mind and shall he not receive in return, of human kindness, of Christian tenderness and love, so much as the word of eternal life! Let it never again be told, while there is claim laid to human feeling, or to Christian kindness!! Your managers now retire, and hope, through your mercy, to be able to pursue their plans of giving the Bible to seamen, to the honour and glory of Christ, and to the salvation of those who are very often "in perils in the sea," to procure comforts for those who are at ease on the land. Home Proceedings. UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. SINCE the date of our last number, advices have been received from the Union Mission to the first of September, from the Great Osage Mission to the first of October, and from the Cataraugus Mission to the first of November. The Missionaries at the Western Stations had enjoyed better health than usual, during the heat of summer. But the hooping-cough, which had prevailed extensively among the children in that region, visited the School at Harmony with severity, and proved mortal to two of the smaller Indian Girls. UNION MISSION. REV. MR. VAILL'S JOURNAL For August, 1824. Death and Funeral of an Indian Woman. Aug. 19, 1824.-Just as Dr. Palmer and myself were about taking up our horses for the village, we received a line from Br. Chapman, at Hope-Fields, stating that the wife of Ses-sa Moi-neh, one of the settlers, died last night, and was to be buried in a Christian manner. According to his request, we turned our course to the settlement. The corpse was put into a coffin, and carried on a bier by the Brethren and by the Indians. The mourning husband and others followed in decent order. The deceased was dressed in her best apparel, and in addition, Sister Requa spread over her remains a linen sheet, in token of respect. A prayer was made by myself, and an address by Br. Chapman, which were well interpreted. There remained but a single vestige of their former superstition. They painted her face, that it might be known in the world beyond the grave to what clan she belonged, and that she might be respected accordingly. There was none of the crying and lamentation usual on such occasions; no pulling the hair or beating the breast. All was stillness. My mind was filled with a solemn and joyful sensation: solemn, because it was death, and the departed spirit had gone to that God of whom she had no proper conception: joyful, to witness so important a step towards civilization as a Christian burial. When I con trasted this with their distraction and howlings, and their depositing in the grave the smoking, cooking, eating, and riding, utensils, and killing a horse on the spot that the deceased might be accommodated with the means of living and journeying; and when I came to hear from Br. Chapman that this manner of interment was the choice of the husband, and originally the desire of the departed wife, who had, while living, chosen to walk in the ways of the white people, I was much relieved from those feelings which have sometimes taken hold of me, in view of the general backwardness of the nation to change their habits. State and Progress of the Indian Settlement. It being sunset before the funeral was over, we concluded to remain till morning. Brs. Chapman and Requa have each of them a cabin, connected by a covered spaceway. They live in common as we do at Union, except that when it is more convenient, they eat separately. Br. Requa has the sole care of the secular affairs of the settlement, and of that branch of the Missionary family. Br. Chapman is excused from labour and care, except what may be necessary in those attentions which his feeble partner may require. While it is Br. Chapman's duty to gain the language and labour among the Indians in spiritual things, Br. Requa is with them to teach their hands to labour, and their fingers to work with skill and cheerfulness. This of course takes up the Brethren's attention in the appropriate business of the missionary; and already, within a very lit tle time, we have had our reward. Their fields are waving with corn. They have loaded a canoe two or three times with melons and other productions, and carried them fifty miles down the river to market, and sold them for cash. To see the Osage, for, the first time, count his money, the fruits of his industry, affords no small satisfaction. The village at Hopefields presents a new scene to the traveller through the Osage Territory, and the transactions of this day over the grave of one whose kindred never before sought the aid of Christians in burying their dead, should be a reproof to all who are ready to say the Indians will never change their habits, and should lead them to come forward to the help of the Lord. Visit to Clamore's Village. Aug. 20.-Taking the Interpreter, who resides at the settlement, we departed this morning for the village, which we reached about 3 o'clock P. M. About half way, on the top of a hill that overlooks a vast plain to the East, is the grave of Coo-she-see-gre, or the Big-Track, a former chief, and father of Tally. This man, being a great friend to the Americans, requested, when he was dying, that he might be carried to the top of that hill, and there buried with his face towards the East, that he might have the pleasure of seeing the white people as they came to visit the Osage village. As we approached the town, we saw hundreds of children, all nearly of the same size, flocking towards us. Clamore, at whose lodge we put up, received us with his usual attention, but at this season of the year, when they have just returned from their hunt, their lodges are more than usually cluttered and dirty. They are now gathering their corn. Indeed it is picked and brought into their houses. The industrious women are shelling and spreading it out on skins to be cured in the sun, when