SANDWICH ISLANDS.

OAHÚ.

Letter of the Rev. Hiram Bingham, American Missionary, dated 13th September, 1825, addressed to the Secretary. REV. AND DEAR SIR,

THOUGH I had the pleasure of writing you, as recently as June last, some account of the general prosperity of the mission, of the return of Governor Boki, the agreeable reception here and the honourable conduct of Lord Byron, of his Majesty's frigate Blonde, I flatter myself that it would afford you some pleasure to hear from us again, by the hand of one of my brethren, unworthy as I am of your correspondence, which has afforded me no small gratification and encouragement. I deem it the more suitable that some of us should write you somewhat frequently, because I consider your honourable and benevolent Missionary Society, of which you have long been a happy organ and agent, as bearing an important part in the cause of evangelizing this nation, and because the ready pen of our beloved brother, Ellis, is not now daily employed in making copious communications to you from the islands, of the continued progress of our work, as would doubtless have been the fact had not a mysterious Providence removed him from the field. How should we rejoice with him, and how would he rejoice with us, were we now permitted to labour together as in time past, and together to behold what the gracious Lord of the harvest appears to be about to do for this people. O that the prayers of the church might rise from every Christian land as a cloud of sweet incense before the throne of God, until he should grant their largest desires respecting this land, and every other land as dreary and hopeless as this once was. Their prayers are doubtless heard in heaven, and angels there rejoice in the progress of divine truth here, and in the very obvious repentance of stout-hearted sinners, who have been far from God, and without hope in the world. As evidence of some desirable progress in the work, I might mention, besides the fact that two have been admitted to the church at Lahaina, and ten others from the different islands have been propounded for admission, after some further instruction and trial, and three more have been, by Mr. Ely, at Kaavaroa, recommended to the fellowship of the church.-The house of worship at this place which was occupied by Mr. Ellis and ourselves, when he was with us, and which was then sufficient to accommodate our congregation of between 600 or 700 hearers,* will not now accommodate more than onefourth of those who attend, nor perhaps one

* Occasionally a larger number assembled in and about the house.

sixth of those who would attend if they could find admittance. The last two Sabbaths the house has been filled to overflowing an hour before the known regular hour of service. Last Sabbath most of the chiefs were excluded by the scholars, who had gone in early to secure a place. The area of the enclosure about that end of the house in which the pulpit is situated, and which is three times as large as the area within the house, was also crowded mostly by those who are organized in schools under native teachers, partly by chiefs, and partly by people who have just began to attend the preaching, and who came four miles for that purpose: they sat on the ground, which had been overspread with rushes for the purpose, and arose and stood silent during the prayer. I think the estimation would be within bounds to say there were at least 700 souls within the house, and 2,000 assembled without. I removed entirely the two sashes of the pulpit window, and endeavoured to make all hear while I preached Jesus and his great salvation. I addressed them in the morning from the king of Babylon's ascription of praise to the Most High, Dan. iv. 37.; and in the afternoon from Matt. xiv. 14. "Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick."

I have attempted to-day to get a register of the schools in this village, Honoruru, principally under the instruction of native teachers, of whom there are about 40: the number of learners in the schools, as I have taken them, amounts to 1851, exclusive of two or three schools which I have not yet numbered. While passing through and around the village in making the register, I was struck with the change in its aspect from what it has been: not a native appeared improperly employed, and so far as appears, games of chance, dancing, and every sort of sport, and, to a great extent, drunkenness seems to have given place to the palapala.

Females do not frequent the landing-place at evening as formerly; and I am told this evening by Kaahumanu, who seems truly to have the spirit of a reformer, as well Karaimoku, that females are no more to visit the ships for unlawful purposes. If this point is gained in Honoruru, and that unlawful intercourse be prohibited here, which has been in the eyes of this people, and of the world, a dreadful contradiction to the boasted morality and refinement of the happiest Christian nations on the globe; if this disgraceful excess, and indecent and inexcusable irregularity, can be corrected in Honoruru, we shall not despair of seeing the happiest regulations introduced into every district and village of the Sandwich islands. I hope one important step is taken to remove this evil,

though much remains to be done to complete this part of the work, even of outward reformation.

