first Missionaries who leave the shores of France, to convey the light of the Gospel to nations yet buried in darkness, and in the shadow of death. The Sale produced 3400 francs. Western Africa. Sierra Leone. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Weeks. MR. and Mrs. Weeks arrived at Freetown, on their return to their labours in the Colony, on the 16th of January, after a long passage; having sailed from Gravesend, in the Anacreon, Captain Jones, on the 19th of November. Mr. Davey writes on the 30th of January They are in good health and spirits; and appear quite willing to spend and be spent in the service of their Lord. Arrangement of Labourers. Mr. Metzger being about to avail himself of the Society's Regulations in respect to visiting Europe, and no immediate prospect appearing of any material addition to the strength of the Mission, the propriety of relinquishing some of the ground, but ineffectually occupied of late for want of Labourers, was taken into consideration by the Missionaries at the beginning of November, when the following Resolution was adopted— -That the Mission not being in a state to continue to the Sea District a supply of resident Instructors, Br. Betts remove to Freetown to take immediate charge of the Duties at St. George's with the Superintendence of the Colonial Schools, and to render other occasional services which may become requisite, until the arrival of the Chaplain, which may be speedily looked for; after which event he will take up his residence at Kissey, to take charge, on Br. Metzger's departure, of that Station as well as Wellington, with the assistance of William Tamba as a Native Teacher residing at Wellington-that Br. Gerber, whose health, as well as that of his Wife, has suffered during their residence at Waterloo, take up his residence at Hastings, and continue in charge of that Station as well as Waterloo, with the assistance of David Noah, who is to remove to the latter Station-that John Attarra remove to Regent; and that William Neville be placed in the Mountain District, to labour under the eye and superintendence of Br. Davey that the Settlements of Grassfield, Lumley, Sandbeach, Wilberforce, Calmont, and Allen-town, as they contain no persons admitted to the Church, be considered no further under the charge of this Mission, than as the Clergymen, within whose sphere of labour they are situated, may find compatible with the performance of their duty to the other Stations entrusted to their Ministerial Cureand that the Secretary make immediate application to the Colonial Government for residences for Br. Betts and Br. Gerber. This arrangement was afterward modified, as will appear from the following Letter of the 22d of January, from the Rev. C. L. F. Haensel to the Acting Colonial Secretary I beg leave to inform, through you, His Honour the Lieut. Governor, that the arrangements in the affairs of the Mission, formed toward the close of last year, have become subject to a revision on the part of the Committee of Clergymen-in consequence, on the one hand, of the return, then not looked for, of the Society's Catechist, Mr. Weeks, to this Colony; and, on the other, of the delay which has taken place in the appointment, by His Majesty's Government, of a Chaplain to Freetown, which prevents the services of the Rev. W. K. Betts from being devoted to part of the River District, as was contemplated by the late arrangement. Under these circumstances, the Committee have found the exigencies of the Mission to require that Mr. Weeks take up his residence at Regent, to perform the Religious Duties there under the superintendence of the Rev. Thomas Davey; and, that the Native Teacher, David Noah, be stationed at Kissey, where his labours, as well as those of William Tamba at Wellington, will be superintended by the Rev. John Gerber. To our regret, it is out of our power at present to make any provision for the residence of a Religious Teacher at Waterloo. Waterloo being thus unavoidably eft without a Religious Teacher, is not considered, at present, as under the charge of the Mission. In reference to these arrangements and the prospects of the Mission, the Rev. Thomas Davey writes on the 30th of January— The fact of Mrs. Weeks's health having failed twice before in Freetown was considered a sufficient reason to warrant the Meeting in placing them at one of the Villages; as it had been ascertained, when Mrs. Weeks was here before, that she had recovered in the Villages, after a few days' residence only. Regent is a place where the assistance of Mr. Weeks is much wanted at this time, when a New School has been commenced, and when so many persons are coming forward desirous of being admitted to Church privileges. I find it a most difficult thing to instruct these people in the simplicity of the Gospel. Application was made to Government for a residence for Mr. and Mrs. Weeks at Regent; and a house has been taken for them, which will be ready in a few days. Br. Gerber is provided with a residence at Hastings, and has opened a School there. David Noah is to remove to Kissey on the 2d of February, and we hope soon to have a flourishing School at that place. The whole of our body are, to the best of my knowledge, at this time enjoying good health. We have