it is put into bags and piled in one end of the lodge. Their crop of corn is better than usual. They lose much of the goodness by gathering it so early, and they gather it early to save it from being destroyed. What is very troublesome in the village is the armies of dogs which attack you on every side as you go from one lodge to another. If you carry a club in your hand you can seldom hit one of these fierce creatures, as they are much skilled in the art of dodging. In the evening, my attention was called to a war ceremony. A number of young warriors, who are to start day after to-morrow; (the Sabbath,) on a war expedition against the Pawnees, to avenge the death of some of their people lately lost, were feasting, and haranguing, and consulting together in a retired place. On such occasions they wish to be by themselves, and it was only on condition that we would not speak to them that Dr. Palmer and myself obtained permission of the chief to be spectators for a few moments. While they were thus consulting, one family was crying most bitterly over the death of their friend, killed by the Pawnees. I remonstrated with Clamore against this Pawnee war, which they always keep up, and advised him to make peace. He said that the Pawnees would never keep a peace, but would come and drive them from their town; and that they had already come so near as to destroy their corn and shoot their arrows into the village. But his main argument was this-we cannot stop the war until we have avenged the death of our friends, or in other words, till we have balanced the account. But the great reasons are the following: 1st. If they had no war with the Pawnees or any other nation, their young men would not become brave; and, 2dly, if they had no war, they would have no means of supplying themselves with horses. Their religion also leads them to war, to avenge the death of friends, even if they die by sickness. This is illustrated by Tally's observation a few days ago, at the Missionhouse. He had just lost his daughter by sickness. He said that he had just returned from a successful war against the Pawnees, and had time only to take his daughter into his arms, and she died. Now, said he, I must go once more to avenge the death of my child. Such an expression from a chief apparently so amiable in his mind and so agreeable in his manners as Tally, was shocking beyond expression. Our Interpreter had a message to the Chiefs from the Agent, requesting their attendance at the Cantonment in four days, to have an interview with the counsellor for the the prisoners at Little Rock, who had come up to take their depositions, by way of preparation for the trial in October. This message was delivered soon after our arrival. The chiefs were called together, a consultation held, and they agreed to go. having been invited to eat at ten different lodges, and having finished the business of the day with prayer, we spread our blankets and lay down to rest. Final Interview with Clamore. After This Aug. 21.-The hooping-cough prevails among the children of the village, and Dr. Palmer has been occupied all the morning, as he was last evening, in administering to those who are in need. We consider it our duty to administer medicines, as we preach the gospel, without remuneration. bill of expense, however, has not at any time been great. Before we left the village, I had another interview with Clamore, in which he still contended for the propriety and the right of avenging the deaths of relatives by slaying some of his enemies. In the course of his arguments, he plead that the white people proceeded by the same rule, in requiring the late murderers. I told him that those murderers had broken the laws of God and man. In reply, he said the white people had broken the laws of man and of God too, in hunting on their ground. I was about to proceed to give further instructions, when an invitation came for us to eat. As they were like to be in great commotion tomorrow, the braves going to war, and the chiefs to the garrison, I concluded to postpone preaching in the village for two weeks. I therefore announced to the Chiefs my intention to visit them again in two weeks, to preach on God's day his word to them and their people. Osage Youth preparing for the School at This morning, found Robert Munroe at his mother's lodge, who has been from Union ever since June. When the order from NewYork was made known to him, he replied that he wished to go to Cornwall. Stephen Van Rensselaer is desirous to do the same, and we shall get them under way, if possible, by the last of September. Tally told us if they should call for his son, he would also send him. Would it not be of great benefit to the nation for the Board of Managers to send for one son of Clamore, the first Chief, and for Philip Milledoler, Tally's eldest boy? Language fails to set forth the probable importance of this measure. Could a few youth, who have influence, be separated from the nation and become civilized, and feel themselves independent of the foolish superstitions of these people, they would probably promote the reformation of the nation beyond any other means. I have only time to subscribe myself, Yours, &c. (Signed,) WM. F. VAILL. GREAT OSAGE MISSION. JOURNAL FOR AUGUST, 1824. Aug. 2.