the inhabitants at the Bakělě towns | sun went down behind a cloud," the mission say; usually are. We gained their full con- "but we believe he now knows by experience fidence, I think, and we were much the full meaning of the words which formed the pleased with their appearance. The men conclusion of his own report one year ago, 'For were very muscular and healthy; and all me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' We are were uncontaminated by the vices which comforted by the thought that he is now one of have been introduced on the coast by the spirits of just men made perfect in Christ unprincipled traders. How important Jesus." that these people be met, as they come down, by the influences of the gospel! Religious Services. In speaking of the religious services conducted by the mission, our brethren say: They are quite rude, wearing scarcely any clothing; but many of them paint their bodies with red wood, so as to give them a purple look. Nearly all wear Last year Dr. Ball commenced a daily ornaments of white beads, iron and ivory service in a small room in the part of his rings, &c. Their iron seems to be of a house fronting the street, which has been superior quality; and many of their im- continued to the present time. For the plements are made with taste and skill last three or four months, however, the equal to that of any people in the world. two Chinese assistants, Tien-tsai and While we were talking with the peo-Laisun, have taken charge of it on acple, Dinbedambe made a solemn cove- count of his indisposition. "There apnant of friendship with the brother of pears to be an increased readiness among the headman. They first chewed a kind the people to listen to the gospel." The of bush pepper; then scratched their Sabbath service in the Tie Chew dialect hands, so as to start the blood; then, has also been regularly sustained during having rubbed the places with the the year. It has generally been conchewed pepper, they touched their hands ducted by the assistant Tien-tsai. The together, so as to mingle their blood. scholars, printers, domestics, &c. assem"Now," they say, "if any persons be-ble at two o'clock each Sabbath afterlonging to either tribe go to the towns noon for public worship. At night they of the other, and are injured in any way, go to Dr. Happer's, about a mile distant, those who commit the wrong will die." and attend a preaching service in conNone ever presume to break such a cov-nection with the members of his school and others. Two individuals, who have After spending an hour or two with the Pang-attended the meeting regularly since it wes, Messrs. Bushnell and Porter set out on their was commenced in the winter of 1846, return. At the first Bakělě town they were give some evidence of having been born overtaken by a shower of rain; but they im- of the Spirit. One of them, a printer, proved the opportunity to preach to the natives, who has been several years in the serwho came together in considerable numbers. vice of the mission, has requested bapThey then proceeded to the town where they tism. The other has been employed for obtained their interpreter; and there they ate two or three years past as the teacher of their first meal for the day, having been all the the school; but by profession he is a time anxious to improve the tide. They arrived block cutter. He went to Singapore, at enant. at Dinbedambe's town about eleven o'clock at night, and the next day landed at Baraka. At the close of his letter Mr. Porter says: "The region which I have now described, is to be my parish. I have hired a house at Ebuna's town, a very central position, for three months. Tomorrow I expect to go to take possession." Canton. LETTER FROM THE MISSION, SEPTEM BER, 1851. the time the mission was established Mr. Williams has regularly held two services Mr. Bonney has generally held one public service on the Sabbath, in the THIS letter contains a report of the labors of village of Sun Chow, where he has resiour brethren at Canton, during the year preced- ded. During the working days of the ing its date. An appropriate reference is made week there has been no public meeting; to the death of Mr. James G. Bridgman. "His but the time has been spent in visiting the schools and inhabitants of his own make a part of the daily congregation. village and its vicinity. The number A few excursions have been made into present each Sabbath is from ten to the country for the distribution of books. thirty; and they generally give good Tien-tsai has visited, quite regularly, a attention. In imparting instruction the number of junks engaged in the coastfour Gospels and Acts of the Apostles ing trade of this province, and generally are used, no other portion of the Scrip- manned by men who speak his dialect, or tures having been furnished in sufficient one much like it. quantity. Mr. Bonney is not yet able to report a single instance of a native's forsaking his idolatry. Schools-Tract Distribution. Mr. Bonney has continued the distribution of the Gospels and tracts, as in previous years, but not to so great an extent. He has made one hundred and twenty visits to villages in the immediate neighborhood of Whampoa. From twenty to one hundred tracts have been distributed each time. Mr. Williams has also distributed a few hun The Press-Conclusion. At the Chinese press, under Dr. Ball's care, there had been printed. for the mission at the close of the year ending June 