path. The poor creature had been killed by At length Whale River was reached, but after what a journey! never in future despise a settled habitation, be it of ever so humble a character. Here our Missionary remained a fortnight, busily occupied in the Christian instruction of such Esquimaux and Indians as he found there, many of whom had never before heard the words of eternal life. His opportunities were not as large as he had expected. He had hoped to have met 200 Esquimaux, instead of which there were not more than sixty altogether, and the greater part of these remained only two days at the post. Still, the opportunity, such as it was, was diligently improved, and the following circumstance, which occurred on the last Lord's-day, seemed intended for the special encouragement of our Missionary. April 15: Lord's-day-While engaged in expounding a passage of the gospels, we were interrupted by an Indian old man, who came in search of his cap, which he had mislaid. Having found it, he commenced addressing me at some length. I could not understand all that he said, but noticed him express sorrow for his past wicked life, with an earnest desire to forsake his sins: he also stated his wish to be able to read, and to know more of what I taught about God. I told him how greatly I was pleased to hear these things, and promised to give him further instruction to-morrow morning, previously to his departure for his tent. During the Indian service I had observed his fixed attention to all that I said, and I do trust he may be a sincere inquirer after salvation. April 6-The journey over about 240 miles has occupied no less time than sixteen days! How different this rate of travelling from that of the railways of my native land! How different, too, the degree of comfort enjoyed by the traveller! The extreme cold, the piercing winds, and the horrid drifts of this barren coast, can be duly estimated by none but those who have taken a winter's journey along the shores of Hudson's Bay. Two days out of our sixteen were of such a character that travelling was really pleasant for this country. Three others we had when the sky was beautifully clear, but the weather intensely cold, as low, I have since been informed, as thirty degrees below zero of Fahrenheit's thermometer. The remaining eleven days were characterized by nothing but fierce winds and drift. The journey, however, with all its troubles, is now past; except, indeed, that my frozen nose and cheeks will require some days' nursing before they will resume their natural appearance. Still, it is far better to recount the mercies I have enjoyed, than the few and trifling inconveniences and hardships which have been experienced. I now have the happiness of exchanging my smoky tent or damp igloe for a comfortable house, nicely warmed by a stove; while the unpleasant position of sitting tailor-like, with crossed legs, to take my meals, is no longer required, as I have the luxury of using a table and stool. The deerskin bag in which I slept night after night, in all my travelling clothes, including even overcoat and fur cap, and the pine brushwood under me, can be dispensed with, as I have the cheering prospect of undressing, and lying on a feather bed. The paltry, superficial, and unwholesome wash of hands and face, can now give place to a more thorough ablution. These and other benefits connected with a house are fully appreciated after a winter's journey of sixteen days. Whatever I may have thought in time past, I think I shall This Paper may be had of SEELEY, JACKSON, and HALLIDAY, 51 Fleet Street, and R. B. SEELEY, Hanover Street, Hanover Square. Price d., or 2s. Ed. per 100. Amidst such difficulties and trials is the great work carried on, of gathering together the elect of God from every kindred, and people, and tongue, and nation. Is it too much to ask our Christian friends, amidst the comforts and conveniences of home, for a larger measure of Christian sympathy-for more prayer, more effort, more contributions? The pressure of the times is great, we all know; but "if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." A few weeks ago, a coloured woman left at the Church Missionary House, Salisbury Square, a very little parcel, as "a thank-offering for North-West America." The contents proved to betwenty-eight children's thimbles, with various mottos on them ("Remember me," From a friend," Forget me not"); three papers of needles; and seven farthings. The gift, though small, was a touching one; for the donor, we doubt not, had "done what she could." If we all follow her example, there will, even now, be no lack of contributions to the work of the Lord. CHRISTIAN FRIENDS WE introduce you to a spot which has not before been noticed in our "Quarterly Papers." The people presented to you in our engraving you have indeed often neard of: they are Hindús, or Indians from Hindústan, but the scenery around is not of their own land, but one a great distance from it, whither they have come to get employment, and earn higher wages than they could at home. The scene is in an island, a speck in the midst of the wide, wide ocean, that extends between Africa on the west, and the islands of the Indian Archipelago and Australia on the east. Look at the map, and see how vast that ocean is. There is the great Island of Madagascar, separated from the east coast of Africa by the Mozambique channel. Now then, from the east coast of Madagascar look seaward, and you will perceive, at the distance of nearly 500 miles, the little speck we wish to indicate-Mauritius, or the Isle of France, extending about forty miles from north to south, and