There has been no particular change in the school since my last. The number of boarders remains the same, and those who attend from the neighborhood are very punctual.

Proceedings of the Chiefs.

The white men and Indians selected by the nation to explore the country west of Missouri and Arkansas, have commenced their tour. The Indians generally are in the greatest suspense. They have no confidence in each other, particularly on such an occasion as this. The people are unanimous in their opposition to a removal.

This step was taken on account of a proposal made by the government of the United States to the Chickasaws and Choctaws, to exchange their lands in the State of Mississippi, for lands lying

west and north of the State of Missouri. These two tribes consented to send a delegation of their own people, in company with some white men in whom they could place confidence, to look at the proposed new lands, and report whether the exchange would be expedient.

The nation has recently formed some wholesome laws, and to our astonishment they are all strictly enforced. Whiskey is banished from the country. A thief is punished with thirty-nine lashes, without regard to color, age, or sex, and is compelled to return the stolen property or an equivalent. One hundred men (twenty-five out of each district) are to carry the laws into execution, and are paid by the nation.

These things are encouraging, and I see nothing in the way, if these people are unmolested, of their becoming civilized, enlightened, and happy.

The work of reformation is already commenced; and if they could but enjoy tranquillity of mind, I have no doubt but that it would rapidly advance.

The Ottawas, the Indians for whose benefit this mission was specially designed, though children from other tribes are admitted to the school, reside on small reservations, lying at intervals on the Maumee river, from its mouth 60 miles into the interior. These Indians, surrounded by white men, are brought in a great degree under their influence, and, as is commonly the fact, with Indians in such circumstances, are poor, indolent, and addicted to intoxication to a lamentable degree. A desire to have their children educated seems to be, on the whole, prevailing, and some individuals have of late been hopefully converted by the labors of the mission family.

Prospects of the School.

and mother of one of our scholars came to About the first of September, the father visit their children. Sasa, a chief who resides at the mouth of Portage river, and several other Indians came with them. After spending several days in this vicinity, Sasa was so well pleased with the school, and this place, that he said he should come and reside somewhere near the station, and send his children for instruction. He has returned to Portage in order to prevail on all his party to remove here with him. His clan consists of ten or twelve families.

Mr. Van Tassel subsequently remarks,

We have received six new scholars, from the mouth of Portage river, and have them bound for five years. Five of them are mixed: the other is a full Ottawa. Our school now contains 18 scholars; and should those who have gone home on a visit, return, it will contain 22. A number more have applied, some of whom we expect shortly. Several of the old scholars wish to attend school the ensuing winter.

As it respects the state of religion, I have nothing particularly gratifying to communicate. We are much pressed with worldly cares; and I fear spiritual concerns are too much neglected. I have been unable to preach for four Sabbaths past, but we have usually had some religious exercise; and the Sabbath school has been attend

ed to. The monthly concert is attended alternately at the station, and in the settlement below, where are a few professing Christians. The case of a mechanic from the vicinity, who worked with us about six weeks last winter, was very interesting, When he came, he appeared extremely ignorant and thoughtless on the subject of religion: he soon manifested an inclination to read tracts and religious publications and frequently conversed on serious subjects. He went away apparently very tender, and

nine months, occasioned so great a famine, that most of the inhabitants of these islands lived for many weeks on the roots of trees, &c. At present we have every prospect of a similar calamity; and at the cava meeting this morning we heard the subject discussed, and, as a matter of course, it was attributed to our residing among them. They said, the Tonga gods were angry with the people for suffering us to come among them; that the Tonga and English gods have had a quarrel on the subject; and that the Tonga gods, being the strongest, were now punishing them for their sins.

At half past eight o'clock this evening we had the shock of an earthquake, which, with the noise of the people on the occasion, almost shook our courage. Not only did the whole house move backwards and forwards, but the very chair in which I sat. The natives said, that the god who supports the earth is, at these times, changing his load from one shoulder to

the other.