-Br. Pixley, finding it impractica ble at present to remove with his family to the neighbourhood of the Indian Village as he had for some time contemplated, set out this evening himself, in company with a small party of Indians. He designs to travel chiefly by night, in order to avoid the annoyance of the large flies, which, at this season of the year, endanger the lives of animals in crossing these plains by day. Monthly Concert. In uniting our supplications with those of the thousands of Israel, which, on this evening ascend to the Father of Mercies for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, we endeavoured, amidst the dis around us, to couraging appearances strengthen our faith in the certainty, and enlarge our conceptions of the completeness and glory of his future triumph over every branch of an apostate race, by contemplating the rich and variegated views exhibited in the 72d Psalm. In vain do those who are ignorant of the Scriptures and the power of God allege the ignorance, perverseness, and roving habits of the Indian tribes, as insuperable obstacles to their conversion, while it is expressly declared by the Spirit of Truth, not only that "all kings shall fall down before the Messiah, and all nations shall serve him;" but "they of the wilderness shall bow before him." Visit to the Indian Villages. Aug. 6.-Brs. Dodge, Montgomery, and Sprague set out this evening on a tour to the Indian Villages, with the view especially of consulting the Little Osages on their disposition to receive a branch of the family to live near their village, for the purpose of aiding them in acquiring the use of the plough, and the other necessary arts of life, as well as of enjoying a more favourable opportunity of instructing them in the things of religion. Cruelty of an Osage Mother to her dying Aug. 12.-A little Indian girl died at the tents near the Mission-House. Her mother refused to have any medical assistance rendered. She said she wished the girl to die, and even attempted to stop her breath when in the agonies of death. Such is the effect of Pagan darkness! While it leaves the bereaved relative to the most frantic excesses of grief, it perverts even the fond affections of a mother from their proper channel, and in the hour when most a mother's tenderness is needed, exposes her hapless offspring to the wayward suggestions of ignorance and depravity. Return of the Commissioners. Aug. 19.-Brs. Dodge and Sprague resho, having left Br. Montgomery to continue turned early this morning from the Ne-osome time longer among the Indians. In their tour they have visited the three villages belonging to our branch of the nation, viz. White-Hair's, the Little Osage, and the Possagony; the latter situated on the Verdigris, about thirty miles south-westerly from the two former, had never before been visited by any of our family. White-Hair's People, with whom we have had most intercourse, appear to be slowly inclining to civilized life. Many of the men this season have assisted the women in cultivating corn, a thing which formerly was almost unheard of among them. A number of the most considerate listened to the word of God, which was dispensed to them, though in a broken manner, by brother Montgomery, and with a good degree of attention and candour. They said they could not understand some part of what brother M. said, and wished the brethren to procure a good interpreter when they visited them again. The Little Osages, from their want of opportunity to become acquainted with our views, were, not unexpectedly, found to entertain many prejudices. The principal chief, and a number of the leading men said, it would be quite agreeable to them if a few individuals of the family should come to reside near them; but they were apprehensive that their young men could not be restrained from stealing or injuring our property. In the council which was convened on the subject, they concluded to defer their answer until they should have an opportunity of consulting the new agent. The next morning they were invited to assemble to hear a talk about God's book, when a respectable number of men gave a very decent attention to a discourse from brother Dodge, though it had to pass through two interpretations, and a repetition by the counsellor, before it reached them. At the Possagony Village the brethren arrived on Friday, and remained till Monday. The news respecting the appointment of a new agent had already reached this village, and immediately on the brethren's arrival the lodge was filled with men anxious to know when he might be expected to visit their village. Major Graham considering the situation of these people, at such a distance from the other villages, as having an unfavourable effect on their conduct, advised them at his last visit to remove to the Neosho. They now feel quite an interest to know whether this plan will be prosecuted by governor M'Nair. Here also the people were addressed publicly, and much conversation was had with individuals on the subject of religion; and though, in a few instances, they attempted to defend their old opinions, nothing like warmth or dissatisfaction was exhibited. At no place were the brethren more kindly received or more hospitably entertained. Though the brethren have not yet fully succeeded in accomplishing the particular object of their visit to the Little Osages, yet we trust their tour has not been wholly in vain. Our acquaintance with the Osages has been enlarged; an attempt has been made at all the villages to introduce meetings for religious instruction; and some useful information, on various subjects, has been communicated in conversation with individuals. Barbarous Treatment of the aged and infirm. During their stay in the Possagony village the brethren witnessed another instance It of the shocking custom of hastening the death of persons supposed to be near their end. It was in the case of an old man, who had been painted and attired for his journey to the invisible world, but who did not appear likely to depart so speedily as his friends expected. Wearied with the vociferous lamentation which they had continued for several hours, they placed a thick blanket over his mouth and face, in such a manner as greatly to hinder his respiration. being immediately removed by the brethren, the family waited some time longer, when, after performing some further ceremonies about the dying man, they again drew the blanket over his face, doubling it, the more effectually to accomplish their purpose. The brethren having interposed a second time, the poor man was permitted to breathe his last in peace. The worthlessness of the grief exhibited on these occasions appears also from another circumstance: a crowd of women, greatly incommoding the sick man by their noise, and by preventing the circulation of the air, the brethren advised the family to have the lodge cleared, to which one of the sons replied, that when several bags of provisions, which had been laid on the floor, were distributed, they would withdraw, which took place some time previous to the death of the old man, and at once terminated the crying of the women. Various Notices. August 23.