iron chain of caste. A large number | government, avows himself a Chris of converted natives have become tian, and has promised his support in some sense missionaries, and have to any efforts to Christianize his been the instruments of "turning subjects. Many of his chiefs wish many to righteousness." Anxiety their children to be instructed, and has been generally awakened for various circumstances combine to instruction, which promises the recommend those rude natives to the happiest results; and a vast band attention of the Christian world. of agents, too numerous and too various for recapitulation, are carrying forward the work so auspiciously commenced. May He, to whom the heathen are to be given for an inheritance, still send prosperity! The B. M. S. stationed the Rev. J. Bourne at Belize, in 1822, which is situated on a river of the same name; who, on account of some difficulties attending a mission among the native tribes at the time, turned his attention to the disbanded African soldiers, who, with their families, resided near that place. In his labours he derives much assistance from one of his friends, a man of colour, who is acquainted with the French and Spanish languages, as well as with the Indian spoken on the coast, and is diligently employed in preaching and holding prayer meetings among the people in different parts of the neighbourhood. The number of communicants has recently increased from 4 to 12, and the at tendance at the chapel is good. HONDURAS, a province in Mexico, North America, bounded N. by the Bay of Honduras, E. by the Caribbean Sea, S. by Nicaragua, and W. by Vera Paz. It is 390 m. long from E. to W., and 150 from N. to S. Its soil is rich and fertile, producing, in great abundance, most of the tropical fruits; it has a few English settlements, but the principal inhabitants are Musquito Indians. In consequence of an urgent request of the Rev. J. Armstrong, chaplain to the English settlement, seconded by the benevolent wishes of the Commandant, Col. Arthur, the C. M. S. sent to their assistance the Rev. J. Ditcher, 2d chaplain, Mr. and Mrs. Moore, teachers, and Mr. Moore, printer. The principal design of this reinforcement was to promote more extensively the good of the settlement, and also to diffuse the blessings of Christianity among the Musquito Indians, who inhabit a country from 1000 to 1200 m. in extent, on the southern shores of the Bay of Honduras. They are characterized by the general marks of heathenism, being indolent, ignorant, and superstitious; though not so strongly addicted to vicious habits as many barbarous nations. They are much attached to the English. Their king, who has received his education at the expense of the British the HOWRAH, a populous suburb of Calcutta, on the opposite side of the Hoogly, in which reside many Englishmen, and thousands of natives. Since 1821, the Baptist Missionaries at Calcutta have la boured here with encouraging success. The Rev. Mr. Statham was fixed at this station, and a chapel built, at an expense of 10,000 ru pees defrayed by subscriptions on the spot, was well attended. A school was also formed, and tracts were distributed in great numbers, which were carried to different parts of the country. A second chapel was afterwards erected. Here a Mussulman moonshee, or teacher, was baptized; an event which occasioned great surprise among that class of natives, and led to much inquiry. Among other pleasing incidents, Mr. S. men tions the following." A poor | his native land, for a renewal of that vigour which long continued exertions had materially impaired. During his absence, the services he has hitherto conducted will be chiefly maintained by Mr. George Pearce. HUAHINE, one of the Society Islands in the Pacific Ocean, 30 leagues from Tahiti. It is 21 miles in circuit, populous, and fertile, and has a commodious harbour called Owharre, W. long. 151° 5′ old woman was sick, and sent Chat for me; she appeared to be very dill indeed, yet calm and rebe signed. On my asking her how she felt with regard to entering on nean eternal world, she said, 'It will Casa be a happy change for me.' I asked the grounds of such a hope. Bez She clasped her Bengalee Bible, which lay by her cot, and said, I find Christ here, Christ in my beart, and Christ is in heaven. He died for poor sinners like me; IS. lat. 16° 44'. a know he is able to save me. I believe he will:' and then she prayed So sweetly, that I could not forbear crying out, 'Oh, that my latter end may be like hers!'" In another communication, he observes, "There is, and none can deny it who know any thing of these matters, a far greater prospect of the establishment of the Redeemer's kingdom among the Hindoos than ever presented itself before. I well remember the time, ret when if I offered a tract, or Gospel, to a rich Baboo, he would reject it in scorn; and now the same character is continually inquiring for more books. Not two years ago, female education was looked upon by the rich natives as a thing dero*gatory to their caste; now they are desirous to get female teachers for their wives and daughters. I recollect, when in Sulkea Bazaar, the natives would not let myself and the native with me get a place to preach in; now they say, Come often-tell us more about these things! I have at this moment 36 boys, the sons of natives of good estate, reading the Scriptures in my verandah, who some time ago were afraid to touch a book. Depend on it, that the Lord is fulfilling his promises quicker than