to fix our permanent establishment. We are now drawing near to the place of our destination. Oh! may the God of Israel go with us, and prepare the way before us; and may he assist us in the discharge of the duties devolving upon us, that we may instrumentally save the people who are now sitting in darkness. Wednesday, August 1st.-This morning, in consequence of some showers of rain the last night, it is found that the river has risen about a foot, which relieves us from our anxiety about the sufficiency of water to carry us to the place of our destination. We pass on finely this day, and draw closely upon the end of our journey. May God give us grateful hearts for all his benefits. First interview with Osage Indians. Thursday, Aug. 2d.-This day moved on again favourably. Passed the Little Osage River, and opened our eyes upon Came to a most beautiful prairie. Chaiteau's establishment, where we found a number of families of the Osage Indians. We had an interview with them, and made known the object of our visit. They gathered around us in a friendly manner, and their countenances apparently brightened with gladness at our arrival. Having ascertained that most of the Chiefs and Warriors of the tribe were absent on a hunt, we moved on a little above Chaiteau's settlement, and landed for the present, A special season of thanksgiving and praise. This evening was especially devoted to thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, for the rich display of his goodness, as manifested to our Mission Family on our long and fatiguing journey. Notwithstanding he has spoken to us in sickness and in death, yet he has not suffered any of these things to impede our march; and although our progress has been slow, yet it has been safe. Not a bone has been broken, nor a joint misplaced, in all our journey. Praise is due to Him who governs in all events. May our hearts ever be prepared to render Him the glory which is due to His name. This was a pleasant season, in which I trust the Mission Family unitedly and individually participated. After the season of prayer, we consulted upon measures to be taken to acquaint ourselves with several situations recommended for our establishment. It was decided that Brothers Dodge, Newton, and Jones, go to the place where a Mr. Sibley is erecting a trading establishment, and that Brothers Pixley, Austin, and Bright, examine the banks of the Little Osage River. Friday, Aug. 3d.-This morning one of the Indians was employed to go in pursuit of the Chiefs, and invite them to a Council. We furnished him with a letter, and with some provisions and tobacco, and he left us, promising soon to return. This day the brethren performed the task allotted to them last evening. No good situation was discovered on the Little Osage. Resolved to make a trial to-morrow to move our hoats up to the United States' Factory, or as near it as we can conveniently get. Saturday, Aug. 4th.-This morning eight of our hands left us to return to St. Louis. We started our boats up the stream, and passed very pleasantly until just at night, when we came to a ripple which had not water sufficient to We were obliged to turn carry us up. back a little to a place where our boats could lie in safety, and to land for the Sabbath. Lord's Day, Aug. 5th.-Attended public worship as usual. Brother Pixley and Brother Montgomery preached. We enjoyed a very peaceful season, having none to disturb us. Place selected for the Missionary Station. Monday, Aug. 6th.-This morning six of our hands left us. Perhaps we shall never see them more. It was an affecting season on both sides. We had be come attached to each other. May God bless them on their journey, and carry them safely to their respective families. This day most of the brethren went up to the United States' Factory to take another look for a situation for our establishment, and found a place which we all think very suitable for the object. Here we met with Mr. Williams, who is appointed interpreter at the Factory. We conversed with him some time concerning this tribe of Indians, and then returned to the boats. Attended the Monthly Concert in the evening. Tuesday, Aug. 7th.-This morning we concluded to make a further trial to get our boats up the stream. Unloaded part of the goods on board of the first boat, and worked half the day, but could not effect our object. This evening we met for business. As our boats are stopped for the present, and we know not how long they must remain here; as the Chiefs of the Nation are not yet assembled, and we know not the particular time when they will convene; and as we have been informed, that it is the general wish of the Indians that we should establish on the very spot which we ourselves have selected; under these circumstances we resolved to convey our goods to the Station in our skiff, and to build a warehouse without delay. The Establishment commenced. Wednesday, Aug. 8th.-This morning we set two men and a boy to the skiff, while a number of the brethren went up to our intended Station, to cut timber and begin our establishment. On these, and on all our future exertions, may the Lord add his blessing. [To be continued in our next.] TUSCARORA MISSION. Rev. Mr. Crane to the Domestic Secretary.