aving be especially the extensive prairies, with which the country abounds. The population is scattered over a large extent of country, and place, is estimated by some at 15,000, by others at 25,000; a medium betomtween these is probably nearest the fronte truth. They have made consideras able advances in agriculture and m. the arts of civilized life. Their 910, country is divided into 3 districts, viz., Lower Towns, Six Towns, nd and Upper Towns; and these again are divided into clans. In 1816, they sold a portion of their country to the United States, for which they were to receive 6000 dollars annually for 17 years. In 1820, they made the following appropriation of this annuity for the benefit of the admission schools in the nation, untarder the patronage of the American Board: the Lower Towns 2000 tire dollars a year for 17 years; the Six place Towns 1000 dollars for the school for 17 years; and 1000 dollars, for the same period, for a blacksmith's shop; and the Upper Towns 2000 dollars for 16 years, for the school at Elliot: making an amount of 6000 dollars, annually, for the time specified. In several clans, in the S. E. part of the nation, laws have recently been made to prevent drunkenness, infanticide, and other gross evices. The introduction of whis-key has been, and still is, very destructive to the morals and improvement of the Choctaws. The practice of infanticide has prevailed among them, from time immemorial; and parents have possessed, and frequently exercised, the unquestioned but barbarous right of murdering their own offspring, whenever it was troublesome to rear a child. The first punishment for the commission of this crime, was inflicted about the beginning of ciful notions of the Great Spirit and of a future state; but these appear to be very seldom the subjects of contemplation, and have no effect upon their conduct. The general feeling is, that the dead cease to be. As a people, they are in almost total darkness on moral and religious subjects, exposed to various and imaginary terrors from supposed witchcraft and other causes, and addicted to the intemperate use of ardent spirits; in short, ignorant, degraded, and miserable. They are, however, awaking to some just sense of their condition, are desirous that their children should see better days, and are importunately asking the charity of the Christian community to aid them in becoming acquainted with the arts of civilized life and the Christian religion. It is fondly hoped that those who have the means will be prompted to greater exertions, to promote the present comfort and everlasting welfare of this interesting people. Experience has abundantly taught, that the plain truths of the Bible, presented to their understandings and consciences, must be relied upon as the efficient cause of civilization; and that by no other process can any change be expected materially for the better. Beside the following mission stations, Bethel, Elliot, Emmaus, I-ik-hun-nah, Mayhew, and Yokena Chukamah, several small schools have been opened in private families. at CHOUB, a town on the W. coast of Hindoostan, near Bombay, under the Mahratta government. The American missionaries Bombay established a large school here about 1817, which promises much good. CHOULE, a district on the W. coast of Hindoostan, about 25 m. S. Bombay; length about 6 m.; They have very vague and fan-population about 30,000, mostly 1823. The U. B. in Antigua hav ing been repeatedly solicited to extend their missionary labours to this island, Messrs. Birkby, and Gotwald were sent thither in June, 1777. Hindoos. This was a place of great importance under the Portuguese government; and the stupendous ruins of their fortifications, their ecclesiastical and other public buildings, strikingly evince the opulence and power which that government once possessed here. It is now in possession of the British. The American missionaries at Bombay have established schools, and distributed tracts, with encou raging success. Having hired a house in the town of Basseterre, they commenced. preaching to the negroes; but, though these attended in consider able numbers, and the brethren, were countenanced in their undertaking by many of the proprietors, the progress of the Gospel was comparatively slow; as, in 1784, seven years from the first establishment of the mission, the number of converts scarcely exceeded 40. CHRISTOPHER, ST., or St. Kitt's, one of the Caribbee islands, in the W. Indies, 60 m. W. Antigua. It is 19 m. long, and 6 broad, with high mountains in the middle, whence rivulets flow. Between the mountains are dreadful rocks, horrid precipices, and thick woods; and in the S. W. parts hot sulphureous springs at the foot of them. The produce is chiefly sugar, cotton, ginger, indigo, and the tropical fruits. In 1785, the brethren purchased a piece of ground for the establishment of a regular settlement, and the place of worship which they, now erected was so numerously attended, that a more spacious d church soon became indispensably necessary. This was accordingly completed in 1789; the believing negroes not only assisted in the work by manual labour, but also aided it by pecuniary contributions, On the day of consecration, 18 persons were baptized, and 3, who had previously belonged to other denominations, were admitted as members of the church. The number of baptized persons, at this time, amounted to 279, besides about 80 catechumens. The natural strength of the island is such, that a garrison of 2000 effective troops would render it impregnable to a formidable