In the afternoon went to another village, and distributed Tracts and gave instructions to those whom we saw in the way. At the house where we expected to lodge, the owner was not at home. We went on to another, where the people (Roman Catholics) readily gave up their chief room to accommodate us. After we were a little settled, a company of people gathered round us, some of whom manifested much disposition to dispute. They insisted strongly on the advantage of worshipping saints, urging that they would be able to act as intercessors, and thus to procure favours for them from God. They asserted that the Word of God authorized these things; but when we asked for proof, instead of the Scriptures they brought forward a written catechism containing quotations of Scripture, and distorted passages, so brought together as to prove their doctrines: but this we would not admit. The chief disputer, who was very authoritative, was from Jaffna: after a time he left, saying that he would come again in the morning, and bring the Scriptures with him; but we saw no more of him: he asserted many things which were untrue; and it is likely that he felt himself unequal to the task which he had undertaken. May 30, 1829-We left, this morning, about eight o'clock, and proceeded to another village; where a large company of people was soon collected, to whom the Interpreter read a Tract, and explained it at large. Most of them, I believe, were Roman Catholics: there was no disposition manifested to dispute with us all who could read readily received Tracts. Having appointed a place for meeting in another village, we now separated, and took different routes, conversing with the people and distributing Tracts as we went along. Most of the people with whom I met were Heathens, and some of them not the most sociable: some asked for proof that Christ came into the world, and that the Christian Religion was true; and, as they will not enter into our course of reasoning, it is not easy to prove these things to THEIR satisfaction: after referring to the purity of the Christian Religion (of which they have had but few specimens most of the Christians whom they have formerly known having dis. graced the Christian Name by their immoral lives) and the tendency of the Holy Scriptures, I thought it better to speak of the evidence which the true Christian has in his own breast. The appointed village was further than I expected; and I was, in consequence, much exposed to a burning sun. After taking some food, I and my attendants set out on our return, leav ing Dr. Scudder to pursue his good work a little longer. We reached home about nine o'clock at night. I brought with me two little Boys from the populous Catholic Village, whose Mothers came to me, begging me to take them. This little excursion has been very interesting, and I trust will be followed by the Divine Blessing. Expectation among the Heathen of an approaching Change. The fact stated by Mr. Knight in the following extract deserves attention. His remarks upon it are in the true spirit of a Missionary. An old Brahmin, with whom I have often conversed, confessed to me that s change of religion is to be looked for; implying that it is foretold in their books. I told him that the religion which will prevail is the Christian: be said that he thought so too. This change, it was foretold, should take place in the year 5000 of the Cali Yug, or present age of the world. He did not expect that it would be sudden; but that it might be considered as now begun, and would gradually increase till it was fully accomplished. Formerly, when speaking of this change, he has said that it was described in their books as a curse, which was to come on the people for their impiety. The present is the 4923d year of the Cali Yug; so that, according to their own calculation, there are only 77 years before the expected change is to be effected. Whether they derived their notions, originally, from the Volume of Inspiration or not, it is difficult to say; but it certainly is an encouraging circumstance, in connexion with what we know from the Word of God, and what may be gathered from the signs of the times: and if Heathens are beginning to regard these signs, and to draw inferences from them, amidst all their darkness and ignorance, how much should Christians. be excited from them, and from the encouragements of the Word of God, to labour and pray for the speedy accom plishment of this glorious change! The Heathen expect it as a curse; but Christians know that it will prove an unspeakable blessing. There is another encouraging view to be taken of this subject. When some of these learned Brahmins shall have been enlightened by Divine Truth, they will be ready to come forward, and urge this very reason for their countrymen embracing the Christian Religion. They will then see that their books which represented this change as a CURSE have misled them; for, as the Gospel extends itself, and its sacred and genial influence is seen and felt in the life and conduct, and especially when its advantages in a temporal point of view begin to be enjoyed, they will see that it will be a BLESSING to their nation instead of a curse. The obstacles which stand in the way of the general diffusion of the Gospel, arising from caste, and other established customs and superstitions, are certainly very great, and, humanly speaking, insurmountable; but when the Lord of Hosts shall arise, what shall stand