Total from the above Auxiliary Societies, $5,388 48 II. VARIOUS COLLECTIONS AND DONA- Alabama, Miss Curtis, Ashford, Ct. A friend, 1.00 576 92 50 Prattsburgh, N. Y. Mon. con. Rensselaerville, N. Y. Fem. cent. so. Richmond, Va. Mon. con. 59,75; asso. in 1st presb. chh. 20,50; Miss E. K. R. Caskie, for Divie Bethune, 12; young la. asso. for Virginia La Fayette, 12; Indiv. towards extra effort, viz. D. J. Burr, 100; FLEMING JAMES, which constitutes him an Honorary Member of the Board, 100; H. L. Wight, 25; R. Greenhow, 25; J. Jones, 20; E. James, 20, T. Cowles, 20; Rev. W. I. Armstrong, 20; J. Mc Keage, 10; C. P. Adriance, 10; J. H. Eustace, 10; J. Gray, 10; C. Goddard, 10; twelve indiv. ea. 5; J. F. A. 4; W. R. 3; B. A. S. 2,50; Miss E. A. 2; a friend, 1; 452 50 12 00 24 10 104 25 10 00-442 50 ded. amt. ack. in M. Herald for January, as fr. Rev. J. H. Turner, Salem, Ms. Fem. so. for ed. hea. chil. 20,50; mon. con. in S. so. 6,07; Schaghticoke Point, N. Y. Mon. con. in presb. chh. ern miss. so. 26 57 12 00 Schenectady, N. Y. Dep't No. 2, of North 33 00 Sherburne, Ms. A lady, 50 Both, N. H. J. T. Woodbury, 12.00 Belchertown, Ms. La. 6.00 Shrewsbury, N. J. Mon. con. Stoneham, Ms. La. asso. 2.00 21 98 Bethlehem, N. Y. Mon. con. for John Den Sullivan, N. Y. Mon. con. 1st presb. chh. niston, in Ceylon, 12.00 Telfair co. Ga. J. Coffee, Brownville, Me. Asso. 20; mon. con. 2,87; 22.87 Tewksbury, Ms. Furton, O. A lady, 6th pay. for Luther Lanton, in Ceylon, 12.00 Carlisle, Ms. A friend, 52 Carlisle, N. Y. Mon. con. in presb. chh. 15.00 Congress cong. O. Fem. miss. so. 11 25 Dorset, Vt. Gent. and la. asso. 14.50 Chil. to purch. testaments, Troy, N. Y. Gent. Asso. 98,12; la. asso. 80,49; Upper Red Hook, N. Y. R. Gosman, (of which to constitute JONATHAN B. GosMAN, of Danby, N. Y. an Honorary Member of the Board, 100;) 5 30 3.00 37 178 61 200 00 Exeter and vic. N. H. Fem. Jews so. 15 00 Vienna, O. Indiv. 3 60 Wayne, Me. B. Burgess, 1.00 Franklin, Ms. Mon. con. 7 07 Westford, Ms. Chil. to purch. testaments, 135 Gorham, Me. F. O. Irish, West Nassau, N. Y. Mon. con. 6,75; 10 00 Great Barrington, Ms. Misses M. and S. fem. pray. so. 3; 9 75 K. for Greece, 2.00 Weston, Ms. A friend, 1.00 Greenfield, Ms. E. A. Gould, 5.00 White Creek, N. Y. A. CROSBY, which Greenwich, Ct. Fem. for. miss. so. 43; Hartford, Vt. F. Leavitt, 5; Rev. A. Hazen, 3; sab. sch. chil. 1,50; for native sch. among the Choctaws, 950 constitutes him an Honorary Member of Winthrop, Me. Juv. benev. so. for a hea. Unknown, A friend, 3; do. 25 c. a thank off. 5; Whole amount of donations acknowledged in the preceding lists, $8,023,14. 100 00 5 00 825 Hartford, N. Y. Mon. con. 15 00 Holliston, Ms. Mon. con. for wes. miss. Jamaica, Vt. A friend, 5 00 Jervmeville, O. Fem. miss. so. 20,50; Rev. R. Brown, 15; Keene, N. H. Heshbon so. for wes. miss. 10; mon. con 8,83; 18 83 Lancaster, Pa. Mon. con. 10,26; a bal. 19 c. 10 45 Lockport, N. Y. First presb. chh. Madison, O. J. Ware, 6 wire sieves, fr. A. C. Morse. Bolton, Ct. A barrel, for Choctaw miss. Burlington, Vt. A box, fr. ladies, for Pal A box, fr. Rev. J. Ely, for Marietta, O. D. W. 20.00 Middleton, Ms. Miss. asso. 12 50 Monson, Me. Asso. 9 43 Sandw. Isl. Glastonbury, Ct. 24 pr. shoes, &c. fr. N. and D. Hubbard, 25 50 Mount Hope cong. O. Fem. miss. so. 13 29. Nashaun Isl. Ms. J. Guyer, 2.00 Monson, Ms. Sundries, fr. indiv. and la. frag. so. for Greek youth, 9 75 Nelson, N. H. Rev. G Newell, 6 37 Newark, N. J. A friend, 100 00 Rindge, N. H. A box, fr. fem. char. so. for Haweis, 27 74 New Fane, Vt. Miss H. S. F. 50 New Haven, Ct. A friend, New Lebanon, N. Y. R. Woodworth, 100 00 50 00 New Milford, Ct. La. mite so. 16 00 Schenectady, N. Y. A box, fr. la. sew. so. of Dutch and presb. chhs. for Seneca, Washington co. E.Ten. Sundries, fr. miss. so. rec'd at Brainerd, 100 00 97 85 Newton Upper Falls, Ms. Mon. con. 6 50 Newville, Pa. Hea. youth so. for Joshua Williams, at Monroe, 10 00 New York city, J. Hunter, 1; W. Tracy, towards extra effort, 10; mon. con. in Bowery chh. 31,62; 42 62 Orleans, Ms. Mr. Linnel, 5 00 Orville, N. Y. Mon. con. 3; contrib. 5; Ovid, N. Y. Mon.con. 8 00 18 62 Oxford, N. Y. G. Hunt, 8.00 Philadelphia, Pa. Sew. so. for fem. schools in Bombay, 15 00 Portsmouth, N. H. Juv. so. 