The very much impaired and precarious health of Karaimoku, our most efficient patron, who has recently undertaken to erect a large stone chapel, and on whom the cause of national reformation and prosperity seems so much to depend, gives us very great and constantly increasing solicitude. Even now a rumour of war is whispered from Tauai, and Governor Boki and his wife, and Kekuanaoa, whom you have seen in England, have recently repaired to that island to correct the disorder, and to bring away the commander of the fort, who was placed there by Katalaia, and who has given out some threats, and made some preparations to resist the good old governor, Kaikioeva, who is most decidedly in favour of the young king, and of the cause of the gospel. We hope, in the counsels of divine wisdom and mercy, that this slight alarm will speedily be hushed, and that Karaimoku will be spared till he shall see the gospel, with its highest influence, cordially embraced and firmly established in every district throughout the islands.

We feel the need of more labourers, and shall look with solicitude for the return of brother Ellis, and the arrival of his appointed associate, the Rev. Mr. Pitman. We have now but one Missionary, with a native assistant Missionary at Kaavaroa, one with a native assistant at Waiakea for all the eastern side of Hawaii, one on Maui, assisted by Taua and Pupuhi, two Tahitian converts. Rev. Mr. Stewart,* who has been absent some months from Maui, expects to leave this place soon, to follow the homeward track of Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Ellis, on account of the decline of Mrs. Stewart's health, which we fear she has irrecoverably lost.

I greatly feel myself the need of the strengthening hands and encouraging counsels of brother Ellis, as my particular associate in maintaining the public duties of this laborious and responsible station at Honoruru. To have such a man replaced among us, so ardently disposed, and so well qualified as a preacher and translator of the scriptures, to promote the benevolent design of the kindred Societies now aiming at the conversion of the isles of this ocean, would be a felicity in which you, and we, and this people, now so eager for instruction, would have occasion greatly to rejoice and give praise to God, who in these latter days is making his "name great among the heathen," and causing the blessing of Abraham," agreeable to the mercy proposed in Christ, to rest on the Gentiles."

* We have sincere pleasure in stating, that the Rev. Mr. Stewart, Mrs. Stewart, and family, are arrived safe in this country.-ED.

Oct. 7. Since writing the above, a ship has touched here for refreshments, bound to London, by which I hope to forward this; I will therefore add a few particulars relative to facts that have occurred since my first date, and closely connected with several points already noticed, and which I think will not fail to be interesting to you, and others who feel with us a lively solicitude for the welfare of this nation, and the prosperity of this mission.

Governor Boki has returned successful from Tauai, bringing away the ringleaders of the opposition, and leaving the island in quiet, under the superintendence of Governor Kaikioeva. He managed his business well, and ascribes his protection and success to the power and blessing of Jehovah, to whom he offered a public prayer before he demanded the arms of the opposing party. The fort, arms and ammunition were given up without resistance. More than 200 muskets, with cartridge boxes filled for action, were brought in, which had been distributed among the common people in the vicinity, as a preparation for a slaughter, We rejoice in the Almighty protection that has been vouchsafed in time of need, and we trust that protection will still be granted while violence is threatened from another quarter.

The tabu prohibiting females from frequenting the ships for unlawful purposes, is now so far established at this place, and at Lahaina and Kaavaroa, that the ships' crews touching at these places are very angry and very insolent, though a few shipmasters who, among many that have touched at the islands since our residence here, have honourably distinguished themselves by laying their own tabu on their own ships. The chiefs are taking measures to resist the violence of seamen at this place, and the house of the Missionary at Lahaina is placed under a strong guard of 30 or 40 natives, to protect it by night from the insults of riotous Christians from the ships. It is a shame to the Christian world that the natives of these hea then isles must now use their laws, their admonitions and entreaties, and their authority and force, to restrain the unbridled passions of men who boast of their Christian birth and education, and their great advancement in morality and civilization, but whose excess and abomination in the Pacific, it would be unseemly to name in England or America.