before Him! The good work will probably not have a very GENERAL extension, before some of these great ones are brought to yield to the power of Divine Grace; but when they begin to lead the way, it may be expected to go on rapidly. The great mass of the people are extremely ignorant, and will be easily induced to follow whenever the Brahmins and chief men shall lead. After all, however, the work is of God. Every part must be performed by His blessing; and he will do it in His own way, and thus convince man of the fully of his speculations. There is no reason to believe that the Brahmin has derived his ideas directly from Christians or from Christian Books; but from Ancient Native Books, and from the little that he has heard of what is doing in the world. I shall endeavour to pursue this point further, as I have opportunity; in order, both to ascertain the views of the learned Heathens, and to circulate among them information in reference to the extension of the Christian Religion; for I conceive that their expectation of a change holds out great encouragement. Here, however, I proceed with trembling steps; as venturing on uncertain, and what often proves delusive ground. The promises and declarations of the Bible are the only true and undoubted source, of encouragement; for here is no fear of disappointment: therein also Christians learn their duty and their prospects, with regard to the progress of the Sacred Cause. I shall be excused, I trust, for saying, that I cannot but think, that it would be well if the attention of the Christian Church could be directed more entirely to the directions and promises of the Sacred Volume, instead of looking so much for encouragement in the actual progress of the work. We, the Missionaries of this District, have been led to take this view of the subject, very especially, of late; and our minds are deeply impressed with its importance. We are exceedingly happy to find, that the practice of the Christian Public is so much improving, with regard to the Resolutions brought forward at General Meetings; and I cannot but think, that something more may yet be done to improve the general feeling in reference to this subject-that the interests of Missionary and Bible Societies may not have to depend so much on the pleasing and encouraging reports which their Directors may be able to bring forward; but that Christians may learn to feel, that it is their duty to exert themselves for the propagation of the Gospel, even though every attempt should be, for the present, unsuccessful. Want of Elementary Books. Mr. Knight's remarks, in the following extract, relate to the want of Elementary Books of General Knowledge in Tamul. The Missionaries in the Cingalese District make a similar complaint. Means will be speedily devised, it may be hoped, of procuring translations into these languages, of the excellent series of Elementary Books prepared by the Calcutta SchoolBook Society. I have been much engaged in the distribution of Tracts, both written and printed. With the printed I have been furnished, chiefly, by the Madras Corresponding Committee; but the number which I have been able to obtain being inadequate to the demand, I have gladly trodden in the steps of my American Brethren here, in pro curing and circulating Tracts written on Pollahs; these are not so acceptable to the people generally, as the printed Tracts; nor is their curiosity so much excited by them. I believe we have yet to learn what are the best Tracts for distribution among this people. Scripture Extracts, plain and simple Addresses founded on some Scripture Doctrines, explanations of Scripture Texts, exposures of the Heathen System, &c., are the principal subjects of those hitherto circulated; but, in addition to these, or connected with them, something more entertaining is necessary to render Tracts interesting to the people: for they have no taste for any thing relative to the Christian Religion; and very often reject Books with disdain, when they find that this is the subject. The people generally, and even the better informed, are extremely ignorant of what is doing in the world; nor have they, at present, any means of increasing their knowledge. They think there is nothing so great or so good, as what is contained in their books; and that all the people in the world are fools, compared with their ancestors. Their ideas on geography, astronomy, and on almost every part of science, are quite puerile. The prejudice of some of the more learned operates as a further hinderance to their attaining just notions. Mr. Knight says of one of this body I endeavoured to shew him that what we asserted of the form and motion of the earth was not so absurd as he considered it; but he seemed immovable, and thought that no one could know any thing on the subject, unless God Himself had revealed it: they suppose that all their science was thus revealed. He smiled at the idea that the little portion of the earth which we talked of should be considered the whole; and said that all which had been discovered by man was only one-seventh of what existed that there were Seven Continents-that Europe, Asia, and Africa (which I showed him on the Globe) formed one of these continents and that all the other parts, such as America and all the Islands in both hemispheres, were only adjoining or belonging to this one continent; but that the other continents were inaccessible, and therefore never had been, or could be, explored by man. It is really mortifying that all the science and research of Europe should be thus ridi culed by this ignorant people. Australasia. New Zealand. