with a luxuriant growth of grass, and the immense prairies, yield an exhaustless supply for summer. The face of the country, 100 m. from the Mississippi, is almost uniformly level. To the W. of this, the country rises, and is beautifully variegated with hills and valleys, which usually afford a considerable stream of water. The hills are not formidable, till you approach the Shining or Rocky Mountains. The indigenous vegetables are numerous, and many of them valuable for their medical properties. Botanists have discovered not less than 100 plants, not found elsewhere in the United States, and not less than 50 nondescripts. encouraging. Houses have been erected for the mission family, two for schools, a saw-mill and gristmill, together with other buildings; and an extensive plantation has been cleared and fenced. A church was organized April 12, 1822; and, on the first day of the same year, a school was opened, which, in the May following, contained 50 pupils. In October, 1823, the number of Cherokee children in the family, who were enjoying the privilege of literary, moral, and religious instruction, was 60-24 males and 26 females, who were making very encouraging progress. The missionaries have gained the confidence of the Cherokees, and might greatly enlarge their school, if their resources would permit. A majority feel that this institution is the glory of their tribe; and so far as this feeling obtains, it is accompanied by a desire to act worthy of the efforts which are made to enlighten and reform them.. The missionaries preach on the Sabbath to a small congregation, who understand English. About 3 m. below this, the Canadian, as large as Grand R., enters from the S. Salt springs and licks are very numerous and valuable, some of which are occupied by extensive salt works. The Indians are frequently seen with cubic bodies of salt, from 6 to 12 inches, which they say they broke off from a mountain. The climate is mild. After leaving the low country on the E., the whole territory may be called healthy. The White population, in 1820, amounted to nearly 15,000. In 1823, it was estimated at about 20,000. A considerable part of this population are French, or, as they are called, Creoles-being generally mixed blood, French and Indian, of almost every tribe in North America. These, generally, are a miserable race of beings. The greatest part of the population are emigrants from different states in the Union, mostly from Tennessee and Kentucky. All the tributaries of the Arkansas, on the N., are beautiful, clear, gravelly bottomed, streams; while all on the S. are of a clayey bottom. All the streams are lined on either side by the first quality of bottom land. For some distance the soil is alluvial, of exhaustless fertility, and well adapted to the growth of Indian corn, cotton, and tobacco. These bottoms, in a state of nature, are impenetrable cane brakes; the cane growing from 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and from 15 to 25 feet high. Under this, in the eastern part of the territory, is a prodigious growth of rushes, which, with the cane, afford ample sustenance for immense herds of cattle in the winter; while the forests on the upland, covered There are very few schools or religious institutions; and the state of morals is deplorable, with a few honourable exceptions. Here is a wide field for missionary enterprize. The number of professed Christians is very small. In this territory are many tribes of Indians, f grass ield a r. The from iform is, the tifully alleys, erable re not h the The ume le for concerning some of which little is The Quawpaws live on the banks About half the year they forsake their villages, and wander in pursuit of game, with their women and children. Until they can be persuaded to abandon this course of life, few children can be retained in the schools during the season of their excursions. When stationary, they occupy several villages; the principal of which contains about 300 lodges, or huts, and about 3000 souls. The lodges, irregularly arranged, cover a surface of about half a mile square. They are constructed of posts, mattings, bark, and skins, with neither floors nor chimneys. The fire is built on the ground, in the centre of the lodge, and the family and guests sit around in a circle, upon skins or mats. As in all uncivilized and pagan countries, the women perform the drudgery of the nation, while the men resort to the chase or the battle, or, consume their time in vain amusements. Their religion differs from all the tribes to the east of them. They are idolaters and polytheists, having four primary deities, viz. the sun, moon, earth, and thunder. In addition to these, they have a great multitude of inferior gods. They are apparently very conscientious and devout in their religious rites and worship,-always rising, while it is yet dark, to attend to their The corrupting in-morning devotions. All the purfluence of the Whites, with other suits of war and peace, hunting causes, has produced a most dis- and stealing, they make subjects of The Cherokees, the next tribe on the river, are a branch of