seem to excel.
They are very attentive to the word ol God, reading

919

it continually, and searching after its meaning. Thia
IS their common topic of conversation. They also excel
in prayer, and many of them possess an excellent gift •
but they are deficient in diligence, and in compassion
for others. God, I trust, who has wrought the former,
will, in his own time, and in the use of means, effect
the other.

" We have baptized, at this new station, two bun-
dred and fifteen, viz. seventy-three men, seventy
women, thirty-seven boys, and thirty-five giris. There
are also sixty-eight persons who had been previously
baptized by myself and others. We have every prospect
that we shall add greatly to their number, and that in-
struction in general will be attended to."

The school is in excellent condition, and the scholars
have made great proficiency in reading and in learning
the catechism. All the adults attend school every
morning, and are making good progress. The two
eldest daughters of Mr. Crook render essential service
in the giris' school.

Mr. Crook has long paid attention to the study of
medicine, &c., and has been very useful in administering
to the relief of numerous patients, some of whom come
to him from remote parts of Tahiti, and even from other
islands. To aid his benevolent designs, the good peo-
ple of Bogue's Town have resolved tobuild an hospital.
In 1825, a new chapel was opened at this station.
The reports from this mission have been increasingly
interesting, and Mr. Crook states that the place of
worship is generally full ; and in 1828, the directors
report a total of two hundred and seventy-four com-
municants.

A tremendous hurricane, accompanied by heavy
rains and floods, on the 11th of January, 1828, carried
away all the out-houses, end destroyed the gardens,
&.C. at this station. It was deemed advisable, in con-
sequence of this disastrous event, that Mr. Crook's
dwelling-house should be removed to a more secure
place, as its situation appears not to have been well
chosen. His people have behaved kindly towards him,
and agreed to build a new house for their missionary.
On account of the enfeebled state of Mr. and Mrs.
Crook's health, and their large family, Mr. Crook, in
the close of 1830, resigned his charge, with the con-
currence of the missionaries, and the entire approba-
tion of the directors, to whom his activity and devoted-
ness as a missionary afforded uniform satisfaction. The
missionaries at Tahiti purpose to place an eflicient na-
tive teacher at this place, as soon as possible, and to
visit it ahemately once a month. When the last ac-
counts were transmitted, there were one hundred and
forty-eight men and one hundred and twenty-three
females united in church fellowship, with twelve who
were candidates for admission.

374

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

HIDIA.

At the advice of the deputation, Mr. Jones re-
moved fr<$m Papara to this place in March, 1825, and
has met with pleasing encouragement.

In May, 1825, the number admitted to baptism was
one hundred and thirty-nine, of whom eleven had re-
ceived this initiatory rite at other stations. The church,
at that time, consisted of sixty-nine members, of whom
twenty-two were admitted into communion at other
stations. The congregation consisted on the sabbath,
of between five hundred and six hundred, and on
Wednesday evenings, of about three hundred. A
school was formed, in which about two liundred chil-
dren attended. An adult school was also commenced,
and attended by between two hundred and throe hun-
dred ; and a chapel and dwelling-house were erected.

On the 18th of November, Mr. Jones was deprived
of his wife by death. After this event, he appears to
have found himself incapable of attending to his mis-
nionary duties. He left the islands in October, 1826,
retired to North America, and dissolved his connection
with the society.

Since Mr. Jones left the islands, this station has
been occasionally visited by the brethren at Tahiti.
Mr. Henry has recently removed from Eimeo, and set-
tled in Teiarei, which affords the inhabitants of Hidia
religious instruction. Tiie name of this new station
is Roby Town. In the department of tuition, Mr.
Henry is assisted by his son William Ebenezer. The
Lord of missions has graciously vouchsafed to mani-
fest the power of divine influence on tiio minds of the
people. The church at this place numbers two hun
dred and thirty-five members.

EIMEO.

Roby's Place.

In 1824, Messrs. Henry and Piatt occupied this
station as missionaries ; and the settlement received
advantage from the residence of Messrs. Armitage
and Blossom, who superintended the cotton manufac-
tory. This building is sixty feet by thirty, and was
established as the means of giving a useful impulse to
industry among the natives. The deputation paid
their official visit to this station in February, 1824,
and write : —

"The church that wns organized here in 1820, has
greatly increased, and now numbers among its com-
municants no fewer than two hundred and ten, who

appear to be truly pious and consistent professott'
of the gospel, living in great peace and harmony with
each other, while their spirit and deportment adorn
the doctrine of God their Saviour. Often have we
surrounded the table of the Lord, with this worthy
flock, with inexpressible delight, while we have assist*
ed in the administration of the holy supper. Differ-
ence of clime and of color from ourselves seemed but
to endear these our Christian brethren and sisters the
more to our hearts. So long as life lasts, we shall re-
member .these sacred seasons, both with this and all
the other churches in these islands, with the noblest
feelings of Christian affection ; while sorrow fills our
hearts, that we shall break bread and drink wine with
them no more, till we shall drink it new in our Father's
kingdom. While we have reason to think well of the
piety of the members of the church, a general air of
seriousness was ever apparent in the whole congrega-
tion, who crowd the place on I^ord's days and on other
occasions ; and the greatest decency of dress is seen
throughout, among both sexes, many of whom dress in
European clothing."

Mr. Henry, in a letter dated some months subse-
quently to the visit of the deputation, thus writes : —
" Although Satan and his emissaries have been, and
are still, making strenuous efforts to impede the good
work of the l^ord, and to prop up his falling kingdom
of darkness, and have been too successful in drawing
away many to disgrace their profession of Christianity,
by returning to folly and iniquity,* yet there is, I
think, reason to believe, that reaZ eiVfl/ rc/ig'Jon is upon
the increase, more or less, at all the stations. There
is scarcely a church-meeting at this station hut some
are added to the church ; and, 1 believe, this is the
case at most, if not all, of the rest."

In the report of I (••■26, it appears that the church con-
sisted of two hundred and seventy members, of whom
twenty-five were admitted in the course of the year.
A Raiatean, who, about two years before, had ac-
quired undue influence in Eimeo, and had begun to
use it to the prejudice of the missionaries, became a
sincere convert. He repaired, of his own accord, to
the missionary, and acknowledged his criminal con-
duct, professed repentance, was afterwards baptized,
and behaves consistently.

About this time, the missionaries abandoned the
original place of worship for a stone building of ex-
traordinary workmanship. Respecting this edifice tlie
deputation say,

" This chapel would indeed do credit to any town
in England. Its form is octagonal, sixty feel in diam-
eter, and it is built of coral rock, well cut out and

•This refc™ chiefly to the reviTil »raong the young people of
the idoUtioue ciutom of tatooing.

£IMC0.

squared, and put together in regular courgos. The
doors and windows are semicircular, and well propor-
tioned. Over the lower tier of windows is a second
tier of small windows, each a semicircle, for the bene-
fit of the galleries, which are intended to be carried
entirely round. The walls are finished by a handsome
cornice, and the whole will be covered by a neat
thatch. The walls wore nearly completed when we
left, and are about twenty feet higii. Over each of
the four doors is an inscription well cut in the coral
stones. Those over the east and west doors are in
Latin ; that over the south door is in English ; and
that over the north is in the Taheitan language, stating
the day of liie month, and the year of the reign of the
king, when the foundation stone was laid. It was
planned and principally superintended by the Rev.
Mr. Piatt ; but the whole workniiuisliiii has been exe-
cuted by the natives, with such tools as they could ob-
tain, and these none of the best ; such as axes, adzes,
old saws, &c., or any other iron instruments they pos-
sessed. The coral was raised from the bottom of the
sea in large fragments, with great didiculty. The
building stands upon the site of an old public marae,
on a conspicuous point of land, and nearly at the cen-
tre of the settlement. The while coral gives it a strik-
ing appearance ; and the whole edifice cannot be viewed
but with just astonishment and great delight, when it
is considered that the whole actual workmanship has
been performed by men who had never been accus-
tomed to hew stones, nor indeed had ever seen it
done. The whole building is in good style, and ac-
curately executed, and does great credit both to the
architect and to the workmen."

The latest intelligence from Roby'sPluce is contain-
ed in the following extract from the society's Report
for 1831:— . ^ '

" Since the last Report, the directors have received
intelligence of tho settlement of Mr. and Mrs. Simp-
son at this station. They arrived in June, 18'29, and,
from tiiat period to the date of the latest intelligence,
have uninterruptedly prosecuted their missionary la-
bors among the people of Roby's Place, paying par-
ticular attention to the young. A new school has been
erected ; one hundred and sixty-six juvenile scholars
and eighty-five adults receive instruction twice a day.
While etigaged in imparting useful knowledge, Mr.
Simpson is endeavoring to promote industry and gen-
eral improvement. In this department of his exer-
tions, he has directed his attention to those who, though
they have not become heathen, do not profess to be
religious, and pay but little attention to the precepts
of tho eosnel. Tlinnnw xAann nf ...^-oi.:.. ..

.. '^j • J Ti " ''•"iiiJu-

dious and pleasant building, was opened in July, 1829 ;
and the number of those who attend on tho sabbath is

Stil

between six hundred and seven hundred. The rite
of baptism has been administered by Mr. Simpson to
twenty-six individuals, and forty-one have been united
with the church. The declaration these individuals
made of their experience of the power of the truth, and
their Christian deportment, was satisfactory. Twelve
before removed have been restored, on evidence of re-
pentance ; and of twelve who, on account of intem-
perance, had been excluded from communion, nine, on
similar evidence, have been re-admitted."

Grijffin Town, and South Sea Academy.

" Griffin Tow^n.— This place is situated on the south-
east side of the island, in the district of Afareaitu, and
is the same where the first printing estab..shment in
the islands was commenced, under the direction of
Mr. Ellis. Mr. Orsmond removed here from Borabora,
for the purpose of taking charge, with Mrs. Orsmond]
of tho South Sea Academy, an institution formed in
March, 1824, for the purpose of giving 'to the chil-
dren of the missionaries, both boys and girls, such an
education as is calculated to prepare them to fill useful
situations in future life.' It was founded in con-
formity to instructions given by the directors to the
deputation, and will be supported at the expense of the
society.

" Beside discharging the duties devolved upon him
as conductor of the seminary, Mr. Orsmond will en-
gage in preaching, and in such other missionary work
as may be compatible with his immediate object. Some
of the natives, who resided at Roby's Place for the
benefit of Christian ordinances and instruction, have
accordingly removed to Griflin Town, as being more
contiguous to their respective districts and lands.

" The school-house stands at the head of a fine
bay, and at the mouth of a beautiful and extensive
valley ; and tho deputation are of opinion, a more
eligible situation could not have been .selected for tho
purpose. It is in length one hundred ar.d thirty feet
by forty, and includes, beside separate school rooms,
suitable accommodation for forty girls and boys. The
charge of its erection was generously borne by the
niissionariof!, who will also defray the expense of keep-
ing it in repair.

" Mr. and Mrs. Orsmond were unanimously chosen,
by the missionaries, to take charge of the seminary,
and apjjroved by tho deputation.

" The female department of the establishment is un-
der the superintendence of Mrs. Orsmond."

The ncadcmy-houso unite.5 stability with neatness,
and is well adapted to its purpose.

In the Report for 1826, it is stated that seventeen

a76

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

pupils have been received, all, with the exception of
the young king, Pomare, nonr about seven yean of
age, the children of missionaries, for whose benefit the
institution was founded. They are taught to read and
write, and arc instructed in grammar, arithmetic, hb-
tory, chronology, ajstronomy, 8ic. The children, for
the short time tliey have been under tuition, have, in
the opinion of the mbsionaries, made good progress.

The second annual meeting of the institution was
held in March, 1826, and the examination was satis-
factory to the school committee.

Mr. Orsmond, in his communications with the society,
% regrets that his public duties in the academy do not
leave him time to attend to his pastoral duties, to the
extent he desires to do."

From one year to another, the Reports mention the
growing usefulness of this seminary. In 1828, twen-
ty-three students shared its bene&ts. Four youths left
the academy at its fourth annual meeting, and departed
to the colony of New South Wales.

In consequence of impaired health, Mr. Orsmond
tendered his resignation ; and in 1830, the directors
recommended Mr. and Mrs. Simpson to take charge
of the academy.

The inhabitants at Griffin Town manifest an increas-
mg attention to tlie missionary, and, according to their
ability, assist him in his work. The Report for 1831
mentions, that the means of Christian instruction have
been uniformly well attended ; the members of the
church continue to live ia uninterrupted affection
among themselves, and tc adorn by their lives the
gospel of the Saviour : no instance requiring the ex-
ercise of discipline in the church had occurred ; and
twenty, from among those who were the most careless
and irreligious of the inhabitants, had, after affording
satisfactory evidence of their piety, been added to
the communicants ; while a number of persons, who
had been removed from other stations on account
of their irregularities, have been reclaimed, and ad-
mitted to Christian fellowship. Among the accounts
of the efiects of the gospel on the heart, that given by
Tuahine is peculiarly interesting ; and the happy deatli
of Maoae furnishes fresh evidence of the power and
blessedness of faith m the Redeemer.

SOCIETY OR LEEWARD ISLANDS.
HUAHlNli.

Station Fare Habor.

This is, in all respects, a station of great interest.
The population rapidly increases. The Report of

1896 informs us, that the number of improved dwell-
ing-houses erected u four hundred, and many mora
are in progress. In 1826, the chapel was rebuilt cm
an enlarged scale. It will accommodate two thousand
persons, and has a gallery that holds four hundred
children. The building has four entrances, and thir-
ty-eight windows, in the Gothic style. Mr. Barff has
stated the congregation at from one thousand two hun-
dred to one thousand four hundred persons, whose at-
tendance is regular, "and many of whom afford proof
that they do not hear the gospel in vain. The week-
day meetings, for exhortation, religious conversation,
and prayer, in which a very lively interest prevails, are
attended with profitable results. Mrs. Barff every
week meets the female members of the church, about
two hundred in number, for religious conversation and
prayer.

" After these pleasing statements, it is the more
painful to add, that a calamitous event, which happen-
ed nigh to this station during the year 1826, has been
made an occasion, on the part of some of the natives,
for acts highly discreditable to their character. It seems
that an American vessel, called the Hyxeo, command-
ed by captain Coffin, on the 21st of November, struck
on the reef. The people belonging to the vessel, con-
sidering their situation perilous, abandoned it to a body
of natives, who were requested by the captain to make
every possible effort to save the property on board.
These natives having, during the night, found a quan-
tity of spirits, and drank of them immoderately, pro-
ceeded to appropriate to their own use a number of ar-
ticles belonging to the ship. They afterwards restored
a part of this property, but not the whole. Mahin6,
the principal chief of Huahine, who was at the time
on the opposite side of the island, on being informed
of what had taken place, acted in a most commenda-
ble manner. He made a present to the captain, as
some compensation for the loss he had sustained,
adopted measures for the protection of the remaining
property, and even himself personally engaged in
watching it. The greater part of the natives who were
involved in the guilt of the above-mentioned transac-
tions, had no conntction with the minion ; but it is
painful to state, that some of them made a profession
of religion. With few exceptions, these have since
manifested repentance, and have been restored to their
accustomed intercourse with their fellow Christians.
A spirit of holy jealousy and self-examination appears
to have been excited very generally among the peo-
ple of the station by these occurrences, and a more
diligent attention to the means of grace has been the
result."

During 1826, 7, 8, the public services on the LoiU"»
day continued to be well attended, and the church

MAIAOITI— RAIATEA.

members, at the beginning of 1828, amounted to three
hundred and eighty-one. Nearly all the people attend
the adult school, and their improvement is very en-
couraging. The people also advance in civilization :
new houses are continually erected, and the planting
of cotton and coffee is gradually extending.

In 1829, Mr. Barff was cheered by learning that
some among his people had apparently tasted that the
Lord is good. Four promising young men commenced
preparatory instruction for becoming native missiona-
ries. A sick visiting society has been established ; the
settlement divided into ten parts, and in each division
a "leading man" appointed, with persons of each sex
as his assistants.

Mr. Barff has printed an edition of two thousand
five hundred copies of John's Gospel inTaheitan, two
thousand copies of Dr. Watts's Catechism, and one
thousand copies of a Hymn Book in Rarotognian, for
the mhabitants of the Hervey islands. The latest in-
telligence announces the total number of the church
members as four hundred seventy-seven.

MAIAOITI.

" The mission in this island is under the immediate
care of two native teachers, sent there by the church
at Huahine. The church, consisting of thirty-three
members, all of whom are regarded as truly pious, is
under the pastoral care of Mr. Barff, wlio visits them
as often as his other engagements will allow, when he
administers the ordinances of the Lord's supper and
baptism. In his absence, the teachers conduct the
public worship, and explain the Scriptures to the peo-
ple ; they also superintend the schools, which embrace,
mfants excepted, the whole population of the island,
which consists of two hundred and ten souls.

" A chapel has been built, sixty feet by thirty-six,
which was entirely the work of the natives. They
have also built and furnished a Iiouse for the ac-
commodation of Mr. Barff, when on his occasional
visits.

" The deputation could hear of no crimes in this
island ; and the judges, as to criminal cases, were
consequently without employment. They suppose a
happier people than those on this island do not exist."

The Report for 1828 gives the following interesting
statement with respect to this mission :— '< This little
station is flourishing under the superintendence of Anna.
The total number of communicants is eighty-five, and
of baptized, aduils uml children, two hundred and sev-
enteen. Mr. Barff made a visit in February, and dur-
ing his stay received twenty-four into communion, who

Vol. I.— Nos. 31 & 32. gg

8tr

had been candidates for two years ; and baptized fiAy-
seven infants."

The only intelligence received for 1830-1, has been
from Anna, the native missionary, whose enlightened
and judicious labors, with those of his fellow laborer,
Airima, have for some years been devoted to the in-
struction of the people. The Lord appears to have
bestowed his blessing on the exertions of these Chris-
tians ; and the account gives a pleasing view of the
general prosperity of the station, the harmony of the
people, their improvement in spiritual knowledge, their
gratitude for the gospel, and pleasure in hearing of its
diffusion ; and refers to the measures they were pur-
suing for the purpose of sending out some of their own
number to teach the inhabitants of other islands.

RAIATEA, SOMETIMES CALLED ULIETEA.

This island was formeriy the chief seat of idolatry,
and the source of all political authority to the group!
Human sacrifices were brought from all the neighboring
islands, and offered to Oro, the god of war; and here
the now Christian prince, Tamatoa, was once prayed
to as a deity.

" In tracing the introduction of Christianity into this
island, we are carried back to 1809, when a few of the
natives were instructed at Eimeo. In 1816, the Rev.
C. Wilson, missionary at Eimeo, and Pomare, late king
of Tahiti, were providentially cast upon this island,
and obliged to remain for some time. Mr. W. embraced
the opportunity of preaching the gospel to the natives,
while Pomare employed all his influence to induce
them to abandon their idols and embrace the truth.
Success attended their united efforts ; and the king,
\yith his chiefs and people, avowed themselves Chris-
tians. Immediately they desisted from offering human
sacrifices, from idolatrous worship and infanticide, built
places for Christian worship, but knew little of the
gospel except the name, and continued in the indul-
gence of every evil desire, till after the settlement of
the missionaries among them."

The Rev. Mr. Threlkeld and Mr. Williams re-
moved from Eimeo, and settled, September, 1818, in
the midst of a forest, where scarcely a habitation stood.
In 1823, a beautiful town had been built, extend-
ing about two miles along the margin of a bay, having
several bridges over streams which fall into the bay.
In the centre is a chapel, one hundred and fifty-six feet
by forty-four, in which one thousand penpln usiiallv
assembled for religious service. Agriculture and the
mechanical arts have been introduced by the mission-
aries with happy effect ; but the triumph of the cross

378

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

roust be regarded as one of the most signal ever achiev-
ed in this revolted world. Not a vestige of idolatry
remains.

The deputation, in 18S3, wrote concerning the re-
ligious state of the people, " With much satbfaction,
we witnessed ;he baptism of one hundred and fifty
persons in one day, making the number of baptized
about one thousand one hundred, leaving a remainder
of persons in the island, unbaptized, of about two hun-
dred. In examining the ruined morais, or temples, at
Opoa, we could hard'y realize the idea that, six or
seven years ago, they were all in use ; and were rath-
er inclined to imagine these the ruins of some wretch-
ed idolatry, which had suffered its overthrow fiAeei) or
twenty centuries ago. In looking over the large con-
gregation, and in seeing so many decent and respec-
table men and women, all conducting themselves with
the greatest decorum and propriety, we have often
said to ourselves, < Can these be the very people who
participated in the horrid scenes which we have heard
described ? — nay, the very people who murdered their
children with their own hands ? who slew and offered
human sacrifices ? who were the very perpetrators of all
these indescribable abominations ? To realize the fact
is almost impossible. But though, six or seven years
ago, they acted as if under the immediate and unre-
strained influence of the most malignant demons that
the lower regions could send to torment the world, we
view them now in their houses, in their various meet-
inf;s, and in their daily avocations, and behold them
clothed, and in their right mindt.'

" All the people, both adults and children, who are
capable of it, are in a stale of school instruction. Many
of the men and women, and not a few of the children,
can read, fluently and with accuracy, those portions of
the Sacred Scriptures which have been translated, and of
course all the elementary books ; the rest rend in one or
other of these elementary books ; many ran write, and
several cipher. Such is the slate of thin^cs, and such
is the system of improvement that is now in oj)eraiion,
I hat not a single child or grown person can remain in
this island unable to read.

"The children assemble every morning at sunrise
for instruction in a large house erected for the purpose ;
— they are three hundred and fifly lioys nnd girls ; —
while the adults asscuihlc at the same lime in the
ciiapel, Saturday and sabbath muniings excepted, lo
read and ro|>eat their .atechisms. After the school
hours are over, which is about eight o'clock, ihoy go
In their several occupations for the day.

" Every Ijord's day begins with a public praynr-
mcetmg at sunrise, and which is conducted by the
nniivcs themselves. The wlmlo congregation allend.
At nine o'clock is public worship again, when one of

the mis3ionaries preaches. After this, the missiona-
ries have an English service at their own houses, for
the immediate benefit of their own families. At one
o'clock, the people assemble again in the chapel, to be
catechised on the subject of the morning's sermon,
while the children in the school-house are catechised
in those compendiums of gospel doctrines which have
been drawn up for them. At four o'clock in the after-
noon is public worship again, when the other mission-
ary preaches. In the evening, most of the people
meet at their own houses, in classes of twenty or
thirty persons each, for prayer and religious conversa-
tion. On Monday evenings is a paraparaura, or gen-
eral conversation at the chapel, when the missionaries
answer any questions that may he proposed to them
on all subjects, secular or religious. On Tuesday
evenings, the people are catechised oii the subject of
the Lord's day afternoon sermon, in classes of about
thirty persons each, into which all the baptized adults
are divided, while all the rest are allowed to attend ;
after which, any of the men are allowed to deliver ex-
hortations. Six or seven generally speak on these oc-
casions, and generally with great zeal and propriety,
and do not fail lo rebuke each other for any inconsis-
tency which they may have seen, while they exhort
each other to diligence and perseverance in the ways
of God. On Wednesday evening is a public lecture.
Thursday evenings Mrs. Threlkeld meets a nelect so-
ciety of women, for religious conversation and prayer.
On Friday evening is a service and a lecture, deliver-
ed to those who have been baptized ; after the address,
the natives deliver exhortations, as on Tuesday even-
ings. Saturdays are always wholly appropriated -to
the preparing of food for the liOnl's day. The chil-
dren's soliool is under the superintendence of Mrs.
Threlkeld, while Mr. Williams meets a large class of
adults every morning al thecliapc), to catechise them
on those [Xjriions of the Scriptures which have been
Iraiixlated, and which they read in course. We have
often htfon Nuq)riscd and delighted at the intelligence
uiid rclifiious knowledge which the people discover on
ihesi? and other occosions. In point of intellect, wo
consider tlicTuhcitans equal to the English, and in re-
ligious knowledge inferior to few, comparing congre-
gation with congregation.

"Al the time wo left the station, thirty persons, among
whom were the king and queen, and one of the king's
brothers, cnnstiiutcd the rhurrh of communicants.
Tlicsn perM)ii» were not admitted because of their dig-
nity, hut on the groiuid of their piety alone. Ronk
here lins no influence in matters of religion. The
church is organized on Independent Congregational
principlci, and the members are admitted by the com-
mon suffrages of the ministers and the church.

RAIATEA.

" It happens In this, as in all the other islands of
this group, that there are from twenty to forty loose
and profligate characters, who disapprove of the purity
of Christianity, though they assent to its doctrines,
and do not wish to have the former order of things
restored. There is not a ;«.nily in this island that has
not family prayer morning and evening ; and what is
singular, even the careless persons of whom we speak
regularly keep up an attention to this duty, as well as
the public duties of the sabbath. They, of course, are
not baptised. During the time of our residence here,
several of these persons were brought to justice for
different offences ; among these were two or three in-
stances of adultery. At nine o'clock every night, a
bell-man goes through the whole settlement ; this is
the signal for all persons to retire to their houses. A
watch, consisting of a few persons, then sits, and con-
tinues to perambulate the place all night, every hour
crying, ' All's well.' We have great reason to rejoice
in the mighty and wonderful change which has taken
place in this island. The improvement of the people
in religious knowledge— the general morality which
characterizes all orders of society— their rapid ad-
vancement in the acquisition of the arts of civilized
life — their peaceable and decent behavior — their neat

and comfortable appearance — their industry, iic. all

afiord the most striking contrast with their former con-
dition, and place them high on the scale of moral ex-
cellence and worth.

" It has afforded us great pleasure to witness the
affection and confidence in which the missionaries and
their pious wives are held. Their opinions are re-
garded as oracles. They are consulted on all occa-
sions, and on all subjects, and a long acquainiance
with the accuracy of thf<ir judgments, and their disin-
terested motives, has secured to them the entire con-
fidence of the king, the chiefs, and of all the people ;
and thoy are worthy of the confidence and good opin-
ion which they enjoy. They are men of good tal-
ents, sound judgments, ar. ' ardent piety. They are
zealously devoted to their work, which they regard
as extending to the good of the people, both in things
temporal and spiritual. The happiness of the people
in both worlds is the great object with our worthy
brethren, in which great design wo rejoice to be able
to testify that their pious and intelligent wives take a
lively and active part, by instructing the females in
whatever is calculatud to make them hsppy in them-
selves, and useful in domostir life. To close, the con-
dition of the wliolo settlement is such as to afford the
most convincing proof, that the exertions of the mission-
arits have been remarkably owned of Go<l, and thai
the pn'sehinit of the gospel ii the most direct, eertnin
and eflieient nienns of promolin| both religion and

civilization. Had nothing more been done by your
exertions than what our eyes Lave beheld in Uiis island
only, they have been abundactly compensated. We
cordially unite with you in thanking God for what he
has done in Uiia island, and see ample reason to take
courage in assailing the strongest holds of Satan that
he possesses in the whole heathen world, assured of
final success."

It ought to be distinctly recorded, that, in all these
islands, the churehes of Christ have imitated tiie prim-
itive church, and endeavored to send out the words of
life around them. Already these churches have formed
efficient missionary societies ; and the Report of the
society for 1827, states that the cocoa-nut oil con-
tributed by the Raiatean auxiliary society for 1825-6,
sold for £300 sterling, of which sum £30 were sub-
scribed by the children belonging to the schools of
this station.

In 1826, a new chapel was opened at this station,
on which occasion, many visitors firom Tahaa and
Kuahini were present.

This year, Mr. Williams visited Rarotogna, for the
purpose of aiding Mr. and Mrs. Pitman in the estab-
lishment of that mission. He was detained there
nearly twelve months, and translated the Gospel of
John into the Rarotognian dialect. He also built a
vewel of between sixty and seventy tons burden, in
which he returned to Raiatea, in 1828, after visiting the
islands Aitutake, Mitiaro, and Atui. This vessel, call-
ed " The Meuenger of Peace," was intended to be
employed in carrying native teachers to those islands
where the gospel had not yet been introduced. Prep-
arations were made for establishing native missions
on an extensive scale. In December, 1829, this ves-
sel sailed with Mr. Piatt, who undertook to visit the
out-stations in the Hervey islands, and who took out
two new na-ive preachers for Aitutake. At many of
the islands, captain Henry reports, when his vessel
touched, the firet inquiry was, " Have you any teach-
ers for us ?"

His majesty's sloop of war Satellite visited Raiatea
in March, 1829. Captain Laws attended the exam-
ination of the schools, and, in token of his approbation,
distributed handsome presents to the teachers and chil-
dren. He also expressed himself well phased with
the exertions of Mr. Williams to improve the tempo-
ral circumiitinceg of the people, who, among other
kinds of labor, have been taught to make rope from
the bark of the purau, a species of hiH$cua.

The Report of the directors for 1830-1, contains

flin (ftlt.kiviiiw waiMA^r..:.. :_A^ll: __■ .. ...

•— r. r. — "•"o !"t-i!:gcncc rcianvf to tnii

promising field of labor.

" The intelligence which the directors have receiv-
ed from the station in this island is among the most

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

animating that has arriTed from the South seao. The
appearance of the settlement generally is improTed ;
the industry of the people is increasing ; a number of
young men are capable of working in iron and wood,
so as to obtain a regular and valuable remuneration
for their labor. The people were increasing in mari-
time enterprise. The king's wharf resembled a small
dock-yard, and a number of vessels have been built
in Raiatea, or in other islands, and brought there to be
finished. The people at the missionary station main-
tained peace and order during the absence of Mr. Wil-
liams ; the meetings for poblic worship and the schools
were regularly attended. Since his return from the
Hervey, Friendly and Samoa islands, a new school-
house had been erected, the schools re-organized, and
the work of instruction recommenced with alacrity
and vigor; and, although no striking instances of con-
version have occurred, the people have not been with-
out tokens of the divine favor. Some have died,
leaving satisfactory evidence of the efficacy of the
religion they had professed. The salutary effect of
the visit of captain Laws, of his majesty's ship Satel-
lite, to the missionary stations, was mentioned at the
last meeting of the society. The directors have now
the pleasure to inform their friends, that these islands
have since been visited by a United States frigate,
commanded by captain Finch, and his majesty's ship
Seringapatam, commanded by the honorable captain
Waldegrave. The visit of these gentlemen has not
only been peculiarly gratifying to the missionaries, but
from their liberal presents and the encouragement they
gave by their example and influence to the promotion
of morals and religion, was highly beneficial (o the
people. Captain Waldegrave attended the assemblies
for public worship, tic, and expressed himself saiis-
fioii with what he had seen. Mr. Williams has for-
warded an interesting account of the visit of the Serin-
gapatam, and the directors are expecting to receive
one from the missionaries in the Windward islands.

" The anniversary of the Kaiaica Missionary Society
was held on the I2xh of May, and was attendtnl by
the commander of the Seringapatam and ir iny of the
officers. Mr. Williams preached in the morning, and
the meeting for transacting the Inisiness of the socie-
ty was held in the aAoniunn. The (hanks of tlu* inoot-
in^ wnrc publicly lender(>d lo captain Waldegrave and
his officers, for the countenance they had given to
religion in the island. . in reply, captain Waldegrave
expressed the sincere pleasure he felt in seeing the
people in such a state ; he also ^Kiintedout the advantage
nf knowloilge ; adding that Scriptural knowledge was
tiie ninst iin|H)rtant, aiui ansumd ihem that iienhiHiid not
U\\ to inform his frieniH in Enp;land, who took a lively
interest in their welfare, of what he had seen and heard."

TAHAA.

The report of Messrs. Tyerman and Bennet to
the directors, dated 13th February, 1823, contains
the following delightful information respecting this
island : —

" Though the gospel was received by some persons in
this island in the year 1816, yet the king, and most of
the chiefs and people, continued to reject it ; and, from
hatred to Christianity, they made a descent upon Raia-
tea, joined the malcontents there, and attacked Tamatoa
and his troops with superior numbers, and took them
by surprise. But, from some cause or other, they
fought under a dispirited feeling; while Tamatoa and
his Christian troops were brave and courageous. Fenu-
apeho was in the conflict, and had most of the ornaments
of his dress shot away. Soon his troops were put to
flight, and he was taken prisoner. The hand of God
was so apparent in the behalf of the Christians, and
against the idolaters, and the manner in which the
prisoners were treated by Tamatoa and his victorious
f6rces was so humane, that the vanquished king was
induced to embrace the gospel : all the chiefs and
people followed his example. Tamatoa not only
spared the life of his captive, but restored him to hit
island, and soon after granted him his independency ;
and thus illustrated an important maxim in his religion,
returning good for evil. Chapels for Christian wor-
ship were now built all over the island, the sabbath
began to be observed, and the same order of things
was adopted in tins as in (he other islands that had
embraced the gospel.

" But though this was the fact, and a missionary
society was instituted to aid the funds of the liOndon
Missionary Society, yet they continued destitute of a
stated ministry until last year, (1 82)2,) when, in Feb-
ruary of that year, the Rev. Mr. Bourne, who was at
that lime lalmringat Himaania,in Otaheite, in connec-
tion with the Rev. Mr. Darling, was induced to listen
to the pressing invitation of tlie king and people,
and went ond .settled among them. Mr. Darling being
competent to the duties of that station, Mr. Bourne
felt himself at liberty to remove to this. He, with
his wife and family, was received with every demon-
stration of joy, and firing of guns. Seventy of the
■.vomen fired a salute of musketry on the landing of
Mrs. Bourne. A small tem|iorary house was imme-
diately provided for their accoinmo<lntion at (he settle-
ment, which is called Vaitoare. Immediately thejr
liegan the erecting of a large now house for his use.
Tiio spot of ground chosen ibr it was liie side of a
hill, on acc(Mint of its being airy. They had to level
the ground at the ax|H)nse of great labor : this diffi-

TAHAA.

ciilty was toon conquered ; and in less than a year
after his anival, a very excellent plastered house, sixty
feet in length by thirty feet wide, containing seven
good rooms, well floored, with a wide veranda, with a
large garden at the front, neatly enclosed with a bamboo
fence, was completed. They also made large mats for
the floors of several of the rooms, and fine well-made
parau maU for curtains to several of the windows.
Mr. B. and his family had just taken possession of this
troly comfortable house, when we visited Tahaa.
During the time we remained there, which was nearly
two months, we were highly gratified by the kind at-
tentions of the people to the minister. Most of them
when they returned from their lands, made a point of
bringing large quantities of bread-fruit, cocoa-nuts,
fish, «ic. The king gave him two small vulleys, at
the head of one of which his house stands, and which
contains a large plantation of bananas ; and the other,
which IS at a short distance, contains a great number
of bread-fruit trees. The ground of this latter valley
Mr. B. allows the people to enclose and to cultivate
for their own use, on paying him a mere acknowledg-
ment of first-fruits.

" The place of worship which the people had erect-
ed for their own accommodation, Mr. Bourne soon
found to be too small, and it was enlarged to twice the
size. But this is also too small. Many of the peo-
ple are obliged to remain at the outside. The popu-
lation of the island, which is 700, is the congregation.
Like the other congregations, they make a decent and
neat appearance. Tlio bonnets of many of the
women would do credit to any milliner's shop in Lon-
don. The descriptions which we have given of other
congregations, both as to dress and behavior, are ap-
plirable to this. Though the public and private ser-
vices attended to here are similar to those in Kaiatea and
Huiihine, which we have named, not being exactly the
same, we shall mention them. On Ixird's days there
is an early prayer-ineoling at sunrise, after which there
is a public service, and sermon in the morning and
afternoon, and catochixing of both the adults and chil-
dren between the scrvrces of morning and afternoon.
All the children are assembled at the school-room, and
taken to the place of worship. There is a school for
both the children and adults every morning at sunrise,
excepting Satunlay and r^)rd's day mornings. Oii
the Monday evenings, a conversation nieetinK is held ;
on the Tuesday evenings, a meeting of the candidates
for baptism ; the same evening, Mm. Bourne has a
small select |«rty of females at her own house, for
prayer and religious conversation ; on the WnHnn..
day evenings, there is a public lecture; on Friday
evenings, a meeting of the baptised, when gen-
eral exhortations ire allowed. Every morning Mr.

Bourne catechizes a elau of adults at the chapel in the
New Testament. On the first Monday evenings in
the month, missionary prayermeetings are held. Sat'
urdays are always employed, by the people, for cook-
ing food for the Lord's day. No Christian church is
yet formed hero, though it is hoped there are several
persons of real piety, r,nd fit to be admitted to the
Lord's table. However, Mr. Bourne intends soon to
organize a church. The number of persons baptized,
at the time we leA the station, were one hundred
and seventy-eight adults, two hundred and sixty-six
children. Some, though but few, of these had been
baptized before the arrival of Mr. Bourne, by MessH.
Threlkeld and Williams, who kindly visited this island,
occasionally, to preach the gospel to the people, while
destitute of a settled minister. The candidates for
baptism now are eighty-four ; one hundred and forty
of the adults read the New Testament ; one hundred
tnd sixty, elementary books. Indeed, with the
exception of a few aged persons, who have lost
their faculties, blind, deaf, 8tc., all the adults in the
island can read. Many write, and a few cipher.
There is a school every morning at sunrise, and at
noon, for the children, when all attend who are of a
suitable age ; they are two hundred and ten in number,
and a school of finer and more healthy children we
never saw. Tliis school, however, is in its infancy,
many of the children, with their parents, having but
very lately come to reside at the settlement ; and Mr.
Bourne finds a difficulty in obtaining suitable teachers.
A few of the children can read well, and repeat their
catechisms correctly. All are in a train of instruction,
and we doubt not that more energetic means will now
be brought into operation. The infants who ate not
of an age to attend school, are more numerous here
than in any other of the islands in proportion to
the population. Nearly all of both sexes, who are of
suitable ago, are married. These are a fine race of
people, and in some respects diflfer in appearance from
their noighlx>rs. Deformed persons, and those who
are afllicted with swelled legs, and scrofulous com-
plaints, are fewer in proiwrtion than in any of the
islands wo have yet seen.

" They are also a very industrious people. Civili-
zation is making rapid progress ; and we fetl j.ersuad-
od that, in the course of two or three years, these
people will ho fully on an equality with their neigh-
bors, notwithstanding they have labored so long under
those disadvantages which arose from the want of a
missicMiary among them. Though they were before t

ivarlilra no/^tmla* A^VmUti^^tm Iw, .1...* ..*:^_ .1

_ . _ _ . ... ,._,,.j..5,.„^ ::icj- arc IKJW

peaceable and inoflbnsive. They live in groat har-
mony among themselves. Scarcely any quarrelling or
angry disputation over takes place among them.

t8§

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

This may be said also with nferenca to the other
islands. No crime of a flagrant nature has been oom-
mitted for some time past, excepting two or three
instances of adultery. But no crime is winked at by
the government. The Lard's day is universally ob-
served, and any work done on that day would be
punished with great severity. A dispoution to tatau
themselves, among the careless, is the most common
offence.

"Mrs. Bourne has formed all the baptised wo-
men into classes of ten persons each, for the purpose
of making themselves comfortable bonnets, and
promoting general industry. Eight of these plait
the materials ; the two others sew the bonneu, and
have so much of the plat, for their labor, as will
make each of them a bonnet. There is a strong de-
sire among the people to adopt the English mode of
dressing ; but they are not able to obtain the materials,
which is much to be regretted ; some of them, how-
ever, have suits of English clothing, and most would,
could property obtain them. Their articles for barter
are arrow-root, cocoa-nut oil and hogs, as in the other
islands.

" After residing nearly two months with our pious
and worthy brother and sister Bourne, from whom we
received the most uniform and kind attentions, we
feel happy in bearing our testimony to their worth as
missionaries of Clirist. They are possessed of good
talents and information, and are animated by a steady
seal in their great work, and enjoy the affections and
confidence of their people, by whom we were received
with the most cordial joy, and treated with the most
friendly and olTri-tionatc attentions."

As Raiatea and Talma are enclosed within the
same coral reef, it has been agreed, by the missionaries
of these islands, to hold joint annual meetings of their
respective auxiliary missionary societies alternately in
each. In 18'i4, the meeting "".3 held in Raiatea, on
the iwclfth of May, on which occasion upward of two
tliotisund persons were |irescnt. One of the deacons
of the church conimoncud the service with reading and
supphcation ; Mr. Bourne preached ; and another dea-
con concluded with prayer.

After the service in the chapel, the congregation
retired to partake of ilic refreshments provided on the
occasion. Tables were spread and " upwards of two
thousand of the natives, including childron, were
seated at them, on sofas, and screened from the sun
by awnings of native cloth. Two persons, one at
each end of the pavement on which the company wore
tssiMiibled, iniplorcd the divine blessing. Many ani-

those of new year's day, in which they endeavored to
animate each other to love and good works. The

company afterwards returned to the "'^apel, when tha
business of the two societies wu transacted, and sev*
oral speeches delivered by natives. The hymn,
beginning <Blow ye the trumpet, bU>w,' was sung
with much pious animatk>n, after which one of thfl
members of the church prayed.

" When the secreUries had read tha respactiva
reports,

" Tamatoi, the kuig of Raiatea, arose and deliver-
ed an address, with much energy, to the following
effect :— < Dear friends, this is the fifth year that we
have met together at Raiatea for this good purpose.
My heart is greatly rejoiced that Tahaa and Raiatea
are united in so good a work. Our labor has not been
in vain ; lands that were in darkness have been enlight-
ened by our instrumentality ; idols have been scattered
to the wind ; the word of God has been planted, has
taken root, and grown ; we behold its luxuriant ap-
pearance with pleasure. Surely we have been well
paid for our labor : rejoice greatly. We have prayed
for the spread of the gospel ; it has spread. We
have used the means ; they have been blessed. Let us
continue to labor, till every land shall have teacheri
from God, to teach them the path of life. Our fame
has spread greatly ; let us act worthy of that fame.
How disgusting to have fame, and not to be worthy
of it ! Our lamp has shone brilliantly ; let us use the
means, that it may continue to shine before men, that
they may glorify our Father. We have become as a
trunk from which many branches have sprung ; let ui
set a good example to all our branches, that wc may
be like a good trunk, whose branches are luxuriant.
If we, the trunk, are evil, how can wo expect that our
branches will be otherwise ? lint they i('i7/, they will
go on, they will grow ; and if we, who were first, are
not diligent, we shall soon be last. Then let us ba
diligent, friends ; let us not be tired in subscribing our
little property ; let us send teachers ; let us continua
to pray, and God will continue to blesK us. Let us
ourselves not return back, lest Christ should say to
us, as he said to Capernaum, " Thou," k.c.'*

" Fenuapeho then arose, and 8|>oke to the follow-
ing effect : — ' Praise to Gud well becomes us, dear
friends ; but let it be heart-praise. Do what wo will
for God, he looks at the heart. We give our property
for the spread of his word ; do we ^ive it with our
heart, willingly, cheerfully, to the Lord ? His word
is to be great among the gentiles, from the rising to
the setting of the sun. Consider what we were for-
merly ; now, how very happy wo are in our circum-
stances and all that relates to us ! The glory of God

SI JTrrtiKSL a

P--

trtitatn -r-a?* t??r- ..t*?.

MttL si. S3.

TAHAA.

all this good has come to us. We knew nothing of
societies formeriy j nowthisnewjwojperry.amissionaiy
society, is seen amongst us. Praise God for his good-
ness, and labor that others may see and know as we do.
We were dwelling in a dark house formeriy, and did
not know the evil and despicable things that were in
that dark house. The lamp of light, the Word of
God, has been brought, and we behold with dismay
and disgust this and that. But stop : some are killing
^emselves this very day, while we are rejoicing.
Some are strangling their children, while we are saving
ours. Some are burning themselves in fire, while
we are bathing in the cool waters of the gospel. What
shall we do ? We have been told by our missionary
this day, that God works by means : sending his Word
is one means ; sending his servants, another means ;
to effect which property must be given. This we have •
this we can give. Prayer is another means in our power!
l^t us pray fervently. Let us not covet our property,
but give it freely for so good a purpose ; lest our
prayers should condemn us, when we pray, " Send
forth thy Word, make it grow," and do not use the
means. I'll say no more ; but let us all cleave to
Jesus.'

" [The cause advocated by such men as Fenuapeho
is well advocated ; ftr he acts as he wishes others to
act. He has eight or nine children, for every one of
whom he gives, as well as for himself and wife, five
bamboos each, and has done so for several years-
amounting to fifty, or more, bamboos of oil each
year.]

"After Fenuapeho had spoken, Mr. Bourne read a
long and interesting lettrv from a native teacher, left
at the island of Mautii.

"AiiuHisTo, a chief from Otaheite, an intimate
friend of the late king Pomare, and a very sensible
man, arose and said, ' He had been at May meetings
at this place and that place, but thought he felt his
heart more full of joy now than he ever did before.
To hear and see the kings and chief persons advocate
the cause of Christ is gratifying indeed. My compas-
sion has been growing greatly towards those who are
still in darkness— SI ill killing thcmselvea for Satan.
Shall we sit still and do nothing ? God could work
without us ; ho said, Lrt there he light, and there wa$
light ; but he pleases to work by us. I^et us work,
then, and give our property to assist the groat Society
in liondon in their great work. God the Father had
work, God the Son had work, Go<l the Spirit had
work, in the redemption of souls; and shall God work,
Biid we sit still ? Shall Jesus pray, and wo be silent ?
Uou rma given us strength, breath, and ability to work
■nd pray, to assist and support his servants in their great
work. Work, then, for Josus Christ.'

"Faahim, from Tahaa, spoke for a short time, ex-
horting to liberality and cheerfulness in the good work

"ATituETA, one of the deacons, spoke as follows-
— ' We are told by Daniel, that God is to set up a
Kingdom that shall never be destroyed. The four
great kingdoms, where are they? The Babylonish,
the Persian, the Grecian, and even the Roman empire,
compared to iron, where are they all ? The stone,
the small stone, cut out of the mountain, is to fill the
whole worid. It is filling the world. It is a kingdom
that shall never be destroyed. Let us be concerned
to assist in extending the limits of this excellent king-
donri.' He concluded by a very apt application to
each individual, that all might become subjects of this
kingdom.

" Itae, from Tahaa, spoke upon the excellency of
the gospel of Christ :— ' What had been suffered by
some from attachment to it? Shadrach, Meshech
and Abednego were cast into the furnace ; and 'shall
not we testify our attachment, by contributing to send
It to others ? Consider how much was given by us
formerly to Satan. Are there not some present who
have given ru.*-aA«,»— many pigs, their five, their
eight, their ten pigs at once to the evil spirit ? Now,
we are only called upon to give five bamboos— our
three balls or measures of arrow-root. Let us give
willingly, as unto the Lord.'

" Temauri, another of the deacons, arose, and after
a few comparisons, tending to show that all sought
means to accomplish their desired end, as the fisher-
man his net, hooks, baits, &tc., proceeded—' So will
those who love Christ. They will seek means to send
his gospel to other lands, that others may know Christ
too. I have been seeking a name by which to call
this property thi.H subscribed and thus collected, and
think it n;ay be called. Property to seek out lost ,ouh.
Are not the souls of those living in darkness lost souls ?
And is not this property the means by wiiich they ob-
tain the light of life ? It is the thought of lost souls
that animates good people in their labors. Thoy do
not collect property for themselves ; it is for lost souls.
Wo give property for every thing; if we want a
ranoe, we give property for it ; if we want an axe, wo
give property for it ; if we want a net, we give jiroper-
ty for it ; and are lost souls not worth giving property
to obtain ? Think of lost souls, and work while it is
en I led day.'

" Vahine Umb, of Tahaa, addressed the meeting,
and compared the smiety to a ship, prayer to the
sails, and the Spirit of God to the wind. He exhort-

_ . -_ _ „,.,„,.. rriin.:: ^:ic sum) WOUia

ho acceptable to God.

• 7Vi<.aAa )• th* nam* of a plccg oftlnntt paHcd through th*

notlrili of « dfdicitrd pig.

LONDON MMSIOIf ART SOCIETY.

" Tb Amo* Mose, *bA said—* My beloved brethren
—but it b not I that have loved jrou; it is God
that bis loved us all. It a well for me to speak of
the love of God — ^I, who am so great a sinner against
the king and against God. I am the chief of sinners ;
but God has plucked roe, I hope, as a brand from the
burning. We talk of giving property to God ; God is
the Lord of it all. It is not we that give it to him, but
he that has given it to us, together with hands and
strength to work it. Let us, therefore, rejoice, and
work for him with the hands he has given us. Angels
are beholding us this day ; they are all ministering
spirits (as we heard from our teacher last sabbath),
and rejoice greatly, with wonder, at the work the Lord
is doing.'

" Several other speeches were delivered ; but the
above are the principwl. Mr. Williams afterwards read
two letters received from the Taheitan teachers at
Aiiutake, addressed to the people, and concluded with
prayer.

" The company then retired again to the pavement,
where tea was provided for the same number of per-
sons as had previously dined together. Many animat-
ed speeches were again delivered, and great delight was
•vident in every countenance of this large assembly.
As the sun retired below the horiion, the company
again returned to the chapel, which was lighted up for
an evening service. One of the deacons read the Sd
chapter of Daniel, and engaged in prayer. Mr. Wil-
liams then preached from Rom. x. and part of 14th and
16th verses: How$hall they hear vithout a preach-
er 1 and hote $hall they preach except they be lentl
Another of the deacons concluded with prayer. Thus
ended the fifth anniversary meeting, which Mr. Wil-
liams describes as one of holy joy.

The day following, the children of the schools, be-
longing to both stations, had a feast. They were first
assembled in the chapel, where Mr. Bourne addressed
them. They afterwards walked, abotit six hundred in
number, to the pavement, where tables were spread
U on the preceding day. When the feast was ended,
several of the elder boys delivered short addresses,
most of them founded on sermons they had heard.
Tiiese speeches, which were unpremeditated, as it
was not previously known that the boys would be
called upon to speak, were delivered with much
fluency and propriety, and appeared to give peculiar
pleasure to every one present. Aller partaking of
further refreshment (a substitute for tea), the children

* T( Abo «u fonntrljt unong Ui* ringlMiien of > nbt\ p*rt7i

who kST* %11 !I9I» ■iil»iiiillA«t lk*HM*lirAa Ln Ik* aiilhftgilw nf Am

king. Tb«]r bav* tUo Iwen bapUnd, and aoUd »t»t abtoa with
gmit eonaiaunejr. Many oT Uiam art eandidaU* fcr Um Lord'i
fapp«r.

t^in asMinbled la the oHkpel, where Mr. WilUtnu
deHveied a short addms, and eoncluded with prayer.
They afterwardit all retired to then respective homeir
apparently mueh delighted.

Mr. Williams, contemplating thn delightAil spect»-
cle, asks, in reference to the former horrid custom of
infitnticide. Would one quarter of them hate been m
esUtence, if the gotpel of Chriet had not been brought
to the$e Ulande 1 and then answers his own question-—
No, the hand$ of their mothen would have been sm-
brued in their blood /"

In 18S5, a new chapel was opened at this station,
and the number of natives in church fellowship was
eighty, whose conduct reflected credit on their Chris-
tian professran.

In 1827, Mr. Bourne was compelled, by the afflic-
tive circumstance of Mrs. Bourne's illness, to remove
from Tahaa to New South Wales, and this station was
placed under the care of Mr. Williams, from Rarotogna.
The reports of the society aflbrd ground for hope that
the work of God in this island has not suflfered any
material injury since the removal of Mr. Bourne.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been appointed to this
field of labor, and sailed from England on the first
of October, 1830.

BORABORA.

This island renounced idolatry, with the rest of the
Society islands, in the year 1816, and many of the
natives were long very desirous that a missionary should
setde among them. To meet their wishes, the Rev.
Mr. Orsmond, from the L. M. S., left Raiatea on the
13lh of November, 1 820. The natives received him with
much cordiality, and soon after commenced the build-
ing of a place of worship, and also of better habita-
tions. The chapel was opened in January, 1822.
" The spot selected for this settlement," say the dep-
utation, " is unequalled by any other on the island. It
is on the western side of the great central mountain,
extending along iu base, and is upwards of thirteen
furlongs in length, parallel with the winding shore. In
front is a fine harbor, in which several hundred ships
might lie at anchor with perfect safety, in nil weathers.
On the west side of this beautiful bay is the long island
Tobura, and two ^mal! coral islets ; where is an open-
ing through the reef, with the island of Maupiti in full
view, at the distance of thirty-five or forty miles. A
more beautiful and suitable situation cannot be Im-
--;---! . —.Kits s rirh hnrds; nf lev land, and iome vu-
leys near, aflford sufficient garden-ground to the people
for growing the food common to the country."

MAUPITI.

A Christian church was formed here in 1820. In
1824, it had thirty-six members, of whom six were
, deacons. The number baptized was, of adults, five
hundred and forty-three, of children, fpur hundred and
forty. Native schools for adults and children were
well attended. In the school for the latter were one
hundred and forty-nine boys and one hundred and
thirty-nine girls, of whom about seventy could read the
Taheitan New Testament with fluency. An Adult
and Juvenile M. S. had been formed. The contribu-
tions of the former amounted to two thousand and
seventeen bamboos of cocoa-nut oil, and those of the
ktter to three hundred and ninety-one. Excellent
roads had been made, and a noble stone pier erected,
which was carried out nearly three hundred sixty-five
feet into the sea. The village consisted of a street
extending nearly two miles in front of the bay, compos-
ed of well-built houses. A code of laws, which had
undergone a very careful revision, had been promul-
gated by the authority of the king and chiefs, and with
the consent of the people. Although the mission was
at this period in its infancy, it had had the honor of send-
ing forth three native teachers with their wives to Ri-
matara, two with their wives to Maupiti, two married
and one single to the Friendly i$land*, three to Nav-
igators' itlands, and two with their wives to Harvey
islands.

The Rev. Mr. Piatt removed to Borabora,in 1824,
to fill the place of Mr. Orsraond, on his taking the'
charge of the academy at Eimeo.

The number baptized during 1826, was five adults
and twenty-one children. Total baptized, since the
commencement of the mission in 1820, of adults, six
hundred and eighteen, t)f children, five hundred and
eighty-nine ; members added to the church, forty-eight.
Six, during 1826, had died in the faith: three had been
excluded from communion ; of whom one, on repent-
ance, had been re-admitted ; four had incurred censure ;
of whom three, on repentance, had been restored.'
Total number received into church-fellowship since
November, 1821, two hundred and forty.

Many of the young people at this station have, un-
happily, manifested p. very untractable disjwsition, and
occasioned no small trouble to the missionary.

An increased quantity of land has been brought
under cultivation. The people display their ingenuity
and industry in the manufacture of a considerable
number of chairs and tables, and other useful ariicles ;
such as a press-mill for the sugar cane,aturntiylathe|
be. ice.

Tefaaro, one of the two kings, or principal chiefs,
of this island, died durinv 189A. whilo <^n . „:.:. ..
Tahiti.

Vol. I. Nos. 33 h 34. 61

885

Through the years 1826, 27, 28, Mr. Piatt report-
ed his station as prosperous. He observes, " In gen-
eral the minds of the people are expanding, strength-
enmg, and advancing in divine knowledge." Fifty-
one persons were added to the church in 1828, and
there were one hundred candidates for its fellowship.
At the latest intelligence, the church consisted of about
three hundred members.

MAUPITI.

In 1822, two native teachers were sent here from
the station at Borabora. In 1823, the deputation vis-
ited Maupiti in compliance with the earnest request of
the king. The deputation writes, " We had the hap-
piness to be present at the baptism of seventy-four
persons, two hundred and ninety-one having been bap-
tized before ; so that there are now three hundred and
sixty-five of the baptized. We also enjoyed the priv-
liege of bemg present at the formation of the first
Christian church here. The king and five others, with
the two teachers and their wives, constituted the church.
On the Lord's day, we had the pleasure to partake of the
Lord's supperwith them, which, together with our party
from Borabora, made the number twenty. The chapel
was crowded, and deep feeling was manifest in the
countenances of all present. We had the very high
gratification also of taking a part in their first mission-
ary meeting, which was hastened on our account. The
king, Taero, presided, and all the chiefs took a part ;
many of them spoke, and nearly all concluded with
some text of Scripture. Indeed, their knowledge of,
and love for, the Scriptures, is a striking feature in the
character of all these islanders, and as pleasin ' as
strikmg. The subscription announced amounted to
nearly one thousand bamboos of cocoa-nut oil."

The number of members added to the church in
1825-6, was thirty-six, and the death of a few is men-
tioned, who departed in the enjoyment of a hope full
of immortality. Some crafty visionaries created much
trouble in tliis island, but tlie faithful labors of Mr.
Piatt, from Borabora, restored peace and order to the
church and station. The teachers, beside attending
to their missionary duties, have not been inattentive to
civilization ; they have displayed their industry and
skill in the erection of dwelling-houses, boat-build-
ing, &cc. &c.

886

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

PAUMOTU, OR PALLISER ISLANDS.

FoBMEBLT, the inhabitants were notorious for ab-
ject superstitions, abominable vices, and unrelent-
ing cruelties ; but, through the influence of the mis-
sionaries at the Society islands, they hare nearly all
renounced idolatry, changed their habits, and, at least
in name, become Christians. The language is radi-
cally the same as that of Tahiti. The native teachers
here are Moorea and Teraa, who were members at
Wilks's Harbor, and settled on the island of Anaa
in 1832.

AUSTRAL ISLANDS, OR ISLANDS
OF RAIVAVAI.

[FiTehoDdred milei wuth of Tahiti.]

In this group, there are five stations, viz. Raivavai,
Tubouai, Rurutu, Rimatara and Rapa, under the care
of fifteen Tahitian teachers. The deputation visited
these islands, and reported the state of things at Rai-
vavai and Rurutu to be highly gratifying. At the
former island they found two chapels erected, and the
congregations large and attentive.

In 1827, ths entire population of Rurutu had been
baptized, and the church consisted of thirty members.
At a visit made by Mr. Davies to Raivavai, he found
seventeen natives capable of reading in the Tahitian
Gospels. The number of the baptized adults was one
hundred and twenty-two. In Rimatara and Tubouai,
he met with much that gratified him.

The good work of conversion in Rapa has been
principally effected by Hota and Nene, from Tahiti,
who have leen joined by Mahana and Pauo, the
former a schoolmaster, the latter a boat-builder. The
church and schools are represented as in a very flour-
ishing condition. On the 19th of April, 1829, the
ordinance of baptism was administered to two hundred
and fifty-one persons.

HARVEY ISLANDS.

We adopt this as a general designation of the group,
from one of the light-islands of which it consists being
called Harvey itland, and bui nuse that island is bet-
— .„ {;,-"5frtj^?tj- iiitm aiijT uiHcr OX inc group.

S. lat

158» 56' W
ISS" 48* "
IBS' 14' "
158» 3' '<
visited by
are laid down

Ion.

all

captam
in his

Not noticed in any charts which the
missionaries have seen.

One of them, whose name is not given, is uninhabited
the rest are as follow :—

Harvey island, 19" IT

Aitutake, 16° 68'

Atui, ao» 1'

Mangeea, 21° 56'

These were
Cook, and
charts.

Mitiaro,

Maute,

Rarotonga.

At some of these islands, the natives had never
seen a ship since captain Cook's visit.

When Mr. Williams visited the colony of New
South Wales, in 1821, he left two native teachers at
one of the islands of this group, called Aitutake
(written Whylootacke on the charts), having previous-
ly furnished them with copies of the Tahitian Gos-
pels, and a supply of elementary books in the same
language. Subsequently, two native teachers from
Borabora settled in another island. Nearly two years
having elapsed, during which period no tidings of
the teachers had been received, Mr. Williams and
Mr. Bourne resolved to visit Aitutake, in the brig
Endeavor, a vessel belonging to the chiefs of the Lee-
ward islands. They sailed on the 4th of July, 1823,
taking with them six native teachers, members of the
church at Raiatea ard Tahaa, with their wives. They
arrived off Aitutake on the ninth of the same month.

The first sounds from the shore that saluted their
ears were — " It it all well toilk Aitutake. Aitutake
has received the word of God. The word of Ood
hat taken deep root at Aitutake. The maraes and
idolt are contumed in the Jire." — These and such
like exclauiations proceeded from every canoe they
passed, as they approached the island. The brethren,
however, appeared to doubt the truth of these rep-
resentations, when the natives, to remove their in-
credulity, pointed to the hats which they wore, and
exhibited the spelling-books which they had in their
hands. A chief and another native, who were among
the first in the island to receive Christianity, were
now admitted on board, and from them the following
information \ as obtained : — " That all the idols in the
island were destroyed and burnt to ashes, except a few
in the possession of the teachers ; that the profession of
Christianity was universal ; that a chapel was erected ;
and that they were waiting the arrival of missionaries
••' order to open it." The brethren then went on
shore, and found the teachers in health, and pursuing
their labors with alacrity. The teachers confirmed
what had bouD announced hj the naiives, adding that

the sabbath was regarded as a sacred day ; that pub-
ho worship was attended by all, and family worship
by nearly all, the people on the island. The brethren
having opened the chapel, returned on board the
Endeavor, accompanied by the young king and his
wife, the grandfather of the king, together with Papei-
ha, one of tlie native teachers, left by Mr. Williams
in 1821.

They now proceeded to the island of Mangeea, to
which place they resolved to send, on their return
home, two single men to reside as teachers. From
Mangeea they sailed to Atui. At this island, they
found two teachers from Borabora, who had been sent
a few months before. They were in a pitiable con-
dition. They had been stripped by the natives of
their property, and were greatly discouraged by their
want of success. Messrs. Williams and Bourne invited
the king of Atui to accompany them to Borabora, but
he deemed. He, however, consented to go out to
sea with them for two or three days. During this
time, he witnessed public service on board, and had
much conversation with the brethren. The result
was, that he determined to embrace Christianity, to
destroy all his maraes, and to erect a house of
prayer. The brethren prevailed on him to accora-
pany them to two adjacent islands, Maute and Mitiaro.
of which he is also king, and to use his influence to
enable them to settle a teacher on each island. He
acquiesced, and two teachers were landed. The na-
tives of both these islands have subsequently embraced
t/hristianity.

In relation to the king, Messrs. Williams and Bourne
write as follows:-" Thus the king of Atui came on
board this vessel a bigoted idolater; he was induced
to embrace the true word; to use his influence in
overthrowing the adoration of age, in two islands:
and returns to that of his own residence, with a full
determination to do the same there. We are con-
strained to say, ' It i, the Lord', doing,, and it i,
marvellou, in our eye, !' "

From Atui the brethren proceeded to Rarotonga, a
large island, with a numerous population. Here they
left Papeiha, and six natives of the island who had
embraced Christianity at Aitutake,and who were pas-
sengers in the Endeavor.

From the reports made of this island, in 1827, we
learn that infanticide has ceased; that chapels and
missionary abodes had been erected. Mr. and Mrs.
Pitman, with the native teachers Papeiha and Ti-
berio, are laboring at Gnatangiia, where a new chapel
has been opened. This is a good building, one hun-
dred and fifty-four feet by fifty-six. and reflects much
ereuit oa inc natives. Un the 5th of August, 1827,
Mr. Pitman preached his first sermon in the Rarolon-

NEW SOUTH WALES.

387

pan dialect, li, 1828, Mr. and Mrs. Buzacott joined
Mr Pitman. At this station there i, a sugar-mill,
and the art of sugar-making has been introduced into
all the out-stations.

In 1830, the regulations of the chiefs for the sup-
pression of vice were opposed by some ill-disposed
persons, who proceeded to acts of violence, and burnt
the houses of the obnoxious parties. During this con-
flagration the chapel at Gnatangiia was consumed.
But on the following day the chiefs met, and aereed
to erect a new one.

In 1829, Mr. Buzacott commenced a new station—
AvARUA— eight miles from Gnatangiia. The latest
reports mention that there are five hundred and fifty
boys and girls in the school.

There is also another station at Arokagni, which
was formed in 1828, at the urgent request of Tino-
mana, chief of Aroragni. The charge has been com-
muted to Papeiha.

The annual report for 1831 states, that Aitdtake,
m 1830, appeared in a state of interesting prosperity
At the examination of the school, nearly four hundred
children were present. The people in general adorn-
ed their profession of Christianity ; and the missiona-
ries observe, in their account of their last visit
"Many we have reason to believe, are Christians
indeed."

In Atui, on the 9th of June, 1830, the first church
in the island was formed, and the sacrament of the
Lord's supper administered by Mr. Williams to twenty
persons. '

In Mangeea, the number who have embraced
Christianity amounts to one hundred and thirty-six
adults, with three hundred children. The island is in
a fine state of cultivation, and the manners of the in-
habitants are improving.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

In the latter part of 1826, Mr. Threlkeld com-
menced his labors at Bahtaba, on lake Macquarie
Mr. Threlkeld has exerted himself in attaining a
knowledge of the aboriginal language, of which speci-
mens pubhshed by him have attracted considerable
interest in the colony. The great expense attending
this mission has induced the directors to apply to the
local governm nt for aid, in support of the measures
requisite for promoting industry and civilization amone
the aborigines located at the station. Should this aid
be refused, it is probnble that this mission Tvil! bo
abandoned.

The Society has been under great obligations to the

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Rer. Samuel Musden, the colonial chaplain, for his
kind services at this station.

NAVIGATORS' OR SAMOA
ISLANDS.

Tbkse islands are eight in number, and are, like
the Georgian and Society islands, divided into two
clusters, each containing four islands. To attempt the
introduction of Christianity among the inhabitants of
this populous group of islands, two of which are larger
than Tahiti, was the chief object of a hazardous
voyage undertaken by Messrs. Williams and Barff, in
the summer of 1830. At Tonga they met a chief,
with his wife and family, belonging to these islands,
who, on being acquainted with the object of their
voyage, requested that he might accompany them to his
native country. They were thus providentially furnished
with the most desirable means of opening a communica-
tion with the people. This chief proved an invaluable
acquisition to the missionaries in their subsequent inter-
course with the Samoans. When they reached the
group, they found war raging between the two princi-
pal islands, Upolu andSavai. This war was occasion-
ed by the death of the chief priest of the islands, who
had been recently murdered. The missionaries ex-
perienced a favorable reception from the friends of the
chief who had accompanied them from Tonga, and
whom they found to be related to families of the
highest rank. Maleitoa, the king of the large island
of Savai, was at the seat of war with his army. A
messenger was sent to inform him of the arrival of the
missionaries ; and though a slight engagement had
taken place in the morning, he left his warriors, and
hastened to welcome them, and told them he had
heard of the new religion, desired much to be acquaint-
ed with it, and thanked them for coming to his coun-
try. They informed him of the object of their visit,
introduced the teacheri, and endeavored to persuade
him to discontinue the war. This the king and chiefs
promised to do as soon as possible, but informed the
missionaries that they must fight that light, and then
they would come and learn from the teachers the lotu,
or word of the great God. Though the most tragical
fate had been experienced by former visitors to the
Navigators' islands, and no European had ever set his
foot on the shores of the large island off which their
Uttle vessel lay, encouraged by the appearance and
professions of the chiefs and people, Messrs. Barff and
Williams landed, and remained three days and two

...g...~ ...... ».^ ..... ....... ..t^tff.^ jjy miviii tiitrj TTtriTT

treated with the greatest kindness. On the island

iSiavaJ, they left the native teachers, four under the
protection of king Maleitoa, and four under that
of his brother.

At a large publk: meeting with the chiefs and peo-
ple, when presents were exchanged, the missionaries
promised the chiefs that, in ten or twelve months, they
should, if possible, be revisited ; and informed them
that if they attended to the instruction of the teach-
ers, European missionaries should come to reside
among them. It is estimated that six English mission-
aries will be required for these islands. Few missions
have been commenced under circumstances more
pleasing, or have presented equally encouraging pros-
pects of speedy and extensive success.

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

It is particularly worthy of remark, that even at
the commencement of the operations of the London
Missionary Society, the directors expressed an inten-
tion of sending the glad tidings of salvation to the inhab-
itants of the Sandwich islands, which they justly rep-
resented as presenting " a noble field for evangeli-
cal labors." Captain Wilson, however, on assuming
the command of the Duff, stated expressly, that it
would not comport with the object of his voyage to
visit this part of the Pacific ocean, without excluding
the Friendly islands ; — the capture of the missionary
vessel, on her second voyage, with the pressure of
business occasioned by the return of the brethren, sus-
pended, for a time, the further consideration of the
subject ; — and a scries of other circumstances, appar-
ently untoward, but all regulated by mfinite wisdom,
precluded the introduction of the gospel to these pop-
ulous and interesting islands, till the visit of the dep-
utation to the South seas ; when " a great door and
effectual " was opened for the admission of teachers,
who had been appointed to a different situation, but
who were irresistibly led to this scene of usefulness ;
whilst the friends of tlie Redeemer, both at home
and abroad, were constrained to exclaim, " This is
thy work, O God, and thy hand hath done it!"
The particulars of this highly interesting event will
be found in the subjoined extracts of letters from the
Rev. W. Ellis, and from the deputation to their
friends in London ; the perusal of which is well cal-
culated to infuse new animation and zeal into the
heart of every reader, who, being personally inter-
ested in the preciousness of Jesus, is led to pray
that his perishing fellow creatures may be also made
acquairitcd Wnh biin, whoin :o knaW anghi iS liiS
eternal.

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

'< Tamehameha, the late king of the Sandwich
islands," says Mr. Ellis, " considering himself under the
protection of the king of England, had always been
very attentive to English vessels touching at any of
his islands for refreshments ; and, in consequence of
his kindness having been reported to our govern-
ment, a very neat schooner was sent to him from Port
Jackson as a present from the prince regent. Captain
Kent, of bis majesty's colonial cutter Mermaid, hav-
ing the schooner under his charge, touched at Huahine
for fresh provisions, on his way to the Sandwich islands,
and very kindly offered a passage to any of us who
might wish to visit the islands ; and, as he intended
to touch at the Marquesas, it afforded a favorable
opportunity for introducing the gospel among those
islands, which, from their proximity to the Society
islands, had a peculiar claim on our attention. I was
appointed to accompany the deputation, to endeavor to
settle some native teachers among them, and to ex-
amine the ground, with a view to its becoming a mis-
sionary station. Accordingly, on the 25th of Febru-
ary, 1822, we left Huahine, having with us Anna and
Matatore (two native deacons), with their wives, who
were sent by the missionary society in Huahine to
the Marquetat, to instruct the people thero in the
knowledge of the troe God, and of the way of salva-
tion through Jesus Christ ; also to teach them to read
and write. On the 27th of March, we came in sight
of the north-east coast of Hawaii, orOwhyhee. We
sailed along within four or five miles of the shore,
almost enchanted with the beautiful appearance of
this part of the island. The coast was very bold,
generally rising four hundred feet almost perpendicu-
larly from the sea : in some places, the rocks were
bare, or only partially covered with moss ; in others,
they were richly clothed with shrubs and trees. The
line of coast was occasionally broken by deep bays or
extensive valleys, while, at unequal distances from
each other, the most beautiful cascades of various
forms and dimensions flowed down its steep front, and
emptied themselves into the ocean below.

" We had a brisk gale in passing the strait between
Maui and Hawaii, after which it became calm, and we
were obliged to lay to, for the night, off Tovaihai. I
accompanied our captain on shore, near to which we
were met by Kuakini, the governor of the island, who
was very inquisitive about the object of our visit, and,
learning from Auna that we were missionaries, express-
ed his wish that some of us might remain with them. A
very friendly intercourse soon commenced between
the natives who came off with him and the Otahei-
tans with us, and the evening passed agreeably away.
He joined with us in our family devotions, and after-
wards told Auna and his companions, that he much

wished to be instructed m the religion of Jesus Christ,
and to be made acquainted with Jehovah, the true
God, but had nobody to teach him, except an Ota-
heitan, who had told him about these things.

" On the ensuing sabbath, we came to an anchor in
Karakakua bay, and endeavored to improve the sea-
son as well as circumstances would admit. Early on
the following morning, we went on shore, and proceed-
ed to the spot where our unfortunate countryman,
captain Cook, met his lamentable end. An aged
chief undertook to be our guide, and conducted us to
the spot where the celebrated navigator fell, which wa
contemplated with melancholy interest. We after-
wards wandered through the villages, conversing with
the people, whom we found every where willing to
listen to us, and generally expressing a desire to learn
to j sad and write, to be made acquainted with the true
God, and the way of salvation through Jesus Christ ;
generally lamentmg, also, that they had no one to in-
struct them, and soliciting us to remain with them.
I talked in Tahitian to them, employing also the few
phrases of their language 1 had been able to pick up,
assuring them we sincerely compassionated them
in their present ignorant state, and most ardently
wished they might soon participate in those blessings
now so richly enjoyed by their brethren in the Geor-
gian and Society islands.

" Hawaii, or Owhyhee, is a fine island, of very con-
siderable magnitude, estimated by Vancouver at four
thousand square miles. The population is, perhaps,
one hundred thousand, and not a missionary among
them to tell them of the love of God to lost sinners, as
the American missionaries at Woahoo have not been
able to form a permanent station on this island ; for the
king appears unwilling that any of them should remove
from the vicinity of his place of residence. I had
several opportunities of conversing with the governor
while we remained at Hawaii. He was remarkably
pleased with our first visit, and kept us till a very late
hour conversing on different subjects, being very
minute and particular in his inquiries about the Society
islands.

"After Mr. Tyerman and myself had lain down to
sleep on our mat, he came in and sat by the side of
us, with his slate in his hand, to receive a copy, with
which I readily fiimished him. He afterwards con-
tinued his inquiries until about two o'clock in the
morning, when he left us and retired to rest, frequent-
ly repeating, ' I desire to learn ; great is my desire.' "

In another letter, dated July 9, Mr. Ellis vn-ites as
follows :—

" After waitine a fortnieht for the Prince Retrnnt
(the schooner sent out as a present to the king of
these islands), our captain weighed anchor, and pro*

800

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

ceeded to Woahoo. We called at Kairua andTovai-
hai on our way; and on Monday, the 21st, we came
to anchor in Kou liarbor, off Hanarooroo. Shortly
afterwards we accompanied captain Kent on shore,
and were met on the beach by the Rev. Mr. Thurs-
ton, and Messrs. Chamberlain and Loomis, missionary
brethren from America, who have been here about
two years. Our meeting was peculiarly gratifying,
and they kindly invited us to the mission-house.
After paying our respects to the king and other
branches of the royal family, together with the foreign
residents of the place, we accompanied our brethren
to their residence, about half a mile from the landing-
place, where we were very kindly welcomed by our
sisters Thurston, Chamberlain and Loomis, who re-
peated the invitation we had before received, to spend
in their family the time we might remain on the island,
which we gladly accepted, and have been very com-
fortably accommodated during our protracted deten-
tion here. Our brethren and sisters are very laudably
employed in studying the language and teaching sev-
eral of the natives ; preaching also the gospel, by
means of an interpreter. They appear to possess the
spirit of their office ; and though they are exposed to
many trials, yet they are enabled to persevere in their
benevolent attempts to propagate the gospel of the
Son of God among the benighted tribes around them,
who are literally perishing for lack of knowledge.

"Our Tahitian companions were invited to the
bouse of Kaahuraanu, the queen of Atooi. They
had met with a countryman of theirs, who had former-
ly been with the mutineers in the Bounty, but had
been residing here many years as steward to the
queen's brother, the governor of the island of Moui.
The intelligence and amiable manners of Auna and
his wife, togetiier with their truly Christian deport-
ment, soon gained them the esteem of their host and
hostess, who became remarkably inquisitive about the
change that had taken place in the Gfiorgian and
Society islands, and the present state of things there.
Every necessary information was cheerfully given, and
every inquiry fully answered by Auna and his com-
panions, to the entire satisfaction of the chiefs and
people ; contradicting entirely the false reports that
had been maliciously propagated among them, as to
the degraded state of the people of the Society islands,
and especially of the kings and chiefs, who were false-
ly represented as poor and miserable. They were
also frequently inquired of by Rihoriho, the king of the
Sandwich islands, respecting these things, dnd were
enabled to satisfy his mind, and remove some of his
prejudices against Christianity. Family worship was
regularly performed by our friends everv mnrnino^ ond
evening, ol which the king and queen expressed their

approbation, and requested that it might not be perform-
ed before they were awake in the morning, as they were
anxious to unite in it. Auna and his wife had, also,
now full employment in teaching the king of Atooi
his queen, and their attendants, to read and write.

"About three weeks after our arrival, they prepared
to visit Moui and the large island of Owhyhee. They
then requested that Auna and his wife would continue
here, and accompany them, to instinct them in the
word of God. They also expressed their wishes
that I would remain with them, and send for my
family; or go back to Huahine, and return here
with them, to teach them the good way to heav-
en. From the first day we had landed, we had
often been requested, by some of the chiefs and
people, to come among them; but, considering
the field occupied by our American brethren,
we had made no answer to their applications : how-
ever, we now felt that we must give them some de-
cisive answer. We consulted with our missionary
brethren here, and requested their opinion as to the
expediency and desirableness of the Tahitians' remain-
ing, and my returning to engage in missionary labor in
the Sandwich islands. They unanimously declared,
that it would most likely be for the advantage of the
great cause in which we were all engaged, that our
friends should remain; and expressed themselves
pleased with the prospect of my becoming a laborer
in these inviting fields. Messrs. Tyerman and Rennet
were also of opinion that I could be spared from the
Society islands, and that there was much greater need
of more laborers here than among those islands, which
were so well supplied with Christian teachers. We
therefore requested Auna to tell Kaahumanu and her
consort, that we were anxious they should be instruct-
ed in the doctrines and precepts of the new religion,
as they call Christianity ; and that it was perfectly
agreeable to us that he should remain with them ; and
that I would return with my wife and family, and, with
the servants of Jesus Christ already here, engage in
teaching them and their people the good things in
which we had already instructed the natives of the
Society islands.

" In the evening of the same day, we waited upon
them, when they expressed their pleasure at our
friends' remaining with them, instead of proceeding to
the Marquesas ; and also the satisfaction they felt at
my intending to return and settle among them. The
next morning, Auna and his wife, with many tears, took
an affectionate leave of us, to accompany the king of
Atooi and his queen to Moui and Owhyhee : we fol-
lowed them with our prayers, that the leaven of the
gnspsi! which they earrj- may soon spread among liitj
unleavened mass around them. A few days after-

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

wards, Rihoriho, the king, expressed to Mr. Bingham
and myself his decided approbation of my coming here,
as did also his queen and most of the chiefs, together
with the prime minister, Karanimoku.

" The analogy between the language of these islands
and that of Otaheite is very great, as they are evidently
only different dialects of the same tongue. I hope soon
to be able to preach in it with perspicuity ; and to set
before the people, in a plain and intelligible manner,
the unseaichable riches of Chri- ; the will of God for
their salvation. I have preached regularly twice a
week, ever since our arrival, to our friends from the
Society islands : many of the natives of these islands
have attended, and generally understand the greater
part of the discourse. I hcve also been daily engaged
in the acquirement of the language, and find my ac-
quaintance with the Tahitian affords me great assist-
ance, and accelerates my progress. The king proposes
to be our instructer, and requests us not to apply to
the common people, as they will teach us to speak
incorrectly. He is, perhaps, the best acquainted with
the language of any individual in the islands, and
would make the best instructer ; but his time and at-
tention are seldom unoccupied by other affairs. How-
ever, we are happy to receive instruction from him,
whenever we can find him disengaged, and feel very
thankful that he is so much disposed to assist us. I
trust the time is not very far distant when the knowl-
edge he possesses of his own language will be employ-
ed in assisting the translation of the Scriptures into it,
as Pomare's was in aiding the translations into that of
Otaheite."
The deputation, in writing from Woahoo (one of the

Sandwich islands), on the 10th of August, observe :

" Mr, Ellis has composed four hymns, in the
Owhyeean language, which are sung in the chapel.
You will hardly be able to conceive the delight we
had in hearing these people, for the Jirtt time, uniting
to sing the praises of Jehovah in their own tongue !
A scene of great usefulness appears to be opening
hero. One, indeed, of greater interest and importance,
than that which is presented by the Sandwich islands,
could scarcely be found. A group of twelve or thir-
teen fine fertile islands, in one of the most delightful
climates, perhaps, any where to be met with, rising
rapidly into consequence as places at which vessels
may refresh, passing from the western side of the new
world to the eastern parts of the old world, and as the
port for repairs and refreshments to great numbers of
Pacific ocean whalers, having also a population of
above two hundred thousand inhabitants, must have
great importance as a missionary field. We made a
tour round tlie greater part of this beautiful island, ac-
companied by our missionary friend, Mr, Bingham,

391

and a messenger from the king ; and were every
where received with the greatest kindness, both by
chiefs and people. While we deeply mourned over the
deplorable state of ignorance, vice and wretchedness
m which we found the people of all ranks, we could not
but rejoice at the readiness we every where found to
listen to the gospel, which was addressed to various
assemblies ; sometimes within a house, sometimes
under a tree, or in the shade of a rock. We did not
find any natives who had the least notion who it was
that made the sea, the sky, or themselves ; but they
all said it was good to learn these things, and to wor-
ship Jehovah ; and that as soon as the king told them
to do so, they would all come to learn. At one place
we were kindly received and hospitably entertained
by an intelligent chief, who was one of the principal
pne,t> of the abolished system. He made many in-
quiries about the nature of this new religion, and pro-
posed some difficulties for solution. Among other
questions, he asked, whether Jehovah could under-
stand, if they prayed to him in Owhyeean, or whether
they must all learn English, When he had received
answers which appeared to satisfy him, he said it was
good, and he was ready to receive instruction and to
worship Jehovah, as soon as Rihoriho should order it.
All seems to hang on the word of the king. The
government of these islands is an absolute monarchy •
there is no law but the king's will. The king (Riho^
riho) says to the missionaries and to us, that by-and-
by he will tell his people that they must all learn the
good word, and worship Jehovah ; but that the mis-
sionaries must teach him first, and get well acquainted
with the Owhyeean language. But, alas, the king is
slow to learn ! Nevertheless, these difficulties, and
all others, we trust, will be overruled, and in due time
removed, that the glorious gospel may have free
course to promote the happiness of man, and the glory

Scarcely had this communication been forwarded to
the directors, wh( n other letters were sent off, con-
taining the following animating intelligence :

" The king's decision is made in favor of the gos-
pel ; and t.vo days ago the chapel overflowed with all
the royalty and dignity which these islands afford.
The names of twelve natives have also been given in,
who appear to be sincerely attached to the word of
God ; so that ere long we hope that the administration
of Christian baptism to the natives will commence by
the missionaries.

" Within the last week, an astonishing ardor has be-
gun to manifest itself, and is now spreading among the
chiefs in al) directions, and scores ssro applying daily
for books, and we are fully employed, from morning
until night, in teaching the people. Some go to th«

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

king and his family, and others to the houses of the chiefs.
They are making tlie most pleasing progress. It is, in-
deed, life from the dead. Our coming liere appears to be
singularly of God ; and probably in no part of our
journey shall we be more useful than in this, though
it was completely out of the range of our calcula-
tions."

On the 2t2d of August, the deputation, accompa-
nied by Mr. Ellis, left Woahoo on their return to
Huahine ; and towards the end of October, a general
meeting of the missionaries of the Leeward islands
was held at Raiatea ; when, after mature deliberation,
it was deemed expedient that Mr. Ellis should remove
with his family to the Sandwich islands, in compliance
with the earnest invit&tion of the king and chiefs, as
well as the American brethren settled in that exten-
sive field of lal)or. A native teaciier, named Taua,
and his wife, were also appointed to accompany him ;
and on the 31st of Decutiiber, the little party set sail
for Woahoo, where they arrived in safety on the Bth
of February, 1823.

On the 31st of March, the king Riho-.'ho, who had
now assumed the name of Tamehameha the Second,
having attained to some proficiency in the art of
writing, addressed a letter to the directors of the Lon-
don Missionary Society, of which the following is a
correct translation : —

"Woahoo, March 31, 1893.

" Great affection to you dwelling together in
Britain. These are my words to you, which 1 now
make known.

"We have recently learned to road, and have become
acquainted with it. We have respect unto God, and de-
sire Jehovah for our God. Wo also regard Jesus Christ,
as a Saviour for us, that our hearts may be like yours.

" Ours is a land of dark hearts. Had you not com-
passionated us, even now wo should bo quite dark.
But you have compassionated us, and wo arc enlight-
ened. We are praying unto God, and arc listening to
the word of our salvation. Wo also keep the sacred
day of Jehovah, the sabbath, which is one good thing
that we liavo obtained ; one good thing that we have
lately known to be a temporal good. Mr. KIlis
IS come to this place ; we desired his coniiii^, and wc
rejjice. He is teaching us that wo may all be saved.

" Write ye unto me, tiiat 1 may know what yon
write, l-ray ye also to God for m, that ho would
give salvation for us, that our bodies (actions, walk,
conversation, &t.r.) may be made good, thut our souls
may he saved by Jesus Christ.

" Great affection for you all,

(Signed) " Tamrhamrha,

" King of the iiandKicli Islands.
* TV |A« CoMfMNy nf Oirttlori qftkt Mimiomrf -lornt^.'

In the autumn of 1823, Tamehamena resolved to
pay a visit to his Britannic majesty, in order, as Mr
Ellis expresses it," that he might obtain some friendly
counseland advice, in respect to the government of those
far distant isles ; and that he and his favorite asso-
ciates, who designed to accompany him, might in-
crease their acquaintance with the world, enlarge their
views of human society, and have an opportunity of
observing the laws, customs, institutions, religion and
character of the nation, beneath whose guardian
friendship and protection they and their countrymen
had with confidence placed themselves." This design
was by no means agreeable to the king's subjects ;
many of whom exhausted all their powers of persua-
sion in order to induce iiim to relinquish his intended
voyage. His mind, however, was fully made up on
the subject ; and on the 27th of November, he era-
barked in a vessel called L'Aiglo for London ; being
accompanied by his queen, Kamehamare ; a chief
nomed Rnki, with his wife Ririiia ; captains Jack and
Mnnuia, two native commanders of native vessels, capa-
ble of speaking a little English ; Kuanaoo, the king's
weigher of sandal-wood ; and a person named Young,
who was capable of conversing in English. As the
king cntcrud the boat, his subjects thronged the beach,
and their loud weeping mingled with the roaring of
the cannon at his departure. His principal chiefs ac-
companied him on board, and took a respectful and
affectionate leave of him and his attendants.

On the arrival of these interesting personages In
I..ondon, they took up their residence in a hotel in
the Adelphi, where every suitable attention was paid
to them, by order of his majesty. Previous to their
introduction to the king, however, both Tamehameha
and his consort were seized with the measles, and in
a few days were in an alarming state of inflammation.
Every possible aid was afforded by several eminent
physicians, but all proved ineffectual, and the royal
visitors sunk under the pressure of disease ; tl)o queen
dying on liie Htli of July, 1824, and the king on the
Mth, five days only intervening between the time of
their decease. Their remains, after lying in state,
were deposited in the vault of St. Martin's church, in
the Siran<l, wiience they wore subsequently convey-
ed, by the Illondc frigate, to the country which gave
them birth.

Previous to the departure nf the royal suite from
liondon, a deputation from the directors of the I*on-
don Missionary Society wailed upon them, and were
kindly received. They staled as well as they were
able (there being no competent .iileipreter present),
the iiiteniion of the Society to have tiianked the kiiiic and
his chiefs for the kindness they had shown to Mr, Ellis
and the American brethren ; for the attention they had

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

paid to religious instruction, the abolition of idolatry,
and tho observance of the Lord's day ; and for the
general favor shown to Christianity. The deputation
also wished to condole with the survivors on the great
loss they had sustained, and the grievous disappoint-
ment which the inhabitants of the Sandwich islands
must feel, when a ship should appear on their coast,
without the personages they so earnestly longed to
see ;— and whilst they pointed out the duty of submit-
Ung to the will of the Almighty without murmurinK,
they expressed a hope that the king's successor and
the chiefs would continue to manifest the same atten-
tion to ilie missionaries, and an increasing regard to
the religion of Christ.

Soon after Tainelmmeha left Woalioo for England
his people nianifcstod a great desire for instruction,
which IS supposed to be partly attributable to the injunc-
tions be left behind him, and to the powerful influence
of Karaimoku, the prime minister, on whom had de-
volved the charge of the government. The demand
for books became greater than tho .sionary could
meet, and it is represented as affording the brethren
high gratification, in taking their evening walks, " to
hear the hymns of the chapel, and the lessons of the
school recited by the people, instead of the monoto-
nous sounds of their ceaseless jjura (or praise to their
gods and departed heroes), while tho book, the slate,
the pen, are superseding games of chance." The
report of the directors states—" Karaimoku powerfully
seconds the efforts made by the missionaries to pro-
mote ihe moral and religious improvement of tho peo-
ple. He has prohibited drunkenness, shut up all
houses for retailing ardent spirits, and lias enjoined on
all classes attention to tho means of instruction, and
an observance of the sabbath day."

In consequence of the continued illness of Mrs.
Ellis, and the improbability of her recovery, if she
renmined in the Sandwich islands, Mr. Ellis determin-
ed, with tho advice of Dr. Hlatchcly and the full con-
currcnco of the other American brethren, to try the
effect of a voyage to Europe. Mr. Ellis accordingly
embarked with his family in the Uussel, American
whaler, commanded by captain Coleinan.wlio generous-
ly afforded him a free passage to the United States, on
the I8tli Sept. ISai. The Russol arrived, l«»tli M.irch.
1825, at New Bedford, whence ftl and Mrs. Ellis
proceeded to Boston, in which cil> .ley experienced
the kindest reception. A severe attack v( illness with
which it pleased «oa to visit Mrs. Ellis, detain. . I them
in America four months, during which period they re-
reived the kindest attentions. In reference to theso

manifestaticn.* nr<< hnitliiirlu l:...i„„.. I) rif- vm! .■ I
, , - •• - ~. '■'''. k.tii- inus

a.l.lresses the secretary—" It is impossible for me to

nunm half of tlios,, who have diiiinguished thems Ivei

Vol. I. Nos. .13 ii 34. 5.3

by their disinterested kindness. But I cannot omit to
mention the officers and members of the Americm
Board of Commistioners for Foreign Musiont ; many
of the ministers in Boston and the vicinity ; Dr. J. C
Warren, whose valuable professional services have
been constantly and gratuitously rendered; Henry
Homes, Esq.; John Tappan, Esq.; Mrs. M'Lean; J
W. Jenkins, Esq. ; deacon M'CIure ; and the Hon
Samuel Hubbard. In the pious and amiable family of the
latter, we have been domesticated for the last three
weeks, at his country house." On the 20th of July, Mr.
and Mrs. Ellis embarked with their family for England
m the Hudson, New York packet, captain Champlin!
and arrived in London on the 18th of August. Soon
after his arrival, Mr. Ellis published the Narrative of a
Tour M Hawaii, performed by himself and the Rev
Messrs. Bishop, Goodrich and Thurston, American
missionaries, in the year 1823.

The only representatives of the London Missionary
Society now employed in the Sandwich islands are
laud, Toteta, and Tule, excellent Tahitian teachers,
who, with their pious wives, are laboring for the eood
of souls.

In reference to this mission, the directors say— "It
affords them great pleasure to report that the work of
Ood in the Sandwich islands, which is now carried on
by our American brethren and their native assistants
with whom three valuable brethren and three females'
from our stations in the South Sea islands, are Indus-
triously and harmoniously laboring, is proceeding in
the most interesting and useful manner. The progress
of education, the translation of the Bible, the inten-
tion of the people to religion, and the influence of the
whole on their individual characters and social habits
and comforts, are truly delightful and encouraging.
As might be expected, Satan is endeavoring to hinder
[ this good work, by raising up adversaries, chiefly
among the Ainericnn and European residents in the
islands. But, notwithstanding this opposition, little
doubt can be entertained of the evangili?,ation of these
interesting regions, and that the glorious work com-
menced in Tahiti and Hawaii will, in due time, spread
over the iiuinerous island.s which spot the bo.som of
tho Facilic ocean. While advertino; to the work
which is going on in the Sandwich islands, the direc-
tors cannot allow the opportunity to pass, witliout re-
fcrring, with high satisfaction, to liiu style in which
their transailiintic brethren are now entering on the
great work of (-hristian mission.s. In a manner wor-
thy of the rising greatness of their country, of tli«
eneiKy of their luitionni <liiiiacter, and the purity of
ihcii ..iigious principles, liu'v are now coming forward
to the help of tho Lord against the mighty. In tlia
increase of their resources, the multiplication of their

894

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

agents and the ardor of their zeal, the directors of the
London Missionary Society most sincerely rejoice.
In their exertion we see the operations of the same
principles which animate the Christians of our (and
what was once their) native land. In their mission-
aries, we recognize men of the same spirit with which
our beloved brethren are animated ; and in the success
which has accompanied their enterprise, we contem-
plate the blessing of the same covenant God who has
rewarded our feeble efforts. Across the wide Atlantic,
we give them most cordially the right hand of our
Christian fellowship, praying that grace, mercy and
peace, from their God and ours, may be multiplied
upon them."

TONGATABOO.

After landing the first missionaries in Otaheite,
in 1797, captain Wilson sailed for the Friendly isles,
for the purpose of settlinj; some other heralds of sal-
vation on the shores of Tongntaboo ; and on the 10th
of April, the Duff was safely moored in the harbor of
that island. An immense number of the natives im-
mediately came toward the ship m their canoes, and
endeavored to get on board ; but as they were all
anned with spears and clubs, about twenty only were
admitted, the others being kept off by sentries, judi-
ciously placed along each side of the deck. They
offered a variety of articles for barter ; but their de-
mands were so exorbitant, that little business could
be done in that way ; and their language proved so
dissimilar from that of Otaheite, that it was scarcely
[lossible to understand them. It soon appeared, how-
ever, that two Europeans were in the island, who
were fully competent to the task of acting as interpret-
ers ; and this consideration rendered tlicm welcome
visitors on board, though their appearance was ex-
tremely forbidding, and strongly indicative of consum-
mate villany.

These men, one of whom was an Irishman, named
John Connelly, — the other, Henjainin Ambler, of Ijon-
don, — stated that liiey were mariners, who had (|uit-
ted an American vessel, and remained at Tongntaboo
til! they had become perfectly arcpmintcd with (he
language. They also gave some informntinn relative
to the different chiefs on the i-sland, and represented
Tibo Moomoof . the i{uf(ona,oT principal chief, as par-
ticularly characicrized by humanity to his own subjects,
and hospitality to strangers.

('aptain Wilnon now explained the object of the
missionaries in visiting this distant part of the globe,
and inquired what treatment they might expect, in the

event of their settling in Tongataboo. Ambler replied
that the natives would receive them gladly, and show
them much kindness, though he could not answer for
the security of their property. Connelly, however,
intimated that if they encumbered themselves with
iron tools, and attempted to oppose the depredations
which would be inevitably committed upon them,
their lives would, in all probability, be sacrificed.
They then received some presents, with which they
appeared much pleased, and quitted the vessel, prom-
ising to use their influence with Moomooc on behalf
of the missionaries.

About ten o'clock the next morning, Ambler and
his companion returned to the vessel, bringing three
hogs and some yams from the venerable chief, whose
canoe, soon afterwards, came alongside. He was, at
first, unwilling to ascend the ladder, fearing that his
strength would prove incompetent to the task. His
desire of going on board, however, finally triumphed
over his fears, and after repeatedly resting himself, he
was conducted into the cabin, and placed in a chair
which he greatly admired, whilst his attendants
squatted themselves on the floor around him. He
surveyed the cabin and its furniture with minute
attention, expressing his admiration of all he saw,
and occasionally proposing a number of pertinent
questions ; and when he was informed that the
persons who were desirous of settling at Tongat-
aboo could instruct the natives in the manufac-
ture of such articles as had particularly attracted
his notice, he appeared completely transported with
joy. The captain embraced this opportunity of men-
tioning every circumstance which seemed likely to
raise in his mind an elevated idea of the missionaries ;
and Moomooc immediately offerc<I them a large house
near his own, in which they would enjoy the full ben-
efit of his protection. As it was evident, however,
from his declining years and numerous infirmities, that
he was already hastening to that " bourne whence no
traveller returns," it was aficrwarda agreed that they
shotdd all reside with Toogahowe, who was ropresont-
cd, by Ambler, as the greatest warrior in the island
and likely to be the successor of the aged dugona.

This business being finally arranged, a canoe was
sent, on the I8th of April, for the missionaries and
their chests; and Messrs. Howell, Huchanan, Caullon,
Harper, Shelly, Vceson and Wilkinson immediately pro-
ceeded with Ambler and a petty chief, named Comma-
bye, to Aheefo, where a house had been prepared for
their reception. Messrs. Cooper, Kelso and Nobs re-
mained on Itoard, to prepare the rest of the things.

The next illernoon. about three o'clock, three of
the missionaries returned, and reported that the dis-
tance to Aheafo wai greater than they had anticiMt«d|

TONGATABOO.

and that the landing with goods was extremely diflS-
cult, It being necessary to wade up to the knees over
a flat which extends about half a mile from the beach
into the sea. They also stated, that, after surmount-
ing this obstacle, they had to proceed a mile farther
before they reached their habitation ; so that, notwith-
standing the assistance of the natives, it was near one
o clock in the morning before the whole of their prop-
erty was securely housed, and they were left to them-
selves. They added, however, that, after committing
themselves to the watchful providence of God they
enjoyed a sound and uninterrupted repose, and, in the
morning, were supplied with a breakfast by the prompt
and hospitable attention of the natives.

The three remaining missionaries having joined their
companions, and the Duff having sailed from Tongata-
boo, a temporary sensation of melancholy filled the
breasts of those who had bidden a long adieu to their
native land, their beloved friends, and all the comforts
of civilized life ; but on reminding each other of the
blessed cause in which they had engaged, and the
triumphs which, through their humble instrumentality
might be achieved by the gospel of Christ among the
perisl-.ng heathen, their minds were completely tran-
quillized, and they were enabled to look around with
composure and resignation on the scene which they
were henceforth to consider as their country, and the
place where, after death, their bodies must moulder
.nto dust. The kind attentions of the natives also
tended to reconcile them to their new situation ; as
these visited them in great numbers, and invariably
brought presents of cloth, pigs, cocoa-nuts, or plan-
tains. Such articles as the missionaries could conve-
niently spare were, of course, presented in return, and
all occasions were embraced for the gratification of
their curiosity. This was wonderfully excited, one
day, by the striking of a cuckoo clock, which the
brethren had just fixed up, and put in motion. The
natives, after regarding it for some time with si-
lent astonishment, concluded that it was a spirit
and circulated the report among their country'
men, that the missionaries were in possession of a
htril ,p,rU, which would infallibly discover any dep-
redation that might be committed upon their proper-
ty. It unfortunately happened, however, after some
time, thnt a chief, named Duatongo, having been
presented will, a clock of a similar description, was
prompted by curiosity to take it to piece., nnd on
hnding it impossible to put it together again, ho sent
for the brethren to mend it ; but as nil their attempts
proved unavailing, they were considerably lessened in
•he opinion of the natives, who had nrpvin-.::!- Ur,-
agined thnt nothing could exceed the bounds oniicir
capability.

The aged dugona Moomooc was, at this time, ex-
tremely 111 and apparently near death; and on the
mornmg of the 28th, the missionaries received a most
affecting account of the fate of one of his sons named
Colelallo. The unfortunate youth, who resided at
some distance, was sent for, by the order of his father,
under pretence of having his little fingers cut off (a
practice usual in Tongataboo, with a view to appease
the anger of the odooa, or spirit, that the sick person
may recover), but, in fact, that he might be strangled.
The summons was obeyed by Colelallo without hesi-
tation ; and, on his arrival, he was saluted in the most
cordial manner by his elder brother, Toogahowe On
proceeding, however, to visit his dying parent, he was
seized by the attendants, who immediately prepared
to strangle him. The fatal truth now flashed on his
mind, and he assured them that he would submit to his
father s will, if they would use gentler means ; but as
they continued their violence, he exerted all his
strength in resisting, and at length succeeded in beat-
mg them off The respite thus obtained, however,
was of short duration. Three natives of the Feiee
islands were called in; and these, being joined by a
ststerof the devoted victim, soon put a period to his
mortal existence.

To account for this cruel and unnatural murder it
may be necessary to state, that in such cases, it is be-
lieved the strength of the person strangled will be
transferred info the invalid on whose behalf the sacri-
fico IS made, and that the recovery of the latter
will consequently ensue. The preposterous fallacy
of this idea, however, was sufficiently manifested with
respect to Moomooc, who, notwithstanding the immo-
lation of his unor-nding offspring, continued to sink
mto a state of complete exhaustion till the morninR
of the 29th, when he breathed his last. In the after-
noon of the some day, the corpse was carried past it>-
mission house, on a kind of bier, constructed of the
boughs of trees, and supported by about twenty men
Several relatives of the deceased picceded the body
m their mourning dresses, consisting o. natting wrap-
ped round them instead of cloth, and a twig of the
chcstnui-tree about their necks. Some of them had
cut their he.ul>- -vitli sharks' teeth, and the blood was
runiimg m streams down their faces. IJdiiiid the
corpse was n multitude of people of both sexes ; and
in the procession were two wives of the deceased, who
wore devoltKl to he strangled at the funeral ; one of
ihcse was bathed in tears, but the other appeared little
concerned.

The interment having l.con fixed for the 2d of May.
Sfniir of iho iiiiwioimiius went to see tiio ceremony j
nnd found about four thousand porsoiii sitting round
liic pliHo of scpuliiue. A few minutes after their

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

•mval, they heard a great shouting and blowing of
oonch shells at a short distance ; and soon al\erwards,
about a hundred men, armed with clubs and spears,
rushed into the area, and hi-i>;an to cut and mangle
themselves in a most dreadful manner. Many of them
struck their heads so violently with their clubs, that
the blows might be heard twenty or thh-ty yards dis-
tant, and these were repeated till the blood ran donTi in
streams. Others, wlio had spears, thrust them through
their thighs, arms and cheeks, calling, at the same time,
on the deceased, in a most affecting manner; and a
native of Fejee, who had been in the service of
the late dugona, having previously oiled his hair, set
it on fire, and ran about with it, ail in flames. When
this frantic creature and his companions retired, a
second party went through the ."tame cruelties ; and
after them, a third entered, shouting vociferously and
blowing their conch shells. Four of those in the van
held stones, which they u«ed for the purpose of knock-
ing out their teeth ; and those who blew the shells
occasionally wounded their heads with them m a shock-
ing manner. One man, who had a spear, thrust it
through his arm just above the elbow, and ran about
the area with the weajion sticking in his flesh. And
another, who appeared lo be one of the piincipal
chiefs, acted as if completely under the influence of
madness, running wildly to every comer of the area,
and beating his head with a club till the blood flowed
down his shoulders.

The missionaries now retired for about two hours ;
but on returning, they found the natives of bdih sexes
still busily employed in cutting and mangling tlicm-
selves. "We had not been long there," say they,
"before we hcinl, at a distance, low but expressive
sounds of she deepest sorrow and lamentation. These
proceeded from a party of nlwut a hundntd and forty
women, marching in single file, and each hearing a
basket of sand. Kighty men followed in the same
manner, each carrying two baskets of coral sand, and
singing as they marched, ' This is a blessing to the
dead,' to which the females answered in responses.
Another company of women then came forward with
a large quantity of cloth, with which they covered iho
entire space lieiween the corpse and flic grave ; whilst
sev(>n men blew conch shells, and others sang in a
doleful strain, exjiressive of the most heartfelt grief.
The corpse was now conveyed lo \\u\ grave u|)on a
large hale of black cloth, the bearers stooping low.
and supi»orting the bale in their hands. A fde of nine-
teen females folloued, cacli currying a bag of valuable
articles ; twenty more brought fine nioti in their hands,
which they deposited in iho lonih as ' an offurine >q th«
dead ;' and immediately after came a present from
Toogahowe,cunsistmgofthirly-fivo bales of silk, each

bale carried by four men on a frame. Another party
of mourners now entered the area, sixteen of whom
had recently cut off their little fingers ; and these were
followed by another party, with clubs and spears, who
beat themselves severely, and disfigured their faces
with the husks of cocoa-nuts, fixed on the knuckles of
each hand. We noticed that those who had held offices
under the deceased, or were related to him, were the
most cniel to themselves. Some of these thrust two,
three, and even four spears into their arms, and in that
state danced round the area, and some broke the ends
of the spears in their flesh. The grave was covered
with a hewn stone, about eight feet long, four feet'
broad, and twelve inches thick. This stone was sus-
pended by two large ropes, which went round two
strong piles driven into the ground ; and whilst it was
slowly lowered by about two hundred men, the women
and children wept aloud, or chanted, in a mournful
tone, ' My father, my father ! The best of chiefs !'
More cloth was then brought, to be put into the tomb;
and another party entered, exercising the same cru-
elties on themselves as have been already related.
After these paroxysms of grief, they sat some time in
silence ; and when they had pulled the rope clear off
the stone which covered the grave, some of the people
uttered a loud shout, which was immediately followed
by a general tearing of the leaves from the necks of
all present ; after which they dispersed."

By the natives the missionaries continued, generally
speaking, to be treated with the greatest kindness and
hospitality ; but their own countrymen, Ambler and
Connelly, together with a fellow named Morgan, who
had, for some time, resided on an adjacent island,
occasioned them much trouble and vexation. The
consistent and decorous conduct of the brethren, so
completely opposite to their habits of prolligacy, in-
s])ired them with feelings of enmity, and the various
articles which they possessed influmed their cupidity
to the highest pitch. By repeated apjilications, they
had already obtained property, in various articles, to
a considerable amount ; but, at length, they became
so intrusive and unreasonable, that the patience of the
missionaries was exhausted, and they resolved to with-
stand the further solicitations of men on whom they
had bestowed so much to little purpose. The ruf-
fians had now recourse lo peremptory demands and
audacious meitacos. One day, indeed, Ambler had
the assurance to order the brethren to quit the house
which they inhabited, and to sow no more seed* in
the garden ; and on another occasion, he and Morgan
abused them in the most scurrilous manner, and both

itU'Lorl nnfl BfnM>lr

„f tU^

n„:„_ ......

TONGATABOO.

9SV

injury ; but, as they went off, they were hetrd to utter
the moat dreadful imprecations, and to swear that
the whole of the roissionaries should be sacrificed to
their vengeance before the ensuing morning.

Apprehensive of the mischief which might, in some
way, result from the machinations of these abandoned
fellows, and alarmed by a report which they had pre-
viously heard, relative to an intended attack upon their
house and property, the missionaries now deemed it
expedient to separate, and to place themselves
under the protection of different chiefs. Accordingly,
three of them, Messrs. Kelso, Shelley and Wilkinson,
remained at Aheefo with their patron, Toogahowe,
who had now succeeded his father as dugona of the
island ; — Bowell and Harper went to Ardeo, to reside
with Vaarje ; — Buchanan and Gaulton to Mooa, to
live with Duatonga ;— Cooper took up his abode with
Mooree, at Ahogee ; — and Veeson with Mulicemar at
Mooa.

On the 18th of August, captain Wilson paid a sec-
ond visit to Tongataboo; and, on hearing of the con-
duct of Ambler and his profligate companions, he re-
solved, if it were practicable, to carry them off the
island, in order to secure the missionaries from any
further uneasiness on their account. Connelly he
secured, but Ambler and Morgan, having obtained
some intimation of his design, contrived to elude his
utmost vigilance. One day a party of men from the
ship proceeded, in company with Veeson, to the sup-
posed place of their retreat. Their search, however,
proved entirely fruitless, and before they could return
to the ship, the shades of night began to close around
them. On entering a narrow lane, Veeson advanced
some distance before the rest of tiie party, and on
meeting some of the natives, he inquired whether
they had seen Ambler; instead of returning any
answer, they immediately seized him by the arms,
dragged him forcibly along the lane, and threw him
on his bark. Two or three of them then held him
firmly down, whilst another raised his club, with the
evident design of splitting his skull. At this critk^al
juncture, however, the moon, emerging from a dark
cloud, shone powerfully on the features of the intend-
ed victim, and induced the ruflians to abandon their
murderous design, from a dread of the vengeance of
Mulicemar, wich whom the missionary was a particular
favorite. At the same time, the men from the vessel
fame up, and firetl on Vooson's assailants, but they all
effected their osrapo without sustaining any injury.

On the departure of captain Wilson, the missiona-
ries were doomed to experience a now and severe trial,
in i'eSpBct to (he ronducc of uiie win), from iiie mutual
affection and identity of interests so long apparently
prevailing between them, should have been pecu-

liarly careful of wounding their hearts, at a time
when they stood in need of every possible support
and consolation. Shortly after Veeson's departure
from Aheefo, it was asserted by some of the Tongas
that he had formed an improper intimacy with one of
the native females ; and this report was unfortunately
strengthened by some parts of his conduct. The
charge laid against him, however, was solemnly denied
till after the sailingof the Duff, when he acknowledged
his criminality.

On this distressing occasion, the brethren used every
argument in their power to awaken their fallen col-
league t( a sense of his guilt, and to lure back this
unhappy wanderer into the paths of peace. At first
it appeared as if their friendly expostulations would
have been crowned with success ; but the hopes thus
excited were soon and sadly disappointed, by his
mingling with the heathen, and evincing a strong pre-
di'- tion for their habits, in which he soon arrived at
a lamentable proficiency. As, however, he proposed
to marry the female with whom he cohabited, and this
appeared to be the only remedy now left, the mission-
aries consented to solemnize the nuptial ceremony.
But when the parties came before them, and the sol-
emn and binding nature of the engagement about to
be formed was explained to the woman, the poor crea-
ture burst into tears, and pere:.iptorily refused to
come under such obligation!; ; alleging as her reason,
that no due affection subsisted between them, but that
she had been merely actuated by a dread of incurring
the displeasure of her parents and the anger of the
chief with whom Veeson resided.

From this time, Veeson appeared to proceed from
bad to worse; so that, in the commencement of 1798,
the missionaries were under the painful necessity of
excommunicating him from their little society. The
letter of dismission was conveyed to him by Mr. Kel-
so, who assured him that many petitions had been pre-
sented at the throne of grace, in the hope of averting
the necessity of such a measure, and that it had been
finally adopted with the utmost reluctance and grief
of heart. Ho then endeavored, but without effect, to
rouse him to a consideration of the dreadful nature
and tendnncy of his present career ; and finally he
entreated that he would make such a memorandum
of his time that ho might always recognize the return
of the sabbath, nnd unite, at least occasionally, in th >
services of Oo^,. ,m that sacred day, with those who,
though now sc,.iiated from h! i> were ardently solici-
tous for his return into the paths of holines . AH
these admonitions nnfc i^ttely proved unavuiiinft ;— •
the apostate had faiien i.ito a snare of the 'f-i! tea
strong to be easily broken ; — the sabbath he hiui no
wish to remember ; — and in a short time ho returned

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

his Bible ond the whole of his religious books to Mr.
Gaulton at Mooa, — as if desirous of divesting iiiinself
of every thing wliich could possibly remind him that
he had formerly made a profession of the Christian
religion.

In the month of July, tiie brethren were informed,
that most of the chiefs on the island had solicited the
dugona to put them all to death, under the pretence
that their prayers were productive of misfortunes
to their neighbors, but, in reality, from a desire to
become possessed of Oieir property. Contrasting this
intelligence with the friendly behavior of the chiefs,
the missionaries considered it a mere fabrication ; but
it afterwards appeared that, about this time, a plot
was really in existence for their assassination ; liiougli,
by the good providence of God, some friends wore
raised up on the behalf of the intended victims,
who pleaded their cause so powerfully, that the con-
spiracy was broken, and its projectors were put to
silence.

In the spring of n99, an event occurred wliich
was productive of the most disastrous consequences,
not only to the missionaries, but lo the whole island.
This was the treacherous assassin-.; tn of the dugona,
by his own cousins, Feenou Loogalalla and Dubo
Newer, on the 21st of April, after the celebration of
an annual religious ceremony, and whilst the unsus-
pecting victim was sleeping in imaginary security, sur-
rounded by his attendants. It seems that tiie murder-
ers had been instigated to this atrocious act by the
solemn injunction of their dying father, whose hope
of obtaining supreme power on the demise of his
brother Moomooe had been finally crushed by the
succession ol Toogahowe, and whose irritated feelings
had brouglit on a fit of illness, which ternunated in his
death. The dreadful fact, however, was no soonur
made public, than the great mass of the natives were
inspired with sentiments of indignation and vengeance ;
and Loogalalla, notwithstanding the friendship of sev-
eral powerful chiefs, found that war must bo the in-
evitable result of his treacherous cruelty. Prepara-
tions were, accordingly, made on both sides with the
utmost alacrity; and, on the lOlh of May, an engage-
ment took place at Bungye, in which the Ahoefoniaiis,
or royalists, completely routed the rebels, who fled in
all directions, leaving great numbers of killed and wound-
ed on the field of battle. At first, the victors seemed ile-
teriniiied to give no quarter ; and some of the missiona-
ries, who happened to be pruiieiit, witnessed scenes most
revolting to the feelingsof humanity. "A little way from
the spot where the fight commenced," say they, " we
found an old mai roasting part of mr of the dead
L'ui.'ic:?, app.ircntiy wan a ik-»i^ii iu '-.u n 1 and at a
short tlistance, a ellow, who had seven <i (he head and

body of one of the rebels asunder, was proudly ei*
hibiting them as trophies of his prowess ; whilst some
of the women, as they passed him, dipped their hands
into the blood, and licked them !"

The approach of the missionaries to the field of
battle was highly gratifying to the royalists, who con-
cluded that they had fire-arms about them, and would
certainly use them against the enemy. Accordingly,
on every little advantage they gained, the brethren
came in, with the imaginary deities of the island, for
their grateful acknowledgments; and even the dog
which Mr. Kelso led in his hand, had an abundance
of yava presented to him. But as soon as it was dis-
covered that they took no part in the combat, they were
contemplated by the disappointed Aheefonians with
contempt and aversion.

Aware of the danger to which they were now ex-
posed, the missionaries hastened back to their dwell-
ing at Aheefo ; but here they found that their beds
and every thing loose had been carried off; and, after
depositing their chests in the house of a neighbor, they
received the appalling intelligence that a party of
rebels had just landed from their canoes, and were
advancing towards them. They fled, therefore, to a
place called Eeleegoo, in the back part of the island,
which .seemed to offer them a temporary shelter, being
very little frequented from the land, and rendered in-
accessible to canoes, by a high reef of coral rocks.
In the evening, they ventured to return once more to
their habitation, but soon found that no .safety was to
be enjoyed there. They, therefore, retured to the
house of a neighbor, who professed much kindness
toward them, but who (as they were afterwards b-
formed) entertained serious thoughts of having them
all murdered in the night.

Alwut day-break the next morning, the brethren
returned to Eeleegoo, and remained concealed, near
their former station, till towards noon, when they per-
ceived numbers of the natives running on all sides of
them, and wore informed that a second engagement had
taken place, in which the royalists had been defeated,
and that most of their friends among the chiefs were
killed. I'l'MiMving that concealment was no longer
possible, the missionaries now resolved to follow the
crowd J but after proceeding about a couple of miles,
they came up with a party of armed men, who de-
manded their clothes ; and, as either refusal or delay
minlit huvr been productive of the most trngioal con-
sequences, they surrendcipd them without opposition,
congratulating thcmselv*-. fh:it they had, with a view
to the possibility of s!i..b an occurrence, provided
themselves witl 'ipder ;:»rments of the country cloth.
Tiuy now prw','.,.' till they reached a thick wood,
situate between t,. .^aJ and a range of craggy rocks

TONGATABOO.

forming the termination of the beach ; and here they
resolved to seek a shelter till the confusion subsided,
as it was evident they had been regarded with an evil
eye by several of their fellow travellers. In the
course of the afternoon, they found, in an aperture of
a rock, a quantity of fresh water, which afforded
them a most welcome refreshment ; and, about sunset,
two of them, having gone out in quest of food, ob-
tamed some bread-fruit and bananas from a party of
the natives. These afforded a seasonable supply to
the poor fugitives, who had tasted nothing but water
since tlie preceding evening; but they were horrified
by the intelligence that their brethren, Bowell, Gaul-
ton and Harper, with an American seaman, named
Burlmm, (who had lately settled with some of his
comj.nnions on the island,) had all been inhumanly
murdered at Ardeo. Of the cause and particulars of
this lamentable catastrophe they could gain no infor-
mation. It seems, however, that the victorious Ahee-
fonians continued to pursue the rebels till they came
to Ardeo ; and the missionaries, conceiving no danger
from those in whoso quarrel they had never interfered,
came out of their house to see them pass. Unfortu-
nately, however, there happened to be among the war-
riors an individual who, on some former occasion, had
solicited some presents from the brethren, which were
refused. The savage, therefore, resolved on embracing
the opportunity now afforded of taking a dreadful
revenge. Ho accordingly rushed upon them, with
several of his countrymen ; and Bowell and Harper,
with the American, Burham, were immediately felled
to the ground, and immolated on the spot. Gaulton,
in the mean time, had fled to some distance ; but on
looking back and seeing his colleagues fall, ho imme-
diately returned, with the hope, it is supposed, of sav-
ing their lives, when he was instantly put to death by
the merciless barbarians, who afterwards pillaged the
house, and even succeeded in discovering many valu-
able articles which had been buried, for security, by
the unfortunate missionaries.

The news of this dreadful calamity naturally in-
spired the surviving brethren with the most painful
apprehensions ; and the following day, they were so
much alarmed by the suspicious conduct of one of the
natives, who, after balancing his spear to attack them,
assumed a conciliatory tone, and retired under the
pretence of fetching some cloth from a neighboring
wood, that thoy resolved to seek some otiicr shelter.
Accordingly, having discovered a path which led to
the sea, they descended toward the bench; and after
travelling alwiit a mile, they mot with a party of ten

Ar ttvplva nnti&.^o r^i.A #^r •■.Kn»» l^..la^J *\ ^ ^ i

_i , _....,,, ,„^,.,^. jjjj..,j .y jj pjjj„j,

called Fahcffa, where they were kindly entertained
for the night.

399

From this time till the commencement of June, the
brethren were harassed from place to place, and, on
some occasions, narrowly escaped destruction. At
length, however, Loogalalla obtained an important tri-
umph over his enemies, and notwithstanding the san-
guinary means by which he had risen to supreme pow-
er, he appeared disposed to protect the missionaries,
and not only gave orders to his adherents to avoid in-
juring them, but, on landing at Maffanga, he sent Vee-
son, with a party, to search for them, in order to se-
cure their safety in the general commotion.

On the 8th of June, the brethren were requested,
by a chief named Fackafanooa, to accompany a party
to Ardeo, in search of some things which were sup-
posed to have been concealed there, and with this
solicitation they gladly complied, in the hope of ren-
dering the last offices of friendship to their murdered
colleagues, whose bodies still remained unburied and
exposed to the insults of all who passed by. « On our
arrival at Ardeo," say they, " we found it a perfect des-
olation ; the fences being all torn in pieces, the houses
either burnt, or laid in ruinous heaps, and the fruiu
mostly destroyed. After taking a survey of the prem-
ises, we were conducted to the place where our breth-
ren lay, which presented a still more melancholy and
distressing scene. We found Bowell and Gaulton upon
the road very near to each other, and brother Harper
lay in the adjoining field. They were all so much
disfigured, however, that we could not have known any
of them, but from the information of the natives, who
had often seen them since their death. Burham lay,
at a considerable distance, in a kind of ditch ; and as
his body was in such a state that it could not be moved
without falling to pieces, we covered it with earth
where it was. We then, with the assistance of the
natives, dug a grave large enough to contain the breth-
ren; and having, with some difficulty, removed them
into it, we buried them, without either coffin or shroud,
not having so much as a change of country cloth for
our own use."

On their return from this mournful employment, the
missionaries began to resume their manual labor among
the Tongas, and those of them who had consented to
reside with Fackafanooa, erected a forge in a house
\yhich had been allotted them for that purpose. Their
situation, however, was so truly distressing, in conse-
quence of the avarice of their host,— the unreasonable
demands of the natives, — the charges frequently laid
against them with respect to the malignant influence
of their devotions,— and the repeated alarms which
they experienced in consequence of the plots which were
laid for their desirucituii, that some of them cntertamed
serious thoughts of leaving the island in their small boat,
and attempting a voyage to New South Wales. Others,

400

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

borever, observed thit this would be iiwrely flying
from their existing calamities to inevitable death ; as
it was preposterous to suppose, destitute as they were
of every material for navigation, and having no moans of
procuring a sufKcient quantity of food and water for
their support, that they could possibly succeed- in
reaching Port Jackson. Their prospects were, there-
fore, gloomy and appalling indeed ; b«it, as they ob-
serve in their journals, " in this season of distress, the
Lord appeared for their deliverance in a way quite
unexpected."

On the aist of January, 1800, tlicy heard the re-
port of two guns in the bay ; but, as the evening was
too fnr advanced to admit of their attempting to ascer-
tain the cause of this unusual noise, they passed the
night in a state of anxious suspense, alternately agi-
tated with emotions of hope niid fear. The next morn-
bg, they endeavored to get their boot to sea, hut the
tide did not rise sudiciently high till near sunset.
They then discovered two vessels lying in the roods ;
but the wind proving contrary, it was neorly midnight
before they reached them. The one proved to be the
Betsy of London, bound to Port Jackson ; the other, a
Spanish brig which she had captured on the coast of
Peru. Captain Clark, the commander, being made
acquainted with their circumstances, kindly offered
them a passage to Port Jackson, assuring them that
his cabin, and whatever it contained, should beat their
service.

" Every scruple regarding the propriety of our quit-
ting the island," say the missionaries, " was now ban-
ished from our minds ; for as the Lord had so wonder-
fully and graciously opened a way for our escape, we
could not but regard it as an evident intimation of his
will for our removal. We accordingly accepted the
generous offers of the captain, and immediately de-
spotched two natives, who had come with us, with a
letter to brother Shelley, who chose to remain at
home till we had attained to a certainty respecting the
ships. The next evening, about dusk, ho arrived in n
snioll canoe, provided for him by Atta (a friendly
chief), who strongly urged him to depart, that he
might escape the danger which seemed to be impend-
ing. At his request, Shelley wrote a letter, directed
to the commander of the Duff, or any other ship
which miglu touch at Tongaiaboo, assuring them of
his friendly disposition towards the missionaries, and
acquitting him of any participation in the ill usoge tiioy
had received.

" On the morning of the 2<lth, wo put to sea ; and,
as we approached the north point of the island, nror
which Atr.i rpsiflnil.he nnij nnQtKnr (..hicf. '.Tith scvr^r?]
of otir old friends, came off with a few cocoo-nuts, as
■ present to the captain, and took a most affectionate

leave of us all. Our own feelings, on this occasion,
cannot be easily conceived, much less expressed.
The loss of time, of labor, and of public expense,
which had been sustained, wore weighty considera-
tions ; but the thought of leaving a whole country,
containing thousands of our race, sitting in the gross
darkness of pagan superstition, bound to the service of
the wont of tyrants, by their own ignorance and preju-
dices, and without being able to effect any thing to-
ward their emancipation, outweighed all the rest. It
appeared to be our duty, however, humbly and thank-
fully to submit, knowing that the Lord is sovereign in
all his dispensations ; and, at the same time, to rejoice,
in hope that these benighted islands shall yet ' wait
for his law ;' for which end it is not impossible that our
residence among them may, in some way, be yet made
subservient."

After a safe and expeditious voyage, the missiona-
ries arrived in New South Wales, where they expe-
rienced the warmest welcome and the kindest atten-
tions; nnd, in the ensuing year, they all returned to
England, with the exception of Mr. Shelley, who
married a pious female at Port Jackson, and proceed-
ed to join the brethren in Otaheite. Veeson was left
at Tongataboo ; and, the wor having been renewed
with savage fury, ho was in continual danger of his
life, till the Royal Admiral, commanded by captain W.
Wilson, providentially touched at the Friendly islands,
in August, 1801, and thus afforded him the means of
escape.

MARQUESAS, ST. CHRISTINA, OR
TAHUATA.

ArTRR captain Wilson had settled the missionaries
in Otaheite and Tongataboo, in the spring of 1797, ho
sailed for St. Christina, one of the Marquesas islands,
wliicli Messrs. Harris and Crook, two of the brethren,
had chosen as the scene of their evangelical labors.
On the fifth of June, they reached the place of their
destination ; and, on the following day, were visited
by a chief named Tenae, eldest .son of Honoo, who
appears to hove held the supreme authority on this
islond at the time of captain Cooke's visit. He came
in tolerably good couso, ond introduced himself by
presenting the captain with a smooth staff, about eight
feet long, the head of which was ornamented with a
few locks of human hair neatly plaited. Observing
a musket on the quarter deck, lie took it carefully to
captain tVjisoii, and requested him io " piit it to
sleep." He then received some presents, consisting
of an axe, a looking glass, a neck chain, iic. ; and, on

MARQUESAS.

being told that two Europeans were desiroug of set-
tling on the island, he appeared greatly delighted, and
said he would give them a house and supply their
wants to the utmost of his ability.

The two missionaries having subsequently gone on
shore, to seo the residence which Tenoo had offered
them, the captain inquired, on their return, what
opmion they hod formed of the island, and whether
they were still desirous of taking up their abode there,
with a view to the promulgation of the gospel among
the heathen. Mr. Crook, who was, at this time, only
twonty-tivo years of age, replied, that, though the in-
habitants appeared to be suffering under a scarcity of
provisions, he had no doubt but St. Christina had its
plentiful seasons as well as the other islands ; and as he
had never, either before or since his engagement with
the Society, had a view to his personal comforts, he
had no objections to offer. Mr. Harris, however,
though formerly extremely anxious to settle on tliis
spot, now apj)eared to have lost tho whole of his mis-
sionory ardor, and to be completely under the domin-
ion of fear, which he, in vain, attempted to conceal ;
and, the following day, when Mr. Crook landed with
his bed, ond a few articles of wearing apporel, in order
to make a trial of his reception among tl»o natives,
Harris refused to accompany him, under the pretence
tiiat he must remain on board, to pack up their things
in small parcels, for tlie convenience of carrying them
up the valley.

The principal food of the natives, at this time,
appears to have been a kind of sour paste, called
mahie, and even this was made in small q.iantities, and
witlKMit much regard to cleanliness. Mi. Crook,
however, determined on reconciling himself to it, as
well as he could ; and, in a note addressed to captain
Wilson, on the subject, he states that as the islanders
always servo him first of the best they have, and he
may expect to obtain fresh fish, with, occasionally, a
liitio pork, lie thinks ho " may live contented, without
casting an eye to the luxuries of Otaiieite." It was
evident, indeed, that the importance of the work in
which he had engaged, outweigiie.l every other con-
sideration with this excellent young man, who so ef-
fo-tualiy conciliated the esteem of Tenae,that ho was
adopted os the sou of that ciiief, and ever afterward
considered in the same lipht as his other children.

On llio Htli, Mr. Harris was put on shore with all
his thiiiirs ; but he complained bitterly of tlio badness
of the food and tiio general poverty of the island; and
early in the morning of the 24th, it was rumored that
he had been on the beach the whole of the preceding
niitiil, niiii had been robbed nf wns! of his propcfty.
Tliis story at first gained hut little credit; but, on captain
Wilson despatching the jolly-boat to inquire into the
Vol. I.— Nos. 33 & 34. 59

401

particulars, it proved to be perfecUy correct. Alarm-
ed and disgusted by the conduct of some of the iw-
tive females, who had obtruded themselves upon his
repose, ho determined to lUy no longer upon the
island ; and, having packed up his clothes the next
day, he went down to the beach towards the dusk of the
evening; but as none of the mariners happened to be
on shore, and the ship was too far distant to admit of
his hailing them, he spent an uncomfortable night
sitting upon his chest. About four o'clock in the
morning, some of the natives, conceiving this to be a
good opportunity for pilfering, drove him from his seat,
and inspired him with such terror that he fled for
safety to the neighboring hill. The persons who
were sent by the captain to bring him off, found him
in a most pitiable condition, and like a man bereft
of his senses ; and as the state of the surf rendered it
impossible for them to land, they were under the ne-
cessity of hauling off both the chest and its owner by
means of a rope.

The next day, captain Wilson, having completed
some necessary repairs in the rigging of the Duff,
began to think of taking his departure. This was, of
course, mtimated to Crook ; but he remained steadftst
m his resolutionof continuing on the island, and mere-
ly requested a few agricultural implements, and such
other things as might be likely to render him useful to
the temporal as well as to tho spiritual interests of the
people. He said, he should certainly have considered
It a great happiness had he been favored with the
company of an agreeable and friendly colleague, whose
conversation and sympathy might have cheered and
consoled liim in the time of trouble ; but, since the
Lord had ordered things otherwise, he thought that it
better suited with his character and profession, to re-
sign himself to GojI's fatherly care, and to rest on his
promise, than to quit a station where a door of useful-
ness was apparently opened ; and he added, that if hU
blessed Redeemer should make him the honored in-
stniinent of preparing the way for some of his more
able servants, ho siiould, at least, have the happiness
to reflect that his life had not been spent in voin.
The next evening he went on board witii Teiiae,
ft)r the purpose of taking leave of his beloved friends ,'
Olid when the canoe was returning from the vessel^
and the last affectionate adieus were interchanged, his
manly behavior did him great credit. "The tears," says
the editor of tiie First Missionary Voyage, "glistened
in his eyes, but none fell, nor did ho betray the least
sign of fear, in being left to enter upon his work
alone."

From tho statoment of this devoted and intrepid
young missionary, cominunicBted to the directors, on
his return to England, and published in the Evangeli-

«ifi

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

cal Magazine for 1799, it appears, that, during the first
six months of his residence at St. Christina, he suffer-
ed considerably from hunger, in consequence of the
previous improvidence of the natives ; but he was in-
variably treated with kindness by the chiefs, and per-
mitted to partake of their scanty morse' ' !■ ;. ; < u 'it
months after the departure of captain V iii,.;>t: ; <i .». . ■
ican vessel, trading to the North- .. i coa>'( i. ) .^ed
in Resolution bay, and, by her capiaia, Mr. Crook
sent home his journal. Four months afterward, an-
other vessel, bound to China, aj)peared off the island,
and our missionary went on board merely with the
design of writing home. A strong breeze, however,
springing up from the mountains, carried the ship to
the leeward, and thus effectually prevented Mr.
Crook's return. He now requested the captain to
carry him to Sir Henry Martin's, an island about sixty
miles to the north-nest ; and there he was received
with the utmost cordiality by the natives, who were
overwhelmed with astonishment, on hearing themselves
addressed by a white man in their own language. At
first, indeed, thoy conceived he was a god, and it was
with some difficulty that he convinced them of the
fallacy of that absurd idea. The principal chief im-
mediately made him his tat/o, and not only supplied
his immediate wants with the most profuse liberality,
but afterward gave him a large piece of ground stock-
ed with cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees, together
with materials for the erection of a comfortable habi-
tation.

After Mr. Crook had resided here about seven
months, two south whaler ships, the Euphrates and
Butterworth, from Ijondon, put in for refreshments ;
and our missionary proved extremely serviceable to
the Europeans, both by acting as interpreter and by
procuring the needful supplies. It now occurred to
him, that he might probably render the best service
to the Marquesas islands by returning to England, and
representing the real state of the whole group to the

directors ; together with the propriety of sending out
more missionaries, who, by exhibiting a form of Chris-
tian economy, might induce the natives, from what
they should see in domestic life, to pay greater atten-
tion to the instructions given them. With these views
he returned to London, in the month of May, 1799 ;
but various obstacles have prevented the accomplish-
ment of this desirable object. For many years, no
effort was made. At last, in 1825, Mr. Crook em-
barked in the ship Lynx, captain Sibrill, accompanied
by four Tahitian teachers, for the purpose of resuming
a mission which was dear to his heart.

The Lynx proceeded to Resolution bay, and Mr.
Croolt *:; '0' H into negotiations with the chiefs, who
promised to build a place for the worship df the true
God. The people also seemed very solicitous that
teachers should come to them.

In 1826, teachers left Tahiti in the Minerva, cap-
tain Ebrill, and a station was formed at Uahou, another
island. The two native teachers, who took up their
residence in St. Christina or Tahuata, were, however,
soon compelled to return to Tahiti. They received
the most barbarous treatment from the natives. Cap-
tain Staveis, of the Offley, who touched at Tahuata,
brought them away just at the moment when the
savage natives contemplated immolating them to their
idols.

The two teachers at Uahou report that Teato, the
king, is good to them.

Early in 1829, Messrs. Pritchard and Simpson vis-
ited the Marquesas for the purpose of ascertaining how
far the establishment of a European mission among
them was practicable. They landed on two of the
islands ; but from the rude behavior of the natives, their
insatiable desire after fire-arms and ammunition, and
the report of frequent wars, they were obliged to re-
turn, under the impression that at present a settlement
among them is impracticable.

SOUTH AFRICA.

408

CHAPTER III.
MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA,

ENCorn^OED by the success which had crowned
their first attempt to transmit the glad tidings of sal-
vafon to the islands of the Pacific o^ean. andlwed
to new and mcreased exertions, by the lively inre't
which the.r movements had already excited fn the re
hgjous world the directors of the London Missionary
Soc ety were led to turn their serious attention to the
contment of Africa so long neglected and so dee^;
injured ; and notwithstanding the failure of an attempt
made m conjunction with some other societies, to Ts-
abhsh a mission ,n the country of the Foulahs and
the colony of Sierra Leone, the subsequent conquest
of the cape of Good Hope, by the arms of his Brhan-
nic majesty, seemed to open an effectual door to those
extensive regions in the south, where a variety "J
tnbes and nations were sitting in gross darkness, and
on the borders of the shadow of death. At the ame
period, an individual was induced to ofier his s^r!
vices to the society, who appeared to have been
expressly and in a peculiar way fitted for the superin-
tendence of such an interesting and important mission.
This was the justly celebrated Dr. Vanderkemp, of
whose con version and call to the work of an evangelist
U.e following brief outline is extracted from the nar-
ration of a highly respectable individual, who knew
him intimately, and esteemed him as he deserved
Jrh"""!.' ^^"f""^' Vanderkemp was the son of a
worthy and excellent minister of the Dutch church in
Kotterdam, and was bom in the year 1748 At the
university of Leyden he commenced his studies, and
h's progress m literary acquirements was so remarka-
ble, that many of his contemporaries considered him to
possess an extraordinary strength of mind, and antici-
pated that he would prove to be one of the most dis-
mguisl^d characters of the age. Hav.ng completed
h.s studies, he entered the army, i„ which, during
ixteen years' service, ho rose to be a captain of horse!
and lieutenant of the dragoon guards. During the
whole of this time, however, he was infected with
principles of the grossest infidelity ; and in this awful
delii<!iQn he ■■•?.?, .j;,).^ :t - •

... . -^i'P'b' sircngtheneil by too many

of his acquaintance. On quitting the military service.

he resolved to enter on the practice of medicine : and
having obtained a diploma from the university of
l!.dmburgh, where he had pursued his studies for two
years with unremitting attention, he returned to Mid-
dleburg, m the island of Zealand, and began to prac-
tise as a physician with great credit and success
After some time, he retired to Dort, with the design
of spending the remainder of his life m literary pur-
suits and rural amusements. In the month of June
1791, however, as he was one day sailing in a pleasure
boat, on the river, with his wife and daughter, the
boat was overset by a sudden storm: his wife and
child were drowned, and he himself only escaped a simi-
ar fate by being picked up by the crew of a vessel which
had been driven from her moorings, after he had been
carried down the stream to the distance of nearly a mile
At this eventful period his infidel principles appear
to have been shaken ; as, on the ensuing sabbath he
not only went to church, but united in commemoratinR
the death of that Jesus whom he had long regarded as
an impostor, in respect to his pretensions, and the
victim of his own obstinacy in opposing the ecclesias-
tical and political maxims of his countrymen. In fact
on this solemn occasion, his heart appears to have
been completely subdued by the power of divine grace •
and whilst his attention was directed to the death of
Uirist, he seems to have been savingly convinced of
his personal dignity, his all-sufficient atonement, and his
ability and inclination to save even thechief of sinners
wljo flee unto him as a refuge from the wrath to come'
The reality of the change which Dr. Vanderkemp
now experienced was most satisfactorily demonstrated
m Ins life and conversation ; and, some years afterward
Ins mind was so deeply affected with a copy of an ad-
dress from the Missionary Society in London to the
friends of religion in Germany, that he immediately
resolved to devote his services to the perishing hea-
then. The address, which had wrought so powerfully
on his own mind, he also translated into the Dutch
language, and circulated it amnne his countrvmnn with
such success, that the itev. Mr. Kicherer was induced
to propose joining this zealous veteran in his intended

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

labors ; and a number of excellent Hollanders, both at
Rotterdam and in Friesland, united together for the
express purpose of cooperating with the London so-
ciety in their attempts to irradiate the dark corners of
the earth, and to spread abroad the knowledge of that
divine Redeemer, to whom, in the fulness of time,
every knee must bow, and every tongue must confess
that he is Lord of all.

The necessary arrangements having been made by
the directors, Dr. Vanderkemp, and the Rev. Messrs.
Kicherer, Edmonds and Edwards, sailed for the cape
of Good Hope, in the month of December, 1798, on
board the Hillsborough, a transport vessel, bound
to New South Wales, with convicts. Another and
more comfortable mode of conveyance might have been
obtained ; but the brethren preferred this from an anxi-
ety to commence their evangelical labors among the
most miserable and abandoned of their fellow men, but
whose hearts were not beyond the reach of almighty
and transforming grace.

The prisoners on board the Hillsborough were, in-
deed, characterized by wickedness and ferocity ; and,
even before the vessel quitted the harbor, they afford-
ed the most unequivocal proofs of their daring and
dangerous temper. It having been supposed that some
deserters had secreted themselves among these unhap-
py creatures, several naval officers came on board, to
ascertain the fact ; but no sooner had one of the offi-
cers attempted to pass the entrance of the orlop deck,
than he was instantly seized by the convicts, who
snatched off his hat, tore his clothes, and wounded
him with his own dagger, which they had wrested from
him ; so that he was constrained to beg for mercy, and
accounted himself fortunate in escaping with his life.
And though, two days afterward, a detachment of ma-
rines, headed by some officers, came on board with a
determination to search the hold, they found the pris-
oners so exasperated and determined, that, to prevent
an effusion of blood, they retired wiiliout accomplishing
their design. About the same time, some of the more
refractory planned the scheme of sawing off their irons,
and seizing the ship ; and, though this plot was provi-
dentially discovered and rendered abortive, they after-
wards formed tlie design of sinking the vessel by boring
holes in her sides, with an idea tliat they might effect
their escape in the boats,

Notwithstanding their knowledge of these appalling
facts, and the friendly representations of the captain, in
respect to the personal danger which they migiit incur,
Dr. Vanderkemp and his colleagues determined to
enter the dismal abo ieof the convicts, in order to con-
verse with them on tlie concerns of their immortal
souls ; and not only were iliey received williout mo-
lestation, but their remarks were heard with atten-

tion ; and, after the lapse of a short time, it became ap-
parent that the word spoken was owned and blessed to
several individuals, who formed a little society among
themselves, and held a meeting three times a week, for
the purposes of prayer and religious conversation.

But it was not only in fearlessly going among these
poor creatures, and affectionately explaining to them
the way of salvation, that our missionaries evinced their
zeal and anxiety for their beat interests ; but when a
putrid and pestilential fever broke out among the con-
victs, and death began tomakeawful havoc among them,
these intrepid and devoted servants of Jesus redoubled
theireffortson behalf of the sick and the dying, evidently
regardlessoftheirown danger, and completely absorbed
in the anxious hope of proving instrumental to the sal-
vation of some of these wretched sufferers, who were
now rapidly hastening toward the judgment-bar of
Christ. It is pleasing to add, that their labors were not
in vain ; but, on the contrary, out of thirty-four pris-
oners who died on their passage to the cape, they had
reason to hope that several found mercy through the
blood of the cross, and entered into that " rest which
remaincth for the people of God."

Not many days after they had entered the Atlantici
the faith of the brethren was severely tried ; but the
result was highly honorable to the religion which they
professed. During a violent storm, which continued
nearly three days, the ship made a great deal of water ;
and the captain stated, that, notwithstanding the con-
stant labor of the pumps, it continued to gain upon
them considerably, so that it was supposed the vessel
had sprung some dangerous leak, which, unfortunately,
could not be discovered. This intelligence, of course,
brought the missionaries to their knees ; and, with the
most solemn earnestness, thefy pleaded the promises of
God whilst imploring his gracious preservation. They
also appear to have possessed a perfect composure of
mind, and an unshaken confidence in their Redeemer,
when apparently exposed to the most imminent danger ;
in proof of which we may refer to the noble remark of
the reverend Mr. Kicherer, who, on being reminded
by Dr. Vanderkemp, that he had told the friends at
Portsmoutli he would joyfully go on board, even
though he knew the Hillsborough should founder on
her passage, and on being asked how he felt whilst
death seemed staring him in the face, calmly replied,
" The ship may sink, but the foundation on which my
soul rests is immovable, and can never fail." At
length, when all human efforts seemed unavailing, and
the water began to increase so rapidly that destruction
appeared inevitable, it was providentially discovered
that one of the poit-holes had by some means got open.
This being immediately closed, the water was easily got
under, and in a short time the storm abated ; so that

SOUTH AFRICA.

the ardent prayers of the brethren were soon succeeded
by grateful thanksgivings.

On their arrival at the Cape of Good Hope, they
were received with the greatest kindness and cordiality ;
much respect was shown them by the government ;
and such a lively interest was excited in favor of their
designs, that a South African Missionary Society was
formed for promoting the spread of the Redeemer's
kingdom in that part of the globe. A door seemed,
also, to be opened to the introduction of the gospel
among the Boschemen or Bushmen, a savage and cruel
nation of Hottentots, of whom two captains, called Vigi-
lant and Slaporm, were, at this juncture, in Cape Town,
and expressed an ardent desire to abandon their
former mode of life, and to be instructed in the knowl-
edge and service of the God of the Christians. " A
pious colonist," says Dr. Vanderkemp, "anxious to put
an end to an almost perpetual scene of bloodshed, re-
cently proposed a kind of treaty of peace between
these wild Hottentots and the colonists ; and on this
being brought to a conclusion, he kneeled down with
his men in the field, and engaged in prayer and sing-
ing of hymns. Struck with the novelty of this solem-
nity, the Bushmen naturally inquired what was intend-
ed by it ; and on being told that it was a thanksgiving
to God on account of the peace which had been con-
cluded, they bewailed their ignorance of that adorable
Being, and begged that teachers might be sent into their
country, to instruct them in the truths of Christian-
ity." In consequence of this favorable opening, it
was determined that Messrs. Kicherer and Edwards
should endeavor to introduce the gospel among the
Bushmen, whilst Dr. Vanderkemp and Mr. Edmonds
should pursue their original plan of endeavoring to
plant the standard of the cross in Caffraria.

The necessary preparations having been made for
their journey, Dr. Vanderkemp and his colleague quit-
ted Cape Town on the 589th of May, after receiving the
affectionate adieus of a crowd of friends, who expressed
the most grateful sense of their useful and disinterested
labors among them. They were furnished with letters of
recommendation from the governor and the fiscal to the
landrost of Graaf Reinet, and to general Vanderleur,
commanding the British troops in that district ; and, in
the course of their journey, they were cheerfully pro-
vided with teams of oxen, and loaded with presents, by
the colonists, who welcomed them as angels, and heard
them with as much !«verence as if they had been the
immediately inspired apostles of the Redeemer. On
the sabbath, indeed, tiie people flocked from all parts
to hear them preach ; the habitations of these colo-
nists heinff so remote from s "lace of worslii'i. that they
had scarcely an opportunity of hearing a discourse for
six ur twelve months together.