been much disappointed at not receiving more help, and in not having St. George's supplied with a Chaplain. A brighter day, as to spiritual blessings, is, I trust, dawning on this Colony. Liberia. GERMAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Distressed State of the Mission. WE are grieved to report, that, of the Five Missionaries enumerated at p. 19 of the Survey as settled in this Colony, one only remains on the spot in connection with the Society. Mr. Sessing and Mr. Hegele arrived at Bristol on the 7th of May; having left Sierra Leone on the 4th of March, in the Charlotte, Captain Spurrier: from them we learn the following particulars. During the rains of last year, most of them had suffered, but not all at once; so that they could assist and relieve one another. In the middle of November, Mr. Sessing and Mr. Hegele proceeded to Grand Bassa, about eighty miles down the coast to the south-eastward, with the view of beginning a Mission there. Mr. Hegele, who still occasionally suffered from the effects of the blow (see pp. 567, 631 of our volume for 1827) received at Plymouth, from a block which fell from the rigging, was so much affected by the sun in the passage to Grand Bassa, that he was obliged immediately to return to Liberia. Mr. Sessing remained at Grand Bassa about seven weeks: he had been received very kindly by the King, who was anxious to have Schools, that his people might be taught "white man's knowledge:" he had pointed out two suitable situations for Schools; and was preparing to build, when intelligence from Liberia compelled Mr. Sessing to abandon the design: one of his Brethren, Mr. Wulff, had departed this life on the 22d of December; and two others, Mr. Hegele and Mr. Kissling, were ill. On his return to the Colony, he found Mr. Kissling somewhat recovered; but Mr. Hegele so ill, with little prospect of restoration, that it was deemed necessary for him to proceed to Europe, with which view Mr. Sessing accompanied him, in a schooner, to Sierra Leone. On their arrival there, Mr. Hegele was in such a state, that Mr. Sessing was obliged to accompany him to England. Mr. Hegele recovered considerably during the voyage, but there is no hope of his returning to Africa. Mr. Kissling had recovered before they left Liberia, and is now in sole charge of the Mission; as Mr. Handt had separated himself from the Society, and had gone to Cape Mount to establish an independent Mission there. 1829.] SOUTH AFRICA. Mr. Sessing and Mr. Hegele left London on the 16th of May, to proceed to Bâsle by way of Rotterdam. South Africa. WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. WB extract some passages from the Patriarchal Character of a Religious Mr. Kay, in speaking of Somerset, a District in the eastern part of the Colony, says Mynheer Kosee occupies a spacious place in the mountains. The improvements, which have been effected by this industrious Gentleman, on a sterile and naturally-barren spot, far exceed the expectations of the visiter on entering his glen. It is much to be regretted, that his excellent example has not been imitated by his neighbours and coun trymen; who, in general, content them selves with an uncomfortable and inconvenient dwelling, built of reeds or mud; and with no other ornament to their premises than temporary cattle or sheepfolds, which are perched upon immense piles of dung, and surrounded with bones innumerable. Here, on the contrary, after leaving the stony roads over which we had been travelling, I was agreeably surprised by the appearance of a considerable number of spacious buildings, arranged so as to form a large squaregardens and vineyards, skilfully laid out and well enclosed-extensive plots of corn-land, which bear the marks of persevering toil-substantial quince-hedges, eight or nine feet high, planted on each side of the various entrances to the yard-a good, though somewhat antique, farm-house, with a fine grove of orangetrees before the door. The evergreen foliage of these trees forms a pleasing contrast with the hue of the brown rocky peaks and sun-burnt hills, which almost encompass the estate. Having entered the rural and homely mansion, my admiration of the place was increased by the evidences of piety in its owner. The Christian tone of his conversation, added to a free, open, and hospitable disposition, seemed to attach May, 1829. dignity to the natural charms of his residence. Religion not only exalts the character of man, and enhances the attractiveness of every thing to which he sets his hand, but gives a polish to his genius and refinement to his taste. This is exemplified in our host. The comfort and instruction of his numerous train of Heathen Domestics appear to be objects to which he has long paid considerable attention: a commodious and extensive range of buildings is entirely devoted to their use; and, in order to prevent strife and contention, each of his male servants (bond, as well as free) is provided with separate apartments for himself and family. One of his oldest slaves, who is steward to his household, was recently brought to a knowledge of the truth, and has been baptized. All that are in his employ are instructed to read, &c. on certain days in every week, by a person whom he hires for this express