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thirty years old. His mother, wife, and children, were seated before him; and the skulls and bones of his family and ancestors were placed in a row on his deft hand. I inquired where he died, and was told that he was killed in battle, beyond the River Thames, some months ago.

"This chief was called the Atna, of whom we had heard so much the preceding day. The New Zealanders appear to entertain an idea that the Deity -resides in the head of a chief; as they always pay the most sacred veneration to the head. If they worship any idol, it is the head of their chief, so far as I am able to form an opinion of their worship."

Yet, amidst all these superstitions and barbarities, there are various traces of better feelings among them; and the mission has not been unsuccessful in creating many favourable impressions, which, it may be confidently hoped, will eventually lead to important benefits. The education of the children of the natives, which has been the chief immediate object of the missionary settlers, though attended with many difficulties, has not been unrewarded; and to this quarter must we chiefly look, in the ordinary course of Divine Providence, for the ultimate success of their benevolent labours. That we may not leave the foregoing extracts wholly unrelieved, we subjoin the following, in which the natives appear under a fairer aspect.

"We told them, that Pomare, King of Otaheite, thought, some time ago, as they did. He tabooed his houses and provisions, and was constantly under fear lest his god should kill him and his people: but, since the Missionaries have lived at Otaheite, and he and his people had been taught the meaning of God's Book, he had abolished all tabooing; and had eaten any proper food, and had slept any where, like the Europeans; and was under no fear of being killed by his former gods. They were much surprised at this information, and inquired how long it was since Pomare had ceased to taboo. We told them that it was more than three years ago since Pomare had embraced our religion. The chiefs then replied, that if we would send missionaries to instruct them, and to convince them that their religion was wrong, and to prevent their gods from killing them, they would think and act as we did.

"Tool conducted himself with great propriety: he suppressed all the wild feelings of an uncultivated mind, and yet shewed all the soft and tender feelings of nature toward his sister. I could not but view his conduct with admiration; and told him to indulge his affection for his sister, without any respect to my being present. I saw that he was anxious, lest the warmth of his sister's affection, and the strong manner in which she manifested it, should overcome his manly fortitude, and canse hîm to imitate her example; as he had done on a former occasion, when I first visited New Zealand.

"At day-break this morning, we heard the lamentations of a poor widow, on the summit of the hill, weeping for her children. Her affliction of mind was very heavy. She was left wholly to the feelings of nature, which appeared to be intolerable. The consolations of religion could not pour the oil of joy into her wounded spirit. She knew not God, and evidently had no refuge to fly to for relief. In the fullest sense of the Apostle's meaning, she was without hope, and without God in the world; and this is the situation of the whole of her countrymen, when under affliction. They will sit for months, night and day, mourning in a similar manner, for the loss of their dearest rélatives.

"It was very gratifying to our feelings, and afforded us a pleasing prospect, to be able to perform the worship of the True God in the open air, without any sensations of fear or danger, though surrounded by cannibals with their spears stuck in the ground, and their pattoo-pattoos and daggers concealed under their mats. We could not doubt but that the time was at hand, for gathering to the fold of Christ this noble race of men, whose temporal and spiritual wants are inconceivably great, and call loudly on the Christian world for relief. Their misery is extreme.

"When I have conversed with the parents of our deceased youths, I have been much struck with the patient resigna. tion of some of them to the afflictive dispensation. One of the principal chiefs, when he heard that his son was dead at Parramatta, came on board the Dromedary with his wife. They both wept much. He was a fiue youth, and their only son. He requested me not to fret for his son, observing that, as he was dead, he was happy that he had died at

Parramatta; for he was sure that he would want for nothing in his sickness that would do him good. His wife said that she was childless now; that they had large possessions of land, but no heir; and requested me to send them one of my children, whom they would adopt as their own, and who should succeed to their lands. They both ardently wished to have their son's bones conveyed to New Zealand, that they might be deposited in their family se. pulchre; and requested that one or both of them might be allowed to go to New South Wales for them.

Sierra Leone.

From these scenes of barbarism and temporary disappointment,we turn with humble thanksgiving to God, to the con1rast presented by the progress of Christianity, and its attendant blessings, among the liberated Negroes in the colony of Sierra Leone. We offer no apology for the simplicity of some of the following particulars, which ap peal to the heart far more powerfully than more elaborate statements.

In examining some candidates for baptism, Mr. Johnston was so much struck by the intelligent piety of one of the women, that he wrote down the examination. The following is part of the conclusion: the whole was equally satisfactory.

"Q. What does God the Holy Ghost teach you?

