son of a Chief to the north, who said he had slept one night on the road; the tribe is called the Twaanes. When asked if their chief town was as large as SIBBONEL'S, he and the people present smiled, and said they would bear no comparison; they said their houses extended as far as the eye could reach; they also spoke of many towns and villages to the north of them, so far as the Marutze tribe. We have also seen both the King and the Prince of the Boquaim tribe, whose chief town is only one day's journey from us to the eastward. I have inquired both of Corannas and Boschuanas, respecting the population to the eastward; some have said it is thin, others say the people are as the grass. Besides the tribes round us, there is another called Moroas, who are scattered in villages all over the country; two or three of their Chiefs we have seen. Last week we sent out our men to one village to purchase a little corn; and the Chief ordered a sheep to be killed for them, and sent to us a fine young heifer, with notice that he would visit us: all these speak the same language. But, alas! all these sit in thick darkness. They speak of GOD, whom they call MUREEMO; but know nothing of him, but as being the. author of every thing great or wonderful; hence in seeing any thing, which they think is more than man could do, they say, GOD has done it. They speak of the Devil, whom they call Badeema; but on asking one of the chiefs what they thought about him, what he was, &c., &c., he replied they did not know, only they thought it was he that caused storms to kill them. They call the soul Mooiya; they say it is in them, but know not what it is, or that it survives the body. We have not yet discovered any kind of religion, or superstitious ceremonies, among them. The chief pretended to be able to cause rain. Circumcision is practised by them, and the Chief is the operator; their word for it is Bagera; but they know nothing of its origin, or of reasons for it: they choose ISHMAEL'S age. They seem to consider it as a kind of initiation into a state of manhood. Hence, since we came here, a number of boys have been circumcised; two of whom were SIBBONEL'S sons, whom he had not introduced to us; but after the ceremony they were brought out, and presented with new clothes and ornaments, and a feast made. For each son he had ten oxen slaughtered; then he came withr them, and introduced them to us. You will naturally wish to know what we are now doing, and what encouragements and prospects we have in the Mission. I hardly need observe, that as yet we are only beginning,-yea, in some respects, only preparing to begin. It is now three months since we came to this place; the circumstances of our families, and the approach of winter, compelled us to a speedy attendance to outward things; we therefore immediately began to prepare for us habitations: we found many poor people forward to assist us, for the sake of a small bit of flesh in a day; so we have already got each of us a comfortable cottage to dwell in, which, I trust, we have sincerely consecrated to the Lord. So much for outward-things. I am able to converse with the people about ordinary things with tolerable ease; the natives tell one another that I can understand their language; hence I am often obliged to endure them, when they will not give over talking to me. It is true, there are many difficulties in the language,-not in the pronunciation, but in its irregularities. With these I shall contend, by the grace of God; and I doubt not but time and application will overcome them. As to encouragements, our principal one is," Lo, I am with you." The favourable disposition the natives have shown towards us is doubtless from GOD. I say not that the good will they have hitherto displayed towards us, is because we are the ambassadors of CHRIST, for they know him not; their motives, probably, are very different: I believe in some of the principal men they are ambition and covetousness. They are proud to have it known to other tribes that Makoas, as they call us, reside with them; they consider our name a defence; they have the means of obtaining many things of which they are proud, through us, which others have not. But we expect nothing better from people depraved, and sitting in the valley and shadow of death. However, that they are at all well-disposed towards us, we view as a mercy from GOD; and are thankful, and derive encouragement therefrom. I have heard several of the principal men express their regard for us, and their gladness at our coming among them, and the general conduct of the whole tribe coincides therewith. MISSIONS IN WESTERN AFRICA. Extract from the Journal of MR. MORGAN,-(continued from page 249.) OCT. 7th, 1823.-IN the evening, after school, I went into several yards, and in vited the slaves to attend the preaching through the medium of an interpreter, in the Jaloof language. Many promised to come, and about six o'clock my house was thronged to such an extent that I went through the service trembling lest the floor should give way, and let us down into the warehouse below. My interpreter executed his office with much ability. Heretofore I have been afraid to trust even to the best that I could get but this young man is a Jaloof, and knows his language well; and has, besides, a much better knowledge of English than most of his countrymen, having, within this last year, since I have kept school, been taught to read in the Bible, so as to get through a plain chapter with little difficulty. His crowning qualification, however, is, that GOD has graciously given him to experience in his soul the blessedness of that truth which he assists in declaring to others. My Marraboo was present, with many of his tribe; and I conversed a long while with him after the service, as he expressed himself much interested in what he had heard. My interpreter, and another of his countrymen, who has lately been brought in some measure under the influence of the