inhabited only by Heathens. They were generally delivered with great propriety.

The piece spoken by Hopoo was composed by himself, as a Farewell Address to the Scholars, in contemplation of the separation which would take place, should he first visit the land of his fathers, to bear the message of Salvation. The performance was highly creditable to his talents, and many parts of it were suited deeply to affect a considerate mind. Toward the close, he alluded to the death of Obookiah, and of his friend and benefactor Mr. Mills, in the ten<derest manner.

The whole exhibition and the prospects of the School were calculated to warm the benevolent heart; and to prompt to activity and diligence, în the great work of sending the Gospel to the Heathen.

Exertions of Females in Support of
Missions.

We have already noticed the exertions of American Females in furtherance of the objects of the Bible Society. They are extending their labours to the support of

Missions.

On this subject the Committee say, in reference to the zeal of some Young Ladies in this Cause

Christian Females, throughout our country, should form themselves into circles for obtaining Missionary Intelligence, cultivating their benevolent feelings, and devoting a regular portion of their industry to the cause of

Missions. This has been done in several places.

In reference to the assistance which may be rendered by Females to a particular branch of the Society's labours, it is said

The inquiry has several times been made, Whether Females, in different parts of our country, have it not in their

power to aid in the education of the Cherokee Children, by furnishing clothing, or in some other way by their industry. We answer, that they have it in their power to aid, not only in educating the Cherokee Children, but in promoting the success of every Mission to the Aborigines of our country. Garments made of plain,

durable cloth; and suited either for summer or winter, and for children of both sexes, from the age of six or seven to that of sixteen; will be acceptable and useful. The Females in the Mission Family are so constantly occupied in the more laborious concerns of the Establishment, that they can find little time to use the needle. It seems necessary, therefore, that they should be spared, as far as possible, the labour of making new garments.

WEST AFRICA.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

SIERRA LEONE.

Departure of the Rev. W. Johnson, and

Mrs. Johnson, for England.

We have already stated. (see p. 317) the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson in this country. There are some cirumstances connected with his temporary absence from his affectionate Negroes at Regent's Town, which our Readers will learn with much pleasure.

It being judged indispensable that Mrs. Johnson should return to England, and Mr. Johnson being earnestly advised to accompany her, his mind became much perplexed. He wrote in his Journal, on the 9th of March

To leave my people seemed insup seemed equally so. Tears and restportable, and to leave my afflicted wife less nights were my portion. I saw my duty as a husband, on the one hand, to accompany my dear wife in her affliction; and, on the other, I feared to become a careless Shepherd: and, as trials of this kind seldom come by themselves, doubts and fears of my own state began to prevail, and I scarcely knew whether I was a Christian.

Heavy, however, as my trials have been, they have been blessed abundantly. The Discourses which I addressed to my people while under these conflicts of mind, have been made the means of great good. No less than fifty-two Negroes have been added, this last month, to the Church of Christ, and many more are Candidates for Baptism. O my

God, it has been good for me that I have been afflicted!

Mr. and Mrs. Jesty and Mr. Barrett arriving at the Colony on the 26th of March, Mr. Johnson felt that the way was opened for him to visit England; especially as he was aware that he might confer with the Committee, on the state and prospects of the Mission, with great advantage.

Mr. and Mrs. Morgan having been associated with Mr. Cates in the care of Regent's Town during Mr. Johnson's absence, and Mr. Wilhelm having undertaken to render the necessary assistance as a Minister, Mr. Johnson prepared for his departure. The following extracts from his Journal. need no

comment of ours. They will be read with gratitude and joy by all who know how to acknowledge the working of the Divine Hand.

April 11,1819. Easter Sunday-The Church was full at Nine o'clock. I married 2 Couple, baptized 110 Adults, and 6 Infants, and administered the Lord's Supper to 253 Black Brethren and Sisters, and 4 White; myself making 258.

This was, indeed, as a Day of Pen

tecost, in Africa!

The Christian Church at Regent's Town now numbers 263 Communi

regretting, in their ardent affection for the faithful Shepherd who had been made the means of collecting them out of the wilderness and bringing them into the Fold of Christ, that they could not be the companions of his voyage; and dismissing him from their shores with their warm benedictions, and a simple but striking expression of their love" Massa, suppose ne water live here," pointing to the Sea, 66 we go with all the way, till no feet more !"

you

NEW ZEALAND.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

Intelligence from the Missionaries on board, the" Baring."

LETTERS have been received from the Rev. John Butler, dated off St. Jago, Feb. 21st; and on the 7th of March, when a little North of the Line: with one from Mr. Francis Hall, of the 7th of March.

Leaving the Downs on the 27th of January, they reached Madeira on the 10th of February, and sailed again on the 13th. On the 21st they made St. Jago, one of the Cape De Verd Islands; but did not touch there, as the weather became thick and hazy.

Divine Service had been regularly performed by the Missionaries in their Cabin; and by the Rev. Mr. Cross, when circumstances permitted, on the Quarter Deck. A School of seventy Men and Boys had been established among the Convicts, who were very attentive and orderly. The Scriptures and Tracts had been distributed, and were frequently seen in the hands of the persons to whom they had been given.

Tooi was perfectly recovered. The ship was very healthy, and was proceeding rapidly on her voyage.

Vows, which are absolved by suffering mutilation in various ways, or by enduring bodily torments, are very common among the Hindoos. They are generally undertaken on occasions of disease, or any other danger, from which they suppose they can be delivered by their efficacy.

