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miss so.

Manlius, N. Y., A box, fr. la. sew. so. of
1st presb. chh. 13,75; fr. young misses, 24,88;
Mexicoville, N. Y., A box, fr. fem. miss. so.
Moretown, Vt. Clothing, fr. gent. and la. asso.
Newbury, Ms. A box, fr. Parker Plain fem.
read. so. for Dwight,
Northfield, Ms. Clothing, etc. fr. ladies, for
Sandw. Isl.

Plainfield, Meriden par. N. H., A box, fr. sab. sch. miss. so. for Miss E. Clough, of W. Choc. miss.

Pournal, Me. A box, fr. sew. so. and others,

for wes. miss.

Putnam, O. Clothing fr. asso. for Dwight,
Running Waters, Cher. na. Clothing, fr.
Mrs. John Ridge, for Miss Sawyer,
Seneca Falls, N. Y., A box, fr. la. sew. so.
for Sandw. Isl.

Trumbull, Ct. A bundle,

Utica, N. Y., A box, fr. indiv. for Sandw. Isl. miss.

Valley of the Mississippi, Western Reserve, Medina co. Flannel, fr. Mrs. I. S. 3,25; coverlet, fr. juv. sew. so. 3; Portage co. Tallmadge, flannel, fr. fem. miss. so. 21; Geauga co. Claridon, a box, fr. asso. 33; Madison, a box, fr. 1st chh. and so. 21,94; do. fr. 2d do. 50;

Waitsfield, Vt. Clothing, fr. gent. and la.

75 85

19 16

21 50

38 63 15 45 30 00

19 00

25.00 80 12

5 00

12 80

132 19

asso. for Union,

67 13

Ware, Ms. Shoes, 30 pairs, fr. L. Gould,

W. par.

37 50

Washington Township, O. 2 yards flannel, fr.

asso. for Dwight.

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James Gray, Treasurer of the Central Board of Foreign Missions, acknowledges the receipt of the following sums fr. Nov. 1st to 30th, viz.

New Providence, Gent. asso. 65; la. asso. 32,87; Tinkling Spring, Gent. asso. 33; la. asso. 13,50; coll. by I. S. B 20,50; Covington, By Miss M. A. 1,67; Martinsburg, Presb. chh. 25; Charleston, Mrs. McComb, 5; Miss P. Bush, 5; Mrs. K. I; Warm Spring, Asso. 10; Alexandria, 2d presb. chh. mon. con. 45; Washington city, 1st chh. for support of a missionary to China, 80,55; Fredericksburg, Benev. so. of presb. chl. 108,87; Bethany cong. N. C. Mon. con. 7; Milton chh. N. C. 25; Prince Edward, College chh. 10; Hillsboro', Chh. N. Č. 5;

By Rev. A. Converse, Hanover, B. Pollard, 2; Prince Edward, J. McD. 32c. Loudon co. Mon. con. 3,20; a friend, 1,80; Pole Green and Salem, La. asso. 6; Statesville, N. C. Mon. con. 10; by Rev. J. S. McC. 5; Mecklenburg, Mrs. R. E. H. 1; New Hanover, N. C. by Rev. D. A. C. 17; ded. postage, 56c.

493 96

45 76

$539 72

William T. Truman, Treasurer of the Aux. So. of the Valley of the Mississippi, acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, viz.

