so that if Moses knew it, as some would have us believe, it could only be by an immediate revelation from God: the sea ebbs and flows so slowly on the shore, that it is impossible to perceive it by the eye, and it never rises more than about four feet.

On the 10th of November we slept at Thor, from whence we distinctly perceived the summit of Mount Sinaï. You may easily imagine what was the subject of our thoughts and conversation, in the vicinity of the place where the Eternal God once manifested His holiness and His glory. But how the idea of the Law, given with such solemnity,calls to mind the sins and transgressions of men! How this humbles the rebellious heart! And how precious the Cross of Christ becomes to a soul which hears the thunders of the Divine malediction against it on account of sin!

Yambo.

The Arabs say, that there are 15,000 inhabitants at Yambo; but I think that we must deduct at least one half. At one part of the road from Yambo, to the east, there is a rivulet, which flows sometimes on the surface and sometimes under ground: there are seasons when private persons buy the water for baths, at 150 talares (dollars) an hour.

Jidda.

On the 22d of November we quitted Yambo; and on the 27th we arrived at Jidda. At this season of the year the temperature is very mild at the Red Sea: at Jidda it is now almost as warm as it is in Caïro in the month of September: we have been very much refreshed by a heavy rain, which fell about an hour after our arrival. We lodge with a Catholic Christian from Damascus, in whose house we have met with a most kind reception, and who has shewn us that disinterested hospitality is still to be found among the inhabitants of these regions. Our two Abyssinians behave very well: the nearer we approach to Abyssinia, the more they shew their attachment to us, and seem to have our interest much at heart. The accounts which we have received from Abyssinia are very favourable: all is tranquil there; and Sebagadis, Governor of Tigrè, wishes much to see

us.

He wrote to the Naïb of Massowah, that his servant Ali was returning with one or two of his English Brethren; and desired him to receive us well, and to provide us with beasts, to enable us to depart immediately. As the Naïb much fears Sebagadis, we hope that we shall

have less difficulty at Massowah than other European Travellers who have endeavoured to enter Abyssinia; but we would trust only to the protecting arm of our merciful Saviour. It is sufficient for us to know that, every day, His hand is extended over us to keep us; and all that He shall do respecting us will be well done.

We have found an English Corvette here, whose Officers have shewn much friendship towards us: if we had time to remain a month, they would willingly convey us from hence to Massowah; but we have already engaged an Arab Ship, which sails on the 3d of December.

When other Missionaries follow us into Abyssinia, they should leave Caïro either in the month of September or at the beginning of December. In September it is still very hot, and they will seldom find good water; but there are winds, and they will meet with a number of vessels sailing from north to south. On the other hand, if they wish to travel more agreeably, they must leave Caïro at the beginning of December, and provide against the rain; then they will have a mild temperature, will everywhere find good rain-water, and, among other things, water-melons, which are very beneficial on the sea: but they will be longer in crossing it than in September. Conversation with an Abyssinian Pilgrim.

At Jidda we became acquainted with three Abyssinian Pilgrims, on their way to Jerusalem. One of them was the son of the Pacha of Gojam, quite a young man: he first came to us, hearing that we had the Gospels in Amharic, and begged a copy. We made him read; but he could not read fluently, as some of the Amharic Letters were unknown to him: unspeakable was his joy at seeing himself enabled to read the Gospel in his vernacular language. We spoke a great deal with him, applying the truths of the Gospel to his own heart: such application seemed quite new to him, but beneficial. We do not know how this man could learn so soon that we were Priests; as he came the following day to us, in order to confess and to receive absolution. He had first spoken about this to Malo; who told him that he had better say nothing about it, as we were not Abyssinian Priests, This circumstance furnished us with a fair opportunity of shewing him some passages in the Gospel, and of enlarging on the important subject of Forgiveness of Sins. In proportion as we became more acquainted