purpose. Divine Service is held every Sabbath Day, and once or twice in the course of the week beside; when all, both black and white, are required to attend. I preached in his large Hall, after sunset; when I was glad to observe the sable part of my Congregation all seated on chairs, a circumstance which rarely occurs in a Boor's house; the Zwaarte goederen” (“ black goods”)— terms generally applied by them to the Heathen-being always required, when in their master's house, either to stand, or sit on the ground. Nothing, however, can be more pleasing than to observe, that the old policy of the country, which was to keep the Pagan part of its population in a state of gross ignorance and perpetual degradation, is now happily yielding to the growing influence of Christian Philanthropy. On accompanying the old Gentleman over his grounds, he directed my attention to the marks of an awful depredation committed by the Caffres, many years ago. His father appears to have been the original proprietor of the farm; and his herds having become the object of savage cupidity, a party of Natives fell upon, and made spoil of them: they then set fire to his rustic dwelling, and burnt it to the ground. The ruins only remain to shew where it stood. On my informing him of the prospects which are opening to our view, for the spread of the Gospel amongst the Caffre Hordes, he expressed a degree of joy; but intimated, at the same time, 2 G with a significant shrug of the shoulders, that he could scarcely hope to see Christianity make such progress among those barbarians in our day. Destructive Effects of Locusts. On this subject Mr. Kay writes— The country round about is in a most deplorable state. The year was ushered in with immense swarms of locusts, which literally darkened the heavens for some days. It is utterly impossible for any one who has not been an eyewitness of those flying armies, to form an adequate idea, either of their numbers or destructiveness. When on the wing, they appear like a black cloud at a distance; but when they arrive, the density of their host obscures the solar rays, occasions an awful gloom like that of an eclipse, and causes a noise like the rushing of a torrent. One single flight not unfrequently covers the face of the country for many miles every way. Here (Graaf Reinet), it appears, they were so thickly spread on the ground, throughout every street, that it was with the utmost difficulty that the inhabitants kept them out of their houses. The water-conduits were filled; and the putrid effluvia arising from the heaps of dead locusts became so offensive, as to excite alarming apprehensions. The river itself was hereby contaminated to such a degree, that the waters thereof stank; and a pestilence was feared as the consequence. Having devoured every green thing of the herbage and vegetable kind, excepting peas and French beans, those voracious insects next fell upon the trees; the branches of which were actually weighed down with them every vine was attacked, and the chief of the vineyards destroyed. The manner in which they effected this was remarkable. Not a grape was eaten by them, but the thread by which the bunch hung suspended from the branch was bitten off close to the stem; consequently the fruit fell to the ground, and, being unripe, it was in a great measure useless. These little creatures, when separately viewed, are extremely curious, and very pleasing; but, when considered collectively as destroyers of a country, the sound of them is truly awful. Desolation and famine mark their progress: all the expectations of the husbandman vanish his fields, which the rising sun beheld covered with luxuriance, are, before evening, a desert; for wherever they alight, not a leaf is left on the : trees, a blade of grass in the pasture, nor an ear of corn in the field. Such is one of the plagues by which the Almighty has for some time back partially scourged the land in which we live. Character of the late Caffre Chief, 18lambi. The death of this Old Chief was noticed at p. 29; and various particulars were given respecting him in a former Volume there referred to. Mr. W. Shaw thus speaks of him Islambi lived to a very advanced age, and had in his time been a great warrior; having been engaged in several wars with the Chief Gaika, and with the Colonists on the frontier. He was at one period pursued by nearly the whole military force; as the Authorities then thought, that if his person could be sesured, the disturbances with the Caffre Tribes would cease: but although much effort was made to seize him, yet such was the love of his vassals to their Chief, that, being infirm, they secreted him in the inaccessible parts of the country; and removed him from place to place, as his pursuers approached. After this period he never would venture to any conference with the British Officers, until, in January 1824, the Commandant of the frontier proposed to meet him and the Chiefs of this Tribe, for the purpose of establishing a better understanding with them. Our Caffreland Mission had commenced its operations only a short time before this period; and as Islambi and the Chiefs of this Tribe refused to meet Colonel Somerset unless I would consent to be present, I accompanied them to the appointed place; when