thirty-two from east to west. It was discovered by the Portuguese early in the 16th century, and passed from thence to the Spaniards, both nations alike disregarding it. Towards the end of that century it fell into the hands of the Dutch, who changed its name from Cerné to Mauritius, in honour of the Prince of Orange. In the beginning of the eighteenth century, the French became its masters, who colonized it from the adjoining Island of Bourbon, and again changed its name to the Isle of France. Under their rule it became a refuge for freebooters of every nation, who troubled English commerce with unceasing acts of piracy; so that, in 1810, a strong armament wrested it from the French, and transferred it to English rule, under which it has remained now for very nearly half a century. The Mauritius is a most picturesque and romantic-looking island, the land ascending from the coast to the centre. The principal mountain ranges, of which there are three, rising in height from 1800 to 2800 feet above the sea level, are mostly covered with timber, bare rock appearing only at the summits. In the interior there are extensive tablelands, of different elevations, forming the districts of Moka and Plaines-de-Wilhems. All round the island, at the distance of a quarter of a league from the shore, runs a coral reef, with eleven breaks or openings, through most of which vessels of considerable burden can pass. Near the north-western extremity of the island, on a small bay, stands the capital of the island, Port Louis, a neat and agreeable town, containing a population of some 30,000. The houses generally stand in a small court, with a profusion of trees and flowers around them, amongst which may be recognised the banana, the bread-fruit, the palm, &c. The climate is, on the whole, very healthy, and the soil in many parts rich. This island is now one of the Mission fields of the Church Missionary Society. It has become so within these two or three years, one Missionary, the Rev. Stephen Hobbs, having been already located there; and another, Mr. P. Ansorge, having just gone out to join him. Our readers may be curious to know what caused the Society to direct its attention to this little spot, and why a preference has been given to it when so many important places remain unoccupied. We must endeavour to answer that question, and to tell our readers that it is one of those commanding spots which is fitted to become a great centre of usefulness. When it was conquered by the English, the population of the entire island was not larger than that of Port Louis at the present time: now it has increased from 30,000 to 200,000 and upwards. Moreover, this population consists of a great mixture of races, strangely gathered here from various parts of the great continents and islands to the right hand and to the left. Classifying them according to their religious distinctions, there are about 6000 Protestants, 90,000 Romanists, and 120,000 heathen. What has so much increased the population? It The natural productiveness of the Mauritius is very great. The fruits which are cultivated are wonderfully numerous between eighty and ninety species might be enumerated. Among them are the mango, guava, plantain, lime, date, quince, pomegranate, mangosteen, bread - fruit, cocoa, &c. yields, also, tea, sago, coffee, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, &c. But sugar-canes are the principal crop, around the borders of which pines are planted in such abundance as to be sold at a penny or twopence a-piece. These plantations had all been worked by slave labour, which terminated with the great emancipation measure of 1834, when slavery was abolished throughout the British dependencies. Since then, free labourers, under the name of coolies, have been introduced from various parts of India; and these, together with the previously-liberated African population, constitute an increasing and strangelymingled heathen population.. Here are natives of Madagascar, who are remarkable for intelligence, industry, and energy. Of this race consist the houseservants, and nearly all the independent persons of colour, shopkeepers, and other small traders, who have purchased their freedom, or come as free settlers. Frequently they come over in charge of cattle, dressed in a long piece of yellow grass matting, with green stripes, wound around their bodies, and having a singularly free and independent air. Their hair is gathered up into many knots or bunches, some as large as a man's fist. Christianity has now for many years been grievously persecuted in Madagascar, and many of the native converts have been put to death: others have found a refuge in Mauritius, and wait there until better times permit their return to their own country. There are also the East-African blacks, who are usually engaged in field-work and other laborious occupations, as porters, wharflabourers, and scavengers of the town. Naked, with the exception of a blue cotton handkerchief, they may be seen, with a broad strap over one shoulder, in gangs of eight or ten, dragging along large two-wheeled carts, containing baskets of sugar, to and from the stores. Then there are Bengalis from North India, and Tamils from South India, Singhalese from Ceylon, Malays, Lascars, Chinese, and Arabs. With the national dress of the natives of India our readers are familiar- a scarf or piece of cloth, varying from two and ahalf yards in length for men, and often as much as nine or ten yards for women, which, being placed round the waist, is loosely gathered and tucked in at the front. A turban is the headdress, usually of white muslin. The