Karaimoku appears to be decidedly engaged in the good cause of reformation, and will, we think, fill up his few remaining days well. He has commenced the building of a large stone chapel; but as it will probably be a year or two in building, and we have been obliged to abandon the old thatched house of worship, because it is too small to accommodate one-fifth part of the congregation, he has recently employed

about 3,000 men to build a temporary thatched church, which is expected to cover an area of 19,440 square feet, i. e. 30 fathoms long and 18 feet wide. A few days since, 2,000 men came in a train, each bringing from the mountain, a distance of twenty miles or more, a stick of timber on his shoulder for the church. While others are framing and fitting this timber, they have returned for another load. The house will, we hope, be completed during this month. In the mean

time, we meet for worship in an open area, between the tomb of their late majesties the late king and queen, and the stone mansion now occupied by the young king; thus, an altar appears to be created "between the living and the dead," at the commencement of the present reign.

Of a small tract of elementary lessons, used for a spelling-book, which was put to press in April last, we have printed and distributed about 13,000 copies: the number of those who have learned to read, therefore, or who are learning, we estimate at 13,000; but the number is daily increasing.

The catechism which we printed in June last, contains 71 questions and answers on the most prominent doctrines of sacred scripture, has been with great cheerfulness received and committed to memory by hundreds of the more forward learners, including the young king, Karaimoku, and the principal chiefs. With the same readiness they are also committing to memory, of their own voluntary choice, the small tract of selected passages of scripture, which was published at the same time.

While we have so much encouragement to labour, and while the work presses so heavily on our hands, it is a great grief to us to have another of our beloved fellow-labourers called from the field. Brother Stewart has the voice of the mission, and we think the pointing of Providence, to return, on account of the illness of his wife. They

are to sail in the Fawn, Captain Dale, by way of England; and should they meet with the friends of missions there, they are affectionately commended to their fellowship and Christian kindness, in their present circumstances of affliction, as 66 strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Captain Dale has, with distinguished liberality, generously offered them a gratuitous passage to London, with their family. This we regard as the more signally and happily providential for them, because they will enjoy the assistance of Dr. Short, on board the Fawn.

We grieve to lose them; but He whose is the harvest field, and with whom is the appointment, the continuance, and the removal of the labourers, will, we trust, carry on his work in his own sovereign way, until it is consummated, until he has spread his gospel through the earth, raised his church to spotless perfection, and filled his kingdom

with a fulness of joy, and secured to his own name the undivided and everlasting glory.

May the Lord of the harvest bless you and your fellow-labourers, and graciously smile on every association, and every effort, which has for its object this desirable end, for which the Saviour executed his divine mission on earth. Permit me now, dear Sir, with sentiments of the highest esteem and love, to subscribe myself very affectionately, yours in Christ our Lord, (Signed) H. BINGHAM,

EAST INDIES.

CALCUTTA.

Letter of the Rev. Samuel Trawin, Missionary at Calcutta, dated Kidderpore, 24th October, 1825, (including Extracts from his Journal) addressed to the Directors.

Baptism of Five Hindoo Converts, &c. HONOURED FATHERS AND BRETHREN,

LAST Tuesday evening I had the unspeakable pleasure of baptizing nine Hindoos,--five adults and four children. Our chapel was filled on the occasion, and the spectators seemed highly interested by the scene. Several very respectable individuals of the civil and military departments were present: the services of the evening were commenced by singing that beautiful hymn of Dr. Watts', book i. hymn 39.

"God on his thirsty Zion hill,

Some mercy-drops has thrown," &c. After singing, brother J. Hill read a chapter, and engaged in prayer. Brother Warden then gave us an excellent address from Matt. xiii. 16, 17. We then sung a Bengalee hymn; and I proposed the following questions to the candidates, who stood up to answer them in the midst of the congregation:

Question 1. Why do you wish to renounce the Hindoo religion?

Answer. The Hindoo religion enjoins the worship of many gods, and proposes various modes of obtaining salvation: those gods I have worshipped, their modes of purification I have observed; but all in vain, therefore I wish to renounce it.

