SINGAPORE.

141

Whole

Large 8vo.

Consolations of the True Doctrine,

Pages. No. of copies. No. pages.

88

8,800

774,400

Truth its Own Witness,

138,600

Life of Christ,

154,752

The Right Way,

11.200

The Two Ways,

Way from Misery to Happiness,

8

Savior of the World,

9

1,048

9,432

On Redemption,

78

6,500

507,000

Little Faith, little Happiness, or True Faith, 28

1,600

45,800

On Repentance,

66

On the Trinity,

32

8,408

269,000

On Kindness and Universal Love,

9,200

Endless Life,

12,368

Explanations of the Scriptures,

28,000

Instructive Details,

28,350

Chinese Magazine, (Vols.)

122,200

Do.

Monthly Numbers,

474,000

Universal History,

246

142

34,932

History of the United States of America,

2,500

In addition to the above, blocks have been cut for the following

works, viz.

For a pocket edition of a considerable part of the New Testament ;
Origin of Doctrines;

All the Discourses of Jesus;

History of the Jews, in two volumes.

To the foregoing should be added the Malay printing, estimated at 4,000 copies, and 82,000 pages, and the Bugis at 3,000 copies, and 64,000 pages; also printing in Japanese, as follows, viz.

Making the whole amount of printing from the beginning, 303,652 copies, and 12,924,866 pages.

The seminary for boys contains forty pupils, one of whom, a member of the first class, was baptized on the 5th of January last. He came originally from Hok-Kien province in China, and was brought by Mr. Johnson from Siam. He is a youth of promise. The members of the mission all feel a deep interest in this young institution.

The communications from this mission published in the Missionary Herald during the present year, respecting the spoken language

of China, and also the relative importance of Hindoostan and eastern Asia as fields for missionary labor, are of serious import. But there are causes in visible, powerful operation, which may suddenly and greatly change the aspects and relations of things in that part of the world.

MISSION TO BORNEO.

SAMBAS.-Elihu Doty, Missionary, and Mrs. Doty.

PONTIANAK.-Elbert Nevius and William Youngblood, Missionaries; Mrs. Nevius and Mrs. Youngblood; Miss Azuba C. Condit, Teacher.

Stations not known.-Frederick B. Thomson and William J. Pohlman, Missionaries; Mrs. Pohlman.

(2 stations; 5 missionaries, and 5 female assistant missionaries;-total, 10.)

Mr. Doty arrived at Sambas June 17th, 1839; Mr. Youngblood arrived at Pontianak on the 19th of September; and Mr. Nevius sailed from Singapore for that place about the end of November. Mr. and Mrs. Ennis have returned to this country, and at their own request have been released from their connection with the Board. Mrs. Ennis arrived November 26th, with her health still much impaired, and Mr. Ennis in July of the present year. Messrs. Thomson and Pohlman were at Batavia at the lastest dates, not having completed the year, which, by regulation of the government, they were to spend at that seat of Dutch colonial power before going to Borneo. On the 17th of November, Mr. Thomson was called upon to suffer the greatest of earthly bereavements in the death of his wife. Her closing scene exemplified and adorned the religion she had gone forth to carry to the heathen.

Two clerical missionaries are under appointment, with the expectation of embarking for Borneo during the present autumn, and it would be highly gratifying to the mission, if a physician of devoted missionary spirit could be induced to offer his services in time to accompany them. The appeal is of course addressed to the Reformed Dutch Church, of whose members this mission is exclusively composed, and to whom it looks, through the Board, for support.

The field is one that will afford some trial of faith and patience; but where is there another at present accessible in that part of the world, which, when viewed in all its aspects and relations, is more inviting? It would seem that western Borneo is more healthy than Siam, and the Dyaks, though scattered, are as promising as any untutored race of pagans, and will probably be found more ready

to listen to the gospel than the followers of Confucius, or Mohammed. What the Committee have been able to learn respecting the views and feelings of the Dutch authorities at home and in the colonies, indicates a disposition to regard missionaries from the Dutch churches of America with kindness, and gradually to enlarge their privileges, if they are found to prosecute their missionary labors with a sound christian discretion. It would not be strange if the mission in Borneo were ultimately regarded with favor, and treated accordingly. Nay, it is not improbable that access may be afforded to other and more fertile fields. The Committee feel the importance of faith and patience. Time must be given for the friends of evangelical religion and of missions in Holland to acquire more full and accurate information concerning the numbers, resources, opinions and feelings of their brethren in this country. They have evidently supposed that the Dutch churches in the United States would readily act in a degree of subordination to their brethren in the father-land, which they will see, when better informed, could not reasonably be expected; and when consulted by the government, they may have given advice under this misapprehension. The progress of the Committee has hitherto been attended with many perplexities and trials, growing out of a variety of causes, generally beyond control, and some of them beyond the reach of human foresight; but not more numerous or trying than have been experienced in the early stages of some of the most interesting of the existing missions. Perhaps it will appear here as it often has appeared elsewhere, that God will try his people before he grants them his signal favor.