greater length of her dress cloth enables the woman to wear it in a fuller skirt, a portion of it being disposed across the breast and over one shoulder, and sometimes as a hood. The Tamils dress pretty much like the people of Bengal, except that all respectable natives wear a chapkhan, or long skirted coat, above the dhoti, or body-dress, and a turban of rather singular shape. The women are fond of coloured dresses, which they wear rather short, and often leave the head uncovered out of doors, which is never done in Upper India. The Hindús grouped together in the engraving are engaged about some of their religious ablutions. Thus, Mauritius constitutes an important centre where various races meet. There are many such places at present. They are increasing very much over the face of our earth, and are thus helping to break down national separation and antipathy. Such is Sierra Leone, where, from various parts of the great African continent, men have been brought together, belonging to various tribes, and speaking different languages; and there, in the midst of them, gospel influence has been for many years at work, preparing them for future usefulness among their countrymen. A similar opportunity is presented in the Mauritius with respect to the East Africans, and it is very desirable that it should be improved. The access which our Missionaries have had to them on the coast has been very partial, and not very encouraging. In Mauritius there will probably be found individuals from tribes with which, as yet, we have had no communication; and thus a Christian church may be raised up, the members of which shall constitute so many representatives of East-African tribes and nations, and preparation be made for an extensive spread of gospel light along that coast. But now, dear friends, let us look a little into the interior, and see what is going forward, through the untiring efforts of the Bishop and the few clergy who are with him. The religious instruction must evidently be in very many languages. Thus, in the cathedral, on Sunday, there are four services-one, at half-past six A.M., for soldiers; English service at eleven A.M.; French at three P.M.; and English at half-past six P.M. Just as the morning sermon is beginning there is heard the loud sound of a Tamil hymn, to some wellknown German tune, from a congregation of about sixty Tamils, in an adjoining schoolroom. In another part of the town two services are held for the Bengalis. The Bengalí catechist was brought up at the Church Missionary establishment, Calcutta, under the charge of the Rev. T. Sandys. He does his work faithfully and effectively. Of the result of these ministrations one instance may be given. A Pundit, who was baptized some months ago, is now returning to India as a Christian, and has asked for a few lines to introduce him to the Missionary padre at Calcutta. About two miles to the west of Port Louis there is a suspension bridge. On the left is the road to Mahébourg, a village at the bottom of a bay of the same name. About half a mile from the bridge, on this road, is a large assemblage of independent Indians. This Indian camp is quite an interesting scene. The summit of the hill is crowded with cazes, inhabited At Mahébourg, thirty-one miles from Port Louis, a catechist, a zealous man from Bangalore, keeps school. In the south and south-western parts of the island the efforts of the Bishop are directed to the evangelization of the Africans and Magelaches, schools and preaching-places having been opened in the wildest parts of the island. He has been enabled to locate in this quarter a Magelache catechist, once a soldier in the army of the Queen of Madagascar, and who is rendering as good service among his countrymen as Charles is among the Bengalís. The schools frequently present a curious mixture of races. One, containing eighty-three children, is in one apartment; in another there is a Madras teacher, with his little Tamilians; and across the yard there is another place, with Bengalí teachers. Very great encouragement is being vouchsafed to these efforts; so much so, that one Missionary clergyman writes-"Never, I believe, even in India, was there such a stir and such a spirit of inquiry as we behold among the Indians here. Hundreds of the most intelligent have, for these last years, been settling in our neighbourhood. The labourers on the estates are laying aside their prejudices. Fifty of them last night, with the second chief-priest at their head, separated from their community openly, declaring their intention to inquire after Christianity." To this may be added, that, on March 25th last, the Bishop held an Indian confirmation of fifteen Tamils and eight Bengalis, followed by two baptisms. For the prosecution of this interesting work, suitable catechists will be needed from the Christian churches which have been raised up in Tinnevelly, Bengal, and other parts of India. These native churches will thus become identified with Missionary efforts in a foreign land. This will re-act upon themselves in a salutary way, and make them more diligent in the improvement of home opportunities. Dear Christian friends, we ask a place in your hearts for the work of evangelization which is going forward in the Mauritius. We invite you to help it onward by your prayers, that this little island may become a bright spot upon the waters, a nursery for native evange lists of various races, who may go forth to plant the gospel in Madagascar, East Africa, Arabia, and parts of India and Ceylon as yet unblessed by its light. HALLIDAY, 54 Fleet Street, and R. B. SEELEY, Price d., or 2s. 6d. per 100. |