Two native teachers from Tahiti under the care of the London Missionary Society have recently established themselves on Tonga, one of the islands of this group, and seem to have very pleasing prospects of usefulness. The following letter from one of them to a missionary of the London Missionary Society is taken from the Missionary Chroniele.

Peace be to you from Jesus Christ our Lord. I have received the letter you sent me. I have read it. The questions you put to me, in the letter, concerning what we are doing here, are right and proper. Four belonging to the royal family of Tonga, have embraced the Gospel. They reside with us. You know the word of God will not be in haste to grow. It is with himself to make his own word to prosper. You exhorted us not to be idle, but active and diligent. We hope we are so; we are continuing instant in prayer in the very mouth of the savage serpent, with patience. Be kind to us, and come and see us, that we may talk with each other. Peace be with you.

South Africa.

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SO

CIETY.

BUSHMEN.

THE wretchedness and moral debasement to which many of the tribes in the southern extremity of Africa are sunk, have often excited the pity of those who are accustomed to read missionary intelligence.

The following description of a Bushman by the Rev. Mr. Kay, is taken from the Wesleyan Missionary Notices.

Character of a Bushman.

Wherever we turn our eyes we unavoidably behold objects of commiseration; objects, whose lamentable circumstances exhibit the most urgent claims upon Christian sympathy and regard.

The state of the poor Bushman, in some parts of this district, is affecting in the highest degree. His hands are uplifted against every one; and daily occurrences render it fully evident, that he regards every man's hand as being raised against him. A cursory glance at his deplorable condition would induce one to ask, Does this wretched creature belong to the human family? This, indeed, must be granted. But where shall we look for him? amidst human society and amongst the habitations of men? Alas! we must leave the range of men, and visit the haunts of wild beasts, the deep and distant glen, the dense and almost impenetrable forest, or the terrific and apparently inaccessible precipice; and looking up to the projecting crag, penetrating the gloomy cavern, or climbing to the summit of the rock, there he is to be found. His bow is bent, his darts are poisoned; and his looks betraying both fear and hostility, he stands fully prepared to take a fatal aim at all who may approach his rampart. Hence it is almost impossible to effect the least intercourse with him. He might seem to claim kindred only with baboons and beasts of prey, for the retreats of these creatures are frequently converted into places of habitation for him and for his family. He never sallies forth without arrows in his quiver and poison in his bag; and the latter is of the most deadly kind. He is very diminutive in person, clad only with filth, well instructed in every species of barbarity, to which he trains his offspring from their very infancy; and he maintains their miserable existence by plunder and murder. His perpetual depredations render him the object of hatred and dread, and induce many to pursue him with the instruments of death. Such is the almost incredible and truly awful state of this class of our neighbors at the present moment. No sound of salvation is heard in their dens; the Sabbath of the Lord to them is unknown; of the name of a Saviour they have no knowledge; and the Gospel of God has not yet reached them.

I was present a few days since at the examination of two men belonging to this tribe, who were lately caught and brought to judgment for the murder of a Hottentot, who was herding his master's cattle on the banks of the Kay River. And Mr. D. informed me this morning, that there are considerable numbers living in the mountains, somewhat more than a day's journey from Somerset. A few of them were prevailed upon, some time back, to come down and live with the neighboring farmers. Here, however, they remained but for a short period. As if preferring their former barbarous and wild mode of living, notwithstanding its wretchedness, they deserted the abodes of civilized life, and again returned to their hiding places; since which they appear to have been more savage and mischievous than before. About a month ago, a Hottentot female, who had been tending the flock, was seized, on her way home, by a number of these barbarians; who, after mangling her in a most dreadful manner, left her weltering in her blood; so that when discovered, she was quite dead. English farmer's servant was attacked by them still more recently; who, however, providentially escaped with life, but not without many severe and very dangerous wounds, some of which were inflicted by a boy, belonging to one of the savages. His father sent him to shoot at their defenceless victim, merely to prove his expertness in archery, saying, "Now let us see if you can kill her on the spot!" (Such are the lessons of

