Bechuanas, and Mahomedans.-Scholars: | Hottentots, upwards of 8000 in number, day, 100; Sunday, 70; who make good progress. "The change which has taken place in the views, feelings and practice of the Mahomedan converts, is peculiarly striking. Of the present candidates for baptism, there are six most anxious inquirers who were Mahomedans respecting these, the missionary has stated "When I ask them what they thought of becoming Christians, they say, We hear, from your preaching, that Christ is the only Prophet-that He is the only Savior-that He died on the cross for sinners: we are convinced that we are sinners, and that by His redemption and grace alone we can be saved.'" "There is a great awakening among the Mahomedans in this town; and it appears as if the dominion of error and sin were beginning to shake, preparatory to its fall. The priest does all he can to keep the people in ignorance; but it is in vain: they say to him, You have deceived us long enough, but now we know better; we now know that we can become happy by the grace and merits of Jesus Christ. One of the Mahomedan converts is a young woman, who, with her two young children, was sent from Cape Town in order to be sold at Uitenhage. She came to my church; and she told me, with tears in her eyes, that when she heard the preaching of Christ as the only Redeemer of mankind, and that we may be happy in Him by free grace, without money and without price, she thought within herself, "Why have I been so foolish as to listen to my priest, who continually says, 'Bring, bring, bring moneybring rice-bring fowls; yea, bring what you have?", She continued hearing the word of truth, till, being fully convinced of her sins, she came to me the first time to speak about the state of her mind. I was astonished; and, finding that her ideas of the word of God, the love of Christ to sinners, and His sufferings for them, were so clear, she was baptized." living in 50 or 60 locations or small hamlets Over a considerable tract of country1829-one missionary, one assistant. large, and the thirst for the word of life "The Sunday congregation continues unabated: many come from a great distance, and often return, there is reason to believe, with joyful hearts. A larger place of worship, 80 feet by 40, was building.— Communicants, 300; many of whom are exemplary for their active piety-schools, 12; of which 11 are conducted by Hottenscholars, 600 to 700—subscriptions, in the tots: 4 of the schools are for infants; year, to Missions, 301. "The work of grace in the hearts of the people manifests itself. During the past year, 100 adults have been baptized; making the total of baptized, since the commencement of the station, 189. There persons under serious concern for their were, at the close of the year, above 60 souls, of whose sincerity the missionary pleasing to notice among them persons at has reason to hope most favorably it is every stage of human life, from the youth of 12 years of age to the man of hoary hairs. "The Directors quote the following stategold, Esq., a highly respectable resident at ments of a letter, written by J. H. Tredthe Cape, who recently visited the Settle ment: Settlement, the Kat River, as many par"With respect to that highly interesting ticulars have been recently published relative to the progress of its inhabitants in religion and civilization, and its general increase in prosperity, I shall confine myself to the mention of a few particulars relating to one of its locations, called the Bushman Location, or Bruceton, as illustrative of the powerful effect of religion in subduing and changing the savage character. "The settlers on this location, which I understood was tried as an experiment, consisted, I believe, of twelve or fifteen families of the most uncivilized Bushmen Theopolis. 550 miles east of Cape who were to be met with in the colony. Town-two missionaries, one assistant.On their first coming, they were in miseraInhabitants, 382-communicants, 97; ble circumstances of destitution and ignoamong whom there is much real piety.rance, and lived, for some time, on bulbs Scholars infant, 95; day, 70. Previous and roots of trees, and other produce of the to the recent Caffre war, the people pos- forest, or occasionally on the flesh of sessed 879 heads of cattle, 17 horses, 9 quaggas which they killed in hunting. waggons, and 13 ploughs. About three years ago, Mr. Read comGrahamstown. In Albany District-menced visiting them periodically, holding missionary. Sunday congregation, 350 to 400-scholars: Sunday, 305; of whom 48 are children of Europeans; gratuitous teachers, 25; of whom 16 were formerly scholars in the same school; average altendance, 200 to 250. one Graaf Reinet. One missionary. Communicants, 24. Kat River. A settlement in the Neutral Territory, consisting chiefly of liberated his services under a native tree, which was pointed out to us; but so averse did the people seem to his visits, that he was a long time listened to with careless indifference, and often received by them with forbidding and suspicious looks. Indeed, notwithstanding the known zeal of this worthy missionary, so disheartening and hopeless did the work