-Feb. 5, 1822. DEAR SIR,-We were indeed refresh ed in hearing from the Board through your letter of the 16th January. We hope to persevere in prayer, that the unerring spirit of our Lord Jesus may influence all your deliberations and decisions. Last Sabbath, the first in February, we enjoyed the privilege of leading our dear people to the table of the Lord. We had enjoyed much satisfaction in anticipating the season, and in discharging previously the preparatory duties. Perhaps you are not aware that much more is done by way of preparation than is deemed necessary among the whites. In all of our meetings on the Sabbath, and during the week, the minds of the Indians are led to this subject for three or four weeks previous to the administration of the ordinance. Attention is paid to the improvement of the Christian Indians in knowledge and practice. If any difficulties exist, between the professors, or between professors and others, the parties are visited, instructed, and exhorted, until friendship and peace is restored. The nature, design, and advantages of the Lord's Supper are repeatedly enforced. Those who wish to unite with the church are examined several times previous to their admission. A number of circumstances combined to give more than ordinary solemnity and interest to this last communion season. Four of our dear young men were added to the church. Three of them were baptized, and two of them married. One of them is a grandson of our respected interpreter. It was impressively solemn to see these young men, the first in the Nation for intelligence, industry, and influence, (who but a short time since were evidently pursuing their own degradation and ruin) come forward and assume publicly the solemn vows of devotion and fidelity to the Saviour; and, especially, to see some of them coming at once under all the weight of responsibility which arises from the vows and obligations of the three ordinances of God's appointment. Lord, hold thou them up that they may be safe! It was very gratifying to see every member of the church united. in most cordially receiving these young brethren into their number, from a full belief that they were indeed "turned from darkness to light." We have reason to believe that all the brethren and sisters took their seats at the Lord's table, in the exercise of the spirit of love and peace towards each other. Ac Another circumstance, affording much pleasure to us all, was the restoration of an offending sister, who has been suspended for two years. Efforts had been repeated, without success, to bring her to a sense of her sin and duty. She appeared before the church about three weeks previous to the communion, and manifested a state of mind which led me to fear that we should be obliged to excommunicate her. Finding that nothing satisfactory could be effected before the church, I told her that I should proceed no farther with her at that time, but should have some more conversation at her own house. cordingly I took two members of the church with me, and after laying before her, with tenderness, her sin and danger, and the necessity the church would be under to cut her off, if she persisted, I requested her to give me her answer, and to make known her determination. How agreeably were we surprised, and how much delighted, to find from her reply, that she had been blessed with a most pungent sense of her perverseness! She appeared, while making her acknowledgments, to "abhor herself." She approved of the conduct of all the brethren, and said that we were employed by the Saviour, as his instruments, to save her from that grave, and that hell, to which the adversary had persuaded her to go. She gave us all the satisfaction we desired, and was consequently readmitted to the communion of the church. In addition to these circumstances attending the communion, you will be pleased to hear that many white brethren and sisters, from the settlements in the vicinity, came uninvited to set down at the table of the common Lord, and afforded a most pleasing proof. that the gospel levels all the distinctions of colour, kind, or nation, and makes all who love it "one in Christ Jesus." The house has never been so full since I have been here. Many were obliged to go away, because they could not get in, and a number stood at the doors and windows. Since I last wrote, one of the young men of the tribe has died. Had he lived, and enjoyed a sufficient degree of health, he would also have been added to the church. He offered us good rea son to believe that he was prepared to be for ever with the Lord. His case was peculiarly interesting, but I could not make it appear so interesting to you without entering too minutely into detail for a communication to the Board. I have drawn off a hasty account of the way in which the Lord led him, and if you wish it as a gratification to yourself and domestic circle, and to communicate such parts to the Board as you may think proper, I will forward it. In addition to those who have united with the church, there are several who manifest more or less anxiety about their salvation. Some of them appear to be determined to seek the Lord. I think, on the whole, that there is reason to believe that the Spirit of God is still working among this people. The school at present is in a more promising state than it has been for some time past. It is to be regretted that this privilege is not sufficiently appreciated. I called a council of the tribe recently, since which the school has been larger. The children have made encouraging progress in spinning and knitting, and, with a little practice, will, no doubt, become expert in all the domestic branches. The school is opened for teaching the above arts every Tuesday and Friday afternoo, and we think that this arrangement is the most likely to secure the success of all our undertakings, as much more time is necessary to acquire a know I ledge of their books than of the various branches of household economy. have attended to the school whenever it has appeared to be necessary, AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. MISSION AMONG THE CHEROKEES OF THE ARKANSAW. The Missionaries arrived at their Station, which is named DWIGHT, about the 10th of May last. The Journal of the Mission, from that time to the first of October, and letters to the 3d of November, were published in the last number of the Missionary Herald, from which we make the following extracts. Sabbath, May 13, 1821. Had public worship for the first time in the place where we hope to publish the glad tidings of the Gospel, to sinners enveloped in the thick mists of heathen darkness. Four or five Cherokees were present; but we could communicate nothing of the Gospel to them, as we have no interpreter. Blacks, and people from the white settlements south of the river, composed a congregation respectable for numbers. Brother Washburn preached. 