An

The preaching of the word is not unattended by the influence of the Holy Spirit; it is "pure, enlightening the eyes," it is powerful, awakening the heart. Though I cannot state instances of decided conversion to God, I have seen sinners tremble and weep under the word. This was especially the case on the first Sabbath of the present month. A gracious influence was felt at the very commencement of our service; but when the text was read-"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"-one, and another, began, from silent weeping, to mourn with a loud voice before God. The effect could not be attributed to any human art, exciting the passions of the people, for, as yet, not one word had been uttered; the Holy Ghost touched the hearts of the hearers by the bare reading of the text, and the preacher was obliged to pause before he could begin his discourse. One native Caffre, whose silent tears often express his penitential sorrow for sin, wonders at himself. "I," says he, "never wept in my life before; whatever troubles befel me, I never could shed a tear; but now my heart is tender, and like a little child." O that the Father would glorify the Son, by giving more abundantly the Holy Spirit to these rebellious sons of men; that the Lord God, even the ever blessed Trinity, may dwell amongst them, in them, and with them, to all eternity. We have now formed a small class of catechumens, whom we regard as candidates for baptism.

One week in a month is employed in itinerating, from early dawn till late at night, amongst the more distant parts of this tribe. The duties I owe my children, whose education chiefly devolves on me, will not allow me to spend a greater portion of time from home. In these extensive and laborious journeys, I am thankful to find a growing attention to divine things. I go from kraal to kraal, and preach to six, or twelve, or twenty individuals, just as I can collect them together. go without purse or scrip, and live on milk and corn, as the people live. I pay for nothing, telling them, "I bring you the word of God, and while travelling amongst you, I look to you for daily bread when I am hungry, and a place to sleep in, wherever I chance to come when it is night." And generally I receive from them evidences of kindness and hospitality which are grateful to my feelings, and afford me encouragement and delight. My sermon seldom exceeds ten minutes; and I then invite, not disputation concerning the truth, but

inquiries after it, from any one who chooses to propose a question. I shall here subjoin some of the remarks that were made, during my week's itinerancy in March. At one kraal, by the river Xore, to which we had descended with considerable difficulty, the people said, "Though we live far from you, and our place is not easy of access, we hope you will come again, and repeat the words which we are thankful to hear." At another place it was remarked, "That must be great and important news, which makes you travel about amongst us, so far from home, while we have nothing to give you for your labor." At a third kraal, an old man said, "We have heard with our ears, but the word cannot get down to our hearts. We are all like so many dead men, and our souls know nothing of these things." I replied, "True; but our hope is in that God who quickeneth the dead: and who calleth the things that are not, as though they were." Nor could I help reflecting on the vision of Ezekiel, nor restrain myself from breathing forth his inspired prayer-"Come from the four winds, O breath; and breathe upon these slain, that they may live!"

DOMESTIC.

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

A VIEW of the operations of this society may be found in the abstract of its second annual report, inserted at p. 250 of the last volume of this work. The Home Missionary, its official publication, furnishes very gratifying evidence, that the society is extending its operations and that it is now regarded by those portions of our population which are destitute of ministers and of religious institutions, or but very inadequately supplied with them, as the source to which they must look for help; and that its missionaries are very cordially received in all parts of the country, and their labors followed by the happiest results.

During the first year of its existence, the society employed 201 missionaries, who furnished a more or less constant supply of the means of grace, to 244 congregations or missionary districts. During the last seven months, 42 of these missionaries, whose term of service had expired, have been commissioned again, and 63 new appointments have been made. The preachers of the Gospel thus sent forth, have gone principally to the middle and western States: but some of them are laboring in most of the newly settled portions of the union; and are together exerting an influence, more or less direct and steady, on many thousands of our population.