A. He shew me my sin.

Q. Does he teach any thing else? A. Yes: He shew people that they can be saved by Jesus Christ.

Q. When He has shewn them that, does He teach them any thing else?

A. He make them heart feel glad: He give them peace.

Q. You said that the Son of God redeemed you; what did He redeem or save you with?

A. He pay His own blood for sinners. Q. Why don't you say for me? A. Me 'fraid, Massa: me so bad, me can't say 'for me' yet.

Q. Tell me, did not you know any thing before you felt your sins?

A. No, Massa; me know nothing before: me careless: me no hear: but when I see all the bad things I do before, then I glad to hear something.

Q. Do you think you shall do good now?

A. O Massa! if God help me, I want to do good; but I cannot do any thing by myself. I hope the Lord will help CHRIST, OBSERV. No. 252.

me-me bad too much-I sorry for myself. Q. Do you pray?

A. Yes, I pray; but I am afraid God no hear my prayer.

Q. Do not you feel glad sometimes when you pray?

A. Yes, sir: I feel sometimes glad and sometimes sorry.

Q. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is able to save you?

A. Sometimes I am afraid, because my sins too much; but He is God, and can do all things: that make me glad."

The following remarks of one of the Christian Negroes form a simple but forcible illustration of the Apostle's words "I was alive, without the law, once; but, when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died :"

·

"Yesterday morning, when you preach, you shew we that the Law be our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. You talk about the Ten Commandments. You begin at the first, and me say to myself, 'Me guilty!'-the second, Me guilty!'-the third, 'Me guilty!'-the fourth, ‘Me guilty!'-the fifth, Me guilty!' Then you say the sixth, Thou shalt not kill.' Me say, ' Ah! me no guilty! me never kill some person. You say, 'I suppose plenty people live here, who say-Me no guilty of that! Me say again in my heart, 'Ah! me no guilty. Then you say,' Did you never hate any person? Did you never wish that such a person, such a man, or such a woman, was dead? Massa, you talk plenty about that; and what I feel that time I can't tell you. I talk in my heart, and say, 'Me the same person!' My heart begin to beat-me want to cry-my heart heave so much me don't know what to do. Massa, me think me kill ten people before breakfast! I never think I so bad. Afterward you talk about the Lord Jesus Christ, how He take all our sin. I think I stand the same like a person that have a big stone upon him head, and can't walk-want to fall down. O Massa! I have trouble too much-I no sleep all night. (Wept much.) I hope the Lord Jesus Christ will take my sins from me! Suppose He no save me, I shall go to hell for ever."

The liberated Negroes continue to subscribe with great promptitude and affection, to the Church Missionary Associations established in Sierra Leone. We extract a passage or two from their 5 M

addresses at the anniversary meetings, indicative of their zeal for the salvation of their countrymen. One of them thus appealed to the meeting :

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"I am very anxious that my countrypeople may hear the Gospel. I heard when my brother came to this country, that my father was still alive: this made me glad very much; but still I am sorry for them, that they never heard the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that the happy time may soon come, when the knowledge of the Redeemer shall cover the earth, as the waters do the mighty deep. I hope that you will do all that you can; and those of you who cannot give coppers, I hope you will give your prayers, and do all with a willing mind."

Another Negro thus took up the subject:

"Now, my dear friends, whatever you give, give all with your heart, and with awilling heart. If you done give all, and grudge it, you better keep it: no one will take it from you. Now, do you think that Missionary can go to our country-people, suppose you no give them something to eat and something for drink. All these things cost plenty money: therefore you must giye all the coppers you can spare, and give them with a praying heart for God to bless them and make them useful. Now, suppose one man die for another man, don't you think that man what die love t'other one? Well-God send Him dear Son to die for we sinners: now God Almighty love we dearly!"

Another native spoke as follows:--"My good friends, I thank the Lord Jesus Christ, he brought me to this country. My country-people sold me for slave. That time they sell me, I don't think I could come to this place. I been walk from my country to another, without any clothes. My couutry, the people make big cap with por. cupine's quills and polly's feathers: they then cut stick in bush, and make him head and eyes and mouth; but he can't speak ;-and they say he god, he can save them; and they make woman fool very much. That headman say every body must bring one copper to that god, and kneel down and pray to him to save them. Every man when he is going to eat, he goes there to eat in presence of the idol. But now, my friends, let us hear what White mau tell

us.

He come sit down in this bush to teach us. Let us, my countrymen, hear

what White man tell us, and give our coppers that our country-people may hear about Jesus Christ."

