SOUTH AFRICA.

The Societies engaged in missionary exertions in this quarter, are, the United Brethren, the London Missionary Society, and the Wesleyan Methodists; whose attempts began in the order in which the societies are here mentioned. The United Brethren had shown what might be effected, by the divine blessing on patient endeavors, even among the despised Hottentots. The London Missionary Society, without any great expectations at first from this quarter, has multiplied its stations, and labored with success even among the wildest inhabitants of the interior; and the Wesleyan Methodists are following in the same vigorous

career,

There is a school at Cape Town, formed by Mr. Van Wageninge, from the Central School of the National Society. Mr. Van Wageninge is dead, but the school is proceeding with success. Ten or twelve thousand slaves in Cape Town, now a prey to Mahometan priests from the interior, call loudly for Christian compassion.

The frequent intercourse with England, the protection of the local government, and the comparative salubrity of the climate and cheapness of living, are circumstances favorable to missionary undertakings in this quarter.

The London Missionary Society has the fourteen following stations in South Africa, in surveying which we proceed eastward from Cape Town, and return by the northern and western stations.

Cape Town, the capital of the colony.

George Thom, missionary. Mr. Thom has resided here several years, and has been highly useful to the Europeans, Hottentots and slaves. He has taken several long journies to distant parts of the colony; preaching in Dutch with much acceptance, promoting auxiliary societies, and dispensing the Scriptures. [1802.] Stellenbosch, twenty-six miles from Cape Town.

J. Bakker, the missionary, is well attended by slaves and Hottentots, for whose accommodation places of worship have been erected. His infirmities prevent him from extending his labors.

[1811] Caledon, 150 miles east from Cape Town, formerly called Zurebrach, from the valley in which it is situated. Missionary, John Seidenfaden. The number of communicants is 70 and of school children 50. The people amount to 400; but they are poor. The place of worship is insufficient for the accommodation of the hearers. A Bible Society has been formed, and a fund for charitable purposes established. Improvements are made in cultivation and in roads and fences.

[1813,] Hooge Krall, about 300 miles E. from Cape Town. Missionary, Charles Pacalt. The congregation increases so much, that the chapel is too small. School children 60: communicants 34, who walk worthy of their profession. Others are promising. This is a flourishing station.

[1802.] Bethelsdorp, about 500 miles east from Cape Town. Missionaries, J. G. Messer, Evan Evans, F. G. Hooper, Erasmus Smit, from Grace Hill, and W. F. Corner and J. Goeyman from Hepzibah, were at Bethelsdorp.

Large tracts of land, at some distance from the village, are cultivated. They have now a school house and a printing office. Many of the most simple and useful trades and mechanical arts are carried on. Though the settlement had to contend with many local disadvantages, the missionaries were nevertheless, encouraged by the success of their labors. In 1816 they baptized 143 adults; in 1817 but 15. The school contained upward of 300 children, and was in a favorable state. A new church is building. The settlement has 45 well cultivated gardens.

[1814.] Theopolis about 600 miles east from Cape Town. Missionaries, J. G. Ulbricht, G Barker. This settlement, being but two miles from the sea, and near rivers and a wood, has many advantages for a comfortable subsistence. Much land is cultivated; the cattle are increased; and there are upwards of 89 gardens, each containing about an acre.

Many have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord. The communicants are 87; 39 men and 48 women. An Auxiliary Missionary Society is established,

[1816] Kat Revier, in Caffraria, a country to the eastward of the colony, lying beyond the Great Fish river, 700 miles from Cape Town. Kat Revier (Cat River) is 200 miles N. E. of Bethelsdorp.

Joseph Williams, missionary, and Jan Tzatzoo, native son of a Caffre chief, settled here, and were well received. The principal chief, King T' Geika, professed to be convinced of his sinful state, and desirous of receiving the Gospel, A house was built, a garden formed, and ground enclosed for corn. About 100 Caffres attended public worship with much seriousness. The number at the settlement was 138. When the Governor visited Caffraria, and expressed a hope the T' Geika would protect the missionaries, in case of war, he answered evasively and sarcastically. "It is shameful for Caffres to steal and murder, now they have got God's Word." "This T'Geika," says Mr. Messer, "is a particularly deep and politic barbarian king." Jan Tzatzoo left the place, and went to Theopolis, and Mr. Williams is dead. Mr. John Brownlee and Mr. Taylor will probably be fixed in this station,

[1816] Hephzibah, in the Bushmen's country north of the colony. Formerly called Rhinoster Fountain.