Gospel, delivered what I said in Jaloof; and they related to him their experience, at which he expressed much wonder. He said, he had been -taught to read the Koran from a child, and had abstained from strong drink; but had never heard of experimental religion, or that a Marraboo had ever known his sins forgiven him in this life. I asked him if he knew any thing of Original Sin: he replied, that he knew all men were polluted by ADAM's fall; and that on account of his depravity and disobedience he was driven from God's presence. I then, in hope of showing him the necessity of a SAVIOUR, asked him by what means he expected a re conciliation to be effected between Gon and man, and the latter made fit to be readmitted into the divine presence. He replied, that they expect all their actual sins to be freely pardoned when they believe MAHOMET and from the pollution of the original offence, they look to be delivered by external washing with water; which, as oft as they pray, they apply to such parts of the body as they think were most active or instrumental in the transgression. Thus they wash the legs and feet which bore the offenders to the tree, the eyes which saw the forbidden fruit, the hands and arms which gathered it, the nose which smelt it, and the mouth which ate it; and lest ADAM and EVE should have had occasion to stoop to get under the tree, they wash the knees. I asked him if he thought the heart had nothing to do in it: he replied that the heart certainly desired it, but having no way of washing that part, they rested content with doing what is in their power. I am not certain whether what I have said to him has had any good effect or not; but time will determine, and I have great reason to believe that it has not been altogether in vain in other respects. Our conversations have generally taken place in the evening in my house, when two Jaloof youths were present, who are learning to read, and who can neither talk nor understand English. As I have frequently talked to the Marraboo in Jaloof, through the medium of the interpreter, they have had the advantage of hearing our dialogue, and I have often observed them very attentive. One of them came to me privately, a few days ago, and begged me to teach him how he must pray to GOD. I think they are both under serious impressions, and they are on trial for admission into the Society. WEST INDIAN MISSIONS. JAMAICA.-Extract of a Letter from MR. BINNING, dated St. Ann's Bay, May 6th, 1823. HAVING, according to the regulations of our last Annual District, removed from Spanish Town to this place, I consider it incumbent on me to send you a few remarks relative to each station. As to the former, I am happy to say things are in a state of considerable prosperity. The congregations, for several weeks previous to my removal, continued to increase greatly; so much so, that the place was again quite too strait for us, and the word preached, as multitudes could testify, was evidently attended with unusual power. It was truly animating to see such crowds flocking to the house of GOD, with the profound attention paid to the Word of Life; and especially to witness the happy effects produced. During the quarter, we had an addition of twenty-two members; and you will no doubt be greatly pleased to hear, that part of these consist of a Class raised at Old Harbour, a place distant from Spanish Town about twelve miles. It is only small of itself, but contiguous to many large estates, which renders it a place of considerable hope. There is a great spirit of hearing excited among them, and several are very piously disposed. A young man, lately from England, has been a leading instrument in this infant work, and is likely to be a great blessing to them. Hearing of such an opening, I embraced the first opportunity of paying them a visit, and had the pleasure to form a small Class, out of a number whe had been meeting together for some time. There is every encouragement that could be expected in such a place, and if properly attended, it will no doubt become a flourishing and useful branch of that Circuit. This prosperous state of things rendered it necessary to increase the numbers of Classes and Leaders again, which, there is every reason to believe, will be productive of much good; especially as the greatest love and unanimity prevail through the whole Society. Of the state of things here, but little can, with propriety, be said as yet. However, the congregations appear to be gradually increasing, as also the tone of religious feeling; and it is sincerely hoped that we shall soon see better days. Extract of a Letter from MR. YOUNG, dated Kingston, Dec. 8th, 1823. IN a former communication I informed you, that we had purchased a house at Stoney Hill, and were about fitting it up for a chapel. Since that period it has undergone the alterations necessary to receive a congregation, and will now accommodate very comfortably about 360 persons, exclusive of the Missionary's apartments. The ill state of MRS. YOUNG's health having required a change of air, and the climate of Stoney Hill being famed for its salubrity, we were strongly advised, by her medical attendant, to remove thither for a few weeks; which was accordingly done, and I am happy to say has had a very salutary effect. During our stay there, I preached twice every Sabbath, and on the week-evenings expounded, in a very familiar way, some portion of Holy Scripture to the people on the hill, and a few more that attended from the neighbouring settlements; which labour, I have reason to believe, was not altogether in vain, as a few were led to see the evil of their ways, and to manifest a deep concern about their salvation. I also opened a subscription in the neighbourhood, to assist in defraying the expenses incurred by the purchase and fitting up of the chapel; and you will be gratified to hear that it met with the most liberal encouragement from all classes in the community: for, with the exception of a solitary case, my applications were never refused, but succeeded far beyond my most sanguine expectations. From what I know of Stoney Hill, I am fully convinced that it is a very desirable Mission Station, and ought, if possible, to have the entire labours of a Missionary. Indeed, the appointment of one seems urged by a number of very powerful considerations, which, in my humble opinion, merit the early attention of the Committee. 