would be another step towards destroying, in the public mind, that idea of the Sabbath's sacredness, which is the strongest guarantee for its observance; and, this once removed, there is every probability that the enjoyment of a Sabbath by the working man, would become only a question of convenience and expediency with his employer; so that, instead of being able to look forward with confidence and hope to a weekly rest, he would be in danger of becoming the victim of increasing toil. Multitudes, too, especially of the young, there is reason to believe, would be drawn away from those religious ordinances and associations, which now exercise a powerfully restraining influence over their minds, and would gradually lose all sense of religious obligation, until they became the dupes of infidelity or stolid spiritual indifference. It is said, indeed, that the working classes themselves demand the opening of the Palace on the Sabbath; but what right, we ask, have they to require that the numerous persons engaged in attending to its affairs, should be worked on the day of rest for their pleasure? In seeking this, they are placing themselves in the position of employers, and enacting a part which, in their own masters, they would condemn as the height of tyranny. If they wish their own rights to be preserved; let them respect the rights of their companions in toil.

Hitherto the Sabbath has been one of the greatest national blessings. It has shed its genial influence on all classes. If, however, we wish it to be perpetuated, we must guard against the threatened encroachment. That this evil may not overtake us, let us memorialize Her Majesty's Government, and our Houses of Legislature; but, above all, let us invoke the interposition of that Being, who can turn the hearts of men 66 as the streams of the south."

W. REED.

AFRICAN DISCOVERY.

Perhaps, nothing has more eminently distinguished modern times, than the progress of geographical discovery. A new world has been discovered on the other side of the Atlantic-an ocean, which, by the ancients, was regarded as an impassable waste of waters. Beyond the Cape, and on the far side of the great Pacific, we have discovered regions, more extensive than the empire of Augustus, which abound in golden treasures, beyond the most extravagant dreams of Avarice. But while discovery has thus been going on with rapid strides, in regions, where isles and continents were hardly supposed to exist, little, exceedingly little, has been done to extend our acquaintance, with a quarter of the globe, which is famed as having become in the infancy of mankind, one of the most early seats of civilization; the very cradle of the arts, the sciences, and the literature of the ancient world. True, Egypt has been known as the land of the Pyramids from time immemorial, and the Barbary States, have a history reaching back to the period, when Carthage and Rome disputed in mortal combat, on the waters of the Mediterranean, for the empire

of the world. True, European enterprise has discovered and peopled Southern Africa, even to the blood-stained frontiers of Caffraria. True, the genius of commerce has found out the shores of Western Africa, while commercial cupidity has polluted them with the footsteps of the man-stealer, and converted them into the scene of unheard of atrocities, on the part of rival chiefs, who, impelled more by the passion for gain, than by the love of power, carry on war in the interest of the slave trade, with savage fierceness. Parke and the Landers' have done something to extend our acquaintance with the countries that lie on the banks of the Niger, just as Bruce had contributed to our knowledge of the lands through which the Nile pursues its majestic course. But after all, the interior of this vast continent, may be pronounced a terra incognita, at least to civilized. nations. We know, next to nothing, of the lands and climes of Central Africa; we know nothing of the manners and customs of the people, by whom those unknown lands are occupied. From time to time, however, individuals arise, who, impelled by philanthropic feelings, or by love of enterprise, devote themselves to the cause of discovery in these remote regions. Indeed, we are not without hope, that the interior of Africa will be, as well known ere long to the geographer, as the interior of America now is. And sure we are, that in proportion, as those regions become better known to the civilized world, and the channels of honest commerce are opened out, it will become increasingly difficult, and ultimately impossible, to carry on the nefarious trade in human beings.

The following sketch, communicated by an esteemed correspondent, the Rev. T. A. Bayley, gives an interesting account of a perilous adventure, by an individual devoted to the cause of African discovery, in one of its most sultry and uncultivated districts.

AN ADVENTURE IN THE SAHARA.

July 14th, 1850. We are at length fairly in the land of demons, as the country of the Ghât Tuaricks is called by themselves. All around, the mountains take castellated forms, and high over all, rises the Kasar Janoon Palace, or Citadal of the Ginn: a huge square mass of rock, said to be a day in circuit, and bristling with turret pinnacles, some of which must be seven hundred feet in height. Nothing but its magnitude can convince the eye, at a distance, that it is not a work raised by human hands, and shattered by time or warfare. Its vast disrupted walls tower giganticly over the plain. Here, as in another Pandemonium, the spirits of the deserts collect from places distant thousands of miles, for the purpose of debate and prayer. It is a mosque as well as a hall of council, and a treasury to boot, for imaginable treasures are buried in its caverns. Poor people love to forge wealthy neighbours for themselves, no Tuarick will venture to explore these Titanic dwellings, for according to old compact, the tribes of all these parts have agreed to abstain from impertinent curiosity, on condition of receiving advice and assistance from the spirit-inhabitants of their country. In my former visit, I nearly lost my life in an attempt to explore it, and was supposed to have been misled by mocking spirits: little did I think that this superstition was about to receive another

confirmation.