Q. 2. Why do you desire to embrace the religion of Jesus Christ?

A. Because, by embracing it I shall obtain the salvation of my soul.

Q. 3. Do you know that you are a sinner? A. Yes, I know that I am a sinner; I am a great sinner, I have many times broken God's laws.

Q. 4. Without the pardon or removal of sin, can you gain admittance into heaven? A. No, I pannot for heaven is a hely

Q. 5. Has God provided any remedy to take away our sin?

A. Yes, God has provided a remedy; he sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world for the purpose of taking away our sins.

Q. 6. Who is the Lord Jesus Christ?

A. He is the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world.

Q. 7. How did Jesus Christ come into the world?

A. He came in human form.

Q. 8. What did he give to save sinners ?
A. He gave his blood.

Q. 9. Do you then now, in this assembly, with one accord, before your own countrymen, and strangers, and especially in the presence of the great God, solemnly renounce all false modes of obtaining salvation, and do you cordially embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as the only true refuge?

A. We do, we do; we renounce all other refuges, and cleave to Christ alone.

After answering the foregoing questions, with a simplicity which was highly gratifying, they all kneeled down, and in their devotional attitude, were commended to God by prayer, and received into the visible church by the instituted rite of baptism. A few observations were then offered, to enforce upon their attention the obvious duty of Christian parents dedicating their children to God.

These new disciples then presented their dear little ones for baptism, observing, that the children were not their own, for they had given them to God; and that they would, divine assistance being granted, train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Thus, dear and honoured Directors, have we again seen the door of faith opened to the Gentiles: thus have we seen one whole household, and parts of others, all baptized in the name of our adorable Lord: thus have we beheld the branches, and their little buds, cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature, and grafted into the good; where, according to apostolic testimony, they will together partake of the root, and fatness of the root. And now, bless the Lord, Oh our souls, who remembered us in our low estate, for his mercy endureth for ever.

A hymn of thanksgiving was then sung, and brother Ray concluded the solemnity by commending the new converts to the grace of God, who is able to build them up, and give them an inheritance among them who are sanctified. The European part of the congregation having dispersed, the natives still remained, and Ramhurree conversed with them more at large on the importance of what they had seen and heard. Thus closed the most solemn and interesting day I have ever seen, Indeed we are all

greatly refreshed, and now, say among the heathen, the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.

It is pleasing to remark, that a lady, to whom the Society is greatly indebted, sent S. R. 55, the day the natives were baptized, for the purpose of building a school-room in their village. A gentleman also, who was present, explained the next day to his servants what he had witnessed in the Kidderpore Chapel the preceding evening. Three days subsequently, his servants sent for Ramhurree, the native preacher, and observed, that though they had been disposed, on former occasions, to persecute and injure him, for his profession of Christianity, now they were willing to give him a deliberate hearing, that they might judge for themselves as to the propriety of embracing the religion of Christ,

AFRICAN ISLANDS.

MADAGASCAR.

Extracts from a Report of the Public Examination of the Mission Schools in Madagascar, in the presence of King Radama, on the 17th of March, 1825; drawn up by James Hastie, Esq. the British Agent Tananarivou.

THE visit of Radama in last April to the Seminary superintended by Messrs. Jones and Griffiths, brought to his notice that several of the first pupils of the Missionaries were fit to aid their Preceptors, and make the diffusion of instruction more general; and, as it was then anticipated, the King took an occasion of making his desire to that effect public amongst his subjects, who were acquainted therewith at an assembly of the heads of tribes and chieftains of the province convened in May to receive the royal commands, previous to the celebration of the annual feast, which was last year held on the 26th of May, and always commences on the Wednesday or Saturday preceding, or the expiration of the lunar year, these having been considered lucky days by Radama's ancestors.

Such is the avidity with which the people of Imerina endeavour to obey the commands of their King, that previous to the end of the month, in conformity with his wishes, ten schools were established in the vicinity of the capital, and the principal persons of some villages, to which teachers were not sent on the first distribution, made application that they also should be favoured with means to prepare their children for the King's service: hence the number of out, schools was subsequently increased to 23, and the total number of children under instruction to upwards of 2,000,

Radama having given two days notice of

his intention to visit the Seminary, the senior classes of the Country Schools were directed to attend; and the young students, attended by their parents, or some other branches of their family, crowded that part of the town where the school-room is situated.