405

But though our missionaries received every possible
attention from the people among whom they continued
some time to travel, they experienced many inconve-
niences, and were exposed to serious dangers, in pros-
ecuting their journey through the wilderness. This
part of the country, which, in some places, was so ster-
ile, that neither a drop of water nor a blade of grass
was to be seen, abounded with lions, tigers, wolves, and
other ravenous animals ; the howling of which render-
ed it almost impossible for the brethren to obtain any
repose, though they were mercifully preserved from
their attacks. In addition to this, the nights and morn-
ings were severely cold and frosty, and on the 24th of
June, they observe, " the water in our calabashes was
completely frozen, the ink in the tent was also congealed,
and the drops of water spilt upon the mats, which served
us instead of a table, were, at breakfast time, and even
in the sunshine, turned to ice."

On their arrival at Graaf Reinet,the missionaries were
received with every mark of kindness by the landrost
and Mr. Ballot, the minister, with whom they consent-
ed to spend a few days ; but the former earnestly dis-
suaded them from attempting to cross the Great Fish
river into Caffraria ; urging the impracticability of it
at that time, and assuring them that their lives would
be exposed to the most imminent peril, both from
Caffres and Hottentots, who were mutually inflamed
against the Dutch and English. The minds of the
brethren, however, were too intently fixed upon their
important work, to suffer them to be intimidated by
these representations, though they resolved, in conse-
quence of the intelligence which they gathered fix)m
their friends, to conduct their plan with all possible
circumspection.

Having resumed their journey, and approached the
frontier of Caffraria, our missionaries sent a message to
Geika, the king of that partof the country, announcing
'their intention of paying him a visit ; and after a few
days, they received a very encouraging answer from him,
stating that he wished to see them as soon as possible,
and had sent them his tobacco-box, by way of passport,
as it would be recognized and respected throughout his
dominions, as a pledge of his favor and protection. He
warned them, however, against certain Caffre tribes,
whom he considered as rebellious subjects, and who
were associated for predatory purposes under an individ-
ual called captain Konga. By these freebooters, the
brethren, and the colonists who accompanied them, had
already been attacked and robbed of a considerable
number of their cattle ; and on the day after the return
of the messenger, a numerous body of the same tribe
appeared suddenly upon an adjacent mountain, and,
rushing down upon the travellers, with a horrible yell,
attempted to break in upon their wagons. A battle

406

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

ensued, which contiiiii(<d about an hour, aud terminated
in the retreat of the assailants ; but as some of their
number continued to follow the colonists on the side of
the mountains, and to harass their line of march, the
latter were under the painful iiccessity of leaving their
cattle a prey to their enemies.

On the 20th of September, our missionaries arrived,
•fter a toilsome and dangerous journey, at the place
of Geika's residence. Here they were surrounded by
about a hundred Caffres ; but no one seemed capable of
answering their inquiries. After the lapse of about ten
minutes, however, the king came forward , with a slow,
majestic step, and attended on each side by one
of his principal men. He was co\ered witli a long
robe of pantlier skin, and wore on his head a diadem
of copper, and another of beads : he had in his lian<l an
iron kiri, or club, and his cheeks and lips were paint-
ed red. He stopped about twenty paces from tiie
brethren, and one of his captains intimated to them that
this was the king. They tiien stepped forward, and he,
at the same time, advanced towards them, and extended
his right hand, but without speaking a word. His cap-
tains and women we. - ranged behind iiim, in the form of
a semicircle , and, at some distance, the rest of his people.
Dr. Vanderkenip, after returning the king's tobacco-
box fdled w ith buttons, inquired whether any person
were present who could speak Du;c!i ; but no answer
was returned to this question. In about a quailer of
an hour, however, a Dutch figitive, named Koenracd
Buys, arrived, dressed in the European fashion, and [
appointed by the king to act as interpreter. Through
the medium of this pers(m, Geika asked the missiona-
ries with what view they had undertaken liieir journey, i
and what they desired of him. Dr. Vanderkenip re-
plied, that tl'cy had come to instnict him and his sub- i
jects in matter wiiicii would render them truly liappv,
not only in the present life, hut even after death ; am!
the only favors they had to solicit were, that they
might be allowed to settle in the country, under his
royal protection, and tliai they might bo permitted to
return honie whenever they thought proper. In an-
swer to this the king observed, that they had coino at
a very unfavorable period ; as all the country was in
confusion, though he himself was desirous of peace,
and had no part in tlic hostilities which subsisted bf.^
twcen some of the Culfres and the colonists. He,
tiiorefore, advi.sed them not to think of staying with him,'
observing that ho was unable to entertain them siiiiahly ,
and, instead of cxn ndini!; his protection to them, he was
incapable of protecting himself To this Dr. Vander-
kemp answoreil that they were only private i)crsons.
desirous of providing for themselvos ; that, in respect
•n t.\r r.-iinmon caianiiiics of w,,r, »Uii..ii iin-y «iro
Bwaio could not be averted by an individual, they would

bear them with patience; and that they asked no
other protection than that which was enjoyed by the
meanest of the king's subjects. Geika, however, per-
sisted in advising them to quit the country j and the
conference terminated to the great disappointment of
the veteran, who, from his first engagement with the
London society, had set his heart on introducing the
gospel to the natives of Caffraria.

The presents which Dr. Vanderkemp had brought
from the colony for Geika were received with evident
pleasure, and, in return, the missionaries received a fat
cow. Within the space of two days, however, they
were informed that a Dutchman, named Piet Prinslo,
who, notwithstanding his aversion to their designs, had
accompanied them part of their journey, had sent a
message to the king, representing them as most dan-
gerous persons, possessing poisoned wine, and sent into
his country for the purposes of espionage and assassi-
nation. He, therefore, advised him to refrain from
tasting their wine, and urged him to keep them in con-
finement, till he should come and substantiate the
charges laid against them. This base and malignant
accusation made, as might naturally have been expected,
a deep impression on the mind of Geika, who now sul-
lenly refuBt'd either to give them permission to remain
in his territories, or even to state that they were at lib-
erty to depart. After a few days, indeed, the breth-
ren were told by Buys, the interpreter, that, in conse-
quence of his having spoken repeatedly en the subject,
the kirn; had refused to admit him into his presence ; and
it was by no means improbable that they (the mission-
aries) and all their companions might be put to death.
"All this evil," sriys Dr. Vanderkemp, " was nnput-
ed to m", as h.ivir,g led our people inf) these dangers ;
notwithstanding they kne-.v tliat 1 had repeated!) warn-
ed them against them, and that they had accompa-
nied me by their own choice. As for myself, I knew,
when 1 first camo into this country, that I entered it
having the sentence of death in myself, th;\t I should
not trust in myself, but in (i id, who raiseth the dead."
After mature deliberation, Buys, who now began to
consider his own safut;- very doibtful, sent a message
to the king, charging !iim with the want of even com-
mon respect both to himself and tlie missionaries, ami
siaiiiiL' that he and they had resolved on immediately
quilting his territories. Tli,s led to an interview, in
which (iiika ingeiumusly acknowlediiiMl that lie had
aried wrong; and to atone for his unkindnuss t > .ho
bretlnen, he granted them a tract of land on llie other
side of the river Keiskamnni, with full liberty to settle

there, or to leave the c itry whenever they might

conceive such a measure to bo expedient.

t»n tile WOtii ol October, the missionaries arrivcii at
the spot assigned for thei. resi<lence, which Dr. Van-

SOUTH AFRICA.

407

derkemp describes as " a beautiful field of grass, in the
middle of an amphitheatre of high mountains, inhabited
by numbers of Caffres, divided into different kraals."
At the foot of the mountains ran the river Guakooby,
affording most excellent water. The ascent of the
hills was covered with a profusion of trees, some of
which had attained to the height of a hundred feet :
above these were meadows of a vast extent, and beau-
tiful verdure, and the summit was crowned by an inac-
cessible forest. Here the doctor, with the assistance
of his colleague and their people, made preparations
for erecting a house, and began laying out a garden,
which he planted with peaches, apricots, currants,
gooseberries, raspberries, and a variety of other fruits.
Mr. Edmonds, however, did not feel inclined to re-
main in Africa, and, five months afterward, ho set out
on a journey to the cape, with the view of transferring
his services to the heathen in Bengal.

On the 7th of February, 1800, whilst Dr. Vander-
kemp was engaged in family prayer, king Geika enter-
ed the tent, and after the conclusion of the worsiiip, ho
said that he should probably at one time or another be-
come a Christian ; adding that his niotiier and another
woman were desirous of being instructed in tlio prin-
ciples of Christianity. In lifle more than two iuonths,
however, he ordered the doctor and his people to quit
the residence whicii he had assigned them, and to
remove to the river Debo ; and it was soon afterward
sufficiently obvious that he still viewed our missionary
with an eye of distrust and jealousy. " One day,"
says Dr. Vanderkemp, " lie came to us with about fifty
Cafi"res and Hottentots, having, as usual, thiir kross
about their shoulders, ond only a single club or assapiiy
in their hands ; but about two hundred oilit-rs lay con-
cealed in he woods around our encampment, com-
pletely armed with shields and darts, and prepared tut
»n engagement. Geiko told Mr. Buys, that the Hot-
tentois had iiuluccd him U> treat us as ms enemies, and
had rRporled that wo had s' nio evil desij i against him ;

but !:e was no.v conviiired, by our appeara !, that

this iccusation was uufoimded. It sfiMiied, however,
that the king's apprduMisions were oi.ly feigned, and
that ho really designed to have destroyed us, though
liis conscience had suspended the execution of his
sanguinary purpo'- for the present ; as one of his o-.vn
captains upiir !ded him o|M-nly, and in our presence,
with liis treacherous conduct in respect of us." About
three months after this occurrence, n fresh plot was
formed against the life of our missionary, who was de-
nounced •« a conspirator ImuIi against Geika and the
colonisli ; but by the overruling providence of God,

?*tT-? impi^Tij innmtrt; rxinrtlir^.

Amidst ■!! the iriaU with whiiih he was oxorcisod,
Ur. Vanderkemp apjiears to have paid the most unre-

mitting attention to the great object of his settlement in
this benighted land. Hence it appears from his
journals that he established a school for teaching
reading and writing in the Dutch and Caffre languages ;
held a conversational meeting twice a week ; and
preached frequently on the most important subjects.
Some of his discourses were abundantly blessed to sev-
eral Hottentot females ; and one of them, named Sarah,
afforded such satisfactory proof of the work of the Holy
Spirit, that the doctor felt no hesitation in admitting her
to thorite of baptism, together with her three children.
Of this woman an anecdote is related, which is not
only interesting in itself, but particularly worthy of
notice, as tending to illustrate the providential care of
a gracious God on the behalf of those who revere his
name, and are truly desirous of committing their con-
cerns unto him : —

Sarah had no sooner become the subject of a divino
change, than she was viewed with dislike and contempt
by those who were either hostile to, or, at least, unin-
fluenced by the gospel, whi:h she had found to bo the
word of salvation ; and as she happened to be in cir-
cumstances of indigence, her enemies had too many
opportunities of evincing their unkindness toward her.
On one occasion, this poor creature was in great dis-
tress, for want both of food and clothing ; and Dr.
Vanderkemp, with that humanity by which he was
so strongly characterized, requested one of the colo-
nists to sell him a couple of sheep, for the express
purpose of bestowing them upon Sarah and her little
family. When the man understood for whose use
these provisions were designed, he peremptorily re-
fused to part with them ; and the benevolent missionary
was, in this instance, disappointed of " the luxury of
doing good." Three days afterward, however, he car-
ried some pieces of iron to the house of his humble
hearer, telling her she might exchange them with the
Caffres, either for a cow or a quantity of corn ; and he
had then the pleasure of hearing that God had appear-
ed for his servant in a most unexpected manner. The
preceding day, whilst Sarah was attending the means
of grace, a woman sent her a joint of meat ; and the
same colonist who had recently dis);layed such want
of feeling, sent to inform her that thirteen of his sheep
had boon killed by falling from a rock, and that she
was at liberty to go and take them. " Thus," says
Dr. v., "the merciful Jesus, who had hoard her cries,
and those of her little ones, not only supplied them
with food, but furnished thcni with plenty of sheepskins,
to cover their bodies."

In the month of October, Ur. Vanderkemp received
ir.tormariori insi saran wss uiHiiil io i»u removed to a
distant part of the country. " I cannot easily express,"
says he, " how I felt, on seeing the first-fruit and hope

4oe

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

of a rising church taken from me, yet in the bud, nnd ex-
posed to all else malice of Satan and an evil world, with-
out any means of grace except what her Bible could
^Jbrd her. With her departed, also, two oilier Hot-
tentot females, of whom 1 had conceived great hopes."
A number of the colonists, considering themselves
no longer safe in CafiVaria, resolved to escape out of
that country under the pretext of elephant hunting ;
and a variety of circumstances ap{)earing to favor such
a measure. Dr. Vanderkemp, after much prayer and
•erious deliberation, resolved to accompany them.
They accordingly set out on the 31st of December,
accompanied by several Caifres. These, however, left
them on the 6th of January, 1801 ; and the travellers,
consisting of fifty-nine persons, pursued their route in
three wagons and a carl, having with them about
twenty-five hoi-scs, besides three hundred cattle, and a
considerable number of sheep and goats.

In the course of their journey, ihey experienced
much inconvenience, and were exposed to many and
imminent perils, particularly as the dreadof being dis-
covered at night by the savages, ralle<l Eastern Hush-
men, deterred them (Vom kindling the usual lire, and
thus exposed them to the lions and other beasts of
prey, with which this part of the country is infested.
On one occasion, indeed, they were attacked by a
parly of the natives, who, however, wer« fortunately
compelled to retreat : a number of their oatile wore
also carried away by a rapid stream ; and before tliey
reached the colony, the greater part of their horses
had been swept away by disease. Our *'eteran mis-
sionary, also, was exi>osed to several serio«i$ accidents ;
being kicked on the breast by a horse, stung in the
hack by a scorpion, and ex|x>sed to the most imminent
danger in attempting to fbnl a rirer. Out of nil these
calamities, however, both he and his fellow-travellers
were merciftdly delivered ; and, on the 14th of May,
they arrived in safety at Oraaf Reinet, where two new
missionaries, sent out to the assistance of Dr. Vander-
kemp, were anxiously waiting for an interview with
that devoted servant of Jesus.

" To my inexpressible joy," says the df>rtor. " I
found my brethren, Vandcr Lingen and Head, lodged
in a very comfortable h(m»o belonging to the church
of this village, and entertained by the commissioner
Maynier, who showed us imcomuion civilities. He
told mo that my slay with the migrated coliHiisis in
Caffl-nria hoii been the only obslacln by which the
marrh of a body of itnldiers lo seiase them had been
prevented ; as he foresnw thai this violent step would
liivi* exposed me to considerable danger."

The first morning after his arrival at (Jraaf Reinet.
UT. vsnavrKuiiij) ittCfivni a n»i; from the ciders of
the church, who were extremely desirous ihnt he

should take the pastoral charge of the colonists at that
station. To this proposal he could not accede, having
fully determined, by the divine permission, to conse-
crate his life and labors to the instruction of the hea-
then ; but after mature consideration, it was determin*
ed that Mr. Vander Lingen should occupy the vacant
situation, and that the doctor and his new colleague,
Mr. James Read, should devote their attention to the
evangelization of the Hottentots in the vicinity.

This arrangement having been sanctioned by the
commissioner Maynier, the missionaries began to apply
themselves sedulously to their important work, and the
measures adopted for the instructbn of the heathen
appeared likely to be crowned with early and consid-
erable success; but the prince of darkness, perceiving
that some of bis bond slaves were about to be rescued
from his cruel thraldom, raised a formidable oppositron
npiainst the heralds of divine truth. Under the false
pretence of h.iving been driven from their houses by
the Oaffres, a numerous body of armed colonists quitted
their farms and advanced towards Graaf Reinet, com-
plaining of the measures adopted toward the Hotten-
tots, and ihrentening to put an end to their instruction.
Having approached the village on lK>rseback, they
lia'ied at i sImmtI distance from it, and sent a message to
the commissioner, demanding that the Hottentots, who
had for a short time been instructed in the cliiirch
•very evening, should be admitted no more into that
sacred edifice, but that, to remove the contamination
already occosionod by their having assembled there,
the seats should be washed, and the pavement broken
up ; and that the |)ul|>it should be covered with black
cloth, in token of mourning k.t the want of a regular
clergyman.

The missionaries were no sooner appnsed of these
demands, than they intimated lo the commissioner
their reailiness lo mnke any sacrifice which might pro-
vent an effusion of bloo«l ; and staled that they would
cheerfully leave the church, and instruct their Hoitcn-
lot hearers in some other plaie. This, in fact, they did
the same evening; and as some other concessions were
granted, a hope was entertained ijiat matters would
now have tenninaled amicably. As it appeared, how-
ever, the next innining, that the insurgents were by
no means soli^tied, Mr. Lyndcn, the commander of
the trcKipo, inf<)rnie<l them thai he would wait ill! one
o'clock at noon, in order lo allow ihem lo come to ■
friendly tmderslanding with the commissioner, but
ihnmiened, if liiey persisted in their obstinacy till thai
time, he v/imU\ attack ihem without further delay. It
seems this oHieer hod only twenty-one light dragcNins,
eighty ariiwd lloilentots, nineteen I'andours, and
four pieces of oninance at iiis disposnj. Of ilu".i',
however, ho made tlie best disposition, drawing up the

line of bat^'e m the form of a cescem ; the right, con-
8«t.ng of the Hottentots, bearing against the viJlage,-

placed before the front on the left, and the dragoons

TThT ' ""T- .'^'"'"'•^ ^y '''«'" preparaSons.
the rebels retreated, after vainly attempting to pro-

cure a longer time for deliberation ; and, a few days

afterward, by the intervention of Dr. Vanderkemp

dusio" "''^"^"^ '"^ ^^ ^""^'" '^ ' 1'"*='^'= <=°"-
Though peace was thus concluded without an appeal

to anus, u was unfortunately of short duration ; as, in

consequence of Dr. Vandcrken.p and Mr. Ik-ad hav-
ing made a short visit to CafTraria, by desire of the
co.n.n.ss.oner, the discontent of the colonists was again
excaed ; and they actually cin^ulated a paper in which

hey stated that the ...issionaries had bLn atten.pting
to sttr up Ge.ka agamst the.n, and called upon thei?
countrymen to march a second time against Graaf
Kemet. Accordingly, on the 2M of October, the
bre hren whdst sittmg at supper, hear.l seven or eight
shots Cred by the msurgents upon a patrol of dragoons •
and at an early hour the next morning, as Dr. Vander-
kemp was going to the water, to wash some linen, he
perceived a multitude of Hottentot women and chil-
w": T'ZlT !''" "'-■'S'''^"''S kf""!" toward the

of the.r flight he saw that the rebels had completely
surroundod the village, and were advancing from
every ,,uarter. The great guns of the barrJs and
redoubt were immediately opened upon them, but
without lutimulating them in tho least, and the firiuR
continue,! on both sides with few intervals till sunset
Some houses, which the insurgents took possession of,
.^ere burnt by the troops ; and it seemed likely at one
«"..e that the whole village would have been laid in
ruins Divine Providence, however, n.creifully avert-
ed this calamity, and, during the nigh,, ,h„ rebels
thought proper to retreat. Dr. Vandurkomp, also,
escaped, on this occasion, without injury ; though on
two srparate occasions, during the engag.mient, he had
occasion to pass within a short distance of the enemy
who discharged several shots at him.

In the month of February, lHl)i, Dr. Vanderkomp
•ud Mr. Read quitted Graaf Heine,, and proceeded,
with a hundred and nine Hottentots under the escort
of major Sherlock, to Jlou Place, in ,he vi,i„i,y of
Alg,« bay. where «,, extensive farm had i,een granted
Jor the pur,Kise of . musjonary setilemrnt, by the
kmdness o( general Dundas, the governor of the
c«pe ; who not only cordially approved the idea of
Civdiiiug the »«iivos,by nmkina them »^,„,ai.... i ..;...
ine truihs 01 Christianity, but evinced his >cal in the
IOO.I ctuoe, by sending forward . ,,uanti,y of rice and
Vol.. !.—,%„,. , 15 jli ;jO. ^^

SOUTH AFRICA.

409

such other articles as the brethren were most likely to
want, immediately aAer their arrival

"At this place," says Dr. Vanderkemp, « we found
an abundance of gras,. Umber and limestone ; a dTX
".g-house. consistmg of three rooms ; another house,
fit for a church and school ; and a third, which we
fitted up as a printing-office. I gave to every famUy
eight hundred square paces of land, to build a house
on.and to make a kitchen garden. Every morning and
evening we met together in the school, for our family
worship m which I read a chapter out of ,he S
ture,and explained ,t . Twice a day we gave instruc-
tions m reading and writing. I preached'once „nTlL
sabbath, and catechized every Wednesday and Satur-
uay aUernoon and evening."

There was now apparently reason to hope that a
permanent settlement would be formed on this spot
wbici. might be productive of great advantages to U,e
aeighbormg heathen. Trials and afflictions, however,

to trust the wisdom of the Providence whose myste-
rious dealings they found themselves incapable of
explaining. '

Shortly after the arrival of the missionarieb at Bota
flace, some severe diseases, occasioned by the stae-
nated waters in tlie vicinity, began toappear among the
Hottentots; and Dr. Vanderkemp was attacked with a
diarriHBa and an intermi„ing fever, followed by a vio-
lent riieumatic a.Tection, which totally suspended his
wonted hilwrs, and confined hiin to his bed for several
months. The new institution was also viewed with
feelings of jealousy and hatred by the neighboring
colonists, who professed to consider it as an asylun.
for thieves and murderers, and represented the breth-
ren as persons disposed to favor the predatory CalTres
Oiul Hottentots, without any regard to the safely of
the peaceable inhabitants of the country. In alluding
to the base and unfounded charges of these persons
Dr V anderkonip observes, " The truth is. we never
hadliio lensi connection with any of the phinderinit
pun.es. bu, merely received into our institution such
as separated themselves from them, and, from aversion
to their former habits, ruine d„ily ,o us, to hear the
word of Gml. mill to rondun themselves peaceably
nrcordm^ to our rules. In consecp.ence of this, how'
ever, we received an order from government, prohibit-
m us from receiving any more HoitePtots, or having
any ccmnc-ction with the tribes on .no S-nduy river.
W P were thus, to our great sorrow, compelled to refuse
adimssH,., to many of these unfortunate people, prin-
cipally uomon and childre.i ; who. nevertheless, chose
rai::cr ir. iiv« „i ii.« wchmIs among the brutes, than to
return to thojr respective tribes."
On the ronriu'^ion of peace between England and

410

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

France, the Cape \ras restored by the former power
to the Dutch. Premusly, however, to the resigna-
tion of his government, general Dundas paid a visit to
the brethren at Bota Place, and after slating that cir-
cumstances would compel him to remove the garrison
from Fort Frederick (a station almut seven miles
distant), he advised them, with a view to their future
security, either to remove their institution to that for-
tress, or to accompany him to the Cape, and defer the
instruction of the Hottentots till the country should be
in a more tranquil situation. The first of these pro-
posals they declined, for a variety of reasons, but re-
served the right of availing themselves of it, in the
event of their being unable to remain at their present
settlement. And with respect to the second, both the
missionaries expressed a determination to remain with
the objects of their anxious solicitude, even though
certain death should be the consequence. The gov-
ernor, therefore, desisted from his persuasions, and
returned to the Cape, after presenting them with six
thousand pounds of rice, six casks of salted meat, two
hundred sheep, one hundred and fifty-five black rattle,
eleven milch cows, three wagons, a corn-mill, a pair
of bellows for a forge, and various agricultural im-
plements.

Alwut a week after the governor's departure, the
settlement was attacked, in the middle of the night,
by a troop of plundering Hottentots, who, after repeat-
edly discharging their muskets, took away all the
cattle belonging to the brethren. One of the most
esteemed nadves belonging to the station approached
these ruthless invaders, and addressed them in a con-
ciliatory manner; but they cried," I<ook ! there roinos
a peacemaker ; shoot him I kill him !" and the poor
fellow immediately received a ball in iiis leg. They
then made an assault u|>on the residence of the mis-
sionaries, probably designing to sacrifice them to their
vengeance ; and with this view they employed the
cattle, in the manner of the Caffres. Some newly-
sawn pianks, however, had been providi-ntially laid be-
tween the house of the briuhren and th" next to it, and
these intimidated the beasi!«, so that, instead of stepping
over them, tl'ey turned aside, and left the robbers
completely <'X|tosed. At this juncture, the inhabitants
of the settlement fired among them in seir-defence ;
and, though it was ini|K)siible to take any particular
aim, owing to the darkncAii of the nigiit, the chief of
the plundering parly was wound<-d in the ihigh, and,
the great artery lieing divided, the effusion of blood was
so great, that ho expired in f few mimiles. On finding
that he had breathed his last, the whole troop retreat-
ed with precipitaticm, leaving b«*liiiid them all the rat-
tle, e»;epl eighteen, which had beon driven off at the
•ominencement of the assault.

"The next night," says Dr. Vanderkemp, «'w»
were again surrounded by enemies ; but, on finding
that we had removed our cattle from the kraal into a
square which was surrounded by the houses, and barri-
catloed at all the entrances, they left us unmolested.
Two days afterward, however, they returned with t
reinforcement, and a'.tacked us in the middle of the
day, and drove away our cattle from the pastures,
after having stabbed one of our wood-cutters, who had
gone into the wood to pray." The patience of the
inhabitants being now exhausted, they rushed out in a
body vipon the robbers, and attacked them with such
fury that they were soon compelled to consult their
safety by flight ; and the whole of the cattle were
happily brought back to the settlement, with the ex-
ception of eight oxen, which had been killed or mor-
tally wounded.

It was considered no longer safe to remain at Bota
Place, a; j enemy , though driven off for the present,
might Si.on return with a force too great to bo success-
fully resisted. The missionaries, therefore, with the
consent of their people, removed their institution to
Fort Frederick, until the new government might assigit
some other sjwt for their residence.

Notwithstanding their removal, the situation of our
missionaries was still extremely unpleasant and trying;
partly from the wretched state of their own people,
for want of food, clothing, and other necessaries ; and
partly fnmi the hostile conduct of the boors, or farmers,
whom general Dundas had left in possession of tho
fort till the Dutch should arrive. Those ungodly
wretches were sworn enemies to tho brethren, and
would, no doubt, have fell gratified by imbruing
their hands in their blood. As they were afraid to
attack them, however, they embrnced every opportu-
nity of seiy.ing their property, and that of their people;
and, in some instances, even children were stolen by
tliem, and sent to a distant part of tho country. They
also employed the basest means to seduce tho Houen-
tots into drunkenness, fornication, and other vices, and
to inspire them with contempt for the religion of Christ ;
and, in addition to all these enormities, they barba-
rously murdered two of ihe persons belonging to the
institution.

On the I8th of April, 1803, major Von Oelter
arrived in Algoa bay, with a small b«)dy of troops, to
assume tho command of tho fort ; and on the second
nf tho ensuing month, the missionaries received a visit
from governor Jansens, who had undertaken a tour
thniugh the country, in order to ascertain the real
causes of tho anarchy which had now for a long lime
sulMiisted in this part of the colony. It seemed that
his excellency had J»een strongly prejudiced against the
brethren by the base and unrounded representation*

BETHEI.SOORP,

rfthe enemies of religion ; but he was soon convinced
of the utility of their labors, ami kindly assigned them
• tract of land for a settlement, about seven miles
northward of Fort Frt-derick, and in the vicinity of a
•mall nver which the Hottentots call tlio KooIhw.

Of the principal occurrences at this phuo, as well as
of the events lonnocled with other stations in South
Africa, It will now bo necessary, for the sake of per-
spicuity, to give n brief but connected history.

411

nCTHELSDORP.

tin U.. dlrtriol of Uii,„|..ff., r„«r hu«a„.| .„.| fifty ...n,. ,„,„„j
of Cap* Town.]

On their arrival nt the new sttilion, to which l)r
Vanderkemp gave the „„me „f H,thrf>iforp, or .he
V,Uageofttc,hrl, they found it nmch hoahhicr than
Bota I lace, and affording better pn.siurngo Imtj. for
sheep and oxen. Water and firo-w„od, however, weio
less abundant than they could have desire.! ; nn.l there
was, unfortunotely, no timber in the neighborhoo.i

Having marked out a plot of ground, two h.nuirod u,u!
forty paces in length, and one hundre.l aii.l forty-four in
breadth, they divided il into dilferent allotmenls li,r the
famihos under their care, and gave the iiiinie of Ihlhel
fountatn to the stream which ran through ihe ini.idj,. of
the settlement. They then erected « temporary elunrh,
and houses for iheir own aceonmio iiion, ihe walls
and roofs beuig chiefly comilmcted ofteed.s ; and in the
beginning of July, .hey were enabled to commen.e
pub...- worship, and to open a school for the instruction
of vouth in the humlilo edifice which they had reareil
for the service of (Jod, who hath promise.!, tliat, in
et-ery place where his name in rec.rded, lie will
come unto his adoring people, and give tlu<m liis
blessing.

In Ihe r.-port of their prcK-eedings eo.mminicaled to
the .hroeiors of the Ix.ndon society, the mis.sionarics
observe, " The work of God, to the glory of his „„,„,.
has ihii year (IH(KJ) been very CMi.spiru.uis. !l,.ai|„.„
darkness ha-, lle.l before the light of ih,. ^o,,,,.!, n,„i
llie power of converting grace has triiimplied over tlie
tyronny of Satan in the heorts of M-veral of those
|.«gans to whom we Imve be.Mi cail.-d to preo.-li ilie
word rf Christ , an.!, among (he.e, brother CJupido
de»<!ivc» i.. ita particularly mentioned :—

' Be(i>r.. his conversion, C^ipido -va, a most not,,.
rier, ».„ur, famous forswearing, lying, figh.ing. »„,|
espe,.a||y drunkenness ; which, in conse.juence of th«,
weakness ofhinconstitution. fre.njonily kid hl!!-.:-.n= ,;. '-
Ix'd. On siii-li o(!casions, ho invariably resolv...! to almir.
d«.n tins .|..^r«dillg sin, and to lead a sober life ; but no

sooner did lii« health return, than his besetting tin tinin
prevailed. He wassometimeatfraid of the angerofcLl.
though he knew him not, and expeoted that hi. conduct
would lead to the destruction of his soul. He there-
fore, anxiously inquired of all ho met !iy what means he
might be freed from the crime of drunkenness, con-
reiving that ho might be easily delivered from all
other sins. Some directed him to apply to witches
and wizards ; but these were miserable comforters, for
Ihey told hrni that the very inquiries which he made
evinced that ho was near death. Otlicra prescribed
various kinds of medicines, which he took with avidity •
but all proved in vain. At length, being providentially'
Ud to Oraaf Romot,lio heanl.in a disc.nirse delivered
.y Mr. Vander Lingen, that Jesus Christ, the Son of
l^od, was able to save sinners from all their sins Ha
nnmcliately said within himself, ' That is what I want I'
and soon afterwards united himself to the missionary
nistiiution, that ho might hear something more of this
l>los,sou Jesus. In hi, .ubsoqueut attendance on the
n.eans of grace, under Ur. Vanderkemp, the secrets
of Ins heart wore laid open: ho was taught to seek an
'"tercst in (Christ, and is now become one of our mosi
/.ealou.s fellow hilwrors, earnestly recommending Christ
10 In.s fellow men, as ihu only remedy for sin."

Of .im.iher convert, named Hoeank, it is stated, that
wlieii he lu„ visi.e.1 the brethren, ho was in n most dis-
grn,.e(.il Male ..f inloxication, and they were serimisly
rtlra.d tlial he might .seduce some of tlioir people. Hi,
nltentioii, however, was s.Km excited by .he irmlis of
II"' gospel, and, after some time, ho applied to Dp
Vaiulerkemp for a.lvie,< and consohilioii un.ler great
d..stre.ss of .oul. On this occasion ho slate.!, in his
simple language, iliat " lie ha.l go. two hearts •• and
l)rtM-ee.!e.l, i„ the nu i nlfecliiig ,n„,„u,r. .0 d...cribe
lluit inl.'rnul cndi.'i «hich is so accurately d.-lineated
in Ihe S<-ripl,ires of irulh, and ,0 fr.M|uenlly mourned
over by every genuine believer. In him, h..w,.vcr, llm
I'ower .)f divme grii.e prove.l viciorious, ami liis heart
one.. Ih.. aho.!,. of .-very baleful lust, beam.- n l.abi-'
lalion ol (;.„| ihnnigh the Spirit, bein^ fille.l with /,eol
or Ihe honor of it... Re.leemer, an.l over»l..wing with
love 10 lii» coimirymen. among wh..m lie l...gaii lo
preach the unseHrchable riches of Christ with c.nsider-
al'le occepian.-e.

Another im.tance of the success which attended the

faillifu! laliors ..f il uHsionnries among t!.u heaiheu,

in litis pan of Afii.a, appears in ihe occounl of a Hot-'

"'" "" •' «•""•'"", who, for several years, hud been

exiremely anxious lo obtain some knowledge of divine
Ihings.bui liH.I met with no one capable ..f giviiiR hint
iiir i!iriinTj.iii„i. f.,1 wiii.li jie ihirsted. From Iha time
thai the United Hrrthren seiiled ihemselv.-s ul Mniinn's
Kh...f, ho tried every means lo got oui of survico, in

Its

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

order that he might be able to visit them ; but all his
attempts proved ineflTectual. In the midst of the com-
inotions in the district of Graaf Reinet, and whilst
some of the boors were flying from their houses, Sam-
son was falsely accused of having betrayed their
intended route to the English. For this imaginary
crime, he was immediately put in irons, and sentenced
to be killed the next morning. During the night,
however, he contrived to break his chains, and happily
escaped to the missionaries, by whom he was readily
and afieclionately instructed in the things pertaining to
his everlasting peace. From this time he became a
most attentive hearer of the word of God ; and in the
spring of 1803, he was admitted to the rite of baptisni ;
after which he became a useful auxiliary to the breth-
ren, in explaining the gospel to his countrymen, and
in earnestly admonishing them to flee from the wrath
to come.

In their occasional hunting excursions, the native
converts seem to have embraced every opportunity of
conversing both with their own countrymen and the
Dutch colonists on the subject of their eternal interests ;
and in the month of September, 1804, the well-timed
and faithful remarks of Boezak appear to have made a
considerable impression on the minds of three Hotten-
tots, and a young peasant, named Bromhout. On a
subsequent hunting expedition, tiiis useful auxiliary of
tiie brethren narrowly escaped being killed by an
elephant. He and two of his companions, having shot
a female, were busily employed in cutting the animal
to pieces, when the male approached them so secretly
behind the b'lshes that they did not observe liini till
he got within twenty pares of the spot where they
were standing. Two of the hunters imnudiately fled ;
but Bopzak fired, and wounded the elephant in the
breast. The infuriated animal immediately rushed
towards him with n dreadful shriek, and woidd have in-
evitably sacrifired him to his vengeance ; but at this
critical moment the men who had retreated providen-
tially turned hack, ond despatched the elephant by
their shots.

On the 2'lih of April, IPO.'i, in consequence of the
false representations and unfounded charges of the
Dutch boors, who lienrti!) detested the missionaries,
and earnestly desired their destruction. Dr. Vanderkeinp
received an order from governor .lansens to repair to
Cape Town without delay. This produced a general
dejection among the people ; and when they heard ihni
their venerable tearher was to he accompanied by his
colleociie.Mr. Head, their grief was naturally increas-
ed Providentially, however, they were in no dangler
c'l being left destitute of innruction, as Messrs.
Ulbriclu and Tromp, two brethren sent out by the
Dutch society, had arrived at Bcthelsdorp oIkjiU

three days previous to the governor's communi-
cation.

Tlie day before their departure, Dr. Vanderkemp
addressed his little flock from those affecting words
which David uttered when the unnatural rebellion of
Absalom compelled him to abandon his capital : " If
I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will
bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation :
But if he say, I haveoo delight in thee, behold, here
am I ; let him do to me as seemeth good unto him."
In the evening, Mr. Read spoke from Rev. xxi. 6 :
" It is done : I am Alpha and Omega ; the beginning
and the end." And the impression which was made
by each of these discourses may be much easier con-
ceived than described.

The next morning. Dr. Vanderkemp and Mr. Read
set out on their journey, after taking a most tender
farewell of their people, the greater part of whom
followed them to a considerable distance ; and when,
at length, they interchanged the last adieus, and grad-
ually began to return, one girl persisted in stopping
with her beloved teachers, declaring that she would
rather throw herself beneath the wheels of the wagon,
and be crushed to pieces, than consent to leave them.
The aflfectionate creature was, therefore, admitted
among the travellers, and arrived safely with them at
the cape, on the third of June.

During their detention at this place, the prospects
of the brethren appear to have been very gloomy, as
Dr. Vanderkemp observes in a letter, dated December
8, 1805: — "Our frequent applications to the governor
for permission to return to our congregation at Bethels-
dorp, or to continue our missionary work in any other
district of the colony, or to undertake an exploratory
excursion into the countries beyond its limits, have all
been rejected, on account of the outcries of the boors
against us, representing us as in the interest of the
f^nglish, and, therefore, likely to produce a dangerous
influence upon the minds of the nativas."

All things now seemed to make against the prosecu-
tion of the mission, and both Dr. Vanderkemp and his
colleague fully ex])ected tJiat they should very soon
le uiider the necessity of leaving the country. Tlio
flod, however, to whose service they were devoted,
••ad otherwise determined; and, when all hope appear-
ed to be cut off", deliverance was nigh at hand. On
the 4th of January, 1806, a British fleet "ppeared off
tin roast ; and the troops Iiavinc landed, a lew days
afterward, under the command of sir David Buird,
the Dutch retreate' after • short resistance, and the
British rolor.^ were hoisted in the capital. After the
cn'iituktion iif ih«> town, sir David sen! for Dr. Van-
derkem|>, and trnated iiim with every mark of respect
nnd |)olitencss. He even took him with him to sec thf

BETHELSDORP.

Hottentot prisoners of war, and left it to him to de-
termine whether they should be liberated. He, soon
afterwards, gave the doctor permission to return to
Bethelsdorp, and, for that purpose, granted him one
of the wagons taken from governor Jansens ; but Mr.
Read, at his particular desire, went by sea. " Little
did I think," says Mr. R. " that this circumstance
would have afforded me an opportunity of seeing my
desire upon my enemy. A few days before the arrival
of the British fleet, however, a French privateer had
been driven on shore by an English frigate near the
Cape ; and one day, when tacking, we came very near
her, just as I was telling the captain of my having
been captured in the Duff by the Grand Buonaparte.
' There, then,' said he, pointing to the stranded vessel,
'lies your enemy; for that is the ship which was
cruising on the coast of South America in the last war.'
My feelings on the occasion," adds Mr. Head, " were
more than I can express : all my former trials were
brought to my recollection, and I could only wonder
at the way in which the Lord had led me." It is
pleasing to add, that both the missionaries arrived in
safety at Bethels, irp, and were received by their
beloved people with the most enthusiastic tokens
of joy. " Even the old Hottentot women, who
could scarcely leave their houses," says Mr. Read,
" made their appearance on this occasion, to join ihe
general acclamation of clapping of hands ; and I was
almost afraid of being smothered under their caresses."
Thus were the machinations of the enemies of the cross
defeated ; and thus were the devoted heralds of mercy
happily restored to the scene of tlieir labors.

About six months after his return from the Cape,
Dr. Vanderkemp experienced a striking instance of
the providential care of his heavenly Father. A
heavy frame of wood, which some workmen were
raising upon a house under the suporiiitcndence of the
veteran missionary, acridcp^ally 'lippod from tfie part
on which it rested, and struck him severely on the
head, wounding hitn in several places. Such, indeed,
was the violence of the blow, that the blood gushed out
of his nose and mouth, and one of his teeth was
literally forced out of the jaw ; yet his life was liniipily
preserved. Another and still more remarkable escape
is noticed in the report of the following year, 1807.
" It happened," say the missionaries, " that the horns
of one of our oxen became cntauglnl with the horns of
another, which were bent like those of ihfcnt'!e!)e!on!;-
ing to the Caffros ; mid it was impossiblo, therefore, to
separate them without binding he animals, and throwing

them upon the ground." As soon as they weri! loosed
1... .i._ .._:. I «<r.... c .i.« I .1 V i__i 1

f^ rtirr •»i!rt — t r:?**tt- v* -r*- •»i-:r;irtT * ttlltirrr.rilip arm

Ulbricht, with others, the beasts sprang up full of fury.
The spectators immediately fled ; but one of the oxen

413

overtook the venerable doctor, and taking him between
ite horns, threw him to a distance of several paces.
In the fall, one of his legs was grazed, and his hip was
writhed in such a manner that he was unable, for some
days, to lift it up.

Eariy in September, 1809, the old church at Beth-
elsdorp, having been weakened by the removal of an
adjoining house, began to give way ; and one evening,
whilst Mr. Ulbricht was preaching, it gave a sudden
crack, and partly fell in ; whilst the hearers fled in all
directions, and in the utmost confusion. Happily, how-
ever, no serious misfortune occurred, and the next day
the crazy edifice was propped up, so as to admit of the
congregation assembling there, till a more durable
structure could be raised. " Our people," say the
brethren, " had long since offered their services for
the erection of a new church ; but, unfortunately, the
necessity for building occurred at a very unfavorable
time of the year, provisions being extremely scarce.
On the 11th of September, however, we began, some
to lay the foundation, and others to cut wood, &c.
The walls were carried up with mud and strong posts,
seven feet high and eight inches thick, and the thatch
was put on by the end of the month ; so that, on the
30th, we were enabled to perform divine service in it,
and the old one was pulled down."

In the month of April, 1811, Dr. Vanderkemp and
Mr. Read arrived at Cape Town, having been sum-
moned to appear before an extraordinary commission,
which had been appointed by the governor, lord Cale-
don, to afford their assistance in the investigation of
numerous cljarges of cruelty and murder committed
in the vicinity of Bethelsdorp ; complaints of which
had been repeatedly made by the missionaries. They
communicated to the commissioners more than a hun-
dred cases of Hottentots said to have hern murdered
since the establishment of the institution at Bethels-
dorp. In consequence of this information, his excel-
lency directed thai «iie commissioners should person-
ally visit the several districts in which these enormities
were alleged to have been perpetrated. Notwithstcnd-
iiig this noble act of justice on the part of his lordship,
however, but few of the cases could be ultimately sub-
stantiated by legal evidence ; as it was scarcely possible
to obtain the testimony of one colonist against another,
and, by the Dutch code, the oath of a Hottentot was
inadmissible.

On the 13th of September, five German brethren,
together with G. Comer, a converted black, from
Demarara, arrived in safety at the Cape, having sailed
from Portsmouth on the 3Ist of Juno.and were gladly
receive;! cy iiic iiiiSsioriiinca 6ri.7 Dy liii iiiuiius «m
religion nt large.

It now became a business of no small care and ira-

414

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

porUnce, in their peculiar circumstances, to dispose
of all the missionaries in a suitable manner. At length,
however, an arrangement was determined upon, and
partly executed, when an event, one of the most dis-
tressing which the London Missionary Society had
hitherto been called to lament, occurred ; viz. the
heavy loss of their venerable and apostolic mis-
sionary. Dr. Vanderkemp. His health had been visi-
bly on the decline for some time past, and his friends
contemplated, with painful apprehensions, hb project-
ed mission to Madagascar. That populous and long-
neglected island had, for many years, engaged the
attention of this pious man, and he longed to commu-
nicate to its numerous inhabitants the invaluable bless-
ings of the gospel. Application had been made to
his excellency lord Caledon for his consent and
assistance, which was kindly promised. But, on the
removal of that nobleman, it was necessary to obtain
the same countenance from his successor, sir John
Cradock. Dr. Vanderkemp also waited to know the
determination of his brother Pacalt, then at Bethels-
iJorp, who had proposed to accompany him. After
nome time, a concurrence of favorable circumstances
fleemed to indicate that the door of faith was about to
be opened to the heathen of Madagascar. But whilst
the doctor was anticipating his removal to this new
field of labor, the Lord of missions saw fit to call him
home to the enjoyment of eternal rest.

After despatching some of the brethren to their
appointed stations, ho was taken ill in the morning of
Saturday, December the 7th. On the preceding
evening, his exhortation, and especially his prayer,
was much noticed by his friends ; and, in the morning,
his exposition of a chapter was peculiarly acceptable.
Having concluded the devotions of the family, he told
his friend, Mrs. Smith,* who has been justly styled
" a mother in Israel," that he felt extremely weak,
and wished he might have time afforded him to settle

• It would be almott unpardonable to ipeak or write of Bethel*-
dorp, and not make lionorablr mention of that venerable woman,
Mrt. Matilda Smith. Tlio reader ii referred to a moat intereiting
biography of thia eminentrhriitian, written by the Ke». Dr. I'hilip,
and publiahed by J. Weatley, London. It haa, unfortunauly, never
been reprinted in the United 8UU-a. A review of the work ia con-
tained in Oie.*m«r.Wm Hapl,.^l Magaiine for 1890, p 909. Mra. Smith
eapouaed the niiiHinnary came when othera abandoned it Thua,
when Ur. Vanderkemp waa exiled by the Dutch government, aha
felt for the little band at neth.ladorp, left her comforUble home at
the Cape, and offired her aervicea, to lupply, (afar aa poaaible, the
place of Uie baniahed miniaU-r. Her compaaaion and leal embraced
many objecU. She op..ned a aabbalh and day achool for the Capo
Town •Uvea ; inatituled an African Miaaionary Society auiiliary to
that of London ; formed a bcIi.k)1 at Betheladorp for tlie Hottentot
femalea, which waa prcMluctive of tlie moat nappy reaulU ; in IHIO,
•et on foot the Ca|>e Ladiea' Smiety for the Relief of the Poor ;'
»nd, in IHI3, iihe commenced a Juvenile Miaaionary B.K-iety ; and
*"r itidrr-J she prnvrd i ,„.,IU,-, ,„ i.raei. Mra. ttniith died 16Ui
November, I*J1, at the age of 74.

his temporal concerns. This desire, however, was
not granted. He was immediately seized with a cold
shivering, succeeded by a continued and fatal fever, by
which all his powers were so completely oppressed,
that he was scarcely able to speak, even in answer to a
question. About two days before his death, and when
that event was fully expected, both by himself and his
friends, Mrs. Smith said to him, " My dear friend,
what is the present state of your mind ?" To which,
with a pleasing smile on his countenance, he replied,
" All is well !" She again asked, " Is it light or dark-
ness?" He answered, "Light !" He continued sensi-
ble to the last ; but extreme weakness disabled him
from consoling and instructing his Christian friends
who surrounded him. On the Lord's day morning,
December 15, he closed his eyes on this world, and
departed to the realms of light, to behold himj in
his glory, whom he had so faithfully and successfully
preached upon earth.

The directors, in their annual report for 1812, dis-
claim the idea of attempting to eulogize this faithful
and devoted servant of Jesus. " His character," say
they, " is seen and read of all men, in his piety, self-
denial and apostolic labors. As it was emphatically
written, by way of epitaph, on the tomb of a cele-
brated architect, in the noble edifice which he had
reared, < Cikcumspice' {Look around), so, when it
shall be inquired by the world, ' What was the charac-
ter of Dr. Vanderkemp ?' the Missionary Society will
point to the South African missions, to Bethelsdorp,
and to a church of the living God erected in a wilder-
ness of savages, and say, 'Behold his character;
admire and imitate !' "

In consequence of the death of Dr. Vanderkemp,
and the increasing number and importance of th«ir
missionary stations in South Africa, the directors felt
anxious to send out one of their own body, to regulato
the concerns of the society in that part of the globe.
After some time, they were fortunate enough to induce
the Rev. John Campbell, of Kingsland, to undertake
this labor of love ; and on the 24lh of October, 1812,
that faithful servant of Christ arrived at the Cape,
where he was favored with the most friendly inter-
course with the colonial government.

On the 20th of March, in the ensuing year, he
arrived at Betliulsdorp, to the great joy both of the
brethi-en and their Hottentot congregation ; and here
he witncs.s((l a nmch greater degree of civilization
than he had been led to anticipate, from the reports
in circulation, on his arrival at Cnpe Town. The
unfounded and cnlmnnious representations of Liclifen-
stein were in fact completely disproved ; for, instead
as -the utiiiiy of the institution being lost, by llio
ot»fr pioiu spirit and prouil humilily of its head"

BETHELSDORP.

(Dr. Vanderkemp), and instead of "no attention hav-
ing been paid to give the people proper occupations,"
Mr. Campbell found many of the natives at Bethels-
dorp exercising the businesses of smiths, carpenters,
sawyers, basket-makers, brick-makers, thatchers, coop-
ers, lime-burners, mat-manufacturers, stocking-makers,
tailors, &c. &c. He also saw cultivated fields extend-
mg two miles in length, on both sides of a river, and
was informed that their cattle had increased from two
hundred and eighteen to two thousand two hundred
and SIX ; and that from three to four hundred calves
had been produced in a year, of which not more than
fifty had been allowed to be slaughtered within the
sam- space of time. The blessed effects of religion
were likewise displayed at this grossly slandered set-
tlement, in a variety of benevolent institutions formed
among the Hottentots. They had a fund for the relief
of the sick and indigent, which amounted to two hun-
dred and fifty rix dollars, and they had recently proposed
erecting a house for the reception of part of their poor.
They had, also, a common fund, for the purpose of
improving the settlement, amounting to one hundred
and thirty dollars, and about thirty head of cattle ;
and, in addition to ail this, they had contributed, dur-
ing the preceding twelve months, the sum of seventy-
six dollars in aid of the London Missionary Society.

To prove to demonstration that this picture is by
no means overdrawn, it is only necessary to advert to
the payment of two years' taxes, demanded by the
colonial government, and paid by the Hottentots; of
which the following interesting account is given by
Mr. Read, in a letter dated April 9, 1815.

" Remonstrances," says this missionary, " having
proved in vain, the only alternative was for our people
to exert themselves to the utmost, in order to raise the
money. Accordingly, they dispersed themselves, and
applied, some to hewing and sawing timber, and others
to beating bark, and burning charcoal. The smith,
the wheelwright, the carpenter, &c. all exerted them-
selves to comply with the demand made on them and on
their poorer relations ; so that, at the appointed lime,
the tax was paid, amounting to three thousand rix
dollars, or about seven hundred pounds. And on the
following day, a regular atixiliary society was proposed
and established for this settlement, in consequence
of many of the natives having long expressed a desire
to do something more for thecauseof Christ than they
had hitherto done Twelve of the members were
chosen to form a committee, and subscriptions were
immediately made to the amount of eight hundred rix
dollars, or about one hundred and sixty pounds !"

In the iT.onth of Octnhor. Iftl7 fli» r„^.,:A~~.:.i
- — . — ., — J ,.,.,^,j„,

care of the Almighty over some of the Hottentots

belonging to this insthution was strikingly displayed.

415

Three soldiers belonging to the African corps had
robbed a wagon between Algoa bay and Bethelsdorp,
and afterwards murdered the keeper of a canteen, or
httle public house, on the side of the road. The latter
wanton and cruel outrage was reported at the vUlage
by a Hottentot ; and twelve of the natives wereirame-
diately ordered to accompany him to the canteen. A
company of fanners, mistaking these men for the
assassins, endeavored to shoot them ; but none of their
pieces would go off. Immediately after, the landrost
arrived, and desired that some of the Hottentots might
search for the murderers. They did so, and, after some
time, found them concealed in a bush. " When the
soldiers saw our people," says one of the mission -.ries,
" they attempted, three several times, to fire at them, but
each time their pieces missed fire. Upon this,' our
men told them, as they valued their lives, to lay down
their arms ; but instead of doing so, they immediately
prepared to reload their muskets. The landrost now
ordered our people to fire, when a young man, about
nineteen years of age, was killed, and another, who
proved to be the man that committed the murder
was severely wounded. Who wUl say that there is
not a God who ruleth and govemoth all things ? and
who would not put their trust in him ?"

In the beginning of June, 1819, the Rev. Mr.
Campbell and Dr. Philip* called at Bethelsdorp, in
their road to Theopolis, and were much gratified by
finding that the Hottentots had erected a substantial
and commodious place of worship, together with sev-
eral good houses for themselves. And, in the years
1822 and 1823, very considerable improvements ap-
pear to have been made at this settlement, particularly
in the erection of superior habitations. The former
reed houses were removed, and streets were formed
in regular rows. A public store, or shop, had also
been opened, to preclude the necessity of the natives
going to distant places to purchase goods ; and many
of the Hottentots belonging to the institution had
begun to evince a laudable desire to rise to the level of
civilized society.

In the annual report, communicated to the general
meeting of the society, in May, 1824, it is stated,
that in proceeding with the improvement of the village,
the inhabitants adhere strictly to the plan agreed upon
with Dr. Philip. " Several houses of brick and stone,"
say the directors, " have been built, and more are
building. The new school-house is finished. A range
of alms-houses, seventeen in number, has been erected

• The Rev. John Philip, D. D., WM nutor of a Ivire church

1 1 1 !._

. _ . « ,^ „„., ,.-^„ r-TTtrt! irmnj jcars;

but at the call of the London MiHtonafj Sooi*ty, he relinquiahed
the pleasures of home, and eacrificed euae and honora to becomt
the fuperintendent of tlte miaaionarj atationa in Southern Africa.

416

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

•8 an asylum for the aged and infirm members of the
institution. This establishment, which was raised by
the labor and at the expense of »lie Hottentots, will
be supported by small weekly contributions. The
building is an ornament to the village ; and the estab-
lishment is the first of the kind in the colony.

" Betheisdorp suffered, in common with other sta-
tions within the colony, from the heavy rains which
fell during the autumn of 1823. Several of the new
buildings ^vere injured, and a new brick house, nearly
finished, was greatly damaged. Such, however, had
been the industry of the people, that when Dr. Philip
arrived at the settlement, in December, scarcely any
trace of these injuries was to bo seen.

" Every Monday, by unanimous consent, is appro-
priated by the people for public labor, when all the
men in the village engage in the execution of some
Work for the common benefit ; or, if any one be absent,
he pays an equivalent, which is expended in the pay-
ment of others who perform the work in his stead.

" By this means, a road, of half a mile in extent,
has been made around part of the ravine where the
gardens of the settlement are situated. Contiguous
to the gardens it is in contemplation to build several
cottages, which will still further improve the appear-
ance of the village.

" The ministry of Mr. Kitchingman (the present
missionary) is acceptable and useful ; and the attend-
ance on public worship is good. Several of the peo-
ple, also, appear to be under serious concern for the
salvation of their souls.

" The progress of the school, under the superin-
tendence of Mr. and Mrs. Monro, has been impeded
during the last year by the want of elementary books,
&c. This impediment, however, there is reason to
believe, has been removed. An English class has been
lately formed in the school at Betheisdorp ; and it is
intended that English should be taugiit, in future, at
all tile society's schools within the colony."

Of the sabbath school, which is chiefly designed
for the benefit of tlie neighboring people not belonging
to the institution. Dr. Philip observes : —

" The people meet at eight o'clock in the morning,
and in the afternoon, when this school cxiiibits a most
pleasing spectacle. Here all is activity : tiie wives
of the missionaries, and the daughters of otiiers, be-
longing to the institution, with the Messrs. Kemp, the
merchants, are all engaged ; and it is a deiiH;htful sight
to see all ages, from childhood to gray hairs, under
such superintendence, conning over their lessons, from
the alphabet to the most advanced classes, reading
the most diflicuit parts of the Sacred Scriptures witli-
out tiie aid of spelling. There is scarcely any thing
at Betheisdorp I take more pleasure in than this

school. Here we see all the energies of the institution,
all the talents of the station, in full exercise ; and it
is truly affecting to see children of seven and ten
years of age (which is frequently the case) acting as
monitors to classes of aged people, from forty to
seventy years of age."

On the 28th of December, 1823, his majesty's
commissioners of inquiry arrived at Betheisdorp, ac-
companied by their secretary, and a gentleman of the
colony. They attended divine service at the mission-
chapel, when Mr. Kitchingman preached from Psalm
cxxvi. 3 : The Lord hath done great things for us,
whereof we are glad. After the sermon, about twenty
Hottentots read the third chapter of St. John's Gospel,
and were examined as to their knowledge of the Scrip-
tures. The children afterwards read a chapter in the
Bible, and were catechized. The English class, be-
longing to the mission school, then read a few easy
lessons. When all was finished, the object of the
visitors was announced ; when some of the old men
of the institution rose up and replied, thanking the
king of England, and thanking them for the interest
they took in the Hottentots of Betheisdorp. The
honorable commissioners appeared to be gratified
with what they had witnessed ; and, before they left
the settlement, they expressed their satisfaction with
the progress which the natives had made, both in
civilization and in their knowledge of the truths of
Christianity.

In 1825, the society reported the formation of an
evening school for the benefit of adult Hottentots,
among whom there is a great thirst for knowledge.
They are instructed in reading, writing and arithmetic.
The sabbath school received the best attention of the
missionaries; and they state that, "on the morning
and afternoon of every sabbath, nearly the whole
adult population of the place assembles, arranged
in different classes, according to their proficiency, and
including all ages from fifteen to eighty. An auxiliary
Bible society was formed on the 5th of January, 1826,
under interesting circumstances." During the year, a
number of Hottentot families joined this station ; and
the advance of civilization was manifested by many
pleasing improvements. A bridge was erected at the
institution by the free labor of the Hottentots, which
is considered superior to any other in the colony. The
blacksmith's shop, under the direction of Mr. Arnot,
was very usi-ful to the settlement, and a Hottentot
youth, who was formerly an apprentice to Mr. Arnot,
became a journeyman, at Graham's Town, with several
Europeans working under his direction. In 1827,

IVIr AInni'rt i.l.o ff.- r..™.,. ~— . I.-.I .1.- -1,-- -f

-.1 — .... J, .1,. .,,„..^ ^.,.,,,^ tt^tt ttf » imi^c ui

the day school, removed to Graham's Town, to be
engaged in a similar occupation ; and the children were

BETHELSDORP.

pitced under the charge of Mr. Cornelius VandcN
kemp, the elder son of the late Dr. Vanderkemp,
who conducts the institution to the satisfaction of the
missionaries. Encouraged by success, the brethren
determined to extend their labors, and commenced
stated services and a sabbath school at Port Elizabeth,
near Algoa bay. Messrs. Helme, Robson and Foster
alternately preached on the sabbath ; and it appears
fronri the testimony of respectable individuals resident
at the place, that their efforts were not in vain. Mr.
Helme, having completed the arrangements of a small
prmtmg-office, commenced the printing of several
elementary books for the use of the mission.

But whilst so many encouraging appearances pre-
sented themselves to the observer, the directors, in
1828, lament, " that the state of this important station
IS not, m various respects, according to the wishes
and feelmgs of the directors. The progress of religion,
durmg the past year, appeare to have been small, only
a few candidates for baptism having presented them-
selves ; the attendance on the schools seems to have
been irregular, and some painful instances of back-
sliding have occurred."

The report continues: "The attendance on the
preachmg of the gospel on the Lord's day is good,
and the place of worship is oAen crowded. The
adult Sunday school appears to be in a flourishing
Mate : one hundred and fifty-six men and one hundred
and thirty-two women have been under instruction
the past year, who have made considerable progress
A translation of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism
has been made into Dutch, and introduced into
the schooL Mai y of the scholars have got into
the New Testament and Bible classes ; nor are the
instructions they receive altogether unproductive of
spiritual benefit : some of the women appear to feel
concern for the salvation of their souls. It is pleasing
to know that the Hottentots who can read the Bible
are now treated with respect by the boors. By the
removal of Mr. Helme to Caledon, Bethelsdorp has
sustained a temporary loss; but this will be repaired
as soon as possible."

The dealings of God towards his church afford
mteresting proof of the truth of his word, that, though
" weeping may endure for a night, joy cometh in the
morning." Thus, in the following year, the directors
express their pleasure in recording the much-improved
condition of this station. " The power of the word
of God seems to be felt by many of the Hottentots.
A number of persons are under serious convictions ;
and after public service, the inquirers often accompany
tlieir teachers home, to seek advice in nnv«t« Ti.o=»
who have been led to the knowledge of the truth
appear to experience a greater degree of si.irituality
Vol. I.— Nos. 35 & 36. -,-/

of mind than formerly : this pleasing aspect of things
is evinced by their general conversation and deport-
ment. During last year, forty-five children and t«h
adults were baptized j thirteen persons were admitted
and four restored to church fellowship, and two were
excluded. More gardens have been cultivated than
formerly, and improvement has been made in enclos-
ing, fencing, &c."

The new chapel at the ou^«/a<ion of Port Elizabeth
was opened on the 14th of September, 1828, and the
collection amounted to one hundred and sixty-eight rix
dollars. The local authorities testify to the good effects
of missionary labor at this place. The other out-
station, Uitcnhagen, enjoyed the privilege of the
stated ministry in consequence of the settlement of
Mr. Sass, who left Griqua Town in 1827. With the
concurrence of the brethren, he has retired to this
station on account of his advanced age. His labors
have been blessed, and many young persons have
received serious impressions.

The spiritual concerns of the mission at Bethelsdorp
and Its out-stations continued to be superintended by
Messrs. Robson and Foster, till October, 1829, when
the latter returned to England in consequence of the
ill state of Mrs. Foster's health.

The report for 1830 mentions, that, "In 1829
twenty-three Bibles, sixty-seven Testaments, seven
hundred tracts, and one hundred elementary books
were distributed. The adult Sunday school goes on
well. The total who have been taught to read in it,
since its commencement, is five hundred. An infani
school has been lately formed, in which thirty children
of very tender age are taught to read. The inhab-
itants of Bethelsdorp have suffered severely from
long-continued droughts, having lost, from this cause,
one hundred and twelve oxen, one hundred and sixty-
one cows, one hundred and twenty-six calves, and thir-
teen horses ; estimated together at six thousand rix
dollars. And this is not all. The reduction in the
number of cattle has led to a diminution of the popu-
lation. One hundred Hottentot families have been
compelled to remove from the neighborhood, and have
located themselves on the Neutral Territory.

Recent intelligence represents this station as still
improving. Mr. Robson has continued his services with
prudent zeal, steadiness and perseverance, and much
affection to his interesting charge. Messrs. Addison
and Baillie continued to render as much assistance as
their limited knowledge of the Dutch language would
admit of, till the month of May, 1830, when the former
was appointed to take charge of Port Elizabeth as a
ih~\;r,ri jiaiioij, a.ui ihu latter procet'dt-d (o Lattakoo.
The impulation resident at the station consists of two
hundred and sixty-three adults, viz. one hundred and

.w^ W

^"^ -^'^o.

IMAGE EVALUATrON
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

1.1

■" m |2.2

j; U4 ■■■

: us 12.0

1.25

Hiotographic

Sciences
Corporation

4ts

-v^

33 WIST MAIN STRUT

WMSTIR.N.r. MStO

(7U) 173-4)03

418

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

thirty men and one hundred and thirty-three women,
with two hundred ar d one children ; making a total
of four hundred and sixty-four.

There are three services on the Lord's day, and
one every evening in the week. Those on Wednes-
day and Saturday are prayer meetings ; and on the
other evenings Mr. Robson gives an exposition. On
Tuesday evening, after the public service, he meets
the candidates for baptism and communion ; and on
Wednesday afternoon he catechizes the children.
Besides these exercises, he engages in conversation oc
spiritual subjects with some of his congregation every
day. The attendance on the public services, both on
sabbath and week days, has been very good, the for-
mer amounting to three hundred and fifty or four hun-
dred persons. When the weaihei' makes it practicable,
some of the Hottentots come u distance of nine or
eleven miles, to attend worship at Bethelsdorp ; and
there are others who have removed and settled at the
institution, with inconvenience as to their temporal
affairs, from a desire to enjoy the privileges of religious
mstruction. The number of communicants amounts
to two hundred and forty. Seven were received into
the church, four were excommunicated, three of whom
had not resided at Bethelsdorp, since Mr. Robson
came there. Of the new converts, Mr. Robson speaks
with satisfaction, as generally conducting themselves
in a Christian manner. During a period of much
sickness, some of the members departed this life,
cheered and supported by the hopes of the gospel.
Others, by their submission and patience under the
severest trials, gave evidence of the genuineness of
their faith.

The number of schools is five. The day ichool
contains one hundred and seven children on the books,
and the average attendance is between sixty and
seventy. Many of the children have made good
progress in reading, writing and arithmetic, and some
evince considerable capacity for receiving instruction :
several of the children can translate the Dutch Bible
into English with much facility, and write very well.
The Sunday ichool for adults is principally conducted
by natives belonging to the institution. The attend-
ance is from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dur-
ing the winter season ; but in the summer it is larger.
The average attendance in the infant ichool a from
eighteen to twenty-four. This school has excited
considerable interest, and promises to bo productive
of much good. The evening adult ichool is for those
adulu and youths who cannot attend a regular day
school. The ichool of induitry htn been attended by
seven girls.

The institution of Bethelsdorp has five buildincii
belonging to the society, one chapel, two school -liouses,

one alms-house, nineteen houses built of brick and
stone, and forty huts. Two hundred morgens (about
four hundred acres) of land are cultivated as corn-fields,
and eight morgens as gardens. The people are dili-
gent in endeavoring to obtain the means of subsistence
by their labor. Carrying goods, salt-boiling, wood-
cutting, and Upping of aloes, fiic, furnish employment
to many of them. There are six masons, besides
shoemakers, carpenters, blacksmiths and thatchers.
Many of the women earn nearly as much as the men
by sewing, washing and making the ropes used in
thatching with rushes.

At Port Elizabeth, Mr. Atkinson was introduced to
his charge by Mr. Robson on the 9th May, 1830.
The chapel is neat and commodious, and will hold
about four hundred persons. The English congrega-
tion averages one hundred and forty, and the Dutch
service, which at first was thinly attended, has since
improved.

Mr. Sass has been obliged to retire from Uitenhagen
to Theopolis, on account of ill health. The number
of Hottentots that still attend divine worship amounts,
on sabbath days, to from eighty to one hundred and
fifty. The communicants are united with the church
at Bethelsdorp.

It is gratifying to learn the sentiments of respectable
individuals who have visited the stations in Africa ;
and the narrative of Bethelsdorp will close with
extracts from the letter of an English gentleman
addressed to the Rev. Dr. Philip : —

" With regard to the progress of the Hottentots in
civilization, it appears to me that an unfair estimate
has often been formed. And because, living among
Europeans, and for the most part subject to their
control, they stil< retain much of their native character
and habits, and do not at once adopt the manners and
customs of a people so different from themselves
they are hastily pronounced to have advanced but
little beyond the savage state.

" Civilization is, indeed, the handmaid of religion,
and invariably has followed in her train ; but her prog-
ress has in general been but very gradual. Yet, with
every allowance for the peculiarity of their circum-
stances, and the differences in national character and
habiu, I have no hesitation in saying, that many of
the Hotteniots at these institutions appeared to us
fully on an equality, in |x>int of civilization, with a
great portion of the laboring class in onr country ;
and among those at Bethelsdorp particularly, Eng-
lish habits and English feelings seemed to be rapidly
gaining ground. Many of their houses were exceed-
ingly comfortable and clean ; and in this respect it is
father remarkable haw A^ ihev li£V£ nvsf^^runs tha
proverbial filthinati of their former habiu. Their

public spirit and disinterestedness have been shown in
the gratuitous contribution of their labors to works of
charity and general utUity ; such as the churoh, school-
house, road, kraal, tanke and poor-house at Bethels-
dorp, constructed entirely at their own expense, while
the voluntary support of this last-mentioned asylum
for the aged and infirm, affords also a strong proof of
the benevolence of their dispositions, and the influ-
ence of civilising principles of the best kind on their
general conduct.

"We were glad to find that the industry of the
people, at '.he different institutions, was fettered by no
restrictions on the part of the missionaries, and that
the profits of it were entirely their own. The mis-
sionaries assured us that they strictly avoid interfer-
ing with the people in the disposal of themselves, and
that they had perfect liberty to go whenever and
wherever they pleased. The outward circumstances of
many of them, their houses, cattle, wagons, &c.. afford
unquestionable proof of their industry, while the
quantity of European articles sold at the stations of
Bethelsdorp and Theopolis also shows that the people
in gtneral are far from being insensible to the comforts
of civilized life, or unwilling to labor to attain them.
Ihe circumstances of the country, and the peculiar
civil restrictions under which the HottentoU still labor
present obstacles to their improvement, which the
missionaries have not the poww of removing ; but
when they are placed on an equality, as to civil rights,
with every other class of British subjects around
them ; when their character is better understood by
those who wish for their services, and they have the
power of becoming individually proprietors of the
lands which they now cultivate in common by suffer-
ance only,— they will possess inducements to industry
aad intellectual exertion which they do not now enjoy
and, I am persuaded, will show themselves well worthy
of all the privileges of freemen, and rapidly evince
their capacity for the performance of every necessary
duty, whether as servants, masters, or citizens of a
civilized stale."

ZAK RIVER.

4ld

ZAK RIVER.

[Abont (bar haadnd ■nd My niil«i iiorth..ut ofC.p. Town]

On the aad of May, 1799, Mr. Kicherer and his
colleague, Mr. EJwards, left Cape Town, with the
design of establishing a mission among the Bushmen •
nnd, after performing a journey of between four and
nvc nur.area uulm, during which they were kindly
treated by the cclonista, and mercifiilly preserved by

t^^\ A'^' "•" ""' ^"^ river, whetB they
•greed to take up their abode. The circumjacent
countiy was barren and thinly inhabited, buUhTXe
at which they felt inclined to settle 'was e^dS
adapted for cultivation, and was contiguous to twj
fine springs o water. Here, thereforefthey beg«
hutTJ' J °' °' ?T' '"' " garden, and^o eZ

Happy Prospect Fountain, and solemnly devoted
both the place and themselves to the se4e ofte

to 2!jl*'^M'"'ru""°"S "^"^ '^^ '"«I"«n were now
to laljr, Mr. Kicherer observes, " They have no idea
ot a Supreme Being, and consequently they practise

eLcT h "'"'';P- "^'"^ '"'^^ " 4erstiZs rev-
erence, however, for an insect known by the name of

n'i27"Y' '' ^'? °' ^''"''' '"^^y --"- -

an indication of something fortunate, and to kill it
they suppose i„ t^ng a curse upon 'the perpetrato
They have also, some notion of an evil spirit, which
occasions diseases and other mischief; and,'to Counter-
act his evil purposes, a certain description of men are

?^rurtrgi7''^^'~"«-^«--^-^^^

was their flesh, but suffer the dirt to 'accumulate
till, in some instances, it literally hangs from their
elbows. They delight, howeverf in smearing he
bo .es with the fat of animals, mingled with a powder
will h gives them a shining appearance. They form

l7,^ ,u^ J^^'"'^ " ^°^' '"'°"' '''^«« f«et deep,
and then thatching it over with reeds, which are not

?oTh or''"ir'.'° '^' '""• "«'« "'«y '- <='-«
tremely indolent, that they will remain for days togeth-
er wahout food, rather than take the pains to pr^ure
It. When constrained, by extreme hunger, to go out
.n quest of provisions, they evince much d'ex.efhy in
destroying the various animals with which their country
«bo«nds ; or, if they do not happen to procure any
of these, they make a shift ,o live upon snakes, mice^
and almost any thing they can find. There are also
some productions of the earth, of the bulbous 'kind'
which they occasionally eat. par.iculariy the cameron,
winch 1, as large as a child's head, and the baroo,

L^,. r H '.""' "^ "". "''»''"• "^''"'^ "«• likewise
some h„le oemes, which are edibie, and which the

women go out to gather; but the men are too idle
to CIO thi*,

" ybe men have several wives, but conjugal affec-
tion IS httle known, nnd they are total strangers to

4SQ

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

^qmestic happin*». Tl^ey take little care of their
childreq, i^id yf^pi^ thf correct tjiep), thpy almp«t kill
them l^y i^everitjr. In ff^ct, tbiay >vill destroy their
ofispring op ^ v^ety pf opcasipqs, as when they are
in w^qt of food, qr obliged to flee from the farmers, or
when an infant happens to be il|-shaped, or v^hen the
father has forsaken the mother. \a either of these
cases, they will strangle them, smpther them, bmy
them alive, or cast them away in the desert. There
are even instances of parents throwing their tender
offspring to the hungry lion, which stands roaring be-
fore their cavern, refusing to depart till some peace-
offering be given to him. In general, the children cease
to be the object of maternal care as soon as they are
able to crawl in the field. They go out every morning ;
and when they return in the evening, a little milk, or
a piece of moat, and an old sheep's-skin to lie upon, are
all they have to expect. In some few instances, how-
ever, a spark of natural affection is to be met with,
which places its possessor on a level with the brute
creation.

" The Bushmen frequently forsake their aged rela-
tions, when removing from place to place, for the sake
of hunting. In this case, they leave the old person
with a piece of meat and an ostrich egg-shell full of
water. As soon as this little stock is exhausted, the
poor devoted creature must perish by hunger, or be-
come a prey to wild beasts."

Surely, aAer perusing this painful account of a tribe
sunk in wretchedness and misery, — subsisting too,
occasionally, by plunder and murder^ and habiturUy
guilty of the most atrocious actions, — the reader can-
not feel surprised that Mr. Kicherer felt " inexpressibly
dejected" when the kind colonists who had accompa-
nied him to his new station took their leave of him.
" My r^ituation," says this excellent man, " would have
proved insupportable, separated as I then found my-
self from all I loved in the world, had not urgent busi-
ness dispersed my gloomy reflections, and had not the
Lord, whom I served, condescended to pacify my
troubled heart when I spread my complaint before
him."

Soon aAer their arrival at Zak river, our missiona-
ries were visited by a party of about thirty Bushmen,
who were anxious to understand the object of their
settlement. At first, however, they were extremely
shy, and, in consequence of some base slanders which
had been propagated among tliem, they were induced
to fear that the brethren had some design against their
liberty or their lives. As a proof of their mistrust, it is
stated in the " Missionary Transactions," timt on a
certain occasion, Mr. Kirhoror, hoping to conciliate the
affections of these wild Hottentots, invited a miinher of
iham to psnake of a iilile r6p«si wiiicii he had provided.

Having cut up a large cake, he presented a piece ta
each of the Bushmen ; but not an bdividual ventured
to taste it. On perceiving this, and guessing that they
were apprehensive of poison, our missionaiy took a
slice uf the cake himself, and ate it before them. He
then stated, that he had called them together to assure
them of his friendship, and to inform them that, as
they were all invited to eat of one cake, there was
one Saviour, called the bread of life, of whom Hotten-
tots, as well as others, might freely partake in order to
obtain eternal life. This explanation removed every
evil surmise, and Mr. Kicherer's token of love was re-
ceived, by every individual, with evident satisfaction.

It is worthy of remark, that, at the commencement
of his missionary labors, the mind of Mr. Kicherer was
peculiarly impressed with the vast importance and
absolute indispensability of prayer ; and the spirit of
supplication seems to have been poured out upon him
in an abundant measure. " Prostrate," says he, " at
the feet of him who has promised that he will take the
heathen for his inheritance, I was peculiarly assisted in
wrestling earnestly for the blessing, and felt a happy
freedom in pleading Christ's own words in this case,
and in relying upon his faithfulness to fulfil them. It
was admirable, indeed, to observe, that the more dark
and gloomy my prospects were, the more abundantly
the spirit of prayer was given to me ; so that I was
enabled to shelter myself m Jesus, and to commend
the poor savages to his love and mercy."

From this time the number of Bushmen who visited
our missionaries increased considerably, and Mr. Kich-
erer observes, that he felt inexpressible pleasure whilst
attempting to explain to these poor and perishing crea-
tures the infinite grace of the Lord J jsus ; so that,
though he began his work with a heavy heart, he fre-
quently concluded it with joy and exultation. When
the Bushmen were first told of a God, and of the res-
urrection of the dead, they knew not how to express
their astonishment in terms sufficiently strong, that they
should have remained such a length of time without
one idea of the Creator and Preserver of all things.
Some of the people now began to pray, with apparent
earnestness, and with the most affecting simplicity.
"O Lord Jesus Christ," they would say, " thou hast
made the sun, the moon, the hills, the rivers and the
bushes ; therefore thou hast the power of changing my
heart : O b« pleased to make it entirely new 1"
Some of them asfierted, that the sorrow which they
felt on account of their sins prevented tJiem from sleep-
ing at night, and constrained them to rise and pour out
their souls in supplication before the Ix>rd ; and they
declared that even in their hunting expeditions they
sometimes felt an irresistible impulse to prostrat*
theraieives belore the throne of grace, and to pray for

ZAK RIVER.

a renewed heart. Some of them, indeed, seem to have
had interested views in their professions, and to have
displayed, as Mr. Kicherer expresses it, " much Phari-
saical ostentation ;" but there were some others whose
language was evidently that of Christian experience,
and who manifested, by their conduct and conversation,
that they had become the subjects of a divine change.
In the month of October, the missionaries found their
stock of provisions almost exhausted ; but after spread-
ing their case before him " who feedeth the young
ravens that call upon him, they received a most prov-
idential supply from a Dutch farmer, who kindly sent
them a large bullock, and thirty sheep, together with a
quantity of flour, salt, inc.; and the Hottentot servants,
who brought this valuable present, cheerfully added
several sheep of their own as a token of gratitude to
God, for the communication of his precious gospel to
their poor benighted countrymen.

In the month of January, 1801, Mr. Kicherer was
under the necessity of going to Cape Town, in order
to procure a supply of clothes and other necessaries
for the people under his instruction. On this occasion,
several of the Bushmen, who bad never been at the
Cape, offered to accompany him, and thus afforded
the most satisfactory proof that their forme' picions
were completely annihilated. As the whola company,
both old and young, were obliged to walk the whole
of the way, their journey was necessarily slow. Their
time, however, appears to have been agreeably and
profltably spent, both ..nong themselves, and with
some of the colonists ; and, after travelling about a
month, they reached their place of destination in per-
fect safety.

" When approaching the Cape," says Mr. Kicherar,
" my feelings differed widely from those of my poor
Bushmen ; as I anticipated with delight the pleasing
scenes before me, whilst they were struck with terror
and dismay. Some of the first objects which presented
themselves to their affrighted view were several men
hung iw chains, for atrocious crimes ; and some of my
people were conscious of having deserved the same
punishment, In a few days, their terror w«.s increased
by witnessing the public execution of another malefac-
tor. On my explaining to them, however, the nature
and excellence of European justice, as an ordinance
of God, they acknowledged the propriety of it, and
said it would be beneficial to our settlement in the
wilderness, if a similar order of things could be estab-
lished there."

Soon af\er his arrival at the Cape, our missionary
was invited to preach at the Calvinistic church, a very
spacious edifice, and filled with ■» numerous and genteel
'^'"i'^"''''^'- *'** Dusnnicn, who accuinpanied hitn,
were astonished at the sight of such ar assemblage of

well-dressed people, whom, in their simpUcity, they
compared to a nest of anU; and when the soft tonM
of the organ first vibrated on their ears, they compared
them to the noise of a swarming bee-bive. " From
that time, however," says Mr. K., « they entertained a
higher opinion of their minister ; for before this, they
had been tempted to consider me as a person who had
come among them merely to obtain a livelihood. And,
as I embraced every suitable opportunity of introducing
them into Christian company and religious meetings,
they were convinced of two things, namely, that the
doctrine I had preached among them was agreeable to
the common creed of Christians, and that Christians in
general were much happier than Bushmen."

"On returning to their settlement, Mr. Kicherer and
his companions were greatly inconvenienced, in conse-
quence of the copious rains which had recently fallen
and almost inundated the country. They were mer-
cifully preserved, however, from perils of every de-
scription ; and in the month of March, they had th«
pleasure of meeting their firiends at Happy Prospect
Fountain in good health and spirits. It is also worthy
of notice, that though our excellent missionary, in his
journey to and from Cape Town, had to provide thir-
teen persons with food every day, and though he went
out almost empty-handed, he not only obtained suffi-
cient supplies by the way, but, in consequence of the
liberality of Christian friends, be took back with him
four cows and one hundred and thirty-six sheep.

Shortly after his return, this devoted servant of
Jesus experienced a signal interposition of the divine
protection on his behalf. During his visit to the Cape,
a Bushman captain, named Vigilant, had come to the
settlement, with the design of carrying away a sheep
which he claimed as his due. The missionary Kramer,
who happened to be there at the time, resisted this
attempt ; in consequence of which the savage not only
stabbed the animal ha had already seized, but aimed a
second thrust with his murderous weapon at Kramer ;
but the blow was happily warded off by the interposi-
tion of a young female. Vigilant was now seized by
his intended victim, and conveyed to o neighboring
farmer, who placed him in confinement, with the view
of sending him for trial to the Cape. Unfortunately,
iiowever, he contrived to regain his liberty, and soon
after Mr. Kicherer reached home, he returned to the
settlement, burning with rage, and calling upon his
numerous horde to revenge the insult he had received.
"Our situation," says Mr. K., " was now extremely
critical ; but we looked up to the Lord, who sent us, that
very night, my friend and brother, Mr. Scholts, from the
Cape, together with a fanner and his servants ; and
iite iiuieiy arrtva! of these persons produced the
happy affect of driving this infuriated chief from our

438

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

to me. anrl sou] that K« mi*-* ....* •!.

i"»t tiieiij away. I asKea

neighborhood. On this occasion, we witnessed the
friendly disposition of some of the Bushmen toward
us; for whilst our lives were threatrned, many of
them kept watch around our habitation.

Soon after this occurrence, Mr. Kicherer was invited
to become the minister of the Paarl, a rich village
near the Cape, with a handsome church. After
mature deliberation and earnest prayer, however, he
was led to consider this as a temptation to divert him
from his attention to the heathen, rather than a provi-
dential call to a station of greater usefulness. And,
from this time, his labors among the Bushmen were
crowned with such remarkable success that he observes
— " Many persons, whose hearts had been harder than
the rocks among which they lived, began to inqifre
what they must do to be saved ; and it frequently
happened that the hills literally resounded with their
loud complaints."

Among the persons who attended, either statedly
or occasionally, on the instructions of the missionaries
•t Happy Prospect Fountain, there were some Btutard
Hottentots; so called, not from the illegitimacy of
Iheir birth, but merely to denote that they are de-
ucended from parents of different nations, and thus
distinguish them from what are styled the pure Hot-
tentots. A native of thb description, named John,
who had formerly been an atrocious offender against
the Majesty of heaven, felt an irresistible inclination
to visit the missionaries ; though some of the neigh-
boring farmers endeavored to terrify him with the idea
that he would either be killed or sold for a slave, if
he persisted in venturing to go to their settlement.
On hearing the gospel preached, his attention was
powerfully excited, his conscience was seriously alarm-
ed, and he soon began to mourn bitterly under the
burden of his accumulated sins, which he compared,
for number, to the sands of the desert. After some
time, the mercy of Christ was graciously revealed to
his soul ; and on this charming subject he now spoke
to his fellow sinners with the most tender solicitude
and affection, whilst his eyes overflowed with tears of
joyful gratitude at the thought of his own deliverance,
" His heart," says Mr. Kicherer, " was now so entirely
taken up with the love of God, that he could scarcely
bear to speak of any thing else ; so that if any one
addressed him on woridly business, he would say,
' I have spoken too much about the world ; let me
now speak of Christ.' Indeed, he did speak of him,
m a way which greatly surprised me, and proved that
he was eminently taught of God ; and his walk and
«)nvenation were such as became his profession.
When he came under the sound of the gospel, he had
two wives : but one day, after his conversion, he came

the cause, and he immediately replied, 'Because,
when I go to God in prayer, my heart teUs roe it is
bad, and Christ is nearer to me than ten thousand
wives. I will cheerfully work,' he added, « to support
them, and will stay till the Lord renew their hearts :
then I will take the first whose heart is changed.' "

After the lapse of five or six months, John was
afflicted with a disorder fiwm which he never recover-
ed ; but when he was so weak as to be altogether
incapable of walkiag, he insisted on being carried to
the church ; observing, that whilst he retained the
faculty of hearing, he must endeavor to catch some
of the words of eternal life. Two days before he
expired, he complained of a depression of spirits, and
said to his beloved instructer, " I am sure that I sur-
rendered myself unreservedly to Christ from the first
moment that I saw his loveliness ; but I am not so
certain, at present, whether he has accepted of that
surrender." This doubt, indeed, continued to hang
over his mind till the day of his departure, when he ex-
claimed, in reply to Mr. Kicherer's questions, "Oh ! sir,
I now see that the Lord Jesus has loved me with an
everlasting love ; that he has accepted of me ; and
that he will be my portion for ever. Now, therefore,
though I am the vilest sinner upon earth, I am ready,
in humble reliance on his blood and righteousness, to
:!ie and go to Christ."

At this solemn and deeply-interesting moment,
Cornelius, the eldest son of the expiring convert,
arrived from a distance, where he lived in servitude
with a farmer, to take his last farewell of a beloved
parent. Deeply affected with what he saw and heard,
the poor fellow burst into tears, and exclaimed, " Oh 1
shall my father die so happy in Jesus, and / have no
opportunity of hearing the gospel ?" This touching
question induced Mr. Kicherer to address a letter to
the young man's master; and his arguments were
crowned with such success, that Cornelius was per-
mitted to join the institution, and happily became a
recipient of that divine grace which is the infallible
pledge and earnest of future glory.

Another individual to whom the faithful labors of
our missionaries were abundantly blessed, was a fe-
male Coranna, named Tray, of whom Mr. Kicherer
observes— " When she made her first appearance
among us, I could scarcely perauade myself that she
was of the human species. Her kross, or sheep-skin
garment, was the most filthy I had ever seen, and her
whole carriage denoted such extreme brutality, that I
was led to consider the conversion of such a being
absolutely impossible." Where sin and wretchedness
abounded, however, grace was still more to abound.
Under the preaching of the gospel, she soon began to
biieii Hoods of penitontiai tears ; and when hor ttacher

ZAK RIVER.

Mked the cause of her weeping, she assigned such
pertinent reasons as convinced him that her under-
standing was very superior to the estimate he had
formed of it. For rather more than twelve months,
she continued to mourn under a sense of guilt ; but her
soul was afterwards filled with joy and consolation :
she was baptized by the name of Esther, and became
one of the most active, industrious and useful mem-
bers of the congregation.

About this time, the preserving care of the Almigh-
ty was signally displayed in respect to the missionaries
and the people to whom they had devoted their pious
labors. A runaway slave happened to make his
appearance at the settlement, when several of the
farmers had assembled, for the purpose of partaking
of the holy sacrwment. Some of them having dis-
covered who the stranger was, the brethren determined
to send him back to his master, in pursuance of the
directions they had received from government. This
intention was unfortunately discovered by the fugitive ;
who, resolving to take an ample revenge, poisoned
the well, whilst the missionaries and their friends were
engaged in the public worship of God. " Our lives "
says Mr. Kicherer, « would certainly have been de-
stroyed, had not a little giri providentially witnessed
the perpetration of this atrocious act. She, however,
gave us timely notice ; and on the slave being search-
ed, the remainder of the poison— a sort of moss,
resembling human hair, and possessing the property
of constricting the bowels in a convulsive manner-
was found in his clothes. The culprit was, therefore,
sent off to Cape Town, and we returned thanks to
the Lord for this great deliverance."

Two other remarkable deliverances, of a personal
nature, are recorded by Mr. Kicherer, which it would
be unpardonable to pass over in silence.

" In the evening of a day which had been uncom-
monly sultry," says our author, " I was sitting near
an open window, when a concealed party of Bushmen
were just about to discharge a volley of poisoned
arrows at me ; but, by the same giri who had saved
tho life of brother Kramer from the dagger of Vigilant,
they were detected, and made off in haste.

"At another time, the good providence of God
delivered me from the hands of a person who came to
our settlement under the fictitious name of Stephanos.
He was a Greek by birth, and, for making base coin
at Cape Town, had been sentenced to death, but
effected his escape a few days previous to that which
was fixed for his execution. The rumor of this affair
had reached my ears, and when he came to my house,
in the absence of the brethren Kramer and Scholti, who

..- _ ^ — , . ,,„_,_,,j j5 pcrcctvca loRcns oi

guilt in his countenance : but his conversation was so

4S8

religious, and his pretence of desiring to assist us in
building was so plausible, that I blamed myself for
harbonng any suspicion, and permitted him to sleep
in the room next to my own. It is probable that
he had contrived a scheme to murder me, in order
that he might seize on my wagon and goods, and
then depart to a distant horde ; as in the night he
actually approached my bed. The Keeper of Israel,
however, who never slumbers nor sleeps, was pleased
to rouse me in a fit of terror, in which I cried out to
the intruder, as if aware of his sanguinary design.
He was evidently disconcerted, stammered out an
excuse, and quitted the house. In the morning, I
found he was gone off, having stolen my gun, and
having taken with him several of the Bushmen, whom
he had seduced, by pretending that the whites were
coming to be revenged upon them. My Hottentots
set out in pursuit of the fugitives, and overtook them
in the desert, where Stephanos was compelled to re-
store my fowling-piece and to dismiss our Bushmen
He was now left to retire from the country \y himself;
but being met by the brethren Kramer and Scholtz,
he was obliged to return to Zak river. This involved
me in a fresh difficulty, au I was now certain that he
was the identical malefactor who had broken out of
prison at the Cape. I begged, however, that he
might be kept at a distance from our premises, in
order to enable him to make his escape ; and, in the
course of the night, I went to him with some pro-
visions, and, after giving him a Bible and some religious
advice, I permitted him to go away."

In the month of May, 1801, our missionaries and
the whole of their congregation removed to the Great
or Orange river, in compliance with the earnest re-
quest of some Corannas, who had recently visited the
settlement, and urged the importance of the gospel
being promulgated in their country. In the course of
their journey, the brethren were gratified by witness-
ing the commencement of a work of grace upon two
individuals, named Koopman and Rocloph ; and, after
crossing the river, they found themselves surrounded
by crowds of hearers of different nations— Corannas,
Namaquas, Bushmen, Hottentots, and Bastard Hot-
tentots. With the latter of these, the Corannas and
Namaquas lived in servitude, having been reduced to
that condition by a Bastard Hottentot and celebrated
freebooter, called Africaner. This sanguinary ruffian,
having murdered his master, put himself at the head
of a gang of robbers, and made a predatory incur-
sion into the Namaqua and Coranna countries. Some
of the natives sent him a message, entreating him to
restore a little of their property, and particularly i
few of their cows ; as their children were literally
starvi.ig for want of milk. The unfeeling monster

flpi^

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

prow'ised to grant th«ir request, on condition that they
should cross the river and fetch away the animals
whwh they had solicited : but, on their arrival, he
paused some of them to be shot, and others to be
fastened to trees, where their tongues were cut out,
Of thmr limbs cruelly and wantonly maimed. Being
thus reduced to the most pitiable situation, those who
escaped or survived the cruelties inflicted upon their
vnbappy countrymen, consented to became servants
to the Bastards, who treated them with great severity,
^ad aUowed them little more for their support than
the wilk of the sheep which they kept.

In this new situation, the labors of the brethren ap-
peared to be attended with considerable success. The
people among whom they preached expressed an
ardent and increasing desire to understand the sublime
truths of Christianity. Such a powerful impression
was, also, made upon many of them, when listening
to the things connected with their eternal welfare,
that they were not only bathed in floods of tears, but,
in some instances, actually fainted, under the over-
powering sense of their own guilt and wretchedness ;
and though feelings of this descrtptioi>. were not always
succeeded by genuine conversion, there were several
instances in which the most satisfactory evidence was
aflforded that the work was of God. The pasturage
in that part of the country, however, proved insuffi-
cient for the support of the flocks and herds belonging
to the congregation ; and, therefore, at the expiration
of ten months, Messrs. Kicherer and Scholtz deter-
mined to return to Zak river with part of the people,
whilst the bretliren Kramer and Anderson consented
to continue with the remainder.

In March, 1809, Mr. Kicherer and his colleague
crossed the Orange river, which happened, at that
time, to be very low ; but as the season of the year
was unfavorable for traversing the desert, they erected
sheds of branches for a temporary residence. Here
they were visited by some Bushmen, who affirmed
that some copious showers of rain had fallen in the
wilderness ; and, in consequence of this intelligence,
the brethren were induced tc break up their encamp-
ment and pursue their journey. After travelling two
entire days, however, without finding a drop of water,
they perceived that they had been grossly deceived,
and their cattle began to exhibit symptoms of tlio
most piteous distress. After some timo, they found a
small pool, just sufficient to allay the thirst of the
people, but not sufficient tn relieve the distress of the
poor animals ; but just as an individual was going to
drink, they had the mortification to perceive that the
water !iad been poisoned by the Bushmen. Destruc-

tinn nniv annAapA^ tn Ka itt\

ilnKIa

k..t .» >i.:.

cal juncture, the missionaries cried earr cstly to God

for succor, and, in the course of a few hours, an
abundance of rain descended, and obviated all their
difficulties.

Two days having been devoted to needful repose
and refreshment, the brethren prepared to resume
their journey ; but on the morning fixed for their
departure, one of their cows came home with an arrow
sticking in her flank. It was now conjectured that
part of the herd had been driven away by the Bush-
men ; who, in such cases, compel the aninsals to run
as fast as they can, and when one of them is unable
to keep up with the rest, they pierce it with a dart,
in consequence of which it generally falls on the roiad
and the carcass is subsequently taken away by the
rdsbers. •' The cow which returned to us," says Mr.
Kicherer, " had been thus treated, and now served as
a messenger to apprize us of what had happened. I
therefore despatched some Hottentots with fire-arms,
in pursuit of the banditti, and, in the mean time,
travelled on with the remainder of our little caravan ;
and on the next day our people rejoined us, with
seventy-three out of eighty oxen which had been
stolen fitim us. Shortly after this, I arrived in safety
at my residence near Zak river, and rejoiced exceed-
ingly when I regained the favored spot where the
Lord had shown me so many wonders of his grace
and goodness."

Mr. Kicherer had, for some time, entertained
thoughts of visiting Europe, partly with a view to the
settlement of some domestic concerns, and also with
the design of consulting the directors of the London
Missionary Society on the best measures to be adopted
in future. Accordingly, on the 17th of January,
1803, he took leave of his congregation at Zak river,
with an assurance that he would endeavor to return
in about twelve months. The scene exhibited on this
occasion was deeply aflfecting. Some of the ptople
expressed an apprehension that it WPii on account
of their guilt, and because they had not sufficiently
prized the gospel, that their beloved minister was now
to be removed from them ; others, eagerly grasping
his hands and weeping bitterly, declared they found it
impotsihle to consent to his departure ; and those who
were, in some degree, enabled to restrain the external
marks of their grief, declared that they should unre-
mittingly pray for his speedy return, under a convic-
tion that they should never survive the total loss of
such a friend and pastor.

One of the male Hottentots, named John, and two
females, called Mary and Martha, were permitted to
accompany their beloved instructer to Europe ; and,
on tlieir arrival in England, they aflforded a gratifica-

.t.» r.:„„j.

.r >!.«

Redeemer, in various congregations, by the decided

testimony which (through the medium of Mr. Kicherer,
as their mterpreter) they were enabled to bear to the
beneficial effects of the gospel upon their own hearte,
and upon the hearts of their long-neglected and be-
flighted countrymen.

On one of these occasions an incident occurred
which at once evinced the pious feelings of the Afiican
converts, and placed m striking contrast the negligence
and guilt of those who, residing in a country abound-
ing with aU the means of grace, are alike regardless
ol their own spiritual interests, and of the eternal
welfare of their fellow creatures.

At tlie close of the service one evening, in the
Scots church, SwaUow street, the Hottentots had
retired with their minister to the vestry ; when a negro
boy, anxious to see the converts to Christianity from
his quarter of the world, pressed through the crowd,
in order to satisfy his curiosity. The moment that
Mary discovered the sable countenance of this lad
she flew towards him, took him in her arms, and
fondled him with all the affection of a mother. This was
perceived by Martha, who immediately came forward
and asked him a question, which Mary repeated with
gfeat earnestness. They both appeared disappointed

IL7T7^ T. ''"'^''' ^'"' " '«"«'''' ^collecting
5 Jl i^^.**'*^ ""' understand Dutch, they request-
ed Mr. Kicherer to interrogate him in English. It
now appeared that the question which they had asked
with such anxious earnestness was, " Do you love the
Lord Jesus Christ ?" This was, of course, repeated,
as they had requested; but, alas! the young negro
who probably had beard little of Christ, except in the
Dlaspheraies of nomi-na/ Christians, looked confused,
and returned no answer. The mortification of the Hot-
tentots was extreme ; their countenances were marked
by dejection ; and they were eridenUy both astonished
and grieved to find a native of Africa surrounded with
all the privileges of the gospel in England, and yet an
entire stranger to the Redeemer.

Mr. Kicherer now paid a visit to his friends in Hol-
land wi.ere he was detained a considerable time. On
the 8 St of October, 1804, however, be sailed from the
lexel, with the Hottentot converts, and some new
missionaries ; and, after a voyage, in which they were
exposed to the most imminent peril, they arrived in
safety at the Cape of Good Hope, on the 19th of
January, 1805.

On his return to Znk river, our excellent missionary
found his congregation in a very dejected and wretched
situation, in consequence of a long-continued drought,
and the robberies committed by the Bushmen. « mW
of t le people." says Mr. K., « had been already com-
pelled to take refuge in another nlac*. s^.A .k„ .„
niainder seemed ready to perish, for want of every

Vol. I.— Nos. 35 & 36. gg ^

GRKiUA TOWN.

nBceu^ of life. We usea our utmost endeatoft
to keep our dear coagregation together, on a sn«t
which had formerly been so muchlSe«ed'; Z allS
efforts were m vain, and our prospect, be^une ZZ
and darker; so that neither cattle nor^^Jd ^
procured at any price, and it was impracticableT«nd
1 ft r' '^'rr°"''°" account of the plunder
ii'ptSdtLt.."^^ already murdered twJ of our
Whilst the concerns of the settlement were in this
situation, Mr. Kicherer was providentially ap^inS
to the hving o Graaf Reinet, which he LepZ^

of the London society ; and thither he was followed
by the greater part of his congregation, who either

different families m the vicinity, as servants or laborers ;
so that they were gradually inured to habits of in'
dustry, whilst tbey retained the important privilege
of^U hearing the gospel from the lips of their beloved

GRIQUA TOWN.

[Five hundred u>d thirty nule. north^eMt of C.pe Town.]

In consequence of the urgent and repeated solicit.,
uons of some of the Coranna chiefs, the brethren at
Zak river resolved to visit a nation which was repre
J^nted as one of the most populous in the vicinity' of

Wnii /'.,! °" 'J' ^^'^ '^f ^"^h, 1801, Mr.
Willnim Anderson, who had recently arrived frem
t^ape Town, commenced his journey to the Oranee
nver, accompanied by a number of Bastard Hottentots
This expedition was attended with considerable danRe
on account of the plundering Bushmen who occS
the country through which our travellers were com-
pelled ,0 pass At one place, towards evening, Mr
Anderson and his companions fell in with a number of
hese savages, armed with bows and arrows, who fol-

with them during the night. Providentially, however
wo wdd horses had been shot the day before, whTch

with food ; and, by this means, their friendship was so
far conciliated, that they departed the next morning
without committing the smallest depredation. After
his arrival at the Great river, our missionary was re-
peatedly visited by others of this tribe ; and on one
occasion, a little boy overheard them deliberating
a^m .n intended uu„ck in the middle of the night.'
Their audacious behavior," says Mr. Anderson

496

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

•< gave us reason to credit this report, and our situation
was very critical, as most of the Bastard Hottentots
bad returned to Zak river. We therefore slept out
of doors that night, with our guns loaded ; and in the
morning, the conduct of the Bushmen was so materially
altered, that we willingly gave them three sheep, with
which they departed in the course of the day."

Soon aAer he had reached the place of his destina-
tion, called Riet's Fountain, Mr. Anderson was joined
by the brethren from Zak river, and they immediately
commenced their evangelical labors among heathens
of different nations, comprising Corannas, Namaquas,
Hottentots, Bastard Hottentots and Bushmen. To those
who understood the Dutch language they had ready ac-
cess; and toothers,they were enabled to communicate the
glad tidings of salvation through the medium of some
mterpreters whom Providence had raised up for their
assistance. Many of the people evinced much anxiety
to become acquainted with the truths of the gospel ;
and not only listened to the preaching of the word
with tears in their eyes, but, on some occasions, they
were so deeply affected, that it was scarcely practica-
ble to proceed with the worship. Numbers of them,
also, made a considerable progress in learning to read,
and their external conduct seems to have been uni-
versally as good, or better, than the missionaries had
anticipated.

The moral and religious improvements of the people,
however, were materially impeded by the circumstance
of their being compelled, according to the state of the
season, '.o remove from spring to spring, in order to
obtain sufficient pasturage for their flocks and herds,
which constitute almost the whole of their property.
To remedy, as far as possible, this evil, and its attend-
ant inconveniences, Mr. Anderson endeavored to per-
suade them to fix themselves at different suitable sta-
tions; the principal settlement, called Klaar Water,
but afterwards better known by the appellation of
Griqua Town, being a long day's journey to the north
of the Great river.

Early in 1805, the small-pox made its appearance
in each of the new stations ; and, in the month of April,
it took such an unfavorable turn, that almost every
other day there was a burial. Many of the people had,
for some time past, been very remiss in their attendance
on the means of grace, and when the infection first
broke out among them they seemed but little alarmed.
A general gloom, however, was now visible in every
cobntenance, and the fear of approaching death was
widely extended and deeply felt. Mr. Anderson was,
at this time, laboring under great weakness of body,
yet he observes, " I was every day employed in visit-
ing the abodes of the sick, the wretchedness of which
It 13 impossible for iiiu tO describe. One V>'Oman !

heard praying, but could not approach near enough to
hear what she said, on account of the disagreeable
nature of her disorder. Her husband told me, how-
ever, that she had exhorted her family to attend the
preached word, which she had found, by experience,
to be the truth. The situation of another was most
distressing, as she appeared to have no hope, but
rather a foretaste of eternal misery. She screamed
and groaned, indeed, to such a degree, that I was not
able to rest in my bed. She had lived a life of licen-
tiousness, and her agonies might probably arise from
a conviction of having despised our faithful warnings,
and those of a brother, who is one of our interpreters.
In the month of May, most of the people were recov-
ered, but, astonishing to tell ! having escaped danger,
they again neglected to attend the worship of God."
In 1807, the small-pox was again introduced among
Mr. Anderson's people, in consequence of a child
having been brought from Griqua-land, whilst laboring
under that disorder. Much alarm was consequently
excited ; but at this juncture the practice of vaccination
was happily adopted, and the impending calamity was
thus, in a great measure, averted.

In the month of April, 1810, whilst Mr. Anderson
was absent on business of importance at Cape Town,
the people at Griqua Town were menaced by a body
of Caffres, whose captain was heard to declare that he
would fight with them, though he had, on the pre-
ceding day, received, with apparent thankfulness, a
present of corn and tobacco. Conciliatory measures,
however, were adopted by the resident missionary, Mr.
Janz ; and these were so far successful, that though
the Caffres did not, according to promise, retire im-
mediately from that part of the country, they ex-
pressed their conviction that the brethren were well
intentioned persons, and the threatened hostilities were
laid aside.

In 1313, the Rev. John Campbell visited this set-
tlement, after accomplishing the task of crossing the
Orange river, of which he gives the following account :
— " Soon after day-break, one of our people Entered
the river on horseback, to ascertain its depth, and got
across without much difficulty. Eleven Griquas re-
turned with our Hottentot, on horseback, to assist us
in crossing. All were now employed in elevating the
baggage in our wagons as high as possible, by moans
of stones and timber put under them, to prevent the
water reaching them. At ten o'clock in the forenoon,
every thing being in readiness, we advanced towards
the river, and went over in the following order : — part
of our loose oxen, driven by three Hottentots on horse-
back. — My wagon, with three mounted Griquas on
each side, to prevent the oxen from turning out of the
right way. — More loose oxeii, driven by two niouuted

ORIQUA TOWN.

OriquBS— The leoond wagon, with two Griquas on
each side.— The baggago-wagon, with three Griquas
on each side.— A Hottentot on horseback, carrying a
parcel.— Four of our dogs driven down by the current.
—Sheep and goats, driven by three Griquas, swimming
on wooden horses : they also kept up the heads of
three goats which were bad swimmers.— More oxen,
driven by three Griquas on wooden horses.

" Nothing now was left behind but two dogs, which
wore too timid to venture over. However, in about
half an hour, one attempted, and succeeded in reaching
us. The other then threw himself into the river, and
was equally successful ; so that, by two o'clock in the
afternoon, all were safely arrived in Griqua-land,
where we received a hearty welcome to the country
from a captain or chief of the Griquas, whose oxen
had drawn our wagons for the last two days."

The number of Griquas residing in Griqua Town
and the outposts connected with it, at the time of Mr
Campbell's visit, amounted to one thousand two hun-
dred and si»ty-six, comprising two hundred and
nmety-one men, three hundred an? ninety-nme women,
and five hundred and seventy-six children. There
were, also, as nearly as could be ascertained, one
thousand three hundred and forty-one Corannas, who
considered themselves connected with the Griquas,
for the sake of protection ; and of these a considerable
number attended, either statedly or occasionally, on
the mstructions of the brethren. The chunjh, or
Christian society, consisted of twenty-six men and
sixteen women, and a considerable number of pupils
attended the schools.

"Many of the people," says Mr. Campbell, "have
gardens; but tobacco holds a distinguished place in
them all. Many acres of land around the settlement
are cultivated ; and they have a considerable number
of cattle, sheep and goats, which have considerably
increased since their owners became a stationary peo-
ple. Twenty-four wagons also belong to the people ;
but most of these are nearly worn out by use ; as the
Griquas, from their ignorance and simplicity, are
often taken in by the boors in the colony, from whom
they purchase their old wagons. The boors have only
to cover them with pitch or tar, and, though rotten to
the heart, the simple Griquas will buy them as good
and new. And in this manner, many a veteran wagon
has found its way to Griqua-land, there to deposit its
dust."

After Mr. Campbell's departure, a remarkable
awakening seems to have taken place among the
Griquas, who, for some time past, had evinced much
lukewarmness in respect to the things of God ; and at

— . " .!j.--,-3t3, uaitcu narucasue, an intense

anxiety respecting their eternal salvation appeared not

only m the Onquas, but among the Corannai and

Hushmen. « Under my preaching," says Mr. Andeiw

son, "many testified the state of their minds, by the

tears which flowed down their cheeks; and among

these were some characters whose former lives had

been sp iniquitous, that little hope was entertained of

their recovery. Since our brethren left us, we have

received fourteen persons into our church, and I had

the happiness, a few evenings ago, of proposing twenty.

one more to be admitted to the rite of baptism. Many

others are coming daily to speak with us about the

state of their souls, and to inquire after the Lord

Jesus ; so that, though we have been long walking

in a sorrowful manner, our sorrow is now turned into

joy."

In 1816, a refractory spirit unhappily appeared in
some who had formerly made a profession of religion,
and a few individuals even threatened the life of the faith-
ful missionary, who had so long and so disinterestedly
labored among them. After some time, however, they
appeared to be convinced of their error, and solicited
pardon ; and in a letter dated January 15, 1817 Mr
Anderson observes, that he had recently baptized
"upwards of fifty adults, chiefly young people, on
whose hearts it appears the Lord had powerfully
wrought, even at the time when the enemy of souls
was permitted so to rage, as to threaten the entire ruin
of the settlement."

In the month of March, 1820, the Rev. John Camp-
bell paid a second visit to Griqua Town.

" The attendance at the school," soys this excellent
man, " had been much increased, and become more
punctual, m consequence of four boys being appointed
to act as captains or monitors. When any are missing,
one of the young captains, in whose district the truant
resides, goes in search of him, and brings him to
the school. When I visited them in the morninR.
they were all engaged according to the British
system.

" I walked with Mr. Helme (a missionary) to call
upon some of the people in their own houses. And
among othei-s, we visited a little cluster of huts about
a quarter of a mile from the town. They have many
divelhngs in the town, which are called round-houses,
and one such is at this little village. It is built of stone
about the height of five feet, and fifteen feet in diameter
with a conical roof, a door, and one window. The
same Griqua who inhabited the round-house, was also
building a square one of stone, about thirty feet by
twelve, with a door and three windows. When com-
pleted, he meant to use the round-house as a store,
lliree Griqua women, dressed intheEurnnfinp fasi.--
were sewmg some cotton articles; and three or four
others camo from the huts, dressed in the same

498

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

manner ; to all of whom I made presents of needles,
thread, tbimblea, tao.

" In the evening, boibre the prayer-meeting, Mr.
Helme examined the young people from a Dutch oate-
ehism. About one hundred were present ; and I never
heard children repeat more readily, not only the
answers, but, very oAen, the proofs from the Scriptures.
The next evening, Mr. Helme addressed the Bushmen
residing at Griqua Town, through an interpieter, who
seemed to perform his part very well, whilst the poor
Bushmen sat on the front benches and listened with
attention. We visited some of their families in their
huts, and they appeared pleased at being noticed.

" At an examination of the school, on the 9th of
August, there were about thirty children who read the
New Testament tolerably well, others read short
words, and the remainder knew the letters. One
hundred and six were present, and this, I was informed,
B the average number of scholars who attend in winter,
when many of the inhabitants have removed to the
banks of the Great river, because the clunate is
warmer, and the grass more plentiful. In summer,
the daily attendance is about one hundred and sixty.
" The auxiliary missionary society, which had been
formed in Griqua Town six years ago, was broken up
in the second year, owing to the misrepresentations of
a boor, who had absconded from the colony, and for
want of proper persons to collect the subscriptions.
At a meeting on the I2th of August, however, they
determined upon its reestablishment, and appointed
collectors for Griqua Town, and for the four outposts,
called Chalmer's, Hardcastle, Daniel's Den and
Campbell."

In January, 1821, the church at this settlement
consisted of about two hundred members ; but the
directors, in stating this fact, lament the prevalence of
a Laodicean spirit among the greater part of them.
" Others, however," say they, " evince the reality of
their Christian principles by a correspondent temper
and conduct. Much of the evil which has crept into
the church may be ascribed to a frequent and long
absence from the means of religious edification, occa-
sioned by hunting expeditions. In consequence of the
predilection of the natives for hunting, the cultivation
of the ground has advanced slowly ; but as it is now
much more difficult than formerly for the people to
obtain gunpowder, they will probably be compelled,
in future, to pay greater attention to agriculture.
Should this be the case, an improvement in their moral
and social habits may reasonably be expected." In
consequence of the removal of Mr. Anderson to another
station, called Caledon Institution, the mission at
Griqua Town was, at this time, under the direction of
Messrs. Hehne an J Moffatt, and some time afterwards

the whole superintendence of the settlement devolved
on Mr. Helme, assisted by a pious chief, named Andrew
Waterboer.

" On the sabbath," say the directors, " there are
four services, and meetings lor worship and catechetical
exercises are held every evening in the week. And
though Mr. Helme deplores the lukewarmness of many
of his people, he is oheered and encouraged by the
evidence which others afford that he does not labor in
vain."

A number of Griquas, called Bergenaars (or Moun-
taineers), from their having stationed themselves
among the mountains, committed, a few years after,
many acts of depredation and violence. The Griqua
chiefs had, on several occasions, commendably exerted
themselves to disperse and reclaim these marauders,
but without effect. In reference to one of their prin-
cipal efforts made with that view, the following state-
ment is extracted from a letter from John Melville,
Esq., government agent at Griqua Town, to the editor
of the South Africc^ Chronicle (writtea for the pur-
pose of obviating certain misstatements of a communi-
cation inserted in a preceding number of that paper),
as it beautifully illustrates the moral and civilizing

tendency of Christianity in relation to the Griquas :

" The Griqua chiefs proceeded to the station of the
Bergenaars, to take such measures as might put a stop
to the system of depredation they were carrying on
against the tribes around them. Instead of showing
any disposition to alter their conduct, they set the
commando at defiance, and maintained that attitude
till night came on with rain, when they made their
escape. The commando returned to Griqua Town
with 4000 head of cattle, followed by some hundreds
of the people of the plundered tribes, to whom a con-
siderable part of these cattle belonged ; and, contrary to
the practice ofsavage tribes, a scene of justice took place
which would have done credit to any civilized people.
The chiefs restored to these poor people all their cat-
tle, without reserving a single hoof to themselves, to
which any one of those people could establish a right.
When the people had got then- cattle, they were told
that they might go to their own place of abode ; but
they were so struck with the justice of the Griqua
chiefs that they begged to bealk>wed to put themselves
under their protection, and follow them to Griqua
Town."

The following paragraphs from the same letter ex-
hibit pleasing evidence of missionary influence in
promoting peace and security among uncivilized, or
partly civilized tribes :—

" Finding it necessary to visit Cape Town (says Mr.
Melville), and to bring the chiefs and some of the
leadiug people wilit me, la our absence the Bergenaars

GRIQUA TOWN.

ctme against Oriqua Town, and having attacked a
place in the vicinity, they killed two people, and burnt
a woman in a house to which they sot fire. After
this, they proceeded to attack the village, but hearing
that there was a missionary still residing there, they
retired to a distance and sent for him, and he brought
them to terms of peace.

" Here we see a missionary, so far from being the
cause of war, has so much respect attached to his
character, that even the Bergenaars would not attack
Uie place because he was there : the pretetwe of Mr.
Sass afforded a protection to the whole people."

Indeed, there is good reason for believing that the
missionaries, either directly or indirectly, have been for
many years instrumental in the preservation of peace
between the colonists and the tribes beyond them; by
promoting in the former, a sense of justice ; in the lat-
ter, a spirit of forgiveness, when the former have
violated that principle.

" During the past year," says the last report, « great
improvement has taken place both in the state and
prospects of this mission. The religious services are
more numerously and more regulariy attended. On
the sabbath, the place of worship, which is large, is
well filled. While the missionaries endeavor to
awaken the people to a concern for their own salva-
tion, they are careful w urge upon them the obligation
they are under to promote the religious instruction of
their children ; and these endeavors have not been
ineffectual. A sabbath school, devoted entirely to
the religious instruction of the children, has been com-
menced. It excites considerable interest among the
people, and has been already the means of effecting
great good. Many of the parents attend the school,
and one of the missionaries usually gives an address
on the occasion. The attendance at the day school,
which had declined to about forty, is now increased to
one hundred and eighty. The children make good
progress.

" The number of Bechuanas who have settled at
Griqua Town, chiefly in consequence of the Mantalee
invasion, is upwards of three hundred. The mission-
aries are active in promoting their religious instruction,
through the medium of an interpreter, whom they
have engaged for the purpose. The children of the
Bechuanas regularly attend the school, and make good
progress. The missionaries consider it not improbable
that some of these youths may be the first to convey
the gospel to their own countrymen.

" The Bergenaars are desirous to share again in the
religious and civil privileges of Griqua Town, and many
of them have returned there for that purpose.

" The Griquas are becoming more sensible of the
advantages of procuring the means of their subsistence

on the spot, and are, in coniequence, paying tr«ater
attention to agriculture, which will, of course, be
favorable to bdustry, and the formation of settled
habits."

It is with pain that we record that the interesting
prospects of the mission, in 1827, were bluted by the
consequences of a destructive attack made upon the
station by the Bergenaars. Mr. Sass, whose age has
by no means impaired his missionary zeal, was com-
pelled to retire to Cape Town, while Mr. Wright, to
whom, under Divine Providence, the preservation of
the place from total destruction is to be attributed,
continues to labor among the natives with unabated
energy and zeal.

In 1828, Mr. Hughes removed from Lattakoo to-
Griqua Town to assist Mr. Wright. Another attempt
which was made to destroy the station happily proved
abortive, and a peace was concluded between the chiefs
and the Griqua captains, Andrew Waterboer and Corne-
lius Kok. At the close of the year 1828, the number
of native converU united in church fellowship was
twenty-eight. Intheco j of that year, one person was
admitted, and three re-edmitted, and eleven infants
were baptized. Two members of the church had
died. One of them was doacon of the church ; the
other an aged female, formerly a member of the church
at Bethesda : they were both of them spiritually-mind-
ed and consistent Christians, very useful in the sphere
in which they respectively moved, and very happy in
death. In August, 1829, two young men were added
to the church, and several other young persons were
then candidates for admission. The people's attend-
ance on the preaching of the gospel, and other means
of grace, was good, both as to numbers and regularity,
on the sabbath services particularly.

From the report of the dwectors for 1831, we learn
that " this station has continued to enjoy peace and
tranquillity, and, through the divine blessing, prosper-
ity and success have accompanied the efforts made
for the spiritual and temporal improvement of Its in-
habitants."

The number of persons united in church-fellowship

is stated to be forty. The public services are attended

by from three hundred to four hundred persons, and the

preaching of the gospel is accompanied with the divine

blessing. The day school contains one hundred and

twenty children, the majority of whom can read and

write. The number of Griquas resident on the spot

amounts to about one thousand. The improvements

at Griqua Town are carried on without any European

assistance. The village has two mission-houses, and

forty good dwelling-houses belonging to the natives.

The Griqua caotain Waterboer is a man of simo.
. J ^ • -- -_j —

nor mind : he encourages the erection of substantial

430

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

houses, but does not permit the erection of any
huts.

Of the out-stations, the latest reports of the society
contain little information. It is stated that, at Camp-
bell, there are nine hundred resident Griquas. The
services performed by the catechist are attended by
two hundred, and the number of communicants is
twenty. The school contains fifty children, who are
making good progress.

SOUTH NAMAQUALAND.
PELLA.

[ThrM hundred and trtnly milei northward of the Orange river.]

On the 22d of May, 1805, two brothers, named
Christian and Abraham Albrecht, accompanied by
Mr. John Sydenfaden, set out from Capo Town with
the view of introducing the gospel among the Noma-
quas, a remote and uninstructed nation, residing about
a month's journey from the settlement occupied by
Messrs. Anderson and Kramer, in the vicinity of the
Orange river. In the course of their journey, they
encountered a variety of difficulties, being sometimes
m danger of perishing of want, and occasionally com-
pelled to lodge in places which were either infested
with wild beasts, or depopulaied by the murderous
Bushmen. The Lord of missions, however, mercifully
defended them in every hour of danger, and they not
only arrived in safety at their place of destination,
but were favorably received by the inhabitants, many
of whom appeared disposed to attend to that word
which might emphatically be styled, in respect of them,
" good news from a far country."

From the appearance of the country, our missionaries
were apprehensive that it was too dry and barren for
the production of corn, and they consequently antici-
pated that they must live entirely without broad ; but
their contiguity to two large fountains, and four smaller
ones, excited the hojie that tliey should be preserved
from the effects of excessive drought, and be enabled
to maintain iheir cattle, upon which they must princi-
pally depend for their subsistence. In October, IBOO,
ho.vcver, they removed farther into the interior, to a
place called the Warm Bath ; but even here it was
not practicable to accommodate the wliolo of their
hearers, who were under the necessity of occasionally
removing in quest of fresh pasturage for their cattle.
Mr. Christian Albrecht, therefore consented to «c-
eompany sue'i of i':c nativ.-:; as engsjed in tiioso
Bicursions ; though by so doing he exposed himself

to much inconvenience, as will aopear from tJ^e
following observations, extracted from one of hia

letters : —

" I have been," says he, " in a dismal wilderness,
where it is impossible, on account of the mountains and
rocks, to pass with a. wagon, or even on horseback.
I was also obliged to seek the natives, with whom I
wished to converse, in the most frightful holes and
dens ; and when I approached, they fled, so that I
found it necessary to send a messenger before me, to
tranquillize them. These poor people concealed
themselves, from a dread of their neighbors, with
whom they were at war. I believe, however, that my
arrival among them tended considerably to dissipate
their fears ; and they evinced their friendly disposition
towards me by stating that, in the event of my re-
visiting them, they would show me more attention
than they could do at present."

In the month of July, 1810, Mr. Abraham Albrecht
was called to the enjoyment of eternal rest, after stnig-
gling with a pulmonary complaint for several months.
He was on his way to Cape Town, for medical advice,
when it pleased the Sovereign Disposer of all events
to put a final period to his journey., and his suffer-
ings. His afflicted widow, soon afterward, returned
to the missionary station among the Namaquas, where
she ha ". previously rendered herself extremely useful
to the institution, by instructing the female natives in
knitting and sewing.

In the month of January, 1811, the station in the
Lesser Namaqua country, occupied by Mr. Sydenfaden,
was attacked, during the absence of that missionary,
by the predatory gang of Africaner, who, under the
pretence of recovering some entile which had been
takin from him by some ill-disposed persons, wreaked
his vrngeance on the persons and property of the un-
offending people, and occasioned their total dispersion.
Destruction was also threatened in respect to the
station at Warm Bath, so that Mr. Albrecht and his
friends thoiiijlit it advisable t.j retire from the fury of
the barbarous cliief, whom it was not in their power
to oi)pose with success. Arconlingly, after burying
such parts of th -ir property as they couhl not carry
with them, they (piitted their beloved residence, in
company with some neighboring clans, whose fears
had been excited by the mcnoces of the bandi'li.
" For a short tinu'," say the directors, in their report
for the yeni 1812, "their numbers secured them fmm
tlie threaltned mischief; but the want of food for
themselves, pasturage for their cattle, oihI esperiHJIy
water, of which they were sonielinirs entirely destitute,
olilige<l them to separate, nnd gnulually exposed them
10 the enemy. Thus situated, they were reduced to
the slate of some ancient worthies, and literally wan-

PELLA.

dered about in deserts, and in mountains, and in caves
of the earth ! At length, after enduring inexpressible
trouble and alarm for several weeks, the missionaries
were obliged to leave that part of the country, and
to separate from most of the people whom they had
instructed."

Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht now proceeded to Cape
Town, with the hope of obtaining some assistance from
the governor ; and having obtained a small supply of
arms, they set out on their return, accompanied by the
brethren Schmolen, Ebner, Helme and Sass, who had
recently arrived from Europe. In travelling through
the wilderness, however, their labors, perils and suf-
ferings were truly affecting. Their oxen, destitute of
water, and weakened by want of sustenance, refused
to draw their wagons, and many of them died of thirst ;
some of their sheep were destroyed by wild beasts ;
and the travellers themselves were without bread for
nearly a month, and were in the most imminent danger
of perishing in the desert, when a baptized Hottentot,
called Cornelius Kok, residing at Silver Fountain,
providentially heard of their distress, and sent both
men and oxen to their relief.

In the month of August, 181 «, some of the brethren,
attended by twelve armed men, visited the Warm
Bath, and examined the spot where Messrs. Albrecht
and Sydcnfaden had buried part of their goods ; but
most of these had been carried off. The houses and
churnh were burnt down, a few walls only remaining ;
and the circ<nnjacent country was almost entirely de-
serted. Thus a station, in which the Lord had for-
merly accompanied his word with a divine blessing,
had literally become a heap of ruins, and the resort
of wild beasts.

As serious apprehensions were entertained of a re-'
newcd attack, the missionaries, after mature delibera-
tion, removed with their people across the Orange
river, to a station about three days' journey nearer the
colony. To this place they gave the nome of Pella,
becouHC it was an asylum to them from the vengeance
of Africaner, as ancient Pella iiad \>wn to the Jewish
Christians, when the Romans besieged Jerusalem.
The soil in tiie vicinity , however, was extremely steriio
and unfit fur agriculture ; the aspect of the country
was, also, very gloomy, exhibiting nothing to the eye
but an extended waste of sand, dotted witli a few
stunteu hushes ; and the only inducement to form
a settlement on such a spot, was a good supply of
water.

In the month of September, 181.1, the Rev. John
Campbell paid a visit to Pella ; and, in corroboration
of what has been stated respecting the sterility of the
•oil, he says, " Tlio sight of their garden cast a gloon>
over overy countenance. It was the second month

431

of their spring, and many seeds had been sown : most
of them had perished, however, in consequence of the
saltpetre with which the earth is impregnated, as soon
as they had raised their heads above ground ; and
others seemed struggling to live. I do not recollect
observing a single smile on any countenance, while
we were viewing the garden. The next day we had
uninterrupted sunshine ; but though cheering to look
upward, it was gloomy to look downward, for every
thing had a sickly, dying aspect. At dinner, a whirl-
wind came, which filled the house with dust, and
obliged us to spread a cloth over what was on the table,
till it subsided.

" The inhabitants of Pella, living entirely on their
cattle, and having no trades and few wants, seem to
spend most of their time in little groups, conversing
together ; though, with the exception of those who
know and love tl gospel, their conversation must be
extremely frivolous. The only occurrence I observed,
was the departure of their cattle in the morning,
and their return in the evening. They are, how-
ever, a very honest people, so that I was informed
that stealing is a crime little known among them.
The missionaries meet with the people twice every
day for instruction, and three times on the Lord's
day."

The number of persons belonging to the settlement,
at this time, amounted to six hundred and thirty-six,
including one hundred and ninety-one children. The'
school contained a hundred and fifty pupils, and twenty-
five girls were instructed in needle-work by the wives
of the missionaries. The church, however, consisted
only of nineteen members.

Previous to his quitting this settlement, Mr. Camp-
bell hold a meeting of the inhabitants, for the purpose
of introducing among them several salutary laws and
regulations for the be.iefit of their little community.
He also wrote a conciliatory letter to Africaner, to
induce him, if possible, to live in peace with the mis-
sioiinry stations. This letter was accompanied by a
present, and intrusted to the core of two Bushmen,
who promised to convey it to the chief for whom it
was designed.

After Mr. Campbell's departure, much attention
seems to have been excited among the inhabitants of
Pelltt with regard to their eternal interests, and in a
letter of the Rev. C. Albrecht, dated September S,
1814, that excellent missionary observes, " Wocannot
sufliciently thank the Lord for his grace and goodness
communicated to the hearts of our people. Wo per-
ceive great desires among both young and old to be-
come true Chrislianx. .Sim.n •)■« .../...tl.

^ Msnrh

last, forty-iix have been baptized, and show by thei«
conduct that they are true converts. Others, who

438

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

have not been bapUzed, are constant in their prayers,
not only- in private, but also in meetings among them-
selres, which we rejoice to see. Even children of
four years of age accompany their parents, and go
early in the morning to the fields, for the purpose of
praying together."

The important fact of peace havmg boen concluded
with Africaner was communicated to the directors by
Mr. Ebner, in a letter dated Pella, May 24, 1815,
of which the following is an extract ; — " You will
rejoice with me when you hair of the conversion of so
many heathen, who fly to our beloved Jesus like doves
to their windows ; adoring the same Lord, and praying
to the same Saviour, who shed his precious blood for
vile and guilty sinners ; for it may now be said to the
British Jerusalem, that their liberal contributions, their
holy seal, tlieir fervent prayers, and their laborious
exertions, have not been in vain in the Lord. Oh !
could you witness the earnest desires of these poor
people to be saved by Christ, and how they long to
be delivered from their sins ; could all the Christians
of England see and hear our disciples p*^(uring out
their prayers behind the bushes, and surrounding our
place as a wall of fire, — you would be ready to put
your hands in your pockets, and give your bank-notes
uncounted to the Missionary Society, for the purpose
of extending the kingdom of Christ.

" In a short time, I intend to go beyond the Great
river to the kraal of Africaner, who was once our bitter
enemy and persecutor, but has now promised to be at
peace with us. May the Lord change his heart, as
he did that of Saul.

" Mr. Albrecht has been to this chief, and made
peace with him. He remained four days with Afri-
caner's people, preaching the word of God ; and they
entreated him to send a missionary, as soon as possi-
ble, to reside among them. Mr. Albrecht, therefore,
promised that I should come and instruct them, if I
felt inclined so to do ; and, on his return, I consented
to go, considering that this would bt the most effectual
method of maintaining peace throughout Namnquo-
land, and that, by the preaching of the gospel there,
many [loor sinners might be turned to the Lord, and
become happy to ail eternity."

The pious anticipations of Mr. Ebnor were not un-
founded. The preaching of the cross at AraicANER's
Khaal* was crowned with abundant success ; and
even the chief, whose excesses and enormities had so
long spread dismay and terror through the country,
was not only induced to listen with attentive serious-
ness to the gospel of Christ, but found it to bo the
power of God to his own salvation. Shortly after the

= ArBMARta I Kbaai, It* bundrtd uul flfty mlipi nortk of
Cspt Town.

commencement of our misnonary's labors on this spot,
he was heard to say, "I am glad that I am delivered.
I have long enough been engaged in the service of 'h©
devil ; but now I am freed from his bondage ; Jesus
hath delivered me : him, therefore, will I serve, and
with him will I abide."

In the month of April, 1819, this celebrated charac-
ter visited Cape Town, in company with Mr. Moffat,
and two converted natives, a Damara and a Bechuana ;
and on this occasion he afforded the most convincing
proofs, by his conduct and conversation, that he had
indeed experienced a saving change of heart, and had
been divinely instructed by the Holy Spirit in the
things connected with his eternal welfare.

" Africaner," says Dr. Philip, in allusion to this
visit, " is a judicious and excellent Christian ; and you
would have been astonished to have heard the answers
that he gave to the questions which were proposed to
him. How would the great congregations in London
have been filled with admiration of the power and
grace of God, had they seen and heard that man who,
some years ago, burned our settlement at Warm Bath,
conversing about the love of Christ, whilst the tears
ran down his cheeks ! Could the friends of the Mis-
sionary Society *ee what their labors, under the bless-
ing of God, have effected for this man, they would
think all their sacrifices amply repaid.

" To form a proper estimate of the change effected
upon Africaner, his former character and circumstances
must be taken into consideration. A few years since^
he was such a terror to the colony, that a thousand
dollars were offered to any man who would shoot him;
and when Mr. Campbell crossed Africa, in his first
journey, he was more alarmed with the idea of meet-
ing Africaner than with all the other dangers to which
he was exposed. What a change has now taken
place ! The persecutor is turned into the warm friend
of missionaries : — the savage has laid aside his bar-
barous habits, and has become docile and gentle as a
child ; — and the man who was formeriy the plunderer
and terror of the coii..iists, is now a friend of peace
and justice, and is the centre of union and the bond
of harmony between the subjects of the British gov-
ernment and the savage tribes with which they are
surroimded, and even among those tribes themselves.
In proof of the latter assertion, Mr. Moffat states,
that, in travelling along the banks of the Orange river,
he met with a tribe of Bastard Hottentots, who were
removing from the place of their former abod«. Being
asked why they were desirous of a new station, they
replied, that it was in consequence of the intended
removal of Africaner from Namaqualand. When
Mr. MoiTai asked why that circumsianrc, if tnie,
should induce llicm to change their place of residence,

tlN7 Mirind, tlMl if Aftieuwr Mnumd, Hwy ewiM
M Hw M tint fM«v«r tbAiRMMtty i fat kwmMi
^MBM that i^ aU the tribm in peace, and that aa
-ik«M»gaM».«i«f araaUaU bagiB auidering

^„^* firfkHring anecdotat of thin eUef to* la^
■iiiMliatiraaniia good aaaat and theaubdued eiiameter
atbia mind, and wilMi»d«ibt» ba jwraaad witi» aatia-
"Mwa^ th»piaiwMacht3>~^

DMing hit wit at Gape Town, in 1819^ the eolo-
•u^ goveroraent preaented bhn with a wagons an
■fWcle of coMideraUe iraiH? in South Africa. •« On
^ ocnmm," Kiy. ©,. Philip, ..| „™„4„„, ^ him
that he must be v«iy thaoitfui to government for such
««arii of etteera ; and I shaU never forget his reply
—'I am,' said he, 'truly tbanicfui ; but favors of this
M^, t» panons i» my eireunuunces, are heavy to
hew. The Gumers between thit phne and Namaqua^
hnd woaW mueh rather have hMid that I had been
executed at Cape Towni than that I had received
any mari| of fayor fttm goremknent. This circum>
stance, Fam apprehensive, will increase their hatred
against mo j—under the influence of this spirit, every
duttiibance which may uke plwe on the borders
of th« colony will be ascribed to me ;— and there is
nothmg I more dread than that the government should
suppose me capable of ingratitude !' The intimot«
aequaimanoe with hnman nature, and the refinement
displayed m this remark from a man who had been,
MX years before, the savage leader of a savage tribe,
added much to the favorable opinion I bad previously
formed both of his talents and his piety."

On another occasion, the temper of Africaner was
exposed to a trial which afforded a striking proof of
that meek and forgiving temper with which Jie had
been imbued by the gospel of Christ. A woman, under
the mfluence of prejudice, excited by his former char-
acler, meeting him one day in the public street at
Tulbagh, followed him lo a considerable distance,' vo-
ciferating with all the strength of her lungs, and heap-
ing upon him all the coarse and opprobrious epithets
which her vocabulary cotild supply. He, however,
who, in the days of his pai^an ignorance, would hove
plunged his weapon in her heart, without hesitation or
remorse, listened to all her invectives in silence ; and
when he reached the spot where his people were
Standing by his wagon, followed by a crowd whom
the woman's abuse had drawn after him, he merely
observed, " This is hard to bear ; but it is part of my
croea, and I must, therefore, uke it up."

Th a letter written to tlie directors of the London

MItsionsry Society, aAer the death of this cnnveslsd

chier had been announced, Dr. PhiHp says, •« All the

accounts I ha.-e received of Africaner, since the mis-

Vol. I. — Nn«, «7 «• ■>" g-j

^j^ w h»»mf coiHtacled hiiMrif,JB hk boMfm
ttim# bia j^edple, nvi aoimir mt mtvlmMMi to
J»JH«et.ift^. «i his ikiiMMd M Meflkfmiid. yt
high depw, tfM grace* trf> thaf OIMitfaa j^eriaf ttM
Wttier; and after (heremova^ef iis teaftlMi', he eeiu
e»uetf , wKh moefr hitmiliCy, weti imr dBigeiieeL to
""nW. M fer is in hill po#«r, iliia plaoe of a mktitm>-
«7 1 meetmg with^ his peopte on the Lortft igy' est-
PMimHng to them the woitl of Gorf, and eobdaetiiiK
*e puWic aervicerof religion. Hiswhol* KJe, indw^
nwn the thtra of his conversion, was marked by ha>
mlHfy, eonsisteney, aiid devotedness to God ; and th«
manner of his death appears to have been wordiy of
the profossion he harf maintained.

" Hie son of Christian Africaner, a pious yooA,
wrote to Mr. Bartlett an aeeoant of this event as fo!-'
lows :— « My dear fcther, I have very unpleasant news
to write to you ; as we heve had a very heavy strdce
which is much lamented by us. It has plettsed the
Lord to remove fiom this worid my graadfiither, and,
seven days after, my father. A Aw hours befiire the
latter died, he called his children together, and, having
exhorted them to live m the fear of die Lord, and
ufoer the preaching of the gospel, he died triam^
phant.' "

Circumstances have prevented the continuance rf
mitsionary labor at Africaner's Kraal since the death
of this extraordinary man.

SulJsequently to the removal of Mr. Ebner, and the
lamented death of Mi-. C. Albrecht, the instruction
of the congregation at Pella was necessarily confided
to a catechist. The person employed on that occasion,
h<wever, appears to have been judiciously chosen ;
as he, in a short time, conciliated the esteem of the
people, and his labors among them were crowned with
considerable success.

In a letter written in the month of January, 1888
Dr. Philip says, «' We had lately twelve of the people
from Pella together at Cape Town. They had among
them procured a wagon, and had come here to expend
their money, and to carry back such necessaries as
they could procure. They had an appearance of
gravity, good sense and cultivation about them— qual-
ities for which nil the people I have seen from the
missionary stations in that country are remarkable.
All spoke highly of their teacher, and in conversation
they discovered a considerable knowledge of the doc-
trines of the gospel. A young man, the son of a
chief at Pella, in answer to some questions, said.
' I am not baplixed, nor am I worthy of that privilege ;

Kilt I j fcJ i*y.y>yM> ihSi nrittUsiSiS. £:f 7-1 7-?^-- .-;. ; ^ 1 t

station, where I can hear the gospel, avail myself of
religious instruction, and enjoy the society of those

LONDON MISSiOlf ART flOCU&TT.

wiiQ bf* Uw goaptli u the gamitest t .an Mjoy upon

In the annual report oommunicaied to the mcniberB
of the •odetjr on the 13tb of May, 1894, the directora
Obaenre that the labors of the catechist at Pella had
been greatly interrupted, by the contentions of the
Namaqua chiefs, and the frequent removals of the
people in search of pasturage. The distress occasioned
by long-continued droughts, also, had been so severe
as to compel them to live almost entirely on the gum of
the thorn-tree ; and the catechist himself occasionally
founv^ it difficult to procure food for his family. One
of the contending chieis, named Fleumerius, meditated
the capture of Pella, in revenge for a refusal, on the
part of the catechist, to pennit him and his people to
settle there. With this view he commenced ofiRsnsive
measures ; but the inhabitants of the settlement,
placing their trust in Ood, opposed the enemy with
such spirit and efiect, as to compel him to retire from
the village ; and on the 28th August, 1883, peace was
restored among the contending chieft.

In 1825, the following report was made by the so-
ciety : " The congregation on the sabbath day is in gen-
eral very good, sometimes amounting to between three
and four hundred persons. Many of them af!brd evi-
dences of real piety. A man who was reputed to prac-
tise sorcery, by hearing the catechist read the fourth
chapter of Matthew's Gospel, has been convinced that li
wu under the influence of a wicked principle. An
evident reformation in his behavior and conversation has
since taken place, and he now constantly attends morn-
ing and evening worship. Two pious Namaqua
women, named Rachel and Sophia, who were baptized
at fFarm Bath, by Mr. Albrecht, died lately at Pella.
Rachel, during her illness, ceased not to exhort all
who visited her to seek salvation through Jesus Christ,
and not to live the life of the heathen. She desired
her friends to sing iih her till she should enter into
eternity. Rachel used to affirm that the preaching of
the gospel was the means of her conversion ; adding
that ' she could not be sufficiently thankful to those
Christian friends on the other side of the great sea for
sending the gospel to such wicked and ignorant people.'
Sophia was exemplary in her walk and conversation,
and died happily ; but a disorder in her throat prevented
her from speaking in her last sickness."

The long-continued droughts have compelled many
of the people to depart from this station in pursuit of
puturage. Several families have departed to Oriqua
Town, and others to Great Namaqualand. In con-
•equence of this calamity, and a destructive fever
vhich prevailed for a considerable time, the catechist
removed from Pella to Campbell in the cloae of
1^ jj

CAPE TOWN.

■*;

This settlement was originally founded by the Duteb.
It •*"|** o" *'^* '*«»* »'^* of Table bay, and is a town
rising in the midst of a desert, surrwmded by black
and dreary mountains. This town, with its extensira
colony, surrendered to the British in 1795, ^nd wm
restored in 1802, by the treaty of Amiens : it again sun
rendered to the British in 1806, and was finally ceded
to them at the peace of 1814.

In 181S, when the I^v. Mr. Campbell made hia
first visit to this place, he nnyt, " Mahometanism is
greatly on the increase at Cape Town. They have, I
believe, five mosques, where they assemble for
their worship. About twenty free MahomeUna
club together, and rent « large house, to which they
invite poor ignorant slaves, to gain them over to their
party. By this method an alarming number have been
persuaded to join them, and rendered ten times more
prejudiced against truth, and against all white people,
or Christians, than they were before." *

The importance of this station as a key to the
African continent, commended itself to the attention
of the London Missionary Society, and, in 1819, the
Rev. George Thom was appointed to labor at this
post and the adjacent settlement!!.

Circumstances induced Mr. Thom to accept the
office of minister in the Dutch church at Caledon,
under the patronage of the colonial government. In
1818, the Rev. Dr. Philip, who had been appointed
superintendent of the society's missions in Africa, in-
creased the congregation which Mr. Thom had collect-
ed, and obtained permission to erect a chapel. A
commodious place of worship was opened December
1, 1822. Through Dr. Philip's exertions, premises
have also been purchased, to be occupied in part as a
dwelling-house by the society's resident agent, and as
a temporary abode for its missionaries, who may touch
at the Cape, disembark there, or occasionally visit it
from the stations in the interior. The building will
also afford facilities in aid of plans of education, which
enter into the measures of the society for promoting
tiie dissemination of the gospel in South Africa. The
Rev. Mr. Beck, who labored hero for many years, with
considerable effect, was at this time an important and
gratuitous coadjutor. Sixteen heathen were united in
church-fello.irship, and under his pastoral care. Be-
tween three hundred and four hundred, chiefly adulu,
were under his weekly catechetical instruction ; and the
sabbath school consisted of about one hundred. Through
succeeding years, considerable success attended th«,
means thus employed. It being deemed necessary for
Dr. Philip to visit England, his place was supplied,

fa Lte«,ln.h.re. la 1886. Mr. Siil« vUited the «.,io2
^tbeT.mbo«k.M During hi. .b«,noe, the mi«ion

fi«m ^thel«dorp, M„sted by M,. Beck and Mr.Elliot.
ofthe South African «»iety. On his return, Mr. Milei
Wmmonced a periodical publication in English and
Dutch, entuled "The African Herald," in order "o

n ».'?.''*='°"' informttion in the colony.

Ur Phil.p returned from his visit to England, and

resumed the duties connected with the oversight ofthe
called to defend an action in the supreme court at the

JL.» K !? ?"• To these interesting volumes may
be aunbuted the a6o«Uo„ of slavery throughout the

of . Til! ?"''" "'" ""' "°""' '°8'"*'" *^'«»' "'« «Pe»«s
ot the action, amounted to about £ 1 SOO. The directors

.T.T.? v^'^'P "'^ "'«i"y"P»thy, and their readiness
to aiford him every requisite assistance, expressing, at
the same time, their conviction that so soon as the cir-
cumstance was known, a sum would be voluntarily
furnished equal to the amount required. A generous
public sustained this pledge, and not only was the
amount collected, but a surplus remained for the bene-
fit of the family, as expressed by the donors.

in 1831, Dr. Philip received the aid of the Rev.
J. J. Jreeman, the devoted missionary at Madagascar,
who for a period, has had to retire from that island.

1 ^ ^'"?.r''* " "•* "'"''°n «hapel is from one
liundred and fifty to two hundred. The weekly prayor-
meeting IS well attended. A Bible class has been
formed, and is held once a fortnight. Two schools
are connected with the Cape station. Dr. Philip
extmines the children every sabbath afternoon. The
scliool of industry contains more than one hundred
children, who are taught by a daughter of Dr. Philip

PAARL..-«rELLEIfBOSCH.

PAARL.

[I. th. dltriolof St.II.nb».h, thlrty-ll,. „i|„ north^i fto«
C«|i» Town.]

.Q?J* ^''i ^' ^"^'^ <'°'"™e"ced a mission here in
1819, which was designed more particularly for the
Hottentot slaves. Several years previous to ii. .««.
...enremeni, a chapel had been built, in which mis-

01 Mr. Evanrf, an auxiliary miaalonary aoeietv waa
formed to which the -lave. contribu,^«>Z«IlyT
to requirt, «.tr«„t ra.h., than inoit.m«., S,£,h

Rev M 2- "'".;!!'** "'"•'» "•" '"""^cted. tZ
Rev. Mr. Miles, of Cape Town, who lately visited thS
station, say^ that the mission school here i. well cc»"

1J„ r^i! "! '»^*"""8 "^f-ooJ. held on two day. of

hM been engaged, at a small stipend, to instruct ihl
female .laves and their children. At a puirelJm
.natK.n which took place during the y!^Tm"Sl
progress which had been made by the scho^'w.:
ob«rved with great satisfaction. It w*i i„ con.eT

atthe"li? .' '" "^ ''"''••""'' '° "P"" »<=hool.I
all the surrounding country of thi. district, as a mean.

on h?'T ^^''**^'"'*''"8'"""''0'"in"«d to preach
on the Lord's day, morning and evening, to a con,S*^

free clred' "1"" ?«"-». consistin^'of slave^d
nisu. when the attendance is about one hundred anS
nity. He also ifmerales, at stated periods, to six dif-
ferent places in the vicinity of the Paarl. The aver-

.?L"„"'h H A ''T" "*"* •"""'' «''"• minLtration.

year 1830. The present number of chui^h member.
IS fourteen free persons and seventeen slaves.

stellenbosch.

[T»tiity-iU milM MM of Cape Totm.]