30, 1851, 209,400 tracts of various sizes, besides several thousand tracts and religious books for other societies, The boarding school under Dr. Ball's care has twenty-one scholars. Within the last year three have completed the period for which they were bound, two dred tracts. of whom engaged in printing. One of them has since died of a fever. Two other boys have been taken from the school. Only one remains, who is to be furnished with clothing by the mission; and his time will be out in a few months. The older boys have been instructed in the rudiments of geography and natural philosphy, in addition to lessons in the Chinese classics, the Scriptures and other religious books. Those who have hundred and twenty copies of the Gosentered the school more recently, have pels and Acts have been issued. At the studied Christian books and the Scrip- Anglo-Chinese press, which has been tures. On the Sabbath all the scholars under Mr. Williams's care, there have have lessons suited to the duties of the been printed six hundred thousand octavo day. Miss Mary L. Ball and Laisun pages, besides a few jobs. The superhave assisted in the instruction of sevvision of the Chinese Repository has eral classes. The cost of the school for occupied a portion of Mr. Williams's the year ending June 30, 1851, was time, and will continue to do so for a few $325 58. The boys earned $44 85, by months to come, when the work will folding and binding books, making the net cost $280 73. Mr. Bonney has not had any school under his entire supervision, as no funds were set apart for that object. There are two schools of twenty scholars each in his village; but the parents are unwilling that Christian books should be introduced at once as a part of the regular course of study. And were they willing, the teachers are not qualified to give instruction from them. &c. During the same period seven cease. A general index of all the matters contained in the entire work is about all that remains to be done. Our brethren make a brief allusion, in closing their annual report, to the use of opium, which is as prevalent as it ever has been among all classes." After referring to the extent and consequences of gambling among the Chinese, they say: At this season of the year a mode of gambling is practiced, which is peculiar Dr. Ball has distributed tracts almost to the country. The hills and fields are daily at the door of his house fronting searched at night by men with lanterns the street, assisted by Tien-tsai and for little crickets. These are kept in Laisun, they spending some time at small boxes till the appointed day; when different hours of the day. There are crowds of people assemble in a large always many large boats moored before building, and engage in the amusement the door which have come from villages of cricket fighting. Ten, twenty and more or less distant, loaded with produce even fifty dollars are staked on the fightof various kinds, and each having on ing qualities of a little cricket. board not less than five persons, and what low and debasing practices will sometimes scores. These always ap- not a heathen descend, when left to folpear eager to receive books; and they low his own evil imaginations and deoften apply for medicine. They also vices ! To While mourning that so few are converted | the request for them so urgently made in from the error of their ways, the mission still former letters, that it is needless to dwell labor in hope of a future harvest. In the mean- upon this topic now. The want is still time its strength should be greatly increased. as pressing as ever, and even more so, as Hence our brethren say: the prejudice against foreigners gradually decreases, and new openings for missionary residences and labors are offered. The need of more laborers in this field has been so often presented, and Miscellanies. DISCOVERIES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. miles long. Lake N'gami I have not tried for. I traveled on northward. We moved very slowly; the wagons had to crush tains a letter from Francis Galton, dated Eikhams, through every thing, and the oxen would Namaqua Land, August 16, 1851, which throws not pull through the thorns. After three some light upon the geography of Southern Af-hundred miles I reached the end of the rica. The most important part of the letter is as follows: I have returned after a journey not quite so long as I had hoped to make. Of perfectly new country I have explored about five hundred miles out, returning by much the same route. I did not quite reach the Portuguese, or the magnificent intervening river, of which the Cavene is only a branch. Those abominable wagons have been like a drag-chain upon me; but every thing has ended well, and we have had no sickness. I have had plenty of occupation in mapping the country. My guns have been quite idle, as there is little or no game of any sort. After leaving the furthest missionary station, I found myself between the two principal black chiefs, who were on the eve of fighting; however, I contrived to get my party clear of the massacre, and passed on without guides, being also fortunate enough to find sufficient water from place to place for the oxen as well as for ourselves; so that in that way we had no hardships. The country was a dense mass of thorns, not simple straight thorns, like a quickset hedge, but curved like fishhooks. The oxen would not face them; it was terrible work to drive them