54 A MISSIONARY'S FIRST JOURNEY IN N.-WEST AMERICA. [MAY, of the preceding night. Within five minutes the alarum-bell was rung, which informed us of danger, and some gentlemen from the factory instantly came to conduct us thither, as our own house is in a very exposed situation we reached there in safety. The river was now twenty feet above its usual level, and large hills of ice, twenty feet high, were thrown up in several places. The water continued to rise until it was five feet higher, by which time every house on the island, except the factory, was flooded; the water, as we afterwards ascertained, having been five feet nine inches deep in my own kitchen. We remained at the factory ten days, where we were most kindly treated by Mr. Miles and family. Our house, on returning home, presented a rather melancholy spectacle, for immense blocks of ice were yet piled close to our garden fence, while the condition of the interior may be easily imagined. But God remembered us with mercy; no accident occurred, no life was lost, and the coldness of the weather had prevented the snow from thawing with that rapidity which would have greatly increased our danger by adding so considerably to the water already in the river. It is yet lying very deep in our woods, while our shores are lined with large blocks of ice; at the distance of about eighteen miles from this place no water is visible, the ice lying in the bay to all appearances as in the winter." A MISSIONARY'S FIRST JOURNEY IN NORTH-WEST AMERICA. "The dogs ran very quickly, notwithstanding the great weight they had to haul; so we were obliged to run too. But as the ice was very rough-it was on the river we were walking—and the snow in deep ridges before us, over which we were frequently stumbling, we were forced to fall behind, keeping one of the men for our guide: the rest went on with the dogs. It was very dark. At length, however, the stars shone out, casting some light upon our path, while the first grey streaks in the eastern sky proclaimed the near approach of the king of day, and showed us that we were fairly out to sea in James's Bay. Our course now lay along the coast. We ran for many hours, so as to keep up with the dog, and also that we might reach a good camping place for the night. At 9 A.M. we arrived at the first stage of our journey, called North Bluff,' where we made a fire on the ice of the drift-wood we picked up. The kettle was soon boiled, and tea-that truly cheering cup to the 'nor'-wester'-made, beef-steaks cooked, and bread thawed. Our meal was hearty and hasty; and at 10 o'clock we set off again, to run, of course. This was eighteen miles from Moose. And now, nearly as far as the eye could reach, we could see the point we should reach if we wished to spend any thing of a comfortable night, but at a distance of eighteen miles. It is most wearisome to see a point from so far in the distance, for, appearing ever the same, it deprives one of strength and courage, until one comes very close to it. We pressed on, however, and at 4 P.M. turned into the woods at the long looked-at point. The place is called Piskwamisk.' I was ill able to go into the woods, so thoroughly tired was I, and when I strove to do so, I sunk nearly to my waist in the snow, and 1858.] A MISSIONARY'S FIRST JOURNEY IN N.-WEST AMERICA. 55 cared little to extricate myself. I got into the barricade,' however, and quickly lighted a fire, for the sight of the camp infused new life into me, inspired me with fresh courage, and roused my drooping spirits. The dogs were soon tied up, the sleighs unlashed, dry wood chopped, and brought into the camp, and the barricade formed, all being preliminaries to the hissing of the tea-kettle, the crackling of the frying-pan, and the clatter of knives and forks, which followed in due course and quick succession, for we were very hungry. Supper being ended, I took out my Bible and read the twenty-third Psalm, and offered up our praises and thanksgivings to Him whose love had spared through the day, and given us health and strength to perform our journey, and commended ourselves to His pastoral care during the night. Thus, tired and weary, after eleven hours walking and running, in which period we accomplished a journey of thirty-six miles, we lay down to sleep, resolving, if possible, and if spared, to start early on the morrow. Perhaps the word camp may convey the idea to some of a house, or tent at least. There is no house at Pisk wamisk, and we had no tent. Our house was the dark woods, our tent the vault of heaven, our watch-fires the glittering stars which peered through the sombre veil of night, and shot their frozen beams through the thick and brushy heads of the tall dark pines. Our bed was the hard cold ground strewed with pine brush, blankets our covering, while a tremendous fire roared at our feet. I slept badly until 10 o'clock, when I got up and sat by the fire until midnight, then I laid down again, and