One of the Ransomed Girls has been LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Cornelius Rabmn, Missionary. Translation of the Assembly's Shorter There have been printed, since the above, 2000 of Ostervald's Short History of the Bible, and 2000 of his Principles of the Christian Religion, both in Turkish; and both Tracts were printing in Tartar: 2000 copies also of another Tract, in Turkish, containing Three Letters, had been printed. Books and Tracts were issued in 1820, amounting to 8755 copies, being more than double of the issue in 1819. Of those distributed gratis, there were 1329 of the Book of Genesis, 709 of the Psalms in Jagatai Tartar, 450 Orenburg-Tartar Testaments, 409 Turkish-Tartar Testaments, 218 of St. Luke's and 20 of St. Matthew's Gospel, 181 Persian Testaments, 56 Gospels in Calmuc, 19 Hebrew Testaments, and 4 Hebrew Bibles; with 5312 copies of various Tracts, in Tartar, Turkish and Persian. The sale amounted only to 48 Bibles and Testaments in various languages. Mr. Dickson, who has become well acquainted with Turkish, has proceeded with the Version of the Old Testament in Tartar-Turkish; and has been engaged in a revision of Hali Bey's Turkish Testament, to render itinto Tartar-Turkish. He visited Kazan, at the desire of the Russian Bible Society, to procure the assistance of some learned Natives, but without success: he has, however, obtained the aid of a learned Native in the suburbs of Astrachan. Drs. Paterson and Henderson visited Astrachan, at the close of August. It was agreed that the Version preparing by Mr. Dickson, and to be printed at the Missionary Press, should be denominated the "Tartar-Turkish;" being chiefly designed for the Tartars in the south of Russia: 2000 copies are to be printed in large quarto. The progress of the Scholars, in the School for the ransomed and the children of the Missionaries, has been gratifying. The plan of a General Seminary, mentioned in the last Survey, is in some forwardness. In conformity with the plan stated in the last Survey, Mr. Rahmn removed, with Mrs. Rahmn, from Sarepta to Astrachan ; but was compelled, by the illness of his wife, to abandon, after a short residence there, the intention of making that city the centre of the Calmuc Mission. Returning, therefore, to Sarepta, Mr. Rahmn pursued his labours among the Calmucs in its vicinity, during a considerable part of the summer of 1820, and resumed them in the beginning of 1821. He availed himself of these opportunities, to distribute copies of the Gospels and Tracts in Calmuc; and to improve his knowledge of the language, and of the character and habits of the people. Mr. Rahmn purposed to devote himself during last summer, exclusively to the Dorbât Horde; which is extremely numerous, and nomadizes between the Kuma and the chain of mountains which divides the Great Steppe on the western side of the Wolga, up to the vicinity of Sarepta. It was his intention to pursue the plan of the Moravian Brethren: which is, either constantly to accompany one of the principal divisions of the horde; or to visit each division thereof, successively, in the course of the season. The health of Mrs. Rahmn, which rapidly declined while she breathed the air of Astrachan, that city lying in a low and swampy situation, was speedily restored, after her return to Sarepta. Mr. Rahmn gives the following explanation of names among the Calmucs, which it may be serviceable to bear in mind : A Lama is the Chief Priest in a horde, and always a representative of Dalai Lama; a Gällung is a. priest; a Gazul is a priest of an inferior order; and a Mantshi is a student or disciple of a Gällung. Mr. Carruthers spent a few days at Sarepta, on his way from Astrachan to the Crimea. He bears an affectionate testimony to the character and labours of Mr. Rahmn. He had acquired the Calmuc sufficiently to enable him to declare the message of Salvation to the perishing tribes around him. An extract or two from Mr. Rahmn's Journal will shew the state of the Calmuc Tribes: Visited three Calmuc tents. Poor Calmucs! They are unconscious of their own misery, and have their eyes shut against the light of the Gospel. I found several of them, in their way, skilful and thinking men, but despising the Word of Life, and endeavouring to silence the demands of their souls for happiness by means of a lie! Visiting a Chouroul, or Temple, he says I had another opportunity of witnessing the vanities of the Heathen. In the Choroul, twelve Gallungs and twenty Mantshi were assembled, all sitting on the ground, singing. One of the Gallungs had a bell, with which he regularly led the song: the altar was an image, in bronze, resembling a lion, seven small vials, and a lamp burning. I asked if they understood what they were singing, As it was something in the Torgutsk language. They replied, they did not understand, but that it was, nevertheless, a great prayer for themselves and for all living beings. one blowed a shell, and another beat a drum. On Mr. Rahmn's previous residence at Selinginsk, among the Buriats, facilitates his access to the Calmucs, who consider the Buriats as their brethren. ORENBURG. A