on. I often tried the strength of these thorns by fastening a piece of rag to a spring balance, and pulling until the thorn broke. One thorn stood a pull of twenty-seven pounds. Our clothes were in rags; and at first our skins were very painful from being so much torn, especially as the scratches generally festered; but we grew hardened in time. I found my way to the reported Lake Omabondi, which was dry as dust; not a drop of water in the reeds. From the natives' description we had reckoned upon seeing a large sheet of water, about thirty miles by eight. It was, however, nothing but a water-course, three hundred yards broad, and in the rainy season might be two country of the Ovakerers, where was a large village. Thence I endeavored to get guides on to the Ovampo; but the chief would not give them; so we went off alone, as we were resolved not to be beaten. As we were just starting, the oxen were frightened, and set off at a trot. There was in front of them a great stump, apparently rotten, but in reality a hard, strong tree. The near fore-wheel of my best wagon came against this, and crash went the whole concern. We set to work, brought the oxen alongside, made a hedge of thorns, cleared the ground, and at once despatched a party to cut down trees to mend it. The road had been so stony and execrable in every way, that it would have been folly to venture on with an axletree of green wood; therefore the wagons necessarily had to remain there while the trees seasoned. We I upon this halved my party, and Anderson and myself saddled our oxen and moved on to the north. We found a man who said he could take us in a fifteen days' journey to the Ovampo; but he led us all wrong, and we were hard put to it for water. All kinds of little disasters occurred. made three attempts to proceed, and the third time most fortunately met a trading party from Ovampo, who had come down to buy cattle; so we returned with them, waited three long weeks until they were ready to go back to their own country, and then accompanied them thither. After two hundred miles' travel the bushes and thorns suddenly ceased; and the charming corn country of Mondongo, with its palms and fruit trees, lay before us. I rode off to the King, and crowned him straightway with that great theatrical crown which I picked up one day in London before starting, thinking that it might come in opportunely among the savages. He was a brute, fat as a tub, but his people were most hospitable. The journey had lasted longer than I expected. My oxen were in a sad state, footsore and with galled backs. I had to buy and carry back provisions, as we had but little cattle left. The Cavene River was four or five days ahead, but Naugoro, the King, would not allow us to go to it. Had I been able to remain with him for three or four weeks, I might have over-persuaded him, as he had a strong dislike to gunpowder; but it was quite impossible to stay, as my wagons and men were left in such a precarious situation. I therefore packed five hundred pounds of corn, flour, beans, &c. on my oxen, and returned. I found my wagon well mended, the axletree better than before; and about sixty sheep and a few oxen had been bought by my men, and added to our store during my absence. We returned without accident of any sort, by a slightly different road, and I am now with the Namaqua chief. I told you in my last letter that I made peace all over his country, and it has been admirably kept during my absence. I have, therefore, given Jonker (the chief) a cocked hat and an old ambassador's coat of Mr. with which he is highly delighted. I now intend going to the east for a little ele phant shooting, and I shall exchange every thing I have for ivory, (of which the Namaquas there have an abundance,) take it down to Walwich Bay, and start by the missionary ship for the Cape or for St. Helena, either in December or January, unless another opportunity offer for going farther into the country. A trading party of blacks, from the Portuguese country, were at Mondongo while I was there, but I was unable to send letters by them; for the people are very superstitious there, and would have nothing to do with written things. I have, of course, found out much about the country of great interest. A posse of missionaries are about to follow my route. The Ovampos are really a charming tribe of negroes; but every other nation I have either seen or heard of, are brutal and barbarous to an incredible degree. The same writer says that Naugoro lives in latitude 17° 57′, and longitude 16° 45'. This is farther north than any traveler or missionary had gone before. Proceedings of other Societies. PARIS EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY SOCI- Stations. Communic'ts. Catechu. Schol. Cong'ns. ETY. Wellington, Bethulia, Carmel, Beersheba, Morija, THIS Society has hitherto been remarkably prosperous. It has sustained but one mission; but that has enjoyed the divine favor in an unusual degree. At the present time, however, its prospects are darkened by the war in South Africa. The contest between the English Government and the natives has at length reached the field in possession of our French brethren, and inflicted serious injuries upon a part of their stations. The number of stations actually occupied by the mission, at the date of the last report, was ten. During the financial embarrassments of the society, which grew out of the revolution of 1848, three