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Extracts from the Journal of Mr. Francis Hall. THE return of Mr. Francis Hall to this country was stated at p. 327 of the Number for July. The following Extracts from his Journal, kept at Kiddeekiddee, will shew some of the difficulties with which the Mission has had of late to contend, and give a gloomy picture of the ferocious scenes which the Settlers have been obliged to witness. Dec. 15, 1821-This day a Chief came into the court-yard, and took our iron-pot, and put it under his kakahow (mat-cloak) and was going away with it. I happened to come up at the moment, when Mrs. Kemp told me of the circumstance: I laid hold of it; and, after a little struggle, got it from him. This was done, it is said, because Shunghee's daughter, who had lived with us a long time and had been treated with great kindness, and had lately left us of her own accord, was woman in her room : this man, knowing not pleased because we had got another the affair, made it a pretext for robbing us; and was, in all probability, set on by the girl or her friends. Dec. 16, Sunday-Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Kemp, and myself (in the absence of Mr. Butler) went through the Service of the day. We are no preachers; but we read Sermons written by Christian Men. Dec. 19-Three of the war canoes, with Moodeewhy's Tribe from Shukeangha, returned from the River Thames, where they have, for several months, been spreading death and destruction around them. They landed about half a mile from the Settlement, got some food, and then proceeded toward their homes to our great joy. They had upward of 100 prisoners-of-war with them, who might generally be distinguished by their sorrowful countenances: some of them were weeping and mourning bitterly—› one woman in particular, before whom they had, with savage cruelty, placed the head of her brother, stuck upon a stick: she sat upon the ground before it, and the tears ran down her cheeks in streams. We saw several other heads stuck upon sticks about the camp, and we understood that they had many packed up in baskets. These canoes brought the news of the death of Tettee, a Chief, and son-in-law to Shunghee: he was slain in fight. Tettee was the most civilized, best behaved, and most ingenious and industrious man, whom we have met with among the New Zealanders. His brother Apoo, a fine young man,-is also among the slain. This has created great grief in the family. Tettee's wife and Mattooka his brother are watched and bound, to prevent them from putting an end to their lives. Apoo's wife hung herself, on hearing the news. Shunghee's wife has killed a "cook" or prisoner-of-war; which is customary on these occasions. Dec. 20, 1821-Hearing that Shunghee's wife was about to kill another slave, we went up the hill to the hut where she was, with Tettee's wife and child-all weeping and mourning most bitterly. We found that they had not killed the boy; and hope, from what Mr. Shepherd and I said to them, that they will not. I offered her an axe to spare his life. Dec. 21.-This day Shunghee and his people, with some other Tribes, arrived here from the fight, with the dead bodies of Tettee and Apoo. Most of the European Men went down to the point, about a quarter of a mile, to see the ceremony of their landing; but very sorry were we that our curiosity led us to witness such a scene of horror. A small canoe, with the dead bodies, first approached the shore: the warcanoes, and those taken in fight, about 40 in all, lay at short distance. Shortly after, a party of Young Men landed, to perform the war-dance and song usual on their return from fighting: they yelled, and jumped, and brandished their weapons, and threw up human heads in the air in a shocking manner; but this was but a prelude to the horrid work which was about to take place, of which we had no idea. An awful pause and silence ensued. At length the canoes moved slowly, and came in contact with the shore; when the widow of Tettee and other women rushed down upon the beach in a frenzy of rage, and beat in pieces the carved Nov. 1823. work at the head of the canoes with a pole: they then got into a canoe, and pulled out several prisoners-of-war into the water, and beat them to death; except one boy, who swam away and got into another canoe. The frantic widow then proceeded to another canoe, and dragged out a woman-prisoner into the water, and beat out her brains with a club with which they pound fern root. We retired from this distressing scene, as no interference of ours could avail; and we understand, that, after we came away, Shunghee killed five with a sword with his own hand. In the whole, nine persons were murdered this evening, and were afterward eaten by the Chiefs and the people. It is a custom with these wretched men to make these sacrifices, as a satisfaction for their friends killed in battle. The prisoners-of-war-men, women, and children-are very numerous; but chiefly the two latter. They are said to amount to about 2000; and are distributed chiefly among the different Tribes in the Bay of Islands. The people are now more bloodthirsty than ever, talk of going again soon, and mean to sweep the whole island. In this expedition, they did all the mischief which they had