This Settlement has hitherto been treated more as an Out-station, than as a place regularly attended to; and I cannot refer to my last Report-in which I expressed the cheering anticipation that it would be easier for me in future to attend more to the ministerial duties of this place—without feeling considerable regret, that hitherto it has not been the case. I regret this the more, as I always observe that the people connected with us are really attached to us, and desirous of instruction. I administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to about forty-five persons. The congregation was encouraging, when I performed Divine Service.

HASTINGS The Native Catechist at this Station, John Attarra, writes concerning it

It affords me great pleasure to observe that the scholars are improving as quickly as they can in their lessons, from the most advanced to those in the alphabet classes. Many of them have been much hindered from attending, in consequence of the small-pox-a disease which has for a length of time been raging among them. The girls are improving gradually in needle-work. My wife, and the wife of my fellow Native Schoolmaster, who instruct them, give a good account of them; they being both anxious to learn, and also behaving well.

Some

of them generally remain after two o'clock with the Schoolmistress, to sew, and continue till four; as they consider it the most profitable way of spending their time.

I

delight, while I spoke of some of the stratagems used by Mahomed in order to spread his tenets, and mentioned some of the results of his crafty efforts. His manner caused me to take notice of him. After the school hours were over, I bid him go to my house, as I had someI asked him several thing to say to him. questions, which he freely answered; while tears in abundance flowed down his sable cheeks. He told me that his father was a Mahomedan; that he had a little god in his house, to which he used to pray; but that he could not prevent him. asked him if he had told his father the evil of it, and the folly of such worship, and if he ever read his Bible in his father's hearing. He replied, that he did not speak to his father about the god, for he was afraid; but that he often read his Bible. He also said he wished that I had the god, but he was afraid to bring it to me. I then said I would go to his house; and I hoped that he would show me the place where it was, and I would take it, and also speak to his father. have been several times since, but could never see the boy at home; and, by his father coming out to meet me, and sitting outside of the door, I thought he had, by some means or other, learned what my intention was; so that I could not go into the house, and consequently could not deprive him of his god. I repeatedly entreated him to attend our Church; but he always had an excuse: sometimes he would pull his long beard, and say he came from Mandingo Country; by which he meant that he was a Mahomedan, and therefore had another religion. How astonishingly near do they come to Papists in their excuse, when the fallibility of their religion is overthrown, by saying, it is their country fashion," the religion of their forefathers, and the religion

66

I

in which themselves were reared, and therefore they cannot renounce it. Thus I was obliged to leave the man more stedfast in his own opinions than seven wise men who can render a reason.

In the same yard was a Mahomedan woman sitting upon a leopard's skin at her devotions, having a bead of white stones in her hand. It was with much difficulty that I got them, in order to see what they were, after which I returned them to her; which was, I believe, more honesty than she expected to meet with. Not very far from the same place, in a

Abyssinia.

Extracts from a Journal of the Rev. Messrs. Gobat and Isenberg, detailing the circumstances of their arrival in Abyssinia, were given in pp. 61-68 of our Volume for last year. Subsequently to that period we have had occasion to notice the very severe and frequently-alarming illnesses of Mr. Gobat; in consequence of which, he was finally persuaded to return to Egypt, and effected part of this journey under the friendly escort of the Rev. J. Wolff, who accompanied him and his family as far as Jidda. (See p. 303, Vol. 1836.) We also gave, in the same Volume, pp. 249–252, the affecting account of the Rev. J. H. Knoth's death at Caïro, on his way to his Missionary Station in Abyssinia. These various circumstances have, for the time, in some degree clouded the prospects of that Mission. Still, from the following communications of the Rev. C. W. Isenberg, it will be seen that the work is not only maintained, but advancing. We select, from his Journals, a variety of particulars, exhibiting both the state of the people of that country, and of the Mission. progress Beginning with the earliest date of his letters, September 19, 1835, we find Mr. Işenberg thus describing his employment in

the

Studies with Native Abyssinians. Each day's experience teaches us how great is the misery of this country. They are poor indeed, in a temporal and a spiritual point of view; and such is their lamentable state, that they appear to have almost despaired of improvement, and are completely given to inactivity and laziness; by which their state must grow worse and worse. I heartily long for the day when I shall be able, with joyful energy, to bring the Truth as it is in Jesus to the knowledge of these benighted nominal Christians; preaching

that Gospel which has the promise that it shall not return unto the Lord void, but that it shall accomplish that which He pleaseth, and prosper in the thing whereto He hath sent it.