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th pay, for Israel W. Putnam, in Ceylon, 48 00 The following articles are respectfully solicited from Manufacturers and others. Printing paper, to be used in publishing portions of the Scriptures, school books, tracts, &c. at Bombay, and at the Sandwich Islands. Writing paper, writing books, blank books, quills, slates, &c. for all the missions and mission schools: especially for the Sandwich Islands. Shoes of a good quality, of all sizes, for persons of both sexes; principally for the Indian missions. Blankets, coverlets, sheets, &c. Fulled cloth, and domestic cottons of all kinds, Ceylon. MR. WINSLOW'S NOTICES OF JAFFNA. [Concluded from p. 343.] Botanical Notices. almonds, pine-apples, figs, dates, plums, and some others, which are more or less cultivated. One species of the cotton tree is also found here; but my limits do not admit of my attempting any thing like a complete list. I must not, however, omit the plantain, which has by some been The Talipot tree is one of the most rereckoned among the grasses, rather than markable of the palms, (if it be propas a tree. In conformation it may claim erly classed with them, as it has been by affinity with the grasses, but in size it is a some,) but it is of very rare occurrence; tree, as it often grows to the height of 15 and has been well described by Mr. or 20 feet. The trunk or stem is foliated Spaulding in his journal from this mission. and laminated, after the manner of rushIt is usually somewhat taller and larger grass or flag; and similar broad-bladed than the palmyra, is more uniformly erect, leaves are thrown out from the top of the and has a much wider spread leaf at top. stem, every lamina of the stem, ending at The circumference of this leaf is indeed the top in one of these leaves, which are such as to cover six or eight persons from very wide and often eight or ten feet in the rain, when spread, and yet it is so length. The whole stem, (the larger light as to be easily carried in the hand, as being from two to three feet in circumferit often is, in the shape of a long fan. Na- ence at the bottom,) is formed of these tives of distinction often have these um- layers one upon the other, each having brella fans handsomely ornamented, borne || distinct organization, and supporting its over their heads by a servant. The tree own leaf by a moisture carried up through blossoms and bears fruit but once in its sets of small cells, resembling those of a life, and that at the end of about 40 years. honey comb, and covered with the finest The sheath which envelops the flower is strainers. In the centre of all, the fruit very large, and shoots up from the centre stem rises, when the tree is about a year of the leaf-crowned top to the height of 15 old, and shows itself at the top in a large or 20 feet. When it bursts, it is said to conical purple flower, with numerous pemake an explosion like the report of a can-tals, which fall off one by one, after the non. Afterwards, it shoots forth branches, fruit has begun to appear under them on spreading on every side and dividing into the stem. The fruit, in shape and size innumerable stems, like tassels on the top like a cucumber, but smooth, comes out of Indian corn, on which are beautiful yel- on double combs, connected with the low flowers, of a strong smell. The whole stem, containing from five to 15 or 20 tuft is a magnificent cone, near thirty feet plantains, while there are 10 or 12 combs in height and half that in diameter. The on one stem. After bearing once, the flowers are succeeded by a small fruit the tree dies, and fresh shoots, which have size of a cherry, but of no use, except to sprung from its roots, takes its place. propagate the tree. It is, however, remarkable as an instance of the luxuriance of nature, that, though this singular tree bears fruit but once, and then dies, it then produces seed enough to cover a large tract of country with its progeny. To the list of fruit trees and shrubs, I might add guavas, pomegranates, jamboes, VOL. XXV. || || Next to the palmyra, the plantain is the bread-fruit of Jaffna. It affords rich and nutritious food, pleasant alike to natives and foreigners; and may be used when green, as a vegetable, or when ripe, boiled or eaten raw. One of the varieties, (for there are not less than eight or ten,) when well ripened and boiled, is not much unlike 47 roasted apples; while others, in their natural state, often taste somewhat like pears. As a general remark, however, all the fruits here, as in other tropical climates, want the peculiar zest of more northern fruits, are more insipid, especially on a first taste, but are more various, more at command at all seasons, more nourishing, and form much more an important article of sustenance. 