our thoughts surmise." Mr. Statham was subsequently compelled to intermit his labours for a time, and seek, by revisiting Here the L. M. S. has a station. Previous to its formation, idolatry had been abolished through the influence of the efforts made at Tahiti; but the missionaries, on their arrival, were received with apparent coldness by the body of the people, who manifested little desire to enjoy religious instruction. The tone of feeling, however, soon changed;-the missionaries were treated with the greatest deférence and respect, and every exertion was made to facilitate their object. In 1822, it was stated, that the congregation on the Sabbath-days usually consisted of from 1000 to 1400 persons; that 72 adults had been baptized, and 38 children; that 400 candidates for baptism were receiving preparatory instruction; that a Sunday school had been formed, containing about 230 boys and 120 girls; that the average number of adults and children in the native schools was about 450; and that the contributions at the Third Anniversary of the Huahiné A. M. S. amounted to 12 balls of arrow root, and 6349 bamboos of cocoa-nut oil. Civilization was also rapidly advancing. Some time after this, a code of laws was drawn up, approved by the king and chiefs, and adopted by the people; some works were prepared for the press; and a society for the relief of the sick and disabled was established by the natives. After tism, the number who appear, from time to time, as candidates for that ordinance, necessarily becomes smaller. The number of adults baptized at this station, during the year 1825-26, was 5; that of chil dren of Christian parents, 53. The total number baptized since the commencement of the mission, in 1818, is, of adults, 783 ; of children, 623. The number added to the church, during 1825-26, was 43. The total number in communion is 375; and the number of candidates for communion is considerable. describing the particulars of the, change produced by this mission, the Deputation proceed as follows: "In fact, the improvement of the people in industry, and their advancement in the scale of society are so evident, that every foreigner .who comes here is struck with surprise and delight. We seemed rather to be in an English town .than in a country so lately in a barbarous state. That all this mighty 'change should have been effected in so short a time. as six years, would appear almost incredible, did we not witness the fact with our own eyes. But it is the work of God and not of man. The intervention of an Almighty agency can alone account for the effects produced. At the same time, we will not withhold our meed of praise from those who have been made the honoured instruments of effecting this great work." The Deputation conclude their report as follows:-" On a general and minute view of both the temporal and religious condition of this mission station, there is every reason for gratitude to God, and encouragement to that society which has had the honour of conferring so many blessings on this people. Had nothing more been done by the L. M. S. than has been effected in this one station, all its labours and expenses would have been most amply compensated." 1 The children's school, which contains about 300, and that for the adults, which comprises the chief part of the inhabitants of the station who have arrived at years of maturity, are still in a flourishing state. The children are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic; and make good progress. Of the adults, the greater number are able to read the Scriptures, and write a tolerable hand. The congregation usually consists of from 1200 to 1400 persons, whose attendance is regular, and many of whom afford proof that they do not hear the Gospel in vain. The week-day meetings for exhor tation, religious conversation, and prayer, in which a very lively in terest prevails, are attended with profitable results. Mrs. Barff every week meets the female members of the church, about 200 in number, for religious conversation and prayer. The chapel, which has been rebuilt on an enlarged scale, will hold about 2000 persons, and con. tains a gallery that accommodates 400 children. Mr. Barff has in hand a transla tion of the prophecy of Jeremiah. Civilization continues to advance. Several new houses have been lately erected, and many more are in progress. More ground has also been brought into a state of cultivation. After these pleasing statements, it is the more painful to add, that a calamitous event, which happened nigh to this station during the year 1826, has been made an occasion, on the part of some of the natives, for acts highly discreditable to their character. It seems that an American vessel called the Hyreo, com. As the greater part of the people manded by Capt. Coffin, on the 21st have been dedicated to God in bap-of November, struck on the reef. jealo pears gener statio More means result JA ation mber The people belonging to the vessel, considering their situation perilous, necesar abandoned it to a body of natives, he nun who were requested by the captain his stata to make every possible effort to save at the property on board. These natives having, during the night, bapta found a quantity of spirits, and drank of them immoderately, proceeded to appropriate to their own use a number of articles belonging to the ship. They afterwards reerine stored a part of this property, but umber not the whole. Mahiné, the prinis concipal chief of Huahiné, who was at the