slept worse until 3 A.M. "The next day, the 22d of August, we rose at 3 A.M., had breakfast, and, all being ready, we left Piskwamisk at 5 A.M. The morning was very cold and dark, and the ice rough and craggy. One of my feet was very sore from the previous day's journey, so I was obliged to sit on the sleigh until daylight. We walked on and acted as the day before, with this difference, that the dogs did not run so well, being rather tired. We made a fire at half-past 10 A.M., at a place called 'Half-way point,' after which we proceeded on our journey. To make a fire,' is a sort of generic term among travellers in this country, and contains under it all that is implied in it, and for which it is used, such as rest, heat, cooking, &c. &c. The 'Cock' was to be our next night's resting place, so we set our faces towards the Cock. As we approached him, I began to feel very tired; but as there was no assistance for me, the dogs being ill able to haul their sleighs, I was obliged to take fresh courage and press on, more especially when I was told we should cross the neck of the Cock that night. We did cross the neck of the Cock, and such feathers! Snow knee-deep, willows and small pines as high as myself, and so thick I thought I never should get through. At half-past 3 P.M. we arrived at our camping place, and a wretched camping place it was. No trees to shelter us from the cutting wind; no brush to soften our couch, except bad brush; no wood to burn except green wood, and what driftwood we could pick up off the ice: it was a wretched camp. Acted in this as in the last night's camp, if I except that I did not sleep half so well. After supper I read the forty-sixth Psalm, and had prayers, and at 8 P.M. laid down tired and weary after our journey of twenty-six miles. Not being able to sleep for the hard sticks under me, and the cold wind which seemed as though it would cut through me, I rose 56 LONGINGS FOR PEACE. [MAY, again at ten minutes before 12. All the rest got up now, and we prepared our midnight meal, ate it, and having made all ready, I was not sorry to leave the Cock before 'cock crow.' "At twenty minutes to 3 A.M. on Wednesday the 23rd we set off on our journey. This should be our longest day's journey, did we succeed in getting to Albany at its close, as we proposed to ourselves. Pressed on in solemn silence, through deep snow and darkness that might be felt for five long and dreary hours. Oh, how I wished for the day. The day came, and what a day! wind, snow, frost. One of my ears and my nose were frozen. Never made a fire all that day; one reason for which was, that we were too far out to sea, and could get no wood; but in addition to this, we wished to press on. We did press on, until I thought I could press no further. But just then the fort appeared, and the houses of the tiny little settlement, with their snow-capped roofs, which so encouraged me as to make me do something more. We could see the houses about ten miles off, and I think that was the worst ten miles, not only of that journey, but of any journey I had ever made: it was dreadful. There was no help for me; the dogs could scarcely haul their sleighs, not to speak of hauling me; and, indeed, if any one needed a ride it was poor Mr. Crowe, who sprained his foot the first day. At length we got into the Albany river, where the walking was much better; and shortly after arrived at the Fort, where we received a hearty welcome from Mr. Hardisty, the gentleman in charge, and from Mrs. Hardisty, who did all in their power to make us comfortable. It was half-past 3 P.M. when we arrived; we had been walking for twelve hours and three-quarters, and had made a journey of forty miles." wwwww LONGINGS FOR PEACE. "As I directed their attention to Jesus, their Saviour, whose word is, 'Peace on earth, goodwill to men,' they called out, We are tired of fight! Give us rest and sleep.' It was no wonder that they eagerly seized the idea of peace. Their country has been visited by a series of scourges, during the last half century, and they are indeed a nation scattered and peeled." [Dr. Livingstone's Missionary Travel, The sun was hiding in the west, When to a village, ere the daylight's close, Worn by long travel, came a pale-browed guest, With rude, yet kindly care, These sons of Afric bring their choicest food, Old veteran warriors came, And women, long subdued by toil and fear, Then first a Saviour's name The echoes of their gloomy hills awoke; 553. 1858.] A HEATHEN SABBATH IN BURMAH. He told how Jesus gave, To sinful men, good-will and peace from heaven, This precious boon is given. "Oh, speak those words once more! Is there a time when strife and blood shall cease? "When nature fain would rest, Our very dreams are all of fire and blood; "To many a hapless head The walls of home no shelter can afford; "We court the grave, for there "Stay with us, we will hear Your fuller message, and our wars shall cease, A HEATHEN SABBATH IN BURMAH. BY MRS. INGOLLS, RANGOON. 