Mr. J. Bakker commenced a mission here in 1801
with a view to the religious instruction of the Hottentot^
and slaves, by many of whom his ministry was attended.
Age and infirmities compelled him to abandon the la-
boM in which his soul delighted. He was succeeded
by Mr. Smithy who commenced a school for native chil-
dren. Mr. Bakker was the only missionary who was
allowed to remain in the colony after the Dutch took
possession of the Cape of Good Hope in 1802, and for
many years he was not allowed to baptiae his convert.,
nor admit them to the Lord's table. Yet, notwithstand'
ing those and many other embarrassments, he witneued
many pleasing effects of his labors. In 181 6. an auxiliary
missionary society was formed, which, beside, support-
mg Mr. Bakker, contributed liberally to the parent »:
Y »»" ^^^' '="■""'«' B^mmnr school was opened,
under Mr. Brown, with on., hundred and fifty scholai. j

m ^

a saw atmpti wm Iwilt, 4ad vdl stMiidad ; ud m
nMMdi whool MtdblidMd (at tin benefit of the shvee.

LONDON IHSSimfARr SOOIET7.

TULBAGH.
PrrwKHIv* mlh» iiMth-«Ml •TCapa Town.]

Tiie raisaionaiy at tbu station is the Rev. Ariel
Yob. The beneficial effect of his labors here and in
the v-Icmity have been very apparent among the Hot-
tentota and others, and also in the wide extent of
country which forms the sphere of his itinerant visits.
In 188S, desolating rains and gales almost entirely
demolished the buildings in Tulbagh ; in consequence
of which the progress ol the mission was retarded. On
Mr. Vos's missionary tours, of which he performed six
during the year 1806, his congregations often amounted
to between one hundred and fifty and two hundred.
Mr. Vos states that, to the best of his knowledge, all
the adults who have been baptized by him adorn their
profession by an irreproachable conduct. In 1896,
baptism was administered to a Mosambique slave, whose
piety has proved to be of the mont decided character.
In 1898,' two converts from heathenism were bap-
Uxed, and received as members of the church. The
interests of the school having suffered from the fre-
quent absence of Mr. Vos on preaching tours, he en-
gaged a young man as his assistant in this department.
From the annual report for 1831, we learn that this
venerable missionary is prosecuting his benevolent
labors with ardor and success, notwithstanding the
increase of bodily infirmities and weakness attending
his advanced age. He has recently baptized one
youth and three children, and there are three adult
candidates for baptism. Mr. Vos is principally em-
ployed in visiting the different villages and farms within
a circuit of about two hundred and forty miles. He is
in the habit of making two tours alternately, and visit-
ing about thirty-five or forty different places each tour,
preaching to about two thousand or three thousand farm-
ers, Hottentots and slaves. Twice a year, he visits
the town of Worcester, thirty-six miles from Tulbagh,
and during the few days he remains each time in that
town, he preaches to the Hottentots and slaves, when
about ninety attend. On these occasions he also has
divine worship in the prison.

Mr. Vos re.Tiark8, that he formerly met with much
prejudice against his instructing the heathen, but that
now, on the contrary, he experiences great kindness
and hospitality, from the farmers and others whom he
visits, and whose slaves he endeavors to instruct : and
we are happy to add, that the effects of his labors, in

« taoni mi rafifpous point of vi«w, am ataled t« In
obvioas and anoown^ing. latoxioation, to whidi th«
Hottantota and slaves in that quarter were greatly ad-
dicted, has ceased to be pravajent ; and it is stated to
be a rare circumstance to see a person, belonging (O
these classes of society, in this quarter, in a statn of
intoxication.

At Tulbagh there are ten eommunicants, whoao
consistent deportment adorns their Christian profession.
The jKshool is going on regularly, and some of the
scholars make great progress in reading. Ice. Their
number is between forty and fifty. Forty Bibles and
Testaments have been distributed among the slaves
and Hottentots who can read.

BOSCHESFELD.*

[Forty milu ihun Ctp* Town.]

Missionary labors at this station commenced in 1817,
when the Rev. Cornelius Kramer was employed in
preaching to the slaves, Hottentots and colonists. Mr.
Kramer is the only survivor of the firat band of mis-
sionaries sent out to Africa in 1799.

The report of the mission, for 1831, states — " The
labors of our excellent missionary, Mr. Kramer, being
altogether of an itinerant nature, do not admit of the
same mode of reporting as is practicable with the rest
of the society's stations." Dr. Philip states that the
favorable change that has been effected in the district
in which Mr. Kramer labors is agreeably surprising.
This region is a cultivated spot, when compared with
other parts of the colony where no missionaries reside.
Mr. K. preaches in all the neighboring teld-cometeietf
and instructs the inhabitants, farmers, Hottentots and
slaves.

CALEDON INSTITUTION.

[One handrtd and twenty mnat eut of Capo Town.]

The Rev. John Seidenfaden labored here for seven
years, with some success. Permanent buildings were
erected for the mission, and for many of the Hottentots ;
and enclosures were mode for cultivation, suflicient for
the subsistence of five hundred families.

In 18S1, the Rev. Mr. Anderson came from Griqua
Town, and superintended the station ; but afterwards
removed to Pacaltsdorp, where his labors were likely

t. VB/llil t_ m«l 1 #1 AA^...^ - -"''-r*

hf B. B. Edwftrdi, Bottoa.

^FACALTBDOBP.r

to piow mora umAiI. The minioa wu luspraded
tiU 1897. It is pieuiDg to Isorn that oo rMuming
miwioiuty operatioos, Mr. Helme found sevwtJ iiutbfiil
(foeiplM, wiw bad received baptism at an early period
oftbiiiniwion.

,Tbe latest intelligence states, that the number of
persons belonging to the institution is five hundred and
lorty.four. Tlie average aUendanoe at public worship,
on the Lord's day, is one hundred and fifty ; and on
iwek days, fijrty-five. At Zwellendaro, divine service
i« pwformed every other sabbath for the benefit of
the English residents at that place, when between
twenty and thirty attend. The number in church
fellowship u nineteen, of whom five wore added
during 1830.

Of schools there are two, via. one Dutch reading
•olwol, with 70 children, and one English reading and
writing school, with twenty-four children. The insti-
tution consists of two mission houses, and sixty-one
Hottentot houses, all inhabited. The portion of cul-
tivated land is seventy morgent, or one hundred and
fifty acres. Oak, fir, silver-tree, poplar, mulberry,
and fruit trees, have been planted, and, with the ex-
oeption of the fir, appear to thrive. Since 1887, the
population has quadrupled ; social order and religious
decency distinguish the little community ; and seldom
is a complaint heard of any depredation on the prop-
erty of neighbors. The labors of Messrs. Helme and
Elliot have been most commendable, and the success
that has attended them is of an exceedingly gratifying
nature.

PACALTSDORP, formkhlt HOOOE KRAAL.

[In ilM dUtriot of OMrge, two mil«i ftom the ms.J

This mission was commenced in 1813. Mr. Camp-
bell gives the following account of its origin :

"About two hundred and fifty miles from Cape
Town, my wagons encamped in the vicinity of George,
a town then just commencing. Soon after my arrival
there, I was visited by Dikkop, or ' Thickhead,' the
Hottentot chief of Hooge Kraal, situated about three
miles distant, together with about sixty of his people,
who expressed an earnest desire that a missionary
might be stationed at his residence. On asking his
reason for desiring a missionary, he nnswered, it was
that he and his people might be taught the same things
that were taught to white people, but he could not
tell what things these were. I then requested him to
stay with us until sunset, when he would hear sonse of
those thing' related by Cupido, who was a countryman

of bit, wd my wngon^iiiver. Dikkop mm all hh
people readily agreed to stay till evening. 1^ Cupi-
do they listened also with much attentioo the following
morning. I inquired whether tbey wet* all deiiroM
of having a missionary to settle among them, whhill
was answered unanimously in the affirmative ; but,
like their chief, they could not assign any reason ex-
cept to be taught the same things which wet« taught
to the white people. A very aged, miserable looking
man, coming into the hut during the conference, with
scarcely a rag to cover him, excited my attention ; ha
came and took a seat by my side, kissed my hands
and legs, and by most significant gestures, expressed
his extreme joy in the prospect of a missionary
coming among them. His conduct having deeply
interested me, I asked him whether he knew any
thing about Jesus Christ? His answer was truly
aflfecting— « I know no more about any thing than a
beast.'

" Every eye and ear were directed toward me, to
learn whether a missionary would be sent to the kraal j
and when 1 told them that an excellent missionary, 1
had no doubt, would be soon with them, they express-
ed by signs, a degree of joy and delight which 1 cannot
possibly describe. Mr. Pacalt arrived soon after my
departure."

Mr. Pacalt's first object was to induce these wretch-
ed creatures to erect decent and commodious houses,
and he set them an example by building one for him-
self. He then drew out a ground plan for the intended
settlement, fixing the sites for the respective houses
and gardens ; and, notwithstanding the natural apathy
of the people, and their aversion to labors, they were
induced by the persuasions and example of their
teacher to build for themselves, and to lay out the
ground according to his directions. The town, as laid
out by Mr. Pacalt, consisted of two open streets, run-
ning parallel to each other, surrounded by a wall,
which, including the enclosures for the cattle and gar-
dens, measured upwards of 15,000 feet.

There is one circumstance which is worthy of no-
tice. There are two kinds of grass in the colony,
called iweet and $our grass, the produce of lands of
diflferent qualities. The sour grass, at certain seasons
of the year, becomes destructive to the cattle, which,
if not removed at the proper time into the sweet grass
pastures, die in great numbers. The farmers, there-
fore, find it necessary to have two farms, perhaps
many miles distant from each other ; which is, of course,
attended with expense and inconvenience. It has
been discovered, however, that sour gra^s lends, by
proper cultivation, may be made to produce sweet
r*"*"*"! "Ti?*? tsrtr t-'vivriim Q"Ttmi2i2dit uszicssizsv' rcpcnSj
that "the missionary Pacalt was the first pertoo

438

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

who communicated this uaeful secret to the farmers in
the colony."

- On Mr. Cami^beH's second voyage to South Africa,
he again visited Hooge Kraal, in June, 1819. In his
account of this visit, he thus describes the striking
change which had been effected by the blessing of
God on the J ^bors of the missionary, who had been a
few months 'tefore removed to his heavenly rest : —

" As we advanced toward Hooge Kraal, the boors,
or Dutch farmers, who had known me on my former
journey in that part of Africa, would frequently assure
me, that such a change had been produced on the
place and people since I had left it, that I should not
know it again. The nearer we approached the settle-
ment, the reports concerning its rapid improvement
increased, till at length wa arrived on the spot, on the
evening of June 2.

" Next morning, when the sun arose, I viewed, from
my wagon, the surrounding scene with great inter-
est. Instead of bare, unproductive ground, I saw two
long streets with square-built houses on each side,
placed at equal distances from one another, so as to
allow sufficient extent of ground to each house for a
good garden ; a well-built wall, six feet high, was in
front of each row of houses, with a gate to each house.
On approaching one of them, I found a Hottentot
dressed like a European, standing at his door to re-
ceive me with a cheerful smile. ' This house is mine !'
said he, ' and all that garden !' in which 1 observed
there were peach and apricot trees, decked with their
delightful blossoms, fig-trees, cabbages, potatoes,
pumpkins, water-melons, &c. I then went across the
street, to the house of a person known by the name of
Old Simeon — the very man who sat in such a wretched
plight, by my side, in the hut, when I first visited the
place, and who then said lie knew no more about any
thing than a brute. I was informed that he had become
a Christian, had been baptized, and named Simeon ; and
because of his great age, they called him Old Simeon.
I found him sitting alone in the house, deaf and blind
with age. When they told him who I was, he instantly
embraced me with both hands, while streams of tears ran
down his sable cheeks. ' I have done,' said he,' with
the world now ! I have done with the world now ! I
am waiting till Jesus Christ says to me. Come!
I am just waiting till Jesus Christ says to me.
Come !'"

The case of this singular monument of the grace
of God was very well described by a missionary who
visited Hooge Kraal, on his way to Bethelsdorp, soon
after his conversion. He relates it thus :

" On Tuesday evening, April 8th, 1817, before we
left Hooge Kraal, an old man, about ninety years of
age, prayed. He expressed great cratitude in God for

sending his gospel to his nation, and that in his dayi,
and particularly for making it efficacious to his own
conversion.

" In hb youthful days, he was the leader of every
kind of iniquity. He was a great elephant and bu&lo
hunter, and had some wonderful escapes from the jam
of death. Once, while hunting, he fell under an
elephant, who endeavored to crush him to death ; but
he escaped. At another time, he was tossed into the
air by a buffalo several times, and was severely bruised;
the animal then fell down upon him ; but he escaped
with Ufe. A few years ago, he was for some time to
appearance dead, and was carried to his grave soon
aAer, as is the custom in hot climates ; but, while the
people were in the act of throwing the earth over him,
he revived, and soon entirely recovered. The second
time Mr. Pacalt preached at Hooge Kraal, he went
from the meeting rejoicing and saying that the Lord
had raised him from the dead three times, that he
might hear the word of God, and believe in Jesus
Christ, before he «died the fourth time.'

" He was baptized last new year's day, and waa
named Simeon. Mr. Pacalt told us that it was im-
possible to describe the old man's happiness on that
occasion. Heavenly joy had so filled his heart, and
strengthened his weak frame, that he appeared as lively
as a youth, although ninety years of age. He said, ' Now
I am willing to die ; yes, I would rather die than live,
that I may go and live, for ever and ever, with my
precious Saviour. Before, I was afraid to die. Oh,
yes ! the thoughts of it made my very heart to tremble ;
but I did not know God and Jesus Christ then. Now,
I have no desire to live any longer : I am too old to be
able to do any thing here >>n earth, in glorifying God,
my Saviour, or doing good to my fellow Hottentots.
I served the devil upwards of eighty years, and was
ready to go to everlasting fire ; but, though a black
Hottentot, through infinite mercy, I shall go to ever-
lasting happiness. Wonderful love ! Wonderful grace !
Astonishing mercy !'

" The next thing which attracted my attention was
the wall which surronnded the whole settlement, for the
protection of the gardens from the intrusions of their
cattle and of the wild beasts.

" A place of worship has also been erected, capable
of seating two hundred persons. On the Lord's day,
I was delighted to see the females coming into it,
ciothed neatly in white and printed cottons ; and the
men dressed like Europeans, and carrying their Bibles
or Testaments under their arms ; sitting upon benches
instead of the ground, as formerly, and singing the praises
of God with solemnity and harmony, from their psalm-
books, turning in their Bibles to the text that was

irtvmn Oil*

mnA IItt*MMl»*. »^ aU.-.

rttmp. xxT

tixc sr:i.iuvn vrnti sctxvu»

■ttenuon. I also found a church of Christ. oonsistinK
of about forty^ve believing Hottentots, with whom I
had several umes an opportunity of commemoratmg the
math of our Lord.

«On the week days, I found a school, consisting of
•eyenty children, regularly taught in the place of wor-
■hip. The teacher was a Hottentot lad, who was
actually a young savage when I first visited the kraal.

hU III ' r. •*'; i*"* "'"^' "'"'" » P"°'«<J ^o^ in
i^h f\K^,!r ^ ^"' '""•'•^ '" « «»'« ''"O'of the
h^^U^u' r T "••""*'"« " P""' ''hich a girl had
brought h.m for that purpose; this action was such a
proof of civilization, that, reflecting at the moment
whefmed"""" ""'^'' condition, I was almost over-

«..!1VT'' "considerable extent of cultivated land
outside the wall, which the Hottentots plough and sow
with wheat every year, though a portion of it is de-
stioyed annually by their cattle getting into it while the
herd boys are fast asleep, and from which no punish-
ment could altogether deter them. An officer of the
Hottentot regiment told me that, had they shot all the
Hottentot soldiers who were found asleep upon their
guard, they must have shot tlie whole regiment —
♦and what would have been the use of officers then ?'
said he.

" The Hottentots were, at the recommendation of the
missionary, about to surround their fields with a wall
like the', which enclosed their houses and gardens •
but wh<.iher this has been effected, I have not yet'
learned. '

" Indolence, and procrastination of labor from indo-
lence, IS almost universal among Hottentots. At all
our stations they endeavor to put off digging their gar-
dens, and ploughing their fields, as long as possible,
with this apology—'// u time enough yet.'

" Mr. Pacalt had much of this temper to contend
with ; but bis fervent zeal, his persevering application,
his affectionate counsels, and his personal example, so
powerfully counteracted this prevailing disposition, that
they actually performed wonders. All the Hottentots
are still on a level with each other; there are yet no
distinctions of rank amongst them. Some dress better
than others ; some have a wagon and more oxen than
others, and it may be, a better house ; but these things
produce no elevation of rank ; they will as readily
comply with the advice or injunction of the poorest as
the richest. The operation of this state of things was
severely experienced during the period that elapsod
between the death of Mr. Pacalt and the arrival of his
successor, which I think was about four months. The
Hottentou were like an army without a commander^
every improvement ceased. Some of the Hottentots
wore ior ,joing on with the improvements which were

PACALTSDORP.

mcluded m the plan of their decea«,d teacher and

their advice, but desired that every thing should re-
mam m the same state until the'amvalof anoth",

TcSr^- js '-'- •^«'" ^° '-^ -^'^ »»>« -•

The wise and energetic labors of Mr. Pacalt war.

'p^SS"""h n'^ '•'• '^^ ye^whirhi,?::

rteworid of spirits; and when he was called to etemS
«.t m the month of November, he was succeeTd
by Mr. George Messer from Bethelsdorp.

n.^'.^^^^A' *''* ''"* ""^ **'• P««»'t. 'he govern-
ment of the Cape colony, in order to perpetuate the
memory of that excellent and laborious mlssionaiy!
was pieced to alter the name of the settlement fr^
Hooge Kraalto Pacalt*dorp (or Pacalfs Town),which
spontaneous act was equally creditable to the govern-
ment, and to the excellent man whose memory will
thus be perpetuated.

dead before my return; and Paul Dikkop whom"
brought with me to England, and who lately diedTwe
hope in the Lord), was a son of his, and w^as making
considerable progress in his education,and likely tobf
mstrumental of good to his fellow countrymen oi hU
return ; but God, whose thoughts are not as ours saw
fit to call him to the eternal worid, professing, as a
sinner his sole dependence on the Saviour. I bow to
bis holy will, saying. Amen !

•« His majesty's ' commiuionert of inquiry' have
smce visited this settlement. They were p^ent «
divine service on the sabbath, and heard the children
read and repeat their catechisms. They were pleased
to express their satisfaction at the general appearance
of the people, with their knowledge of the &riptu«!

ir'v '° ^c ."" '" *'"'''• P°''«' *° f^^"i 'ho
, laudable objects of the institution.

"On this occasion, a scene equally unexpected and
affecting presented itself. The honorable commis-
sioners having briefly stated to the congregation the
object of the.r visit, a respectable Hottentot rose up.
and addressed them as follows:— « I thank God for
putting it into the heart of the king of England to pity
us ; and I thank the great gentlemen (groote Aeecen) for
coming so far to inquire into our state.' He was fol-
lowed by several others; then by all the men in the
assembly collectively, who stood up and expressed
their gratitude to the commissioners. When the men
sat down, the women rose and expressed themselves
in a similar manner, some of them in neat and appro-
nriata !«»«■•».> 1U.-.. ./•.■._. ■ • .

' ■" ■= s '~"j '-" "" pccpio were seen in

tears. The satisfaoaon expressed by the honorable

440

LONDON MlS8i(»IARY SOCIETY.

oonnuuKHien oa thi« ooom'iob, conveyed to then n
the Dutch language by Mr. Andersoa (tbe missioBwry
Own there), was received by the aasemUy with the
moBt lively emotions of pleasure."

Mr. T. Edwards, of Theopolis, removed to this
station in 1827, and took charge of the school, which
had beea for some time previously superintended by
Mr> Anderson, assisted by his daughters.

The Report for 1827 states — " The number under
instructimi is sixty-three, but the average attendance
does not exceed forty. The introduction of English
teaching has given great satisfaction to the people.
The school-room is about to be fitted up for the adop-
Uon of the Briush system ; towards this object the
committee of the Cape Auxiliary Society has granted
one hundred and fifty rix dollars."

The congregation, which is composed of Hottentots
of the institution, slaves from the neighboring village
of George Town, and a few colonists, usually consists,
on the sabbath day, of about two hundred. Their
attention and behavior are commendable. The people
are frequently catechized, after the services, on the
subjects of the sermons they have heard. Meetings for
prayer and religious edification are held every even-
ning^. Marriage has become general among the Hot-
tentots at this station. Several new houses have been
built, and the gardens of the institution are, generally
speaking, better cultivated. About four hundred shrubs
have been planted during 1826, making the total
number eight hundred. A farm lately purchased, and
which has received the name of Bvrder't Place, is
likely to prove a great acquisition to the settlement.

In 1882, Mr. Anderson was still faithfully discharg-
ing his missionary duties. The population consisted
of about four hundred and sixty persons. At the
circuit in 1830, held at George, the honorable Mr.
justice Kekewich attended public worship at Pacalts-
dorp, and expressed his satisfaction with the appear-
ance of the congregation.

HANKEY.

[Between Fackltadorp and Betbebdorp.]

This is a recently formed station, and takes its name
from William Alers Hankey, Esq., the treasurer of the
London Missionary Society.

The Rev. W. Foster, a student from the Hoxton
college, went out to Africa, to take charge of a semi-
nary for the education of the children of the mission-
aries in this country ; and for the preparation of native
converts as ministers to their fellow countrymen.

Oa arriving at Hankey, Mi. Postei deemed the 1oo»f
tioB unsuitable.

The population, in 1831, was nearly thwe hundred.
A catechist occupies the station, who perfbinns publia
services on the sabbath. The number of communi-
cants is nineteen, and there were five candidates for
baptism.

GRAHAM'S TOWN.

[In tlw dirtriot of Albuijr.]

The situation of aflairs at this station is subject to
constant variation. In September, 1831, the popula-
tion amounted to four hundred. The usual attendance
on the sabbath was from two hundred to two hundred
and fifty. The communicants are twenty-five.

THEOPOLIS.

[In the dirtrict of Albuijr ; five hundred uid fifty milci i
Cape Town, sizty norlh^eut of Betbeladorp.]

tof

This spot was pointed out, and land granted for a
mission, by his excellency sir John Cradock, governor
of the colony. The importance of the station was
enhanced by its contiguity to Cafiiraria. At some future
day, Theopolis may prove y useful link to a chain of
missionary stations, which shall unite Cape Town
with CafTrario.

The mission at this settlement was commenced in
1814, by Messrs. Barker and Ulbricht ; but, on the
removal of the former to Betholsdorp, at the begin-
ning of 1819, his colleague was left to labor alone for
a season. Mr. Barker afterwards returned ; and, in
1822, he observes respecting his hearers, "Though I
have no conversions to mention, I cannot speak or
think of the manifest change in the general conduct
of the people here, without emotions of gratitude.
I trust that God has crowned my poor attempts ; as
great seriousness is apparent in our religious assem-
blies, and great attention is paid."

In the year 1823, in consequence of the violent
rains, which fell in torrents, and the overflowing of the
river, the whole of this settlement was unfortunately
destroyed. The particulars of this dreadful visitation
are contained in the following extract of a letter writ-
ten by Mr. Peter Wright, the superintendent of the
secular concerns of the institution : —

" On Saturday last, about mid-day, the sky began
to present an awful appearance ; nothing was to be
seen but tremendous black, lowering clouds, which

hMe^mwrfm^ nm In tt» allMiMiif tiM
nln bvgin told], ■ad ooMinued Mond^tad IWtdir

22Sr"V"_J!* !?**•' ©»W«dilMAiy,tli^
WMftbtewi iiwTieaii« fna, the io*ih*«»t, and th6
«» dvsefended in tonmni^ lidi; n n^ere mwr trft-
■«jl««r br my of the pwpit Hf tMs phea^ tad wbicit
oitntiDued without mtennigsion till Tharsday M twelve
o'clock, when it began to abate.

"On Friday ftioniing, a« soon as it was light. I
looked outi and saw that the river had risen io an
■taMting height, and had overdowed the ground where
we had made bricks for the new village— all of which
nave been swept away.

_ «<In the evening, about eight o'clock, I was sud-
deiily alarmed by a great crash. I immediately took
a dandle, to go out and discover the cause ; but while
I was preparing so to do, Mr; Barker cAme in, anrf,
with uplifted handi, and a eomtenance bespeaking
the greatest agitation and distress, exclaimed, ' We
•K> ail completely rumed I' i asked, 'What is the
matter ? Surely your house has not falien, and hurt
any of your ftraily?' He teplied, «No: but our
school, our noble school, is destroyed, and is com-
pletely down to the ground !' I immediatdy went
out, and, when I beheld it, I received such a shook as
I nev«r shall forget.

" I can assure you that never, since I have been here,
ktd I cast my eyes on that building, but it rejoiced my
heart to think of the purpose to which it was devoted,
tod what 4cilitles ij would afford to the rising gen-
ONtiM, by the introduction of the British system of
teaching, for which it was adapted ; and also that it
would be used as a commodious place of worship, till
the people should be ^ble to build a church.

" Hieagitatiwjand dbtrcssof ourown minds, and the
fearful apprehensions we entertained fiir the mission-
house, would not suffer us to retire for rest that night.
Reffeoting on the circumstances of the people at the
Old Village, Mr. Barker and I concluded to go over,
though in a midnight rain, to examine the state of
things there; which, you will not be surprised to hear.
Were in a dreadful condition. The reed-houses were
drenched through with rain, the water streaming
through many of them like a river ; and the night
was so excessively cold, that one man was with difll.
culty preserved from being starved to death. TTie
kraal was become such a complete bog, that the
ctttle wfere not able to stand in it, and were permitted
to ranAle where they would, in danger of being stolen
by the CaflTres, who are just now very troublesome in
our neighborhood. When dayKght returned, it pre^
sented to us additional cause of distress. Every
house baildine in the new rWhva »•• t«s!thf>.d tUvtn^
m that not *»ie brtefc mni left upxMi another, with th*
Vol. 1.— Nos. 37 & 38. 59

^w3W9^ijmmfmm»jmmp^y

aHM

*i»ivAtmM tiM immmhiiA *^4ef^m%^ihtiti^

MM^ inJnreA #e «MNtbdtft ttM iMiiiilhid thSm

Mtlumit^htthn ♦aii8*,i»h» afrU tiiorturtit ime

eteept «ne striall kilnf «he«te haWi^ ke*n laid 2

^M, uium eorttpietelf fytttofM. ^^

'•Ot«^T>rtsei»e«n8ternatioii aftd diil#«saig cbtmi.

stances yod iMy Meie eaatly tautmi than I t$k

describe. The peepie'i oM hoiitiea ai« ill gone to raM

•nd the old chtt^ is hearty ddwrt^l What we iball

do, the Lord only knows ; and it is otoly the exereiMof

filith In the providence bf God. and in the belief of

t»at mfinite wisdom, goodness and rectittfde, whicli

directs all his dispensations towards his churoh atid

iwople, that can support our minds under present

ctreumstances !» p»'=»ein

Mr. Barker still decuples this station, and is assistM
t>r Mr. Sass, who has removed from Uitenha^.
The number of Hottentots actually residing at The-
opolis amounts to four hundred. On the "sabbath the
wngregation is from tw6 hundred to three hundred-
the number in chureh fellowship eighty-two. In the
day school are one boAdred and fiAy children, who
vttry in th^ir attendMe^ fimu forty to eighty

'" •■■' I'll

CAFFRARIA. *

BUFFALO RIVER STATION, or TZATZOe4
KRAAL.

CArriURiA comrtjence* at the Great Pish river
which divides it from Albany in the colony ; and runs
along the Indian ocean, iri a north-east direction, to
the river Bassee, which divides it ftorti theTambookie
country. It does not extend more than seventy mUes
up the country ; or to the West-^t teast at the south
end of It— being separated from the colony and Bush-
man country on that side by a chain of mounuina.
It abounds with mountains, woods and water, and is
for more populous than either the Bushman, Coranna
or Namaqua countries. The people also are taller'
more robust, and more industrious. «« Better shaped'
men," says Mr. Campbell, « I never saw." They
ai-e a wariike nice, and ftiiAy of them are greatly
addicted to plundering. Like the Chinese, they con-
sider all other people inferior to themselves, and su#.
pose that Europeans wear clbtlies merely on acoouS
of hav&g feeble and sicWy ^1**. They have scarce-
ly any religion ; but some of them profess to believe
that some great beiiig cime ttom above, and made the
world. rffterwhiiSV life r^urtied, and cared no mow
aosiii It. It is ,e,y jiWuiili, that even this f^We
ray of light wilt bbtaJtrid'fcylnkBs 6f their iritercouriio

hOKOON mnmmAKT BOonmrr.

irUjbt; tb9 JXrtdi jhoois jdariog Mvsnl igM. TIm^
|plHid«r man u g« ft bvd with the bnitat, with ragtnl
^ the diur«tioft oT hb famog ; m that, when he is dead,
thflie is an end of bis existence. Like the Matohap-
pees, they bare, eiroumqision aniong them, though
ignoiant <^ what gave rise to the custom. They per-
lorm^ this ceremooy on their young men at the age of
fcurteen yean, or more. Polygamy is very general
antoog them. The common people liave seldom more
Ihan one or two wives, but their cbie6 generally four
«r five. When a Caffie is sick, they generally send for
a person who a considered a physician, who pretends
to extract from the body of the sick, serpents, stones,
bones, &c. At other times, he beats them on the
elbow, knees, and ends of their fingers, till, as the
Hottentots express it, these are almost rotten : they
sometimes, also, kill cattle in the way of sacrifice for
the person : and at others the doctor pretends »o drive
out the devil, and to kill him. The Cafires have a
barbarous custom of exposing their sick friends, who,
m their opinion, are not likely to recover. They bury
none but their chiefs and their wives; others are
thrown out to be devoured by the wild beasts. Should
a person die accidentally in his own house, the whole
kraal is deserted. Many of them are very hospitable
to strangers ; not waiting till they ask for victuals, but
Mkging it of their own accord, and setting it before
them, and always of the best they have. The riches
of a Caffre chiefly consist of his cattle, of which he
is extravagantly fond. He keeps them as carefully as
the miser does his gold. He does not use them as
beasts of burden, except when he is removing from
one place to another along with his kraal, and then
they carry this milk bags, or skin bags which contain
milk. He is never more gratified than when running
before them With his shield, by beating on which the
whole are taught to. gallop after him. In this way he
leads them out to take exercise, and those oxen which
run quickest on such occasions are considered his best :
of these he boasts, and treau them with peculiar kind-
ness. The Caflfres chiefly subsut upon milk ; but in
part, also, by hunting, and by the produce of their
gardens. They sow a species of millet, which is
known in the colony by the name of Caffre corn.
While growing, it very much resembles Indian com,
only the fruit grows in clusters, like the grape ; the
grain is small and round, and when boiled is very
palatable. Tliey frequently bruise it between two
stones, and make a kind of bread from it. To sow it
is the work of the women. They reaUer the seed on
the grass, after which they push oit the K»iia from
the surface, by means of a kind o/ .;/ -^wiui spacf %
shaped something like « spoon at bof i flnr Hy -- ^oh
operation the seed G§§ upon the gi« .'t: 1. ... li is cor-

erH bj^th* gnis; llrom ondenMth which witlimd
ana rotten grass, it iAerwarda springs up. They alio
sow pumpkins, water-melons, kc, and use various
vegetables, whieb grow wild. They onltivate tobacco,
and smoke it, like the Matebappees, through water m
a horn. The men spend their days in idleness, having
no employment but war, hunting and milking the
cows. The women construct enclosures for the cattle,
utensils and clothes ; they also till the ground and
cut wood. They likewise manufacture mau of rushes,
and neat baskets, wrought so close as to contain milk,
but which are seldom washed or cleaned, except by
the dogs' tongues. They, moreover, build houses in
the shape of a dome, formed of hmg sticks bent into
that shape, thatched with straw, and plastered in the
inside with a mixture of clay and cow-dung: the
entrance is low, seldtMi higher than two or three feet;
and, having no chimney, the smoke proceeding from
th* fire, which is placed in the middle of the hut,
must find its way out the best way it can, through the
roof or by the door.

Next to these people is another numerous tribe,
called Tambookiet; and further to the north-eut,
near Delagoa bay, are the Jlfom6ooibe«, who are very
numerous. These are said to be of the Cafl^ race,
as are the numerous tribes of the Bechuanas to the
west.

Dr. Vanderkemp attempted an establishment on
the Keiskamma river in 1799 ; but, owing to the dis-
turbed state of the country, and the prejudices of the
people, he removed to Graaf^Reinet, within the
colony, in 1801 ; not, however, till he had conciliated
many of the Cafires, and prepared the way for future
labors.

The Rev. Josiah Williams, accompanied by his
wife, Mr. Read, and a native convert, Tzatsoe, arrived
at a place intended for a station, near Cat river, in
1816. The chiefs of this country wekomed them
with the greatest kindness. Several of them remem-
bered Dr. Vanderkemp, whom they called Jankanna,
and for whose memory they entertained a high vene-
ration. One of the chiefs said, " You t"ust not be
tired of us, though we are perverse; ■ i >;eii,vi^
us. Jankanni '* dead, and you are in'ti^t ' ■! >•;•?,.*'
T'Geika, the principal chief, appear ? .y

convinced of his sins ; which he comparea one night,
after the public service, to "the stars, then glittering
over his head. He lamented bis neglect of the word
formeriy preached by Jankanna ; but said that God,
who wou' ' ot suflTer him to die in his sins, had sent
Jankanna an (for so he and the people styled Mr.
Read) : anu now he declared, that if God would be
pleased to strengthen him, he would renounce the
world, and riya hunaalf wjiffjjy to Christ. frUh^i^?*

«bMi,,b« Mid, all lUagf are nothing ; adding, that if
th« Cafirw rafused to hear the go,p,|, he would leara
them, and cleave to the missionaries and their friends
M Cape Town, that he might enjoy it. He also de-
nied that his thanks might be given to the governor,
w»d tothe king o£ Engknd, for sending missionaries
to Oaffiana.

Under these auspicious circumstances, Mr. Williams
commenced his labors. He built a bouse, formed a
gMden, enclosed ground for com, and prepared for
oonduotmg water to it from a dbtance. About one
Hundred Caffres attended his ministry on the sabbath,
and about seventy on other days. A school he com-
BA«aced, contained about one hundred and fifty native
flhdaren. But in the midst of his efforu,Mr. Williams
was called, on the 34th of August,1818, to his reward.
Obstacles afteiwards arose, partly from the existence
of a Caffie war, which prevented, for a time, the es-
teblishment of the mission.

In 1825, the Rev. John Brownlee, who had been
suocessfolly engaged at Chumie,at the expense of the
colonial government, agreed to attempt its revival
r ^"?«"'°** ^^ "'■" Taataoe, who, since the death
of Mr. Williams, had been a teacher at Theopolis, he
proceeded to Tzatzoe's Kraal, on the Buffalo river
the residence of his assistant's father, who is a Caffre
chief of considerable influence. A quantity of ground
has since been enclosed, and is in course of cultivation
A good congregation has been collected, and the place
of worship is, at times, fall. In a letter dated April
16th, 1826, Mr. Brownlee thus states the claims of

CaHreland to missionary efforts : -

"A dense population, living in the vicinity of a
Christian Protestant British colony—the Caffre Ian-
guage perfectly understood and spoken, with Uttle
vanation, for five hundred miles along the eastern
coast— access to the Caffre country from the colony
and a daily intercourse maintained between theCafliBs
and the colonial frontiei^— a weekly market in the
vicinity of the frontier, attended by the Caffres and
other tribes beyond them— the superior local advan-
tages of theCafflro country, compared with other tracts
of South Africa, and a free and uninterrupted inter-
course maintained between the Caffres, the Tambookies
and some of the Mombookie tribes. The population
of the Caffres subject to T'Geika, Hinza and Slambie
does not probably amount to less than one hundred
and thirty thousand souls. The Tambookies may
amount to the same number ; and their most distant
Jcraals are not much more than two hundred miles
from the colonial territory. At present there would
be no objection made by the above-mentioned tribes
to missionaries settling amongst them.
"Miasiofls amone tha CaflV-M i»a..M r

BUPrALO mVfill STATION,

mg libka with oth*. tiMrt toay hi fi<t„ft W'wtAlhhed
"»-g th. T«nbookl«. Mombookie.. ««r otCSS
But perhaps, the ttrongeM Muon that ooald b* «dl
du^ for uiciw.tog the missionary sutWn. m Cat
frtria, « the suooesa which hu attended the fMbM
means already used." "

Pk^^.Tu*"."'"'™'' '''''''' '^" coBfimied by Dr.
Philip, led the director, to adopt the determination of

m 1827, the Rev. Gottlieb Fiederick Kayser, from
the university at Halle, was appointed to assist Mr,
Brownlee. Mr. Kayser and his wife embariced for
the Cape of Good Hope on the Ist of Mareh, 1827
at which place they arrived on the 2l8t of June'
Having remained at Cape Town about a month, they
sailed for Algoa bay, accompanied by four emanci-
pated Caffres, who had, several yeaw before, been made
prisoners of war, at an attack of their countrymen on
Graham s Town. They arrived at their place of des-
Unation on the S6th of September. In 1828, Mr
Brownlee writes that the number of his hearers is

STwT^^"" "•! ^"^'^ '•"y* '"'' •'«>'« tWrty on
the Wednesday ; that two men have been received as
candidates for baptism, of whose knowledge, experi-
ence and consistency he has a very favorable opinion.
He states that Jan Taatzoe proves a valuable assistant
in the work of translating, and that the whole of the
Gospel by Mark is translated.

In 182&_9, the labors of the brethren received
some check in consequence of the invasion of Chaka
a powerful chief from Port Natal. '

Voosanie, a CaflSre chief, expressed his desire to
have a musionary ; and the brethren remark, that
"It is not unlikely, in consequence of recent move-
ments in that quarter, that the gospel will soon find ito
way to Port Natal."

From the last report of the directors we learn, that
Mr. Brownlee and Mr. Kayser continue to visit the
neighboring kraab. " The attention of the people is
increasing, and the interest they take in the subjects
of religion is pleasing. The knowledge of the word
of God IS extending. Mr. Kayser has finished the
translations of a small English catechism for children
and several parts of the Gospels, containing our Lord',
miracles, which he intends to get printed in the form
of tracts. In this work he has been assisted by Jan
Taat zoe. When he visits the kraals, sometimes eight,
ten or twelve in a day, he reads from these transla-
tions, which the people understand. His progress in
the language has now so far advanced, a. to enable
him to communicate with the CaflTres without an inter-
preter. Jan Tzatioe continues a valuable assistant
in the mission, and a useful laborer among his co«n-

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

, " Tiie cbildrm in Ibb ^ooi go oo well ; «11 of them
possess coDsidflniblfl usquaiatanoe witb the dcctriues
ud prac«pU of U>*risUanit>r.

" Two Cii^ captains, VVenna and Hinaa, )l>rotben
of John Taatao^, and two other chiels, have, with
thefr kraals, removed nearer the station. The former
hM heguD to denounce the errors of the Caifre doc-
tor«. The commotions which have lately taken place
in this part of Africa, have brought a greater number
of Caffres mthin the sound of the gospel. Thus
there is an increasing number of hearers, affording a
larger sphere for the dissemination of the gospel.

" Thirty acres of ground are cultivated, and p|qnt«d
with millet, maize, French beans, pumpkins and water-
melons."

CAMPBELL.

[SeTen handred milei north-eut of Cape Town, forty milei cut of
' Oriqok Town.]

J The Rev. Mr. Sass reinovoa irom Bethesda to this
place in 1821, and divided his labors between the
Griquas and several kraals of Cornnnas on the Great
river. Here, however, he was encompassed, for some
years, with trials and discouragements ; and, in 1824,
he removed to Griqua Town. In about a year after-
wards, a gratifying revival took place, by means of a
catechist, who formed a sabbath and a day school, in-
structing, in the former, about one hundred -;hildren,
and, n the latter, about sixty. He still coniinues to
bn useful. A school-room is being erected, which is
designed to serve also as a chapel. In 1831, the
congregation was two hundred ; the number of com-
municants twenty, of scholars about one hundred and
fifty, who are re|)orted to make good progress.

PHILIPPOUS.

[On lh« Bortk ude oTCradoak riwr.]

This settlement is named, as a tribute of respect, after
Dr. Philip, and was formed for the benefit of the Hush-
mon. A Hottentot teacher, Jan Oooyman, was sent
to labor here ; but no apparent success followed his
endeavors.

In the year 1 886. a party of plundering rafTrt'S attack-
ed an nut-station, and desimyod no less than ihiriy-nne
Bush people, in order to get jwssession of (heir cattle.

Though many unfavorable circumstances have tried

nBtiAnnA nnrl fnith of the ntissinnsr" ~t

he aiiU pmsevam in the diwbarge of hii intpoitnit
and arduous duties. Early in 1830, several famiUa
removed nearer to the station, and sent their children
to school. The attendance on the services of the
sabbath began tr improve, varying from eighty to two
hundred. The spirit of the people appeared generally
improved, and Mr. Melvill indulges the hope that the
Lord will yet more abundantly bless his labors. In
the report of this mission for 1830, the directors say,
" We are concerned to have to record the death of
Cornelius Kok, the Griqua chief, at the age of thirty*
two years. . He had left Philippolis for the purpoM
of going to Graham's Town, for medical advice, but
died on his way thither. He died expressing his con-
fidence in Jesus Christ as his Saviour, and it is hoped
he has entered into the joy of the Lord." The popu-
lation amounted, in 1831, to one thousand eight hun-
dred and sixty persons, of whom nine hundred are Gri-
quas, and nine hundred and sixty Bechuanas. These
people are scattered over a large tract of country, the
land being chiefly adapted to grazing. The number
who actually reside at the station varies considerably
at different seasons of the year.

At Philippo'is, there is a chapel, a mission-house,
a store-house and twelve dwelling-houses. The land
brought under cultivation comprehends about two
hundred and eighty acres, which is irrigated from fifty
fountains.

BUSHMEN MISSION.

In 1829, the directors determined to recommence
labors among the wandering Bushmen, and Mr. Clark,
who preceded Mr. Melvill, at Philippolis, removed to
this new field of labor early in 1 830, assisted by Mr.
G. A. Kolbe. The spot which the brethren selected
for their station is situated three miles from the Orange
river, and five miles from the Caledon ri.'i-. The
number of adults of the Bushman tribe, who : ave
settled at the infant station, amounts t< one hundred.
Besides, there are two families from the colony, who
have arcontpanied the missionaries. The total number
of children is twenty-six. All the adults attend divine
worship, and are also otherwise instructed. An attempt
has been made to establish a school for the children,
hut it has proved unsuccessful, since the parents em-
ploy their children who are old enough, in gather-
ing the roots which conmituio their principal article
of food. Tho nussionaries hope to be able, by the
blessing of God on their labors, to overcome the formi-
clnl)!o difficulties which stand in the way of the improve-
ment oi iheiu wfeiciiou people. Three or four acres

. Wm&m^.- l^TTAK^Sa ; mu

•f itnd IwvabMo braaght under cultivation, and eleven
pi'JM of ground have been laid out aa gardeos. There
Me at this atatioo four dwelling-houses, one place of
liMwhip, six huts, and five temporary huts.

**;■ _

BECHUANAS.
LATTAKOO.

^MISSION TO THE

♦*t

I*. ■
*«'

tictWMB lU and wren hundred raiUi north-aut of Cape Town 1

$•*■ - «- -J

In tbo montli of June, 1813, the Rev. John Camp-
bell, of Kingsland, visited the ciiy of Lattakoo, witii
the hope of obtaining permission to send missionaries
to that part of South Africa. After waiting a consider-
able time for an interview with the king, Mateebe, he
had, at length, an opportunity of explaining tbj ob-
ject of his journey, and stated that tiie teachers who
should be sent would convey information of the true
God, by whom all things were created,— of his love
to mankind,— and of the laws which he has given
respecting good and evil. This statement seems to
have made but little impression on the mind of the
king ; who observed that his people were loo much
occupied in the avocations of sowing, reaping and
tending their cattle, to have any leisure for attending
to instruction ; and in addition to this he roi.iarked,
that they would never be willing to abandon the cus-
toiiis of their forefathers. These ami some otlier
objections, however, were so satisfactorily answered by
Mr. Campbell, that i!io king said, " Send inttrucUn,
and 1 will be a father to them."

Encouraged by th^s assurance, the directors of the
liondon Society sent out four missionaries, Messrs.
Evans, Hamilton, Williams and Barker, in the month
of February, 1815. After spending some time at the
Cape, and visiting the sellloments of IJetiielsdorp and
Oriqua Town, Messrs. Evans and llmnilton, accom-
panied by a number of the Hottentots, set out from tlie
latter place for l^atlakoo, where they arrived in safety,
after a journey of eight days. On their arrival, Ma-
teebe and several of his people shook hands with them,
with great cordiality, supjiosing them to have been
traders, come for the purpose of exchanging goods ;
but on finding that they wore the missionaries promised
by Mr. Campbell, the king appeared nmch chagrined,
and some of his captains sooiaed to express their dis-
approbaiKm. In the course of the evening, after he
iwd received some presents of beads and tobacco,
Mateebe was informed that the brotliron would make
him a variety of useful articles in wood and iron ; but
tiiougii tliM mlormation evidouily afforded him much

446

aatisfiiction, he still remained aveiae to •nstniotloa:
and, a few days afterwards, when urged to give a
decisive answer, as to the establishment of a mission
"•his territories, he stated that ho did iwt promise
Mr. Campbell that the missionaries should preach at
instruct his subjects. " But," added h^, " as say the
people, so s«y I ; you must not come to reside among
us. \ou may reside on the banks of the Krooman,
and traffic with us in ivory, skins, and other articles;
but you must not teach the people." He then ad-
dressed himself to the persons by whom he was sur.
rounded, urging them to declare their mmds, that they
might not again impute any blame to him, as they had
done after the departur; of Mr. Campbell, though
during his residence at Lattakoo they had remained
silent. Many of the people immediately exclaimed,
" The misjionaries must not come here ;" and the king
rejoined, " I say the same as the people."

Severely grieved by this unexpected disappointment,
the brethren returned to GriquaTown, mourning over
the affecting thought that so many thousands of peo-
ple should have put away from them the word of
eternal life. Sometimes, indeed, they ventured to cher-
ish the hope that a door of access might yet be opened ;
and, after the lapse of a few months, they determined
to set out once more, in order, if possible, to induce
Mateebe to fulfil the promise which he gave to Mr.
Campbell. It unfortunately happened, however, at the
time of their arrival, that the king had just gone on a
hunting expedition with some hundreds of his subjects ;
and they were consequently under the painful neces-
sity of retracing tiieir steps without an opportunity of
oven speaking on the subject which lay so near their
hearts. The introduction of the gospel to Lattakoo,
however, was not so utterly hopeless as it appeared!
Mr. Read was still resolved to attempt the establish-
ment of a mission on thai bouighied spot ; and soon
after the brethren had returned the second time, with-
out effecting their purpose, he proceeded thither with
seven wagons and a number of persons of diffeicnt
nations. On their arrival, Mateebe appeared very
cool, and repeated his former observations with respect
to tlie ancient customs of the Bechuanas, and their
aversion to instruction. '• To these objections," says
Mr. Road, " I gave little heed ; but told him that, io
conformity to the agreement with Mr. Campbell, the
good people of the country beyond the great water
had sent missionaries ; that they had rejoiced at his
having promised to receive such ; aud had sent, by them,
a variety of articles to make him and his people happy.
Mateebe now seemed satisfied, and said we might
unyoko our oxen under a largo tree which stands near
his hgusa : and two duvs after ward, on Lis hsin? ssksH
whore wo should get wood and roods fur budding, ud

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

when w» should build, he replied that wood and reeds
were at haod,and that we might build where we pleased. ' '
Towards the latter end of March, 1817, it was
rumored that Mateebe was preparing a commando,
or plundering expedition, against the Wanketzens, a
people occupying a country eastward of Lattakoo ;
•ad when the brethren attempted to dissuade him from
it, he endearored to excuse himself, by saying that
he was merely going to take cattle from a people who
had previously taken cattle from him, and that the
missionaries must remain and take charge of the women
and of the city. He accordingly commenced his
march, on the last day of the month, which happened
to be the sabbath ; but the issue of his expedition was
truly disastrous. The nation whom he was desirous
of plundering had wisely driven all their cattle into
the town. Upon this, therefore, Mateebe resolved to
make an attack, and placed himself in the centre of the
invading army for that purpose. The warriors form-
ing the right wing, however (who had roost strongly
urged this predatory expedition), soon gave way, and
many of the others began to retreat. The enemy then
advanced with irresistible fury, and compelled their
assailants to flee for their lives with such precipitation,
that many of them were literally dashed to pieces by
falling from the rocks, and Mateebe, who was severely
wounded in one of his feet, returned home, after losing
about two hundred of his men. His mind appeared
to be deeply aflfected with this defeat, and he not
only acknowledged that he had done wrong in refus-
ing to listen to the advice of the missionaries, but
declared that, in future, he would be guided by their
directions.

On the 86th of April, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton
arrived at Lattakoo, and were very kindly received by
the king, who told them that they must consider his
country as their own, and spend the remainder of their
lives with his people. Mr. Hamillon'e skill in hewing
and forming a mill-stone excited the admiration and
astonishment of the people ; and when he made the
hole in the middle of it, some of them exclaimed, " Men
who can do such things as thf.ie must have certainly
come from God !"— " When 1 b^i^in to plane wood,"
says Mr. Hamilton, "the nativesexfiressed their surprise
that they had never seen it done before ; but that which
struck them as the greatest wonder of all wu the
chain of our wagon, of which (hey observed, that a god
must have made it !"

On the 4th of June, the missionaries, in compli-
ance with the wish of the king, removed to the Kroo-
man river, and on the 8ih, arrived at the ;jince of their
deslinalion, which appeared to be well situated for a
permanent settlement. " The plain," says one of the

.1 :-_ _r

3-. tnt: vity oi

k#Mwv,«y Siiu aut-

rounded i^ lofty trees which afiiird a delightful aluid*
in the summer, and give it a very pleasing appearauoe.'f
On this occasion, they were accompcnied by Mateebe
and several of his chiefs, who went with them, in order
to determine on the spot where the new town should
be built. Many of the chieis were extremely averse
both to the king's removal, and to his protection of
the missionaries. Mateebe, however, declared bis
determination of acting according to the dictates of
his own judgment, and observed that the brethren had
evinced their attachment towards him, by regularly
attending to dress his wounds, after his own captains
had left him sick and wounded in the field, to be ipf
vou.ud by the birds of prey. ^

In a letter dated New Lattakoo, March 9, 1818,
one of the missionaries observes, " Things are going
on better here than we expected in so short a time, as
we have no longer any opposition from the Bechuanas ;
hut, on the contrary, some of them are thanking God
for sending his word among them, and praying that
we may never leave them. Some of them begin to
see the vanity of their fonner ways, and to entertain
a desire for the ' one thing needful ;' and last sabbath
I counted fifty-two in attendance on the preaching of
the gospel.

" The experience-meeting which is held every
Wednesday for their benefit, I enjoy greatly ; and it is
probable that some of the simple expressions of the
people, on these occasions, may be interesting to you.
One of them, named Momeits, said, ' Since I have
heard the word of God, I daily see more of the vanity
of dancit.g, and other foolish customs in which I used
to delight ; and, if it were in my |)ower, I would put ■
stop to them all.' Another observed, < I do not know
what sort of hearts other people have, but I know I
have a very bad one. And as a person goes into a
dirty house witl) a broom, and sweeps out all the dirt,
1 pray that God will make his word instrumental to
the removal of all the wickedness that is in my heart.*
One poor old man remarked, ' I am so stupid that!
seem to understand nothing, but I pray oonsuntly that
the Lord will give me an understanding. The world
is like a cover on my heart, and I wish that God would
take it off: but when I pray, I cannot tell God ail
that is in my heart, for want of words to describe what
I feel.' Another said, 'Oh that I had wings, and
could fly to heaven ; then /should understand. I am
determined, however, to go forward ; for I am afraid
of that great fire, and I see no way of escaping, but
by eoming to Christ, who is my only refuge!' Such,"
adds the writer of the letter, " is the language of soma
of these people. I do not say they are really converted,
for that is only known to God ; but these are certainly
pieasing beginnings ; and when i hear them talk thui,

* ^ »■" **"* *^' "■*• *^"'' *""8h which I have

#In another communication from the nme corre-
jondent, dated September 84. it is stated tiiat two of
the natives who had obtained some knowledge of the
goapel, had recently uken a long journey, and in every
ptoce through whksh they passed, they told all they
knew of Jesus Christ to the inhabitants, who, for the
most part, listened to them with attention and pleasure,
luone place, indeed, they met with violent opposition,
jnd their hve, appeared to be in danger. Undismayed
by this circumstance, however, they continued to
-peak on therr favorite subject, observing to their per-
.ecuton,. <■ You may kill us. if you please ; but we
•re determined to tell you all that we know." On two
occasions, the i.aerposition of God's special providence
was strikingly manifested on their behalf, when they
were almost ready to perish with hunger. Once thtfy
found an elk which had been killed by a lion ; and at
•nother time a knu, which had been caught by a tiger
Thus they obtained a supply of food in the hour of
Mtremity. and thus their faith in the providence of
Uod was abundantly strengthened.

In the month of March. 16.20, the Rev. John
Campbell paid a visit to New Lattakoo, and had the
satisfaction of finding that a commodious place of wor-
•hip had been erected, capable of containing about four
hundred persons ; and a long row of missionary houses,
with excellent gardens behind. A neat fence, com-
posed of reeds, had also been placed in front of the
houses, which tended to improve the general appear-
ance ; and the name of •< Burder's Row" was given
to the new buildings, as a token of respect to the ex-
cellent secretary of the London Missionary Society.

Among other improvements effected at this place, by
the laborious and unwearied exertions of the mission-
aries, we must notice a canal which, with the assistance
of the few Hottentots attached to the mission, they had
dug from a distance of three miles above the town, for
the purpose of leading the waters of the Krooman'into
Ihoir fields and gardens. Mr. Campbell went, one
morning after breakfast, to view this useful work, and
found extensive fields of Caffre com belonging to the
natives on both sides of tlie canal, whilst similar culti-
vation extended two miles higher up the river, in the
same direction. Though the Krooinan be emptied by
the canai, i<^oon becomes larger than before, in con-
sequence of twel /e or fourteen fountains issuing from
the ground, ai>out a quarter of a milo lower down than
the dam, and discharging nearly an equal quantity of
water at all seasons of the year.

"Old and New Utiakoo." say. Mr. Campbell,
' are about fiAy mijnB distant Cx

'^^'^'i*^ LATTAKO^f^ ^%ftVf^t

'~C-ji wtiicr,

sno

eontam marly the tame number of inhabitants, perhapa

four^thoosMrreieT,. The houses and caltle-kraal •«
of the same form, and airanged in asimUar manner.

We visited three of the public enclosures, where
the men usually spend the day together, at work or
m conversation. Each enclosure has what may be
called aaummer-house, which is generaUy in the eastern
corner ; and to this they retire when the heat of the sun
becomes oppressive. It is composed of strong branches
of trees so bent as to form a roof, which rests upon a
pillar placed in the middle of the house ; and the whole
is neatly covered with thorn branches twisted together."
On another occasion, our author vUited a smith, who
made knives and assagays or spears. His implements
were few and vfiry simple, consisting of a stone for an
anvil, a rough-made iron hammer, and two small bellows
made of skin, with part of a cow's horn at one end
through which the blast went, the other end being open
like a purse, and sewed to two round pieces of wood
These bellows were placed upon the ground opposite
the fire, with a heavy stone to keep the under side
steady. The blast was effected by quickly raising and
depressing the upper side of the bellows, and both were
blown at the same time with great facility.

The Matchappees, who constitute one of the most
numerous tribes of the Bechuanas, are extremely fond
of potatoes ; but they have never been induced to plant
any, because nothing of the kind appears to have been
cultivated by their forefathers, to whose customs and
manners Ifiey are as strongly attached as the Hindoos,
or the disciples of Mahomet. It is possible, also, in
this case, that indolence may be united with a bigoted
adherence to ancient practices; as Mr. Campbell
observes, that on Mr. Moftht requesting two strong Mat-
chappees who were walking with him in Mr. Hamilton's
garden, to assist in gathering some kidney-beans, they
complied with his solicitation, but in less than ten min-
utes they desisted, and complained that " their arms
were almost broken with the labor !"

The exertions of the missionaries to form a school
had hitherto been attended with little success; as the
children seemed to consider that they were conferring
an obligation on the brethren by- attending to their
instructions, and that their attendance ought to be re-
munerated every day, either by a supply of victuals,
or presents of beads, &c. The same feeling was, also.'
said to prevail among many of the aduls, with respect
to coming under the sound of the gospel : so that when
a captain was observed to attAid regularly for a short
time, who had not previously been in the habit of hearing
the word, the missionaries generally anticipated an early
application for the loan of their wagon, or their plough,
or something which he particularly wished to obtain,
riuiwiihiiiantling these discouragements, however,
Mr. Campbell found that some of the young people

LONDON BBEnK»NAfir SOCIETY.

Hid pud aearidenlilo Btteadan to the instraetiont of
the miniimsries, and h&d evidenftly profited by them.

" One evenii^," tays that intelligent ami hiborious
''^Teller, " I attended a meeting of young people,
among whom were rix Matchappee females. These
leeollected more of the scnnons they had been hearing
during the day than ail the others ; or, perhaps, by
not feeling the least abashed, they spoke freely what-
erer came into their minds. On my asking one of
them, if she were afraid of death, she instantly
answered in the affirmative. I then inquired why she
was afraid of it ; and, after a little hesitation, she said,
< Because it is a very bitter thing — I do not like it.' "
There was present on this occasion, a little black boy,
who could read and write. At the conclusion <^ tiie
meeting, he repeated the Lord's prayer in Dutch, the
rest of the young people (chiefly Hottentots) repeating
it after him, line by line. This lad, whose name was
April, had, for some time, been with his mother, sister
and younger brother, on a distant hill, subsisting upon
loots. At length, however, when they were almost
reduced to absolute starvntion, they were brought to
Lattakoo and kindly assisted by the missionaries.
» Another day, after the conclusion of the afternoon
^iBrvice, Mr. Campbell attended the meeting of young
people, in order to ascertain how much they could
recollect of the discourses upon which they had at-
tended ; and he considered the remarks which they
made as a satisfactory specimen of thei^attentran.
" The following," says he, " were some of the ques-
tions whwh I put to two young Matchappees, who
were present at the examination, and the answers
which they gave : — ' What is the most wonderful
thi->5 yon ever saw or heard of?' After a pause, she
replied, ' The word of God.'— « How long has Got!
lived V ' He always lived. '^ — « Do you believe that the
bodies of men shall rise fmm the grave ?' * Yes.'
They then said, apparently wiih great ingenuousness,
that they wished God wouii give titom a heart to un-
derstand his word, lor the> ^ound it very diflioult."

During the residence of Mr. Campbell at New I^at-
takoo, he had repeated interviews with Kossee, the
king of Mashow, who hap) ened to be on a visit to
Mateebe ; and as that persnnago appeared disposed to
countenance the Lntroduci n of the gospel into his
territories, our pious and ct.ijfprising traveller resolved
to avail himitif of the inforiTi.nion he had obtained rela-
tive to certtin coimiri^ situated on the north-east o(
Old Lattakoo, and inhabite<^ by different tribes of Be-
chuanss, which he consider 1 as likely to presmil new
and extensive fields for i jsionary exertiomr. He
accordingly set out on th( lUh of April, and after
auocessivi'ly visiting Old I.1 ta'coo, Meri-bohwhey, the
pijutipai t^Tifn 01 iijc^ i-sn; «&. la BSOOii^ aaa UtM oBy

of Mashow, totwriHftig l f Ti i ftm i ob df abMt mtl^

thousand souls, he iirrived at Kurreechane, the chklf
town of the Marootxee tribe, and said to contain siik
teen thousand inhabitants.

Speaking of his approach to this place, Mr. Cam^
bell observes, " The plain, which extended betwa«fi
the hill we were descending and that on which the city
stood, was soon covered with people ; streams of th«
population, if I may use that expression, pouAngdosm
from the heights in every direction. It being impassi-
ble to drag the wagons up the hill in front, they were
directed to go round another way, while »ime of m
ascended straight up by a most rocky path, amidst a
multitude of people of all ages, every one pushing and
striving to get a single peep at us.

" On arriving at Kurreechane, we were first conduct-
ed to an open part of the town, and desired 10 rest
upon a seat made of clay, raised about three inches
higher than the ground. After sitting there a few
minutes, surrounded by a pressing crowd of anxious
spectators, a messenger came to conduct us farther.
The street through which we went was crowded with
people, and many hastened to their doors to see us
pass. The sight of white men threw them into fits of
convulsive laughter ; but the yoimg were more seriously
afl'iscted, — they screamed, and in thti utmost horror
fled to the (tftt place of concealment they could find.
The noise was tumultuous, but of a kind peculiar to
such an occasion.

" Observing an eminence whence we jvere likely to
hare a good view of the town, we proposed going
thither, and a person was immediately appointed to
show us the way. From this spot we were able to
obtain n good view of the place, and were surprised at its
extent. Every house was surrounded at a convenient
distnnrc by a circular stone wall. Some of them were
plastered on the outride, and painted yellow ; and one
we observed painted red and yellow, with some taste.
Tlie yard wiiliin the enclosure belonging to each honae
was laid with clay, made as level as a Hoor, and swept
denn, which made it look nont and comfortable.

"On returning to the wngons, we ftnind them siiN
rotmdod by a crowd of {teople, while others were
standing on walls, houses and heights, looking lowarda
them. Every tuni i took in the vicinity of the wag-
ons, I wnn followed by at least a hundred persons.
They talked much about tiie blue and w)|ite stripes of
my Irowsers, which I perceived by the manner of their
|K>inting to them ; and I afterwards learned that they
diii|)utnd about the animal's skin, of which ihcy tlioughi
the trowsers were composed. At length, dvkness and
their eatirig-l!mi< coming on, they gradually dispersed."
Here Mr. Campbell found that the people had
■rriwfi at ■ degree ol' eiviiiaition, and poiKessed 1

LATTAKOO.

■nowledge of arts, superior to any of th« Bechuana
tnbes whook he had pre^riously seen. "In soitie
housw," says he, " there were figures, pillars, &c.
Wved or moulded in hard clay, and painted with dif-
rerem colors, that would not have disgraced European
workmen. We saw among them various vessels form-
ed of clay, painted and glazed, for holding food, milk
water, and a kind of beer made from corn. They
had, also, pots of clay, of all sizes, and very strong.
Ihey smelt both iron and copper, and wo were taken
to see one furnace, in which they smelted the iron.
It was built of clay, almost equal in Imniness to stone.
A round opening was lea at the top, for receiving
Ui8 ore ; and underneath was an oxcavntion for hold-
mg the fire, which was open behind and before, not
only for admitting the fuel, but also the wind from the
bellows."

On the second day after his arrival, Mr. Campbell
explamed the object of his visit to Liqueling, a chief
Who had been appointed to act as regent during the
minority of hie nephew ; and a pittso, or general
meetmg of the captains, was accordingly summoned,
to determine whether teuciiers of the word of God
should be sent among them. At this meeting, which
was held on the 10th of May, about three hundred
captauis assembled, in a public place, completely
armed with shields, spears, battle-axes, kc, and Mr.
Campbell's pro|K)sals wore unanimously acceded to,
after a discussion which lasted uiiout three hours. An
extensive field of usefulness appeared, therefore, to
liave opened in tiiis interesting spot, for the exertions
of missionary laborers. In a subse.p.ent irruption of
a tribe of bmharians called Mantatees, however, a
considerable part of Kurreechane was destroyed • the
regent Liqueling was slain ; ami the commencement
of the mtended mission has, in consequence, been
unavoidably delayed.

On Mr. Campbell's return to Mashow, in his way
to New Lnttakoo, some rhinoceroses were killed by
the inhabitants, and the head of one was brought in,
which was very dissimihir from nil the others. " The
common African riiinoceros," says our author, " has a
crotiked horn resembling a cock's spur, which rises
about nine or ton inches above the nose, nndwiclines
backward, and immediately bc'luiul this is a short,
thick horn; but the head which they brought imd
a straight horn, piojectiiig three feet from the fore-
head, or.l resembling that of the fanciful unicorn in
the IJniish arms. It had a thick, horny substance,
eight inches long, iininedialely behind it, which cfi
hardly bo observed on the aniiiud at the distance of a
hundred yar.ls ; so that this species of rhinoceror
must appear like n unirorM when r!!!!!!!!!:r •:•. !|:=5 c.^.iJ
The head resembled in siao a nine gaiion cask, and
Vol.. I.— WoH. ;37 «i 38. sj)

449

measurtd three feet from the mouth totbe«ar; id
that it was necessary to cut off the under jaw and
leave it behind. Sincts the arrival of the skull in
I^ndon, the ai.imal to which k belonged is considered
by naturalists to be the unicorn of the ancients, arid
the same as that which is described in the thirty-ninth
chapter of the book of Job." The part of the head
brought to England may be seen at the Missionary
Museum, in Austin-Friars.

Previous to Mr. Campbell's final departure from
New Lattakoo, a poor female Matchappee called on
him and said, that when she first heard of the Biblo
she did not think it was true, but when she found it
describe her heart so exactly, she could not but believe
what it said. She was determined, she added, always
to live near some place where the word of God was
preached, and where she might hear about a crucified
Saviour, even though she sho\iI(l starve.

After the removal of Mr. Campbell, the brethren
Hamilton and Moffat continued their labors among the
Bechuanas, preaching, catechizing and conversing
with them. The attendance on public worship, how-
ever, fiuctuated extremely ; the number of hearers
being sometimes very considerable, and at other times
very small. Mr. Moffat occasionally itinerated among
the neighboring kraals, whore, as in the town, his
congregations varied considerably as to numbers, and
the people listened to his message with more or loss
attention.

In the course of the year 1822, Tsousan, son of
Makkubba, king of the Wankotzens, who bad long
promised to visit the Krooman, arrived, with his ret-
inue, at New Lattakoo. Mr. Moffat gives the fol-
lowing account of him, and of his principal communi-
cations : —

"On Sunday, the 19tli of April, Mateebe brought
Tsousan with him to church. It was probably the
first time the sound of the gospel ever saluted his car.
His countenance expressed sifrprise, . After the ser-
vice, he came in to us, and we had some conversation.
Ho stated, at large, what were his circumstances, and
his object in coming hither. Among other things he
said, tiiut he had been driven from his c vn country
by the tyranny of his father ; that ho had visited that
of king Mateebe, to see it, with its inhabitants, and
to make known his intention to live in peace with
liiem. He observed, that the report which he had
beard, as to our being " ..len of peace," was, indeed,
tnii! ; and that king Mateebe hud also given him an
nrrounl of our prot-eedings, with which he was well
pleased. Ho expressed himself much interested with
tiic various articles and utensils which he saw in our
tr.vciiing.
"On the afltli of April, I had much conversation

450

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

with Tsousan, from whom I derived the following
particulars. He said the country of his father, to
which he is heir, is fruitful, containing many fountains
and rivers, the latter of which all run in an easterly
direction, except two, which flow towards the west.
The country is woody, and contains abundance of fruit,
of various descriptions. In winter, he said, there are
much ice and snow ; in summer, dreadful thunder and
lightning, with rains. He stated, that far to the east-
ward, near the coast, a very blacic nation lives, wiio
wear clothes, and wash themselves every morning.
He had not visited the coast himself, but had heard
from persons who had been there, and with whom he
had spoken, that a few white people live at a bay,
and that they barter with the natives in the interior
in beads, linen, 6tc. In answer to inquiries, he said
he had heard nothing of God or religion, or any tiling
else of that nature existing there ; that it was only
from this quarter (New Lattakoo) such information
was obtained. I explained to him the object which
we, as missionaries, had in view, and the subjects of
our preaching ; but to all this he listened as to things
in which he had no concern."

Some time after the visit of Tsousan, Mr. Moffat
was invited to visit Makkabba, king of the Wanket-
rens ; and as our missionary was equally desirous of
ascertaining the real character of this chief, and of
interesting him in favor of the promulgation of divine
truth, he resolved to accept the invitation. With this
design he quitted New Lattakoo, on the Nth of May,
1823, and, on the 30th, ho came to a town called
Nucuning. Immediately after his arrival at that place,
however, he was alarmed by a report of the approach
of the Mantatees, who are said to have originally in-
habited Hambona, a place on the south-east coast of
Africa, whence they were driven by two powerful
chiefs, whose territories extend from Port Natal to
Delagoa bay. On their first irruption, they were
joined by a tribe called the Mopootas, and, after de-
stroying the Lahogas, by the Muqueans, and many
others, belonging to the various conquered nations
through which they passed in their way to the Be-
chuana country. As these barbarians had already
defeated and plundered the Barrolongs and several
Bechuana tribes, Mr. Moffat d(>omed it advisable
to return immediately to Lattakoo ; and, after giving
the alarm there, he hastened forward toGriquaTown,
in order to concert measures with the native chief,
Waterboer, and another person, named Melvill, for
averting the impending danger. It was dctcmiinnd
immediately to despatch some troops of armed Griqiias
to Lattakoo ; and from that town, on the a6ih of
June, this force, under the command of Waterboer,
accumnanied bv Mr MnfTnt nFr>/«>o#to.i :.. .„..-!. ..f

the invaders. They were found encamped beyond
the river Maklareen, to the number (including women
an«i children) of about forty thousand. It was now
attempted to induce the barbarians to retire peaceably ;
but, persuasion proving totally ineffectual, a battle
ensued, in which from four to five hundred of them
were slain, together with their two kings ; whilst on
the side of the Griquas no one was killed, and only
one individual appears to have been wounded. The
invaders, in their retreat, burned the town of Old Lat-
takoo, and aAerwards proceeded in an easterly and
north-easterly direction, having formed themselves into
two divisions. One of these, however, sustained a
second defeat from Makkabba, king of the Wan-
ketzens.

In the annual report for 1824, communicated to the
members of the London Missionary Society, the di-
rectors observe, " The expulsion of the Mantatees from
the Bechuana country, effected, under Providence,
chiefly by the courage of the Griquas, and the prompt-
itude and intrepidity of Messrs. Moffat and Melvill,
has given an entirely new aspect to the mission at
New Lattakoo. Mateebe and his people, aware that
they owe their safety to the missionaries, are far more
disposed to listen to their counsel. The king has
consented to remove the town to a neighboring valley,
where, it is expected, many advantages will be ob-
tained, and many evils obviated. Of this valley he
has formally ceded a portion for the exclusive use of
the mission. The chiefs, who formerly revolj^d from
Mateebe, observing that New Lattakoo, where the
missionaries reside, has been protected from the in-
vaders, while the Old Town, where they themselves
remained, has been destroyed by the barbarians, have
again submitted to his authority, and engaged to re-
move, with their people, to the Krooman. Thus the
inhabitants of Old and New Lattakoo will be re-
united, under the same government, and all of them,
more or less, with impressions favorable to the mis-
sionaries, naturally resulting, as to each party, from
the late events.

" Subsequently, Mr. Moffat visited Cape Town, to
obtain professional advice for Mrs. Moffat, who had
been, for a considerable time, subject to serious indis-
position. He was accompanied by Peclu, son and heir
to king Mateebe, and Teyscho, a distinguished Be-
chuana chief The astonishment manifested by these
strangers, while surveying the works of ort by which
they were surrounded at Cape Town, can he bettor con-
ceived than described. Being persons of rank and in-
fluence in their own country, it may he hoped that the
effect of their visit to the Cape will be to strengthen
the favorable impressions which have been produced
by iho rdcBnt eronti in favor of lh« missiunariia.''

Dunng the tune that Mr. Maflkt was absent in the
^lony, report, were brought to Lattakoo of the return
of the Mantatees. Mr. Hamilton, at the request of
Mateebe, immediately proceeded to Griqua Town to
engage the assistance of Waterboer, which was promised
in case of necessity. On his return to Lattakoo, a
rtttn (orgeneral assembly) was held. Mr. Hamilton
urged the expediency of sending messengers to ascer-

no effect. Observmg the indifference of the king and
chiefs, he himself resolved to volunteer in this service.
He accordingly left Lattakoo on the 29th February,
and proceeded, accompanied by a small party, in the
direction of the Borolong country. On the 25th of
March, he arrived at Peetsan, a principal town of that
nation, but was unable to obtain information on which
dependence could be placed. He was, however,
kind y and hospitably treated by Tawane^ the pnn-
cipal chief, who expressed an earnest desire that mis-
sionaries might come and reside with him. The town
.!!,h K "^"' "» ''"•8« >« Lattakoo, is situated on the
Muth bank of the river Molopo. in the midst of a
toie plain and is composed of twenty divisions or wards
During the few days Mr. Hamilton remained there, ho
preached several times to congregations of upwards
of a thousand people. He believed that the king in
expressing a desire that missionaries might be sent' to
him, was mfluenceu in part by a view to the protection
and security which are so generally associated, among
the South African nations, with the presence of a
Macooa, or white man, and the superior means of
defence which he usually possesses.

In relation to this place, Mr. Hamilton addressed
the society as follows :

what I behold here (.. e. at Peetsan) ; and when, on
the sabbath evening, I stood amidst the heathen multi-
tude preaching the ^rcfl< .ahation, andsaw the ianes
of the town thronged with crowds coming to hear the
word of God, I was ready to adopt the language of '
Jesus at Jacob's well-L./t up your eye,, and look
on the field, ; for they are white already to harvest!
But where are the laborer, 7 Where are the holy men
of God, in Britain, who have given themselves, soul
and body, to Christ ? The princes on the confines of
Ethiopia are crying, like the men of Macedonia,
Come over, and help tu I Let the cry reverberate from
east to west, and from north to south— let it reach
England, and it shall not be heard in vain ; for some
will come to the help of the Lord against the mighty."
Mr. Hamilton returned to Lattakoo on the 8th of April
having preached to the several wandering tribes which

lie met witli on his wnv hnmn )...> ..,:.i _i..-!_.

certain information as to the approach of the invaders.

LATTAKOO.

461

Mr. Moffat, who, with Mrs. Moflkt. retired in lfl(M
to Griqua Town,in consequence of tC^^Vf^.'
of affairs at Lattakoo, resumed hU .tatioTin iSS!
He wa. now able to address the Bech«a„rn thei, o^
language. The number who attended p"bll wlZ
varied from twenty to forty. The female n.tl« "to

from attending the mission services. The missionaries
therefore, had to visit the Bechuanas at E own
dwelling-places for religious conversation. Acatechrt!
ical meetmg was also held. Although no spirituaTf™
appeared, yet the missionaries beheld, for their encou
agement, the decline of prejudice, a. evidenced by the
abandonment, from time to time, of customs inimical il
moral and social improvement.

During this year (1826), Mr. Moffat prepared a
translation of a catechism and several elementary books
n the BecA««n language. Two thousand copies of
the spelhag-book were printed in London, and forward-

After J^""l,'"."t """"^ P"' °f "'•' '■°»°'^i"8 year.
After much deliberation, Mateebe and his peopi;

removed to the spacious valley in which the IS

aries reside, and commenced the erection of their new

r Mni^'Tr""""",'''"' '^' ^''^'y'" visionaries.
Mr. Moffttt attempted to fix the orthography of the

Bechuan language; and heearnestlybesouglitthedirec-
tors to send out a missionary to assist him in reducing it
o grammatical form, and ultimately to provide a trans-
lation of the Scriptures in that tongue. The directors
of the society, in their notice of this station, at the
anniversary in May, 1830, remark,—

"Thirteen years have now elapsed since the first
missionary arrived at Lattakoo; and the brethren who
have labored among the Bechuanas have encountered
and endured dangers and trials of no ordinary kind.
VVe trust the time is at length approaching, when they
will receive, m witnessing the triumphs of the gospel
among the aborigines of this region, a rich componsa-
tion for all their sufferings and toils."

The missionaries had hitherto called upon the peo-
ple to repent of their iniquities, and to believe tho
gospel ; they had set before them the holiness of God—
the evil and demerit of sin— the obligation of tho divine
aw— the joys of the glorified, and the miseries of the
lost ; they were now called to engage, for the first time, in
the performance of a different part of their duty,— to
offer tho consolations and encouragements of the gospel
to persons deeply suffering from a painful conviction
of their offences against God, and their consequent
exposedness to his righteous displeasure.

In 1828, tho appearances at this station wore of a
iiuly onrouraging (iescription. The missionary writes,
undor date of May, 1829,—

469

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

"From fiuHMT letters, you would learn that, |br
nearly the lasit twelve montbs, the attendance of the
natives on divine service was not only pretty regular,
but continued imperceptibly to increase ; and our
hearts were often gladdened to see that riveted atten-
tion to the speaker, which to us seemed a prelude of
something real. Our congregations also began to
assume that decorum and solemnity which we were
wont to behold in our native land. Whether this arose
from respect to their teachers, or the force of truth,
we were, for a time, at a loss to know. A few months
ago we saw, for the first time, two or three who ap-
peared to exhibit the marks of an awakened conscience.
This feeling became gradually more general (and indi-
viduals, too, the least expected), till it became demon-
strative that the divine blessing was poured out on
the word of grace. To see the careless and the wicked
drowning the voice of the missionary with their cries,
and leaving the place with hearts overwhelmed with
the deepest sorrow, was a scene truly novel to the
unthinking heathen. But neither scoffs nor jeers could
arrest the work of conviction. Two men (natives),
tne most sedate in the station, who had long listened
to the word with unabated attention, came and de-
clared their conviction of the truth of the gospel, and
professed their deep sense of their ruined and lost
condition. One of these was achief of the Bashutas,
a tribe which was first driven from their own country
by the Caffres, and afterwards plundered of all by the
mountaineers.

" About eight months ago, Aaron Yasephs, who had
removed to this station for no other purpose but to get
his children educated, and to acquire for himself the
knowledge of writing, was soon afterwards aroused to
a sense of his awful state by nature. Being able to
read, and possessing a tolerably extensive knowledge
of divine things, it was tlie more easy for us to direct
him to the Lamb of God who taketli away the sins of
the world. About three months ago, he became a
candidate for baptism. On the first sabbath in May,
he and his throe children were publicly baptized. The
scene was very impressive, and more easily conceived
than described. Our meeting-ltouse was, as usual, too
small for the congregation. It was with difficulty that
order could be maintained, owing to the sobs and cries
of many who felt the deepest interest in what they
saw and heard. Aaron's wife, who is a respectable
and industrious woman, and who had for a long time
stifled conviction, could now no longer restrain the
pangs of a guilty conscience. An old Hottentot
(Yaunkee Swartboy), and a Mochuan, who had apos-
tatized, when at the old station, saw the enormity of
their guilt, and were cut to the heart. The former.

in particular, for a time, seemed inconsolable. On
Monday, the second, we held oar missionary prayer-
meeting. The attendance was great, and the whole
presented a most affecting scene. Many, independent
of every remonstrance, were unable to restrain their
feelings, and wept aloud, so that the voice of prayer
and singing was lost in that of weeping. It became im-
possible for us to refrain from tears of gratitude to our
indulgent Saviour, for having thus far vouchsafed some
tokens of his presence and blessing. These things
are not confined within the walls of the sanctuary.
The hills and dales, the houses and lanes, witness the
strange scene. Sometimes three or four at a time are
waiting at our houses for counsel and instruction. For
some time past, the sounds which predominate in our
village are those of singing, prayer and weeping. Many
hold prayer-meetings from house to house, and occa-
sionally to a very late hour ; and often before the sun
is seen to gild the horizon, they will assemble at some
house for prayer, and continue till it is time to go forth
to labor. It has often happened lately, that, before
the bell was rung, the half of the congregation were
assembled at the doors.

" Reflecting on what has taken place, we cannot but
feel a lively sense of the goodness of our covenant
God and Saviour. To pour the balm of consolation
into wounded souls has, hitherto, been to us a
strange work ; but we look by faith and prayer to him
who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not. We lay our
account with disappointments. Satan, our adversary,
who has hitherto reigned with potent sway, seeing
violence done to what he deems his ancient rights,
will attack us on fresh grounds. But the Lord om-
nipotent reigneth ; the Lamb shall overcome ; while
the prayer of the church is,

' Kingdom* wide, that ait in darknen.
Grant them, Lord, the glorioua light.'

" The experience of those who are but just emerging
from heathenish gloom is, of course, very simple; and
great discriujination on our part is necessaryon receiv-
ing members into the church, at a season when there
is much to operate on the feelings. Some describe
their state to be like that of one who knows that he is
walking in darkness, and tries in vain to find the road.
Others say that their hearts are awakened from an
awful death, and broken to pieces with the multitude
of their sins. Some can scarcely find words to describe
tiieir state. A young man of volatile disposition came
and stated that he knew and felt that all was wrong
with him ; but what was the matter, ho could not
explain. One man said that he had seen, for some
time past, that he must bo the greatest sinner, for every

vr-i'T-ii'

*8TEIJIKOPPF.

wnnoii appUed to him, and brought to his mind sins
which he thought he had for ever forgotten. While
conversing with the Bashuta chief, he remarked, with
great feehng, that wlien he reflected on hia past life,
and the love of God to sinners, his head flowed waters,
and slumber departed from his eyes. While writing
these remarics,the old Hottentot, before mentioned, sent
Ins son with a Bible, requesting that Mre. Mofiat might
point out the chapter (Hosea xiv.) which she had read
to him the day before. When we see and hear these
tilings, we cannot but recognize the workings of the
Spirit of God. Among those under spiritual concern,
there are Batalapis, Borolongs, Mantatees, Bakuens
and Bashutas. Let us hope and pray that the
present may be but the beginning of a glorious day
of grace." '

The mission to the Bechuanas has been reinforced
by Mr. John Baillie and Mr. Roger Edwards, who
arrived at Lattakoo, September 12, 1830. The foun-
dation of a new church was laid at about this period
towards the erection of which a number of the people
subscribed, principally their personal labor ; others fur-
nished property, consisting of goats, oxen and money.
Mr. Mofiat has translated the Gospel of Luke into
^e Sitchuana language ; historical parts of the Old
Testament ; and has also composed a Sitcliuana dic-
tionary.

The latest information concerning Lattakoo is con-
tained in the directors' report for 1832. They say,
that, « At Lattakoo, the most remote from the Cape]
where the missionary lingered long in hope, almost
against hope, and where it has, in recent years, been the
privilege of the directors to report that many had been
delivered from the powers of darkness, a gracious
revival has been experienced during the past year.
The preaching of the gospel is well attended, and an
additional service is often held with those who cannot
gain admittance to a place of worship. A new church
twice the size of the former, is erecting ; the prayer-
meeting IS crowded to excess. The voice of prayer
at morning, evening and midnight, has been frequently
lieard in every direction, from the habitations of the
natives or the bushes whither they have retired for the
purposes of devotion. For days successively, many
flocked to the habitations of the missionaries, under the
influence of feelings that urged them to inquire what
they must do to be saved ; some speaking of nothing
but their own sinfulness before God, others of the love
of Christ.

The schools are well attended ; the press is establish-
ed, and in active operation ; civilization and industry
are advancing ; the wilderness is gladdened.

4S$

NAMAQUALAND.
KOMAGGAS.

ifl^'^ r*'°" '^^ commenced by Mr. Schmelen in
ta^y. Komaggas is situated on the frontier of Little
Naraaqualand, within .1« colwiy. about twenty-two
days journey from the Cape.

Mr. Schmelen regards this port as an eligible loca-
tion for the Namaqua mission, and will be much em-
ployed in making missionary itineracies. At the com-
mencement of 1829, a school was established, contain-
ing about seventy children ; they are taught both
Dutch and English. The missionary has adopted the
plan of teaching the children, as soon as they know
the alphabet, to write on boards, in which exercise
they take great delight.

Public worship, including the prayer-meetings, is weH
attended ; on sabbaths by from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty. At this remote station in Southern
Alrica, there is, on Monday evenings, a prayeNmeeting
for the spread of the gospel and the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit. The number of communicants is
eighteen. Those natives who are in connection with
the Mission, and receive instruction from the mission-
aries, are advancing in the knowledge of the word of
God, and manifest a disposition to act according to its
precepts.

Mr. Schmelen has visited the Orange and Great river,
and found the people anxious to receive instruction.
The dispersed state in which the inhabitants of South
Africa live, renders every attempt to improve them very
laborious. The missionary remarks,—" Whenever we
come to a Hottentot kraal, we preach the gospel of the
Saviour. Every bush, tree, rock, where we can find
shelter, we make our place of worship ; and hope, under
these circumstances, sinners have been turned from
darkness to the knmvledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

STEINKOPFF.

This is an out-station, and is visited by the catechist
from Komaggas. The present number of communi-
cants is forty-two. An old man, of the name of Gerit
Engelbrecht, keeps up divine worship, and attends to
the school when the missionary or catechist are not
here. Through the instrumentality of this old disciple,
two young men have been converted to God, and a third
seems under serious impressions.

^Wl

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

►<»*i3^t«; fliflSlp^'

CHAPTER IV.

MISSIONS IN THE AFRICAN ISLANDS.

MAURITIUS.

PORT LOUIS.

Maukitios, or Isle of France, an island in the
Indian ocean, four hundred miles east of Madagascar,
was discovered by the Portuguese ; but the first set-
tlers were the Dutch, in 1598. They called it Mau-
ritius, in honor of prince Maurice, their stadtholder;
but on their acquisition of the Cape of Good Hope,
they deserted it, and it continued unsettled till the
French landed in 1720, and gave it the name of the
Isle of France. In 1810, it was uken from them by
the British, to whom it was ceded in 1814. Jhe
uland is one hundred and fifty miles in circuit, and the
climate healthy, but the soil not very fertile. There
•re many mountains, some of which have their tops
covered with snow ; but they produce the best ebony
m the world. The valleys are watered by rivers, and
made productive by cultivation,of which coffee and indigo
•re the principal objects ; and there are a great number
of catUe, deer, goats and sheep. The town and spa-
cious harbor, called Port Louis, are strongly fortified ; but
m the hurricane months the harbor cannot afford shel-
ter for more than eight vessels. In 1816, a fire con-
sumed one thousand five hundred and seventeen houses
in the most opulent part of the town ; and in 1818, the
island suffered great devastation by a tremendous hur-
ricane. Port Louis is situate on the east coast. E
long. 57° 28', S. lat. 20° 10*.

The Rev. Mr. Le Brun arrived here in June,
1814, and immediately commenced his important
work.

In 1817, governor Farquhar, in addition to placing
at the disposal of Mr. Le Brun a spacious building,
well adapted to the purpose of education, wrote
to the directors in terms of high approbation of his
labors.

Twenty.five persons were about this time united in
a Christian society. In 1821, these had increased to
forty-three ; the congregation was considerable ; one
hundred and twelve boys and eighty girls were under |

instruction, governor Farquhar ordering an allowance
of thirty dollars per month towards the support of the
former ; and a school at Belombre continued in a pros-
perous state.

Success has attended missionary efforts to the
present time.

" Mr. Le Brun," says the report of 1827, " still con-
tinues his labors, chiefly among the colored people, of
which numerous class his church is chiefly composed.
The number of children in the sabbath school is in-
creased to one hundred. The day school is also on
the increase : there are now under instruction about
one hundred ard eighty boys, who attend with tolera-
ble regularity. About seventy liberated negroes "id
slaves are instructed by members of Mr. Le Brun's
church ; some of them have expressed a desire to be
baptized. The favorable change wrought in their
character by the instruction imparted, has been attested
by their masters.

"Mr. Forgette, in April, 1826, took charge of the
religious instruction of the slave population at Riviere
du Rempart, where a small chapel has been built. A
sabbath school has been commenced, in which are
I about twenty-five children. A day school also has
been established. Mr. Le Brun visits Riviere du
Rempart every month, when he preaches to about
forty or fifty colored people, A few French families,
resident in the neighborhood, usually attend. His
excellency sir L. G. Cole has afforded all possible
facilities for the dissemination of Christian instruction
at this place.

" Mr. Le Brun has commenced another school, at a
place called Camp Yolofs, inhabited by several hun-
dred negroes, who were before entirely destitute of the
means of religious instruction. From twenty-five to
thirty children attend, some of whom are able to read
in the New Testament. Once a week, Mr. Le Brun
gives an address to the people there.

The population of the Mauritius is estimated at
between 80 and 90.000, of whom a large number are
colored. In November, 1829, the church at St. Louis,
Which had been formed eleven years, numbered fifty-
lour members. ^

In forming an estimate of the success which has
attended missionary labors at this station, it ought to
be remembered that every thing hitherto effected has
Deen in defiance of the strenuous opposition of the
Catholic church, which has denounced the philan-
tnropic enterprise.

MADAGASCAR.

45<

MADAGASCAR.

[One hnndnd ud twenty milM eut of the African continent.]

This island was discovered by the Portuguese in
1492. It IS separated from Africa by the strait of
Mozambique. It extends nine hundred miles from
north to south, and is nearly three hundred miles
r^J^ inhabitants, amounting to more than
4,000,000, are divided into a number of tribes They
are tall, well-made, of an olive complexion, and some of
them nearly black. Their hair is black, but not woolly,
and, for the most part, curls naturally; their nose is small,
though not flat ; and they have thin lips. They have
no towns, but a great number of villages, a small dis-
tance from each other. Their houses are pitiful huts
without windows or chimneys, and the roofs covered
with reeds or leaves. Those that are dressed in the
best manner, have a piece of cotton cloth or silk
wrapped round their middle ; but the common sort
have still less clothing. Both men and women are
fond of bracelets, necklaces and ear-rings. They have
little knowledge of commerce, and exchange among
themselves goods for goods: gold and silver coins,
brought by Europeans, are immediately melted down
for ornaments, and no currency of coin is established '
There are a great many petty kings, whose riches
consist in cattle and slaves, and they are always at war
with each other. There are only some parts of the
coast yet known ; for both the air and the soil are de-
structive to strangers.

The Madagasses believe in one only true God. the
Creator of all things, and the Preserver and supreme
Ruler of the universe, whom they call Zangahara.
When they speak of him, they do it with the greatest
degree of solemnity and veneration. Tho ,gh they
consider him so infinitely exalted, that he does not
stoop to notice the concerns of men ; yet he has dele-
gated the government of the affairs of triis world to
four inferior lords, whom tJiey denominate lor is of tho

north, south, east and wB«t r»_ e •
.heyconsider\hedis;:l7o".heX: :^^^^^^
of mankind, whUe the other threr,r^eCe? nT
stowing benefits. The «,ul. of all go^Te„ tht
beheve, will, after death, ascend to 2a^«h«
and enjoy perfect happiness in hi. presence, wMe
all bad men will be tormented, accordinrto Th^r
demerits, by the evil spirit, which they call AngZ
The four great lords are regarded by them as h.;:
|ng great mfluence with Zangahara. Each family his
ts guardian angel, who convey, their prayer "

tJie deity. Some appearances of Judaism are seen
among these islanders. They practise circumcision,
and offer the first-fruits of harvest. Of a Saviour thev
have no knowledge. The language of the Madagasses
. very melodious, and is said to be copious ; though
It had never been reduced to a written form till since
missionaries resided among them. In the mterior are
some Arabs, who introduced into the island many of
he arts of civilization. It is probably owing to the
mfluence of these emigrants on the neighboring tribes,
that many of them exhibit evident marks of a state of
improvement considerably removed from barbarism.

In the summer of 1818, a mission was commenced
on this island by Messrs. Sevan and Jones, whoexpe-
rienced a very favorable reception from the natives,
and particularly from a chief named Jean R^n^ They
opened a school in the vicinity of Tamatave, and were
intrusted with the care of five children belonging to dif-
ferent chiefs. Their pupils, also, made considerable
proficiency in their learning; and a piece of ground
was kindly granted for the use of the mission; whilst
the majority of the people seemed delighted with the
Idea of teachers settling among them, who would su-
perintend the education of their offspring. Every
thing, indeed, appeared promising and auspicious ;
but. alas ! m the space of a few months, death en-
tered into the families of our missionaries, and the
prospect, recently so bright and encouraging, was
suddenly obscured by clouds and darkness. The first
victim was the infant daughter of Mr. Jones, and. about
a fortnight after this removal, her mother was summoned
out of time into eternity, leaving her widowed husband
in a state of distressing illness. Mr. Bevan. who, in the
mean time, had visited the Mauritius, resolved on return-
ing to Madagascar, notwithstanding the insalubrious
season of the year, and the remonstrances of his friends,
who were apprehensive that the result might be fatal!
This anticipation was too well founded, as Mr. Bevan's
child lived but about fourteen days after his amval ;
eleven days after, he himself breathed his last ; and only
four days more elapsed before his wife followed him intn
the worid of spirits. Thus, in the short space of about

LONDON MIS6IONARY SOCIETY.

nvsB weeks, five individuals conneoted with the mit-
■imi were successively carried to an untimely grave ;
aad Mr. Jones, after partially recovering from the
Ifailegache fever, was compelled to return to the Mau-
riUus, where Charles Telfair, Esq., private secretary to
the governor, treated him with the utmost hospitality
•nd kindness, and not only exerted himself to the
utmost, in order to promote his perfect restoration to
health, but also furnished him with books, calculated
to facilitate his studies in reference to the Madagascar
mission, which, though suspended for a season, was
by no means considered as totally abandoned.

In the month of September, 1820, Mr. Jones return-
ed to Madagascar, in company with Mr. Hastie, a
gentleman sent by his excellency governor Farqubar,
from the Mauritius, to negotiate with king Radama,
for the abolition of the slave-trade within his dominions.
Some particulars of his journey to Tananarive, the
capital of the kingdom of Ova, will be found in the fol-
lowing extracts from the journal of this valuable and
devoted missionary : —

" After a pleasant voyage, upon the whole, we
arrived, on the 9th, within sight of Madagascar, and
the next day anchored in the harbor of Tamatave.
After dining on board, Mr. James Hastie (the gov-
ernment agent), lieutenant Hay and myself, went on
shore, and visited the chief, Jean R£n^, who received
us very courteously. On our landing, we were given
to understand that Madagascar was troubled with
war, that Radama was carrying on hostilities against
some chiefs in the south ; and that Jean Ren^ was at
war both in the south and in the north. On again see-
ing Tamatave, I could not but reflect with gratitude, on
the manner in which the Lord had protected me, both
in this country, and subsequently at the Mauritius,
while many stronger than I had fallen by my side.

" On the 24th, we had much trouble with our bearers,
and the house in which we had taken up our abode,
during the preceding night, was filled with unruly
people. Proceeded in our palanquins, and arrived,
about noon,at Ranwmafan (which s'l^niiiea hot water),
where we stopped until the following morning, notwith-
standing the village did not contain houses sufficient
for the accommodation of our party. We were in-
formed that, in the hot well, from which tiie village
derives its name, meat, eggs, vegetables, &c. may be
sufficiently cooked for eating. I went to the spot and
drank of the water, which was so hot that I could
not hold the cup, containing it, in my hand The
Malegaches greatly venerate this well, regarding it
with a sort of adoration, as being a peculiar manifesta-
tion of divine power.

The morning of the 26th was very foggy, inso-

much tii

ai ive Luuia tioi uiscovcr tne mountains and

trees around us. At sevea o'clock, however, w« set
off, in the midst of the fog, ascending and descending
very steep hills, and pusing through much wood.
Over some of the mounuins, which were crowded with
trees, the road was nearly perpendicular. In no part,
even of North Wales, have I seen roads and moun-
tains so difficult to pass, as those we travelled over this
day. We also crossed a serpentine river seven times.
" The next day, in consequence of fatigue, we rested
at a place called Buffore, where we perceived much
ground in an uncultivated state. While we were here,
a person passed through the place with two hundred
slaves from Ova.

" On the 28th, our road lay along an extensive valley,
over high mountains and through rivers. The moun-
tains were every where thickly covered with trees, the
loftiest I have ever seen, having their roots, to a great
extent, interwoven one within another. In ascending
the mountains, we were in some places obliged to climb
with our hands and feet, grasping hold of the roots of
trees. The road in some places reminded me of the
ascent up a steeple, by numerous steps. We arrived
in the evening at a place called Elamaswt, greatly
fatigued. Here we passed the night in a hut, built on
purpose for us, while ourmarmtVet, or hearers, slept in
the open air.

" At night we obtained but little rest, as there was a
very heavy fog, with which all the place around us was
filled. Our beds, both above and below, were quite
wet with the dew. I arose the next morning, with my
feet extremely cold, and with a severe head-ache.

*' We quitted our hut about six o'clock, while the
fog was as yet thick around us. In the course of the
morning, we were passed by about one thousand slaves,
who were proceeding from Ova to Tamatave for sale.
How dreadful to behold such a number of human be-
ings bound in iron, and driven from their native coun-
try to be sold like sheep in a market ; and among them
a number of children, between six and seven years of
age, taken away from their parents forever ! My heart
ached, and tears gushed from my eyes at the inhuman
spectacle. Were a like number of slaves in irons, and
carrying burdens on their heads, to he driven through
the streets of London to Smithfield, to be sold there as
cattle, surely the scene would fill the eyes of both
high and low with tears, and excite them to the great-
est exertions in order to suppress such a traffic.

" In the course of the day we passed through nu-
merous deep bogs (the fording of which we found very
difficult, especially to the horses), as well as over lofty
mountains, and arrived, late in the evening, at Mwra-
manga, where we slept. This village, the first we had
entered within the dominions of Radama, command-
ed a view of an immense extent of level country.

" On the aoih, we set off at about htlfput six o'eloek
■nd arrired at half past twelTc at Ambwhitrim, where'
we took up our quaners until the following rooming.
At this place, Mr. Hastie received an answer from king
Radama, to a letter which he had written to him while
at Tamatave, manifesting the greatest joy on his arrival
m Madagascar, and requesting him to expedite his jour-
ney, as there were no grounds for any apprehensions as
to his personalsafety. Ambwhitrim, which consists of
many houses, stands on the top of a high hill ; it is sur-
rounded Wrth an immense fosse, and can be entered
on y at two strong gates. It is a well fortified village.
In the morning of October 1, which proved very
foggy, we crossed the river Mangwrw; passed over
hills, and breakfasted, at noon, on the margin of a
small n ver. After passing.ver hills and through much
rice ground, we ascended, with great difficulty, the
mountam Angiive. The height of this mountain is
about two thousand five hundred feet, and it is so ex-
tremely steep, that we were sometimes compelled to
climb with our hands and feet. We lodged, during
the night, at a village situated on its summit.

" The following day, after passing over some very high
mountains, we entered the Ova country. As we de-
scended from the mountains,we saw before us an immense
extent of territory, in general without wood, and hilly
We stopped to breakfast at a fortified and populous village
called Fefeiran. We afterwards passed through much
nee ground, and many villages surrounded with ditches,
at least twenty feet in depth. Went to see a market
which was situated on a hill, on this side Ambatwmanga.
We had scarcely arrived there, when we were surround-
ed by the people, who flocked about us in hundreds, inso-
much that we were obliged to use means to clear the road.
Here we saw the merchants, the sellers, and the mon-
ey-changers, sitting and weighing with scales, &c., as in
any well-regulated market in England. After satisfying
our curiosity, we pursued our journey, followed by the
crowd, and at seven o'clock arrived at Ambatwmanga
which IS a very large and well fortified, but dirty, city!
" On the 3d, we resumed our route at six o'clock
passing over hills and dales, and through much rice
ground, and near many fortified and populous villages.
Mr. Hastie, with a number of the marmitei, went on
before, and arrived at the foot of the mountain on
which Tananarive is situated. Here he arrived about
noon, and was ordered to wait the pleasure of Radama.
In about half an hour afterwards, I came up with the
rest of the marmitei. Shortly after our arrival, the
cannon on the hill were fired. At one o'clock, came
down from the hill two persons, mounted and dressed
as field officers, and informed us that the king would
be ready to receive us at four o'clock, in a public
manner. Soon alter these, came down the two princes,
Vol,. I.— Nos. 39 & 40 60

MADAGASCAR.

4ft7

who mme yean ago resided at the Mauriiiut. to Me
their tutor, Mr. Hastie. After them came the kin«'.
secretary, and informed u«, that his majesty ww re-
joicing exceedingly at the news of our arrival ; that his
own watch was regulated by that of the king, and that
we were to mount the hill exactly at four o'clock
The hour arrived, and a messenger was sent down to
mform us, that his majesty was ready to receive us.
We immediately began to ascend the hiU, when a
cannon at the top was fired. After we had ascended
a little way, we observed two lines of soldiers present-
mg arms The military extended to the royal palace.
Withm the court-yard was a band of drums beatine.
shells sounding, people dancing, &c. We walked up
between the two lines of soldiers, accompanied by
some field officers, until we arrived in the court-yard
before the royal palace. The king ran to receive Mr.
Hastie, who saluted him, according to the usual custom,
by bending one knee, kissing his hand, and placing
therein a piece of gold, saying, ' Token of respect to
you, master.' Mr. Hastie then introduced mffto the
king, and I saluted him in the same manner His
majesty then requested us to enter his palace, which
we did, following him. I was struck with astonish-
ment at the beauty and splendor of the apartment into
which we were introduced. On entering, the king re-
quested us to take our seats, Mr. Hastie on his right
hand, and myself on his left. Before us was a well-
spread table, at the head of which the king sat; many
of his officers also sat at the table. After we had
taken our places, the king manifested such ecstasies of
joy, as surpassed all I ever before witnessed. While
we sat at table, he inquired concerning his pres'^nt
majesty, king George the fourth, and his exceJlunrr
governor Farquhar and family. On leaving the king,
who seemed to part with us unwillingly, we were led
into a large well-built house, situated near the palate,
which had been prepared for our reception, and where'
we slept. The cannon continued to fire from the hill
for a long time, while we sat at dinner, and the music
lasted until we left the palace.

"In the course of the next morning, the king came
to the house where Mr. Hastie and myself abode.
He was accompanied by his ministers and body guards.
Mr. Hastie, soon after his entrance, presented to his
majesty a letter and present from governor Farquhar ;
also letters and p.csents from his excellency to the
two princes. The king then inspected the plate, the
workmanship of which he much admired. The king's
secretary read and explained the three letters. Ra-
dama afterwards proceeded to view the horses which
had been brought for him, and was particulariy pleased
with an Arahliin hnrss Hn »l.^o..n« J... u: :

paid us another visit, and sat a long time inspecting a

418

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

chart of Madagtscar. which had been presented to him
by Mr. Hastie, in the name of his excellency. In the
evening, the king took an airing. Mr. Hastie, myself,
and some of his maje&iy's officers, rode behind him,
surrounded by the life-guards, and hundreds of people
running along by the side of us. On our return, we
went to the palace to dine with his majesty. There
sat at table with us some of the royal family and
several officers.

" On the 7lh, Mr. Hastie had a long conversation
with the king on the subject of a renewal of the treaty ;
but noihing was decided upon. The next day, how-
ever, his majesty held a great kabarre, or council, with
his ministers, respecting the treaty. At about three
o'clock, the king sent for Mr. Hastie, and, in a short
time afterwards, for me. He was surrounded by his
ministers, &c. Mr. Hastie first explained the nature
of his own mission, and afterwards, at the request of
the king, the object of mine. Mr. Haatie distinctly
stated, that I had nothing to do in political affairs, and
that my mission was of a religious nature. He then,
among other things, expatiated on the disinterested con-
duct of the English, in seeking an alliance with him,
the advantages he had formerly derived, and would
in future derive, from their friendship, and the evils
which, if he refused to cement it, must unavoidably
ensue from the prosecution of a traffic so disgraceful
and inhuman as the slave-trade, carried on as it was,
in a country naturally so rich in resources, which, with
the amity proposed, would render him |H>werful, and
his people happy, and would cause his name to live
for ever.

" The king having pointed out the great importance
of instniction to his people, in order that they might
see, as he did, the advantages of the proposed treaty,
Mr. Hastie, among other things, observed, that as long
as slavery was permitted in his country, it could not
reasonably be expected, that persons capable of in-
structing his people would settle in it, at the risk of
their own oflTspring becoming the property, perhaps,
of their next neighbor. • Stop the slave-trade,' said
Mr. Hastie, ' and you will have people of every nation
visiting your country. The Isle of France is not peopled
by French or English only. On the contrary, you
there find people from every quarter of the globe,
because our king and our constitution protect all
equally.' Radama admitted all that Mr. Hastie ad-
vanced, and commented oi every article. A long
silence ensued ; Mr. Hastie then begged leave to state
that governor Farquhar would receive Radaina's free
subjects for instruction, and send him some good artif-
icers, together with the requisite implements ; but that
it must be his (the king's) own act alone which

llfl inHii

u^m mjkn

»r •.!.

country, and improve his people ; and observed, that
the Missionary Society had sent me out to instruct
them in religion and useful learning. He mentioned
also the improvements which, by means of that society,
had taken place among people more ignorant than his
own, particularly those of the South Sea islands.

" On the 9th, the king, who had been in consulta-
tion from day-light with his ministers, sent round to
the principal chiefs of the districts, and to his grand-
father. At four o'clock, he sent for Mr. Hastie and
myself to attend him at the palace, where a multitude
of persons were assembled. His majesty appeared
very much fatigued. He said, that he had maturely
considered all that had been said on the subject of the
treaty ; repeated what he had formerly expressed on
the importance of giving his people instruction ;
and requested permission to send some of them to
England, for that purpose. Mr. Hastie promised, that
every means should be taken to promote the instruc-
tion of his people, again adverting to me and my
object, and to the great improvements in the South
Sea islands, in civilization as well as in Christianity.
He stated, also, that a ship had been built at Otaheite,
and added, that the society sent out artificers, as well
as persons lep.;ned in ili6 hnguages.

" The npxt day, the king stnt a letter to Mr. Hastie,
addresse(' to governor Farquhar, stating that he was
anxious to cement the proposed alliance, but as nothing
but instruction could alleviate the misery of his sub-
jects, he could agree to the treaty only on condition
that he should be allowed to send some of his people
to the Mauritius and England for instruction, and that
artificers should be sent to him. Mr. Hastie said that
he was authorized by his excellency to promise artifi-
cers, and to take bank some of his people for instruc-
tion ; but beyond this he had no authority. The king
sent again, requiring that twenty persons should be
sent to England for instruction, as he was persuaded
nothing but instruction could reconcile his people to
the abandonment of tlie slave traffic. In this dilemma,
Mr. Hastie consulted with me. I observed, that as
the treaty would tend to open a door for the sccurs
residence of missionaries in Madagascar, I thought it
probable the Missionary Society itself would not object
to lake some of the islanders under its care, fur educa-
tion. It was now agreed by Mr. Hastie, that six of
the free subjects of Radama should be sent t« England
for education. This proposal was sent to tlui king,
and his reply was, that he would again see Mr. Hastio
in the evening. In the interval, we prepared a paper,
containing translations into French of what the society
has published relative to Madagascar in its annual
re))orts, and stating, that I was sent by the Missiona

for ibusionaries to settle in his country, and tbat if he
consented to grant these, I was authorized to prombe
that the society would send out more missionaries to
civihze, as well as to Christianize bis people. I sent
•iK), with this document, a copy of the society's report
for 1819, and the Missionary Sketch, which represents
U.e people of Otaheite destroying their idols, and
budding a chapel. I requested the king's secretary to
exp am these to his majesty, in like manner a. I had
explamed them to Am.

"In the evening the king camo, with many of his
mmuitew, to our hcuse, and the conferences were

whtrK K ^'\ ^T'^ '^capitulated the arguments

which he had already employed, and placed them in

the clearest I.ght possible. On this occasion, he told

his majesty, that he was a king set over his people to

govern them, and to do every thing to promote their

welfare ; that he was responsible to the divine Being

for what he did ; that that Being was able to remove

bim from his throne, as he had done in the case of

Bonaparte, and to give it to another, who should rule

his people with wisdom, so as to alleviate their misery,

and to make them possess happiness, like the people'

of Britam, who have their teachers, artificers, &c.

ihe kmg listened attentively to all that was said, ap-

peared to be convinced by it, and promised to give his

final determination on the morrow.

" The next morning, at eleven o'clock, his majesty
sent to communicate his final determination, which
was, that the treaty should be signed this day, and
that he would republish his former proclamation, re-
quiring the immediate cessation of the slave traffic
provided Mr. Hastie would agree to take twenty of
his subjects for instruction, ten to proceed to the
Mauritius, and the other ten to England. The moment
wa? now arrived when the welfare of millions was to
be decided. Mr. Hastie came to me and asked what
was to bo done, and whether the Missionary Society
would take some of them under their charge. Having
no authority, I could not go beyond what I bad said
yesterday ; on which Mr. Hastio said, that he would
agree to the king's proposal, even if he himself should
bear the expenses of the ten youths who were to bo
Mnt to England. The agreement was accordingly
made, a kabarre held, and a proclamation published,
of which the following is a translatio.. :—

"Inhabitants of Madagascar,

" You are none of you ignorant of the friendship
we enjoy with the goveriioi of the Mauritius, and the
devoted aitnchment we have avow.ul to hiin~his at-
tention, unlike that of all other foreign nations that
have visited our shorn*. Iiim l.o»„ .1: .„,i ._ :

-.-...., ,,. ,j,.-jj-jj-5-

oiv happmess and prosperity— ho has never deprived

MADAGASCAR.

459

L°/ T '?" **' °"' P«>pe»t5e»-he has not suf-

Srv brh"" """• '° '"^°* *»"' <=Mdren into
slavery-he has sent us people to teach us arts and
industry unknown .0 us before, to defend us agafnst
our enemies, and to prevent famine by more extensive
cultivation. We are happier and safer since he es-
tablishment of British dommion in our neighborhood •
and we are grateful to our good father who has pro^
cured for us these blessings.

"His nation and king have made laws to prevent
you from being carried out of your island into slavery •
and he has punished such of the whites as have pre-
sumed to violate this law.

« He has called on us to assist him in this work
for our own benefit, and he has promised his power-

Si!oS:r " ''"""' ""=' " """' "^ '^'•""-y -

" We willingly agree to this proposal of our father^
and we hereby declare, that if any of our suSV

warriT'^'u'''?^',"? °" °"' power, shall hencefor'
ward be guilty of selling any slave, or other person, for
U^e purpose of being transported from the island of
Madagascar, the person guilty shall be punished by
being reduced to slavery himself, and his property shall
be forfeited to me. ,

"Let my subjects, then, who have slaves, employ
them in planting rice, and other provisions, and in taking
care of their flocks-in collecting bees-wax and gums!
and in manufacturing cloths and other articles which
they can sell. I set them the first example myself, by
abandoning the tax payable to me upon the sale of
slaves for exportation. _,

" I direct my brother, Jean R6n.S and other chiefs
upon the sea-coast, to seize, for their own use and profit
all such slaves as maybe attempted to be exported in
their respective provinces ; they will also give every
support and assistance to the government agent of Mau-
ritius in the execution of his duties.

"I command all my subjects and dependants, and
invite all my allies, to abstain from any maritime
predatory excursion whatever, and more particularly
neither to practise nor allow of any attack or attempt
upon the friends of our ally the British nation.

" It has been usual to make an annual attack upon
the sultan of Johanna and the Comoro islands— our
good friend the governor of Mauritius dissolved the
meditated attack of last year, and we now join with
him in forbidding any further enmity to the king or
inhabitants of the Comoro Archipelago, or other islands
on the coast of Africa, or North Archipelago, under
the pain of our most severe displeasure, and of incur-
ring the punishment due to pirates, of whatever nation
cr pcopic jney iimy 00.

" Such is my will ; let it be known to every inhab-

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

ilant of thk island ; it ia for their own happineu, uid
their own Mfety, to pa/ obedience to this procla-
uation.

(Signed) << Radama."
« 93d Ootober, 1817.
" ReiMWMt nth Oetotor, 1890."

In allusion to the promulgation of this important
document, Mr. Jones observes, in a letter addressed
to his kind friend, Mr. Telfair,— «« Had bis excellency
governor Farquhar witnessed the transports of joy
exhibited in the countenances of thousands around us,
on the 1 1 th instant, when the treaty was agreed upon —
the proclamation issued — the British flag, in union
with that of Madagascar, hoisted — freedom hailed by
thousands as the glA of the British nation — the guns
firing a salute of liberty and joy — the music playing,
and the people rejoicing — the scone would, 1 think,
have filled his mind with greater pleasure than any he
ever before witnessed — being himself the author of a
treaty pregnant with so many blessings. When I went
out to see the union flag, and all the people looking
at it, with smiles in their countenances, my heart was
filled with joy, and my eyes with tears.

" And now, my dear sir, a wide door for Christianity
and civilization has been opened in Madagascar, and
that of slavery, I trust, bolted for ever. A powerful
monarch has become the patron of Christian mission-
aries and of artificers, instead of dealers in slaves,
who were to be dragged out of their native country.
Methinks I hear the voices of infants crying out, and
hailing the day as loud as any, saying, ' We shall not
bo snatched from our parent's bosom, and be forced
away from our native country, to serve a strange
|)«opln, in slavery.' "

in another communication to the same gentleman,
our missionary observes, — " Having filled up my sheet
on the 11th instant,! begin another, for the purpose of
writing what will show the anxiety of the Malegaches
to have their children instructed. The mother of his
majesty Kadama came into our dwelling-house last
Saturday morning ; and, on conversing with her u|>on
the advanuges to be derived from instructing the
jieople, slie remarked, very sensibly, that she would
never agree to a treaty where money was to be the
main object, but that she would sup|>ort the plan pro-
|)08od with all her might.

" A selection of young persons for England, and
others for the Mauritius, was made to-day ; and the
people entered into a high discussion as to who should
haT« the king's permission, bihI !l>r. honor, to soiid
their children to be instructed. One man said that he
would give three thousand dollars for |>ermission to
send his child. • Well,' said the king, ' give me one

Iftniiaan

inn

hesitated a little, and then answered that he
would give that sum. • Well,' rejoined the king, « as
you are in earnest, ha shall go for nothing.' The
place was, on Saturday, crowded by the richest and
most respectable people in the capital, firom among
whose children a selection has been made for in-
struction.

" I have also to inform you, that the Roman Catholic
priest at St. Denis, in the island of Bourbon, has
written a very flattering letter to the king, asking his
permission to send missionaries to teach his subjects
the Roman Catholic religion, and informing him that
some were at Bourbon, ready to come over, provided
his majesty would give them his royal permission.
The king wrote an answer, refusing his permission,
in the strongest terms ; saying, that he had entered
into an alliance with the British nation, and conse-
quently wished to have British Protestant missionaries
to instruct his subjects, to whom he would give his
permission, as well as protection, throughout his do-
minions.

" The king then requested me to explain to him
the difference between the Roman Catholic and Prot-
estant religions, which I did, as comprehensively as I
could, and, at the same time, described the liberal
principles upon which the Missionary Society is O' tab-
lished ; observing, that it sends out missionaries to
Christianize people by persuasion and conviction, and
not by any compulsion, contrary to the light of their
own understandings ; and, moreover, that its mission-
aries do not desire any to adopt the religion they pro-
fess and teach, unless the persons instructed be first
convinced, in their own minds, of the reasonableness
and superiority of it to their natural and heathenish
religion. I also stated, that the Missionary Society
sends out missionaries to civilize the heathen, as well
as to Christianise them, and mentioned Otaheite and
Africa, as examples of what I said. Upon which the
king said, ' Ay, ay, very well indeed ; 1 wish they
would send many to teach these people (mesning his
own subjects) in the same mnnnor.' 'Well,' Ire-
plied, ' the best plan will |je for your majesty to write
1 letter to the society to that eflfect, staling your real
sentiments to the directors, and promising, at the same
time, your majesty's permission and protection to their
missionaries ; as I am persuaded that the receipt of
such a li'ttcr from your majesty would give them much
more encouragement and confidence to send teachers
than any letters from me ; and as I have already ex-
plained to your majesty the principles upon which the
society is founded— what it is that their missionaries
teach the people, Ixith at to religion and civilisntion^-
and that they do nothing by force or constraint,—
youf Hiajesiy cannot be deceived. But should any

minionkrias belonging to our lociety be found making
lue of any force or constraint, in making your people
conferts to religion,! am willing that you should send
them out of your country, or compel them to desist
from such a mode of Christianiiing ; and, indeed, I
should wish that you should thus act, such a procedure
being contrary to the rules of our society.' "

In compliance with the advice of Mr. Jones, his
majesty addressed a letter to the directors of the
London Missionary Society, of whksh the following is
a correct translation :—

"Radama, King of Madagascar, to the Mtiionary
&,cU?' ""^""^ '"""^ '** ^'**''^ Mmionaty

"Gentlemen,_When the treaty was concluded
bet^veen me and governor Farquhar. which has for its
object the cessation of the exportation of slave, from
the island of Madagascar, the missionory, Mr. David
Jones, accompanied the commissioner from the British
government, and arrived at Tananarive, the capital of
my kingdom, with the intention of paying me a visit,
to solicit from me leave to settle, with other mission-
aries, in my dominions. Having informed myself of
his profession and mission, I acquiesced with much
pleasure in his request.

" Mr. Jones, your missionary, having satisfied me
that those sent out by your society have no other
object than to enlighten the people by persuasion and
conviction, and to discover to them the means of be-
coming happy by evangelizing and civilizing them,
after the manner of European nations, and this not
by force, or contrary to the light of their under-
«tandings, —

" Therefore, gentlemen, I request you to send mo,
if convenient, as many missionaries as you may deem
proper, together with their families, if they desire it ;
provided you send skilful artisans to make my people
workmen, as well as good Christians.

" I avail myself of (his opportunity, gentlemen, to
promise all the protection, the safety, the respect, and
the tranquillity, which missionaries may require from
my subjects.

" The missionaries, who are particularly needed at
present, are persons who are able to instruct my people
in the Christian religion, and in various trades, such
as weaving, carpentering, Hic. 8ic.

" I shall expect, gentlemen, from you, a satisfactory
answer by an early opportunity.

•* Accept, gentlemen, the assurance of my esteem
■nd alfection.

(Signed) " Raoama Maneaka."
In addition to the pleasure resulting from the oon-

MADAOASCAR.

tents of this letter, the directors and membm of the
London Missionary Society had the high gratifcation,
at their annual meeting, in May, 1881, of seeing emon.
them pnnce Rataffe, the brothernn-law and prime
minister of Radama ; who, a few days before; had
been presented to his Britannic majesty at the draw-
ing-room ; and who, on this occasion, was attended by
his secretary, his interpreter, and a gentleman named
Marnson, who had accompanied him from the Mauri-
tius, together with four of the youths who had been
sent to Englapd for instruction. An address was do-
hvered to him by the chairman, W. A. Hankey, Esq.,
m French, and a vote of thanks, unanimously passed,
for the honor of his visit, was delivered to him by that
venerable and amiable apostle of Christ, the Rev.
Rowland Hill, whose name must ever be dear to the
heart of the editor, as that of a faithful guide and
affectionate teacher, to whose blessed instrumentality
he was indebted, in early youth, for a discovery of his
own depravity as a sinner, and of the suitability and
prociousness of Christ as a Saviour. After remaining
in the assembly about half an hour, the prince with-
drew, evidently gratified with the attentions which he
had received, and the spectacle he had witnessed.

The youths, who were brought from Madagascar,
for the purpose of being instructed in some useful arts,
were placed, at the expense of government, in the
British and Foreign School, in the Borough-road,
Southwark, with a view to their learning to read and
write the English language ; and it is pleasing to odd,
that they not only applied themselves to their literary
pursuits with commendable assiduity, but some of
them soon began to exhibit pleasing indications of
early piety.

On the 6th of August, in the same year, prince
Rataffe, accompanied by the Rev. John Jeffreys and
four artisans, sailed from Gravesend for Madagascar •
and, after remaining a short time at the Mauritius, his
highness returned to Tananarive, where he arrived
safely on the 18th of January, 182«, much pleaded with
the reception which ho had met with in England, and
anxious to detail the interesting particulars of his visit
wh'ch were listened to by the king and the resident
missionaries with sensations of admiration and delight.

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffreys, with the four missionary
artisans, Messrs. Brookes, Canham, Chick and Row-
land, remained at the Mauritius till the 1st of May,
when his excellency governor Farquhar kindly granted'
them B free pas-sage to Ma(laga.=icar, in his majesty's
ship the Menai, commanded by captain Moresby, who
spared no pains Jo render their passage comfortable.
On the 6th, they landed at Tamatave ; and on the
-i:-!, t::c;- :ci; ;:!a; piacG lor trie ifiCcriur, nccompamed

by J. Hastie, Esq., the British agent. Their journey

463

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

wa9 extreiuel/ difficuU and laborious, owing to the
bad state or Uie road-^ the steepness of the hills, the
breadtli of tlie riverSj lakes, &ic., which lay between
them and the place of their destination. The same
divine and infallible Guide, however, who conducted
Israel through the wildumess, mercifully watched over
and protected them, and, on the 9th of June, they
reached Tananarive in health and safety.

" When we arrived," says Mr. Jeffreys, " at the
bottom of the high hill on which the city is built, we
were met by prince Rataffe and the English officer,
Mr. Brady, in their military uniforms, 'accompanied
by the two missionaries, Messrs. Jones and Griffiths.
When we began to sscead the hill, the guns at the
top were fired. The streets, which are very narrow
and irregular, were crowded by spectators. Some
disciplined troops, dressed in the European style, had
been drawn up in the oourt-yard of the king's house.
When we entered, tl;-; drums beat, the soldiers pre-
sented arms, and we hastened to meet king Radama,
who was waiting to rt ccive us. As we advanced, my
Attention was directrd to two alligators, which had
been recently taken, and were placed one on each
side the flight of steps that led to the palace.

" Tlie king received us in the most gracious man-
ner, and we sat down to a sumptuous dinner, served
up in the European manner. Mrs. Jeffreys and my-
self were afterwards conducted to a house appointed
for us by his majesty. The next morning, the king
sent us a present, consisting of a sheep, a goose and
a duck, with fifty eggs.

" On the 14th of June, the four artisans were pre-
sented to the king, who directed that a piece of land,
eligibly situated, should be allotted to their use, on
which they might erect houses and workshops ; and
that each of them should have two apprentices, and a
boy to serve them."

The following particulars arc extracted fVom a letter
written by one of the artisans to the secretary, and
dated June 30, 1822: —

" Our reception by the king was highly gratifying,
and the kindness of the principal men and the people
in general, makes us, in a great measure, to forget that
we are ' strangers in a strange land.'

" The presents which you sent from England were
presented by us, in a body, to his majesty. He appear-
ed to be much pleased with them ; especially with
the Bible and portrait. Afterwards bis majesty pro-
posed that each of the ortisans should instruct two of
his boys in his respective trade, as a remuneration for
which, he would give ua a servant each. As the
motives by which we were induced to devote ourselves
lo the work were not, I trust, those of a secular kind,
a premium with them was but of small consideration

to us. His majesty also gave us about two acras
of ground, bearing north-west of the city, and well
supplied with water. At the commencement, we had
at least two thousand men employed in levelling the
ground for the houses ; and it is really astonishing to
see the cheerfulness with which they work for us.
We daily expect the arrival of the rest of our pack-
ages from Tamatave, when we hope to pursue with
diligence and assiduity the different objects for which
we are come. I have the satisfaction to inform you
that the boys are tractable and obedient, doing all
they can to please us. But while we are diligent in
instructing them in things pertaining to this life, wo
hope to lead their young minds to higher and nobler
objects, and remember that, while we administer to
the body, 'we must watch for their souls as those
who must give an account.' "

But, whilst the general aspect of the mission was
thus bright and animating, a circumstance occurred
which threw a temporary cloud over the pleasing
prospect, and deeply depressed the spirits of our mis-
sionaries. This was the unexpected death of Mr.
Brookes, who, on the very day of his arrival at
Tananarive, exhibited symptoms of a fever, the prog-
ress of which baffled all the effects of medicine, and
in about a fortnight removed him from the new and
interesting field of labor which had just opened to his
view. His last days were soothed by the affectionate
and unremitting attentions of his brethren and their
kind patron, Mr. Hasiie, and his soul was supported
and animated by a hope full of immortality. Ho
expired on the 24th of June, and his remains w< re
interred, the following day, in a spot of ground given
to the brethren for a cemetery, and ordered to be
enclosed for that purpose.

" Ho was carried to the grave," says Mr. Canham,
" by natives. Messrs. Jones, Griffiths and Jeffreys
went before with white scarfs and hat-bands ; Mr. Chick
and myself met the corpse with hat-bands and gloves ;
and the two German botanists followed us. After
them came the various artisans ; and lastly, the children
of the school."

Thousands of the inhabitants from all parts of the
town crowded to behold the spectacle, and it was un-
derstood that they were much struck wi'h the solem-
nity with which the funeral was conducted. At the
grave, Mr. Jones read some portio.ns of Scripture, and
gave out two hynms, one at the commencement, and
the other at the close of the service. Mr. Griffiths
prayed, and Mr. Jeffreys gave a short address from
Job xxxvii. 23, and concluded with prayer.

This mournful event excited great lamentation, not
only amongst the missionaries, but also amongst the
natives, even of the highest ranks. When the kina's

MAUAttASCAR. J'JrWM

mother was informed of it, she burst into tears, and the
king's ministers also manifested much sorrow.

In the month of September, 1823, the brethren
performed a tour in a part of the country situated in
the south-east of Tananarive, in order to fix on eligible
stations for the fom,ation of schools, and, eventually,
for the preaching of the gospel. On the first day of
their journey, they ascended a hill in the vicinity of a
place called Alasoura, from which they counted, with-
in the compass of two or three miles, twenty villages,
most of them large and populous ; and, as many of thei^
elder pup.ls at Tananarive were, at this time, qualified
for the office of school-master, they were naturally led
to cherish the pleasing anticipation that they might
soon be enabled to establish schools in some of the
circumjacent villages; particularly as, in the course
of this tour, many of the natives expressed a desire
that thei- children might be instnicted, and without
contending for their own superstitions, admitted the
superiority of the religion promulgated by the mis-
sionaries.

On the 23d of May, 1824, the infant son of the
Itev D. Jones was dedicated to God in baptism ; and
as this was the first time that the ordinance had been
solemnized, in the native language, at Tananarive, the
place was excessively crowded, and even the doors
and windows were completely lined with people. Mr
Jones having first preached in English on the subject
of mfant baptism, from Luke xviii. 16, Mr. Griffiths
delivered a discourse in Malegache, on the divine in-
stitution of the ordinance, and the mode of its admin-
istration from Matt, xxviii. 19. He then took the
child m his arms, and baptized it with the words pre-
scribed by our blessed Redeemer, first in the English
and afterwards in the native language. His majesty
Radama was present, and appeared to pay the grcntest
attention to every thing that was said on this interest-
ing occasion.

In a communication addressed, about this time, to
the friends of one of the missionary artisans, the writer
observes that the prejudices of the natives of Madagas-
car are stronger, and their superstitious observances
more numerous, than many persons in England are
a^^re of, though they are perceptibly losing ground.
" There are here," says he, " many diviners, or per-
sons who pretend to foretell future events ; but though
their influence over the minds of the people, in
general, is still great, it is not so absolute as it for-
meriy was.

" Infanticide has been here carried on to an awful
extent, from time immemorial ; and the country has
been drenched with the blood of thousands of innocent
babes, who happened to bo born on what their sunar-
■titious parents considered as unlucky days. This

463

cruel and unnatural practice i, „ow discountenanced

dl^ye^'' " " ''PP"'''««'«d -"-"y are stHI

" Anoth r most destructive a^d depopulating prac
tice, not yet extinguished, is that of trial by polon ■
which 19 somewhat similar to the ordeal formerly re-
sorted to in Britain, in doubtful cases. If a person be
suspected of a crime, his judges order poison to be
given to him, which, if innocent, he readily drinks,
believing that it will not kill him. Many persons
indeed, conscious of their own innocence, have request-
ed permission to swallow the deleterious draught, under
this persuasion, and have consequently fallen sacrifices
to the sad delusion.

" There are many idols, holy places and sacred
stones in the country. At the foot of the hill to the
westward, on which Tananarive is built, is a holy
stone, covered with bits of old robes, fastened to it by
the poor natives, who verily imagine that by this act
they shall be so fortunate as to obtain new ones.
Have respect unto thy covenant, O Lord ; for the
dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of
cruelty and superstition.' " »

The following extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr
Griffiths to a missionary at the Mauritius, and dated
Septembers, 1824, contains such important and picas-
1% information as cannot fail of proving acceptable to
the pious reader :—

" I have the pleasure to inform yon, that this mis-
sion has never worn a more promising aspect, than it
has since last May. The king continues his protec-
tion to us, and gives us encouragement to labor with
assiduity. We have twenty-two schools established
since last April, under his majesty's patronage, wherein
more than two thousand children are instructed Our
first scholars, who teach at the diflerent villages, are
much more capable of teaching than I expected ; their
ardent pursuit after knowledge, and their unceasing
assiduity in communicating instruction to others, afford
us great satisfaction and encouragement. Those vil-
lages that have above eighty scholars, have four
teachers, two to teach every other week by turns,
while the other two are learning in town ; so that tliey
are one week learning, and the other teaching. The
scholars, both in town and the country, have learnt
almost the whole of a large catechism of Dr. Brown's,
which I have translated, and formed for the use of the'
schools, and to which I have added several questions
and replies concerning the creation, the inorul law, the
Saviour, and the future state. The progress of our
pupils ii very encouraging, in the knowledge of the
word of salvation.

I uarc a ciiapci cuiit, aiinc-Aou to my iiuuse, with
a gallery which will cwi^in mnro than one thousand

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

iMMuraiB. Mr. JoBW and nqrielf prMoh by tuoM whm
w« sfe in town, od« m Engluh, and tb* other in
Madagasse. About two montha ago, Mr. Jones and
I commenced visitii^ tfae villages where schools are
established, to preach and catechise ; we go by turns
every Sunday, and have thronged congregations. Our
chapel in town is crowded, and the doors and windows
on the sabbath are lined. We have three or four,
and sometimes five thousand hearers in town, and
often two or three thousand in the country, besides the
assembling of three or four schools. We catechize
them first, and then we sing, and pray, and pieaoh,
often in the open air. We ask them to repeat what
they remember of the sermon, and we propose to them
any question that may occur to us. The talents they
display on these occasions would put many a one in
Elngland, who has been hearing the gospel for twenty
years, to the blush.

" Mr. JeflTreys is settled at a village in a populous
district, about twenty miles to the east of us, and has
about sixty scholars under his tuition. We have
furnished him with the catechism, and portions of the
Scriptures translated, as wn have also Mr. Canham and
Mr. Rowland.

" Mr. Canham is settled at a village in a populous
district, about twelve miles to the west of us, and has
about one hundred and ten scholars under tuition, be-
sides the superintendence of his apprentices to carry
on his trade. Mr. Rowland is settled about fifteen
miles to the southward, in another populous village,
and has more than one hundred scholars, together with
a few apprentices to teach his trade.

" As to the translation of the Scriptures, I have
translated the book of Exodus, and the Gospels by
Mark and Luke, and also of the Psalms, as far as the
50th, and the first three chapters of the Epistle to the
Romans. I have also prepared a series of plain dis-
courses on the ten commandments, on the birth and
sufllerings of Jesus Christ, the day of judgment, and
the future state of the righteous and the wicked ;
and I am forming a course of plain sermons on prayer,
&c. Mr. Jones has finished translating the book of
Genesis, and the Gospel by Matthew, and is far ad-
vanced with the Gospel by John, and the AcU, and
with the first book of Samuel, tic. He has prepared
a series of discourses on the work of creation, and is
also preparing discourses on the divine attributes. You
see, by all this, that we stand in the greatest need of
a printer and a priniing-press. Mr. Chick is employed
every Sunday in catechising the children, and every
week-day busily engaged in his trade. Every thing is
going on at present in union and peace. Notwith-
standing, however, the pleasing aspect the mission wears,
we have great prejudices and superstitions to encounter.

The tenacity of the natives to rank and caste, and the
manners and customs of their forefetbers; their nuroeioiw
idols, which we did not know much of till lately, when
we began to preach against them ; their mode of sacri-
ficing to obtain good and take away evil ; ^H these
prejudices and superstitions (though the youths who
are instructed laugh at them) present formidable obsM-
cles to our efibrts. We are convinced more and more
of the necessity there is of divine influence, to bring
sinners to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.
May the breath come, and breathe upon these slain,
that they may Uve I"

Of the youths who, under the auspices of the
British government, were first placed under the British
and Foreign School, to which we have already alluded,
and were afterwards put under the care of suitable
masters, in diflferent places, for the purpose of learning
the trades assigned them, the directors observed, in
their annual report. May, 1825, that "one of them,
during the past year, has departed this life, leaving
behind him pleasing evidence of real conversion.
Three liave left England, for their own country, of
whom two were in a state of health that rendered their
return indispensable. The other, named Joseph Ver-
key, having given proof of his sincere belief in Chris-
tianity, was baptised, at his own earnest request, prior
to embarkation. The remaining three are diligently
employed m acquiring a knowledge of their respective
trades, and afford proof, in their conduct, of the
benefit they have derived from Christian instruction."
Messrs. Jones and Griffiths commenced preaching in
Madagasse in February, 1826 ; their congregations
consisting usually of about one thousand, but occasion-
ally of as many as three, and even five thousand.
Several parts of the Scriptures had also been translated,
and some books were prepared and preparing for pub-
lication. On the 21st of April, Mr. JeflVeys removed
to Amhaloumanga, a large village situated aboMt
twenty miles from Tananarive, where he commenced a
school for boys, and Mrs. Jeffreys another for girls, and
conducted stated services in Madagasse. It having
been judged expedient that tlie artisans should super-
intend the schoolji, Mr. Canham removed to a village
about twelve miles from the capital, where he had a
school of one hundred and ten boys ; and Mr. Rowland to
another village, about fifteen miles distant from the same,
where he had a school containing one hundred boys.
Each of them superintended apprentices, who learned
their respective trades ; and Mr. Chick was diligently
empWyed on the sabbath in catechising children ;
■nil on the week-days in his trade. In the following
year, the labors of the missionaries were continued ;
the translation of the Madagasse New Testampnt was
completed ; a printer, a cotton spinner and a carpenter

■n

Twre Wiit«at; «d tb« nissioii was deprived of a v^
MWe agent by the death of Mr. Jeffi«yi. About tfaw
tone, aoine of the Madagaste youth., one of whom bad
l»een,«t ha own earnest re^oeat, baptised, aitived at
the capital.

The report for the year 1827 says,— « The Rev.
«r. Johns, and Messrs. Cameron and Cummings, mis-
wonary artisans, with their wives, accompanied by
Koloun Boloun, another of the Madagasse youths who
had also been baptized, arrived at Tananarive on the
nth of September. Mr. Johns will reside for a time
m the capital During a part of the day, he wiU in-
ftruct some of the boys in the school in English, and
in the other apply himself to the study of Madagasse.
with the assistance of Mr. Griffiths. He takes his
turn in English preaching with the other missionaries."
Native Schools.-" The number of these is twenty-
eight, containing one thousand five hundred boys and
foor hundred and fifty girls, making a total of nearly
two thousand; of whom, on an average, about one
Jwusand seven hundred are regular in their attendance.
These schools are scattered over the country, within
a circuit of thirty miles around the capital. His ma-
jesty Kadama has signified his pleasure that twelve of
the more promising boys in the central school for
royal college) should be instructed in Greek and
Latin. In this school there are about one hundred and
sixty boys.

" Two of the best instructed boys assist as ushers in
the central school, and another has the sole charge of
a large school in the country, with some of his late
schoo .fellows for assistants. Many more boys are
capable of taking a similar charge, should the enlarge-
ment of the school-fund enable the missionaries to
increase the number of schools.
• " The result of the public examination of the schools
for 1825—6, which took place at Tananarive, in March
of the latter year, was highly satisfactory. His majesty
Kadama was present, and personally engaged in the ex-
Vnination. The missionaries exercise a general super-
intendence over the schools, and occasionally visit
them, for the purpose of inspecting the. \ an<{ examin-
mg the scholars. They state that the progress made
by the children in the knowledge of the Christian
religion is truly gratifying. The number of Madagasses
who attend the native lervicei is not large. The
missionaries remark that the adults, generally speaking,
evince little desire to hear the gospel ; but many young
persons, belonging to the schools", appear very atten-
tive, and afford ground for the hope of better things in
reference to the rising generation. Mr. Hovendon, it
was hoped, would commence the printing of the
Madagasse translallon of the New Testamont, but his
life was sud.ieniy lorminated. The rapidly advancing
Vol. I.— Nos. 39 «fe 40. d

MADAGASCAR.

r^Mj^iXj

^^©

mmster, 4br the dissemimrtion at Ae «o«p«f in Madk.

died. Bytheintnguesofoneofhi.queens,a number
of men of the highest rank were put to death, and
among the rest, the heir presumptive to the throne!
the amiable, pious and intelligent prince Rakatobi. a
youth about fifteen years of age.

The deputation, on their return from India, visited

Madagascar, and made very interesting tours through

this romantic island. They arrived at Tananariv^

on the 2l8t July, and at the close of the day Mr

Tyerman entered the following record of mercies:'

Hitherto the Lord hath helped us. O what grati-

tude we owe to God for preserving us from all acci-

dents, and allowing us to reach this city tn the enjoy.

"^'nt of the best health, after traversing a oountry

which, at certain seasons, is so subject to feven and

dMease We are in the heart of this heathen land,

b« under the kmd protecting wing of its sovereign.

!" I, *""" ■""* Snttefel for favors so many and

great ! To God be all the gloiy !» July 80th, Mr.

1 yerman expired suddenly. His attack was apoplexy.

The last words which could be understood, as they

escaped bis lips, were, "AH u right :-tht eovenoHt,

-the covenant of grace /» The death of Radama was

a distressing event to the missionaries. Life and

property were, for a period, insecure. At a kabarre, or

national assembly, allegiance was sworn to Ranavalona

Manjaka, one of the queens of Radama's father, and

she continued to countenance the missionaries.

It would be Improper to pass over the death of Ra-
dama without further notice. It was a circumstance
deeply to be deplored. He was enlightened, sagacious
and liberal ; animated by a strong desire to promote
the improvempnt of his country, and encourage its
advancement in literature, science and art. He had
abolished the slave-trade, and put down many of the
superstitions of the country. He on all occasions
evinced his friendship for the brethren, and his readi-
ness to protect and encourage them in their labors.
Mr. Baker printer to the mission, arrived at the capi-
tal in 1828. The schools in existence at the death
of the king, and established under his immediate
auspices, were ninety-three, containing four thousand
scholars. It is painful to state that the idolatrous
superstitions of the country, which had, under the late
reign, lost much of their credit, regained, under the
sanction of the new government, a portion of their
ancient authority and dominion over the minds of th«
people. The systems of idolatrv and divuist'nr. trs;^
restored through Imerina by official decrees.

LONDON MISSIONAirr SOCIETY.

lu 1830, Mr. Fraeinan repaired to the Cape, in-
teadiog to assist Dr. Philip ; but he was soon bvited
to return, with friendly assurances of patronage.
Hr. Freeman has since informed the directors, that
the disposition of the queen to encourage the mission

has been rteenily proved bejrond suspicion, and the
dark cloud seems rapidly passing over this interesting
land. Mr. Freeman, on his return, was accompanied
by Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson.

CHAPTER V.

MISSIONS IN THE EAST INDIES.

India, among the most remote, and, in many points
of view, the most important of the London Missionary
Society's spheres of labor, excites every year a deeper
sympathy in the spiritual state of its inhabitants, and
a stronger and livelier interest in the developement
of that certain progress with which the Redeemer is,
by his almighty power, advancing his kingdom among
its numerous and varied tribes. Towards India the
society directed, not indeed iu first, but its earlier,
efforts. Here iu operations take the widest range,
and its missionaries come into contact with the largest
masses of mankind. Here superstition pervades every
scene, and exhibits its lineamenu and form, upon
almost every object of vision, while idolatry the most

organized and complete, a system which is the master-
piece of Satanic wisdom, is inwrought with the texture
and framework of society. The chain of e<ute, alone,
seems designed, and until destroyed by the power of
God, is adapted to render idolatry, in spite of all that
man can devise or employ, perpetual and supreme.
In India the society has expended a large portion of
its resources, and employed a number of its devoted
agents ; and here, too, it has been called to make the
costliest sacrifice of holy life. These circumstances
invest India with peculiar interest.

We shall divide India into— 1. Northern India;
2. Penmsular India; 3. Travancore; and 4. Ultra
Ganges.

I. NORTHERN INDIA.

CAtCCTTi.
BCRHAMPORS.

CALCUTTA DISTRICT.
Statiom,

KiDDERPORE.

Benares.

Chinsurah.

SURAT.

CALCUTTA.

CALCtTTTA, the capital of British India, stands on the
etstem bank of the river Hoogley, about one hundred
miles from the sea. The approach to the city is mag-
nificent. The river, at high tide, is one mile broad.
Although the marshes have been drained, yet the air
is rendered at periods very unhealthy in consequence

of the vicinity of th« jungles called the Sunderbundi.
The city extends six miles along the river. Fort
William stands one quarter of a mile from the city.
The number of houses, in 1830, was 97,500 ; the
population, 600,000.
In the year 1798, the Rev. Mr. Forsyth was sent

to Calcutta. He preached for several years every
Su jay at Chinsurah, where he resided, and also at
Caicutta, where be had the uueof a large chapel open
to aU denominations of Christians.

The Rev. Messrs. Townley and Keith arrived at
Calcutta in September, 1816, and, at an early period,
began to preach, in Bengalee, the gospel of God.
To their own countrymen, also, they proclaimed the
truth with acceptance and success. They likewise
opened a place for preaching at Howrah, on the other
side the nver Hoogley, where the attendance was
good. Agreeably to their instructions, they were
active m the establishment of schools. Mr. Townley
built a school-room at Calcutta, capable of accommo-
datmg about one hundred children, and Mr. Koith
engaged a poojah-house (a place for pagan worship)
for another A Sunday school was also commenced,
in which the children learnt the catechism, and at
Which some of their parents attended.

In 1817, a school book society was established,
principally for the supply of native schools, as was
also the Calcutta School Society, the design of which
IS to improve existing schools, and to establish and
support any further schools and seminaries which may
be requisite ;. with a view to a more general diffusion
of knowledge among the inhabitants of India, of every
description, especially within the provinces subject to
the presidency of Fort William. The missionaries
were exceedingly active in distributing Scripture and
evangelical tracts among the people ; and to assist
them in doing this, a printer (Mr. Gogeriy) and print-
ing materials wore sent to Calcutta.

The erection of a spacious and commodious chapel,
to be called Union ckapel,v/tia contemplated in 1818
towards which the sum of 14,000 sicca rupees (about
£1750 steriing) had been subscribed ; exclusive of
which, the sum of 2200 sicca rupees (or £275)
had been contributed in support of public worship.
The Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society produced,
in two years, 2400 sicca rupees (or about £300).
The total sum, in steriing money, contributed at Cal-
cutta for religious purposes, and received by Messrs.
Townley and Keith, up to August, 1818 (i. e. in less
than two years), amounted to upwards of £-2300.

The Rev. Messrs. Hampson and Trawin arrived,
with their wives, at Calcutta, February 8th, 1819 ; but,
a few months after, Mrs. Hampson was removed by
death. In the decline of the previous year, Messrs.
Townley and Keith occupied a new station, called
Tally Ounge, situated about four miles from the
southern boundary of the city, in the midst of an ex-
tremely populous neighborhood. In a circuit of about
twenty miles, reckoning throe miles from Tally Gunge
sr. a,, vsreclions, it is eaJcuiatcsd that iheie are not less

CALCUTTA.

than 100000 souls. Me«m,. Townley and Keith had
eontinued to visit this place untU th. Jain, sefi Ld
to pre«h ahemately. sometimes not only tZZZt
but to largo congregation. ; .vailing th.,Llv« o? thJ
opportumty of distributing tract, m they pa«ed alone
the road. A school-room was built here. Jd S
or forty chddren attended, who were taught to ri"d
the Scriptures. A gentleman of Calcutta kindly ac-
commodated the brethren with a substantial brick
house, which they were permitted to occupy for three
years, without payment of rent. ,

In consequence of the arrival of Messrs. Hampson
and Trawin religious services had again been estab-
ished at the Howrah, where, for want of assistance,
they had been reluctantly discontinued. The breth
ren had obtained two plots of ground on the north-
east side of the city, for the erection of two bunga-
lows, to be used as native chapels.