threatened. Poor Enakee was killed and eaten they brought his head away with them, together with those of a great number of his people. Enakee gave them a warmer reception than they expected. Dec. 22- The numerous Natives around us have done us less injury than we could expect during the past night. Several of the Tribes from a distance took their departure, early this morning, peaceably; first making a large heap of all their old kakahows, and burning them. It is customary, when they return home, to burn all the garments which they have had on at the time that they killed men. Among the prisoners to a Shukeangha Tribe, which went away this morning, was a fine woman, with a fine boy, her son, very fair, said to be the offspring of an Officer on board the Coromandel. The Chief, who had taken her prisoner, threatened to put the child to death: Mrs. Butler, therefore, very humanely took it under her care. May the Lord have mercy upon the child! and may be be brought up in His nurtnre and ad monition, and be a blessing to this land of horrid darkness! 3 T Mr. Kemp and Mr. Shepherd went down to the point, to see the body of Tettee. Shunghee was busily employed in making a small enclosure of pieces of a canoe, decorated with feathers and carved work, after their manner, in which to deposit the bodies of the brothers Tettee and Apoo. Part of the bodies of the people killed yesterday were then roasting at a fire at a little distance; and some human flesh, ready cooked, lay in baskets on the ground. Shunghee had the audacity to ask them to eat some, and said it was better than pork. Part of one of the poor women killed yesterday, the Natives cooked on the side of the hill at the back of our house: the head they cut off and rolled down the hill; and several of them amused themselves for some time, in throwing large stones at it till they had dashed it to pieces; when Mr. Puckey got it from them and buried it. We hear, that, among the slaves who were taken from hence to Wyemattee yesterday, one of them, a woman, becoming tired or lame, could not keep up with the rest: she was, in consequence, killed and eaten-this being the custom in New Zealand! Dec. 23, 1821, Sunday-I read a Sermon in the morning, and Prayers in the afternoon; and Mr. Kemp read Prayers in the morning, and a Sermon in the afternoon. The only boy whom I have had for some time, Towa, would not wash and clean himself to-day. The dreadful proceedings, which have been going on of late, seem to have made the Natives about us, more insolent and savage than they were before. A girl whom we had in the house, named Koshaddei, who took care of Mr. Kemp's child, helped to kill two of the poor creatures the day before yesterday, and is not coming back to us again. Dec. 24-Shunghee came up to the Settlement this morning, for the first time since his return from the fight. His business was, to collect all the Natives that he could, to help him to pull one of his large canoes on shore. He saw me in the yard; and just came up, and said, "How do you do?" and immediately wheeled about, and went away: whether he thought I was going to speak to him about the murders which had lately been committed, or not, I cannot tell. He does not act with that kindness and openness toward us that he used to do, but is sullen and mysterious. He has got something in his head, and God Almighty knows who put it there, and will in time bring the hidden things of darkness to light. It requires the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove to deal with these people. The grace of God is alone sufficient for us! Dec. 29- We received the painful intelligence, that Shunghee and his people had killed more prisoners-of-war and eaten them; making the number of which we know 18, who have been murdered in cold blood since they returned from the fight. The bodies of Tettee and Apoo lie near the river, about half-a-mile from the Settlement. In coming up the river, they would not permit our boat to pass the place, on account of the taboo: we were obliged to get out, leave the boat, and have the things carried over land. We saw the bowels of the poor creatures who had been killed, floating about the river! Dec. 31-Saw several human heads stuck upon poles; and the tattooed skin of a man's thigh nailed to a board to dry, in order to be made into the covering of a cartridge-box. The people have stuck two human heads upon a high fence opposite our dwelling. Some extracts from this part of the Journal, on the attempt of Tettee's Widow to destroy herself, were given at p. 68 of the last Survey. The Journal proceeds Jan. 10, 1822.-Tettee's wife is now trying to starve herself to death: she has eaten nothing for several days. is Jan. 15-Three of Shunghee's wives, taken at the last fight, ran away, and he to seek them. Akoe, Shunggone hee's daughter-in-law, who lately attempted to take away her own life, came to have her arm dressed: she seems more cheerful, and I hope will not make a second attempt to destroy herself. Jan. 16-Shunghee has found his runaway wives. We are glad that he has not, as we expected, killed any of them. Feb. 15. The people are now preparing a very great expedition, to revenge the deaths of Tettee and Apoo. Several hundreds have assembled here from a distance: they and the Napooes will join the different Tribes in the Bay, as soon as their canoes are ready; and will form one of the greatest armaments which has ever taken place in New Zea |