appear to him, that he was on the point of abandoning the location in despair, when he observed a female apparently much affected by his exhortations: she shortly afterwards made him a visit-earnestly sought his adviceand became a decided convert. She was soon followed by others; and, ultimately, the whole location became devout and eager attendants at his religious services. They then ingeniously constructed a wooden plough, which is still in use at the location, and cultivated a small portion of their land with such seed-grain as they could obtain; and began to build houses: since which, such has been their industry, that scarcely a spot of arable ground on their location is now uncultivated. They have raised a building, which answers the purpose of a chapel and a school, in which a well-attended school is now held. They have thrown off their sheep-skins for articles of European clothing; and are repaid by prospering and advancing in religion and civilization." Buffalo River. 1826-one missionary, one native assistant. Communicants, 3; candidates, 10; scholars: infant, 20; day, 30. Station suspended on account of the Caffre war. Knapp's Hill. On the Keiskamma1833-one missionary. Griquatown. 530 miles northeast of Cape Town; a neat village of brick or stone houses, in the European form; the centre of various out-stations-1801-one mission ary, one native assistant. Population, 2100 adults, and 960 children. Communicants, 70; scholars: infant, 60; day, 180; sewing 35; adult Bechuanas, 30 to 75. "About 400 Bechuanas reside in the Griqua District: they have, for a considerable time past, been remarkably attentive to instruction-coming to public worship regularly every Sabbath, on foot, from three to fifteen miles during the last 18 months, there has been a manifest influence of religion among them in August, 1834, ten of them were baptized.' "In the latter part of 1834, the missionary, Mr. Wright, accompanied the Griqua chief, Andries Waterboer, to Cape Town. This chief was chosen by the people, in 1821, to be the principal in the civil government of the Settlement, which station he has maintained with much benefit to the people. The governor treated him with great respect, and granted him all that he asked for. His Excellency entered into a written treaty with the chief, as an ally of the Colony-" the first thing of the kind," Dr. Philip says, "ever heard of in this country"-and constituted him warden of that part of the frontier which borders on his territory. Dr. Philip adds— "His conduct in Cape Town has removed a great deal of prejudice against his nation and people. He has been a visiter in the first circles of our African Metropolis; and the more he has been seen, the more has been the respect which has been shown him. His extemporary speech at a public dinner, on the 1st of December, electrified and astonished the whole company; and has completely silenced all in this place, who used to assert that Hottentots could neither think nor speak, and that the missionaries made their speeches for them." Tsantsaban. Out-station to Griquatown -1833-one missionary. Scholars: day, 40; sewing, 15 to 20. "The place of worship, which will contain only 150 persons, is crowded with Griquas and Bechuservice, many retire to the bushes, for pri. anas: many listen from the outside: after vate prayer." د, Campbell. 30 miles east of Griquatown -one catechist. dock river-1831-one missionary. InPhilippolis. On the north side of Crahabitants, 1615; communicants, 37; scholars: day, 50; temperance members, 203. "The work of the Lord has continued to prosper; and those, who have professed Christ, walk according to the gospel. The progress of Christianity in this part of Southern Africa has been such, that the missionary observes-'We can now say, that we live in a Christian country, and Christianity is established among From the commencement of this station, 118 converts have been baptized." us.' Lattakoo. 630 miles northeast of Cape Town-1817-one missionary, two assistants. Population, 727: in six villages the gospel is proclaimed to 1400 others. Communicants, 29; scholars: boys, 80; girls, 35. A printing-press is actively employed. "The cultivation of ground is extending; and the settlement seems to be prospering in regard to the comfortable independence and temporal circumstances of the people, as well as in their spiritual improvement.' Komaggas. About twenty-two days' journey from Cape Town-1829-one missionary. Population, 670; communicants, 30; baptized, 11; scholars: 10 adults, and 44 children. Steinkopff. In south latitude 29° 32', east longitude 17° 35'-1817-one catechist. Population at the close of 1832, 421. Seventeen persons baptized previous to April, 1835. Scholars, 20 to 25 children. "With the exception of the afflictive and disastrous occurrences on the eastern frontier of the Colony, the accounts from the missionaries in this quarter are decidedly favorable. Their lives have been preserved, and, generally speaking, the stations have been safe; while in those which have been exempt from the confusion and excitement of war, the labors of the missionary have been attended with evident spiritual benefit to the