with each other, our mutual affection increased. The following day this young man came to us quite confidentially, asking our opinion regarding his pilgrimage: we readily complied with his desire, and our advice seemed to have found good acceptance with him, though it was directly against his own view; for, soon afterwards, he came again, and said that he would go to Jerusalem only in order to pass Easter there, and then would return to his own Country. Since Girgis has left us, we have not heard any speak the Amharic so purely as this man did. His great eagerness to hear the Truth enabled him to understand us without difficulty, although all we said respecting the way to salvation in Christ was quite new to him. On the 7th of December the Abyssinians came to take leave of us they still had many questions to ask us; and the Millennium was brought forward in conversation. From the Tigrè Priest I learned that there exists a book in Abyssinia entitled "The Explanation (of the Words) of Jesus," the principal subject of which is the Millennium: we shall endeavour to find out this book as soon as possible. These men were greatly pleased to hear that in our Country, too, there are Christians who wait for the Kingdom of God. At some future period we shall be able, if the Lord will, to give a more minute account of their idea of the Millennium. Our Abyssinian friends intended to see us again the succeeding day; but we embarked at a late hour of that day, so that we reached our ship at midnight. We were exceedingly glad to have come off from Jidda without the least injury, because the Mahomedans there are insolent and bigoted.

Arrival at Massowah.

On the 28th of December we arrived at Massowah. No sooner was Ali discovered to be on board, than a great crowd of people gathered on shore till we landed. It was not before we were on shore-when Ali went before us, and old and young kissed his hands-that we perceived the reason why so many people, partly Abyssinians and partly inhabitants of Massowah, had assembled. We lost no time in calling on the Caï Macam, or Governor, and delivering our Letters from Jidda: he immediately asked us, whether we wished to have our luggage brought on shore that evening, or on the following day. As we wished to have it with us, he instantly sent a

soldier to get the boxes on shore; while Ali procured a lodging for us with a friend of his. Thus it was that we were permitted to pass New-Year's Day in tolerable rest at Massowah. Ali's behaviour towards us, on the whole of our journey, was much to our satisfaction: he has settled with the Naïb in Arkiko (more commonly, Dochono) every thing; so that we can now proceed without obstacle to Abyssinia. In our first interview with the Naïb, Ali gave him a specific account of all that we had done for him; and added, that he ought not to look on us as on other Franks, but consider us as Brethren. The Naïb observed, that Mr. Salt had come hither, sent out by the King of England, in order to visit Ras Walad Selase, and yet had given to the Naïb at that time 1000 dollars as a present. On this Ali began to reprehend him; telling him earnestly, that there could be no question about presents in this case, &c.; after which he became quiet. We are now expecting to depart in three or four days to Dochono, where we shall spend one or two days; and from thence, if God will, pass the Taranto. Already, in our ship from Jidda hither, more Abyssinian was spoken than Arabic, as our crew were chiefly inhabitants of this place, of which the language is a mixture of Arabic and Tigrè: most of the respectable people here speak the pure Tigrè well. We have daily many visitors, chiefly Abyssinians: many have also come who are affected with diseases. To-day, four Abyssinian Christians, who had met Ali in the market, called on us, desiring to fall down before the Abuna, and to receive his blessing. We told them, in Tigrè, that the Lord our God is willing to bless every one who called on Him in the Name of Jesus: on which one observed, that certainly we were in the right; and then they departed.

From Abyssinia we have sure intelligence that Sebagadis is gone into the interior, with his soldiers: how far he has advanced is not yet ascertained. Nothing, as yet, has been heard of a battle: on the contrary, it is said that they have made peace; but this needs confirmation. We cannot decide whether we shall stay in Ali's district until Sebagadis returns to Adowah, or whether we shall proceed directly into the interior, to wait on him there we should rather prefer the latter. We shall soon give you a further account of our proceedings and travels, if the Lord spares our life and health.

At

The Congregations at the Out-Schools during the year have not been, in general, as large, or as encouraging, as during the preceding year. At some of those where we preach on the Sunday Morning, very few Adults have regularly attended. others, the number of Adults has varied from 6 and 8 to 20. Our Sunday-Afternoon Congregations, except at one School, which has lately been discontinued, have been more numerous; particularly at Yakbadda, where the people continue to attend nearly as well as when the Place of Worship, which had been erected there chiefly at their expense, was first opened on Easter Sunday last. To this place, and Nugagoda, we go, alternately, every Sunday Afternoon. Mr. Selkirk visits Nawala every second Sunday Morning; and to one of the other four places, viz. Mirihane, Gangodawala, Papilyane, and Bewile, he goes on those Sunday Morn ings when he does not go to Nawala. The Children of the Cotta, Pagoda, and Pannikkemulla Schools attend at Cotta every Sunday Morning, at 11 o'clock. Thus all the Children belonging to all the