25. Two or three Cherokee children were brought down from some of the upper parts of the nation, to be put into school. They came to Mrs. Lovely's; and being informed by her, that we were as yet in no way prepared to take children, they returned without calling on us to solicit us to take them. Sabbath, June 3. So small is the intercourse which we yet have with the people around us, and so few the events which transpire within the circle of our observation, aside from the daily labours of our hands, that we have little to record in our journal, except the weekly return of the holy Sabbath, and the continual goodness and mercy of our Heavenly Father. The light of this day shines here upon a small spot surrounded by the night of moral dark ness. An open space of 10 feet by 20, between two log cabins, serves us at present for a dining hall, a chapel, and a sanctuary. But the presence and blessing of God can come to us here, as well as in, the most capacious temple; and it is a sweet privilege, which the darkness around us does not affect, that we may enjoy Christian society, though limited, and the public worship of God, though in a humble form. A few of our white and black neighbours are present to-day. Brother Finney preached from Psal. xxvii, 1. Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Visit of the Rev. Mr. Vaill. June 4. The Rev. William F. Vaill, Principal of the Union Mission, very unexpectedly called on us. Business had brought him down the river, and he turned aside to spend a few hours with us. The interview was short, but refreshing, and furnished new cause of thanksgiving, that we can see, in this wilderness, the face of any who are engaged in the same good work with ourselves. End of Planting. 15. Finished putting seed into the ground, which has been like planting upon green sward. The lateness of the return of brethren Finney and Washburn, and the want of teams and of the necessary farming utensils, have prevented our making the best use of seed time, and darkened the prospect of a harvest. Notwithstanding unfavourable circumstances, however, about twenty acres, (most of which land has been opened the past winter,) have been planted, and enclosed with a substantial fence. The principal part of this is good bottom land, which, if not the present season, will ultimately be productive. Return of Mr. Vaill. 27. The Rev. Mr. Vaill returned from his journey down the river, and called to make us a second visit. In our interview with him, which was unusually precious and interesting, we received a variety of information, which will be of use to us. Through him we obtained some verbal accounts of our brethren of the Sandwich Island Mission, which was the first religious intelligence of any kind we have had since last winter. 28. Brother Vaill left us in the morning to proceed on his journey homeward. He had heard, that a party of Cherokees had gone up to the Osage country, he knew not with what intent, which made him anxious to return as soon as possible. There was living near Union Mission a half-breed, whose father was a Frenchman, and bis mother a Pawnee. He had been adopted, and was claimed by the Osages, as one of their own nation. Brother Vaill feared the scouting party of the Cherokees intended evil to this man, as he had not gone off with the Osages, on their long summer hunt, but had remained at home. Murder of an adopted Osage. Soon after Brother Vaill left us, a Cherokee woman called on us and stated, that the scouting party had returned and brought an Osage scalp. It was indeed that of the half-breed abovementioned, upon whom they had fallen in their way, and had killed, telling the rest of the family to hasten away, as the whole army would soon be upon them. July 4. This birth day of our national independence is not forgotten by our brethren of the forest. It is celebrated by all around us in some way. April, 1822. 52 The Cherokees are collected in a village near us for this purpose; but more especially for a war dance around the Osage scalp, lately brought in with acclamations of joy. 7. John Jolly, the principal chief, and two other Cherokees, called upon us for the first time, to look at our place of building and progress, and to ascertain how soon we should open a school. He wished us to excuse him for not visiting us before:-said his time had been so taken up in other matters, that it had been impossible for him to pay us that attention he could have wished; and that we must not attribute it to designed neglect. As he was now on his way to a council about convening, he could make but a short stay. In the afternoon, Brothers Finney and Washburn rode to the council then in session about two and a half miles distant, with the hope of proposing to the chiefs and head-men some subjects for consideration; but their attention was so engrossed with the subject of war, that no other could well be presented. 10. One of our neighbours called and stated, that the Osages were not far off, and that they would probably come to our station. He thought their object. would not be to injure us, but to get something to eat. On the report of the approach of th Osages, the men of Ta-kau-to-caru's village and others in the neighborhood, set out in search of them. [Mr. Finney was seized with the ague and fever on the 11th, and all the members of the Mission Family, not excepting the little children, in the course of the month. Mr. Washburn was seized latest, but more severely than any of the rest. The females were partially restored after five days illness. They had several relapses, however, as did the other members of the family. Toward the latter part of the time, the sick suffered severely for want of Peruvian bark, as did the Mission Family at Elliot about the same period. This suffering arose principally from casualties, attending the supplies of the last year. As the consumption of this article is very great, the stock on hand from former supplies was quite inadequate.] 29. A number of blacks present at |