Having adverted to the encouraging appearances of the island in its secular interests, Mr. Barff proceeds to notice the circumstances of a visit which he had been enabled to make to the neighbouring islands of Borabora and Maiaoiti. In the last Annual Report, it was our painful duty to state that the contentions among the natives in the former island had severely checked the progress of the Gospel there; but we expressed a hope that in Divine Providence a salutary change would take place in the interval between the receipt of the next communications from Mr. Barff, and those which supplied the distressing intelligence then given. This hope has, through Divine mercy, been amply realised. Mr. Barff, writing in October last, states :— During Mr. Platt's absence to the westward, I went round to the stations, as far as Borabora, and was happy to find the state of things much better than formerly. The congregations were good, and the schools well attended; during my visit fourteen new members were received to communion, &c. Mr. Platt has visited them since. I trust the Directors will soon be able to send them out a Missionary. MAIAOITI. In July last I visited Maiaoiti, and found the station in prosperity, under the superintendence of Tamore. He reported that the people were steady in their attention to the means of grace, and the children in attending school; 16 infants were baptised during the visit, and 13 new members received to church fellowship, chiefly young persons. I have thus far endeavoured to give a faith ful account of the progress of the cause of I remain, yours affectionately, BERHAMPORE MISSION, NORTH OF INDIA. THE following are the extracts from the journal of the Rev. Micaiah Hill, of Berhampore, in continuation of the gratifying statements which we were enabled to furnish in our last number : (Continued from p. 135.) July 14.-I had an excellent congregation this morning, and preached so long that I felt too fatigued for a second sermon. I however went to the farm where the mulberry is thriving. I expect no direct returns from it this year, as all I can realise must be expended in planting new ground. I require 900 rupees for this purpose, and hope I may be able to obtain this amount from the produce. Should I surmount the difficulties of the present year, and extend the cultivation according to my hopes, I am told the farm will yield the orphan asylum 4,000 rupees annually. This would be a delightful provision for our orphans, would enable us to increase their number largely, and, perhaps, to give employment to some who are suffering greatly for conscience sake. A letter from the Rev. William Ellis, re ceived a few days ago, informs me of the kindness of the Directors in conceding to my desire to remain at Berhampore. I feel really grateful for their delicate attention to my feelings, and bless God for it. I cannot, however, refrain from noting in my journal, that if I know myself I have made conviction, and not feeling, the rule of my choice in preferring Berhampore. My habits are now so Indianised that I should like to be buried, or rather absorbed, in native work alone. I am as willing now to give up my acquaintance in India when duty calls, as when I left my widowed mother and friends in England, more than 15 years ago. August 10.-This evening I preached opposite our house, and for some part of the time had a large collection of hearers; after I had retired, perceiving six or eight persons standing at the gate, I invited them in, and conversed with them till dark. They are boatmen from Dacca, and have come hither for employment during the rains. They are simple unlearned men, and heard, perhaps, for the first time, the Gospel of salvation. May they carry back with them to their country the saving knowledge of Jesus Chris tand him crucified! Aug. 11.-This evening I had a large congregation in the bazar, and could have distributed 200 tracts. Mr. and Mrs. Buyers arrived from Benares, on their way to Calcutta. They both appear in excellent health. Aug. 12.--I had a good congregation this morning, at Oosmonkallee, after which I met at the orphan farm, Mr. and Mrs. Buyers, who appeared pleased with seeing tens of thousands of worms feeding and spinning their silk, and the orphan boys attending them. This afternoon Mr. Buyers and Mr. Paterson accompanied me to Kagra, where I preached in Bengalee, afterwards Mr. Buyers in Hinduwee. Aug. 24. This morning being fine, I had two congregations; the first at Chunaree Parra, and the second at Sydabad: the latter was a large and respectful audience, but the first quite the reverse. It did not occur to me when I went out that most of the Hindoos would be idling about, or observing the birth of Krishnoo. I generally avoid preaching on their festival days, as on such occasions I am exposed to insult more than at other times; and preaching to them when mad after idolatry, exasperates instead of convincing them. August 25.-I did not succeed this morning in collecting a congregation, but this evening had a very large one in Kagra. I have not always felt so much the worth of souls as whilst preaching on this occasion; the people were very attentive. I thought my observations on their lost condition, on the inefficacy of their endeavours to obtain salvation, and on the love of Christ, seemed to make au unusual impression. After preaching, the rush of the people to obtain tracts was great, but some who could not obtain them seemed angry, and as I was leaving them one or two cried out, "Hurree bol;" this increased until the whole place rang with "Hurree bol." Several times I turned back to see who the persons were, but in vain; and as proceeded on my way, the shouts were reiterated. At first I felt disappointed, but on reflection I was led to hope that this display of a spirit of opposition only arose from the influence of the old serpent who felt that the seed of the woman, my blessed Saviour, had been bruising his head. The apostles, after having been beaten, went back rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ; but I am only exposed to a little ridicule, and even this is better than the apathy of moral death. Aug. 26.