Schools attend Divine Service once at least every week, and some of them twice. About the commencement of the year, the Service at Pagoda School, which had, for more than a year and a half, been held weekly on the Thursday Mornings, became so very thinly attended, that Br. Selkirk began to have it only once a fortnight; and it is still continued in this way. Sometimes only two attend, beside the Master and Children; at other times, six or eight; and seldom more than ten. About the time that this change took place, he began to go, on the alternate Thursday Mornings, to a village called Madwala, and continued to do so for two or three months. The Congregations there consisted of 50 or 60 grown-up persons, besides children: but when the novelty was worne away, and they found that we were unwilling to establish a School in the village, they afterwards fell off very rapidly. This falling off, the distance, and the badness of the road, led to its being given up. The people of this village have still, however, an opportunity, if disposed, of hearing the Word of God; as we have, at the commencement of this month, opened a School in a village adjoining it, in the place of one which we have discontinued in another village where Divine Service will occasionally be held. The Service at the little Bun

galow near the Schoolmaster's house in Cotta is still continued: the Congregation there consists, at present, of about twenty (Cingalese), and four or five Portuguese Children, half that number of Adults People. Br. Selkirk, in order that these last may likewise receive as much benefit as possible from his instructions, interprets his Cingalese Sermon into English, which language they understand nearly as well as their native tongue.

[Rev. Messrs. Lambrick and Selkirk. Indifference of the People. Though the Children are frequently reminded to exhort their Parents to come to Divine Service with them, yet we grieve to say that very few of them attend; and, what is worse, they are extremely careless about the regular at tendance of their children. The Schoolmasters, we believe, do what they can to secure the constant attendance of their scholars; but their endeavours often prove fruitless, when not seconded, but rather opposed, by the example and influence of the parents. It is not an uncommon

thing for the parents to send their children into the paddy-fields to work, or to the Bazaar, on the Sundays, when both ought to be at a Place of Worship. This, we fear, will continue to be the case, till the parents set a higher value on the advantage of a Christian Education to their children, and till the admonitions of the Masters, the good instruction communicated to the children, and our remonstrances, have a more abiding effect on their minds. We much lament that such is the state of our Congregations; but still we cherish the hope that God will bless, in His own time, the means used for their instruction; and that many will hereafter bless God that British Christians have had compassion on them, have come over and helped them, and pointed out to them and their Children the right way. [The Same,

Institution.

The Students, during our Meeting, were examined on the subjects on which they have been engaged during the year; and their examination has given great satisfaction to all the Brethren. As one part of their work, they were required to write their thoughts on a given subject

'The value of the Sacred Scriptures:" and the Papers which they gave in shew the estimation in which they hold the Oracles of God. One of them (Elias Andrews), whose frequent indisposition renders him unable to apply closely to study, has been appointed to the office of Probationary Catechist, and Assistant to me in the superintendence of the Schools: I expect to find in him a valuable Assistant. He is one of those who were brought up by our Baddagame Brethren, now in England; and was greatly beloved by both of them, for his steadiness, attention, and consistent conduct. Ever since he came to live among us, he has been a constant partaker of the Lord's Supper; and we have good hopes that he has received the Truth in the love of it, and that he will be of great use among the villagers in reading and explaining to them the Scriptures. [Rev. J. Selkirk.

Female Schools.

A Girls' School, commenced under the charge of Mrs. Lambrick, in October last, has prospered beyond our expectations; and the Children are more regular in their attendance at School, and on the Service of the Lord's Day, than in any other at the Station. In learning by heart the

First Principles of Religion, and the Catechism which has been compiled for them, they have given much satisfaction: they have got on well in needle-work; and in reading the native language, their progress, since the change of Schoolmasters, has been equal to our expectations. The change alluded to has been that of Nicolas de Alvis, the Youth who has been so long on the Establishment, instead of the occasional attendance of Carolis Perera the Cotta Schoolmaster. Nicolas de Alvis proves an able teacher of his native language, and is diligent in attending to his duties.