invasion. It was first discovered, in 1493, by Columbus, who gave it his own Christian name. The first English settlement was formed in 1620. For several years, the aboriginal inhabitants lived on friendly terms with the settlers, and supplied them with provisions, till the planters seized their lands.After a severe conflict, in which many of the Caribbees were inhumanly murdered, they were driven from the island. ren for so Saren Aged in A sacred flame was now kindled in the island, which continued to spread, until, in the course of a few years, the congregation consisted of 2500; and the attendance on public worship was so numerous, that it was only on the week-day, evenings the hearers could be accommodated within the walls of the church: on the Sabbath, when the negroes were in the habit of coming from various distant plantations, great numbers were obliged to remain in the open air around the building. It was in the possession of the French and English, alternately, till 1763, when it was permanently restored to Great Britain. The chief towns are Basse Terre and Sandy Point. Inhabitants, 20,000, a large proportion of whom are slaves and coloured people. The N. point lies in W. long. 62° 47′, N. lat. 17° 27'. t, call formed d on the in Antiga In 1792, the town of Basseterre edy sia was visited by a dreadful inundaionary or tion; and a hurricane which raged SB in the ensuing autumn, proved extthier tremely destructive; but, on each of these occasions, the missionaries 10 were mercifully preserved, though their premises sustained considerenable injury. The work of the Lord also continued to prosper, d the land, in the course of a short time, inter they obtained the privilege of the pro preaching to the negroes on no less than 50 plantations. ey ded e ren the The invasion of St. Christopher's church at that place was solemnly: consecrated for the celebration of divine worship;-a circumstance which appeared to excite the most fervent gratitude in the breasts of many aged and infirm negroes, who, on account of their distance from Basseterre, had previously enjoyed but few opportunities of attending, on the Sabbath, to hear the word of God. In 1824, one of the missionaries at Basseterre says:-"It affords 'us, indeed, great comfort and encouragement that our church is gefirst by a French fleet, which had pre-nerally filled with attentive hearers, 1, theviously been anticipated, took place excer on the 5th of March, 1805; when General Balbot fixed his headquarters in the neighbourhood of tlement the missionaries, and stationed a hguard of 4 privates and a corporal A at the entrance of their burialoreground. A capitulation, however, being agreed upon, the enemy acquitted the island, after levying a be contribution, burning six vessels, teli spiking the cannon, and destroying the powder-magazine; and the brethren were enabled to resume their labours without further fear of interruption. r. but e For some following years, no occurrence worthy of particular narration marked the progress of the mission. Those who were employed it, however, persevered in their interesting work with unremitting zeal and faithfulness: the vacancies occasioned by the death of some of their number, were soon supplied by other devoted servants of Christ; and, in every year, some of the negroes 4 were received into the church by baptism, whilst others exchanged worlds, rejoicing in the grace of God, and in the atonement of Christ. In the year 1819 a new settlement, called Bethesda, began to be formed on the Cayon estate; and on the 25th of Feb. 1821, the and that the presence of our Lord and Saviour is powerfully felt when we meet in his name. The number of this congregation is about 2000, besides about 500 new people. Those also who were formerly excluded on account of transgressions, constantly attend the public worship. A great proportion of the congregation give evidence that they are children of God. On the first Sunday after Easter, those who had attained to different privileges in the church, had, as usual, a particular meeting: 133 were baptized, or received into the congregation since Easter, 1823, and 72 admitted to partake of the Lord's Supper. At the close of 1825, the congregation consisted of 691 communicants, 737 baptized adults, 554 children, 404 candidates for baptism; 248 were excluded for a time, but most of them still attended worship, and begged for re-admission; and 370 new people;-in all, nearly 3000 souls. At Bethesda, during the year 1825, 23 adults and 79 children were baptized, 131 persons were received into the congregation, 17 were re-admitted, 60 were admitted to the holy communion, 149 were candidates for baptism and reception, 42 had departed this life, and 31 had been excluded. The number of the congregation at the close of the year was 360 communicants, 509 baptized adults, 276 children under 12 years of age, 313 candidates for baptism, and about 400 excluded and new people,-in all 1858; 168 more than at the close of 1821. had reason to believe, were members of the mystical body of Christ. The great Head of the Church had also raised up in this society two preachers, qualified to impart in struction to others; and to these he had communicated a willingness, equal to their ability, to devote themselves entirely to the work of the ministry." From this period the mission continued to flourish, under the superintendence of those ministers, who, from time to time, visited the island, on the itinerating plan adopted in the Wesleyan con nexion. Many of the white residents treated the missionaries