On the 21st September, 1820, the mission sustained

a heavy loss, by the dissolution of Mr. Hampson.

Uunng that year, the missionaries had devoted them-

selves more exclusively to the preaching of the Kosnel

among the heathen. They established for that purple

twenty-one stations, at each of which they preached

in Bengalee once every week. The largest bungalow

chapel for native worship, erected by a member of the

English congregation, and presented by him to the

Bengal- Auxiliary Missionary Society, for the use of

tile mission, is situated at Kidderpore. It was

opened on the 5th of March, 1820, when about

one hundred and fifty natives attended the service

throughout.

For the spot of ground on which another bungalow
chapel was built, the brethren were indebted to the
kind influence of a very eminent native, a Braroin
The proprietor of the ground, who was also a Bramin
had more than once attended the chapel, and, at the
conclusion of one of the services, so far expressed his
approbation as to say, " that he deemed it a good
work to point out to his countrymen the delusion of
worshipping idols, and bowing down to gods which
cannot save."

Divine worship, in English, was regularly held at
the Freemasons' Lodge, which continued to be gratu-
itously afforded to the mission, twice every sabbath
day. In the morning, about one hundred and twenty
assembled ; in the evening, about one hundred and
forty. The church consisted of about thirty membere,
who walked worthy of their holy vocation. Every
sabbath morning, children of all denominations, whose
parents were disposed to send them, were, at the same
place, instructed in the principles of Christianity.

A printing-press was established in connection with
the mission at this station, and was placed under th»^

408

LONDON MISSIONART SOCIETY.

m&n immedMite MperntendeBoe of tfa« Beagal Ainil-
iaxy Society.

The Rev> Mesvs. James Hill, Mieaiab Hill and
J. B. Warden arrived, with their wives, at Calcutu,
March 6th, 1828. Mr. Trawin, diortly after, removed
to Kidderpoie with his family. The native schools
gradaally increased, and one for native females, which
had been under the care of Mrs. Trawin, was in a
floarisbing state. It was ascertained, that- female
education was anciently prevalent among the Hindoos,
notwithstanding it is, at present, so much discounte-
nanced by the Bramins, as being contrary to the in-
stitutes of Menou. To assist in furthering this object,
the Missionary Society placed at the disposal of Mr.
Townley the sum of 1000 sicca rupees.

An institution, called the Christian School Society,
was also formed at Calcutta, the object of which is
to introduce Christian instruction into the indigenous,
or nativ6 schools, under the entire management of
native school-masters.

A Bethel society was established at Calcutta, in
connection with the Baptist brethren who reside at
Serampore and Calcutta, in the same year ; as was
also an auxiliary Bethel association. The station,
however, was called to suffer a severe loss in the re-
moval of Mr. Townley, on account of health, first to
Chinsurah, and afterwards to England.

In 1823 and 1824, success accompanied the various
efforts of the missionaries. Union chapel was well
attended, and Mr. Hill was diligent in the discharge
of his duties as pastor of the infant church. The
sabbath school was in a prosperous state. Bengalee
preaching was continued at the bungalow chapel,
Mirzapore, opened some time before, and the school
at that place was under the superintendence of Mrs.
Warden. A bungalow chapel had been erected for
divine worship in the native language, on the main
road of Bhopanipore. The station at Tally Gunge
was occupied for some time, but was afterwards va-
cated at the request, and h favor of, (he diocesan com-
mittee. At Kidderpore, Mr. Trawin's prospects were
becoming daily more interesting and encouraging. A
chapel had been erected, nearly the whole sum for
which (about £400) had been subscribed. A sabbath
adult school had been commenced, composed of the
workmen of a gentleman at Kidderpore. A native
school for boys, and another for girls, had been com-
menced at Chittah, a few miles from Kidderpore. At
Howalee, a village near Chittah, a native girls' school
had been commenced, called ihe Irvine Female School.
A native boys' school had been opened at Bealbab, a
large village situated about three miles south of Kid-
derpore, under circumstances of extraordinary promise.
The villace. which is verv nonnlniin. !■ aiiiin»o<i :« tu^

midst of several other village*, and is inhabited chiefly
by Bramins. One of these, a respectable and wealthy
individual, named Haldam, publicly countenanced the
school ; and of the one hundred boys which composed
it, he waa instrumental in placing eighty under in-
struction.

Ir. the summer of 18S3, Mr. Trawin performed a
tour in Bengal, for the purpose of conversing with the
natives on religious subjects, preaching and distrib-
uting tracts. And in December of the same year, Mr.
Trawin, accompanied by Messrs. Hill and Warden,
proceeded as far as Gour, the ancient capital of Ben-
gal. At some of the places visited in the course of
the journey, the people remembered the illustrations
used by the brethren in conversations on a former tour,
and requested that one of their number might remain
among them as a missionary.

The proceeds of the Bengal Auxiliary Missionary
Society, for the year ending 31 st December, 1823, were,

S. R. 3313 8 6

Calcutta Ladies' Br. Society 818 4

Chinsurah do. 557

-The Rev. Mr. and Miss Fiflard reached Calcutta
at the close of 1825, and found the various means of
religious instruction vigorously employed. In addition
to those already mentioned, a new station at Wellesley
street had been taken, a bungalow had been erected,
and a school commenced for both sexes. The bun-
galow was opened for worship in Bengalee, on the
27th January, 1825, and the natives listened to the
gospel with attention, and the appearance, at least,
of approbation. Mr. and Miss Piffard took up their
residence at Kidderpore, and proceeded to establish
additional schools for the benefit of the native popula-
tion. The total number of native converts baptized
at Kidderpore, all of them fruits of Mr. Trawin's
ministry, was eight. The native convert Ramhurree
had also entered into regular employ at this station.

On the 8th January, 1826, Mr. Warden departed
this life. It being his earnest desire that Mrs. Warden
might, after his decease, continue in India, and exert
herself in promoting native female education, she re-
moved, shortly after the melancholy event, to Ber-
hampore, to assist Mrs. Micaiah Hill. Mr. Ray, who
had, soon after his return to India, joined Mr. M. Hill,
settled at Calcutta.

The schools in Wellesley square, formerly superin-
tended by Mr. and Mrs. Warden, were, after Mr.
Warden's decease, placed under the direction of Mr.
and Mrs. Gogeriy. The former had commenced a
school in the bungalow chapel at Miraapore, in which
were forty-five scholars ; the latter had opened a school
5n Sooty Bnpn Jaun Bazaar, in which were twelve

KIDDERPQRE.

^. These schools had, however, been suspended,
in consequence of the necessity for Mr. Ck>gerl7
faking a royage to Ceylon for the recovery of his
health.
The report for 1827 states as follows :—
£7n»on Otapel.— Mr. James Hill preaches at this
chapel every sabbath day, alternately with one or
other of his colleagues, to the European congregation ;
and in the morning meets the young people belonging
to it, as formerly, to instruct them in the principles
and duties of Christianity. Additions are, from time
to time, made to the church.

Kidderpore iSio<»on.— Beside occasionally preach-
ing in the streets and market-places, the following
stated services are performed in the chapel :—5a6AarA
tnoming, Bengalee worship ; afternoon, reading the
sacred Scriptures, and sometimes preaching ; evening
English worship.— TVetrfay ewentng-, native worship.—
Friday evening, ditto, reading the Scriptures, conver-
sation and prayer. Large congregations are occasion-
ally collected at the school bungalow, when the boys
are catechized. By these various means the gospel
has been proclaimed to multitudes, and there is reason
to believe not without good effect.

Mr. Piffard assists Mr. Trawin in the English
services, and expects to be soon able to preach in
Bengalee.

Christian Seminary.— The missionaries have de-
termined to receive into this institution, which is
designed to provide a supply of native preachers and
school-masters, the descendants of native Christians
only, unless others should offer of unquestionable piety.
They regard themselves under an indispensable obli-
gation to furnish the means of a good education, con-
ducted on Christian principles, to the sons of their
native converts ; and they trust this important object
will not be retarded by the want of funds. The num-
ber of native Christian youths at present in the semi-
nary is three ; but the missionaries are looking forward
to a speedy enlargement of it. Mr. Piffard has, in
connection with this institution, rendered valuable aid
to Mr. Trawin, in the work both of tuition and su-
perintendence.

The year 1827 was marked by the baptism of a
native female, who had been under serious impressions
for years. These, under the blessing of God, were
produced by the happy death of her daughter, who was
a Christian, and a member of the Baptist church at
Bow-Bazaar. The ordinance was administered in
Union chapel by Mr. Ray, in the Hindoostanee lan-
guage. The directors promptly supplied the place of
Mr. Trawin by sending out Mr. -John Adam, who
arrived on the 4th September, 1828.
The year 1«30 was rendered memorable in the

460

annals of Christian missions in India by the abolitioo
of StJTTM in Bengal. This event must be regarded
as the harbinger of a brighter day for India. Under
the benign influence of this salutary law, the Hoodey
will soon furnish inqairers for truth, and the daughten
of India will rise up in a long line of ages to bless the
name of lord William Bentinck, the govemor-general
of India.

The Rev. George Christie arrived at Calcutta, and
entered on missionary labors, 24th October, 1830.
Ihe last report of the society states, that "the engage-
ments of our brethren are varied and interesting.
The work of the Lord in Calcutta and its vicinity b
advancing." '

It is delightful to notice the various agencies for
doing good, which are now at work in this great
metropolis of the east. More than forty ministers A
the gospel preach the words of life to the swarming
population of Calcutta. Eighteen thousand copies of
the Scriptures, entire or in part, were circulated in
1830. There are now published in this city seven
Bengalee newspapers, and two Persian, edited by
natives. It is probable that more than one thousand
eight hundred and fifty female native children are
receiving instruction in missionary schools.

KIDDERPQRE.

Tlie eariy labors of Mr. Trawin at this place have
already been alluded to ; and so great was the bless-
ing upon his faithful preaching, that, in 1826, it was
regarded as a regular station. A chapel was opened
for stated worship in 1825, and Bengalee services
were performed twice a week. In October, Mr.
Trawin baptized five Hindoo converts, on an avowal
of their abandonment of idolatry. Mr. Piffard end his
sister joined Mr. Trawin for the purpose of estab-
lishing schools for the native population. The mis-
sionaries from this station have also labored with
success in several populous villages in their vicinity,
among which may be mentioned Bhowaneepore, Chit-
lali, Bealla, Ram-makal-choke. This last place is
distant eight miles from Kidderpore, and stands in the
centre of a number of villages, the aggregate popula-
tion of which is at least 20,000.

The death of Mr. Trawin, on the 3d of August, 1827,
was a serious loss to the society's operations at Calcutta
and Kidderpore, where his labors were abundant, and
his character universally respected. In October, 1827,
Mr. Piffard was ordained to the pastoral charne of
Mr. Tr

,.<. ^u.

I. .. tr:jJ _-j •-- ry. ■

M n: liittticrpurc, aiiu in uccciaaOT,

Mr. Ray removed from Calcutta to assist him in his

410

LONDON MSSIONARY SOCIETY.

mbisterial and missrontry duties. In 1828, the brethren
wrote from CalcutU, — " We have great aatisfaotion
that the work of conversion is silently going on. Indi-
viduals do, from time to time, emerge from the awful
darkness or heathenism into the glorious light of the
gospel."

The fatigues of the station, and the effects of the
climate on Mrs. Piffard's health, reluctantly compelled
Mr. Pifiard to visit England, where he arrived in 1830.
That a proper estimate may be formed of the work of
grace at this station, and iu adjacent villages, it is
proper to refer to the report of the Bengal Auxiliary
Missionary Society, the committee of which are on
the spot where the transactions recorded are affirmed
to have occurred.

" Notwithstanding the enfeebled sUte of the mission,
the work is progressive ; and the lively concern for its
advancement manifested by the converts themselves,
together with the disinterested efforts which they make
in order to accomplish this object, is not amongst the
least conclusive evidences of its genuine character.
It will, no doubt, be remembered, that one peculiar
feature of primitive Christianity was, that every disci-
ple of it made the interests of the church his own ;
in other words, that every man merged his own inter-
ests in its welfare, considering himself as possessed
of no interest separate from that of his common Lord.
When dispersed by the persecution in Jerusalem, * they
went every where, preaching the word.'

" Something analogous has been exhibited by the
native converts at this station ; for, though none of
them has been officially set apart to the office of a
missionary, they are in reality a church of missionaries ;
and, whether at home or abroad, whether in their
own or amongst the families of their relatives and
neighbors, one object seems to fill every mind, one
subject to employ every tongue. Many instances of
this nature might be recorded, in which friends have
met together, and spent the greater part of the night
in prayer, in singing hymns, and conversing about the
things which relate to their everlasting peace ; so that,
from that village, a general impression of tiie nature
and importance of Christianity has gone forth over a
thickly-populated country of many miles in extent :
and although the missionaries have frequently advanced
upon the villages beyond Ram-makal-choke, they have
invariably found that the report of the gospel had
preceded them ; that the fields were ripe unto the har-
vest, the general voice of the people being, « Come
over and help us.' And it is by no means a rare or
unfrequent occurrence for persons, and even families,
to be in the congregations on the sabbath, at Ram-ma-
kal-choke, from villages of ton, twelve, and even four-
teen milrs' distance, who have come for the sole pur-

pose of hearing the gospel, and inquiring ' what they
must do to be saved.'

" With a view to the disparagement of missionary
efforts, much has been said of the sordid motives which
have induced persons to apply for Christian baptism.
That some persons have applied from unworthy mo-
tives, few, at all acquainted with the subject, wilt b«
disposed to deny : this, however, though to every
friend of such institutions a source of regret, ought
to be none of disappointment ; it is only what might
naturally be expected. Amongst'the multitudes which
followed our Lord, were some who went, ' not because
they saw his miracles, hut because they did eat of the
loaves, and were filled.' Nor ought such instances to
diminish our attachment to the cause itself, which is
chargeable neither with the errors of its friends, the
weakness of its advocates, nor the wickedness of its
insincere adherents.

" In the instance, however, of the converts at Ram-
makal-clioke, so far has the profession of Chri.stianity
been from holding out prospects of worldly emolument,
that it has been attended with severe personal injury
and secular loss : almost every individual having em-
braced it in thefaceof oppression, insult and obloquy.
And it will be gratifying to the friends of this society
to learn, that not an individual of these converts has
received, nor does receive, the slightest pecuniary aid
from its funds. With the duties of their callings as
men, the missionaries have not interfered ; by the
honest employments in which they were brought up,
they continue to support their families; and many
of them, while ' fervent in spirit,' are ' diligent in
business, serving the Lord.'

" Towards the funds of this society, some of them
have directly contributed, and, considering their means,
contributed liberally, as may be seen in the case of
the temple : whilst others, by rendering to the mission-
aries every facility within their power for diffusing the
gospel more around them, are indirectly contributing
daily ; some, for example, convey them from village
to village in their boats ; some attend them, to assist
in different parts of the service ; more especially are
they useful in inviting the villagers to come and hear,
and afterwards conversing with them on the sub-
jects which have been treated ; others entertain at
their own charge inquirers who come from remote
places to hear the gospel ; in a word, they do for the
cause, with cheerfulness and readiness, nny thing, and
every thing, within the limits of their ability.

" On the other hand, many of them have suffered
severely for their adherence to Christianity from the
Zemindari, or landholders. Their houses have been
destroyed, some of their gardens pillaged, their grana-
ries plundered, and even their rice cut down in the

CHINSURAH.

i.'M\'Jii 'k

fields. An attack was recently made upon them by a
band of armed men, in which several of the Chris-
tians were severely wounded ; and though the alleged
cause was of a secular nature, the real one, there con
be little doubt, was their profession of Christianity.
In the assault, the arm of one of the Christians was
broken at the wrist, besides receiving a deep cut from
a sabre, winch extended across his right breast : three
others, though not injured to an equal degree, received
wounds, which, for some time, disabled them from fol-
^wmg the duties of their vocation. Measures have
been taken for bringing the offenders to justice : nine
were apprehended, and the magistrate has given the
case the most prompt and vigorous attention

"A system, if not equally violent, scarcely less
oppressive, is now resorted to by some of the Zemin-
dars who declare that they will renew no leases to
the Christians; by which means, should the threat be
carried into execution, many will be deprived of their
scanty and hard-earned livelihood. Yet, amidst cir-
cumstances of this nature, apparently so uncongenial
to the growth of any cause, has the gospel advanced
among them, affording the most indubitable evidence
of the energy of Christian principles to subdue the
heart, and of the purity of motive from which these
converts have received the truth."

Tlie foregoing recital cannot fail to aford a high
degree of satisfaction, and especially as it tends to
show that the profession of Christianity had not been
taken up from merely temporal considerations, on the
part of the natives in question, but on the full convic-
tion of the truth, and with a resolute determination to
adhere to it, whatever consequences might ensue.

At the latest accounts, this station had become so
important, that it had been divided into three, viz.

1 . Kidderpore. Mr. Piffard, who had arrived from
England in health.

2. Ram-makal-choke and villages. Mr. Lacroix

3. Oungrce. Mr. Ray.
At all these stations the triumphs of grace were

visible, and hopes were entertained that the set time
to favor these dark regions had arrived.

471

CHINSURAH.

[Twenty-two milei north of CaloulU.]

Chinsurah was a Dutch colony, and was ceded to
the British in 1825.

The Rev. Robert May, who was sent out by the
London Missionary Society, with a view of aiding the
mission at Viaigapatam. especially in the tuition of

children for which he had a p«uli.r talent, wm ea-
abled after a long detention in America, to proceed

W.I I A,' ^ ' f ""''" <'«"e""-«"ce of circumstancei

Th f ^ "u"' " ^'•'"'""'''- Soon after enterij
on his labors, he was bereaved of Mrs. May ^

Pol" ^®*^' ♦'"' ""mber of schools under Mr. May's
care was thirty, in which there were more than 11
thousand six hundred children. The Rev. Mr. Pearson^
who was highly qualified for the work, was afterwards
sent out to his assistance ; and he was also joined by
a European, Mr. Harie, who was fully approved by
Mr. Townley and himself, to assist in the superintend-
ence of these seminaries. In the benevolent effort still
further to extend the means of instruction, Mr. May
finished his earthly career. Mr. Pearson received from
the inaabitants a written request to perform the duties
oJ the settlement church, which he accepted. With
vigor and success, he, with his colleague, Mr. Harle
carried on the schools ; and into one or two of them'
the British system was mtroduced, in which it ap-
proached the perfection exhibited in England in schools
conducted on the same principle.

Messrs. Townley and Hampson, who visited the
schools at Chinsurah and its vicinity in 1819, reported
that they were in the most prosperous state; and, of
the schools at Bankeepoor, under the particular su-
penntendenceof Mr. Harle, their account was equally
favorable. ^ '

In addition to these engagements, the missionaries
were variously occupied.

Mr. Pearson established a printing-press, partly
under the patronage of the Calcutta School Society
the profits of which he designed to devote to the Ben-
gal Auxiliary Missionary Society. During the sum-
merof 1821, his health suffered interruption: but a
short voyage in the bay of Bengal was the means of
his restoration. During his absence, his place was
filled by Mr. Trawin, of Calcutta. In the previous
spring, Mr. George Mundy arrived at this station.
At this period, the Bengalee boys in the school mani-
fested a laudable and highly useful spirit of emulation
There was also prevalent among them a. strong desire
to learn English ; and, in order to attain this object
they appeared to be willing to read the Scriptures, or
any other book. Mr. Pearson, aware of the impor-
tance of meeting this disposition, compiled a grammar
and vocabulary, in Bengalee and English, with a view,
when they were printed, to open an English school, in
which the reading of the Scriptures should be indis-
pensable ; and, by this method, he hoped to pave the
way for their introduction into all the native schools.
The native !u<.linn)a a» tdia at«>:^n .— — ..■_•._ i ■

many respectable •n'<Jv!H..«l« of intelligence and dis-

418

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

camment, who highly admired their economy, and
regarded them as modeb for all schools of thb de-
scription. The manner in which they were conducted
met also with the entire approbation of his excellency
Mr. Overbeck, the Dutch governor of Chinsurah, by
whose liberality, on the part of his government, Uiey
were supported.

The Chinsurah schools were gratuitously supplied
with books by the CakutU School Book Society, who
ordered one thousand copies of Mr. Pearson's Ben-
galee and E^iglish grammar to be printed at their sole
expense.

Religious books, in Bengalee, were extensively cir-
culated, and scarcely a day passed without numerous
applications for them at the mission-house. Connected
with the circulation of religious tracts, the brethren
sent copies of the " Gospel Magasine," pubiishod at
Calcutta, to between two hundred and three hundred
respectable natives of the town ; and they intended
to pursue the same plan every month. It was under-
stood the magazines were very generally read.

In 1820, a bungalow chapel was erected on the
outside of one of the gates of the town. Here, or on
the road-side, the missionaries daily took their stand.
Mr. Pearson thus describes the plan pursued in the
evening native service at the bungalow chapel, which
he considered as replete with important advantages :— i
" On a raised part of the floor we place a table, a
stool and a candlestick ; one of us sits down, and the
people coining in, take their seats also on stools and
benches, in front, and on either side. The missionary
opens the Bible, reads, expounds and prays ; then,
sitting down again, converses with his hearers on what
has been considered. Afterwards, tracts are distrib-
uted an .ng those who can road. OAen," continues
Mr. Pearson, " do I think I could sit and converse
thus night and day ! All is, as it were, clear gain.
Independently of the good which, by the blessing of
God, we may expect will accrue to the people, liere
is rapid improvement in the language ; in the knowl-
edge of popular objections, with the mode of refuting
them ; and, best of all, in the exercise of faith and love ;
for we find that hard words, or hard arguments, if
alone, will do just as much as hard stones towards
making men Christians." Mr. Pearson adds, " Mr.
Townley is now looking out for another spot of ground
within the gates, wlu>re it is intended to pursue the
same plan of native instruction."

In 1881, an additional native schf ol commenced at
a village called Khonnian, the expense of which was
defrayed by his highness the rajah of Burdwan. The
active exertions of Mr. Pearson, in this department,
also received the expresi apprnhalion of his exrellcnry
die marquis of llasting<«. Mr. Townley, who had

renioved from CakutU in consequence of illness, iKftr
assisted the missionaries ui their labors, and a natiw
female school was opened in a room of the fort, kindly
assigned by the Dutch governor for the purpose, und«r
the superintendence of Mrs. Townley and Mra. Mundy.
Mr. and Mrs. Townley, in consequence of the very
unfavorable state of Mre. Townley's health, were, how^
ever, soon afler compelled to leave India, and arrived
in England, April 17th, 1823. In 1824, the mission
was prospering — the schools were well attended — th«
preaching of the gospel was continued in four bunga*
low chapels, and the number of school publications in
Bengalee, prepared by Mr. Pearson, had increased to
twelve. The contributions of the Chinsurah branch
of the Calcutta Auxiliary Missionary Society, for one
year, amounted to rupees 773. 3. 3.

The indifferent state of Mr. Pearson's health nnv
dered a visit to this country necessary, where b*
arrived on the 8th April, 1824.

At the close of the year, the Rev. John Edmomh
and Mrs. Edmonds arrived at Chinsurah, to the joy of
Mr. Mundy, who greatly required aid in the business
of the mission, and was deeply sufllering from the loss
of Mrs. Mundy, who departed this life after a short
illness, on the 30th of the preceding July. This
pleasure was, unhappily, of short duration. Mrs. Ed-
monds being incapable of bearing the climate, Mr.
Edmonds was reluctantly obliged to return with her to
England, which they reached, March 29, 1827. Mr.
Pearson, who embarked on his return to India on the
20th of June, arrived safe at Chinsurah, and re;.umed
the superintendence of the native schools.

During the year 1826, great success attended tha
preaching of the gospel to the Europeans at this station,
a considerable number of whom appear to be decid>
ediy pious. A church was formed, consisting of about
twenty members. Mr. Mundy was ordained to the
office of Christian minister in November, 18»5, on
which occasion the Rev. Dr. Carey gave the charge.
The following observations are extracted from the
printed report of the Bengal Auxiliary Society for 1826:
" In this branch of labor the exertions of the mis-
sionaries (at Chinsurah) have been rendered peculiariy
useful ; and we are convinced that it will be consid-
ered as a great honor conferred on the society, that
its missionaries have been uselVil in preserving the
influence of real religion during the last twenty years,
in this place ; the inhabitants of which, without their
gratuitous labors, would have been destitute of the
ordinances of public worship, and would, doubtless,
rescinhio others who, in similar circumstances, have
manifested a fearful indifference to pure and unde-
filed religion."

The Rev. A. V. T.nrmiv fiirmnrlv <>r tlija IVoili

erfands Society, the committee of which had deem-
ed it expedient to relinquish their missions in this part
of the world, was received into connection with the
London Missionary Society, and will act in concert
with its missionaries at this station, where he had for
•ereral years previously labored.

The report for 1828 informs us, that " the present
number of the schools supported by the Bengal gov-
ernment is sixteen ; and that of the boys instructed in
them upwards of two thousand. They are in a state
of great efficiency. The mission schools, which are
three in number, contain two hundred and ninety-five
boys, who make encouraging progress.

" Besides the preaching in the mission school-rooms
(of which another very commodious one, eligibly sit-
uated, was lately built, and opened for that purpose),
the people still con'inue to be addressed whenever
congregations can be collected. During the cold
season, numerous visits are made to the surrounding
villages by the missionaries, who on these tours preach
to the natives and distribute tracts. The people listen
With apparent attention; sometimes propose serious
inquiries, and even manifest much earnestness in the
uivestigation of truth ; but in general, they evince an
awful indifference to the claims of Christianity and the
welfare of their souls.

" Every sabbath morning, the children of the mis-
sion schools are collected in one of the school-rooms,
when they read the Scriptures, which are explained to
them m a course of catechetical instruction A con-
siderable numberof the natives attend on those occasions,
and listen with surprise to the definitions (freqLent-
ly expressed in an admirable manner) which the boys
give of the doctrines of the Christian faith. This mode
of communicating instruction is fre(iiiently employed
when the schools are visited by the missionary, who usu-
ally addresses the people that assemble at such times."
In consequence of the removal of Mr. Lacroix to
Kidderpore, Mr. Pearson was, in 1830. loft alone, and
his duties were so laborious that the suspension of
some of the schools was unavoidable. The number of
schools supported by the government was fourteen, and
these contained, ut the last-mentioned period, one thou-
sand five hundred children. In order to strengthen
this mipsion the directors, in 18.11, sunt out Mr.
Higgs, who is now actively supporting Mr. Pearson.

BERHAMPORE-BENARES.

HERHAMPORE.

»*»n mlln aoulh of MoorahcdalMd.]

flia Itntinn tva«

M.-„_ I !_

■■'' t"c year ifs5-1, by
Mr. Hill, who removed from Calcutta. It is calcu-
VoL. 1.— Nos. :j» &( 40. oi

478

lated that the population of this place and its subnrin
is twenty thousand. Mr.* Hill encountered consider*,
ble opposition from the natives, arising from a peculiar
attachment to the superstitions of their forefathers ; but
he succeeded in establishing schools for the children of
the Hindoos and Mahometans, the latter conducted
by Persian moonshees. In 1828, a chapel and mis-
sion house were erected ; and the female schools, un-
der the care of Mrs. Hill and another lady, were pros-
pering. The distribution of tracts has been carried on
with success, and more than fourteen thousand were
circulated among the natives, during this year. The
last intelligence of this station reports that Mr. Hill
continues to preach daily "in Bengalee and Hindoos-
tanee, and meets the native Christians two evenings in
the week. On Lord's day evenings, he preaches in
English ; on which occasions, the chapel is often found
toosmall. The native congregation has hadanaddition
of four adults. A Malabar woman had united with the
church, and the English church has been increased
by the admission of twenty-seven members.

BENARES.

[Four hundred and aizty milei wnt-north-weit ftom Calcutta.]

Benares is the most populous city in India. This
place bas in all ages been a celebrated city of Bra-
minical learning. In the estimation of the Hindoos,
Benares is emphatically the Holy City. Such sanc-
tity is attached to this metropolis, that eight thousand
houses are said to be inhabited by Bramins, who are
chiefly supported by alms. During the annual festi-
vals, the influx of pilgrims is immense. Multitudes
from all parts of India resort hither to end their days,
under the confident i nrsuasion that all who die in
Benares attain eternal felicity.

This city and region came into the possession of the
British in 1781.

The London Missionary Society, in 1820, sent out Mr.
and Mrs. Adam. In 1821 , Mr. Adam opened a native
school, and availed himself of all opportunities to distrib-
ute religious tracts, particularly at the great public fes-
tivals. In 1823, the school had prospered so as to jus-
tify the fiirmation of another. One school now contain-
ed thirty-five and the other thirty boys. A neat chapel
was erected in 1824, through the exertions of privates
in the arlillor)!. Concerning this station, Mr. Adam
forcibly remarks— " Benares exhibits, in full opera-
tion, some of the worst principles of Hindoo superstition.
The gospel offers its invniuuble blessings to the • poor
ill spiiii ;• but these people I'Hnry themsejves ' rich, anU
increased in goods, and

of nothing.

ift

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The Saviour is a Saviour to them who feel themselves
lost ; but they fancy themselves already at the ' gate of
heaven,' and certain of obtaining an easy admission
through it. Add to this, the awful wickedness of their
lives, occasioned or fostered by the local superstitions,
and it will easily be perceived that Benares presents
many and peculiar obstacles, both to the missionary ex-
ertions and to the reception of the Saviour. Amid
such a population, it is a great blessing to dwell in
peace and safety, and to do any thing that may lead,
though the effects may be remote, to the important and
happy object we have in view."

In 1826, Mr. James Robertson arrived at Benares
to aid the mission. The report for 1827 states that
the native schools, three in number, contain one hun-
dred and seventy pupils. In all these schools Chris-
tian books are taught. Mr. Adam prepared a cate-
chism, and Hindawee translation of scriptural lessons,
for the use of the schools. In addition to this, he also
printed one thousand copies of his tract on the ten
commandments, and was also engaged on a tract enti-
tled "Jesus the Deliverer from the Wrath of God."

A Hindoostanee service was occasionally held at the
mission chapel, which was sometimes performed by Mr.
Smith, the Baptist missionary. Services iii English were
performed at the chapel, every Simday, and Wednesday
evening, and murligood has been done among the men in
acompany of British artillery stationed there. Thecon-
nection between Mr. Adam and the society beingdissolv-
cd, the mission devolved on Mr. Robertson. In 1830,
eight thousand one hundred and fifty copies of tracts
and books by Mr. Aiiam were printed at this station, and
two thousand copies of Mr. Robertson's comparison be-
tween the Christian system and the religion of tlie Koran.
In lan, the directors, desirous to reinforce this
highly-important station, ap|x)inted Mr. Williiun Buy-
ers to Benares, who sailed for Calcutta in June. It
is pleasing to know that the work of translation is in
steady progress. Mr. Robertson is proceeding with the
Scri()tures in the Urdu, the Rev. Mr. Crawford,
chaplain at Allahabad, having agreed to join him in
the important work. Mr. Crawford has translated the
minor prophets. A consecutive version of the btx)ks
of the Old Testament has been finished, as fur os to the
Second Book of Kings and B<K)k of Job. The Psalmi,
Proverbs and fsaiah are already printed.

SURAT.

[Ont hun<in>d md finjp.*lght milim north of UomlMy.]
Sunt is one of the most populous and commercial

JtaltAa ia» ln«41«

• T r-r ^ifjatcu vu lire SUUtZJ DSHK Oi WIC

river T^ptee, which falls into the gulf of Cambay,
twenty miles below the city. It is surrounded by an
outer wall, which is nearly seven miles in circumfer-
ence. The population is computed at 450,000 ; but
nothing like an actual enumeration has ever taken
place. Surat is the capital of Gujerat (or Goojuratt),
the most fertile and best cultivated province in Hin-
doostan belonging to the British.

At Surat is the celebrated Banyan hospital, which
is a large space, enclosed by high walls, and divided
into numerous courts or wards for the reception of sick
and lame animals of all kinds, which are attended with
care by persons appointed for the purpose. A peace-
ful asylum is also afforded to such as are old. When
an animal breaks a limb, or meets with any accident,
the owner brings it to this hospital, and it is received
without any regard to the caste or country of its owner.
Not only quadrupeds, but birds, insects, and even vari-
ous reptiles, are admitted and fed during the remainder
of their existence. In 1772, an aged tortoise was
known to have been there seventy-five years. (See
Myer's Geography, vol. 2, pages 199, 200, London ed.)
In 1815, the Rev. Messrs. Skinner and W. Fyvie
commenced a mission in this populous city. These gen-
tlemen were notives of Scotland, and, together with
Mr. Dawson, who was sent to Vizagapatam, were ed-
ucated at the missionary academy at Gosport, under
Dr. Bogue. These excellent men were brought to
an acquaintance with divine things in the sabbath
school. At their ordination, which took place in Bris-
tol, while relating the outlines of their Christian
experience, and gratefully mentioning the instrumen-
tality of sabbath school instruction, an eminent minis-
ter who wos present ond had been a student of theology
in Scotland .eauie forward .und, in the unknown person of
one of these devoted missionaries, recognized his pupil
of former days, and found the truth of the text, that
bread cast upon the waters shall be found after many
days.

From 1815 to 1821, these brethren lalwred assidu-
ously among the natives in Sural and the vicinity,
and among the British soldiery. The work of transia
tion was also carried on in the (lujrrat. Mr. Skinner,
after lulwrious and devoted efforts for the salvation of
India, died October ."JO, 1821, the very day on which
Mr. Alexander Fyvie (the brother of William) sailed
from Graves'uid to join the mission.

In 1828, Mr. and Mrs. W. Fyvie visited England,
in consequonro of indisposition, and returned in safety
to Surat in January, 18;K), with confirmed health. In
1826, Mr. Fyvie was engaged in revising his English
and Gujerat dictionary.

!n 18i'M, the report of the printing-office conducted
ay »ir. saiiiion, was iweniy-oight thousand tracts, one

SURAT.

thousand copies of a book of prayers, and four thou-
•and copies of Matthew. Mr. William Fyvie also
purposes to print thirty tracts on the Lord's sermon on
(he mount.

The deputation,aftermakingareport of the state ofthe
mission in the places which are included in this chapter,
remark,—" The expectations we had raised as to the
effects actually produced by past missionary labors,
have been greatly exceeded by what we have found
Our confidence as to the conversion of the Hindoos
has been much increased by what we have seen. We
think we see the fetters of caste very much weakerted.
and we do cheerfully hope, that the whole series of the
links of this cruel chain will be for ever broken, under the
oommendable moderation and prudence of an enlighten-
ed government, and especially by the blessiiig „( God on
Uie efforts of prudent Christian ministers and mission-
anes, who, while they preach the gospel, exhibit a
scriptural temper and conduct towards each other
towards the European inhabitants, and towards the
heathen population."

Before we leave this part of India, we would nar-
rate a few remarkable circumstances which loudly pro-
claim the state of its population, and which are too
replete with interest to be passed over in silence.

The first relates to the death of a yogec, and the
burying of his widow alive with the corpse. One
rooming, in the month of March, a sick man, of the
sect called yogea, xvas brought by his relatives to the
nver side aliout nine o'clock, and was laid on the wet
mud, in expectation of his soon expiring. In this situa-
tion he remained exposed to the scorching rays ofthe
sun till aliout four in the afternoon, when he was im-
mersed up to the breast in the river ; and, whilst in this
position, one of his relatives vociferated in his curs the
names of some of the Hindoo deities. AAer some
lime, on finding the poor creature was not so near
death as they antiripated, he was again replaced
on the wet beach. The next morning, the same cere-
mony commenced of immersing the invalid, and repeat-
ing the names of their idols ; and this was continued
till five o'clock in the aficrnoon, when the iii.Imppy
man breathed his last, having been literally murdered
by his near relations.

It being the custom of this sect to bury their dead,
preparations were now made for the iiilennont of the
deceased, as also of his wife, who was not above sixteen
years of age ; she having signified her intention of being
burled alive with the corpse of her la.,hnnd. " At
nine o'clock," says the missionary to whom we are
indebted for this affecting relation, " I went to the
place of^interment, and found a large concourse of

Idoyed m digging a circular grave, which, when finisliod.

47f

was thirteen or fourteen feet in circumference, and
about five feet and a half in depth.

"I could scarcely believe that persons in their senses
could voluntarily consent to terminate their existence
in such a horrid manner, and had supposed that, on
these occasions, something of a narcotic nature was
used, to deprive the victims of thdir reason ; but on
conversing with the widow, I found her free from anr
such effects. All efforts to dissuade her from the
desperate purpose of rushing, as a suicide, into the
presence of her Creator, were entirely unavailing.
And when I asked her mother, who stood by, how she
could divest herself of that feeling which is discernible
even among the most ferocious inhabitants of the
jungles, which risk their own lives to save their off-
sprwg she replied, ' It is my daughter's determination,
and what can I'dc ?' Perceiving that all remonstrances
were ineffectual, I remained a silent spectator of this
horrid scene.

"The dead body was now placed in a sitting posture
at the bottom ofthe grave, and the young woman was
brought forward. She held a small basket, havihe
betel leaves in it, with one hand, and with the other,
whilst walking seven times round the grave, she dis-
tributed sugar-plums, and shells, called cowries, among
the crowd, who appeared extremely anxious to catch
these consecrated donations. After walking round the
sepulchre the seventh time, she stopped, and was ad-
dressed in a few words by one of the Bramins. She then
lifted up her right hand above her head, with her fore-
finger erect, waving it in a circular manner, and pro-
nouncing the words Hurre bol, in which she was joined
by the surrounding multitude. She now descended,
without any apparent dismay or reluctance, to the
bottom of the grave, and placed herself behind the
dead body of her husband ; her left arm encircling his
waist, and the other resting on her own head, which
she reclined between his shoulders. The mother was
next called (as I suppose) to resign her daughter, of
to sanction her conduct, by aj)plying a wisp of lighted
straw, to (he crown of her head. An«l, on this being
done, the grave was gradually filled up by the by-
standers, whilst two men Irod the falling earth around
the living and the dead ; and thus deliberately proceed-
ed, till the earth rose to the surface, leaving the
bodies about three feet beneath ; when the multitude
dispersed."

The same species of fanaticism which unlmppily
influenced this young widow, has, on some occasion^
induced the native females of India to rush into the
devouring flames, instead of submitting, as is usual, to
ho placed on the funornj nilo, and covers:! •.•A-M .-.-.rr;H;-=-
tiblo materials before the fire is kindled. This was iUus-
trnled, on one occasion, in Bengal, by the two wives of

47«

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

• physician nuMd Nilloo, one aged twentj-thred, and
the other only seventeen. Before any sacrifices of
this kind can take place, notice must be given to the
police; and in the present instance, the ofiicers of that
establishment humanely attempted to dissuade the
females from their determination. As all their endeav-
ors, however, proveu unavailing, it was suggested, by
a converted native, that in the actual mode in which
widows were burnt with the bodies of their husbands,
there was a wide departure from the method prescribed
by the holy books of the Hindoos, and that the cor-
rection of this irregularity might not only lead to the
saving of the intended victims, but, also, many others
on future occasions. According to the usual method,
the widow not only lies down by the corpse before fire
is set to the pile, but, as we have already stated, in a
preceding part of this work, she is held forcibly down
with strong bamboos, to prevent her from attempting
to escape when the flames reach her. It seems, how-
ever, that, according to the directions in the shasters,
fire is first to be applied to the pile on which the body is
laid, and while it is in a state of ignition, the wife, if
she thinks proper, shall go and lay herself down upon
it. A gleam of humanity, altogether uncongenial with
the ritual itself, is discernible in this regulation ; as it
is evident the Hindoo legislator intended that the fe-
male should have, as it were, a foretaste of the horrid
sufferings she was about to undergo, and, if intimidated,
she might have the power to recede.

Agreeably to this view of the law, it was determined
that the wives of Nilloo should have the full benefit
of this latter mode of sacrifice ; and, after some time,
the Bramins were persuaded to give their consent.
The hopes, however, which were entertained from the
experiment, in respect to a change of determination
on the part of the victims, were allogether disappointed.
The flames had no sooner begun to rise, than the
senior female walked into the midst of tl"":^. The
other, with great animation, addressed the spectators
to the following effect : — " You have just seen my
husband's firsr wife perform the duty incumbent on
her, and you will now see me follow lier example. 1
beg, therefon , ihat you will not, in future, endeavor
to prevent Hindoo women from burning; nther^vise
our ''ursc will be upon you." This deluded young
creature then flung herself into the flames, apparently
with the same unconcern as she had been accustomed
to plunge info the Hoogley, in order to perform her
looming ablutions and devotions.

A striking contrast to this remarkable instance of
infatuation app(!ars in the following account of a most
cruel and alrmious murder, cominilttMl under tlio name of
a religious sacrifice, about a day's journey to the south
of Calcuiia, and rciaisd in Dr. Bucihanan's Ap«ii>gy fuf

promoting Christianity in India. ''A Bramin of
Mujilupoor dying," says our author," hb wife went to
he burned with the body ; and the previous ceremonies
having been performed, she was fastened on the pile,
and the fire was kindled. The funeral pile was by
the side of some brushwood, near a river ; the hour
was late, and the evening was dark and rainy. When
the fire began to scorch the poor woman, she contrived
to disentangle herself from the dead body, and, creep,
ing from under the pile, concealed herself among tha
brushwood. In a little time, it was discovered that
only one body was on the pile. The relations imme-
diately took the alarm, and began to hunt for the
victim, who had made her escape. After they had
found her, the ion dragged her forth, and insisted
upon her throwing herself upon the pile again, ot
that she should either hang or drown hers^f She
pleaded for her life at the hands of her own child,
and declared that she could net embrace so hot-
rid a death. She pleaded, however, in vain ; aa
the son urged that he should lose his caste; and,
therefore, he said, he was determined that she should
die, or he would terminate his own existence. At
length, finding it impossible to persuade the unhappy
woman either to hang or drown herself, her unnatural
son and his companions tied her hands and feet, and
threw her on the funeral pile, where she quickly
perished !"

From these painful and heart-rending scenes we
now turn to a circumstance which was noticed, some
time ago, in the Bengal Government Gazette ; and
which exhibits, in a striking point of view, the arts by
which the poor Hindoos are deluded by the crafty
Bramins, and the facility with which their pagan im-
postures may be detected and exposed.

" The papers of the week," says the editor, " have
already described the monstrous stratagem of the
Bramins in Calcutta, to impose upon the people anew
deity, for the purpose of filling the coffers of the vota-
ries of Kali ; and all who refused to propitiate the
offended goddess, were threatened to bo afllicted with
the prevailing disease. The circulation of the procla-
mation, on the part of Kalima, which enjoined this
observance, was ingeniously provided for. It was the
express duty of each individual who received it to write
three copies, and distribute them in three different
places. A subsidiary experiment was then resorted
to, and a cowrie was left at the doors of several of the
inlintiitants, in different quarters of the town, by some
unknown agents of the goddess, with written directions
to convey it, with suitable donations, to the temple at
Knliijhauf, and to distribute three other cowries, with
similar instructions. Thus had the Bramins formed a
ftjgiilar uuiuynniiun of devices to secure the success

MADRAS.

of their tmicKNU views ; and the whole scheme »p-
pears to ha^e been conducted with admirable cunning
«nd vigilance. The name which has been given to
the newly^rected divinity is Ola Bebee, and the fol-
lowing account of her appearance in a human form is

copied from the India Gazette :

"Ola Bebee and her priests have not failed to
adopt the boldest measures to mainuin her influence
on the minds of the terrified and distracted population ;
•nd, a few days ago, a pretended incarnation of this
deity appeared at the village of Sulkeah. There she
•at for two days, in all the state of a Hindoo goddess,
havmg a young Braminee to attend on her as priestess ;
and she was reaping a rich harvest from the terror she
had mfused into the minds of the people, when, un-
fortunately, her fame reached the ears of our indefati-
gable first magistrate. That gentleman gave orders to
his native officen 4o seize her, and bring her, with
her coadjutor, to his residence. This command they
obeyed, but not without much fear and trembling, and

477

KWM Mtifice. They took it upon themselves to pr«.
sent the magistrate's respecu to the goddess, and to
request the honor of an interview. As she had not
sufficient confidence in her own power to offer any
resistance, she affected a ready acquiescence. The
moment she rose up to depart, the crowd, who had as-
sembled to worship her, fled in terror in all directions :
and not a little astonished were the native officers of
the court to hoar the worthy magistrate accuse her of
vnpotture ; and after listening to all she had to say for
herself,— commit her to the house of correction for six
months !— Not perceiving, however, any marks of her
vengeance for such an indignity, but hearihg her, on
the contrary, sue for mercy like any common criminal,
the peons at length gathered courage to lay hands on
her, and conveyed her to the place of punishment,
where she is, at present, employed in pounding bricks
for-the benefit of the public, from whom she was lately
receiving peace-offerings I"

II. PENINSULAR INDIA.

MADRAS DISTRICT.

Madras.

Chiltoor.

Banoalou:-,.

Stationi.

Visaoapatam.

Beloaum.

SALcar.

CuDDAPAH.

Bellart.

CoMBACONUM.

MADRAS.

[On* thounnd and twenty mil« (Vom C»loutU.]

Madras is the capital of the British possessions in
the Deccan and south of India. It is situated on the
Coromandel coast. The foundation of the city took
place in 1639, and tiie place originully had the name
of Fort George. Madras has no European town ; and
only a few houses near the forts are inhabited by

Ev opean residents. Its entire population, in 1828 9

was 469,690. '

Mr. Loveless commenced a mission hero in 1805,
and, in 1816, was joined by Mr. Richard Knill. Two
years after, one hundred and forty-seven names wore
on the books of the schools for boys, and a school was
commenced for girls, with about forty. The schools
•oon increased to eleven ; and there wore four con-
gregations, throe English and one Tamu! or nstiva.

In 1818, Mr. Knill's declining health indicated the
propriety of his seeking a colder climate, and ho was
appointed to labor in Russia, while others entered
upon his Indian labors. Mr. and Mrs. Crisp were set
apart to this service, and have been very successful in
ti-e conduct of schools. Hero, also, have subsequently
entered upon missionary duties, Mr. Taylor and Mr.
Smith, and Mr. Nimno as an assistant. Mr. Smith
was able to preach in Tamul in November, 1829, and
has since performed three services weekly in that
language.

The mission is divided into the following districts :— .
Black Town, or eastern division ; Pureewaukum, or
western, and Tripassoor (out-station). In all these,
there are about one hundieU and ten communicant*.

478

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

From the annual reports, it is evident, that the general
aspect of the mission at Madras is improving. Prayer
meetings are held by the missionaries of three denom-
inations. An attention to spiritual things has been
excited amongst the Indo-British population, and
there is a confident waiting for the outpouring of the
Spirit on the word preached, that it may prove to
multitudes a savor of life unto life.

VIZAGAPATAM.
[Fire hundred and fifty-aeren milet Math-weit of Calcutta.]

In the month of February, 1804, the Rev. Messrs.
Ringeltaube, Cran and Des Granges sailed from
England, with the intention of commencing a mission
among the beniglited heathen on the coast of Coro-
mandel. On their arrival at Tranquebar, however,
some difference of opinion prevailed with respect to
the station which they should occupy ; and, after re-
peated conferences on this subject, Mr. Ringeltaube
determined on directing his labors to the southern
part of the peninsula, whilst Messrs. Cran and Des
Granges thought proper to fix themselves in Vizaga-
patam, the capital of one of the five districts into
which the nortiiern circars are divided.

At this place the nibsionaries were received with
every marlc of kindness by the commander-in-ciiief
of the forces in the northern circars, and by the judge
of Vizagapatam ; the latter of whom had been, for
some time, in the habit of personally conducting
divine worship in the fort, on the Lord's day, with
the soldiers of the garrison, and such other persons as
chose to attend. This service, however, he now
committed to the brethren ; and, at his instigation,
the governor-in-council was pleased to allow them ten
pagodas a month, as a remuneration for their labors.
They were, also, encouraged, by the liberal contribu-
tions of many ladies and gentlemen in the town, to
make a weekly distribution of rice among the poor
natives, in consequence of the high price of grain, and
the prospect of an approaching famine.

Having expressed a wish to obtain a piece of ground,
about a mile distant from the town, the missionaries
received a grant of between nine and ten acres, in a
pleasant and salubrious situation. Here, therefore,
they erected a house and laid out a garden ; and this
gave rise to the idea of founding a charity school.
They, accordingly, drew up and circulated a prospec-
tus of their plan, and soon received between twelve
and thirteen hundred rupees towards tlie building,
besides j-ome monthly subscriptions for the support of

the scholars. In allusion to this subject, Mr. Ci«ii
observes, in a letter dated October 1, )806, "I hav»
now between thirty and forty young persons uader
my instruction, and some of them live in the garden,
and are entirely committed to my care. Ten OT
twelve are children of caste ; the rest are children of
color. The latter, being acquainted with the English
language, have made some progress ; and I consider
it one of the chief blessings of my life to hear them
repeating their catechism, and afterwards joining in a
song of praise to the blessed Saviour in this foreign
land." — " The good design of the mission," says the
same writer, "will be best answered by instructmg
the natives gratuitously in the English language, fof
which purpose alone they attend the school. Though
they are all professed heathens, yet they willingly
hear the truths of the gospel, and have requested
permission to form a class, to read the Bible and
Testament. Among our native scholars we have all
castes, from the Bramin to the Soodra ; and several
of them have come from a distance of ten, twenty,
and even thirty miles. They are instructed by a
native school-master, of Christian parents, whom we
brought with us from Madras."

In the month of May, 1808, the missionaries were
joined by a converted Bramin, named Ananderayer,
of whom the following interesting particulars have
been related : — This person was formerly an account-
ant in a regiment belonging to Tippoo Saib, and, after
the death of that usurper, he obtained a similar em-
ployment under a British officer. Having expressed
an earnest desire to obtain eternal happiness, he was
advised by an elder Bramin to repeat a certain prayer
four hundred thoxuand timet. This task he willingly
undertook, and performed it in a pagoda, with many
fatiguing ceremonies, taking care to exceed the number
prescribed. These laborious exercises, however, were
productive of no comfort, nnd the disappointed devo-
tee resolved to return to his family. In his way homo,
he met with a Roman Catholic, who conversed with him
on religious subjects, and gave him two books in the
Telinga language, which is spoken by all the Hindoos
in the five northern circars, and in many other parta
of the country. These he perused with great atten-
tion, and was so well pleased with their contents, that
he began to entertain some thoughts of embracing the
Christian religion. This was no sooner discovered by
his friends than they were extremely alarmed at the
idea of his bringing a reproach upon his caste ; and,
in order to avert s-ch a circumstance, they offered him
a considerable suh. of money, together with the entire
management of his own estate. Those templiitions,
however, made no impression on his mind ; as he ob-
served that the salvation of his soul must be nrcfarrod

to all worldly considerations. Regardless, therefore,
Of all the arguments and enticements of his relatives,
be went to a Romish priest, and received the rite
Of baptism, after voluntarily offering to prove the
wncenty of his convictions, by delivering up his Bra-
mmjcal thread, and to cut off his hair, which would
render it impracticable for him ever to resume his
caste.

A few months after his baptism, he was sent by the
priest to Pondicherry, where one of the padres was
m want of a Telinga Bramin. There he met with his
w^fe who, after suffering much persecution from her

Ter rV. !'''™'"''^ °" J°'"'"S l-'-" ■' «"d with

her he afterwards removed to Tranquebar, where he

was much gratified to find that the Bible was trans-

churo'h'l \" ™'""''" ^"'^ "" ^'""Ses in their

churches, as this was a subject on which he had
ventured to argue with the Romish priests. The
mmisters of Travancore were, at first, suspicious of
hi^ 'rn .h ' f "';,.'-«P\«'«'' conversations, they admitted
h.m to the Lord's table. From this time, he diligently
studied the Holy Scriptures, which he had never seen
before and began to make some translations from the
Tamul into the Telinga language, xvhich ho wrote
elegantly, as well as the Mahratta. His friends would
now have recommended liim to sonic secular employ-
ment in Madras or Tanjore ; but he declined their
offers, being earnestly desirous of devoting his services
to the cause of God.

Having heard of the missionaries at Vizagapatam, '
he expressed a strong desire to visit them, under the
pleasing idea that he might be useful among the Te-
linga nation, either in the church or in the school
And on this desire being communicated to the directors
of the London Society, together with the most satis-
factory testimonials in respect to his character, Messrs.
Cran and Des Granges were authorized to take him
into their employment, and to allow him a competent
salary. This was accordingly done ; and the first
evening that Anandcrayer spent with the brethren, he
offered up a solemn thanksgiving to God. before sup-
per, and prayed most fervently that the distinction of
caste might be universally abolished, and that all the
heathen might be brought with one henit to glorify
the Lord JesUs. In the month of October following,
he wont on a missionary tour to the southward, and
preached the gospel with great zeal and acceptance
to many hundreds of his countrymen ; and about the
same time, his wife, having been satisfactorily con-
vmced of the truth of the Christian religion, was ad-
mitted to the rite of baptism.

On the 6th of January. 1809. the mission sustained
a Nvere loss in the death of the Rev. George Cran.
*a !hc preceding November, he tiad experienced an

VIZAGAPATAM.

479

attack of bihous fever, which, in a few day,, reduced
hun to a very weak and low state of body. By the
advice of his physician, he undertook a jouVney to he
northward and appeared, for a short time, L have
been benefited by that excursion. On his arriva?, how!
ever, at a town called Chicacoli, about seventyl^r
miles from Vizagapatam, he became so much worse'
that It was deemed advisable to acquaint Mr. Des
Granges with his danger; and before that excellent
minister could arrive, the soul of his beloved colleague
had bidden an everlasting adieu to all the things of
time and sense. °

Two new missionaries, Messrs. Gordon and Lee.
who had been sent out to India by way of America,
land who had been long detained in the latter country
m consequence of the hostilities between England and
the United States, arrived at Calcutta on the 9th of
beptembor, and soon afterwards proceeded to Viza-
gapatam to the great joy of Mr. Des Granges, who,
by the death of his former coadjutor, had been left
alone in his important work.

The next year, 1810, was marked by the removal
of that faithful and devoted laborer, who, during a
residence of five years in India, had, with much
patience and diligence, acquired the Telinga language
and had translated the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and
Luke. On the 4th of July, he was attacked with a
bilious disorder, which produced violent retchings, and
severe pains in his head, accompanied by extreme heat
and thirst. At the same time, Mrs. Des Granges wn-,
lying ill in an adjoining apartment ; but, a few hours
before the death of her husband, the physicians desired
that she might be removed to another house. She
was accordingly carried through the chamber of our
dying missionary ; and here the faithful pair, who had
naturally felt desirous of seeing each other once more
on earth, took their last farewell of each other till
they should meet beyond the grave. The dear chil-
dren were, also, brought to receive the benediction of
their departing parent ; and the scene which ensued
was more affecting ihon can he easily described.

"The state of our brother's mind," say his sur-
viving colleagues, " was calm and serene from first to
last, though his words were few, owing to his great
pain and weakness. When asked what he was most
anxious about, he replied. ' The concerns of the mis- •
sion, and particularly the tranalation of the Scrip-
turei ; but.' he added. ' God can carry on this without
my service ; so that my life is not necessary on that
account.' " On the 12th of August, he entered into
eternal rest ; and his remains wore attended to the
European burial-ground in Vizagapatam by most of
, the gentlemen in thn settlensent, and a vast n'.-.mhsr
" of natives of every caste, together with the scholars

48D

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

and servants belonging to the mission. The corpse
was carried in a palanquin, and Mr. Lee, with the
little son of the deceased, followed in another ; but
Bir. Gordon was incapacitated from attending by severe
illness, and had for some days been prohibited, by the
physician, from visiting his beloved friend.

In the year 1812, the three Gospels which had
been translated by Mr. Des Granges were printed at
Serampore by the Baptist brethren, and the surviving
missionaries undertook to go, by rotation, thrice a week
into the populous villages around them, in order to
read the blessed words of truth to the inhabitants in
their vernacular language, to converse with them on
the subjects read, and to distribute copies to those
who were capable of reading, and inclined to accept
of them. They also employed a Bramin in the same
important work ; and it is a remarkable fact, that, not-
withstanding the professed attachment of this man to
the Hindoo religion, he not only read among his
countrymen that part of the sacred volume which had
been placed in his hands, but even attempted, accord-
ing to the best of his ability, to explain its meaning.
Some of the people, indeed, ventured to remonstrate
with him on the inconsistency of his reading in public
• book so subversive of the faith of his forefathers ;
but he vindicated his conduct, by observing that he
had undertaken a specific service, and that he merely
executed the orders of his oTiployer.

In the month of May, 1814, the brethren were, one
day, induced to visit the garden of the goddess Ellama ;
and here the absurdity of idolatrous worship was made
apparent indeed. " We found her and her brother,"
say the missionaries, " placed on a seat in front of a
house ; and, on our asking the people who they were,
they replied, ' Ellama and Potana.' On being assured
they were deities, we took up the images, and ex-
amined them very minutely, turning them about, and
tapping them with a stick, as if to ascertain of what
materials they were made. When we again asked,
' Are tiiese really gods ?' the people appeared con-
founded, and acknowledged that they were wood. We
gave them suitable advice, and departed ; but, on
meeting a Bramin, we entered into conversation with
him respecting the images. He confessed they were
formed of wood, but insisted that, by the power
of the muntra, they were made to possess the
divine essence. We then requested him to return
with us, in order to assist us in ascertaining the truth
of this. He complied, and we examined the images
as before. He seemed ashamed, yet said he could
make the goddess speak. We challenged him to do
as he said, assuring hirii that we would then worship
the images, and remunerate him handsomely besides."
This, of course, set the matter at rent, nnd thn irlnlu.

trous heathen retired with the blush of confusion upoD
his cheek, but without the force of divine conviction
in his heart.

In 1815, the Rev. James Dawson, from the mis-
sionary seminary at Gosport, was sent out to reinfore*
the station.

In a letter dated January 88, 1817, Mr. Gordon
says, " The last year has been better to me than any
former one, and I have been enabled to enter fully
into my labors. We are out every day among the
people, who are evidently more disposed to makw
inquiries after the truth. I have lately held conversa-
tions with some singularly interesting characters, whose
questions were uncommonly striking. The children
in the schools, also, perform wonders, and by interro-
gating them, independently of the questions in their
catechisms, we obtain satisfactory evidence that they
make an actual progress in the knowledge of divine
things. Our principal school is in the very heart of
the town, and open to any person who passes by. The
novelty of catechizing the children, and the prompti-
tude of their answers, never fail to bring numbers to
hear them ; and the questions afford a series of subjects
for inquiry and conversation. In this way, both the
youth and those of advanced years have an opportu-
nity of receiving instruction."

Mr. Pritcliett,oneof the missionaries at this station,
devoted a considerable portion of his time to the
translation of the New Testament into Telinga ; and
in 1819, his version was published at Madras, at the
expense of the Calcutta Bible Society. He also
translated several parts of the Old Testament, and
indulged the hope of giving to the heathen, by whom
he was surrounded, the whole of " the oracles of God"
in their vernacular language. In this pleasing antici-
pation, however, he was disappointed, being called
to rest from all his labors after an illness of short
duration.

"On the second of June, 1820, Mr. Pritchett felt
indisposed, and complained of the strong winds affect-
ing him more than usually. On Sunday morning, the
4th, he arose very unwell, and, without being able to
take any thing more than a cup of tea, went into the
town to preach ; but, tow rds the latter part of the
service, he was obliged to conclude rather abruptly,
and returned home very ill. During the week, though
in great bodily pain, and burning with fever, he man-
ifested the most patient resignation ; and several times
he said, ' I do not know why a Christian, who lives,
and has lived to God, should wish to .stay here.' On
Sunday, the fever was very high, and his agony was
so great that he was not able to say much ; but while
Mr. Gordon was standing by his bed, he said in a very

' xrty iiiiicS arc iii iny nan

d.'

Monday he was thought to be rather better, and at
night he appeared more composed than he had been
for some nights past ; but about three o'clock the foUow-
ing morning he expired."

.u'" ^ll^JT'^ °^ "'^ ^'"^^"^ f"' 1824 it is stated,
that "the hopes of the brethren (Messrs. Gordon
and Dawson), as to the introduction of Christianity into
th.8 part of India, are chiefly founded on the effect of
the schools gradually preparing, by the divine blessing,
a race who wdl more readily yield to the force of ils
obl.gat.ons There are, at present, five native schools,
all of which are conducted with a strict regard to order
and discipline. The aggregate number of boys under
instruction is about two hundred and fifty ; but the
average attendance is not more than one hundred and
Wty. The pupils have, in general, excellent memo-
ries, seldom requiring to be told the same thing a
second time ; and many of them evince a strong desire
to understand the Scriptures. Ttie principal part of
Mr. Gordons time is employed in the Telinga trans-
lation of the Old Testament; but in the evening he
usually visits the schools and the neighboring villages,
where he reads to the natives, and converses with them
on the Christian religion."

In 1825, the mission sustained a heavy loss in the
death of Mrs. Dawson, who was removed from this
mortal scene on the 28th of February. Mrs. Dawson
took a lively interest in the orphan and native female
schools at the station, and was assiduously engaged
in the latter as long as her strength permitted.

The report of the society for 1827 states that the
native schools bad increased to twelve, and the schol-
ars amounted to five hundred and twenty-five. " They
continue to inspire in the missionaries a lively hope of
many, among the now rising generation at Vizagapatam,
eventually becoming Christians. The progress of
the scholars is very encouraging, their prejudices, gen-
erally speaking, are abating, and their acquaintance
with Christianity increasing. Scarcely a day passes in
which some circumstance does not transpire indicative
of the beneficial influence of religious instruction upon
their hearts ; and the elder boys not unfrequently ask
questions which the most sagacious Braniins find them-
selves unable to answer."

During this period of the mission, the missionaries
attended to a daily native service in one of the school-
rooms ; the audience sometimes amounting to one hun-
dred ; but the versatility of the natives, the missionary
writes, " renders it impossible to observe the desirable
order of Christian services." Six English services
were hold weekly ; and in 1826, two members were

»"»»• M i\s tut: t;iiurcn.

In 1828, the deputation presented the following
account of the mission at Vizagapatam :— " The mis-
VoL. I.— Nos. 41 & 42, (33

VIZAGAPATAM.

481

sionaries, Messw. Gordon and Dawson, appear to be
diligently employed in their several departments, and
to the extent of their strength. Mr. Gordon is em-

f^u'^.'^V°'^ '''■ *'""«'''''°». ""d has got the whole
o the Old Testament in a state of forwardness. He
also takes part in the English services, and every even-
ing visits some of the schools. He is highly esteem-
ed by tl|e people, and appears to be a truly excellent
man. He is said to have a very extensive acquaint-
ance with the Teloogoo language. The school depart-
ment is immediately under the direction of Mr. Dawson
The schools are in excellent condition. There are at
this time twelve in connection with this mission in the
town and neighborhood. One of these is a school of girls
under the kind careof Mrs. Vaughan. Besides the girls'
school there are several girls at the boys' schools, both
m the town and villages. This appears abetter plan,
in this place, than to have the females in separate
schools, at which their parents look with suspicion.
All these schools are conducted entirely on Christian
principles ; the Scriptures are read. Dr. Watts's cate-
chisms are taught, &c. The scholars also learn writing
and ciphering. The masters appear to be situable and
well selected men. In examining the schools, both in
reading and also as to their knowledge of the princi-
pies of Christianity, we had every reason to be well
satisfied. No schools in India, as far as we have yet
gone, are m a better state. When we were at Madras
we attended a meeting of the committee of the Bible'
Society, and were highly gratified on hearing from the
report which was read, so favorable a testimony given
to Mr. Gordon's translation of the Scriptures. It was
spoken of in the highest language by the committee of
translations."

But whilst his brethren were thus testifying to his
faithfulness and ability, Mr. Gordon was receiving a far
higher plaudit. The great Master of assemblies need-
ed him in the upper sanctuary, and on the 17th of
January, 1828, the message came to him, •< Enter tliou
into the joy of thy Lord." He had labored in India
with diligence and fidelity for nineteen years. In con-
sequence of this event, the superintendence of this
mission devolved on Mr. Dawson, assisted by Mr.
James Gordon, son of the deceased missionary.

In 1831, the prospect of usefulness at this station
seemed to brighten. The Scriptures are read with
more interest ; and among such as attend to hear them
explained, many inquiries are made as to their true
meaning. The attention of the natives is particularly
attracted by the parables of the New Testament, which
may be accounted for not onlv on the sennra! ".r:r,.-i-,!e
of the parable being, in itself^ naturally adapted toln-
terest the human mind, but from the fact that their
own Hindoo books abound in allegory.

488

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The latest intelligence from this station states, that
the church has increased to twenty members.

CUDDAPAH.

To this place, Mr. Howell, late superintendent of
the native schools in connection with the Bellary mis-
sion, removed, in November, 1822. At the request of
T. Lascelles, Esq., registrar of the Ziilah court, lie took
charge of two native schools, previously established
by that gentleman ; and, having united them, they
soon increased. A native female school was also
established, and schools were opened at the follow-
ing villages, situated within a distance of ten miles from
Cuddapah, viz. Sharpett, Ootoor, Chinmaar and Gun-
ganpally. The aggregate number of native children
in the several schools, into all of which Christian in-
struction was introduced, was about one hundred and
fifty, and their progress was very encouraging. Be-
sides these engagements, Mr. Howell preached in the
school-room to a congregation of natives, fluctuating
between forty and fifty ; translated the catechisms used
at Chinsurah and Bellary, into Teloogoo, examined
the Canara version of the Old Testament, and dis-
tributed numerous copies of the Teloogoo New Tes-
tament.

In the following year, the success of his labors was
apparent. He says, — " In my last communication I
stated my intention to baptize two or three adults ; but
since then the Lord has so disposed the hearts of the
people (who, it would appear, were for a long season
' halting between two opinions'), as to cause house liolds
to forsake their lying vanities, by turning from darkness
to light, and from the kingdom of Satan to tlio kingdom
of his dear Son, as will appear from the list of baptisms [
have the pleasure to transmit. The number baptized by
me is seventy-four men, twenty-five women, forty boys
and twenty-one girls ; and, with those baptized previous-
ly to my coming iiere,make a total of one hundred and
nineteen adults and sixty-seven children." All of these
had nominally embraced Christianity, while a regular
church had been formed of ten members, in which
three pious natives were appointed deacons.

Mr. Howell made a tour of about one hundred miles,
preached to great nuiltitudes, and distributed tracts
very extensively. Although his health suffered much
from excessive heat, his labors, twice suspended
through the two succeeding years, were resume<l, and
that with the most happy results. In 1826, the
schools, previously increased, had been reduced to four,
and the time thus gained was devoted to importaiii
purposes. The native church, augmented to twenty-

one members, had diminished, in consequence of re-
movals, to nine ; and a prayer-meeting was held every
Friday morning. A Hindoo, about twenty-five years
of age, of the Sanessi sect (or caste), who came to Cud-
dapah in the month of October, 1825, unattired, with
long clotted hair, and his body besmeared with ashes,
had embraced Christianity, had been baptized, and
prayed, when called upon in the social meeting, with
much propriety. A chapel had been completed and
opened on the 11th of October, the expense of which
was defrayed by subscriptions on the spot. By the
aid of respectable Euro))ean residents, a workshop was
established for native Christians who had not the
means of supporting themselves. A selection of
psalms and hymns in Teloogoo had been revised, and
the book of Psalms and the history of Joseph had
been translated into the same language. About one
thousand two hundred Teloogoo tracts had been cir-
culated, principally at Hindoo festivals. Copies of
portions of the Scriptures in the same language had
been distributed among respectable natives and chil-
dren in the schools; and English tracts had been
occasionally given to travellers and to individuals in
the cantonment.

The latest accounts, in January, 1832, represent this
mission as making gradual progress. The schools are
evidently gaining ground, and afford pleasing promise
of a fruitful harvest. Veerpah, a Bramin convert,
makes encouraging progress in divine things, and con-
ducts family worship with great propriety.

The schools are seven in number ; church members
nineteen ; and the candidates for baptism are nearly
fifty.

CHITTOOR.

[Eighty-two milei we»t by north from Muiru.]

The population of Chittoor is variously estimated ;
probably it is not far from 13,000.

The importance of Chittoor as a station arises from
the vicinity of three towns, viz. Vellore, with 30,000,
Arcot and Wallajapetfah, with at least 60,000 inhab-
itants. The Rev. Robert Jennings and his lady ar-
rived at this place, August 4, 1827, and were cordially
received. Mr. Jennings found many European Chris-
tian friends, and a church of about seventy members
regularly organized.

The deputation reported Chittoor as a most impor-
tant post for future and extensive operations. Till
tiie urrivai of the missionory, Messrs. Crisp and Taylor
had visited Chittoor alternately, spending four months

18^'!!!!!; ^' ^1"^ <'«n"nenced hi, visits early in
1826, Md. m complmnco with their request, he formed

I'csrhrh/'^""'™'"^^''^"--"'--"

Mr. Jennings applied himself to all his duties with

XJTTu f''^"'''"""^ assiduity, and hopes were
Cher shed that he would, for years to come, prove a

.'^rnV';'" T"""" "'*''"'"""• "^ '"« "-'-d n!

h^Z r '"''''^' '° ''""8 in»o h'"» fold ; but these

r ,f J'"^«""«'" «"d I'oly servant of God. He
was called toh.s eternal reward on the 1st June, 1831

hs conversion, l„s heart was melted with tender com
passion for the heathen world.

BELOAUM.

488

BELGAUM.

[Two hundred milei north-weit from Bollary]

This is a military post between Bombay and Bellary.
1 Ije language chiefly used is the Canarese.

Ihe mission was commenced in 1820, by the Rev.

Mr.Taylorand the native teacher, Ryndass, who came

1 rllT -^r""^:. '^'"'^"^'•° '''"^'>' -«-ved by
genera PrUzler and other respectable characters. The

sE ''t"', '"' ""'""'•'" '■°^'"°™ing service on the
sabbath, wh.ch was well attended by the military.

th« n„ f ' Tk """''" '"'"^'^ '"''' established, and
the numberof boys was one hundred and twenty. At

Shawpore a convenient school-house was provided,
and Christian instruction introduced

The children not only committed to memory large

portions of the Scriptures, catechisms, &c., but el

deavored to understand what they learned. Mr.

Taylor devoted two evenings in each week to convcr-

sations with the heathen. These meetings, which

were held in the school-house at Shawpore, and Tn

duce in theCanara language, were ocLio'naUy well

attended On the sabbath, Mr. Taylor conducted

three public services in English, two of then, in the

camp, and one at the commanding officer's quarters.

A temporary building, capable of holding from two

hundred and fifty to three hundred persons, had been

erected in the camp, where divine worship was regu-

arly per ormed ; and on the Sunday morning, all fhe

soldiers then off duty were marched down. The rest

together with volunteers. aUBnd«H .h- n-, ;-~ • '

the evening. The service at the commandin,^ officer's
quarters, was attended by a ' the staff officers, and

others residing in the fort, and also by the soldiers of

T« rt u ""''^- . ^" WednesdaJ evenings, Mr.
Taylor held a service in the campi and on Friday
evenings, at his own house, in the fort. All the
so d,e« who assembled for worship on these occasion..

Toll ;t"'u"'^- ^'' '^"y'°'- ^«« encouraged to
hope that the above-mentioned services which he de-

LnoJ H "? uT '" ""'"• ^'"^ "f »"^ ''e-rers ac-
knowledged the benefit derived from his public minis-
ry, and confirmed this acknowledgment, while they

:otTs:eVs.'''°^^^^'°"^^»''°'^^

Through succeeding years, the mission was blessed
with prosperity ; and, in November, 1825, two Bra-
m.ns and a .Jpoot, the first fruits of the mission at

avofZ^r' Tr'^ "' ^'"'^'y' ''^'^ » '"i^f-'^tory
amval of their faith in Christianity, in the presence
of about three hundred natives. Various reasons in!
duced Mr. Taylor to fix on Bombay as the place
where te rite should be administered.' Rev. Mr'and

The climate of India not agreeing with Mr. Lillie.
and the physicians assuring him that his life could no

honSS. ' " "''^'"" '" '"^ ^''''' ''^ -'--^

TaTbr ' T? '.?'"' ^T '^'''"''^ °-« '° M'-

faithful ■ A f ■■"'"'"' ''''" '''"" ^»P''^'"' proved
ftithful. and others were full of anxious inquiry

Trac s and portions of the Scriptures were widely
circulated. I„ ,828, Mr. Beynon removed to BeN
gaim,, where his health is better than in Bellary

rhe latest accounts of this place mention that the
missionaries have three able native assistants. There
, are between thirty and forty communicants. Of
Dhondapah, one of the assistants, Mr. Beynon writes,
He IS the most sp.ritually-minded native Christian I
Jmve ever conversed with. I have never heard him
speak upon any subject but which was, more or less
connected with the salvation of his own soul or the
cause of Christ in general. His trials and sufferings
have been many and severe, and the sacrifices he has
made are of the most painful nature ; and, amidst all.
l.e has been supported and has sustained a most con-
sistent character. He has literally, for the sake of
Christ, forsaken wife and children, and brethren and
lands I„ a conversation I had with him, when pass-
mg through Darwar, on adverting to his sufferings, he
modestly observed, < Yes, I have been called to
endure a few trials, and my friends frequentiv tell m«
oi «ij^ fo^e,; but it is not always they ask me what
1 have gained by them.' As the general result of
missionary labor at Belgaum, the brethren find Bra-

484

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

mins and Gooroos shrinking from argument, ceasing to
defend tlieir systems, acknowledging that the Hindoo
is not adapted to become a universal religion, and
that it cannot show by what means sin may be par-
doned. The mass of the population are beginning to
inquire, and compare systems, and are not insensible
to the doctrines aad duties, effects and advantages, of
the gospel of Christ."

BELLARY.

In the spring of 1810, the Rev. John Hands
arrived in India, with the hope of commencing a
mission in liie city of Seringapatmn ; but as no access
could then be had to that place, he was induced by
the brethren at Aladras to direct his attention to Bel-
lary, situated in tlie most northern part of the province
of Mysore, and surrounded by numerous populous
towns and villages. He accordingly set out on the
26th of April, and on his arrival was treated with
great respect by the European residents, among whom
he soon began to celebrate divine service. He had,
at first, some great difficulties to contend with, in
acquiring the language of the natives, called the
Canara, which is spoken from the borders of the
Mahratta nearly to the bottom of the Mysore. He
applied himself, however, so patiently and perseverina;-
ly to this study, that he not only soon collected several
thousands of words, which he formed into a vocabu-
lary, but also began preparing a grammar, with tiio
assistance of his moonshee, who appeared to be avry
learned man.

The Bramins in this place are said to be compara-
tively few in number. Some of these, however, visited
our missionary in a friendly nianner ; and a consider-
able number of country poor, or " half-caste" persons,
attended his ministry ; and, in some instances, his la-
bors appear to have been blessed among ihem. One
man, in particular, informed liim that lie had been
constrained to commence family worsliip, both morning
and evening.

In a letter, dated January 15, 181 1 , Mr. Hands
observes, " I now preach tiirice every Lord's day, lo
my countrymen and the Portuguese half-caste — in
the morning, at the Kutcheree, to the soldiers and
inhabitants ; in the afternoon, at the hospital ; and in
the evening, at my own house. A considerable stir
begins to appear among the soldiers, and eight or ton
of the young Portuguese seem very serious and prom-
ising. Much good is also done by distributing tracts
and lending books, which are read with great avidity.
Previous to my arrival, a religious book was seldom

seen, the poor soldiers being entirely dectitute, and the
respectable inhahitaits little better. I have given a
Bible and Baxter's Call, for the use of the convales-
cents in the hospital, and their appearance demon-
strates that they are in common use.

" God has been pleased to give me favor in the
eyes of the principal people here. One officer, high
in the civil department, condescends to visit me and
attend divine service, and has invited me to take a
short journey, to the great feast held by the natives,
near Bisnagur, the ancient capital of the Hindoo em-
pire. Another gentleman has given me a useful little
horse, — a very welcome present in a hot country,
which will not admit of much walking ; and several
of the nfitives, on certain festival days, have sent me
presents of fruit sufficient for a fruiterer's shop. Mjr
residence was formerly a pagoda ; but part of it will
be now devoted to the public worship of the ever
blessed God. O that many of Satan's temples may
be thus consecrated ! Several huge gods of stone are
lying about the promises, like Dagon before the ark.
I purpose digging large holes near them and rolling
them in, as they are too unwieldy to be dragged
away."

In the spring of 1812, with the assistance of a young
friend from Madras, Mr. Hands opened a native
school, which was soon attended by about fifty chil-
dren. Speaking of this institution, he says, " As the
school is yet in its infancy, and many of the parents
of the children are rather suspicious, I have hitherto
done little more among them than occasionally talk to
them in a familiar manner about the works of God,
their obligations to him, and the sin and folly of giving
worship to stones, &tc. If I take a walk in the even-
ing, when the school is over, I am almost sure of
being found by some of the children, who always
seem pleased to accompany me ; and some of them
occasionally put in a word to help me. I hope soon
to be able to introduce Christian instruction more
openly ; but it requires much prudence, and, in the
beginning, the work must be gradual."

At this time, our missionary preached every sabbath
evening, and once in the week in the school-room,
which was fitted up with lamps and other conveniences
by an unsolicited subscription among the hearers, who
also kindly agreed to defray the expenses of lighting,
&ic. Many of tlicse, indeed, appear to have known
and loved the truth ; and of the soldiers belonging to
one regiment, upwards of twenty professed to have
been made acquainted with the things pertaining to
their eternal salvation, since they attended the ministry
of Mr. Hands. These, with a few others, were form-
ed into a society, which met weekly lor Christian
conference ; and the accounts which most of them

BELLARY.

gave, on their admission, relative to a work of grace
upon their hearts, were highly pleasing and satisfac-
tory. Several of them, also, were able to engage in
prayer at the public prayer-meetings, and one indi-
vidual appeared to possess a considerable talent for
exhortation.

In 1816, Mr. Hands was joined by the Rev. William
Reeve, who preached his first sermon on the 29th of
September, to a very crowded and attentive congreea-
tion, from Romans i. 14, 15, <« I am a debtor both to
the Greeks and to the Barbarians, &c." Several
schools had, by this time, been established ; and this
missionary states that he felt great pleasure in seeing
the children come and sit on the floor in the virandas,
to repeat various catechisms which they had previously
committed to memory. He also observes that he
was much impressed and profited whilst listening to
the experience of a number of soldiers, who were
admitted into church fellowship shortly after his arrival,
and of whom several appeared to have been brought
to the knowledge of the ^ruth, under the ministry of a
pious and faithful clergyman at Tiiciiinopoly. " The
interesting scene," says Mr. Reeve, " was closed by
my being chosen co-pastor with my dear brother Hands,
who has long been a solitary but not unsuccessful mis-
sionary."

In the month of March, 1817, Messrs. Hands and
Reeve took a journey to visit the spot once occupied
by the famous city of Bisnagur. From the top of a
pagoda on a high mountain, and with the aid of a good
telescope, they had a fine view of the extensive scene
of desolation, comprising the ruins of palaces, pagodas
and other public buildings, the architecture of which
appeared to have been of a very superior kind. This
city, when in its glory, must have been extremely
large; as it is said, that if all the buildings which now
remain were placed close together, they would occupy
a greater extent of ground than that on which London
now stands.

"Here," says Mr. Reeve, "we met with many
people who had visited the mission-house at Bellary,
for the purpose of receiving religious instruction ; and
we were mucii pleased with one man, who told us
that he had been with some of our books into the
Mysore country ; that he had written twenty copies
of them, and distributed them among his friends, who
appeared much interested in their contents ; and that
our Saviour's sermon on the mount had been turned
into poetry, part of which he repeated to us with
much animation."

The same evening, they paid a visit to the aged
rajah of Anagoody, who seemed to be about ninety
years of age, and was undergoing a severe course of
penance, to propitiate his deity, whom he conceived

485

to be angry with him. " We found him," says Mr.
Reeve, " at a short distance from the city, performing
his devotions in one of his pagodas, surrounded by
servants, musicians and Bramins in abundance. He
had already fasted nine days, besides undergoing other
mortifications ; and, from what we saw and heard, we
considered him as a complete devotee. Brother Hands
spoke to him for a considerable time on the inefficiency
of his penances to obtain the favor of Heaven ; but he
seemed to hear with reluctance what was advanced
against his infatuating idolatry."

At Bisnagur, on the last day of the annual festival,
our missionaries beheld a grand religious procession,
in which two ponderous cars of the idols were dragged
along by the multitude. " I counted nearly a thousand
people," says Mr. Reeve, " who were drawing one
of them ; and on measuring one of the wheels, I found
it to be fourteen feet in diameter. The height of ihe
car, including its trappings and ornaments, was, I sup-
pose, not less than two hundred feet ; so that it was
very fatiguing work to make it move at all. Indeed,
I believe, that if the peons and soldiers had not come
with their swords and spears, the poor god would have
been forsaken, and loft in the road."

After their return to Bellary, the brethren had the
satisfaction of adding to their little church ten candi-
dates, who had been previously proposed and exam
incd; and they were particularly gratified with the
experience of one individual, who stated that he was
the son of an aged Moravian missionary, still laboring
in the West Indies. It seems he had run away from
a boarding-school, and enlisted for a soldier, by which
means he had been brought to India ; and under a
sermon at Bellary, he was led to discover his own
vileness and helplessness as a sinner, and the suita-
bility and preciousness of Jesus as a Saviour.

In the course of the summer, Mr. Hands was induced,
by the unfavorable state of iiis health, to take a journey
to Madras ; and after an absence of some weeks, he found
himself considerably benefited by his excursion. He
accordingly set out on his return in the commencement
of September ; and wliilst proceeding homewards, he
embraced every opportunity of attempting to enlighten
the minds of the heathen population through which he
passed, by distributing among them religious tracts and
portions of the Holy Scriptures, and by occasionally
reading and speaking to the people respecting the way
of salvation. He also embraced every opportunity
of preaching to the soldiers, among whom his labors
appear to have been peculiarly acceptable.

One evening, after addressing a considerable number
of the troops at Bangalore, a West Indiau, named
Roger, said, with a flood of tears, " O, sir, when I was
at Bellary, you do much good for my soul. Now, sir,

486

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

what can I do for you ? Is there any thing I can get
for you ?" On Mr. Hands replying in the negative,
he earnestly aslted, " Is there nothing 1 can do for
you ?" " Nothing, Roger, but to pray for me." " O,
sir, I never forget to do that ; but I must give you
tomething." The poor fellow then ran off, and soon
returned with a large cake, which he had purchased as
provision for OMr missionary by the way. His heart,
indeed, appeared to overflow with gratitude for the
mercies he had received under the sound of the gos-
pel, and he expressed an ardent desire, in the course of
conversation, to love the Redeemer more, and to serve
him better.

At a place called Hossa-pettih, the attention of Mr.
Hands was excited by a circumstance, which, occurring
shortly after this interview villi the pious West Indian,
seemed to place in a striking contrast the eft-jcts pro-
duced by an acquaintance with Jesus, and tiiose re-
sulting from obedience to the will of Satan.—" Ob-
;«erving a great crowd before one of the houses," says
this gentleman, " I was informed that the owner had just
Htabbed himself, after murdering a wretched woman
with whom he had cohabited. On going into the
house, I found the principal men of the house assem-
bled, and several native surgeons sewing up a large
;»nd d'eep wound, which the unhappy man had inflicted
upon himself. 1 was then shown into the place where
the murder had been committed. It was a little close
room, in the interior of the house, nito which a ray of
light could scarcely enter; and here lay the mangled
body of the woman, covered with blood, her throat
being cut almost from car to ear. So shocking a sight I
never before beheld, and shall not soon forget. Before
I left the house, I addressed the dying murderer, who
appeared to be in great agony, and asked him how he
came to conunit such an atrocious deed. He just
opened his eyes, and looking at me, put his flnger
upon his forehead, to intimate that it was his destiny ;
as the Hindoos imagine that all which befalls them is
written by the hand of Fate uj)on their forehead. I
endeavored to impress his mind with the dreadful na-
ture of the crime l.y had connnitted, and the danger to
which it exposed hicn ; ai.d then spoke of that Redeem-
er whose blood cleunsetli from all sin, and can wash
•way Ihu foulest stains ; but the poor wretch was in
loo groat puin to pay nmch attention to my discourse.
I then ap|)roaclied the door, where a groat crowd of
people had assembled, and addressed them for some
time, endeavoring to iinjirove the awful circumstance
which had just occurred. After I had concluded my
address, I distributed among the people several copies
of our lord's sermon on the mount, and other tracts,
which were eagerly and thnnkrullv received."
Ou the iih of October, just before our missionary

entered the island of Seringapatam, his attention was
directed to a spot where, about fourteen months before,
the wife of a native oflicer had burned hereelf with part
of the body of her deceased husband. When her de-
termination was made known, a British magistrate
resolved, if possible, to prevent it ; and as he conceived
he had not sufficient authority positively to prohibit it,
he endeavored to gain his purpose by delay, hoping
that time would assuage the woman's grief, and recon-
cile her to life. Unfortunately, however, her inten-
tion had been communicated to the Bramins, who
would by no means suffer her to break her engagement.
They, therefore, preserved one of her husband's fingers ;
and with this she was, some months afterward, burned,*
on a spot of ground to which the magistrate's authority
did not extend. A hole, five or six feet deep, was dug
on this occasion, and a .Srge fire kept burning from the
morning until the evening, when the hole was nearly
filled with embers. The widow, after walking round it
a certain number of times, and performing other pre-
scribed ceremonies, thre^ herself into it ; and imme-
diately a quantity of combustible matter, which instant-
ly flamed up, was thrown in upon her. For a short
time, she was seen to struggle in the flames, but was
soon consumed. " I saw several f.entleinen," says
Mr. Hands, '< who witnessed this horrid sacrifice, and
who described the shock which their feelings received
from such a spectacle. It seems that the poorcreature
was not in readiness quite so soon as the Bramins de-
sired, in consequence of which they hurried her ; and
one of them actually, with a harsh voice, bade her be
quick, or the European gentlemen would be obliged to
return home in the dark ! Such are these kumant
and harmless f,eings, who, while they consider it a
heinous sin to destroy an ant or a fly, can thus inhu-
manly trifle with the lives of their fellow-creatures !"

The day after he quitted Seringapatam, Mr. Hands
arrived on the hanks of a broad and very rapid river
which had been much swollen by the rains ; and, for
some time, he almost despaired of getting across. At
I'-'iigth, however, several of the villagers offered to
swim across with his palanquin on their heads, and then
pafMIe him over in a large chattce, or earthen pan,
which they hod brought with them. " As they told
me," says our missionary, " that they had conveyed
over others in the same way, and no acfident lind 'iver
occurred, I committed myself into the hands of him
who was able to preserve me, and determined to ven-
ture. After fastening n number of dried gourds about
their bodies, ten or twelve of them descended into the
river, an<l the empty pnhuupiin being put upon their
lieadH, they launched, and, for a time, proceeded favor-
""iy ; btit when ihey arrived in the middio of iho sCicHiii,
ihcy were carried down with such rapidity as to ho

•Imost overpowered, and I feared that the palanquin,
at least, would be lost. However, at last, though a
great distance down the river, they gained the opposite
«.de. The poor fellows, having rested themselves now
retumed to convey me over. After fastening several
short bamboos and a few gourds round the chattee, thev
lifted me mto it, and, four of them swimming alongside
safely conveyed me over, and afterwards transported
my palanqum bearers across, in the same manner. I
deeply felt my obligations to these poor men, who
w».en they understood that I was a goroo or teacher
and heard me speak m their own language, were ready
to do or venture any thing for me. As, in paddling
me across, they frequently invoked several of their
.lelpless de.t.es, I embraced that opport.mity of telling
them of the true God, who alone could assist them
and to whom I was myself looking and praying for
help, whilst crossing the river."

About a week after this occurrence, Rlr. Hands
arrived at a village called Holgoor, where he to.' ,n
his abode in the temple of the monkey Hanamunta,
whose gigantic figure, six or seven feet high, carved
on a stone, was standing in a little *«c«rf place within
the temple. " Soon after I arrived," says Mr. Hands,
a Bramin came up with holy water, paint and flow-
ers, to wash and decorate his god. During the cere-
mony, which took up half an hour, he continued
repeating his muntrat, or prayers, with a rapidity that
scarcely allowed him time to breathe, until, at last,
he appeared completely exhausted. When the cere-
mony was finished, and he had locked up this uncouth
monster in his den, I askad him what advantage could
arise from worshipping such a lifeless block of .tone
as that, and said I was surprised that a sensible man,
as he appeared to be, could be capable of such folly
He confessed that he knew it was no god, and that no
spiritual advantage could be derived from the worship
of It; but as he was the officiating Braininof the tem-
ple, he did It for the supportof himself and his familv
I then warned him of the misery ho was bringing upon
himself by deluding the poor villagers, and t.a.hing
them to believe that to bo a god, wliicli lin know to
bo nothing but a senseless block. I aftorwnrds spoke
to hiin, and to several others who had ass,. .|,|o,|
round us, of the true God, and of his Son Jesus ( ,ist •
apprizing them of the awful consequences of perse-
vering in idolatry, and beseeching thorn to seek after
O-xl, and to worship him in spirit and in truth."

On the 83(1 of October, mir missionary returned to
Bdlary with his health happily recruited ; but, on his
arrival, ho found that of his beloved wife on the decline.
_ .. ..._ _,„^ pcnois oi liii aswuiico, she ha<t
suffered severely from bilious obstructions, and about
tour months after his return, these produced tho yellow

BELLARY. '

487

jaundice. The medicines that were deemed necessary
to remove this complaint reduced her to a state of
extreme debility ; but, in the month of May, she was
so far restored as to be able to accompany her hu,.
band to a celebrated Hindoo festival, which was held
at a place about forty miles distant from Bellarv
I-rom this journey she derived so much benefit, that
Uie reestablishmentof her health was now anticipated.

Scarcely,however,hadil,atpleasinghope been indulged,
when the fatigue and anxiety occasioned by the illness
of heryoungest child, together with the excessive heat
of he weather, occasioned a relapse; and. in the
month of July, she was confined entirely to her bed.
l-rom this time she continued gradually to decline,
imtil the 1st of August. 1818. when her disembodied
spirit entered into "the house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens." She was one of the oldest
missionaries connected with the London society in
India ; having been employed in the work twelve years,
first as the wife of the excellent Des Granges, and
afterwards as the beloved partner of Mr. Hands Her
remains were interred in the burial-ground belongine
to the garrison at Bellary ; and the high estimation ij
which she was held by all who knew her in life was
particularly manifested at her funeral

snnt "" T'^ ^^ ^T""'^' '^^^' " J"^e"i'e Bible
society w^s formed at Bellary, principally through the
zeal of the master of the charity school, and the
activity of one of the scholars, who was formerly noto
nous for his wickedness and audacity. About tho
sametime, the missionaries prevailed on a native mer-
chant to sell them a house situated at the confluenro
of several streets, and likely to collect pretty large
congregations, to whom it was intended, on the even-
ings of the week-days, to read and expound various
portions of Scripture, in connection with the catechisms
and religious tracts. In the same month, also, the
attendance at the mission chapel became so numerous,
Uiat an enlargement was considered indispensable.
1 he expense of this, together with additional seats
and lamps, was computed at fifty pounds ; but the
pious soldiers and other friends, who wore in tho
habit of attending on tho means of grace, felt so deeply
iixeresfed in tho object, that they collected nearly the
whole sum III the course of twenty-four hours.

On the 2d of March, tho missionaries received a
visit from the rajah of JIarponully, who had arrived
at Bellary, on the preceding evening, seated upon a
very large elephant, and followed by throe others,
amidst an immense concmirse of people. «' He came
to us," says Mr. Heove, " with all the "uitn". sj-.J
pai.de of tho oriental princes, and our garden wm
almost filled with his splendid retinue. Ho requested
to see the different ru of tho mission-house, but

488

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

showed DO disposition to enter into any particular con-
versation. As he entered one of the studies, he was
much struck with the number and bindings of the
books, and expressed great admiration at tiieir exter-
nal appearance ; but this was all. He took his leave
in a very condescending manner, and expressed him-
self highly gratified with the attention which had been
shown to him."

About four months after the rajah's visit, a person
of very plausible character called upon the missionaries,
stating that his parents had renounced heathenism, and
were employed in the mission at Tanjore, and that he
himself had been baptized in his infancy. He also
said that he had been appointed to assist in the estab-
lishment of a school at Poonah, where some persons
were in connection with the mission at Tanjore, and
that, on setting out for the scene of his intended labors,
he had been well furnislied with clothes, books and
testimonials ; but whilst sleeping in a lodging on the
road, some persons had stripped him of every thing,
and he was now in the greatest distress, not having
tasted food for several days. He requested the
brethren to let him have some largo books in the Ta-
mul language, such as the Old and New Testament,
and also solicited a few pence, to purchase a little
rice ; but as his story did not appear credible, he ob-
Uined only a few tracts, and was dismissed. " He
afterwards," says Mr. Reeve, " paid us another visit ;
but it was at midnight, when we were all asleep. He
entered the house, proceeded up stairs, brokn info the
upper hall, ami took away a very largo English Bible,
two large New Testaments, and two copies of the Te-
linga Gospels ; but just as ho was slinking away with
his booty, our watchful dog raised an alann. This
led fo the dctcx-tion of the ihiof ; who, the instant he
perceived that he was observed, threw away the books
among the buslies in the garden, and said that he had
merely come there to gather a few flowers. He was
kept in close confinement till the morning, when ho
appeared lM?fore us again, not a litlio chagrined and
aslimned. After breakfast, on our pointing out to him
his awful character and wretched condition, he wept
raucli, and, in a variety of particulars, contradicted his
fornicr statements. Indeed, he appeared an affecting
coiiipoimd of hy|)ocrisy and wickedness. We did all
we could, however, in the wiiy of faithful admonition,
and the impostor was sent about his business."

At the close of 1H19, Mr. Reeve observes, '< Dur-
ing the progreis nf this vosr, the gospel has l>pen car-
ried severol liundred miles through the dark villages,
and several thousands of tracts have been distributed.
The translation and revision of the Scriptures in

■•- tir'nra ::3rr, a:..u, DCCIJ |/>\n>uCui>tg. rV now oiiiiiwi

of Dr. Woits's First Catechism, in that language, with

numerous improvements and corrections, has boen pre-
pared for the press, A copy of the same has also
been prepared in the Tamul. The progress of the
native schools has been favorable, and several hun-
dreds of the p'pils know perfectly the First Cate-
chism, and the greater part of our Lord's sermon on
the mount."

Towards the latter end of the following year, Mr.
Hands determined to commence a missionary tour
through the Balaghaut ceded districts and Mysore to
Seringapatam, and to return by the way of Sera and
Chitteldroog. He accordingly set out on the 15th of
November, well furnished with religious tracts and
small jiortions of the Scriptures in the Telinga and
Canara languages ; and in upwards of twenty large
towns, in most of which a missionary had never been
previously seen, he and a native assistant proclaimed
the glad tidings of salvation, and distributed the Iwoks
with which they were provided. " In almost every
place," says he, "we were heard with great attention,
and our tracts, &ic. were received with the greatest
eagerness. It was highly gratifying to see the poor
people coming to us with the books in their hands,
requesting explanations of some things they could not
understand, and sometimes entreating us to stay longer,
that they might hear more of the new and important
things which we brought to their notice."

On his return from Bombay, where he had entered
a second time into the marriage state, Mr. Hands de-
termined on spending a few days at Gon, where he
saw mucli that surprised and much that distressed him.
"The magnitude and splendor of the churches," says
he, " very far surpassed nil that 1 had anticipated ; and
those who have seen the spacious and glittering tem-
ples of (Joa, the gaudy vestments of its priests, and
the pomp and parade of its worship, cannot feel sur-
prised that such numbers of the poor Hindoos, who
are so fond of noise and show, should have been
brought over so quickly from paganism to popery.
But, alas! they seem to have gained little by the
change, ns fow pagans are more ignorant or more su-
perstitious than the greater port of the native Christians
at Goa.

" The ancient city, containing most of the churches
and monasteries, with the lute prison of the inquisition,
is now almost deserted, except by the ecclesiastics }
and we were obliged to reside, ihrr- mir stay, at the
new town, which is built near the entrance of the
river, about throe miles from the old one, and contains
a very large population. We s|)cnt the greater part
of one day, however, in the old city ; and, on observ-
ing one of the out-houses of the inquisition open, where
Mime workmen were employed, I obtained an entrance,
and, with eonsideiable difticidty, found my way from

BELLARY.

one apartment to another, and through several courts,
till I reached the interior of the prison, and discovered
a staircase leading down to the dungeons. Here I had a
serious difficulty to encounter, the staircase being broken,
evidently to deter persons who visited the place from see-
ing the cells. By a little contrivance, however, I man-
aged to lower myself down, and proceeded to explore
those dreary ceils where hundreds have probably groaned
out a miserable life. They consist of two stories, built
one upon the other, and are all about nine feet square.
The upper cells have a small opening in the roof,
which admits a little light and air; and the lower ones
have an opening over the door in front. I suppose I
looked into about forty or fifty cells, all of which were
open, except one, where the instruments of torture
were probably locked up. I„ the lower part of the
prison, I observed a dark, narrow staircase, wiiich I had
not courage sufficient to explore, and near it I observed
a larger cell, which probably was the usual place of
torture. I was afterwards told that this secret passage
led up to the chamber of the resident in.iuisitor, and
that when the torture was inflicted on the wretched
victims, he came down to listen to their confessions.
In the passages of the prison I observed several very
deep walls, and could not help thinking that some of
these were the receptacles of those who had died in
this place of coiifineiiient. Whilst traversing these
gloomy passages, exploring the dungeons, and recol-
lecting the cruellies and murders which had been there
committed, my feelings may bo much better conceived
than described. I had no small difficulty in finding
my way back again, and getting up the broken staircase
already mentioned ; and I loft the prison with a heart
full of gratitude to God, for elfecting the destruction
of the inquisition at Ooa."

On the Mth of Mareh, 1822, our missionary and
his wife, accompanied by their relative, Mrs. Skinner
left Bombay for Bellary. ()„ their journey, Mrs.'
Hands became seriously indisjiosed, and after her arrival
at her husband's residence, she grew much worse, and
gradually declined till the 25th of May, when she bade
an everlasting farewell to the partner of her affijctions,
to the mission, and to the world. Mr. Hands, while
sufTering under this afflicting bereavement, wrote to
the directors as follows : —

" I had just entered anew into the marriage state,
and was fonuly anticipating much comfort to myself,
and great advantage to my dear family, am! the mission
in general, fixmi the society and aid of my beloved
partner, and her sister, Mrs. Skinner ; but alas ! how
uncertain are all earthly comforts ! What a painful
reverse have I experienced ! He who is infinite in
wisdom and goodness has seen it necessary, in this re-
spect, to disappoint all my expectatioui.

Vol. I.— Not. 41 k 42. (54

489

"This mysterious dispensation has been to mc a
most severe trial ; but blessed be God, he has not for-
saken me; while in the furnace he has stood by me •
and, while with one hand he has corrected, with the
other he has graciously comforted and upheld me-
May this correction be greatly sanctified, so as to ren-
der me more meet for my Master's service, and more
like him who was made perfect through sufferings."

The precarious state of Mrs. Skinner's health requir-
ing the benefit of the sea air, she proceeded, shortly
after the death of her sister, to Vizagapatam. Her
brother-in-law, Mr. Hands, accompanied her part of
the way ; and, in order to improve this journey to
missionary purposes, he took with him a catechist and
two men well supplied with tracts, &c. for distribution
by the way. At one place they met with a Eramin,
who stated that he had renounced the Hindoo religion
about fifteen years before, and that, having recently
perused a New Testament in the Telinga language,
he was desirous of becoming a follower of Christ.
This person accompanied the travellers a considerable
part of the way, and attended, with much apparent
devotion, on their Canaiese services, as if really de-
sirous of receiving further instruction. Mr. Hands, in
allusion to this journey, says, " I have lately expe-
rience.l much dciiglit among the poor Hindoos. In-
deed, 1 know not that on any jirevious occasion I ever
fell such enlargement and affection in praying for them,
or so great liberty and comfort in speaking to them •
while the attention with which, in many places, they .
heard the word, and their eagerness to obtain books, ex-
ceeded any thing 1 had ever before seen."

In the annual report of tl.r directors, communicated
to the society in 1H21, it is stated, that the services,
both in the Tamul and Canara languages, are continued
at Bellary with a prospect of success ; and that the
enmity formerly manifested against the converts from
heathenism, at this station, by their relations and
fiieniis, has, in a great degree, subsided. Ii ,s also
said, in regard to the English services at the fot^ that
instances of conversion occur from time to time, and
that those who are united in Christian communion
affiird pleasing evidence ."..at they are advancing both
in knowledge and grace. The schools are said to be
fifteen in lumiber, and to comprise about five hundred
scholars; and the tracts issued from the Bellary Aux-
iliaiy Tract Society, from its establishment in 1817, to
the month of September, 182-1, arc said to have ox-
coeded twenty-seven thousand six hundred. It like-
wise ajipears that those little messengers of mercy wore
not only cinulaled with zeal, but received with pleas-

1 1*1 ... _ . . •

iirn anrl

\tmt%A

VHiity, ti-atrz hy Kuropcans and
the heathen. " We know several officers," says Mr.
Ueevoj^ " who have been brought to the saving knowl-

490

edge of the truth, by means of the books we have put
into their hands; and we have been much gratified by
receiving very pleasing accounts of the eager and dili-
gent manner in which the natives, in the neighboring
towns and villages, are studying the tracts and the
Sacred Scriptures. A gentleman, passing through a
large town, saw the natives sitting in groups, and read-
ing to one another. And some of them are known
after the toils of the day are ended, and the shadows of
the evenmg have closed in upon them, to light up
their lamps, and consume the midnight oil in studying
the glorious gospel of the blessed God."

"Beside the ordinary opportunities," say the direc-
tors, « which occur for putting into circulation religious
tracts and portions of tlie Holy Scriptures, the brethren
avail themselves of those which periodically offer at
Bellary, when the ryots or landholders assemble from '
various and distant parts of the coimtry to pay their
rents to the government collector ; and, on the last oc-
casion of this kind, they not only engaged in the dis-
• tnbutmn of books, but were enabled to preach to the
strangers the word of eternal life."

On the 29th of January, 1824,' Mr. Reeve left
Uellary, for Madras, to make arrangements for the
pnnting of his Canarcse and English Dicttonary.
While at that presidency, he received letters from the
directors, authorizing him to visit England, where he
arrived in January, 1825.

During 1825, the native schools increased to seven-
teen, and the average attendanceof boys was reported
as SIX hundred and eighty-five. I„ Mr. Reeve's
absence, the Canarese services were conducted by
Mr. Hands, assisted by Mr. Walton. At this time
llie number of Hindoos who had cordially embraced
Christianity was estimated at six; and hope wa.
entertained that others, who have not ma.le an open
profession of the Christian fuitli, are convinced of the
sm and folly of idolatry, and abstain from its riles and
ceremonies. The missionary writes,—*' The aged Goo
rapnh continues steadfast in the faith, and displays ereat
solicitude to bring others under the sound of the gospel

Thew.feofGoorapoh.having.forseveralmontlis.nrtoid.
ed what appeared to the bn.thren unequivocal evidence
of decided piety, was admitted to baptism on the 1st of
September. The baptized received thj name of Mnry "
A new chapel for Englinh worship was opened in
October, 1821. The total cost of this building, wl.irh
was more than seven thousand niptos, was sustained
by the liberality of friends i„ |„,|ia. I„ iHOf, M^
Hands was glad.i. „ed by receivii... as feUow-laborers!
Mr. and Mrs. U.ynon. who were -c;.. out by the
directors to take the place of Mr. Reeve, who was

prevented bv his wif«». I.o.i.i. r ^. _ ._ .

In the rejwrt made by Mr. Hand, to the directors in

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Sr . ^' ^l "o'*8'"^' ^-^'^ preaching, our
former services in the Canarese and tLuI lang6a«s
are continued, and three additional places haTbee;
recently opened for the same purpose, so that w! have
.n some part or other, a native s'ervice every ev 11'
n the week except on the abbath. These service"
00 we are appy to state, hove been better attended
than formerly. During the past year, a few have
joined us, mostly from the Romish church. Long
.^^ese IS one who, for many years, has been a leS
man among the Roman Catholics. He ascribes thf
change wrought in his views to a careful reading of
the Holy Scriptures. When he was received among
our p^p e, he publicly renounced the errors of popery^
Our Bible, tract and missionary societies continue to
receive v^ery liberal support. Great numbe.s of tracts
and the Scriptures in Canarese, Teloogoo, &c. have
been circulated, and we trust not In vain."
In 1829, the rapidly declining health of Mr. Hands

[he S "f TTs '"'"f''^"^^''''/ -'^-^^-y, and on
the 18th of April he arrived in England

The report of the society for 1829 mentions that,
'•during the las, year, there have been prepared in
Canarcu, the ' Warning Voice,' revised and very con"
siderab^y enlarged ; a • Dialogue between a Shastree
and a Christian Missionary,' in which all the gre d^!
trines of the gospel are explained an.I enforced, pri
cipa ly l^. quotations from Scripture ; an « Explanation
'fJ 1 . . " Commandments;' the 'Excellence of
rru h ;. „.e ' -True Wisdom ;' • On Idolatry,' contain-
...g the third chapter of Daniel, with some remarks
prefatory and concluding, and on idolairy in general •
on the . Spirituality of God,' and on the < Eternity of
God ; and in Canarese and Tcloogoo, ' First Lessons
lor Children, containing easy sentences on the first
principles of religion and morality ; ■ Secon.l Lessons.'
oitio, ditto. *

The interesting prospects of this station led the
society to strengthen their interests at Bellary by send-

.1 e 1st o March. I„ ,831, the mission consis.e.l of
Mr. and Mrs Beynon, Mr. aiul Mrs. Reid, missionaries ;
Messrs, Walton and Flavel, assistants ; and Mr. and
Mrs. 1 aino, engaged in printing and the schools. Be-
si.les these, are many valuable native assistants. The
church consists of sixteen members : there are also
nineteen can.lidates for fellowship, twelve of whom
Jiave received baptism.

The following works have issued from the mission
press during the past year, vir,.

Of 1st and ad Books of SamueK _ _ . q"^

I St and 2d ditto of Kings 8,000

1st and 2d ditto of Chronicles .... 2,000

BANGALORE.

Of Epistle to the Romans I'ooo

1st and 2d to the Corinthians ..... I'.OOO

26 different Tracts in Canarese 28,000
2 Tracts, 2d edition a,000

Teloogoo Hymn-book

Introductory Discourse at Mr. Smith's)
recognition ns Pastor of the Church at {
Black-Town, Madras )

Miller's Catechism on the Nature of a )
Christian Church C

8,000

30,000
100

300
300

BANGALORE.

[Seventy milei north-eut of 8cringap«tam.]

This is a Strongly-fortified town. I,s situation is
elevated, and as climate temperate. ]„ ,his dimato
he cypress and vine, the apple and peach, mingle
the.r varied foliage ; and most of the fruits of Europe
may be raised in perfection, as its elevation is three
thousand feet above the level of the sea

The inhabitants arc far less attached to'their religious
system than m most other parts of India. The Rev

in ;Sn t' ""'' ^"""^ '^"•"•"^"ced the mission
m iH^o. l-or some months they were wholly en-
gaged m acquiring the language, and in other pre-

Macrworth, a cimpel was built on land gken by the
commanding officer. '

Mr. Laidler brought with him from Madras, in the ca-
pacity of servant, a native who had received Christian
.nstr.icf.on under the Di.ni.h missiondries at Trnnnue-
bar, who understands ,1,,. Cnnarn as well as the
lam.il. Twice a week, he visited n neighboring vil-
Inge, to read the Scriptures, and to give an exhortation.
When, on his first embracing Christianity, he was
baptized by the Rev, Mr. Spring, he rw-eived the
name of Snmurl ; and, on account of his piety, his
disinterestedness, the mildness of his disposition, and
his being n„ attentive observer of the providence of
1.0(1. Mr. Laidler subsequently added that of Flavcl
Some translations and schools were commenced Con-
pregntio,,, fV,r K.igli.h worship o„ the sabbath ovenings
nearly fdled the chapel. A. Christian church was
formed m April, 1821, when thirty-one members,
chiefly soldiers, were admitted to communion, some
rrnt-iii uau provioiisij, rt-ntmnced popery; and a
small society was instituted among the soldiers, for
the joint support of the missionary, Bible and tract

46i

societies. In the course of the next year, a friend of
the mission opened a house in the bazaar, both a.
a chtjpel and a depository for the sale of the Scriptures,
rehgtous books, tracts, &c. in the vernacular languages

lll^" Tri 'f' '"'^' '"'»"'" ""^ converse%„
the subjects of the books on sale; from which much

frneAT'P"'!'';, '" '^*^'""' '"'^^ionaries were
joined by Mr. and Mrs. Chambers ; and in addition to

was opened for preparing native youths, of pious

haracter and promising talents, for preaching' "he

gospel to their countrymen. Six students were at that

-me going through a course of theological study , under

e direction of Mr. Laidler. They were''n„i

aac, Joshua Peter, Shadrach, Jacob a„d Moses.

Isaac and Joshua had been for some considerable time

i^ngaged in addressing their countrymen. Peter read

S \rl '"."^ ''"' '''""""P ^^^^"^ "■»' Latin,
bhadrach had made good proficiency in Ta.nul. Jacob

IM.'lTXr ^""'"' »'""■'"' '^' -^« -"P"--'vely
On the 27ih of June, 1824. Mr. and Mrs. Camp-
, bell joined those who had been thus successfully la-
boring. Of U,e first native service at which ho was
present, Mr. Campbell gives the following acrount —

Fllrr V" "'" """:." '"'■"'"'' "•'"''"''"^'' •'3' Samuel
Flavel. It IS no small matter to hear a converted
heathen a.ldress Ins countrymen with so much fluency
and cnrncstness as was then done. It is a great mat-

word ofhfo. and to witness two from among tlinn, re-
ceiving the ordinance of baptism, as followers of Christ
as was then done. But it is a gren..-r matter still, to'
sit down to the table of the Lord, and comme.norate
Ins d..atl. with twenty who were once idolaters, now
no onger heirs of wrath, but children of the living
God and see them give evidence of their conversion
o Christ as I then did. Long shall I remember the
loelings I then experienced, and wisli that tlu.s,. „ho
pray for the cause, and support its interests at home
could witness such a scene. Nor does Samuel labo^
alone; two other youths, endued, I trust, with fervent
P'cty labor assiduously, as far ns their ability extends •
and should the Urd God of Israel give sue^ss to otir'
plans, tlu,ro will, | h„pe, so^v, g„ forth a host of war-
nors to fight the battles of .!.,■ Lor.l, and to .,„„ ,heir
countrymen of the danger am! .Icstruction to -a hich thev
are exposed." '

Mr. Chnn.bers, unable to boar the < i.mnte, even at
tins comparatively sahibrious station, was recommend-

en to reliirn in P.. ....... it- i ^ ...

on the 7th of January, 182fi, the day after his em-
harkation ; but Mrs. Chambers and hor two children
arrived safely in this country. '■"nuroa

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

In 1827, Mr. Campbell made a tour of one hun-
dred miles, in which he engaged in public discussions
with the Bramins and others, on Hindooism and Chris-
tianity. This mission receives great encouragement
from several pious officers and their ladies. The na-
tive seminary appears to bo producing the happiest
results ; and in 1829, we find six of these students
laboring with success in other stations.

The directors, in their latest report of this mission,
give the following pleasing statement : — " On sabbath
morning, there is a native service in the mission chapel,
at which from forty to sixty persons usually attend ;
and in the afternoon another alternately in the Choola
and at the barracks of the native artillery. Through
the week, there is preaching once or twice every day
excepting Saturday. The members of the native
church are eighteen. The English church has thirty-
three communicants. The Canarese school has eleven
lads, who are represented as promising, nnd who are
regarded as likely to become students in liio native
seminary. There are at present eighty-nine boys in
Bangalore receiving instruction, five girls and six
women. Thirty thousand copies of Mr. Carr.j ^il's
tracts on " the doctrines of the gospel," in the native
tongue, are now in circulation ; and it is to be hoped
that the truth of the gospel will soon be the power of
God to the salvation of multitudes in this city.

SALEM.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Crisp arrived at this new sta-
tion in October, 1827. This town is said to contain
60,000 inhabitants, who are remarkably free from
Braminical influence. Schools were immediately
opened, and but little opposition was offered. The
missionary career of Mrs. Crisp was short, but marked
by eminent piety and diligence. Mr. Crisp, in 1831,
was assisted by Isaac David, a native convert, who
prosecutes his labors with prudence and devotedness.
There are eight schools, confnininjj two hundred and
sixty-one pupils. Three Tainul services are performed
every sabbath, at the mission premises. Tiie after-
noon congregation consists of two Inmdred poor persons,
who come to receive ainn.

COMB ACON I'M.

[Tw»nty miloi (Vom "(njorv]

which led the London Society to establish a station
hero, was a visit which was made by Mr. Mead, who,
in 1825, came hither for his health. He gathered an
English congregation, preached in many of the villages,
and put into circulation several thousand tracts.

It will be seen under the head of TVavancore, that
this town was formerly an out-station; but, in 1830,
the directors annexed it to the Muui'is district, it hav-
ing become the residence of the Rev. Edmund Crisp,
from Madras, who is assisted by four native readers.
The population of this place is 42,000. Several
villages are connected with this station. In addition
to eleven schools, containing three hundred and seven-
t}-seven boys, Mr. Crisp has a class of twelve Bra-
min youths, who attend him every Saturday to read
the Scriptures in Tamul. The numb'-r of native
Christians under the wing of this mission is eighty,
viz. thirty-four males and forty-six females, of whom
a large number are converts from popery.

Vlarlv in tlin Iflili

nontiiru

i?i?rT:t-*tta-

ries labored here with success. The circumstance

TRAVANCORE.

Travancore is the name of a populous region on the
south-west coast of Hindoostan, separated from the
southern Camatic by the Ghaut mountains, and ex-
tending from cape Comorin about one hundred and
fifty miles to Cochin. The country is divided into
thirty districts, in only two of which the Tamul lan-
guage is known. The Malayim is gener&ily spoken.
The population is nearly a million.

Christianity was early introduced into Travancore,
and its doctrines are still professed by about 90,000
native Christians. The profession, in too many in-
stances, however, is but nominal.

The Rev. W. Ringeltaube sailed for India, in 1804,
in company with the Rev. Messrs. Cran and Des
Granges ; but as, sid)sequently, he did not approve of
that part of the country which they chose as the scene
of their labors, ho resolved to direct his attention to
the southern part of the peninsula, whilst they were
attempting to erect the standard of the Redeemer's
cross in the Northern Circars. For some time he
remained undecided with respect to the particular spot
where he should commcnro his missionary work ; but
he was at length inducoi to fix on the Tine velly coun-
try, in consequence of the affecting no 'nts which he
received of the pcrswutions recentlv , i ired by the
Christian converts in that part of Irv! a. "This dis-
trict, called l\nevt!ly" says M' Ringeltaube, in a
letter to the directors, "is abu .^ u-v days' journey in
eifcumibrcnco ; and is guppOi«u i 'oritain ncsriy nvs
thousand Christians, under the Cft, i >'•' catechistt. AU

these, it may easily be conceived, are not what we
would wish them to be; but sincerity is said to be a
leading feature among them. Most of them live in
immense woods, unacquainted with the corruptions of
the world, except what they feel from their oppress-
ors. They meet on a Sunday afternoon for instruc-
tion and worship, and conclude with a contribution for
the poor among them ; not in money, for this they do
not possess, but in su^ar, eatables, and other trifling
articles." °

Alluding to the persecutions of these people, Mr
Ringeltaube observes, in another part of his letter
"By the black underlings of the collectors they are
frequently driven from their houses, put in the stocks,
and exposed for a fortnight together to the heat of the
rising sun and the chilling dews of the night ; merely
because there is no European missionary to lay their
complamts before the government. In some instances,
Christians have been severely flogged till they con-
sented to hold the torch to an idol and to sweep a
heathen temple ; and, one day, at a place called
Hickadoe, a heathen mob surrounded the village and
not only plundered the houses of the Christians' but
ill treated their families, by kicking, flogging, and
other cruel usage. Even the catechist, who, partly
through Illness, and partly from timidity, had shut
hunself up ,n his house, was stripped, robbed and miser-
ably beaten; and fmm his account it seems (hat the
manikar (a black peace-oflicer of the place) had con-
trived the whole affair,with a view to vex the Christians."
Wotwithstanding the strong desire which our mission-
ary felt to hasten to the district of Tinevelly, a variety
of circumstances precluded the possibility of goiiiR
tuther till themomh of February, 1806; and he was
then equally grieved and disappointed to find that the
persons, on whose behalf such a lively interest had
been excited in his bosom, were merely Christians in
name, bemg evidently unacquainted will, the nature
of personal religion, and incapable of answering the
most simple questions on the great subject of their
eternal salvation. Considerable numbers were anxious
to be baptized ; but when Mr. Ringeltaube inquired
wh;, they preferred such a request,. he best instructed
among them could only reply, '< For the goo«l of my
•oul. At one place an applicant said, " My two
brothers while coming down from a palmyra-tree,
received a mortal blow on their chests, from the devil ;
and I wish to be baptized, in order to escape a similar
late. And on another occasion, a pei-son ingenuously
acknowledged that his object in embracing Christianity
was to obtain relief from a trifling tax which he paid
to tlie government.

One day, a Mahometan weaver in the neighborhood
of PaUmcotta applied to Mr. Ringeltaube to be admit-

TRAVANCORE.

493

ted mto the church by baptism. « I liked his hone:t
thoughtful face," says our missionary, "and hoped for
a true convert; but on further inquiry, he acknowl-
edged that his aim was to get a trifling sum of money
in Ins present distress. I advised him to desist from
his intention, as his desire could not be gratified • but
at the same time, I preached to him Christ crucified'
the stumbling block of the Mahometans as well as of
the Jews."

After some time, Mr. Ringeltaube was permitted to
extend his labors into Travancore, and that kingdom
now became the principal seat of the mission. Here
several congregations were formed, and great numbers
ol the inhabitants were baptized ; but too many of
them, like those in the Tinevelly country, seem to
have been actuated by an expectation of some immu-
nities or worldly advantage. Many persons, indeed, of
liigh caste, both Hindoos and Mahometans, intimated
their readiness to embrace Christianity, provided their
debts were to be paid, as a remuneration for the change
of their religion. « For two hundred rupees," says
Mr Ringeltaube, " I could have bought them all ; but
as I declined to pay their debts, they never called on
me again."

After laboring faithfully and assiduously at this sta-
tion for several years, Mr. Ringeltaube was compelled,
by III health, to relinquish it, in 1816, and from' that
nme till the.close of the following year, the London
Society had no missionary in Travancore. In Decern-
ber, 1817, however, Mr. Charles Mead arrived at this
station, and found no fewer than ten congregations of
professed Christians, with as many schools for the
instruction of the children. And in September, 1818
he was joined by Mr. Richard Knill, whose health
required that he should quit Madras for a more tem-
perate climate.

The former of these brethren, in a letter dated
October 26, 1818, cays, " My time has been occupied,
during the present year, in acquiring the language,
travelling to the churches, inspecting the schools, and
occasionally giving such instructions as my present
progress in Tamul enables me ; and, also, in the
admmistration of justice among all classes of the
natives, to which oflice I have been nominated by the
rajah s government. The natives are so fully sensible of
the advantages now enjoyed by them, in the impartial
admm.strat.on of justice, that Bramins and sooders,
high caste and low, como forward, exclaiming, ' You
are our father,— our saviour,— our only protection !'
Ihey sometimes bring their children and throw them

rlT. -!V "^i"^' ' '^''''"' "«"o longer our children,
• - - •-„, ij:c3c cxpresiioMs of obligation certainly
far exceed their weight, being couched in the impas-
«.oned language of the East ; yet they are calculated

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

to show how this people would admire the gospel
merely for the temporal blessings which it brings with
it, were they but acquainted with iu nature, influence
and tendency."

About the same time, there seem to have been some
pleasing evidences that the gospel of Christ had not
been preached, in this part of India, altogether in vain.
"When conversing with the people," says Mr. Knill,
"on the importance of being prepared to die, one man
said, « My father was prepared.' By what means ?
' Through the merits of my Saviour.' Did he live a
good life ? ' Yes, after he knew the good way.' Who
made him good? 'It was God.' Did your father
say much when he was dying ? ' One sentence I
remember !' What ? ' He said, O Jesus, receive my
spirit !'

" Another evening, when conversing with the peo-
ple, a man said, < I frequently used to beat my idol,
when matters did not go well with me ; but it was very
foolish, as the idol could neither do me good nor harm.'
' No,' said I, ' that is true ; but what have you done
with your idol?' '0,'said he, ' I have beaten it to
pieces, and God shall bruise Satan under our feet
shortly.' These sayings," Mr. Knill observes, " did
me more good than thousands of gold and silver would
have done ; and it is only from such things that mis-
sionaries must look for comfort and delight."

During the years 1818 and 1819, nearly three
thousand of the natives of Travancore placed them-
selves under religious instruction, in addition to
about nine hundred formerly connected with the mis-
sion, wiien under the superintendence of Mr. Ringel-
taiibe ; and though, in respect to many of these, it
cannot be said that they were, at this time, the genu-
ine disciples of Christ, it seems evident from their
conduct, that none of them had renounced their ancient
superstitions from selfish considerations.

In the annual report of the directors, for 1824,
it is stated, on a general survey of the Travancore
mission, that the native congregations, though not so
large, are more select than formerly, and that these
contain persons, though their number be not great,
whoso attendance on the means of (;raco is regular,
and who appear to be growing in the kiiowledge of the
gospel, and in the fear of God. It is also stated, that,
in consequence of the establishment of a printing-office,
and the formation of a Travancore religious tract
society, the schools are much better supplied with
books than formerly, and the tracts are generally pe-
rused with attention by such persons in the congrega-
tions as are capable of reading. Besides the two
principal stations of Nagercoil and Quilon, there are,
at present, no less than itofntu.flakt out-stetions. in
most of which schools are established, for the instruc-

tion of the rising generation ; and public readers of the
Scriptures dispense, either statedly or occasionally, the
word of life.

In the same interesting document it is stated that
an English and Tamul spelling-book has been com-
piled, for the use of those schools in which the English
language is taught; that several useful theological
treatises are in a state of forwardness ; and that the
brethren devote two hours daily to a careful examina-
tion of the new Tamul version of the Holy Scriptures.
The progress of truth was steady and encouraging
through the years 1825, 6 and 7. The attention of
the missionaries was directed to the native schools ;
and the Bramins appeared not only friendly, but they
subscribed to the schools. In no part of India has the
circuiation of tracts been attended with greater success.
By the perusal of these silent preachers, several na-
tives were induced to cast away their idols, and to
inquire after a more excellent way. In 1825, several
very valuable presents were received of paper and
books from the tract and Sunday school societies in
London.

In 1828, the annual report stales, — " To no part of
the great field of labor, do the directors turn with
greater satisfaction and interest than to Travancore,
where a wide door and effectual has been opened, which,
they trust, no one shall be able to shut." The follow-
ing is the report of the deputation respecting xhe
Travancore mission, and which influenced the directors
in their determination to divide this field into two
parts:— -

" Tlie residence of the missionaries is pretty central,
with the Eastern Division on the one side, lying east-
ward and southward of the settlement, stretching down
to cape Coniorin, which is distant fourteen iviles ; and
the Western lying on the opposite side, str *cning to
the westward and northward towards Trevanderam.
The present residence of the missionaries at Nagercoil
is very suitable to the Eastern Division. But having
ourselves traversed the whole district, and both divis-
ions of the mission, we are convinced, that tiie fVeat-
cm labors under great disadvantages, in consequence
of being so reniote from both the missionaries. Con-
vinced that both the objects of the mission would be
greatly promoted by one of the brethren residing in a
place more in the centre of this part of the district, we
proposed to have a separation, and to form the two
divisions into two distinct missions ; that Mr. Mault
should remain in charge of the Eastern at N.ngercoil,
with the seminary, all the congregations and schools,
and the native teachers belonging to that part — now
to be regarded as a distinct mission ; and that Mr.
.-"s-j SiiOUiu remove, and take up h\z residence in
some central spot in the Western Division, about ten

or waive m.le, from Nagercoil. with the printing es-
tablishment, and to take under his charge all the con-

rT!'u' '^! '^^°°^''' ""^ "«''« t^'^hers belonginK
to that branch of the mission, which should also be
^nsidered a, a distinct mission. We proposed, also,

S^piT Tr? ?""" ^ '"PP°"«'' «"» fro-" the
proceeds of the landed property which belongs to this

».8s.on, as .t has been, both the missions derivbg equal
clTTuT ''' -""^ ^«' 'he surplus of^n-

Hsnl f ^ ''^"''"^ ^'''"^''^' «'"' be'at the sole
d^jK^sal of each missionary for the support of schools,
and the promotion of the general cause ; each giving an
account of the manner in which it has been expended

!^chers.t"''' ^'"^^' "' ^°"«^^S«*'°-' -'•-

h.fl-"''' i"r 'u ^""^ '^" arrangement to a conclusion
before we left, bemg very deeply convinced of its impor-
tance, and as .t met with the entire and cordial appro-
bation of both the brethren, they accompanied us with
a view to the selecting of a suitable situation and spot
of ground on wl.ich to build a house for the accommo-
dation of Mr Mead. The ancient town of Travancore
(from which the kingdom takes its name), about eleven
miles from ^agercoil, near the main road which leads
to Trevanderam, was deemed the most suitable ; and
a spot of ground near that place, and in the heart of
an immense population, was fixed upon as being suita-

1 M \^u!^ '"PP"'"'' '^'' °»« hundred pounds
would enable him to build a house here of sufficient
size; and something more being necessary for the
erecting of a printing-office, we gave him a check on

PolTr?K .''"^^ '■"P^^"- This house will be
completed by the beginning of the next year, when
Mr. and Mrs. Mead and family will immediately re-
move thither. ^

"By this arrangement, while we doubt not that (he
cause will be greatly benefited, all the advantages of
mutual counsel between the missionaries will be allow-
ed, and each be more at liberty ,o exert his own
talents m the cultivation of his own field of labor As
great objects .„« gained by this new arrangement, and
but a trifling cKpense incurred, we cannot but hone
hat It will meet with the cordial approbation of our
friends m t.e direction. If so, you will i„ future con-
sider this mission at Nagercoil as two; and each mis-
sionary will send in his own report distinct from the
other, to the directors annually. The Eastern mission
r„H ^^ ^ ! '^°"°min«tion of the Nagercoil mission ;
and the fVestem,hy that of the totvn of Travancore
mwnon. '1 bus a chain of missionary stations is formed,

running through the kinedom of T"u„„

mencmg at JNagercoil ; eleven miles to the north and
west, the town of Travancore; twenty-ni.e miles farther

TRAVANCORE.

495
northward, Trevanderain; and forty miles beyond that
Qu.lon;-every station most highly impoJam, a^d
every ™„s.o„, we doubt not. in a short ti^e^w 11 Se
highly efficient. By one day's journey all th^Ieth!
en can meet at Trevanderam, whenever the niest
W^the whole Travancore mission may render "t

at ''^*'°"8h we spent but a little more than a fortnight
at this most interesting station, we visited nearly

ellll S "?".' j''^ P-P'" --hied at Z2
every chapel, and had an opportunity of examining
and converging with them. In order to accompi sh
this, we were obliged to separate; one of us was ac-
companied through the Eastern Division by Mr. Mault
he other through the Western by Mr. Mead. In Jhe

caTZ T-T ''"'P'''' '^° "f ^hioh are good and
comfortable buildings, and one more is to be imme-
Jatel, erected by the funds from St. Pete s :^h
Here are also thirty-six schools, containing one thoul
sand tree hundred and four children, some of wh"h
are g.rls, besides the girls' school at Nagercoil, TnTer
he care of Mrs. Mault, in which are ffrty fine "rfs
twelve of whom learn to make lace,-making in a i
one thousand three hundred and forty-four children ;
one school-master to each school. In this division are
one thousand four hundred and ten professing ChS
nan. „,e„ women and children ; four hundfed and
D lln T ?•" '"'' ''''" '^''P"^^^- To this Eastern
c^r T. °"^ '•''""'''" ""'"'" '^'^''hers and cate-
cnists. The seminary contains thirty-one boys and
youths, who belong to the same division. These are
to be added to the former amount, making a total of
one thousand three hundred and seventy-five children
and youths under constant religious instruction. The
central chapel at Nagercoil, not finished, belongs to
the eastern mission. °

r^r/" ."'^^W^tern Division are twenty-one schools,
contaming five hundred and forty-one children, some
of whom are girls ; one school-master to each school.
lo tins division sixteen native teachers are attached
Here are one thousand four hundred and forty-one
native Christians, ninety-five of whom have been
baptized. Here are also twelve chapels, ten of
which are good buildings; the other two are under
■mprovements and enlargement. One more chapel
js to he erected at the town of Travancore, near
Mr^Mead s house, uy the money sent from Russia.

The Eastern and Western Divisions contain to-
gether,

26 chapels.

59 schools, including seminary and girls' school.

vo scnooi-iimslers, and Mr. Uumberland, who

IS over the seminary, with some moni<

tors.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

1,891 children under Christian instruction.

34 native teachers.
2,850 native Christians, five hundred and thirty-
five of whom have been baptized ; about
one hundred of whom appear to be truly
pious characters.
" So soon as Mr. Mead removes into his newhous..-,
and the two missions are formed, it is the inten; Jou oi
the brethren to form two churches of native conveits
who belong to each mission.

" We had several opportunities of seeing all the
native teachers, as they assemble once a week at Na-
gercoil to report to the brethren their labors, to receive
instruction, and seek encouragement and admonition,
such as it may be deemed necessary to give. Nearly
the whole, it is hoped, are pious and consistent men
and efficient laborers, possessed of good common sense
and a competent knowledge of theology. They appear
to be much devoted to their work, and we had every
reason to be satisfied with their qupJiifications and their
labors. They are essential auxiliaries to this vast and
extended mission. With them is the superintendence
of the schools, which they visit several times every
week, and this they are enabled to do, as they all re-
side in the villages at which they labor, and where
the schools are. They likewise assemble the people
m the chapels on Lord's day.s, and other occasions,
and read and explain to them the word of God, and
go from house to house, catechizing men, women and
children ; a goodly number having turned from their
dumb idols to serve the living God. This is indeed,
generally speaking, but in profession, yet a considera-
ble number, it is hoped, with the whole heart. We
were delighted, on several occasions, to see congrega-
tions of five hundred persons assembled in some of
the chapels, decently clad, and conducting themselves
in the house of God with the greatest decorum and
propriety. The schools we found, in general, in good
condition, the children making rapid progress, as well
the children of the heathen as those of Christian
parents. On the average, five or six in each school
read the Scriptures in the Tamul language, about fifteen
or twenty repeat catechisms, and answered such plain
questions as we proposed to them on the meaning of
Scripture, and the general principles of Christianity. The
girls' school, under the care of Mrs. Mault (of whom
we cannot speak too highly), is in an excellent state,
and does her exertions much credit. Twelve of these
girls learn to make lace, some of which is exceedingly
well done. The children isi this school and that called
the seminary, both on the premises, are entirely sup-
ported, clothed, fed and educated from the proceeds
ot iBiid giveii lui liiis purpose, aiiu iti6 sale 01 me iace
made by the girls. The seminary contains (as men-

tioned above) thirty-one boys, mostly small, a few
approaching manhood. These latter may soon be
useful to the mission, as readers or school-masters.
Two or three know English pretty well. This insti-
tution is in a good state. The printing establishment
■ipp'j'ji^ to be conducted with efficiency. Some native
; iiiirh: at employed in it.

' vV^j are most highly gratified with the state of the
general aspect of this mission. The whole is exceed-
ingly encouraging, and ought to awaken our most fer-
vent gratitude and praise to a gracious God. There
is nothing, as far as we have seen, equal to it, in all
India, and we were strone^ly reminded of what we had
so often witn'i'scd itu the South sea."

From the time of the deputation's visit to Nagercoil,
the mission continued to prosper. In 1829, the ag-
gregate number of congregations in the Eastern Di-
vision (Nagercoil) was thirty-four. Out of twenty
seven of these societies, one thousand nine hundred
and sixty-seven professed Christianity. The native
scliools amounted to twenty-nine, containing one
thousand and eighty-four pupils. The mission also
engaged the services of eighteen readers and five
assistant readers. In the Western Division, the num-
ber of congregations was twenty-eight, and in twenty
of these the membei's amounted to one thousand three
hundred and forty. The schools at this time were
twenty-threo, and twenty readers are emploj • d at
various stations. At Quilon, Mr. Thompson labored
with much promise of success, and distributed many
parts of the Scriptures in Tamul, Syriac, Arabic,
Portuguese and English. Pleasing accounts were
also received from the out-station of Combaconum.

The most recent accounts from the Travancore
mission are contained in the report of 1831, which
describes the stations as follows : —

Eastern Division.
Nagercoil. — Charles Mault, W. B. Addis.

Western Division.

Neooor. — Charles Mead, Wiiiiam Miller, Mr. Ash-
ton, assistant.

QuiLON. — J. C. Thompson, W. Harris, Mr. Cum-
berland, assistant.

There is a seminary at Nagercoil, which sup-
plies the mission with readers, assistants and native
preachers. The schools throughout Travancore pro-
duce very desirable results. Not only have the chil-
dren manifested an advance in attainments and good
conduct, but the people generally begin to appreciate
the euuuuiiOu ol iiie risiug geiioiadoii. ApphealiOH
for schools are more frequent and urgent than at any

^ penod, .nd the school, now contain pupiU
of <U1 the several castes. This latter cireumstance
javasts the schools with deep importance. ChristianlJ;
SS «" P"'""'^"'?"* of the instruction given to the
^dren; and, as the parents now take interest in the
progress of the.r offspring, it is to be hoped that the
perpetration of idolatry will soon come to an end.
Before we pass from this interesting field of Chris-

TJ^^'' 'i °"^J' i° ^ ™«"»'°"«'» 'hat the readers
are employed at the following oW-,toaon. .-Tamara-

CHINA.

lum,Cov.lv.lly,Aut.caudu,An.„danadan-Kudyi,app«.
Vjragoody-Irappu Etambally, Amaudavilly, Cotaa

v^ y. Colache. Mathavelley, Alaganparry, Natat«;,
Etaviliy Pdiardy, Killyoor. Atnmasee, Pattenum
Taveyodu. Manalekaudu, Mattiodu, Valeaturrey E
nantury Coolyturry, Trevanderum.Tittevelly;Tin^
vd ey, Vadakan-Kollum, Pichakudy-Irappuf W
kuUum and Kudankullum. ^'^ '

IV. ULTRA GANGES.

Stations.
China.— Canton. «.. / . , ,

Singapore (island). -Singapore P „ / (pe^^ns" la).-Malacca.

Java (island). BaUvia ^ WnI*^"""' ^^"~^'°'^^ '^°'™-

CHINA.

Th,8 country is the south-east portion of the Asiatic
wntment. It derives its name from the dynasty of
Inn. The most ancient name for this empire is
IUn.,ha, which signifies under heaven, and implies that
It IS only inferior to heaven. The extent from north
to south IS about one thousand four hundred and fifty
miles, and from east to west, one thousand two hun-
dred and sixty. Sir George Staunton states, upon
what he conceived to be good authority, that the popu-
lauon withm the great wall, amounted to 333,000,000
The Rev. Dr. Morrison, whose long residence in Can-
ton entitles him to an opinion, a sserts from what ought

.dZmw'Ir'"? intere.U„g vi.wof the Chinese n.U„„ is extract-
ed from W.lh«„.'. MiMionary Oa,ett.er, London edition, 1828--
The language ., not only one of the most ancient in the world

th. i Jk *; ^i'""'PP°""' '^ ^ "•«<l by about one third part of

which ha. been for .nany cenlurie. the constant study of the liter
aU of Chma, who have Hi«hed it to a high degree of what the.
doem an elegant conciseness and richness o'f clasfical « n Id

Zm tl "'IP'"'" '""^'"^ "f the people, as that of ancLt Home
from U.e modern dialects of Europe. This language, the mo Tn

St anT." uJ" 't"-*"""'"". --i ."PPo'edf^'be so difficult
tliat any knowledge of ,t was limited, amon„ European, to the ! '
nosuy of aftw learned men, and to the impeHou. neS. Jj om
mercal mtercourse ha. been conquered by Christian missionarreT;
and . now »nde,ed tributary to the diffusion of gospel light .mon„
thi.immen«. portion of mankind, notwithstanding tl^ viol mtZ
Wtion that IS made to Chri.Usnitv PP^

JZlfT,""'"^ " Patriarchal. The emperor is absolute ; but

'Tot LXiTrK." " " " '-— ^ -

o be a complete authority, "A statistical Account of
«ie empire, &c., that it does not exceed 150,000,000
1- or the purposes of government, the empire is di-
vided into eighteen provinces. Respecting the history
manners and religion of this singular country, little'
can be ascertained which will prove satisfactory Vol-
umes of conjecture and ill-founded conclusions have
been written; yet very few writers ugree upon these
points. Very respectable authors assert that "reli-
gion has scarcely any external form in China;" and
othe^ declare, that they have " gods many and lords

Kr ''".'"■.■''''^"'""Inota.slaves. The first principle insUlled

=i^s-2k-rs:^i--£^
;2^z""^ •='"-"' '""" ^« ^^'^ "^ '"« vinage i:t

Chi J.» r'-""^ ^"^"'"""^ "°'""''''' ''""« »» preeminence, of tha
Chmese der.ve most powerful support from the vain id., that thdr

of the nobles of it. visible parts, viz. the heaUns. TfaeTrm of
lhe.r c.t.e.-the regulation of the pal.ce-the duUe. of prince and
people-lhe evolutions of their armies-the order of their .ta"d
arda-the make of their chariot.-tho ascent and descent-thrat
rangementsof Uu>ir foa.t.-and even the very shape.nd fa.Mon of
t her garraenu, &c. &c.-were all anciently, and still are in ^1^
<leg,.e, supposed to bear a resemblance to ^mething in the vi^

heavens-to some star or constell.t! 1^ ,*__ „'.■""

real-to some grand terrestrial objecU, or to somerecondrt^Vhi^!
^iT"!.; .J'"' "ft™ J"«igeof the intenUonsof Provide^e
wuh regard to the event, of war, and the de.Uny of n.Uons, JVo"

496

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CANTON.

This is the principal seaport in China, and the only
one to which Europeans are permitted to trade. The
wall that surrounds the city is five miles in circuit.
The factories of the different nations who carry on a
trade here, are situated on the banks of the river. The
population of this city is variously estimated at from
800,000 to 1,500,000.

The attentive regards of the London Missionary Soci-
ety were early directed to China, and as soort as a suit-
able agent could be obtained, the directors determined
to make an effort for the salvation of the millions
who occupy this wide region of spiritual death, and
around whom Satan has reared a barrier more impreg-
' nable to human assault, than the massy wall that defends
their frontier.

The person deemed most adapted to this station was
the Rev. Robert Morrison, whose studies at Gosport

the appearances in tlie heavens. Of old, they sent forth their
armies— they overturned thrones— they punished oppressors— they
seized on territory ; all in obedience, as they supposed, to the aspects
of celestial phenomena. If to these erroneous conceptions be joined
their antiquity, their vast population, their immense riches, their
defect in scientific improvements, their want of sound principles,
and especially the depravity of the human heart, which they have
in common with others, — we can hardly wonder at the high and ex-
clusive tone which they assume, or at their extravagant claims to
superiority over the nations of the earth.

" The rtiigUm of China is a strange mixture of superstitions, of
which every one receives or rejects as much as he pleases. From
time immemorial, peculiar homage has been paid to the memory of
the dead by the Chinese. What is known of their religion, previ-
ous to the lime of Confucius, is fabulous and uncertain. This most
celebrated ancient philosopher of China was born about four hun-
dred and fifty years before the Christian era, and seemed designed
to reform, in some measure, the corruptions which prevailed in the
civil and religious establishments of his country. He condemned
the idolatry practised by his countrymen, and maintained that Deity
was the most pure and perfect principle,— eternal, infinite, inde-
structible, omnipotent and omnipresent. He considered the sun,
moon,&c. the immediate agents of Deity, inseparably connected with
him, and, as such, objects of worship. Many parts of his doctrine
were calculated to preserve the superstitious notions still prevalent.
By his sage counsels, his moral doctrine, and exemplary conduct, he
obtained an immortal name, as tlic reformer of hia country ; and,
from respect to his memory, his descendants enjoy, by inheritance,
the title and oiHce of mandarins.

" Soon after his death, a species of Lamanism was introduced into
China from Thibet ; and ibout the year GT), the stct of Fo was intro-
duced from India. The name was derived from the idol Fo,supposed to
be the Budhuof Hindooatari. About the fifteenth century, many of
the literati embraced a new system, nearly allied to atheism ; but this
is confined to a few. The Chinese, in general, arc so far from being
atheists, that they go into the opposite extremes of polytheism. In
China, no religion is preierred or encouraged by government. At
the present time, its gods are, to use an e/pression of the sect of
Fuh, Ilaagbo-tka-too, i. e. " }n number like the sands of Hang
river." Most of the forms of mythology, which make any figure in
the page of historv, now exist in China, except that their indecent i
parts, and their direct tendency to injure human life, have been cut
off. The idoUtry of ancient Canaan, of Egypt, of Greece, of Rome,

had been peculiarly directed to a preparation for such
an important undertaking, and who was subsequently
assisted in London, by a native of China, in learning
the language, and in transcribing a Harmony of the Gos-
pels, and other parts of the New Testament, from a
manuscript in the British Museum. His attention
was also directed, under a qualified professor, to math-
ematics and astronomy, and he attended the lectures
at the Royal Institution.

In the month of January, 1807, Mr. Morrison sailed
from England, and under the gracious protection of
that Being who holds the winds in his hand, and re-
strains the waves within their prescribed limits, he ar-
rived in safety at Canton, where he applied himself with
unwearied assiduity to the study of the language ;
though, in doing this, he was obliged to observe the
greatest secrecy, and the persons who assisted him inti-
mated that they trembled for their own safety, under
the anticipation of being discovered.

Besides reading the Scriptures with his inmates, and

of Chaldea, and of India, are all to be found here, though with some
slight variations. China has her Diana, her .£olus, her Ceres, her
Esculapius, her Mars, her Mercury, her Neptune and her Pluto, as
v/ell as the western pagans had. She has gods celestial, terrestrial
and subterraneous ; gods of the hills, of the valleys, of the woods, of
the districts, of the family, of the shop, and of the kitchen ! She
adores the gods who are supposed to preside over the thunder, the
rain and the fire ; over the grain, over births and deaths, and over
the small-pox. She worships " the host of heaven— the sun, the
moon and the stars." She also worships the gonii of the mountains
rivers, lakes and seas, together witli birds, beasts and fishes. Sho
addresses prayers, and offers sacrifices, to the spirits of departed
kings, sages, heroes and parents, whether good or bad. Her idols
are silver and gold, wood, and stone, and clay, carved or molten, the
work of men's hands. Her altars are on tlie high hills, in the
groves, under the green trees. She has set up her idols at the cor-
ners of the streets, on the sides of the highways, on the banks
of canals, in boats, and in ships. Astrology, divination, geomancy
and necromancy every where prevail. Spells and charms every
one possesses : they are hung about the neck, or stitched up in their
clothes, or tied to the bed-posts, or written on the doors ; and few
men think their persons, children, shops, boats or goods safe with-
out them. The emperors of China, her statesmen, her merchants,
her people and her philosophers, also, arc all idolaters.