town in Asiatic Russia, north-by-east of the Caspian, and about 600 miles from Astrachan-till 1702, the seat of Government of the Province, which was then transferred to Oufa-situated in a vast plain-contains 2000 houses-the great thoroughfare, by Caravans, between Siberia and European Russia. SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 1815. C. Fraser, G. M'Alpine, John Gray. Walter Buchanan, a Cabardian. within the reach of Christian Instruction. Under these circumstances, several of the Missionaries removed to more promising spheres of labour-Dr. Ross, to the Crimea; and Mr. Selby, to Astrachan. Messrs. M'Alpine and Gray, with Walter Buchanan, undertook a journey into the Bashkurt Country, to the north of Orenburg, with the view particularly of examining the state of Oufa, about 230 miles distant-of ascertaining the probable number of Bashkurts and Tartars, in and near that place-of distributing among, them the Scriptures and Tracts-of conversing with them on the subject of religion-and of judging of the practicability || and expediency of afterward attempting a more permanent settlement among them.. The Governor of Orenburg furnished them with a special Letter; under the authority of which they can travel throughout the Government, both with safety and economy. Oufa appeared twice as large as Oren. burg, with about 14,000 inhabitants. The Missionaries had with them 150 copies of the Orenburg Testament, and nearly the same number of separate Gospels and Tracts. Of their reception, the Report states It Oufa is not, as they expected, the centre of the Bashkurt Country, which in fact does not reach só far north by fully a hundred miles; and is not even the stated residence of Tartars at all, with the exception of their Mufti and a few merchants. is so constantly resorted to by numbers of them for the purposes of trade, from the surrounding villages and districts, that, to a stranger, more than half of its inhabitants would appear to be Tartars. Mr. M'Alpine, on his return from Scotland, accompanied Mr. Carruthers from St. Petersburg, as far as Kazan, where they separated. On their passage down. the Wolga, they distributed the Scriptures and Tracts; regretting that they had not a supply adequate to the opportunities of circulating them which every where offered. The removal of the great body of the Kirghisians from the near vicinity of Oren-mand that was excited for the Word of Life. Mul a burg, by an order of the Governor, which it was hoped would have been recalled, but is still continued, has operated as most serious obstacle to Missionary Exertions among them. In the summer, indeed, their tents at a distance have been visited: and the Missionaries have been instructed to make every practicable attempt, not only to visit them occasionally, but to settle among them for a time; though there is reason to doubt whether, during winter, this can be at all effected. A plan has likewise been suggested for endeavouring to procure the settlement of some of them on the lands belonging to the Mission, when a School might be opened for the instruction of their children; but this also has hitherto failed of success. It is still, however, expected as well as hoped, that greater facilities will be enjoyed, for bringing them more statedly and generally Feb. 1899. And here the scene that was presented, when the Missionaries began to distribute the books which they had taken with them, was peculiarly encou raging. Instead of having any difficulty of dispos ing of them, they could not nearly supply the de titudes pressed on them for copies; and some who received them had come thither on business from the distance of 1000 versts. None but a single individual hesitated, far less discovered any aversion, when the supply was exhausted; and others exto accept of them: many were greatly disappointed pressed the utinost anxiety to be furnished with them as soon as possible from Orenburg. The case of the individual here alluded to strikingly shews the power of a worthless superstition over the human mind. The Missionaries say of him One poor man, who came with others that were cheerfully receiving the New Testament, stood he sitating; and, at last, refused to receive the Blessed Book. In a short time, however, he returned, in com. pany with some others, who begged copies of the Scriptures; but his mind, poor man, not only hesitated, but appeared to be in a state of great agitation. Testament, but evidently afraid to take it, because He was apparently anxious for a copy of the New it was an "infidel" book. Such was the effect of this agitation on his mind, that he perspired profusely though the weather was severely cold. H Encouraging, however, as the reception | originally Christian, had received baptism from the Greek Church; and, according to the regulations which govern the Missionaries of the Society, they are not to interfere with the proceedings of that Church. The Inguish, however, rejected its endeavours; and it is to this Tribe, the far less inviting of the two, that the exertions of the Missionaries are to be directed. of the Missionaries was, they do not entertain