W. F. Corner, missionary, and J. Goeyman, native, were ordered to leave this station; but the Governor permitted Mr. Moffat and Mr. Kitchingman to proceed thither. A piece of land had been purchased, and agricultural implements procured. The people are earnestly desirous of hearing the Word.

[1802.] Griqua Town, north of the colony about 700 miles N. E. of Cape Town, near the Great Orange River.

- Missionaries; William Anderson, Henry Helm. P. Berend, J. Hendrick, P. David. Piet Sabba, natives. The missionaries have labored at this remote station with great success, for many years; and, at times, amidst great difficulties. Of late, circumstances are more favorable. A revival has taken place; an Auxiliary Missionary Society has been established. Attendance on public worship was good, and the hearers increased. The cultivation of land increases yearly. Some of the people have begun to build themselves good stone houses. A printing press had arrived.

[1817.] New Lattakoo, north of the colony,-on Krooman's river, a little south of Lattakoo, which is between 7 and 8 degrees N. of the Cape. Missionary; Robert Hamilton. Matebee, the king of Lattakoo, and part of his people removed with the missionaries to this spot, and built the town which has been named New Lattakoo. Appearances at this station are encouraging. The missionaries were in full confidence of the king and his chiefs. Many of the Bootsuannas daily attend the preaching of the Gospel. The building of a church was begun. With the Bushmen there was peace all around; and at two places among them native teachers were employed.

[1808.] Bethesda, north of the colony-about 700 miles from Cape Town, on the N. side of the Great River.

Missionary; Christopher Sass. Mr. Sass removed his station to the north side of the Great River, where he finds a number of Bushmen, who are very desirous of a Christian teacher. Many instances of the power of divine grace have been discovered.

[1815.] Jerusalem, formerly called Africaner's Krall, and afterward, Peace Mountain,-beyond the colony, about 550 miles N. of Cape Town.

Missionaries; E. Ebner, Robert Moffat. It was intended to remove to a more eligible situation, further north; and more in the midst of Africaner's people. Prospects were favorable. About 400 attended worship. Forty persons, converts and their children, had been baptised. The school prospers; civilization and cultivation advance.

Bethany, formerly called Klip Fountain, N. of the colony, 55 miles N. of the Great River.

Missionaries; H. Schmelen, J. Kitchingman, J. Marquard. No recent accounts of the state of the settlement have been received.

Tulbagh Drosdy, about 40 miles N. from Cape Town.

Missionaries; Ariel Vos, Cornelius Kramer, John Taylor. The school and congregation appear to be in a flourishing state, and the fruits of Mr. Vos's labors are visible in the lives of many. Mr. Ves preaches also at places in the vicinity. At Bosjesveld, also, Mr. Kramer has labored with success.

[1814] Mauritius, or Isle of France, an island E. of Madagascar, inhabited by French Colonists, but belonging to Great Britain.

Missionary: John Le Brun; who has a chapel which contains about 300 persons, and is well filled. He has a school of about 90 boys. In the midst of a depraved state of morals, a great change has been wrought in some. There are 25 communicants.

Madagascar, an immense island, lying off the eastern coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean, in a partial state of civilization, and said to contain 4,000,000

i.habitants.

The missionaries, Thomas Bevan and David Jones, who were educated in Wales, and afterwards studied at Gosport, reached Mauritius on the 9th of July 1818. Governor Farqubar being now in this country, they applied to the acting governor, who discouraged their proceeding to Madagascar, chiefly on account of the slave trade, in which almost all Europeans engage, notwithstanding the treaty entered into with the king of Ova. They ventured, however, to proceed to the place of their destination, and arrived in safety; but it was uncertain whether they would be able to continue, the political relations, which had subsisted between the king of Ova, and the governor of Mauritius, having ceased.

The United Brethren have the three following stations in South Africa.

[1736, renewed 1792] Gnadenthal, the principal settlement of the Brethren, 130 miles E. of Cape Town.

Missionaries; Clemens, Hallbeck, Leitner, Lemmertz, Marsveld, and Thomson. All the brethren were living in mutual confidence and love. Their family worship was peculiarly blessed by the presence of their unseen Lord. The venerable head of the mission, father Marsveld, was declining in bodily vigor, but was gathering strength in the Lord.

Many Hottentots come and inquire with eagerness, what they must do to be saved. The children are, in general, very diligent. The trades in which the Hottentots are employed, are carried on with success; improvements are making, and the settlement is prosperous.

