108 OLD CALABAR, CENTRAL WEST AFRICA. [SEPT. the slaves stated what they had heard of Inyang's doings and sayings. Tom assured them that he and the other chiefs had not given, and would not give, any heed to the woman. The slave-leaders would not be satisfied till the haughty lady appeared and answered for herself. She spoke with natural commanding eloquence of her father's greatness and goodness, and the honour due to him, all which was admitted by her audience; but she found no one willing to be the victim of her ideas of the honour due. She must "chop blood" with them-that is, enter into the bonds of their mutual covenant. They were determined; their demands were reasonable; they could have enforced more or any thing, for she was in their hands, and the town was at their mercy. She had to submit; and others of the family also, who had not previously taken oath, were required to do so then and there, even to the youngest son, only nine or ten years old. That done, the armed bands vacated the town, leaving every thing as quiet and safe as they had found them. On this and the former occasion the king's two eldest sons, being Christians, would not take the idolatrous oath of the country, nor "chop blood" with the people; but to satisfy them all, they swore on the open Bible, in the name of the Lord their God, that they would not suffer the old murderous fashions to be revived; and if they heard of others attempting such a thing, they would call in the slaves to defend their rights. In the midst of these exciting events, we are told that young Eyo went everywhere-to his late father's farms and to the country markets, some of them forty miles off-to meet the people and allay their fears; and that no inju y or insult was offered to him, though the country was in that disordered state mentioned, and the slaves were met everywhere, armel for self-defence. There are many things worthy of particular observation in the passage of African history here related, which may be just alluded to: the Christian servants remaining faithful to their old master by their faith in God amid fears and dangers, which had created a panic among all others; the Chris ian sous maintaining their fidelity to the name of the true God, and refusing to swear idolatrous oaths in circumstances really dangerou; the confidence fl by the slaves in these young men as men of God; the unity, firmness, and moderation of the slaves, satisfied in securing their own safety, when their masters' persons and property were so completely in their hands, that they were able to make and enforce their own terms; lastly, the gracious providence of God, which has thus completely crowned the efforts of his servants for the abolition of the old murderous customs by which hundreds of human beings were annually sac ific d on the altar of the Calabar Moloch, down to a period which may be called recent, even since the establishment of Christian Missionaries in that country.-Beacon. A SASSA-WOOD PALAVER. THE GREBOES NEAR CAPE PALMAS. WE shall attempt in this and a following paper to give some information as to the interesting Mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States amongst an African nation near Cape Palmas. The points which we put together have been col 110 THE GREBOES NEAR CAPE PALMAS. [OCT. lected from an interesting book published at New York, entitled "Day Dawn in Africa." The native tribes to which the labours of the Missionaries are more specially directed are the Greboes and the Bassas. The former we must reserve for another paper. The Bassas are reached from that portion of the coast which lies between Monrovia and Cape Palmas. Their country is said to present an extensive field, embracing at least ten thousand square acres, and containing a population of from fifty thousand to eighty thousand, all speaking the same language. They appear to be scattered about in groups or families, a Bassa town seldom containing more than twenty-five houses. These, however, look more substantial and comfortable than the circular and conicaltopped huts of the Cape-Palmas natives. They are of square form, with roofs projecting three or four feet, so as to form a good verandah. Entering through a high door, the stranger sees wide berths, answering for beds, elevated on either side, and neatly constructed of bamboo. Amongst the most baneful of their superstitions may be reckoned the fear of witchcraft and the trial by sassa-wood or red-water, on drinking of which, if certain physical results are not produced, the accused person is deemed guilty, and put to death. We are happy to find, that amongst a large portion of the Bassas-not less, probably, than 10,000-this custom has been discontinued. King Peter, one of the most prominent of the Bassa chiefs, having under him about one hundred towns, is well disposed towards the Missionaries. They are hospitably received by him on their journeys. "He gave me," writes one of the Missionaries, "quite a comfortable house. It had elevated berths of bamboos within. He spread a cloth on the table, and placed a knife, fork, plate, spoon, and tumbler for me. The palm-butter and rice, were, however, served up in a wash-basin: this article, however, is used for no other purpose by the natives." The Missionary had a long talk with him about the country, his people, and their belief. He said he liked the white man's religion; but King Peter, although willing to hear, still countenances demon-doctors and many other lying deceits. In the Bassa country, about twenty-five miles from Bassa Cove, rises a beautiful hill,called the Dja mountain,which has been selected as a suitable site for a central station. A Missionary thus describes a recent visit to it "Nov. 22-Walked twelve miles through forests, along winding, muddy, rough, almost impassable paths, in places, to Gia's town, on the side of the mountain, two miles from the summit. We ascended gradually during the last six miles of our journey. Sunday was spent 1859.] MISSIONS IN GREENLAND. 