-Philip Milledoler, one of the two large boys who left the school a year and a half since, being in this vicinity, and. manifesting a desire to return to school, is again received. Having a widowed mother and several sisters depending in some measure on him for support, his cause of absence has been much more reasonable than that of his companion. August 24.-Brother Sprague commenced yesterday gathering a field of about fifteen acres of corn, potatoes, and beans, with the help of the Indian boys, when not engaged in school. RESPECTED AND DEAR SIR-As no report of this mission has hitherto been forwarded to your department, I will briefly advert to its commencement, and then show its progress to the present time. In the month of March, 1822, the secretary of the United Foreign Missionary Society received a letter, signed by 22 Indian chiefs, belonging to Buffalo, Cataraugus, and Alleghany, containing an urgent request that the society would consider their brethren at Cataraugus, and send them a teacher to instruct their children, and females to teach their women to spin, weave, &c. and mechanics for the benefit of their young men. Thereupon, the society resolved that a teacher and his family should be immediately sent to Cataraugus ; and that a female teacher, and mechanics acquainted with the blacksmith and wheelwright business, should be furnished as soon as circumstances should justify such a mea sure. Having received my appointment and the necessary instructions, I left New-York with my family, and arrived at the Seneca Mission-House, on the Buffalo reservation, early in the month of May. I immediately visited the Indians at Cataraugus, where I was received by the Christian party with lively demonstrations of gratitude and joy. They said it was a good day that brought us together, and promised to do all in their power to put up the buildings, and help forward the work. I was authorized to erect a schoolhouse and other buildings immediately, but learning that there was a party of Indians violently opposed to such measures, and that they had declared that as soon as the building was begun they would take their axes and hew it down, I thought it expedient to defer building for the present. At the request of the Indians, I hired a temporary dwelling near the Reservation, and statedly met with them on the sabbath for religious worship. In the fall, as the opposition still continued, and as all white people were prohibited from settling on Indian lands by an act of the state legislature, the chiefs desired me to procure a suitable building as near them as I could, and open a school for the instruction of their children. As an inducement to this measure, and an evidence of their solicitude on this subject, they promised to furnish for the school a considerable quantity of meat and grain. Accordingly a suitable house was provided, and the necessary preparations for receiving the children into the family were made with as little delay as possible. The mission school was opened on the 14th of January, 1823, when fourteen promising children were formally surrendered to our care and authority by the chiefs in the following language: "Brother, you see our children. So far we have brought them up. We now take them from our arms and give them to you. Let them be your children. Instruct them in those things you think will be useful to them, and bring them up in good white people's ways, especially in gospel things. Teach them to keep the sabbath day, and be good, and we shall thank you, and thank you, and our children will thank you for ever." About this time a female teacher was added to the mission family. During the following season, as the house which we had hired was at an inconvenient distance from the Indians' village, and could be obtained only for one year, and as it was not practicable to build on Indian land, the Board thought proper to purchase a lot of land containing 59 1-2 acres, immediately adjoining the Reservation, on which have been erected comfortable and convenient frame buildings for the family and school, sufficiently large to accommodate fifty or sixty children. The value of the missionary farm is greatly increased by the consideration that a state road has been recently laid out through it, passing by the building and through the Indian village, making a direct rout from Buffalo to Fredonia, from which villages the mission-house is nearly equidistant. The school has continued in successful operation from the commencement to the present time. In December last, it was removed to the new buildings, when the number of children soon increased to twentyseven, among whom were four received from that party, hitherto much opposed to the school. Early in March another male teacher was added to the family. About this time the Seneca mission family and school on the Buffalo reservation were reInoved by the law of the state. It was therefore thought expedient to propose to the Buffalo chiefs to send their children to this school. Accordingly, one male and two female members of the Seneca Mission Family, and eighteen children soon arrived at |