the tribe of the same name, E. of the Mississippi. The first emigrants were a few malcontents, who left their tribe soon after the revolutionary war. About 30 years ago, they were reinforced by a company of about 25 men, with their wives and children, who fled from the hand of justice. From that time, this country afforded a refuge to such as were exposed to the penal laws of the tribe, and to such as were, on any account, discontented with their situation. In this way the number became so great as to attract the attention of government; and, in 1813, an agent was appointed to the superintendence, in the same manner as in the old nation. The emigration, in 1817, which excited so much interest in the Christian community, raised the number here to the present estimation of 5000. prayer and thanksgiving. They to raise a cheering hope of ultimate success. In the latter part of 1824, the following persons were at this station :-the Rev. W. F: Vail, Dr. Palmer, Messrs. F. Fuller, Redfield, Spaulding, Woodruff, and Requa. The school included 21 Osage children, who live in the family. Hopefield, a new station, about 4 m. from Union, was commenced Dec. 1823, by the Rev. E. Chapman, and Mr. W. C. Requa as an assistant. Here are 11 Indian fa milies, each occupying a log building, and cultivating a small farm. All are attentive to religious instruction, and are acquiring the habits and customs of civilized life. It is situated on the W. side of the Grand R., about 25 m. N. of its entrance into the Arkansas, and 700 above the junction of the Arkansas and the Mississippi. The buildings are erected on a moderate eminence, about a mile from the R. The situation is pleasant, the soil fertile, and the air and climate more salubrious than in most places under the same latitude. The tract of land ceded to the mission by the Indian chiefs, embraces a prairie of about 4 square m. in extent. Coal and salt are found in the vicinity. W. long. 97° 20′, N. lat. 35o 30'. To the W. of these are nume rous other tribes, of whom very little is known, except by the re ports of explorers and hunters. By these they are represented as pacific, and desirous of the protec tion of the United States, and of being embraced in the efforts making for Indian improvement. They ought to excite the immediate attention of the Christian public, before they become conta minated by the example of unprincipled white men. They are wandering tribes, and missionaries should go prepared to follow them, till they are persuaded to settle down in fixed habi tations, and to seek the comforts of civilization, and the blessings of the Gospel. The following persons left the city of New York in April, 1820:The Rev. W. F.Vail, his wife, and 4 children; Rev. Epaphras Chapman, and his wife; Dr. Marcus Palmer; Abraham Redfield; W. C. Requa; Alexander Woodruff; Stephen Spaulding; Eliza Cleaver; Mary Foster; Clarissa Johnstone; Susan Lines; and Dolly E. Hoyt. The two latter died on the journey. Suitable buildings and mills have been erected, a small school maintained, and the farm is becoming productive in cotton, grain, and vegetables for the support of the family. Different members of the mission are skilled in various mechanic arts. In 1822, the property belonging to this establishment was estimated at about 24,000 dollars. The mission already exerts a favourable influence on the Osages, many of whom have abandoned the chase, and cultivate the soil. Owing to their roving habits, and the disturbed state of the tribe since the mission was established, the progress has been 'slow; but enough has been done 4 ARLAVERTTY, a village in Mallagum, in the island of Ceylon, in which the American mission. aries have established a school. AROO, five islands in the Indian Ocean, to the S. and W. of New Guinea, extending from 5o 30′ to 7° 0′ S. lat., with narrow channels between them. Population between 19,000 and 20,000 souls. The inhabitants being very desir. ous to receive Christian instruction, Mr. Kam, of the L. S., sent them 30 t, is 71 one-ha stian col at th are in th ere are als place call emment , who bel al to the G effectual urse betw the brethre Haman hear as in othe has found a pe of a a native teacher, who had been preeviously prepared for the employment, at the seminary which he had erected for the purpose, in Amboyna. the 200 E. Char and an earnest attention, which are exceedingly encouraging. The Arracanese are essentially the same as the Burmans, and have no caste; and, compared with the Hindoos, have but a limited num ber of objects of idolatrous worship. ARRACAN, a province in the W. part of the Burman empire, S.E. of Bengal, on the eastern Besides the native Christians, a coast of the sea of Bengal, between number of heathen Arracanese have Rangoon and Chittagong. Length been admitted into the colony as 500 m.; breadth from 20 to 200. residents. They, however, comPopulation between 2 and 3 mil-ply with such regulations as Mr. lions. The country is fertile, and the mountains are covered with perpetual verdure. Fink sees fit to appoint, and they have the Gospel regularly preached to them, and their children