-I preached twice to-day, and in the same place in which I was yesterday assailed with shouts of "Hurree bol." Several reasons always operate on my mind to induce me to revisit places in which I experience opposition, for it is my hope that Satan's efforts arise from the circumstance of his influence and dominion having received a vital blow from the power of Divine truth. These motives are, I trust, in accordance with the will of God. Preaching in the evening brought on a severe headache which unfits me for any exertion. Aug. 31.-This morning I have had with the catechist two sermons, and the people, upon the whole, were very attentive. Oh that the word preached might affect their hearts! Sept. 1.-To-day preached twice in the bazar to good congregations. In the evening had a larger attendance than usual at the orphan chapel, and all except one person remained to the close of the service. I feel fatigued by three sermons. Two years ago I could preach four sermons with no more fatigue than these three have cost me. I encountered little opposition in the bazar, though many Brahmins were present. One Brahmin said, "Give me a lack of rupees, and I will become a Christian." I replied, "What covetousness a Brahmin has. True to his nature, he cannot refrain from coveting. At a funeral he cries for money, at a birth for money, at a wedding for money; seek his advice, he asks for money, and in your calamity he demands your money." The whole of the people round acknowledged the truth of all these statements. Such a personal reproof would be an insult to an Englishman, but it is otherwise with a Hindoo. This Brahmin remained to the end of the service, when he solicited and obtained a tract. Another said, "Faith is every thing. If we were to believe you we should become Christians. We believe our own religion which has existed for ages, and therefore we remain Hindoos." On my inquiring for his proofs of Hindu antiquity, he said, "I cannot agree with you, you are a pundit." I replied, "Then listen to the truths which from love and pity to your souls I now proclaim." Sept. 14.-To-day the Mussulmans are all intent on the ceremony of the Bearer, in which small rafts are floated down the river, having from one lamp to one thousand or more, according to the size of the raft, and the means of the person who prepares it. The Bearer is a festival periodically held at our station and Moorshedabad, and observed, I believe, nowhere else. The illuminations of the Nawaub are on a princely scale. On one occasion which I witnessed, the river appeared covered with these floating fiery barges for three miles in length, and had the appearance of an illuminated city with towns and public buildings. At these seasons I do not preach, as the people are not in a suitable state to hear and benefit. Oct. 20.-I preached this morning to two successive congregations, on the steps of an idol temple. The first was chiefly composed of Brahmins, and the better clad natives. I had a good share of taunts at one time. While most of the people were attentively listening, one person walked away, exclaiming, "You will all be Christians!" After dismissing them with a few tracts, I sat down to rest; and by degrees another group of natives gathered around me. They were more attentive, but less intelligent than the first assemblage. In the afternoon I preached to a turbulent and reckless set of people, who tried their utmost to annoy and provoke me. In such cases I find it convenient to wait with imperturbable patience and gravity till the ebullition has subsided. Cries of "Hurree bol," at intervals, rang through the bazar, but I commenced again with coolness. Native frenzy seldom goes farther than declamation. A stranger among them would imagine that their excitement could not end without a serious affray, but "Hurree bol" generally exhausts their choler. I am privileged above many of my countrymen in bearing the reproach of the cross; but I am afraid I am become so inured to it as not sufficiently to appreciate the blessing. Oh! my once crucified, but now exalted Saviour, enable me to rejoice in being counted worthy to suffer reproach in thy cause! As I came home I saw some well dressed young men waiting to unite in worship at the orphan chapel. I commenced therefore immediately, and preached for the fourth time to day to a large congregation. Oct. 24.-I preached twice to-day. The congregation at Dyanagur was truly pleasing; several persons, whom I had often noticed as being anxious to distinguish themselves by scoffing at the Gospel, were on this occasion quite silent, and all assented to what I said, admitting that they were sinners; that God was not the author of sin; that it would be better to go to heaven by Christ, than to hell by their idols. After dwelling on the love of God in Christ Jesus, I distributed my tracts and retired. My next congregation was neither large in number nor good in its materials, and I preached as one beating the air. Oct. 27.