people. has already been noticed, remarks— "I have often heard it stated, and sometimes, even, advanced by those who style themselves the Friends of Missions, that the accounts which we read in Missionary Reports are frequently exaggerated statements, and often at variance with facts. But, after visiting the whole line of the Stations of the Society, commencing with Zuurbraak and terminating at the Buffalo River, I can safely assert, that every account which I have read hitherto has fallen | short of conveying to my mind any thing like an adequate idea of the great work which is going on at these Institutions. I cannot conclude these observations without bearing my testimony to the indefatigable zeal with which those noble-minded and devoted men, the missionaries, persevere in the arduous course of their duties; and I have witnessed and admired the patient fortitude with which their amiable partners in life, particularly those beyond the pale of civilization, have borne privations, difficulties, and inconveniences of no common character, and of which their Christian sisters, who live in the enjoyment of civilized life, can scarcely form a correct idea." Miss. Reg. Abr'g'd. Donations from July 15 to August 15, 1836. Society Ridge, Mi.,-Union Ch., Fem. Miss. Soc., Mrs. M. Hopkins, West Dedham, Ms.,-several individ., for Bur. bible, per Rev. T. Driver, Sarah Boardman, per Mrs. S. Crosby, 15, 23, 22, 10, 56, 11,25 Savannah, Ga.,-child. of Bap. S. S. Miss. So., per T. Dowell, Esq., treas., 36, Shelburne Falls, Ms.,-Judson Plain Dress Soc., saved by economy in Wetumpka, Ala.,-a lady, for herself and two daughters, for Bur. bible, Boston,-"a mite from a seaman who loves both the missionary and the 66 "a friend to Missions," Hancock, Me., Aux. For. Miss. Soc., Rev. J. Gilpatrick, treas., per Detroit, Michigan, monthly concert, for Bur. Miss., per Rev. R. Turnbull, Virginia For. Miss. Soc., for Bur. bible, per Rev. S. Cornelius, ag't B'd, Hallowell, Me., Mr. Francis Day, for Bur. bib., per Rev. J. H. Ingraham, Centreville, Ohio, collected by Rev. R. Missildine at mon. con., per Mr. Boston,-in anonymous letter, for Bur. Mission, (with $5 for Ed. Soc.,) Virginia and For. Bible Soc., for Bur. bib., per J. H. Temple, Esq., treas., Clothing, Stationary, &c. Shaftsbury, Vt., a chest for Mr. and Mrs. Brown, of the Shan Mission, 66 Ladies of the 1st 66 30,00 66,73 Charlestown, Ms., Juv. Miss. Soc., pupils S. S. 1st Bap. Soc., a box of bed-clothing for Indian stations at the west, per. M. F. Murray, sec., 20,00 H. LINCOLN, Treasurer. earth's axis; particularly, in what regions the sun withdraws his beams for six months of the year. He has an EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. eighteen inch celestial globe, respect JONES. Our last advices from Mr. Jones were dated Singapore, March 22, to which place it was deemed advisable for him to repair with his family, on account of Mrs. J.'s low state of health and the severe protracted illness of their child. An additional motive was the need of a fount of Siamese type, which could not be procured without the presence of some person acquainted with the Siamese language. On arriving at Singapore, Mr. J. learned that Mr. Dyer, the gentleman who was to prepare the type, had removed to Malacca. He accordingly made arrangements to follow him, and was intending to embark for Malacca the next day. We give below, Mr. J.'s journal for the month preceding his departure from Bankok. Growing disrepute of the Budhist Cosmog * ony-Subterfuge of the Priests. Bánkók, Jan. 1, 1836. A few days ago, happening to be near the wat where Chau fa yai, the eldest legitimate son of the late king, resides, I called upon him. He received me kindly, and after a few inquiries, called for his maps (European), and asked many questions regarding various countries, and especially in reference to the different length of days and nights occasioned by the perihelion and aphelion and the obliquity of the To obviate the common difficulty in pro nouncing Oriental names of persons and places, Mr. Jones has conformed in this Journal to the system of orthography generally followed in Bengal, for which see p. 205 of our number for August. ing which I had previously given him considerable information. He seems tolerably well to understand the Copernican system of astronomy as to its most important facts, and to believe it. I knew very well that, if he did so, it must affect his religious belief-but the brevity of my visit did not allow me to dwell upon the subject. To-day two priests from the same wat called upon me. Upon my showing them a native book, which details all the wild and fantastic errors of the Búdhist cosmogony, they denied at once that it was any part of their genuine sacred writings, and affirmed that their sacred books were given for relig ious, and not scientific purposes. I showed them several passages which professed to be taken from the Pali books, and others which showed that the work was compiled by their principal priests from their sacred books, by order of the king. They replied that their great priests and learned men had wholly mistaken in supposing that the works from which