explanations and exhortations, according to their ability, under the supervision of the missionaries. They stand in much need of further instruction and supervision themselves, being but partially educated and inexperienced Christians, and exposed to peculiar temptations. The brethren express much regret that their manifold labors leave them so little time for this part of their work. One of the Scripture readers is spoken of as a candidate for the ministry. The one who died, Belevi, after running well for a season, and doing much good, at length fell into the sin of intemperance, and was dismissed from his post, after patient but apparently useless efforts for his reformation had been made. On his death bed, however, he expressed much penitence.

None of these native brethren appear, as yet, to be called to the pastoral office, nor does the time seem to have come for organizing the native communicants into separate churches at the different stations. The firm planting of the Gospel amongst the people greatly depends on the establishment of such pastoral charges; in every missionary field this is a matter of the greatest moment; but many things have to be considered before measures are taken for this purpose.

THE SCHOOLS-WORKS PRINTED IN BENGA.

In the Sabbath schools, 160 scholars are reported; in the boarding schools, 60 boys and 31 girls; in day schools, 50 scholarsnearly all irregular; adults under instruction at the stations, not otherwise enumerated, 10. Some particulars concerning these schools, and also concerning other efforts to spread the Gospel, will be found further on, under the notices of stations.

The Benga language is spoken by the Corisco people, and by some of the people on the mainland. The dialects of several neighboring tribes are so nearly allied to the Benga, that it can readily be used by them. It was reduced to writing by the missionaries a few years ago, and the Gospels of Matthew and Mark have been printed in it, besides a Primer.

The lamented Mr. Clemens expected to surpervise the printing of some additional works during his visit to this country. This good purpose has been fulfilled by Mr. De Heer, under whose editing a translation of the Gospel of Luke, and of the book of Genesis, and a part of the book of Exodus, printed by the American Bible Society, a translation of the tract "Come to Jesus," by the American Tract Society, and a small collection of hymns, at the expense of the Board, have been published. The translation of the Scriptures and of the hymns were prepared by the joint labors of the missionaries; that of the tract, by Mr. De Heer.

NOTICES OF STATIONS.

At all the stations religious services are maintained, and the

preaching of the Gospel forms a large part of the missionaries' work. These services are attended commonly by small audiences, at Evangasimba, varying from 40 to over 100 persons, and by various degrees of interest, but the word preached will not be in vain.

EVANGASIMBA.

Of the day school for boys the report of this station, after referring to their regular attendance, expressed the opinion that such schools will not prosper, until the people feel more deeply the importance of education. The native children have "perfect license, from their birth, to go where they please, and do what they please," and their parents do not yet prize knowledge of books enough to force their attendance at school. Mrs. Mackey has met with gratifying success in collecting in a day school "the girls and women who are the wives of polygamists," having secured the attendance of about fifteen. An hour and a half is spent each day, "in imparting religious instruction to them, and teaching them to read the word of God in their own language.'

Mr. Mackey's labors at this station are greatly increased by his being the treasurer of the mission. All the business transactions required in so large a mission, especially in the purchase of supplies of food for the boarding scholars and the mission families, have to be made by means of barter. Money is not in use, but goods are exchanged for what is required-a process consuming much time, and often not a little trying to one's patience. He was able to make excursions on the mainland for preaching, and attempted to reach the Pangwe country in company with a European botanist, but this effort was frustrated by the unfriendly feeling of natives on the border.

Mr. Nassau, Mrs. Queen, and Miss Latta prosecuted their work at Itandaluku, a sub-station of Evangasimba. The girls' boarding school has well repaid the missionaries for their labor and patience in its in-door and out-of-door duties, but for details reference must be made to the station report as published in one of the missionary periodicals. For a time there was much feeling on the subject of religion among the scholars, and three of them seem to retain these impressions. Mr. Nassau's medical skill was often of great service, but he considered it inexpedient to go out among the people in medical practice to any great extent. He could not countenance the fetich ceremonies usually employed by the natives in

times of sickness.

UGOVI.

Mr. De Heer's earnest labors were continued at this station in

the former part of the year. Afterwards Andeke was placed here, where he has charge of a boarding school for boys, thirteen in number.

Mr. Nassau preached at this station, Andeke taking the service in his absence. The Sunday school, instruction in the Catechism, and other labors are in Andeke's charge.

ALONGO.

Mr. Clark took the charge of this station in May, after Mr. Clemens left it. The boarding school here, contains scholars from seven mainland tribes. Thirty-one scholars were under instruction, and seventeen at the end of the year-of whom nine are communicants, and one is a hopeful inquirer. The five most advanced scholars receive Mr. Clark's special instruction every week-day evening, except Saturday, and they have made good progress-in some cases very marked. The want of sufficient text-books in the native tongue stands in the way of their progress. The attendance on public worship has not been large, but a daily prayer meeting at noon, in Benga, has been kept up with spirit.

OUT-STATIONS.

One per

At Ilobi, Ibia, the native preacher reports six persons as inquirers, one of whom he regards as a hopeful convert. son was admitted to the church from this island. The school is small, but not without promise of good influence. Bombango was placed here to assist Ibia in the school, at least for a time. The out-station at Hanje among the Kombe people, 50 miles north of Corisco, after being marked by signal blessings from on high, was then marked by hardly less signal decline, resulting from the fall of poor Belevi, the Scripture reader. Towards the latter part of the year, the laborers of Jumbe seemed to be successful in awakening new interest in the Gospel. The native assistant at the out-station of Mavika, on the river Muni, was transferred to the mouth of a small river, Eyo, among the Kombe people, eighteen miles above Hanje; but his health has become too feeble to allow him to attend to his missionory work, though he still lives at that place. Another Scripture reader, Yume, was placed in October at Medume, twelve miles still further up the coast, also among the Kombes, where he is meeting with a cordial welcome, and the people attend well to his instructions. Ukaka, on the south bank of the Muni, near its mouth, was occupied for a time, but was unsupplied at the close of the year, the native helper having been withdrawn for yielding to the temptation of engaging in trade.