The discipline of the School, as well as the instruction in needle-work, has been kept up chiefly by the help of a young woman whom Mrs. Lambrick brought with her from Baddagame, and whom she hopes to train up to be an efficient Schoolmistress. The expenses of this School exceed, by a small sum, those of a School of the same number of Boys, the encouragements held out having been greater: each Girl, after three months' attendance and good behaviour, is clothed; and, to ensure cleanliness, their clothes washed at the expense of the Mission, and given out to them every Monday Morning. [Rev. Messrs. Lambrick and Selkirk.

English School.

are

The number of Names on the List is

at present 32: none have, during the

year, been admitted into the Institution. Their studies at present are as follows:the First Class, containing 5 Boys, are reading the Old Testament, and learn Br. Lambrick's Cingalese Grammar, and Lewis's Explanation of the Church Catechism: three of them have also learned the First Part of the Arithmetic, and have been put into the Second Part. The Second Class, containing 8, read the New Testament, and learn the Cingalese Vocabulary, and English Catechism broken into short questions. Six of these, with two of the First Class, are learning the First Part of the Arithmetic. The Third Class, 15 in number, read the Spelling-Book, and learn the Vocabulary: their knowledge of English is yet so scanty, that they have made very little progress in Arithmetic. The remaining Four Classes are beginners. The average attendance, for the last three months, has not been more than 15. Those who have attended regularly have improved as much as we could expect : the slow progress of the others may be

accounted for, from their want of abilities, and from their indifference to learning in general, but, chiefly, from their very irregular attendance. Another disad vantage, which many of them labour under, is their age, as they are grown up to manhood, and it is impossible to manage them in the same way as little children are managed; and, having grown up in habits of idleness, it is not to be expected that so much progress can be made by them, during the two or three years that they come to an English School, as by children of eight or nine years of age, whose habits are to be formed, and who can be brought under proper discipline. They undergo an examination at the end of every month.

Native Schools.

[The Same

The number of Native Schools is 11; one more than the number mentioned in last year's Report. We have had various applications from the inhabitants of the surrounding Villages, during the year, to establish Schools among them; but we have thought it better not to enlarge our présent sphere of operation, as those that we have are as many as can be properly superintended by one SchoolVisitor. The additional one now mentioned is at Yakbadda; and was established only in the beginning of May last, after the long-continued and earnest solicitations of the Headman and the whole of the inhabitants of the village. We have discontinued a School at the Village of Walicada, which has been established about six years. The people of the village have latterly become so negligent in sending their children, that the Master cannot, after taking all proper pains, obtain as much from it as will support his family. In the place of this, a new one was opened, this month, at a village called Dummaldenya, and put under the charge of the Walicada Master it is in a populous neighbourhood, where there has never been a School before. The names of thirty-two children have been given in; and we encourage the hope that much good may be done by means of it. The School at Pannikkemulla was discontinued during the months of June and July: it was recommenced at the beginning of August, under another Master.

The names of the Schools, the average attendance for the last three months, and the number of names on the books at the end of last month, are as follows:

251 25 276 183 169 184 The number of children that are employed daily, in learning to read, in getting by heart, and to whom portions of the Word of God are, by being broken into questions, rendered as intelligible as possible, is 142; while the rest are daily reading or learning by heart other books, the tendency of which is, to explain to them the history and truths of the Sacred Scriptures. Many of them repeat their appointed portions of Scripture or of their other books, and answer the questions with accuracy and ease; and evince, by their readiness, that they understand the subjects in which they are instructed: while others shew, by their inattention, that neither the Word of God which they are taught, nor the exhortations of their Masters, sink deep into their hearts. It cannot, however, but be hoped, that many of the truths which are now with so much care impressed on their tender minds will hereafter be remembered by them, and furnish them comfort in sickness or trouble; and, in the hour of death, cause them to bless God that they had been taught that there is a Saviour provided for sinners, who is able and willing to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.

The Schoolmasters continue to attend Br. Selkirk at Cotta on the Saturdays, after the Scholars have been dismissed, and receive instruction out of the Scriptures. They now understand pretty well those parts of Scripture which they constantly teach, and are also acquainted with nearly all the great facts recorded in the Bible: but, with one or two exceptions, they do not manifest much anxiety about their own salvation, or the salvation of the children entrusted to them.

We can only express our sincere hopes, and offer up our fervent prayers to Almighty God, that He will be pleased to open their hearts to perceive and embrace for themselves the Religion of the Son of God; and that they may labour more abundantly and zealously in teaching His Word to those immortal creatures of