Rising Sun, Indi. Chh. 13; Washington,

Mon. coll. in presb. chh. 4; Carlisle, A. K. 1; Mrs. A. C. 1; Miss L. C. 50c. Jeffer sonville, J. K. 3; Columbus, A. R. 50c. Vevay, 1,50; Greensburg, For. miss. so. 20; Indianapolis, A. Y. 1; Mr. B. 5; Walnut Hills, O. Coll. in Lane sem. 36; mon. con. in do. 14,65; asso. in do. 6; Prof. F. 5,28; Dayton, Mon. con. 30; Jersey, Fein, miss. so. 8; Paddy's Run, Rev. R. Lloyd, 10; mon. con. 4,15; B. W. C. for support of Mr. Thomson in Palestine, 4,18; Oxford, 1. M. H. 11,50; coll. in presb. chh. for Pal. miss. 20; S. S. chil. for support of Rev. Mr. Thomson in Palestine, 6,33; Ross co. S. S. chil. for Indian chil. 6,87; Madison, Mon. con. in 2d chh. 16,91; sub. in do. 27,71; m. box, 1,06; Troy, Miss. so. 52; Monroe, Presb. chh. 9,10; Springfield, Ilti. For China miss. 5; Hillsboro', Miss B. 1; Carrollton, Miss so. av. of gold chain, 2,50; a friend, tor ed. of a Chinese fem. child, 5; mon. con. 48,65; Jacksonville, Mrs. E. 1; a boy, 31c. Fountain Hill, Ten. Coll. 8; New Hope, Coll. 30,62; A. L. 1; J. E. 50c. P. S. 1,13, Winchester, Cumberland chb. 7; Elk Ridge, 11,50; Moss Hill, 1,25; Connersville, 14,50; Hopewell, 3; Franklin, Ten. A. B. E. 1; Watertown, O. Fem. for. miss. sc. 7,36; mon. con. 17; Courtland, Ala. Coll, 10, Athens, Coll. 11; Moulton, Coll. 4; Bethel Green, Coll. 10; New Richword, Presb. chh. 21,59; Unity, Presb. chh. 15,10; Gallatin, Ten. Three indiv. 12; presb. chh, 104,50; Shilo, Chh. 17,50; West Gallatin, 26,50; Carthage, Presb. chh. 7,25; Peyton's Creek chh. 20,50; Sparta, Chh. 10,87; Mr. Manville, 16,40; J. W. Willis, 20; Hillsboro', 5; Farmington, 88c. New Provi dence, Chh. 7.70; Shelbyville, 8; Fall Creek, 13,17; Hopewell, 11,75; Murfreesburg, 22,50; Smyrna, Chh. 68,62; Columbia, Coll. and sub. 47,12; Vandalia, Illi. Mon. con. 4; Master B. 25c. C. B. 6c. Greenville, Mon. con. 9,25: Bethel, Indi. Chh. 3,31; Rev. S. L. 75c. Crawfordsville, Wabash manual labor college, 11; coll. in presb. chh. 46,45; mon. con. 5,75; Orleans, Mon. con. in presb. chh. 3; Brownsville, Mon. con. 2; Coal Creek, Coil. in presb. chhs. 3.25; Lawrenceburg, A. St. J. 1; Mrs. St. J. 4; New Albany, Mon. con. 29,50; Washington, Ten. J. G, 1; Kingston, E. McE. 5; Telacome, Ches. chh. 11,37; Athens, Presb. chh. 6,38; Dandridge, Mr. I. 1; Maryville, Presb. chh. €3.92; Kingsport, Presb. chh. 43,15; benev. asso. for China, 10; for Greece, 10; for Sandw. Isl. 10; Augusta, Ky. Presb chh. 45,56; S. S. coll. 3; Danville, Coll. 63,16; Louisville, Mon. con. in 2d presb. chh. 115; av. of young la. fair, 272, 18; Maysville, Mr. Pomeroy, 5; Newport, Chil, for hea. child in Ceylon, 1,08; Bowling Green, Fem. mon. coll. 20,91, Belfast, Mon. coll. 6,62; coll. 62,06; Mr. Jones's fem. sem. for Washington Isl. miss. 31; Russelville, Indiv. 7,38; Lexington, 1st presb. chh. 13; C. P. 1; Georgetown, Presb. chh. 14,57; Augusta, Mon. con. in presb. chh. 36.37; Canonsburg, Pa. Presb. sab. sch. for Pal. miss. 5,85; do. pray. meet. 12,52; do. for miss. to Greece, 4,62; Cincinnati, La. asso. in 2d presb. chh. for miss. among the Winnebagoes, 153,25; fem. asso. in do. 6.50; mon. con. in do. 32,74; sub. in 4th presb. chh. 33,31; Rev. J. S. 5; Marietta, Cong, chh. 131.86; Washington Township, Asso. 21,50; Reading, Coll. in presb. chh. 7,75; Zanesville, Aux. miss. so. 27; Putnam, Fem. for. miss. so. 20; Chillicothe, Mis. S. Storrs, 3; Georgetown, Coll. in presh. chh. 10; Adams co. Mt. Leigh cong. 2,50; Sugar Grove, S. S. 4,87; Kentucky, For. miss. so. 19.50; Paint Lick, Presb. chh. 30,50; Hanging Fork, 7; Silver Creek, 12,50; Richmond, 15,12; Lancaster, 14,65;

$2,544 13

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to the bay, and I am left in quiet. Two good women have been assisting me, in OF making a lion-skin mantle; they show great expertness with the "hodle" as well as many kind intentions. Several of these women take a motherly care of us, always informing us when any thing is in danger.