-Preached three sermons today. Two of my congregations were orderly; at one of the services a Gosain stopped in his palanquin just before me: my audience cleared a way for him, as though he had been (and which they believed him to be) allied to the Deity. He commenced by asking me, if any one decoyed another from his holiness, was he not a sinner? I replied, Certainly, but that no one could do so with the Hindoos, for their shasters declared that the Kali jog (the present age) was the reign of sin, in which none could be holy if they wished, and even if they strived to be so. I said, that my employment was to point out the means of holiness to those who by their own religion could never attain it. This he could not, or affected not to, understand, and he ordered his bearers to proceed. But I invited him to stay, saying, "You are regarded by the people as a teacher, let us hear from your own mouth what is the way of salvation." He said, "obedience to the shasters, and atonement." I begged him to answer me one question, if it was not impossible to escape the punishment of sin? He replied, that sin must be punished, and none can escape. I rejoined, "Then why all your pilgrimages, penances, ablutions,alms," &c.? Without answering, he left me; and I then proved to the people that from their Gosain's confession there was no hope in Hinduism. This gave me a valuable opportunity of preaching the mercy of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Oct. 30.-I preached this afternoon to an attentive congregation; only one youth attempted to interrupt, but those about him manifested strong disapprobation, and he went away, leaving me without interruption to preach the glorious doctrine of salvation by Jesus Christ. To-day, Mr. Beattie, a gentleman on the Church Missionary committee, met me by appointment at the orphan farm, and saw our plans. He appeared to approve of them. I wish that every station in India would adopt some measures by which native converts might support themselves; for if pecuniary aid from England continues to be looked for as a dependence for carrying on the work, then as converts increase so will pecuniary difficulties; and I feel persuaded that the regeneration of India must be effected, under God's blessing, by self-supported native churches sending out their own ambassadors of the Gospel. NAGERCOIL STATION, SOUTH TRAVANCORE. THE former part of the account of this important station, inserted in the Missionary Magazine for August, was closed with a brief statement of the death of the Rev. William Miller, the beloved associate in Missionary labour of the Rev. Charles Mault, who still continues his valuable labours at Nagercoil. Mr. Miller arrived in India in 1827, and since that period to the time of his death, devoted himself to the great object of his Mission in various parts of Travancore. His stated labours, in conjunction with Mr. Mault, at Nagercoil, were commenced in 1831. These he pursued with more than ordinary zeal, devotedness, and efficiency, until declining health obliged him to remove for change of air to the Cape of Good Hope. Not experiencing any material improvement after spending some time there, he proceeded, under medical advice, from the Cape to New South Wales, and remained at Hobart Town till the close of 1835, when being considerably restored, he again embarked for India, and reached his station in February, 1836. Mr. Miller resumed his labours with encouraging prospects, but the death of his beloved wife towards the close of that year, after a painful and protracted illness, though borne by our brother with Christian resignation, induced a state of mind which acted most unfavourably on his health, and appears to have occasioned a return of the indisposition which, as already stated, was terminated by his death on the 24th of April last. The dispensation in every view of it, except that which contemplates our departed brother as numbered among the saints in light, is felt to be most painful and trying. We would, however, rejoice that our brother, Mr. Mault, is not left a solitary labourer at the arduous post which he occupies; but that the place of his departed colleague is already filled by another devoted Missionary, the Rev. James Russell, one of the brethren who accompanied Mr. Mead on his return to Travancore. The subjoined statements resumed from the Missionary Magazine for August, present further details of an eminently encouraging character in connexion with the state and progress of the Nagercoil Mission, during the past year, of the report of which they also form the conclusion. (Continued from page 120.) Bible Classes. We are particularly desirous that our people should be able to read the Word of God so as to derive the fullest measure of benefit from it. All who can read, therefore, are exhorted to join the Bible Classes, in which each book of Scripture is read and studied connectedly, and with reference to its main design; one passage is compared with another, to confirm what is clear, and elucidate what is obscure; and the practical bearing of the whole is pointed out and enforced. These exercises have proved conducive to the growth of Scriptural knowledge in the congregations; and among the young in particular, not a few have evinced a superior acquaintance with Divine truth as the fruit of their endeavours. The attendance in the classes is regular. There are some of all ages, and of both sexes, thus growing in the knowledge of salvation, and preparing, we trust, for usefulness in the church on earth and for glory in heaven. To this end may God graciously pour his Spirit upon them, and, by his teaching, lead them in the way of truth. Schools. We have often expressed our conviction of the importance of out-mission schools, and growing experience of their utility has deepened this conviction, and impressed our minds still more strongly with the necessity of using our utmost endeavours to extend the advantages offered by them to the children of every town and village throughout the district. We feel assured that nothing is so well calculated to sap the foundations of idolatry and superstition as the course of instruction pursued in these schools. The children are here taught the fundamental truths of pure religion; and that, before their minds are preoccupied with those monstrous and filthy stories which the children, in all heathen schools, are made to learn. Their hearts and consciences