stations, Hebron, Hermon and Cana, were suspended; but measures have been taken for resuming operations at each of these points. The following statistics are taken from the last report. Thaba Bossiou, 121 From the Treasurer's report it appears that the balance on hand at the commencement of the year was 145,085 fr.; and the receipts of the year have been 108,393 fr., the donations and subscriptions having amounted to 99,321 fr. The disbursements of the year were 141,028 fr., of which 105,704 fr. have been disbursed for the mission in South Africa, besides 10,790 fr. appropriated for the education of missionaries' chil dren. The society is contemplating an enlargement of its operations. To this end it is proposed to commence a new mission in the French Antilles. wwm American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Recent Entelligence. young, and others far advanced in life. Among them were some of the most hardened and abandoned persons in the tribe. Thus far the work has been silent, solemn and impressive. There is nothing like excitement. I have never known a work of grace where the feelings were so subdued and silent. Even the hope of the young convert is "quietness and assurance," rather than ecstasy. In some cases the peculiar calmness and sweetness of expression in the countenance are a true index of the calm of the soul. One of those who united with the church in January, has already entered the church trium- CHEROKEES.-The national female seminary has been greatly blessed since its opening in May last. During the month of July there was deep solemnity in the institution; and prior to the close of the first term, August 7, two or three of the pupils professed to have passed from death unto life. When the second term commenced, October 1, it was manifest that the Spirit of the Lord was still present; and the state of things became more and more interesting. On the evening of December 10, those who were indulging a hope that their sins had been forgiven, were invited to meet in Dr. Butler's room. More than one-half of the scholars (the whole number being twenty-five) assembled accordingly. "As they had but a short time to spend before going to their evening studies," Dr. Butler says, "I de-a lovely girl of eighteen, intelligent, and spoke voted the few minutes to an explanation of the the English language well. We had hoped that meaning of the phrase, 'She has a hope,' and she would be particularly useful as an interpreter in the female prayer-meetings, and as a cothen prayed with them. After the study hour laborer. But God had another and higher sphere was over five of our pupils, anxious and weep-for her. ing, came to my room, and I conversed with Death is busy among this people. Yesterday them. Next evening two others came, neither of whom was present the evening before." "Our school has been for months, and still is, a Bochim, a place of joy and trembling, of hope and fear." "Gradually and almost imperceptibly the work has gone forward, until it has reached its present state. It has advanced in such a manner, and by such secret influences, that it must all be ascribed to the influences of the Spirit." Dr. Butler says that he has not seen such a state of things since 1816-17. The friends of the Cherokees will rejoice greatly in the favor which God is showing to this infant seminary. May the baptism which its first class has received, be enjoyed by all who shall enter its walls in coming years! CHOCTAWS.-A recent letter of Mr. Wright states that twenty-two persons were admitted to the Wheelock church on profession during 1851. NEW YORK INDIANS.-The following extract from a letter of Mr. Rockwood, dated February 2, describes a state of things among the Tuscaroras, which will give great satisfaction to the friends of the red man: a young man of promise was consigned to the Mr. Wright says, under date of February 5: "We have hope that a few individuals will prove to have been truly converted within the last few weeks. Several others attend our inquiry meetings, and manifest more or less interest in the subject of religion." There is reason to hope that God has a blessing in store for the Cattaraugus Reservation. Mrs. M. N. Hall Burgess died on the 30th of December. For sixteen years she has labored with her brother, Rev. William Hall, on the Alleghany Reservation. She has been singularly devoted and earnest in the service of her Master; and her end was eminently peaceful. last words were: "Dear Savior, come quickly." She had been married but a few weeks. Her GABOON.-Messrs. Walker & Preston, with their wives, arrived at Monrovia on the 9th of December, in good health. They spent two weeks at Sierra Leone, where they had "very friendly and pleasant intercourse with the English missionaries and with some of the civil officers," &c. I wrote you early in January, giving you a brief account of the state of things among this people. The awakening has continued with increased interest to the present time. Many are indulging the hope that they have passed from death unto life; while others are still anxious and inquiring. Backsliders are reclaimed, and professors of religion are revived. No extra meetings have yet been held, except that we have had inquiry meetings on two Wednesday evenings. There were more than twenty inquirers present SOUTH AFRICA.-Intelligence of the death of at the last, embracing some who were quite Dr. Adams has been received from Cape Town. |