January 8, 1834. Some Indians ascended Table mountain and returned with the intelligence that a vessel was approaching from the southwest. Immediately all the camp was in motion, and the cry of "Barco! barco! Americana barco," rung from tent to tent. Troops of Indians soon mounted their horses and galloped off to the shore. Nothing seems to produce greater exhilaration among these sons of nature than the sight of a vessel, and I must say that on this occasion my heart partook largely of the general joy, though my emotions and pleasures were not excited by the same hope which animated them. I hoped that the long desired medium of communicating intelligence to my native land was about to be offered.

[Mr. Coan. The scene of confusion exhibited whenever a vessel stops is past descrip

tion. No sooner had this one made her appearance in the bay, than the beach for a considerable distance was crowded with men, women, and children. All brought their skins, or whatever article they had for trade, presenting the appearance of a fair of the most rustic kind. Their first inquiry was for rum, the next tobacco; for these articles they were completely crazy. The strength of their appetites and passions, and the temptations laid before them, must ever be great obstacles to the spread of the gospel here.

9. Two vessels from America arrived to-day. Most of the Indians are gone

VOL. XXXI.

10. The vessels remain, and of course the Indians do not return. A few returned last night much pleased with the presents of tobacco and bread they had received, and I was not a little gratified to obtain a bite of the latter, as it is the first thing like bread I have tasted for nearly two months; I have felt much the need of it, as my health has suffered from the exclusive use of animal food.

Last night I observed a man lying in one of the tents, much convulsed, and apparently dying. No one went near him, nor did he seem to have any share in their sympathies. This I suppose is generally the case.

Their ideas of futurity are very indefinite. They suppose there are separate places prepared for the good and bad, according to their character here; for the good a place of much happiness, where are many horses; for the bad much torment and fighting; but neither have need of food.

[Mr. Arms.

I hoped to obtain a passage in one of the schooners to the west coast of Patagonia, but in this was disappointed, as the captains say they cannot touch any where on that coast.

Went on shore this morning where hundreds of the Indians still remain hoping to get something from the vessels. They obtained a little tobacco, but to my great joy could not procure any rum. They use tobacco only for smoking, of which they are excessively

5

fond. It is practised by men, women, and children, and is usually their first exercise in the morning and their last at night. They use wooden pipes, and one pipe full of tobacco serves for a whole family at a given time. Each one fills his mouth with the fumes, and then getting his head near to the ground, and drawing his mantle completely over it, blows the smoke gradually through his nostrils until he is strangled and intoxicated.

Finding nothing of special interest to retain me at the bay, I mounted my horse and returned to the camp, where I arrived at eleven, A. M.

teria, we had reason to believe with much correctness. They represented much of the interior as a complete thicket of thorns, in many places impassable. Other parts were deserts of salt, while some places were marshy and others destitute of water, etc. They also described the game which was found in different parts. In one place they said the guanaco abounded; in another the lion, in another the ostrich, and in some parts there was no sustenance for man or beast.

In relation to the inhabitants they state that there was a large nation called Oncas, on both sides of the river Negro As there seemed to be little prospect and between its branches, extending back of our obtaining a passage by water to to a small lake near the Andes; that this the west coast, my companion and my-nation consisted of many thousands; that self determined, if possible, to make immediate arrangements to cross the country on horses, and endeavor to gain that shore by passing the mountains. Whether we can obtain horses and a guide is yet to be determined. To go without both would be absolute presumption, as it would expose us inevitably to perish for want of food.

11. The party of Indians that were pitched twelve miles from us have broken up their camp to-day and have all come and joined our clan; and as we learn that there are no more belonging to this nation we mean to embrace this opportunity, while they are together, for numbering them. Invited the grand captain and the Buenos Ayrean Indian, Santurion, to our tent to converse with them about their country, its inhabitants, the object of our visit to them, our desire to travel the country and cross the mountains, their feelings in relation to establishing a mission among them, etc. These men told us that they had travelled to the north as far as the river Negro, from thence went to the Andes, which they labored to pass, but were prevented by their ruggedness, being composed of rough sharp stones at the base, so that their horses could not climb them which they showed by very expressive gestures-and being crowned with deep masses of perpetual snow. They also stated that they travelled south along the mountains nearly to the straits, searching for some pass, or some place where they might cross to the other side, but could not accomplish their object; that they found game scarce, and that their horses were in danger of perishing for want of food. They described the country over which they passed with considerable minuteness, and from certain known data, which we used as cri

they had horses, cattle, and sheep; that they lived in tents of skin and occasionally removed short distances to obtain pasture for their flocks. In the vicinity of this nation is the Spanish settlement and garrison at Rio Negro, fifteen miles from the mouth of the river Negro, to which the Indians resort for trade. This settlement is under the government of the Buenos Ayres, and that government hold a nominal jurisdiction over all the natives.