Seeing the extent to which the operations of the society are carried, the friends of religion and religious institutions, who, in the course of providence, have been called to reside in the waste places of the land, perhaps, for the very purpose of being instrumental in building them up, are extending their hands to the society, as the only institution from which they can hope for

relief. A few extracts from applications for aid, found in some of the late numbers of the Home Missionary, will show to what extent the expectations of the friends of religion are depending on this society, and how greatly its funds and the number of its missionaries must be increased, before it can answer these expectations. The first is from an application made by a gentleman in Florida.

Heretofore, it has been my good fortune to be a helper; now, I must call upon you for help, to feed those who are perishing for lack of knowledge. I have lived fifteen months in this country, containing a population of five thousand souls, without hearing the sound of the Gospel; and the other counties of the Territory are not much more favored. At Pensacola and St. Augustine, the Spanish population have Roman Catholic churches, and the Americans in Tallahassee, have an Episcopal church. These with a few local Methodist and Baptist preachers, are all the watch-towers in the county. I pray you to send us a messenger of peace; we shall receive him with joy, and bless you with gladness.

The next is from a joint application made by forty gentlemen in the State of Louisiana.

on the

From Baton Rouge to New-Orleans, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles, all of which is a thick settled country, the Word of God is not preached in the English language; and we believe, never has been preached Sabbath, and with very few exceptions, never on other days of the week. Very many of the inhabitants are Americans, consequently are not Roman Catholics; many others not strenuous.

Multitudes here are destitute of the ordinances of Christ. The sick and dying have no minister to pray for them, none to attend funeral cer

emonies.

We see, and have seen for many years, like a mighty torrent rushing over us, the desolation in which our country will evidently soon be, if we neglect and do not enjoy the blessing of a preached Gospel.

It is our sincere wish and desire, and at present our only hope, that you will send us a inissionary; one capable to teach us the truths of the Gospel, zealous in the things of religion; one who may do honor to his profession, and one whose labors we pray the Lord may bless.

Extracts of this character, coming from gentlemen in almost all the southern and western States, might be indefinitely multiplied: only one more, from an inhabitant of Morgan, Co. Illinois, will be inserted.

try. What are the labors of one man, in a population of more than 30,000? All the others are destitute; they starve, they languish for want of spiritual bread.

What shall be done for this people? Is there no help for the souls that are here perishing? While God is doing great things for his church in other States, pouring out his Spirit in such copious effusions, where the Gospel is preached, this people are going backward. We call loudly, by our destitute situation, for immediate aid. Compare our case with others, and then tell us, if we have yet no claim upon your Christian charity.

These earnest applications for aid are not from the missionaries or agents of the society, but from individuals residing in various districts, who ask in behalf of themselves and the population around them. Similar applications are made by the missionaries, and in behalf of very large portions of country which come under their eye, as they travel to preach the Gospel to the destitute.

Although opposition is made to the Gospel in many places, as might be expected, from those on whom its sanctifying and subduing influence has not been felt; yet the eagerness generally manifested to hear the Gospel, the large audiences which are collected, compared with the scattered population of the country, and the numerous revivals of religion and large increase of the churches, which follow, are truly gratifying and encouraging to all the friends of the society, and of the religious welfare of the country.

By means of this society many feeble and scattered churches are strengthened, and many new ones are gathered. The organization of five churches, by its missionaries, is mentioned in one number of the society's magazine. Sabbath Schools and Bible classes, also, are organized and cherished; families are visited; meetings for religious conference and for prayer are held, and all that system of means, which has been found so well adapted and so effectual for conveying religious instruction to all ages and classes of people in the older parts of our country, is put in operation, and guided on to its result. Interesting extracts, illustrative of all these points might be made, in great numbers, from the publication before quoted, if there were room; and another class of extracts might be made, showing how very inadequate a supply for the destitute parts of our country, are all the preachers which the society can furnish. Missouri, with its extensive territory and 100,000 inhabitants, has but five Presbyterian ministers, and but few of other denominations who are competent religious teachers. Louisiana is still more destitute, and several other States, in proportion to the number of the people, are but little better supplied.