" With regard to firture retributions, thoseof the sect of Confucius
profess to know no life to came, but that which their children and
posterity shall enjoy on earth : hence their views rise no higher ; in
tliis their fears and hopes seem to terminate.

" The Elysium of the West, which the followers of f«A look for, is
such as the deluded imagination of an .\siatic would naturally paint :
fortified palaces — groves of trees producing gems— ^ponls of fragrant
water, yielding the lotus flower as large us the wheel of a cart —
showers of sweet odors, faUing on a land the dust of which is yellow
gold — myriads of birds, of tlic most exquisite plumage, singing' on
trees of gold, with the most harmonious and ravishing notes, of a
hundred thousand kinds, &c. &c. Such is their paradise ; but, in
conformity with the comparative contempt in which the female char-
acter is held throughout the East, they exclude all viomen, as suck
from a participation therein. Those females who have acted well
on earth, are first transformed into men, and then admitted into that
palace of delights.

" The sufferings of the Tartarus, which their terrified imagination!
have figured, are represented in pictures, as the punishment! io

CHINA.

engaging with some of them in prayer, Mr. Morrison
endeavored, under the pretence of explaining the
words law, promite, threatening, remrrection, &c., to
<K.mmunicate the important truths connected with
these ; as tlie luw of God contained in the decaloeue ;
the promise of life ; the threatening of death ; man's
violation of the divine law, and the consequent intro-
duction of human wo ; the promise of forgiveness :
t^ie resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ!
I was, at first, perplexed," says he, "what words to
make use of to express, to the Chinese with whom I
conversed, the Supreme Being ; whether to adopt the
l^en-chu of the Romish missionaries, or to make use
of words which are commonly understood by the
heathen to denote spiritual and superior beings. I. at
length resolved to use both modes of expression,
generally g,v,„g the preference, however, to their own
vtr xm, which is the most generally understood. When
I make use of other names, they imagine that I bring
to them a new deity-the god of my own country-

499

purgatory and Tartarus were exhibited in the Eleusinian and other
heathen myteries: with this difference, however, that the« are

rtd hn. ; " "^^'"^ '*°""'" ^^"^''^ i" child-bed are plunged

red hot ,0,. p,l ars, which the wicked are cau«.d to embrace de-'
vouring hon., tigers, snakes, Ac. , mounUin. stack aU over 'wth
knives, on the poinU of which the condemned are cast down "nd

^e^LolT" "-"'"f *""r'"' ''"' -ndemned creeping 2
theskin. of tho«, anmialc m the form of which they aro desUned to
.p,H,ar agamon earth; boiling of the wicked in caldrons ; the
v^he.1, or apparatus, by mean, of which all the operations of the
metempsycho... a.e performed ; horneddemons, with swords spla™
hatchet, and hooks; wretched mortals, alternately slZl^T^H
.nde.cr.baWe cold, and burnt to coals with devouring fir^ ^*h^^
with numberless other .uch thing,, are represented liU. ' o« a^d'
i.gu.hng mmutcne... Instead of producing any salutary ffaHntSe
m.nd,U,ey fil the imaginaUon with horrid figure; 1 rea e" Ut!
ence of wh.ch the better informed surely cannot bel eve ; or wh" h
.f behaved muste thor totally weaken the spring, of actio" r^t'

Their system ofmoraJs, a. explained by U« sect of the learned

^ttrth ZhT' ,'"'''• ^'""^ "'■""' •'""'"' "f-'-tive rs

■et forth with as much clearness as could be eiuectprf «■„.., . i
Who know not the true G.«,. r^.i io tUo^ZZnJ^Z^:^^
tte system of Christian ethics contained in the New Te'LmenT U
mu.t, in all particular,, appear defective, and in many exceedinriv
erroneous; especially if the motive.andend.of humaVacUon. £

count Some m.porUr.t duties are also entirely left out , and other,
earned to «ich extravagant lengths, a, to render them i^ot only irk
•oroe, but oppressive. '

"Female infanticide, which still prevail, in China, if h had not
originally sprang from their doctrine of VIN and yAng which
^U every thing masculine in so exalted, and every thing femtS

ie.2Z^T belief m the metempsychosis, and in the ineviUble
Ueo. ons of a numerical fate, prcvenU th. cordial exerciw of be-
navolence and beneficence. "xerciw oi De-

"Their cold.he„ted philosophy, indeed, teache. and applaud, the
practice oi ilma./laxdo r"!...:.- ivn- -. rr-"""" "">

:. ,, . . " J ""■= »;!=ar aatno desv-drop from

^i %.rj: ''^"""f ;T'' »"" onenfreexesereitrerchth"
round. Even the natural deaire which M men, m human boing.,

and from this notion, which is perfectly in unison with
an heathen ideas of gods. I keep as far distant as po..
sible. I do not bring to them another god, but en-
deavor to convince them that their ideas of x.n are
erroneous ; as there are not many but one, and he is
tfte same to every nation under heaven. I even let
them retain the word tien, or heaven, but attempt to
engraft upon it proper ideas, as we do in our own
language. It is of small importance to give to the
heathen new words without correct ideas of things.
Ihe Koman missionaries have made much noise about
torcing the Chinese to receive the term Tien-chu, the
U)rd of heaven, which is certainly a good expression :
but then they have presented to them, at the same
time, numerous objects of worship (saints and martyrs)
perfectly .„ consonance with their old heathen ideas
01 the semi-deified spirits of departed good men. I
was looking, the other day, into the prayer-books of
the missionaries, translated into Chinese, and was
gneved to find that they had been at so much labor

Se^^ ? «"t'relycounteracted_by fear of oppoaing the will of
Uie gods, who .end men bock to endure poverty Jnd n^«,y i„ th .

thati'^ff'T ."T '':""' ""'"'" °f "«>""" life; orby abelief
that all efforu which tend to counteract the decrees of fate are not
on y fruitles, but wrong; or by a criminal «>lfi,hne,s, hardness of

ilowL 'tiler"!""' '" ?:!''" '^''P'*'' ''"PP'"«»''> '*''''='' "<»"««■»"
allows them even to sit sUll at ease, and suffer another man, clo«,

in ami" 'ff ? ""-"."hi, property to consume in the fiame.,
When a little effort on their part might save both.

«ii. "IT' '"''**'''"«'* """« of 'he more rational condemn these
evi s, and have written against them, especially against female in.

™:b^ T •'•?''" ""'' ""' «""• '^' ■-" wen'meant eSs to
correc the horrid crime be, while the principles which gave it birth
are held m honor ! They are inconsistent with themselves. In
one part of their wriUngs, they deplore the bitter consequences, and
warn men against them; while, in the other, they inadvertently
magnify the causes from which they rise, a, the only source of ex-
cellence and perfection in the universe. They deprecate the mor-
tal stream and yet feed the impoisoned fountain; they strive to lop
thebrancli.., and yet manure the root! '

"Though vice, in all iu diversified forms, exisu in China still wr
, haps, lU external feature, do not at first sight appear so gross 'aHn
oiiic other countries. But it is not to be concluded from hence"
Uiat the degreeof It is less than in other parts of the heathen worW
I or the opinions and customs of all ranks of society not only furnish
»..fl.cic„ excuse for the commission of many .ins against iL law of
0<»l but have even raised them to a certain degree of respectability
and honor ; and hence it become, very difficult to convince them of
he moral turpitude of those evils in which their parents, and their
be,t and wisest men, have, from age to age, indulged. Chinese man!
ne , and customs are thrown into so regular and digested a form .
«sthata,tranger,but superficially acquainted with the language
and real spirit of the Chinew people, .eem, to «,« much to p™W
^ad, comparatively, little to blame ; while, at the «.me Ume, the na-
tion groans under oppression and violence; their courto are filled
with bribery and injustice ; their markeU with coxening and deceit ;
their ho««,s with concubine, ; their monaaterie. with ignorant, filthy
and indolent asceUcs, ' who,' to u«j the word, of a Chinese writer

' are not worth the down nf . ft.u,-. . : j" . T"**'.'

„„.,„.„ .,,,., . , ' "-J J tiirir 3C1100JS anj

colleges with high-minded, self-sufficient literati, to who«= proud and
ophisticated mind, the humbling doctrines of the gospel will be "o
le» obnoxiou. than they were to the sarewtio pride Pfa Cel.ut "

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

to render all the unscriptiiral jargon which is address-
ed to the mother of our Lord, together with prayers
to holy men and holy women, and for the souls in
purgatory."

Toward the latter end of January, 1808, Mr. Mor-
rison paid a visit to the temple of Pak-ti-pu-saat, or
the great northern deity. Here he found a large con-
course of worshippers, who brought, in small baskets,
fowls, pork, fish and vegetables, which, after the
prostrations were over, they took away with them.
Their offerings of candles, paper and fragrant matches,
however, were all consumed, and pan of the wine
with which thry were provided, was eitiier poured into
a '.lOugh before the altar, or thrown on the ground.
When the worshippers threw their flaming paper on
the metal altar, one of the attendants began beating a
large drum and s'riking a bell, as if to draw the at-
tention of the god to the presentation of the offering.
This ceremony, however, was omitted when one
poor woman came, with an offering of pork and green
peas, but without cither fowl or fish. Several of the
worshippers nuittered a prayer i tlieir knees, and
afterwards took up a crooked piece of wood, like a
cow's horn divided lengthwise, which thc) threw down
again and again, till it full in a postme which they
considered to be ominous of good.

When inquiring their fate in the temples, the Chi-
nese, among other methods, have in a box a few slips
of wood numbered. On their knees tiiey shake the
box in their hands, till one of the slips fall out, and
after ascertaining the number, they receive, in the
temple, a paper with a corresponding mark, and in
this their future fortune is written. Mr. Morrison
remarked that here, as in ah other idolatrous countries,
there a|)pearcd to b<! favoi-iio deities, as well as par-
ticular limes for the worship of one in preference to
another. "Hence," says he, " many of the temples
were now quite deserted, while that of Pak-ti-pu-saat
was crowded with worshippers, and Huiulted witii the
smoke of their offerings, till the god was almost burnt
out of his dwelling."

The next morning, about two o'clock, the noise of
fire-works announced tiie romnu-ncement of the new
year. The Cliiurse had dressed tliemsehes for the
occasion, on tlie preceding evening, and wailed for its
approach ; and between two and three o'<l<Hk, the
suburlis were ihroneed by persons carrying various
offerings, and repairing to the temples.

Fn llie course of the same monih, our missionary
ha<l an ojiportunily of witnessing the Chiiu'se mode
of attesting the treth of an assertion, by cutting off the
head of a fowl. This they consider as a very solemn
rrrciiiony, rtnn do not UKg to no u uiu on sp«^riai oc-
caiioni. There is nothing similar to an oith exacted

by the magistrates when they take evidence. Appeals
to the gods are only made among private individuals,
when they question each other's veracity ; and this is
done not only in the manner already stated, but also
by dashing an earthen vessel to pieces, and wishing
that, if they speak falsely, they may be destroyed in a
similar manner ; or by blowing out a candle, and wish-
ing that their life may also be extinguished. On some
occasions, they go to the temple and utter impreca-
tions befdre their idols. But Mr. Morrison observes,
there is nothing here among the heathen that is a
thousandth part so bad as the constant and irrational
profanation of the names of the divine Being, and
of sacred things, so common in Europe. " They do
not," says he, " whether in good or bad humor, in
jes* or earnest, call upon Heaven to render them
miserable in time and eternity, as wicked men, in-
formed, but not influenced, by the gospel, do, in
countries which are called Christian."

In a conversation which Mr. Morrison held, one
evening, with his assistants, relative to the nature of
the .soul, it appeared that the Chinese scarcely dis-
tinguish it from the body till the period of death,
when they suppose that a kind of manes passes into
anotlier state, and is united cither to good men or
beasts, as the deceased person has acted virtuously or
viciously whilst on earth. They also observed, with
respect to the paper, with gold and silver leaf on
it, which is burnt on the altars of their deities, that
the paper is designed to represent raiment, and
the gold and silver leaf, nmney ; and that all these,
when sent up in flames, are caught by the .sur-
rounding spirits. Ow Mr. Morrison asking if ihey
imagined the spirits had need of clothes, or were
gratified by such offerings, they replied, with a
laugh, that they could not tell ; but they observed it
was tl'o prevailing cisfom, and that not only the
magistrates, but the emperor himself, attended to
it. With resi)cct to the contempt of the Chinese
toward foreigners, and their aversion to infonn them-
selves respecting them, they stated that it was alto-
gether useless to desire information beyond the boun-
daries of their own country. " The colostipl and
central empire," said they, ' contains every thing
within itself that it is desirable either to possess or to
know. The most hmrned persons never acquire the
whole of the literature of China. Why, then, should
they concern iheuiselves about that which is exotic ?
.\nd as to re ligiim and morality, the depths of knowl-
edge contained in thc Iwioks of Kung-fu-tsi have never
been fathomed ; and, until that be done, it is folly to
attend to any other."

in rorinsqufiice uT a loinponiry miiumiorstanuing
between the European rokidenti at Cantoa and the

Chinese government, the latter prohibited all inter-
courae with foreigners, and the commencement of
hosnlmes was seriously anticipated. Mr. Morrison
therefore, retired, in the beginning of November, to
Macao, where he applied himself unremittingly to the
study of the language. Mattera, however, were soon
anucably arranged, and our missionary returned to
Canton, where, in 1809, he was appointed Chinese
translator to the English factory. Alluding to this
circumstance in a letter to the directors, he says, "My
reasons for accepting this situation were, briefly,— that
It secured my residence ;-that its duties cc.tributed
to my nnprovement in the language ;_a„d that the
salary attached to it would enable me to make my
kbor m the gospel less chargeable to the churches of
Groat Bniam. The situation, however, whilst it has
he advantages which I state, has also its disadvantages
It occupies a great part of my short life in that which
does not refer to n.y first object. Whilst I am trans-
lating ofticial papers, I could be compiling my diction-
ary, which I hope will be of essential service to future
missionaries."

In the same letter which contains those remarks
Mr Morrison say. there has been, during the whole'
of tins summer, a fleet of Chinese pirates on the coast
soniel.mos ten, twenty or forty miles from Canton'
conmm.mg tl.o most cruel depredations ; and. when
they land, if the villagers refuse to comply with their
demands, the pirates proceed to murder them. Several
thousands have been put to death on diflercnt occa-
sions, and. in one instance, their firing could be heard
from the viceroy's palace in the city. I„ autumn they
went on shire, and cut .town the ripe grain They
liave al)out seven hu uired vessels, and whenever they
see . hope of plunder, they invarSblymak.- u„ attack.
1 his year .hey succeeded in taki.ig u small American
ves.el and a I 'or.uguose brig ; and the boat of the
honorable c.m.pnny's ship Ely, wiu. an o/Iicrr and
eight seamen, unfortunately feil i„,o their hands
These p.rates .,re not properly insurgents, disaffected
to the government, but a banditti of wicked and cruel
men, who threaten tim destruction of commerce, and
every llrng beside.

" All pirates taken priso. ers are beheaded, and, in
some instances, instead of being liand-cuire.l their
liunds are nailed to^relln.r. In return for these severi-
ties, they generally put to death those whom they
take, particulaily the o/licers, whom ibey cut to
I."

CHINA.

pwcen.

In the course of his reading wiih lil.^ assiMants our
nmsionary embraced every opportunity „f M,e,,kinK
oi the Lord Jesus, and salvation tliro..,ri. i,: _._..

Ood. On thi. Utter .ubject," say. he, " their ideas

are exceedingly obscure. The Chinese people, ao-
cording to what I have seen, have no idea of one in-
telhgent, independent and perfect Being, the Creator
and Governor of the world. They have, however
lords many and gods many, before whose images they
worship, and to whom they offer sacrifice. The word
heaven, in their language, is exceedingly vague, and
It seems impossible to determine its precise significa-
tion, as they ever vary in their definition of it An
atonement my people do not think necessary, at least
for small sins ; and of the pardon of great sins they
have no hope." ^

In September, 1810, Mr. Morrison sent the Acts of
the Apostles, carefully revised with the Greek text
corrected and pointed, to a Chinese printer; and, after
seeing a specimen of his workmanship, agreed to pay
him five hundred and twenty-one dollars for a thousand
copies, including the cutting of thirty thousand char-
acters, the wood on which they were to be cut th«
paper, printing, binding, &c. Thi. charge subsequent
ly appeared to have been very enorn.ous ; b.It our
missionary knew that, in consequence of his being a
foro,gner> the risk, both ,o himself and the workman
whon, he employed, was extremely great, and he had.
tnerctore, no alternative.

It was a pleasing circumstance, when this little work
^vas completed, that three ambassadors from the Le
ki-yo islands, who had come with tribute to China
«rnved just in .i,„e to be presented with some copies
1 he vernacular tongue of these islands is a dialect of
the Cnnese language, which is read by all their lite
rati ; ind our missionary observes, " I couldcommuni
cnte will, the ambassadors by wri.ing Chinese, though
lr.,Mdn«. understand ihei, spoken language. The
IH'iH. a.ion of the islands I could not ascer.nin.as ,hey
•nerely sa.d that it consisted of a few times ten thou-
sand. Iheir women are employed in weaving, and
tlioir pre.se„, kmg is about twen.y-five years of ago
Onmyaskmg if he allowed foreigners to ira.le the
nmhasMidor, wrote in reply, • ()„r territory is ,,,,.11
an.) our produce poor ; we cannot trade.' They have
Kung.fu-tsi, and all the gods of China ; hut I coul.I
""' "hinin a .sight of any of their books, as the ambas-
sadors hiid none with them."

In a letter addressed to the directors, and dated
Apr «, 1818 Mr. Morrison .,ays..vny , he last flee.:
which sailed about a month ago. I wrote and enclosed
you a copy of my translation of the (Jospel by L.-Ve
and n Chinese tract on the Way of Salvation, which
I hope would reach you in safety, I now enclose you
a trnnsla<„m of a Chinese edict, by which you will ,p„
tn-i ;,.,,„„, IHK.KS on the Christian religion in Chinee
IS rendered a capital crime. I „,„„, h„,vover. go
forward, trusting in the Ua\, though I will }«, careful

608

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

■

not to invite tiie notice of ^orernmenl. Indeed, not-
withstanding my consciousness of my own weakness,
I am not discouraged, but am thankful that my most
sanguine hopes liave been more than realized ; as the
practicability of acquiring the language in no great
length of time,— of translating the Scriptures, — and
of having them printed in China, has been demon-
strated. I am grateful to the divine Being for having
employed me in this good work, and should 1 die soon,
it will afford me pleasure in my last mo-nents."

The Chinese edict against Christianity, to which
the undismayed and laborious missionary alludes, will,
no doubt, be perused with interest, and is to the fol-
lowing effect : —

" The Criminal Tribunal, by order of the emperor,
conformably to a representation made by Han, the
imperial secretary (in which he desired tiiat tiie pro-
mulgation of the Christian religion might be obviated),
decrees as follows : —

"The Europeans worship God, because in their
own country tliey are used to do so ; and it is quite
unnecessary to inquire into the motive. But why do
they disturb the common people of the interior, un-
authorizediy appointing priests and other functionaries,
who spread tiiis througii all the provinces, in obvious
infraction of the law ? The common people, deceived
by tiiein, succeed each other from generation to gone-
ration, unwilling to depart from their delusion. This
may approach very near to a rebellion ; for ns the said
religion neither holds spirits in veneration, nor ances-
tors in reverence, this is evidently to walk contrary to
sound doctrine ; and the connnon people, who follow
and familiarize themselves with such delusions, in what
resjiect do thoy differ from a rebel mob ? If some
punishment be not decreed, how shall the evil be
eradicated ? and how shall the human heart bo rec-
tifi'Ml ?

" From this time fonvard, such F^uropcan as sliall
privately print Inioks an<l establish preacliers, in order
to pervert the multilude, — and tiie Tartars and Chi-
nese, who, deputed by Kiiropeans, shall propagate
their religion, bestowing names, iind dis()uieting num-
bers, shall have this to look to : — The chief or prin-
cipal one shall be executed ; — whoever shall spread
their religion, not making much disturbance, nor to
many men, and without giving names, shall be im-
prisoned, waiting the time of execution ; — and those
wIk shall con'cnt themselves widi following such re-
ligion, without wishing to reform themselves, shall bo
exiUd. As for Tartars, they shall bo deprived of
their pay.

" With respect to Europeans at present in Pekin,
if thoy ire mathematicians, without hiving other of-
fice or occupation, this Buflices to tlnir being kept in

their employments ; but those who do not understand
mathematics, what motive is there for acquiescing in
their idleness, whilst they are exciting irregularities ?
Let the mandarins, in charge of the Europeans, in-
quire and act. Excepting the mathematicians, who
arc to be retained in their employment, the other
Europeans shall be sent to the viceroy of Canton, to
wait there, that when ships arrive from their respec-
tive countries, they may be sent back. The Europeans
in actual service at the capital are forbidden to inter-
meddle with the Tartars and Chinese, in order to strike
at the root of the absurdities which have been propa-
gated. In Pekin, where there are no more Europeans
than those employed in mathematics, they will not be
able clandestinely to spread false religion. The vice-
roys and other magistrates of the other provinces shall
be careful and diligent. If they find Europeans within
their territories, they shall seize them, and act accord-
ing to justice ; in order, by si -h means, to extermi-
nate both root and trunk. — You shall conform to this
decision of the Criminal Tribunal."

In laying this edict before the religious public, the
directors of the I^ndon Missionary Society express
their satisfaction with the firmness and intrepidity
evinced by their missionary. "He is resolved," say
they, " to go on in the strength of the Lord, to whos3
omnipotent care we cheerfully commit him ; assured
that the set time to favor China is approaching, when
this edict (which will act, at present, as a most exten-
sive proclamation of the publication of the Scriptures,
and thereby excite the curiosity of the millions of
China to peruse them) shall be not only revoked, but
followed by another in favor of Christianity ; and it is
phasing to perceive that, while the translator is pro-
ceeding in his important labors, the conquest of Java
has opened a wide door for the circulation of the
Script'ires among thousands of native Chinese, who
are thus, in the arrangements of Divine Providence,
and, perhaps, principally for this purpose, i)rought
under British dominion."

In the summer of 1814, Mr. Morrison irnvelled in
the suite of the British embassy, through six provinces
of China, and some of the circumstances whicli oc-
curred in the course of that journey we shall take
the liberty of transcribing, for the infonnation of our
rcoders.

"On the !hh of July, I emlmrkeil, with several
other English gentlemen, at Macao, and the next
day his majesty's ship the Alceste, having on lioard
his excellency the right honorable lord Amherst, am-
bassador from the prince rogc it to the emperor of
China, arrived off the I .reward i Un:!*. There I left
the honorable coniuany'f cruisfi ' ^ f^i>^t>TV -. in whieh
I had embarked, and wont on board the frigate.

rw^,^ t W, '''^''™"' P'^^'g^ '» 'he gulf of
Ch.h-Ie, by which latter term the Chinese denon.inate
^at province in which Pekin is situated. On the
88th, the five vessels of which the squadron was
composed were safely anchored off the mouth of the
nver called Pei-ho, or the North river, on which, at
he distance of two days' journey by water, the famous
town cal ed Teen-tsin, or ' the heavenly confluence of
streams, is situated. The village which stands at the
mouth of the river is called Takoo. The land all
around <s a perfect plain, and so low as to be scarcely
distinguishable from the anchorage, which, owing to

"On the 1st of August, I went on shore, at the

request of the ambassador, to s.e an imperial commis-

loner, appointed to receive the embassy. And in a

temple dedicated to Fuh-too, which is the Chinese

pronuncation of IJuddah, I found a European print

thorns and held a reed in his hand. Tins print was
pasted on a large scroll of paper, which was huns u„
in one of the rooms of the priests, and incense vessels
were placed before it. Observing some Chinese writ-
ing on the scroll, I was anxious to read it ; but the
priest said the picture was there dedicated, and he
couhl not take it down. He showed me a book con-
taining the service, ui.icli he said was used when ihev
worshipped this picture ; but it was in such a mystical
style, that I could not make out the scope of it This
picture, ami the name Tcen-clioo-Keaou, by which
the Komish religion is known, were the only vestiges
of Christianity that occurred to me during the whole
ol our journey."

After n.entioniuK a banquet, given by two imperial
commissioners, at Tecn-tsin, „„ the i:Uh of August,
Mr. Morrison observes. "The gcMu-ral principles of
our religum give a tone of elevation and dignity to the
liumuu mind which h not felt here. Associating at
Mate.l periods for worship, and to receive religious
instruction, when tlie infinite greatness of the Deity is
lield up to the view of princes, nobles and people,
and li.o Idea is often suggested that all earthly dis-
• uictmns must s,K.n terminate-naturally moderates a
tendency to domii,.„i„„ „,„„„,. ,|,p |,i^|,er Masses, and
at the same time, n.ises to a manly feeling the hearts
of the poorest and most abje,-t. In China the people
never meet under similar circumstances, nor do they
assorinte under something approaching to e,|m,|i,y f,,,.
the worship of their gods. The priests o,c.,sion»||y
incul<-ato the practice of morality, and piety to the
gods, by means of the pros, ; but they never preach
"". 7 -■' ' ="" "°*^ WTituig III a temple, con-
taining upwards of « hundred priests and as many

CHINA.

508

^ols. About fifty priests worship images of Buadah,
with morning and evening prayers, which occupy
nearly forty minutes. There are three JmagesXed
in a line ; and, before these, the priests bum tape„
offer mcense, and recite prayers ; sometimes kn E'
and repeating over and over again the same invocaZ!
and sometimes putting their foreheads on the ground'
in token of adoration, submission and supplication
Day after day, and year after year, this is gone'tr
but they never associate the people of any , . k or

1 ot mill fi H 'k '."^•••"'=*'°"« '^ 'hem. Indeed, they are
not qualified, being generally illiterate and uni^structed
themselves They are the mere performers of cere-
monies and should never be denominated by the ame

reXU TV'''"r' '." ''' """'^•''" ''' •'''^'^S^n
e gion. The multitudes of people in this country are
truly, in a moral and religious point of view, ' as sheeo
without a shepherd.' ' ^P

" Without referring to the peculiar and important
.ioctrmes of Christianity, but s'peaking mer Zof i^s
general aspect in Protestant countries, with the n a !
fictions -md duties of its ministers, bow va ,lv s^pe

ZJ T,;: "" '''"'"' °^P^S--"' which pre al
'ere ! The contrast struck me very forciblv during

;'--• service in this very temple, L pe/flTf
1.0 chaplain of the embassy. VVe have hea ^0'^

::. :;:: T^cr- "" -''-' '- "- p--"-'

f,reat men The Chinese carry their objections to n
mhculous height in respect to persons sitt ng who ar
o a r n, „ certain degree inferior to tliemsej;es ; Z
on no occasion, religious or ceremonial, do sup;rio«
ispense with this usage. Hence, when iookingTnd
tf"^^ congregation, during sermon, and seeing English
"obleinen, gentlemen of inferior titles, officers in i^
"'aje'^.y's servic.,., merchants, mecliani s, sob iVrs and
-vants, all .i.ing in the same room, and listen g ,0
tlie same instruction, the idea which I |,„ve nireadv
."ontioned of the general administration of t L S

r;:r;o::v"-^^^-"p-'o^ occurred:-:;

The real cause of the failure of the embassy, „nd
of the „b„,,,t d,smi.ssion of l.,nl Ai.ihe.st nndZ

. " Having arrived at Tnng-ehow. whiel. i, one dav's

<M,n,c,v ^om the capital, we remain., the:: S.
, discussing with a person of the rank of a die
( o whom I shall give that name) a que.tion considered
o vital importance by both parties.'.hough it all m^.
-1 on a oer.m.ony. High officers of sta.o „ China d
^.- .en en, Tartar Idngs and princes, at. submit to t e
great emperor B rrnunn!,y ...!?L--!-. ^ -■
ll^rnal expression of .levo,;dness ami XS'wlS;
this people, who abound in extern-.l forms of submis-

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

sion, have been able to invent. To kneel on the
ground, — to place the hands on the floor, whilst bowing
forwards, — and to strike the forehead against tlie earth
once, — seems an abundantly apparent mark of vene-
ration, devotion or submission. They, however, re-
quire the person to strike his head against the eartli
thrice ; and they increase this as Europeans do their
three cheers, by three times three ; the worsliipper
rising and standing erect between each three, and
then kiKeling down again. This ceremony is called
by a name which signifies ' three kneelings, and nine
knocks;' and, by tributary princes and foreign ambas-
sadors, it is performed to the emperor as an expression
of homage. This, which byway of eminence is called
the ceremony, was what the Tartar negotiators required
from the British ambassador. That he should hesitate,
few persons will wonder.

*' The duke, at last, pretended to give way, and on
the afternoon of the 28th of August we set off to the
palace of Yuen-ming-yucn, and, after travelling all
night, arrived at day-break the next morning. The
Tartars rise very early, and the hour appointed by
\he emperor for giving audience to the anibs^ssador
liad already elapsed. We were, tiierefore, hurried,
•fter travelling the whole of the night, unwashed and
undressed, to the door of the palace. A British
nobleman representing his sovereign, and who had
come many thousand miles to the court of China, de-
murred, as was natural, to enter thus into the imperial
presence, and pleaded with the duke, who came out to
urge him into the hail of audience, that the fatigue
of tiio night had made him unwell ; at tiie same time
intimating a hope that his majesty would graciously
defor seeing him that morning. The duke immedi-
ately wr>nt in, and said the ambassador was so ill, tiiut
he could not stir a step. This produced a gracious
order tliut lord Amherst should retire to the house
provided for him, with nn intimation that his majesty's
physician would attend u|)on him. He did atiend
accordingly, hut what report he made is nor known ;
thounh he ceruiinly could not say, with tru'li, that
the Hinbussador was dangerously ill. The emperor,
however, thought lie was imposed upon, and called a
apecial iiieetini^ of his cabinet ; and as no one apprized
him ol tliL' fuet of our travelling all night, till two or
three 'l.iys afterward, whrm ii was too latf!, his ini-
perial majesty, in the heat of his displeasure, decreed
that the ambassador should l>e required to depart
immediately. This decree wsss cariied into effect the
Mine day At four o'clock in the afternoon, we left
Yuen-miiig-yuen. and, after travelling all night a
second lime, arrived at Tung-chow on the 30th, by
break of day.

'■ The em|>oror aiicrwsrds diicorer«d tiie real state

of the case; and, though ths duke is brother to
the empress, he removed him from some high situt<
tions of trust which he had previously held. Three
other persons of the first rank wore also removed
from their offices ; and an edict was published, chid-
ing the courtiers for their indifference to the public
welfare, and lamenting that selfishness should be
carried to such a degree, as could hardly have been
supposed possible. The duke's most intimate friends
(as his majesty stated it himself), who, in ordinary
cases, professed the utmost attachment and cordiality,
smiling and fawning upon him, when they saw him per-
plexed and embarrassed by the questions put to hira,
would not, though it was fully in their power, set him
right, or state the truth for him ; every one observing,
' It is not mtf business.' ' Alas !' said the emperor in
his edict, ' on what a dangerous rocky eminence does
a statesman tread !' And, in the next line, he asks,
' If you had no regar'' . the duke, had you none for
your country ?'

" Notwithstanding all this, the emperor's notions of
dignity would not allow him to give an explanation to
the British ambassador. He ordered his officers, how-
ever, to treat him with politeness whilst passing through
the country ; and, the night after our departure, he
sent three articles as a donation to the king of Eng-
land, and took from our presents three articles under
the name of tribute."

On the 6th of October, the missionary and his com-
panions crossed the Yellow river, which, however, at
that time, did not present so magnificent a spectacle
as had been anticipated. Its width was not so great,
nor its current so rapid, as most of the party had sup-
posed, nor were its waters so yellow. Still it had a
fine appearance ; and the rccollcctit!!! of the groat
length of its course, and the frequent ravages made
at certain seasons, by its impetuous waters overflowing
or washing away its soft alluvial hanks, gt.ve consider-
able dignity and importance to the prospect.

At a place called Kwa-chow, Mr. Morrison entered
into conversation with a Mahometan gentleman, who
was lodging for a day or two in one of the temples of
Buddali; those sacred placosbeing often used, in China,
as temporary inns for trovellers. From this person
our missionary learned, that there are ecmsiderahle
immbeis of Mussulmen hi different parts of China,
and that they are not only tolerated in the exercise of
their religion, hut are, also, admitted into the service
of the government. In Kenng-nan, they have thirty-
six mosques, which, in the Chinese language, they call
" temples of worship ;" all of them, however, are
general!) locked up, except on Friday, which is the
Mahometan sabbath. They have a teacher, wlio
recites their service in Arabic ; but it is said that

By tbe same person, who proved to be an officer
of government, Mr. Morrison was informed, th.tl
K.efung.«,, „ the P~vince of Ho-„an, th;rwe™
• few families designated as " the sect which plucks
but the ^new," from all the meat which they eat, and
«ud to observe the eighth day as a sabbath " Th"s

«dered Jews; and I think the account here riven
•trengthens the probability that they are so

Jewish Ti °^ ' "'^'^ '^««^' ««"' «>"' V some
Jewish gentlemen m London, was, last season, for!

J^ctSd J V"'"^ '° **"-"""' '^'''' » P'^'^i^e. that f
he could find any person capable of reading ,1,; lette

««e7r"K'" 'r '""^'"««' "e' should b
remunemed for h.s trouble. He, accordingly, went
o Kao-fung-foo, and. as he stated, found a pe«^o„ who
«a.d he understood the letter, and undertook to prrure
an an,,er.n afew days; but the times were so tCble!
some in consequence of various rumors of rebellion,
dl h r"\"^''" ^'"""' "PPrehensive, and left the

£h 'k u 't' P'"''" ^'"^ ^'^ "'ken the Hebrew
letter brought him any answer " "eurew

nla!"«^?°r '"r^'*''- *'"'"'''" P*'^^'''^ "«" «'•« birth-
pace of Confucius ; and, in a most romantic spot on
l.e Po-yang lake, he had an opportunity of seeing J
^ollege. at which Choo-foo-tsze, a highly es,. "Ld
commentator among the Chinese, taught about sk
hundred years ago. <- This colleg;," says Mr Mor

Near th. '""•''' .'" ""^ "^«^ " ^o^ky bottom.

We r the .ream are cultivated spots, and up the sides
of the h.ll a vonety of timber grows. At l.e top of
the glen, the • Mountain of Retreat' liAs its dark rLky
summu and defends the - College of ,ho White Stag
y aly from the northerly blast. HereChoo-foo-tszf
taught, riiey show the rock on which he sat to angle •

On the Ist of January. Ifll7, the embassy arrived

servn,"'" N "7' "" ""' ""''''''"" ^^'- ^""*«°" oh.
h T;l T^ "V.""""" '""^ «'«P««'«fronHhetime
that I embarked at Macao. In the courseof my jour-
ney, I y.s.ted tt «,ea.- ..any temples; but they were
generally in bi,.| u ..air, and some were in ruins These
rehgious strur.re ,vhich Europeans call pagodas.

chicfiy l.„, , dunng ,|,„ |„M dynasty. Priests do not
esKlom tlu,m,but idols are placed in the dilToZ
•fanes, and from an msiripiion which I s«.v nn „-
lau. mcimed to suppose that an ido« of placing the
.dH a, near .ohnaven as possible, was part of the m o-
Vour.~IVos.43 4,44. gg

CHINA.

them must' have be^^imX:^' gTe'a"" °' '"^'''^
tered, ,„ a similar manner, within four days afterward

excite them to repentance. ' moments, to

The posture of execution is very singular Th«
crimina ,s obliged to kneel, with hisVeCardThe
mpenal residence, and bending forward in ThTatd

The prison in IhlVmSl^Lraris^^^^^^^^^
fined, IS such a loathsome and horrible place Z
■t IS called /«-y„A, or hell; and from their suffer^nt
during the period of their incarcemtion, or f om excef,
of fear, it sometimes happens that the culpritTcanno
support themselves in the position required Othe"'
however evince a dauntless effrontery, „„d go outTf

cutors in the life to come ; that is, when having under-
gone their destined transmigrations, they shalMive a.
before in this worid.

'' It has been generally thought." says the editor of

tl Anglo-Chinese Gleaner, "that, considering thl

s population of China, few criminal executions'. „ke

hanon«rAo„,a„rf criminals suffer death annually, in
he province of Canton alone! A learned Cl.in'ee
asserts thnt, on an average, one hundred are pu" to .
death m th.s province every month !" Justly indeed
has It been remarked, that "paganism is not'adap ed
to cherish the nobler foolings of the human heart "

In the following month (April), an alarming earth-
quake happened at a place called Chang-kuh, on the
western Irontier of China, where a persfcutio;, of
Christians had occurred about two years before. On

^.« Ismontahe occasion, .bout eleven hundred houses
fell and crushed to death benea.h their ruins upwards
«f mo thousand eight hundred persons, inrh.ding
Chineseand foreigners, old and young, „,en and women
nnu r. nu...nor..i ii.e iama priests. In .n edict n lating
'« 'MS sad event, h.s imperial innjesty expressed the
."on hvely foehngo of commiseration for the stiffercrs

506

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

and granted a sum of money, in addition to that already
given by the viceroy of the province, to ho. distributed
among the houseless survivors; peremptorily enjoining
that it might be applied to the relief of the people,
instead of being embeEzled to a certain extent, as
had sometimes been the case. About three months
afterward, the river Pih-Keang, in the neighborhood
of Canton, overflowed its banks in the night, and in-
undated the land, to the west and the southv»'E>rd, so
completely, that about nine hundred persons were
unfortunately drowned, and a considerable number of
houses were destroyed.

In a letter from our excellent missionary (now Dr.
Morrison), dated September 4, 1817, he says, "I
have translated the Morning and Evening Prayers,
just as they stand in the Book of Common Prayer,
altering only those which refer to the rulers of the
land. These I am printing, together with the Psalter,
divided for the thirty days of the month. I intend
them as a help to social worship, and as affording
excellent and suitable expressions for individual devo-
tion. Mr. Milne wished to modify them, so as to
render them more suitable to our peculiar circum-
stances ; but as tiiey possess here no authority but
their own general excellence, and are not binding on
the practice or conscience of any ; and as they are
not excliuive, I judged it better to preserve them as they
ut. Additional helps may be afforded, if they shall not
be fully adequate. The heathen, at fn-st, require helps
for social devotion ; and to me it appeared, that tiie
richness of devotional phraseology, tiie elevated views
of the Deity, and the explicit and full recognition of
the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, were so many
excellencies, that a version of them into Chinese, as
they were, was better tl)in for me to new r.iodel them.
The church of Scotland supplied us with a catechism ;
the congregational churches afforded us a form for a
Christian assembly ; and the church of England has
supplied us with a manual of devotion, as a help to
those who are not sufficiently instructed to conduct
social worship without such aid. We are of no party.
We recognize but two divisionsof our fellow creatures,
— tha righteous and the wicked — those ".ho love our
Ijord Jesus Christ, and those who do not."

On the lUth of May, 1818, a storm suddenly arose
at Pekin, which almost darkened the heavens, and
filled lh(> air with clouds cf sand and dust. The cm-
pe'.or, conceiving this occurrence to be an indication
of divine displeasure, was naturnlly much alarmed,
and convened his ministers of state, to endeavor to
discover, if possible, the cause and real meaning of so
terrific a phenomenon.

In a niihlic document-. Dubliih^d on tha nccacinn.
his imperial majesty reprimanded his astronomers for 11

not having previously informed him when the hurricaiM
was to take place ; and for having stated to him, but
three days before, that the most benignant stars were
shedding their felicitous influence around his person,
and indicating the enjoyment of long life and uninter*
rupted prosperity. " All this, however," the emperor
judiciously observes, " was evidently the language of
flattery ; as they either could not or would not tell
him what evils were about to happen."

In the course of the preceding year, his imperial
majesty had displaced and degraded Sung Ta-jin, his
prime minister, for having presumed to advise him not
to visit certain tombs of his ancestors. Three of the
astronomers, who were now consulted, gave their opin*
ion that the cause of the hurricane was the dismissal
of the late premier, and suggested the expediency of
recalling him ; but this suggestion was by no means
agreeable to the emperor, who reproved his advisers
for their presumption in daring to interfere with the
exercise of his royal prerogative.

Another opinion was presented by the Mathematical
Board, who intimated, that if this kind of hurricane,
accompanied by a descent of dust, continue a whole
day, it indicates perverse behavior, and discordant
counsels between the sovereign and his ministers,
together with great drought and scarcity of grain. If
the wind blow up the sand, move the stones, and be
accompanied by a noise, inundations may be expected.
If the descent of dust continue but an hour, pestilence
may be anticipated in the south-west regions ; and in
the south-east, half the population will be diseased.

The Gazette published on this occasion expresses
the emperor's painful anxiety on account of the long
drought which had been experienced, and states that
he had appointed his sons to fast, to pray, and to
offer sacrifices to heaven, to earth, and to the god of
the wind.

The 20th of May was to be observed as a solenui
fast ; and on the day of sacrifice, the princes, nobles
and ministers of state were to appear in a peculiar cap
and upper garment, indicating <leep contrition.

From these facts it is obvious that the minds of the
highest classes of the comnumity in China are exer-
cised on the important subjects of sin, and Providence,
and puniihrnent ; and, as the light of unassisted reason
is too feeble to conduct them into the, paUts of truth,
how desirable is it that the truths of the {.-ospel should
be intrutiuced into their country, which are alone
capable of rendering the inhabit tits " wi«e unto sal-
vation !"

Ill a letter dated March IH, 1819, Dr. Morrison
observes, that he had recently written a small book
cfi|!ed > " VovaEQ rouiid the World/' with the dcii»n
of enlarging the minds of the Chinese poor, in reipoot

CHINA.

L^^nu^*"'""^''""' "* •''^"<'«' the essential
truth, of Chnstianity. " To this," says he, " I added
t map of the world, which so greatly delighted the
Chinese printer, that he made some copies for him-
■elt; but m copying that part in which I mentioned
/«*«, where Jesus, the Saviour of the world, was

t^^ihfe;'"^^^^^

.n J^k'TT *^" ^'- ^°"^'°^'' idea '^as well founded,
and that the pnnter had catue of apprehension, it may
be proper to glance at the persecutions which were
experienced by the Roman Catholic converts, in the
course of the same year.

" Every European priest whom they discover."
•ays one of the Catholic missionaries, "is arrested
and put to death on the spot ; and a similar fate is
reserved for the Chinese Christian priests. The other

2;rr''.rl''" "'^^ ^'" "°' apostatize, suffer the
most dreadful torments, and are afterwards banished
to Tartary I„ this year (1819) there are in the
prisons m the province of Sutcuen alone, two hundred
persons, who wait the moment of exile. A Chinese
priest has been strangled, and two others are to die in
the same manner. In the whole empire there are but
ten missionaries, five of whom are at Pekin, where
they can have no correspondence with the inhabitants
but in secret. The emperor has declared that he will
Have no more printers, watch-makers, nor even math-
ematicians. The bishop of Pekin has in vain attempt-
ed to introduce himself into his diocese, under that
title. The only means of penetrating into the country,
of which the missionaries can avail themselves, is to
join the couriers, who go from Pekin to Macao; but
II this be discovered, both the missionary and the
courier are put to death on the spot,"

On the 25th of November in the same year, the
translation of the Holy Scriptures into tho Chinese
language was happily brought to a complete termina-
tion. And on this interesiing occasion Dr. Morrison
wrote to the directors as follows :— "To have Moses
David and the prophets.-Jesus Christ and his anos'
ties,— using their own words, and thereby decIarinR
to the inhabitants of this land the wonderful works of
God, indicates, I hope, the speedy introduction of a
happier era in these parts of the world ; and I trust
that the gloomy darkness of pagan skepticism will be
dispelled by the day-spring from on high ; and that
the glided idolsoi Uuddah,and the numberless images
which fill this land, will one day assuredly fall to the
ground, before the p.,wcr of God's word, as the idol
Dagon fell before the ark.

" These are my anticipations, although there appears
nw liio ie-asj uponing „, presen,. a bitter avVrsion
»« the name of our blessed Saviour, and to any book

507

which containa his name or his doctrines, i, feU and
cher»hed. This, however, does not induce me to
despa,r j „„,„ber 5nr«„,-what she was, J
what she now is, ,„ respect of religion. Three hun-
dred years have not yet elapsed since national author-
ity said, that 'the Bible should not be read opedy
•n any church, by ,he people, nor privately by the
poorj-that only noblemen and gentlemen, and noble
adies and gentlewomen, might have the Bible in
the^r^houses.'-! remember thi,, and cherish hope for

"Tyndal whilst being fastened to the stake, ex-

E„rJ" '.^u°"^'°P'" ""^ 'y'' °f 'he king of
England !' and his prayer seems to have been heard
and answered Let «, be as fervent in a similar
petition, in reference to the sovereign of this empire."
During the summer of 1820, Dr. Morrison opened,
at Macao a dispensary for the Chinese sick poor, and
continued It till what is called the close of the Macao
season. It became very popular j but after the return
of his family from Europe, our missionary found his
time inadequate to its continuance.

f ll^i^^r^ ^"'^ """^ ^^"'^^ «""»<J ""'" says this
faithful laborer "which have shocked the minds of
those who reside on the spot. A Chinese magistrate
m Macao, who had attacked the press, died miserably
m August ; and in the northern part of this province
and the adjoining one, an epidemic is prevalent, which
has carried off some thousands of the Chinese. In
the spring of the year, the Yellow river overflowed
US banks, and deluged the country ; and on the 4th
of August, an earthquake took place in the province
of Ho-nan, which threw down twenty thousand houses
and cottages, and crushed a great number of per.ons
to death. The government Gazette reckons them at
about four hundred ; but they always underrate these
calamities. Upwards of five hundred were also bruised
or otherwise injured."

The 2d of September was marked by the death of
the emperor Kea King, who expired suddenly, in the
sixty.first year of his age. This event was succeeded
by a contest between two of his sons for the imperial
diadem, and several of the provinces were, for some
time, in a state of revolt, in consequence of the dig- '
puto rolative to the succession. At length, however,
the emperor's second son (the eldest living) ascended
the vacant throne, under ihfi title of Taoukvvang, or
" Heason's glory," by which he designed to intimate
that bis reign would be a glorious age o) reason m
China.

Aiiionv inniiv £ithr

instSJicca oi

uupigviiy

Which have induced our missionary in C hina to remark,
in some of his coiniiumicatious to the direclds, that

308

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

" iniquity abounds" in that extensive but benighted
empire, the following are particularly calculated to
excite every pious reader to importunate prayer and
unremitting exertion, on behalf of a people, whom
nothing but the gospel of Christ can render amiable
in this life, and completely blessed in that which is
to come.

At Canton, in the spring of 182i2, two cases oc-
curred of children murdering their parents. When
seized by the officers of government, botli the wretched
criminals refused all sustenance, with the design of
starving themselves to death. Being at a considerable
distance from the residence of the governor, (where,
according to law, they should have suffered a slow
and ignominious death, by being bound to a cross and
cut to pieces,) they would certainly have died of want,
before they could have reached the place. The local
magistrates, therefore, ordered them to be bastinadoed
till they expired.

In the course of the same year, a young woman at
Pekin murdered the father of her husband ; but it
appears that the victim of her fury had for some time
cohabited with his son's wife, and had at length mur-
dered his son, to facilitate this adulterous intercourse.
The incestuous widow, to avenge this action, then
killed her own paramour, the parent and assassin of
her unfortunate husband !

In the annual report communicated to the general
meeting of the I»ndon Missionary Society, in 1823,
the directors observe : — " The completion of Dr. Mor-
rison's Chinese and English Dictionary, (which has
occupied more or less of his time during a period of
fifteen years,) as well as that of the Chinese version
of the Holy Scriptures, forms a kind of epoch in the
history of the mission, and seems to present a suitable
occasion for taking a brief retrospect of what has been
accomplished in this interesting section of the society's
operations.

" The important part taken by Dr. Morrison in the
Chinese version of the Scriptures, had he been able
to accomplish nothing more in furtherance of the
society's designs in the East, would have amply com-
pensated for whatever expenditure of lalwr, time, or
money has taken place in this department. And
elthough we cannot but place a high value on his
philological labors, it is unq lestionably on his services
as a translator of the sacred records, that we are
rompelled to rest his strongest claims to the esteem
of the Christian world and the gratitude of future
ages.

" It is, however, due to Dr. Morrison to observe,
that by means of his Chinese and English dictionary,

in f^nniiiriAf inn aL'itlft *li<

nu:-

by him, and published about twelve years ago, he has

furnished, for the use of English students of Chinese,
highly valuable facilities for attaining a knowledge
of this very difficult language ; and, at the same thne,
he has contributed to open more widely the door
of access to the stores of Chinese literature and phi-"
losophy. But his labors in this department are chiefly
important, as they supply the Christian missionary
with the means of attaining with accuracy, and, as far
as possible, with ease, the language of a people who
compose about a fourth part of the entire population
of the globe.

" It may further be observed, in reference to the
philological labors of Dr. Morrison, that they have also
contributed to prepare the way for the future dissemi-
nation of European learning and science, through the
medium of the English language, among the natives
of China. The introduction of these into the empirte,
as objects of study, in the first place to the more
learned, and gradually of education to others, would
naturally tend to loosen the fetters of superstition and
prejudice ; to substitute for a contempt, perhaps more
feigned than real, a degree of respect and veneration
for the inhabitants of Europe ; and thus, at length, to
procure a candid attention on the part of the more
inquisitive Chinese at least, to the doctrines and evi-
dences of Christianity.

" Ever since the year 1813, the gospel has been
more or less regularly preached, both in English and
Chinese, either at Macao or Canton. Nor has this
small portion of the Christian ministry, thus insulated
as it were, and conducted almost to the extremities
of the eastern world, been wholly destitute of effect.
Besides the advantages derived from these religious
services, by European and American residents, ' there
are some Chinese,' to use the language of Dr. Morri-
son, ' on whose consciences divine truth has made an
impression.' "

On the 9th of December, 1823, Dr. Morrison
embarked in the Waterloo, captain Alsager, for Eng-
land, where he arrived in safety, on the 20th of March,
in the ensuing year. Previous to his departure from
China, however, he dedicated, by prayer and imposi-
tion of hands, a native convert to the work of an
evangelist among his own countrymen ; securing to
him a small annual stipen<l, for the duties to be per-
formed in discharge of liis sacred obligations ; and,
at the same time, permitting him to pursue his secular
calling, as the principal means of his support.

Shortly after our excellent missionary's arrival in
England, he had the honor to be introduced at court,
by sir George Staunton, hart., as the first Protestant
missionary to China ; and was presented to the king

••- ;Tt-- j-i-rhrrr;-.

honorable Charles Wynn.

Dr. Morrison was permitted

ol.y before h,s majesty a copy of the Chinese ver-

late Dr. M.lne; and also, to present to the king an
account of the Anglo-Chinese college and Singapore

CTT!,"''"'.'''' ««-tiono/our readeS^m
hereafter be directed.

In an official communication to sir George Staunton

J;i d'"' '*' '""'' ""'■ ^'''' ^'"' «--'-y fo" the'

BSll7r"u'. '"""'* "'«''" '"y'-'S the Chinese
Bble before the kmg, he had mentioned the ve.y sin-
g«.lar and mentonous exertions made by Dr. Morrison

matstvsl I /' '" ^"""""'^ '^^ communicate hi
majesty s marl- ,d approbation of that gentleman's dis-
tmgujshed and useful labors.

Another letter was subsequently addressed to Dr

Mornson h.mself, by his majesty's librarian ; in wh^h

the wnter observes,"! have received his majesty's

commands to convey to you his acknowledgment, Tnd

express h.s sense of your attention in presenting

hrough Mr. Peel a copy of your Chinese Bible. And

l"s majesty has been pleased to direct me to take it

mto my part.cularcare, as an important and vrable

addition to Ins library." "«uaoie

ca.u^'f""''"""^ """"^ invaluable services to the

ause of m,ss.ons. and to that of China in par.icu!

lar^ Dr. Mornson left England in 1826, with his

famdy, and arnved at Macao on the lOt'h of Sep-

The first sabbath after his arrival, he resumed the
re .g.ous servces he had been accustomed to perfonn

Cchta I "^"A" ^""P" ^"""S his absen™
from Chma Leang-a-la composed, among other works
a mall volume in Chinese, containing explanatory
notes on the Epistle to the Hebrews. Of ,1,1^1
considenng the few advantages APa possessed Dr'
Mornson speaks favorably. A(a had also written a

inwhlh ^f''"'"P'«^ of the World's Salvation;"

in «h.ch ho pomts out the necessity of a Saviour and
sows that Jesus Christ has made'an atonement f:'
i.tS'^^r^-^^h.count^men.o

CHINA.

509

sm.

• l.« n:Ki„ 1 • 1 V .•,"""" "' "'s countrymen t(
he Bible, which, he informs them, European Chris-
mns have. a. « great expense, caused to be translated
nto Chmese, pnnte.1, and given to the people. He
had likewise drawn up a short account of several in-
.ere«,.„g conversation ., held at different times, with

r nlhl I '^""""■y"'""' *ho had casually taken up
the Bible when ha was himself present. Since Dr
Morrison s return, APa .as drawn up a brief statemeni
of the religious progress of his own mind while under
Jhejuition of tho late Dr. Milne at Malacca, whi.h II
^;^j-^ in hi, dotermination (ully to emb^c^

The above accounts relative to Leang-a-fS, however,
n themselves pleasing, derive additional interest fh.m
the almost universil rejection of the gospel by the
mhabitants of China, with which they sta^d contr^ted
An empire is here presented to our view, containing one
hundred and fifty millions of souls, involved in gwss
spintual darkness ; while, standing, as it were, on ite ut-
most verge, we behold a single individual of that empire
defending the existence and perfections of the true
l^od, the necessity and efficacy of our Lord's atone-
ment for the sin of the world, and inviting his coun-
rymen to read the Scriptures, which have been
translated for their use, as containing words by which
they may be saved. May this light-^mall, indeed,
and comparatively dim-increase more and more
until It shall at length break forth in all the brightness
of mendian day !

So fully persuaded is Dr. Morrison of the import-
ance and utility of comments on the Scriptures, in
reference to converted and inquiring heathens, that,
while the present obstacles to preaching the gospel in
China continue, he conceives he cannot more profita-
biy employ his time than in composing explanatory
notes on the Chinese Bible.

It is gratifying to learn that Ala's labore have been
successful. Two young men, who had listened at-
tentively to his instructions, were converted to the
truth; and one of them, of the learned profession, re-
ce.ved the rite of baptism. In 1829, Ala composed
some Chnstian essays explanatory of the gospel of
Christ, and addressed them to his countrymen ; also
ifloT'Jl^"^"^'''"'' Idolatry." In the early part of
laJO, Dr. Morrison, at Macao, baptized a Chinese of
the name of Kew-ha-gang, who, it was intended, should
assist Ala in the distribution of tracts. Dr. Morrison
describes Leang-a-la, his first convert, as dead to the
world, and living to Christ. Afa, accompanied by
Agong, Itinerated about two hundred and fifty miles in
the interior of China, to instruct their countrymen, and
distnbute tract.. On the 25th of February, 1830,
Dr. Mornson had the pleasure of welcoming two
young Amencan missionaries, Messrs. Bridgman and
Abeel. His heart xvas cheered by their arrival, and
to them he surrendered the services which he had so
long performed for the Americans upon the sabbath,
and devoted himself exclusively to the best interests
of the Chinese.

In a letter under date of January lOth, 1831, Dr
Mornson writes, in reference to the circulation of parts
of God s word, " I have a confidence and a hope in the
pure text of Holy Scripture, as derived from divine inspi-
rsuon, lar Superior to any iiuman composition, for the
sake of the heathen. Yesterday, Leang-a-fa wrote
out, for a sheet-tract, that inimitable exhibition of the

SIO

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

vanity of idols contained in Isaiah, chap. zl. which
happened to be the lesson of the day, and was read
by us in our little native congregation. Afi (as we
abbreviate his name) explained the Scriptures in the
morning to his aged pagan father, and mentioned with
grateful hope, that the old man's heart was somewhat
softened. He listened to the word, and knelt down
to join in prayer to the living and true God, through
Jesus Christ."

Thus stationed at the only point on which a nation,
unequalled for the rigor and exclusiveness of its policy,
allows Christendom to come in contact with China,
and at tlie avenue through which Europe and America
for their commerce penetrate the empire, the devoted
Morrison pursues his unostentatious yet important
work, presenting, as opportunity admits, the peail of
great price — the gospel of salvation. And thoup;') his
spirit be stirred within him, on beholding the whole
nation given to idolatry, and his soul at times depress-
ed by the obstructions which ignorance and atheism,
tlie fear of man, the love of the present world, and
prejudice, arising from the natives confounding the
religion of the New Testament, with that system of
corrupted Christianity which popery has presented,
he is nevertheless clieered by the success that hos
attended his labors He is also encouraged to per-
severe by the assurance, drawn from no uncertain
aources, that China, in common with the rest of the
world, shall ultimately be given to Christ for his in-
heritance, and her millions be subdued in the day of
his power.

MALACCA.

This peninsula stretches from the southern part of
the Siamese territories to within about two degrees
of the equator. Malacca was the Golden Chersonese
of the ancients. It was discovered by the Portuguese,
very early in the sixteenth century. Heat and mois-
ture are the chaiactcristics of the climate, which is
fittal to the European constitution. Malacca is the
capital of the country, and is situated on the western
coast, op]x>site the strait of that name. The religion
of the country has been taken from the Arabian
impostor. Tlie city has been under British authority
since 1825.

In the autumn of 1812, the Rev. William Milne
sailed from England, with the design of assisting Dr.
Morrison in his missionary labors in China. On his
arrival, however, at Macao, which belongs to the Por-
tuguese, the Roman Catholic priests exerted their in-
fluence with the governor, to effect his removal ; and

he was ordered to quit the island within eight days.
He accordingly retired for the present to Canton,
whilst the European vessels were taking in their
cargoes ; and ho afterwards visited Java, with the
design of circulating the New Testament, and difibrent
religious tracts, among the Chinese emigrants residing
there and in the adjacent islands. AAer distributing
great numbers of books in Datavia and the vicinity,
he made an extensive tour through the eastern parts
of Java and the island of Madura, to which he al-
ludes in the following extract of a letter, dated July
1, 1814:—

" During this journey, I have travelled about four-
teen hundred miles over land, without injury ; — have
visited Bencoolen, the seat of the sultan of Madura,
and slept a night in the palace ; — also Solo, the
metropolis of the emperor of Java, to whom I was
introduced. I have, also, visited all the towns and
villages of importance where there are Chinese, from
Batavia, near the west end of Java, to Sumanap, on
the farther extremity of the island of Madura. At all
those places I have distributed Chinese New Testa-
ments, catechisms, tracts, £tc. to a considerable
amount, and have made arrangements for sending some
to the Chinese residents in the island of Borneo."

After his return to China, Mr. Milne determined,
with the concurrence of his excellent colleague, to
settle at Malacca, as the seat of a branch of the Chi-
nese mission. Accordingly, on the 15th of April,
1815, ho and Mrs. Milne embarked in the Lady Bar-
low, and on the 2i2d of May they arrived safely at
their place of destination ; where they were received
with every mark of kindness and attention by major
Farquhar, the resident and commandant, who, having
previously heard of their intended visit, ordered a
house to be prepared for their accommodation. He,
also, expressed his entire approbation of the objects
of the proposed mission, and generously allotted
eighty dollars per month to Mr. Milne, for such ser-
vices as his missionary engagements might permit him
to perform in the Dutch church, which happened, at
that time to be destitute of a minister.

Shortly after his arrival, the missionary intimated
to the resident that he felt anxious to establish a
charity school for poor Chinese boys ; and, having
obtained the approbation of that gentleman, ho fitted
up an apartment in his own garden for the purpose
of a school-room. A notice of iiis design having been
circulated among the Chinese in their own language,
fifteen boys were induced to give in tiieir names, most
of whom had never read a word before. These were
instructed in the elementary books common in China,
togetlier with writing and arithmetic, according to th«
Chinese method.

Speaking of his different avocations, at this time,
M . M.h„i observes-.;' My daily engagements exhibit
but httle variety ; being chiefly confined to learninit

f*.u f^,'!?^~^°"'P°''"S'~«"'' translating passages
of the Old Testament. hy,n„s. anecdotes and misceU
Uneous pieces. Part of every day is spent in reading
Uio Scnpiuros and prayer, with the Chinese domestics
rhis exercise is now held in the school. a„d a few
pi^cticaJ remarKs aremadeon thochapteror paragraph
read. Few days occur in which some Chinese do not
call, either to ask for tracts, or to converse ; and this
affords frequent opportunities of speaking to them
respecting the things of God. Convinced of the
importance of frequent intercourse with them, I have
had a httle room fitted up. in tlie Chinese style, with
Beats, small tables, roll* of characters hung up, &c.
Hero those that come sit down, and we converse to-
gether ; and this apartment answers, also, as a chapel.
In tins way, one day is spent after another, except that
now and then a visit is paid to the Chinese in their own
houses. '

In describing his mode of spending the sabbath,
Mr. Mdne says, "At ten o'clock, I preach a short
discourse m English, in the church, to a congregation
of from thirty to fifty peopie.-At one, I pray'.ith
my Chinese domestics, read a portion of the Scriptures
and give a short discourse on the passage rea.l._At
half-past throe. I examine the boys in the Chinese
school, and hear thecl.ler pupils repent Mr. Morrison's
catechism.-In the course of tiie afternoon, I gene-
rally go in.o the town, and talk with any China-men
whom I happen to meet ; so,:,etimes sitting down in
their shops, and conversing with eight or ten at one
place, and then going on to another. Sometimes
I give thorn a tract to read, and endeavor to explain
It ; and with those with whoso dialect I am but im-
perfectly acquuinted, I converse by writing, and. in
this way, introduce to their notice some of tlio most
important do<Urines of Christianity.-I,, the evcniuK
about eight o'clock, we read a chapter in Mr Morri^
son's translation of Genesis, upon which a few remarks
are made ; and then my teacher and printer bring
forward a few verses of a hymn, which they have
composed during the day, on some passage of the New
Testament, pointed out by nie for that purpose. Their
poetical performances are often very imperfect ; but I
hope good will result from tlioir attention being thus
directed to the words of eternal life."

In January, 1916, Mr. Milne paid'a visit to Pinane
or Pnnce of Wales's Island, where he was received
with equal kindness and urbanity by several gentlemen
connected with the government. And he embraced
every Oi>poriu...iy, during iiis stay, of distributing
tracts, Testaments, &c. among the Chinese, and of I

MALACCA.

611

explaining their contents to all who were inclined to
give him their attention.

Arab?»? f*"'^'". '"^'' '"' "' ""'' *'"> Sabat, the
Arabian formerly a convert to Christianity, under the
abors of the Rev^ H„„ry Martyn. and subsequenoJ
employed by the Bible Society in Bengal. His aspect
appeared interesting in the highest degree, an7S
conversation discovered a very acute intellect I had
previously heard of his conversion and labors Tut
knewnothmg of his apostasy, till he himself mentioned

a ondn° '"T "''""'• '"'* '" """ ""hallowed step
he endeavored to explain; but I could not clearly

omprehend him. The fact of his apostasy, and of
J^« baving written a book professedly in fovor of
Mahometamsm, he did not attempt tJ conceal; but
appeared to be deeply affected with the sin and folly

1^1^. ; ^".'."yP"»-S »«'"o pointed ques.
I'ons to him, he replied. ' I am unhappy I I have a
mountain of burning sand on my head ! And when
Ko about. 1 know not what I am doing !' Ho then
added. .What I did in renouncing Christianity nj
writing my book, (which I call my evil v^orkj) Z
J«"c in that heat of passion which is so natural to an
Arab; and my chief wish now is, that God may spare
.no to refute that book, page by page. I know it con
tains all that can be sai.l in favor of Mahometanism ,
and should I live to refute it. I shall render n grente.
service to the gospel than if it had not been written ^
•' He spoke with rapture of the Rev. H. Martyn
and said that if every hair on his body were a tongue.'
he could not fully describe the worth of that cxcelLl
man. He also alluded to the Rev. Messrs. Cran and
IJes Granges as amiable and lovely characters ; and
observed that the Baptists at Seramporo were very
worthy men. '

"The case of this ,>oor man," says Mr. Milne,

deeply affected me and captain M'Innes. who was

also present. We afterwards visited and conversed

wall him, and. as ho understood English, I wrote a

etter to l„m. previously to my leaving Pinang, ex-

tlH Lord " '° " ''""■"''^ "-epentancc and turning to

" After a little time, he went over to Acheen, with
the ex-king ; but for what purpose I know not. On
his way back to Pinang. he unfortunately fell into
the hands of the usurper, who seized all his property,
and put him in irons. A few days ago. I received
a letter from him, from which it appears that he is
confined day and night in the gun-room of a ..iratical
hrig belonging to the usurper, and that, during the
I'lght, ho IS always put in irons. He says, ' When
- ..a_ nr- ..,„t,g„i uciorc inc usurp,,, ii6 examined
me, and found no fault ; but he afterwards asked,
What is thy religion ?'_I replied, ' My parents were

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

1.1

liiUi 12.5

^ \& 12.0

2.2

yi III u 1116

^;.

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

33 WEST MAIN STREET

WRISTBII,N.Y 14SS0

(716) •73-4S03

■<^,>**

' *\^

LONDON MUi^QNAJHT SOCIETY.

ll«b(»nt«iu.'— ' But w^»t » <A|ri«li|M?' To tfui
t mttely aiuwered, «God k<M>in.V ' Th6n»^ yaid tbe
nsurper, 'thy parents were Mahometan?, btit tbe« art
a iStraiiM (a Chrittiaq), and SHUt be piit to death.'
Since that tune l^e bu b«eii incewfineiqeoti nor does
U appeal that be deoied hn bMa| sUU a Chria^an.
I inunediateljr d«spatobed the letter to^ptain M'times,
eotreatmg luin to eodearor to procure &bat's release,
and earnestly prayed tbe Lord to grant that in his
eaptivity his backsUdinga might be healed."

On his return to Malacca, b the month ot February,
tbu devoted missionary opened two new schools, con-
tuning rixiut forty boys, and, m a short time, the
number increased to eighty. On removing, however,
to the mbsion-house, without the western gate of the
town, the pupils began to diicrease ; partly in con-
sequence of the augmented distance, and partly from
tbe prevalence of the measles in the neighborhood.
The method of writing in sand was now first introduced
among the lower classes, and a number of painted
boards were prepared, instead of slates, for those boys
who were further advanced. It was with considerable
difficulty that the Chinese teachers, accustomed so
long to their own mode, could be brought to adopt this
new plan. They were gradually convinced, however,
of its utility, and when the scholars were brought on
■0 far that one whole school, consisting of nearly
sixty boys, could all write tbe same characters at
once, they seemed completely overwhelmed with as-
tonishment.

In tbe beginning of April, Mr. Milne had a favor-
able opportunity of distributing some tracts and New
Testaments on board some junks from Siam and
Cochin-China, the crews of which were almost entirely
Chinese. He had, indeed, considerable difficulty in
making himself understood, in consequence of the
difference of their dialect ; but when he wrote, they
easily comprehended his meaning. Some of them
never having heard of such a thing w the gratuitous dis-
tribution of books (0 strangerr, at first could scarcely
believe that the tracts, be. were really designed for
their acceptance; and when convinced of tbe (act,
they received them with evident symptoms of aston-
ishment. It after^vards appeared that some of these
men, in compliance with our missionary's request, had
circulated some copies of the New Testament in
Cochin-China ; and, though a Romish priest had
earnestly endeavored to diinuBde the people firom
receiving them, the curiosity of many had been excited
to know what the prohibited contents were, and an
anxious inquiry after the bocks had taken place.

On the first sabbath in November, a Chinese, named

t..^.

..I... e.k

. k...'....J !.

Ktf iKa mAj%m-

able Trinity. The servioe was performed privately, hi

a room to the BMW9»4Kpa9i all posnble caitB hafbi|
been previoualy talMn,by eonvenatioB imd instiuc^,
to prepare him Amt this aacrad orpliaance.

"He belongs," says Mr. Milae," to tbf piovinR*
of Canton ;, is a single man, about thirty yeava of aga |^
and has no relations living, except a fktber aod ,§,
brother. He can read a plain hock with eaaoi j^t hwi
received only a common education. He it of a ^ ^adjr
character and frugal habits ; but his temper is less socii^
ble and engaging than that of many of hb countrymen.
He wu formerly very obstiuate, and occasionally trou-
blesome ; but, of late, there has been scarcely any thing
of this kind to complain of. He told me, some daya
«ince, that he was employed in perusing my IVeatise
on the Life of Christ ; but whether he had been serious-
ly impressed with the contents of that book, I am not
able to say.

" With respect to his former lifa, he observed, < I
was never much given to idolatry, and seldom went
to the temples. I sometirass prayed towards heaven,
but lived in careless indifference. Although I rarely
went to excess in sin, yet I have been occasionally
guilty of drunkenness and other vices. Before I came
hither, I knew not Cod ; but now I desire to serve
him.' He wished' to be baptized exactly at twelve
o'clock, ' when,' to use his Own words, ' the shadow
inclinos neither the one way nor the other.' What
his view was in fixing on that precise time I cannot
tell ; but I suppose it trose from the remains of that
superstitious regard to < times,' which prevails so gen-
erally among the Chinese. I told him that God had
not distinguished one hour from another, and that ho,
as a disciple of Christ, must, in future, regard every
hour and day alike, except the sabbath, which is to
be specially devoted to the service of God. Aware,
however, that some superstitious attachments mav, for
a considerable time, hang about the first convert* from
paganhm, and that it is in the church and under the
ordinances thereof, that these attachments are to be
entirely destroyed, I did not think it advisable to
delay administering the initiatory ordinance."

In the course of thp same month, our missionary
opened a Thursday evening lecture in the temple of
Ta-poh-kung, to which he gained admission through
(he influence of two of his most regular hearon.
" Being a public place," says he, " though small, it
seemed better adapted to my purpose than a private
house, though larger ; because quarrels and contentions,
which often prevent neighbors who do not agree froL-
going to a private house, do not prevent them fro^
visiting the temple. The pir-oa is sometimes fu!' I
sit down before the altar, preach tbe jospe! of the Son
sf Gsd. ssd sflaa ssndessa IdolfitPV in lb* Qf Mence of
the idoi and its vouri'n. On great days, I am obliged

to «i before pot. of smoking incense, cup. of tea: «nd
iHiroliig candle, of an immense siie, placed on the
■lur. m honor of the deity who«> wor8h;p it is my aim
to overthrow. I wUl not presume to say a single
word, which may lead to a supposition that great things
•re doug ; but I think it would not be a Uttle gratify,
mg to the members of the Bible Society, to see half
t dojen NewTesUments taken out and opened in this
Idol s temple by the heathen, in order to search for
the text, or to look over the passage explained. The
people bnng their books from their houses, and carry
them back when the service is over. How great a
blessmg will the Bible Society, which furnishes this
precrous volume, prove to the world, and how impor-
tant IS Its assistance to Christian missionaries '"
I .^V^l l*'^°'" ^°''"»'«'-. »8I8, major Farquhar,
late Juiglish resident and commandant of Malacca, laid
the foundation-stone of an institution called the Anglo-
Chinese College, in the presence of the Hon. J. S.
Thyssus, governor of the colony, since its restoration
to the king of the Netherlands. Several medical gen-
Uemen belonging to the honorable East India Com-
pany's establishments in Bengal, Pinang.and Bombay,
also attended on this occasion, together with the com-
mandant of the Dutch troops, the membeni of the
college of Justice, and the principal Dutch inhabitants
of Malacca.

This institution, the chief objects of which are the
cultivation of Chinese and English literature, and the
diffusion of Christianity in the countries and islands
Which he to the eastward of Pinang. owes its origin to
tne Kev. Dr. Morrison, who generously devoted the
sum of one thousand pounds sterling to the erection
of the building, and promised an additional sum of one
hundred pounds annually, for the fi-st five years, com-
mencing from the opening of the college.

In reference to this establishment, Dr. Morrison
thus writes to the directors of the London Missionary
Society : — '

" It is my anxious wish to see the Ultra Ganges
mission well arranged and consolidated, or that there
may be a succession of co-operation in the same line,
and directed to the same point. The desirable thing
IS so to arrange matters, that there shall be present
oo-operation and continued effort. The work is too
great for much to be done in a single life-time. May
our blessed Saviour direct to such plans as he will
eventually own and bless. The Anglo-Chinese col-
lege appears to be a very important mean ; as I am
persuaded that the more we can bring Chistendom
and China in contact with each other, the more prob-
able is the diffusion of divine ravalaiics in «h!.f...--»-r
Of the vTorld. I^t me beseech you. therefore, by the
tender mercies of God our Saviour, to continue your
Vol, I.— -Nos. 43 k 44. Q^

MALACCA.

paternal care of these mission., and particulariy ta
deal kindly with thu. infant seminary. It i, the off-
spnngof the Missionary Society; and its ultimate end»
•nd the ultimate end of .11 connected with it, is the

ZKu i"^\ "P°". *"'''• I^'»«n«"«' » the means,
not the end. (ts principle is borrowed from that of
the Missionary Society, as it is devoted to the cause
of one common Christianity, and not to the interest of
a party. God grant that it may prosper ; that it may
be an honor to my country, and a blessing to China ;

fit", .K w """?? T''"" '*' "•""« "«* '^^ "» bene-
fits, the West and the East ; and finally blend in peaceful

intercourse the extremities of the world, the islands of
iintam and Japan."*

In the month of March, 1819, Mr. Milne was be-
reaved of his pious and affe ctionate wife, in whom he

• The importancof thi. in.Utution, in .lile«ry, monU .nd «o.

.""'•The college will be flimiibed, 5

«.el. hTkf '""•*■"''? Chine* library, „d . aolleotion of .11
■«eh book. .. be„ upon iu object., W,., book. ofjenerU Utermtw.
»d ^..nce, w,th ,uch « tr.., of th. Lngu.,,, hLto.;, „^^"^,
&c. of the nation, above .peoitied. ^ "• ' j', iimiibi.,

"8. European profc»or. of the Chine* languafe, caprf,!, .Uo
of con.™„„.c.u„g European learning: and naUve Chine* tuC
The European profewor. will be ProtertanU

"3. Accommodat'on. in the college for a iimited number of .tu-

■' 4. A fund will be formed for th. maintenance of poor .tud.nto.
fi, .;; 1 *''"°P«"" ■*"•'''"«•. 'he Chine* language will h. Uught
fcr .uch purpo... a. the .tudenU ohoo* to appl^.,_,o ren2„.
to literature or to commerce. ^'^•'poa,

"0. To native .tudenta, the English luiguage will be Uugbt-
geography, arithmetic, hi.tory, and .ueh other branche. of learniu*

o oTlnH ' T""' ""^ "°'"' PWh-ophy, ChriaUu. thj!

oiogy and their own clanic

literwy .tudenU may avail th.m.elve. of; and it i. intended o form.
on the ground, of the college, a boUnical garden, to collect und.;
one view the t«,picd pl«,t. of the ...tern Archipilago.'f

Amel. l?'"i°'" '"' "'^"" "'■ ^"^^^ "' "^ "«' continent of
America, belonging to any Chri.tian communion, or bringi,,,, with

tlT .TT '•"»"""••"«•"<"'• •" «o their moral habiu, and the oh-
..«!!! >7 T '." "'""• "'" "* "•™"«ed.-P.r«,mi from European
un.ver.ltie., having travelling follow.hip., ChrtaUan mi«ion.ri..,
•nd peraon. belonging to commercial oompanie., or attached to
naUonal con.ul,, will be wlmitted.-Natlve youth, of any of the
tbove-menuoned countrie., who either .npport them*lve., or who
may be maintained by ChtiaUan *«letie.. or by private genUemei
.Tl ri^ "T ""'"' y-"". by giving U,cm an Engll.h educ^

,7 T,.!" " .'" '"'""" •'■•" "°» ^ "*«''«' '<• Pf"""" 'he Chri^
U.n religion i they will, however, b. in,iud to do «,, uid the good
ofdsr of the in.l,»uUon will r«,uir, Uieir aU.ndanoe on all leoturM
given publicly." ">""■

t A "•'»«'k«M. iniiane. of tropical vegetation I. now to he «.n in the eol.
Iegrg«d«|, Theral.a.,,e,,alM .he prtrf. ./ A«hv,, wWeh be„. . ItJII
. . ""\ ' "-, -H*' ""•" '""• " '"'"7 we' ftiffH, with m«uv rracelkii

Janrmil, London eilUion, 1831 , p*|« fTt, vol. I.

514

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

h&d found a " help meet," in the strictest sense of that
expression. About two years before this trying event,
she had been visited by a very serious illness, during
which her life was despaired of At that time she
made a solemn surrender of herself, her husband, and
her beloved children, to God her Saviour, and her en-
joyment of the consolations of the gospel was so great,
that she afterwards said, in reference to her recovery,
" Your intimation that my complaint had taken a favor-
able turn filled me with sorrow, and I felt an unspeak-
able disappointment in being sent back again, as it were,
from the gates of heaven, to spend a little more time
iu this sinful and dreary state."

A voyage to China, and the kind attentions of friends
in that country, were, under the divine blessing, the
means of restoring her to such a measure of health as
enabled her to resume the duties of her family. She
did not, however, recover her former strength ; but
though her life was spared, she had a presentiment that
it would only be for a short period.

She was present at the commemoration of her Re-
deemer's death, on the first sabbath of January, 1819;
and it proved to be a season of peculiar interest and
edification, not only to herself, but to all with whom
sLe united on that occasion. She afterwards observed
with tears, to some of her female friends, that " she
thought it was very likely to be the last time she
should paruke of the fruit of the vine w-th them at the
table of the Lord ;" and this remark proved prophetic,
as some circumstances prevented the public celebra-
tion of that ordinance again, whilst she was yet in the
body.

On the sixth of February, she gave birth to a son,
and, for nearly a fortnight, she seemed to be going on
so well, that she began to anticipate the pleasure of
soon carrying her little one to the house of God. An
alarming relapse, however, having occurred, she re-
quested that her child might be baptized in her cham-
ber. When she had thus devoted him to the Lord,
she expressed her satisfaction with the performance of
a duty which she considered as imperative on a Chris-
tian parent. As her weakness now rapidly increased,
and the hour of her dissolution evidently drew near,
she employed every interval of exemption from pain
in commending herself and her family to God. She
did not now experience any of those rapturous and
oyful emotions which she had felt in her former illness ;
but her hope of salvation was steady and immovalle,
being fixed upon the eternal Rock of ages.

On the nth of March, she removed to the country-
house of a gentleman of Malacca ; and in this peaceful
retreat she could enjoy the attentions and prayers of
her husband, without those mterrupiions which were
unavoidable in the town. She repeatedly called her

children tQ. her bedside, that she might see and bless
them ; and two days after her removal, she took an
aitectionate leave of several friends, and gave them
he>' parting benediction. The next morning, when a
friend engaged in prayer, she manifested evident symp-
toms of pleasure, but was able to say little ; and after-
wards, when her children were introduced for the last
time, she was no longer able to speak. It was now
obvious that the time of her departure was at hand,
and, about nine o'clock in the morning, she exchanged
the sorrows and infirmities of life for the joys and
glories of the upper and better world. This event oc-
curred in the thirty-sixth year of her age ; and her
remains were interred in the Dutch burial-ground at
Malacca.

In the autumn of 1820, the building of the Anglo-
Chinese College was finished, and the important work
of tuition commenced. Seven persons were now ad-
mitted for the purpose of studying the Chinese lan-
guage, but only five were considered as regular students.
Of these, one was a missionary belonging to the society,
and two others were designed to act as native teachers
or school-masters, in subserviency to the great object
of the mission.

In the beginning of 1822, the mission at Malacca
and the London Missionary Society sustained a severe
loss in the death of Dr. Milne, of which the following
account is given in the report for 1823 : —

" Dr. Milne had for several years suffered much
from occasional indisposition ; and the directors had,
in consequence, given him permission to visit the
Cape of Good Hope, or his native country, with a
view to his restoration ; but a temy irary improvement
in his health, and his earnest desire to ^jromote the
interests of the mission, and particularly to complete
his portion of the Chinese version of the Holy Scrip-
tures, induced him, from time to time, to decline the
proposal.

" In the beginning, however, of last year, the symp-
toms of his disorder returned with so much violence
as to render it advisable that he should immediately
take the benefit of a sea-voyage. He therefore pro-
ceeded about the end of February, to Singapore, in
the Margaret, captain Allan, who kindly gave him a
free passage, and who, as well as the passengers on
hoard, not only manifested towards him the most
friendly disposition, but made the greatest possible
sacrifices in order to promote his accommodation and
comfort. At Singapore he enjoyed, at the house of
his friend colonel Farquhar, the resident of the Hon.
Elast India Company, every advantage that coiild tend
to promote his recovery ; and it appears that, during
this visit, he ibund himself, in some r«sp«cw, uviiwff
than he wai on his arrival at the island.

_ AlUr remuniog a few weeks at Singapore, Dr.
Milne proceeded to Pinang,in the ship Jemima, com-
manded by Lieut. Watt, R. N., who also kindly gave
him a free passage. He arrived at Pinang on the
llih of April, but without having experienced any
sensible benefit from the voyage. After residing about
a fortnight with the brethren at George Town, he was
mvited to the country-house of David Brown, Esq.,
where he received the most kind and hospitable atten-'
tions. Finding, however, that he did not ^et better,
but rather grew worse, he signified his wish to return to
Malacca, with the intention, after arranging the affairs
of the mission there, to proceed on a voyage to the
Cape of Good Hope, in conformity to the recommen-
dation of Dr. Alexander, of Pinang.

" As no immediate conveyance offered, Mr. Brown
applied to his excellency governor Phillips, who, with
the greatest kindness and promptitude, gave orders that
the Nautdus, government cruiser, should proceed with
Dr. Milne to Malacca, and that Mr. Beighton, one of
the society's missionaries at Pinang, should be permitted
to accompany his friend and fellow-laborer thither.

" Every possible attention was paid to Dr. Milne
during the passage by Mr. Boyd, the sur^f-H o' the
Nautilus, as well as by Mr. Beighton; hi. it was
apprehended that he would not be able to survive the
voyage. Happily, however, he Was spared for a few
days. He was landed at Malacca, on the 24th of
May, in a state of extreme weakness ; and eariy on
the morning of the <zi of June, he calmly resigned
his happy spirit into the hands of his Redeemer."

The following additional particulars are extracted
from a letter written by Mr. Beighton, and dated June
10, 1822 :— '< On the sabbath we spent at sea. Dr.
Milne appeared to be a little more composed than
usual. I was near his couch, and he appeared to be
frequently engaged in prayer. On one occasion, his
petition was, ' O God, prepare me for life or death ;'
adding, with peculiar emphasis, ' but death— death !
that is the thing !' Many expressions droppwl from
his lips, intimating that li. thought his esrtlilfcourse
was nearly finished. The Lord, however, was pleased
to spare his dying servant to see his family at Malacca,
where we arrived on the 24«h.

" Dr. Milne had previously made his will, so that
his woHdIy affairs were speedily settled. It soon
became apparent that the time of his departure was
at hand. The Dutch physician attended him, and
pursued the same course of medicine which had been
commenced by Mr. Boyd. The hiccough come on,
and continued several days. Dr. Milne did not ap-
pear to experience those raptures with which Ecms
are favored on the near approach of death ; but his
confidence in Christ was thus expressed :

MALACCA.

516

' If I am fooad ia Jesoi' handa,
My aoul can ne'er be lost'

"About five o'clock on Saturday afternoon, June 1.
he was m extreme pain, and exclaimed, 'My God
•ny God. help me !' He was afterwards somewhat
more easy but became gradually weaker ; at half-past
two o clock on Sunday morning (June 2), our highly
respected fnend and brother was released from all his
suffenngs ; and his happy spirit fled to enjoy a glorious
sabbath m the paradise of God.

"Thus has the society lost a faithful and laborious
missionary, and four dear children are deprived of a
tender father.

"Upon the inspection of the body, it was found that
his disease was wholly pulmonary, and not that of the
livor He had attained his 37th year, on the 27th of
Aprd last."

"By the death of Dr. Milne," say the directors,
the society sustains no ordinary loss. The firmness
and decision of his character; his intellectual energy;
his enlarged views ; his habits of application ; his
devotion to the cause of the heathen, and his enlight.
ened and fervent piety, constituted him a most valuable
and efficient missionary. If we are compelled to
lament that his course of service was short, we would,
at the same time, remember with gratitude that his
labors were abundant, and that his life was spared
until the plans for giving effect to the important mis-
sion at Malacca, were in a great measure consolidated,
and carried out into vigorous and extensive opera-
tion."

In consequence of the decease of Dr. Milne, the
Chinese services at Malacca were, for a short time,
necessarily suspended ; as neither Mr. Humphreys
nor Mr. Collie, who had been sent out as missionaries
to that station, were then sufficiently familiar with
the language to qualify them for delivering public
addresses. On the arrival of Dr. Morrison, however,
who came over from Canton in the beginning of Feb-
ruary, 1823, for the purpose of erecting a monument
to the memory of his beloved colleaguo, and of ren-
dering vorious services to the mission, the Chinese
congregation were privileged with the dispensation of
the gospel as formerly ; and, after that gentleman's
departure, Mr. Collie was enabled to deliver a short
discourse to them every sabbath.

Numerous copies of the Chinese scriptures and
religious tracts were, about the same time, put into
circulation ; and at the celebration of a Chinese fes-
tival, the brethren were invited into the principal
'^"i*'?' ''^ '''^ ""*"* ""espectable residents of that nation
ai iTia:acc3, ann pormiUoti io ^ive tiieir Ciiinese books
10 every one in the assembly who could road. The
priests alone refused to accept of them,

•16

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Speaking of the youths admitted on the ibundation
of the Anglo-Chinese College, amounting to fifteen,
who had professedly embraced Christianity, and enter-
ed with cheerfulness upon their religious exercises, Mr.
Collie observes, " We are reading regularly through
the Old and New TesUments, and I am happy
to say tliat the students sometimes appear much
interested in the truths of this blessed hook. The
knowledge of the great fundamental truths of Chris-
tianity, which they manifest in conversation, and in
their essays, often astonishes and delights us ; and,
although we cannot say that any of them have as yet
manifested decisive evidence of conversion - to God,
yet there is much heavenly tiruth lodged in their minds,
and they are so far cast into the Christian mould, as
eqtirely to have given up idol worship, and have
externally become the daily worshippers of the living
and true God. We have not, for a considerable period,
observed one of them join in the religious ceremonies
of their nation ; and though we have heard, that, in
consequence of the circulation ol some sheet-tracts in
Malacca, some of the Ciiinese have attempted to hold
up our religion to ridicule ; yet our students, to a
man, most cheerfully assist us in the distribution of
tracts, sometimes travelling for hours together, under
a burning sun, in order to put the bread of life into tin
hands of their countrymen. Almost evary week, also,
some of them ask for tracts, to give to their parents
and relations."

The records of the printing establishment furnish
the following statement, under date of 20th May,
1893 : — " This day was finished the printing of the
whole Chinese version of the Scriptures. Ala, Dr.
Morrismi's convert, had the honor to commence and
complete this work, having arrived from China ex-
pressly for the undertaking."

In ISiiM, Mr. and Mrs. Kidd arrive<l at Malacca,
and commenced the study of the Fokeen dialect.
In 18S6, Mr. John Smith, A. M. of the university
of Glasgow, and Mr. Jacob Tomlin, B. A., fellow of
St. John's college, Cambridge, were appointed to this
mission. Mr. Collie, liie principal of tlie college, who
devotes his time wholly to (he institution, has generously
declined any remuneration for his services. In June,
1837, twenty-four Chinese students were on the foun-
dation. The senior class had read the book of Daniel,
the Gospel by John, and the Epistles of James and
Peter, beside other portions of Scripture. The mission
and college sustained a heavy loss in the death of the
Rev. David Collie, who, in the most laborious and
efficient manner, had devoted himself to the cause of
the gospel in the Ultra Ganges mission for nearly six
years. By this mournful event. Mr. Ki'M wn* !«ft tn
labor alone in the Chinese department of the mission.

In 1830, Mr. Humphrey* and Mr. and Mrs. Smith
returned to England, and Mr. Humphceys di^sdved
his connection with the society. In this weakened
state of the mission, the directors immediately de-
spatched the Rev. Josiah Hughes, whose labors were
to be given to the Malays. On the 6th of April,
Mr. Kidd baptized a Chinese youth, named Ttxe-Hea,
who was educated in the college, and who exhibits
great d«!sire to engage in the mission.

Among other works which have appeared iirom the
Chinese press at Malacca, are the following : — a trans-
lation of Joyce's Scientific Dialc^ues ; an abridged
edition of Stockius's Hebrew Lexicon ; a complete
version of the Old and New Testat.^ents ; Dr. Milne's
exposition of the Epistle to the Epheaians ; Dr. Milne's
Elssay on the Soul, a work which is intended to remove
the philosophical as well as religious errors of the
Chinese on that subject. A weekly piper in Chinese
is also published, to give a wider circulation to Chris-
tian instruction, and excite general attention to the
claims of the gospel.

SINGAPORE.

This island is situated at the southern extremity of
the Malayan peninsula, and is between eighty and
ninety miles in circumference. Thute are several vil-
lages on the island, inhabited by Malays; but the
principal town is Singapore, facing which is a good
road-stead for shipping.

In the month of October, 1819, the Rev. Samuel
Milton removed from Malacca to Singapore, the town
and principality of which were originally founded by
some adventurers from the island of Sumatra ; but
which had been recently ceded to the English, and
had increased so rapidly in respect to its population,
that, in the course of a few months, its inhabitants
amounted to nearly five thousand, of whom about two
thousand five hundred were Chinese, and the remain-
der chiefly Malays, Bugis, &c.

In this new and promising settlement, Mr. Milton
resolved to attempt establishing a Christian mission ;
and his design was cordially approved and kindly pa-
tronized, both by his excellency sir Stamford Raffles,
(then lieutenant-governor of Bencoolen,) and the resi-
dent, W. Farquhar, EJsq. who granted a piece of land
for the object. A temporary building was, according-
ly , erected, which served as a residence, a school-house
and a chapel ; and Mr. Milton immediately commenced
the work of religious instruction, delivering two dii-

anu as thought proper to attend ; one in the Mandarin,

ff'f

and the other m the Fo-keen dialect, besides preachinr
ereiy Lord , day in the morning, in English, for the
benefit of the European residents. He also established
two schools for the children of the Chinese and Ma-
lays; and though the number of scholars, at first, was
•mall, the diligence with which they applied them,
selves to their studies was highly encouraging; and
m a comparatively short time, some of the boys be-
longing to the Malay school were able to read in the
Wew Testament.

In the summer of 1828, Mr. Claudius Thomsen
removed to this station, in order to take charge of the
Malay department of the mission; and a place of wor-
•hip for regular services, both in the Chinese and
Malay languages, was commenced. Meetings for
morning and evening prayer were, also, regularly held
wuh the ..atives, of whom, including boys instructed in
the schools, about thirty were generally in the habit
01 attending.

About the same time, a line of buildings, ninety feet
by eighteen, was erected for the accommodation of the
school-masters, teachers, fac. connected with the
Chinese department of the mission ; Mr. Milton hi nself
having generously engaged to defray the whole expense
ol the building.

Towards the latter end of January, 1823, Dr Mor-
rison paid a visit to this station, in his way to Malacca,
and was favored with several interviews with sir Stam-
ford Raflles ; who expressed an earnest desire that
the Anglo-Chinese college should be removed to Sin-
gapore, and united with a Malayan college to be found-
ed in that settlement ; adding that he must look for
persons to fill up the several ofRces of the institution
chiefly among Christian misaionaries.

On this occasion, nothing appears to have been
definitively settled ; but on the return of Dr. Morrison
from Malacca, the subject was renewed, and it was
finally arranged with sir Stamford Raffles, colonel Far-
quhar, and the other principal gentlemen of the settle-
ment, that the Anglo-Chinese college should be re-
moved to Singapore, and associated with the proposed
Malayan college. Accordingly, on the first of April
a meeting of the principal inhabitants of the settlement
was held at the rosidency-house ; and, after sir Stam-
ford Raffles, who presided on this occasion, had sub-
mitted his ideas on the advantages of a Malayan
college, together with the suggestions of Dr. Morrison
foi uniting the two colleges in one general institution
It was resolved that the proposed Singapore imtUu-
Uon should consist of the following departments:
First, a scientific department for the common advan-
tage of the several colleges that may be established.
_.._.. g..„ jjjc,^. aepariiiiciu For the
Chinese, which the Anglo-Chinese college aflbrds.

SINGAPORE.

iit

And, thirdly a literary uid moral department for the
-ollTT' **"■ *** ^ P™'^®^ <<» V »»»• Malayan

The ultimate object of both the colleges was .fated
to be the same, viz. the propagation of the Christian
religion, and it was satisfactorily shown, that the prin-
ciples on which the Anglo-Chine«, college was origin-
ally founded, would remain unaltered, whilst iu
usefulness and sfficiency might be reasonably expected
to be increased by the benefits of reciprocal com-
munication.

In the course of the same year (1823) Mr. Milton
went to Calcutta, in order to purchase presses and
other articles for a printing-office recently established
m connection with the mission, and under the sanction
of the local government. On his return, he was ac-
companied by a compositor, and the printing of a
Siamese version of the book of Genesis was imme-
diately commenced. Five Malay youths, attached to
the mission, were now employed in the office ; and m
consequence of a liberal donation for that purpose from
ur. Morrison, arrangements were made for building a
bookseller's shop, with a school-room adjoining ; where
the Chinese version of the Holy Scriptures and religioui
tracts might be exhibited for sale. About the same
time, the government ordered two hundred acres of
land to be enclosed, for settling and employing such
persons as might be desirous of receiving Christian
instruction, and also directed that converts tb Chris-
tianity should be admitted to burial in the European
cemetery. '^

The deputation visited the station in 1826, and
though they regaroed it as an important field o(
labor, they gave a discouraging report of its existint
condition. ^

In 1 829,the missionary reports three baptized Malays,
two of whom aflbrd increasingevidenceof theirsincerity.
While It is to be lamented that so little success has yet
attended the endeavors to make the Malays acquainted
with the goipel, there are some causes which partly
account for it. The Mahometans of Singapore are
of the most violent class called Sonnite$, or tradition-
ists. They are followers of Iman Shafei, who is said
to have raised to lifo again all the sayings of their
prophet, after they had been lost one hundred and
fifty years. One of their notions is, that to reason
whether their system be true or false, is meuUl apos-
tasy. This naturally leads them to resist all inquiry.
In 182&— 30, there was an encouraging demand for
tracts and portions of the Scriptures.

The latest accounts from Singapore relate the
entire failure of the Malay school, in consequence of
ilie wretched dependence of the lower clanes upon
the chieA. But the distribution of Malay books is sue-

S18

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

cessfuUy pursued, tod thera is reason to hope that this
will be among the means of rousing the attention of
the natives to a sense of the importance and advantage
of Christianity. Booics are given away at the door of
the school and chapel ; they are accepted thankfully
by the people, and even by pilgrims and Uajeei
(devotees) to Mecca.

PULO PINANG, oB PRINCE OF WALES'S
ISLAND.

This island lies near the entrance of the straits of
Malacca, off the west coast of the Malay peninsula,
from which it is separated by a channel two miles
wide, which forms the outer harbor, and affords good
anchorage for large ships. It is a place of growing
mercantile importance, and its population has increas-
ed with astonishing rapidity since its transfer to the
British East India Company, in 1786.

In the month of January, 1819, Mr. Medhurst,who
had previously assisted Dr. Milne, at Malacca, em-
barked for Pinang, with the design of commencing a
Chinese and Malay mission in that island. Having
explained his object to the governor in council, he
was kindly encouraged to commence his operations,
and was informed that he might expect from govern-
ment an allowance of twenty dollars monthly, towards
the expense of the Chinese schools, and half that sum
towards the support of a Malay seminary. The
Chinese residents, also, cheerfully granted the gratui-
tous use of one of their temples as a school-room ;
and a considerable number of religious tracts were
accepted by them with readiness, and perused with
attention.

Mr. Medhurst having thus, as the directors ex-
press it, broken the ground, returned to Malacca ;
and, in the beginning of April, was succeeded by Mr.
Thomas Beighton, who had, for several months, been
prosecuting the study of the Malay language at that
station. This missionary and his wife had a free pas~
sage granted them by captain Snowball of the Bri-
tannia ; and, on their arrival, they were hospitably
received into the house of W. J. Cricroft, Esq. assistant
secretary to the government. Tiiey also experienced
the kindest treatment from the governor, colonel
Bannerman, who promised to do all that lay in his
power to promote the objects of the mission. Mr.
Beighton now erected, among the dwellings of the
Malay inhabitants, a shed, as a school for their children ;
and though the parents were evidently apprehensive
that the ultimate design of this was to induce them to
change their religion, they were much pleased with

4h« idea of persona voluatarily seeking their wel&ie,
and instructing their offipring free of expense. Another
Malay school was subsequently commenced in a Ma-
hometan mosque ; and in each of these places Mr.
Beighton intended *o introduce the reading of the
Holy Scriptures, in conjunction with other books in
the Malay language.

Mr. John Ince, the associate of Mr. Beighton in
this mission, remained at Malacca a few months after
the departure of the latter, in order to prosecute the
study of the Chinese language, under the peculiar
advantages enjoyed at that station. Towards the lat-
ter end of July, however, he embarked for Pinang ;
and, on his arrival, undertook the charge of the Chinese
schools commenced by Mr. Medhurst, into which the
national system of education was aov, introduced on
a limited scale.

Shortly after the arrival of Mr. and Mrs.,Ince, the
mission was deprived of the valuable patronage of the
highly respected governor, colonel Bannerman. Ten
days before this event, he had attended the funeral
of a European gentleman, who died after a very short
illness. Upon his return from the funeral, he com-
plained of a pain in his chest, and though all was
done that the skill of his medical attendants could
devise, his indisposition increased, till, at length, on the
9th of August, death put a period to his mor.al ex-
istence. He was attended to the grave by an immense
multitude of pensive followers, deeply regretted by all,
and by none more than the missionaries whom he had
so kindly patronized.

The first time Mr. Ince went out, at Pinang, for
the purpose of distributing religious tracts, the Chi-
nese, to whom he introduced himself, expressed much
surprise on hearing him address them in the mandarin
dialect. " Their usual salutation," says he, " was,
' From what place have you come, sir ? — from Macao ?'
They then received the books with apparent pleasure,
returned me thanks, and requested that I would sit
down with them, to drink tea and partake of their
betel nut. May the silent messengers thus sent
forth, be the means of leading many to inquire con-
cerning the truths which they contain, and, finally,
may they he brought to know the Saviour, and to
renounce their false systems of religion 1"

On the 4th of September, this missionary went to
witness the great idolatrous festival of Shaou and
Tseaou, which a considered as a feast of pure be-
nevolence ; being celebrated on the behalf of those
poor bereaved spirits who have no relations to mourn
for them, — to supply them with clothes, money and
other necessaries, — to rescue them from Tartarus,—
and to exalt them to higher and more felicitous regions.
ii On Mr. Ince's arrival at the temple, he wuini il out-

rounded by a vast concourse of people, whose genenl
appemuce reminded him of the crowrds which usuaiiy
attend a fair in England. On one side of the temple
was a large paper idol of a most uncouth form, and
•bout fourteen feet in height, with uncommonly large
glass eyes, and painted with various colors. Immedi-
ately before this hideous deity, was a long table, set
out with all kinds of provisions, interspersed with
small paper idols. At one end of the table were a
number of carpets spread on the ground, on which sat
.„ L' . »• "uf "^"' ^""hipping their god, chanting
an unrntelhgible jargon, and bowing themselves to the
ground. There were many other smaller paper idols,
represented as nding on animals of the same material
and the whole scene was illuminated by a profusion
of lanterns and candles. Behind the great idol was
a large quantity of pieces of paper, many of which
were covered with gold leaf. These papers were
burned by the idolaters, under a firm persuasion that
tney are transformed into money iu the world of
spirits.

.hnt?r "'""■'V"S '° "«'"« of«he persons around him
tha there was but one true God, and that such things
as these were displeasing in his sight, Mr. Inoe i„.
quired what their god was made of. Without hesita-
tion, they replied, « paper." He, of course, expressed
his astonwhment at the folly of worshipping a piece
of painted paper ; adding, that the deity they were
woMhippmg had eyes, but could not see.-ears, but
could not hear,-hands, but could not handle,-and
feet, but could not walk. The truth of these remarks
they candidly acknowledged, and as ingenuously con-
fessed, that when the feast Was over, their idol would

?.? "Z"'!,"!''."* "'* """"''• Y«* » completely were
they blinded by the power of Satan, that they were
unable to discover the absurdity of idolatrous wonihin
and incapable of asking, "I, there not a lie in our
right hand ?" On a second visit to the same festival,
Mr Ince observes, "Thousands of people were as-
sembled.and the noises made by the beating of drums
gongs, iic. were of such a horrid description, that it
appeared as if the gates of the lower regions had been
thro>ffn open, and all the infernals had issued forth at
once, to terrify mankind. These people spare no
pains nor cost in the worship of their idols ; but if
thet, are so sealous in the cause of error, what ought
Christians to be, in the glorious cause of truth ?"

About this time, the choUra morlm made its ap-
pearance in the island, and many of the boys were in
consequence detained from the schools ; sa their pa-
rents, considering this disease as resulting from the
resentment of devils, were fearful they would be af-
flicted for reading in the Scriptures.
One morning, aAer catechising such of the pupiSs

PULOPINANG.

Slf^

L!Z ^™""*"' *** «««d. Mr. k.e made some
inquiries respectmg a man who had died, the precedin*

the te«:her to point out the spot where the poor
creature had expired. It was «„idst the ruiiSTI
house whKh formerly stood u. the jungle, and sur"
funded by trees, which had grown to a co^sider^l

b ckness. In answer to some questions relative to
this sad event, the teacher stated, with the greatest
unconcern, that the man had been sick, and the pet
sons with whom he had lived, had turned him ouf of
their house, lest they should catch the disease :-that
bemg unprotected, he had retired to this spot, wher!
dunng the day, he cut a little fire-wood f^ hb sul'
istence, and slept as well as he could at night ; but
that bemg, at length, seized with the cholera, he had
aied, no one knowing of the circumstance, till his
corpse wasdiscovered in the jungle.

" While I was talking with the teacher," says Mr
Ince, "some of the boys belonging to the sch Jcame
up, and pointed to another poor creature, who lay

stood, but whom the jungle had prevented us from
seeing. I immediately went to the spot, when an
object presented itself which chilled my blood ; the
body of the man being completely covered with sores.
I asked him whence he came, why he remained in
that place, and why he did not go to the general
hospital ? He said he felt himself fold, and thIX
had come thither, that he might lie and warm himself
m the sun. I offered to send him to the hospital ; but
he said he had a home, and had only come out for
fresh air. What a miserable wretch was here !— a
man with his body eaten up by disease,-only a step
between him and death,-a„d no hope beyond the
grave ! I was obliged to leave him lying on a broken
pillar of the ruined fabric, and returned home affected
to Illness with the sight."

On the 27th of December, 1820, Mr. Medhurst.
who was then at Pinang, went to the house of an old
man, who had recently died, with the design of im-
proving the solemn event, by addressing the surviving
relations. None of these, however, could find leisure
to attend to him ; and his mind was deeply affected
by the shocking carelessness which they evinced re-
specting the things of eternity, notwithstanding the
forced and mechanical kind of sorrow and weeping in
which, at times, they appeared to indulge. The
body, when laid in the coffin, wax dressed in a com-
plete suit of new clothes, though the relatives were
very poor, and an abundance of gilt paper was kept
continually burning near the corpse. After the coffin

T ?!.'"? ""**"' "" '""'""* P°'' ^'"' e«t»b:es, was
placed before it; and the relations, beginning with the

6S0

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

eldest son, bowed down nine times, with their faces
toward the earth, before the deceased. The mat and
pillows belonging to the late occupier of the house
were then taken out, to be thrown away ; and all the
friends, who had assisted in the ceremonies, washed
their hands in oil, in order, as they said, to prevent
any noxious influence from adhering to them.

Early in the ensuing month (January, 1821,) Mr.
Medhurst paid a visit to a dilapidated temple, where
he found the altar neglected and the idol removed.
On inquiring why this sacred place had been de-
serted, he was told that the god had selected another
spot for his residence ; and when he urged the impos-
sibility of a log of wood exercising any choice, or
expressing his desire to others, his informant stated,
that there was no difficulty in the case ; for when they
were carrying the deity round the village, in his chair
of state, which was usually borne by four persons only,
h suddenly became so heavy, that twenty men could
oot have removed it from the spot which the idol had
«vidently selected as the place of his future residence !
'Hie person who made this assertion did not pretend
to have witnessed the fact, but he evidently believed
what he related, notwithstanding its monstrous ab-
surdity.

A few days after this conversation, a person applied
to our missionary for some medicine ; and, on being
isked whether he ever thought upon the family which
he had left in China, he replied in the affirmative,
•nd added, that he intended, in the course of the
ensuing year, to return and visit them ; as he
bad three sons, and one daughter who was married.
" I had another daughter," he observed ; " but I did
not bring her up." " Not bring her up !" exclaimed
Mr. Medhurst ; " what then did you do with her ?"
" I smothered her," he replied ; " and on hearing, by
letter, that another daughter was bom, I sent word to
have that smothered also ; but the mother has pre-
served it alive." " I was shocked at this speech," says
Mr. Medhurst, " and still more at the horrid indiffer-
ence with which he uttered it. ' What,' said I, ' murder
your own children ! Do not you shudder at such an
act ?' < O no !' he replied, 'it is a very common
thing in China. We put the female children out of
the way, to save the trouble of bringing them up : —
some people smother five or six daughters.' My hor-
ror was increased by his continued indifference, and
the lightness with which such crimes are perpetrated
in China with impunity, which must be the case
when they are related without fear of detection, as the
common occurrences of life. I felt that I had a mur-
derer by my side, who, without repentance, must
inevitably perish ; and I told him plainly, that he had
euininiticd a most drcadnii sin, and ws3 in danger of

utemal wrath. But though I said this with the greatest
seriousness and earnestness, he, at first only laughed,
and it was some time before he would acknowledge
that he had done wrong : however, afterwards he
seemed to feel a little concerned, and I hope affect-
ed." What an awful view does this present of the
celestial empire, loaded with crime, deluged with blood,
and ripe for destruction ! O that God would translate
them from darkness to light, and from the power of
sin and Satan unto himself!

During the year 1823, the brethren at Pinang issued
proposals for erecting a chapel by subscription, to be
used indiscriminately for Chinese, Malay, and English
worsliip. The expense was estimated at six thousand
Spanish dollars, and, in consequence of this applica-
tion, nearly half that sum was soon raised on the spot,
including a donation of four hundred dollars from his
excellency, govsmor Phillips. Tlie directors, also,
voted two hundred pounds in aid of this object, on
condition that the building should be regularly vested
in the society. The foundation-stone was accordingly
laid on the 11th of June, and in the course of the
ensuing summer the chapel was opened, and attended
by large and respectable congregations.

On the 24th April, 1825, aftera tedious illness, Mr.
Ince was called to the rewards which await the faithful.
Mr. Ince was a valuable and devoted missionary. He
was held in high esteem by all classes in Pinang. The
increased weight of missionary labor, which devolved
upon Mr. Beighton, after the decease of his late col-
league, was greater than his strength could bear. Se-
rious indisposition was the result, and he was compelled
to take a voyage to Singapore, committing the schools
to David, a native assistant, whose services in the Ma-
lay department are invaluable. In 1826, with im-
proved health, we find Mr. Beighton at his post. A
church was formed on the 11th July, 1826, and a lady
and gentleman, residents in Pinang, united with it, after
a renunciation of popery. " This year the state of
religion," the directors say, " among the European
residents, when compared with what it was seven years
ago, exhibits gratifying improvement."

Mr. and Mrs. Dyer arrived at Pinang in 1827 ; and
Mr. Beighton, in consequence of this aid, devoted his
labors to the Malay department. The report of the
directors for 1830 affords the following view of the
mission :

" Chinese Branch. — ^The habits and prejudices of
the Chinese, as well as the apathy which men naturally
feel as to spiritual things, prove most formidable obsta-
cles to the introduction of stated preaching among them.

" Mr. Dyer, however, indefatigably labors, by all the
means in his power, (such as conversing almost daily
iti iiic bazaars, attd other places of public rczOft, anu

JAVA.

the distribution among such as desire to read and exam-
ine for themselves, of Christian tracts and copies of
the Scriptures), to disseminate the gospel among that
people ; and we trust that the seed thus sown will,
through the divine blessing, at length spring up and
yield an abundant harvest.

"^^',\^hooU.-.Tbe boys' school, established
on the British system, affords Mr. Dyer increasing sat-
isfaction. The girls' school, under the care of Mrs
Uyer, was in a flourishing state in the early part of last
year,-but had been unavoidably suspended. It was
Mrs. Dyer's intention to resume it as soon as possible.
The school-room in which this school is held, erected
a17'7» l"' ^'"""S, at the expense offourhun-
Cbed^ dollars, has besn presented by them to th?

"Froma set of wooden blocks, prepared at Pinane
under the direction of Mr. Dyer, a sm'all fount ofS

S; Mr" WatU. '"''"' '''" '" '^^" '^'^ " ^"''-'
"Malay Branch.-Mr. Beighton, notwithstanding a
feeble state of health, continues with his usual zeal and
deyotedness to labor among the Malays, and preaches
to them, as formerly, in the mission chapel. During
the past year, he visited several places in the island, for
the purpose of distributing the Scriptures and religious
tracts among the Malays, whom, however, he found in
general so extremely ignorant, and incapable of reading
that to have distributed books among them would have
been useless. He, therefore, left copies with such
persons as were able to read, requesting them to col-
lect their neighbors once every day, and read the
books to them. In some places, the people desired
him to send them teachers, and to establish schools in
their villages. The Chinese with whom he met, eagerly
received some books in their language, with which
he bad been previously furnished by Mr. Dyer

"In the month of June, Mr. Beighton, accompanied
by Mr. Dyer, performed a missionary tour on the
western coast of the Malayan peninsula, where an
artap house has been erected for their accommodation,
whenever they visit that country. During their tour,
«iey distributed four hundred and eighty-four Bibles and
1 estaments, and three hundred and eighty-five tracts.
Our brethren were much surprised and gratified at the
eager demand for books by the Malays, and to find
that so many of them were able to read. The total
number of copies of the Scriptures distributed by Mr
Beighton, in 18S9, was eight hundred and fifty, and
of tracts, one thousand and eighty-five.
" The number of Malay schools has'been reduced to

five, in consequence of a aeneral md-ic*:"- :- •»•

emment establishment of Pinang, which has been^'ex-

tended to the allowances made in support of native

Vol. I.— Nos. 43 & 44. gg

581

schools in that island. It is, however, gratifybg to
know, that education is beginning to be viewed as hn-
portant by the people themselves; in proof of which
It may be mentioned, that Mr. Beighton has lately had
four applications for Malay schools, and he feels per^
suaded that a considerable number of such schools
might be established, were adequate funds provided for
the purpose.

« Mrs. Beighton has succeeded in gaining the confi-
dence of a number of Malay females, who are under
her immediate and constant instruction. She teaches
them to read the Scriptures and other Christian books,
borne of her pupils can read well, and most of them,
have made progress in needle-work. As, however*
they cannot be persuaded to leave their own compounds^
Mrs. Beighton is obliged to go to them, or the good
work would not be performed.

« English Services.— The lecture on sabbath even-
ings 13 not so well attended, as formerly, in conse-
quence of the government chaplain having commenced
a service in the church on that evening. The Wednes-
day evening prayer-meeting is well attended."

The latest accounts from this field of labor are con-
tained in a letter from Mr. Dyer, under date of Au-
gust7, 1830:—

"Concerning the Chinese mission at Pinang, I write
with more pleasure, as things have with me taken a
more interesting turn. The small house, or bungafow
m the bazaar, has been opened for some time, and I
make it my daily practice, if possible, to go, and sit
there some hours. I generally go in the morning:
immediately on my arrival, I am surrounded by a group
of patients, whom I supply with medicines. These
medicines were granted by the government on my
application. I perceive that this has already had some
influence upon the minds of the people, as many of them
now believe I have no sinister end in view."—" After
distributing medicines for a limited time in the morning,
I remain to converse with the Chinese, and for this
purpose I go again in the evening. Some of these sea-
sons have refreshed me much, and my mind has been
comforted and encouraged ui this interestuig work."

JAVA.

This island is separated from the south-eastern ex-
tremity of Sumatra by the strait of Sunda. Its length
IS six hundred and sixty English miles; its breadth va-
nes from sixty to a hundred and forty. The popula-

i'"iln"^ ^^""*"'"*^ ^y governor Raffles at about
4,000,000. Batavia is the metropolis of this most fer-
tile island. I was built by the Dutch, in 1619, upon

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

the plan of the towns in Holland. But the canals
were ill adapted to salubrity in such a climate. The
population of Batavia has dwindled from nearly
175,000 to about 50,000, and other towns have arisen
into importance. Surabaya, Samarang, Solo and
Djaijaieuta, are all as populous as Batavia.

In the year 1812, the directors of the London Mis-
sionary Society felt a strong desire to communicate
the blessings of the gospel to the inhabitants of the
great and populous island of Java ; especially as there
were said to be not less than a hundred thousand Chi-
nese residing there, among whom it seemed probable
that the Holy Scriptures, translated into their language
by Dr. Morrison, might be freely circulated. And for
the accomplishment of this pious desire, suitable in-
struments were soon and providentially furnished.
Joseph Kam, a native of Holland, John Christopher
Supper, and Gotlob Bruckner,* natives of Germany,
had been educated as Christian missionaries at Berlin
and at Rotterdam, and were intended to have been
sent out by the Netherland Missionary Society to
India ; but obstacles, occasioned by the war, prevented
this design from being carried into execution. They
came over to England, therefore, and were gladly
received by the directors of the London society ; and,
after spending some time very advantageously in the
seminary at Gosport, it was determined that they should
proceed to Batavia, the principal city of Java ; where
they might be usefully employed in preaching to the
Dutch residents, while preparing to evangelize the
native heathen. They were, accordingly, ordained at
the Dutch church in London, by the Rev. Dr. Wer-
ninck, on the 14th of November, 1813, and embarked
for Java, on the 31st of the ensuing month.

It is particularly worthy of notice, that whilst the
directors were employed in preparing this mission, two
gentlemen of fortune, who were on a visit, for their
health, to the Cape of Good Hope, called on the Rev.
Mr. Thom, at that place, and expressed an earnest
desire that some missionaries might be sent out to
Batavia. One of these gentlemen even offered six
thousand rix dollars for this purpose, and a bill to that
amount was actually transmitted, by Mr. Thom, to the
directors. Thus the Lord of mission»was graciously
pleased both to raise up laborers for the intended sta-
tion, and a handsome donation towards the expense
which would be necessarily incurred.

By the good providence of their God, the brethren
were favored with a safe voyage across the great deep ;
and, on reaching their place of destination, they were

• Thif la»t-mentioned miasionary afterwards became convinced
of the propriety of tlie peculiar views which distinguiih the Bap-
Uste, and was immeraed. Hit conneciiun wiiii iiiia Mxiialy wiu
diMolved, and he wai received under the patronage of the English
B«ptif t mission.

received in the kindest manner, by the Rev. Dr. Rosi,
the only surviving minister of the Dutch in Batavia.
This pious man evinced the utmost joy at their arrlTal,
and immediately made arrangements for placing them
in such situations as he considered would be most luie-
ful, and most congenial with the views of thedirecton.

It was, accordingly, determined that Mr. Kaih
should go to Amboyna, to take charga of the Dutch
church there, and to apply himself to the study of the
Malay language ; — that Mr. Bruckner should officiate
at Samarang, the minister of that place being incapaci-
tated for labor by age ; — and that Mr. Supper should
remain at Batavia, as the colleague of Dr. Ross. All
these appointments were authorized by his excellency,
governor Raffles,by whom the missionaries were treated
with every mark of urbanity and kindness.

In a letter dated November, 1814, Mr. Supper
speaks of an increase in his congregation, and states
that several persons had appeared to be convinced of
their sins under the ministry of the word ; but they had
encountered much opposition from theur gay connec-
tions, and many others were offended with the faithful-
ness of the discourses which had been delivered in the
church. In' the same communication he observes,
that the books which Dr. Milne had distributed among
the Chinese in this island, seemed to have produced
a good effect. " I now and then take a morning ride,"
says he, " on purpose to inquire whether the Chinese
read their Testaments and tracts, and I find that they
not only do so, but are pleased with what they read.
They are desirous, however, of having a living inter-
preter ; and indeed I earnestly wish that some feithful
missionaries might come hither, and attend solely to
the Chinese language ; as, in that case, they wculd
soon be able to preach to the people. It is true
that this would prove exceedingly expensive to the
society ; yet, without this, 1 think that much cannot
be done."

In another letter, dated August 12, 1816, and ad-
dressed to the Rev. Dr. Steinkopff, Mr. Supper says,
"The German, French, Dutch ard English Bibles
and Testaments, as well as the Portuguese New Tes-
taments, which, through your goodness, I carried out
with me, or received from you afterwards, have almost
all -been expended, and I can assure you, that they
have fallen into hands where they are daily made use
of The Ciiinese New Testament, which the zealous
missionary, Mr. Milne, distributed among the Chinese,
and those which I had the means of distributing, have
been visibly attended with blessed effects. I mention
only a few instances : A member of my Portuguese
congregation came to me last week, and said, ' I am
acquainted with some Chinese who generally come 10
me twice a week, when the word of God is the theme

JAVA.

of our convemtion 5 diey hare read the Chinese New
Testament, and find tlie contenu of it of far greater
excellence than that of any other book they have ever
readrbut yet they do not understand every thmg that
i« said in It, and consequently apply to me to explain
■nd clear up some passages which they cannot com-
prehend. I then give them such Ulustrations on the
u'^l^J *'"'° remembered from your discourses.'
u /J,"'/°«"g"ese is one of my pupils, and thanks
be to God, I may truly say, that he is my crown and
the first frwt of my labors among the nominal Chris-
tians here. The Chinese have already turned their
Idols out of their houses, and are desirous of becomine
Chnstians. °

"Another of my Portuguese pupils, a man of fifty-
eight, carne to me a few days ago, and told me that
a certain Chinese, who had read the New Testament
m his mother tongue, visits him three times a week,
to converse about the doctrines of Christianity ; he
seems to love Jesus Christ better than Confucius, and
expressed a wish for a few more books in the Chinese
language. He likewise turned his paper idols out of
his house, and is ardently desirous of becomine a
Christian. °

"I was lately on a visit to a certain gentleman,
where one of the richest Chinese in this country was
also a guest. He spoke to me in Dutch, and said,—
•I have read Mr. Morrison's New Testament with
pleasur:^. It is very fine, and it would be well if every
one led such a life as Jesus Christ has taught people
to lead. I cannot describe to you what effect these
words, spoken by the mouth of a Chinese, had upon
me. I commenced a discourse with him about his
idols, and said,— « You believe, according to the doc-
trines of Confucius, that thero is but one God, who
made heaven, the earth, man and every living crea-
ture ?' ' Yes,' he replied ; « but God is so far above
us, that we dare not address ourselves to hira, without
the intervention of the demi-gods.' I then said, 'As
God is the Creator of mankind, should we not call
him our common Father ?' « Yes, certainly,' was his
reply. « Well, if this be admitted, are not children
obliged to place confidence in their father ?' « Most
assuredly.' ' In what consists this confidence and
trust ?' No answer. 'Are not you the father of five
sons ?' ' Yes.' ' Now, what would you think or do,
if three of your sons took it into their heads to paint
images upon paper, or carve them upon wood ; and,
when finished, pay them all the veneration, and put
that confidence in tiiem, which is justly due to you as
their father ? Would you quietly submit to such con-
duct in your sons ?' ' No, I would certainly chastise
them, and place them in a mad-house, as laboring
under a fit of insanity.' ' But if they stated, by way

9S8

of exculpation, that from the great veneration they
had for you, as their father, they could not venture to
approach you, but through the intercession of imagu
which they themselves had made, what would you say
then ? ' I should answer, I have chastised you for
your want of confidence in me, and on account of your
conduct in preparing images, and paying them the
respect which is alone due to me, they being unable
to hear, move, or help themselves, I pronounce you
to be out of your senses.' ' But,' said I, ' do you act
more wisely, on this supposition, than your children
would have acted, when you worship the idols in youi
temples, and pay every honor to them in your houses,
which IS only due to your heavenly Father ?' «Ah 1'
replied the Chinese, 'we have never directed our
view so far; but I am convinced, that our idola.
try can never be pleasing to the only and true God
and that by so doing we provoke his vengeance
upon us.' °

"The conversation being ended, he went home,
seemingly dissatisfied ,n himself; and on his arrival
there, tore all the painted images from the walk, and
threw them into the fire. He has never since frequent-
ed the Chinese temples, and contents himself with
reading the New Testament, and other religious
writings, with which I supply him from time to time.
Is it unlikely that this Chinese is far from the kingdom
of God ? Is not the grace of God and the power of the
Holy Spirit able to convert even the Chinese to the true
Chnstian faith ? Many of the Europeans here are in-
clined to doubt this, and therefore look upon my labor aa
an unnecessary waste of time ; but their seemingly repul-
sive doubts animate me to greater Keal, and strengthen
my faith and hope that God will convince such unbe-
lievers by the evidence of facts, that the labors of his
servants among the Chinese will not be 'in vain in
the Lord.'

" You will rejoice with me when I tell you, that the
Lord has signally blessed the labors of my catechu-
mens. Four of them have solemnly made a confession
of their faith, and have been accepted as members of
our community ; as their conduct is a sure testimony
of the true Christian life they lead, and they continue
to give proofs, that they act under the influence of the
Holy Spirit and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the power of which unto salvation they have already
an experience of. One of my catechists reads the
Holy Scriptures with some Mahometans three times a
week, converses with them upon what they have read,
and they join in prayer in his house afterwards. One
of the upper servants of a Mahometan mosque told
•'ttsi t!ic utiicr uay, • i nave soived many years in our
temples, but have never yet heard so many agreeable
truths from the priests, as are contained in your Chris-

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

tian koran. I look upon the Christinn worship as the
best and most intelligible ; and since you have taught
roe to pray, I always feel a peculiarly agreeable repose
to my mind, when I have offered up my murning and
evening prayers, such as I never experienced before.*
Some of the p.iests have applied to me. through this
my beloved pupil, for an Arabic Bible, which, after
repeated requests, I shall send them. I do not, in
general, give the Bible, particularly to people of that
class, on their first application, nor on the second, or
even third ; and 1 hope that my plan cf proceeding will
be approved of by those, who have been attentive to
the way in which God deals with his children. God
does not give us in an instant what we desire or pray
for, but wisely exercises us in the duty of patient wait-
ing, until the time arrives when we are prepared to
set the proper value upon the gifts he in his mercy
bestows upon us. I consider it my duty, in imitation
of the example which the Lord has set before me, to
act in this manner; particularly when I reflect, that I
have buen thought worthy of being his steward and the
dispenser of the Bible Society's most precious gifts ;
which are of infinitely greater value than all earthly
kingdoms, for the Bible is the key to the kingdom of
eternal felicity."

The faithful and excellent servant of Christ, by
whom this interesting communication was penned, was,
in the course of the same year, summoned from the
scene of his labors to the mansions of eternal rest.
And from the period of his decease, the liondon so-
ciety had no missionary in Java until the summer of
18! 9, when Mr. John Slater, who had been for a con-
siderable time occupied in the study of the Chinese
language at Canton and Malacca, arrived there. On
his landing, he was much indebted to the friendly
attentions of the Rev. Mr. Robinson, the Baptist
missionary, who kindly received him into his house.
He also received much kindness from the Dutch clergy
in Batnvia, and his reception among the people was
more favorable than he had anticipated. They listened
to him with attention, though, perhaps, rather from
raoliviof curiosity than a desire for religious improve-
ment. The following extracts of a letter from this
missionary, dated 29lh of July, containing some ac-
count of his voyage, cannot fail to be gratifying to the
Christian reader: —

" We left Malacca on the 27th of April, with the
instructions, prayers an.l tears of our brethren. Our
principal baggage consisted of Chinese tracts, New
Testaments, and such parts of the Old Testament as
were printed, to the amour of 1 1 ,999 hooks. Our
brother Thomsen iumished me witli Malay tracts in
the Roman character, and Malay tracts, ratcchisms
•nd spelling-books in the Arabic cbartcter, jirinted by

himself, which increased my sstock to about 15,000
books. These, I I. >pe, it will be my happiness to dis-
tribute among the heathen, and that they will afford
me many opportunities of preaching the gospel amongst
them. Perhaps an account of my voyage mcy not
be uninteresting, as we touched at several places on
the way. The first was Singapore, an English settle-
ment newly formed, and at present in a very prosper-
ous state. Here I spent a day on shore with major
Farquhar. the late English governor of Malacca, who
has always been our patron and friend ; and had thus
an opportunity of distributing a box of Chinese tracts
among the new settlers. Major Farquhar received
me with his usual kindness, and expressed a hope that
iie should soon see a Malay and Chinese missionary
settled there, and assured me that he felt much inter-
ested in the Ultra Ganges mission. We next touched
at Rhio, a Dutch settlement, where I went on shore
to inquire into the number and state of the Chinese,
taking with me several hundred tracts and Testaments.
These I soon found an opportunity of putting into the
hands of the people, who were all assembled at the
Pasar; and within an hour th'-ir attention seemed to
be drawn from their merchandise to my tracts. As I
returned, 1 felt unspeakable pleasure in seeing 3 very
jne reading the word of God, either in a tract, or in its
pure state. I suppose the number of Chinese here
to be about the same as at Malacca. We came next
to Lingen, an independent settlement near the straits
of Banca. Here also I went on shore, and spent two
days in disiributing tracts and conversing with the people.
As I supposed no Christian missionary had ever been
here before, I endeavored, as far as possible, to furnish
every family with a New Testament, and such parts
of the Old as I had with me. I likewise wont on
board three Chinese junks, lying in the harbor, and
gave the seamen a few tracts and several Testaments
for each vessel I also sent by each vessel three New
Testaments, and tracts in proportion, for their frietids
in China, with a promise on their part that they would
deliver 'hem. It is in this way that the Sacred Scrip-
tures must enter China ; and I hope the numerous
copies that we have already sent will be like leaven
hid in meal, gradually leavening the whole mass.
Leaving Lingen, we sailed for the island of Borneo,
and touched at Pontiana. Here I foimd much diffi-
culty in getting on shore, as we were lying at anchor
sixteen miles off. At length, however, I succeeded ;
and taking with me two hundred New Testaments,
three hundred catechisms, which contain the substance
of the Christian religion, and a number of tracts, I
committed myself and cargo to a native boat, which,
after pulling nearly twelve hours, bro«ight mo safe to
land. I felt very anxious to visit th« people at Sam-

JAVA.

bass ; but I found it impracticable, and I could only
spend two days on shore among the people at Pon-
tiana. 1 followed my usual plan of giving the Scrip-
tures to those who have families, that every house
might pos:ess the word of God. During my stay here,
1 was entertained at the house of a respectable China-
man, who had, by some means, obtained a Chinese
New Testament ; and, from the many questions he
asked respecting it, I inferred that he must have
read it with some attention. He inquired particularly
concerning Adam's sin, and all men being sinners in
consequence of it ; also, whether all the nations of the
west worship Jesus. He was much pleased with the
objects of the society, and assured me, if the directors
would send one of those good men, as he expressed
It, to Pontiana, he would give him a house to live in.
My host also took me with him to visit thesuhan, with
whom he is very ii.timate, who also made many
mquiries respecting the Christian religion, and approved
much of the proposal the other had made to obtain
a missionary, to be settled among them. I inquired of
them concerning the people of Sambass, who work in the
goldmines, and others who dwell among the mountains
of the interior, and who are employed in obtaining
diamonds, and was informed by them, that at the for-
mer place, which lies near them, there were at least
fifty thousand Chinese ; the others, they said, were
very numerous, but they could not exactly say how
many ; they might, however, amount to twenty thou-
sand. I regretted much that I could not visit them.
I, however, sent them some tracts and catechisms.
Thus, during my voyage to Batavia, I distributed
several thousand tracts and Testaments ; and I hope
the seed sown will bo ' as bread cast upon the waters,
to be seen after many days.' "

Shortly after his arrival in Java, Mr. Slater took
under his instruction four Chinese children, as the
commencement of a school designed to be conducted,
as far as circumstances would permit, on the Lancas-
terian plan. He, also, employed himself sedulously
in circulating copies of the New Testament and re-
ligious tracts among the heathen ; and, with the assist-
ance of B native teacher, devoted a considerable por-
tion of his time to the study of the Chinese language.
A few months only had elapsed, however, when his
labors were suspended by a calamity at once alarming
and destructive. On the «^d of October, 1819, his
housn was burnt down, when his Chinese books, with
various articles of furniture, were consumed. This
calamity, however, was considerably alleviated by (he
kindness of several friends, and particularly by tliat
o! one family with whom Mr. and Mrs. Slater found
a hospitable asylum for several wec^s.
After this accident, a piece of ground was purchased,

525

on account of the society, for a mission-house and
garden; and by the liberal subscriptions of such of
the inhabitants as appeared to take an interest in his
object, Mr. Slater was enabled to build a convenient
habitation, capable of accommodating two or three
missionaries besides his own family. On the adjoining
premises a school was afterwards erected, and opened
with twenty-six pupils. The situation appears to have
been judiciously chosen, being about half way between
Batavia and the village Comelis, and nearly in the
centre of three other villages, one of which contains a
very numerous population.

In the course of his endeavors todiffiisethe light of
divine truth, our missionary paid a visit, one day in
the month of December, to one of the Chinese tem-
ples, and, taking his stand as near to the idol as possible,
commenced riding a tract, in Chinese, on the subject
of idolatry. Some of his auditors appeared willing to
acknowledge the truth of what they heard, but seemed
to think that the custom of their country was an all
sufticient reason for continuing their observance of
ceremonies, which, in reality, they know to be un-
availing.

Of the various idolatrous ceremonies which were
performed in this place, at the time of his visit, Mr.
Slater has given the following description :—

" Within the temple yard, which prevents the idol
from being seen from without, is an elevated stage, on
which the Chinese players perform their exploits, to
the astonishment of the crowd below. On passing
this, the attention is excited by the gaudy appearance
of golden ornaments, and various colored paper cut in
shreds ; but principally by the quantity of painted
candles burning in front of the idols, the smoke of
which, together with the incense, is intolerable at
first entering. The candles are about a hundred in
number, and of various sizes, from one foot to three
feet in height, and measuring from two to six inches
in circumference. These are kept burning during the
whole time of worship; but, as every worshipper
brings two candles, they are constantly changing them,
so that I suppose the entire number is changed every
twenty minutes. Two men are employed to keep a
few places vacant, that no one may be prevented from
placing his candles, and that the worship may go on
without interruption. The candles which are removed
are for the benefit of the temple, and they must amount
to a considerable sum, as the smallest of them cost
about two dollars a piece.

" On entering the temple, every worshipper presents

••,-,"i-j tttitt ic-ceivc3 uiK "pngs of iiiOoUse. Throe

of them, after bowing to the imaginary deity, as an

intimation that he is about to worship, he places close

to the imago, and the other at a short distance : then

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

{retiring to a cushion in front of the idol, he pays his
homage, which consists in Icneeiing down, and bowing
thf head thrice to the ground, and this is repeated
ihree times. He then goes to a large table on the left
side of the idol, where there are persona to enrol his
name and recciye his contribution ; and here the devo-
tees appeal anxious to exceed each other in the sums
which they give toward the support of this abominable
worship.

" Durmg all this time, one's ears are stunned by a
large drum, and a gong, used to rouse the idol ; and
these are beaten with increased vehemence when any
person of note comes to worship. Several females,
most richly dressed, brought offerings of fruit and
sweetmeats. These, I am informed, were the wives
of the rich Chinese, who were glad to embrace such
an opportunity of appearing abroad ; as probably they
had not seen any man, nor been seen by any but their
own husbands, since they visited this temple, on a
similar occasion, in the preceding year.

" Another part of this scene is performed by about
a dozen cooks, chopping up pork for dmner, and I had
many pressing invitations to sit down and dine with
the worshippers, many of whom appeared astonished
at my refusal ; as, on other occasions, whilst distribut-
ing tracts from house to house, I readily ate and drank
with them, for the sake of an opportunity to discourse
with them respecting Christ and his gospel. In the
temple yard there were as many gaming tables as could
be conveniently placed."

On the 7th of January, 1822, Mr. Medliurst and
his family arrived at Bntavia, where they were received
with great cordiality by Mr. and Mrs. Slater; and
shortly aller their arrival, a dwelling-house was built
for them on the mission premises. The contiguous
land belonging to the society was, also, brought from
the wildness of nature to resemble the cultivated
grounds in the neighborhood.

Mr. Medhurst now commenced preaching in Chinese
four times a week ; on the sabhnth morning, at seven
o'clock, in the mission-chapel ; on Tuesday evening,
at a dwelling-house in Batavia ; and on the evenings
of Thursday and Friday, at livo other- "jces. It seldom
happened, however, that either of the congregations
exceeded thirty persons, and the only apparent effect
produced, at this time, by the public didpensation of
the truth, consisted in the temporary conviction of
gainsayers, and in the extended concessions of the
heathen to the veracity, consistency and consequent
obligations of what was advanced on moral and re-
ligious subjects. Still the brethren were not discour-
aged, but resolved to go on in their important work,
leaving the restilt to the great Head of the church :
and, in addition to their other labors, they established

a Malay service, in which tb«jr preaehed alternatelf
every sabbath evening. A few Mahometans attended
on these occasions, and our missionaries were conse-
quently led to pray that these deluded followers of the
Arabian impostor might be speedily and savingly kd
to him who unites in his own person the important
characters of Prophet, Priest and King.

Towards the autumn of this year (1822), the health
of Mr. Slater was so much impaired as to render it
necessary that he should take a voyage for his recov-
ery. This he accordingly did, with the desired effect ;
but as he afterwards thought proper to dissolve ^is
connection with the society, the entire weight of the
mission at Batavia was thrown upon Mr. Medhurst
That valuable missionary, however, continued to labor
with unremitting assiduity and unabated zeal in the
cause of his Divine Master; and, during the year
1823, he established a printing-office, which will, no
doubt, prove of essential benefit to the mission at this
station. The necessary supply of paper and printing
materials was obtained from Canton, through the kind
intervention of Dr. Morrison ; and type-cutters were
procured from Singapore.

The report of 1625 speaks favorably of two Chinese
schools, one at Batavia and one at Tanabang ; and also
of a third school in the town, not entirely under the
direction of the mission. Worship in Chinese and
Malay was also statedly performed. In the Malayan
service, Mr. Medhurst received the friendly assistance
of Mr. Diering. Each person in the congregation
had a copy of the Scriptures before him, to refer to
during the sermon. A bungalow chapel had been built
by a European gentleman at Batavia, in one of the
native Kampongs, chiefly inhabited by natives of the
island of Bali, originally heathens, but recent con verts
to Mahometanism. The people had attended more than
twelve months, and the congregation was increasing.
Mr. Medhurst statedly visited two villages inhabited by
Malays professing the Christian religion: one of them,
called Depok, s'*"ited about twenty miles to the south ;
the other, nan-ed Tugot, situated about twelve miles
east of Batavia. Attendance on an average, thirty ;
sometimes from fifty to sixty. No small encourage-
ment attended the English preaching. Mr. Medhurst
speaks of the regular attendance of the congregation,
the marked seriousness of a considerable part of it,
and of clearer and more enlarged views which many
had acquired of divine truth. A dispensary had been
opened for the purpose of gratuitously supplying med-
icines, and communicating religious instruction to the
Chinese. Several works had been prepared and

nrintmrl.

ITn in Jflnyarv 1. 1 ^2&. ths Rumhfimf iKsnks

and tracts printed exceeded 60,000. In diilriLuting
tracts, Mr. Medhurst had also been active.

JAVA.

In October, 1826, Mr. Medhunt performed a mis-
sionar}' to» r along the eastern coast of Java, during
which he visited Sourabaya, Taggal, and Samarang.
Sourabaya he considers as in many respects eligible for
a missionary station. The Chinese there are a more
respectable and more intelligent class of men than at
many other places, and have more leisure, as well as
more inclination, for religious inquiry. One family of
considerable influence has, for six generations, ab-
stained from the worship of images, and has renounced,
generally, the grosser parts of Buddhism. There is
also here a small body of Christians belonging to the
Dutch church, who manifest a truly missionary spirit,
and are dUposed to further, to the utmost of their
power, missionary objects in this quarter. They have
employed a person to translate the New Testament,
(W>m the Dutch version, into the low, or vernacular,
Malay. Mr. Medhurst has engaged to interest himself
m furthering this design, and has accordingly written
to the missionaries, at different stations, who have
made pro§ciency in Malay, to lend their aid for its
accomplishment.

Willie in this part of Java, Mr. Medhurst visited
the aborigines in the mountains of Tengger, who prefer
the original religion of Java ; and have never been
induced, either by faar or persuasion, to embrace
Mahometanism.*

In 1827, 10,000 copies of religious tracts were
printed, and 10,000 copies of tFacU and parts of the
Scriptures were furnished from the press of Malacca ;
and with these Mr. Medhurst felt furnished for success-
ful tours in Slam and Borneo, but was for awhile pre-
vented by the sickness of his family. The annals of
missionary enterprise furnish few instances of more
patient self-denying labor than is to be found in the
persevering endeavors of Mr. Medhurst. In 1829,

the directors, in their annual report, say :

" Mr. Medhurst deeply laments the want of success
in the conversion of the heathen. He states that his
labors among the Chinese, which were formerly de-
spised, are now systematically opposed by their priests,
their rulers, and the wealthy class among them. There
is difficulty in gaining access to the rich, and the poor
are prevented by them from listening to the gospel.
Persons would not be able to borrow money, or keep
what they have borrowed, if they had not an idol set
up in their house, and did not openly profess idolatry.
The Mahometant oppMo him still more steadily and
systematically than the Chinese. His movements are
perpetually watched by their priests, and h is labors
• Thta nMafmounUliiecri !■ mtntioMd io the lata lir Suii^

Pafll »*■ JJIm...-.- -^J t ■ -_ . >. .. . . . . ;.-_-

lN(»n rmomraeiiifeii by th« l*Ut goTrrnorgtmcrel, Uie buon V»n d«r
Cipdllcii, u Um rooit oliglblf Add rormlnionary Itbor In thaliUnd
« Jhs.

697

counteracted by every means in their power. Tht^
bookahe has given to the people, have been taken
from them by the priesu. He has not, however, re-
laxed his exertions : his chief object being to convince
them of sin, and direct them to the Saviour, he dwells
less upon their idolatrous errors, than upon their reigning
vices, and on the gracious doctrines of the cross. These
doctrines must finally prevail in spite of all opposition."
The latest accounU of this station are very encour-
aging. In 1831, the directors, in their annual report,
mention, —

" It has pleased the Lord to smile upon the efforts
of Mr. Medhurst and Mr. Young. One of the pris-
oners, or convicts, has died professing his faith in the
Lord Jesus. This man was originally a Mahometan.
An Amboynese, also, who has long attended the
preaching, has manifested great desire for salvation,
and has given evidence of sincerity.

" The Lord appears about to bless this mission. The
Malay congregation, meeting for worship on sabbath
noon, has greatly increased, and two individuals from
among them have come forward to declare what the
Ix)rd has done for their souls, while another has suddenly
been translated to glory. One of the former is a man
who possesses an excellent gift in prayer, an extensive
and accurate acquaintance with the Scriptures, with a
zeal for the diffusion of divine truth rarely witnessed
in those countries. He visits the Malays at theij
houses in town and in the villages, distributing books
among them, and teaching and preaching the Lord
Jesus. The Malays converse more freely with him
than with a European. The other is an elderly woman,
who has been instrumentol in the conversion of anothei
of her own sex.

" Two afternoons every week are devoted to tht»
preparation of candidates for the Lord'a supper ; and
once a day, when illness does not prevent, the mis-
sionary visits the Chinese and Malays. There are
three schools, containing fifty children, whose progress
IS encouraging and satisfactory. During the first half
of 1830, they were superintended by Mr. Young.
Mrs. Medhurst, whose health is good, catechises the
women and children on sabbath mornings, and has
undertaken to educate two native children, one a Ma-
lay, and the other a Chinese.

" Engliih Service, ^c— This is held at nine o'clock
on sabbath morning. Instead of the old bamboo
chajwl, a new one of brick, comnuidious and neat, has
been built on the society's ground. This has been
accomplished by the liberality of the Dutch govern-
ment and the inhabitants of Batavia, who, for the obiect.
subscribed with groat cheerfulness nearly six thousand
rupees ; besides some building materials granted from
the government stores. The Kev, Mr. Lenting had

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

greatly promoted this underta' , which, it a hoped,
will be the means of reviving die interests of religioa
\o Batavta.

" The directors gratefully ecknowledge the kindness
of his exceilency, the prraent governor-general, Van
den Bosch, who has shown himself particularly favora-
ble to the mission, and has rendered it a degree of as-
sistance beyond what it has enjoyed at any former period.
" Tran*lation$, Printing, fyc.—tit. Medhurst's
translation of Mr. Lloyd's Scripture Catechism is
finished, but remains unprinted.

" A Japanese and English Vocabulary, composed
by Mr. Medhurst, has been issued from the litho-
graphic press, and copies for sale have been received
in this country.

"At the requestof his brethren of the Ultra Ganges
mission, Mr. Medhurst has undertaken to revise and
enlarge his Fokeen Vocabulary. He has also con-
sented to revise the translation of the New Testament
in low Malay, at the request and for the benefit of the
people at Sourabaya. This translation will be printed
at the government press."

AMBOYNA.

It has been already stated, that the Rev. Joseph Kam,
who accompanied two other missionaries to Java, was
induced, in the year 1814, to fix upon the island of Am-
boyna as the scene of his ministerial labors. And, in
this station, after a short time, his pious exertions were
crowned with considerable success. Early in 1816,
indeed, his congregation in the Dutch church, on the
Lord's-day, amounted, in general, to eight hundred or
a thousand persons ; and when he preached in the
Malay langua^ , he had usually from five to six
hundred hearers.

Speaking of the inhabiUnts of Amboyna, this mis-
sionary says, " The great body of Christians residing
here are not Europeans, or half castes, but persons
whose ancestors have resided here from generation to
generation. Among them I will venture to say there
are thousand^^ who would part with every thing they
possesfi to obtain a copy of the Bible in their own
tongue ; and if they hear that I am to preach in the
Malay language, which is, at present, more my business
than preaching in Dutch, many collect together two
lioUfs before ih« cervice cumraences."

in respect i^j the slaves, he says, " Many of their mas-
ters did not, formerly, approve of their coming to re-
ceive mstruction, and some came to me without having
previously obtained permission ; but now, several of the
masters request me to teach their slaves, having found by

experience, tbM those wbo are religiously instniefif
are more fitithful and diligent than others."

In the same communication Mr. Kam states, that he
had paid a visit to the island of Banda, upwards of a
hundred and twenty miles distant from Amboyna ; and ~
here he continued about a month, preaching twice eve.
ry sabbath, and every other day in the week, he also
held a regular pray ... meeting, and frequentlycatechised
the people, who had among them some places of Chris-
tian worship, but who, (or a considerable time past, had
been sadly neglected, in respect to religious instruction.
In the month of September, in the same year, (1816,)
Mr. Kam visited tho island of Harucko, where he found
the people very desirous of hearing the gospel ; and
the word of God was so abundantly blessed to them,
that ft ecnsiderable number made a solemn profession
of the faith of Christ by baptism, and were admitted
as communicants at the table of the Lord.