South of the Oncas we were assured that there were no inhabitants, except the tribe we are with, the Supalios or Port-Famine tribe, with whom we spent some time, and who are somewhat less than a hundred in number, and a party from the Oncas nation of about the same number, who are now in the interior, and whom we have not yet seen.

We labored to explain the object of our visit to them, but could not convey to their dark minds any definite conceptions of the higher motives by which we and those who sent us were influenced. They only had a general impression that we were friends, and that we had ability and disposition to do them good; but they seemed to have no higher ideas of good than that which pertains to this life. Nor was it possible, with our imperfect medium of communicating thought, and with all their debasement of mind, to enlighten them on the pure and elevated subject of Christ crucified for sinners. By presenting tangible objects, such as hills, etc., and inquiring who formed them, we endeavored to ascertain whether they had any notions of a Supreme Being, but their minds appeared perfectly blank on the subject, as though such a Being had never found a place in all their thoughts.

On the subject of a future state we || Patagonia. He remarked that he felt found their notions more definite. They a lively interest in the missionary cause, believe in the existence of the soul after and that he loved to meet those who death, and in the separation of the good were engaged in it. He very tenderly and bad. When the good man dies they inquired what assistance he could render say he goes far off to a land of eternal us, assuring me that it would afford him. sunshine, where there are pleasant no little pleasure to do any thing within houses, delightful fields, and fine horses, his power to help us. His kind offers and where they will be supplied with all were affecting, and were made with such that they desire; but as they will never undisguised simplicity as at once to give hunger or thirst they have no occasion me confidence in his friendship, and to for food, etc. When the bad man dies awaken my affection for him. His whole they believe that he descends down deep deportment was that of a gentleman and into a bad land of darkness and barren- a Christian; and I am told he is a memness and thorns, where there is much ber of the church of England, and that contention and much sorrow. he has regular religious services on board the vessel on the Sabbath.

We inquired whether they would like to have good men come among them, and bring timber and build a large house at Gregory's Bay; and whether they would give up their children to such men, who would teach them to read and write and cultivate the ground; to make clothing and other useful things. They said it was very good, and that the Indians would leave their children with missionaries to be instructed while they travelled the country for pasture and game; and that they would occasionally visit the establishment to see their children and bring them "much guanaco and much manile.” We told them that the Indians did not like our books and papers; but Santurion said this was the case with only a few, and that this was because they did not understand them.

I would here remark that the sailors whom we found the other day stated that they brought some books and tracts on shore when they landed, but that the natives soon took them from them and burned them before their eyes. The reason of their prejudice against paper they stated to be, the fact that some of the Indians had died of the small-pox, which they took from some old papers left by the Spaniards at Port Desire, where that disease had prevailed.

[Mr. Coan.

On the 12th, the British schooner Sappho, capt. M. M. Melward, of Liverpool, arrived in the bay, bound to California. Mr. H. Penny, the owner of the schooner, first came on shore and became acquainted with the missionaries. The kind attentions received from these gentlemen are gratefully acknowledged in the following paragraph.

Mr. P. now took me on board and introduced me to capt. Melward who appeared much moved on learning our situation and the object for which we visited

sea-sick by being on board of the 14. Capt. Congo, who had been made schooner during a storm, and who had not obtained so much tobacco from her as he wished, became angry and refused a mantle which was offered to appease him. Before night, however, he came to finally listened to an explanation of the us with his feelings much softened, and whole matter with calmness, and quietly received the mantle which had been offered him. He still maintained that the schooner was "malo" (bad) for making him sick, and when he was told that the vessel was not in fault, that her rolling said he is "malo;" and when he learned was caused by the water; then the water that the wind agitated the water, then the wind was "malo." So dark are the minds of these deluded savages that they God," nor do they seem to have any nonever look "from nature up to nature's tion of an all-pervading, all-creating Deity. So infatuated are they that it is said they will take old swords and knives and go out and fight the wind when it blows contrary to their wishes.