[1808.] Groenskloof, between 30 and 40 miles N. from Table Bay.

Missionaries, Bonatz, Fritsch and Stein. In April 1818, there were at the settlement about 300 Hottentots, 69 of whom were communicants, 92 had been baptized and there were 23 candidates for baptism. The brethren report, that in the first half of the last year 21 Hottentots had obtained leave to live at the settlement; 12 had been baptized; and 9 admitted to the Lord's Supper. Mr. Hallbeck writes, "though the increase is slower than at Gnadenthal, yet the Lord blesses his work, and the labor of our brethren is not in vain, through his power and mercy."

The new church was consecrated on the 8th Feb. 1818. The Hottentots have, of late, improved much in industry. Several of the new people have built, decent huts, and made good gardens. The work of grace advances in the baptized

adults.

[1818.] Witte Revier, in the district of Uitenhagen, in the eastern part of the colony, upwards of 500 miles from Cape Town, on the Witte Revier, (White River,) a brook which runs from the east into the Zondags Revier (Sunday River,) which runs parallel to the Great Fish River.

Missionaries; Hofman, Hornig, Schmidt, and Schultz.

This is the new seulement of the brethren formed on land given by the government for the purpose. The situation was fixed on by Mr. Latrobe and his companions.

The missionaries arrived at the Witte Revier, to begin their establishment, on the 7th of April 1818. Mr. Schmidt is married; the other brethren are single. A farm was purchased of Mr. Scheper, to be added to the glen granted by goverment. This farm, which was formerly an English military post, is well supplied with water.

The missionaries report, that elephants abound around them. Herds of as many as 50 have come within five minutes walk of the settlement, and drink out of the same pond with themselves. They are timid, and will avoid man. Lions also have shown their faces. Wolves, tigers, and wild dogs are numerous, as are antelopes and other inoffensive animals.

The Wesleyan Methodists have a station at Khamies berg, among the_little Namaquas, between the north-west part of the colony, and the Orange River. It was established in 1817.

Missionaries; Barnabas Shaw, Edward Edwards. Assistant missionary to the Bushmen, Jacob Links, a native. James Archbell is appointed to this station. Mr. Edwards joined Mr. Shaw on the 24th of Jan. 1818. Of Jacob Links a Namaqua, who is about 19 years of age, and one of Mr. Shaw's interpreters, the Committee say,

"Mr. Shaw having very strongly recommended this converted Hottentot às a teacher to the Bushmen, and a copy of one of his sermons having been sent to England, from which he appears to have very clear views of Christian doctrine, and a happy method of explaining it; Jacob has been received as an assistant to the mission in South Africa."

A chapel has been built chiefly by the personal labor of the missionary, Mr. S. About 30 have been baptized; many others have been cured of their idle habits. A smith's forge and iron having been sent thither, six ploughs had been equipped by the missionaries for the natives, and other implements of husbandry supplied. Great advantage will accrue to the natives by the introduction of agriculture among them.

The governor had granted permission to form a new settlement about two days journey from Khamies berg, which will afford access to a body of bastard Hottentots.

MEDITERRANEAN.

In this division of our survey we enter on a scene far different from that which we have just left. We have there seen man, wild and savage, advancing under the influence of the Gospel, through the first gradations of civilization, into the blessings of social and religious life. Here, along the northern shores of Africa, and the southern coasts of Europe, and all through the vast continent of Asia, the centre of whose western boundary pushes into these seas,-we see two thirds of the human race prepared by the knowledge and the increasing love of letters, to receive every measure of instruction which Christians can communicate to them, by education and the rapid and powerful influence of the press.

The importance of the Mediterranean, as a medium of access to a considerable portion of the great scene of action to which we have just alluded, will be felt by all, who duly appreciate its situation, and its present circumstances. "Examining a chart of the Mediterranean," says Mr. Jowett, "I was struck with observing, that if the line of the surrounding shores, (including the Black Sea) were spun out in length, it would encircle half the globe-180 degrees. And these shores communicate with solid continents: scarcely any part of them is at a greater distance than three weeks sail; not to mention the numerous Islands." It is impossible, indeed, to read with attention the documents and comments communicated during the last year, without being struck with the importance of this inland sea, in the scheme of Christian exertions.