will The inhabitants are idolaters, receive a Christian education in and worship images made of clay. the school. Tuesdays and SaturArracan was formerly an inde-days have been fixed as market days; dependent kingdom, but surrendered the shops are open on the other to the Burman empire in 1783; days of the week, with the excep→ since which time it has been sub- tion of the Sabbath, when there ject to a viceroy, appointed by the is a cessation of all public busi Burman government. B as po troter and of efforts ment. mome Arracan, the principal city, is situated on a river of the same name, in E. long. 93° 25', N. lat. 20° 40. It is said to be 15 m. in circumference, and to contain 160,000 inhabitants. Land has been granted to the Bapt. S. for the establishment of a mission at Akyab, an island of this province, which is eligibly situated at the mouth of the Arracan R. The whole number of native members of the church in full communion, according to the last report, is 71; but of these not quite one-half are fixed in the Christian colony. About 20 still remain at the old stations, and 14 are in the town of Arracan. There are also about 30 members at a place called Kaptai, under the government of an independent chief, who being exceedingly inimical to the Gospel, has for several years effectually prevented all intercourse between these people and the brethren. The enmity of the human heart has displayed itself here as in other places; yet Mr. Fink has found a frankness of inquiry ness. Meearung, one of the preachers, is stationed in the colony, and both conducts public worship and teaches the school, which is held in the chapel erected by the people themselves. The other preachers are disposable for the general diffusion of the Gospel; and one of them, by rotation, is usually in the town of Arracan. As the country is much intersected by rivers and creeks, Mr. Fink has purchased and fitted up a small boat in which the brethren/can convey themselves to a number of important places at considerable distances from their home; and hitherto they have met with no unkind treatment from their countrymen, when thus engaged. These four brethren are supported by the contributions of two associations of young gentlemen in Glasgow, who unitedly send them 407. per annum for that purpose. In providing copies of the Scriptures, or rather parts of them, and tracts, the missionaries enjoyed the co-operation of some of their Ame rican brethren, connected with the Burman mission, particularly from Another station was formed at an early period, named Pilgerhut, in the neighbourhood of which most of the baptized persons lived, Amidst many trials, the brethren persevered at this place till 1793, when the negroes rose in rebellion against their masters, murdered many of the white people, burnt the settlement at Pilgerhut, and laid waste almost the whole country. By this fire an Arrowack Grammar and Lexicon, and some translated portions of the Scrip tures, prepared by one of the missionaries, were consumed. There is also a town of Arracan, called Cox's Bazaar, containing a population of 30,000, where the Burman language is spoken, which has attracted benevolent regard. This town is about 40 m. within the British territories, which are separated from the Burman empire by the Gnat R. It is well calculated for a station, both for preaching and the extensive distribution of tracts. To this place, therefore, the Rev. James Colman, from the American Baptist Board for Foreign Missions, removed, in 1821, from Chittagong, and commenced his labours with favourable prospects, but was suddenly removed by death in less than 8 months. Occasionally, efforts have been made in this important spot, and several persons have joined the church at Chittagong. add A third station, named Sharon, ARROWACKS, a wandering tribe of Indians, scattered over a great extent of territory in Guiana, South America. They are humane and friendly. The United Brethren sent 2 missionaries to Berbice, a Dutch settlement near Surinam, in 1738, who laboured among the Pagan inhabitants around them for several years, but with little success.. "Now and then I see and con ASBURY, a missionary station in The missionaries, Messrs. Wm. In the mean time they became Capers, Isaac Smith, and Andrew acquainted with the Arrowack lan- Gummil, have encountered much guage; and, from 1748 to 1757, opposition from the Big Warrior; they baptized about 400, and suc- but the difficulties have considera ceeded in introducing among them bly subsided, and the prospects of the habits of civilized life. In the mission are brightening. In 1759, a church was erected to ac- 1822, a hope was entertained that commodate the increasing congre- 100 scholars would soon be ob gation of Lewis C. Dehne, at Hope tained in the school. or Hoop; and, though many discouragements still attended the labours of the brethren, yet they were permitted to reap some fruit. In 1789, the number of baptized persons was 83; in 1800 it had increased to 169. Afterwards they removed to the R. Neukeer. a ASSOONDY, a village near ASTRACHAN, or ASTRA- M. erg Tart Thus, ated, and |