the census of this nation to-day and we 16. By the help of Santurion we took found that the whole number is 573. Reckoning the Supalios or Port Famine tribe, at 100, and the clan we have heard of in the interior at 100 (which is proba bly more than they will number) then, Eastern Patagonia, south of the Rio we make only 773 inhabitants in all Negro, i. e. if our information be correct. And our confidence of its correctness is the more strengthened from the report of the sailors who have been with the Indians nearly a year, and have travelled with them far into the interior, and who unanimously tell us that they have neither seen nor heard of any other tribes, and that the natives have always told them that there were no more. Indeed one

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need only to travel a little while in this country and see its sterility, and to learn that the natives subsist only by the chase, in order to come to the unavoidable conclusion that the population must be extremely sparse.

We are told that different parties of this nation sometimes fall out and have severe and even mortal fights with knives and other hard weapons, and this fact seems probable from the many scars found on some of them. They do not, however, appear to be a ferocious and warlike people, and their quarrels only arise from petty jealousies and envies

and are soon over.

Saw some of the Indians playing with a full pack of English cards. It is an easy matter to introduce the vices of our country among these men, but it will be hard to eradicate them. Many of them have learned to use some of the most obscene words in our language, and the only entire English sentence I have heard them pronounce is a full-framed oath. I blush for the Christian name, which, instead of teaching these pagans to revere, has first taught them to blaspheme the Christian's God.

17 One woman in the camp has been engaged for some time in weaving a blanket about four feet square, and as it is the first and only process of the kind that I have seen, I spent some time in seeing the weaver ply her trade. The yarn used for this purpose is spun from the wool of the guanaco, and is drawn out with the fingers, and twisted by means of a reed held in one hand. The loom is equally simple with the spinning apparatus. It consists of two poles placed one above the other in a horizontal position and so far asunder as the intended length of the blanket. The warp being cut into threads of proper length is then tied to these poles by each end, so as to be in a perpendicular position before the artist, like the common weaver's harness. The weaver seats herself before this loom, with her woof wound upon a stick for a bobbin, and one end of it tied to an ostrich's feather for a shuttle. Thus prepared she divides the warp by introducing a stick about a foot and a half long between the threads, and before this is withdrawn, shoving her feather shuttle through the space and thus introducing the woof, the stick now serving as a reed to press the woof down to its place. When this is done the stick is taken out and another portion of the warp is divided in the same manner, and thus the thread of woof is ex

d through it from side to side, and

this process is continued till the blanket is completed. The yarn is died different colors, and the blankets are often made with many curious and tasteful figures; but the process is extremely slow-it requiring nearly two weeks to finish one of these small blankets; consequently they are very scarce, and I have never seen half a dozen of them in the nation. Those which are found are mostly used to caparison the horses of the great. In the fabrication of this article may be seen much native genius struggling to develop its energies amidst the almost insuperable obstacles with which it is cramped.

19. The Indian doctor has been practising his art in different parts of the camp during most of the day, and his howling, moaning, blowing, screaming, shaking his rattles, etc., have become familiar music to our ears. Much confidence seems to be placed in his superstitious and ridiculous round of ceremonies; for he is employed by all who are ill, from the great captain down to the meanest individual; and they not only suppose him capable of driving diseases from man, but also from beast; for I saw him at the tent of capt. Congo to-day endeavoring to cure a sick horse. He went through with the same process with the horse as with a human patient, except that he dispensed with the rattles, and probably for the good reason, that experience had taught him that the horse would bear this noisy prescription less patiently than the more stupid savage. Every day brings us fresh illustrations of the dark and debased condition of these men, and excites unavailing sympathies on their behalf. We would preach "Christ crucified" to them, but cannot; and our situation among them is like that of one surrounded by drowning men whom he has no power to save.

soon

[Mr. Coan.

On the 24th, the schooner Antarctic, capt. James S. Nash, came into Gregory's Bay. The Indians, having learned that Messrs. Arms and Coan intended to leave them as as they should find a suitable opportunity, endeavored to prevent their being informed of this arrival. After some refusals and delays, they at length consented to furnish horses to convey them and their baggage to the bay.

25. Arose early this morning and called for the horses we had engaged to take us down to the vessel; but it was about two hours before they were brought up, after which they were suffered to

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