they quoted were their sacred religious books, and maintained that the books referred to were written by learned men of former times, and contained the best of their conjectures on the subjects to which they relate. Thus the defence of their religion is removed to different grounds by the knowledge they have already obtained. Chau fá yai is so much reverenced that nobody dares controvert what he advances. Still these priests allowed that the crude doctrines taught in the book referred to, are those received by the great body of their most learned men. number of whom I had opportunity to dispense either food for the soul, or medicine for the body. Who can tell but his acquaintance may be the means of the introduction of divine truth among his hitherto neglected countrymen. The day has been observed among us as a day of special prayer, in conformity with the custom observed at home. Visits to Wats-Kambojan Dictionary- by about fifty attendants, to a large Budhists and the Divine Laws contrasted. 3. I have for some time been desirous of spending my Sabbaths in more direct efforts for the good of the heathen, but the state of my lungs and the health of my family have prevented me from adopting any regular plan of operation. To-day I began to visit the zayats, or open sheds connected with the various wats. It is my purpose to visit one each Sabbath, and converse with or read to such as may pass or call. On my way to-day I was cailed in to see a poor sick Peguan woman, apparently in the last stages of consumption. Several gathered round, and I availed myself of the assembled congregation, to address them, in Burman, on the cause of all disease and sorrow, and the remedy. They listened with attention and evident interest. I then proceeded to my place of labor, which I found vacant. Sitting down, I began to read aloud the gospel of Matthew. Ten or twelve soon collected, and gave me another opportunity to state, in plain terms, the outlines of Christianity, to some parts of which they were quite attentive. Oh, that they were wise to understand these things! 4. To-day received a farewell visit from a Kambojan of distinction. He comes from a place in the Kambojan country, called Bat ta bóng, where the Siamese Generalissimo has held his quarters for nearly two years. A Kambojan prince had formerly sought refuge here-and when it was proposed to drive the Cochin Chinese from their occupation of Kamboja, he was urged to accompany the expedition, which he did, leaving his family behind. His wife recently died.-Being unable to return on the occasion, he sent my visiter to adjust his affairs and convey his children to him. He has made me two previous visits, is very learned in the native way, but quite modest and well behaved. I had an opportunity for laying the foundation of skepticism in regard to his religion, by showing how utterly inconsistent it was with all correct views of geography and astronomy, and also to propose to his consideration a more excellent way." I gave him a copy of Matthew in Siamese, which language he fully understands. He has promised to prepare me a Dictionary of the Kambojan language, with Siamese definitions, for the preparation of which he is fully competent. On his departure, he was accompanied 66 5. Had an interesting conversation with the principal priest of the PraKlang's wat. He expressed himself as delighted with the summary of the divine law, but professed to consider it as only equivalent to their own. Though I allowed the Búdhists' five laws (prohibiting murder, theft, adultery, lying and intemperance,) to be good, I yet maintained that the difference between them and the divine rule was immense, in as much as one related only to outward acts, and the other to the sources of them in the mind. To this he eventually assented. He is a lovely man, and evidently studies the Christian scriptures with close attention. Besides the portions of them which he has in Siamese, he reads them in Burman, and to some extent in English. How important, that he should savingly feel their truth! Method of writing on Palm Leaf—Delays incident to Travelling. 6. Spent several hours to-day in cleansing my books, by rubbing_them with oil, lamp-black and sand. These books are made of palm leaf-first written with an iron style, which makes small scratches scarcely legible to the writer. A viscous oil is then mixed with lamp-black, and rubbed over the leaves, when the coloring matter adheres to the scratches, and the letters appear distinctly. Sand is then rubbed over the leaves, to take the oil off, and they are arranged into a book by running a string through every leaf, and are fit for use. After a lapse of several years, the letters become indistinct, and it becomes necessary to cleanse them again by the same process. 8. One of the most annoying and grievous circumstances attending the accomplishment of any business in this country, is the delay incident to travelling, even from one part of Bankok to another. Whenever a person wishes to transact any business a mile distant, which, at home, would be easily done in an hour, it will ordinarily require three or four here. He is altogether dependent on |