time on the opposite side of the 0 to 1 island, on being informed of what had taken place, acted in a most commendable manner. He made a present to the captain, as some ecompensation for the loss he had Ove sustained, adopted measures for the er protection of the remaining property, and even himself personally MB engaged in watching it. The greater part of the natives who were involved in the guilt of the above-mentioned transactions, had no connexion with the mission; but it is painful to state, that some of them made a profession of religion. With few exceptions, these have since manifested repentance, and have been restored to their accustomed intercourse with their fellow Christians. A spirit of holy jealousy and self-examination appears to have been excited very generally among the people of the station by these occurrences, and a more diligent attention to the means of grace has been the result. 200 ch b J. JAFFNA, or JAFFNAPATAM, a peninsula, in the northern part of Ceylon, connected with the island by an isthmus. It is 40 m. long, and 10 wide. The whole district is one continued plain, no part of it rising higher than 30 feet above the level of the sea; and is considered the most healthy, fertile, and populous part of the island. The population, variously estimated from 120 to 200,000, consists, principally, of Malabars, who emigrated from the continent: they are a brave people, and far superior in energy to the Cingalese, the original inhabitants. With the exception of a few thousand Roman Catholics, a small number of Mahomedans, and 2 or 300 nominal Christians, the whole population of this district are heathens. While the Dutch held possession of the island, considerable effort was made to infuse into their minds the principles of Christianity. As no one was eligible to any office of government, unless he professed the Christian faith, the great mass of the people, probably from motives of interest, were baptized: but a change of masters produced an alteration in their religious practices; for no sooner was permission given by the British government, than they, almost with one consent, threw off their profession, and resumed their former superstitions. They have not, however, given their sanction to some of the more appalling customs of heathenism, such as those of burning widows, and polygamy. Their religion is that of the brahmins, though they are not so devotedly attached to their peculiar rites as are some of the devotees of that system; and they have feebler prejudices against Christianity. A few miles from Jaffnapatam is a famous Hindoo temple, at whose shrine they pay their devotions. They speak the Tamul or Malabar language, which is spoken by 8 or 9 millions of people on the adjacent continent. A considerable part of the sacred writings, together with other books of a religious nature, were translated and published in the Tamul 1 the whole number of day-schools attached to the mission was 42, containing 1300 children, who daily attended. Owing to the superstitious views of the people at the commencement of the mission, boys only were suffered to receive the benefit of instruction; but their prejudices have been so far removed, that day schools have been recently opened for the benefit of females. language by the Dutch; but soon after their departure, the district was enveloped in ignorance and superstition, and remained in that condition, with little exception, till 1816, when the Rev. Messrs. Richards, Meigs, Poor, and Warren, from, the A. B. C. F. M. arrived, and established themselves in the district of Jaffna. Application was immediately made to government, and liberty was soon granted them to occupy the ancient church buildings and glebelands in several of the parishes. Having determined upon Tillipally and Batticotta, as suitable places to commence their operations, they repaired immediately to Jaffna, and proceeded to make the neces sary repairs. A plan is now contemplated, and will probably be shortly executed, of establishing a native College, Such an institution, it is thought, will tend to a more general diffusion of Christian knowledge, and, by connecting the study of the sciences with Christianity, will raise the standard of education, and strike with power, at the root of idolatry. Here, also, native preach sistants, can be well qualified for An Academy, also, is about to be In June, 1819, the Rev. Messrs. Winslow, Spaulding, and Wood ward, together with Dr. John Scud-ers, translators, teachers, and as der, sailed from Boston to strengthen this mission. Next to their principal employment, viz. the acquisition of the Malabar language, was the establishment of free-schools. Such natives, therefore, as wished to be employed as teachers, were sent out into different parishes to collect scholars, whose immediate instruction was entrusted to them, under the superintendence of the missionaries. Boarding schools, also, were established at each of the stations, in which children were supported by the bounty of benevolent individuals, or societies, in America. These schools are under the immediate care and instruction of the missionaries or their wives. At their first opening, 12 dollars was considered a sum adequate to defray the expenses of one scholar a-year; but after a thorough trial, this sum was found insufficient to cover the contingent expenses, and in 1821, the sum was raised to 20 dollars. Soon after the arrival of the first The number of pupils in the boarding schools in 1823, was 170, |