The inspection commenced by Mr. Griffith's reading some verses of those parts of the Scriptures which have been translated into the Madagasse tongue by Mr. Jones and himself, to be written on slates by all the children of the Parent Seminary; and this was done with such celerity and correctness, as greatly surprised Radama, who was soon convinced on his dictating some difficult sentences, which were with equal speed submitted to him in writing, that the boys were so far advanced as to be well capable of either transcribing from a copy, writing what might be dictated to them, or committing their own ideas to paper. Their copy-books were exhibited, and Radama remarked, that they were clean, in a tone that could not fail to give pleasure to his auditors; and their ready answers to questions in arithmetic, put to them in their own language, afforded him much satisfaction, and was a source of no little amusement to his attendants, who, within a short period, would have attributed the solution of such mysterious problems to a deep knowledge of sorcery. The questions in arithmetic were generally answered so far as the Rule of Three, and some boys appeared anxious to exhibit their acquaintance with more advanced rules. All were found well acquainted with the Catechism, which has been framed in the Madagasse language by the Missionaries, after the plan of Dr. Brown's Catechism, with three appendixes annexed to it, together with Watts's Catechism of Scripture Names; and it was noticed, that when the senior boys were answering questions, the junior classes always repeated them, and were very ready in replying to such as, in course, fell to them. The Monitor who put the questions, by direction, varied widely from the regular order, and every instance proved that the children were so well grounded in the instruction given them, that they cannot be surprised on any inquiry connected with the translation from which they had been taught.

Some of the boys read passages of the Madagasse translation of the Scriptures, which has been made into their own tongue, and their proficiency in its orthography also excited the particular attention of Radama, who liberally approved of the method in which they have been instructed, although it differs from that which he himself has practised.

Their reading-lesson in English was the fifth chap. of John. It was pleasing to find their diphthong sounds improved, and that they endeavoured to pronounce the (sound

of th) distinctly, which is most difficult of all the English sounds to be pronounced by them, as it is a sound which is not found in their own language. They can spell any English word, and their answers to questions from Goldsmith's Geography evinces that care has been taken to give them the first rudiments of a correct knowledge of that science, for their advancement in which, they attend occasional lectures on the use of the globes.

Radama being satisfied with the proficiency of the children of his Vourouna Muhery, the great supporters of his dignity, they were permitted to make room for their pupils, the students at the Country Schools,* who, on entering, bounded over the seats in the same way that they are accustomed to pass the craggy rocks adjacent to their dwellings, which are mostly situated on eminences. A little order being restored, the King dictated several sentences, which were committed to slates with readiness; several answered questions in the first Rules of Arithmetic without hesitation; and some made calculations to such extent as the language does not afford a term for.

They all spell well in their vernacular tongue; and their knowledge of the Catechism, whilst it proves the advantages of the Sunday-school and the Sunday visits of the Missionaries, testifies that the Instructors placed over them by these Gentlemen have been duly impressed with the necessity of instilling into the minds of their pupils such principles as may lead them to a knowledge of themselves and their weakness, and give them some idea of the unbounded greatness and benevolence of their Maker.

An investigation of the progress of the female scholars came also under notice. They were all found to have advanced in reading, spelling, and writing; the neatness of their dresses served as an ample testimony of their improvement in needle-work. Their general conduct and knowledge of the Catechism proves that the lessons afforded them are not of a limited nature, and that the care of Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Griffiths materially tends to advance them equally in book instruction, cleanliness, and correct demeanour. Indeed, the number of clean-washed faces and hands and well-clothed persons who attended the inspection, gave the capital quite an air of festivity, which in past days was seldom witnessed there, except when preparations were making for marauding excursions-a ruinous system now no longer pursued.

On the conclusion of the girls' lessons,

A considerable number of the youths educated at the Royal School, or College at Tananarivou, have been appointed to the charge of Schools in various parts of the country.-ED.