1. It is in the centre of a large population; there being, as appears from the parish list of "Givings-in," upwards of 3000 slaves within four miles of the chapel, besides many people of free condition, settled in the immediate neighbourhood, who are at too great a distance from the parish-church to be much benefited by it, and therefore have need of a Missionary that would visit them from house to house, to instruct them in the things of God, of which many of them are lamentably ignorant, but very willing to be taught. 2. The leading persons in the vicinity are our decided friends. Whilst we were stopping there, I took the liberty of calling upon most of the proprietors and managers of the surrounding estates; all of whom expressed their most cordial approbation of our new establishment, and their willingness to facilitate its object to the utmost of their power. They have on different estates, to my own certain knowledge, given the negroes strict orders to attend the chapel, and encouraged them by their own example. Surely, this field is already white to the harvest, into which a labourer should be sent with all possible dispatch. BARBADOES.-MR. Goy has proceeded to his appointment in this island, from Grenada, with MR. WOOLLEY, of Trinidad, who has been directed to take measures for the rebuilding of the Chapel and Mission-Premises. When this is put in train, MR. WOOLLEY will return to his station in Trinidad. The following letters have been received from Barbadoes since our last;-one from MR. EXLEY, the Treasurer of the Auxiliary Missionary Society, which continues its liberalities to the cause of CHRIST, although under persecution, and without a place to meet in; the other from some Members of the Society, in the name of the rest. MR. EXLEY'S Letter is dated Jan. 12th, 1824: I INCLOSE you a bill for fifty pounds the Barbadoes Missionary Society for sterling, and you will please to credit that sum. I am happy to say, tranquillity is in some degree restored to our Society. We are, however, yet a by-word and a derision in the mouths of many. We have not been able to hold any meeting publicly since the affair of the 19th and 20th of October, nor shall we be able, I fear, for a considerable time to come. It is a happy circumstance that our members continue united, and feel their love to each other abound more and more. Indeed it increased in proportion as their persecutions and privations increased. No fault has been found with more than three of our members since MR. SHREWSBURY left us: this is cause of great thankfulness. We are still collecting a little money for our Missionary Society, and are exerting ourselves as well as circumstances will permit us. I hope to bring home, next summer, at the least forty or fifty pounds sterling. The Letter from the Society is dated HAVING been many months without a Pastor, and subject to much persecution and discouragement, we have resolved to send you a short statement of our Society; considering it a duty we owed to you, and also hoping to receive some encouragement and advice in our distressed situation. We ever feel a grateful remembrance of those who are over us in the LORD: they have a claim upon our affections, an interest in our prayers, and our best wishes for success in their undertakings. This feeling has been particularly excited towards our late worthy and excellent Minister, MR. SHREWSBURY; to whose afflictions and persecutions, and to whose patience and forbearance under them, we were witnesses, and desire to partake of that christian spirit, which was manifested by him in the greatest insults and outrages. We have cause to remember him, as under his ministry, for the last three years, religion has flourished more than ever was known before in Barbadoes. Many, who, through his instrumentality, were here brought to the knowledge of the truth, are now singing the praises of redeeming love in the church triumphant; others are adorning their christian profession on earth, and showing that nothing can separate them from the love of CHRIST, remaining steadfast in the midst of persecution, nay, even shining the brighter, and being purified as gold in the fire. I scarcely need say any thing in vindication of MR. SHREWSBURY in him the Committee have a most valuable Missionary. His ministerial labours in this island have been attended with marked success, and he is universally beloved by his flock. Feb. 14th, 1824:— It will be matter of great joy to you, to hear that only one of our members has forsaken us since the banishment of MR. SHREWSBURY, and two new ones have been added. Much pious concern appears in many; and we are convinced that true religion is on the increase, and the Gospel taking root silently in many hearts. We feel more than ever united in love to each other; and are endeavouring to convince our enemies, by our conduct, of the influence of religion on our hearts, and to show how effectually it restrains us from rendering to any man evil for evil, or railing for railing. We are still much persecuted, at least as far as calumny, contempt, sneers, derision, and ill-names, can be called persecution. However, we try to take Him for our pattern, who bore the contradiction of sinners against himself. We still continue our class-meetings and prayer-meetings; but privately, for fear of the enemy. We may say that our Society is in a flourishing condition; and, though we are as sheep without a shepherd, we see, on that account, the greater necessity of looking to Him who is able to keep us, and who does keep us. We live in hope, and expect yet to see this island flourish and blossom as the rose. O that the tabernacle of the LORD may be again soon set up, and the borders of Zion enlarged ! We desire to be peculiarly in your thoughts, and your care of us shall meet its just reward. MONTSERRAT.