to the head. If they worship any idol, it is the head of their Chief, so far as I am able to form an opinion of their worship. On the present mournful occasion, a number of persons had assembled together from a great distance, to comfort the mourners, and to pay their respects to the remains of the departed Chief. His relatives cut themselves, according to their custom, till the blood streamed from their faces, arms, and breasts. The more they wound their bodies, the more they believe that they show their love for their departed friends. When I told them that the Europeans did not cut themselves in such a manner for

their dead, but only wept, they replied that the Europeans did not love their friends as the New Zealanders did, or they would do so too. Their loud lamentations, night and day, for the loss of a relative, show what a state of darkness and ignorance they are in. They sorrow as those without hope. Reason can find no sufficient remedy to relieve the human mind in the day of trouble : it wants a more solid consolation than reason can give it is a Divine Revelation which must enable the surviving husband, wife, or father, to say with David, "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.'

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLICATIONS OF OTHER
MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

AMERICAN BOARD OF MISSIONS.-From the Journal of MR. PARSONS, one of the American Missionaries who paid a visit to Jerusalem, for the purpose of circulating the Scriptures, and Tracts, we give the following interesting particulars and reflections respecting the Holy City, and the neighbouring places.

THE number of pilgrims present at this Passover may be thus stated: 1200 Greeks, 1400 Armenians, 70 Copts, 20 Syrians, 15 Catholics, one Abyssinian: Total 2706.

our right, the garden of Gethsemane. St. John has marked the site of the garden very particularly: "He went forth with his disciples OVER the brook Kedron." There is but one spot over the brook Kedron convenient for a garden. This garden has been consecrated by the many prayers, and by the blood, of our Divine SAVIOUR: "For JESUS ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples." It is still occupied as a garden, and contains several large olive-trees.

I was often led to hope that the Holy Church will soon be consecrated entirely to the promotion of true piety among all classes of Christians. What an opportunity it will afford, to those who have the spirit which PETER possessed on the day of Pentecost; and who will boldly proceed to open and allege the Scrip- In fifteen or twenty minutes, we reachtures, and to lead thousands, by a blessed the summit of the Mount of Olives. ing from above, to cry, "Men and Brethren, what shall we do?" If I am not greatly deceived, I behold, even now, the dawning of that glorious day. May all, who love the gates of Zion, hold not their peace, till the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth!"

Leaving the city by the Damascus gate, and turning eastward, we passed near to the cave in which, tradition says, Jeremiah wrote his Lamentations. "All ye that pass by, behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow." The cave is large, and is held in high veneration.

Passing the north-east corner of the city, we descended to the brook Kedron. The bed of the stream was perfectly dry, notwithstanding the great rains. On our left we saw the church erected Lover the grave of the Virgin Mary; on

Here we had a delightful view of the city, and also of the Dead Sea. Perhaps no place in the world commands a finer prospect, or is associated with events more sacred and sublime. "DAVID went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot." On the east side of it, our Blessed SAVIOUR raised LAZARUS from the grave; and on the west, he endured the agony of Gethsemane. Here, he beheld the city, and wept over it. From this mount, he was at one time conducted to Jerusalem, with shoutings of "Hosanna to the Son of DAVID;" and, at another, with the cry of, “Crucify him! crucify him!" From this spot, he gave his last commision,-"Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel;" and then ascended, and “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Descending the Mount of Olives, we passed into the valley of Jehoshaphat,

one respect it differs from any other place that I ever visited, there is no such thing as being satiated by viewing objects every where presented to the eye. The sight of Smyrna, of Pergamos, of Patmos, awakened the tenderest sensibilities; but the feelings were in a measure momentary. It is not so with Jerusalem.

I now go to Mount Calvary,walk in the Garden of Gethsemane,-stand upon the heights of Zion,-ascend the Mount of Olives,-drink of the waters of Siloam, with greater pleasure than I did on the first day of my arrival. Indeed there are so many subjects presented to the mind, such as the devout anthems of DAVID, the dedicatory prayer of SOLOMON, when he kneeled, and spread out his hands to GOD, and consecrated a temple, which became the glory of the church, the wonder of the world, the exalted strains of ISAIAH, when he saw the day of CHRIST and rejoiced, the zeal, patriotism, and piety of EZRA and NEHEMIAH, when they reared the tabernacle of DAVID amid the opposition of the world,-and, what is infinitely more, the benevolence, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Divine

REDEEMER, that the pleasure must be increased upon every examination.

But what is rather remarkable, this view of the subject destroys all curiosity to see PARTICULAR OBJECTS venerated by the ignorant multitude. You are here shown the pillar, to which our SAVIOUR was bound to be scourged, the arch, upon which PILATE cried, "Be hold the man!"-the very door, at which PETER knocked, when the angel led him from the prison and a thousand other places of great veneration. All this is folly; and calculated to disgust enlightened travellers, and give strength to infidelity.