My own time is spent chiefly in the study of the language. I continue, however, to give Hadara and Kiddan regular instruction in German, every day. They are translating from the German Bible, studying the Grammar, and learning to write. Besides this, I had, in the course of July and August, to give daily lessons in the Greek language to Habeta Selasse and Kiddan Mariam; who were joined, at

the beginning, by some others; among whom was a friar of Lasta, whom Oubea intends to create Etchegua, if he succeed in conquering Amhara. It was a somewhat difficult task; because I had to write a Greek Grammar for them, with

out any assistance, except Riemer's Greek German Lexicon, and a copy of the Greek New Testament. I succeeded, however, in giving the most important rules for pronunciation, reading, and the parts of speech up to the regular verbs; when I stopped, to await the arrival of my Greek Grammar from Massowah ; attend Oubea, who had gone with his Habeta Selasse having left Adowah to soldiers to a plain several miles distant from Adowah, in order to make peace with Cassai, and to entrust him with the Government of Tigré, upon payment of a certain tribute: which being settled, he purposes immediately to pass the Taof the interior, to make war upon Ras cazze, and, uniting with four Governors Ali, and to take possession of Amhara. We must expect this expedition of Oubea to bring a new series of wars upon this poor and enervated country, if the Lord in His mercy do not interpose. May it please Him to hasten the happy day of its deliverance!

The lessons in Greek which I gave to Habeta Selasse were occasioned by his repeated request that I would give him instruction in Arabic; which he desired to learn, that he might be able to converse with the new Abuna, who is expected to arrive, some months hence, from Egypt. As I could not expect any good to arise from teaching him Arabic, I

dissuaded him from learning it; offering, at the same time, to instruct him in the Greek language, to enable him to enter upon the study of the New Testament in the original; to which he assented. In fact, I think it necessary, sooner or later, to introduce the study of the Greek and Hebrew, at least to those whom we intend to prepare for our assistants in the work of the Gospel ministry; since we know how much the study of these two original languages of the Bible contributed to prepare and assist the Reformation of our Occidental Church. Having, therefore, begun teaching Kiddan, I

intend to go on as soon as my Grammar is brought from Massowah. Difficult as is the task of writing a Greek Grammar in Amharic, it has proved to me one of the best exercises in this language; and I expect great advantages to our work from it, even as it regards the cultivation of the Amharic language.

During the last three or four weeks, Kiddan has been teaching, of his own accord, our Abyssinian servants to read Amharic. I am glad to say, that he does it with eagerness and success; thus strengthening our hopes that he will, in future, prove a good schoolmaster for children; and, in fact, for instructing in Religion. Hadara, who has more talents, and makes more progress in his studies, will, perhaps, if the Lord preserve him from pride, be able to enter upon a more scientific course of study.

At a later period, Feb. 8, 1836, he relates, concerning these two Natives

As for our two pupils, Hadara and Kiddan Mariam, we have separated them; so that Hadara lives with Mr. Gobat, and Kiddan Mariam with me. We have good hope of their becoming, by the grace of God, our assistants in the Missionary Work. We are not without our troubles concerning them; and there are disadvantages arising from the circumstance that I was not able to give them a regular course of instruction from the beginning; but that which encourages us is, to see that we do not labour for them in vain. What degree the work of grace has attained in their hearts we cannot decide; but they show a firm adherence to us, and to our work; a teachable disposition; and, if I am not mistaken, Kiddan particularly, a sincere desire to become true followers of Christ; RECORD, Jan. 1837.]

which gives us much reason to hope that their assistance, in future, if God preserve them, will be very useful to us.