-The following Extract of a Letter from MR. HYDE, contains another instance of the happy effect of religious instruction upon the good order and peace of society. It is dated Jan. 15th, 1824. As Christmas is a season of the year when the slaves have three days' holiday allowed them by law, great dissipation usually exists, and riots frequently follow in those islands where the Gospel of CHRIST has not been long preached. I t am, however, happy to have to inform you, that although the inhabitants of this colony have only been favoured with the beneficial labours of your Missionaries for four years, and the slaves, with but few exceptions, only for one year, yet good order and peace have so prevailed this Christmas, that the public voice ascribes the change, through GOD's blessing, to the influence of religious instruction. The following are extracts from my Journal :: Dec. 17th, Wednesday.-I visited today four estates, and two yesterday. My endeavours this week have been particularly directed to the impressing of the minds of the slaves with the necessity of a proper observance of the Christmas holidays. I find that scarcely any of the slaves know any thing of the reason why Christmas is observed. On one large estate, where there are not less than 250 negroes, several of them said, "Massa, we quite ignorant about it." A respectable-looking negro-man, I believe the driver, at last thought he had found out the meaning of it, and said, "Massa, we on that day must be christened, and become good Christians." I explained to them that of which they had hitherto been ignorant.-The kindness of the negroes on another estate considerably affected me. When I appeared in sight, the negroes who were feeding the mill clapped their hands, and shouted for joy. As soon as I got near to them, their expressions of gladness, and their inquiries after MRS. HYDE and my children, were truly gratifying. At nine o'clock I preached on an estate, and was pleased to hear the driver say, when some of the people were anxious about washing their hands, "Never mind your hands dirty; mind what is in your heart." Not one on this estate knew any thing about Christmas. At two o'clock I preached on another estate, When I had done catechising them, out of the Conference Catechism, I observed, "You are no doubt looking forward with much pleasure to the Christmas holidays; but can you tell me what is the meaning of Christmas-Day? Why do we keep it as a holiday? Did any thing particular ever take place on that day?" After waiting some time in vain for an answer, I looked towards an aged coloured man, (upwards of seventy, and free,) and said, Do you not know why we keep Christmas?" He replied, "It is given, Sir, for a resting day." When the driver saw that this answer did not satisfy me, he said, "Christmas is the day of God's judgment! Given us for rest from labour, and to pass our time jovial amongst ourselves." When I explained to them the true meaning of this holy-day, they were much gratified. I then inquired, "How do you think we ought to keep this blessed day, on which GOD, in so much mercy, gave to the world his dear SoN, to save man? Should we keep it in drunkenness, think you?" All, "No." In rioting and dancing? "No." In cock-fighting, and such-like wicked amusements? "No." I then, on this testimony, gave them suitable advice for their conduct, prayed that they might be enabled to attend to it, and dismissed them. In the evening I preached at the North Chapel, from the important question, "What must I do to be saved?” Dec. 25th, Christmas-Day.-I preached this morning at five o'clock, from "Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour which is CHRIST the LORD." In the forenoon our SundaySchool children went to the church, as did several of our people and myself. The north aisle was appropriated to the children; and they behaved, as they looked, very well. The Clergyman paid much attention to them, and was highly pleased, as were all present, with their singing. He had provided a number of Bibles and Testaments, as rewards; but I begged the favour of his deferring the distribution of them until the examination, which he readily consented to do, and kindly engaged to be present at it. Dec. 27th, Saturday.-This has been one of the pleasantest days that we have had for some time. At eleven o'clock, the children belonging to our Sunday and Morning Schools assembled in the chapel, for examination before the congregation. The HoN. and REV.JOSEPH GERRALD favoured us with his presence, as did some other gentlemen of the town. The meeting opened with singing and prayer, and the children then repeated to the clergyman and myself all the answers to the Church Catechism; all the questions asked them out of the different Catechisms of Dr. Watts; the First Part of the Conference Catechism, and the first and second sections of the Second Part, with the scriptural references, a number of chapters out of the Old and New Testament, hymns, spelling, Proverbs, &c. The children during the examination sung several hymns, and uncommonly well, The Secretary, towards the close of the meeting, informed us, that during the last six months, several of the children in the Morning School, in the Bible Classes, have repeated by heart from 700 to 1200 verses of Scripture, from 80 to 160 verses of hymns, and from 400 to 700 words of spelling;-in the Testament Classes, from 180 to 300 verses of Scripture, from 40 to 75 verses of hymns, and from 200 to 300 words of spelling;-in the Spelling-Book Classes, from 300 to 800 lines of reading, and from 200 to 400 words of spelling. The whole examination gave great satisfaction to all present. |