July 15th.

I rose early, and marched about three hours and a half to

*

the well, under the Kasar Janoon; that is to say, four or five miles along the base of the eastern wall of the Kasar. But this day's adventures deserve more particular chronicle. The Germans had determined to go and examine the Kasar, and were about to start just as I came out of my tent. They had had some altercation with Hatteetah, because, partly for superstitious reasons, he would not give them a guide, and they had made up their minds to undertake the exploration alone. I saw Dr. Barth going off somewhat stiffly by himself; Dr. Overweg came to where I was standing, and asked Amankee, my Soudan servant, about the well near the Kasar, and then also went off. He said to me, "I shall boil my water on the highest point, and then go along the top to the other end." He was taking some points of the Kasar with the compass, and I observed to him, "Take the eastern point." Then he started. Yusuf called out after him, "take a camel with you, it is very distant." Distressed at seeing them go alone, I told Amankee, that if he would follow, I would give him a present. He agreed, upon the condition, that he should not be expected to ascend the Kasar; for he feared the Janoon. We then gave him dates, biscuits, and a skin of water, and he started after Dr. Overweg. I confess I had my fears about them. On arriving near the well, we pitched our tent near an immense spreading old ettrel, which afforded us some shade. I watched the changing aspect of the Kasar, nearly all the time of our three hours' ride; I could not help thinking, that the more it was examined, the more marvellous did it appear. I then looked out to recognise the place where I was lost four years ago, and at last I thought I could distinguish the locality. The day wore on. It blew gales of hot wind. No Germans appeared, although it had been told them, that we should only stop during the hot hours of the day. However, I anticipated they would not arrive before sunset. Hatteetah sent word, that as there was little water, he should move on till to-morrow. This was good news for the Germans. At last, about five o'clock P.M., Dr. Overweg appeared. He had experienced great thirst and fatigue; but having the assistance of Amankee, he got back safe. He at once confessed his fears for Dr. Earth. I began to think, this gentleman must either have gone to Ghât, or that some accident had befallen him. Soon indeed, we began to have gloomy apprehensions, and to talk seriously of a search. The Tuaricks were not very civil, and Hatteetah threw all the responsibility of the safety of my fellow travellers on me. Dr. Overweg and several people went out in search of Dr. Barth just before sunset.

Night closed in; no appearance of our friend. I hoisted a lamp on the top of the ettrel, and made large fires as the sun went down, in hopes that their glare might be seen at a distance from the Kasar. Our servants returned without Dr. Overweg; he had promised to be back by sunset, and I began to fear some accident had befallen him likewise.

The evening grew late, and Hatteetah came to me, in a very nervous state, to inquire after the Germans. I endeavoured to compose him by telling him the responsibility was on us, and not on him. Dr. Owerweg returned at midnight. He had thrown into the desert various pieces of paper, on which was written the direction of our encampment from the Kasar. We were very uneasy and slept little, as may be imagined; but before we retired for the night, Hatteetah arranged a general search for the morning.

Next morning accordingly, at daybreak (16th,) the search was commenced by two camels scouring the environs of the desert. Dr. Overweg went with one of the parties, but returned at noon, bringing no news of Dr. Barth. Amankee with his party, had however seen his footsteps towards

* Drs. Barth and Overweg.

the north. This was most important, as it directed our attention that way, and we thought no more of his having gone to Ghât. We now calculated that our companion had been twenty-four hours without a drop of water, a gale of hot wind blowing all the while. Dr. Overweg proposed to me, that we should offer a considerable reward, as the last effort. He mentioned twenty, but I increased the sum to fifty dollars. This set them all to work, and a Tuarick with a maharee volunteered to search. I found it necessary however, to give him two dollars for going, besides the proffered reward; he left at two p.m., and all the people were sent off by Hatteetah a couple of hours after him.