One of the most common consists in stamping, upon the shoulders, chest, and other parts of the body, with a redhot iron, certain marks, to represent the armour of their gods; the impressions of which are never effaced, but are accounted sacred, and are ostentatiously displayed as marks of distinction.

A practice very common among the Devotees consists in laying themselves at their whole length on the ground; and rolling, in that posture, all round the temples, or before the cars on which the idols are placed in solemn processions. On such occasions, it is curious to see the numbers of enthusiasts who roll in that manner before the car, over the roads and streets, during the whole of the procession; regardless of the stones, thorns, and other impediments, which they encounter in their progress, and by which they are mangled all over. It is in this class of enthusiasts that some individuals are found, so completely inspired by the demon of a barbarous fanaticism, or seduced by the first incitements of a delirious glow, that they roll themselves under the car on which the idols are drawn, and are voluntarily crushed under the wheels. The surrounding crowd of enthusiasts, so far from trying to pre vent this act of devotion, loudly ap

plaud the zeal of the victims, and exalt them among the Gods.

One of the severest tests to which the Devotees of India are accustomed to expose themselves, is that which they call in many places "Chidi Mari." The name arises from this species of self-infliction being generally practised in honour of the Goddess Mariamma (or Marima), one of the most wicked and sanguinary of all that are adored in India. At many temples, consecrated to this cruel divinity, a sort of gibbet is erected, with a pulley at the arm, through which a line passes with a sharp hook at the end. Those who have vowed to undergo the rough trial of "Chidi Mari" place themselves under the gibbet; from which the rope and iron-hook are let down. Then, after benumbing the flesh of the middle of the back of the votary by rubbing it very roughly, they fix the hook into it; and, giving play to the other end of the string, they hoist up to the top of the gibbet, the wretch thus suspended by the muscles of the back. After swinging in the air for two or three minutes, he is let down again; and, the hook being unfixed, he is dressed with proper medicines for his wound, and is dismissed in triumph.

Another well-known proof of devotion, to which many oblige themselves by vow, in cases of illness or other troubles, consists in walking or rather running over burning coals. When this is to be performed, they begin by kindling a blazing fire; and, when the flames expire, and all the fuel is reduced to cinders, the votaries commence their race, from the midst of

a puddle of earth and water, which has been previously prepared for the purpose; running quickly over the glowing embers, till they reach another puddle of the same kind on the other side of the fire. But, notwithstanding this precaution, those who have a tender skin cannot fail to be grievously burnt.

Others, who are unfit for the race, in place of going through the fire, take a cloth well moistened with water, which they put over their head and shoulders, and lift up a chafing-dish filled with live embers, which they discharge over their heads. This is called the Fire Bath.

Another species of torture submitted to, in the fulfilment of vows, is to pierce the cheeks, through and through, with a wire of silver or other metal, fixed in such a manner that the mouth cannot be opened without extreme pain. This operation is called "locking the mouth;" and is often protracted through the whole day. While under this discipline, the Votary repairs to the temple which he has come to visit, and pays homage to the god; or walks about, with ostentation, among the admiring throng: There are several temples frequented by this species of Votaries; and numbers of Devotees, of both sexes, are there seen, with their jaws thus perforated through the teeth, and their mouths completely locked.

I once met a fanatic of this sort, in the streets, who had both lips pierced through and through with two long nails, which crossed each other, so that the point of the one reached to the right eye, and that of the other to the left. He had just undergone this cruel operation, at the gate of a temple consecrated to the goddess Mari-amma; and, when I saw him, the blood was still trickling from the wounds. He walked in that state for a long time in the streets, surrounded by a crowd of admirers; many of whom brought him alms, in money or goods, which were received by the persons who attended him.

There are a great many other sorts of tortures and bodily pains, thus voluntarily inflicted by the Hindoos, with the view of rendering their gods propitious. Each Devotee chuses the sort which is suggested by an imagiJuly, 1819.

nation heated with barbarous fanaticism; and, still more frequently, by the desire of acquiring a name, and becoming conspicuous among the people.

Some make a vow to cut out their tongues; and acquit themselves of their vow, by coolly executing it with their own hands. The custom is, when they have separated the half, or any other portion of that organ, at the door of the temple, to put it on a cocoa-shell, and offer it, on their knees, at the shrine of the deity.

This disposition of the Hindoos, to bind themselves by vows to painful or costly works in honour of their gods, is visible in all unpleasant circumstances that befall them, but particularly in disease. There is hardly. a Hindoo who, in that case, does not take a vow to perform something or other when he recovers. The rich make vows to celebrate festivals at certain temples. Those less opulent offer, at the Pagoda, a cow, a buffalo, pieces of cloth, or trinkets of gold and silver. Those who are affected with any disorder of the eyes, mouth, ears, or any other outward organ, vow to their idols a corresponding resemblance of it in silver or gold.

Among the innumerable sorts of vows practised by either sex, the following, which is very common in all parts of the Peninsula, appears to me so curious as to deserve notice. It consists in the offering of their hair and their nails to the idol. It is well known, that the men in India have the custom of frequently shaving the head, and allowing only a single tuft to grow on the crown. Those who have taken the vow, suffer their hair and nails to grow for a long space of time; and, when the day of fulfilment arrives, they go to the Pagoda, and have their head shaved and their nails pared, which they offer up to the divinity whom they worship. This practice is nearly peculiar to men, and is held to be one of the most acceptable of all others to the gods.

In concluding our remarks on the Vows of the Hindoos, it may be proper to observe, that all such as relate to painful operations of the nature above described, with many others that are attended with bodily suffering, are always declined by the Brah2 U