The foregoing statements show that much patient labor has been devoted by the brethren to this missionary field, and also that their labour has not been in vain in the Lord. There are discouraging things in their post of duty, particularly the injurious influence of the climate on their health. At the latest advices, in February, most of them had recently suffered from illness induced by this cause. But Corisco is probably more favorable to health than any

place elsewhere accessible. Eventually it will be found practicable to penetrate into the interior of the country, and reach the higher or table land, which will prove to be a healthful region. In the meantime, the church should feel grateful for the good results thus far gained and the good work in progress, and earnest prayer should be offered that nothing may be permitted to hinder further success. Some apprehension exists of interference with the mission through claims of jurisdiction over this part of the African coast, by one or two of the Roman Catholic nations of Europe; but our own Government could not tolerate unjustifiable interference with the peaceful occupation of its citizens, on an island which was never occupied by any foreign power; and it is easy for the Supreme Ruler to ward off the threatening danger.

The committee have appointed a female teacher, who is waiting for an opportunity of going out to Corisco, where she will make her home in the family of her brother, one of the missionaries. Another ordained missionary should be sent to this mission, without delay.

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The Episcopal Mission in Liberia.

The Spirit of Missions for July contains communications from Bishop Payne and the Rev. C. C. Hoffman. A convocation of catechists and teachers had been held at Cape Palmas, April 14th. Bishop Payne wrote:

The attendance of catechists and teachers was large; every station was represented except Taboo. Besides Rev. Messrs. Toomey and Jones and Mr. Ferguson, from the high school, we had twenty native catechists, visitors, and teachers. Amongst these were Mr. Francis Allison, some time employed as teacher in the Gaboon Mission, now situated at Gitetabo. He was one of the first pupils of the Mission of the American Board at Cape Palmas, and is now a man of mature character, not far from forty years old. This, of course, must give him much influence in the mission, now that, by God's grace, his eye seems single. Mr. Valentine, visitor from Cavalla, Kinkle of Tebo, Brownell, from Bohlen, and Boyd from Fishtown, with Bedell of this place, and Seton and Potter from Hoffman Station, all seemed to come up in the right spirit to our convocation. Mr. Toomey preached the convocation sermon, after which the Lord's Supper was administered. The missionary meeting was held in the evening. Reports were made by all, and addresses by many. These were not, with a few exceptions. so spirited as usual. Our catechists more and more realize the gravity of the work with which we are charged. Besides, there was the feeling with many, expressed fully by one of the speakers, that all had not been done since last convocation that ought to have been done, nor all to which we then pledged

to her, quite altered her habits and appearance, and is quite reconciled to our semi-civilized life. She has acquired one rather difficult language, the Nupe, and is now fast progressing with another, the Hausa; and this, remember, is the progress of a mere child, of unpromising antecedents, in nine months. In another of your numbers, a correspondent, writing on the subject of the West Indies, asserts, on the authority of Barth, Richardson, and Livingstone, that the African races are incapable of steady, continuous labor. I do not so read Dr. Barth's account, while Dr. Livingstone's remarks apply to tribes of the Kaffre, and not to the negro race. My own observations, made during lengthened residences, often of several months, in various places, lead me to an opposite result. Wherever I have been, I have found the bulk of the population steadily pursuing their occupations, from day to day, and from week to week, whether as traders, agricultural labores, hunters, or fishermen; and as far as I can learn, they go on so for years, if not interrupted by sickness or war. Of course, their labor is not that of an English or Scotch workman; the climate is different, and more exhausting, nor do either the culture or the means of living require such exertions. Here, in Nupe, the farm laborer proceeds to his daily work at daylight, and never returns till afternoon, possibly not till after 4 P. M. The Yomba race is noted above all for love of money, and Yombans daily follow the pursuit of gain and the hoarding up of wealth as eagerly and as keenly and unceasingly as Jews are held to do among us. I have among my followers men whose daily work would not be found fault with in England, especially those from Gbari, a country east from Nupe.

In conclusion, allow me to express my conviction that any real advance in Central Africa must be attempted, not by emigration of bodies of men from the United States or the West Indies, for negroes who have been brought up in these countries are essentially foreigners, and are less able to adapt themselves to the customs of the land of their forefathers than Englishmen are. It must be effected rather by the more individual exertions of white traders' and others personally interested in the country, and by the labors of practical missionaries, such as many whom I could name, as distinguished from the mere doctrinal and preaching missionary. With such an essentially trading race as the negro is, legitimate commerce is the true remedy for this destructive slave trade, and it is, I firmly believe, the precursor and pioneer of civilization and of Christianity.

I am, sir, &c.,

000

WILLIAM BALFOUR BAIKIE.

West Coast of Africa-The Slave Trade.

An African mail steamer arrived at Liverpool, brings late dates from the west coast. Trade at Lagos was almost entirely suspended on account of internal wars. The region back of Lagos is very populous, comprising the walled city of Abbeokuta, and several others nearly as large, but the constant warfare between the tribes forbids any progress toward civilization.