lation, composed chiefly of Hindoos. It is situated on the North East confines of that part of the country known as the "Punjaub." To this people the Rev. W. Ferguson-the son-inlaw of Dr. Mullens-went with strong faith and a loving heart, eager to make Christ known to them. He gave up his chaplainship in a Highland regiment, that he might thus follow out his heart's desire. He had a cordial welcome amongst the people, and God has greatly blessed him in his work. He has lately given a most interesting account of a visit which he and another missionary paid to a village called Mahla, where they held a meeting, and were eagerly listened to for three hours, while they explained the Scriptures, and prayed with and exhorted the people; many were there and then brought to decide for Christ. After a time about eighteen of them were regarded as fit subjects for Christian baptism, and were assembled in the midst about to baptize them, and requested the first in order to uncover his head, his courage seemed to fail and he remained sitting still and silent. Great was their surprise, and many their fears; but after Mr. F. had said a few solemn and encouraging words, he pointed to a clean smooth stone in the floor, on which they were accustomed to beat leather, and said, “Now, let those who are ready to forsake all for Christ, come and kneel on that stone." Not one moved! The missionaries lifted their hearts to God in prayer, and then rose from their knees, hoping fora speedy answer. The faces of the people showed that there was a struggle between faith and fear, between idolatry and the worship of the true God, between light and darkness, between peace and despair; it was a life and death struggle; yet no one moved. Mr. Ferguson then prepared to leave; but, just as he was going there was a movement, a sudden faint cry, and lo! one man wa of many spectators for the pure seen standing by the stone with pose of thus openly acknowledging themselves Christians when, just as Mr. Ferguson was clasped, and, after a few moments he thus spoke: "I" have one word to say: in what I do now I act singly, and by myself alone; there sit my wife, child, and mother; what their mind is, and what they have resolved to do, I do not know; I leave them to decide for them selves; but what they may do, does not now hinder me: my mind is made up!" Saying this, he knelt down on the stone, and, confessing his faith in Christ, he was at once baptized. His young wife immediately followed, and so did his little daughter, who of her own accord knelt down by her mother, but was scarcely able to keep from a sob or a cry; but when they again took their seats, and the little one ventured: to look up in the faces of her parents, and saw their eyes filled gia ban daish_ascais) Blagrits ghdenwadi boz Yziskotar nbull nasaded junk night st with tears, not of grief, but holy Little as a human hand? THE MADAGASCAR NEW YEAR'S FEAST. R BY REV. W. E. COUSINS. huang ads to grodz® k« of Jalgaon mula han gradi:asqu ERHAPS some of the readers of the Juvenile Mission ary Magazine may know that the natives of Madagascar, like the Chinese and some other nations, have a new year's festival. As the Malagasy new year has once more come round, it will perhaps please some of you to hear a little about the observance of this festival. To-day being Friday, the day for the great weekly market in Antananarivo, large number of bullocks have been sold, as the chief business USELY of those who observe the feast consists in killing bullocks and sending presents of beef to their friends. Some of the bullocks are fattened three or four years before they are thought fit to be killed. One passed us this morning on its way to the market, preceded by a white flag, and followed by a drum and a crowd of people. Its hump was an immense size, and really seemed quite burdensome to the poor animal. The hump is nearly all fat, and is considered the choice part of the bullock, just as the large fat tail of the sheep is preferred to the loin or any other part. This afternoon messengers were sent by the Queen to all the Europeans, to present to us two fine fat bullocks as our share in this time of general rejoicing. At sunset this evening the annual illumination took place. The people make long torches of dry grass, which they light and wave about in all directions. As far as the eye could see, the hill-tops were illuminated with these dancing fires. To-morrow evening the same thing will be repeated. As soon as the cock crows for the first time to-morrow morning—that is, somewhere about two o'clock-there will be a general mourning throughout the land. The people call to mind their relatives who have died in former years, and especially during the past year, and mourn for them afresh. I have been told that if I wake up at two o'clock to-morrow morning, and go out to listen, I shall hear weeping and wailing in every house. Much of this, of course, is mere form; but some of it is real grief, caused by the remembrance of friends who in former years joined with those still living in the festivities of the new year. OFF TO CHINA: JOTTINGS ON THE WAY, BY REV. J. MACGOWAN. No. VI. E are exceedingly fortunate in having to cross the Bay of Biscay in one of its quietest moods. Some of the passengers who have never been to sea before say, "We are having an exceedingly stormy voyage;" when the fact is, it would be impossible for us to have a finer or quieter one, as, even in the very midst of summer, the bay is never free from the uneasy swell which makes our friends fancy that we are having unusually bad weather. The point of land that now makes its appearance is the famous Cape St. Vincent. The region around is very hilly, and apparently unproductive. We can see nothing but hills rising above each other as far as the eye can reach, and presenting a barren and unfruitful appearance. On the extreme point of the Cape a telegraph station has been established, and, as vessels pass very close, there is no difficulty in sending messages to almost any part of Europe. Our captain was anxious to be telegraphed to London as having arrived thus far in safety, and accordingly, the necessary signal was hoisted to let them know his wishes. Instead of getting the reply he expected, the flags hoisted in return were found, on reference to the signal-book, to contain the question, "How are you all on board ?" Some wag suggested, as there were still some unfortunates suffering below, that he should signal that we were sea-sick, |