Our missionary next went to the island of Seram,
where he found many of the inhabitants literally hun-
gering and thirsting after righteousness ; and it is prob-
able that the seriousness with which his message was
heard by others, was considerably augmented by an
alarming earthquake occurring a few minutes after he
reached one of the negeriei, or villages. Previous to
his quitting this island, a person came to him from Nal-
aliwu, a place to the north of Karuko, containing about
four hundred inhabitants, earnestly entreating him to go
thither, and preach the gospel among them. It seems
that these people had, in former times, been pro-
fessedly Christian ; but, having been long since con-
quered by their Mahometan neighbors; who had burnt
their church and destroyed their Bibles, they had sub-
sequently lived in a wretched state of ignorance and
idolatry. With this request Mr. Kam readily complied,
and, on his arrival, he was received with the greatest
demonstrations of joy. Such an effect was produced,
also, by his preaching during the three days which he
spent among them, that they brought out .nd destroyed
their idols with one consent, and burnt down the houses
which, in the time of their blind infatuation, they had
erected for the worship of the devil.

" From this place," says our missionary, " I went
to the island of Saparuwa, where I found a great num-
ber of people collected on the shore, and singing
psalms, to express their gratitude to God for my visit.
In this island, many of the poor heathen have received
Christ by faith ; and some of them were introduced to
me by their masters, to signify their willingness that
they might be baptised. There is a great want of
Bibles, however, end other books suited for religious
instruction. I have, therefore, sent a u>«fii| cnfenhism
in the Malay language to be printed at Hatavia, and
have ordered ten thousand copies of it, as the popula*

tion, includag Chrirtians, and Mahometans who have
recenUjr embraced Christianity, b very great."

In October Mr. Kam visited the island of Nusalout,
where he found the inhabiunts of seven negeries very
•nxiou, to hear the gospel; and, on his going to Z
negery of Aboro, in Karuko, he says. " The joy of he
rt ""J " r*' " '^ »" ""8el had come down
sdvltb"" '" """^ "" 8'°"°"' "^'^^ of

On his return to Amboyna, the word of the Lord
con tmued to be abundantly owned and blessed, eT^e-
cially .™ong the heathen, who, like those to whom we

irectJirfr 'T''' '^"™^^'' •''« ''--^ formerly
• erectedfor the worship of devils, and putaway from them

every vesfgeof idolatry. Such, indeed, w[s theTrz a"
m the cause of d.v.ne truth, that when Mr. Kam inti-
mated his intention of erecting a new church for the
jepame „se of the slaves, the/ cheerfully volunte d
tje. services m cuttmg timber in the forests for erect-
ing the proposed structure, and thus precluded the ne-
cessity of our missionary's applying to the directors for
pecuniary assistance.

In the spring of 1817. in consequence of the Dutch
government attempting to take some trocps from the
Molucca islands for Java, the natives of the island of
Lupperwaro, near Amboyna, rose in insurrection, and
murdered the Dutch resident and his family, together
with t e garrison, and a great number of theChSl
mhabitants who refused to join the revolters

In writing to the directors on this subject, Mr. Kara
observes, " Every means have been emjloy'ed to keep

.shle T"' f """' ^^ "''"'"8 remission of pun'
.shment, &c. ; but we are yet in great danger. My
faith IS often at such a low ebb, that I am constrained

me"' Ne-; ' T?"'' "^ ""' " «="' '^-'^ -'"'
me. Neither my body nor my soul, however, has been

by and and by sea ; and therefore I have confidence
thnr there will agam appear a glorious light, perhaps
greater than before. Surely the mercy of The Lord has
accompanied my poor labors from the time of my ani-
va m Asm :-surely the time of salvation is at hand, and
will be accomplishe.! in favor of the poor heathen, who
we so numerous in this colony."

About the time of this revolt, Mr. Kam had designed
to make a voyage to the islands of Celebes and Sangir.
two of the Moluccas, in compliance with a desire ex-
pressed by some of the inhabitants of those islands that
he would pay them a visit. At the request of the gov-
ernment of Amboyna, which required his assistance in
writing and translating letters in the Malay langnaRe
he, at that period, laid aside his intention. In ,L „..'
lumn 01 the same year, however, he was enabled to car-
ry It mto elocution ; and the principal incidents which
Vol. I — Noi. 45 & 46. gg

AMBOYNA.

69»

occurred during his absence from Amboyna are com-
mumcated m the following interesting narration :_

the Swallow, captam Wilson, for the purpose of visit-
ing ;he island of Temate, the north-west coast of Cele-
bes and Sangir island, the latter of which lies about six
degrees north of Amboyna.

On my arrival I was kindly received by the native
Christians, and also by the resident of the island. I
found there a large Dutch church, at which I was in-
formed a good minister formerly officiated. During
my stay, 1 preached in it twice every day to crowds of
people who seemed eager to hear the joyful sound of
the gospel of Jesus Christ. I could not, however, re-
main with them long, captain Wilson being anxious to
expedite his departure for Manado, the principal town of
Ce ebes. Therefore, after I had baptized the children
and some adults, on confession of their sins and dec-
laration of their faith in the Redeemer, I took leave

Swallow °'^'^^''"°"' """^ "^^'" ^""^"^^^ on board the
"In Celebes I found a great number of nominal
Christians among the Dutch people, especially at Ma-
nado, whose conduct was not according to the puritv of
the gospel of Christ. I preached to them twice a-day
during the short time I continued there. I proceeded
from thence, by land, to Kema, where I found ihe pec
pie more disposed to listen to the word of life. Unnn
my return to Manado, I conducted public worship in
the house of the resident, the church being much out
of repair. One of the chiefs of the Alvoor people,
who IS called major Nalle, came to me and requested
me to send a school-master for his negery, to instruct
him and his people in the Christian religion. His do-
main IS considerable, and he has not less than a thou-
sand persons under his command. I asked him why
he wished to be a Christian. He replied, « Because I
know that religion is the best of all." Rejoicing to hear
such witness from the mouth of an Alvoor chief. I
promised to send him a sclKK)I.master immediately on
my return to Amboyna. The major was present to-
day during divine worship at the resident's, and an-
peared much interested, especially when he observed a
great number of children, and also grown persons, com-
mg to be baptized, together with three Chinese, who
had been brought to the knowledge of the (rue God
and to faith in Christ.

" The trade in gold at Manado has occasioned ma-
ny of the Chinese to settle there. These are more
disposed to receive the gospel than the people of Am-
boyna, and seem only towant a faithful minister of
- •'.nst iu iiiiinict ihen,. The same may be said re-
specting the Alvoors. Indeed here is a large field of
labor. More than one hundred thousand of (bis peo-

580

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

pie dwell on the north-west coast of Celebes, under the
Dutch government, which is able to protect any per-
sons who might settle among them in order to preach
the gospel and to instruct them.

" I travelled during several days among these people,
and was much encouraged by what I observed in them.
One night I stopped at the house of one of their chiefs,
whose title is Hockom Klabat, which signifies 'judge of
the people who live at the mount Klabat.' They are tall
and powerful men, of a copper color, and without clothing.
I felt myself as safe among them, however, as though !
had been surrounded by my friends in England. They
appeared much pleased that I took my supper with them
that night. The house of the chief was crowded with
the natives, who were desirous to see me, as they un-
derstood I was a minister of the white people, as they
call the Christians. After supper, which consisted of
a piece of boiled pork and rice, with some fish, I spoke
to them of the great love of God towards us, which is
visible every day in his bountiful provision for our nat-
ural wants, as well as for the wan' s of so many millions of
other creatures. Whenl had finished, they all assented,
apparently from their hearts, to what I had advanced on
that subject. I then told them of the infinitely greater
love of God towards mankind, which appeared in the re-
demption he had accomplished for sinners, by the gift of
his dear son Jesus Christ, even for every one who believ-
eth the witness of God. Afler I had discoursed upon
this subject some time, one of the company, who sat next
to me, said, < I have often heard of these things from the
Christians who live at Manado and Kema ; we only
want instructers amongst us, and I am sure great num-
bers of our nation would embrace the Christian religion.'

" From Celebes I directed my course for Sangir
bland, which lies about two degrees farther north.
This proved a very dangerous passage, by reason of the
strong currents that run half the year from the west to
the east, and the other half in the opposite direction ; but
the Lord was my protector. The boat's crew consisted
of fifty -two of the Al voor people, and two soldiers ; and
we had with us four guns of three pounds each, on
account of the great number of pirates who continually
infest this part of the Moluccas. Besides the peril to
which we were exposed from the sea and from the
robbers, we were in danger, also, from the unsoundness
of our boat, a circumstance too common in these seas.

" The first island at which we arrived, after quitting
Celebe", wasTogolanda ; but we were prevented from
getting on shore by a strong land breeze, so were obliged
to cast anchor close under mount Duwan, a fiercely
burning volcano, the smoke of which affected my
breath very much all night. The next morning, how-
ever, by means of a sea farcezcj, we were exiricuteu
from our unpleasant situation, and went on shore. The

king of the island received me with much kindness, aad
informed me how severely some of his people bad suf-
fered in consequence of an eruption of the burning
mountain, by which a whole negery had been destroyed,
together with the church. ' But,' said he, ' we have
erected a new church farther inland, and I rejoice that
you are come to instruct my people.' He invited me
to take my breakfast with him, and in the mean time
informed his people that there would be divine service
that morning. In a few hours a very numerous congre-
gation was collected ; the king also attended with the
whole of his family ; and I preached from John xii. 32.
'/, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men
unto me.' I thought this text was calculated to move
a heart of stone, as it exhibits the infinite love of God
towards poorsinners, displayed on Calvary, as the means
of drawing every soul to Christ, his dear Son ; and I was
much gratified by observing, that this large congrega-
tion of black people was very attentive to the things
that were spoken.

" After I had sojourned here some days, I perceived
that for want of teachers and the word of God in the
Malay language, the people had very little knowledge
of divine things. They all, however, believed the
powerful declaration of St. Paul to Timothy, ' Thi$ is
a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' I
continued amongst them eight days, and after examin-
ing the boys and girls belonging to the school, I was
obliged to give them some leaves out of my New Testa-
ment, for want of useful school-books.

" From hence I proceeded to the island of Chiauw,
or Ziauw. I arrived there on the 24lh of September,
and was pleased to find the king of the island a very
pious man. After my painful joumeyings, his compa-
ny was as a refreshing spring to my weary soul. He
was employed every day in studying his Bible, which,
he said, yielded him great comfort. He was also able to
read the Dutch Bible, and had some acquaintance with
the Arabic ; but what was of infinitely greater im-
portance, the love of God, which passeth all under-
standing, had taken possession of his heart. This good
man seemed exceedingly glad of my arrival, and obliged
me to explain to him certain passages of the Holy
Scriptures. Whateverlsaid.that he was not previously
acquainted with, he put down in a book with which he
had provided himself for this express purpose.

" The king requested that I would baptize a consid-
erable number of the slaves, both men and women,
who had been instructed in the doctrines of Christian-
ity. Having convinced myself, as far as possible, of the

sincerity of ♦.heir professions, I complied, rejoicing in the

•-._... _ •_ • ■ '-• 'J

work wiiicii UoU 19 ottiryingOii ill ifiio par* 01 tnc -.Torra.

" The 89th of October was set apart for this great

aolemmty. The king and his que«n were both present,
and Msumed the office of sponsors, in behalf of their
Slaves J promising to exercise a watchful care over
thenr souls. When the administration of this solemn
nte was finished, we sung the 87th Psalm. A great
number of people attended on this occasion, and also
at a service in the evening.

« During the solemnity of baptizing his slaves, the
king seemed much affected, and, on his return to his
house, out of the fulness of his heart, he himself ad-
dressed these new members of the church, in a man-
ner which I shall never forget. ' You have now
placed yourselves,' said he, ' under an obligation to love
God your Creator, and Jesus Christ your Redeemer,
and all men as brethren ; to abstain from all heathen
pleasures, as well as from all their superstitions-be-
cause <Am „ the way to enter into the kingdom of God.'

and not far from this negery. I asked the king, if he
were not afraid of so bad a neighbo: . ' Why should
I, asked he, in return, «when the Lord our God,
who made this mountain, is more powerful than al
he fire with-n it ?' I fully assented to this decla.a-
tion, and said, 'Yes, my dear sire, that which you
have said IS very true, and sufficient to comfort our
Hearts in the most imminent dangers '

»i,h^f '" \,'"""''f " ^*''""^' ' ^"^ acquainted
with the excellent character of this good man : but I
little expected to be the instrument of introducinR
.nto the chu.-ch of Christ so large a number of his
servants. As I perceived that Christ was living in
his heart by fa.th, I encouraged bin, ,o address his
peop e frequently, and to read to them some sermons,
of which I promised to send him copies on my return
to Amboyna. School-books and religious tracts are.
also, very much wanted in these islands. In the
course of the present journey, I have met with not
less tlian twelve thousand people, who profess Chris-
tiani.y, but wl,o have been, in past times, very much
neglected. Thanks, however, be unto God, that I
am become acquainted with their wants, and hope, in
a short time, to make an attempt to supply them' to
the utmost of my power.

" From Chiauw, I proceeded to the island of San-
gir, which IS governed by four native kings ; viz. the
king of Maganito, the king of Taroona, the kine of
Candar, and the king of Tabookang. The latter is a
brother of the pious king of Chiauw. Hero I found
the people m a still more deplorable state than those
m tlie other islands I had visited. Even their school-
masters had not a complete Bible in tlieir possession ;
tliey had only some loose leaves of it, and this was
iiic cuso aiso »viiii iiieir cateciiisms.
" AAer I had passed through the rest of the island,

AMBOYNA.

I visited the king of Tabookang. by whom I was a?«,

like an Englmh officer. On the day of my arrival, he
invited me to dine with him. He' told L th«'he
was desirous to be married in the church, and wished
me to continue with him a few days, that the neces-
sary preparations migiu be made; which, as he ap-
peared to me to be desirous of acting in every other
respect as a real Christian, I consented to do And
I had reason to rejoice in this determination, for the
example of the king was unmediately followed by a
great number of his people, who had before been
Ignorant of the solemnity of Christian marriage."

On returning to Chiauw. in his way back to Celebes,
Mr. Kam felt an attack of bilious fever, with which
his attendants had been previously seized; and, on
his arrival at Kema. on the eastern coast of Celebes
he became so seriously indisposed that he was con-
fined to his bed for a month, and all his friends antici-
pated his dissolution. By the blessing of God how-
ever on the prescriptions of a European physician
his health v;as gradually restored, and on Christmas-
day, he was enabled to perform divine service at
Manado. From this time he continued instructing
the peoplfe m the things of God till the beginniuR
of February 1818. when he embarked on board a
whaler bound for Amboyna, and soon afterwards re-
turned in safety to his beloved flock, by whom he was
received with every demonstration of joy and affection.
From a letter written to the directors after his return
It appears that this zealous and laborious missionary'
had baptized in the several islands upwards of five
thousand children, and neariy five hundred adults • and
u^ u ^"i^J'"^ ''« »'a^ baptized, chiefly of those who
had been Mahometans, one hundred and twentv-eieht
adults, besides children. ' '^

Shortly after his return to Amboyna, Mr. Kam
visited several more of the Molucca islands, particu-
larly Haurunca, Saparoua, Nusalout, and Ceram • the
inhabitants of which amount, collectively, to upwards
of fifteen thousand souls. In most of the negeries
or villages, he was received with joy, both by the'
chiefs and people, some of whom had suffered con-
siderably in the late rebellion ; their houses and even
their churches having been laid in ashes. Many of
the natives, who had long been destitute of the gospel
rejoiced greatly in an opportunity of hearing it from'
tlie hps of our missionary, who also administered the
Lord's supper to the members of the churches, and
baptized their children.

In January, 1821, an auxiliary missionary society

was formnH at \mhr.„,-,ii f„- .i i. .. '

..._. .... ,.„ j,.jjpu3t; oi contrioiii-

ing to the maintenance and support of several mis-
sionaries recently sent out by the Netherland society,

589

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

and also with a view to assist in the printing of school-
books and religious tracts ; a second printing-pwss
having arrived from the directors in London, in the
course of the preceding year.

Abou' this time, a place was erected immediately
contigu lus to Mr. Kam's dwelling-house, for the in-
itiatory instruction of such converts from paganism as
might be desirous of receiving baptism ; and, during
the year, that solemn rite was administered to thirty
persons, who had abjured heathenism and embraced
the truths of Christianity. Towards the close of
December, in the same year, Mr. Kam had the sat-
bfaction of receiving into his church about a hundred
new members, of w'lom several had formerly been
idolaters, and one ». Mahometan.

Jn the following year, (1822,) our missionary per-
formed a voyage among the islands of the Malayan
Archipelago, to settle the missionaries sent out by the
Netherland society, to survey the moral state of the
islands, and to communicate, by means of preaching
and the distribution of the Scriptures and tracts. Chris-
tian instruction to the islanders.

On his return, he touched at the island of Harooka,
where, a few years since, idolatry was, to a considera-
ble extent, abolished. He was kindly invited to so-
journ at the house of the resident, whose lady is a
person of eminent piety. While here, the resident
received a memorial from the school-master of Abouro,
transmitted by the chiefs of that district, containing
the following interesting account of the destruction of
the remaining idolatry in that island : —

"On the 18th of the present month (January),
1822, 1 collected together all the people of the negery
Abouro, who agreed to abolish the idols which, until
the present time, they and their forefathers had been
accustomed to worship, in secluded places.

" The first place is named Amarya, where they
worshipped five stones, which served them for idols.
The second place is called Tupateary. Here was a
tree named Humulian, and a bamboo, with a hole
perforated therein, which was called the Enchanter.
Besides these, the people placed lighted candles, and
offered meat and drink-offerings, burning incense and
showing reverence as to the other idols. The name
of the third place is Sanie, where was a single stone,
to which the people were accustomed to offer similar
sacrifices. The name of the fifth place is Oko, where
they worshipped idols of the same description, with
similar adoration.

" On the 23d of January, we burned in the fire a
gong and a bassoon, formerly used on the festivals,
together with some barrels, which were used in bring-
ing tiie meat and drink-oiferings lo tiie i<kii», which,
with the consent of the chief and people of this negery,

as well as according to the wish of the membefs of
our church, have been abolished,

" We have also .visited the forest of JV-oetry, where
we have burned down a wooden pillar, to which divme
honors were formerly oiiered. It stood in the midst
of water, used for purifying the idol. The pillar and
the fountain of water have been destroyed.

" The remaining portions of the idols, even the
very ashes, we have cast into the sea."

In the spring of 1823, Mr. Kam visited the islands
of Banda, Leti, and Kiffer. At the island of Lett,
which he describes as beautiful in scenery, and rich in
all the means of subsistence, he left a Christian school-
master, who had accompanied him from Amboyna, in
compliance with the importunity of the natives. At
Kiffer, he was received with great kindness by the
rajahs, and found the people ripe for Christian in-
struction. Mr. Labryn, the Netherland missionary at
Timor-East, met Mr. Kam at Leti, and accompanied
him to Kiffer. Here both of them continued several
days, preaching to the people. They particularly
explained to them the nature and obligations of the
Christian religion ; and, on a profession of faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ, baptized about fifteen hundred
persons. One of the rajahs requested Mr. Kam to
take his two sons under instruction, and the youths,
of the ages of eighteen and fourteen, willingly accom-
panied him to Amboyna.

In the annual report communicated to the members
of the London Missionary Society, in 1825, the direc-
tors observe, " The more stated labors of Mr. Kam,
at Amboyna, continue to be very useful. Two new
places for Christian worship have been erected ; and
he has the pleasure, from time to time, of receiving
many from among the heathen into the pale of the
Christian church, by baptism, and is greatly encouraged
in his work. To use his own language, ' Every one
now appears ready to assist him, both in Europe and
in the eastern seas.'

" In August, Mr. Kam printed four thousand copies
of the larger Malayan catechism, which contains, in a
condensed form, a system of evangelical truth well
adapted to the islanders. He expects soon to be able
to print the first volume of the Rev. George Burder's
Village Sermons, in Malay. His translation of the
second volume is nearly finished. He also intends to
translate, from time to time, the more interesting
portions of missionary intelligence, published in Eu-
rope, into Malay, and afterwards to print and circulate
them.

" Missionaries from the Netherland society have
been settled in the islands of Banda, Temate, Timor-
rJttsi, Huuru, ami uii the xuutii-wesi cuasl of Utnuiu."

In the report for 1826, the society reported that

¥r. Kam had eighteen young men under his care for
preparatory instruction, with reference to the office of
natiw aMistants. In 1884, four viUages, with a popu-
lation of two thousand five hundred persons, embraced
Christianity ; and Mr. Kam, with a missionary from the
Netherlands society, partook of the Lord's supper with
a number whom they regarded as his genuine disciples,
native converte, belonging to these villages. Mr.
Burder s sermons were out of the press, and in a course
of circulation.

The last information which can be given of this very
mteresting mission, is an extract from the directors'
report for 1828, in which they say,—
I i^^' ^"Iwyn", Mr. Kam stUl continues bis useful
labors, and remains in correspondence with this society,
under whose auspices he originally proceeded, as a
missionary to that isknd. As, however, he has not,
for a considerable time, derived any pecuniary assist-

^ht!^J,'':^^ "7*"" " ""°~ "^^ correspondence
w. h the Netherlands society, the directors, while they

Tni ^"T/ '" •"''" * ''""P •"*«"' •» his exertions,
Zv^» ^ ,'° "*"". '"'" " ■* ^^o^eBpondent, think

u! nf^ "° •°"?*'' '""' P'^P""'^' P''"'^ him on the
list of their missionaries, lest they should be charged
with appropriating what does not belong to them."

DEMERARA. i^ERBICE.

SIAM.

This country takes its present name from the Por-
tupiese The natives call themselves Tai (freemen)
«.d their country ^uang Tai (the kingdom of £
men). It » situated on the south of the Burman em-
pure and properly inchules only the northern isthmus
the^r'-f i^7 ""e geographers regard Siam a.
the Stna of Ptolemy. The capital takes its name

between the religion of Siam and that of Burmah. It
IS Buddhism ; and the belief in the transmigration of
souls IS a strong connecting link with Hindooism.

Baukok is the capital, with a population of nearly
half a million. This appears to give promise of hi
|ng one of the most successful points of evangelical
labor m reference to China. Mr. Tomlin and Mr.
Abeel have made visits of mercy to this city and other
places, and are so deeply impressed with the impor
tance of the station, that they have commenced ener
getic preparatory operations, in the distribution of
tracts m Siamese and Chinese. Mr. Tomlin urges thu *
society for two or three missionaries to be sent out
immediately, and help is to be expected from the
AmerKan churches.

CHAPTER VI.

MISSIONS IN SOUTH AMERICA,

DEMERARA. BERBICE.

In the month of December, 1807, Mr. Wray,a stu-
dent from the Mission college at Gosport, was sent out
by the directors of the London society, in compliance
with the solicitation of Mr. Post, a pious Dutch planter
on the east coast of the colony of Demerara. After
a passage of seven weeks, Mr. Wray arrived at the
plantation Le Resouvenir, belonging to Mr. Post, and
comprising five hundred slaves. Here he was received
in the most friendly manner, and immediately com-
menced his ministerial labors, which soon excited «o
.iiucli attention, that, exclusive of the negroes belongmg
CO the estate, numbers flocked from difierent planta-

tions, and some came from a distance of eight miles
so that It soon became necessary to erect a chapel for
their accommodation. In a letter dated May 19, 1808
Mr. Wray observes, " I trust that the work 'of the
Lord will prosper in this place; and I certainly have
the greatest encouragement to persevere. Seldom a
day passes without three or four of the slaves visiting
me to ascertain what they must do to be saved. Others
ask me important questions respecting the doctrines
_. _.„j....; _.,.. -t-aiij arc Dicssing uou limi ever

he brought me here. ' Before you came,' say they,
• we were poor ignorant creatures,— knew not good

634

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

from bad, — no one teach us ; but now we are taught
the way to true happiness.' Some, who were
formerly intoxicated two or three times a week, are
become sober, and constantly attend the means of
grace ; and those whom the whip could not subdue
for years, the gospel has subdued in a few months.
Astonishing change ! almost too great to be credit-
ed by those who are not eye-witnesses ; yet, thanks
be to (rod, it is true; and he shall have all the
glory."

In another communication, dated November 21,
Mr. Wray says, " The work of the Lord still prospers,
and the dear Redeemer is seeing of the travail of his
soul in the conversion of the poor negroes ; more than
twenty of whom, I have reason to believe, are sav-
ingly acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ, and
«re rejoicing in that salvation which he hath ob-
tained for sinners. You will be astonished to hear
that upwards of two hundred slaves have learnt Dr.
Watts's First Catechism, and that several have com-
mitted to memory some short prayers, the ten com-
mandments, and various passages of Scripture. Indeed,
if my time and strength would permit, I could teach
as many more, as they never appear to be tired of
learning. They evince a great reverence for the word
of God, and their minds are evidently filled with a
sense of his greatness, goodness and holiness, though
of these things, a few months since, they knew nothing.

" I have baptized four adults and several children,
belonging to Mr. Post's estate ; and I am very desirous
of baptizing several other adults, but I do not know
whether their masters will permit it, though I have
some hope that they will. I baptize none but those
who ffppear to possess * repentance toward God and
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,' and who have, for a
considerable time, demonstrated their sincerity by an
upright walk and holy conversation. Indeed, none
but such are received as candidates for baptism ; and
they are then instructed for several weeks in the prin-
ciples of Christianity."

The success which attended the preaching of the
gospel in Demerara, during the year 1808, continued
to increase and abound ; so that, early in the ensuing
spring, the number of slaves admitted into the church
by baptism, amounted to twenty-four, and not less than
a hundred and fifty appeared to be earnestly seeking
the salvation of their immortal souls. Nor were these
negroes merely desirous of obtaining eternal felicity
for themselves, but they were literally saying to many
of their countrymen, " Come with us, and we will do
you good." The truths which they had learned, they
were anxious to communicate to others. " I am in-
formed," says Mr. Wray, " that some, at the distance
of twenty miles, who have never seen our chapel,

have learned Dr. Watts's' First Catechism ; and ten of
our people, who best understand it, have taken eight
each under their care, to instruct them, to watch over
their conduct, and to settle disputes among them. The
manager of these slaves, who attends our place of
worship, says he is astonished at the change wrought
among them. Before they heard the gospel, they
were indolent, noisy and rebellious ; but now they are
industrious, quiet and obedient. Fonnerly it was
almost impossible to make them work without the
application of the whip ; but as a proof that no coer-
cion is now needed, the following fact may be stated :
— ' A few days ago, three negroes perceived that the
manager was very anxious to have the cotton picked
and carried home ; on which account, the invalids and
old people, who for a long time had not been asked to
do any thing, went of their own accord into the field
and worked. Even the sick nurse and two free women,
who reside on the estate, determined to render their
assistance ; and on the next day they were so anxious
to get the cotton home, that they would scarcely allow
themselves time either to eat or drink.' "

Whilst Mr. Wray was rejoicing in the blessing which
thus evidently rested upon his faithful labors, he was
called to endure a severe trial, in the removal of his
friend and patron, Mr. Post, who had, for some time,
suffered severely from gout and asthma, and who ap-
pears to have been thoroughly convinced that the time
of his departure was at hand ; as about a month before
his removal to the world of spirits, he sent for his head
carpenter, and r;avo him orders to make his coffin ;
giving, at the same tiine, particular directions concern-
ing his funeral. On the 8th of April, 1809, he was
deprived of the use of his hands and feet, and during
the residue of his illne:is he endured severe pain, both
day and night. His mind, however, was evidently
occupied with the things of God ; and on several oc-
casions, he sent for the children brought up in his house,
for his manager, and for some of his domestics, in order
to converse with them ; when he appeared to enjoy
very comfortable prospects of eternity. One day,
after affectionately commending the ciiildren to the
care and instruction of Mr. Wray, ho said to one of his
oldest negroes, named Mars, who had come to see him,
" Mars, how are you ?" The old man, mistaking the
nature of the question, and thinking it related to what
the slaves had been doing, replied, " Picking cotton,
massa." " I do not ask you," said Mr. Post, " what
you iiavc been doing. Picking cotton is nothing tome
now : I have done with that." He then called the
old negro to his bedside, and taking him by the hand,
bade him farewell, exhorting him to attend the means
of grace, and to meet him at the right hand of God :
adding that he must shortly die, and that the distinction

hetmea master and servant would then be done away
lor ever. '

On the a9lh of April, this excellent raan fell asleep
in Jesus ; and the greater part of the night was spent
by the slaves m weeping for him. " A more affecting

ZTS '"^^ ^' ^"^' """'' P-'-F. never pre?
sented , as I suppose there were more than five hun-
dred negroes of his own, and from other estates, la-
mentmg their loss. The manager and another person
went among the negro houses, to request them to be
stdl; but in vain. The poor creatures continued to
weep aloud, exclaiming, <My massa ! my massa !'
I was much affected with the language of one poor
woman, who said she had been twenty years on the
estate, without having been able to do any work ; but
her good m^sa had given her every thing ,o make her
comlortable.

In the afternoon of April 30, which happened to be
the sabbath, the remains of Mr. Post were interred
under a large mango-tree on his own estate, as he
dechned be.ng buried in the chapel, lest an appearance
of pride might be considered as attaching to the funeral
or lest some one might suppose that he had erected
the building, with a view to his own place of sepulture.
*-.ght of his own negroes, whom he had selected for
the purpose, earned him to the grave, and with many
others made great lamentation over him. And for
several succeeding days, the estate appeared as if it
were in mourning for its late owner.

Desirous that the surrounding population should
continue to enjoy the privileges of religious instruction
after his decease, Mr. Post secured to the use of the
mission the chapel and the dwelling-house of the min-
ister, and generously assigned the sum of one hundred
pounds sterling, as an annual contribution toward the
minister's support, so long as the London society
shall continue to provide a missionary for the station,
who shall preach the doctrines of the reformed church!
The directors, referring to Mr. Post's decease, in
their annual report for 1810, thus record the character
and usefulness of that excellent and benevolent dis-
ciple of Jesus : —

"It is impossible to express the obligations under
which the cause of religion in the colony was laid by
his influence, contributions and exertions. But in the
midst of his usefulness, and when his example was
ikely to prove of the greatest advantage, it pleased
the Sovereign Disposer of life to take to himself that
excellent man. He now rests from his labors, his
works will follow him, and the society will long cherish
the memory of their generous benefactor ; while they
mdulge a hope that the recollection of his pious zeal

will stir UD otheni. hoth .> >• J -^ j

late so worthy an example."

DEMERARA. BERBICE.

635

After the death of Mr. Post, several other kind
friends were raised up to encourage and promote the
great work of evangelization in Demerara, some of
whom were proprietors of estates, and others respecta-
ble managers. Some of those planters, mdeed, who had
lormeriy opposed the mission, were now so thoroughly
rCw '*',^.«"«fi'='''' ««■««='«. 'hat they applied

had proved of such advantage to the negroes and to
a^^l concerned that they expected they should nit
much longer have any need for drivers
Ja 'jT'^Pf." of ISll.Mr. Wray was introduced,
through the medium of a friend, to Mahaica, a village
upon the coast, about twenty-five miles from town
and in the vicinity of several estates, from which a
considerable number of people seemed willing to at-
tend the preaching. The gentlemen residing here not
only expressed a desire that a missionary might labor
among them, but actually subscribed a thousand pounds
towards the erection of a place of worship. « This
opening for the preaching of the gospel," says Mr
Wray, " ,s likely to be a great blessing to the missionary
cause m the country, as it will be supported by some
of he first people in the colony. The chapel will be
built principally for the European ladies and gentle
men, and the free people of color ; but I trust it will
open a way to the instruction of all the negroes on
the surrounding estates, and on other parts of the
coast.

In the same communication, he observes, with re
spect to the mission at Resouvenir, "I trust that God
IS daily revealing his arm among the poor negroes,
and causing many of them to believe the glorious
report of his gospel. The number of hearers in-
creases, and many are inquiring what they must do to
be saved. I administer the Lord's supper every first
sabbath m the month, in the afternoon, instead of
preaching; and often feel much affected and filled
with joy, when sitting round the sacramental table
with these poor black people, seeing tears of joy flow
Irom their eyes, and hearing them mourn on account
of their sins. One woman, of the name of Asia
being sick the week before this ordinance was admin-
istered, wept a whole day, because she thought she
should not be able to come to the table. What a
blessing that these poor people are so desirous to
hear the gospel, and that the Lord has opened the
hearts of so many of them to attend to his blessed
word ; and what an encouragement for the Missionary
Society to go on in the great and glorious work in
which they are engaged, of sendine the eosnel m the
heathen i" " '

In another letter, our missionary remarks, "Several

536

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

of the negroes have learned to read ; and from read-
ing, as well as from memory, some of them are become
good catechists, and begin to assist me. One of them
told me, that one hundred and thirteen had come
to him to be instructed ; and I am sometimes as-
tonished to find how correctly they learn the cate-
chism from one another. About two hundred attend
public worship regularly, several of whom, having
learned the tunes, can conduct the singing without
the assistance of white people ; and many begin to
pray in our social meetings with great fluency, and
Tery often in scriptural language."

Scarcely had Mr. Wray communicated this pleasing
intelligence to the directors, and expressed his lively
gratitude to God for the gradual diffusion of that
divine light which had emanated from the Christian
sanctuary, when his prospects were suddenly obscured
by a ilark cloud, and he was reminded, by circum-
stances equally unforeseen and unexpected, that faith
must be sometimes tried, in order that patience may
have its perfect work.

On the 25th of May, the colonial government is-
sued a proclamation, prohibiting the slaves, under
severe penalties, from assembling together before the
hour of sunrise, or after that of sun-setting. This
regulation, though professedly designed merely to
prevent meetings for purposes of mutiny or rebellion,
was soon found to operate almost to the total sup-
pression of the religious assemblies of the negroes ;
as the principal opportunities for that end were from
seven till nine in the evening, after they had done
their work ; that part of the sabbath in which they
were not engaged at market being totally insufficient
for the instruction of those poor ignorant creatures,
who literally required " line upon line, and precept
upon precept," and whose chief advantage was de-
rived from learning the catechism ; which, as few of
them could read, required to be read and explained
to them again and again.

The missionary was deeply affected by a circum-
stance which seemed to place an insurmountable bar-
rier in the way of his future usefulness. Instead of
wasting his time, however, in unavailing repinings, he
determined to pay a visit to England, in order that a
respectful representation of this grievance might be
made, by the directors, to the government at home.
This was accordingly done ; and his majesty's secretary
of state for the colonial depritment not only atten-
tively perused the memorial presented to him, but
was pleased to confer with ihe ,?e , i. .\ries of the so-
ciety, and with Mr. Wray, on ?'.. ^ >t,>ct. Aa official
letter was afterwards transmit uid t. Jie j;,ovemor of
Demerara, sienifyiner. the detem.itititiuii af his majesty's
government that the slaves should be allowed to meet

every Sunday for worship and instruction, from fire
in the morning till nine in the evening, and on other
days from seven till nine in the evening, provided
they had the permission of their respective masters.

Mr. Wray now returned to resume his labors at
Demerara ; and, shortly after his arrival, a proclama-
tion was issued by his excellency major-general Car-
michael, recalling that of May, 1811; and stating,
among other things, that instructions had been re-
ceived from the prince regent, to give every aid to
missionaries <n the communication of religious instruc-
tion. This public measure was accompanied with the
most friendly assurances, on the part of the governor,
of his support of the missionaries, as he considered
their exertions highly beneficial to the community.
His excellency, also, desired them to undertake the
instruction of the children belonging to the soldiers,
for which a small salary was to be allowed ; and was
pleased to make a handsome present towards the
support of the mission.

The effect of this magisterial encouragement soon
became apparent in the attendance of the slaves, six
or seven hundred of whom frequently assembled under
the dispensation of the gospel, and some of these were
known to come from a considerable distance. From
thirty to fifty negroes, also, attended thrice a week, to
learn to read, and several, after suitable preparation,
were admitted into the church by the rite of baptism.

About this time, a disturbance happened among the
slaves, occasioned by a dispute with their masters re-
specting their food. The manager of the estate where
this happened talked seriously with them on the sub-
ject ; and, instead of inflicting corporeal punishment,
prohibited them from attending at the chapel. This
measure produced the desired effect. Mr. Wray went
and expostulated with them on the wickedness and
ingratitude of their conduct ; and they soon made
due submission, and were, in consequence, restored to
their former privileges. " Thus," said the manager,
" by making religion a reward of good conduct, bene-
ficial effects may be expected, and more severe pun-
ishments avoided."

Shortly after this occurrence, Mr. Divi.- ( vho had
been sent out to Demerara prev' ■ > .'.:■ jath of
Mr. Post) finished and opened a large and commo-
dious chapel at George 'Town ; towards the erection
of which the inhabitants contributed upwards of six
hundred pounds, and about sixty pounds were sub-
sci i by the poor negroes, each of whom gave half
a I or two-pence-halfpenny. In writing to the
directors on this subject, Mr. Davies says, " Had you
been here yesterday, you would have rejoiced to see
the vast numbers that filled not only the chapel, but
the whole plot of ground on which the school-house

IMiAt ^ATihe MfM tiiiM, your hearts would huttt
whcd toaet racM raultitudoa, among whom wwe
aaajr wonnt whh efaildron at the breast, and old
people OB enit(ihm, obliged to stand out of doo», in
tl» burtoig mm^ at noon, untU the congregation within
w»B dnmisted." About the same Ume, an auxiliarr
miwionary society, tnoluding people of color, and
•tares, was formed at George Town, and the subscrip-
tkms raised m the first instance amounted to eighty
pounds. Mr. Davies, b spealcing of this circumstance.
«y», "I proposed a bit, (five-pence,) or Upwards,
to constitute a member of the new society; but all
who could afibrd it, subscribed a greater sum. Half
* bit, which is our smallest coin, constitutes a member
«f the juvenile branch ; but the generality of the
children, except some who are rery poor, consider
half a bit too little to bestow on the poor heathen.
It 18 very affiscting to see the»e d ir children, whose
parents were, for the most part, heathens, befbre the
word of God came to this town, reaching out their
bands with their money, to send the gospel to others."
Shortly after the formation of this auxiliary at
GeorgeTown.Mr. Wray was taken ill at Le Resouve-
nir, and was confined to his house for a period of five
weeks. "The poor negroes." says he, "visited me
in my affliction, every night, and manifested great
affection, and I have no doubt offered in secret many
earnest prayers for my recovery. One of them told
me they were hungering after the preaching. At
Christmas I preached and catechised three days
together, which was too much for my strength I re-
joiced, however, to see the chapel filled with slaves.
What a pleasing change I Instead of singing their
African songs, they sing the praises of God, and devote
themselves to hira.

" I lately baptized six adults and several chUdren •
the chapel was crowded, and many of them dressed
in white, which is a pleasing sight. The service was
extremely solemn, and all appeared to be affected
We sang several times in the intervals of the people
coming forward, and as the parents brought thoir chil-
dren A negro, of the name of Davy, was baptized.
He had been a very wicked man, especially a great
thief; but he now npears to be a real penitent, and
to weep over his sins. I was afraid to baptize hira
lest he should dishonor the cause of Christ. I went
to inquire of the manager how he behaved himself-
he spoke well of him, and said, he had no fault t<^
find since he had attended me, and that it had given
him much pleasure to see him attend so diligently
A few nights ago, when I told him I wished him to
stayji little longer, he appeared very sorrowful and
ii.ucn concerned, and said he wished to give himself
entirely to God, and to be devoted with his whole
Vol. L— Nos. 45 & 46. ^q

MMEBARA, Mms^Tt

heart to Jtma Christ He has but one W; hit.
notwithstanding this, he has for a long tiiS com.
almost every night iWm a distance of abbut tbrM
mdes, to be instructed^ and even when the weather
has been very bad. Three of his children were hm.
tized with him. The last three or four weeks I hiv^
had many inquirers. There appears to be quite a re-
vival among the people. Our school-room is filled
every night with those who inquire the way to Sion."
Mr. Wray, with the consent of the directors, after-
wards removed to the neighboring colony of Berbice,
and the affectionate regard of the negroes at Le Re.
souvenir was evinced by the grief which they felt on
the occasion of his departure. " On the Lord's-day
previous to our leaving," says he, " I administered the
sacrament to our people, and the scene was truly
solemn and affecting. They wept aloud, till my voice
was drowned in their sobs and cries, and I coulrl not
go on, but was obliged to sit down. Mrs. Wray was
much affected. And when we took our leave, omo

last, literally hung about her neck, and wept profuse!-.
I cannot describe our feelings at parting. ' *

"Having an opportunity, not long after, of visitinr
them aga^n, I sent word, about dusk, that I was
come, and a great many soon assembled. I read, or
Uied to read, the first chapter of the epistle to the
li-phesians ; which was suitable both to them and to
me. I found myself, however, unable to proceed, as
1 could not refrain from weeping, and the people were
so much affected that they wept aloud. At length 1
gave out a verse of a hymn, and was then enabl«l to
explain the chapter. I think this was the most solemn
time I ever experienced in the pulpit."

1 ii° ?* '"°"''* °^ December, Mr. Elliot, who had
labored for some years, as a missionary, at Tobago,
paid a visit to Demerara, and was highly gratified
with perceiving that the ministrations of Messrs. Wrar
and Davies had not been in vain. « It filled my heart
with joy," says he, " to see old men and women, as
well as young ones, with books or catechisms in their
hands or pockets. I am informed that some of them
on meeting a person who can read, will step up to
him, and say, ' Massa, I beg you to teach roe a little '
And the progress which many of them have made is
in my opinion, a proof that this information is correct'
borne thousands know that Christ is the Son of God
and the Saviour of sinners ; and I doubt not that some
hundreds believe in him, to the saving of their souls."
In the same communication, this missionary ob-
serves, " I preached for brother Davies on Lord's day

" '' "■■ '"" lur-onoon, to ne&iiy Toun^en hundred

hearers ; the chapel being completely full, and a great
many persons at every door and window. In th«

638

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

afternoon, I preached to about five hundred, mostly
slaves ; and p'srried five couple, who staf ' that they
were desirous of keeping God's law. < Once,' said
they, 'we no love him; but now we love him,
and wish to do every thing for please him.' On
Tuesday evening I preached at Le Resouvenir to
about four hundred and fifty very attentive hearers:
but it would have grieved you to have heard and seen
the poor negroes, when they understood that no mis-
sionary was on his passage from England to them.
They lifted up their hands and wept, earnestly beg-
ging that I would come among them. Some even
followed me for miles with their entreaties and tears :
and when I assured them of my willingness to comply
with their request, if circumstances should permit, their
sorrow was turned into joy."

During an interval of nearly two years, the directors
were unable to obtain a resident successor to Mr. VVray
at Le Resouvenir ; though, during that time, the chapel
was supplied by Mr. Davies, of George Town, and
other missionaries of the society, who had an opportu-
nity of visiting Demerara. Mr. Elliot, also, appears
to have labored with equal zeal and success, in the
first instance, at George Town, and afterwards on the
west coast ; where his services were so abundantly
blessed, that a striking improvement was visible in the
morals of great numbers of the negroes, and scarcely
a sabbath elapsed without some of them offering them-
selves as candidates for baptism.

In January, 1817, Mr. John Smith, who had been
for some time under the tuition of the late Rev. Mr.
Newton, of Witham, in Essex, was sent out, by the
directors, to supply the vacant station ; and in the
course of the following month, he and Mrs. Smith
arrived safely at Demerara. The congregniion at I^e
Resouvenir, which had experienced a material diminu-
tion, from the want of a stated minister, began to in-
crease, immediately after the arrival of this missionary ;
and, in a short time, the chapel was founil insiifhcient
to accommodate all the people who fiockpd togot'ier
to hear the word of salvation. Some of tiie planters
would not suffer their slaves to attend, but threatened
them with a hundred lashes, if they presumed to go
near the chapel. Otliers, however, found it most con-
ducive to their own interest to encourage those poor
creatures to attend on the means of grace; a striking
instance of which appears in the following ancctlote : —
A certain slave, named Gingo, wliouas in tlic hnhit
of setting the tunes in Ucihei chnpel, was frequently
employed by his master in what is called tank irnrk ;
and on these occasions he was usiinlly told, " Now,
Gingo, when you have completed this, you may go and
pray." One day the planter said," Gingo, I find the
best way to get any thing done expeditiously, is to tell

the negroes that they shall go and pray." The poor
fellow immediately replied, " Me glad mcuia Icnow
dat pray do all ting." This simple-hearted and pious
negro was, soon afterwards, summoned into the invisi-
ble world ; and it was very remarkable that his wife, a
young woman living on another plantation, died at the
same hour.

In one of his letters to the directors, Mr. Smith says,
" The number of hearers at Le Resouvenir has been
augmenting latterly every week, and is still increasing ;
so that more people attend than can possibly gain admit-
tance. It would be equally affecting and gratifying to
the friends of the missionary cause, could they but see
the poor blacks sitting round the outside of the chapel,
under the cabbage-trees ; but it is painful to see them
excluded for want of room, after coming, as many do,
from a distance of five or ten miles.

" The white people attend much better than they
have hitherto done ; and express themselves much
pleased with the decent behavior and clean appearance
of the negroes, who are generally dressed in white.
With respect to tlie religion of these poor people, I
believe i.' does not consist in outward appearances so
much as in the honesty and simplicity of their conduct.
Their masters speak well of them in general ; nor have
I heard (though constantly inquiring) more than one
complaint made by any pkmter or manager, in conse-
quc ice of religion." The exception, to which Mr.
Smith here alludes, is well worthy of notice. One of
the planters said that the man, concerning whom our
missionary's inquiries were made, was too religious ;
and that, not satisfied with being religious himself, he
was in the habit of sitting up at night, to preach to
others. " In every other respect, however," said the
master, " he is a good servant ; so much so, that I
would not sell him for six thousand guilders, which,
ac(;ording to the present exchange, would be about
four hundred and sixty pouiuls sterling."

In another communication, dated June, 1819, Mr.
Smith observes, in reference to the plani«ion Le
Resouvenir, " It may be truly said of this place, that
while the truths of the blessed Gospel are hidden from
the wise and |>rudent, they are revealed unto babes.
The church is growing in numbers, and, we trust, in
knowledge. Eight persons have been lately received
into('liristinn fellowship; and two of them, in relating
what God had done for their souls, stated that they were
first induced to attend the chapel out of curiosity, sliortly
after my orrival ; and that they were so powerfully
convinced of their sinfulness, as to he constrained io
pray imporiunnf-ly for mercy. The other six were
wroiiKlit uiKin nrinriniijiv hy ca!6chis!!}»^ The church
meudiers, at present, amount to one hundred and
seven ; but the number of baptized persons who usually

attend, is not sasily ascei iained. I have baptized two
hundred and forty-nine, of whom about one hundred
and eighty are adults.

"As it has begn found impracticable to build a new
chapel, we have repaired the old one, and altered it,
by taking down the side gallery. When this was de-
termined on, and the negroes had contributed a suffi-
cient sum for the purpose, they agreed to form them-
selves mto an auxiliary missionary society, which was
accordmgly established about three months ago; a
free young man of color having consented to act as
secretary.

"The attention which the young people pay to re-
hg.on IS particularly gratifying. Great numbers of them
regularly attend the chapel, and seem to take a pleas-
ure m being catechized. On Easter Monday, when I
preached ntiy annual sermon to them, the chapel was
more than half filled with young people under seven-
teen years of age; and one instance of their attention
I will relate. Speaking of old age incapacitating peo-
ple for the enjoyment of earthly pleasures, I quoted

XIX. JJ--36 ; calling it a conversation between an old
man and a king. After the service, a youth came
mto the house, with his Bible in his hand, to request
me to pomt him to the passage where he might find the
discourse which the old man had with David ; observ-
ing that he was sure old people could not enjoy the
pleasures of this life, or a man would never refuse to
go to live with a king, and be so kindly treated.

"I have shown the negroes the pictures of the idols
in the Missionary Sketches ; and their opinion is, that
they must have been made in secret ; for, they say, if
the people had seen the xvorkmen make them, they
could never have been so stupid as to pay them reli-
gious honors. They express the greatest compassion
for those who are living in heathen darkness, and are
evidently willing to do all in their power to assist in
sending them the gospel."

Among various instances which might be adduced,
in order to demonstrate the influence of the gospel'
upon many of tiie negroes who sat under Mr. Smith's
ministry, we must notice their cheerful abandonmem
of a custom, which they had not only long considered
innocent in itself, hut us an important source of profit
to their families. The plantation slaves, comprising
nearly seven-eighths of the whole negro population of
Demerara, arc usiially allowed « piece of ground,
which they are rxpertcd to ciiiiivnte, for the purpose'
of furnishing themselves with such necessaries as their
tneans do not provide for them ; but the only time
ihcy have fr.r rarryin^ iiu-ii priMiuco to market is the
labbath, that being market-day. " Aliliou^h," says
Mr, Smith, " (his practice is a shameful violation of

DEMERARA. BERBICE.

539

the Lord s day, and extremely fatiguing to the negroes,
who are often compelled to carry their saleable arti'
cles, such as yams, Indian com, bananas, fee, to a
distance of six, eight, or even twelve miles, yet the
tnfling profit they derive from their labor, and the
pleasure they find in going to the n.arket in town
strongly attach them to it. WUh pleasure, however'
I see many of our baptized negroes abapdon this
practice,— a practice so specious in its appearance to
them and so deeply rooted by custom, that nothine
but the power of religion could cause them valuntanh,
to relinquish it. Many, very many, now neither eo
to market, nor cultivate their grounds on the sabbath •
and yet these are the persons that make the cleanest
and best appearance, and have more of the comforts
of life than most others. The reason is obvious.
Ihey are diligent in raising live stock, fowls, ducks,
turkeys fee, which they dispose of to persons who go
about the country to purchase them ;-by not goinir
to market, they have less inducement to spend their
money in buying useless or pernicious articles ;— and
by a little economy, such as the Bible teaches, they
make their money go further than others."

In the autumn of 1820, as many of the negroes
resided at a considerable distance from Mr. Smith's
place of worship, it was proposed to build a chapel at
Clonbrook, about fifteen miles from Le Resouvenir;
and that Mr. Mercer, another missionary of the Lon-
don society, then in the colony, should instruct the
negroes in that quarter. And, with a view to interest
the gentlemen of Clonbrook in this object, the follow-
mg certificate was given by Messrs. Van Cooten and
Hamilton, the attorney and manager of plantation I^
Resouvenir : —

" We, the undersigned inhabitants of the east coast,
having witnessed the good eflxcts of religious instruc
tions in the neighborhood of the chapel at Le Resou-
venir, where the missionaries belonging to the mis-
sionary society have preached for nearly thirteen
years, and understanding that the Rev. Mr. Mercer, a
missionary belonging to the same society, wishes '.o
erect n chnpel in the vicinity of Clonbrook, cordially
rocommen.l his object to the attention of the gentle-
men in that neiijhhorhood."

In February. 1823, after laboring six years in this
mission, Mr. Smith communicated to the directors the
following gratifying particulars :

After staling tlini the number of adult negroes bap-
rized during the preceding year was three hundred and
twenty : that the number admitted to the Ix)rd's table,
during the same period, was sixty-onn ; that ths tr:t~\
number of members of the church was two hundred
and three, and that of marriages one hundred and four-
teen, — lie observes, —

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

" We hare now many candidates both for baptism
and the Lord's supper. Our average congregation is
eight hundred persons. We have certainly much
cause to be thankful to the great Head of the church,
for the success that attends our labors. We behold
every sabbath an overflowing congregation, behaving
with praiseworthy decorum ; and we see them zealous
for the spread of Christianity. They are fast aban-
doning their wicked practices for more regular habits-
of life, as is evident from the number of marriages, few
of which (not as one in Ji/tt/) have hitherto been vio-
lated. A great pro|K)rtion of them are furnished with
Bibles, Testaments, Dr. Watts's First or Second
Catechism, and a hymn-book ; and these, being their
whole library, they usually bring to chapel on the
sabbath. All our congregation, young and old, bond
and free, are catechized every Sunday ; first individual-
ly, in classes, and afterwards collectively. This de-
pailmenl is managed principally by Mrs. Smith. The
children occupy and fill the new gallery of the chapel,
which contains one hundred and eighty, besides a few
persons to keep them in order during the service."
Mr. Smith, at the same time, added, that the Mis-
sion Register contained the names of about two
thousand persons who had professedly embraced the
gospel, at Ije Resouvenir and the adjoining plan-
tations.

The subsequent labors of Mr. Smith, and those of
his excellent wife, who took an active part in the instruc-
tion of the female negroes, were attended with the most
gratifying results. But instead of their laudable efforts
to promote the religious instruction and moral improve-
ment of the slave-population meeting with that sanc-
tion and countenance from the civil authorities and
other leading individuals, which such endeavors mer-
ited, they had, in many instances, to contend with
increasing opposition and reproacii. This, however,
was not universally the case. Some of the white iidiab-
itants candidly nrknnwiedged the advantages resulting
to the negroes from the labors of our missionary, while
several respectable gei;t'om''n, in the neighborhood
of Lo Resouvenir, Ix'can.r sid)scril)ers to the Dern-
erara Auxiliary Society, and gave their testimony
to the improved character and gcMxl behavior of the
negroes who had received the benefit of religion
instruction.

" Little could it have been imagined," says the
editor of the (Juarterly Chronicle, " that within six
months from the dale of these gratifying communica-
tions, every plan for the moral niid religious improve-
ment of the slaves nl liO Resouvenir would he sus-
pended ; that the missionary himself wnujd ho no
longer f^unrl in his place, onlightcninK their tnuutored
minds, and proclaiming the tidings of salvation; that,

in short, the misricn itself would be, as it were, en-
tirely laid waste; still less oonld so melancholy an
issue have been apprehended after the propositions of
Mr. Canning, on Mr. Buxton's motion of the 15th of
May, 1823, were adopted by the British parliament;
an event which appeared as the dawn of a brighter
day for the labors of Christian missionaries in the
slave colonies ; for it is well known, that those propo-
sitions, and the instructions of government founded
thereon, not only required a more lenient treatment of
the negroes, but regarded their moral and religious
instruction as Indispensable to the improvement of their
social condition.

" Various causes of dissatisfaction had, for a consid-
erable time, existed among the slaves on the east coast,
tending to sour their minds, and to render them dis-
contented with their lot. These grievances chiefly
consisted in the exaction of immoderate labor ; unjus-
tifiahle severity, and impediments thrown in the way
of their attendance on public worship.

" The number of the negroes who had embraced
Christianity at Le Resouvenir and in its vicinity, was
very considerable ; and with a very large proportion of
them, it was no nominal profession. To the gospel
which they had cordially received they were firmly
attached. Attendance on public worship they felt to
be a duty, and enjoyed it as a privilege. The sabbath
was their delight, and its services afforded them their
highest gratification. Such, indeed, is the case with
all real Christians ; but it is reasonable to suppose, that
to Christian negroes, in a state of slavery, the sabbath
and its sacred services have a charm, which persons
differently circumstanced cannot possibly realize. Un-
happily, instead of greater facilities being afforded for
their attendance on divine ordinances, as their attach-
ment to them increased, additional obstacles were, on
the contrary, thrown in their way, which could not fail
to produce great dissatisfaction.

" In May, ISii.'l, his excellency lieutenant-governor
Murray issued a proclamation, ostensibly founded on
lord Liverpool's despatch of 181 1. TImj effect of the
latter was to relieve the slaves from restraints affecting
their religious instruction ; but the proclamation of
governor Murray unhappily had a directly contrary
effect. It proposed to the phmlvrs nnt to rrfiist ]nme$
to their »lavei to attend divine vorsliip on a Sunday,
and thus indirectly instructed them to permit no nrf^ro
to attend without a post. Considering the relative
situation of planter and slave, a moment's reflection
will suffice to show the vexatious tendency of such a
regulation. Was it reasonable to expect that the do-
mestic convenience, reli/iioui nreiudicni. and personal
antipathies of the owner or manager should at once
«;ivo way at the request of • negro slave ? The event

DEMERAKA. BERBICE.

soon proved, what ordinary foresight might have dis-
covered, that they would not. Tlie slaves were either
refused passes, or they were not able to obtain them
in du9 time, or they were bantered and reproached,
on account of their religion, when they applied; des-
titute meanwhile of all legal means of redress. The
consequence was, that many of them determined to
attend divine worship without a pass, and by this
means exposed themselves to punishment, which, there
IS reason to believe, was in numerous instances inflict-
ed, and in some with considerable severity. These
grievances were further aggravated by some of the plant-
ers and managers interfering, under the supposed au-
thority of the proclamation, with the religious exercises
performed by the slaves in their own houses ; by taking
away and destroying their religious books ; and by ap-
pomtmg an overseer to accompany their negroes to
chapel, m conformity with a suggestion coptained in
governor Murray's proclamation, which overseer was
'to judge of the doctrine held forth to the negroes I'
By these proceedings, a suspicion was excited amonR
the slaves, that the Europeans wished to deprive them
of their religion, which they oeclared they valued more
than life.

"While the minds of the negroes were in this state
of alarm and excitement, the despatches of earl Ba-
thurst arrived in the colony, containing instructions
as to a more lenient treatment of the negroes, in con-
fonnity with the propositions adopted by the British
parliament. These instructions required that the dis-
graceful practice of flogging the female slaves should
be abolished, and that the whip should b6 entirely
taken away from the field, as an instrument of coi^rcion
in the hand of the driver. On the arrival of similar
despatches in the neighboring colony of Berbice,
lieutenant-governor Beard requested Mr. Wray, the
society's missionary in that colony, to explain to the
slaves the true purport and extent of the instructions,
m order to prevent misapprehension and mistake.
Happy might it liavo been, had a similar measure of
precaution been adopted in Demerara. On the con-
trary, however, the nature of the instructions was, in
that colony, purposely concealed from the public at
larfno, during a |)eriod of several weeks ; tliough in the
meun time they were made a subject of discussion in
the court of policy, and of conversation among the
whites, and at the governor's own table, even in the
presence of his domestics, h was not long before it
became known to the slaves themselves, tliat some
benefit had come out fur them from Kngland ; which,
however, being undefined, was magnified by their

J-—. -^. ..„ ._^.;._ .^ .nc^.w Oeioii^iiig to

planlalion Success (an estate on the east coast), was
expressly told by one of the governor's servants, « that

541

the report about their freedom wat really true.' Thus
the gross mistake already prevalent among the slaves,
as to the extent of the benefit, was corroborated by the
testimony of the governor's own servant ! This intelli-
gence was speedily communicated to the negroes on
the east coast, who now began to suspect that it was
the design of the whites to withhold the intended boon
from them. Smarting under the grievances already
mentioned, their minds were, of course, thrown into
a state of increased irritation ; and, at this critical
and feverish moment, by a strangespirit of infatuation,
many of the negroes belonging to estates in the neigh-
borhood of Le Resouvenir, instead of experiencing an
abatement of their sufferings, were, on the contrary,
treated with greater severity. Thus were the irritation
ano discontent of the slaves on the east coast inflamed
to a still higher pitch, till, at length, a considerable body
of them resolved to abandon their work, and obtain,
if possible, the rights, meaning thereby the freedom,
which they supposed the government at home had sent
out for them."

On Sunday, August 17, after the celebration of
divme service, two or three of the negroes who had
been at Bethel chapel, went into Mr. Smith's house,
as they had been accustomed to do, to bid him " good
bye." Two of them, named Quamina and Seaton.
were talking together in a low tone of voice ; but Mr
Smith heard the words managers and 7iew law, and
rebuked them for conversing about such matters.
Quamina then remarked, laughing, " O ! it is nothing
particular, sir : we were only saying it would be good
to send our managers to town, to fetch up the new
law." Mr. Smith immediately replied that such con
versation was highly improper, and that they would
act most absurdly in saying any thing to the managers,
about it, as they wore not the law makers. He added
that if there were any thing good for them, they (the
negroes) would soon hear of it ; but if they behaved
insolently to their managers, they would forfeit their
religious character, and provoke the government, both
in the colony and at home. Quaininn replied, " Very
well, sir: we will say nothing about it, for we should
bo very sorry to vex the king and the people of
England." H l i

About six o'clock the following evening, just as Mr.
and Mrs. Smith were going out fo a walk, a negro
brought a letter to the former, fron. a slave named
Jackey. The contents of this note brought to our
missionary's recollection what had transpired on the
preceding day, and induced him to fear that some
mischief was intended. He, therefore, took out hit
pencil, and hastily wrote the following answer:

" 1 am ignorant of the affair you allude to, and it is
now too late for me to make any inquiry. 1 learned

LONDOfi MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

yesterday that some scheme was in agitation ; and,
without asking any questions on the subject, I begged
them to be quiet. I trust they will ; as hasty, violent
or concerted measures are quite contrary to the reli-
gion we profess, and I hope you will have nothing to
do with them."

Having despatched the bearer with this note, Mr.
Smiih and his wife quitted their house, with a view of
taking an evening walk ; but they had not proceeded
far, when they heard a tumultuous noisCj and, upon
inquiry, found that the negroes had attacked the house
of Mr. Hamilton, the manager, at Le Resouvenir, de-
manding fire-arms. Our missionary immediately went
up to them, entreating them to desist, and depart
peaceably ; but they appeared to be furious and deter-
mined, and rudely desired him to return to his own
house, at the same time brandishing their cutlasses,
«nd making various threatening gesticulations. Before
his departure, however, he prevailed upon them to
lefrain from injuring Mr. Hamilton, whom they were
•bout to put into the stocks. Indeed, it is worthy of
observation, that in the acts of violence which were
•ubsequently perpetrated, less sanguinary measures
were adopted than had previously been known on
•imilar occasions. And to the pacific doctrines of the
gospel which our missionary had promulgated, this
moderation must indisputably be ascribed; for the
negroes declared that as they could not give life, they
would not take it away, but in self-defence ; as their
religion forbade them to do it. " And thus," it has
been justly observed, " were the lives of these very
men preserved, who were so eager, under the color of
law, to destroy the life of Mr. Smith."

In the mean time, information had been received by
the governor that a general insurrection of the slaves
might be expected on the 18th, or the following night.
Few persons, however, were prepared to believe the
report, nor did his excellency himself attach any
credit to it. Nevertheless,, acrompnnied by the fiscal,
lie proceeded immediately to the east coast, to ascer-
tain the truth of the rumor, and met with about forty
armed negroes. According to the statement of his
excellency, they avowed their object to bo " uncon-
ditional emancipation," — which accords with the dec-
laration of his own servant, " that the report of their
freedom was really true." So they understood the
benefit intended them. The governor now expostulated
with them on the improper nature of their conduct, for
nearly half an hour, informing them of the benevolent
views of his majesty, and that the practice of flogging
females, and the carrying the whip to the field, were
to 1)0 iibolishcd, ns the first steps to tho proposed
measures. He further explained to thom how such
conduct would put it out of his power to carry the 11

benevolent intentions of his majesty into effect. The
negroes are said to have answered, that " God had
made them of the same flesh and Mood as the whites ;
that they were tired of being slaves ; that their good
king had sent orders that they should be free, and that
they would work no longer."

The number of the insurgents having increased to
between two and three hundred, his excellency, ap-
prehensive that his retreat might be cut oflT, thought
proper to return to George Town, where an alarm was
given during the night. The drums beat to arms, and
a force, consisting of the militia and regulars, was forth-
with despatched to the east coast. On the follow-
ing morning, they came up with a considerable body
of negroes. The commanding ofiicer rode through
the midst of the insurgents, under the protection of a
slave named Telemachus, and interrogated them as to
the cause of their thus rising against their masters.
The negroes are said to have replied, " Massa treat us
too bad ; keep us work on Sundays ; no let us go to
chapel ; no give us time to work our garden ; and beat
us too much ; and we hear for good, that great buckra
(the king) at home give us our liberty for good."
They then asked for certain days for themselves ; on
which the commanding officer ordered them immedi-
ately to lay down their arms, and return to their work.
This they peremptorily refused, unless their requests
were granted ; and after an hour had been allowed
them for consideration, they still remained obstinate.
The soldiers were, in consequence, desired to fire, and
a conflict ensued, in which about two hundred of the ne-
groes were killed on the spot. Several other skirmishes
took place on this and the two following davs, much to
the disadvantage of the insurgents, a considerable num-
ber of whom became the victims of their own rashness ;
but on the side of the troops very few lives were lost.
Mr. Smith remained in quiet at his own habitation
till the afternoon of Thursday, when he was arrested
by a party of the militia in a most brutal and ferocious
manner, as will appear from the following extract of a
letter addressed by our missionary to the principal

fiscal of the colony, and dated August «2, 1823:

" Yesterday, about three o'clock, Mr. Nurse, at the
head of a company of infantry, came to our house,
desiring to speak to me. He inquired whether I had
seen the governor's proclamation, which placed tho
colony under martial law ? I answered in the aflirm-
ativo. ' Have you a copy of it ?' said he. Yes,
' Will you show it to me ?' I immcdiatoly produced it.
Taking it in his hand, he proceeded to rend it, mark-
ing, with peculiar emphasis, the clause which requires
every person, without distinction, capable of wenring
a::!::, tO cnrOi s!iin3Cij ii a riiiJitiu j mid (ieniiiniied
whether I had complied with that order ? I told him

J had not. He rejoined, ' Then I hare it m command
from oaptam M'Turk, to require your attendance at
ms house, to enrol and accoutre yourself as a militia-
man. I replied that I could not comply with that
command, as my profession entitled me to a lend
exemption. *

"Mr. Nurse then said, he had another command to
execute, namely, to seal up all my papers. I inquired
what authority he bad for such proceedings. He said
the order of captain M'Turk was his authority : and
asked if I intended to offer him any resistance. I told
him, No ; and showing where the papera were, saw
him seal them up, part in a desk, and the remainder
m a drawer. Mr. Nurse and his company then went
away.

"In about three quarters of an hour afterwards,
our house was again beset with soldiers, consisting of
a troop of cavalry, under the command of Mr. Simp-
TL J^^ company of infantry under the command
of Mr. Nurs-j. Mr. Simpson, in the foulest language
and the fiercest manner, demanded why I had dared
to disobey captain M'Turk's orders. I told him
I was entitled to an exemption from military service.'
With a profane oath he replied, 'If you give me any
of your logic, I'll sabre you in a minute ; if you
don't know what martial law is, I'll show you ;' at the
same time, brandishing F^i sabre in my face, in a men-
acing manner, and swearing that I was the cause of
all this disturbance. He then called for a file of men
to seize me, while others ordered my chaise to be
got ready ; and Mr. Nurse, or Kome one by his order,
went up stairs, and took away all my papers ; some
sealed up in a desk, and others loose in the drawer,
which had been sealed. As they insisted on Mrs.
bmith s leaving the house, I requested captain M'Turk
to allow us five minutes to pack up some linen, and
ock up the place. But, in less than three minutes,
I apprehend, a file of soldiers came to the bottom
of the stairs, and said to me, 'If you don't fetch Mrs

Smith by G , sir, we will.' In this manner we

were hurried away from our house and property, with-
out being allowed time to bring away a change of
clothes, or to lock up our doors. A.'ter keeping us in
the road about three quarters of an hour, they escorted
us to town under a military guard."

The place in which our missionary and the faithful
partP<jr of his afflictions were nowconnnetl, was n very
smr.ll room, or garret, near the roof of thn Colony-
house, exposed to the burning rays of the sun, and
rendered still more distressing by the want of «lean
linen ; which the unfortunate prisoners were neitL-er

allowed time to takn with ihom ««. « :..-j .

for, subsequently to their arrival. Even the use of
pen and ink, or liberty to correspond with the direc-

DEMERARA. BERBICE.

to«, was inhumanly refused to Mr. Smith, for a pe-
ricj of about seven weeks ; when he was brought to

2„«1 r A ''"""T"'"''' '^"''^'^ti-S of lieutenant-
colonel Goodman, the president, thirteen other of.
hcers of the army, and the president of the chief

tenant-colonel on the militia staff.
Of the charges preferred against Mr. Smith, the

thTcrrl."' ^'"' ""' •^"""'^ ^y '^' ^•'"'«"<=« «f

John^M ''^'' ^y'^"'^^ ^y '''^^' °f »>'« excellency sir
John Murray, leutenant-governor and commander-in-
chief of the united colony of Demerara and Essequi^
&c. against John Smith, missionary —

vio^,^'!' """^i '^'' *"' "^^ ''•'^ •^°*"' Smith, long pre-
rZv "\ ?u° '^^ '^' °f « «««'» revolt and
he 8th : t '~'^°"• '" *'"'' -'-y - or about
« in h,m 1 r' ^""' P'^^'' ^'"^ P™'"^*^' " f"
minds ofTh.^' T''"' ""^ di^atisfaction in the
m nds of the negro slaves towards their lawful masters,
managers and overseers [he, the said John SmUh
thereby tniending to excite the said negroes to br'ak
out tn such open revolt and rebellion against tht
authoruy of their la^cful n,asters, maJgeT and
overseers], contrary to his allegiance, and against the

dignity °"' """"^" '°''' ""' '''"S' ''" "°^" ""'*
"2. For that he, the said John Smith, having
about the ITth day of August last, and [at rf.V^S
other days and times] one day theretofore precedinc
advised, consulted and corresponded with a certain
negro, named Quamina, touching and concerning a
ertain revolt and rebellion of the negro slaves within
hese colonies of Demerara and Essequibo ; and fur-
ther, after such revolt and rebellion had actually com-
menced and was m a course of prosecution, he, the
said John Smitl^ did further aid and assist in uch
ebelhon, by advising, consulting and corresponding
ouching the sa„,e. with .he said negro, QuanWna ; to
vt on the [Wthand] 20th of August last, he, the
aid John Sirnth, then well knowing such reUlt and
rebellion to bo in progress, and the said negro, Qua-
mina. to be an insurgent engaged tiierein.

"3. For that he, the said John Smith, on the 17th
of August last past, and for a certain period of time
thereto preceding, having come to the knowledge of a
certain revolt and rebellion intended to take place
within the colony, did not make known the same to
the proper authorities ; which revolt and rebollion ri.A
suDsequeniiy take place-to wit. on or about the 18lh
ol August last past.
"4. For that he, the said John Smith, after such

fl.^ li

044

LONDON MBSIONARY 'SOCIETY.

revolt and rebellion had taken place, and during the
existence thereof— to wit, on or about ['I\u»dajf and]
Wednesday, the [19<A and] 20lh of August, now last
past, was at plantation Le Resouvenir, in presence of,
and held communication with, Quamina, a negro of
plantation Success ; he, the said John Smith, then well
knowing the said Quamina to be an insurgent en-
gaged therein, and that he, the said John Smith, did
not use his utmost endeavor to suppress the same [by
aecuring or detaining the taid inturgent Quamina as
a priionet , or] by giving information to the proper
authorities, or otherwise ; but, on the contrary, per-
mitting the said insurgent Quamina to go at large and
depart [without attempting to leize him, and] without
giving any information respecting him to the proper
authorities, against the peace of our sovereign lord the
king, his crown and dignity, and against the laws in
force in this colony, and in defiance of the proclama-
tion of martial law, issued by his excellency the lieu-
tenant-governor."

It is not necessary to go into the particulars of the
evidence brought against Mr. Smidi ; the futility of
which was well exposed by his own cross-examlnn-
lion of the several witnesses, and triuaiphantly de-
monstrated by the admirable speeches of Mr. Brougham,
mr J. Mackintosh, Mr. Williams, and Dr. Lushing-
Kon, in the House of Commons. Suffice it, there-
fore, to state, that the court-martial by wliom ho
was tried, acquitted him of the principal part of
the first charge, namely, an intention to promote
fevoU ; and as to the other part of it, * promoting
discontent,' Mr. Smith affirmed that he cautiously
avoided that evil, and refrained from even reading
portions of Scripture, or using hymns which might,
through ignorance or misapprehension, have caused
dissatisfiiction.

With regard to the second and third charges, Mr.
Smith maintained that he did not know of an intended
revolt. He knew, and all the colony knew full well,
that great uneasiness did prevail among the negroes,
and he had merely heard some foolish talk, which he
severely reproved, about obliging the managers to go
to George Town and procure the new law of freedom,
which they falsely imagined, for want of that informa-
tion which their superiors ought to have given them,
had come from England ; but he never dreamed of an
insurrection till it actually took place ; and this some
of the dying negroes also affirmed with their last
breath, at the place of execution.

With respect to the last charge, Mr. Smith did, in-
deed, see Quamina two days after the revolt, he hav-
ing incautiously been sent for, without Mr. Smith's
knowledge, b" his wife : but there was not a tittjn of
evidence t'.at he then knew him to be a rebel, or

a reputed rebel, nor that he gave him the least encour-
agement to proceed in the revolt ; but there is satisfac-
tory evidence on the contrary ; for Mrs. Smith took a
solemn oath before the governor, that Mr. Smith said
to Quamina that he wa$ lorry and grieved that the
people had been so foolish and wicked, and mad, at
to be guilty of revolting, and hoped that Quamina
had not been concerned in it ; to which that unhappy
man, misled probably by his son Jack (who, with
one other, aeems to have plotted the revolt), made no
reply, but retired, abashed and confounded, and soon
after fled to the woods, whither he was pursued and
shot, but without any arms in his hand. And as to
Mr. Smith's securing him, his not doing which formed
a part of the charge, he truly said on his trial, pointing
to his emaciated body, " Look at me, gentlemen, and
say whether it was possible for me to secure the per-
son of such a man."

The trial continued twenty-eight days, including
various adjournments, and was concluded on the 24th
of November, when Mr. Smith was condemned to be
hanged, at such time and place as the governor should
think fit to direct. But this cruel and most unjust
sentence was such as, we have reason to think, the
court did not dare to execute, and, therefore, added to
the sentence of death the following qualification : " But
the court, under all the circumstances of the case,
begs humbly to recommend the prisoner to mercy."
The sentence and recommendation of mercy were
immediately transmitted to his majesty.

Mr. Smith was now removed from the Colony-house
to the common jail, and placed in a room situated
over stagnant water, the pernicious fumes of which,
passing through the joints of the boards, some of which
were a quarter of an inch separate from each other,
could not but be injurious to him, especially in his weak
and disordered state, and were therefore loudly com-
plained of, together with the bad state of the windows,
by his medical friend. Hero he was confined for about
seven weeks, till it was evident that death was not far
distant. Ho was then removed to an upper room,
in a more eligible part of the jail, where Mrs. Elliot,
with much difficulty, obtained leave to join Mrs. Smith,
in kind attention to the patient sufl^erer. And it is
but justice to Mr. Padmore, the keeper of the prison,
to state, that he treated our missionary with the greatest
humanity and tenderness. The attention also of Dr.
Chapman to Mr. Smith deserves to be recorded with
gratitude ; for no means were spared which might con-
tribute to the alleviation of his suflferings."

On the 12th of January, 1824, Mr. Smith addressed
the following letter to the directors ; which, as it

un tf\ Ka Ki

more than ordinary interest ;—

I I _:.!.

DEMERARA. BERBtCE. *^<

" CWMy JWI, l)mMw«, Jb>. 18, IBM.
<' Dear snd honored ain,— I have just received your
kind and sympetfaizing letter, of the I9th Norember,
and will endeavor to answer it by this packet, if my
emaciated frame will enable me to bear the fatigue of
80 doing.

" It will be the less necessary at this period forme to
enter into particulars respecting the causes of the revolt,
and my alleged concern in it, as you will be made
fully acquainted with the latter by the documents that
have been long since forwarded to the society by Mrs.
Smith, and by those which Mr. Elliot took with him.
" The real causes and objects of the commotion
among the negroes (concerning which you wish me to
procure and send you authentic copies of all docu-
ments which can offer the needful information) are not,
I think, very difficult to ascertain. Mrs. Smith has
already sent every document which came within our
reach. There are very lew written documents that I
know of, on the subject. It is the opinion of the only
tm real friends I have in the colony at present, that
a deputation sent out by government to investigate
the causes of the revolt, would discover wonders, and
I have no doubt of the correctness of their views.

" You seem to be aware, in some measure, of the
unceasing animosity which the colonists in general, and
the planters ia particular, have to the instruction of the
slaves, and to faithful' missionaries on that account;
but you can have no just idea of the rancor and fury
they display against a missionary, when any report is
raised against him, which is not unfrequent, and has
always turned out fo be false, as far as my knowledge
has extended. The following extract from the Guiana
Chronicle, of the Utb of February, 1822, may give an
idea of their malicious disposition towards the mis-
sionaries : —

" ' We have had occasion repeatedly to express our
opinion of the sectarian Propagandists, wiio send forth
their missionaries out of a pretended zeal for the sal-
vation of souls. They (the missionaries), to be sure,
are too wise and cunning to make direct attacks from'
the pulpit on public men and measures ; but, in respect
of their wild jargon, their capricious interpretations of
the Bible, and the doctrines tiiey inculcate, although
in tiiemsolves they are to be despised and slighted, yet,
in point of the pernicious tendency they may have
upon the minds of their hearers, we do tliink no cau-
tion can be too ga-at, no vigiiaiico too strict. Instances
are not wanting of their impostures in this part of the
world ; t)i«ir manner of raising revenues in support of
their clnirch, is not unknown ; neither is the way in which
tho coiuribuiiOiiii lue sacrilegiously squandered. That
fact alone ought to weigh against all their solemn profes-
sions of being actuated solely by a pure love of aodliness
Vol. I.— IVos. 45 k 40. 71

and apostolic zeal in tlra cause of Christianity. The
influence they possess in the minds of the negroes is
more widely ramified than is imagined, or would be
readily believed. It is no longer proper to say they are
insignificant. In the common acceptation of the word,
they are truly so; but fi-om their calling and canting]
they have acquired a degree of hnportance in this col-
ony, not attainable otherwise. Let them be looked
after now more stric'ly than ever, and we pledge our-
selves to do foi- them in proper colors, whenever we
may be furnished with the authentic particulars of any
immoral or illegal wanderings from the path of their
duty.'

" This extract is not selected for its singularity (for
such attacks are not unfrequent in this colony), but to
show how the missionaries are regarded.

" You say, « you hope I have not been left to strug-
gle unbefriended with the power of my enemies.'
Thanks be to God, I have not been left altogether with-
out a friend. The Rev. Mr. Elliot has stood by me
and exerted himself much in my behalf; and a kind
Providence raised up, unexpectedly, a most warm and
zealous friend in the Rev. Mr. Austin. Nor must I
omit the name of Dr. Chapman, who has taken «
warm interest in my cause (but the pious and inde-
pendent principles of these gentlemen prevent them
from having much influence in these matters); and Mr.
Arrindell, whose friendship I must not forget to name.
" Under my persecutions and afflictions, it affords
me no small consolation, that the directors cherish the
assurance of my entire innocence. That I am inno-
cent of the crimes which have been laid to my charge,
I have not only the testimony of my own conscience
in my favor, but the attestation of all my friends, who
have made strict inquiries into my conduct relative to
this affair. The imtructions 1 received from the soci-
ety, I always endeavored to act upon ; and in order to
vindicate the society from the vile aspersions made
against it by its enemies, as to its having a concealed
object in view, viz. the ultimate liberation of the slaves
—I laid over the instructions as apart of the proceedings
of the court-martial on my trial, that publicity might
be given to the real object of the society.

" It appears as if the directors have some apprehen-
sions of its having been possible, that I have diverted
my mind, in some measure, from the ren! object of my
tnission, and entered into a correspondence and connec-
tion with some of those societies which are formed for
the gradual abolition of slavery. I can assure the di-
rectors this is not the case ; no letter or correspondence

of the kind ovt^r hnvinor /wt/i.ifi./ir1 kn*. ..«».. .^.^ *„j

■ - ■ -- — rrri! tutr ai:u any

society. Ail my papers were seized without a mo-
ment's warning, and underwent a most rigid examina-
tion by a committee of gentlemen who were by no

>in

S46

LONDON MIBSIOOfARY SOCIETY.

meios my fnends, and yet nothiog of th« kind wu ever
pretended to be discorered. For every other infoi^
mation, I beg leave to refer tbe directors to the docu>
meots already forwarded, and to Mr. Elliot.

" I suppose, by this time, you are at no loss to know
whether I am pursuing my laNors at Le Resouvenir.
Indeed, .had not the revolt occurred, I must have re-
linquished them, at least for a considerable time, in
<Mder to seek the restoration of my declining health in
a more salubrious climate ; but my close imprisonment,
with its innumerable privations, has prevented me from
taking that step, and has brought me to the borders of
the grave.

" It grieves me, dear sirs, that I am now a useless
burden upon the society. I have endeavored, from the
be^nning, to discharge my duties faithfully. In doing
so, I have met with the most unceasing opposition and
reproach, until- at length the adversary found occasion
to triumph over me. But so far have these things
been from shaking my confidence in the goodness of
the cause in which I was engaged, that if I were at lib-
erty, and my health restored, I would again proclaim,
during the residue of my days, the glad tidings of sal-
vation amidst similar opposition ; but of this I see no
prospect. The Lord's hand is heavy upon me ; still, I
can praise his name, that, though outward afflictions
abound towards me, yet the consolations of the gos-
pel abound abo, and I believe he will do all things
well.

" I am, dear sirs, in much affliction,
<< Your useless but devoted servant,

"John Smith."

It has been justly remarked that this pious and ex-
cellent servant of Jesus had much to encounter during
the period of liis imprisonment. The defence which
he had to form under many disadvantages, must have
been extremely laborious, and the false accusations
brought forward, not only by his avowed enemies, but
even by some of his hearers, whoso anxiety to screen
themselves from punishment induced them to bear
false witness against their innocent and persecuted min-
ister, must have been truly afflicting. His feelings,
also, must have been acute indeed, when, being in a
room above that in which the court sat, he heard the
shoutings of joy, as he had reason to believe, on the
agreement to pronounce him guilty. Yet, amidst all
these sufferings, " in patience he possessed his soul."
And, at Icnglh, when flesli and heart began to fail, the
frame of his mind was such as corresponded with his
life of piety and labor ; as will api>ear from the follow-
ing extract of a letter written by iiis widow on the ISth
ef February, and addressed to the directors: —

" Tlie information I have to impart is no other than

the death of my dear haabind. Hia wvet« sufibrings
terminated about half past ooe o'clock, on the morn-
ing of February 6, in the most happy maoner. He was
perfectly sensible to the last moment, and manifested
the same resignation to the will of his Divine Master,
the same unshaken confidence of his acceptance with
God, through the meriu of a crucified Savipur, and the
same ardent love for reading and prayer, for which he
has ever been distinguished since I had the happiness
of knowing him. I feel that, in being bereft of him, I
have not only lost an affectionate husband, butone pecu-
liarly qualified to be a help-meet, in the highest sense.
But I trust that God, who has seen fit to take him from
me, and who, I think, I may say, in a wonderful man-
ner supported me under the distressing circumstances
in which I have, for some months past, been placed,
will still be my friend, and lead me in that narrow path,
no matter whether through floods of tribulation or not,
until I have the happiness of finding myself landed oa
that peaceful shore, where sorrow and sighing shall for
over cease, and where death shall not again part us
from those we love."

Mr. Padmore, the keeper of the jail, was no sooner
informed of pur missionary's decease, than he came to
view the bo<ly, and then went to inform the governor,
agreeably to the orders he had previously received.
He returned about eight or nine o'clock, and informed
Mrs. Smith, and her friend Mrs. Elliot, that the govern-
ment secretary (a son of the governor's) would be with
them shortly ; but he not arriving so soon as was expect-
ed, and they hearing nothing from him, gave orders
to a Mr. Adams to make the coffin. After which,
about one or two o'clock , a person came, who said he waa
sent by Mr Murray, the government secretary, for the
same purpose ; but he was informed that orders had
been previously given, and that the coffin was expected
at three o'clock ; and it was brought accordingly.

The following particulars were appended to the re-
port of the directon, communicated to the society in
May, 1824 : — " About five in the afternoon, his honor
the first fiscal came, and desired Mrs. Smith and Mrs.
Elliot to retire into the adjoining room, and informed
Mrs. Smith that she would be required to give her
evidence respecting the cause of her husband's death.
Mrs. Elliot replied that it would be impossible for Mrs.
Smith to do that on so short a notice. His honor asked,
what time woidd be required. Mrs. Elliot answered,
until to-morrow. He rejoined, ' It must be given to-
day.' Mrs. Smith then requested, that she might be
allowed to remain in the room where the corpse lay.
' If you can command your feelings, madam, you may,'
was his reply, which was uttered in a harsh and for-
bidding manner. Mrs. Smith said she would endeavor
to command her feelings, and wu permitted to stay.

DEMERARA. BERBiCE.

" His honor wu soon fcdlowed by two memben of
th« C9Mrt of policy, two members of the court of justice,
the two cdonial secretaries, five medical gentlemen,
and several other persons.

" They proceeded to rec<^ise the person of Mr.
Smith ; and then proposed questions to the medical
gentlemen who attended him in prison, Drs. Chap-
man and Webster, respecting the nature of his disease,
and the causes of his death. They agreed that it
was puhnonary.

" Dr. Chapman, after stating the nature of Mr.
Smith's disease, and the state in which he found him
when first called to give his attendance, added, that the
lowness of the room in which he was confined during
the first seven weeks of his imprisonment, and its damp-
ness, occasioned by the heavy rains, the water stand-
mg under it, and the openness of the boards, some of
which were a quarter of an inch apart, had contributed
to the rapid progress of the disease ; and Dr. Webster
confirmed this opinion. But when the deposition of
Dr. Chapman was read over to him, it was found to be
so diflferent from the statement he had made, that he
repeatedly refused to sign it : and, at length, it was
determined that what he had stated respecting the
room should be omitted. It should here be remarked,
that Dr. Chapman had declared, on his visita to Mr.
Smith, that unless the floor and the windows were alter-
ed.the prisoner's indisposition would certainly increase.
" The fiscal then addressed himself to Mrs. Smith, and
asked her what she considered to have been the causes
of her husband's death. She replfad, that he had been
for some time past in a very delicate state of health ;
but that the false accusations which had been brought
against him, the cruel persecutions he had endured,
and his long imprisonment, had no doubt hastened his
death. The words ' false accusations and cruel perse-
cutions' were rejected with vehemence ; and one of the
members of the court of policy said, it was not Mrs.
Smith's opinion they wanted, but the cause of his death.
" The fiscal then askdd Mrs. Smith, by whom he had
been dieted and nursed for the last month ; she an-
swered, « By me and Mrs. Elliot.' She was then asked,
hoiy Mr. Padmore, the jailer, had behaved to Mr.
Smith ; she replied, ' He has treated Mr. Smith and
myself with the greatest kindness.'

" The fiscal then said to Mrs. Elliot, ' I suppose you
found no difficulty in obtaining leave to visit Mr. Smith ?'
Mrs. Elliot answered, ' 1 applied for a fortnight together,
and went seven times to the secretary's office, before
permission was granted.'

" Mrs. Elliot was then asked by the fiscal, what she

had to «nv rnanarlinor "M,, Gn.:>l.>. J .u . _■ ■■ .

' IVothmg.' The fiscal added, > Madam, you are re-
quired by this meeting, and you must give your evi-

dence.^ Mn. EUiot replied, ' I do not consider this a
legal meetmg, and do not feel bound to answer any
questions.' The fiscal said, « Do not you know that I
have the arm of power, and oaa oblige you to speak ?
But I should be sorry to be put to the peinfiil necessity
of so domg.' Mrs. Elliot then said, ' I should be sorry
to oblige you, sir, to do any thing repugnant to your
feehngs; but if you did, I should still resUt.' ,

" ' What are your reasons,' he asked, ' for not an-
swering my questions ?' ' If I give evidence,' she re-
plied, ' It will be the same as Mrs. Smith's, which was
not admitted ; therefore, it will be useless to repeat it.'
'Will you substantiate the statement given by Mrs.
Smith, respecting the dieting and nureingof Mr. Smith,
and the conduct of Mr. Padmore ?' Mrs. Elliot an-
swered, she had no objection to corroborate what Mrs.
Smith had said on those points.

" The several depositions being sworn to, the meet-
ing then broke up.

" Between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, Mr.
Thompson, the second head-constable, came to the
priBon, and told Mrs. Smith and her friend, that he was
ordered to inform them, that he should come at four
o'clock the next morning, to demand the body of Mr.
Smith for interment. Mrs. Elliot inquired, why they
were not permitted to bury the corpse at ten o'clock,
as they intended. She asked, also, whether any
persons would be allowed to follow as mourners. He
answered. No. Mrs. Elliot asked, whether Mrs. Smith
and herself were included in that prohibition. He
replied. Yes. Mrs. Elliot asked, from whom he re-
ceived his orders. He answered, From his excellency.
Mrs. Elliot then said, ' Is it possible, that general Mur-
ray can wish to prevent a poor widow from following
her husband to the grave? Surely, they do not mean to
pursue their persecutions to the grave, as they have
done to death !' And she added, « If Mrs. Smith will
go, I will go with her ; we are not prisoners ; we may
go where we please.' He replied, «It is probable
there will be soldiers there, and something unpleasant
may occur ; and, therefore, I advise you not to go.'
Mrs. Smith then exclaimed, in a loud and frantic voice,
' General Murray shall not prevent my following my hus-
band to the grave, and I will go, in spite of all he can do.'
" Mr. Thompson, finding they were so determined,
said, ' I must go to his excellency again.' He accord-
ingly left them, and shortly after returned, and (as they
were informed) told a gentleman in the prison yard,
that if they attempted to follow the corpse, he had or-
ders to confine them ; and begged he would inform
them, as he would gladly avoid any violence. The
gentioiimii referred to did make this communication ,
and they determined, as there was no order to prevent
their leaving the prison, to meet the corpse at the grave,

549

LONDUM MHBIOIIiMt¥ SOCOBTT.

" They, therefore, Ic.^i the jail at half-past three
o'clock in the moraiag, daric as it wi», aeeozBpanied
onljr hj a free black man, with a lantcfth ; and pro-
ceeded to the biirial^tlace, where they beheld the
raoumfol spectacc — a beloved husband, um) a dear
friend, committed to the silent grave. The fnneral ser-
vice was read by the Rev. Mr. Austin, the chaplain of
the colony.

The following lines, written by one of the directors,
and published in the Evangelical Magazme for Sep-
tember, 1824, are highly descriptive of this tragK

scene :-

"Come down, in thy profoundeat ^loom,
Without one vagrant fire-fly's light,

Beneath thine ebon arch entomb
Earth, from the gaze of heaven, O night !

A deed of darkness must be done ;

Put out the moon ! hold back the ran !

. " Are these the criminals that flee,

Like deeper shadows through the shade ?
A flickering lamp from tree to tree,

Betrays tlieir path along the glade ;
Led by a negro : — now they stand,
Two trembling women hand in hand.

" A grave, an open grave appears !

O'er this in agony they bend ;
Wet the fresh earth with bitter tears ;

Sighs following sighs their bosoms rend :
These are not murderers : — they have known
Grief more bereaving than their own.

"Oft through the gl'jom their streaming eyes
Tjook tozlh fo: that they fear to meet :

It ?omes, — they catch a glimpse, — it flies : —
Quick glancing lights, — now trampling feet,-

Amo'ig the cane-crops, seen, heard, gone !

Retam, and, in dead march, move on.

" .\ stem procession ! gleaming arms
And spectral countenances dart.
By the red torchlight, wild alarms,

And withering pangs through either heart ;
A corpse amidst the group is borne : —
A prisoner's corpse, who died last mom.

" Not by the slave-lord's justice slain.
That doomed him to a traitor's death ;

While royal mercy sped in vain
O'er land and sea to spare his breath :

But the fhiil life, that wanned his clay,

Man could not give, nor take away.

" His vengeance and his grace, alike,

Were impotent to save or kill j
He may not lift his sword to strike.

Nor turn its edge aside at will :
Here, by one sovereign act and deed,
God cancsUed all that man decreed.

<*Ash«» to ashes.! tort to 4imi ■*>^f f^i- >
That cotpsa is to the grave consifn^d I
The BC<me departs ;-rthis buried trust

The' Judge of quick and dead shall find,—
When things that time and death have sealed.
Shall be in flaming fire revealed.

"The fire shall try thee then like gold,

Prisoner of hope ! await the test ;
And, O ! when truth alone is told.

Be thy clear innocence confessed !
The fire shall try thy foes ;— may they
Find mercy in that dreadful day!"

The conduct of the directors of the {jondon Mis-
sionary Society, on this deeply affecting occasion, was
marked by decided prudeiKe, immovable self-posses-
sion, and dignified femness.

From the first arrival in England of the news of the
revolt, the directors had held communications with the
colonial department of his majesty's government, and
had laid before the secretary of state, at the head of it,
a copy of the instructions given by them to Mr. Smith,
previously to his embarkation for Demerara. The fol-
lowing are the wise and judicious counsels which Mr.
Smith receivied firom the Society : —

Jmtructiont of the Directors to Mr. John Smith, on
his going out as Missionary to Demerara.

\ < ;' « Misaionary Rooms, London,

" Dear Brother, Dec. 9, 1816.

" Having devoted yourself to the service of Christ
among the heathen, you are now going, under the
direction and patronage of the Missionary Society,
to the colony of Demerara, in which place (at Le
Resouvenir) our missionaries, with some intervals of
late, have labored about nine years. It was at the
earnest request of the late Mr. Post that a missionary
was first sent, and Mr. Wray was, for a long time,
greatly blessed in his ministry, and many of the poor
negroes were hopefully converted to God. Mr. Wray
thought it his duty to remove to the neighboring colony
of Berbice, since which the mission has suffered very
severely. It is not necessary to detail the particulars,
nor to inquire who were the instruments of this failure,
and we would advise you, on your arrival at the station,
not to enter upon the disagreeable Subject.

" You are now going, dear brother, as a minister of
Christ, to declare his gospel to the negroes. Ever
remember that they are the first and chief object of
your ministerial attention ; to their conversion and edi-
fication must the energies of your mind be directed.
You will, doubtless, have opportunities of preaching
tiie word to the white people also, and we wish you
iu do litis witii faithfulness, prudence and uUuClion.
Many of them greatly need instruction, and we trust

DfiMERAHA. BSamCE.

.. I

taiiu

questions, and trvincr nrhAtk<» »».»., .

and when you see them the next time, inquiring if they
remember whtt they heard before. A few leading

that you wUl be nwd^ tha minister of God to tbeiB for
much good. Yet remember that, as ths society is formed
for the pui>po8elof "spreading the gospel among
heathen and other unenlightened nations," your first,
your chief, your constant business is with the poor
negroes. > >

" You need not be informed that they are deplorably
ignorant. You will probably find them mere babes in
understanding and knowledge, and that you must teach
them as you would teach children. Such discourses
as might be well understoou in a country coi^regation
m England would, perhaps, be unintelligible to them.
You must study to exhibit the great things of the
gospel in the plainest manner, and with simple, easy
language. By conversing with them in private, you
will find out what ideas and words are best understood
by them ; and in every public sermon let the method
and order be as clear and distinct as possible, that
their memories may better retain what they have
beard; and perhaps it wi« be very useful to repeat,
towards the end of your sermon, in a few words,
the substance of what you have delivered, and then
conclude with a close but affectionate appeal to their
Consciences.

" Similitudes, well chosen, may be very useful. Let
them be familiar allusions to what they well under-
stand ; but while they are familiar, let them never be
so low and vulgar as to degrade the divine truths they
are designed to illustrate. The parables of our Lord
will be your best method, and an acquaintance with
the notions and customs of the people will afford you
much direction in the proper use of similitudes.

" In those friendly conversations which you may hold
wth Mr- Wray or Mr. Davis, who have long been
preachers to the negroes, you will, doubtless, receive
much information which may greatly facilitate your
labors. With both of them you will, we hope, main-
tain a brotherly intercourse, but without taking any
part in the unhappy contentions of past times.

" The directors have long been of opinion that the
negroes are likely to derive far greater advantages
from catechisms, accompanied with a familiar conver-
sation, than from formal sermons, though they would
by no means undervalue them ; and, doubtless, many
may hear sermons, to whom you cannot have access
in pnvate. Still, however, labor daily and diligently
visiting them from hut to hut, and receiving them, at
stated seasons, especially in the evenings, when they
have done work, at your own habitarion (a certain
class, perhaps, at a time), and repeat, again and again,
every important truth of the gospel, asking them

M»

truths, both as to doctrine and practice, weli learned,
m this manner, will be of more real use than hearing a
hundred discourses. "6

" You must not take it for granted, as we are apt to
do in England (perhaps too much), that the people
know common truths already. Every thing must be
taught, and inculcated over and over again, and per^
baps placed in a variety of views, and expressed in a
variety of ways, till it be understood.

" The Moravians, m their extensive practice, have
found that dwelling much on the love and sufferings of
Christ has proved the most effectual means of doing
good. You will do well to read their accounts of their
proceedings and success, that, as far as they maintained
the truth, you may imitate them. ,

" /n the discharge of your miasionary duty, yon may
meet with difficulties almost peculiar to the West
Indies, or colonies where slaves are employed in the
culture of the earth and other laborious employments.
Some of the gentlemen who own the estates, the mas-
ters of the slaves, are unfriendly to the^r instruction;
at least, they are jealous lest, by any mismanagement
on the part of the mssionaries, or misunderstanding
on the part of the negroes, the public peace and safety
should be endangered. Tou must take the utmost
care to prevent the possibility of this evil. Not a
word must escape you, inpuilic or private, which might
render the slaves displeased with their masters, or
dissatisfied with their station. You are, not se7it to
relieve them from their servile condition, but to afford
them the consolations of religion, and to enforce upon
them the necessity of being " subject not only for
wrath, but for conscience sake," Rom. xiii. 5. ; 1 Pet.
li. 19. The holy gospel you preach will render the
slaves who receive it the most diligent, faithful, pa-
tient and useful servants ; will render severe disci-
pline unnecessary, and make them the most valuable
slaves on the estates ; and thus you will recommend
yourself, and your ministry, even to those gentlemen
who may have been averse to the religious instruction
of the negroes. We are well assured that this happy
effect has already been produced in many instances,
and we trust you will be the honored instrument of
producing many more.

" The directors hope that Mrs. Smith will consider
herself not merely the wife of a missionary, but a
female missionary also. Mrs. Wray has set her an
excellent example, which the negroes will doubtless
expect Mrs. Smith to follow, and we trust she will be
equally usefoi. To the female slaves and children
she may have better access than yourself; and on
some !opic:i can more properly insist. It is of great
importance that the negro mothers be taught how to
bring up their children in the fear of God, «od that the

550

LONDON MISSIONARY SOC^JTY.

girls be wtrned against the temptations so prevalent

in the colony.
" That you may conduct yourself, dear brother, so as

both "to save yourself and them that hear you," how

necessary is it to attend, in the first place, to personal

religion ! " Take heed to yourself," said Paul to
Timothy; though probably he was not exposed to
such dangers as yourself. Your work is arduous. O
seek help from Qttd, by daily fervent prayer. You
will be deprived, in a great measure, of those religious
advantages which you have enjoyed in England. You
will not be able to associate, as you have done, with
judicious and lively Christians, and probably may feel
no small disadvantage from the loss. You will have,
then, the more need to improve the privileges that
remain ; and of these, access to the throne of grace is
the chief. The grace of Christ is sufficient for you,
and he will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him.
Pray, then, and study your Bible daily, especially the
New Testament, and then go to the instruction of the
2>oor negroes, and, out of the abundance of your heart,
tieclare the whole counsel of God.

" Thus will you be the means of repairing the breaches
vrhicb 'iave happened at Le Resouvenir, of restoring
the station to its former prosperity ; yea, we trust,
«)f widely extending the blessed cause of truth and
holiness in that place, and in the regions round about.

"The directors hope that the same advantages to-
wards your support, as were granted by our invaluable
friend, Mr. Post, to Mr. Wray, will be continued to
you by Mrs. Vanderhaas, or the present occupier or
manager of the estate, if she is absent. The directors
will be ready to make up the unavoidable deficiencies,
but which, we hope and trust, will be kept within the
strictest bounds of economy. You will not fail to
write, as soon as possible, what support you can obtain
from Demerara, and what further supplies, if any,
will be needful from home. We shall also expect,
every quarter, or half year at most, an abstract from
the journal which we wish you to keep of your pro-
ceedings, and all memorable occurrences.

"As various inconveniences have, in some cases, aris-
en from missionaries leaving their appointed situations,
the directors expect that you will not desert your post,
or exchange it for another, without imperious necessity,
nor take any step which may incur additional expense,
without the consent of the directors first obtained in
wilting. It is also necessary to add, that they will not
be responsible for any debt contracted on the score of
building either chapels or houses, without their consent
in writing as before mentioned.

" These things are mentioned, not on account of any

Klisnir.inn Antprfamn#l Kv tUa #1it*An*Mfa *!.«* ..».. ...HI
— J. .. ...„, ..„, „,,,

act contrary to iheir wishes, but in the same caution-

ary manner u they meati to addimf every n«w muh
sionary.

"And now, dear brother, we most ihcerely and affec-
tionately commend you to God, whose you are, and
whom you serve, praying that he may ever pre-
serve you from all evil, supply you with all spiritual
blessings, and crown your missionary labors with gre^
success. ^:

"By order of the directws,

(Signed) Gxo. Bordkr, Secretary.
"Mr. John Smith, Mtitummy to Detnerara."

On receiving the painful news of their missionary
having been brought to trial before a court-martial, the
directors deemed it proper to make to government
a more formal application, in which they avowed their
confidence in the innocence of Mr. Smith, but ex-
pressed their apprehensions of the ()anger to which
they conceived him to be exposed, from the highly
inflamed state of public feeling in Demerara — from
his having been brought to trial before a military tri-
bunal, and from the uncertainty which existed as to
whether he had been able to avail himself of the requi-
site legal aid for his defence. For these reasons, they
requested, on the supposition of a sentence being
passed, that no punishment might be executed, until
the result of a full investigation of the alleged causes
of the insurrection should be made known.

Shortly afier this communication had been trans-
mitted to earl Bathurst, a letter arrived from Deme-
rara, apprizing the directors of the very precarious
state of Mr. Smith's health. A further communica-
tion was made to government, in which they requested
instructions might be forthwith sent out to his excel-
lency the governor of that colony, directing that, in
case any sentence should be passed on Mr. Smith, he
might be immediately sent to England ; the treasurer
entering into the requisite securities for his appearance
and submission to any measures which government
might eventually deem it proper to adopt concerning
him. With this request his majesty's ministers were
pleased to comply.

Shortly after this application, an official despatch
was received from Demerara ; and the directors were
informed by government that Mr. Smith had been
found guilty, by a sentence of a general court-martial,
which had been confirmed by the governor ; but that the
sentence having been accompanied with a recommen-
dation of mercy from the court, the governor had
withheld the execution of the sentence until his majes-
ty's pleasure thereon should be received.

On the receipt of this intelligence, the directors
sppviuteu 5 tscputaiion ifoni ihcir body to hoiu a con-
ference with government, in which the views enter-

tamed by tht directom. as to the presumed iHe«15ty

staid" J!:;ri r^'''^'r ^' ^™"'' '^^^ ^"^^^^4

stated, and the justice of an entire rescindment of the

ZTZ rt^ °" '.'''' ^"'«'- The sentiments en-
tertained by h., m.jesty's government, as to the nature
01 the proceedings, were, however, found to be by no
means in umson with those expressed by the deputa-
t.on, and the tenor of the communications of the rieht
honorable secretary of st«e for the colonial depL
ment were such a, constrained them to intimate the
d.sppomtme»t their expecUtion, had met »,kh. and
their opinion that the directors would feel it their dutv

ro?.r';;7'" '"^"""" forob,ai„i„;;he:;s

S„ tie , O^M?'!"'" " '^'y "'Sht be advised.

On the 19th of February, at a meeting of the di-
rectors, specially convened for that purpose, the depu-
tation appointed to communicate with his majesty's
government, reported that the right honorable secre-

ZIa Tl ' 'u' f '**""' department had commu-
nicated to them the decision of his majesty's govern-
ment to remit the sentence of death a^inst John
Smith and to direct that he be forthwith dismissed
from the colony of Demerara and Essequibo, and enter
mto recognizance in the penalty of two thousand
pounds not to reside within the said united colony, or
w. hm his majesty's colony of Berbice, or within any
r„ tjw ?;."""* i» 'Repossession of his majesty

Thl^J •'"'"• ^^^ ''«P"'*''°" «'«her reported^
that this communication was accompanied by an ex-
pression of the approbation of gLrnment of the
"instructions" given by the directors to their sM
missionary.

Several resolutions were now proposed and unani-
mously adopted ; in which, after expressing their grate-

ciety by his majesty's government, and statins the
vanous cause, which had excited their disappointment
and regret at the decision of ministers on tTp e"e„
occasion, the directors distinctly state that they see no

withdraw from h.m their confidence and esteem ; but
on the contrary, they express a determination of adopt-
ing 'such measure, for obtaining, in this country, the
reversal of the sentence passed by the court-marliul

iS^ralir"'''"'"''''"''"^-''''-''^
In the Missionary Chronicle for March, 1824 the

inT? ''"?li'"'c ' ."'""'"""' °f '^''" proceedings
m the case of Mr. Smith. In that paper they expressed

a firm conviction of hi, legal and moral innience, and

objected to his having been brought to trial b;fore

a^court-martial, to which he was not leeallv «m«n.Ki»

ll.eyai«,olvjeoted to the proceedings on the "trial'

Itself, particulariy to the improper and unprecedented

DEMERARA. BERBlCE. m

use made in court of Bfc.t,/|hv>f„„i.j,«„«^

n. ..V y '° ^"' ^r • con'tructivo procL, crim-
inal ty on the manner in which he had discharged W.
mmisterial duties-to the admi^ion of ne^oeTde,^
on a charge of life and death, which wouS^have S
rejected in a civil court, in an action for property of

he value of forty , hilling, ; and to the receivin'^ALr:

11 Vl'T '^TJ ""' P"~""' ''»'''« i» ^« 'eft-sed
m a critical part of his defence, when about to bo pro-
duced m A,, favor They also objectea to the length

Is o"n "^Ti^/l^' '"''' «'«"'''"8 <"«»° October
3 to November 24, during which, they justly observe

the witnesses and judges were open to the influencro'

a community heated by the most violent prejudices, and

kept in a constant state of excitement by the efFa^.ons

ieS."' "° ""'"' '"''''' '" ''"^•"•'^"^ -d
After alluding to their unremitting endeavors to meet
the varying aspect of Mr. Smith's cL, as fresh inX
gence arrived, and, particularly, to their'corretp^Int
and interviews with his majesty's govemm^f and
after stating that they had sent L instructZt; t
counsel of Mr Smith to take steps for appealing from
hesentenceofthecourt.martial,should,uchap^Sb"
considered advisable,the directors assign the fXwin.
cogent and satisfactory reason, for the silence which
they had maintained amidst the calumnies cast upon
their society, through the public press, by the enemas
of evangelic missions : —

" If this shall appear to any to have been a r-ulpa-
ble silence, the directors have to say that it hn: Lt
arisen from inattention, indifference or timidifv ; ku
from their own judgment of what the honor Oi" ',h^ =c..
ciety and the dignity of its cause required at their bands.
Conscious of their own integrity, and confident ir; th-,
innocence of their missionaries, they felt that they
could calmly wait till the hour for effective vindication
should arrive. To attempt to follow the torrent of
slander, in its ten thousand channels, was impracticable
I and they were contented to oppose to it a firm confi-
dence in the good opinion of their friends, and the dis-
criminating impartiality of the British public. The
false statements which were continually transmitted
from the colony they were long kept from all means
of refuting by the conduct of the local authorities,
of which they have just cause to complain. All com-
munication from 'he missionaries with the society
(their proper protectors) was, contrary to every prin-
ciple of British justice, cut off; so that, till Decem-
ber, the directors had no advice whatever from them-
sdves, of their own situation, or the facts of their case.

iciicr aaarcosea to the treasurer was taken from

.1, , . — MOTBurer was laKen irom

the person of Mr. Elliot, and, though entirely inoffen-
sive m Its tenor, was arbitrarily kept back : and it was

wmm mmm^mmmmt.

iaot till a tbff of tbat letter wu forwarded, after
bis liberation from confinement, by circuitous means,
that the director had anf information of their aetuid
circumstances. Mr. Smith was not allowed to write
to them ; and although Mr. Elliot entreated- leave (m
an interview with him, after his trial, even tkat was
refused !"

In the Missionary Chronicle for April, 1824, the
mournful circumstances of Mr. Smith's decease were
eommunicaled to the religious public, accompanied
v.'ith the following appropriate and interesting obser-
vations : —

-:» " Thus has been brought to its present close the
^tragical scene of persecution which has been for years
preparing, in Demerare, against the faithful servants
of Christ ; and which has, at length, found its victim
in one amongst them, who, for fidelity and diligence,
stood in the foremast rank. The finger of truth, guid-
ed by the unanimous voice of the Christian church,
will inscribe on its records the name of John Smith,
•s one of its martyrs in the cause of spreading the
gospel of their common Lord among the enslaved sons
of Africa. But the hand of death, in putting a close
to the tribulation and suflTerings of this martyr, has
fixed an immovable seal on the guilt of the act by
which that issue has been produced. The chains of
the prisoner have been broken, not by the act of mercy
from his gracious earthly sovereign (though it was ex-
tended as soon as the need of it was known), but by
the mandate of the King of kings, which has separated
the accusers and the accused, till the day when both
ohall stand before his throne of judgment, to hear
the irreversible decision of that supreme court, to
which the groaning^ of the oppressed have carried the
appeal.

" The directors feel that the issue, now so deeply
deplored by them, does not relax the duty of seeking
redress for the injury done, by the proceedings in
Demerara, to their deceased missionary, to the cause
of missions, and to the violated laws of their country ;
nor of endeavoring to obtain future protection for the
lives and liberty of other individuals engaged in the
same disinterested and benevolent labors. The object
is now somewhat changed ; but that justice which can-
not be done to the perton, must be sought for to the
character of the martyred missionary."

According to this intimation, and in consonance with
the recommendation of their professional advisers, the
directors resolved to present a petition to the House
of Commons founded on the whole ofthe circumstanced
of Mr. Smith's case ; at the same time, however, as-
tiirine his majesty's rovernment, that, in adnntin* thig
important measure, " ''-.ey had not been actuated by
any diminution of respect or gratitude, but purely by

theur eonvietion of what was dtw from them to the
memory of Mr. Smith,.^>-to tlM society which they
represent, — to the cause of Ofaristiaii missions, whei-e-
soever carried on,~-«nd to the expectations of the innu-
merable friends to that cause, tlutjughout the British
empire." A petiticm, described as that of the treas-
urer, secretary and directors of the London Minionuy
Society, was uscordingly drawn up, and introduced to
the notice of parlian.^nt, otf the 13th of April, by sir
James Mackintosh, '* with a feeling," it has been justly
observed, « which did honor to himself, and entitles
him to the esteem and gratitude of the society." In
this petition, which was received by the House, and
ordered to be printed, the directors complained of the
whole treatment of their missionary, from the time of
his arrest to the period of bis dissolution, — of his
having been brought to trial before a military tribimai,
—of the constitution of the court itself, — the irregulari-
ty of its proceedings,— and the injustice and inconsis-
tency of the sentence pronounced by it ; — and they,
accordingly, prayed for that sentence to be rescinded,
and for future protection to be secured to Protestant
missionaries in general.

On the 3d of May, Mr. Brougham gave notice
that he would submit a proposition to the House,
respecting the proceedings at Demerara, on the ^th
of the same month ; and during the week preceding the
day to which that notice referred, nearly two hundred
petitions from various parts of the kingdom, and from
persons of different religious denominations, were pre-
sented to the House, praying for inquiry into the case
of Mr. Smith, for the rescindment of the sentence
passed on him, and for the adoption of such measures
as might appear to the wisdom of parliament necessary
for the protection of Protestant missionaries in the dif-
ferent colonies of the British empire,

Mr. Brougham's motion, though fixed for the 27th
of May, did not come on till the 1st of June ; when the
honorable meml>er concluded a most able and elo-
quent speech of ueariy three hours by the following
proposition : —

" That an humble address be presented to his maj-
esty, representing that this House, having taken into
its most serious consideration the papers laid before
them, relating to the trial and condemnation of the
Rev. John Smith, a missionary in the colony of Dem-
erara, deem if their duty now to declare, that they
contemplate, with serious alarm and deep sorrow, the
violation of law and justice which is manifoKted in
those unexnmplod pioceedings ; and most earnestly
pray that his majesty will be graciously pleased to
adopt such measures as in his roval wisdom may seem
meet, for such a just and humane administration of
law in that colony, ai may protect the voluntary

instructers of the negroes, as well as the rest of his
majesty's subjects, from oppression."

" This temperate and respectful proposition," says
the editor of the Quarterly Chronicle, " was met, on
the part of government, by the honorable under sec-
retary for the colonial department with a direct nega-
tive. On the adjourned debate, however, which took
place on the llth, the right honorable .secretary for
the foreign department, Mr. Canning, perceived the
necessity for pursuing a very different course, and
moved the previous question, by which means the
defence of the proceedings, in Demerara, against Mr.
Smith was virtually abandoned. The decision, there-
fore, to which the House at length came, is to be
considered, on the one hand, as not imputing the least

Zll"I"'"\^"'r ? ^'- S™ith,-and:on the other, as
not affording the slightest sanction to the proceedings of
the governor and the court-martial. It is, also, of im-
portance to remark, that the illegality of iho proceed-
ing by court-martial was expressly admitted, even by
those members of the House who were unwilling to
pass a censure on the persons composing it ; while the
entire illegality and gross injustice of the proceedings
at large, were most satisfactorily demonstrated by Mr
Brojgham, sir James Mackintosh, and other speakers,
who supported the motion,"

T aking, therefore, the whole of the circumstances, and
their peculiar nature, into view, it appears to the direc-
tors, that the case of Mr. Smith has obtained a signal
though mdirecl, triumph over its opponents; while it may
be justly hoped, from the opinions expressed by thelead-
mg members of government, that the cause of Christian
missions will derive important and lasting benefits from
the agitation of the question.

The missionary cause received a heavy loss in the
Vol. I.— Nos. 47 & 48. 73

DEMERARA. BERBICE.

death of Mr. Davis, who occupied the George Town
station. At his death, which took place in 1826 the
congregation consisted of about six hundred pers'ons.
The number m church fellowship was about one hun-
dred and fifty. Mr. Wray, from Berbice, visited the
congregation at Providence chapel as often as possible
and in his report to the society in 1828, writes, " There
seems to be an increased desire to enjoy the preach-
'ng of the gospel. On sabbath, 3d February, the
chapel was well attended. A great number of slaves
brought notes from their managers, desiring that their
slaves should be baptized. Baptism was administered
to twenty adults, and ten or eleven children. Nine
couple were married, and five new members admitted
to the Lord's table." In December, 1828, Mr. and
Mrs. Joseph Ketley arrived at Demerara, and were
j^ceived by the people with demonstrations of affection.
Ihe chapel on the west coast, which the government
had seized in 1824, was now restored to the Mission-
ary Society, and formally delivered over to Mr. Ketlev

Mr 'm- f ', ^"' ''f • "^^ ^"PP'^ »'- ^'^'IS
M . Michael Lewis and his lady (sister to Mr. Ketley)

sailed from Gravesend early in 1830. Mr. and Mrs
bcott also joined the mission, December, 1831

The state of Mr. Wray's health rendered it advisa-
ble that he should visit England: and, with the con-
currence of the directors, he arrived in London, from
Berbice, in 1831. He reports the mission to be in a
prosperous state, the public services well attended, and
the catechumens increasing every sabbath. In 1830
--31, eighteen persons were admitted to the Lord's
table, all of whom, with one exception, were slaves.
The present number of church members is one
hundred and seven, besides a few occasional com-
municants.

6S4

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CHAPTER VI.

OTHER STATIONS, EDUCATION OF MISSIONARIES, FUNDS, kc.

ST. PETERSBURGH.

In this city the Rev. Richard Knill has indcfstigably
exerted himself in promoting the interests of true reli-
gion, amidst the errors of a perverted Christianity.
The divine blessing has evidently rested on the circu
lation of the Scriptures and religious tracts.

SIBERIA.

Station*.
Selinoihsk and Kbodon.

It is amidst many painful discouragements that the
brethren are laboring to disscininato in tliis dark re-
gion the knowledge of the true God and Jesus Christ
the Saviour. This mission is interesting, chiefly on
account of the solf-sacrifioing spirit ond heavcnly-
mindcdness of the brethren who are engaged in its
conduct.

MEDITERRANEAN.

Statiom.
CoRFi'. Malta.

The hlessmg of the great Head of the church attends
the use of means. The report of the directors for
183'2 stales, that " Cliristiun hooks are thankfully
received by the inhabitants. Kducalion is extended,
and the schools nro prospering. In Malta, the press
has been actively and advantageously engaged.
Eleven thou<«and and nine hundred books have been
printed at the mission press for the society, the reli-
gious tract society, and for private individuals.

Twenty-seven thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine books have been distributed during the past
year."

EDUCATION OF THE MISSIONARIES

EMPLOYED BT THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIGTT.*

In the year 1789, the Rev. Dr. Boguo, of Gosport,
o])ened an academy for the instruction of young men
who were looking forwards to the Christian ministry in
the ranks of dis.sent. The design of the seminary was
not to make elegant scholars, but useful and accepta-
ble preachers of the gospel. Latin was regarded but
as the key to Greek and Hebrew, and to those valua-
ble theological works which arc inaccessible without
the aid of the Roman tongue. Nor was the elegant
and copious language of Greece valued except for the
.sake of the Now Tc.';tanicnt, which should be read in
the original by every minister whom Providence has
furnished with the means. Hebrew was made the
study of the senior year. Hut theology vias the Alpha
and Omega at the seminary at Gosj)ort. For this
purpose the tutor had composed, with grcot labor and
judnment, one hundred and twenty lectures, which ho
delivered in a maimer peculiarly adapted to secure the
grand end of insiruction, wlmh is, not to think for the
pupil, hut to make him think for hiimrlf. Each lec-
ture, after being taken down from the tutor's lips, was
read a second time. After the students had read the
auiliors to which they had been referred, and had re-
volved the subject in their own minds, they were ex-
l)e(ied to nil U|) the syllabus. On these occasions, the
tutor iliiphiyed great judgment and liberality ; never
im|Kjsing his own opinion, hut giving free scope for tim
remarks of the pupils Remarkable siniplieity was
conspicuous in the theological chair. When the au-
thority of great namei was adduced, or specious rea-

* Bm BaUMt'i Mamoin ofUr. I)o|u«.

soilings wero employed to determine a point, Dr. Boeue
replied,—" Whnt my the Scriptures ?" For tlie in-
spired Scriptures Dr. Bogue ontertninod n deference
the most profound, hy a simple reference to these
divme oracles, ho blew away many a finoly-spun theory,
in which some pretty fluttering insects have been en-
tangled to their ruin. While others have boon ambi-
tious of studying under pliilosophors and metapiiysi-
cmns, prcphcti and apoitUi wore wise enough for him
lie saw in the Bible the ne pl,u ultra of theology, a,„l
never forgot bow vain were all attempts to overleap
Its bounds. He never fell into the error of some pow-
erful but unmanageable minds, which project schemes
of instruction mited to the teacher rothor than the
scholar. He hud no courses for students of three years,
which would take seven to accomplish. In theology'
his students rarely failed. Those who have labored
in the churches of Christ, and who wore trained by
the venerable Bogue, have not been famed for favorite
theories, metaphysical discussions and leclmical terms ;
but they have entered with instructive accuracy, and
with a depth suflicient to ensure every valuable pur-
pose, into all the great doctrines of divine revelation,
resting their evidence upon their true basis, and direct-
ing them to their proper end. The gival occupation of
the students were Latin, Greek, Hebrew, theology
ecclesiastical history, the belles lettros, the eloquence
of the |)ulpit, and pastoral care.

To this institution candidates for missionary labor
wore sent by the society, and the benefits of the sound
instruction which they here received have appeared in
the successes which have been achieved on foreign
shores and in pagan lands. Hero Milne and Morrison
Townly and Fyvie, Dawson, May, Kllis, and a host of
other heralds of mercy, wero trained up for the en-
largement of the bounds of Christendom.

Since the death of Dr. Bogue, the students have
been placed in various institutions ; and from the latest
accounts it appears, that about twc^ily are pursuing
their classical, mathematical and theologit-al studies in
the colleges at Homertcn ond Highbury, and with pri-
vate tutors in other places.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

FUNDS. (Mat, 1832.)

The contributions for the ordinary purposes of the
society, iluring ilie past year, have been £;M,5fl8.38.
8d. ; forspe. ml objects, £517. .'Is. «d, making a total of
£35,085. (Js. lOd., being £fl,5(M. Ifis. 8.1. less than the
. ..._ ... _c-.j,:.- yrar. i nc CApeniiiiuru during

the past year has been £39,2-10. 10s.7d., being £4, 1 55.
3s. 9d. more than the receipts during the saino period.

665

LIST OF THE SOCIETY'S STATIONS
MISSIONARIES, &c. (Mat, 1838.) '

SOUTH SBA8.

Oeoroian or Windward Islands.

Tahiti (or OUh.lte) m,.„h 7V,.r„-Ch„l., Wilwn.

Ifttnkey attj~ll»nry Nott.
Ifillm'a Iliirhor—aoorga Pritohard.
Ihiriler'i /'oinr— David Darling.
llamit Tuu>n—}n\\n Dtvlei,
Bogm Tmim—J. M. Orimond.

"'"' r''f«>-Alo«nd«r Bimpion._Ell

jnli Ariiill«j{P, Misiionarij Artiian.
tlriffin ToHin— William llonry,— Thorn.
„ " "l"«"oin, Miiiimumj Jirtiian.

"*'"'" (Out.HtaUon)-7»r.. Aativ* Tt<uh*r*.

Society or Leeward Islands.

""*""'* Far^-Uurhor-Chn,\.n Harff.

jj;*'"** Wumaoro— Jolm Wlllianw.

„ "** yiiilmr,— Jamci Hmith.

"°"*»'"'* «'»'«A_aonr«« flatt

"*"'"'' ("ut-HtaUoi.)-JV„,.>a Tuu,hm.

Paumotu Ihlands.

TaAROA, ChAIW IllAHI), )

•nd Mat«a J (Oui-Htati(in»)— >lira JWuim Tioekeri

AusTHAL Islands.

HaIVATAI, TUIIOAI, RimaO,,^

TAiu, RuRVTu, AfUtA, J ("'"•'^'*U<"'»)— Mn* AVUiM Tmcheri

HenvRv Irlands.

Rahotooiia

AlTUTAKI, MlTlAHO, AtIO,

OniUangiia—ChiLr]n Pitman.
.iJrurMn— Anron Iluiacott.
Jlrorugni—Ont Natito Ttacker.

ITDTAKI, MITIAHO, AtIO, ) ,„ . „ ,

Mautii, and MAnaigA. J ^""'■"''"""•)— ■'^•'»«^'<»'«m TootAor*

Navioatohs' Iri.andn.

Uk MAflDAi.KifA, and
Barta Chriitiiia ...

MARqUESAS.
I Fits ffatite Traehtri.

BOIJTII A PRIG A.

STATIONS WITHIN TIIR i oi.oNV OP THR CAPS.

^'*'* ■'■"'"' -""h" »'l»li|., t) I) , fluperintmdm ^

Ike SoriHyt Muiioiu in Soutk Mrica.

'^**»'- William EllioU.

"r"'"*"" Arin Voi.

BoicHiiriLD Corndlii. Kram«r.

i:»i.»uui. iKiTiTCTioii Hriiry Itvlmn.

Pacaitidout William Andrraon-Thomu Edwanto,

•'irhoolrmiiltr.

"*"«»» J. Kitehlngman- J. MalriU.

ft6$

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

BiTHtttDOBF A. Robaea.

PoBT EutABsra (KMmri.)

UnuBA«B J. O.MeMtr.

OiuHAa'f Tow« JobBMonio.

Graaf RsiitBT A. Van d« Lingen.

TaioroLii George Buker— Chriatopber Sim.

Zak Ritbk JuneiReed.

■TATIOm WITHOUT TBI COLONY.

CArrftABiA .

.BifaU J h'ter John Browalee, and O.
F. Ktjraer— Jan Tiatxoe, AWm Jt-

Oki^daTowh .....Peter Wri|^t—Iaaao Hughea, Jhtifm.

CAaraiu A Cttechiat.

PniLirroLia O. A. Kolbe.

Miuioa re tu BvtaiiMr.JMnea Clark.

LattaKo* Robert MoAt, and John Baillic— Robert

Hamilton, and Rogera Edwarda, Jr-

""rS^.?*. .f.!"!*: i ^"^ H'-^ s*"^'- *^ • «*''~*^

AVCUCAN ISLANDS.

For-

MACMTivi. .....Fort Louu—John Le Brun— V,

gette, ^ttittant.

MADAOAacAU TkiMnarirc— Darid Jonea,* David Orif-

fitha, David Johna, J. J. Freeman,
John Canham, and T. Atkinaon —
George Chick and Jamea Cameron,
.^rttranr— Edward Baker, Printer.

EAST INDIES.

MoMTHtiur IntiA.

.(.cAicxrrTJt DnntrCT.)
CainUta — Jamea Hill — George Gogerly

— George Ckriatie; Jamea PatUraon,

<m hit pottage,
Kidderpore, &c. — Charlea PifTard— Ed.

ward Ray,* and A. F. Lacroii.
CiiWiiraA— George Mundy,* and Thom-

•a Kilpin Higga.
Berhampore — Micaiah Hill ; Orlando

Thoinaa Dobbin, on hit pottage.
Benaret — Jamea Robcrtaon — William

Bn^'era.
Surat — William and Alexander Fyvio—

Thomaa Salmon.

PiKiRicLAii India.

..{MADRAS DtiTRIVT.)

Mfulrai—Vfm. Taylor— John Smith-
John Bilderbeck.

t'itagapotam — Jamea Dawaon.

Ohi/i'd/hiA— William Howell.

Ckiltoor — J. E. Nimmo, pro. tern.

BtJgttum — Joaeph Taylor — William
Beynon.

BeUarif — John Handa — John Reid —
George Walton— B. H. Paine, Printer
— Samuel FlaTot, A'atipe Attitlani.

Ban^robrn— William Reeve — William
{.ampbell.

Salem — I laaac David, AWi'ee Attittont.

ComAaeenum — Edmund Criap.

• Al pmtDl !■ Bn|lu<l.

t Inrumtlian af ik* Mmpaiarf amii|tBiinu aiaila bjr ih« Mei n i Ditfiet

UOUTM TMJiKUtOOHM BUTMIOT.
aanaan divimok . . . .Jfagwtml — Ch»rlea ManH — WUUam
MilUr— Mr. Roberta, Tithtr m 0*

waavaa* sinuoa ;

• •JVkyaar— Charlea Metd— Mr. Aahtoa,

«wlaa-J. C. Thonpaoa— WiUkmHar>

ria— T. Comberland, JUtitlmt.
C atwtitaar -W. B.Addia.

VLTRA-OANOES.

Cbma CantMi — Robert Morriaon, O. D. —

Leang-a-fk, and Kew-ha-gaiig,JVa(iM

Malacca (PeafaMola) .... Tntn ef M u tttn • ■Bamael Kidd— Joaiab

Hughea.
SiRSAFOM (laland) TUen ef Singapore— C. H. Thomaea—

Jacob Tomllj.
PiKAira (laiaad) Oaoff < TVnm— Thomaa Beightoiw>-Bain-

oel Dyer.
Java (Uland) Bolaeia— W. H. Medhurat- William

Toung, Aititttmt.

SOUTH AMERICA.

DiMUAlu George 7V>im.— Joaoph Retley.

Wetl Coatt Chapd— Junta Scott.

Fort /«/«iu<— (Out-SUtion)— Mr. Peter,
CaterJkut.
BiRBicB Aitia Amtterdam—Joha Wray.

RUSSIAN EMPIRE.

St. Pbtiribcroh Richard Knill.

BiBmiA Sefni^'iMi— Edward Sullybraai-

■Wil-

liam Swan'— Robert Tuille.

MEDITERRANEAN ISLES.

CoRFD Totra of Cor/u.— laaac Lowndet.

Malta U yaletta—S. 8. Wilaon.

In the various parts of the world, where the Ijon-

don Missionary Society's operations are now carried

on, there are

113 stations and out-statioLS.

93 missionaries.

19 European )

„„ ,. > assistants.

33 native $

54 churches.

4,771 coiiiniunioants.

391 schools.

S'i,193 scholars.

13 printing establisliments.

Ctmrniitu, In <g«Hi)uu« aT ika i»Mn ofiha Itu Mr. lUnrjr Ctiip, Mr Ika
•uporlnitiHimM orilM hImIm, Ihu ■«! k*M, m )Wt, NMlvid.

HISTORY OP THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

It is due to the Church of England to state, that it
has always numbered in its communion the advjcates
of missions, and that its Liturgy regards with peculiar
interest the spread of truth among the nations of the
earth.

Before we commence the narration of those inter-
esting events which have occurred during the present
century, it is proper to notice the agencies which
were in operation for doing good in the English
Church anterior to the formation of the Church Mi'.,
sionary Society.

In 1698, " The Sociktt fok promoting Chris-
tian Knowledge" was instituted. Bishop Burnet
remarks, that it was formed after the example of the
dissenters, whose evangelical labors in North America
had been regarded by several pious clergymen with
warm admiration. The original intention of the socie-
ty was the circulation of the Bible- and other religious
books in the British colonies ; but, marking the grati-
fying success of their labors in America and the
West Indies, they resolved to send out missionaries ;
and measures were adopted to render the operations
of the society permanent. In 1700, it was divided
into two branches, one retaining its original title, to
provide and furnish Bibles and religious publications ;
the other proposed to advance the religious instruction
of the colonies. Very little energy, however, char-
acterized the efforts of the society, until the light
of heaven beamed like a beacon to the nations, tribes
and tongues, as the British and Foreign Bible Society
exclaimed, " Behold your God !" The formation of
this benevolent and godlike association infused life
and activity into similar instrumentalities of usefulness.

The efforts of the Society for promoting Christian
Knowledge have astonishingly increased during Inte

^A <l.-

t-jiuri ztrr i~;;~ siaics inut, uurink^ ilie

year, it had issued 58,683 Bibles. 80,346 Testaments
and I'saliers, 1 63,431 Common Prayers, 106,553

other bound books, and 1,257,315 tracts, half bound
books and papers. This society is making considert-
ble exertions in India, where its interests are assidu-
ously fostered by the bishop. An able writer has
recently observed, that this is pecuUarly the Church
of England Society ; and the great body of its sup-
porters object to the British and Foreign Bible Society
as unnecessary, declaring their conviction that this
alone is sufficient. But the society issues the Bible
in no more than two foreign languages besides the
Welsh, and those two the French and Arabic ; while
the British and Foreign Bible Society circulates the
Word of God in more than one hundred and fifty
languages ! Many of the publications of the society
are excellent and useful ; but others are complained
of as objectionable and pernicious, especially on ac-
count of two serious errors. The first is baptismal
regeneration, defended particulariy by bishop Maut
and others, but denounced as an unscriptural delusion
by the most eminent evangelical divines of the Church
of England, among whom are the Rev. Charies Sim-
eon. Rev. T. T. Biddulph, Scott the commentator, and
the excellent Daniel Wilson, now happily the bishop
of Calcutta. The second error is that doctrine, first
broached among Protestants by Dr. Bancroft, in 1588,
of the divine right of Episcopacy. By this doctrine
the ordination of the great body of Protestants in
France, Switzeriand, Holland, Prussia, the churches
of Scotland and America, is presumptuously declared
invalid ; as one of their late publications says of every
minister not episcopally ordained, " He is destitute of
the necessary crodemials of an ambassador of Christ.
He has no title to the ministerial commission. His
ministry can have no claim to that promise of the
divine presence which was given by our Saviour."
Some of tiie publications contain expressions still
more uncharitable, and senlimoiits on these points
directly contrary to those held by all the reformers, the

558

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

martyrs, and the founders of the Church of England ;
contrary, also, to those held by the most evangelical
and useful of the clergy at the present time.

The receipts of the society for 1830 were
£65,929. 2s. 2d. ; and the grand total of books dis-
tributed in that year, 1,715,560. The members of
the society were 14,316.

"The Society for the Propagation or the
Gospel in Foreign Parts" arose, as has been
stated in the preceding article. King William, the
zealous friend of tiie Protestant cause, saw not only the
excellence of the society, but the importance of the
vast field thus opened, and became the patron of the
good work. The incorporation of the society took
place on the 16th June, 1701. Large contributions
were raised by the bishops and clergy, who took up
the business with great zeal. Among the early friends
and founders of the society were those excellent
ministers of Christ, Burnet, Beveridge and Tennison.
In 1830, this society supported one hundred and forty
missionaries (who, however, are mostly settled minis-
ters among the Englis'- in Canada and the provinces),
and one hundred and six schoolmasters, who have
four thousand two hundred and ninety-four scholars
under their instruction.

The latest accounts of this society state, that one
hundred and sixty missionaries are in actual employ-
ment ; that it supports the Codrington college at
Barbadoes ; a college in Hungary, for the benefit of
the Vaudois population ; King's college, at Windsor,
Nova Scotia ; and Bishop's college in Calcutta. The
short but efficient services of the lamented Heber, in In-
dia, were greatly conducive to the welfare of this society.
The following is a brief account of the present

state of the operations of the society :

Bishop's College, Calcutta.— Tim institution was
devised by bishop Middleton, in 1820, for the pur-
pose of educating native and European Clirifitians in
the doctrines of the English Church, so as to fit them
for the offices of schoolmasters, catechists and priests,
for translating the Scriptures and Common Prayer, and
for receiving missionaries sent from England before
they were appointed to their respective stations. This
society cordially entered into the views of the learned
prelate, and the Society for promoting Christian Knowl-
edge contributed £5000 to the building, and a similar
donation was received from the Church Missionary
Society, and more than £50,000 were collected in Eng-
land in cnnsequenco of a royal letter authorizing a
general contribution.*

• Bii.li..|( MidcJUtiiii only lived tu wc. (Ii<- riifrior of tli<' eolIp|fp
compUli..!, l)iii biihnp F!.'1«t, on IiIk nrrivnl, took Ih,. iniiimjr.'nicnt
or cv.i, liiin^ <MMiiuTt<-d with ilif riilli'jfc, and irnvc to llif hmtilu-
«on Uic Iwit powfN of hii fine mind, and the warinpit affccUon*

The officers in Bishop's college are the following:—
W. H. Mill, D. D., principal ; Frederick Holmes,
G. Withers, professors ; W. Morton, W, Tweddle
Matt. R. Di Mello, T. Dear Pettinger, missionaries;'
Koch, Acheson, Bowyer and Simpson, catechists •
James Sykes, printer.

Veperi/, near Madras.—Thia station was com-
menced in 1727. J. P. Rottler, D. D., J. L. Irion,
John Heavyside ; Godfrey, catechist.

The congregations consist of two hundred and sev-
enty native Christian families; forty-six Portuguese
families ; and fifty-seven families of native Christians,
residing at St. Thomas's Mount.

The press is in active employ. The missionaries
have issued from it a church history, a catechism on the
errors of popery, and various other useful publications.

Tanjore, two hundred and five miles south by west
of Madras.— Commenced in 1766. J. C. Kohlhoff.
A new church was opened hereon Christmas day, 1830.
The tombs of Schwartz and his fellow laborers are en-
closed within its eastern walls.

Trichinopoly, thirty-seven mileswest of Tanjore.—
Commenced in 1766. D. Schreyvogel. Communi-
cants, eighty-three.

reWore.— Peter M. Wessing. Native congregation
eighty.

Curff/a/orc— David Rosen. The native Christian
families are thirty-one in number, and the communi-
cants seventy-eight.

Tinnevelly.-nere are three thousand six hundred
and twenty-six individuals under the charge of one
native priest. A European clergyman is expected at
this station.

At most of these stations very interesting cases of
conversion from the errors of popery have recently
occurred.

The annual receipts of the society for 1830, were
£34,693. 15s. 9d. Of this sum, £15,532 were grant-
ed by parliament, and £10,465 were expended on the
Bishop's college.

of lii> hoBrt. Under lili .uporinlendence, the building wai carried
on, the library enriched, profewor. appointed, and the dulie. of in-
atruction commenced. " The college .Unda on the right bank of
the Iloogly, about three niilea from CaloutU, on Uie oppoaile aide
of the river, and immediately adjoining the company 'a botanical
gnrdena. It faces the aouth, and forma a very beautiful object on
aailing up the ' (inrden Reach' of the river. The style in which it
ia built— the flolhic of queen EliialH-tha time— <Io^b not, indeed,
auit the climate of India, which requirea deep verandaha and Vene-
tian blinds to make it tolerable, either of which would degtroy the
effect of ila arched windows; nor doe« it possess, on the plain of
Bengal, and surrounded with palms and plantains, the anme charm
of association and appropriate structure which iM'longa to it in Eng-
land or Normandy. The ci|)ense, too, of the building has very far
Ciccedcd the orivinnl cn!rnl«tmn in'J !■»- hn-r. r.rr!;=r.= —..-.;= i.hsn
double what a Orecian building of the same Uim'enaiona would htrd
occasioned."

WEST AFRICA.

669

CHAPTER II.

MISSION IN WEST AFRICA.

In the year 1801, a body of pious clergymen, and
other members of the established church, "anxious for
the salvation of the perishing heathen, and aware that
an extensive field was still open for missionary labors,
formed themselves into a society, to which they gave
the appellation of the "Church Missionary So-
ciETT, for Africa and the East ;" not, however,
considering the name thus chosen as binding them to
exclude their attempts from any other unoccupied
part of the globe, which might subsequently present
a prospect of success to their labors. . The purity of
their views, in originating this institution, will appear
from the following observations, extracted from the
sermon delivered at their first anniversary, by the late
reverend and excellent Mr. Scott, chaplain of the
Lock hospital : —

" It is of vast importance that the several societies
formed for this great purpose (the evangelization of
the heathen), should consider one anotlier as coad-
jutors, and not as competitors, and cultivate an amica-
ble intercourse. In this case many societies will proba-
bly be found preferable to one, though proportionably
larger. One may embrace this object, and another
that; one may find the readiest access to this country,
and the other to that country ; external circumstances
may give one an advantage for a particular kind of
service, from which the other may be precluded : each
may, as it were, bring into circulation the treasure of
wisdom and piety, as well as influence, which is found
in its particular circle; and they may all profit by the
counsels, plans, observation, success, or failures of every
one ; and help one another in various ways, when that
assistance becomes especially seas, uable. Thus more
methods may be tried, more talents brought into exer-
cise, more information and wisdom acquired, and more
exertion made by several societies, amicably striving
together for tlio faith of the gospel, than by one. Thus
a number of merchants, acting separately, yet in a
manner friendly to each other, extend commerce
much more advantageously than a large monopoly.
And divers kind of soldiers forma bettor army than if
njl were exactly of the same description armed in the

same manner, and formed but into one vast phalanx ;
provided they have no other contest but a zealous
competition, who shall best serve the common cause."
Notwithstanding the lively interest which this new
society excited, and the holy ardor with which the
committee entered upon their important labors, aeon-
siderable time elapsed before suitable persons could
be obtained to carry the news of salvation to a dark
and distant land. At length, however, two young
men, named Melchior Renner and Peter Hartwig,the
former about thirty, and the latter twenty-four years
of age, were obtained from a missionary seminary at
Berlin ; and, after receiving ordination in the Lutheran
church ;o which they belonged, they sailed from Ports-
mouth, on the 8th of March, 1804, with the design of
establishing a mission among the Susoos, in the vicinity
of Sierra Leone.

After an agreeable voyage of about seven weeks,
the missionaries arrived in safety at Free Town, where
they were advised, by the governor, to take up their
residence for the present ; and, as the colony had been
for a long time destitute of a regular chaplain, they
consented to undertake the charge of its spiritual con-
cerns, during their continuance there, for the purpose
of becoming inured to the climate, and of acquiring
a knowledge of the language and manners of the
natives.

Di-ring the rainy season, Mr. Renner continued in
general health ; and though the heats brought on sev-
eral attacks of fever, these continued but a few days,
andf' M not prevent him from performing divine service
on the sabbath. Mr. and Mrs. Ilartwig, however,
suffered more severely, and were under the necessity
of retiring for about a fortnight, to the Bullom shores,
for a change of air. The following year they expe-
ricnced a fresh attack, and Mrs. Hartwig was ulti-
mately obliged to return to England for the restoration
of her health.
In August, 1805, the Rev. Messrs. Nylnndor, But-

Sclier and Prnssp nrrivo<J fi.,irv, n.

""tiisny, aim Were

received as missionaries by the Church Society ; and,
after spending some time in study under the eyo of

660

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

the committee, they embarked for Sierra Leone, on the
12th of February, 1806. Eleven days after their
embarkation, however, they were stranded on a sand-
bank off the Irish coast, at a distance of about nine miles
from Wexford.

" About four o'clock in the morning," says the Rev.
G. R. Nylander, "as we were all in profound sleep,
we were suddenly roused with a cry upon deck of
< We are lost ! We are lost ! The ship is aground !'
We went with as much haste as possible upon deck ;
but, on account of the darkness of the night, the captain
could not tell where we were ; and we all anxiously
waited for the break of day. At first it was expected
that the ship v ould clear herself ; but at every blast
of wind she stuck faster in the sand. 'The only
means of saving ourselves,' said the captain, ' will be
to put out the boats, and endeavor to escape with our
lives.' Measures were accordingly taken for that
purpose, but the people were so much terrified or
dispirited that they had no heart to exert themselves.
In the mean time, the vessel was driven nearer and nearer
to the land. All the sails were now taken in, and we
thought, at every motion, that the ship would go to
pieces. Our fellow passengers now went about in the
dark, shook hands, and took leave of one another for
this life. In the mean time, however, it grew lighter,
and we Saw not far from us a great rock ; the sight of
which afforded a fresh proof of the mercies of God ; for
had our vessel struck upon it, scarcely one of us could
have been saved.

" A boat was now let down, and one of the steers-
men, together with some of the sailors and a passen-
ger, went on shore to fetch pilots. Not far from the shore
they came to an estate where a very hospitable and be-
nevolent gentleman, captain Nunn, has his residence.
He kindly sent us word that his house was at tlie service
of all the passengers and their goods, and that we
should be heartily welcome to take a lodging with him.
In the mean time, our vessel rocked continually to and
fro, till, at length, she lay down on one side, and so
stuck fast. It was fortunate that we were near to the
shore, where the water was so siiallow as not to enter
the ship. The second boat had now been let down,
and the captain went with it on shore ; and when he
returned we went on shore also, and experienced a
very favorable reception. I was occupied the whole
day in conveying away articles that had been brought
from the ship ; and after we had dined with captain
Nunn, some Christian friends came to us, and took us
home with llieni. They entertained us, according to
their circumstances, in a very hospitable manner ; and,
joining with us in prayer, thanked the Lord for having
so graciously delivered us."
The directors of the society were no sooner apprized

of these events, than it was resolved that the mission-
aries should proceed to Bristol, and take their passage
on board the Rover, which was bound direct for Sierra
Leone, and was expected immediately to sail. This
was accordingly done, and on the 22d of April, Messrs.
Nylander, Butscher and Prasse embarked once more,
with the hope of speedily reaching the place of their
destination. Their faith and patience, however, were
to be tried by a series of delays and disappointments.
On the 25th, they arrived at Falmouth, where they
were to place themselves under the protection of a
convoy ; but after waiting till the 5th of May, the
crew was found insufficient for the voyage, and the
opportunity of joining the convoy was consequently
lost. On the 13th, another convoy (which had arrived
two days before) having made a signal for sailing, the
Rover weighed anchor unexpectedly, whirst the breth-
ren, who had received no intimation of the probability
of such an event, were on shore. On perceiving the
vessel under sail, t'.iey immediately followed in an open
boat ; but, though they approached the Rover near
enough to hail her, the captain refused to lie to for his
passengers ; wiio, after being tossed about several hours,
in a violent gale, and at the risk of their lives, returned
to Falmouth, with heavy hearts. Scarcely, however,
had they entered the harbor, when, the wind having
suddenly changed, the whole fleet put back, and came
to anchor.