1 have thus finished what I intended to say concerning the fruit and other trees and shrubs of Jaffna. I might have mentioned, that the vine may be cultivated without difficulty here, and that a grape, resembling the white Madeira grape, comes to great perfection. Another species, a dark grape, is also very good. In concluding this letter, I would express a hope, that no one who may take the trouble to read it, will be offended, on the one hand, by the occasional addition of the botanical names, or on the other by the want of a scientific method in the descriptions. The former was done only for convenience of reference by any one who might wish to recognise a tree with which he is not familiar, and the other is partly intentional, as a common or vulgar, rather than a scientific description, answered better my intention of being intelligible to all. Having noticed the principal fruit trees of the district, as most important, I shall say but little of the other natural productions, except as connected with agriculture and the means of subsistence. In passing, however, I would merely mention, that there are many flowering shrubs and plants, of which the flowers of several are sweet scented and beautiful. They are all employed more or less in the idol worship of the natives; garlands of flowers being a common offering at the temples, and decorations with them, in immense quantities, being made in booths and sheds, whenever the idol processions around the temples take place. The tulip, which is found here in the ponds, is accounted sacred to Vishnu, and is the foundation of many descriptions and comparisons by the native poets. The oleander, or rose-boy, of which there are three species, is found near all the temples and other sacred places, being also consecrated to the idols. In the gardens of Europeans, the damask rose, China rose, myrtle, sensitive plant, and many others, not found among the natives, are successfully cultivated. Agricultural Productions. As to the agricultural products, rice is the staple article, although on the dry soils sev || eral kinds of small grain adapted to the climate are grown. There is nothing pe culiar in the cultivation of rice here, except what arises from its depending upon the rains of the wet season, and not, as in Amer ica and elsewhere, upon water let in upon the fields from rivers. The fields are in the lower grounds, and are prepared by be ing sunk a foot or two, or more, below the level of the lands near, which brings upon them all the water that falls, in the immediate vicinity, and sometimes also, in more elevated places farther off. This water is kept on the fields by embankments, and in a favorable season, it rises with the fall of the rains nearly as fast as the rice grows, until it is about a foot deep, where it stands until nearly the time of harvest, a month or more after the last rains. It then dries up, and the grain ripens. The grain is cut and gathered into heaps, and afterwards beaten out by driving cattle around upon it; then separated from the straw, winnowed on the spot,and divided between the owners of the land, the government renters, and the various other claimants. Subsequently, as fast as it is required for use, it is separated from the husk or chaff by pounding in large mortars, a task which falls to the women. The dry grains, which are so small as to resemble clover seeds, are harvested in a similar manner. What is here called gram, a species of vetch, is cultivated on very dry and sandy soils, as food for horses, as are also several other varieties of pulse, eaten by the natives themselves, and more or less by foreigners. Of esculent roots, the principal are yams, (of which there are five or six species,) and sweet potatoes. In the gardens some other plants and garden vegetables, useful for food, are grown. Among these arrow-root does well. In the fields, especially where the red soil prevails, tobacco is seen, in extended patches, watered from wells which supply the lack of rain in the dry season. The Jaffna tobacco is considered superior to any other in India, and is an article of considerable commerce. Hemp of a coarse kind is sown near the large tanks or artificial ponds. No grasses are cultivated by the natives for their cattle. What springs up among the grain is pulled out and given to them, and the deficiency is made up by using the leaves of the banian, jack, mango, and some other trees; and by cutting up a low creeping grass, which is found in