But, that this city was for many ages the great capital of the Church of the living GOD; that it has been honoured by the presence of DAVID, of the Prophets, of GABRIEL, and of GOD himself in human flesh; that the Gospel has been preached here with power and with wonderful success, and a multitude from this city conducted to the heavenly world;is TRUTH, upon which the mind may rest without the possibility of deception. And this is enough to satisfy the most enlarged and benevolent minds.

1820, publicly baptized in the name of the FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST. The interesting ordinance was adminis tered on the evening of the weekly lec ture. Brothers CHAMBERS had preached to the people; and at the close, the two candidates, who had been accustomed to bow to the senseless idols that are no gods, came forward, and, in the presence of the congregation, knelt down, we trust, in humble adoration before the true and living GOD, while Brother HANDS administered to them the solemn rite of Baptism. It was an impressive scene; many appeared deeply affected, and some wept. Our souls rejoiced, and felt constrained to look forward for the complete accomplishment of divine prophecy in this truly benighted and awfully degraded part of the world. O that these first-fruits, for which the Missionaries of the LORD JESUS here have watched, and prayed, and toiled, may prove the earnest of a more glorious display of almighty power among the wretched Hindoos, as trophies of the SAVIOUR'S grace!

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-Extract of a Letter from MESSRS. REEVE and CHAMBERS, dated India, Bellary, Mission-House, February 7, 1822. THE state of things at this mission is upon the whole encouraging; we have, indeed, enough to try our faith and patience; but thanks be to Him who has promised to be with us to the end, we have more than enough to keep us from despair. JEHOVAH, we trust, has not left himself without witnesses among the infatnated heathens, even in this part of the Pagan world. Your hearts will rejoice to hear that the first-fruits of the Bellary mission have at length appeared. Adored be the divine faithfulness, the labourers have not toiled in vain; GOD has, we trust, heard your prayers, and theirs, in behalf of the mission at this place. Two persons, formerly pagans, have recently been baptized, and admitted members of the Christian Church. The individuals alluded to are a poor man and his daughter; they have been for a considerable time under religious instruction, very constant and devout in their attendance on the preaching of the word; and their views of divine truth appear correct and scriptural. Brother HANDS has had them much under his notice and care during the past year; and believing them to be redeemed from the degrading service of idolatry by the precious blood of CHRIST, they were, on the evening of the 14th of November,

GOORANAH, which is the name of the elder of these converts, is a venerable looking old man, apparently near seventy years of age. NAGAMA, his daughter, who is the other convert, is a young

+

woman, apparently about three or four and twenty; she formerly lived in very iniquitous practices, but understanding that these things, if persisted in, would be ruinous to her soul, and that they were inconsistent with a profession of the holy religion of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, she has for a considerable time relinquished them, and is now blameless and consistent in her deportment and conduct. She is a woman whose mind appears to rise above mediocrity; and considering the few advantages she possesses for spiritual improvement, together with the long neglect of mental culture, she has certainly made rapid advances in divine knowledge. Her self-abasement and knowledge of her own heart appear to be by no means inconsiderable. This she discovered in a remarkable degree in a recent conversation with Brother REEVE. They have already undergone much persecution. O that GOD may establish them, render them very useful, and make them faithful unto death, that finally they may receive a crown of life!

By a recent communication from Brother TAYLOR, we have an account of an interesting circumstance at Belgaum, which shows the importance of religious instruction in our native schools. A boy instructed in one of them at Belgaum, in consequence of learning the principles of Christianity as taught in the school, became convinced of the folly and absurdity of

idolatry; he, therefore, refused to reverence the household gods of his parents, and remonstrated with them on the impropriety of the worship which they paid them; this enraged his parents exceedingly, and they threatened, that if he persisted in these things, he should be turned out of the house. This did not at all intimidate him, and the threat was accordingly put into execution; in consequence of which the poor boy took refuge in the school, and remained there a considerable time without food. The school-master, however, interceded with his parents, and he was at length permitted to return home; his parents saying, that if he really thought it right to persevere in those views, they would not oppose, only requesting that he would not speak disrespectfully of their household gods. Surely this would appear like the strong holds of Satan giving way. O that the LORD may deepen and strengthen these convictions in the mind of the heathen boy, till they shall end in sound conversion to GOD!

A Dessai, or Chieftain, residing about forty miles from Bellary, has recently written several interesting letters to us, in consequence of having read copies of the Holy Scriptures, which had been distributed at the festival at Humpy last year. He laments the want of proper instructors; approves of the method of salvation as revealed in the sacred volume; and earnestly requests that we would endeavour to pay him a visit.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CALCUTTA Extracts from a Quarterly Letter from the Junior Brethren, dated October 12, 1821.