111 in Gia's town, (very small and uncomfortable): preached to twentyfive persons. "Nov. 24-Ascended to the summit, walking two miles from Gia's town, the road being steep in some places: found primitive forests, and an elevation of about two hundred feet above Gia's town, and perhaps five hundred feet above the sea. The sides near the top are very rocky, though the forest is fine. On the very top is a plain or level (all covered with forest) of some fifteen to twenty acres, and comparatively free from rocks and stones. The soil is a very rich loam on a sandy foundation. Abundance of the best building materials are to be found just on the spot. Springs not distant. "The elevation of from five hundred to six hundred feet is sufficient to test the comparative health of the marshy coast and the highland interior. There are at least five towns, within three or four miles of the site I selected, and a dozen more within seven or eight miles in all directions, which, in aggregate, may number one thousand souls. "These people not only have never heard the Gospel, but, so far as I can ascertain, will welcome and hear with pleasure a Missionary, and will give as many children as we desire for schools." "It is to be hoped that a Mission station will soon be established on this beautiful mountain, about twenty-five miles from Bassa Cove, as it may prove a healthful and delightful resort for invalid Missionaries from the more malarious coast stations, and become an opening to an important field in the interior." MISSIONS IN GREENLAND. A GREENLAND Missionary wrote last summer-" The spring of 1857 had furnished our people with very scanty provisions, and, during the winter, the foxes and ptarmigans have been very rare, so that the ordinary means of subsistence possessed by them have failed. Happily, during the summer the greater majority of the population had employed themselves fishing most industriously; consequently there has been less suffering than we could have expected. This foresight is one of the consequences of Christian faith. Formerly, in their natural state, the natives never thought of thus taking advantage of the help which God provided for them. Nevertheless there are many who have much to learn in connexion with this. During winter the schools have been well attended. The children seem to take pleasure in learning: that which they more particularly like is the study of Scripture and singing. The examination they underwent last March has been very satisfactory, as far as their knowledge of holy Scripture was concerned. We have had much snow, but, notwithstanding, the cold has not been very intense. Since the 16th of June the ice has been sufficiently broken to permit the Esquimaux to put to sea in canoes, and recommence their fishing." A Missionary at Labrador, writing at the same date, gives similar details on the condition of the station at Main. "Notwithstanding the scarcity 112 MISSIONS IN GREENLAND. [OCT. of provisions," says he, "our pious families, directed by a truly-Christian spirit, had made good provision for the winter season, and would have been able to live in comfort themselves, if charity had not made it their duty to succour those who were less provident. Among the latter the winter's sufferings have led many to acknowledge that they have abused the goodness of God, and I hope that some, at least, will not, without much fruit to their souls, have felt the trial of hunger weighing upon them." We see by these details that the rigour of the climate, and the poverty of the soil, are for the Missionaries as well as the congregation, a perpetual source of suffering and disquietude. What self-denial, what courage and zeal, are necessary in order to resign oneself to such an existence, especially in one who has not been accustomed from infancy to it! Let us follow one of the pastors of Labrador into the winter residence of one of the families of his flock. "What," says he, "would be the astonishment of the friends of our work, could they for a moment glance into one of the snow houses where our Esquimaux spend a part of the winter? Picture to yourselves an entire family, old and young, in a habitation of this kind. The whole furniture consists of a lamp, often very dull, and some reindeer skins, generally much worn. It is on these that the members of the family sit, in very much the same attitude as that in which the ptarmigan likes to place himself, that is, with their heads sunk down as much as possible between their shoulders. On entering you may see the mistress of the house arranging the wick of the lamp, and sprinkling upon it some drops of oil, just so much as will keep it from going out. This economy is rendered absolutely necessary in order to eke out the precious combustible: in times of abundance perhaps she will not so closely watch its consumption. Near her is seated another woman of the family, occupied in softening by chewing it, a skin destined to be made into boots or a dress. This is a domestic work of great importance among the Esquimaux. If the master of the house is not without, detained by the heat, or fishing, you will find him squatted by the side of his wife, employing his time in mending some of his instruments, or perhaps making holes in an old stone jar, in order to join the fragments of it together, an operation which he will soon achieve with remarkable nicety. These poor people have nothing to eat (at least in times of scarcity of food) but some handsful of sea-weed, steeped in hot water, but they eat this food with an appetite that would much astonish the inhabitants of a more favoured clime. Neither must we expect to find, in the heart of such extreme poverty, discontented or despairing countenances. No; from their lips proceed neither complaints nor murmurs: they know how to be contented with what they have: they take it as God gives it them, and they are grateful for any thing that comes to lessen their privations. When I appear in the midst of the family, the chief takes his pipe, and remarks that it is very old, but that nevertheless it would still do very well if he had tobacco. Then, addressing himself to me,' Mattius,' he says (the Greenlanders and Esquimaux always call the Missionaries by their Christian names), Mattius, ibet tubakuk angiladet ?" that is, "Matthew, have you not got a little tobacco?' And if, putting my hand into my |