sanguine expectations that their instructions would be listened to by the Tartars of Oufa, with such interest as the Kirghisians have uniformly discovered; for, though most of them can read, they are much more firmly attached to the religion of the False Prophet. Mrs. Gray died on the 11th of September, longing to be with her Saviour, that she might behold His glory. Mr. McAlpine, with Walter Buchanan, continued to visit the Kirghisians, at the date of the last advices. NAZRAN. A Russian Station, among the Inguish, on the Rev. George Blyth. It was stated in the last Survey, that a Mission among the Ossatinians, in the vicinity of Vladikavkas, had been determined on. Mr. Glen and Mr. Galloway, in their visit to these people, at several Stations on the River Terek, had met with a cordial reception. Mr. Blyth accordingly proceeded, in company of Mr. Galloway, to establish a Mission among this people, and the more fierce tribe of the Inguish on the River Soundje. They left Karass on the 29th of May; and reached Mosdock on the 1st of June, and Vladikavkas on the 4th. Prince Galitzin had furnished Mr. Blyth with a Letter to the Governor of Caucasus; who, in consequence, recommended the Missionaries to the Commanders at Mosdock and Vladikavkas. Of this people, the Report gives the following account, from the first visit of the Missionaries: The Inguish consider the valleys on the east of the Terek as "the land of their fathers' sepulchres;" and a detachment of about 100 families is settled in the immediate neighbourhood of Vladi kavkas: but the main body had lately pitched their tents at Nazran, twenty-five versts distant, on the banks of the Soundje, and under the protection of the Russians, while the number still residing in the mountains to the south-east of the fort is considerable. On visiting these villages, the Missionaries found, that they had renounced the Mussulman Creed, to the profession of which their ancestors had been forced by the Mahomedans. There were no Mollahs or Effendis among them; and they stated that they wished to retain the religion of their fathers. This, in all probability, was Christianity in some form or other, but scarcely a vestige of it now remains. Mr. Blyth and Mr. Galloway left Vladikavkas on the 21st of June, the Commandant recommending them to the pro tection of the Commandant at Nazran, where they arrived in the afternoon. The Station is convenient for Missionary Labours. Within a short distance, there are 50 villages, containing about 10,000 inhabitants, while an equal number dwell A considerable part of in the mountains. them still say, it appears, that they are Mahomedans; but by far the greater portion of the nation pretend to no religion at all. They are a warlike and turbulent people. The Missionaries were about to build a house within the protection of the Fort. They went almost daily among the people; who were much conciliated by the assistance which Mr. Blyth's knowledge of me On their arrival at Vladikavkas, they found that an event had occurred, which would preclude them from labouring among the Ossatinians. Since the visit of Mr. Glen and Mr. Galloway, this tribe,dicine enabled him to afford them. SELINGINSK. Siberia. A Military Station south-east of Irkutsk and Lake Baikal-about 160 miles from Irkutsk-Inhabitants, about 3000, exclusive of those of several villagesin the midst of 10,000 or 12,000 Buriat Tartars, the most learned tribes of that people; and in the centre of all the Buriats, on the east side of the Baikal : having, on the north, the numerous tribe of Chorinsk Burials, computed at 30,000; and, on the south, the Mongols of Chinese Tartary. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 1819. sary to increase the Mission Buildings. This had occupied much attention; and had, for a time, interrupted the labours of the Missionaries among the Buriats. The Mission Buildings, for the more easy access to them of the Buriats, are placed on the opposite bank of the Selinga; as Missionaries, surrounded as they would be in Selinginsk by Russians of the Greek Church, might occasionally find their situation irksome, from the restriction under Edw. Stallybrass, W. Swan, Rob. Yuille, which they are laid, to confine themselves Missionaries. On the arrival of Mr. Swan and Mr. Yuille at this Station, it was found neces exclusively to the Heathen of the Empire. Mr. Stallybrass is preparing a Vocabulary and a Grammar, in Mongolian. The Governor General of Siberia, Count (. He was employed counting his beads, and turnSperansky, has visited the Missionaries, ing an instrument, of which a short description is necessary. It was a sort of slightly constructed and repeated his assurances to do all that barrel, placed within a stand supported by four lies in his power toward promoting their legs. This barrel, we were given to understand, designs. contained prayers. On the outside of it was fasturned the barrel, and thus he offered the prayers tened a string, which being pulled by the Lama which it contained! The Buriat Tartars, to whose benefit this Mission is directed, have no particular form of government among themselves, except