We have lately printed, at the expense of a Hindoo gentleman, an English translation of a pamphlet of considerable size, against the prevailing system of Hindoo idolatry. It was originally written in Bengalee by a native of considerable talent, and was translated by brother SCHMID, a Missionary of the Church of England Society. The author, we regret to say, is since dead; but, we trust, his work will long continue to be useful by exciting doubts in the minds of his countrymen, as to the truth of their present system, and thus preparing them to consider, with less prejudice, the superior pretensions of the Gospel.

The circulation of tracts, and the preaching of the Gospel in various parts of this city, have excited considerable interest among the natives, and several of the most respectable of them have lately united to defray the expense of a periodical publication, intended to defend the cause of refined Hindooism. Of

this work, called the Brahmunical Magazine, or the Brahmun and Missionary. two numbers have been published; and although they manifest great ignorance of the faith, and contain much misrepresentation of the motives of the Missionaries they attack, we cannot but rejoice in the investigation, to which, we have no doubt, the publication will lead. We hope that the perusal of these and similar publications will tend to arouse the more thinking Hindoos from that sloth and indifference to all religions which so generally mark the character of their countrymen.

As it regards the printing department, a great number and variety of works have issued from the press since the date of the abstract in your Report for 1821. During the two years which have elapsed since that, we have printed as follows. Religious tracts, in Bengalee, Hindoostance, Hinduwee, and Sunscrit..

23,600

Besides these, we have printed editions of some considerable works, such as Brother Yates's Sunscrit Grammar, Vocabulary, and Reader; Murray and Carpenter's Spelling Books, and Williams's Preceptor's Assistant; Doddridge's Rise and Progress; Brother Lawson's Missionary Hymn Book, &c.

All these, as they tend to render more easy the attainment of Oriental literature, or to afford facilities for the good education, or growth in religion, of those around us, have a more or less direct bearing upon our Missionary exertions.

We are now comfortably settled in our new chapel, encumbered but with a trifling debt, and our regular congregation appears gradually on the increase. We have lately received several additions to our church, and have reason to be thankful, amidst some severe trials we have lately had to sustain, for the spirituality, unanimity, and zeal, which we observe amongst its members.

In exertions now making for the pro

motion of knowledge and morality, by other societies than those professedly Missionary, we cannot but rejoice. Amongst these institutions the Schoolbook Society is entitled to the highest rank. This Society alone has, during the last four years, paid for the printing of no less than one hundred and twentyseven thousand school-books, in various languages, (two-thirds of which, probably, have been distributed,) all excluding idolatry, communicating useful knowledge, and enforcing moral principles. The direct intellectual and moral influence which the distribution of so many works must produce on the minds of those who read them, independent of the ability communicated by them to read and understand books more decidedly of a christian character, is too important not to be contemplated with interest and delight. And when we add to these works the school-books published and distributed by other associa tions, with the large number of scripture and religious tracts, issued by Bible and Missionary Associations, we cannot doubt that He, who seldom allows any means, agreeable to his will, to be tried in vain, is bringing on, though gradually, a revolution in the minds of many; the discovery of which, at a future period. shall excite the grateful thanksgiving of his servants.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

NEW BRANCH SOCIETIES, &c.-A Branch Missionary Society was lately formed at Leek, in Staffordshire. JoHN BURTON, Esq., of Manchester, was in the Chair. The Collections amounted to upwards of £58, in addition to £33 before obtained as Subscriptions. The monthly and weekly Contributors are also numerons.-A New Branch Society has been formed at Hanley, in the Staffordshire Potteries.--And on Sept. 16, a Missionary Association was formed at Glossop, in the New Mills Circuit. From all these Institutions considerable results are expected. ANNIVERSARIES.-The Anniversary of the Branch Society at Scarborough was held on August 28th. The Collections amounted to £66.-The second Annual Meeting of the Margate Branch Society was held on Sept. 17. The receipts of the year have amounted to nearly £100.-The Anniversary of the Burslem Branch Society was held last month, ENOCH WOOD, Esq., in the Chair. From the feelings excited, and the vows made to GOD, on this occasion, still greater exertions in this populous neighbourhood, on behalf of the sacred cause of Missions, are confidently anticipated.

CONTRIBUTIONS.-The Contributions received by the General Treasurers of the Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society, since the account published last month, have amounted to £1345. 9s. 11d. Among these we particularly notice the following:-"The RIGHT HON. SIR GEORGE ROSE, G. C. B.; in consideration of religious instruction given by the Methodist Missionaries to Negroes on certain Estates in the West Indies, £50-A friend at Easingwold, being one-tenth of profits in a business, £2:-Legacy by the late MR. BATESON, of Wortley, near Leeds, (duty paid by the Executors,) £50:-BENJAMIN SHAW, Esq., £10. 10s."