This was a dreadfully exciting day. I confess, that as the afternoon wore on, I had given up nearly all hope, and continued the search merely as a matter of duty. Few will be able to imagine the anguish of losing a friend, under such circumstances in the wide desert, where you may for ever remain uncertain how he came by his death, whether by the spear of a bandit, the claws of a wild beast, or by that still more deadly enemy, thirst. Just before sunset, I was preparing fresh fires as a last resort, when I saw one of our blacks, the little Maharee, running eagerly towards the encampment. Good news was in his very step. I hastened to meet him. He brought the joyful intelligence that Dr. Barth had been found, still alive and even able to speak. The Tuarick whom I had despatched, in scouring the country with his maharee, had found him about eight miles from the camp, lying on the ground unable to move. For twenty-four hours he had remained in the same position, perfectly exhausted with heat and fatigue. Our fires had not been unmarked by him, but they only served to show that we were doing our best to find him. He could not move a step towards them. On seeing his deliverers, he could just muster strength to say, "water, water!" He had finished the small supply, he had taken with him the day before at noon, and had from that time suffered the most horrible tortures from thirst. He had even drunk his own blood! Twenty-eight hours without water in the Sahara! Our people could scarcely at first credit that he was alive; for their saying is, that no one can live more than twelve hours, when lost in the desert during the heats of summer.

17th. The Doctor being of robust constitution, was well enough this day to mount his camel and proceed with the caravan.-" Richardson's Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa. 1850-51."

66

A ROYAL WAY OF DISPOSING OF GENEALOGICAL QUESTIONS INVOLVING PRECEDENCE.-Feodore III., grandson of Mikhail Romanoff, the founder of the present royal family of Russia, reigned only for a brief period, but his reign was distinguished by one remarkable act. Observing that his nobles were continually quarrelling about questions of genealogy which involved precedence, he ordered all the records of descent to be gathered in a heap in the palace yard, and set fire to them, thus terminating their absurd squabbles." One cannot help regretting that it is impracticable to dispose of some other questions, on the subject of precedence among the European powers, in the affairs of Turkey, in the same way. If Feodore's method had been practicable, in this case, how much precious blood might have been spared, and how much wretchedness averted. Well, we can only pray the Lord, to hasten the time, when "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; when nation shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war any more."

24

INDIFFERENCE TO RELIGION.

WE have in England alone, besides Scotland and Ireland, nearly twenty millions of inhabitants, most of whom would, in all probability, take it as a serious offence, if any question were made on the subject of their being Christians. The notions entertained by a large number of them, as to what constitutes a Christian, would, however, prove exceedingly crude and erroneous, when brought to the standard of New Testament requirement, if we may judge them simply by their habits and practices. There is one point on which they may be accurately tested, and which will hardly fail to bring out their true character, namely, their want of attention to personal religion. There is no hazard in saying on this matter, that tens, yea hundreds of thousands, among the dense populations of our cities, and large manufacturing and commercial towns, have no more thought of God as a Being to be intelligently loved, revered, and served, than have the heathen who never heard his name. Judging more particularly, for instance, from their mode of spending the Sabbath-day, how utterly unconscious they appear to be of any Divine claim in reference to that portion of our time; and what a consequent absence of all concern about spiritual and eternal things, is the inevitable result! We need not advert to the more vicious and sinful pursuits indulged in on that day-the intoxication and riot, and violence, so frequently witnessed;-but content ourselves with referring to the thorough indifference to religion which everywhere prevails, as evinced by that day being devoted to sleeping, lounging, gossiping, cooking and gormandising. What an awful amount of heathenism, as thus exhibited, abounds among us! How completely and entirely is God banished from the minds of such persons! There is, perhaps, no country under the sun, however ignorant and debased its inhabitants, where, for all practical purposes, more heathenism prevails, than such persons exhibit in our own land.

What an awful view of large numbers of our countrymen, living in the land of Sabbaths, and Bibles, and Christian ordinances, does this state of things exhibit! and how important is the question, How are such persons to be reached, and aroused from their sleep of death, and awakened to a just concern about religious matters? It is evident they cannot be expected, while remaining in this state, to attend the House of God, and join in His worship. Indeed, it is just because this dire indifference to personal religion prevails to the extent it does, that our chapels and places of worship exhibit such paucity of hearers ;-there is abundance of room for thousands, but they remain absent, and unconverted. Must they not, therefore, be sought out, and "compelled " by the force of moral suasion, and deep conviction, to "come in"? For this class of persons, indeed, there appears to be no hope, but in their being thus sought out, and "from house to house" warned, and instructed, and thus aroused from the torpor of their indifference. And it is matter of thankfulness, that in this respect, something has already been done, and is now being carried on. Hundreds of devoted men of God are visiting the cottages, and the cellars, and the garrets, of the morally and spiritually destitute, with more or less of success; and yet there is room, and occasion, for thousands of additional labourers.

O! what a blessed day will that be, when indifference to personal religion shall no longer be the characteristic of the masses of our countrymen, but when the claims of the Almighty to their affections, and services, shall be distinctly recognised, and willingly and universally offered to him! Let the reader ask himself this question, "Am I doing all that lies in my power, to bring about a consummation so devoutly to be desired?"

EPENETUS.