that every tribe has its chief, called the Taischi; whose power is extremely limited, and who possesses influence only as he is beloved. The Dzaisangs are a kind of nobility, consisting of the most opulent of the family-heads, who exercise a powerful influence over the people in general. The several tribes have their temples, which are called Koomirnas; the Chorinsk Buriats being distinguished for their riches, have theirs built of stone: all the rest are of wood. Some idea of the state of this people may be formed from the following extract of the communications of the Missionaries: They are, in general, very ignorant; even of the tenets of their own superstition: nor is it requisite, according to their ideas, that they should know them; their duty consisting merely in reading prayers in an unknown tongue, and performing other bodily exercises, so that they are saved completely the trouble of thinking. On this account, their religion is more suited to their indolence of mind, as well as depravity of nature, than one which addresses the understanding and the heart.. Conversing one day with a Lama, in whose house we were residing, on the character of the True God, as omnipotent, omnipresent, invisible, &c. he expressed an idea that we had not before heard from any of the Buriats: It was, that a man's shadow is God, who goes with him every where, and is always present, but only visible when the sun shines! But the deplorable condition of this people, in respect of religion, will be most strikingly seen in their strange notions of Prayer. An extract from the Journal of Captain Gordon, whom we mentioned in the last Survey, will explain this matter. Of a Buriat Temple, near Selinginsk, he says The Place of Worship consists of about a dozen wooden buildings, of different sizes, placed near to one another. Their ideas of matter and motion have led to cheap modes of praying. The Buriat procures a prayer, written on a long slip of paper; and suspends it where it will be moved by the wind or passengers, or rolls it round the barrel of a small wind-mill such as is frequently placed in gardens to frighten birds: one stage contained about a hundred of these Praying Mills; and so many prayers were pendant from the roofs of the Chapels, that no one could move a step therein without also moving petitions. This mechanical system is practised also in private prayer. The Missionaries write, on visiting the Chief Lama of the Selin. ginsk Buriats On the outside of the door, stood a pole, to which was fastened a piece of coarse rag, upon which was written a prayer. This rag, being agitated by the air, is kept constantly in motion, and thus ascending to the god, spares the Lama, whose duty it is to pray always, the trouble of so doing. Of a visit to a Temple, probably the largest of the buildings mentioned by Captain Gordon, they say At the entrance of the temple was a machine, such as we have already described, with bells affixed to it. The Chief Lama turned it, as he passed, and the inferior Lamas followed his example. We proceeded through the body of the temple, which was hung round with ribands and pieces of cloth, on which were written prayers; with an immense number of ugly looking "Burchans," or gods. They refer to the same subject, in speaking of other Places of Worship : We saw Lamas here, as well as at the other their temples, who cut the wooden blocks for printing inches long and four broad. prayers. The board is usually about fifteen The letters are cut very neatly, and on both sides of the board. The lines are lengthwise, six on each side: a man can finish such a block in five or six days. There was a similar board, but of larger dimensions and used for a particular purpose, hung up in our room. It measured 18 inches by 13, and was filled with repetitions of the words "Om-ma-nibad-me-hom," which signify something like "Lord, have mercy upon us!" It is used for printing on pieces of a particular sort of their white cloth, called hadak; and a number of these pieces, so printed, are suspended on ropes and poles round the graves of deceased Lamas, or other persons of consequence. We visited the grave of an old Lama, who died here last summer. There were, perhaps, a hundred of such printed cloths waving in the wind, upon the poles erected beside the grave; and, as each cloth contains 600 repetitions of the prayer, 60,000 were thus offered for the Lama every moment! The power assumed and exercised by the Lamas will be seen from the following extract: Mr. Stally brass, one day going into one of the smaller temples, was met at the door by a Lama, who told him that he could not then be admitted, because the Great Lama within was casting out an evil spirit: they were making a strange noise, beating their drums, &c. This restriction was hot confined to Mr. Sta?lybrass, for some Lamas, who came immediately after him, were in like manner kept out. By pretensions to power over evil spirits, knowledge of future events, and such like mysterious endowments, the Great Lamas commaud the wonder and reverence of the deluded people. The Lamas draw up, at the beginning of the year, a kind