Neither Sambas nor Pontianak is to be regarded as of course a permanent station in the mission. Others may be found more eligibly situated for living and laboring. A few extracts will be made from the communications of the missionaries to give some view of these places. Messrs. Doty and Pohlman in speaking of Sambas river and town, say,—

"Ascending the Sambas river, we found it a noble stream, in width nearly a mile, and in depth sufficient for vessels of large burden. Its borders are skirted with an unbroken jungle and forest, without the appearance of a single habitation or trace of human culture, to enliven the sombre scene. Here and there may be seen the outlet of some tributary stream, which drains this extensive marsh of its superfluous waters. On some of these rivulets are groups of Malays, who have found an elevation of ground sufficiently dry to erect rude dwellings, and cultivate fruits and rice, which are their only means of support. Several small boats from these villages visited us to sell their articles of produce, as we passed up the river. About twenty miles from the sea the river divides into two branches, the southern of which is called little Sambas river, and leads to the town.

"The advantages of Sambas for a mission are chiefly owing to its favorable location for penetrating into the interior. The Sambas river affords facilities for reaching the scattered Dyak population of this region, and introducing the gospel among them. Other than this, it appears to us that Sambas does not hold out any strong inducements for making it a permanent location. This opinion is founded upon a view of the place and the population. The place is low and marshy. The river on both sides is lined with a single tier of houses. These can be approached only by rowing from one to another in small boats, so that direct intercourse among the inhabitants must necessarily be attended with no little difficulty.

"The Chinese campong is a single street on the south side of the river. The population is about 150; most of them speak the K'hek dialect, and are petty shop-keepers. Among them we noticed many inveterate opium smokers. Most of the inhabitants are Malays. A small campong of Bugis and a few Javanese comprise the remainder. The number of Malays, Bugis, etc., is variously estimated at from 3,000 to 5,000. The former is probably nearer the truth."

Speaking of Pontianak, they say

"The situation of Pontianak is in many respects similar to that of Sambas. It is located at the junction of the Landak and the Sangaur or Kapuas rivers, forming the Pontianak river. The establishment of the sultan is at the point of junction. The Dutch residences, fort, etc., are on the south side of the river, about half a mile below the sultan's. On the same side of the river, and next above the Dutch, is the principal Chinese campong, extending to the junction of the rivers. There commences the chief settlement of Malays, on both sides, and extending some distance up the Kapuas river. From the sultan's palace upward, on the south side of the Landak river, the Bugis are located. Immediately opposite to the sultan's, and across the Landak river, is another small Chinese campong of K'hek men. This is of recent origin, and but a few dwellings have yet been erected. Pontianak is low ground, and subject to flooding during high tides and heavy rains. It is drier, however, than Sambas, especially in the vicinity of the Dutch residences, and through the Chinese campong. It is said to be a healthy place. In every respect we regard Pontianak, for a permanent location, decidedly preferable to Sambas. "As a field for missionary effort, Pontianak presents several claims. It has a much greater commerce than Sambas, or any other place on the west coast of Borneo. Consequently the facilities for obtaining supplies are more frequent and secure. Its population is also larger than any other place on the coast. It presents a sphere of labor for Chinese and Malay missionaries. May it not also be the place to commence a Bugis mission? It is the great entrance point to at least one large settlement of Chinese in the interior, viz. Ka Mandor, and to Landak, said to be the most numerous settlement of the Dyaks, as well as to various other places, perhaps of not much less interest and importance. The Chinese settlements of Sepang, Lumar, Lara, Montrado, etc. can be more easily approached by way of Sambas, as these places are under that residency."

These brethren thus speak of the Dyaks :

"As we see them, they are mild and gentle and 'given to hospitality.' But when they exchange their domestic habits for those of the warrior, their greatest delight seems to be to revel in human blood, and their greatest honor to ornament their dwellings with human heads, which are the trophies of their inhuman barbarity.

"The Dyaks are decidedly a more muscular and better built race of men than the Malays. Their hair is dark and black, and being suffered to grow