The troubles to which Mr. Isenberg alludes, may, in part, be those which he had suffered from Habeta Selasse; which terminated in the marriage of this individual with one of the domestics of the family. The opinions and customs of the Abyssinians, in regard to the nature of the marriage-contract, are of the most lax description. Mr. Isenberg found indignation against sin, by putting it necessary to mark his feeling of both Habeta Selasse and his betrothed under censure for days. The result was, the introduction of a stricter sense of the nature of the married relation. Our Readers will be interested to learn, that this trying series of circumstances led eventually to the

some

Mr. Isenberg relates of this couple :

Seeing that their humiliation had a good effect, I translated our beautiful English" Solemnization of Matrimony” into Amharic; and on Sunday, Nov. 1, 1835, at the time and place-Mr. Gobat's house-of our regular Sunday Service, publicly and solemnly joined them in holy wedlock; a good number of Abyssinians being present, on whom the solemnity and Christian tendency of the proceeding made a good impression. In fact, that was the first Divine Service, most probably, that ever was held in Amharic.* It gave to those who were present a proof of the work we are about to accomplish in this country, and served also to dispose them more favourably to this work. Since that time, Kiddan and his wife have lived in our house, and have had the superintendence of our people: they both give increasing satisfaction. They seem to love each other sincerely; do their duty with cheerfulness; and are faithful in their adherence to us. He teaches her, and the others who were formerly under his instruction; so

*The Church Services being performed in the Ethiopic, which is a dead language.-Ed. C

that I think the work of God is commencing in our house, and a blessing visibly rests upon it. This is a small beginning indeed, but I hope a good one. It is my constant prayer to God that He may pour such a measure of His Spirit upon it, that we, forming one family of believers, may become one light in Him to enlighten the benighted neighbourhood. From this we are led to notice, in the next place, more fully what Mr. Isenberg relates, under date of Feb. 6, 1836, concerning the

Translation of the Scriptures into the
Dialect of Tigré,

In the course of December 1835, I engaged Deftera Matteos, the same who translated the Gospel of St. Luke into Tigré for Mr. Kugler, and who began to translate the Gospel of St. John, but did not finish it till after the departure of Mr. Gobat from Adowah; and when Mr. Rüppell, the German Naturalist, passed through this town, sold it to him. I agreed with him that he should translate the whole of the New Testament into Tigré. After he has translated a portion, I am to correct it with him, with the assistance of other persons knowing the language: after which, he is to make two good copies; one to be sent to London, for the press, and the other to remain in my hands. He began his translation at the Gospel of St. Matthew; which being finished, he translated that of St. Mark; and has now arrived at the sixth chapter of St. Luke. I could not until now pay much atten

tion to the correction of the translation; but, on beginning it, I found it convenient to copy the whole; and, in this manner, to correct it more thoroughly after the Original Greek. I have now finished, with the assistance, as to the Tigré, of our two pupils, Hadara and Kiddan Mariam, the first four chapters of St. Matthew.

This was a hopeful commencement of a work highly important for the large and influential province of Tigré. Of its progress, Mr. Isenberg gives the following further account, under dates July 11, and August 28,

1836:

The Tigré translation of the New Testament goes on rapidly. Deftera Matteos has got as far as the twelfth chapter

of the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. I hope to be able to render this translation comparatively correct. This is, I must confess, no easy matter, on account of the confusion of ideas in these languages; which obliges us to fix new ideas to several words. But living as we do in the country, and always conversing with the people, the exchange of thoughts and ideas will facilitate the cultivation of their language very much for us and for themselves, and prevent any material mistake in the translation.

The next account is

Deftera Matteos has proceeded with the Tigré translation of the New Testament as far as the end of the First Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy. I hope that in the course of December, if nothing adverse happen, he will finish the translation; and then I shall review it with him; after which he must copy it twice: the wages for his whole labour being no more than 100 dollars.

While superintending the revision of this important work, Mr. Isenberg adds: "The work affords me much pleasure, and I am in it with my

whole heart."

Mr. Isenberg, on occasion of the baptism of his own child, and also of another born in his household, relates, under date of July 11, 1836, that he had administered this Sacrament according to the rites of the Church of England, in the Amharic language; and he then reports more particularly, that the inquiries and objections of the Natives had naturally led him to the

Translation of the chief part of the English Prayer Book into Amharic. Among the mercies we have experienced since I wrote last, I have to mention particularly the happy delivery of Mrs. Isenberg of a healthy girl, on May 23. The child was baptized by myself, according to the rites of the Church of England, in the Amharic language, into which I had previously had the Baptismal Service translated. Yesterday, July 10, I performed the same for the child of Kiddan Mariam, which was born on Friday the 1st of this month. The child, a boy, was called, at Kiddan