"The change in the character of those men is testified by many impartial witnesses. The captain, in whose vessel the governor went out, was struck with astonishment. He had seen much of Negroes in Jamaica, and asked how long this settlement had been formed. When told at the end of 1816, he smiled, and said to the governor, Sir Charles, if I knew not your Excellency to be a man of honour, I should think myself greatly imposed upon; and I must candidly confess, I can hardly believe it now. But,' said he, what sort of people were they, with whom it was commenced? I pointed out some to him who were sent here in the beginning of November last, that, looking at their emaciated condition, he might form some idea of those with whom I began this settlement. He then inquired what method we had pursued to bring them to such a state, in so short a time. No other,' said his Excellency,' than teaching them the truths of Christianity; which these gentlemen were sent to propagate by the Church Missionary Society: by this alone they have ruled them, and have raised them to a common level with other civilized nations: and, believe me,' added his Exceliency, if you admit Christian teachers into your island, you will find your Negroes soon become affectionate and faithful servants.""

If any thing be` wanting to render these details (to which a multitude of similar passages might be added) more deeply affecting, it would be the consideration of what these now converted, civilized, and contented natives were on their arrival at the colony. The following passage, from a communication by Mr. Johnston, describes a scene which will not, we are persuaded, be read without deep emotion, especially when contrasted with the past, and we must add the present, wrongs of Africa, and the brighter prospects that we trust are opening on her yet clouded hemisphere.

"I received a note a few days since from Joseph Reffell, Esq. chief superintendant of captured Negroes, in which I was informed that a slave vessel had been brought in, with 238 of our unfortunate fellow-creatures; and that be and the acting governor had agreed to send them all to Regent's Town; and

begged me therefore to go down to Freetown the following morning, with some confidential people, to receive them. Our people soon heard the news; and great joy was expressed every where, from the hopes that some of their relatives might be among the liberated.

"The next morning I went, with some of my people, down to Freetown. Those who remained at home prepared food for their poor country-people. We were, however, all disappointed, as the Court of Mixed Commission had not condemned the vessel. Mr. Reffell (whose humanity deserves grateful mention) had disembarked the Negroes, and had, no doubt, thereby saved many lives; as the vessel was a small schooner, and many of the poor creatures were ill and reduced to skeletons. As the court sat that day, I sent the people home again; and stayed in Freetown, to wait the result.

"I was informed, the next morning, that the slaves and vessel had been con

demned by the court. Of these people, 217 were delivered to me; the rest, being sick, were carried to Leicester Mountain to the hospital. I was ob. liged to have them surrounded by our people, and so march them out of Freetown, as the soldiers of the fort were on the look-out to get some of them for wives. Mr. Reffell accompanied us some distance, to prevent any intrusion; and when we bad reached the mountains in safety, he returned.

"I cannot describe the scene which occurred when we arrived at Regent's Town. I have seen many landed, but never beheld such an affecting sight as I now witnessed. As soon as we came in view, all the people ran out of their houses toward the roid, to meet us, with loud acclamations. When they beheld the new people, weak and faint, they caught hold of them, carried them on their backs, and led them up toward my house. As they lay there exhausted on the ground, many of our people recognised their friends and relatives; and there was a general cry of O Massa! my Sister! My Brother!My Sister! My Countryman! he live in the same town!' My Country woman!' &c.

"The poor creatures, who were very faint, having just come out of the hold of a slave vessel, did not know what had befallen them; nor whether they should laugh or cry, when they beheld the countenances of those whom they had supposed to have been long dead; and whom they now saw clothed, clean, and perhaps with healthy children in their arms.

"In short, I cannot do justice to the scene: it was beyond description. None of us could refrain from shedding tears,

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and lifting up our hearts in prayer and praise to the wonder-working God, whose ways are in the deep.

"The school boys and girls brought the victuals which they had prepared: and all the people, following their example, ran to their houses and brought what they had got ready; and, in a short time, their unfortunate country. people were overpowered with messes of every description, and made such a dinner as they had not been accustomed to for a long time. Pine apples, ground nuts, and oranges, were also brought in great abundance.

"After all had been gratified, as it was getting late, I begged the people to withdraw, in order that their weary country-people might have rest: which being done, I lodged the men, and boys in the boys' school, and the women and girls in the girls' school. The two permanent school-houses which we have built I now find of great service; as each of them, being seventy-three feet by thirty, and having two floors, will contain a great number.

"The next morning, at family prayer, the church was crowded. After prayer the people visited the schools with many messes. I then picked out sixty-eight boys and sixty-one girls for the schools: the remainder, men and women, I distributed among the people. Several had the joy to take a brother or a sister home. One boy, who is in the seminary, found a sister, younger than him. self, among them: she remains in the girls' school.