57 THE next company consisted of a middle-aged man, his wife, two sons, and a daughter. He bore in his hand some white flowers, while the wife bore on her head a large dish of rice, fish, and flowers. The daughter carried small wax tapers, and the little boys cups of water. As they emerged from the dark steps, they prostrated themselves and bowed with great reverence, repeating a prayer. Then they proceeded to the temple with a slow, solemn step, where the man held the flowers in his clasped hands, and prostrating himself before a large idol, offered them with a prayer that he might become a god. The wife bowed, and deposited her offerings in a jar, with a prayer that she might become a man in her next state. The daughter lit her tapers and placed them near the gods, with this prayer: "May my wisdom be like the shining light of this taper!" The little boys then went and struck the big bell, the daughter poured water from the cups, while the father and mother offered up prayers before the golden pagoda. We had watched the devotion of this family, and, after their prayers, we made our way to them, and asked them why they poured the water. They said, it was to announce their offerings to the nat who governed the earth, and that when the future god made his appearance, this nat would wring the water from his hair as a witness of their devotion. We looked about for a place free from intrusion; and, seeing a large banian tree, we invited the family to go and sit with us, and we would 58 A HEATHEN SABBATH IN BURMAH. [MAY, teach them the true way of salvation. They followed us, and we told them of the God who made them, and from whom they received all their blessings, and that this God had said, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." They were from a distant village, and had never before heard these words of hope and comfort, and they listened with great attention. One of our Christians read Christ's Sermon on the Mount, and soon we had a goodly number of the people with us. We were almost lost in our loved theme, when we were interrupted by the voice of prayer to the idols, and on looking to the right of our ring, we saw many of our hearers prostrated before the banian tree, heedless of our words. We tried to get their attention, but their ear was closed. On the people came, and soon we were enclosed by a large company of old and young, making offerings to the tree. Our hearts sickened at the sight of that people, who paid adoration even to the trees. They told us that this tree was sacred on account of Gaudama receiving infinite wisdom under a banian tree; and that they could get merit enough to cancel many sins by illuminating this tree, which they sometimes did. We read again to the man from the country, and he asked for a book. We gave him one, and he promised to read it; but soon he was called away by the priests, who were engaged in offering up prayers and reading from the sacred books. Soon he rejoined us, begging to return the book we had given him, as his friends told him he would be a heretic if he read it. The devices of Satan prevailed, and in a few moments we were alone. We passed on from group to group, with a word here and there, and gave some books, after which we made our way to the steps. Here our attention was attracted to an old man, leading a small boy some four years old. The old man laid down his shoes and bowed his grandchild down to the ground, teaching him to repeat a short prayer. We watched him, and saw him point to the tall pagoda, and explain its object. Then they went before a large idol and presented their offerings. The sight of this old man and the child was deeply affecting, and their devotions made me ashamed of my poor acts of devotion to the living God. I thought, too, of those parents in my native land, who neglect to teach their little ones to lisp the name of Jesus. God forbid that those heathens should rise up in judgment to shame them. We saw, also, a little boy of ten years old burning tapers before an idol. We went to the child and tried to tell him of his folly, but he tossed his head with an air of dignity, and told us he lived with the priests, and knew every thing. As he left, we extinguished the taper, and kept it to remind us of a heathen child's devotion to his god. As we descended the dark steps, we came by the zayats, which were crowded with men, women, and children. We listened and heard the voice of mirth, and the smell of savoury dishes was borne to us on the breezes. We went into some of the zayats, and, on inquiry, found that they had brought their food, and were now having a repast. The brilliant colours of silk in which all were dressed, and the display of gold ornaments, made it truly an imposing scene. Here were groups of young men and gaily-dressed damsels, smoking their cigars and eating their betel-nut; yonder were groups at the chess-board; and before some of |