In the evening of the 15th, the missionaries sailed
from Falmouth ; and though they had the misfortune to
lose their convoy in the night, and were subsequently
led, from the appearance of a privateer, to anticipate
all the horrors of a French prison, the angel of Je-
hovah's presence conducted them over the trackless
deep in safety, and on the 2d of June, they arrived at
Madeira. Here, however, new trials awaited them ;
as they found, on landing, that a dear friend, who had
spent twelve months with them in the seminary at
Berlin, had expired but a few days previous to their
arrival, in the very chamber which they were now to
occupy ; and in less than three days the captain died
of apoplexy, in consequence of which it became neces-
sary to write home to the owners of the Rover, and
the vessel was detained till the 17th of September ; so
that the brethren did not reach Free Town till the 22d
of that month. Shortly after their arrival, the con-
nection of Mr. Hartwig with the society was dissolved ;
as the friends at the colony had, for some time, been
dissatisfied with his conduct.

On the 10th of January, 1807, the brethren Ren-
ner, Butscher and Prasse left the colony on a journey
into the Mandingo country, where it was formerly
tliought that a missionary station might be advantage-
ously formed ; but some facts were now ascertained

which seembd to render the eligibility of that spot
very doubtfuL A young man named William Fanti-
mani, who had been educated at Clapham, received
the missionaries with great cordiality, and strongly
pressed them to settle with him ; but as his village had
been recently destroyed by fire, and consisted, at that
time, of but a few houses, and he himself was no longer
considered as a head man, but was subject to the author-
ity of another, it appeared very problematical whether
tne formation of a settlement, under such circum-
stances, would essentially promote the great objects
of the society.

In a visit which they paid to the Benna Susoos, the
missionaries were treated with the greatest respect, on
account of their having been sent by the governor of
Sierra Leone ; the natives considering them, to use
tbeir own expression, as " white book-men." At a
place called Bareira, several learned Mahometans
called upon them, and entered into conversation about
the comparative merits of the Bible and the Koran.
Un this subject, indeed, they had but little to say •
but when they found themselves unable to resist the
arguments of the Christians, they said, "Our book
says so, and therefore we believe it." "Oh!" says
one of the missionaries, "that all those who are born
in a Christian country, or who are taught the letter
of the word of God, would say in truth, « Our Bible
says so, and therefore we believe it !' " On the 14th
of June, the brethren returned from their excursion,
and had the satisfaction to find that, during their
absence, Mr. Nylander had discharged the office of
chaplain in the colony with general acceptance.

On the ad of March, 1808, Messrs. Renner,
Butscher and Prasse quitted Sierra Leone, and sailed
for Bashia, on the Rio Pongas river ; where a slave-
trader, named Curtis, transferred to the society a factory
belonging to him, on the condition that the mission-
aries should instruct his children. The house, which
was about sixty feet by twenty, consisted of two stories,
and was built chiefly of country brick. Four other
houses, with an excellent shed, and buildings for the
servants, were attached to it ; and the gardens were
extensive, and well stocked with lemon, j)Iantain, pine,
and other trees. The adjacent land was hilly, and
the prospect very pleasant, particularly opposite the
settlement, where hundreds of palm-trees exhibited
their charming verdure. Another station was soon
afterwards established at Fantimania, a spot which
derived that appellation from the friendly chief to
whom we have already alluded.

The missionaries now directed' their attention par-
ticularly to the instruction of the chiHron ,.Qm„.;»„j
^ their care ; but they began to feel the want of some
European female, who would enter cordially into the
Vol. I.— Nos. 47 & 48. 73

WEST AFRICA.

design of the society, and undertake the chaise of the
domestic concerns of the settlement. Mr. Renner

wnln"^l^ Tt P"'P°'^'' '° " re^p^U^Ue young
woman, who had formerly acted «, their house-keepef

On the 23d of January, 1809, Mr. Prasse was un-
expectedly summoned from his earthly labors to that
rest which remameth for the people of God " Dur
ing the temporary absence of Mr. Butscher, who had

left at Fantimania, getting forward with the missionary-
house at that place. On the Saturday preceding his
dissolution, as he did not come down fo Bashia as
usual, to spend the sabbath with the family, Mr Ren-

21t,TA '""^'^ °^ ''''"' ""'^ ^"'^'"g him' much
debilitated, he removed him to the settlement, where

he was treated with the utmost tenderness and atten-
tion ; but about midnight, on the following Ttiesday
he bade an everlasting adieu to the things of time and
sense. He was naturally vigorous and of a strong
constuution, and the season was, at this time, so
healthy, that little care seemed requisite for avoiding
disease In going to Fantimania, however, about a
week before It is supposed, he caught a violent cold,
by wadmg through several tide-creeks, in order to
avoid a circuitous route. This brought on the fever
of the country, and as his stomach rejected the only
medicine which promised to prove serviceabel, his
disorder soon brought him to the grave.

In the beginning of July, the Rev. Mess.^. Wenzel
and Baxneth with the wife of the former, sailed from
England, aijd, after a pleasant voyage, arrived in
safety, on the 5th of Auguct, at Sierra Leone. In
consequence of the indisposition of Mrs. Wenzel
they were detained at the colony till nearly the middle
of October; but during that delay, the husband of the
invalid w^s enabled to render an important assistance
to Mr. Nylander, who had recently suffered much
from sickness. On their arrival in the Rio Poneas
on the 25th of October, a consultation was held, on
the affairs of the mission ; and, after mature delibera-
tio.i, It was determined that the brethren Wenzel and
Barneth should reside at Fantimania, and Messrs.
Renner and Butscher at Bashia; by which arrange-
ment all the children intrusted to the latter brethren
would be brought together in one place, under the
care of those who had been accustomed to them ; and
the two missionaries, who had been particularly en-
joined to cultivate the Susoo language, would bo favor-
ably situated for that purpose.

It "-as the anxious wish of the committee of the
Church Missionary Society that the children committed
to the care of their agents should be taught to read

S6S

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

their own language, with a view to their subsequent
acquaintance with the oracles of diWne truth. This
object, however, was not, for the present, attainable ;
as the chiefs, traders, and others, who were induced
to place their sons or daughters with the brethren, stip-
ulated, in most instances, that they should learn nothing
in Susuu ; and in some cases, even prohibited their
children from going home, lest their conversation with
their mothers should retard their progress in "the
white man's book," or European learning ; to which
they chiefly looked as the grand mean of rendering
their o&pring superior to those of their countrymen.

With regard to thB conditions on which these Afri-
can children were received under instruction, Mr.
Butscher observes, in a letter dated November 16,
1809, "The children whom we receive from the
traders must be supported, in respect to food and
clothing, by their fathers, if they possess any property ;
but the children of the Susoos we must take just as
they come, and that is usually quite naked ; and, as
their parents are, in general, scarcely able to support
them in any way, we are under the necessity of main-
taining them in food and clothing, which, of course,
increases our expenses ; but we find no other way of
making a beginning in our grand work."

With a liberality which has immortalized their own
names, and reflected the highest honor upon the ex-
cellent society by which they were sent out, Messrs.
Renner and Butscher proposed to clothe and feed
these poor little Africans out of their own moderate
salaries ; and though the augmentation of the numbers
received into the school rendered this impossible,
these devoted men of God still offered to live on half
the amount of their annual allowance, in order to
devote the other half to this work of mercy. This,
however, was rendered unnecessary by the kindness
of the committee ; who, on learning the real state of
the case, promptly and generously resolved to allow
five pounds per annum for each child in the school
destitute of parental support.

In the month of April, 1811, Mr. Butscher, who
had, for some time, felt a desire to visit a chief named
John Pearce, the father of one of his pupils, set out
from Bashia for that purpose ; and the following ac-
count of his journey, extracted from his own journal,
will, no doubt, prove highly interesting to the reader : —

" After a voyage of four days, we entered Carcandy
Bar, in the Rio Nunis ; and, having suffered from
scarcity of water and provisions, we called at the first
Paga town, close to the Bar. The place at which we
landed was very muddy ; but some of the Pagoes,
well rubbed over with grease, carried us through the
mud to the shore, and took us to a palm-tree, which
was tapped in sixteen different places ; a vessel being

fixed to each hole, into which the palm-wine was
running. After we had enjoyed the wine of this
blessed tree, we were conducted to the town, which
consists of one street, above a mile long. The houses,
or huts, are almost all of a size, and at equal distances,
and the roofs are nearly flat. The male inhabitants
are clothed, but the females, whether young or old,
single or married, wear nothing but a piece of cloth,
about four inches broad, which is fastened to a string
tied round the waist. Their language is harsh and
noisy, and both males and females wear large rings in
their noses.

" Having spent about two hours in the town, we
took our leave, and went on board our craft ; and the
day following arrived at a factory called the Raw-
bocka, about a hundred miles up the river. The next
day I visited John Pearce, who received me with
great civility, and seemed extremely happy to hear
that his sons were making good progress in our school.
I visited the white and black traders on the river, who
treated me with the greatest civility, although some
of them suspected me to be a spy rather than a friend.
The number of traders there is very small, and even
those have but few goods to trade with. If there were
no smuggling, the slave-trade would receive a final
blow, and the traders would be diminished still more.

" The banks of the Rio Nunis are inhabited by three
different tribes ; the Pagoes, who occupy the sea-
shore, and the Naloes and Lantamers, who possess
tlie other part of the river. The Lantamers were
formerly more powerful than the others, but were
reduced by the Naloes. At present they agree with
each other, and John Pearce is the principal chief
among them. The Foulahs have great intercourse
with the white and black traders, bringing down slaves,
ivory, gold, cattle, he. ; and they sometimes assume
authority over the Naloes and Lantamers, not hesitat-
ing to say, ' We consider you no more than our slaves;
and we spare you only on account of the traders in
your river, from whom we obtain those articles of
which we stand in need.'

" Having waited nine days for the repair of the
craft, in order to return by water to the Rio Pongas,
and finding she was but badly repaired, I would not
venture in her, hut inquired for a path to return by
land ; and was told that there was one, but that it was
very tedious for travellers, being a desert of about
three days' journey ; in consequence of which it is
necessary to sleep in the bush. It was said, also,
that above two hundred Foulahs were encamped to
catch their runaway slaves, consisting of above one
thousand, who fled into the Cabatclies, a district near
the sea-shore ; and who, also, are well prepared for
any equal euack ; but as it sometimes happens that

»ome of these poor creatures go out into their rice
plantations, not knowing that the Foulahs are lying in
wait for them, they are caught and sold; the Foulahs
sometimes sharing a similar fate.

"Having received this information, I went immedi-
ately for advice to John Pearce ; who said, that if I
would venture to go this difficult road, he would give
me twelve of his trusty people, well armed, on account
of wild beasts, which were dangerous in the night.
As for the Foulahs, if they should meet me in the
paths, and see h,s people, they would not disturb me
in the least. Upon this I resolved to set out by land
the next day ; and went to the factory where I lodged.
m order to prepare myself.

"Early the following day, a man rushed into my
room, calling out, 'Mr. Butscher ! here is war ! here
IS war . I rose up immediately, went to the front
piazza, and saw a number of people surrounding the
house, fighting with cutlasses, and tying some with

l?r\ T?" "^ '"'''"S '^^ '■''•='°' *h« «=''"«« of this, he
said, There came down yesterday one hundred and
fifty men from the Cabba country, to sell their produce
to the traders. Some of them came to me with ivory,
calabashes and stock; and I see that John Pearce's
people are now catching them, but for what reason I
do not know.' Soon after breakfast I went to Mr.
Pearce s, where I saw abuve a hundred of these people
a ready m .rons j and his people were employed in
catchmg them the whole day, till they were all brought
.n. When I asked for what reason he caught them,
he said. 'These people come from the Cabba country
which IS divided into two kingdoms; and one of these
borders on the Lantamers, and maintains a friendly
intercourse with them. The two kings had war with
each other; and the northern Cabbas burned a town
belonging to those who are on friendly terms with the
Lantamers. Some Lanfamer women and children
having perished in the flames, their relations naturally I
became enraged, but could do nothing without my '
assistance. A few days ago, therefore, the bead man
ot those Cabbas who are friendly with the Lantamers
sent me word that about a hundred and fifty of his
enemy's subjects, who had burned the town, were going
down ,0 the Rio Nunis with produce; and in case
they should arrive, he would beg me to catch and sell
hem all for powder and guns, which would enable
imn to carry on war with his enemies again. The
chief of the Lantamers received a similar message ;
and on this account we caught them all.' I said they
ni.ght not all be guilty of the crime for which they
were caught ; and he replied, 'That maybe the case •

nO\vr»u»r if a ol«..-. . 1 ■ . - -

,.~ :;• '"^" '-"^' "^"rc ncre, uiey would be

sold without mercy, guilty or not guilty ; but as there
•s none, the matter will be considered, and perhaps

WEST AFRICA.

563

hey may «I1 return in safety.' This I afterwards
learned they were permitted to do ; so that, in this
instance the abolition of the slave-trade had a most
happy effect on a hundred and fifty men, with their
families and relations !

"On taking my leave of Mr. Pearce, after having
walked about five miles through the bush, we -reached
a Lantamer town, where I lodged in the chief's house
and was treated m a very friendly manner, but passed
a restless night, on account of the musquitoes. In
he morning, we left, about eight o'clock, and walked
about fourteen miles. We then cooked our dinner,
and rested till two o'clock in the afternoon, as i
was extremely hot. After refreshing ourselves, we
walked on till the approach of night, and then took
up our lodging under a few small trees, or. two of
which my mat was suspended. The guide cut off a
number of small branches, and erected a kind of shelter
on the east side, in case a tornado should come on at
rnidnight At length a tremendous tornado arose, and
1 left my hanging mat, and went under the shelter • but
as we were fifteen in number, the hut could not defend
us from the violence of the rain, which cominued about
half an hour. Our fire was now extinguished, our
provisions and clothes were soaked with wet, and we
all lelt anxious to see the dawning of the day

"Before six o'clock, we proceeded, in order to dry
and warm ourselves by walking; and after proceeding
about fifteen miles through a barren and rocky tract of
land, we rested at a fine brook, and took refreshment.
About fifteen miles further we came to a little valley
overgrown with bush, and intersected by a brook ; and
here I ^v•,shed to have passed the night: but on seeing
traces of leopards, elephants and hya-nas, which had
made a beaten path to the water, we proceeded a little
farther and there took up our lodging in the open air.
Ihe next morning, in walking rather hastily, I
became much fatigued, and was frequently obliRed to
he down on a rock, to rest and recover my breath
At last, a house appeared, where I was very hospitably
treated by a woman who knew some of our school
ctiudi-en. In the evening, we reached a factory called
Wuasmge ; and here an opportunity was offered to me
to return home by water. As I was much fatigued, I
cheerfully accepted it, and arrived safely at Bashia
where I found brother Renner, his wife, and all the'
children m perfect health."

Mr. Barneth having fallen a victim to disease, and
he mission in West Africa requiring additional aid,
^e Rev. Messrs Wilhelm and Klein, together with
iwrs. Klein, sailed from EnelanH m tl,» on.u „f v-
vember, 1811, carrying with them a printing 'pres^
a fount of Roman types, and a quantitv of printing
paper ; and, after a pleasant voyage, arrived safely at

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Sierra Leone, on the 29d of December. On the 20th
of the ensuing month, they reached the settlement at
Bashia, where they were cordially received by their
brethren ; but they found Mr. Wenzel in afflictive
circumstances, his wife having caught a cold in her
confinement, which brought on fever, and, after the
lapse of a few days, terminated in her dissolution.

On the 1st of December, 1812, the Rev. Leopold
Butscher, who had been invited to England by the
committee, for the purpose of communicating some
needful information, sailed again for Africa, on board
the brig Charles, with a pious and zealous young
woman, whom he had recently married, and some
other persons attached to the mission. After passing
the island of Goree, in fine weather and with a favor-
able wind, they fully anticipated that they should
reach the Rio Pongas in three or four days ; but
scarcely had they formed this pleasing expectation,
when a calamity occurred, of which Mr. Butscher has
given the following account : —

" On the 5th of January, 1813, about eleven o'clock,
the evening being dark, and the wind blowing fresh,
we struck upon a reef of the Tongui rocks, about five
miles distant (rom the land, and about twenty miles
south of the Gambia river. The sails were immedi-
ately shortened, yet the ship forged ahead, and beat
over the first reef The captain, then thinking she
was clear, made sail ; and having advanced about a
cable's length farther, she struck again upon a very
hard rock, but made no water. The boats were
launched, and all the spars were made into a raft, to
carry out our best bower anchor, in which we suc-
ceeded, and hove the vessel eight or ten fathoms
ahead. The tide being then ebbing, the watch was
sent to rest till flood tide. It blowing then fresh from
north-north-east, the pindle of the rudder broke.

" It is almost impossible for a person who has never
been in a similar situation to conceive in what con-
sternation we all were, when the vessel first struck
upon the rock. Most of the passengers were already
in bed, but were soon roused by the violent shocks.
Every one hastened on deck, to escape death ; —
some half naked, others lightly dressed. It being
then dark, and the ship beating violently upon the
rocks, we expected every moment that she would go
to pieces. I exhorted those around me to commit
their souls to our blessed Lord and Saviour, who is
alone our all-sufficient righteousness before God ; and
taking my wife into my arms, I told her to look to
Christ, as in a few minutes we might be before his
throne. She replied, ' The will of the Lord be done.' "

Our missionaries, however, were not so near death
as they anticipated. With the dawn of day they dis-
covered the land, and a party was sent on shore, in

the long-boat, to treat with the natives respecting
lightening the vessel, that she might get afloat ; but
they claimed the brig as their lawful prize, and a con-
flict ensued, in which the captain and one of the pas-
sengers were unfortunately killed. The rest of the
persons on board fled in a country craft to the island
of Gotee, whence they afterwards proceeded, in a
Spanish vessel, to their place of destination.

In writing to one of the secretaries of the British
and Foreign Bible Society, on the subject of his ship-
wreck, Mr. Butscher communicates an interesting fact,
relative to the high estimation in which some of the
Mahometans in Africa hold an Arabic translation of
the Holy Scriptures. " Among the goods saved from
the cai^o of the wrecked vessel," says he, " were
some boxes of Bibles and Testaments, which were
sold for the benefit of the underwriters. I, therefore,
wrote immediately from Goree to a trader on the river
Gambia, whom I had known for some years, and to
whom I supposed many of the goods might have been
carried by the natives for sale ; requesting him to send
me any thing which he might have bought from them,
and especially the Arabic Bibles, which had been given
to me for distribution among the Mahometans. A
fortnight after, I received an answer ; in which he
stated that the natives bad sold a great quantity of our
goods to the traders residing on the Gambia ; and that
he was particularly searching for the Arabic Bibles
and some other books I had mentioned ; but that he
could obtain but few of the latter ; and as for the
Bibles, the Mahometan natives would not part with
them at all ; though in one instance he had oflbred
goods to the amount of eight pounds sterling for a
single copy. Thus it appears that the word of God
is more highly esteemed among these people than in
many places where the gospel of Christ has been
introduced."

In consequence of the renewal of the slave-trade
in the Rio Pongas, and the facility with which that
inhuman and detestable traffic was carried on, the
governor of Sierra Leone resolved to adopt prompt
and energetic measures for its extirpation ; and in the
month of February, 1811, he sent three armed vessels
up tiie river, for the purpose of removing the traders
who remained in the vicinity, or of destroying their
factories. This was accordingly done ; and, in conse-
quence, the missionaries were exposed to the most
imminent perils ; as the natives imagined that they
had given information to the governor of the traffic
carried on by smuggling vessels, and had thus induced
him to resort to measures of severity. Tlireats of
exemplary vengeance were, therefore, uttered against
the brethren, and repeated attempts were made to
destroy their settlements. In the evening of the 23d

of February, about nine o'clock, one of the houses at
Bashia was reduced to ashes; and on the 11th of
April some evil-disposed persons set fire to the grass
ma field near Canoffee. "The flames," says Mr.
Wenzel, "destroyed this dry combustible very rapidly,
and, toward evening, approached the settlement. I
myself went not to bed. but I allowed the children to
take a httle rest during the time I was watching.
About eleven o'clock, the fire had approached within
two hundred yards. I therefore called the boys and
one workman, who happened to be at home, to remove
mto the middle of the yard some grass which was
prepared for thatching the church,and which lay near
the fence. The dew having now fallen, and the fire
not bemg so rap.d as before, I sent the boys and man

ear S "' '^"^ "' "^^^^ ^"^« """''"g "°r« to
r2.A, ""^ '°°" accomplished, and all the boys
retired to rest. '

WhetterTn '""^ °''^^^' ' ~^«' '" °'^«' '« ««™°e
HI kT '"""'"'"« "P"*^' ^^^ •''"'''^d the grass
again , but, on going through the yard, I found every
thing safe, the flames being completely extinguished^
the children asleep, and their bed-room dark. I there^
fore laid myself down again ; but in about ten minutes
afterwards I heard the boys in the yard crying, <Mas.

er, master ! As I had not taken off my clothes,
I immediately went out, and was told by the boys
that their apartment was very light. On entering it,
I saw the flames ascending to the roof, but had no
means of quenching them, nor time to save any thing.

therefore hastened to the dwelling-house, and ordered
^.e most valuable goods to be removed without delay.
But on returning into the yard, and perceiving that
the flames, which had now burst forth with great

that nothing should be removed; as I feared the
people would steal more than they would save. I then
went with the boys, and removed every combustible
hat was near the fire, particularly the grass, of which
1 had more than six hundred bundles in the yard In
the mean time, the violence of the flames abated ; and
I saw the merciful hand of God in keeping them off
from our dwelling, though the heat was ,o intense
that we could scarcely pass between the fire and the
house. My heart was deeply affected, also, when I
saw how wonderfully our lives had been preserved.
When the fire commenced, the children were all fast
asleep ; but a little of the burning grass falling from
the roof u^n a boy's face, he was awakened, and
seeing the fire above him, he gave an alarm, and all
escaped >n safety. Monghe Backe and Monghe Dumba
(two of the head men, or chiefs) have acknowl.,H.»w
that (he house was set on fire by wicked men. They
«ay, therefore, that they will call the country people

WEST AFRICA.

566

together, and talk earnestly with them, in order to
prevent any mischief in future."

This alarming conflagration, and the preceding one
at Bashia, were not the only calamities our missionarie.
were doomed to suffer ; but persecution and destruc-
tion of property still awaited them. Indeed it was
sufficiently obvious, from subsequent events, that the
very head men, or chiefs, who assured them of their
friendship and protection, were, in reality, their in-
veterate enemies, and that Monghe Backe had himself
countenanced the incendiaries who destroyeT the
chool-house at Canoffee. The destruction of the

hunl?H ""r"' ""'* '•'" ^n-ancipation of about three
hundred unfortunate captives, were attributed to the
coirespondence of the brethren with the authorities
at Sierra Leone; and a spirit of animosity was kindled
against them, which threatened to be productive of
tne most tragical consequences.

In the morning of September 29, 1814, as Mr.
Wenzel was commencing the business of his school,
about twenty men from Monghe Backe, armed with
cutlasses, assembled in his piazza, and told him ho
must cut no more sticks in the bush (woods) for
making fence ; though the head man had previously
consented to his making a new enclosure Lnd the
settlement and for the formation of a church-yard
1 hey also demanded, why he had cultivated and plant-

I fLr ""'*' ^™"'!'*' "°*^ '^"^ *°W him, without
further ceremony, that they were come to destroy his
produce. « When this word was pronounced," say
Mr. Wenzel, "all the people, like furies, fell upon
the trees, plants and fence, and cut them all to pieces.
My wife and the children cried ; and I stood exposed
to their cruelties. They evidently wished nie to
oppose them, that they might have a pretext for beat-
mg me ; but the Lord gave me grace and wisdom to
act in resignation to his holy will, and I uttered not a
single word. After these cruelties had been commit-
ted, they said my grumettas (servants) must clear a
place to build a devil's house upon, and that I must
give them two goats for sacrifices. This, of course, I
refused, observing that a house had been erected for
worshipping the true God, and a house for the devil
should not be suffered. They declared, in reply, that
they would come and build ; but at length they went
off with the fruits of the trees which they had de-
stroyed, uttering fierce threats against me."

Mrs. Wenzel, in the mean time, to avoid the fury
of these miscreants, had retired to the church, where
the carpenter was at work ; and, on entering into con-
versation with him, he observed, that this was the
r.~.?,s?q«enee of the dostruciioii of the slave factories .
and added, that a certain individual had sent him word
to leave the settlement, as be had determined, on the

566

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

commencement of the dry season, to burn Canoffee

and Bashia. The following mournful details, there-
fore, will not surprise, however deeply they may affect,
the pious reader :—

On Saturday evening, the 2Ist of January, 1815,
a cry of " Fire !" was heard in the yard of the mis-
sionary settlement at Bashia, and, though the aper-
ture made by the flames was not, then, more than a
yard in circumference, the devouring element spread
with such rapidity as to preclude all hope of extin-
guishing it. Mr. Renner, therefore, ordered the female
children out of the bouse, and bent off his wife, who
had for some days been confined to her bed, into an
adjacent field, to which the servants and the eldest
boys carried her trunk, and the bedding.

" We had only one door," says Mr. Renner, " by
which to enter into the second story ; and, the fire
eoon reaching it, there was no longer a passage to
carry the goods down, and we were under the neces-
•ity of throwing over the piazza whatever came to
our hands. The first thing was a chest of drawers,
which, on reaching the ground, fell to pieces, and the
•contents, being scattered about, wpre stolen by the
natives. Another chest of drawers could not be
moved, in consequence of our heavy book-shelf stand-
ing upon it. Trifling things were, at last, got out,
and the more valuable ones were either forgotten or
left a prey to the flames. The confusion of my mind,
indeed, was such, that I had no power to judge, at the
moment, what to do. My valuable trunk, partly filled
up by the generosity of the society, and partly by my
busy wife, was entirely forgotten. I recollect to have
stood on it, to hand down some trifling things, but
it came not into my mind to save it.

" At last the danger was so great, that every one
forsook me, and there was a loud cry that the roof
was falling. I, therefore, hastened down on a man-
grove beam, and left the perishable articles to their fate.
1 was not long in the yard before the house fell in,
whilst the cries of tlio children, and my wife's lamen-
tations, at a distance, sounded in my ears. Brother
Wilhelin's house caught fire from the heat of mine,
in consequence of its being so contiguous.

" The next day was the sabbath, — but there was
no salibath in Bashia ! Our minds were so much
confused, that wo could not sing the Lord's song ;
and, in truth, not a single book on our premises was
saved. The influx of strangers, also, was very trouble-
some ; some of whom came to pity, others to laugh
at us.

" On Monday morning, about four o'clock, the cry
of ' Fire ! fire !' was again heard. This I could
liardiy believe ; but, jumping up, I saw the school-
house on fire, notwithstanding twenty people had been

stationed, as a watch, in the yard. This was an
evidence to me that my house had been wilfully set
on fire ; which, at first, I was unwilling to believe,
thinking it might have happened through the careless-
ness of some of the children ; but it now seemed to
be the intention of some enemy that no roof should
be left over our heads."

In the mean time, the Rev. J. C. Sporrhacken,with
Mrs. Sperrhacken, Mrs. Hartwig, and four other per-
sons, connected with the Church Missionary Society,
sailed from Ireland with an investment of stores, to
the amount of about three thousand pounds ; and on
the 13th of February, they arrived safely at Sierra
Leone, where they were received with the most
cordial affection by the resident missionaries, and by
the Rev. Messrs. Renner and Wenzel, who, in con-
sequence of their recent calamity, had come from the
Rio Pongas, to ask advice of their friends in the col-
ony. The settlers began eagerly to press Mrs. Hart-
wig to reopen a school for their female children ; but
the whole attention of that excellent woman was, for
the present, occupied by her afflicted husband, who
had just arrived in the colony extremely ill of dropsy,
and requiring every possible assistance.

It has been already remarked, that, through ihe
imprudence of Mr. Hartwig, his connection with the
society, as a missionary, had been dissolved ; and his
wife, who had visited England for her health, had for
some years been prevented from returning, by his
irregular conduct. Of late, however, he had pro-
fessed the most sincere contrition for his errors ; and
as, in his wanderings among the Susoos, he had obtained
an intimate acquaintance with their language, he was
once more employed by the society, not indeed in his
former capacity, but to commence a translation of the
IVew Testament, and to compile a few elementary
books in Susoo, for the use of the schools. Under
these circumstances, Mrs. Hartwig readily consented
to return to Africa ; but it will appear from the fol-
lowing extract of a letter written by her to the com-
mittee, and dated March 1, 1815, that she only arrived
to close his eyes in death : —

" On the a>2(l of February, just after sunset, my
husband was brought on shore, weak, and almost help-
less. Yet I am thankful, and consider it a privilege,
that I was allowed to receive him, oven in tliat state,
and to render his last days somewhat more comfort-
able. Our meeting seemed to revive his spirits ; and
he was very cheerful for the first two or three days,
though so weak (his bones almost cutting through his
.skin, and his body greatly enlarged with dropsy) that
it was as n)uch as a man could do to lift jiim in and
out of bed. Ho was enabled to converse with me a
little, but said, as he could not talk much, he would

l!L™"'^u '",'"'^°'"'""- Hi««PP«tite was pretty
good, and he took nourishment from my hands with a
p^asure wh.ch he could hardly express ; often acknoil!
edging the goodness and mercy of our Heavenly Father
jn bnngmg me again to this land. Indeed, hif tua.'
Jon was trul, deplorable, when Mr. Renner found
h..u, bemg destitute even of the common necessaries
of life ; so that he rejoiced in God, who had sent him

Jir'"u t'J^"' '''""' ^' ^" '" »'■« Mandingo
country. He had caught a bad cold, last August, in
the Gambia settlement, the house having a poor r,;of,
and being exposed to wind and rain. From that time
he began to be .11; and, having formerly derived
benefit from a mineral water in the Mandingo country
he went thither, in hopes that he might again obtafn
rehef: but alas! he had hardly drank of'the w^
before he became so ill, that he was obliged to remain

" On the 21st, a medical gentleman saw him, and
said he was too weak to undergo an operation, as he
,To? k'm r r "i ''«'"'«'-«fore.6'>ve us a prescrip-
ion wh.oh he hoped might be of service to him. Mv
husband was very anxious to live, and desirous, if
spared, to redeem the lime, and show to the world that
he was heartily sorry for his past offences.

" On Sunday, the 2Gth, Mr. Butscher administered
the sacrament to us, Mr. Renner and Mr. Wenzel
being present, together with a pious old black woman
who frequently comes to see me. It was a solemn
time ; and when tiio service was over," Mr. Harlwig
was much affected, and wept almost aloud. He spoke
of his departure from the faith, yet acknowledged that
the l^rd had never given him up to a reprobate mind
but that the stings of conscience used to be like a'
hook in his heart. Notwithstanding hh transgressions
and backslidings, he could now address God as his
reconciled Father in Christ; and on tl.o 1st of March
I have reason to trust he fell asleep in Jesus."

After the decease of her husband, Mrs. Hartwig
opened a school, and was once more made a blossinR
to the poor female nliihiren of the colonists; but
witlun less than two months, she was attacked with'
the yellow fever, and, after an illness of four days
was removed into the world of spirits. About this
tune, indeed, death .seems to have made great Imvoc
among the friends of the society. On the I !)tli of May
Mrs. Butscher, " a woman of acute understanding, tried
piety, and considerable attainments," fell a victim to
the same .l.soidcr ; and hor youngest son soon followed
her to 111,, tomb. In September, the wife of the Rev.
Mr. Schullz, another missionary, who had recently
Sy.ve-:, vizt seised wiii, ihu fever, and, alter givini
birth to a fine boy, bade an eternal adieu to this tran-
silory world. The following day her infant died, and

WEST AFRICA,

80^

was placed in the arms of his mother, to rest in th*
same sepulchral mansion ; and, in less' than a o tni ht

his afflicting bereavement, was too ill to follow tJ,«
remains of his beloved wife and child to hdr 1 „'
ome, was conveyed to the same spot, there to aw„J
the resurrection of the just. In [he course of Te
ensuing month, the labors of the Rev. Mr. Sperrhacke^
child ZrTu^' " ™°"'" «li-a-.and\Tsintn:

Zf ■ . . ^P""'"'''''^" '^as. at the same time, dan-
gerou^lydl; but she was subsequently restor'edTo

Bickerst'etrthr^ •'"""7' '®*^' '^° ^''- ^''-"d

s«Setv a tt'hl r^""' ""'^ '"'"^"' ^^"^'^^y o'' the
society (at that time acting in the capacity of assist-

ant secretary), sailed from England, for tife purpose

of visiting the missionary settlnnen.; in WestTfHca

and of making such arrangements as existing ctcum.'

stances might appear to render expedient On Ws

arrival at Ba,hia, he was much gratifi'ed with the s.at

given to his inquiries by some of the elder pupils, that
neither the abor nor expense of the society b'^st; wed
on this station would ultimately prove to 'have been
ZZ \ .^''"P'«^«''">^^«*'«'-. presented an affecting
spectacle to one so deeply interested in the cause of
missions ; the former dwelling-house being almost in
riiins. and the church, which was set on fire toward the
close of the preceding year, exhibiting nothing but
bare walls. At length, after mature deliberation and
humble prayer for the divine direction, '< it was deter-
in.ned, on account of the repeated fires which had
happened m Bashia, several of which were supposed, ■
to have originated from a person claiming the ground •
and considering it. present ruinous state, its confined
situation, and its vicinity to a native town, which ex-
posed the children to temptation.that it was expedient
to g.v'e up this settlement, and remove the children to
Canoffee. *

Hitherto, from their comparative ignorance of the
Susoo Innguage,_a want of intcrpreters,_the presence
01 the slave-traders.-ropeated attacks of sickness —
and other causes, the missionaries had confined tlieir
labors exclusively to the instruction of the rising gen.
eration ; without making any attempt to proclaim
among the adult natives the glad tidings of salvation.
Mr BickersK'th, however, in a spirit of Christian
faithfulness, whirl, has reflected the highest honor upon
ins profession and character, now reminded them, that
even in such n •itimtloM «. •! .-.j . .

nil the difficulties to which they might be exposed

their f^rtat ivork was, as soon rs practicable, to preach

Chrut crucified," not only by the consistency and

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

holiness of their own lives, but hy the actual «nd con-
tinual declaration of the gospel, through the medium
of an interpreter, till it could be done without one, in
such assemblies as could be collected, in private con-
versation, and in every other mode that could be
adopted. This representation produced so good an
effect, that all the missionaries settled in the country
appeared determined, according to their ability, to
commence the important work in the next dry season ;
and permission to do so was solicited and obtained at
the general meetings of the respective chiefs or head
men. Accordingly, in the month of December, the
Rev. Messrs. Kenner and Wilhelm commenced preach-
ing in the neighboring villages ; and, at first, their ser-
vices appeared to be highly acceptable both to the
chiefs and the people, by whom they were heard with
great attention, and treated with the utmost civility.
In one place, indeed, a ' pray-house,' or church, was
erected by the inhabitants ; and the residents in two
other villages seemed disposed to erect similar places
of worship. After some time, however, as the novelty
of the services wore off, the natives became weary of
listening to the gospel ; and, notwithstanding the hopes
which the brethren were led to form, in respect to
their early excursions, the hostility which was subse-
quently manifested against them by the friends and
•bettors of that curse of Africa, the slave-trade, ren-
dered it necessary, in 1818, to relinquish the mission
among the Susoos, after a long and arduous conflict
with difficulties of no common kind. The brethren,
therefore, retired with the greater part of their pupils
to the colony of Sierra Leone ; regretting, indeed, that
so little had been effected, yet cheering themselves
with the reflection that their labors had not been alto-
gether in vain, in the Lord.

The Rev. Mr. Nylander, in the mean time, had
resigned his situation as chaplain at Sierra Leone, for
the purpose of commencing a missionary station among
the benighted and superstitious Bulloms ; and had
fixed his residence at a place called Yongroo Pomoh,
whirh is described, by the Rev. C. Bickersteth, as
'pleasantly situated at the mouth of the Sierra I ^eone
river, nearly opposite to Free Town, and alwut seven
miles from it." Here he opened a stihool, and by the
suavity of his manners, and the consistency of his
conduct, lie so effectually conciliated the respect and
esteem of the natives, that a considerable number of
them were induced tc place their children under his
tuition. Even the king of Buliom intrusted one of
his sons to tli'- care of this excellent missionary ; but
the young prince had not been long in the seminary
huforo ho wax allacked with an illness which deprived
iiiiu botii ol ins speech and senses, and, m about three
days, tcrniinatdd his mortal existence. " After he was

dead," says Mr. Nylander, " the people were going to
ask him, according to their custom, who had killed him ;
but I was very glad, that, after long reasoning in oppo-
sition to their opinions, they were satisfied that he had
not fallen a victim to the arts of any witch or gregree ;
but that God, who gave him life at first, had now called
him home, to be with him, in a good and happy place.
And I assured his friends, that if they would begin to
pray to God, they would once more meet him in that
place, and rejoice with him forever. As I stated my
belief that God had killed him, I was allowed to bury
him ' in white man's fashion,' and the king gave me a
burying-place separate from their own."

" it is lamentable," says the same writer, in another
communication, " that the Bulloms should have been
left so long without any religious instruction. They
live in gross darkness, worshipping evil spirits, and
dealing very cruelly with each other, on account of
their superstitious witchcraft; which, perhaps, was
encouraged by the inhuman traffic in slaves. If any
slave-ship had been permitted to appear in the Sierra
licone river, about fifteen or more witches would have
been sold, and sent off for the coast, since I have been
at Buliom." The following anecdotes will place these
superstitions of the Bulloms in a truly affecting light,
and will, no doubt, be perused with deep interest by
the pious reader.

" A young man, named Jem Kambah," says Mr.
Nylander, " was employed by me, and attended pretty
regularly on our family and public worship. Going,
one day, to visit his mother, she gave him two small
smooth stones, which she had laid by for that purpose ;
telling him to wash them every day, and rub them
with oil ; and that then they would take care of him, and
he would prosper ; because these were two good spirits.
' Mother,' said he, ' these are itonc$ : how can they
take care of me ? I hear the white man at Yongroo
Pomoh telling us that God alone can help us, and that
all our grogrees (charms) are good for nothing. These
stones can do me no good. I will, therefore, look to
God, and beg him to take care of me.' Thus saying,
he threw the stones into the fire, as unworthy of notice.

" This was a heinous sacrilege ; and on his mother
acquainting her friends with it, they sharply reproved
him, and told him that, by thus acting, he would make
the devil angry, and would bring mischief upon the
country. He assured them, however, that he would
pay no more attention to any of their nistoms, but
would listen to what he heard at Yongroo Pomoh.

" One sabbath, after divine service, Jem again went
to see his mother ; and met the people dancing, and
trying some persons for witchcraft. He told <h«m ihgt
it was the lord's day, and that they should not dance,
hut go to Yongroo Pomoh, to hear what (he white man

WEST AFRICA.

had to say. « And then,' he added, ' you will leave
off all dancing and witcli-palavers, which are nothing
but the work of the devil.' This speech, together
with the throwing of the stones into the fire, affronted
them so much, that they threatened to punish him ;
and the next morning he was summoned before the
king, and accused of having made a witch-gun, and
concealed it in his house, for the purpose of killing and
injuring his inmate. Jem replied, 'I never saw a
witch-gun, and do not know how to make one> He,
therefore, who told you this did not speak the truth.'
He was urged to acknowledge it, and then the whole
palaver would have an end. ' No,' said he, • I cannot
tell a lie merely to please you.' He was then called
on to prove his innocence, by rubbing his arm with a
red-hot iron, or by drinking red-water : but he coolly
replied, ' I am no fool, to burn myself with the hot
iron ; and as for the red-water palaver, I shall look in
my head first ;' meaning that he should take time to
consider the matter. He afterwards came to me, and
told me the charges which iiad been brought against
him ; and said, I will drink the red-water, to clear myself,
and to bring my family out of the blame ; and I hope
God will help me.' I advised him to pray, and to
consider well what he was going to do.

" A day before the trial, Jem was confined ; and
persons of both parties, his friends and enemies, ques-
tioned him, and urged him to confess every thing that he
had done evil. At last the day came : he was carried
to the place of execution, stripped of his clothes, and
had some plantain leaves tied round his waist. About
two tea-spoons full of white rice had been given him
in the morning ; and if this rice were thrown up with
the red-water, it was to prove him innocent. Jem
now ascended the scaffold, aiul drank eight calabashes
(about four quarts) of red-water, wiilch was adminis-
tered to him us fast as he could swallow li. Ho threw
all up again, with the rice which ho had eaten in the
morning ; but as he fainted before ho could get down
from the scaffold, it was said that some wltcli-palaver
must Im left in his stomach, liecaiise the devil wrestled
with him, and ho was requested to drink the water
again. This, however, he refused, observing that ho
had merely drank it in the fust Instanct! to please his
occusors, and to show that he was no witch. A hw
days afterward he ranu) to work ni;ain, and the busi-
ness was dropped ; but Jem did not appear so serious,
nor did ho so regularly attend on public worship as
before."

The poor creature whose case is next narrated had

not the rourase of Karnbali ; but was terrincd into

tlie confession of an imnginnry crime, in order to save

liorsolf from the further enielty of her persecutors.-—

'• I was told," says Mr, Nylandor, "that there was

\oi,. 1.— Moj. n <fc 48. 74

569

a woman very ill with the small-pox, and that another
woman, who had just fallen ill of the same disease,
had bewitched her. I visited the sick woman first
and found her dangerously ill : afterward I went to
the place where the supposed witch, named Dumfurry
was lymg in chains, under a tree, in a high fever the
small-pox just coming out. I begged the people to
release her, and to le' her lie down comfortably in a
house ; but they said ihey could not do it. I must
speak to the head man of the town, the king not being
at home. I applied to him, but he refused ; alleging
that she was a bad woman, who had been in the Shee-
rong (a sort of purgatory, where the evil spirits dwell,
and whither the supposed witches resort), where she
bought the small-pox, and by witchcraft brought the
disease upon this woman.

'"If she be so skilful,' I said, 'you can make
money by her. Loose her, and let her go this night
agam to the Sheerong, and bring the small-pox, in
order to witch them upon me ; and if I catch the
disease, I will pay you ten bars.' One said that I had
bad them, and therefore she could not bring them on
me. < Why,' said I, ' if she be a witch, she can cause
a stick to have the small-pox to-morrow ; and if she
knew any thing of witchcraft, she would not stand
before you, to be flogged ; but would blind you all,
that you could not catch her. She knows nothing
however, about witch-palaver, and in your dealing
so hardly with her, you do extremely wrong, and dis-
please God.'

" As the poor creature could not be loosed without
the consent of the sick woman's husband, I sent for
him ; and, after some time, he consented that she
should be taken out of the stocks ; and so I left them.
But the relations of the person dangerously 111 began
to question the supposed witch, and gave her a severe
whipping ; and the woman, at length, confessed that
she had bewltclied her.

" The doctor was now called In, to examine the
sick person ; and he, in his turn, by pretended witch-
craft, professed to take out of the woman's head, 1.
A worm, called, in Sierra Leone, the forty foot. ^.
A small hag, containing the instruments of a witch ;
such as a knife, a spoon, a basin, &:c. .'J. A snail. 4
A rope ; and 5. The small-pox ! The witch was
then wiiipped a second time, and asked whether she
had not put all t|,pso ihi„g;s i,„o the head of the woman
who was now almost dead. She confessed It, and'
iM-oiinlit forward a man and two women, ns having
joined with her to kill this woman. The man said that
he knew noihing of trUchcrafs, amiionsenteii to prove
Ins innocence by drinking the red-water. The two
females were whipped and sent to work ; and the prin-
cipal one was to be put to death, as soon as the sick

570

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

woman should die. Till then, Bumfurry, the supposed
witch, was appointed to guard the sick person, and to
drive the flies from her.

" I oppose these foolish witch accusations wherever
I can ; and numbers of the Bulloms, especially the
younger ones, see plainly that it is the power of dark-
ness and ignorance which works upon the minds of
the old people ; but they dare not say a word, in
opposition to this evil practice, for fear of being them-
selves immediately accused of witciicraft."

Among these benighted people, Mr. Nyiander con-
tinued to labor for a considerable time, with the most
unwearied patience and unremitting zeal ; and, in
addition to the instruction of the children placed in
his school, and the preaching of the everlasting gospel,
ho translated the four Gospels, the epistles of St. John,
the morning and evening prayers of the Church of
England, some hymns, and several elementary books,
into the Bullom language. In 1818, however, the
pernicious influence of the slave-trade rendered the
prospect of success more dark and distant than ever,
and the mission was consequently abandoned, Mr.
Nyiander retiring into the colony with the greater part
of the pupils who at that time were under his in-
struction.

But we must now direct the attention of our readers
to the exertions and successes of the Church Mission-
ary Society in Sierra Leone, which will be found to
exhibit a most important field of usefulness, and to
present to the pious and contemplative mind abundant
cause of gratitude to that omnipotent and wonder-
working Redeemer, who hath been promised " the
heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of
the earth for his possession."

After the abolition of the slave-trade by the British
parliament, a considerable number of negroes, com-
prising some hundreds of children, were rescued from
diflcrent smuggling vessels, and settled in various parts
of the colony, where they were kindly fed and clothed
at the expense of government, until they should be
able to provide for their future subsistence.

In order to provide for such of the children as were
orphans, and in a state of pitiable destitution, the
committee of the Church Missionary Society deter-
mined on forming an extensive establishment in the
vicinity of Free Town, where they might at once
receive the benefits of education, and be trained
to habits of industry. Accordingly, having obtained
a grant of land at Leicester mountain, which forms
pan of the range of hills behind Free Town, their
agent, the Rev. Mr. Butscher, proceeded to clear and
plant the fffnund. and to erect the necessary buildlnzs
for what was intended to be called the Christian In-
■titutioD. In those employments ho derived some

assistance from the children, as it was one of the rules
of the establishment that one half of the day should
be devoted to instruction, and that the other should
be occupied in useful labor ; and in order to stimulate
the pupils to exertion, each of the boys had a spot of
ground allotted for his own cultivation. Such was the
plan on which this institution was primarily conducted ;
but the committee were subsequently induced to change
it into a sort of college, where a superior education
might prepare some of the most promising youths to
labor as missionaries among their own countrymen, or
to fill stations of responsibility in the colony. And,
some years aftenvard, the establishment was removed
to Regent's Town.

As the instruction of the children of the recaptured
slaves was the grand object which the missionaries in
Sierra Leone had originally in view, they estab-
lished schools in several of the towns, or villages,
where the objects of their solicitude were settled ;
and it ought to be recorded to the honor of the British
government, and of sir Charles Macartliy, the governor
of the colony, that this work of mercy was uniformly
countenanced and assisted in the most prompt manner
and with the greatest liberality. The preaching of
the gospel was afterwards commenced among the
adult negroes, and, notwithstanding the trials and diffi-
culties which were occasionally encountered, the min-
istration of divine truth was, in many instances, crowned
with the most pleasing success.

In respect to the interesting station called Regent's
Town, it has been justly remarked, in ono of the
annual reports of the society, that " the history of the
church has scarcely afforded so striking an instance
of the power of Christianity, in civilizing and blessing
savage men."

" When brought together at this place, in the year
1813," the committee observe, "the negroes were, as
on the first settling of them in other towns, in the most
deplorable condition. In 181(5, the assistant secretary,
then on a visit to the mission, found about eleven
hundred liberated negroes assembled at this spot, and
consisting of persons from almost all the tribes on that
part of the continent. The efl"orts of those who had
been placed over them, under the vigilant and anxious
inspection of the governor, had meliorated the con
ditionof such as had been there for any length of time.
Every measure in his power had been resorted to, for
this end, by his excellency ; niid a church had been
erected, in preparation for the regular administration
of Christian ordinances among them."

In the month of June, 181fi, Mr. Johnson, who had

liiaf arrivort frnin v.na]anA t%.'aa

a iin/\in

taA tit thn t*ara

of Regent's Town ; but, on contemplating the con-
dition of the people intrusted to his care, he fell

greatly discouraged. "Natives of twenty-two dif-
ferent nations" (as stated in the report to which we
have already alluded) "were here collected together-
and a considerable number of them had been but re-
cently liberated from the holds of slave-vessels. They
were also greatly prejudiced against one another, and
in a state of continual hostility, with no common
medmm of mtercourse but a little broken English
When clothmg was given to them, they would sell it
or throw It away ; nor was it found practicable to
introduce .t among them, till they were, at length,
induced to adopt it, by the example of Mr. Johnson's
servant girl. None of them, on their first arrival
seemed to live in a state of marriage, the blessings
of the conjugal state and of female purity appearing
to bo qu.te uni<nown. In some huts, ten of them
were crowded together ; and in others even fifteen or
twenty. Many of them were ghastly as skeletons;
SIX or eight sometimes died in one d„y ; and only six
infants were born in the space of a year. Superstition.
in various forms, tyrannized over their minds ; many
devil s houses sprang up; and all of them placed their
• security in wearing the charms called gregrees. Scarce-
ly any desire of improvement was (liscernibio. For a
considerable time there were hardly five or six acres
of land brought under cultivation ; and some who
wished to cultivate the soil were deterre.l from doing
so, by the fear of being plundered of the produce.
Some would live in the woods, apart from society;
others subsisted by thieving and plunder; and not a
few of them, particularly those of the Ebo nation,
would prefer any kind of refi- o meat to tiie rations
wlucli they received from government."

Of the feelings with which Mr. Johnson entered
upon his labors in such a fiol.i of desolation, a toler-
ably accurate ..lea maybe formed from his own obser-
vations, addressed to a special meeting of the society,
previous to Ins return from a visit to England, in

''When I first went among the negroes," says he,

after I had armed myself with the Hiblc, I tol.l them

why I came, viz. to iufo.ni tliom how tli.-y might bo

saved, and enjoy rtn.ml happiness through the death

of Jesus Christ. They gave little heed to me, tliouKh

I visited them from .lay to ,I„y ; „,„l, ,„ ,„ j;^

mortification, on the sahhuth only nine hearers came,

and these were almost naked ! Though mu.I, dis-

couragod.I went the next week, and iri...I to p.^rsuade

them to .•onie nn.l hoar God's word, nn.l stnle.l, that

If Ihey desired to learn to rend the nil,],.. I „ould

instruct them. The following Sun.lay iii.,ie came

than my coltnire cnulrj hol.J. „,.,! .„r.,,-,.^.._.K ..,-. . ._

obliged to leave the house for a sho.l. Many times"

however, when I had warned the people to flee from'

WEST AFRICA.

571

Ute wrath to come, and take refuge in a crucified
Saviour. I had, after service, the great mortification
of receivmg visits from some of my hearers, either to
be paid for attending, or to receive something on some
other account. My labors also increased, as more
negroes arrived from sl.ve-vessels ; so that I had now
to provide for a thousand individuals, to whom I had
to issue rations twice a week ; and thus I was so much
tried that I was many times on the point of giving up
all: but the prospect of bringing some souls to the
knowledge of Christ, enabled me still to endure "

Notwithstanding these trials and discouragements,
Mr. Johnson soon perceived that his labors were not
in vain. The people began to improve materially,
both in appearance and manners ; and their natural
indolence gave place to habits of industry. Such as
had formerly lived in the woods, came and solicited a
lot in the town, which was now regularly laid out in
streets, and built upon with avidity. Those who had
few clothes began to work hard to obtain them, that
they might appear decent on the sabbath ; the church
which originally contained five hundred persons, was
twice enlarged, and still crowded ; and in the space
of about twelve months, a progress was made, which
astonished those who visited the settlement.

These were great encouragements to Mr. Johnson •
but he was not satisfied with the reformation of the'
manners of his people : he longed and prayed for in-
dications of a change of heart, and the influence of a
hving principle ; and in a short time his wishes were
accomplished and his prayers graciously answered.
One evening," says he, " when I had been praying
an. was much cast down, a young man followed me,
and said, 'Massa, me ivant speak ab.)ut my heart'
I aske.l hiin what he had to say. ' For some time
massa, he replied, ' my heart bad too much. When
I he down, or get up, or cat, or drink, me think about
sins committed in my own country, and since me come
Uegent s Town ; and me don't know what to do ' 1
found what his wants were, and was enabled to point
hun to the Lamb of God, which taketli away the sin
of the world.

" In the following week, several more came. One
woman was much distressed, and said she had two
hinrtK, whi.-h troubled her so much that she did not
kiunv what to .lo. One was the nn/, hart, which
t(. .1 her that she must go lo Jesus Christ, and tell him
all her sins, as she hud heard at church. Her old
heart told her, ' Never mind. God no save black
man, only white man. How know he died for black
man ?' Hut Jier new heart .said, ' Go, ory to him.
and ask.' = Tiien,^ said siie, ' my old heart tell me d-
my work first ;-fetch water, make fire, wash ; and
then go pray : but when work done, me forget to pray

1^78

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

I don't know what to do.' I read to her the seventh
chapter of St. Paul's epistle to the Romans, and
showed her that the apostle felt the same things, and
spoke of two principles in man. When I came to the
verse, ' O wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver
me from tiie body of this death ?' she cried, ' Ah
massa, that me, — me no know what to do !' But on
my adding the words of St. Paul, ' I thank God
through Jesus Christ,' and explaining to her the love
of Christ, in dying for sinners like her, she burst into
tears ; and has continued ever since, so far as I know,
to follow her Saviour."

From this time a spirit of grace and supplication
appeared to be poured out upon the people; young
persons especially were frequently seen to retire into
the woods for the purpose of pouring out their souls
in fervent petitions before God, and little groups
assembled by moonlight to chant the praises of their
Redeemer. Indeed, both young and old evinced an
anxious solicitude for instruction in the things pertain-
ing to salvation ; and the consistency of their deport-
ment afforded the most satisfactory proof of tlie sound-
ness of their profession. Polygamy, gregreos, and
the worship of the devil, were universally ahiiiidoned ;
the means of grace were diligently attended ; and
when Mr. Johnson sailed for England, in April, 1818,
the number of persons regularly partaking of the Lord's
supper, unless prevented by illness, amounted to two
hundred and sixty-three. All the people, at this time,
were likewise decently clothed, and most of the fe-
males had learned to make their own apparel. The
heathenish customs of dancing and drumming for whole
nights together were completely laid aside ; and for
the last twelvemonths before their teacher's embarka-
tion, not an oath, to his knowledge, had been heard,
nor a solitary instance of dnnikenness witnessed in tlic
settlement. The schools, xvhich opened with ninety
boys, fifty girls, and thirty-six adults, now contained
upwards of five hundred scholars ; and an equal
number of worshippers regularly attended the church
every day, at morning and evening prayers.

The town itself, at the period to which wo are now
adverting, was laid out with great reguhiriiy, and is

thus described in the '20th report of the society :

" Nineteen streets are formed, and arc made plain and
level, with good roads round the town. A large stone
church rises in the midst of the habitations ; nnd
a government-house, a parsonage-house, an hospital,
school-houses, store-houses, a bridge of several arches,
some native dwellings, and other buildings, all of stone,
are either finished or on the point of being so. Gardens,
fenced in, are attached to every dwelling ; all the
lafiu in the immediate neighborhood is imikT cultiva-
tion, and pieces of land to the distance of three miles.

Rice fields are numerous ; and among the other vege-
tables raised for food are cassada, plantains, cocoa,
yams, coffee, and Indian corn. Of fruits they have
bananas, oranges, limes, pine-apples, ground-nuts,
guavas and papaws. Of animals there are horses,
cows, bullocks, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks and fowls.
Beside cultivating the ground, many of the negroes
have learned and exercise various trades ; fifty of them
being masons and bricklayers, — forty, carpenters, —
thirty, sawyers,— thirty, shingle-makers,— twenty, tai-
lors, — four, blacksmiths, — and two, butchers. In these,
and various other ways, upwards of six hundred of the
liberated slaves maintain themselves, and have been
enabled, by the productive fruits of their own industry,
to relieve from all expense, on their account, that
government to which they pay the most grateful
allegiance."

The separation between Mr. Johnson and his at-
tached negroes, though merely temporary, was ex-
tremely painful on both sides. Hundreds of both
sexes and of various ages accompanied him to Free
Town, a distance of five miles of diflicult road ; and
took leave of him on the beach, with many tears,
regretting, in their ardent love for the faithful shepherd
who had been the means of collecting them out of the
wilderness, and bringing them into the fold of Christ,
that tlicy could not be the companions cf his voyage,
and dismissing him from their shores with fervent
benedictions, and with the following simple but striking
expression of their affection: — " Massa, suppose no
water live here" (pointing to the sea), "we go with
you all the way, till no feet move more !"

In addition to the removal of their beloved pastor,
and the inconveniences resulting from an unavoidable
change of teachers, the inhabitants of Regent's Town
were deeply dejected, in consequence of a sickness
which broke out in the settlement, and proved mortal
to great munbers, incliuling several of the devoted
friends and agents of the society. The representation
of their distress, on this account, as given by one of
the native communicant'!, in a letter to Mr. Johnson,
is tridy nffoeiing, and will, no doubt, be perused with
emotions of ttmder sympathy : —

"That time Mr. Cates sick, and Mr. Morgan sick ;
and poor Mr. Gates die.— Then Mr. Collier get si(;k,
and .Mr. Morgnn get sick again ! One iViond said, ' God
soon leave this place ;' hut I said, ' I trust in the Lord
Jesus Christ ; he knows his people ; and ho never
left thorn, neither forsake them.'— That Stmdny, Mr.
Collier die, about eleven o'clock.- Then Mr. Morgan
sick— Mn. Morgnn sick— Mr. Bull sick.— O! that
time all missionaries sick ! — We went to Free Town,
Monday, and bury Mr. Collier ; and we came home
again and keep service in the church. O! that

tune, trouble too much in my heart !— Nobody to
teach me, and I was so sorry for my poor country,
people!— Mr. Gates died— Mr. Collier died— Mr
Morgan sick !-0 ! what must I do for my country-
men ?— But I trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He
know what to do; and I went and pray, and I say,
J^ Lord, take not all the teachers away from

The simple but appropriate prayer of this poor
, negro was heard and answered by the Lord of mis-
sions ; and Mr. Wilhelm, being appointed, by the
governor to take charge of Regent's Town, till the
return of Mr. Johnson, greatly conciliated the esteem
of the people, by the kindness of his manners, and
his unremitting attention to the important duties of his
office Still the negroes sighed over the absence of
that beloved friend who had been made the first in-
strument of leading them to an acquaintance with the
way of salvation ; and when, at length, his return
w^s announced, many of them exhibited transports
01 joy almost bordering on delirium.

It may be readily conceived, that in a settlement
where civilization and Christianity had alrea.Iy made
such rapid advances, the arrival of new ne.-rocs re-
captured in slave-vossels, would call forth the wannest
sympathies of tiieir sable brethren ; and the fcllowing
extract of a letter, written on one of these occasions^
by the Rev. Mr. Johnson, will be found highly descrio-
tive, and replete with interest.

" A few days since," says this valuable missionary,
I received a note from the chief superintendent of
captured negroes, informing me tliat a slave-vessel
had been brought in, with two hundred and forty-einht
of our unfortunate fellow creatures ; and rcquestiim
me to go down to Free Town, the next morni,,., with
some confidential people, to receive them ; as he and
the arting governor had agreed to send them all to
Regent's Town. Our people soon heard the news, and
great joy was expressed every where, from the hope
that some of their relatives might be among the liber-
ated captives.

" 1 cannot describe the scene which occurred when
we arnve.l at Regent's Town; for, though 1 had seen
many negroes landed, I had never beheld such an
aHecling sight as I now witnessed. As soon as we
came m view, all the people ran out of the houses
toward the road, to meet us, with loud acclamations.
When they beheld the new people, weak and faint,
they caught hold of them, carried them on their backs
and conveyed them to my house. As they lay there
exhausted on the ground, many of our people recog-
iiized their friends uikI reiuiives ; and there was a
general cry of, 'O massa !— My brother !— My coun-
tryman ! He live in the same town !*

WEST AFRICA.

573

The poor creatures, who were very faint, havine
just come out of the hold of a slave-vessel, did not
know what had befallen them; nor whether they
should laugh or cry, when they beheld the count/-
nances of those whom they had supposed to have
been long dead, but whom they now saw clothed
clean, and, perhaps, with healthy children in their
arms. The scene, in fact, was beyond description.
None of us could refrain from shedding tears, and lifting
up our heartsin praise to that wonder-working God
wliose ways are in the great deep."

Besides the settlement where these highly interest-
ing occurrences transpired, the Church Missionary
boc.ety extended its patronage to several other vil-
lages of liberated negroes in Sierra Leone, compris-
ing Bathurst, Charlotte, Gloucester, Kent, Leopold
Waterloo, Wilberforce and York. And in several
01 these the most pleasing instances of success have
occurred both in respect to the civilization of the
.berated s aves, and the illumination of their minds
l>y tlie glorious gospel of the blessed God." The
editor deeply regrets that his prescribed limits preclude
lie possibility of giving some account of these stations
but he cannot refrain from laying before his readers'
the following testimony of major Gray to the progress
of these establishments, as witnessed by himself in
company with his excellency sir Charles Macarthy
attended by all the civil and military staff of the
colony.

In a letter dated November, 1821, this gentleman
observes, "I felt too much concern in the welfare of
these truly interesting objects not to make one of the
r«rty ; and therefore had an opportunity of witnessing
the wonderful improvements that had taken place in
all the towns, since I had before seen them; some
■ndeed, having all the appearance and regularity of'
the neatest village in England, with a church, a school
and a cominodious residence for the missionaries and
teachers; though in 1817 they had not been more
tnan thought of!

" Descending some of the hills, I was surprised on
perceiving neat and well laid-out villages, in places
where, but four years previous, nothing was to be
seen except almost impenetrable thickets: and on
arriving in these villages, the interesting nature of such
objects was much enhanced by the clean, orderly and
respectable appearance of the cottages and their in-
habitants, particularly the young people and children;
who, at all the towns, assembled to welcome, with
repeated cheers, ' their governor and daddy,' as they

invariablv «tv!ed hi* P" — !' » •

1 / -y"=" ;"- «"-'!. c.it; J- . i^arge pieces of

ground had been cleared and cultivated in the vicinity
ot all the towns; and every production of (he climate
had been raised within a short time, in sufficient

674

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

abundance to supply the inhabitants, and to furnish
the market at Free Town.

" iHis excellency visited the schools in the different
hous(3S, and witnessed the improvement which all the
students had made; but particularly those of the
high school at Regent's Town, whose progress in arith-
metic, geography and history evinced a capacity far
superior to that which is generally attributed to the
negro."

In i;he spring of 1822, Mrs. Johnson quitted Africa,
in a slate of health which rendered her early dissolu-
tion extremely probable. Contrary to expectation,
however, she survived ; and on the 26th of April,
1823, her excellent husband embarked for England,
with tlie pleasing hope of again meeting with i^ie part-
ner of his affection. This anticipation, however, was
nadly disappointed ; as, notwithstanding his apparent
health at the time of going on board, he was seized
with a violent fever, three days after the vessel sailed ;
and, on the 3d of May, his disembodied spirit entered
into the realms of eternal rest. This was a heavy
itroke, indeed, to the poor negroes at Regent's Town,
ind to the directors at home. And, in addition to the
removal of so distinguished and successful a laborer,
many others connected with the society were swept
away by an almost unexampled mortality, which oc-
curred in Sierra Leone and its vicinity about the same
period. Still, however, the faith and courage of the
•committee were graciously supported by him who
" worketh all things after the pleasure of his own will ;"
»s will appear from their excellent remarks, addressed
lo the annual meeting in London, on the 4th of May,
1824 :—

" In reference to the West Africa mission, the com-
mittee scarcely know whether to speak in the language
of grief cr of joy, of sorrow or of triumph, — so mingled
have been, of late, the divine dispensations. In no
one year has it ever suffered a greater loss in its friends
and laborers, — while in no one year has there been a
more evident blessing on their labors. The alleviations
of its heavy trials have been remarkable. Tiiey iiave
given occasion for a special manifestation of divine
grace. Those who have died, have died in the Lord ;
thanking God for calling them to this work, and glory-
fying his holy name in the midst of tiieir sufferings.
Their survivin™; r(;latives, around them, have expressed
entire resignation to the divine will, in the very midst
of their trials, and that just before they themselves
were called to their everlasting reward. The surviving
missionaries seem to have had their faith elevated above
the trying circumstances in which they have been
placed, and to have become more entirely united, and
devoted to their work."

No station of the society has been exposed to more

formidable difficulties, nor exercised the faith and
patience of the committee in a greater degree, than
that at Sierra Leone. The pestilential climate, the
consequent difficulty of procuring laborers willing to
encounter it, the shackles which a connection with
government imposed on the missionaries, and several
other minor causes, have contributed much to retard
the progress of the gospel. At length, indeed, the
gloom which has long darkened our hopes for the benefit
of the negroes, seems gradually to disperse, and a bright
day to be dawning on Western Africa. This colony hav-
ing been made the depot for those Africans who were
rescued from slavery by his majesty's cruisers, great
numbers of natives of different tribes and dialects have
been brought hither, distributed among the villages,
and humanely maintained and clothed by government,
till able to support themselves. By the blessing of
God on the exertions of the missionaries and school-
masters, a decided and beneficial change in the habits
and manners of these people has been gradually pro-
duced ; and, as far as man can judge, very many have
experienced the power of true religion on their hearts.
It was the object of the society to provide an efficient
minister for each of the fourteen parishes, into which
the colony was divided ; but sickness and death have
rendered tiiis impracticable, and, owing to the inade-
quacy of tiieir numbers, the missionaries were com-
pelled, in 1827, to relinquish one of the three districts,
into which the colony had been recently divided, and
to leave a population of eight thousand persons with-
out a single spiritual instructer.

While the operations of the society were thus con-
fined to a spiiere narrower than the limitsof the colony,
the regions beyond those limits were left almost un-
touched ; and though some considerable tracts of
country had been placed under the authority of Great
Britain by the chiefs and people (such as the land of
the Sherbro Bulloms and the Dacca Loco territories),
and an advantageous opening thereby made for the
introduction of the gospel among the neighboring
tribes, the society has not been able to avail itself of
these opportunities of extending its labors.

The difficulties wit . which the missionaries have had
to contend have been further increased, by their having
been charged for some years with the duties of the chap-
laincy at Free Town. By an arrangement made with tho
government in 1824, the society pledged itself to pre-
])are and maintain all the clergy requisite for the colony,
whether at Free Town or in the country parishes. This
arrangement, which, under happier circumstances, might
have been the means of supplying the colony with duly-
qualified and spiritual teachers, eventually proved bur-
densome to the missionaries ; whichchargc, onerous and
long-sustained as it was, has only been removed by the

WEST AFRICA

S7S

!r„'"hu'H".— ""5''' '®^^- '^*'" S«"''«'"''° entered
on his duties m the early part of 1830.

The Christian instruction of the children at the

eolony has not been neglected. Under the care of

the missionaries, these children, v/hen landed from the

tt's^hh^th H ' ^T ''•"^''' '" ^'^y' *° '^^^P holy
the sabbath day and to reverence the name and word

01 Uod. On these instructions a blessing, in numer-
ous .nstances has descended from on high Many of
thescholars have been truly converted to God, and
«ill more have become reputable and well behaved
members of society. The system originally adopted
with respect to the schools, was pursued until January,
1827 when sir Neil Campbell, the governor, intro-
duced a new plan, which virtually incapacitated the

iTsZer" tT '"'""'^ superintending these estab-
lishments. They were, m consequence, given up-
and others, solely under the direction of the"^ society '«
agents, were commenced in 1828, at two of the sta-
ions in the mountain district, in addition to an infant
school previously established. The missionaries con-
Unued the superintendence of the colonial schools in
Free Town, after relinquishing the care of those in the

iniS T I- .^ ''^°°^ ^''^ h««" established also
n 1822, beyond the limits of the colony, in the Plan-
tain islands, but has since been given up.

Besides educating the children of the colony, the
society, in 1815, established a Christian Institution,
near Free Town, with the object of training up native
missionaries. After dragging on a lingering ex!

Jl T- Ll^r'" ^''"■'' '^'' establishment was dis-
solved in 1826. Early in the following year, it was
recommenced by the Rev. C. L. F. Haensel, ;nd, L
1H^8, removed to Fourah Bay. near Free Town It
contained, according to the last reports, eleven youths.
With a similar object in view, the committee caused
three African youths to be carried to England for the
purpose of education: they have since returned to
their native country.

The following summary of the West African mis-
sion will, no doubt, afford interest to all who regard the
inHuence of good institutions upon the present and
future happiness of mankind. This summary is found-
ed on reports from the various
February, 1832.

Colonial Bots' School.

On the books, ^^

Average attendance, '........'.,'/ q^

Christian Institution.

Student

Probationers,

KlSSET.

Communicants, , .

Candidates, .',".',' *®^

Day scholars, ®^

Sabbath school, .... *f?

' 93

Wellington.
Sabbath morning, early,

" noon,

" evening,

Daily eariy prayer meeting. .......,'

Thursday evening prayer meeting, '. '. '. '. ' ]

Communicants,

Candidates,

Baptisms, ' ' '

Day scholars. * ^^

Evening scholars, , ff

Sabbath scholars,

150

500

200

202

155
72

Hastings.

Communicants,

Candidates, [ "^

Baptisms, ' ' ^

Day scholars. ^

stations, down to

Gibraltar Chapel.
Average attendance on public worship—

Jf°™"8 100

^^~^' 60-70

- "mtiiunieauis, „-

Baptisms in the year, g

Sabbath school, . . . 133

Sabbath scholars,

Wednesday evening scholars, . '.

Gloucester.

Morning service,

Evening service, [ [ [

Communicants, . .

Candidates, '.'.'.'.'.'.'. ^^

Baptisms, _ ^^

Regent.

Communicants,. ...

Candidates, [ ] '' *"*

Baptisms, ^^

Day scholars .'....'.'."." 05?

Average attendance,. . . . . 010

Evening scholars, . .

Averaee attendance
Sabbath scholars, . . .

143

attendance, qq

576

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Bathcmst.

Morning service, 600

Evening service, ISO

Communicants, 91

Caiutidates, S8

Baptisms, 11

Day scholars 38'^

Average attendance, 2(50

Evening scholars — average attendance, 30

Sabbath scholars, 18-1

Avonigo attendance, 150

Charlotte.

Average attendance on worship 100

Communicants, ti

Candidates, . , li)

Baptisms, S

General Statement.

Communicants, 683

Candidates, 294

Baptisms i 77

Students and probationers, 19

Day scholars 1,388

Sabbath scholars, 684

The proficiency of the scholars is very satisfactory.
There lias been a large increase during the year.
When the total amount of the population is considered,
and the salutary adherence to ecclesiastical discipline is
borne in mind, the state of religion will, it is appro-
bended, be found to equal that of some of the best
regulated parishes in Kngland, On this subject ono
of the missionarios writes: "Taking all things into
consideration, the ignorant state of the people when
they arrive, the habits to which they were for many
years addicted, the frequent removalsof those to whom
they were aceustomed as their spiritual pastors, either
by death or by other providential cirtunnstancos — much,
vrry much has already been done in the colony, by the
instrumentality of those frail men that have been em-
ployed in the work,"

CHAPTER III.

AUSTRALASIA MISSIOJV, INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND AND

NEW SOUTH WALES.

New Zealand comprises two large, and several
Moalior islands, extending from thirty-four degrees to
forty-seven degrees south latitude, and from one hundred
and sixty-six to about one hundred and eighty degrees
east longitude. It was discovered by Tasnian,a Dutch
navigator, in 1(>4'2. He anchored in a bay, to which,
in consequence of an attack from the natives, he gave
the nanie of Murderers' bay, and left the coast with-
out landing. In 1770, New Zealand was visited and
explored by capiain Cook. The climate is salubrious,
the thermometer ranging between forty and eighty
degrees, avoiding the heat of the tropical climates, yet
warmer tiian most of the temperate latitudes. The
popuhition of New Zealand is estimated at half a mil-
lion. The inhabitants are a hardy, industrious race, not
only capable of great physical exertion, but of high
moral culture, and are by no means deficient in intellect.
Their tattooing and carving display great taste.

They are, nevertheless, addicted to the greatest vices
that stain the human character — treachery, cannibal-
ism, infanticide and murder. Less superstitious than
many of the natives of the Pacific, but perhaps as
much addicted to war as any of them, if not more so —
war appeal's to bo their delight, and the events of
their lives are little else than a series of acts of op-
pression, robbery and bloodshed.

The cannibalism of the inhabitants of Now Zea-
land, and other islniuls of tiie Pacific, has been doubt-
ed by some, and denied by others ; and every mind
exeirising the common sympathies of humanity must
iitttuniliy resist the conviction of his species ever sink-
ing to a degradation so abject, and a barbarity so hor-
rible, until it bo substantiated by the clearest evidence
of indisputable facts. Hut, however ardently it may
have been hoped that the accounts ol their antiiiopopiv
agism were only the result of inferences drawn from

NEW ZEAUND.

Jh«ir familinriiy and apparent Mliafiiotiun in dooUs of
horrid njurdor, tlio amounts of ilio nmnionarioi who
l»v« rewdod HHiung then., no longor a(hnit any doubl
«o b«on.ori«in«d of iha rovohing an«l i.umilia.ing fact.
IM INuw /uttlaad iliwro in no Icing over the whole
or evon ovur ono of tlio largur inlundg, The nooi>ld
are govornod hy a nu.nlmr of ohiort«ins,a„uh mmv
atnong hu. own iriboor .-Iftn, «nd ind..p«nd«n« of «v«ry
oliior. Ihis l«adii to froquont and dtmiructivo warn
and must greatly cirounworibo iho iafloonc.o of niia^
■lonantM.*

I.I tho niontii of August. IHOJ), Willi«„, 1|„|| a,,,!
John King (Iho funner of whom had uhtuined ii mm-
lica knowledgo of .hip-building and nnvig«tion,-i,n.d
tho latlor. «l .1,0 arts of (lux-dresNing, twiuo-spinning,
and rcpo-iuHking) sailo.l for Port JuokM.n. with tlio
design ol forming a Holtloiuunl in Now Ztndund, and
of introduoing into that benighted inlund the hleNmngn
of «ivdi«iUion Hn.l ChriHiiani.y. 'J'j.u a^v, Sanmul
Marsden.chapiiun of tho colony of New S(mth WuIoh
who had visited Kngiand for thu purp.wo of procuring
UMistnnts m his arduous work, was now returning in
Iho humo vessel ; and shortly aftor his en.barkati.m.
he found among the sailors a New Zealunder, named
Uuatorra, from whom he obtained eonsidorohle infor-
mation concerning the scene of the intended settlement
the fust idea of which had originated with this excel-
lent clergyman.

Duutorra, tho son of one of tho chiefs of New
Zealand, had been induced to nmke a voyage to
England as a conunon sailor, for the purpose of grali-
fying a wish which he had long entertained, viz. that
of seemg king (Jeorgo ; but, after enduring numy
hardships, ho found, on his arrival in the river Thames
that his fondly cherished hopes would be disappointed.'
" When ho made incpiiries," says Mr. Mars.len, •' by
what means hecouhl get a sight of the king, he was some-
tunes told that ho could not Hnd tho house, and at other
times that nobody was permitted to see his majesty.
This distressed him oxcee.lingly, and he saw but littlo
of I^ondon, being seldom permitted to go on shore.
When tho vessel had discharged her cargo, the captain
told him that ho should be put on board the Ann, which
had been taken up hy government, to curry convicts
to New South Wales; but bo refused to give him
either wogos or clothing, telling him that the owners
at Port Jackson woidd ronunierate bis services with
two muskets ; which, however, ho never received.

"When I cm'jurked," Mr. Marsdon continues,
" Duatorra was confined below by sickness, so that I
did not SCO him for some time. On my first observing
'"'"i *'° was on tho forecastle, wrapped up in an old

great eoatj he .oe,«od very weak, had a violwt

ough and d..oharge,l considerable .,n„„,i,ie. u(hZ

h^u. h.. mouth. Jly ,|,e kindness of ,!,« surgeon .^

..« ter. however, and by proper nourishment, he begin

^ eeover both hi. strength and spirits, ad ha g"

1>mo well |,„f„r„ „„ „,ived «, Jtio ;,, j„,„i,,„ ., K"'

On the arrival „f Mr. Marsdon and his eompanioni

« Port Jackson, they found that the .,o«d.a„t.'«f Z

place had resolved on forming a sat.lemen, «, Now

l^ea and.for the purpose of procuring hemp and other

,aJ^ *''"" •'"'y""'*" RM««TOhei, vol, I. p. n-ao. London e<l,
1090.

Vol. I.— Nos. 49 &t 60. 75

.,„ , , . . . - •■ procuring nenip

wa n , , „ (,„. .,«n.y,„s „.is resolution into elfect ; but

. t e set, «,.s were about to sail, under the a„„.

«"«( (he oolmnal government, the alarming in|g|.

«d re. .ntly s«.le.l from Pun J«.,kson. had Ime./bnmed
y he Now Zealanders. and the whole crew murdered,
with tho exception of eight persons. This circZ
.tunce not only deterred the merchant, f'.l "rol
^•"ting their plan, but induced Mr. Marsden. who had
heen mtrusie.l with the superinten.lenee of the now

I"""*," '» *^^''«"' "'« "'ilish settlers, for the ..resent

'••the colony. || Hubsequently „,,p„„«,,j;,^„ '
hat the trHK„.u| catastn.pho which had occurred was
the result ol wanton cruelty on the part of , he captain
ol the Hoy.l ; «nd, notwithstanding the awful revenge
taken by the New Z..al.nders. they did not ,.,me„r
'""hiied 10 curry their resentment any further ; but
on the contrury, they received with kindness, and
Hupphud will, piompii,n,hMlu, „rew, of other vessels,
winch, soon afierward, touched at their inland

I" the month of March, JrtI4. Messrs. lf„|| „„.|

Kenjlull the lalter of whom had bm-ii sent out from

Migland to assist in the projecie.l missi.m.s.iiled from

Ion Jackson, with the design of invesiiguiing the

Htate o( New Zeahm.l. and of n.uking arrangelen,,

for their settlement ..mong tho natives. The rocen.

tion winch they met with was very encouraging ; and

Duaterra. who ha.l some time since returned ,0 Jis

native country, app.-ared puriieularly re|oicod to see

them i as they conveye.l a messogo to jiim from hi.

excellent ir.end, Mr. Marsden, accompanied with

«toel mill, n nwve, and some other useful presents

During his residence in New South Wales, ihis
young man had «pp|io,| |,i„„„|f sedulously t„ the
ac.pimuion of the art of husbandry, and being well
aware of its a.lvnniages in a national ,,oint of view,
he was extremely anxious that his country slionid
reap the naliiial advantages which he know it po.-
sossetl, so far as related to tho cultivation of the soil
On ^hw sailing for New Zealand, therefore, he wm
..!!!! .y ,:!rfH=^hrt! With soino scod-wiMiMi and agricultural
""Plemenis ; ond on his arrival, he immodiatoly di«.
played his wheat to his friends, and tho neighboring

&78

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

chieis ; inromiing; them of iu value, and telling ihont
that it was of titis artiolo the Europeans inati« the
bi.scuit which they had seen and eatun on IxMitl the
ships which touched at their island. <* A |K>rtion of
the wheal," says Mr. Marsden, " he gave to six ohiofs,
and also to some of his own common men, and directed
then) all how to sow it. The rest ho reserved for him-
self and his uncle, Shungheo, a very gri'at chief, whoso
domain extends from the oast to the west side of New
Zealand. The persons to whom Dtiaterrn had given
the seed, put it into the ground, and it grew\>ell; but,
before it was ripe, «inny of thorn iHTinno inipntiont
for the produce ; and as they ex|K>cted to lind the grain
at the bottom of the stems, as with their |H>lntoos.
they examined the roots ; and on fmding there was no
wheat under the ground, tlit^y pulled it nil up, and burn-
ed it ; ridiculing DuHtorm nlKuit his wheat, and tolling
him that, though he had Ih'ou a great traveller, he
coulil not easily im|>ose upon their crodulity, The
crops of Duatcrra and Shunghee canu', in due time,
to perfection, and wore roiiped and tliroshod ; but,
though the natives were much astonished to find that
the grain was produced at the top, and not at the
Itottom of the stem, yet they could not be persuaded
that broad could be made of it. On receiving the
steel njill, however, he soon set to work, and ground
some wheat l>eforo his countrymen, who danced and
shouted for joy when they saw the moal. He also
made a cake, and, having baked it in a frying-pan,
gave it to the people to eat ; which fully satisfied
them of the truth of what he had told them before, —
that wheat would make bread." Messrs. Hall and
Kendall, aAer remaining about six weeks i>i New
Zealand, and obtaining considerable information con-
cerning the state of the island, returned to Port Jack-
son, accompanied by Duaterra, Shunghee, and several
other chiefs ; who experienced the most friendly re-
ception from Mr. Marsden, at Paramatta ; and, during
their residence in that town, they had an opportunity
of witnessing so many things which, to them, were
both novel and wonderful, that on one occasion they
told their kind host, "On our return, we shall sit up
whole nights, telling our people wiiat we have seen ;
but they will stop their ears with their fingers, and
exclaim, ' We have heard enough of your incredible
tccounu, and we will hear no more ; for they cannot
be true.' "

In November, 1814, the Rev. S. Marsden, whose
heart appears to have been deeply engaged in the
success of this mission, sailed from Port Jackson, with
Messrs. Hall, Kendall and King,— their wives and
children,— -the New Zealand chiefs, and some other

npr«nn€.— _(< in nrAtkf ** Ma liA A»»-.«— ^ !• it <_ -!-l ^l._

J- I.. . _ .^j.,^„„, ,{^ jy my JJJJJ

settlers in their fint eslablisbment, and to give ihem

as tnuch influence as possible among the nntivoi."
On their approaching the north capo, a friendly inter-
course was opened with the natives, who appeared
iiKslinod to show them evpry attention in their |H»wor;
and, on their arrival at what are called the Cavalle
isles, a utost atUtcting interview took place between one
of the chiefs and his relatives, which i* thus doscril»ed
by Mr. Marsden ;—

" While we wore talking with Koro-korc» and some
of the natives, his amit was seen coming towards us,
with some wonH>n and children. She had a gi-een
bough twisted nnmd her head, and another in h«r
hand, ami a young child on her back. When sh«
canto within a hundred yards, she began to make A
very mournfid lamenialion, and htmg down her head,
as if oppressed with the heaviest grief. She advanced
to Kort>-koro with a slow pace. Ho appeared much
agitated, and stood in deep silence, like a slnluo,
leaning on the top of his muskot. As his atmt
advanced, she prayed very loud, and wept exceedingly.
Tioi, Koro-koro's brother, soenuMi much airocled ;
and as if he were ashamed of his amit's coiuhict, he told
us ho would not cry—' I will act like an Englishman,'
said ho ; • ] will not cry I' Koro-koro romainetl ntotion-
less. till his aimt came up to him, when they laid
their heads together, the wonmn loaning on a stair,
and ho on his gun ; and, in this siliuition, they wept
aloud for a long time, and repeated short sentences
alternately, which we understood were prayers ; and
continued weeping, the tears rolling down their sable
couiilenancos in torrents. It was impossible to soo
them without being deeply alToctod.

" At this time, also, the daughter of Koro-koro's
aimt sat at her mother's foot, weeping, and nil the
women join<»d in their lamentations. Wo thought this
an extrnordiunry custom among them of manifesting
their joy ; but we aAerward found that it was general
in New Zealand.

" Many of these poor women cut themselves, in
their faces, arms and breasts, with sharp shells or
Mints, till the blood streamed down. When their tears
and lamentations had subsided, I presented the women
with a few gifts.

"Tool had sat all this while, laboring to suppress
his feelings, as he had declared he would not cry.
In a .short time we were joined by several fine young
men. Among them was a youth, the son of a chief of
the island. When Tool saw him, he could contain his
feelings no longer, but instantly ran to him, and they
locked each other in their arms, and wept aloud."

Duaterra and Shunghee, during their slay at Port
Jackson, had often spoken of a sanguinary war which
had been carried on between the people of W^hango-
rooa and the Bay of Islands, from the timeofths

. b.trumum of ,!,„ n„yd , „,„, ,„j f

goiHHitt. ()„ ,|,o,r u„,v«| at i|,i, ,,|,„,„, Uomvot, th.ir
Jm.. ,...v.M .„ |,„v« .,...„ „.,fo„„Iu„, ,•„.„, m7m7
Im. do ar..„„„.| ,„ i„.,„,,„„ ,„, ,, /J

Kom.k«ro «„d four K..ro,um„ Kmul.,,,,,,,, , J„.| «(W

inons but woro nnidy to muko ptmo.,. ^

•'A,s ilK, avPuiuR advn..o«d." m,y« Mr. M.rH.lm,,
' lu. po,,,,|„ hog,,,, ,0 rotiro to in.,, ii, ,li(r,,,,„t BruonN
Ahoot olovon o'clock, Mr. McI,„|„m „„d I ynumLi
ou,«„lvc,, up .„ „„r grout „oa,., „„d prop»,od f.,, Jo.,
His... 1 1,0 d„of ,|„.„o,o.l ,„o ,o lio l,y l,i« Mdo. Hi.
w.fo .„„| ol„l,l lay „„ ,1,0 right h«„,l,„„d Mr. INioholn.
cUm hy. rho night w,w .-hu.r, h,.,I ,ho ..«,•. Hhu,.„
bright, and tho xou in „„r fr.„,t u,,. .,„.„„h : „,,,un,l
UMvoio nn.norm.H «p«nr.,Mnok „p,ighi i„ ,ho groun.l ;
and K,..up. of n«,ivo.. lying i„ „|| di,o,-tionH, hko „
flork of Hhoop, ,.pon tho g,«..,, a. ,ho,o worn noithcr
ton,, nor lu„. ,o oovor tho,,,. | vi.nvod onr pro.ont
»ituat.on with .onmuion. and fooli,,^, ,|„„ , ',,„„„„,
oxpioM. Surrounded hy cannih.,!.. who h«<l ,„„..
»ocrod and dovourod our co„„„y,„„„, i won.lorod
."uch at tho n,y.t«rio. of Provi.hmrn, ,.„d h.,w tho.o
Hung, oouhl bo ! Novor (hd I hohohl ,ho hlog.o.l
ttdvantagosofciviliisution in u «,oro gratoful light thiin
now. I d,d not .loop inuoli .luring tho nigh,. My miinl
wtts too soriou.Iy oc.u.piod hy ,|,o pro.,,,,, .cono, and
tho mm and .trango idua. which it naturally oxcitod

"About throo o'clo.=k in tho .norning, I r„8„, „„;,
walko.l about tho camp, surveying ,ho difforont
j;r«u,Ks of natiyos. S..,no of tho,,, put out thoir lion.l.
from undor tho toi,s of thoir knkkulmw., which uro
iiko a boo-hivo, and .poko to ,n«. Who,, tho n.orn-
ing light returned, we bohold men, women and chil-
drcn, nsloop in all directions, like tho beasts of tho
field. I had ordered tho boat to come on sh.ire f..r us
nt dnyhght ; and, soon oftor, Duoterro arrived in tho
camj)."

AAer inviting tho chiefs to breakfast on boord the
Active,— presenting them with a variety of presents,—

iVEW ZEALAND.

879

I -nd coinp «lM,g ih, work of r«ro.iolll..|„„, Mr. Mirt.

I « «". mnl Ins o<..np«nlon« prooomlo.l to « oovo onili?.
«b» .»w« of Kanghodmo, wl,«r« UuZrVX
"«uloU, n„U tl,« noKt ,ii„rni,,g. Ii.ving ,mlo,T . I
« shoop and o...lowhie.i';ii„y V, ';;

t«so brs.and began to prop«ro for ^r^mlng tSl

•' DuHtorra p«..o,| ,h„ remaining p„r, „r the d,.
(S«...rd«y m preparing for ,ho .ahha.h. vlZlZ

«••"" •"'II m. ttoro of i„,„i ^i„, , f,„,„„ .' ; ^' " ,";

i;"ll..t «u.l ro«ding.d«.k in the eontro a.ld „ ^ 1

l.« Nvboe either with black .,„,iv„ c„,||, msoml

<W wind, bo Ii..dbr.,nght with him fr ,C jT

"I ixo. ,hoin up «. .„„„, „„ „„„,, ^. , •

< r the iM.ropean. t:. sit upon. imondiiiK ... .Tw!
.I.vuie servioo porf..rmod the;, tl.o n , ' 'vZl
luenurut .111. Ill, ,i,. ,.f i.i„ "» 'my. iiifl.n

'""'""■"".•r '" •'" "f I'iH .nvn a..c.,rd , „„,|, 1 , ^

m''!'"K. ."I.Mmod mo every thing was ready fo v „
"• '• .m.. r was n.u.d, ploa.o.l with ,l,i. .ing,.|„r fc
of ... attention. Tho nM..li,.g.,|o.k w«. ah... 5

!;;;; "7 ;'"'/'■' '.-'•'"-' i...ii.it «hou. .ix t

n.e black cloih cvorod •!.« I..p of ,ho pnlpi,, „
I.....K ever ,l,e side.. The ho,,,.,,,' ,f tho pn Ipi . ^
..H tin, ro«,l i,.g.,|o.k,w«s part ,.f a c«n,.o.' 1; "3
was bo....,mng, ,,,,.1 ha.l „ .„|omn appearance. Z
b..< .d.ooroc,od«f|„g..,„,ron the highest bill in tl.o
v.llago, wluch hud « very ..o.n.namling view

" Abo,.t ton o'cl.„.k, wo prop„i„,| ,„ ^„ „„ ,,,„, ,^
l".bh.li. (..r ,ho hr.t thno, the ^la.l ,i,li„g. „f ,),„ '
l'«l. I wn. un.lcr no uppr.,h.ui.i„n for the snfoiy of
tl..:- vessel ; an.l ihe.nfore o,,l.,r«d all on board t,. .«
on Nb,.re, ,0 attend divi.u, ...rvi.x, oxcop, tho ma.ior
.....I one man. When wo h.n.led. we f„n„d K..ro.k.,ro
I>.mterr« ami Shunghoe .IicsmmI in regimentals, which
governor Mac.pia.rio h„d given them, will, their mon
< rawn up.roa.ly to march into the e„clo.nro,t« attend
.l.v.ne service. They ha.l their .wor.ls by ,hoir .i,|e»,
un. n .witch III tlioir haml. We entered the enelosuro
«.,.l w..ro plaee<l on the sent on each si.le of the n.ilnit'
Koro-kon, marched his men, and placed them on my
right h.,n<l, in tho roar of the Knropeans ; and I)u/.
terra ploce.l bis men on tho loft. The inhabitants of
tbe town, with the women and children, and a rmmbcr
ol other chiefs, formed a circle round tho whole A
very »oh)in„ silence prevoiled— the sight was truly
"np-rc-sive. i „„c up, and began ibe service with
».ng.ng the ohl hun.lredth psajni ; and fell my soul
.nelt w.thin me, when 1 viewed my congregation, and

S80

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

considered the state that they were in. After reading
the service (during which the natives stood up and
sat down at the signal given by the motion of Koro-
koro's switch, which was regulated by the movements
of the Europeans), it being Christmas day, I preached
from the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, and
tenth versL — Behold ! I bring you glad tiding) of
great joy, &c. The natives told Duaterra, that they
could not understand what I meant. He replied, that
they were not to mind that now, for they would
understand by und by ; and that he would explain
my meaning, as well as he could. When I had done
preaching, he informed them what I had been talking
about. Duaterra was very much pleased that he had
been able lo make all the necessary preparations for
the performance of divine worship in so short a time,
and we felt much obliged to him for his attention. He
was extremely anxious to convince us that he would
do every thing for us that lay in his power, and that
the good of his country was his principal consider-
ation.

" When the service was over, we returned on board,
much gratified with the reception we had met with ;
and we could not but feel the strongest persuasion,
that the time was at hand, when the glory of the
Lord would be revealed to these poor benighted
heathens ; and that those who were to remain on the
island, had strong reason to believe that their labors
would be crowned with success."

A short time before Mr. Marsden's return from
New Zealand, Duaterra, who had been making arrange-
ments with his people for an extensive cultivation of
wheat, and had formed a plan for the erection of a
new town, with regular streets, after the European
mode, was seijied with a bowel complaint, and a slop-
page in his breast ; and as these complaints, owing to
the superstition of the natives, were trentort in the
most improper manner, they soon terminated fatally.
He died on the .'W of March, 1815 ; and the follow-
ing day, while his' relations and friends were bewailing
his loss, and cutting themselves, according to their
custom, till their oodics were besmeared with blood,
his principal wife put a period to her own existence,
by hanging herself, at a short distance from the body
of her dt.'-eascd husb<>nd. " None of the natives,"
says Mr. Kendall, " appeared shocked or surprised at
this incident. Her mother, it is true, wept, uliilo she
was com|)oging the limbs of her daughter ; but she,
nevertheless, applaude<l her resolution, and the xacri-
flce which she had made for the man whom she ten-
derly loved ! Her father looked at her C(?rpsei without
any apparent concern. And two of lirr brothers
smiieii on the occasion, obsoivmg, ' that it was a good
thing in Now Zealand.' It appeared strange to me,

however, that the family could suppress the feelings
of nature on such an occasion ; as I had observed
them very affectionate toward each other, and remark-
able for their attention to the woman who was no
more."

After the settlers had fixed their residence at
Ranghcehoo, on a tract of land purchased by the
Rev. S. Marsden, for the consideration of twelve axes,
and formally conveyed to the Church Missionary
Society, by a regular grant, on the part of a chief
named Ahoodee O Gunna, and ratified by his sign
manual, consisting of an accurate copy of the lines
tattooed on his face, they endeavored to instruct the
natives in various useful arts ; but, though the New
Zealanders are naturally both active and ingenious, their
improvement was materially retarded by their predi-
lection for a roving life. Parties of them, indeed, as
stated in the eighteenth annual report, were willing to
make rough fences, to cultivate the ground, or to per-
form any work which required but little time to learn ;
but they had not patience to wait for future profit,
immediate gratification being their permanent object.
Hence it appears, that their predilection for iron
sometimes induced them to cut a wheel-barrow to
pieces, to cut up a boat, or even to pull down a house,
for the sake of getting at the nails. Mr. Kendall also
observes, in respect to his scholars, when he first
gathered them out of the woods, " While one child is
repeating his lesson, another will be playing with my
feel, — another taking away my hat, — and another
carrying off my books ; — yet all this in the most
friendly manner, so that I cannot be angry with them.
During the first four months, indeed, my little wild
pupils were all noise and play ; and we could scarcely
hear them read, for their incessant shouting, singing
and dancing." After some time, however, the dis-
Irihution of provisions and rewards among the children
was productive of very beneficial effects ; and many
of the odult natives began to acquire a tolerable
knowledge .if some of the more necessary arts of
life ; as will appear from the following extract of a
letter written by one of the settlers, toward the close
of 1818: —

" The natives under my instruclions work very well,
and olmost beyond my expectation. I have taught six
pair of sawyers to saw timber, and have requently
four or five pair at work at once. We are making
strong puling-fenrcs round our Imusos, yards and
gardens, all of sound timber ; and f have sc it about
four thousand feel of three-inch plank, twelve inches
deep, to Port Jackson, to be disposed of by Mr.
Marsden. Wo have built three smiths' shops in the
settlement, and have two natives among us, who are
taught the blacksmith's business to a certun degree.

NEW ZEALAND.

I victual my working natives three times a day, with
pork and potatoes, and Mrs. Hall cooks for them. I
have, also, a quantity of land in cultivation, more than
sufficient to support my family the year round with
wheat; and I mtend, therefore, to distribute grain
among the natives, with suitable encouragement, and
mstructions how to cultivate it."

On the 27th of January, 1819, the Rev. John
Buler with Mrs Butler and their two children, Mr.
Hall, and Mr. and Mrs. Kemp, sailed from England-
and soon after their arrival at Port Jackson, they were
accompanied to New Zealand by Mr. Marsden • who
durmg his second visit to the island, purchased from'
bhunghee a tract of land consisting of thirteen thousand
acres, and about twelve miles distant from Ranghee-
hoo, for the purpose of a new settlement. The selec-
tion of this spot, however, gave considerable umbrage
to Koro-koro, a chief commanding a large extent of
the coast on the south side of the Bay of Islands ; and
some of the other chiefs evinced much disai. ntment
that none of the settlers were inclined to take up their
residence with them. « One of them, named Po-
mare," says Mr. Marsden, "told me he was very
angry that I had not brought a blacksmith for him ;
and that wiwn he heard there was none for him, he
sat down and wept much, and also his wives. I as-
sured him he should have one as soon as jmssible :
but he replied it would be of no use to him to send a
blacksmith when he was dead ; and that he was at
present in the givntest distress. His wooden spades,
he stated, were all broken, and he had no* an axe, to
make any more ;— his canoes were going to pieces,
and he had not a nail to mend them with ;— his
potato-grounds were lying waste, as he had not a
hoe, to break them up ;— and for want of cultivation,
he and his people would have nothing to eat. I en-
deavored to pacify him with promises ; but he paid
little attention to what I said, in respect to sending
him a smith at a future period. I then promised hiiu
a few hoes, &c., which operated like a cordial on his
wounded mind."

On the 2d of March, J 820, Mr. Kendall sailed
from the Bay of Islands, in company with two of the
native chiefs, Shunghee and Whykato ; and, after
a lingering passage by way of cape I n, arrived
•afely in the river Thames, on the 8th of August.
Mr. Kendall having, from his long residence in New
Zealand, collected copious materials for tho compila-
tion of a grammar and vocabulary of the language,
together with some elementary Ijooks for the use of
the schools, was induced to undertake this voyage, in

order to avail hlnunlf nf ttm n>«t...:.».i ...:.. ^r

professor Ijse, of Cambridge. And tho views and
wiihes with wbtdi the two uaiiva clit«ft accompanied

581
him, were thus stated by themselves, and written
down from their mouths, without any prompting •_.

" They wish to see king George-the multitude of
his people-what they are doing-and the goodness
of the land. They wish for, at least, one hundred
people to go back with them ; as they are in want of
a party to dig the ground, in search of iron-an
additional number of blacksmiths and carpenters-
and an additional number of preachers, who will try
to speak in the New Zealand tongue, in order that
they may understand them. They also wish for twenty
soldiers to protect the settlers, and three officers, to
keep the soldiers in order. The settlers are to take
catUe ovor with them. There is plenty of spare land
".New Zealand, which will be readily granted to th«
Whykato.'-^ " "' "' ""'^ ""' ^"""Shee and
During their stay in England, every attention was
paid to the strangers by the directors of the society :
and h.s majesty was graciously pleased to admit them
to an interview, when he received them with the
utmost benignity ,-showed them the armory of thf
royal palace,_and made them some valuable presents
Nngular, however, as it may appear, the visit of
Shunghee to the metropolis of the British empire wa»
productive of much evil. "His warlike passions.'
.says the editor of the Missionary Register, " were
mHamed by the possession of the arms and amnuini-
tion which this visit enabled him to accumulate ; as he
appears to have exchanged for muskets and powder
at Port Jackson, the presents received by him in this
country." Hostilities of the most formidable nature
were commenced against other tribes ; and the mis-
sionaries at Kiddeekiddee (the new station) were called
to witness the most distressing scenes of ferocity and
blood ; as will appear from the following extract of a
letter written by the Rev. S. Leigh, one of the Wcs-
leyan missionaries : —

" Soon after Shunghee arrived, he was informed
that, in his absence, one of his relatives had been
slain by some of his friends at Mercury Bay. This
report was too true ; and Shunghee immediately de-
clared war against the people, although they wore his
relations. The chief who belonged to Mercury Bay
earnestly desired a reconciliation, but in vain. Noth-
ing but war could satisfy. Shunghee. Ho .soon
collected three (housand fighting men, and com-
menced his march. The battle was dreadful, and
many fell on both sides ; but Shunghee proved vic-
torious, ami returned to the Bay of Islands in great
triumph.

" After my arrival in Now Zealand, I learned that
Shunghee and his party slow one thousand men, three
hundred of whom they roasted and ate, before they

min

S89

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

left the field of battle. Shunghee killed the chief
above mentioned ; after which he cut off his head,
poured the blood into his hands, and drank it ! This
account I had from Shunghee and Whykato, who
related it with the greatest satisfaction."

The missionaries atKiddeekiddee.in the mean time,
had been exposed to various insults and injuries, in
consequence of tlie altered temper with which Shun-
ghee had returned from England ; and the subjoined
particulars, extracted from the twenty-second report
of the Church Missionary Society, will, no doubt, be
perused with melancholy interest : —

" Hearing, on his arrival, that the barter in muskets
and powder, on the port of the settlers, had bceu put
an end to ; and attributing his not being received in
England with a full and ready gratification of all his
wishes, to letters not having been written to the society
in his favor ; he kept at a distance for several days
from the settlement. The native sawyers, who had
before worked quietly and diligently, caught his spirit,
and struck work ; insisting on being paid either in the
favorite articles of powder and fire-arms, or in money,
with which they might procure them from the whalers.
As this demand could not be complied with, all led
work except two ; and it became necessary to teach
new hands.

"One of the settlers (alluding to this circumstance)
iibserves, ' For many months previous to Shunghee's
leturn, they did not request any such thing : but since
that time, he having brought out a number of fire-arms
Willi him, the natives, one and all, have treated us
with contempt ;— coming into our houses whenever
they pleased — <iemanding food — and thieving what-
ever they could lay their hands on — also breaking
down our garden-fences, and stripping the ship's Imats
tiiat came up of every thing they could." They
seemed, indeed, ripe for any mischief, and I had my
foars that they would have seized on the whole of our
property ; b«it the Lord, who is a very present help
in trouble, heard our prayers. Ilnd Mr. Marsden
himself been among us, much as he deserves their
esteem, for what he has done for them, I believe he
would nut Imve escaped without insult."

Early in lH>2'i, Sjnmghee and his adherents recom-
inciired the work of destruction ; and the missionaries
were frequently oom|iellod to witness scenes of cruelly
whirl) cannot he n-flected on, without deep emotion.
" Tliis morning," says one of the settlers. " Shunghee
came lo have his wounds dressed ; hnving biK-n l«l-
toord afresh upon his thigh, whirh is much inflamed.
His eldest dnueliler, ihe widow of Teitee, who fell in
the expedition, slioi herself through the fleshy part
of lite anil, «ii(i iuo tmiis. SiiK evidently intendod
to destroy herself; but wo sup|X)se thai, in the agitation

of pulling the trigger with her toe, the muzzle of the
musket was removed from the fatal spot.

" Yesterday they shot a poor slave — a girl of about
ten years old — and ate her. The brother of Tettee
shot at her with a pistol ; but, as he only wounded
her, one of Shunghee's little children knocked her on
the head ! We had heard of the girl being killed ;
and when we went to dress the wounds of Tettee's
wid)w, we inquired if it were so. They told us,
laughingly, that they were hungry, and that they killed
and ate her with some sweet potatoes : and this they
stated with as little concern as they would have shown
had they mentioned the killing of a fowl or a goat."

Mr. Francis Hall, in his journal for the same year,
relates some melancholy instances of ferocity and can-
nibalism, of which the following extracts are mournful
specimens : —

" On the 29th of July, a party arrived from the
war, bringing with them the bodies of nine chiefs,
who were drowned by the upsetting of a canoe in a
heavy sea. The tribes have made great destruction,
and have taken many prisoners, two of whom have
been already killed and eaten. There is around us a
most melHDoholy din. Wives are crying after their
deceased liu.sbands, and the prisoners are bemoaning
their cruel bondage ; — while others are rejoicing at
the safe arrival of their relatives and friends. Shun-
ghee is in high spirits, «nd says that at one place, on
the banks of the Wyecoto, his party succeeded in killing
fifteen hundred individuals !

" In the morning of the 1th of August, the bones
of Shunghee's son-in-law were removed, and many
guns were fired to drive auay the attua. It was our
intention to witness this ceremony ; but wo were in-
formed thai Shunghee had shot two slaves, and 'vas
nlidut to have litem eaten. These ill-fated vi( lims
were sitting close together, without any suspicion of
their approncliing destiny, when Shunghee levelled
his gun, inlending to shoot them both at (uice ; but
the unliapj)y female, being only wounded, allempted
to escape : she was soon cauglii, however, and had
her brains immediately daxlied out !"

Towards the latter end of July, IH!i;j, the Rrv. S.
Mnrsdcn eiiilmrked ai I'ort Jarkson.for New Zeiiland,
in company with the Rev. Henry Williams oiul his
family, on lumid llio nnuiiplon, captain M(K)re ; and
on the ;i(l of AuguHi landed at Uangheehoo. On
Saturday, the (»lh of September, he rcembarked,
ttilh Mr. Keiidall and bin fniiiily.nnd four other friends,
intendiiiK to sail on ihe following day, Towards
evenine, however, it be^'.an to blow fresh from ihe
easiwaril, which is directly into the bay ; and as it
rnminuiMi itlowing fresiigtho next morning, wiiii every
appearance of a gale, it wu considered impnasihlo

that the ship could move from her anchorage. The

J«»y ram; and on Tuesday morning, whils Mr

W.lhams and his family were pouring out the^ sun

phcat,ons before the domestic altar, som^e of tie natve

ran m exclaiming in great consternation, "The shin

.s broken !» "At first." says Mr. Williams, " ' ^^^'P

not but that al were lost.as must certainly have been

he case, had they got out of the bay ; but in a shor^

.me we found that Mr. Marsden and Mr. and £

Le,gh were safely landed a. Kiddeekiddee Ss

was a catastrophe which we did not look for, nor had

Z ts Threro;" TT\ """" •' ' ""' J-P'"S Z t
boats, three of which happened to be there, we went

down the nver, to render what assistance w; coZZ

lose on board, and to restrain the natives from any

acts of violence. ^

"The ship had run between two reefs, and the
breakers appeared all round her ; and as it still blew
rong with a heavy sea, it was not prudent o un
alongside ; nor did it seem necessar;, as she couW
not fall .o piece,. Mr. Butler, with two boats, ^e-
mained unde the lee of an island. But I was oh Iged
to pn.S3 the wreck, though a heavy sea was running

rersr^at^ir^A'^'"' '^' ^^""'"^ ""^ -^P°-'^'«^
per on at it. As soon as the weather aba ed, the

boKts wore on board, and assistance was given as ong
as necessary. When canoes could approach the ves!
sel, she was surrounded ; but, several chiefs being on
board, the plundering disposition of the natives was
restrained; scarcely one was allowed by them to
ascend the sides; and the captain and crew were
enabled to clear the ship of all her stores, and to unrig
lie two remaining masts, as quietly as if she had
been in any port of England."

In the twenty-fourth report of the society, delivered
to the annual meeting in London, on the 6ih of May
ISsi'l, the following particulars are stated respecting
the difftrent stations in New Zealand.

Of Ranghoehoo, Mr. Leigh, one of the Wesleyan
missionaries, says, " It is near a large and populous
native town, called Tapoonah. Within seven miles
there are eight or ten villages ; all of which a mis-
sionary may visit by a pleasant walk ; and in every
village a number of children and adults may be daily
collected for instruction. The natives about this set-
tlement have made considerable advances in civiliza-
tion ; and I consider this place to he a grand station
for active and extensive missionary operations."

Of the second missionary station in New Zealand
the same writer observes, " Kiddeekiddee resembles a

neat little i^nnmrv villi>»o .»:•!. . ■ _.l . .

-.• r.-^: = gvsru 3cnooi-nouie

erected m the centre. When standing on a contiguous
•mmence, we may see cattle, sheep, goals, pig, and

NEW ZEALAND.

horses. — houses — fields coverpH ^uu l
barley^nd gardens. ric^TlT wirh'^ll' ^^^^^
vegetables, fruit-trees, and a variety of lefdn.^

tuXr an'; t tr --^ "- --^-MtLc-

good mdk and butter. Indeed.'the settlement a^ ^

,J1^"'''" '^'"'^ """* "f "'" station, there are
several very populous native towns and vilWes n
which are hundreds and thousands of inh aSt^
ready to receive useful instruction, and I hope eTn
the word of life from the servants of God. Inlellt

Zl '? IT'V*"'' "'^'' '^'P^'^' '° ^'- place, nd he
Bay of Islands in general, that 'the fields re white

areadyto the harvest.' Double thenumberofmisW

New Zealand, may be fully and usefully employed in
the Bay alone; and I have no doubt but that the
natives will, by and by.be brought to a knowle
ot the living and true God." ^

hv m' i''^ ;""«'"«"' was formed on a spot chosen
by Mr Marsden at Pyhea, on the south side of Z

fv°M ,"",.'' ''•'°"' '''"^«" "»'" 'o the south-east

soufh',H ;''"«""''"''"' '^"""'^ across the bay
southward from Rangheehoo. The situation is .aid
to be beautiful and the land good ; and the inhabitants,
who are very numerous, are orderly and well behaved
Wihm a few miles of this station, there are ten or
twelve arge villages, the inhabitants of which are not
only willing that the r,!ssionaries should visit them
but mvanably receive .hem with evident marks of
satislaction.

.. " m' T'T "'■"'" ^''"'•='' Missionary Society,"
..y. Mr. Leigh, "have had many trials in the nros;.
cuK,n o their work ; but .bey^ave not laborT „
vam^ The society has had discourageme,.., ; but the
loud has, in a measure, disappeared and no' g a^e^
light begins toda^vn. A number of native youths can
repeat the creed, the ten commandments, ihe Urd's
prayer, and several l-;'mns in their own tongue, and
can unite m singing the praises of the I^rd. Anv
person visiting the stations may soc:, poreeive that
civilization has made considerable advance,; and I
have no doubt but these Christian settlements will
stand for ages to come as a proof of the charity and
hoera ity of the Chutx^h Missionary Society and of the
British public. May the inhabitants of New Zealand
never wan, a friend to plead their cause with the
Christian world !"

Many and great have been the difficultie, again.t
which the soldiers of the cmss have had to .tZ i"
planlmg their standard on the shores of Now Zealand.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Not only liavfl they struggled with enemies froni
without, but treason has been found in their own camp.
The sins of some who have been engaged in the mis-
sion, and tiie infirmitiesof others, have much augment-
ed the difficulties arising from the ferocity of (he native
character. Nevertheless, God has, even here, im-
parted his accustomed blessing to persevering diligence.
A small and devoted band of " living martyrs" (to
apply to them their own designation) were still lifting
up holy hands among these savage tribes. The deaths
of Mowhee and Mayree and others, who may be con-
sidered the first-fruits of New Zealand, animated the
hopes and ini^igorated the prayers of those who sought
the conversion of these islanders to God.

In the year 1834, the parent committee in London
report, that, " after all its trials, this mission, at the
present moment, gives better promise of an ultimate
reward to patient labor, than at any time since its
ttstablishnient." There were two missionaries, it
nppears, — the Rev. Messrs. Butler and Williams, — at
New Zealand, at that period, \\hose exertions were
of a nature consistent with the clerical cliarnrter they
twre, while eighteen or twenty pious artisans, laymen,
seconded their efforts by introducing among the natives
a knowledge of those mechanical arts, . f which the
value is soonest appreciated by savage tribes. Tiie
whole number of individuals employed in the mission,
in 1823, appears to have been twenty-three, among
whom, let it be mentioned, there were no fewer than
eleven females. To the two stations at Rangheehoo
•nd Kiddeekiddce, already occupied by the mission-
aries, a third at Pyhea, on the "iouth side of the Bay
of Islands, was added in 182.1 and two schools for
the instruction of native children, and one for adults,
were opened. Useful, however, as establishments of
this kind are found to be in forwarding the progress
of the gospel in countries somewhat civilized, the
blessings, of which they are the vehicles, can be little
appreciated by mere savages. The advantnces, there-
fore, of itinerating among the natives, were found by
experience to be greater than those arising from the
establishment of schools.

In another way, too, and not less efFectnaliv, was
the gospel preached in these islands — in the lives
of the Christian settlers. The justi'je, morality, tem-
perance and mercy visible in the mission families, were
brought into a strong and most fa\orahle lit'^ht, when
contrasted with the rapacity, excess and cruel revenge
of the native rhnrarter. Actions are a !ang!ia2;c which
all men understand. The oviient su,>oriority of a
civilized life to their own was not w!«hc;ii its influence
in bringing the missionaries into the favorable regard

to dawn in the spiritual horizon of Australasia ; an
auxiliary church missionary society, of which the
indefatigable Marsden was president, having for one
of its primary objects the amelioration of the condition,
temporal and spiritual, of the aborigines of New South
Wales. To this infant association sir Thomas Bris-
bane made a grant of 10,000 acres of land for the
establishment of a mission to the native population.
The foul injustice done to these wretched tribes by
the early English settlers rendered efforts for their
benefit but acts of the most rigid justice.

In the same year (1825), a seminary was established
near Paidmatta* for the instruction of New Zealand
youths, and the children of the members of the mission.
Mr. Marsden thus speaks of his design : — " I pur|)08e
to have the New Zealand yotiths taught shocm^klng,
tailoring, weaving, flax-dressing and spinning, with
gardening and farming. If the chiefs' sons are edu-
cated with the children of the missionaries, they will
become attached one to another, and the work of the
mission will be much promoted thereby. I have six
New Zealanders with me now, all young men of chiefs*
families : they rejoice to see the foundation of our
institution laid."

In New Zealand, also, things wore a brighter aspect.
The state of the schools was more promising, and, as
the year advanced, an aged chief, named Ranghi, pre-
sented an instance of decided conversion to God. The
day previous to his death, several of the brethren
were with him, and the following conversation took
place: — " Well, friend, how do you find yourself?"
" I shall soon be dead," " What are your thoughts
of heaven ?" " O, my heart is very full of light."
" What makes your heart so very full of light ?"
" Because of my belief in Jehovah and Jesus
Christ." " And arc you still firm in your belief in
Jesus Christ?" "Have I not told you so, over and
over again, that my belief is steadfast ?" " Have you
no fear of death before you ?" " No, none ; not in the
least." " We are happy to find that nil real l)elievers
rejoice in the prospect of death, knowing lliat their
pains are all then ended." " Ay, I shall go and sit
above the sky with Jeaus Christ." " Have you for-
gotten what was told you some time since respecting
the namr which is given to all those who believe in
Jesus Christ ?" " I have forgotten the name, but not

1q the year 1826, a faint gleam of light appeared

• Tbi» ii Kwi-ll-cli(M('n plirc for iiieh an inilitution.ii llir pupib
will Iw brought into dirtTt inlirr(iur»r with thi> hiiliiti not only
of riviliiiitinn ami ("hriplinnily, l)u( nf n mUled ordi-r of »iicir|y
•nd mtnbliihrd (t"vrnmrnt. The pnpiiliitinn in niorr than (hr»'o
UiuuMUid. Horn in llui goTfrnmcnt p*U»-, Ihf" fitrlnry tlir fr.
iiiak- runvi<'.l», and tliti orphan achixd. The govHrnini'nt liiiildiogi
arc Inryv ; Ihr ilrccli aro njularly laid out, rroMing at riglit anglca ;
a hncli church, with two Inwcru, alanda in the centre of (he town.
Rvrry houar hat a (nrd»n In which Britlah n-frtnldpannoHhiTalad,

NEW ZEALAND.

the circumstance about which you spoke ; it is fast in
my heart." " How should you lilce to be called by
that name ?" " I should like it very much indeed !"
At the close of this interview, the brethren, who had
watched him for montiis, and marked his behavior
and growth in knowledge and piety, were of opinion
that more satisfactory evidence could not be expected
in the early state of things in such a land, and, viewing
his steadfastness on the verge of the grave, and his
long and firm resistance of all native superstitions,
they were satisfied that he ought to be baptized. This
they did ; and he received the name of Christian
Ranghi, and the next day departed this life in the
faith of Christ.

In addition to this encouraging circumstance, the
improved conduct of the natives generally, and
their increased willingness to receive instruction,
tended much to animate the exertions of the mis-
sionaries. A fourth station, in addition to those
already occupied by the senlers, was fixed upon at
Kaua-kaua, on the banks of a beautiful river falling
into the Bay of Islands ; subsequent experience, how-
ever, induced the missionaries to give it up.

In consequence of the destruction of the Wesleyan
settlement at Whangarooa in 1826, great fears were
entertained by the Church missionaries for their own
safety. Determined, however, to remain at their post
until compelled to retire, they sent their movable
property to New South Wales, and committed them-
selves entirely to the protection of Almighty God.
He preserved them amidst the danger ; and their stay,
at such a period, tended much to convince the natives
of vhe benevolent intentions of the settlers. Thus
was evil overruled for good. At this painful crisis,
Mr. Richard Davis, who joined the mission in March,
1825, writes, "The mission is at this time in a dark
state ; we are surrounded by enemies. But the hand
of the Lord is very visibly to be seen in the formation
and protection of this mission. We may be obliged,
for a time, to leave New Zealand ; we may be even en-
tombed in the bowels of these cannibals ; but the cause
of Christ it is beyond the reach of Satan's power to
hinder. We may with propriety use the language of
the apostle — catt down, but not destroyed. I am
fully convinced that all which wo can do in New
Zealand, with respect to the civilization of the natives,
will have no great effect on their minds ; it is tho
preaching of the gospel of Christ which will benefit
the New Zealandors." Still, amidst all discourage-
ments, a gradual improvement was visible in tiie na-
tives, in the neighborhood of the Bay of Islands.
Tltencei as from a nucleus, the rays of £Q!"e! lisht
ft>fned tiieir way into tlra surrounding gloom, and some
instances of individual conversion, amoiijjsi which was
Vol. I.— Nos. 40 k 50. 76

58S

that of Dadi-Dudi, an influential chief, animated the
hopes of the missionaries.

The introduction of printed books was effected in
New Zealand in 1827; some parts of the Scriptures,
printed in New South Wales, having been brought into
the island. These were followed by a printing-press,
which was first worked in 1830.

The last accounts, previous to May, 1831, describe
the state of the Christian settlement as peaceful, and
calculated to encourage the best hopes of the society.
The care and providence of the great Head of the
church over its individual members, has been strikingly
illustrated in the preservation of the laborers. For
fourteen years have they been kept unhurt, amid the
ceaseless contentions of hostile cannibals. Sometimes
an influential chief has been used as an instrument of
their preservation, as Shunghee ; and at others the
arm of God has protected his servants, without the
intervention oi second causes. Never was this more
strongly illustrated than in the year 1828, when the
missionaries, in the character of mediators between
two hostile tribes, remained two nights and a day sur-
rounded by savage warriors.

According to the last report, above mentioned, it
appears that there are, in the schools, at the various
stations, one hundred and fifty-eight men ..nd boys,
and thiftyseven females, who are trained up to habits
of industry and good order. Many can read and
write their own language with propriety, and are com-
pletely masters of the primary rules of arithmetic.
Specimens of carpentry by New Zealand boys, and
of needlework by girls, were exhibited at a recent
examination of the scliools. In addition to this, the
missionaries state that conversions are more frequent
than formerly. " We have before had dying testtmo-
nica for the truth ; but now," says one of them, " we
can bless God for living wiineises to it." Eight
adults and five children have been baptized, and many
more are in a promising state. The translation of tho
Scriptures into the language of New Zealand is steadily
progressing.

A considerable accession of laborers in the interesting
field of Christian exertion affords hope of fresh triumphs
of grace in this land of cruelty. A missionary, in
a recent conimunioation, states, in reference to the
natives, " I am fully convim >• 1 that their own super-
stitions are losing ground it, their estimatiun ; whilst
the principles of the gospcl-^ihough, LUo It-uven,
unseen— are iimkiiig sure and certain progress. It is
very encouraging to us to contrast thi character and
coiuluct of the natives now, with what it was two vears
~ty^ .-jiivtiici saj.i, ■ very mucii oi iiic rubbish is
clearing awny ; Hnd the prospect of usefulness is every
day more evident." Tho following is an interesting

''"Hi

i. ,1

586

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

description given by a New Zealaiider of the trouble
he experienced on account of the obstinate hardness
of his heart : — " I am bad with vexation for the ex-
ceeding fixedness of my bad heart."

For the religious instruction and social improvement
of the aborigines of New Holland, little appears to
have been done previous to the year 1830. Sir
George 3Iurray, the secretary of state for the colonies,
offered, in the name of the British government, £500
per annum, to the Church Missionary Society, for the
support of two individuals to be employed in a mission
to the natives of that vast island. The proposal was
acceded to, and the Rev. W. Watson, assisted by a
lay catechist, will, in all probability, be the first indi-
vidual to proclaim to these singulariy debased tribes,
the blessings of the gospel of Christ.

The Rev. Samuel Marsden, the venerable apostle of
the Australasia mission, continues his devoted and
disinterested exertions on behalf of the society. Mr.
Ellis says, "Tlie aborigines are but thinly Sji; cad over

that part of New Holland bordering upon the colony,
and though the population has been estimated at three
millions, I am disposed to think that, notwithstanding
the geographical extent of the country, it does not
contain so many inhabitants. Their appearance is
generally repulsive, their faces looking more deformed
from their wearing a skewer through the cartilage of
the nose. They are represented ai indolent, treach-
erous and cruel. They are a distinct people from the
inhabitants of New Zealand and the South sea islands ;
altogether inferior to them, and apparently the lowest
grade of human kind. Their habits are fugitive and
migratory. Notwithstanding their present abject con-
dition, and all the existing barriers to their improve-
ment, it is most ardently to he hoped, and confidently
to be anticipated, that the period will arrive when this
degraded and wretched people will be raised to the
enjoyment of all the blessings of intelligence, civiliza-
tion and Christianity."

CHAPTER IV.

MISSION IN CALCUTTA AND NORTHERN INDIA.

The mission in Calcutta and Northern India is in a
languishing state. The number of missionaries, schools
and scholars, in connection with the society, is smaller
than it was nine years ago. In 1823, the number of
European clergymen engaged was twelve ; at present,
there are only six. This falling ofl^ arises chiefly from
the inability of the society to fill up vacancies occa-
sioned by death, consistently with their duties to the
other missions under their care.

At the conclusion of 1823, the following stations
were in connection with the corresponding committee
at Calcutta, viz. Burdwan, Buxar, Benares, Chunar,
Gorruckpore, Meenit, Delhi, and Agra, Some of
these places, however, were very inadequately jiupplied
with religious teachers : for although at Calcutta there
were four European clergymen, and three at Burdwan,
yet Benares, Chunar and Gorruckpore had but one
each; and Buxar, Moerut, Delhi and Agra none;
these four last-mentioned stations i)eing counted such
merely from being the residence of ■ native catechist,
or frr-iT? possessing scheob In lunscciion with the
•ociety.

On the arrival of bishop Heber at Calcutta, in Oc-
tober, 1828, that amiable prelate, who always took a
warin interest in the cause of missions, lent his power-
ful sanction and aid, in placing the concerns of the
society in Northern India in such a state of organiza-
tion, and in such a relation to the episcopate, as gave
the best promise of extensive and permanent useful-
ness. An Auxiliary Church Missionary Society has
been formed in consequence, of which the bishop
accepted the office of presiil.nt.

The society's missionaries in Northern India, ai
ministers of the Episcopal Church of England, exer-
cise their functions under the bishop's license, and bear
a relation to their diocesan similar to that which exists
between the parochial elegy and their respective
diocesans in England.

Notwithstanding that sickness and dea'i Tiiong tlio
laborers in this mission, have done much 'o interrupt
!!ie preaching of the gospel, yet God ';".% not left him-
^ if here without many wilnesse. ■.' f/.i power and
gracG. Ai severiti of the stations n/ •■"•^ the way of
salvation for mankind has been proctiiwiwl, some have

been gathered out of the heathen population, whose
character and conduct satisfactorily prove that the
servants of God " have not run in vain, nor labored in
, vain." The number, indeed, of those reported as
converts to Christianity would be much greater than
u IS, were it not, that from the extreme and praise-
worthy scrupulosity of the missionaries, none are ad-
muted to baptism who have not evinced the sincerity
of their profession by a probation of considerable
length, and, the circumstances of Hindoo society being
considered, of some severity. The same remark will
iiold good with all the missions of the society.

The education of youtii has not been neglected,
though this department of labor, in common with
others, has met with considerable impediments. In
fifty-tliree schools maintained at the society's expense,
there were, according to the latest accounts, two thou-
sand boys and one hundred and sixty-three girls The
amount of good resulting from these establishments
estimated at the minimum, has been to convince the
heathen youth, to a very general extent, of the folly
"f idolatry, and to furnish their intellects with the
principles of Christianity. To make those principles
influential on the heart and life is the work of a su-
perior power. Nor are the evidences of this work
unnoticeable. Many of the children educated at these
schools have subsequently borne such .characters as
adorned the profession of Christianity.

The interesting work of native female education,
with the object of raising the character of woman
from us debased state in India, was begun in 1822,
and has since met with much encouragement. A la-
dies' society has been formed for. the furtherance of
tins object, and schools established in Calcutta under
the superintendence of Mrs. Wilson, a lady of singu-
lar piety, energy and talent. About three hundred
and fifty girls attend, who are taught to read and un-
derstand the Scriptures, needlework, domestic labor,
cooking, kc. Female schools have also been estab-
lished at Burdwan, Gorruckpore and Culna. At the
two former, about one hundred and sixty children are
instructed in the Christian religion.

The missionary press has rtot been idle, though it
has had much to clog its activity. An idea of the
extent of its operations may bo formed from the fact
that, between June, 1824, and February, 1826, there
were printed 123,344 copies of fifty-two different
works, containing about six millions of pages. Since
this date, moreover, the activity of this department
has been augmented. The printing-house, a chapel,
a school-house, and tlie buildings appropriated for fho
rosidonce of the missionaries, are situated nn n«.mi.«.
purchased by the society in 1821 , at Mirzaporo, in the
midst of the native population.

CALCUTTA AND NORTHERN INDIA.

587

One circumstance connected with the proceedinir.
of the society in Northern India must not be omitted
in this connection, although it has been noticed in
former pages of this work. " Bishop Middleton havine
recommended the establishment of a mission college
at Calcutta, for the benefit of the native population
of India; and the "Society for the Propagation of
the Gospel m Foreign Parts," and that for "Promot-
.ng Christian Knowledge," having each coptributed
the sum of £5000 toward this important undertaking •
the society, in 1820,,granted a similar sum. This was
followed by an annual grant of £1000 during the six
following years ; but the reduced stale of the society's
means, since 1826, has led to its discontinuance. The
committee, wishing to perpetuate the memory of their
respected bishop Heber, directed, in 1826, the appro-
priation of a sufficient sum for the foundation, in Bishop's
college, of two theological scholarships, to bear the
name of " Bishop Heber's Church Missionary Scholar-
slups, the perpetual nomination to which is vested
in the society's representatives at Calcutta.

A detail of all the proceedings at each of the eleven
stations would produce too lengthened a narrative
nor would the interest of such an account compensate
for Its prolixity. To notice a few particulars will
suffice.

An annual grant of £200 has been made, since 1824
to the " Ladies' Society for protrioting Native Female
Education ini^alcutta and its Vicinity," in aid of its
interesting object.

In the year 1827, the value of schools began to be
justly appreciated by the natives, and applications for
their ^establishment were made to the missionaries in
greater number than it was possible to comply with.

Among all the faithful and laborious missionaries in
Northern India, and there are many, none perhaps
excels the Rev. W. Bowley of Chunar, in zeal, in
patience, and, it may be added, in success. For nearly
twenty years has this devoted man preached Christ
among the heathen, and very many are the seals to his
ministry. Surely if they who turn many to righteous-
ness shall, in the world of glory, shine like the stars
in heaven (Dan. xii. 3), the glorified spirit of Bow-
ley will be invested with a radiance of no common
effulgence.

In the last report, the committee, after having
lamented the reduced state of the mission, and the
deficiency of spiritual instructors, thus write :—" t^ider
these manifest disadvantages, there is much reason to
be grateful to the great Head of the church, that the
supply of native teachers is evidently increasing, and
«!••«?, nGtwithstanalnR the dimiiiuiiun oi" preachers,
forty-eight individuals have been admitted by baptism,
during the year, into the visible church of Christ."

S8B

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

When, in addi'ion to this lut encouraging fact, we
recollect that, in the preceding year, twenty-fiTe
adults had made a similar profession of their faith, are
we not constrained humbly to admire that divine
wisdom which sometimes evolves the most successful
results from means which are apparently the most in-
adequate to their production ?

It would be wrong to close this brief sk«tch without
making honorable mention of the labors of archdeacons
Corrie and Robinson, and the devoted prelates who
have succeeded the lamented Hober. And intimately
associated with these ornaments of the church, and
worthy to bo known through Christendom as a true
soldier of the cross, was Abdooi. Merseeh, of whom
the following account, it is believed, will prove in-
teresting.

In the month of November, 1818, Abdool Messeeh,
a converted native of Delhi, accompanied the Rev.
Daniel Corrie to Agra, with the design of settling in
that ciiy, as a public reader and catechist, under the
patronage of the Church Missionary Society. He was
formerly a xealous Mahometan ; but, under the preach-
ing of the Rev. Henry ISIartyn, he began lo discover
the errors under which he had long labored, and,
after the lapse of some months, he made a public
profession of Christianity, and was baptized in the
old church at Calcutta. After this period, he was
particularly noticed by somo |)ersons belonging to the
congregation of the Rev. Mr. Brown^ and, as he
appeared to possess the talent, as well as the desire,
to communicate to his countrymen the glad tidings of
sah-ation, he was encouraged to address a number of
poor native Christians and others, who wore in the
habit of attending weekly at the house of one of his
friends for instruction. His labors wore productive
of much gooil ; and, notwithstanding the oppositioo
which he mot with, from tlie followers of the Arabian
impostor, who sometimes oili^rod hint considerable
sums of money to leave the place, — and at otiier times
endeavored to terrify him, by dragging him before a
magistrate, on the most frivolous pretences, — he per-
severed with calmness and fortitude, in counnunicat-
ing instruction to all who ciiose to give him tlieir at-
tention, till that removal took place to which we have
adverted.

The meekness of Abdool's temper was invariably
displayed in the time of persecution ; and during his
joiinlly to Agra, an incident occurred, which afforded
a fme display of the influence of divine grace on the
heart of this pious and devoted character. On leaving
a place called Danapore, the boat in which Mr. Corrie
was pursuing his route, went on ahead, and the boat-
snar, ;.-_->,.. tiie liueity 02 gumg into the market without
permission. Abdool, desirous of keeping up with his

friend, said to soma Christian children who were with
him, " Come, let us uka hold of the line, and draw
the boat ourselves; whkih, when the boatmen hear of,
they will be ashamed, and oome to us." In this way
they proceeded about' a mile on the bank of the river,
till at length they approached a spot where a Mahome^
tan merchant was purchasing wood. On seeing Abdool,
he asked one of the children who he was, and was
answered, " A Christian." When the boat came up,
the merchant said, « Pray, sir, wait for your boatmen,
and do not take that trouble." << They have behaved
very ill," replied Abdool, «• and this is the only pun-
ishment I can inflict, by endeavoring to shame them."
" But for a man of your appearance," rejoined the
stronger, "to engage in such servile work is very
degrading ; and you, no doubt, must feel ashamed in
the presence of so many people." " When 1 was
of your religion," said Abdool, " I should indeed have
felt ashamed ; but I have embraced a religion, whose
Author was meek and lowly, and now I rather take
pleasure in an employment by which the pride of my
heart is humbled." After demanding what faith he
now professed, and being told it was the religion of
Jesus, the Mussulman began to revile him in very
coarse language ; but Abdool, instead of evincing the
slightest res4>ntmont, embraced with avidity an oppor-
tunity which occurred, of showing his calumniator
some civility. Astonished at this conduct, and com-
pletely ignorant of tiio principle from which it resulted,
the merchant exclaime<l to some (lersons who had
assembled around him, " See how this man has learn-
ed to disguise his feelings : I gave him abuse, and ho
returned civility !" But Abdool coolly replied, " This
is not hypocrisy, but what I have been taught by my
new religion. Had you used such language Awards
me when I was a Mussulman, I might probablj have
fought with you ; but now," continued ho, taking out
liis Testoment, and referring to the fifth ciiapter of
St. Matthew's Gospel, " I am taught to pray for my
enemies." Tlie merchant's clieek was now sulTused
with the blush of conscious shame ; and, after a short
conversation, he rccjuested that a copy of the gospel
might be placed in his hands.

Ob his arrival at Agra, Abdool commenced the
work of religious instruction with great zeal and dili-
gence ; and as many hundreds of poor creatures had
recently flocked t« the neighborhood, in cnnsoqunnce
of a scarcity in the Mahratta country, occasioned by a
terrible drought, lie embraced the opfuirtunity of going
among them, distributing pice or halfpence, and in-
viting them to hear the gospel, and to send their cbil«
dren to him, to learn to read. At first, they received
him ai ail angei of iiglii ; but, a report having been
spread among them, that he was an Arabian, who

AGRA.

«uh«d to ctnjr off their ohildrau, the poor natives,
for several days, refused to receive tiie charity which
lie offered them, or to hear any thing from him. In
the course of a week or t»vo, however, they perceived
that their suspicions had been unfounded, and his
public services wore attended by hundreds; many of
whom, on hearing an exposition of the decalogue,
oned out aloud, "These are true words; and the
curse of God will fall upon us, if wo obey them not."
Indeed, the congregations who assonibled to hear of
" the new way," soon bogan to increase rapidly, and
comprised many respectable persons, both Hindoos
and Mahometans. A school was, also, opened, for
the mstruction of children ; and our cntechist was
vuited, every day, by persons who came to converse
with him on the subject of religion, and, in some
mstancos, appeared deeply affected by the truths
which they heard. One evening, in particular, while
the native Cliristiun children and servants were at
worship, a venerable old man. wlw stated that he was
ninety years of age, came to Abdool 's house. During
the recitation of the liturgy, he kneltdown with them ;—
as they proceeded in that beautiful service, the tears
began to roll down his fuirowed cheeks ;— and toward
the end he repeated Amen fervently, after each peti-
tion. When prayers were ended, he went up to
Abdool and embraced liiin ; and, on being asked if he
knew that he was embracing a Christian, he replied in
the affirmative, and added, " I have often seen the
English at worship, but never understood their lan-
guage ; but your prayers are most excellent, and my
soul has been greatly refreshed by them."

The 1 0th of June, J 813, is noticed in Abdool's
journal, as « the day on which the doctrine of Christ
witnessed a triumph. For three weeks past, a faqueer
of the Jogi tribe has come frequently to our morning
worship in the school. On Tuesday, the chapter to
be read in order was John xvii. The subject of it,
and our Lord's manner toward his disciples, arrested the
attention of the Jogi, and the tears rtowed [.lentifully
down his cheeks. To-day he brought his wife and
child ;— said In was a convert to Jesus, without re-
serve ;— and began, of himself, to take off his faqueer's
dress. He first took the beads from his neck ;— broke
the string to which the charm given him by his goroo
was suspended ;— and broke off an iron ring worn
round his waist, and to which an iron rod about two
feet long was attached. He then put on some old
clothes which we had by us, and said he wished to be
instructed in the gospel, and to get some employment.
A rupee being given, to procure food for the family,

his wife went and hnnirhi ■ >..:«..: t...i •_„

she would spin, and earn a livelihood ; and the whole
fcmily aAerwards ate their dinner with ua of their

689

These are wonders in the history of a

own accord.
Hindoo I"

Two days afterward, a Mussulman came to the
house, and asked the Jogi if he had really become a
Christian. Ho answered, " Yes, and have, just now,
been eating beef with Abdool Messeeh." The Ma-
hometan then turned to the Jogi's wife, and inquired
if she had embraced the same faiUt ; asking, at the
same time, what could have induced her to renounce
her former religion for Christianity. She replied,
that by the grace of God she had become a Christian ;
and though she had not yet learned much of the gos-
pel, and being but a rustic, could not dispute with a
learned man, like him ; yet what she had beard of the
doctrine of Christ had brought rest and peace to her
soul, and therefore she had embraced it.

In July, 1814, Abdool paid a visit to bis relatives
at Lucknow, where he was received in llie most cor-
dial manner, and readily permitted to speak to his
fellow sinners of tlio only means of escaping the wrath
to come. "My approach having been announced,"
says he, " thirty persons, frinnds and acquaintances,
came out to meet me. Among them, my futher, my
brother Joseph, and two brothers-in-law, embraced
me, and rejoiced greatly. After arriving at my fcther'u
house, I read the ninth chapter of the Acts, and ex-
plained it OS the Holy Spirit gave assisUnce, and joined
in prayer. About sixty men and women were collected ,,
all of whom heard with attention, and appeared plea^
ed ; and my mother and sisters expressed tbemiolveii
thus,—' Praise to Jesus Christ, that we, who wen.
separate, are again brought together. We are hiti
sinful servants. How shall he not vouchsafe his grac«
unto us ?' And my fatlier exclaimed, his eyes stream •
ing with tears, ' O Lord Jesus Christ, I, a simier, cannot
praise thee as thou art worthy. Through the glad-
ness thou host shown me, half my illness is removed ;
and I am now persuaded that thou wilt restore me to
health, and deli ver me from the bands of all my enemies.'
" The next morning, all my relations, male and
female, having set their several households in order,
collected for worship. I read the fourteenth chapter
of St. John's Gospel, in which is recorded the glad
promise of the Holy Spirit's coming. My servant
and another person then sang a hymn, with which my
parents were much delighted ; and friends and neigh-
bors collected in si .:. numbers that there was no room
left. After worship I went, whh my brother, in quest
of a larger house, which we met with within the pre-
cincts of the British resident, and there took up our
abode. My relations came to me there ; and great
numbers of pool, aiiU blind, and lame, came daily for
charity. Those Mahometans who had formerly been
my friends, came, also, for the purpose of disputing

'■■■

'Jli,-,

|:„lh

690

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

with me, and these I answered as the Holy Spirit
enabled me." On the 11th of August, Abdool re-
turned to Agra, accompanied by his father, and five
other members of his family, with several other per-
sons ; one of whom, an aged Molwee, appeared earn-
estly desirous to ascertain the way of salvation.

About a week after Abdool's return, the Rev. Mr.
Corrie, in consequence of ill health, was under \h?
necessity of quitting Agra, in order to visit England.
On this occasion he observes, in his journal, " 1 com-
mitted the congregation to the care of Abdool Messeeh
and Mr. Bowley, amidst many tears on the part of the
new converts, and much sorrow on my own ; but the
will of the Lord is to be acknowledged in my de-
parture, no less than in my arrival at this station.
During the preceding sixteen months, seventy-one
natives have received baptism, of whom about fifty
are adults, about half Mahometans, and the other
half Hindoos. Of these, one has been expelled ; six
have apostatized ; four are gone to tlieir friends, and
are, we hope, holding fast their profession ; and others
are occupying different stations, us readers and cate-
chists."

It was expected that, on the removal of Mr. Corrie,
(ittle more could be effected, during his absence, than
the preservation of the infant church collected by
Abdool's labors ; and it seems that only a short time
elapsed before the interest began visibly to decline.
Mr. Bowley thought proper to remove to Chunar ;
and the teachers of the schools, in too many instances,
evinced much indolence and inattention. Abdool,
however, continued to bear a faithful testimony to the
truth, and continued, notwithstanding all his discour-
agements, to watch with unremitting vigilance over
the flock committed to his care. He also devoted a
considerable share of his time and attention to the
bodily diseases of the poor natives, for whom he pre-
scribed, and to whom he distributed medicines gratui-
tously. These benevolent exertions, however, were
by no means productive of the gratitude which they
deserved ; as will appear from the following extract
of a letter written by an intelligent officer at Agra,
and published in the Missionary Register for October
1817:—

" In the course of the last two months, Abdool cured
a hundred people, and many of them very difficult
cases : yet not one of them returned to the kuttra
(the place of worship) to give thanks to God. Nay,
not even one of them thought of thanking the man
who had thus been the instnrjont of divine goodness.
When I tell you that I have reason to believe a great
portion of his salary is expended in the purchase of

mcdirinpj). vnn will nnt iliinlr U III !.<>.•«... I n'l

mortality in the town has been great, since the begin-

ning of May, and still rages vi^ith unabated violence.
Abdool told me, that in the course of one day, during
the last month, he observed sixteen corpses carried
along the narrow street that passes by the kuttra.
'I could not,' he observed, 'see these poor people
dy.nij; dogs, without knowledge and without a

S'lhur, i)jL with heartfelt grief!' "

T(i .'v-alth of Abdool having been, for a considerable
time, in a very infirm state, he visited Calcutta in the
year 1820, at the desire of the committee, and found
great benefit by the change of air. In order to im-
prove his residence there to the best advantage, he
left the hospitable roof of bis friend, Mr. Corrie (who
had some time vncc rtiut^oi to India), and took up
his abode in the midst of the poor ; but the place
soon becoming too small, a more commodious house
was hired, where from a hundred and fifty to two

hundred of the most wretched of the population

comprising the aged, the disabled, and the diseased —
poor Portuguese or country-born — belonging to no
caste, and having previously found scarcely any one to
care for their souls — attended him three times a week.
It may be necessary to add, that in the month of Oc-
tober, in tire same year, this excellent native Christian
received Lutheran ordination.