"In the evening, the church was crowded again. A school girl put some of her own clothing on one of the new girls, in order to take her to church. When the poor girl came before the church, and saw the quantity of people she ran back crying: on being asked her reasou, she said that she had been sold too much, and did not want to be sold any more. The poor creature thought she was going to a market to be sold again. The girls had some trouble to persuade her otherwise.

"On the following Sunday, when the bell rang at ten, I went and placed the people as close as possible. The church was instantly filled, and many people had to remain outside. It is now again far too small; and the number of hearers will continue to increase from the new people. I have planned another addition, which we shall begin as soon as permission is granted, at least at the close of the present rains. I intend to take the north side out, and throw the whole into a double roof, substituting pillars for the present north wall. It will then be as large again. May the Lord bless all our feeble endeavours!"

FEMALE EDUCATION IN INDIA. An interesting address on the subject of female education in India has been lately circulated in Calcutta and its dependencies, by the Corresponding Committee of the Church Missionary Society. From it we extract the follow ing important statements.

"The importance of education for the improvement of the state of society among the natives of India is now very generally acknowledged; and the eagerness of the natives themselves for instruction begins to exceed the opportnnities hitherto afforded them. But, to render education effectual to the improvement of society, it must, obviously, be extended to both sexes. Man requires a help-meet; and, in every country, the infant mind receives its earliest impressions from the female sex. Wherever, therefore, this sex is left in a state of ignorance and degradation, the endearing and important duties of wife and mother cannot be duly discharged; and no great progress in civilization and morals can, in such a state of things, be reasonably hoped for. Such, however, with few exceptions, has hitherto been the state of the female sex in this country; but a happy change, in this respect, seems, at leugth, to be gradually taking place: a most pleasing proof of this occurred, in the interesting fact, that thirty-five girls were among the number of scholars at the last examination of the schools of the School Society, in the house of one of the most respectable natives in Calcutta. The arrival of a lady of judgment and experience (Miss Cooke) at such a crisis, for the purpose of devoting herself to the work of native female education, could not but be regarded as a most favourable event; and the Corresponding Committee of the Church Missionary Society have cordially undertaken to promote, as they may be enabled, the object of Miss Cooke's mission. Miss Cooke will afford instruction at home to the female children of the higher classes of natives; and, at the suggestion of an enlightened native gentleman, a separate school will be attempted, for poor female children of high caste, with a view to their becoming hereafter teachers in the families of their wealthy country-women. Thus three schools are already established under Miss Cooke's immediate care, containing about sixty girls; and the disposition manifested toward these schools by the natives affords reason to expect that a wish to have female. schools will, in time, become general."

In consequence of the appeal annexed to these statements, 3000 rupees were in a few weeks contributed. The governor-general and his lady, the lady of

the now deceased and much lamented bishop, and other persons of distinction, have contributed to the fund.-A very interesting intercourse is beginning by means of these schools to take place between European ladies and the native women, which we trust will prove a lasting blessing to India.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Among the extracts from the Society's domestic documents, we had marked for insertion the following testimony to the memory of its deceased Secretary, Mr. Owen; but our limits precluded its appearing in our last Number.

"As no one," remark the Committee,

was more deeply impressed with a sense of the great importance of the institution to the best interests of mankind, no one laboured more strennously and effectually to promote its infinence and prosperity. To this object, which was ever near to his heart, his time, his talents, and his personal labours, were unremittingly devoted. The correspondence which his official situation imposed on him, was alone sufficient to occupy the time which he could spare from his professional duties; but the energies of a superior mind enabled him to extend his care and attention to every branch of the multifarious concerns of the Society, and to accomplish more than could have been expected from individual efforts. His pen and his voice were incessantly employed in its cause. The former was frequently and vigorously exercised in elucidating the principles of the institution, or in defending its character and conduct against misrepresentation or aggression. To his pen the world is indebted for a luminous and authentic History of the Origin of the British and Foreign Bible Society,and its Progress during the first fifteen years of its existence; in which the characters of truth and impartiality are throughout conspicuous: while his eloquence, so often and successfully displayed in advocating the cause of the institution, impressed on his audiences that conviction of its utility, which he himself so strongly felt, and which the progressive experience of eighteen years has now so amply confirmed.

"But his eloquence was entitled to a higher praise; it was the effusion of a heart in which candour and liberality ever predominated; it was characterised by that suavity of disposition, which had endeared him to the affectionate esteem, not only of his colleagues and the committee, but of all who were in any way associated with him in transacting the business of the Society; while his great and diversitied talents com

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