58 ENCOURAGEMENTS TO PERSEVERE. [MAY' and has given a subsoil to cultivate, from which we may hope for growths of some permanence. We see this in those who have been converted. The mien and conversation of several of them is that of men convinced, and ready to stand by their convictions, even in the face of the scoffer from foreign lands. The Marquesas Islands were the earliest discovery of the civilized world in Polynesia Proper; they were among the very earliest objects of Protestant Christian philanthropy; and they are the only Polynesian group yet unchristianized. During the long years of amelioration and advance which the other groups have enjoyed, the Marquesans have only been hardening under that horrible system of foreign licentiousness, the possibility of which is the greatest attraction there. The rapid decrease of the people, and the small number to which they are already reduced, is one of the saddest facts regarding those islands, and is intimately connected with the last. The figures reported in the last year are altogether too large. Those given by various residents, Missionaries, and others, very nearly agree. The total is only about 8000; Hivaoa numbering but 3500, and Nuuhiva 1600. In 1838, the Rev. Mr. Stallworth estimated Fatuiva at 3000, Tahuata at 1000, and Hivaoa at 8000. It is pleasing to learn that the native Missionaries are, by the blessing of God, accomplishing a great work. They have a good report among the natives of these islands; they are nowhere disliked among them, and have done much good. Already a great change is perceptible. . . . The Hawaiian Missionary Society has sown the seed of the Gospel truth, and there are living witnesses here to prove that God is not a liar. The seed has sprung up; the shoots are fair and healthy; but they are yet young and tender, and require much nursing, seeing they are surrounded by many rank and bitter weeds. the fostering care of the husbandmen be withdrawn, the weeds will overrun the young shoots before they have gotten sufficient growth to take care of themselves. If ENCOURAGEMENTS TO PERSEVERE. SIAM, a long, narrow country, lying between Burmah and CochinChina, and intersected by many rivers and numerous canals, contains a population of some four or five millions, among which are to be found many strangers from other lands-Chinese, Burmese, Peguans, and Shans. The people generally live along the riverbanks, and are thus easily accessible in boats. In the measure of civilization which they have attained they are not inferior to other nations of South-Eastern Asia, many being able to read, and industrial occupations being generally prosecuted. In religion they are followers of that atheistical idolatry called Buddhism. American Missionaries entered this country in 1839, and have persevered in a work of no ordinary difficulty, characterized by little of present result, relying on the promise, "in due season ye reap, if ye faint not." shall A new station has been occupied at a place called Petchaburi, 1862.] ENCOURAGEMENTS TO PERSEVERE, 59 here the hearts of the Missionaries have been cheered by a remarkable instance of conversion, which is best given in their own words How little did we think, when we first came to this new station, that in so short a time we would find a sincere inquirer after the true religion. How slow we are to believe the promises of God; and especially how little do we think that He will save those who have none to teach them but the Great Teacher! Our hearts have been made to rejoice in meeting a Siamese, who, we think, has experienced a work of grace, and, as yet, has had no Missionary to teach him, and to break unto him the bread of life. Last Sabbath week a man came in from a country village, five miles distant, who said he had heard that Missionaries had come to this place to live, and he wished to commit his son to us before he died. He said he had long sought for some one to teach him, and had several times come to Petchaburi to see Dr. Bradley, when he heard he was here, but never until after he had gone. He told us that when he was quite young his father received some books from the Missionaries, but never read them. When his father died he took the books, but they remained unread for several years, when the cholera broke out, and his neighbours were dying all around him. He became alarmed; saw no ground of hope from Buddhism; read his books, and found there that Christ could save, and began to pray to Him; but his mind was in darkness. He read his books and studied them, still adding to his stock by begging them as he could, first from one neighbour and then from another, as they did not value them, or were about to tear them up. Thus he struggled on for a long time, till four years ago, when he came to a clear knowledge of Christ and his salvation. We found, by questioning him, that he had read the history of Moses, Gospel by John, Acts, Romans, a tract called "The Golden Balance," and a small catechism containing the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments. We found that he was not only well acquainted with the sentiment in them, but could repeat verbally large portions of Romans, John, and Acts. He began at the first chapter of Romans, and repeated half of it, together with large portions of John. He said he observed the Sabbath, prayed, and taught his son to pray. We asked him how he taught him to pray; when, to our astonishment, the little boy (about twelve years old) repeated the Lord's Prayer, in Siamese, without a single mistake. We also found that he could repeat the Ten Commandments. He told us that he prayed for the Missionaries and for his neighbours; that he preached to the people in his village, and tried to get them to join him; but they laughed at him on one side and ridiculed him on the other, and called him names. He went away on Sabbath evening, and came again on Monday morning, to make arrangements about leaving his son with us, as we told him