Having left Calcutta in the beginning of November,
Abdool, in working up the Ganges, arrived at a viU
lage called Jerret, where he had an interesting inicr-
view with one of the natives, who had attained the
age of one hundred years. " He had built a mosque,
and dug a pond in that village," says our author,
" and had three sons, and grandsons having children.
Supposing me to be a Mussulman guide, he approach-
ed me with great respect ; but on my relathig my
history fom beginning to end, he was much astonished ;
and his children, with many of the villagers, gathered
round me. I asked if he could read ; but he replied
in the negative. I then said, ' O ! sir, I grieve for
your state. God has greatly lengthened your days,
and has given you all kinds of earthly wealth, in
riches and in children ; but, alas ! you have not yet
obtained the knowledge of the true God. It would,
perhaps, have been belter for you had I not met with
you ; and yet, if I were uot now to tell you the truth,
your blood would be upon my head.' Having said
tjius mucii, I remained silent. He then said, ' Pray,
sir, tell me what i must do. I have done every thing
that I have been told by native teacliers. I have dug
a well, and built a mosque, and given much in charity.
All tliese external services I have performed ; but
from your discourse, 1 find that these things are ail
for making a name in the world.' I answered, ' I tell
yoii, in God's name, that now is your tweifiii hour ;
and if you will believe in the I^ord Jesus Christ, you

AGRA.

sliall, without the merit nf t7«.,» . . 591

all doubt obtain salvation.' I then read, and began'
to explain to him, the parable of the laborers, who

orei o'Zr'r "'"^u"^^" '""'^ ' -<^ I -flav-
ored to make known the divinity and glory of the

and, going into the hlut,\o,d":Lt:ny^ th'enTe'
mner, uid man ! are thy senses gone ? Dost thn.>

j.edMuss.man\::yto^:,^T;:fi:rt;:^^^^^^^^^^^

anJ'thari /"'' •^°" '"'' -ad, and' u„d fa fit
and that I desire, m my heart, to become a Christian-
asked -Wm '"^"'^^l::'^- -" not allow me., "i
asked Will your children also save you from hell ?'
and, after shaking off the dust of my Lt iTenf .H
from them, and returned to the boat^' ^ ^

and ^^°?''' "PP'°'"'' "^ Asra was, of course, known
and, as t appears, anxiously expected by many ThTee'
stages from the end of his ioumpv L r a r.
fiftepn Hin,i^„. J »f . Jou'^ney, he found about
niteen Hmdoos and Mahometans, who had come thus
far to meet him, and fervently thanked GodTr hi
r turn; observng that, during his absence'.h y had
uffered much from want of medicines. At Ferozabad
twenty other persons were waiting for him ; and dur.W
he last stage several more met him on the road ; "f
that, by the time he reached the kuttra in Agra he
was attended by great numbers; and several English
fnends who had, for some time, taken a lively inSst

:nfeird™'"T."'""^'''"s '« offer h'::

unfeigned congratulations. "I praised God for his
merc.es." says Abdool, "and straightway celebmed

Of Abdool's resumption of his labors, Mr. Crowley
who, at that time, superintended the school at Agra'
writes as follows :— ^ '

«„"„!I;!-''''r"'"^- '° '^'' '"'^ '°"S neglected station as
an ordivmed mm.ster of the gospel of Christ, will,
I hope, be productive of the happiest and most bene-
ficial effects This, indeed, is already manifest; as
many nominal Christians who, I have reason to believe
have never entered a place of worship for many years

on sabbath days. Blessed be God for this mercy ! The
church here .s now very decently attended, including
many persons of the Armenian and Roman Catholi!
persuasions ; and, occasionally, a few Hindoos and
Mussulman ; the latter of whom, I firmly believe, are

mduced to attend nnlv f^^ - i i_j - .. .' .

ordination." " ""•' ■"■■ " -^"""^-"S^ °' AOUooFs

In December, 1885, this venerable man was re-

been set upon conliecting this con vert with T' '° ■
of the English Episcopal chu^h The h™""'''^
whichhis,ordshiprnticiEatedf::tthis^^e^J^^^^^
trated by the death of Abdool Me.eeh in M rlh I82T
The number of schools supported by the PK i
Society in indi, -^ ,,,^ greft^ and thV J rScZt
detailed respecting some of them are highly i„ eles

wi;k ts: nr-'"' -n •^"'"p^'^^'' - th'e "pr;:

r,t .^,*'^^''' """"g 'nformation, however, relative
to the introduction of Miss Cooke, by a lady of her
acquaintance, to the female native schools at Calcutta
must not be passed over in silence. '

The British and Foreign School Society, i„ concert
with some membe.. of the Calcutta Sc£ol Sy
then m England, had solicited and obtained from tte
pub he, funds for sending out a suitable female ,JZ

work If LI' '^^r^^ acquaintance with the
work of education. She accordingly sailed from
England m 1821. and, after arrivingat the pla^
of her destination, the committee of the society to
which she was particularly recommended, kindly re-
s.gned their claim on her services, in favor of the cor-
responding committee of the Church Missionary So-

lemale education m that part of the world. An address
was now drawn up by the Rev. D. Corrie, explain^a
the importance of the object to be accomplished, and
announcing the arrival of Miss Cooke, and the imen-

wth such success that, m a few weeks, three thousand

mi^'ZTl r •"''"''''' ""'^' °" ^^' 25th of January,
1822, the first visit was paid to a native school, and
IS thus described by one of the visitors •—

Mi" "^^ "r "'''T"" '" ""' """"""S' ' accompanied '
Miss Cooke to the native girls' school, and '^ound
thirteen were assembled. As soon as the first saluta-
tions were over, conversed familiarly with the chj-
dren i„ Bengalee; on which they all appeared
delighted. I asked them if they would attend' l'
My for instruction from that lady (looking towafds
Miss Cooke), who was taking so much troub fo ast
learn the language for the purpose of instructing thm
They sa,d .hat they would most gladly; an^d the^
htt le countenances were lightened up with joy. Two
of them, whose names are Monachee and Ponchee
said they wished I also would .om- »:,u iu:. T*"^^'
and talk to them. """ "'"°^°'

het'T'^M-''"'!^""/''"' '"P^""^ their Bengalee alpha-
bet to M.M Cooke; and after they had gone Lr

»93

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

a few or the first letters several times, we moved to
come away. Little Ponchee took hold of my clothes
and said, ' Stop, ray mother is coming.' I now found
that some intelligence had been conveyed to the neigh-
bors of our being there ; and whilst Miss Cooke was
speaking to • Mr. Jetter, who had a boys' school in
the place, two or three of the mothers, neatly dressed
in clean white clothes, approached to the lattice-work.
I drew close to them, and said, ' I hope you will be
pleased that your children should be instructed by us.
That lady. Miss Cooke, has come over from England,
solely for the purpose of instructing the children of
the natives of this country.' Monachee's mother in-
quired if she could speak their language ; I told them
die had begun to learn it, on her way hither ; that she
could read and write it a little ; and in a short time I
hoped she would be able to converse with them famil-
iarly. They inquired whether Mis? Cooke were mar-
ried, or if she were going to be ; I answered, ' No ; she
is devoted to your children. She heard, in England,
that the women of this country were kept in total
ignorance, that they were not taught even to read or
write, and that the men alone were allowed to attain
to any degree of knowledge. It was also generally
Dnderstood, that the chief objection arose from your

having no female who would undertake to teach. She,
therefore, felt much sorrow and compassion for your
state ; and determined to leave her country, her pa-
rents, her friends, and every other advantage ; and
come here, for the sole purpose of educating your
female children.' On hearing this, they cried out with
one voice, smiting their bosoms with their right hands,
' O I what a pearl of a woman is this !' I added, ' She
has given up great expectations to come here ; and
seeks not the riches of this world, but that she may
promote your best interetts.' ' Our children are yours
—we give them to you !' rejoined two or three of the
mothers at once. After asking why / had learned
their language, they inquired if I were married. I said,
' 1 have been.' And on their asking af\er my husband,
I replied, ' He is not.' They now whispered to each
other, ' She has lost her husband ; do not question her
on that head :' and, for a few moments, they remained
perfectly silent, with sad and sympathizing looks.
They then respectfully inquired whether I had chil-
dren, and on my stating that I had a daughter, and
grandchildren, they entruated that I would soon return,
and bring some of them with me. We then came
away, with the shouts and saleatiu both of children
and parents."*

CHAPTER V.

MISSION IN MADRAS AND SOUTHERN INDIA.

On the 21st of February, 1614, the Rev. Messrs.
Schnarr^ and Rhenius sailed from Portsmouth for
the East Indies ; and on the 4th of July, they arrived
safely at Madras, where they were received in the
most cordial manner by the Rev. Marmaduke Tliomp-
son, chaplain of the East India Company. For a
sliort time, they took up their residence in Tranque-
bar, which affords the best opportunities for an acqui-
sition of the Tamul language ; and by unremitting
application, they were enabled, in less than a year, to
converse with the natives on the great subjects of
Christianity. On their return to Madras, the corre-
sponding committee, which had recently been formed
in that city, fixed them in convenient premises in Black
Town, where they were surrounded fay extensive fields
of labor, and where they were inspired wilh the ani-

mating hope that the Lord of missions would not per-
mit them to labor in vain. " We are here," says Mr.
Schnarr6, " in tlw very midst of idolaters ; and since
the owner of our prembes is a native, we have in the
garden, close to our house,aplaceof heathen worship.
This consists of a tree With extended branches ; and
its trunk s<irrounded by little black stones cut into
figures, which are the gods of the natives, and before
which they offer their adorations. Although the owner
has strictly forbidden anyone tocontinuehia devotions

* It in MmnrlcabM Ihftt many Of th« wt'sllhin Hindbwa hare, »C
late, Toluntarily ooim> ibrward to ■•ppotl lohMlt Tsr tlie eduoalioh
of natiTO cbiidren, ia which the Now Tostanent ia read, and that
*}.» :.,.**..ni:.x- ^r ...... . ..uiu — :- .--:ji « — >:»« :« l>nnM>l

... ...... u.,M r..«*..*. • .»j....t* .- * J. ... ... ..H

and other parte of India. See annual Bcrmon before wtieitty, 1090,
b/tin than of Balitbarf, p. M,

here(„„ce .t appears to be a prime place of worship),
or to use .he adjacent tank forivashing, yet three men
»ee,n detenn.ned not to leare off; as they come regu-
larly every day, and here perform their morning ser-

IT'f 1 ^ 7^''°'; """y «"«We us to cast forth the
net of the kingdom of God."

The missionaries had remained but a short time in
this situation «hen they were visited by a considera-
b^ number of persons, including Hindoos, Mussulmen
and Roman Catholics, many of whom listened with an-
parent seriousness to their instructions, and some even
professed a desire to be baptized; but it frequently
happened that such a proposal, or even the visit of
the strangers, resulted from some sinister motive The
former class acknowledged, in general, the .ruth of
what the brethren advanced, admitted the folly and
inutility of their own idolatrous ceremonies, and made
various confessions calculated to inspire a hope of
their conversion; but it was found that little reliance
could be placed on their sincerity.

On the 1st of May, 1815, the missionaries opened
a free school m their garden, with thirty-two pupils-
comprising twenty children of Dr. Rottle's congrega-
tion, and twelve heathen children, which the Englth
school-master Paschal, had previously taken under his
tuition. In this seminary no distinction of castes was
recognized ; but high and low, Hindoos, Catholics and
Protestants, all received instruction together; and
though some of the native parents objected to this
arrangement, the scruples raised against it were com-
paratively few. The number of scholars soon in-
creased, but their attendance was very irregular •
partly in consequence of the numerous festivals ob-
served both by the Hindoos and the Catholics; and
partly through the superstitious notion of some of the
parents, that the attendance of their children at the ear-
den was productive of bodily illness; an old tradition hav-
ing stated that the devil has his habitation on that spot
In the month of August, 1816, Mr. Schnarr^, at*
the earnest request of Dr. Caemmerer, left his situa-
tion at Madras, for the purpose of undertaking the
supermtendence of the school-establishments, and of
assistmg m the administration of the word of life at
Tranquebar. The separation of such a man from his
worthy colleague was by no means desirable ; but cir-
cumstances appear to have rendered it indispensable

Notwithstanding the opposition which had occasion-
ally been manifested against the missionary school
both among the Hindoos and Catholics, that seminary
continued to be well attended, and four other schools
were estabtished in Black Town;— two for children of
caste, one for Mahometan children, and one for pariars •
compnsuig aitogeilier about two hundred and "twentv
pupils. ^

Vol.. I.— Nos. 49 & 50. 77

MADRAS AND SOUTHERN INDIA.

698

In August, 1817, Messrs. Beriard and Deocar

Scbmid arrived a. Madras, after a favorable voyage of

three months and seventeen days. They were iov

ully received by Mr. Rhenius, a/d took'up'thTa Jj

at the mission-house, where, on the day after their

whS?C:r' '"''"".'"« P^y^-^-^i-S was held
wan a l amul congregation.

says Mr. D. Schm.d, "were present, sitting on the
ground, according to the custom of the country and th!
greatest part of them dressed in white garments' They
began with singing a hymn : then Mr. Rhenius offered
up a prayer, at the end of which they all joined in
repeating the Lord's prayer. Mr. Rhenius h7n ex"
plained a portion of Scripture, and asked them several
ques„ons, which were promptly answered. Af"
that a few verses were sung, and the service was con-
cluded by their pastor, with an appropriate prayer.
You canno, t iink how much I was delighted in hearing

rCoTVR h"' ''""""""^ ^'"S'"8 'he praises of
our God and Redeemer in German tunes ; for the hymns
which they use were translated, according to German
measures, by the late Mr. Fabritius. whoLsalea3
and active missionary of the Christian Knowledge So-
ciety. I must confess that I have not been Idified
so much by a public service for a very long LTTl
have been by this, though I did not understfnd a Cd
of the language except the blessed name of Jesus
ClMs, and a few other proper names. Oh! how
did I long for the time when I should be able to make
known to benighted heathens, in their own tongue
the inestimable love of God, i„ the redemption of the
world, by our Lord Jesus Christ I"

A short time before the arrival of the new mission-
ams, the Rev. Mr. Rhenius had an opportu„ky"f
witnessing a famous festival of the heathen at a place
called (onjeveram. "Soon after breakfast,'''^,ays
he 'the morning procession was announced, and we
I met an immense concourseof people. TheheadBra-
mm, having put a garland of flowers round my neck
requested me to go before the idol, to the pagoda

ceJVVu'?/' '''^'''''- ^ "''cordingfy pro!
ceeded about half a mile, through a cH>wd of persJ„°
among whom it was necessary to make way for me
Astonishing was the sight of the thn,ng; the broad
street being completely filled, and the Lse-lTll
each side occupied by a great number of persons all
anxiously waiting for the procession, conducted by'th"
'holy Bramins,' two of whom were standing on Je
vehicle, with fly-drivers in their hands, waving ther^
rrrlf/'lTl ''' •^»"'-'»'-««ai-ttheiLc.s

" I was seated in the hall of the pagoda, when the
procession approached at a slow pace. AndO! what

594

CHlfKCH MISSIONARY SOCIKTV.

w*\ w»s nwuifcsted hy ihn thronjc to oht«in » Kiglit of
their Roti ! Srvmc wprc rlappmg their hnnds lowarti
hiiu— otJiers liftins; them up i!> silent ndnrntion — some
fiilling praMntie ht>fore this iinn^inary deity— others,
»vith nnxiety depicted on their fares, wntching lor the
first and best opportunity of paying the trihiite of their
devotion ! Sun'ly their eyes iire cUv«ed, thnt they run-
not see, and their heivrts, thai tliey cannot understand !
On ihese occasions, indeed, it seems as if the very
air were infected with the elfusions of the evil spirit,
who douhih'ss lakes a nialii;nant delight in seeing men
thus degrade themselves.

" At last the i-iol arrived — passtd hy \m\ — imd was
placr.i m the inner part of llie temple. The eyes of
the |Hipulace followed it. accompanied hy loud rejoic-
ings. The Hramins then ascended the vehicle, in nnler
to receive a touch of the golden crown which the idol
wore ; and which the chief Urnmin, I believe, placed
for a few seconds upon the head of each of his brelh-
nsn. I then left the pagotSa. and weni honie.

" When the evening procession was amutunccd, after
dinner, our altcntion was excited hy 'wo tall and stoul
figures, in the midsl of the cmwd. painted and in
iDtsks. These were representations of a i. ;»n and
woman made of paper, with nwkwani faces, arms and
bodies, and carried by persons concealed within ihenv
The figures, which xvcre alHiui len feet high, danced,
anil made the nmst aniic gestuivs, A lH)y ^U^^ Imd
on a nmsk n>sembling the head of a lion, and danced
alhiul among tiie dancing girls.

" Arriving at the pagoda, we seated ourselves in the
ball, and awaited the pnvession, which scMin arrived
with ihe customary shoutings. The idol having been
fixed in his place, a numltet of Hramins, scnicil in
niws op|H)site to us. received m .ne n>fn>slnncnl ; and
four or five of the dancing girls were seUnned to dance
before us, which they did. with gestures which would
have been considered shameful oven in a theatre in
Kurope.

" Keliring home almul midnight, I assendiled our
people, and concluded the tlay with supplications to
the living IJod. for ourselves and all around us. I
then relirtnl to bed, rejoicing in the opportimity which
I had enjo)od of making known the gospel to the
heathen.and of nmurning over their darkness and folly."
The following day, our missionary, in walking out,
njet »vith a person walking on spikes, and holding in
his hand a thick iron staff, with which he oicasionally
beat himself on the hack. On being adilro«!«'d by
Mr. Rheuius, ho threw off his painftd shoes, which
were taken up by his wife ; and, on being ipiest-imed
as to the cause of his inflicting such lonnents u|H)n

,.i:«i>

,f- I

• K.I I— a:.i

to obtain a living. The same motive appeared to

influence a sort of juggler, of whom Mr. Hheniui
gives the following account :— " As sw>n a* he saw us,
he began his antics, which were so disgusting that wo
wotdd have left him innnediatnly,tnit werndoarrouRnf
seeing what the end would be, He distorted his body
in su(>h a sluw^kinp', ntnnner, and assumed such unnatural
forms and voices, ilmt words are inadequate to convey an
accurate idea of his appearance ; and all this was set
ort'hy the various colors with which he was besmeared,
At Inst, to crown his folly, he ttwk a r«>pe made of
rags and tied it rmmd his luMly. Ho then dipped the
end of it in the oil of a lamp which was before him,
anil, having kindled it, he held it near his face, aiul
liMikcd at it earnestly for some time, as if going to fight
with it. Then, rubbing his tongue over with the burn-
ing oil he tor<' the (laming tor«'h with his teeth, and
chewed the pieces !

" I, at first, stood motionless, silently meditating on
the fallen condition of man ; but, at length, being un-
able to hciir the sight any longer, I stopped him, and
asked, • Who are ymi, and why ilo you act thus ?' He
iiftcd up his eyes and hands to heaven, and replied, 'Tt
is the will of (!od !' ' No," said 1, ' not of (Jod, but
of the devil.' Then, turning to the Hramins who sur-
rounded us, I asked how they ciudil suHer sucli crea-
tures in their company, and in their pagiwlas, if they
pretended to any holinest ; and whetiter this were n
sign of virtue or depravity. They kIikxI amaised ; and
the ptior man himself said, • I do it for the sake :vf a
livelihood.' "

In order to illustrate the " miserable resources of
the natives of India in seasons of eyjremity," the eor-
responiling connnittee of Madias, in their report of
the slate of the mission in IHIK advert to two signal
judgments with which that cily aiui it* environs had
been I'cr'i'iilly \ isitcd ; —

"Tliiit fntiil disease (the cholera S|.asmodica), which
coimiiriircd ilic preceding )car in ("alcutta, and. pass-
ing fiom iIkmicc into the upper province of Hengal,
extended its ilesolaiing ravnire* thKuigh some of the
fairest porlions of lliiidoiminn. dcsceniling dowhtvards
through the Deccnn, manifested itself, at length, in
Madrnt. The calamity, for a short time, threatened
the severest consc(picuces to this place ; b,ii the li,i-
leanc vigilance of the government, and the exerlioii
of the Kuropean iiiliabiiunts generally, favored by a
merciful and gracicus i'rovidence, mitigated its efTects ;
and it fiimlly subsided, leaving fewer victims iIkiii might
have been expccttil fi^om the nature of the disease,
the extent of its ravages elsewhere, and the crowded
|)opulBliim of the lilack Town of Madras and the

adjacent villages.

..fk- ,1 ._ ... .. . . ...

■" i-ninng inc prrvHiviirr- ot {tiiii liiMtiiler, llio iiloiu-

irouiceremoniciof the Hindoos, intended to propitiate

■• might b« nxpor.ml, u„iver««l »nd unooMi.m : «„,
Urn .l«lu.lml „,u|.itu,lo«. A,. i,l»l, ,.«||«.| vLrr In

• 'I'" iMl orly y„„,., „„ „„„„„„ ,„. ^ y>

on, of hnr fo«t,v«N. Lcwomi tim right nii.l lr(l |,«m,I

.... tl rou^hout ,h« ..„ll,m.nn.. |.,..u,.„,I,m. i „..„■,.«-

Mrun.nM,„.ul...i...n,i„«,i„,,viUW.oniHWil.,
2 .."....« .h« only .peH.. „f „,.^

.n.hM..i. f..,^, ,„n MH, • .... in.i.vi.iMMi ,il, ;:

;'Vm.ydimnn„.-^„yUuM..rr,.,K.„.li„,..^

•»'^ ihn vmuacio,, (lM.,^i,.,.n,,.| ,,« inv,,, hy ,1... ,„.,.Mr-
rc...<.M.r«tru.^..„,lo.„„orM..u■hi,.|,.iMllMM .,.of«

;;"';:'": 'H7-.l.;vn...k, r.n.k ..very V..M

«UK..,I. a »„I,m,.„ ...rvi.i, „r l.un.iliM.i.M,, |„ „Im..|, .,ii
|.;|r^....J wn.., i,ni..Ml f..„„|y, „„, oMahh^l.,.,! cvniy

co„.,..pl ..r , ,, on,.. ,.n.lnr..ulH„..hH«l|y,..

..-.hi.-. Of - ho hoa,h.,n.v..ry (•,.«. .V.,. ,,„,,„,„

«...- mvrmu^, ,.h,..m.I,I, ; I,,., ,..,, „y„ .,,• „,„ ^
w« .n..y I,.,,.,., .va, „,..„. ,. ; u„,| ,|,„ um.uuunw. nvro

"""■'' «',"';' ''y "'« R""«"«l f.-rv..,.i H,,„M vvhiH.

|M.rv..,l.,.| ,1... „„„„i„K,. an.l tin, «oo,l i,„,u,.HHi..n, whi,.|,

7"""' •" ""'•'''*" »' i" H." .■on^.-.^ali..,.. I, i.

l'h'«H,nK .0 B.hl. (hat «„!. o„o ,.,.,„ni(y !,„, „,.,|

within th.. umnmu frun, ,1,,, „,,i,K„..„., v.«. ,1,,, ,|t.«||,
ol a cutuclniit N «virit.

" All III.. Nrho..|-l,„u„.,, !„„|, i„ ,„„| „„, „f Y,,„,^^^
wrrn Uown .lowa.or «ll...um« ,|„„„^,„| ; ,„„|. ,|„„,„i;

mail of ihum hovu »inro Im,.,, r ..It „. i..,Miin.| din i

t".. ..vn..lH ...RHluT l.uvo ,.a„.,„| „ ,.„,„i,|,.r,|,|„' j,,. |
•••rr..|.t..M. .n thu adoiidinico of U„, rhil.ho.i in ||,„
U'hooU," I

Mr. Hl.miiui., in niM-akinK <'f ihn .tpidniuin wlid, i
IWH already boun inciilionod. iayn i),a, a Mn.,„i„ ggvo I

MADRAS.

505

hhnth, following account of their vi«,wi of the tnm
of that draadfiil malady .•— ^'

"III anciom timon, Mariamina, an evil ffo«ld«M

; ir..o.i «ft«r .h« hUHHi of ,„„„ , ;„.,. ,;;if t ;;

«l'« pownr to a.,i,fy |,„r do,iro, ,|,„ we,.t to SlK

amlmado a great ,m„«„ce before him. Siva aTed

h«r w ha, ,!,« de«i,*d , and, „„ her soliciting for "T;

o destroy men, he granted hnr ro,,„e«, Vro,r.r„

m.n .hn h«. gone about inrtiming death by 1 1"

of the d,ole.-« .norhns. 8„,„e,i„.e,. indeed, nL Tel

o ropen of b„r cruelty, antl. rntiriug ,a « .nnuntai"

rmnajn. thnrn inactive for ten or „vnlvo ynar T ut'

.hn hnn break, forth with ,.„w fury upon manLd "

ru'r L;",;!""" f"""' '" "'""''*'"« "•' ""' '"•""'» of «"-
r... ng ,h..„.N,.| vn. „«„i.„ ,hn „„„,fc, „f ^i,,, ^

«...hln.,. olmnrvMl, •• Wbnu ,b„ «,.„.i.„„,« pon ivoTi

n .h.,n...,.o„ .luH, Mar .„ „„„h, i„ h. .ar,

•7 -..um wMh Kroa. I«„..„,„,i.,„ b,.fore Hiva.Z-'

-.H, powor to her?' Siva rnplind, .Khe C !

7" " '"^-•••r l'r..ynr,whidnvill „,„.,;„ „^y'l '

who rnpi'iKx it I" ' pnr»on

Mr, Uh,.uiu. ob„.rve., that ihn |«„ve, „f „ ,.,„„,„
tn-n ....^ M,ppoMMl ,„ ho vnry ««, ,hh, ,„ Ma, ", "

;;;;'::"■'''' ;«'• "• i-' i.nr „„X " :

" ,"••;- 'h" ;.r.u.,. p«r,i,.oh.rly a. tb.f .„,,„,?
•'.••"-r.Md|ay,„«,hnfound„,io„ofaM,nv,„i,

;;;■;•• :" "" ••'•• "•"'"• -f .1,.. pr..„.i,n, ^ "ly

' '" "•' '•"• """" h <hn .on,.,;, a, h.i„„ , ' I

1;:; :•■"•; -""•"•'^ h«„'bo,„ w Jh J

bml picviouK y,M.(,i.i..il n,. .1: ■, "'"< 1.111,7

11 "." H.^v, Mr, Ti..m. : ,1 :;; ;;;7;.'7 7'-'

y I" ..-. .S..UM„| (ru-n,!, «M,„„hh.d ,vi,h o, at \Z

■'""-. »:i""....jor.)-||„vil|„nd a, i, f „ ,,

arrhiii'i'i !• .■. i "ji'i"', iiio

'. Hpo , J h,.r„ w„ (o„n.l our Tauud ,.,„gr.«.
""". r....K...I opp,«.,„ to tb„ placn whnrn ,h„ ,„i„„^"

. .. l...r .d na,.v,. ,.„d oth.r. „|| around us. and it
""'":"* ""I"' "f 'hn adjounng hou... Th„'Z

l«.... ; ......HoHowH a y....inKn«h., by' f

ton... n'.vn,m.„,,.i,, ,,,, i, ,, . '";

«..n.l<,n.au pr.-Mu-t. to .,aplaiu thi, par. of the r,4"

I 2

lit

fiM

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

mony, lo prevent Bny erroneous notion among the
heathen spectBiors of any suci: thini; in it m ihsir own
luperstitioiis practices, he «s;«in addres^ied them. A
doxology was thei> suing in Taimil, in which kalleltyah
miindod iHit, very distinctly and nffectingly ; and, after
Mr. Rhenius had oHered up a prayer in Tnmui, wc
concluded with the apostolic benediction, in English
an»? TamnI alternntcly ; Mr. Rheniiia following me
sentence hy sentence. so as to end hoih together; the
effect of which was very solemn and impressive. The
poopio were all very atlentivo, and their expressions
of s.itisfaction, as they wcic tlispcrsing. were highly
grnlifying. It was. on the whole. I suppose, one of the
most interesting ceremonies of the kind ever witnessed
in Madras."

The some gentleniim lo whom wo are indehied for
this account, has conununicati'd the followinu; nfli-ct-
ing particulars relative to the burning of widows in
India : —

" On this subject I would remark, in opposition to
what has been so often aflirmed, of the practice being
confined to the n\oT« wealthy class, and lo those who
are voluntary victims, tlint the instances which I have
seen have proved the contrnry. The first I ever saw
in India was iu contradiction of the first of these asser-
tions ; and it was n scene, the mere recital of which
must make any sober mim shudder. It was the burn-
iiig of a widow in d -ep |K)verly : — so poor, iniiecd,
were the relations, that ihey could not afford a suf-
ficient quantity of fuel lo cover the Imdy ! ! siiw iicr
and the corpse of lier deceased husband, partly covered
with fuel, and partly exposed ; and in this dreadful
»tiite she was slowly consumed ! The next instance
which I saw was in diret t op|H>sition to the other asser-
tion, that the victims are nil perfectly voluninrv. This
was the .sacrifice of n poor woman, who was dmi:c;od
to tho pile, making all tlio rosl.'^iimce in her power,
and faintinf( under the thoii>;h! of what she was goiiia;
to lulfer. She was then taken in the arms of two
men, to be carried round the pile the appointed number
of times; but when, from her fainting, and the resist-
ance which she made at intervuls, ijii y rould not suc-
ceed in ibis, she was laid on the pile in o stale of in-
sensibility ; but coming lo herself for n few moments,
she struggle<l so violently as nearly to throw down the
pile. A Rrainin, perceiving this, immediately rim to
a little child, ahoui funr years of age, ihe ehlesi son
of the widow, — took the chihl in his arms, — put a
toreh n his hands, — ran with him to the pile,— held
onl his little arm, and made him set it tm fire ; — and
in a few moments the sirugRling mother was enveloped
in flaines !"

Atinnt the !n!dd!s of !*^'iO. M;!H*r!. !!hi>r:!!!: sr-.:!

Schr"id were removed from Madras, for the purpose

of strengthening the mission in Tinnevelly ; but their
places were immediately supplied by the Rev. Messrs.
Biirenbnick and Ridsdale, the former of whom had
been for some time at Madras, and the latter was sent
out by the directors of the society, for the purpose
of filling up the vacancy in the Madras mission. Both
of these clergymen appear to havo been deeply im-
buml with the love of immortal souls, and both of
them entered upon their labors with a spirit of holy
zeal and self-devotedness. Their communications,
addressed to the committee, are illustrative of this
fact ; and from these tve shall take the liberty of
selecting a few extracts, for the gratiflcotion of our
readers.

'' To the Christian mind," says Mr. Ridsdale, " the
Renenil state of things around us is truly dislr«>ssing ;
liir iiere Satan reigns, either by popish error and super-
stition, or by heathenish darkness and idolatrj', with
an extended sway that is truly a vful. Rut, blessed
he (lod, the eye of faith looks upon those lands of
darkness as devoted territory : only send us troops,
ihnt we may go up, and take possession. Our cry in
every epistle must be, ' Th(> harvest truly is great, but
the labon-rs are few I O, fail not to send laborers into
this harvest.' "

The following communicntion from Mr. Hiirenbruek
nlfords a striking representntiou of the secret but pow-
erfid working of tiie leaven of the gospel : — " Wo
make," says he, " no rapid jirogress, and rnnnot boast
much of converts from among the heathen ; yet,
thanks be to (iod, the light is ^shining omong them,
and works its way in secret, where an attentive ob-
server, who has felt the blessed iiilluepee of thiit light
on his own heBrl,will watch its progress with deligiit ;
though frequently he will sec it covered with ihe (hiI-
wnrd appeiirnnee of a heathen, who Irendiles lest it
should he discovered ilmt he knows and believes so
niiirh, and appears surprised at himself that ho has
advanced so far.

" In this view, inquirers nfter truth are numerous ;
hut few there ar<> who come to a decision to follow
the liulh. and make an open profession of it. Oim
of these fearful heathens, however, who has hesitated
and been enpiivated by fear now upwards (f 'ivo years,
has, ni last, stepped forwanl, anil desired baptism.
He says, ' I am an unhappy man ! If I die a heathen,
I am lost, nnd shall be mider grenter condemnation
for having known so much of the word of God. If I
live AS H hrnihen, I am wilhoul peace or rest for my
minil, and know so much as to make me unhappy in
my heathenish profession whde I havo a Christian
faith, There remains only one thing for mo — not to

•rr a-:!at:ic:! ni t_nn;T, Oiit iw iiiiiKi' rtii Opttu cuiiIr-SSiOil

of him before men. If I overcome this, I will lay

myself out for the service of Chri.t. Ho was accord,
ingly received under inMriictinii for baptinm."

The circumstances under which one of the heathen
converts was baptiwd, in the your IHaa, w«re pocu-
hnrly interesting, and liavo buon tlius narrated by Mr
Barenbruck : —

" Vongedasalain, a candidate for baptism, was severe-
ly tried. His wife had, some tiino boforo, removed
into the country, to her relations ; and on bcnrinR that
her husband was preparing for baptism, she refuHcd to
return. Several of his relatives who lived with him
now w-ithdrew from his abode, an.l others throatcn.ul
him ; but some a.ivisod him to go and fetch his wife
first, and tbcn to be bapti/.ed. When he inf„rme.l me
of Ins affliction, I diioclo.l him to commit himself to
Chii.l, and exhorted him to be mu.cIi in prayer, look-
ing upxvnnl for strength and support. As bo was now
suflicicntly instructed to give an accoimi of bis faiij,
and make an open confession of the dwtrine wliich he
believed, F pro|K)sed to receive him, the next Sunday
info the church of Christ, if it were agreeable to bis
wishes. Ho complied with this, cli„se his name, and
acquainted me with bis sponsors.

" The next moniing, poor Von(;e(lnH,ilnin came to
my room in great anxiety. He could not bear ibe
thought of s.-parating from his wife- ; nor did be think
that ho should be able to endure the reproach of his
relations for Christ. He said that he would go and
fetch his wife and child ; am! then, on bis return
receive baptism. I foresaw ibnt if he went, be would
assuredly be prevented by bis relatives fr.)m rei.irning
nnd that they woiil.l succe.«d in their mischievous
p ans. After praying with him, I t«|,| |,i„, ,„ |,„ „„
his guard, and not to go a step wiili„„t the Lord
I encouraged him to look to Christ for Rtrennih Im?-
cause be says plainly, • Whosoever loveih fmber or
mother, or wife, or children, more iln.n me, is not
worthy of me.' 'Consider tin.,' I ,„i,|. . ,ind enter
not into lenintalion I know that your trial is severe,
and I feel for you ; but remember there is a Cod, who
will take you up, when your friends iiml relntivei for-
sake you. He will not leave nor forsake you ; no,
not oven in death, nor in the day of judgment. ' Ife
is able, if it be good for you, and yon ran put your
trust in him, to restore to you your wife, even though
she \.ere kept under the most suspicious «>y.t of y,.„r
enemies. Remember, that whosoever giveth bis life
for the TK>rd. -ball preserve it ; but he who doth not
intrust the Um\ with it, shall los» it ;_h,o, consider
II will be with your wife. Tlie case is such that it
must be left to you only— you must come to a detpr
mination ; but do not determine without nraynr.' He
took leave o( mo, to go and fetch his wife to town,
promiaing to return after three weeks : and I looked

MADRAS.

69t

to the r^rd, ,1,0 only help i„ ,i,„e of anxiety, ,„d
migh his grace to support him. and inspire him with
perfect resignation.

"In the afternoon, Vengodasalain came to my anart-

"Bnce. 'llieUrd,'said he, < has given me .race
«o that I cannot transgress against .h,«„ words which
you mentioned. I ,nust love Christ more than my
wife nnd friends. I will coinmemi all things m (iod
nnd tiust in him.bolioving that ho will takocarcol mo'
I sincerely wish, i„ ,ho name of the Lord, to bo bap-
ti8e(l to-morrow.' '

"The next morning was the sabbath, and many
bonthens were present at the Tnmul sermon. Von-
Ro-hisalam was received into the churcl. of Christ by
haptism and took the name of Cornelius, which ho
chose from the subject of my first Tnmul sermon.
After d.v.ne service, be came to my room, thankful,
ns be expressed him.elf. for the meieics of (Jod

'■ II'" «nme evening, Cornelius was summoned be-
fure the bead-man of bis caste, who bad formcriy
reated !„,„ with great kindness. When bo went with
the caleclnst, be was asked why he h«,l acted so fool-
."bly as to embrace the Christian religion? Ho ro-
Pbed, -I have not nele.l foolishly ; for I |„,|i„v„ ,|,„l I
cannot be sayed from eternal damnation without the
Kcdeeiner. Jesus Christ.' ' That,' sai.l the he..,|.,nan
■• your misled min.l, which m„k,.s you think thus'

By what can you know that it is the word of the true
»»<wl ? ' I ermit me to say,' rojoine.l Cornelius ' that
honey ,s ,wee, ; but j,, gweelneHS is known by lum
only who has tasted it. A man having no taste, can-
not, by any description, form a coneepli.m of the
sweetness of lumey. Head but our true vedam ;
and if you seek earnestly tlie salvation of your soul
yoi. will then know that it h the word of the truo

On the 1st of J„„„ary. l««.i, „ „,,„•„ ^^^ ,^
ciy baptized by the name of John, aft.r making a
sui.nbe address to the congregution. ami breaking the
Mcrc.l I rammical cord, with which, i, has been Ltly
observed, Satan binds those dehi.led priests to hi,
v-rvice. And, about three weeks aftorwar.ls, six bra-
then women were admitted into the rliurch I," .l„
same solemn rite. Of one of these. „„ aged female,
Mr. KidKdale olwerves, "I had. one day, a moat
mterestuiK ccmversation with her. I asked what had
induced her to think of changing h.r religion. She
replied, ' Hefore, I worshipped plenty of idol,, but
what good ? I went to the church to receive alms

!!!!!'-''»!!! J^" «'«';"^'''« preach ; then, after be had'
-•"— , I sTrn? r:t7;:jjn .isk.'ii tm ipiH-tJonn, nnd, among
others, if we knew that we wore all sinneir. 1 wont
home, and ilmiigbt, What this ? Then tba light Wgin to

u
441

< i

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

come into my mind, and I feel myself a great sinner.
Tiien I tell my son and daughter that I like to be a
Christian. They laugh at me, but I not mind. I feel
very great love to Je^is Christ, and I think upon him
always.' On my asking why she wished to be bap-
tized, she replied, ' That I may come to Christ, and
get pardon and salvation.' Fearing that she might
entertain erroneous views of the ordinance, I asked
her if she thought that the baptismal water could
pardon and save her. But she answered, with great
energy and expressive oriental gesture, ' O no! waler
can do nothing. On!y Christ can save me.' I asked
her whither she expected to go after death. She
replied, 'To God.* 'But,' said I, 'when you die,
tliey will put your body into the ground : how, then,
can you go to God ?' She said, ' My soul will go to
God.' And, on my asking how she knew she had a
tioul, she observed, 'I see, and think, and do many
things, which my body could not do of itself: if my
joul was gone, then :iiy body would be quiet.'

" The case of this poor Hindoo woman (who is
tbout seventy years of age, and her hair as vvliite ps
^ool) is, I trust, a practical comment on that beauti-
lul passage of Holy Writ, ' Hatii not God chosen the
poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the
kingdom which he hath promised to them that love
bin. ?' "

In addition to the public ministrations of the Rev.
Messrs. Barenbruck and Ridsdale, great attention ap-
Ii>ears to have beeu paid to the great xvork of translat-
ing and publishing a variety of useful books in the
Tamul language ; and the following anecdote, as con-
nected with this department of the mission, is too
mterc&iing to be withheld : —

" A little while ago," says Mr. Ridsdale, " an old
chariot belonging to a pagoda near our premises was
sold, an<t from a ])art of one of the wheels wo made
the platten of a new printing-press. This suggested
to me the idea of turning Satan's weu|K)ns against him-
self; and, accordingly, with this piece of wood which
had been for year? employed in \m service, we struck
oil" a thousand copies of that bcamiful portion of Holy
Scripture, the fortieth chapter of Isaiah's prophecy
in the form of a tract. May these little messengers
of heavenly wisdom contribute to sap the foimdations
of idolatry, and to dissipate the shades of hcuthcn
superstition !"

In the month of February, Mr. Bareid)ruck left
Mil Iras, and removed to Tran(jMt'bar ; as, fmni his
competent k' awledge of the Tanud Junguage, and his
familiarity with the charucicr of the natives, it was
considered expedient tliat he should undertake the
*u|M>rintendence of liie »>ciety'i missions in that part
of liie country. The vacancy occasioned by his re-

moval was filled up by the Rev. William Sawyer, who
sailed from England in the preceding spring, in com-
pany with the Rev. Messrs. Maisch and Reichardt,
and the Rev. Isaac Wilson, destined to strengthen the
mission at Calcutta.

In the year 1823, the Church Missionary Society
had missionaries or religious teachers in no fewer than
seven stations in the southern part of Hindoostan,
besides Madras: these were Poonamallee,Tranquebar,
Tinnevelly, Cottayain, Cochin, Allcpie and Telli-
cherry. It is not, however, to be supposed that the
missionary records of all these stations are equally
interesting or important. In these respects, Madras,
Tinnevelly and Cottayam unquestionably bear the
palm ; the first, as being the metropolis, and the centre
of missionary energy in Southern India ; the second,
as having been, from 1823, the chosen s|H}t for the
descent of a peculiar blessing ; and the third, from its
being in the district c .lat interesting people, the
Syrian Christians. At these three places, then, the
proceedings of the Church Missionary Society will be
detailed as fully as the confined limits of this depart-
ment of the present work will allow ; while the five
other stations will not be passed over without a share
of notice, proportionate to their relative interest.

The mission at Madras and its more immediate
neighborhood, under the direction of the Rev. J. Rids-
dale and Rev. W. Sawyer, is described in the society's
24th report, as "becoming more systematic in all its
parts, and as proceeding steadily under those trials of
faith, with which so many of the servants of Christ are
exercised, in waiting far the more abundant blessinp, of
the Holy Spirit on their labors." The difTerent " parts"
above alluded to may be comprised under the heads of
preaching and public instrucfioti, i'uo tr.-.iy'ating of lliii
Scriptures and ri'lij>;ioii:; works, the printing depart-
ment, and the education of youtii. In public preach-
ing, much could not be done, or indeed expected, owing
to the recent arrival of the missionary to whose share
of duty it fell, and his consinpienl .slight knowlc(!|io
of the Toninl. A native catochist waa in the linhit
of preaching under Mr. Sawyer's supTintendence,
and out of a regular attendance in the chinrli if
eighty or ninety persons, the mis.sionary could point
to several living witnesses of the trnth and cflicacy
of the gospel. The triinslntion of the New Testa
ment into Tanml by the Rev. T. Uhenius had nearly
been completed, and several works on religion, history,
science and graninnir were in pronres'.. So active
was the press during the year \Hl,], ilmt upwards of
.■|.'»,.'»0() co|ii( < of different works on the ahove-nien-
tioned subjects issneil from it. I.ileratuio is projierly
the hMndmaid of religion.

The scliools contained at this {leriod about fiv«

hundred and eighty children, besides which the sen,-

Se officii' '7r««'"']"«'i'-y'ng native youths for
the office of rehgious mstructers to their countrymen
gave pn,,, „f f„,„,, j^ connection h

Madras may be mentioned the schools at Tranquebar
wh.ch. ongmally founded by Dr. John, a Danisircle"
gyman.and.m 816, transferred by him to the Church

care of the Rev. G. I. Biirenbruck. In them Chri,
..an mstruction was imparted to about oeThousl"
even hundred and fifty native children ; and in "St
their supenntendence was resumed b; the Danth
au hont.es, to whom they owed theirorigin. The o
-ety's nnssion in that quarter was thenlansferredTo
Mayaveram abou; ten miles west from Trannueba
V ere, at the dateof the last reports, there werl thlty
it hh^r'"'"^ fifteen hundred scholars, in connec'
of MR TT^ ""'' ""'^"^ ""« superintendence
b fwo .^r^ "''' 7'^ •'"''" »«^«-6ayam, assisted
by two catechms and thirty native schoolmasters.

TINNEVELLY.

This is, perhaps, without exception, the most inter-
estmg of all the stations of the Church Missionary
Society on account of the singular blessing which has
attended the labors of their missionaries here. This
js the scene of the greatest triumph of our society over
heathenism, as the islands of the Pacific are that of
the London ..fissionary Society ; and in both cases,
udden and Mne.pectcd success has been vouchsafed to
long-conlmued, and at last almost despairing labor.

llie origin and present state of this work of God
may be thus briefly sketched —

In the year WiO, the Rev. Messrs. Rhenius and
Schin.d. with their xvives, assisted by Mr. R Lyon
Duvul, a converted native, and fifteen Tamul school-'
masters commenced a mission at Palamcotta, and
established a seminary there for the education of na-
tive teachers and catechists. Previous to this period,
however, nine schools had been formed by ,he
Christian Knowledge Society, and liberally supported
by the congregation of the Rev. I. Hough, chaplain
>t the station. U tlwe, two hundred and eighty-
three children v-^m ,uider instruction ; and, in 1819
there were thi.(y.f-,uv converts from heathenism, and'
one hundred ,,^ eventy-four communicants. For
throe years from the time of the arrival of the mis-
sionaries, no apparent success attended their labors

R„b:!f!. '!?f_" ^°.''fj\ ?'•"'"•" ""y* archdeacon
„ ■■ "'■ ~"^ ••"=/ siuios; DCigHii to despair."' but
they fainted not, and in due teason wore to reap the

699

fruit of their patient toil. I„ 1923, eight men and
three women were baptized at a village „«LT'^-
poolangoody. the first-fruits of l^tbLlT aT^

cr^e anS""? ''' "umber of converts rapid yinl
creased, and under circumstances calculated to evince

Marirrrr""'"''' «"'• ^™'" persecution m
May, 1824, there were Christian congregations in five
villages, a number which, by the same momh n 4he
fo lowing year, had increased to twenty-five" thlsame
relentless persecution, which, in two inLnces at Zt
amounted to murder, still continuing. In 1826 ^

ardrea::"'''"!" ''^ ""'''-' -^-e^i a'L t:

Zd to?t'''r^r"«'"'' '^' "'"^ionaries sup-
C Ve sto. ' r'".' "'.''' ''' unestablished believe«
increase of the congregat.gns will be evident from the
following summary, communicated to the parent so-
ciety towards the close of 1829 -^

In June, 1827, in 106 villages,
" July, 1828, " i46 «
" June, 1829, '« 205 "

FamlHoi.

756

954

1855

PeraoiM.

2557
3505
6243

The schools also increased nearly in an eoual ™,l«
so that, in June, 1829 tl.nJr „ ' '" a" «q«al ratio,
fortv-si» n„„.„- u ""mber amounted to

orty-six, containing about nine hundred and seventy
scholars, male and female. " Various prov dS
circumstances aided the spread of knowledge, oratie
the increase of desire to know the truth ; such a ,he
cholera J deaths by i,, no.withscanding the people'!
sacrifices to their idols ; the flood in I8I7 ; difficul ie
attending the processions of the idol c rs at .hl
east.; temples being robbed of , heir dol t the
heathen, themselves ; tracts puUished on thoseUa
S T'" .",".""'''"« °"^ labors in the town of
rmnevelly uself, by the rise of a congregation" and
he building of a church in the midst of it ; ,hl "tead

persecuted, the daily more apparent impo.ency of the
Idol-gods to do any thing in their defencLJ^^Le a„d
similar circumstances operated most favorably Tn ali
classes, and the congregations began again to increase "

May, 1830, there were upwards of two thousand fam-
■lies, consisting ol more than seven thousand five hun-
dred in,hv.duals, under the ins.niction of the mission-
aries. There were one thousand three hundred chil-
dren, including one hundred and twelve girls in tha
native schools. In the two hundred and fo;ty.four
villages through which these families are dispersed,
there are one hundred and fifty churches or prayed
nouses, in which divino sery-c- i- rf.r-..-!;-..-t=.^ s.^ -•_
four catechists, the whole bring iuporin^endj CSi,
Rev. Messrs. Schmid and Rl.onius. But what are

600

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

they among so many ? The native caterhists, who
have been the chief instruments in the work of con-
version, are mostly young, imperfectly instructed, and
as yet with little experience. The call for native
teachers has been loud and importunate ; the mission-
aries have answered it, not as they wished, but as they
could ; and God has owned the effort, and blessed it
exceedingly, notwithstanding the imperfection of the
means.

A marked improvement has taken place in the
character of the people. An interesting fact, which
occurred in a congregation of weavers, will illustrate
this assertion. After these weavers became Christians,
they said they could no longer consent to connive at
the tricks of the native revenue officers, and to share
their plunder, in falsely numbering their looms, and so
defrauding the government. The collector, at their
request, numbered the looms afresh ; and one thousand
rupees were thus saved to the govenmient.

Tlie following animated description of one of the
most active instruments in the glorious work going on
here, is furnished by archdeacon Robinson, who visited
this district in 1830; — "I had an opjHirtunity of wit-
nessing Mr. Rhcnius's method of addressing the hea-
then. We were walking round the splendid cloisters
of the great pagoda of Vanmnen, and were followed by
many hundreds. His lively and perfectly notivemode
of a:ldres9, as well as the fluency of his language,
attracts them wonderfully. The Bramins crowded
•round him with ea2;emess ; and as we stopped occa-
sionally at an angle of the building, a question led toa
remonstrance on the folly of this stupendous idolatry,
thus convicted and exposed by their own replies, till
his remarks assumed gradually the form of a more
general <liscourse, addres^nd to the multitude:* around ;
while the pillars, the .^ides of the tank, and the pave-
ment of the cloister, were covered with eager listen-
ers, who were hushed into breathless silence. He is
bold, vivid, impressive ; cheerful in his whole appear-
ance ; happy in his illusiniiions ; and a master, not only
of their language, but of their feelings and views."

TRAVANCORE.

The employment of the laborers stationed at Cot-
tnynri in Travancore, is of a nature not strictly mis-
sionary. Their ministry is not exercised for the ben-
efit of the heathen, but of Christians, in name, at
least. It is not to plant a new church, but to revive
the spirituality and reform the practice of the Syrian
churches on the Malabar coast. ^Ho have sunk into a
title of declension nearly approximating that of the

Roman Catholic church. This mission was established
in 1817. Ulterioriy, indeed, the benefit of the hea-
then is aimed at ; for the Syrian churches, when re*
suscitated, may reasonably be expected to supply active
and useful native missionaries to their ignorant fellow
countrymen. In the moan time, great caution and
much Christian wisdom were requisite in the conduct
of the English clergymen to their brethren of the
Syrian church. So to carry on the work of reforma-
tion as to stir up ill-will or jealousy against them-
selves, would at once defeat their object : to co:iciliate
the good-will, and even the respect, of tho native
clergy, was absolutely necessary ; and while the milder
graces of the Christian character were required for thtf
accomplishment of these objects, sterling faithfulness,
and no small share of moral courage, were equally in-
dispensable. Among the means contemplated by the
missionaries for the benefit of this interesting people,
was to make the church, as much as possible, the in-
strument of its own improvement ; " the translation
of tho Scriptures and Liturgy into Molayolim, ilio ver-
nacular language of the country ; tho formation of a
college for the education of the priests; and the estab-
lishment of schools at each of the chuiches in tho
district for the instruction of the children at large.
These important measures were generally approved
by the Syrian clergy, and received their sup|)ort ; and
they, without delay, took steps toward a translation of
the Scriptures."

The Syrian college at Cotym (now usually spelt
Cottayam) was projected by colonel Munro, the Brit-
ish resident at Travancore, and, at his instance, her
highness the rannee endowed it with very liberal
benefactions, and a considerable tract of land. It is
a large and handsome structure, pleasantly situated on
the hnnk of n fine river; and must be regarded as an
institution of the first im|K)vtHMce.

In \Sii',i, tho Syrian college for the education of the
catauars or young priests, under the care of the Rev.
J. Fenn, contained forty-five students. In connection
with this establishment, and forming a nursery to it,
was the granunar school, in which forty-thivo boys
were being educated, besides fifty-one parochial schools,
where instruftion was comtnuiiieated to one thousand
four hundred and twenty-one children. Two oilier
missionaries, in conjvuiction with Mr. Fenn, — the Hov.
Messrs. Hailey ond Boker, — were engaged ni Cottayam,
the former of whom su|ieriutond<'d the press, and the
translation of the Scriptures ond Iiiturcy, while tho
latter had charge of the grnnMunr and other schools.

No'.iiing occurred to interrupt the entire confidence
re|)osed by the biMiy of the Syrian clergy in their pro-
fnaa^d reA^rfHefs^ tiQT ibe 999Q t9Gci* of life !£fadyil
improvement of l»oth priests awl peoftle, until the year

18261 when the violent proceedings of Mar Athanasius
impeded the latter, though they did not injure the
former. Thic dignitary, having received his appoint-
ment to tlie episcopate of the Syrian chiirehes from
the patriarch of Antioch, considered his own claims of
Bupenor validity to tliose of Mar Philoxenes, who was
at that time filling the office of metropolitan ; and
such was the tumult occasioned by the contention, that
the number of students in the college decreased, the
schools fell off, and the general interests of the mission
were not a little affected. The storm, though violent,
was, however, of short duration, and ended in tl>e
forcible removal of Atlmnasius from the territory of
Trarancore, by colonel Newall, the British resident.

We may infer the progress of education from the
lollowing increased returns, communicated by the mis-
sionaries in 1830:-" Besides one hundred students in
the college, and forty-eight in the grammar school,
there were one thousand three hundred and eighty-
four boys in sixty-three parochial schools. At the
same time, the average attendance at a female school
established in 1827, by Mr Fenn, amounted to sixty-
five girls. Four printing-j.resses have, for some time
past, been constantly employed in printing portions of
bcripturo, and religious treatises adapted to (he wants
of the people. In tiie distribution of the word of

BOMBAY AND WESTERN INDIA.

«0f

God, the metropolitan himself wsists, and to nie«tthe
gene«I desire of the Syrians for Biblical information,
four Scripture readers have been for some time bene-
ficially employed."

The testimony of archdeacon Robinson, an unbiassed
spectator, as to the state of the mission in 1880, is
valuable. He thus writes :-" It was highly gratify ng
•o witness the great progress, both of sound learning
and religious feeling, among the Syrian youth, whS
are destined for holy orders j the great desire for edu-
cat«)n which has spread throughout the country; and
the confidence and affection with which the brethren
at Lottayam are regarded generally, both by the
clergy and laity. The improvement thus produced,
especially among the candidates for the priesthood
give, us the best ground of hope for the future refor'
mation of this church."

In addition to the stations in South India already
mentioned^ there are others in connection with the
Church Missionary Society at Pulical. Allepie and
Cocbin, supplied by c/er^ymen, assisted b/^at"*
catechists and teachers. At Tellicherry. also, J^iZ
Bellary, the society has a catechist, but has not yet been
aWe to supply a missionary for these two places. The
schools at these five last-mentioned stations contain
one thousand two hundred and seventy children.

BOMBAY AND WESTERN INDIA.

LirrLE of missionary enterprise has been engaged
m at Bombay ; less, perhaps, than at any other single
station of the Church Missionary Society. The only
laborer thcrc, in 182.3, was the Rev. R. Kennoy. who
haci been appointed to this post two years lioforp. Ho
had one hundred and fifty lioys under rolJRiou. instruc-
tion ; and about twenty were in the hnbii of attending
at h.s house to loarn Mahrntta and English, and thus
afforded inni an opportunity of conveying to them
a knowledge of gospel truth. The lettnrH of some of
these hoys arc interesting, and afford grounds forliopo
that a saving rlmnge has been effected in the hearts of
individuals of their number.

fn July, 1820, the Rev. Messrs. Mitcheil and Stew-
ard, with their wives, arrived o- Bombay, Mr. Kennoy
ha.'ing been oblieed, by the ill....ss of his family, to
return to England, In a few months, two school,
were established, Qt which about thirty-five native girls
attended. These institutions, however, soon expe-
rienced a great loss, in the removal by death of Mrs

""■■" - m.-.-iuiianc:T, in tcariiilig .•«<irini native

youtlii, were gratified to observe the deep attention
Vor,. 1 — Nos. .oi 6i (3^_ ^g

with which instruction of a decidedly religious nature
was received by their pupils. Mr. Mitchell having
been left, by the removal of Mr. Steward, the o, ly
missionary on the station, took up his residence first
at Bass6cn about forty miles north of Bombay, and
suh.,e,,uently at Tannah, whe.c he was chiefly^iccu.
pied in the superintendence of schools. The attend
anre at these amounted, in 1828, to two hundred and
tilty-six boys and thirty girls.

The mission was strengthened, in 1829, by the arrival
of Messrs. Dixon and Farrer, the former of whom has
resided since that time chiefly at Basscen, and has
edited the Gospel of St. Luke and the Acts of the
Apostles in the Persian language. Mr Farrer was
stationed at Bandorn, and, since the return home of
Mr. Mitchell, those two are the only laborers in con.
nertion with the Church Missionary Society «t this
'ilation. At the date „f the Inst reports, three hun-
dred an.l eighty-eight boys and twenty-six girls were
receiving Christian instruction. Mnr-h •uccssh Hm nat
litiicrto attended the preaching o( iho gospel to the
natives.

■m

fill

60S

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CHAPTER VI.

MISSION IN THE ISLAND OF CEYLON,

The directors of the Church Missionary Society
having determined on sending four clergymen to Cey-
lon, the Rev. Messrs. Lambrick, Mayor, Ward and
Knight were appointed to that mission ; and in the
month of June, 1818, they arrived safely at Colombo,
where they were received with the utmost cordiality
by all classes of persons. His excellency the gov-
ernor was absent at the time of their arrival, in con-
sequence of an insurrection in the Kandian provinces ;
and they were, therefore, detained for some time from
proceeding to their respective stations ; but this delay
was attended with the advantage of their obtaining
much information respecting the state of the island,
and of the particular places to which their attention
had been directed. As the result of these inquiries,
Mr. Lambrick was fixed at Kandy , instead of Colombo,
which had been originally intended, and Mr. Ward at
Calpenym, instead of Trincomalee ; Mr. Mayor pro-
ceeding, us originally destined, to Galle, and Mr.
Knight to Jaffhapatam.

In a letter dated Kandy, October 27, 1818, Mr. Lam-
brick says, " I have had full employment for the exer-
cise of my ministry among the numbers of our country-
men here, both civil and military, and especially in the
crowded hospitals ; but hitherto I have been precluded
from any public missionary exertions. The town, in-
deed, has been almost desorted by the native inhabit-
ants, ever since the rebellion broke out ; but we have
the greatest encouragement to hope that God is about
to restore the blessings of peace ; and with it the peo-
ple will return. I cannot, at present, be permitted to
preach to the natives ; but I have obtained authority
to open schools, and have engaged two of the priests
to be the masters of them ; as they have promised to
conform to my directions

" A few days ago, the governor, in the prospect of
the rebellion being speedily terminated, proposed re-
turning to Colombo, and desired that I might be asked
whether I would remain here after he had left. And,
on my signifying my assent, his excellency conferred
upon me the appointment of assistant chaplain to the
forces in Kandy ; which, as long as I retain it, will
•ave the gociety my personal axp?.????!;.

" I am applying myself as closely as possible to
the acquirement of the language ; and though my
progress is not equal to my wishes, I hope to surmount
its difficulties, at least so far as to deliver a written
sermon in it intelligibly, in less than a twelvemonth ;
and I hope, long before that time, to be permitted
to preach to the natives, through an interpreter. I
have had several very interesting conversations with
some of the priests, two of whom have taken the
New Testament, with a promise to read it atten-
tively."

At Calpentym, Mr. Ward found the people, general-
ly speaking, in the depth of poverty and ignorance.
Heathen, Mahometans and Roman Catholics were all
bigots in their respective systems ; and the greater
pan of the Protestants were perfectly indifferent about
the religion which they professed. The sabbath was
also wofully disregarded, and profaned by cock-fighting,
gaming and dnmkenness ; so that few persons seemed
mclined to attend on the ministration of the word.
Some of these, however, appeared to listen with atten-
tion ; and it is hoped that, in a few instances, the
serious conversation which our missionary introduced,
when visiting the natives, was productive of beneficial
effects. The school, established by Mr. Ward, ap-
pears, for some time, to have been tolerably well at-
tcnde I ; but, in the spring of 1819, the pupils wera
so niai ?rinlly diminished, in consequence of that severe
visitation, the cholera morbut, that a temporary aban-
donment of it became necessary.

The first person who died of the epidemic, at Cal-
pentym, was the wife of a poor native Christian ; and
as Mr. Ward understood that there was another woman
afflicted with the same disease, he went with Mr.
Knight, who was then willi him, to the house ; but,
besides the female to whom we have alluded, they
found two men and a youth, all laboring under the
same affliction. The scene was deeply affecting, as
the sufferers (ail of whom were of one fauUly) were
perfectly helpless, and their relatives had abandoned
them to their fate, under the idea that it would be in
vain to attempt their restoration. Mediciii^s and suit-
aoic nouiisniTi^rii Wcie prumpily furnislied by iii«

, . - ^ /» *•"' I'l 11^.11 llilill'

before the people, rjpeats cnitnin incaniniirir.!: q

»_.i

Pecoivns tlie o(reriMii;s of money or provisions nindcby
tlie surrounding throng. Tlie money lie is sup|K)sed

kmdness of Mr. Ward and hw friend, and under the
blessmgof God.the nr.en began to exhibit favorable
aynr.ptoms ; but the woman and the youth, being super-
miously prejudiced against the medicine, expired In
the course of the evening.

The next day, on the survivors being revisited by
the missionaries, a number ofheathens came from an
adjacent temple, with consecrated ashes, which the
invalids were to rub on their foreheads, as the badge
of their religious profession. These, however, the
riJTT 'TT'^ '° ''''''' '"y reluctantly.
tlL ^^^ . .J"" ^'^°'' '"•'^ '^''" •''"'J benefactoS
tliat they had resolved to embrace Christianity. The
Catholics, in (ho mean time, were pretending to per-
form miracles, by giving the people their holy water ;
and the Gentoos were anxious to make it appear, that
some sick persons had been restored to health, by
prostrating themselves in their temple.

Of Galle, the scene of Mr. Mayor's exertions, that
gentleman observes, "Wo have free access to the
natives, and their prejudices against Christianity arc
not deeply rooted. The children possess an intellect
capable of the highest cultivation, and their parents
are willing to have them taught to road. The Euro-
peans and head-men are also favorable to our mis-
sionary labors ; so that we have encouragements to
persevere; though the ignorance and indifference of
the people would, of themselves, greatly diminish our
expectation of success. There are upwards of three
thousand Mahometans in Galle, who speak Malabar ;
but hitherto no attempt has been made to lead them
into the way of truth. They are persons of very
quick understanding, but so completely engrossed in
trade, that missionaries have been discouraged from
using any means to instruct them. Several of them
however, have called on me, desiring me to educato
their sons m Lnglish ; and a considerable number
attend daily at my house, together with several Cinen-
lese, and a Budhist priest."

Towards the latter end of October, Mr. Mayor made
an excursion up the river Gindra, and explored the
villages on its banks, to a distance of about tiiirty
miles from Galle, which led to the establishment of
various schools among them. At a short distance from
the first village at which ho stopped, he found the
remains of one of the heathen ceremonies called "a
devil's dance." " A-, these meetings," says he, " which
always take place in the night, the devil's priest
attends, dressed in t red cloak, and accompanied by
several tom-tom beat .>rs. Whilst these men are boat-
mg the tom-tom (a sort of drum), the priest dances

CEYLON.

Mi:

003

t to "rry to a certain .pot it. the Kandian country.

sick attend these meetings, in hopes of being cured ;
or.if thetr illness be so aeveie that they cannot be

Ws hor..'""'' '"' '"" " *""''""•«* '^ ">« -I'
At another village, about six miles farther, an elder-
ly man applied ,o our missionary, requesting him to
baptize his child ; but, on being seriously questioned
respecting his knowledge of the Saviour, and the state
of his own heart, he appeared to be lamentably igno-
ran, <.The Dutch." says Mr. Mayor, "have done
much injury to the cause of Christianity in this island •
by disqualifying all persons from inheriting property
who have not been baptized. In consequence of this
law every one. whether he worship Budhu or the

rhnihrr'""" '° ^ "^'"'""^ '"'° '^' Christian
church by baptism. And you will be shocked when I

en you that there is scarcely one of the devil's priests
who has not been baptized ;_searcely one of those
who offer sacrifices to the prince of darkness, or pros-
trato themselves before the image of Budhu, who has
not ins name enrolled among the disciples of Christ !"
In another communication, Mr. Mayor gives the
followmg account of the. Budhist priests, who, it
seems, are supported entirely by the people —'< Thev
wear a long yellow robe, which covers the whole
body, from the neck to the feet ; and in their mode
of living they are remarkably abstemious, never taking
any food after noon. For the most part, they are very
unlearned ; though some of them appear to be as
subtle objectors against the truths' of revelation u
infidels in England. It is contrary to their religion to
marry. In their temples they have several larice
figures of Budhu, before which they and their people
prostrate themselves, and offer gifts. They deny that
Uie heavens and the earth were created by a superior
Being and assert that all things exist by chance. They
regard Budhu as a sort of god, who, by chance, has
obtained the preeminence ; and they believe that he
has appeared in the worid about three hundred times
in different forms of birds and beasts. They hold the
doctnnc of transmigration, and suppose that all bodily
diseases are the consequences of sin committed in a
former state of existence."

The Kev. .Joseph Knight, in the mean time, haJ
removed to Nelloro, a parish very near to Jaffna
winch afforded him the advantage of sitting down in
the midst of the natives, and, at ihesat^ie time, enabled
bun to perform the duties of chaplain at the Fort
church in Jaffna. Of the heathen in his neighbor-
hood, !,e obr^crves, ** TtiiH is one of the strong-holds
of idolatry ; as one of the largest temples in the wholo
diMriri (in which there are said to be not less than a

604

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

thousand) is at Nellora. There are annual exhibi-
tions, such as are described by I>r. Buchanan in his Re-
searches ; and 1 have myself witnessed the procession
of a car, where thousands of deluded worshippen
were collected together, to prostrate themselves, and
pay their homage to a god which could not save. Their
prejudices aw, at present, deeply rooted in favor of
their ancient customs and superstitions ; and the Bra-
mins, in addition to their prejudices of caste, and re-
gard for reputation, have all their temporal interests
at slake ; for if once tliey renounced idolatry, tliey
would have no moans of support.

" With respect to the Roman Catholics, the show
and parade of their worship and processions greatly
attract the attention of this people, and titeir pretended
power of working miracles is admirably calculated to
operate on their weakness and credulity. At their
festivals, they are said to efibcl wonders with the ashes
of a deceased saint, and numbers flock to them with
their maladies and tlieir offerings ; by which their
funds and their influence are rapidly increased. In-
deed, the Catholics and Gentoos seem to vie with each
other, who shall make the most splendid show ; while
many look on with careless indifference, or are even
amused with what they witness."

Soon aAer his removal to this station, Mr. Knight
opened his house for preaching, and was occasionally
assisted by the Rev. Christian David, of wliom Dr.
Buchanan makes honorable mention. He alo went
out into the adjacent villages, and conversed with the
people wherever he could find them — in their temples,
at their houses, or by the way-side. And, in ad-
dition to these exertions, he opened a school for the
purpose of instructing boys ia reading the Holy Scrip-
tures, and had, in a short time, the pleasure of collect-
ing twenty-four pupils, who evinced an excellent ca-
pacity, and made a pleasing progress in their studies.
In the midst of all these exertions, however, the
cholera morbus appeared in the district ; in conse-
quence of which, his labors were necessarily suspended,
the school was broken up, and the state of the natives,
under this afflictive visitation, became truly distressing.
" The people," says Mr. Knight, " no longer ventured
to walk about ; the Bramins persuading them that the
devils, which they said were parading the streets,
would afflict them with the skkness. The markets
and places of public resort were consequently deserted.
Numbers of temples were erected in every direction ;
— expensivesacrificesof sheep, fowls, rice and flowers,
were offered ; — and numberless ceremonies and super-
stitions were resorted to, in ordsr to conciliate the
favor of the devil, whom they worship with much
dread ; or to appease some angry goddess, who they
•aid was displeased with them. Idols were paraded

piping

about tJie streets in grand procession ; and ^.^^^
and drumming were continued at the temples whole
nights, for weeks successively ; while the crafty Bra-
mins took advantage of the fears and credulity of the
people, to promote their own interests."

One evening, in returning from Jaffna, our mission-
ary saw, at a distance,*a splendid procession of the
idols from the principal temple, attended with canopies,
torches, music, &c. The inhabitants of those parts
through which the procession was to pats, had been
employed all day in cleaning and ornamenting their
streets ; and many scores of valuable plantain-trees
had been destroyed, to prepare for this idolatrous cer-
emony. These were stuck up, and formed into booths
or arbors, at the entrance of every door or gate, and
particularly at the comer of the roads. Under each
booth was placed an earthen pot, containing water,
or cocoa-nuts, herbs, and flowers, as an offering to the
idols ; and the roads, from which every stick and leaf
had been carefully swept, were sprinkled, to lay the
dust. Before the procession passed, the arbors, &c.
were well lighted with lamps, and a considerable
number of persons attended the ceremony ; but, in a
few minutes afterwards, the lights were extinguished,
and no individual ventured to remain in the streeta,
from the apprehension of meeting the devil.

In the course of the same month, a person who had
done some work for Mr. Knight came to ask for his
money, saying that ho wanted it to buy rice for the
devil. This, it seems, was in consequence of the
approach of an annual ceremony, when the deluded
heathens endeavor to ascertain their fate for the ensu-
ing year. On this occasion, each person, however
poor, contrives to purchase a little rice, which is boiled
with much superstitious veneration in an earthen
dish, used only for this purpose, and then broken,
or laid aside till that day twelvemonth. They profesa
to discover their destiny by the manner in which the
rice first begins to boil. If it boil up freely, tliey sup-
pose the devil is pleased, and they expect prosperity ;
but if otherwise, the most disastrous consequences are
anticipated."

Mr. Mayor, in the meantime, had resolved, with the
approbation of his brethren, to remove from Galle
some miles into the interior, where he might devote
nimself entirely to the natives. Accordingly, he took
up his station at the village of Badagamnie, containing
about a thousand inhabitants ; and, having obtained a
tract of land from the government, erected a comfortable
house on an eminence, which commanded a delightful
prospect of a winding river, a fertile valley, well-
cultivated fields, and distant mountains. Here, on

the LfOrd's day. be had sn^f^ti;

addressing about a hunda children, besides adulu ;

CEYLON.

and the latter appeared to be gradually losing their
confidence in their heathen superstitions. Some of
them, indeed, ingenuously confessed timt the doctrines
of Christianity were more reasonable, and better adapt-
ed to the wants of man, than the religion of Budhu.
The priests, however, were so well convinced that if
was their own interest to uphold the ancient system
of delusion, that they were almost invariably found,
upon all occasions, to resist every argument adduced
.D support of the truth. This branch of the mission
was afterwards strengthened by the labors of Mr.
Ward, who removed thither from Nellore, as the
chmate at the latter place was found unsuitable to his
constitution.

On the 4th of August, 1820, some grand ceremonies
were performed at a temple in the vicinity of Nellore,
where the Rev. Mr. Knight was now laboring without
assistance. Three idols, intended to represent a being
called Conderswamy and his two wives, were placed
on figures larger than life, representing a cow with a hu-
man head and breast, a horse, and a ram. These figures
\vero gaudily painted, elevated on poles above the peo-
ple, and carried round the temple on men's shoulders.
Dancing girls, richly decorated, drummers and pipers,
and rows of torches, preceded the idols ; and imme-
diately before them were four or five figures of the
trident, with a flaming light issuing from each prong ;
and above each image was a white canopy or um-
brella. On each side of the road, forming a lano for
tlie procession, were many canopies, flags, peacocks'
feathers, and variotis decorations ; all together present-
ing a very splendid, and, to the ignorant natives, an
imposing appearance.

Before the procession began to move, a sacrifice,
consisting of some of the fruits of the country, was
oflfercd to the idols. A cocoa-nut was then dashed
and broken against a stone ; the water which it con-
tained WHS spilled, and the pieces of the broken shell
were eagerly seized by those who stood around. A
cloth was suspended, to hide from the multitude the
ceremony of sacrificing, and only one instrument (a
kind of trumpet) was sounded ; but as soon as the
cloth was removed, and the splendor of the ornaments
appeared, a dinning clangor arose, and the hands of
the whole multitude were clasped and elevated above
their heads, in token of homage to their imaginary
gods. Behind the images, about fifteen persons rolled
in the dust, all the way they went ; probably as an
atonement for sin, or in fulfilment of some vow, made
by the deluded worshippers in a period of sickness or
distress. At the close of the procession, before the
images were taken into the temple, sacrifice was again
offered ; the dancing girls and musicians parading
in a large circle round the idols, while the stunning

605

sound of tom-toms, cymbals, and harsh instrumente
of various kinds, reverberated on all sides. " Such
IS the scene," says Mr. Knight, "which, from time
to time, attracts thousands of spectators, all of whom
believe that what is done is verily pleasing to God."

In the month of September, Uie Rev. Thomas Brown-
ing and his wife arrived at Ceylon ; and, by permis-
sion of the lieutenant-governor, proceeded to join Mr
Lambrick at Kandy. Here they found a large and
attentive congregation ; and were not a Utile gratified
with receiving under their protection a little Kandian
orphan, of about two years of age, who was obtained
from a Caffre soldier, by paying the expenses which
the chdd had occasioned since the death of his mother.
They had also the pleasure, on the second sabbath iii
November, of witnessing the baptism of an adult
heathen,— a young African, belonging to one of the
Ceylon regiments, who had, for a considerable Ume,
been under a daily course of religious instruction, and
had given the most satisfactory proofs of the com-
mencement of a work of divine grace upon his heart-
He had, for some time, been desirous of baptism, but
had no sponsors ; but when Mr. and Mrs. Browning
saw him, and heard his unaffected statements, they
cheerfully supplied this deficiency, and became his
witnesses before the congregation.

On the 14th of February, 1821, the foundation
stone of a church was laid at Badagamme, in thf
presence of a great concourse of the natives. Mr
Ward, in alluding to this circumstance, observes
" The principal head-man in this part of the district
attended. He had before sent a subscription of fiftj
rix-dollars toward its erection, and a considerablti
number of the natives, who were present, came for-
ward and subscribed according to their ability. Brother
Mayor, Mr. Glenie, the head modeller, and myself,
addressed the people ; and rice, curry and fruits were
provided for all who chose to partake of them. About
three hundred and fifty children were present."

About four months after the founding of the church
Mr. Ward was requested, one aabbath day, to visit a
young woman on her dying bed. It appears that she
had been one of the first pupils in the female school
established at Badagamme, and had afterward married
and settled at Galle. Finding herself gradually sinking
into the arms of death, she did not desire some heathen-
ish ceremony to be performed, as she formerly would
have done, but sent for one of the missionaries, and
earnestly requested him to pray for her ; observing,
that she had heard of Jesus Christ at Badugamme,
and that she trusted in him alone for the salvation

nf hor annl llfr Wn»J .-... ■ _i

-. — — s ,,,, ,„„ ,,j.j a-jum a quarter

of an hour before she bade an everlasting adieu to the
things of time and sense ; and her dying testimony to

J a

e>.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

.6>

Wj us *" "'

I.I

2.5

12.2

:!f ii° III 2.0

L25 |||||_U_ IIIIII.6

^i J^

^ .'^

▼ S^''

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

33 WIST MAIN STRUT

WEISTIR.NY M5S0

(716) ■73-4S03

606

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

the truth was well calculated to cheer his sjurits, and
to encourage him in the prosecution of his important
labors.

The consistent views and peaoefiil departure of this
young woman form a striking contrast with the blind-
ness and delusion of her unconverted countrymen ; of
which the following is an affecting instance : —

"A priest," says Mr. Mayor, "came to me, one
4»y, from a temple in the Kandian territory, wishing
to consult me about his health. He had in his hand
a thick cane walking-3tick, with a large ivory top.
1 bad the curiosity to examine it, and found that the
top unscrewed, and that within it there was contrived
a little box, in which two small pills had been d<>posited.
Upon inquiry, the priest informed me that these pills
were kept in the box as a preservative against the
attacks of elephants. I asked how they could possibly
operate as a defence against so powerful an animal.
^as there any thing peculiar in the smell of the drug,
to prevent the elephant's approach ? or did it any way
hinder the elephant from seeing him on his journey ?
He replied, that it did not act in this way ; but while
he walked with this stick, he could pursue his journey
through the jungle in safety, and no animal would mo-
lest him. In vain did I endeavor tn point out the
folly of trusting in such delusions, and ;> convince him
that the Almighty Creator was the o^ly secure defence
on which man could rely. He went away to his
temple — a long journey — in full confidence, that,
though he had to pass through many jungles, no beast
would rush out to destroy him, because of the magic
of his much-prized wand."

From the beginning of 1822, the labors of the mis-
uionaries at Badagamme were considerably increased,
in consequence of their having undertaken the super-
intendence of nearly forty government schools in the
districts of Gallc> and Matura. The field of useful-
ness, however, which was thus thrown open, may be
judged of by the statements of Mr. Ward, who ob-
serves, " These schools have been establisiicd by gov-
ernment for many yofrs, but have always been inef-
ficient, from want of regular superintendence. They
extend over all this and the adjoining districts, and are
situated in tiie most populous villages. Two masters
are attached to each school, but many of these, at
present, arc very ignorant of the Christian religion ;
and we arc, therefore, directing our first attention to
them, in the hope that they will become the regular
channels for conveying religious knowiedge, not only
to the rising generation, but to the peuplu of tlicir
respective villages. These schools will give us access
to many tliousand natives ; they will also iiureasc our
innuencc-, uiiti m lii aiiuiu us iiiauy mure u|ipuriuiiiiifs
of preaching the gospel, and of distributing the Scrip-

tures and tracts, than we could have had without them.
Were we, indeed, but competently qualified in the
languages, and could but expose ourselves to the sun,
we might spend our days, like the first great mission-
ary, the Lord from heaven, in travelling from village
to village, preaching the things which concern the
kingdom of God."

At Kandy, about the same time, Mr. Lainbrick waa
disengaged, by the arrival of another chaplain, from
his pastoral relation with the Europeans of that place,
and received the thanks of government for the exem-
plary manner in which he had performed his ministerial
duties. He and his colleague, Mr. Browning, were now
anxious to remove to a village at the distance of about
nine miles, which they considered as a spot peculiarly
eligible for the direct objects of the mission ; but, as
this place was out of the reach of military protection,
the British resident at Kandy dissuaded them from
the prosecution of a plan which he considered to be
attended with serious danger. In February, Mr. Lam-
brick visited Colombo, for the purpose of Ihying before
his excellency sir Edward Paget, the state and pros-
pects of the mission, and afterwards proceeded to
Badagamme, in order to confer with his brethren on
the same interesting subject. On his return, Mr. and
Mrs. Browning took the same route, for the relief of
Mrs. Browning's mind, depressed by the recent loss
of a beloved infant.

At Nellore, the mission was strengthened^ in the
month of March, by the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Bailey
and his wife from England ; and most of the schools
which had been suspended in the preceding year, in
consequence of the epidemic, were not only resumed,
but some of the pupils afforded more satisfaction to
their teachers than they ever had done previously to
the suspension. The numbers wlio attended, however,
were considerably less than formerly, many of the
boys, as well as their parents, having been carried off
by the cholera morbus.

On the return of Mr. and Mrs. Brown to Kandy,
in the month of May, Mr. Lambrick removed toCotta,
a large village about six miles from Colombo, contain-
ing about four thousand five hundred inhabitants,
where he purchased from government a piece of
ground, of about five acres, and erected a dwelling-
house and printing-office. AAer residing a short
time at this new station, he observes, *■ Experience
has proved it to be a most desirable place for a per-
manent uiis«ionary cslilishment. It is in the midst
of a numerous population, among which schools
might be esiablislied In an extent si /liciont, together
with preaching, (o fill the hands of two or three mis*
siunaries in superintending them It appears to be as
licaltliy 09 any part of the island ; and is very favor*

CEYLON.

ably situated for maintaining a communication with
Colombo, both by land and water, while, at the same
Ume.it 18 sufficiently distant from it, to avoid the evib
connected with a large town.

" I have found the people here nominal Christians ;
but they are grossly ignorant of the first truths of
Chnstiamty, and awfully indifferent about them. But
a small proportion come to hear me : among these
however, I am pleased to see some women. On week
days, I go out among them, and talk to as many as are
disposed to listen. The cold assent which they give
equally to the most appalling denunciations and the
most winning promises, is, I think, more discouragiuK
than violent opposition would be. As an instance of
their Ignorance, I would mention, that, one day, on
asking a man of what religion he was, he replied.
'BudhuV 'So then,' I said, 'you are not a Chris-
tian ? 'O yes, to be sure,' he rejoined, 'I am a
Christian ; and of the Reformed Protestante too. ' Now
what this man, with unusual simplicity declared, is 1
believe, a true description of the great mass of the
people around us. They are Budhists in belief, but
politically Christians."

In the beginning of October, tlic ani.ual meeting of
the laborers in the Ceylon mission was held at Bada-
gamme ; on which occasion, all were present except
Mrs. Browning and Mrs. Bailey— Messrs. Larabrick
and Browning attending from Kandy, and Messrs.
Knight and Bailey, wiih the sister of the former, from
Nellore. Referring to this meeting, Mr. Knight thus
speaks of the station in which he had the pleasure of
meeting and conferring with his pious coadjutors —
On our arrival at Galle, we were highly delighted
with the beautiful scenery of the place, but more
especially with that of Badagamme ;-the rich verdure
which every where meets the eye ; the fine fresh-water
river, on which are frequently seen the Cingalese, with
their little canoes, carrying their commodities to the
market of Galle, or returning with supplies for their
families ; the extensive and commanding prospects ;
the distant mountains ; and almost every other natural
object,— calculated to gratify the sight and charm the
imagination. After passing four years in the sultry
plains of Jaflha, the contrast was so great, that I
almost seemed to be transported into an earthly para-
dise. But to see the children of the schools and their
parents training along the distant roads, and ascending
the hill, on the sabbath day, to attend the worship of
God, is calculated to impress the mind of a Christian
with more sublime and delightful thoughts : and it may
be confidently hoped that these highly favored people
will, ere long, ascend to the house of God with hearts

«ii.j

..>.** kC *uH

- Siviuur, of whom they have,
indeed, heretofore sometimet h«ard, and ioto whuao

607

holy Mth moat of them have been bapHwd, but of
whom they have hitherto been, for the moat part,
altogether ignorant. "^ '

The church of Badagamme was, at this time, nearly
completed, and iu tower excited much notice j as an
object of thia kind had never previously been seen in
the island. The chureh iteelf is a substantial struc-
ture, eighty-four feet by forty-three, and the interior
IS well adapted for the accommodation of a large con-
gregation. In the erection of this edifice, the mi?sion-
anes had to encounter difficulties which they could not
have anticipated, but which they were happily enabled
to surmount. In digging for the foundation, the work-
men soon came to an extensive bed of rocks, which it
was necessary, in some parts, to reduce ten feet in
thickness ; end as they consisted of the hardest granite,
this could only be effected by gunpowder ; the issue
of which material from the public stores had been
recently prohibited, in consequence of the aspect of
affairs in the Kandian territories. The lieutenant-
governor, however, kindly granted a license which obvi-
ated this difficulty ; and though seven hundred pounds*
weight of powder were required instead of fifty, which,
in the first instance, were calculated, the explosion of
the rocks furnished the best possible materials for the
building. "This," says Mr. Mayor, "is the firs*
church which has ever been erected in the interior oV
this island, for the sole benefit of the Cingalese ; am!
it will remain, I doubt not, a monument to future agei
of the day when the Sun of Righteousness first aros«
upon this benighted village ; and of that compassion
with which the Saviour has inspired British Christian*
toward the deluded natives of Ceylon.

" While we were engaged in laying the foundation
of this earthly temple, it was our endeavor also to lay
the foundation of a spiritual one ; and we cannot but
hope that the numerous laborers who received, for
many months, daily instruction in the things belonging
to the kingdom of God, have felt those convictions
of the truth of our holy religion, which will be as
permanent in their effects on the population around
us, as the edifice which they have been employed to
erect. We daily explained to them a portion of
Sciipture, and prayed with them, before they com-
menced their work; so that a general knowledge
of the truths of the gospel has been diffused among
tliem ; and we do not hesitate to say, that their con-
fidence in Budhism, if not entirely destroyed, is much
shaken."

In respect to the ministration of the gospel in the
vicjiity of Badagamme, the same excellent mission-
ary communicates the following int«ra«t!s> »...:...;
Ian :— " "" = *

" We go out among me people daily, and collect •

•oe

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

oongiegttioa in the following manner : — ^We send t
nenenger to the most nspectable native residing near
other inhabitants, and tell hha that we intend to come
and preach at his house in the afternoon, or on the
morrow, as it m*y be; and 'request him to give
notice to his neighbors, and collect them together.
If it be not convenibnt foir him to receive us at the
time appointed, he will request us to come on another
day. At the appointed time, we set out ; and, on ap-
proaching within a reasonable disunoe, we begin to
look round the fields, 13 see if there be any persons
at labor, whom we may mvite to come and hear us.
Sometimes we meet with a group of women, weeding
the paddy fields ; and, after pleading some excuse,
they generally yield to our importunities, and go forth
to liear the preaching of the word. Thb men who
are working with the hoe sometimes tell us, that listen-
ing to our discourses will not supply them with food ;
but it seldom happens that they ultimately refuse to
accompany us. Formerly, they would run and hide
themselves, when they saw us coming toward them,
or, if they promised to come, they would remain
Iwhind ; but they now seem less unwilling to hear
than they were, and seldom turn back, when we
,%ave persuaded them to set out. They put their
hoes across their shoulders ; and, unconscious of the
advantage which they may hereafter receive from
their compliance, they procsed, from a feeling of re-
spect and attachment to us, to hear the sound of the
gospel. Besides gathering them thus from the fields
and ways, we call at their houses, and persuade as
many as are at home, and able to go out, to attend also.

" When we are arrived at the house, we find mats
laid on the ground, beneath the shade of the trees, in
a sort of court, where the people sit down, the women
distinct from the men ; and on these occasions we
have sometimes a hundred, and seMom fewer than
thirty hearers. They listen with much attention, and
are very orderly in their conduct. Indeed, we know
not that there is a'.i individual near us, from the highest
to the lowest, who would not receive us gladly, and
allow of the people assembling about his house to
hear the word of God : — not that they have renounced
Budhism, or the worship of devils ;->-their eyes are
not yet open to discern the sin and folly of their former
vain superstitions and idolatry ; but they have a sort
of respect for religious ceremonies, and, while they
believe our religion to be a good one, thuy still regard
their own i« good alio,"

The four slalions of the Church Missionary Society
were thus occupied in 18:^. AtCottawere the Rev.
Messrs. Lamhrick and Bailey, the latter nrarriad,

...'..•.J I... /_

1 rui n.

Mrs. Browning, with five native assistants, were at

Kandy. Badagamme was occupied by the Rev.
Messrs. Mayor and Ward, both married, and five
native assistants ; and at Nellore were laboring the
Rev. W. Adley, with Mrs. Adiey, Rev. J. Knight,
and ten native assistants. At this period, :here were
twenty-feur schools at the difiisrent stations, in <vhich
seveu hundred and twenty-four boys and one hundred
and twenty-one girls daily received Christian in-
struction.

In the Annual Survey of Missionary Stations, pub-
lished in February, 1895, the following particulars are
communicated, relative to the operations and successes
of the brethren in Ceylon : —

At Kandy, and in the neighborhood, Mr. Browning
has, for some time, preached thrice on the sabbath,
in Cingalese ; — at one of the schools, at his own
house, and at the prison. The Cingalese prisoners,
sixty or seventy in number, generally appeared thank-
ful for his services, and the average attendance at
his own house was from thirty to two hundred persons.
In four boys' schools there were one hundred and
nineteen scholars, with an average attendanoe of eighty-
three ; and, in the girls' school, an average attendance
of eight out of ten. Christian books were used in
each of these seminaries, and a school-visitor had
been engaged, to stir up the masters to zeal and dili-
gence. Two other schools were about to be opened ;
and, u the sphere for missionary exertion was evidently
enlarging in the surrounding villages, a new station
had been proposed at Ratnapoorah, nearly in a direct
line from Galle to Kandy, and almost equi-distant
between them.

At Cotta there were, at the same time, a hundred
and scvep scholars, in four schools, with an average
attendance of eighty-threi ; and a fifth seminary had
been opened, with a greater attendance than either of
the others ; but the number of pupils was not given.
It was also resolved to form a Christian institution ;
and, in his last communication on that subject, Mr.
I<ambrick observes, " A more eligible situation for the
purpose could not, probably, be found in the whole
island. We have been endeavoring to enlarf^o our
ground by the purchase of some adjoining pieces from
the natives, and are beginning to collect materials,
which, in this country, requires a considerable time."

At Badagamme, the new church was opened on
the 11th of March, 1694, wlien the Hon. and Rev.
Dr. Twisleton, archdeacon of Colombo, preached in
English, and the Rev, S. Lambrick in Cingalese. In
five hoys' schools, containing one hundred and ninety-
seven scholars, there was an average attendance of
one hundred and fifteen ; and in the girls' school, con-

ts:r::n^ ScT&SSj-tWS p«p:i5, titcfc WaS an arrxSgS St*

tendance of fifty-nine.

C^JYLON.

Of the general state of the mission at Badagamme,
Mr. Mayor says, " We never felt more happy in our
work than we do at this time ; nor had a fuller con-
viction that we shall yet have abundant cause to praise
the Lord, for having called us to labor among those
who had never before heard of his name. We have
ately been stirred up to pray more earnestly and to
labor more diligently, and our faith and hope have
much mcreased ; so that, though we cannot tell you
of any who are yet truly brought c^ut of darkness into
the marvellous light of the knowledge of divine tn*h,
we feel a full assurance that God will glorify his power
m the salvation of this people."

At JVe/fore, divine service continued to be perform-
ed m Mr. Knight's house, but as there was not suf-
ficient accommodation for all who were inclined to
attend, he had determined on opening the new church
which had been erected in that station, without wait-
mg for its completion. He was also in the habit of
preaching, once or twke every sabbath, at some of
the schools where adults attended ; but of those per-
•ons he remark., " I cannot perceive that any yet
come for the purpose of obtaining instruction. Curi-
osity— the desireof gain— the hope that I shall recom-
mend 11 to some government office, or intercede
for thtin when they have lawsuits pending in the
courts of justice— or some other worldly inducement,
often prompts one and another to come to hear me ;
and in some instances they will attend for so long a
time as to excite our hopes respecting them, before
we are able to diK(»reT their true motive. This state
of things is exceedingly discouraging, but it must be
borne with ; and it should teach the missionary to look
more steadfastly to the power and promise of God,
where he is in no danger of being disappointed."

Ten schools were, at this time, established in Nel-
lore and the vicinity ; and an additional school had
been recently opened for children, to be named and
supported by benefactors. Mrs. Knight had also
begun to assemble the girls of the different schools on
sabbath afternoons, for the puriwso of teaching them
to read printed books ; and her excellent husband, in
alluding to this circumstance, observes, " We have
much encouragement to proceed in our work ; as the
success which we have already met with affords the
strongest reason to hope, that, by the divine blessing,
our best wishes will, at length, be fully realized ; and
that the degraded females of the Jaffna district, who
have been so long enslaved by ignorance and super-
stition, will yet see a brighter day."

Well did the lamented Heber say of Ceylon, that

here " only man is vile ;" and vile indued he is. Other

missionary stations present iamontable pictures of man

in '-Is fallen stale, giving way to sin, and thus proving

Vol. I.— Nos. 51 L 5i. ^^)

^»

himself to be virtually the serrant of Satan ; but it
reinains for this terrestrial paradise to show us oar
fellow creatures literally worshipping the devil, and
m the service of this "horrid king" practising rite*
the most absurd, impure and degrading; altogether
unholy, and therefore most unhappy in this life, and
havmg no hope for another beyond a series of inter-
miqable transmigrations ot utter annihilation.

In the three years following 1823, the missionaries
labored incessantly to make an inroad on the kingdom
of darkness, which has so firmly established itself in
the minds of these benighted people. Their visi-
ble success, however, was not allowed to be cont-
mensurate with the energy of their exertions. In
raising a temple to the living God, on the ruins of the
fortresses of Satan, much work is to be done before
the walls appear above ground; old and deep-laid
foundations are to ha removed, and their place occu-
pied by others of a better kind ; and all this toilsome
labor, though the most important of the whole struc-
ture, is still beneath the surface, and mvisible.

Thug it was with the work of the Ceylon iiiissioo-
aries : though the schools were gradually mcreasing
in number, and more native children were constantly
flocking to them, so that, in 1826, we find there
were twenty-nine schools and upwards of one thousand
scholars ; though native assistants were multiplied in
the same year to the number of thirty-eight, yet ail
this may be considered merely as foundation work,
indispensable to the rearing of the spiritual edifice,
but not the building iiself

At Cotta, in 1826, Mr. Lambrick had seen, as yet,
little fruit of his labors, and mourned over the spiritual
torpor of the people. From Badagamme, also, similar
accounts were received. " We have witnessed," say
the missionaries, in their report in October, " little to
encourage us to hope, that our labors have been owned
and blessed by the great Head of the church to the
conversion and salvation of sinners. As it respects
the people in general, we have still to take up the
lamentation of the prophet, and inquire, ' Who hath
believed our report ? and to whom hath the arm of
the Ix)rd been revealed ?' They seem as much as
over addicted to their idolatrous ceremonies, and still
see no beauty in Christ, that they should desire him
as their Saviour. The number of those who attend
public worship on the sabbath day has not increased."
At Nellore, the appearances were brighter. The
cholera, in tlio preceding year, had fearfully devastated
tiie stntion-i, and the schools, 8ic. were much fallen
off in ronsei]iience ; the state of the natives, under
this afflictive scourgfl, wna tfulv distressing. Ms.
Adiey , however, afterwards writes : — " The first month
of tliis year (1826) lias been a time of special mercy.

610

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Four persons connected with the station are among
those who have been awakened ; they have continued
to manifest such a knowledge of their need of Christ
as the only Saviour, with such a deep concern for the
salvation of their souls, that they have been admitted
as candidates for baptism. Eight or ten of the elder
boys, also, who evince anxiety respecting their eternal
welfare, are assembled once a week for further instruc-
tion and prayer."

A' school-house was opened with divine service, at
Kandy, in January, 1826. Besides the sabbath ser-
vices, Mr. Browning has an evening service in Cinga-
lese on Wednesdays, and one in Portuguese on
Thursdays. In the following year (1827), Mr.
Browning had some encouragement among the soldiers
at Kandy ; Mr. Selkirk, also, at Cotta, felt cause to
thank God, and to take courage in his work of itiner-
ating among the natives from house to house.

At Badagamme, Mr. Trimnell gives the following
view of the state of things : — " Our labors among the
people, though not so abundantly blessed as we desire,
are not without some evidence that the power and
blessing of God have attended them. Of sudden or
very decided conversions we have no instance ; but
we hope the divine light, like the rising sun, is
gradually dispelling tiie darkness of ignorance from
the minds of some who have heard from our lips the
gospel of God. Prejudice is departing ; divine knowl-
edge is spreading ; and when the Spirit from on high
shall enlighten and change the heart, the kingdom of
God will come ; and we have great hope, that, with
a few, this has been the case."

The printing department was this year conducted
with an energy before unprecedented. Nearly eight
thousand copies of different works, religious and school
books, issued from the press during the course of it.
While the cause of missions was thus slowly yet
steadily advancing ii> the island ; the number of chil-
dren under Christian instruction augmenting; the press
in active operation ; and occasional individual conver-
sions among the adults, causing thanksgivings to mingle
with the supplications of the devoted misnionaries, — *
the foundation stone of a Christian instituaon, for the
education of native youths for the ministry, was laid
by the governor, sir E. Barnes, 8th November, 1827,
•nd ten boys were admitted on probation. The prog-
ress of Christianity at each of the stations, in 1828,
appears to have been hopeful. The twilight of gospel
day is of long duration, yet it is the sure harbinger of
meridian glory. The report for 1829 shows that the
important work of translating the Scriptures is in
progress ; and we learn from the last published accounts

rffo.nivAH fivifn f^.tav\nn tHut » «w\nnAntAri

H»a nf titm

books of the New Testament, as far as the Epistle to
the Romans, has been printed, under Mr. Lambrick's
care, in the vernacular language of the people.
Again, in 1829, the cause of missions was advancing
at Nelloro. Besides individual instances of conversion,
decided proofs of decreasing attachment to idolatry
were presented to the missionaries. And it is evident
to a reflecting mind, that a certain portion of good
must result, when six or seven hundred children,
as at this station, are daily committing to memory
portions of Holy Writ, and catechisms inculcating
similar doctrines. The report from Kandy was favor-
able. At Badagamme, though the congregations at
church increased, yet some discouragement was felt
by the missionaries from the daring opposition of the
Budhist priests.

The last report, bringing the accounts of the mis-
sionaries down to the beginning of 1831, shows that,
at the four stations, there were eight missionaries, with
their wives, assisted by sixty-four natives, engaged in
the work ; there were fifty-four schools, in which one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one boys, two hun-
dred and twenty-four girls, and fifty-seven adults were
receiving Christian instruction. Though the ministry
of the gospel has not hitherto been attended with a
large and extensive blessing, yet at each of the stations,
Mr. Lnmbrick writes, single instances of converting
grace have occurred. The total number of these cases
does not appear to have been specified ; nor is this
omission of much importance, for it is not from the
number of individuals professing Christianity, tlmt we
are to estimate the amount of missionary success ;
rather are we to look at those marks which indicate
a general loosening in the whole system of idolatrous
worship, and which surely prognosticate its fall. These
indications are discernible, though as yet with some
indistinctness, in the aspect of Cingalese society. The
missionaries write — " By the publications of the Tract
Society, heathenism, during the year, has received r
shock, the effects of which will, it may be hoped,
soon be more apparent. The adherents of the system
are driven to adopt many different expedients. Some,
by the exposures which have been made of their sacred
mysteries, are greatly enraged, and utter sad impreca-
tions oti the unknown informants ; who, if they were
known, would probably be severely treated : others,
influenced by similar feelings, positively assert that
the incantations we have rec'""?' are not genuine,
and that we have been imposed on ; while a great
number admit that they are genuine, but, ashamed at
the disclosure, and wishing to avoid disgrace, disavow
all confidence in them, or profess to have discontinued

NORTH AMERICA.

CHAPtER VII.

NORTH AMERICAN MISSION.

It was in the year 1820, that the altention of the.
committee was first drawn to the neglected state of the
North American Indians. "The western parts of
British America, lying between the high ridge called
the Rocky mountains and the North Pacific ocean, and
extending from about the forty-second to the fifty-
seventh degree of north latitude, and the country on
the eastern side of the same chain, between the Rocky
mountains and Hudson's bay, and visited in recent
times by the missionaries, presented an ample scope
for Christian exertion." The Rev. J. West, chaplain
to the Red river settlement, to the south of lake Win-
nipeg, territories of the Hudson's Bay Company, may
justly be considered as the founder of the mission. Mr.
West arrived at the settlement on Red river on the 14th
of October. Here were an unfinished building, intend-
ed for a Catholic church, and an adjoining house, for
the residence of the priest, but no Protestant church or
school-house. Mr. West was, therefore, obliged to
take up his abode at the colony fort, with a young
man whom he had taken out from England in the
capacity of a schoolmaster. Here he performed divine
service every sabbath day, and his ministry was, in
general, well attended by the settlers. On some occa-
sions, indeed, a considerable impression was apparently
made on the minds of the hearers, one of whom de-
clared that he considered the first day of his attend-
ance as the happiest of his life ; not having been in a
place of worship for a period of thirty years, since he
left England. Several marriages were also solem-
nized, and some adults were baptized ; but as these
were principally half breedi (the children of Euro-
pean fathers and Indian mothers), and in the habit
of speaking the Indian language, which has no word
expressive of a Saviour, it was extremely difficult to
convey to their minds any consistent ideas of the per-
son, sufferings and atonement of Christ. Our pious
chaplain used his utmost exertions, however, simply
and faithfully to explain to them the true nature and
object of the baptismal rite ; and, after a short time,
he got a log-house repaired for the schoolmasterj
among the Protestant settlers, about three miles

below the fort, where the work of instruction was com-
menced with about twenty children.

On the 15th of January, 1821, Mr. West, at the
request of the Hudson's Bay Company, set out, for
the purpose of visiting their provision posts at Bran-
don House and Beaver Creek. On this occasion, he
travelled in a carriage called a cariole, drawn by three
wolf-dogs, with a driver, and followed by a sledge with
his luggage, drawn by two dogs. The weather was
so severely cold, that, in some parts of the journey, his
nose and part of his face were completely frozen ;
but this inconvenience was removed by rubbing the
parts affected with snow ; and though, in his /ening
encampments, he had no other canopy than the heavens,
he observes that he slept much better than he could
have anticipated with a blanket doubled on the frozen
snow, and a buffalo robe as a covering; whilst his
attendants watched alternately, and kept up a good
fire during the night.

Two days after his arrival at Brandon House, our
traveller had an opportunity of seeing an Indian corpse
staged, i. e. put upon a few cross sticks about ten feet
from the ground. " In burying or staging their dead,"
says he, " the Indians generally put all the property
of the deceased into the case ; and whenever they
visit the corpse, which they do for years afterward,
they ivill encircle the stage or burying-pkce,— smoke
their pipes,— weep bitteriy,— and frequently cut them-
selves with knives, or pierce themselves with the
points of sharp instruments. As I fallowed the corpse
to the stage, a melancholy train of thought arose in
my mind, from the dark and ignorant state of the poor
Indians around me ; and I earnestly wished that Brit-
ish benevolence might reach them in missionary exer-
tions, to impart unto them, through divine grace, the
blessings of that gospel which brings life and immor-
tality to light."

On reaching Beaver Creek, Mr. West was particu-
lariy noticed by some Indians, who had come thither

he was a religious teacher, stroked him on the head,
as a fond father would do to a favorite boy. Towards

619

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

evening, howerer, the efiects of the liquor which they
had obtained in exchange for their commodities be-
came extremely annoying, and our traveller observes
there was such a bacchanalia as he had never before
witnessed.

The next day, being the sabbath, the company's
servants assembled in the forenoon and evening for
divine worship. About forty persons were also ad-
dressed on the subjects of baptism and marriage ; and
such an effect was produced upon an elderly man, who
had for a considerable time lived without any regard
to those sacred institutions, that he earnestly requested
the preacher to marry him to the female with whom be
resided, and to baptise his seven children.

On his return from this excursion, Mr. West removed
from his AMrmer residence to a farm belonging to the
late earl of Selkirk, about three miles from Fort Doug-
las, and six fr<Mn the school. So much inconvenience,
however, resulted from these distances, that Jie re-
solved, if possible, to erect, in a central situation, a
substantia! building, which should contain apartments
for the schoolmaster — afibrd accommodation for the
Ii^dian children, of whom he had already uken three
under his protection — be a day school for the children
of the settlers — and also answer the purpose of a
church, till a brighter prospect should arise in the
colony, and its inhabitants be more congregated. " I
became anxious," says he, " to see such a building
arise, as a Protestant landmark of Christianity in a
vast field of heathenism."

In 1822, this indefatigable man, whose success forms
a pleasing proof of what one energetic and persevering
mind can effect, wrote to the committee of the Church
Missionary Society on behalf of the poor Indians, who
were literally perishing for lack of knowledge ; and,
in consequence of his communications, a special meet-
ing of the directors was held for the purpose of taking
into consideration the subject of a North-west Ameri-
can mission. Two gentlemen belonging to the com-
mittee of the Hudson's Bay Company were present
at this meeting, and from them such importara informa-
tion was obtained relative to the settlement at the Red
river, and the prospects of usefulness among the na-
tives in the vicinity, that it was unanimously resolved
to attempt the introduction of divine truth into this
extensive but long neglected region. Tlie Rev. John
West was, accordingly, appointed superintendent of
the mission ; Mr. George Harbidge, the schoolmaster,
who had sailed with him from England, was taken into
the service of the society ; and it was resolved that
such a number of Indian children should be maintained
as circumstances might permit. The

and educated

...^ „r f inn

,r,T:at, tu ciiuasc

Mr. West to make trial of his proposed plan.

On the proceedmgs of the committee being trans-
mitted to Mr. West, he replied to the secretary on
the 28th of August, 1822, in the' followmg animated
terms : —

"No one ever received news from a far country
which more gladdened the heart than your letters did
mine. I read them again and again with lively emo-
tions of gratitude, and with joyful hope that, as the
sinews of war were now afforded, the banner of the
cross would be successfully unfurled among the British
North American Indians. My ground of rejoicing is
this — the expressed interest and cooperation of the
Hudson's Bay Company, as affording facilities which
otherwise could not be obtained, in seeking to extend
the light and influence of the Christian religion among
the natives of this vast territory. God be praised that
commerce is now consecrated for this purpose ! For
centuries they have been left to wander through life,
uncheered even by a single ray of divine truth ; but
this darkness, I trust, is now past, and ' a foundation
is laid,' as one of the directors writes to me, ' for ex-
tending the blessings of religion, morals and educa-
tion, wherever the representative of the company may
set his foot.' All, all is encouraging to proceed ; yet
I will not conceal my fenrs, that expectations may be
raised too high, as to the progress that may be made
in that vast field of labor which presents itself
' There are a great many willows to cut down, and
roots to remove,' as an Indian chief said to me,
when he welcomed me to the country, ' before the
path will be clear to walk in.' The axe, however, is
laid to the root of the tree, in the establishment of
schools, as the means of instruction, and of diffus-
ing Christian knowledge in this moral wilderness ;
and we may tritunph in the hope that numbers will
arise to enjoy what they are capable of feeling- — the
endearments of social Jife, as well as of moral and reli-
gious elevation."

The letter from whkh we have extracted the pre-
ceding observations was written at York fort, to which
Mr. West had made a visit from the Red river ; and,
during his stny at that place, he had the pleasure; of
meeting with captain Franklin and Dr. Richardson,
who were returning from their enterprising journey to
the shores of the polar sea. These gentlemen ex-
pressed much interest in behalf of the Elsquimaux In-
dians, and stated that there appeared to be a favorable
opening for establishing a school among them, about
a hundred and fifty miles north of Churchill, in
Hudson's bay ; as one of the chiefs had expressed a
strong desire to have a white man, tor the purpose of
instructing his tribe. Mr. West afterwards sent to
Englsnd 3 specimen of writing ay an EsquiniaU^ ra-
dian, who had accompanied the expedition as a guide,

NORTH AMERICA.

and who hid been taught, by the officers, to read and
write.

On the return of Mr. West to Red river, where he
arrived, to quote his own words, " after six weeks'
buffeting against strong rapids and through stormy
lakes," he married Mr. Harbidge, the society's school-
master, to a young woman named Eliaabeth Bowden,
who had recenUy arrived from England, after being
duly qualified to undertake the education of female
chi dren. He also opened the new school^ouse, a
building of sixty feet by twenty, as a temporary place
of worship ; and M^as much gratified to find that the
committee of the Hudson's Bay Company had doter-
mined upon educating and providing for the numerous
half-breed children, whose parents had died or desert-
ed them ; and had requested, in an official communi-
cation, that they might be placed under his care and
superintendence. Of the Indian boys already under
hw charge, two had been recently baptized, as being
competent to read the New Testament, and to repeat
the church catechism and the leading truths of the
Christian religion.

" In June, 1823," says Mr. West, " I had the hap-
piness of seeing the accomplishment of the wish so
feelingly expressed by the late Mr. Semple, who fell,
mortally wounded, near the spot where our buildings
are erected. In a letter dated in the year 1815, he
observed, ' I have trodden the burned ruins of houses,
barns, a mill, a fort, and sharpened stockades; but
none of a place of worship, even upon the smallest
scale. I blush to say, that over the whole extent of
the Hudson's bay territories no such building exists.
It is surely high time that this foul reproach should
be done away from among men belonging to a Chris-
tian nation. I must confess that I am anxious to see the
first little Christian church and steeple of wood slowly
rising among the wilds, and to hear the sound of the
first sabbath bell which has toiled here since the
creation.'

" As I was returning, one evening, from visiting
some of the settlers, about nine or ten miles below,
the lengthened shadows of the setting sun cast upon
our buildings, and the consideration that there was
now a landmark of Christianity in this wild waste, and
an asylum opened for the instruction and maintenance
of Indian children, raised the most agreeable sensa-
tions in my mind, and led me into a train of thought
which awakened a hope, that, in the divine compassion
of the Saviour, it might be the means of raising a
tpiritual temple in this wilderness to the honor of his
name. In the present sute of the people, I consider
it no small point^ined to have formed a religious
esiabiishment. me outward wails, even, and the
spire of the church, cannot fail of producing some

613

eff»ct on the minds- of a wandering people, and of
the population of the settlement."

With respect to the usual attendance on the meant
of grace, it appears that, during winter, the severity
of the weather sometimes precluded the settlers from
assembling for the purpose of divine worship ; but,
from the beginning of Mareh till about the middle of
June, the congregation consisted, on an average, of
from one hundred to a hundred and thirty persons.
The sabbath afternoons were devoted to the gratuitous
instraction of all who chose regularly to attend ; and
on these occasions there were generally forty or fifty
scholars present, including some Indian women married
to Europeans, besides the Indian ohildren on the mis-
sionary establishment.

On the 10th of June, Mr. West preached a farewell
sermon to a crowded congregation, and having admin-
istered the Lord's supper to those who fervently joined
with him in praying for the divine blessing to rest upon
the missionary who should officiate during his absence,
be parted from his flock and the members of the mis-
sionary establishment with tears. " It had been,"
says he, " a long, and anxious, and arduous scene of
labor to me ; and my hope was, as about to embark
for England, that I might return to the settlement, and
be the means of effecting a better order of things."

The weather proved favorable on the morning of
his departure, and the boat in which he embarked was
soon borne down the river, by the current, towards lake
Winnipeg. As the spire of the church receded from
viejv, and our missionary passed several of the houses
belonging to the settlers, the inmates came out to take
leave of their respected pastor, fervently wishing him
a safe voyage, and expressing a hope for the increas-
ing prosperity of the colony.

" With light, favorable winds," says Mr. West, " we
soon crossed the lake, and reached Norway House ;
and such is, generally, the quickness of the passage
from this point to York factory, that, in the rapid stream
of the rivers, a loaded boat will reach the dep6t in a «
few days, which will take two or three weeks to return,
with excessive toil, from the strength of the opposing
current. It appears dangerous to an inexperienced
traveller to ron the rapids in thia passage ; but it is
seldom attended with any serious accident. The men
who have charge of the boats are generally expe-
rienced steersmen ; and it is highly interesting to see
them take the rush of water with their boats, and, with
cool intrepidity and skill, direct the sweep or steer-
oar to their arrival in safety at the bottota of a rapid
of almost a perpendicular fall of many feet, or through

a torrent of Wntnr nf n nilr rtar nf • milo ». .>«„, ;_

lengtli. Sometimes, however, the boau strike, in th« •
violence of their descent, so as to cause a (ractiire,

614

CHURCH BUSSIONARY SOCIETY.

knd hurry the crew to pull ashore, to stre the cnrgo
from damage. This accident befell us several times
in our passage ; but a kind Providence protected us,
and we arrived in safety.

Almost immediately after reaching York factory,
Mr. West made arrangements for visiting tho Elsqui-
maux Indians at fort Churchill, the most northern post
belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. Captain
Franklin had suggested the expediency of walking
from York fort to that factory, as the passage in a
canoe might be long delayed by the immense quanti-
ties of ice floating in tlie bay. Our missionary, there-
fore, resolved, notwithstanding the distance, to adopt
this plpn ; and, ha^'ing engaged one of the company's
servants, with an Indian hunter, they set out on the
11th of July, in company with two Indians, who hap-
pened to be returning to Churchill. " It was neces-
iary," says Mr. West, " that we should embark in a
/>oat to cross the North river ; and in rowing round
the point of Marsii, we perceived a brightness in the
northern horizon, like tliat reflected from ice, usually
called the blink, and which led us to suppose that
<rast fields of it were floating along the coast, in the
direction that we were going. It happened to be low
water when we crossed the mouth of the river ; so that
the boat could not approach nearer than about a mile
from the shore ; wliich obliged ui to walk this distance
through the mud and water, to the place where we
fixed our encampment for the night, and where the
musquitoes inflicted their torments upon us. We
were dreadfully annoyed by them, from tiie swampy
country we had to traverse ; and 1 was glad to start,
witii the dawn of the following morning, from a spot
where they literally blackened our small canvass tent,
and hovered around us in clouds, so as to render life
itself burdensome. The day, however, afforded us
very little relief, while walking nearly ankle deep in
water, through the marshes ; and such was their tor-
ture upon the poor animals, that we frequently saw
the deer conting out of the woods, apparently almost
blinded and distracted with their numbers, to rush into
the water for relief. This gave our hunter an oppor-
tunity of killing two of them in the afternoon ; so that
we had plenty of venison, and a good supply of wild
fowl, which he had shot for our evening repast."

The next morning, Mr. West and his companions
resumed their journey at sunrise, but the former had
obtained little refreshment during the night, in conse-
quence of having been wrapped in a blanket almost
to suflbcation, in' order to elude the stings of the
musquitoes. From these troublesome insects, how-
over, he was happily delivered by a change of wind
' blowing from off" the ice, which was now visible from
the horizon to the shores of the bay.

After fording Stony river, they came upon the track
of a polar bear, with which the Indian hunter appeared
extremely anxious to fall in ; but the ferocious animal
seemed to have taken a survey of the party, and to
have retired into the recesses of an adjacent wood.
It seems that, at this season of the year, the bean
come off the ice on the bay, on which they have
passed several months, subsisting on the seals, which
lie sleeping by the sides of the holes in the drift ice
when it dissolves, or is driven far from shore. During
the summer months, they seek their food among the
sea-Weed that is thrown up along the coast, or go into
the woods in quest of berries. The.se animals, how-
ever, are less dreaded by the Indians than the grizzly
bear, which is found toward the Rocky mountains, and
is so ferocious that it is seldom attacked, except by
very expert hunters, with impunity. " A gentleman,"
says our missionary, " who was travelling to a distance
on the plains to the west of the Red river colony,
told me of a narrow escape he once had with his
servant boy, in meeting a grizzly bear. They were
riding slowly along, near the close o( the day, when
they espied the animal coming from the verge of a wood
in the direction towards them. They immediately
quickened the pace of their horses ; but being jaded
with the day's journey, the bear was soon seen to
gain upon them. In this emergency, he hit upon an
expedient, which was probably the means of saving
their lives. He took tho boy, who was screaming
with terror, behind him, and abandoned the horse that
ho rode. When the ferocious animal came up to it,
the gentleman, who stopped at some distance, expect-
ed to see the bear rend it immediately with his claws ;
but, to his surprise, after having walked round and
smelt at the horse, as it stood motionless with fear,
the bear returned to the wood, and the horse was
afterwards recovered without injury."

On the morning of the 16th, the travellers forded
Rroad river ; and, at a short distance from its banks,
perceived the smoke of an Indian tent, to which they
directed tlieir steps. The family, who were upon a
hunting excursion from Churchill, were clothed in
deer-skins, and the man, who appeared to be a half
breed, stated, that though he was now leading an
Indian life, his father had been formerly a master at
one of the company's posts. He also expressed his
willingness to accompany Mr. West to the factory ;
but as his two sons were gone out in pursuit of a deer,
he said he must leave some directions for them on
their return. Accordingly, having prepared a broad
piece of wood, with his axe, he sketched out r/jveral
figures, to denote the party with whom he had set
out. and by n curve lino S'^'^ended to tliese. intimsted
that they were to follow. " We then proceeded,"

Mys Mr. West, "after the wife had put some kettles
upon the back of a miserable looking dog, and had
taken her accustomed burden, the tent, with some
other articles, on her own shoulders. The little ones
rri' f ^' 'r'™"^ '"•"" ""''^ " '"'"P"'*'''. and the
throtgJltuT;;^^^^^^

Before the tents were struck the next morning, the
hieroglyphics wh,ch the old man had left upon the
p.ece of wood brought his two sons, whom he had left
huntmg, and who had walked the greater part of the

.l!V"/; ' '° °'°"''''« '^'^ hmily.lt seems
that the Indians are in the habit of painting symbolical
figures, such as those to which we have alluded, on
the dressed skins of buffaloes or other animals, and
some of these are occasionally bartered at the com-
pany s stations. They thus represent the achieve-
ment of a victory, in war, by sketching out a picture
of he successful chief, with the distinguishing mark
of his nation, and by rudely delineating the warriors
who accompanied him ; whilst a number of little
figures denote how many prisoners were taken, and so
many headless bodies denote the number of those who
were slain.

On the 18th, the travellers, who had now no pro-
visions but what they shot on their journey, came to
a tent of Clupewyan Indians, where they experienced
a very cordial reception ; the women beginning to cook
venison for them on their arrival, without even inquir-
ing whether they were hungry ; and the men propos-
ing to accompany them to Churchill. « As soon as
we had finished eating," says Mr. West, " the tent was
struck, and the whole party proceeded, with the old
man ahead, with a long staff in his hand, followed by
his five sons and two daughters, and the rest of us in
the train ; which suggested to my mind the patriarchal
mode of travelling."

On the arrival of the party at fort Churchill, which
they reached on the morning of the 21st, an Esqui-
maux, named Augustus, who had accompanied captain
Franklin to the shores of the Polar sen, came out to
meet them ; and expressed much delight on ascer-
taining that Mr. West had undertaken such a journey
for the purpose of visiting his tribe, who were expect-
ed to arrive, within a few days, nt the factory. He
had not seen his countrymen since he had acted as
one of the guides in the northern land expedition, but
intended to return with them to his wife and family
laden with the presents and rewards which he had
received for his faithful services. " On the 25th "
says the excellent clergyman to whom we are indebted
lor these particulars, "the servants of the company,
^vitn me offlcoh., assembled for divine service ; aiid
labonoui u U the office of a missionary, I felt d6light-

NORTH AMERICA.

61S

ed w.,h Its engagement. ; and thought it a high pnvi-
lege even to y.«. the wild inhabitant* of th! rS^k"

kmgdo™ among them ; and that in a remote quarter
of the globe, where probably no Protestant minister
had ever placed his foot before.

.h«T« ""u 1"^'," """'"" '"'^''"' '«"«'«' came to
he fort, with h,9 family; and upon making known

o him the object of my journey, he cheerfully 5roS

o give up one of his boys, a lively, active little fellow.

o be educated at the native school establishment al

the Red river. He appeared very desirous of having

his son taught more than the Indians know, and as-

woman, who was in a tent at a short distance, to
accompany h,s son. I told him that they must go a
long way (Churchill being about a thousand miles
distant from the colony), but that they would betaken

shol""" . ^" ""t^' "° °''J^"'°" ' '•"» ""id they
should go, and that they might return when they had

learned enough. This was a striking instance of the

confidence of an Indian, and confirmed the opinion

that they would part with their children to those in

^^Z *.H ^ 'f r^*" '^'^ """'^ "°"''''«' «"«^ •« '-hose
tuition they felt persuaded they could safely intrust

them. The company's boats were now going to York
factory, and would take them there; and as on mr
return th.th.r, I expected to meet my successor, ou
his arrival from England, he would take them under
his care, in continuing the voyage to the school."

For some days past, Augustus had been in the
habit of visitmg the ruins of the old factory, about
five miles beyond the company's present establish-
ment, in anxious expectation that his countrymen
would arrive by the way of the coast, in their seal-
skin canoes ; and one morning he slated, on his return,
that there was an Esquimaux family tented by the
shore under qne of the rocks. «' The next day, there-
fore," says Mr. West, "I accompanied iJ'TZ
spot, with an interpreter, under the idea that I might
obtain some interesting information ; and was much
pleased at seeing the family living in the exercise of
social affection. The Esquimaux treated his wife with
kindness, and there was a constant smile upon her
countenance— so opposite to that oppressed and de-
jected look of the Indian women in general. Through
the medium of my interpreter, I obtained the follow-
ing information : — ^

" Most of the Esquimaux have on« wife, but good
hunters have sometimes two. The^.never leave the
sick, infirm or aged, like the northern Indians, to

nensh : hut nloraira .)-.„ .1 ._ i_ . . . '

and take them in canoes in summer; till they die.
They never bum their dead, but always T)ury them.

0ie

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

They do not know who made the sun, the heavens,
the waters and the earth ; nor whether the person
who made these things be dead or alive. They know,
however, that there is a bad spirit among them, who
causes them to suffer ; and they pray to him not to
hurt them. They believe, when a wicked man dies,
that the bad spirit takes him, and puts him into a hole
under ground, where there is a perpetual fire ; but
when a good man dies, the moon takes him up to a
happy place, where he lives as he did upon earth,
only he has less to do.

" The Elsquimaux was fond of saying that formerly
they were as white men — like me. I encouraged him
in this idea ; but observed that white men now knew
• great deal more tlian his tribe, and that many persons
in my country wished them to be taught who made
the world, &c. On my asking whether they would
like to have a white man live among them, to clothe
and teach their children, the Esquimaux and his wife
appeared to be quite overjoyed at the question-
laughed heartily — and said that they wished to know
the Great Spirit ; adding, that if I came to live among
their people, they were sure they would treat me well ;
as they would be much pleased in having their chil-
dren taught what white men knew ; and would bring
provisions, as there was plenty of musk-oxen, deer
and salmon. We parted cordially, shaking hands ;
•nd, at the same time, I observed to him, that if
white men came to live in his country, it would not
be because white man's country was not better than
his, — ^but because white man loved the Esquimaux, and
wished to teach them how to live and die happy."

Of another party, who arrived a few days afterward,
Mr. West observes, "As some of the Esquimaux
were returning to Chesterfield inlet, I assembled them,
and had the following ' talk,' previously to my giving
them a few presents : —

" Standing in the circle, I said, ' I speak true. I love
Esquimaux ; and many in my country love them, and
wished me to visit them. As a proof that I love them,
I came far across the sea, where the sun rises, to see
them— not to make house, and trade with them ; but
to ask them (and they must speak true) if they should
like white man to make house, and live in their country,
that he might clothe their children, and teach them
to read white man's book, to write, and to know the
Great Spirit."

Mr. West had" no sooner ceased speaking, than they
all, with one consent, expressed their approbation of
his proposal by laughing and shouting ; adding, that
they would supply plenty of provisions, and would
never steal from white man in their own country,

thrknorli thnv irfkrA rnnapimis that this nrnct cnmAfimAa

3" .• ' —

done at the factories. Our missionary then gave to

each individual a clasp-knife, a little tobacco, and a
few beads for their wives.

" The Esquimaux," says Mr. West, "who had ac-
companied captain Franklin, was very anxious that I
should see hia countrymen conjure ; and immediately
aAer I had given them the presents, he got a blanket
and a large knife, and told me that one of them would
put the knife through his body, and not die — or fire a
ball through his breast, leaning upon a musket, with-
out being injured. I objected to the deception ; and
told him that if his countrymen could really conjure,
they should draw to their shores the whales, which
were then appearing in the river opposite the fort.
It was with some difficulty, however, that I prevented
the exhibition."

About fifty miles north of fort Churchill, Mr. West
visited another tribe of Esquimaux, who are in the
habit of traversing the coast in the neighborhood of
Knapp's bay. " We pitched our tent with them,"
says he, " for two days ; and I never knew Indians
behave so orderly as they did. They partook of their
meals with great cordiality and cheerftilness ; and
never came into my tent without being asked. To
seven of the oldest men among then I repeated the
questions which I had put to the others ; and they all
appeared overjoyed with the expectation of having a
white man among them to make house, and teach
their children ; promising to fiimish him with provis-
ions, and not to steal. I gave to each of these, also,
a knife, with a portion of tobacco, and some beads,
to take to their wives.

" In parting with these Indians, to return to fort
Churchill, I felt a lively interest for their eternal wel-
fare ; and shall greatly rejoice if any plan can be
devised to accomplish the object of educating their
children. They are an interesting race of people,
and appear to me to present a fine field for missionary
labor, with the hope of much success."

In returning from this excursion to the factory, Mr.
West observes, that he had to proceed along a coast
the most dangerous to navigate that can be conceived;
from the water being studded with fragments of
rocks, for miles from the shore, and which are only
visible at the reflux of the tide. " The safest course
to take," says he, " is to run out to sea, and sail along
out of sight of land ; but this is hazardous in an open
boat, if the weather be stormy, or the water be much
ruffled by the wind. The company lost a boat's crew
last fall, as they were returning to Churchill, from one
of the points of rock where they had been to collect
geese, which the Indians had shot, and which were
designed to be salted, as part of the winter supply of

nmviainng af (Ka estsbllfihmfini. A * '^-s* ;* -v-s s**n-

posed that the boat had been driven out to sea, and

NORTH AMERICA.

aU had perished in the -most paioful manner ; but,
duruig our stay, an Indian came to the fort, to inform
the officer that the empty boat was lying on the beach,
about SIX or seven miles to the south of Churchill
river. He immediately sent men to the spot, and to
search along the coast, for some remains of the bodies
of the crew ; but not the least appearance of them
could be discovered. The boat filled and went down,
with the sail set and fastened to the mast, "which was
the state in which it was found ; but whether she
struck upon the pomt of a sunken rock, or swamped
at the conflux of the waters off the mouth of the
river, at the return of the tide, not a man survived
to tell."

In returning to York factory, Mr. West came to a
tent of Indians, who were encamped on the shore, for
the purpose of killing bears ; and in front of the little
encampment, he observed the head of one of these
animals, which had been recently shot, placed upon
some pointed sticks, in expression of some super-
stitious notions. It seems that these people bave a
great dread of bears, and are in the habit of ...aring
necklaces formed of their claws, as amulets or charms
to preserve them from their ferocious attacks. " A
short time before I left the Red river colony," says
our missionary, " an Indian came to my residence
with a necklace strung with some large claws ; and,
being induced to part with it for some tobacco, he
addressed it in a very grave speech, when he took it
from his neck, and laid it for me on the table, in
language to the following effect :— « My grandfather !
you and I have been together some time ; but we
must now part.— Go to that chief; and, in leaving me,
be not angry, but let me kill buffab when I am hungry,
and another bear when I meet with it ; and then I
will make another necklace of tlie claws.' I smiled
at this address ; when, looking at me very seriously,
he said, « If you offend the bear (meaning, I suppose^
the spirit of the animal whose claws he had given me),
the bears will be sure to eat you.' "

Two days after this occurrence, Mr. West arrived
in safety at York factory, after having walked, on his
return, the supposed distance of one hundred and
eighty miles, through a trackless country, abounding in
swamps and long grass, and dreadfully infested, in
many parts, with musquitoes. Here he had the pleas-
ure of meeting with the Rev. David T. Jones, who
had arrived from England three days before, in his
w*y to the Red river settlement, and with whom
a conference was now held on the concerns of the
mission. After a few days, Mr. West sailed for his
native country, and Mr. Jones proceeded with the
two inaian boys, who had been placed under Mr.
Wests protection, to his place of destination, where
Vol.. I.— Nos. 51 & 52. 80

617

he arrived on the 14th of October, after a tediooi
passage, occasioned by what is termed a head wind
on the lake.

The Rev. D. T. Jones left England for the purpoM
of carrying the society's plw,8 into effect ; directing bj.
attention, m the first instance, to the settlera and half-
breeds, but considering the spiritual welfare of "he
native Indians as the ulterior object of bis labors A
school-house and church having been erected, under
the superintendence of Mr. West, it was soon found
that they were inadequate to the accommodation of
ihose who were desirous of instruction : in conse-
quence, a second church and school were erected •
and, in 1825, the Rev. W. Cockran sailed from England
to share in Mr. Jones's labors. The progress of the
mission, from the period of its formation to the date
of the last report (1832), has been uniformly encour-
aging. Those vicissitudes, of various kinds, which
have proved so trying to the faith and patience of
missionaries at other stations, appear to have been,
m great measure, unfelt here. The dawn of gospel
•ght seems gradually to rise on the mountains and
lakes of North America, slowly indeed, but regulariy
and in peace, and gives hopes of the speedy arrival
of the perfect day.

Three churjiits have been erected in different parts
of the settlement. Tiie settlers and half-breeds, to
the amount of eight hundred, were tolerably regular
in their attendance on the means of grace. Many
seals to a faithful ministry have been granted from
each of the above classes ; nor are there wanting
some few of the native Indians, who worship God b
spirit and in truth. To the education of children
much attention is paid j and the Sunday schools are
well attended. The advantages of daili, instruction,
however, do not seem to be much valued by the
parents. The spiritual state of this interesting church
in the wilderness is thus described by Mr. Cockran.
in 1829 :—

" I think that the pure gospel of Christ is still an
interesting subject to those who have made a profes-
sion of religion in this settlement. They behold as
much beauty, excellency, and true riches in it, and
feel as much their need of it, as they did when the
Lord first stretched out his arm, and drew them out
of the horrible pit, and set their feet on Christ the
Rock. With many, religion is viewed as the one
thing needful ; and other things are, in a great measure,
kept in subordination to it, and regarded as good or
evil, just as far as they will accelerate or retard the
interest of Christ. I believe that our little visible

church annroncheq na npor tn nnrnlttno . ;_„!:-:•.

and sincerity as any other to be found in any part
of the world. The most of them are Bible Chris-

.618

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

tians : to the word of God they go for information,
on every subject that concerns their souls. Christ
and his gospel are all in all ; and to him they apply,
for strength, for instruction, for direction, for encour-
agement ; that, as men of God, they may be well
directed, instructed, and enabled to live in the per-
formance oi every good work."

Mr. Cockran adds—

" I\> not think that I am endeavoring to persuade
you that we have a perfect church, and that every
individual member is without spot or wrinkle, or any
such thing. No ; I never expect to st>e such a church
on earth. Christ has told us that the tares will grow
among the wheat. There may be many tares, and
much chaff, amongst our wheat ; but we have great
reason to feel thankful to God for the refreshing dews
of his grace which he has commanded to fall so copious-
ly on our Zion, that the wheat flourishes luxuriantly,
and completely overtops t! e tares ; that they are not
apparent to an ordinary observer at present, and per-
haps will not be, until some storm of persecution blows,
and bends the wheat ; then shall the tares be manifest."

The following summary of the mission will convey an
accurate idea of its state towards the end of 1831 : —

Missionaries T

Lay assistants — ^Males 14

Females 4

Congregations

Average attendance on public worship.

Upper church 300

Middle church 300

Lower church SOO

18
. 3

800

Communicants — ^Males 79

Females 64

— 143

Baptbms — Adults 12

Children 66

Schools

Scholars — Boys — Native Indians 60

Others . i 131

78
. 6

Girls

191
140

331

CHAPTER VIII.

MISSION IN THE WEST INDIES.

Vert little has been done by the Church Mission-
ary Society towards ameliorating the condition of the
negroes in the Britisli West Indies. Slavery, cursed
slavery, clings, like a vampire, to its victim, on tliesti
unhappy islands, impairing their resources, crippling
their energies, impeding the progress of religion, civ-
ilization, morality and happiness ; encouraging vice,
and promoting wretchedness, and bidding fair, if not
speedily destroyed, to prove the destruction of its de-
voted victims. Antigua, Darbadoen, Dominica and St.
Vincent were the only stations occupied in 1823 — 24
by teachers in connection with the s(x-iety, either lay
or clerical. Schwjhnnstora only were employed at
this period. At EngliNli Harbor, Antigua, ten schools
were maintained, either wiiolly or in part, by the
society- -a (ur greoter number than at any of tlie other
islands. In these, not fewer than two thousand

scholars received the benefit of Christian inst.uction.
These schools, however, owed much of their efficiency
to the labors of teachers not connected with the Church
of England ; and wlien Dr. Coleridge, the .lewly-
appointed bishop, assumed their direction, in 18t2S,
alterations ins'antly followed, affecting most materially
the number of teachers and scholars. Tiie number
of the latter gradually diininLshed, until, their average
tttendance not appearing to justify the continuance
of the expense without an adequate return, the schools
were, in 18^9, relinquished. The society, for several
years, maintained a school for the negro and colored
population of both sexes in the island of Barbadoes.
The bishop, shortly after his arrival, took (he school
under his own charge. Attempts were made to extend
tlie benefit of instruction to the slave children in St.
Vincent's and Dominica, the society, liov ever, did

not succeed in the permanent establishment of schools
m those islands.

Among other objects which engaged its attention,
the society endeavored to promote the religious welfare
of his majesty's settlement at Honduras, with especial
reference to the slaves and disbanded soldiers of the
fourth West India regiment in the colony, and to the
native Indians m the interior and on the Mosquito
shore; but circumstances prevented the accomplish-
•nent of its designs.

In 1825, two catechists and their wives were, on
the invitation of the proprietor, sent out to Jamaica,
to reside on his estates, for the purpose of imparting
religious instruction to the negroes. Every facility
has been afforded for the attainment of this object
by providing suitable buildings for the purposes of
worsinp and instruction, and by the appropriation of a
week-day to the slaves for obtaining their support,
and thus leaving the Sunday at their disposal, not as
a day of marketing or labor, but of rest and spiritual
improvement. Similar measures, with the concur-
rence and cooperation of the proprietors, have been
adopted on estates in Jamaica and Essequibo ; and
recently, other openings having presented themselves
m Jamaica, the society has availed itself of them ac
cording to its means.

The last reports state, that Mr. Armstrong is sta-
tioned on the Mazamni river, a branch of the Essequibo,
where he is zealously engaged in the rnstruction of a
tribe of negroes located there.

So long as the negro is compelled to go to a distance
to the Sunday market, or to toil on that day for his

MALTA.

619

hS'tn; V 'T' '"^ Wmself of the advantages
held out to him by a missionary society, of Sundav

necessary, that his right, in this respect, should be
restored to him, before the labors of thos 'who desire

ttrir h"''"V^" '^ "P^'^^^'^ '° -cceed'"on'
the establishment of Episcopacy in the West Indian
colonies the society's catechists were placed unde"
he authority of the bishop in whose 'dioce e they
reside, and from whom they receive a license to pros-
ecute their labors. A grant from the society's fZs
of £200 was made to the bishop of Jamaica, to be
employed for the spiritual benefit of the negroes
according to his lordship's discretion.

The committee are gratified in learning, from the
reports of the catechists, that, in several instances,
'ndividuals have given proof, by holy and consisteni
conduct, that they have embraced the truth of the
gospel, not in profession merely, but in heartfelt sin-
centy. While they regret that such instances are not
more common, they rejoice in them as proofs that the
blessmg of God rests upon their labors ; and they feel
tliankful for the minor, but more general and extensive
effect produced by the religious instruction of their
catechists, in a greater attention to moral duties and
the outward decencies of life. These effects, they
trust, are the harbingers of better things.

Summary of the Million.

Schoolmasters and Catechists g

Schools

^''°'"" •• ^ ".".".".".*.! ■.;.".■ '903

CHAPTER IX.

MISSION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Thb Mediterranean mission may be considered as
yet in its infancy. Little has hitherto been done,
compared with the amount of benefit which may be
expected to ensue, as a blessing on the efforts of
lealous missionaries, to the inhabitants of those wide
.^. . _.._., ..,jj_ jraij; ^li^ ;g jjjg Eupiimies, and

from Constutinople to th« itniu of Bab^l-mtndeb.

MALTA.

Fully aware of the advantageous position of th«
island of Malta, the committee have long made it the
central point of all their misaionarv ppncesdinss •= tha
Mediterranean, and maintained there, for many yean,
as agent and representative of the society., the Rev.'

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Vf. Jowett, whose name deserves ever to be remem-
bered with respect and admiration by all who love to
see a man devoting his whole life, and exerting all
his energies, in promoting religion, and consequently
happiness, among his fellow creatures.

Malta itseir affording no scope for the exercise of Mr.
Jowett's public ministry, from the tenor of the treaty
existing between France and England respecting this
island, his occupations were not, strictly speaking,
missionary, as far cs that term signifies the public
preaciiing of the gospel to collected numbers. Yet
were the objects of his attention no less useful than
directly addressing a congregation. These were the
acquisition of information relative to the state of re-
ligion and society, wit!) the best means of their meliora-
tion, the propagation of Christian knowledge by the
press, by journeys, and by education. The fruit of
his investigations on these subjects has been given
to the world in two interesting volumes of Christian
Researches. The immense number of tracts, of
works or education, portions of the Scriptures, cat-
echisms, &c. in Italian, modern Grfeek, Arabic, and
Maltese, which have issued from the Malta press
since 1815, under the superintendence of this indefat-
igable man, fully attest his activity and unwearied
industry. These works have been freely circulated
in Greece, the Archipelago, A<!ia Minor, Syria and
Egypt ; and, judging from the avidity with which they
have been sought, in Greece particularly, no inconsidSf
erable effect must have followed their perusal.

In company with the lamented Fisk (the Amcricon
missionary), Mr Jowett, towards the close of IR'i.*),
made a journey througii Palestine and Ei^ypt, and
obtained much important information on subjects con-
nected witli the cause of missions.

The Rev. J. Hartley, who had been appointed to the
Mediterranean, arrived in Malta, Novouiber, IHril.uncI
aiiordy afterwards proceeded to Corfu. At this island,
he was much occupied in the distribution of tracts,
and in preaching in the modern Greek language.
Prevented by (he disturbed state of rontinentnl (Jreere
from going thitlier, he proceeded, in December, IH-i.'j,
to Sm' <-ua, and, making that city his head-quarters,
visited the remains of the other six Aporolyptic
cluirchcs. Tlie interesting details of these journeys,
and of others subsequently made in the I'doponncsus
and the isles of Greece, are |)ul)lished in (he Mis-
sionary Register : bu( our limits prohiltit making
cjKracts. Much benefit resulted from Mr. Hartley's
exertions, as appears from several arrotmls. He
preached four times in the church of the Panagia, in
Kcina, estahlishnd detiAts for ihn min of nibles in
many places in Greece, distributed tracts, and con-

versed with all classes on the grand truths of Chris-
tianity. Among the people he found the greatest
readiness not only to promote the ciiculation of the
Scriptures, but also to attend the preaching of the
gospel.

During his residence at Smyrna, three Roman
Catholics, several Greeks, and some Armenians, da-
rived spiritual benefit from Mr. Hartley's ministry.
Three Jews also were baptized by him at Constanti-
nople, of whom two remained faithful under violent
and protracted persecution from the Turks. By the
instnimentality of Jean Baptiste Castro, one of these
confessors, no fewer than eight others were converted
to Christ. They were baptized by the Armenians,
and banished by their enemies to Catsarea, where
their number soon al\er increased to thirteen.

In the year 1828, Dr. Korck, another of the society's
missionaries, took charge of a large school in the island
of Syra, with a view of introducing a system of sound
and scriptural education into the islands of the Archi-
pelago. For a time, his prospects of success were
bright, no fewer than six hundrod and thirty children
attending his schools ; but in consequence of the
determination of the Greek government to introduce
image worship, and prayer to the Virgin, into the plan
of education, ho was obliged to resign his charge, and
lefl the island.

Thus have these interesting but misguided Greeks
rejected one of the greatest blessings any country can
enjoy — a (niiy ri>liitious educa(ion for its youth.

Dr. Korck's brother missionaries, (h" Rev. Messrs.
Hildner and Jcttor, roniained in Syra, hoping (hat
circums(anrt's mi^iit transpire wliich would render it
practicable for (hem to prosecute the society's plana
on .scriptural |>rinciplcs.

During the Rev. F. Hildnur's residence at Corfu,
he nmrli iirnmoted (he work of female and Sunday
school education a( (ha( place.

ABYSSINIA.

The way (o the remote church of Abyssinia has
been reninrknbly opened by Providence. In (ho year
\H'H\, four (icrman missionaries, in roimcc(ion wilh
the society,— the Hev. Messrs. (ioImK, Kugler, Krus6
and ljied«-r, — landed in F,|fypt,tlie twoffmnerof wlioin
wert! designed for (he Abyssinian mission. Whiht
waidng a( Cairo, devising plans for entering upon their
work, they met with a young Abyssinian, named
Giriris. who had been sent by his master, the ras of
Tigr^, to procure an ahntma or pnpnt (Anglic*, •

owhop) from the Armenian patritroh, the one tent by
the Coptic patriarch having been expelled for intend
perance. The friendship which thii younff man who
WM con vert«l to Christianity by the mi,sionario.; soon
felt for his instnicters, induced him to exert his in-
fluence, which was not inconsiderable, at the court of
Gondar, to obtain for them the wished-for liberty of
access to his country. '

Another reniarkable circumstance, which seems
almost to reveal ,o our sight that mighty but unseen
hand which guides all human events, pointing the way
^Abyssini. „ ,},„, ,hc British and Po«,ign Bible
Society had already obtained a MSS. of the whole Bible
m the vernacular langjoge of the country.

Aner many delays and obstacles, which at one time
were so serious as to excite an a,,p,-ehension in the
minds of the committee, that it might become ronui-
sue to abandon the enterprise, the Rov. Messrs. Kugler
and Gobat loft Cairo, in October, 18a«), for Abys.inia,
by way of Jidda, and Massowah, a small isloiid in il.u
Ked sea ; and. having boon preceded by their friend
and convert, were rocoivod, on their anlM.j nt their

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

d«tin.tlon. by Sebagadis, chief of Tln< with th.
greateat klndna... How long thii cordwL J! ?!

ThTmi-i • ""^ *"""'""•' *• problematical.

The Rev. Messrs. Lieder and Krus6 have remained
.n l.gypt,and been actively engaged in preaci il e"
Ubhshmg and rjiaintaining schools, and d stribuing the
Scriptures. The Greek patria«,h has prohib te5 t
people from receiving books from the missio .aries
while, on the port of the Coptic patriarch, a frie d ,'
disposition IS increasingly manifested. ^

The society have contemplated the formation of a
mission on the north coast of Africa, some cTrcum
;.""cos of rather „ singular nature hiving o^^Z,
o iroct their attention thither. It i. „o.. how ver,
'" tier power, m the present state of the funds to
Jec.de upon any immediate step, in favor of t i jdal

Having brought to a conclusion the narrative of the
foreign transactions of the Church Missionary Societv
a few words will suflico for the details connected witii
Its proceediM,r, at homo.

The mod., adopted for the preparation of the mis-
sionaries first claims our attention. Previoi.Hly to tho
year IH!i5. ,ho voluntary candi.laie f„r missionary
employment was p„t under theinnne.liato Hurv.,ill«nc«
of so„.„ experienced minister, who suporintoii.led his
studies in the necessary branches of literature, „nd
formed an opinion of his talents un.l capal.ilitios. For

the Kev. K. Hickerstolh, and to the late Unv. 'J'lioiims
Scott, tho well-known coinmenlalor on tho Bible
Ohjections to this plan having arisen, the committee
clocMled to build an institution, or college, for the
preparation of the missionaries, a r.-sojution which
was soon rarrie.l into effect ; and on the JHsl of Jn„.
uary |Hsi5 a large edifice, at iHlinRfm, near London,
suited to the acco,n„,„d«tion of forty students, was
opened for their reception.

Tho average number of residents at the college is
ahoi.l twenty .• ,hoy are under the superinten.lence
ul u nriiieiiinl on. I >..• II. .'I .>

•ludens enjoyed the advantage of instruction in
oriental language, and literature, by ,,rof„„or I^o,

of Cainbiidgo who visited the college at two period,
of the year for the purpose. Lately, however, the
attendance of the professor has ceased.

The studies of the can.lidate being" con.ploted, he
IS n.lin.lled to lu.ly orders, if duly ,,nalified by ,ho

b-shop of London. He is then ready to proceed to
his station.

Th<. efliciency of this mode of education \h urovod
by ex,.e„ence,a.ul co.rol.orated by „ statement i„ ,hc
thirly-diHt report of the soeioiy, fr„n. whicl. i, appears
tlmt 'the nttaiiunents „, theological knowlellL. of
several of those «ho have been exnmine.l as .Candi-
dates for holy orders, have, on more than one oecosion
I""'" .•..uuMended by ,|,e bishop of Lomlou, „s well
as by lus lordship's predecessor ; and that the last
three i.uss.oiunies wli,. have joined the North India
mission have been able pnhlicly ,o rea.l ,be service
Ml I indoostanee, within a short tii.ie after their arrival
in Calcutta."

The committee can obtain an accurate ucpiaimaiice
with the ibsposition, talent, and ac.p.ire.nents of each
Mudeiit. and allot him his post of duty acconlingly,

through ibe |innri,.al of tim !....!....: i.,. :_ -

."e-nbcr of tbeir body. This is no small advantage."

On the internal laws and regulations of the scn-iety.
Its constitution and government, it is unnecessary iti

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

•iiiate. They may he seen in any annual report, and
the subject is uninteresting to the general reader.

The financial situation of the society, a short time
ago, was such as to occasion serious solicitude in the
mmds of the committee, a feeling which led to the
publication, in November, 1830,of a circular, entitled,
" An Address to the Members of the Society on the
Difficulties which now impede its Operations." Since
the date of this document, it appears that the society
is slowly emerging from its pecuniary difficulties.

The receipts for the year 1832, up to 1st April,
were £40,7r<l 16s. 7d. ; and the expenditures of the
year amounted to £47,173 3s. 5d.

We shall conclude in the. following words from the
last report : — " On reviewing the society's operations
in various parts of the world, and comparing them
with those of former periods of its history, it will be
seen that its encouragements were never more numer-

ous, nor its prospects brighter. In the regions hitherto
inaccessible, which are opening to the footsteps of the
missionary — in the difficulties which, in so many ways,
ave vanishing before him — in the readiness with which,
in almost every quarter of 'the globe, his message is
listened to— in the success which is attending the
preparation of native teachers — in the seals which God
lias vouchsafed to the ministry of his servants.— in the
continuance of many congregations in the faith of
Christ — and in the steadfastness of numberless indi-
viduals, who, recently emerged from heathenism, are
adorning the doctrine of God their Saviour by a holy
life, — there is much to show that the Lord is gone
out before us, and much to awaken our gratitude for
the honor he has put on our unworthy labors. Not
unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name,
give the praise, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's
sake."

EMD OF VOL. I.

3rto
the
»ys,
icli,
9 is
the
3lod
the

of
ndi-
are
loly
one

for
Not
me,
th's