with the utmost kindness;-the negroes thronged to hear the word of God; and as a proof that many of them had really profited by the instruc tions which they received, it was found that they might be safely entrusted with arms for the protection of the colony, when an attack was anticipated from the combined forces of France and Spain. "Nothing," says Dr. Coke, "but the power of divine grace could induce the negroes offer themselves for the defence of a country in which they were held as slaves; and to protect their masters, many of whom, doubtless, had treated them with severity. And nothing but this persuasion could incline their masters to place in them a degree of confidence which they felt reluctant to repose in others." In Jan. 1787, the Rev. Dr. Coke, accompanied by the Rev. Messrs. Baxter, Clarke, and Hammett, of the W. S., visited this island. Their intention, it seems, had, by some means, been communicated to the inhabitants, by several of whom they were received with great cordiality and respect, and encouraged to commence their labours on the very evening of their arrival. After a few days, indeed, both the doctor and Mr. Hammett were invited to preach in the court-house at Basseterre, and 6 or 7 of the principal gentlemen in the town, including the clergyman of the parish, politely asked them to their respective houses; where they had a very favourable opportunity of communicating their intentions and explaining the objects which they had in view. These proved fully satisfactory; and as it was finally arranged that Mr. Hammett should be stationed on the island, a house was immediately taken for his accommodation in Basseterre, and a gentleman at a small town called Sandy Point, promised to use his endeavours for preparing a place in that neighbourhood for the occasional dispensation of the word of truth. tem a In the spring of 1802, the members in the society at St. Christopher's amounted to 2587, and a great blessing appeared to rest on the general affairs of the mission. In the month of April, in the same year, Messrs. Debill and Bradnack, two pious and zealous young men, arrived to the assistance of Mr. Brownell, who had been previously stationed there; and, on the same day that they landed, one of them "In Feb. 1789," says Dr. Coke, "I again visited St. Christopher's, and had the satisfaction of being personally convinced of the great benefits which had resulted from the introduction of the Gospel into this island. The labours of Mr. Hammett had been unremitting; and, in the space of two years, through the divine assistance, he had raised a society of 700 members, the greater part of whom, I t of an aleery a ity dear it cated ir abil liere, preached to such a crowded con- of the rish, time, ri Vester the ta to 107. 16s. a barrel. Some of our people have unavoidable fasts two or three times a week; whilst others have no other alternative than that of dying with famine, or of begging their bread from door to door. Many also have not a shed of any kind to screen them by day from the heat of the sun, or by night from the heavy dews and torrents of rain." Notwithstanding the afflictions which the missionaries and the people of their charge were thus called to endure, the word of God continued to be promulgated with success; and the chambers of sickness and death sometimes exhibited scenes well adapted to support and comfort those whose paFrom this period we have no ramount wish was, that they might historical documents relative to the be made instrumental in the constate of the mission in St. Christo- version of sinners. "A coloured. pher's, till the year 1816, when boy, about the age of eighteen, beMessrs. Whitworth, Raby, and longing to our school," says Mr. Whitehouse, observe" The fall Pinnock, "was taken ill of a of the year in this, and in many of fever, of which he died. In his the islands, has been sickly; but affliction, he sent to request that I we feel pleasure in stating, that would visit him. Accordingly I though many of the members of I went; and on my approaching our societies have fallen victims to his bed-side, he laid hold of my death, yet, in their last moments, hand, and pressed it to his bosom they witnessed a good confession. with apparent gratitude and deDuring the late festival (Christ-light. On my speaking to him remas), at which the negro popula-lative to the state of his mind, he lation have a little time at their told me he was happy, and that he disposal, such multitudes assembled longed to be with Jesus. He then for prayer and praise as were truly requested me to sing some of the astonishing. Contrasting what we hymns which I had taught in the then saw, with the conduct pursued school, and he occasionally joined by them at this season, antecedent with me. At his funeral all the to the introduction of the Gospel scholars attended, and followed the among them, we were led to ex- corpse to the grave; each of them claim, 'What hath God wrought!'" having a piece of black crape tied "In Sept. 1819," says Mr. Gil-round the arm, as a badge of grass, "the inhabitants of this mourning. This was a new and island were dreadfully alarmed by interesting sight in this place, and a hurricane. Since the hurricane I doubt not it has had a tendency, there has been very little trade, or to establish the reputation of our work of any kind, for free people, school." and every article of food has become very dear indeed. Flour was raised in one day, after the gale, from 77. 4s. On Saturday, Jan. 1st, 1825, Wesley Chapel, belonging to the society, from whose founder it |