it was not proper to attend to such business on the Sabbath. Since then he has visited us frequently; and we have found out more and more of his wonderful history. How many there are here who have had religious instruction for years, and yet, if questioned, could scarcely give an intelligent account of the plan of salvation; while this man, without any one to teach him but the Spirit of God, has gathered a reasonably correct 60 POETRY-AWAKENINGS. [MAY, knowledge of many of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. There could not be mentioned a subject in the books he had but what he seemed to be perfectly familiar with. He gave the history of Cornelius, of Stephen, of Peter's vision, and of Paul's conversion, with remarkable clearness and readiness. In speaking of the new birth, he understood the mistake made by Nicodemus, and explained what Christ meant by being "born again." We were curious to know if he had any idea of the Trinity. He said, Jehovah the Father is the Creator and Ruler of all; that Jesus Christ his Son is the one who came into the world, and died upon the cross to save sinners; and that the Holy Spirit is the one whom Jesus promised to send to his people. He has renounced their religion, forsaken all his heathen ceremonies, and embraced the religion of Jesus and the worship of the true God. This is a wonderful change to be wrought upon a heathen, in the midst of an idolatrous people, with no other means than the word of God, accompanied by his Spirit! Truly "the entrance of Thy word giveth light : it giveth understanding to the simple." Let not the people of God cease to pray for the spread of that precious word which can dispel the darkness from the minds of this people, and make this beautiful valley as the garden of the Lord. Shall not this strengthen our faith in the willingness of God to save the heathen, and in his power to make the feeblest means effectual? Shall it not, also, encourage Christians to pray more for the conversion of the heathen, and to contribute more for the spread of that precious word, which can give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death? May not this be the foretaste of a great work which the Lord will accomplish in this vicinity? AWAKENINGS. "FROM thy long winter sleep, Poor nature, rise!" So speaks the voice divine Then murmurs sweet and low Life wakes again. "From sin's long deadly sleep, Poor soul, arise!" So Heavenly Mercy spoke All false and vain; Family Treasury. "From sorrow's heavy sleep, Poor heart, arise!" Thus spoke the voice of Love Then through fast falling tears Her soothing song was heard "His promise hath not failed "From death's long winter sleep,› Soon shall that summons sound Then from far-severed graves How gladly shall we haste, Soon shall that morning dawn, In hope rest on! H. L. L. i 1862.] ( 61 ) THE ANDAMAN ISLANDERS. THE Andamans are a group of islands lying in the Bay of Bengal, to the south-west of the mouths of the Irrawaddy. They are the Botany Bay of the mutineers of India, whither numbers of the re 62 THE ANDAMAN ISLANDERS. [JUNE, bellious Sepoys, whose lives have been spared, have been transported. They consist principally of the Great and Little Andaman, with several lesser islands. The length of the great island is about 150 miles, with a breadth of from 18 to 20; the smaller island, about 30 miles to the south of the other, is about 28 miles long and 16 broad. A mountain rises in the Great Andaman to the height of 2400 feet. The surface of the islands is diversified, and a great part of it is covered with forests of large and valuable trees, besides a variety of ornamental woods. Hitherto we have known little of the inhabitants; but on the formation of the convict settlement at Port Blair they began to be troublesome. They would shoot their arrows at the convicts when cutting bamboos, or otherwise at work. Strict orders were issued that they should not be allowed to land on Viper Island unless they left all weapons behind them; but, on their compliance with this order, they were to be received and kindly treated. But proving refractory, collisions ensued; and on one of these occasions seven of the aborigines were captured. It had been a subject of much anxiety to the Superintendent how best to act as regarded this people. If too much encouraged, they would prove mischievous; while, if no encouragement was given, they would ever remain strangers, and a perpetual feud be waged between them and the settlement. It was decided, therefore, that three of the number should be sent to Rangoon, to remain there for some time, in the hope that a knowledge of their language might be acquired, and they themselves receive such impressions of British power as might convince them and their countrymen of the necessity of keeping peace with us. At Rangoon they were lodged, for security sake, in the jail, under charge of an English sailor, who took them out daily for a walk about the town and suburbs. Though regarded with great curiosity by the Burmese, they did not appear at all disconcerted by the notice which was taken of them. No progress, however, was made in acquiring means of communication with them; and eventually they were forwarded to Moulmein, from whence they might be more readily shipped to their own country, if circumstances rendered this necessary. Since their arrival there, Colonel Albert Fytche, Commissioner of the Tenasserim and Martaban provinces, has made them an especial study, and from a note drawn up by this officer we extract the following particulars Their reputed similarity to the true African Negro appears to have been greatly exaggerated. The forehead is well formed, and not retreating, neither are the lips coarse and projecting, and the nostrils are by no means broad, the ear is small, and well formed, the hair unlike the socalled woolly hair of a negro, and growing conspicuously in separate detached tufts. They have absolutely no trace of whiskers, beard, or |