イ from the other, although there are only six miles between them. The roar of the eruptions, and the crash of the volcanic masses of rock as they met, in their downward flight, the rocks and matter sent up from the depths below, were fearful to hear. No flame was seen during the whole time, and only once or twice was there a gleam of fire seen in the matter thrown up. The motion on the sea still continued; it boiled and bubbled furiously, in a sort of basin almost half a mile in diameter. Heaps of dead fish were washed on shore, killed by the sulphur and matter which the volcano poured forth. Thus we see that the ocean still contains many monsters, buried in its depths, that have never yet been revealed to the human eye. The sulphurous vapours, heat, smoke, and ashes soon drove the inhabitants of Olosenga from the side of their island nearest to the volcano; on land the motion was still felt, but no eruptions took place inland, nor have any hot springs opened, nor are the fresh water springs affected yet. Three days afterwards the action began to abate, and on the 11th of November there were only three or four eruptions during the day, and the matter was only thrown up some twenty or thirty feet. The tremulous motion on Olosenga still continues, and is now more of a jerk than anything else. On the east side, Tau, there is a suspicious shaking, but on the other side, six miles distant, nothing has been felt. My father has told the natives living on the east side to clear off as soon as they hear the subterranean groaning. If this volcano becomes extinct, it will in all likelihood leave a dangerous shoal; and it is just the place where ships come for supplies. How sad it would be if our new ship, the John Williams, were to strike on a rock like this, and be wrecked! Dr. Turner has written to Sydney to inform Captain Williams of the danger that might prove fatal to his ship if he were not apprised of it. Perhaps you would like to know something about the islands between which this volcano broke out. There are three small islands, which comprise the group called in the charts Manua, Tau, Olosenga, and Ofu; the population of the three islands is a little over 1500. The natives knew not what to make of the wonderful pheno mena. The chiefs of Olosenga called a meeting, but an earthquake made them disperse hurriedly, calling on each other to "fast and pray;" some of them did so day and night. They did not pray to their old gods, but asked the teachers what they should do; and the teachers told them to have a special prayer meeting every morning; and this they did at once, and prayed to God to extinguish the fire and preserve them from all further danger. But I must now stop, as I have told you all the particulars that have been re ceived in respect to the volcano. I can do no better than finish with the same words as a Samoan teacher did when he wrote to my father concerning the volcano "Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; who shall not fear Thee and glorify Thy name? Marvellous are thy works, O God, and that my soul knoweth right well." I must now conclude; but I may as well mention that the John Williams had not arrived when my father wrote; he said it was expected in February, 1867. I remain, my dear young Friends, Yours very sincerely, Fert ... W. TURNER. 11 Mission School, UNWELCOME NEWS! ALAS, for our beautiful ship! We fear she has come to an untimely end. Indirect tidings have reached the Mission House that Captain Oughton, of the ship Nimrod, encountered a severe gale in the South Seas, and when near "Savage Island" a canoe put off and brought the captain a note from our missionary, Mr. Lawes, to inform him that our fine ship, the John Williams, had been driven on to a neighbouring reef and had become a total wreck, but xo LIVES HAD BEEN LOST, and the missionaries, captain, and crew were then all on Savage Island. If this report should, as we fear, prove correct, then, while sorry, we may yet be glad glad that, H through God's mercy, the wreck, like that described in Acts xxvii., was attended with no loss except that of the ship and the cargo ; and glad, too, that she had already touched at so many of the Islands and left her stores there, though some of our friends in Raratonga and Tahiti would still be anxiously looking out for her in vain. We may be glad, too, that the ship was insured for eight thousand pounds, so that we shall be able to set to work at once to have another built, which may even be, if possible, a more beautiful and commodious ship than this very fine one, which has come to grief before she was two years old. We may also be glad that it is still true that God can place this among the "all things" that will work together for good; and so, "from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised." "I sing the Almighty power of God There's not a plant or flower below N.B. Further particulars next month, if any should arrive. JNDIA. THE NAGERCOIL SCHOOL GROUP. HE picture on the other page is a copy of a photograph of a group of over one hundred students and teachers, which has been sent home by our honoured missionary, the Rev. James Duthie, who so admirably conducts these schools, in which many lads and young men have been prepared not only for the business of life, but especially for the service of God. Many of them have become true Christians, and not a few of them have become good native teachers. Those are the teachers whom you see standing in the back row in the picture; the face in the middle of the last row but one is that of "Yesudian,” a worthy Christian native who has been set apart as a minister: you can pick him out by his white head-dress. He is a good man full of faith, and abounds in good works, and as many as eight hundred persons have given up their heathen practices to attend on his ministry, and we hope and pray that they may be all brought to Christ. You see our dear friend the missionary, Mr. Duthie, standing in the front at the left-hand corner of the picture, with a dress that makes him look very fresh and cool in that hot climate. The boys all thought, when they were being taken, that the picture would not be complete unless Mr. Duthie were in it, so he allowed himself to be taken |