The Missionary institutions at present in action on this field of labor, are the Church Missionary Society and the London Missionary Society. The Malta and Smyrna Bible Societies are coming powerfully in aid of the great object. We hope to see similar institutions rapidly multiplied. The journies of Mr. Jowett and Mr. Burckhardt, and a further journey of this last gentleman which terminated in his lamented death, with the travels of Mr. Jowett in Egypt, and elsewhere, on which he has just entered-all these will contribute to place this sphere of Christian labor in its just point of view. Dr. Pinkerton is about to pass through the Mediterranean, in his way back from England to Russia; and we are well assured that his tried intelligence and zeal will greatly help forward the cause of Christian truth, and that his communications will more than ever convince us of the wisdom of directing our exertions to those quarters,

[1819.] Jerusalem has been selected as a missionary station by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The Rev. Pliny Fisk and the Rev. Levi Parsons are designated to labor there as missionaries. It is hoped. they will sail on their mission in next autumn.

The Church Missionary Society has a station at Malta, a British island in the Mediterranean, containing, with the neighboring island of Goza, about 110,000 inhabitants. These are chiefly natives, and of the Roman Catholic religion. In 1810, and some few years before and after that period, there were generally 40.000 foreigners in the island; of whom 12,000 were Greeks, and 6,000 or 7,000 Jews. The Greeks are reduced to a very small number, and the Jews to 15 families consisting of 60 or 70 persons.

[1815.] Missionaries, or Agents, William Jowett, Dr. Cleardo Naudi. The Rev. James Connor, who was appointed to assist in this mission, has proceeded to Constantinople.

Mr. Jowett and Mr. Connor had designed to enter on a journey to Egypt and other countries, but were deterred on account of ill health. Mr. C. was obliged to retire, for a time, to the vicinity of Naples; and Mr. J. on his recovery left Malta on a voyage to Smyrna and other places, to promote the interests of the Bible Society. He visited Smyrna, Haivali, Scio, Athens, Hydra, Milo, and Zante, and returned to Malta on the 4th of July. The committee are about to establish a printing press at Malta, the advantages of which will be very great. Mr. Jowett has it in contemplation to circulate information by a small monthly work-beginning with French, Italian, and modern Greek and adding, in course of tire, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic; and whatever may be printed in Hebrew characters.

Dr. Naudi has compiled from the fathers, a useful Tract, enforcing the duty of reading the Scriptures. It is in Italian. Of this tract 1,000 copies are in circulation. He is engaged in preparing further tracts for the diffusion of Christian knowledge.

The translation of the New Testament into Maltese was finished on the 6th of September. The Maltese can now, for the first time, read in their own language the wonderful works of God. Mrs. Jowett is forming a number of Maltese girls to habits of industry and neatness unknown to them before; and is leading them forward in the knowledge of the Scriptures.

The London Missionary Society has also a station at Malta, established in 1816. Missionary, Isaac Lowndes Mr. S. Wilson has lately sailed for Malta. As soon as he is qualified for the work in that Island, Mr. Lowndes will proceed to Corfu or Zante. During his residence in Malta for the acquisition of modern Greek, he has taken every opportunity of preaching, and of distributing books and tracts. The governor granted him the use of a house, in which he has preached four times a week, with apparent usefulness. About 50 attend on Sunday morning, and 100 in the evening. Beside the Scriptures, nearly 7,000 tracts in Turkish, Italian, French, Spanish and modern Greek, have been distributed; of these, more than 3,000 were Italian.

BLACK SEA.

No missionary society has yet established itself on the immediate shores of this sea. The missionaries of the Edinburgh Society, have, however, visited its northern coasts, from one of the stations in Russian Tartary; and the Church Missionary Society is about to fix one of its missionaries at Constantinople. On the southern shores of this sea there is, from Constantinople to Diarbekir and Mosul, a body of Christians, who would embrace, with simplicity of heart and ardor of spirit, any thing that came in the form of pure Christianity, especially the Scriptures. The countries bordering on this sea present, therefore, an important sphere of labor.

[1818.] Constantinople, the chief city of the Turkish empire, its situation and appearance peculiarly grand; but the buildings disappoint the expectation on a nearer approach. The walls are washed by the sea of Marmora, separated from the Black sea by a narrow strait a few miles long; the inhabitants are computed at 400,000, of whom 200,000 are Turks; 100,000 Greeks; and the remainder Jews, Armenians, and Franks.

The missionary, Rev. James Conner, who was destined for Malta, to co-oper ate with Mr. Jowett, was obliged to retire from that Island on account of ill bealth, to the bay of Naples. Having returned to Malta Oct. 30th, greatly re