too are always addressed. Divine truth is brought to bear upon all the faculties and susceptibilities of their souls; and the result is, in many cases, most gratifying. Children, who seemed destined by their birth and connexions to grow up heathens, have learned to worship the true God, and pray to him, through Jesus the Mediator, to reverence the Sabbath, and to value the word of God. And several of the most pious and useful persons in our congregations trace the happy change they have experienced to the influence of those truths with which their minds were imbued in the Mission Schools. There is, at present, a greater number of schools connected with this Station than at any former period. The teachers are in general diligent and faithful in the discharge of their school duties. A considerable degree of improvement is visible, notwithstanding the difficulties the masters have had to procure the attendance of the children during such a season of great and general distress as that to which we have before referred. Thanks be to God, a brighter prospect opens to them for the ensuing year. The rain now falls copiously, and holds out the promise of a better season, in which there shall be a sufficient provision for their wants. May He, in like manner, graciously pour the life-giving and sanctifying Spirit upon the children's souls, turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, and so make ready a people prepared for the Lord. The schoolmasters meet as usual once a week, some once a fortnight, to be instructed in the Scriptures, and directed and encouraged in their work. One part of our practice on these occasions is, to have a report in detail read of the state of those schools which have been visited and examined within the week or fortnight. This is made the ground of general remark and counsel, as well as of particular address in the way of praise or admiration. Defects are pointed out, and their proper remedies suggested; in short, the most easy and effective methods of promoting order in the schools, and of furthering the progress of the children in knowledge and right dispositions, are laid before them. Some of the schoolmasters have made highly encouraging progress in Scriptural knowledge, and most of them pursue the study of the sacred records with evident earnestness and advantage. A few of them are persons of decided piety, and several others are in a hopeful state. May they all be made partakers of the heavenly calling, and so become increasingly useful as teachers of the young. Female Schools. Anxious to exhibit this department of our work in its proper connexion and importance, we have taken a distinct and somewhat particular view of its present state and aspect, to which we would invite the attention of our friends at home, who have so liberally contributed to its support and enlargement. Two years ago, the number of Female Schools in this Mission was not more than three: there are now fifteen. Of these five are conducted by women, the others by men. The employment of women as school teachers is still a novelty in this part of the world; but having made a promising commencement, we hope that the experiment will fully succeed, and that every year will show an increase of female teach ers. Since Mrs. Mault's return to India, we have been enabled to do much more for the extension of female education than we had ever before attempted. In the school under her immediate care, there are now 120 girls boarded and clothed as well as taught. This is just double the number it contained two years ago. The plan of instruction in this school is nearly the same as stated in former reports. The children, in general, have improved considerably in knowledge, and seem to go through all their school exercises with greater readiness. There is also a visible improvement in their general habits and manners. The most unremitting care is exercised with reference to their morals; but knowing that a polluted fountain can never send forth pure streams, or a bad tree yield good fruit, our constant aim is to impress their hearts with a due sense of their natural depravity and guilt, and so lead them to look to God, through Jesus Christ, for the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit, to create them anew in righteousness and true holiness. And we are happy to say, that some of them encourage the hope that they may soon, like Mary, choose that good part which shall not be taken away from them. It may be mentioned here, that the school which was established by Mrs. Miller on her return from Sydney, early in 1836, was discontinued shortly before her lamented death. Nearly all the children, however, (amounting to 34 or 35,) were received by Mrs. Mault into her school. Many of them had made a very pleasing degree of progress in knowledge and in good habits; and all of them, we believe, were strongly attached to Mrs. Miller. When the news of her death was communicated to them, they were greatly affected, and wept much. We took the opportunity to direct their attention to the solemn realities of another life, and urged them to give up their hearts to God their Saviour. We trust the impressions they then received will not be lost. Thus much it affords us pleasure to state for the information of the several Christian friends in Yorkshire, by whose liberality the school was undertaken and maintained about eight months. They will have the satisfaction of knowing that their contributions for the advancement of female education have been duly applied, and that great good is likely to result. The day-school at the Station has been established about four months, and succeeds well. It is conducted by a young woman who herself enjoyed the advantages of instruction and training in the school at this Station for many years; and whose temper and deportment are unexceptionable. She |