the open fields, especially after rains and before the sun has burnt or the white ants eaten it up. In gathering this, they use a small oval-shaped knife, with which they pare up the grass, roots and all; the latter being indeed the principal object, as most nutritious. But the ground is in this man MR. CHAMBERLAIN. Former Decrease of Population. THE following remarks are taken from a journal of a tour round the island of Oahu, noticed at p. 117, and from which some statements respecting the schools on that island were there inserted. The view here given of the apparent decrease of population at this group of islands, and the evidence that former generations of the natives were less vicious, more civilized, more industrious, and more happy, than the generation which the missionaries found there, agrees with what has been written on the same subject by others. There is evidence in every part of the heathen world which has been explored, that the people were becoming more wicked, more superstitious, more ignorant of the arts of civilized life, more debased in their affections, and more miserable; and so they will probably continue to do, until the Gospel arrests this progress in degeneracy. Capt. Cook estimated the population of the Sandwich Islands at 400,000; while at present it does not exceed 150,000. Pestilence, wars, infanticide, (extending to two thirds of all the children born,) and prevailing depravity, are the causes assigned for this decrease.-The scene here described by Mr. C. is a few miles east of Honoruru. Our path led us along the borders of extensive plats of marshy ground, having raised banks on one side or more, and which were once filled with water and furnished abundantly with esculent fish, but now overgrown with tall rushes waving in the wind. The land all around for several miles has the appearance of having been once under cultivation. I entered into conversation with the natives respecting its present neglected state. They ascribed it to the decrease of population. There have been two seasons of destructive sickness, both within the period of thirty years, by which, according to the account of the natives, more than one half of the population of the island was swept away. The united testimony of all of whom I have ever made any inquiry respecting the sickness, has been that, "Greater was the number of the dead, than of the living." Making due allowance for the hyperbolical manner in which the natives sometimes express themselves, it may, I think, be safely asserted, that since the discovery of these islands by Capt. Cook there has been a decrease of population by desolating wars, the ravages of disease and other causes, equal, at least, to one half the number of the inhabitants that might have been fairly estimated at the time that celebrated voyager last visited these islands. Interview with a sick Woman. A little after sunset we arrived at Punaluu, where we designed to spend the Sabbath, and were received cordially by the headman of the place, brother to Kamakahiki, one of the teachers in our company. The house was large and commodious, and appeared to be the residence of several families. At one end of the house lay a sick woman, the wife of the headman, apparently near her end. She was in very great distress, and frequently gave vent to her feelings in deep groans and cries. Her friends and relations had assembled around her to sympathise in her sufferings, and to wait her dissolution, that they might perform the last offices of kindness that friendship dictates. I drew near to her couch and inquired whether she thought of God in this season of suffering. She answered that she did think of God, and that in the intervals of her pain she could think of him with great satisfaction. There was an earnestness of manner and an expression of countenance, which she exhibited in speaking of God, that greatly interested me. She said she thought, but her bodily pains were so great that she could not talk much. I could only point her to the Saviour who gave his life a ransom for sinners and died upon the cross to save those who put their trust in him. To him I directed her to look, and fearlessly to cast her soul upon his mercy and grace. I was told by the persons around that she was a wahine malama i ke Akua. (A woman that served God.) When we were ready to attend evening prayer, I inquired whether she would not be disturbed by the reading of a passage of Scripture and whether she would be pleased to hear read the account |