of Kalendar, in which they point out all the fortunate and unfortunate days that will occur in the course of it. This they consult, when they are about to undertake a journey, make a bargain, begin any piece of work, or attend to any thing of importance. On another occasion, the Missionaries write There were shown to us several bones of calves, which had been formerly offered in sacrifice to their gods, upon which were written prayers in the Mongolian and Thibetan languages. We were told, that these prayers were a kind of soul-mass, or requiem" for the dead. Such prayers, together with the performance of other ceremonies at the burial of a Taischi, or other rich Buriat, are usually purchased by a third part of the cattle formerly possessed by the deceased. The burial of a Taischi, lately deceased, cost about 200,000 rubles, or 10,000. sterling a handsome legacy for the Lamas! 200 Lamas, in one of the Temples, with the Chamba, or High Priest at their head. They are also dispersed widely among the distant Buriats, by such of them as visit the Mission- House for Medicines and Medical advice: the charity of the Missionaries, in this respect, has diffused a good report of them through all the surrounding country. Among these Heathen Tribes, the Missionaries frequently travel. The Buriats lead a nomadic, or wandering life: their wealth consisting in their flocks and herds, Mr. Stallybrass and Mr. Rahmn had, they are compelled, for the sake of pas-in 1818, before the Mission was removed ture, to live in detached bodies: there from Irkutsk to Selinginsk,visited Kiachta, being seldom more than ten or twelve the frontier town between Russia and tents together, and generally not more China. Mr. Stallybrass renewed this than three or four. They are mild and visit, in company with Mr. Swan, in order hospitable. The Missionaries remain in to obtain an interview with the Archimanthe midst of them for several days toge-drite Komenskoe, who, with three Monks, ther, in order to converse with the Lamas, or Priests, and others, who resort to the Temples: they enter readily into conversation: select passages of the Gospels and Tracts are read, on these occasions; which suggest important topics of inquiry. On visits of this nature, numerous copies of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. John, with Tracts, in Mongolian, have been distributed. In one instance, they were presented to an assembly of about TITALYA. was at that place, on his way from St. Petersburg to Pekin, where he is authorized to establish a Mission, under the patronage of the Greek Church. They endeavoured to engage the Archimandrite in the work of translating the Scriptures into Mandshur, with which language he is familiarly acquainted; but were unsuccessful. He excused himself by observing, that it formed no part of the object of his Mission. Thibet. In the northern part of Rungpore, on the borders, toward Nepaul. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 1816. The death of the Rev. F.C.G. Schroeter, at this Station, was recorded in the last Survey. Major Latter, under date of July 15, 1820, bears an honourable and affectionate testimony to his memory, of which we extract the close: He was a zealous and indefatigable Missionary; of an uniformly humble and devout frame of mind; laborious in the extreme: and though he applied himself with unremitting attention to the task which he had undertaken, and for which his talents peculiarly fitted him, he lost no opportunity of instructing the Heathen around him. was remarkably averse to making a public display of his labours as a Missionary, and therefore the printed accounts of the Society do not abound with reports from him: in my opinion he carried CANTON. He his reserve to an extreme, and did not do justice to himself in the eyes of the world. He seems to have brought his labours in the Thibetian, as it were, to a resting-place; though his loss will not easily be supplied. It was a great satisfaction to him throughout, that the Lord evidently blessed and prospered the work, so far as he was permitted to carry it on. He has now rested from his labours, and we know that his works will follow him. Major Latter transmitted Mr.Schroeter's Papers to Government. His description of them, which is printed in the Ninth Appendix to the Twenty-first Report of the Society, sufficiently attests the diligence and ability with which Mr. Schroeter had laboured in the difficult work assigned to him. Mr. Schroeter's place was not supplied, at the date of the most recent advices. At pp. 309 and 310 of our last Volume, we gave some particulars of the death of the Rev. Benedict La Roche, who had been appointed to succeed him in his labours China. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 1807. Robert Morrison, D.D. Missionary. Some remarks, by Dr. Morrison, on the Chinese Language, with reference to the Translation of the Scriptures, were quoted at pp. 105-107 of our last Volume; and, by a singular oversight, were repeated at pp. 455–457. The return of Mrs. Morrison from Europe was mentioned in the last Survey. She arrived on the 23d of August; not, as |