the Commandant on the one part, accompanied by a strong military force, and Islambi and his sons with the Chiefs of this Tribe on the other, attended, with between two and three thousand armed warriors. The discussions were conducted amicably at this meeting, and much good both to the Caffres and the Colonists resulted from it. Islambi now became desirous of having a Missionary for his tribe, which desire was afterward much increased by various circumstances, until, at length, his wish was gratified by the commencement of the Mount Coke Mission; and, I believe, he has always faithfully protected our Brethren on that Station. It is to be regretted, that, from various causes, he was prevented from removing, as had long been his intention, to the immediate vicinity of Mount Coke, that he might die and be buried there: there is a satisfaction, however, in knowing that he heard the Gospel preached at his own kraal: whether he profited by it, must be left to the judgment of the Great Day to deter mine. Caffre Notions and Practices connected with the Death of a Great Chief. In reference to the death of Islambi, Mr. Young writes from Mount Coke, on the 12th of February of last year— I left Mount Coke for Islambi's kraal, with a view to bury the Old Chief; but they were obliged to bury him the day before, in consequence of the extreme heat. When I arrived with my interpreter, we sat down at some distance from the house in which the Old Chief died; and saw a large assembly of his principal captains and soldiers sitting near the kraal, who appeared much engaged in discussing subjects connected with the welfare of the tribe. After sitting about half an hour, the principal part of the assembly rose up, and came and sat down around us: after which, one of the old men said, that they were come to thank me for having come to see whether it was true or not that Islambi was dead; and then pointed to four of Islambi's greatest counsellors, who, he said, would now speak a few words with me. One of them then said, that they should be glad to hear any thing that I might have to say to them. I replied, that I had not much to say that day, as it was to me a day of mourning, now that our great Captain was dead after which reply they all sat a few minutes in silence, and several of them were much affected; after which, one of them said, "Yes, our father is dead, and our bush is now taken away, and we are left on the flat; and there are many wolves which will be coming to eat us up"-meaning that some of the Great Chiefs would try to usurp authority over Islambi's Tribe, and take away his cattle, &c.: but he observed, that I was to-day Islambi to them, and they hoped that I should not forget the word which had several times come out of Islambi's mouth; viz. that, after his death, I must take great care of his children and all his people; and that if any of Islambi's children did wrong, or any of his captains or soldiers, it was These now my place to reprove them. remarks from them afforded me an opportunity of shewing them, that, although their King was dead, God would be their King, if they would serve Him; and, although their Father could no longer give them his counsel, they might yet have God for their Father, and they would have this advantage in having God for their Father-He would never die; and if they would listen to His counsel, He would teach them the lessons of His grace: and although their bush was taken away, yet Jesus Christ would be their bush; and under Him, their whole tribe, and the whole world, might find shelter from that impending wrath which would come upon sinners of every nation and tribe, who did not break off their sins by repentance, and turn to Him with purpose of heart, and especially when they had opportunities of hearing the Gospel. These and similar remarks appeared to make a considerable impression on all present. The house in which the Old Chief died is now closed up, and will never be inhabited again; and the grave where he is buried is fenced round, so that people are not allowed to come near the grave of so great a Chief. Ten oxen were separated from the herd, and put in the enclosure; so that, by their constantly treading upon the grave, no person may be able hereafter to find out the exact spot where this great Chief was buried. The morning after my arrival, I was surprised by seeing so many people, both men, women, and children, going in regular order toward the river: upon asking the reason, I was informed that they were all going to wash themselves; after doing which, they could all drink milk, which they had not done since the Old Chief died. Since the death of Islambi, almost all the people of this Tribe, both small and great, have shaved their heads; which is a custom among them when any of their great Chiefs die, and gives them a very singular appearance. All the wives of Islambi, ten in number, are now gone into the bush, where they will remain for some time: their karosses, caps, &c. are buried, and their beads, buttons, and other trinkets are given away; so that when the time is expired for their leaving the bush, they then have to get new karosses, &c. This custom is also attended to by the common people, an instance of which I witnessed a few weeks ago. When the husband |