THE MISSION FIELD.

The length to which the intelligence | space extending about a mile in length for this month has extended, deprives and forming a cove well adapted for us of the space usually filled by the re- shipping. The soil, which is generally marks which have occupied the first argillaceous, resting on a bed of freepage. But as there is much about the stone, gives proofs of abundant fertility African Mission in this number, we have when cultivated. The water, both of introduced a map of Fernando Po, which spring and brook, is of the best quality; will give a tolerable idea of that interest- and there are no marshes in the vicinity, ing spot. the hilly nature of the ground not admitting of their formation. It has been left for missionary devotedness to brave the dangers of its insalubrious climate, after having been abandoned as a military settlement.

By a letter received from Liverpool as we were going to press, we learn that Mr. WHEELER has arrived in that port, somewhat invigorated by his voyage.

The intelligence from Jessore and Chittagong is most encouraging; that from Africa equally so, though damped by the sickness and return of one of the brethren. Mr. SAKER's letter respecting Mrs. H. JOHNSON cannot be read without deep sympathy; and the changes which he describes as having passed under her eye, pourtray, in brief but striking terms, the history of the mission at Cameroons.

Our readers are aware that Fernando Po is an Island in the Bight of Biafra, on the western coast of Africa. It is distant from the continent about 20 miles, and is about 40 miles in length, by 20 in breadth. It is about 120 miles in circumference, and like the adjacent part of the mainland is very mountainous, Clarence Peak, the most elevated point, attaining the height of 10,700 feet. The southern extremity is also intersected by several steep mountains, varying from 1000 to 3000 feet, which, with the intervening valley, are covered with dense forests of large and valuable timber, and watered by numerous rivulets. The wet season commences at the latter end of May, and continues till the end of November; the annual quantity of rain and the Haiti mourns. temperature are much the same as at May the desire exthe other stations on the coast. The pressed by our afflicted friends, that they sea breeze is regular, but the land breeze might be remembered in this day of generally deficient, being intercepted trouble, at a mercy-seat, by the memby the high range of mountains on the bers of our churches at home, not be mainland. expressed in vain. May these trials enClarence, the principal settlement, is dear the mission more and more to all on the north side of the Island, in lat-who desire to see it prosper, and incite itude 3° 53' N. and longitude 7° 40′ E. them to importunate supplication fo and is built close to the sea upon the Holy Spirit to sanctify these afflicelevated plain, embracing two tions, and still to guide and bless all who small peninsulas, Point William and are engaged in its operations. Point Adelaide, with a semicircular

an

515

BIRBHOOM.

It is important that our readers should | Gudgaw, and more at the villages of Dhanhave from time to time, correct views sona, Semula, upper Khura, and middle

of the labours of the missionaries. Their work is often very monotonous, seldom cheered by many instances, coming at once, of conversion to God. Faith and zeal are the more necessary in such circumstances; and when we see our brethren continually exhibiting these virtues, amidst so much discouragement, we should assuredly sympathise with them, and honour them for their fidelity and perseverance. The following extracts from the journal of the Rev. J. WILLIAMSON, relate to a journey occupying nearly the whole of November last.

A month's itineracy.

Set out for Supur melà, with Sanatan and Hàràdhan, native preachers, having two gàrris, conveying our tent, books, and necessaries.

On our way, addressed crowds of people by turns; first in the market of Purindapur, and afterwards at the village of Hat Tikera, Gorgarià and Parua.

Spoke the word of God to many people at Nethune, Monguldi, Livera, Kesubpur, and Kosba, among whom, as on the former day, we distributed many tracts and some gospels. Addressed rather small congregations at Bandanagar, and Kendanga, and large congregations at Bullabpur, Surul, Raypur and Mirzapur, when a good many gospels and tracts were given away.

Addressed great numbers in the market and fair of Supur, which we reached on the previous evening.

Some of us attended the fair, whilst other went to the villages of Rajutpur, Birampur, Mauli, Kakhutti and Mirzapur.

We

At the large village of Muluk in the morning, and in the afternoon in the fair. had many hearers in both places.

Spent the greater part of the day in the market and in the fair. At the former place we had many hearers, among whom we distributed a good many gospels and tracts.

Remained one day more in the fair, which has become much less than in was some years ago, on which account we visited the neighbouring villages while at Supur.

Left the fair, in order to take a tour to the southward. Addressed a few people at

Khura.

and in the afternooon at Bahira, a large vil Again at Singa and Bejra in the morning, lage where we were not well received; the wicked brahmans, endeavoured to drown our people for a long time stirred up by two voices by vociferating "Hari-bal;" so that we endeavours to speak to the people, to retreat were obliged at last, after many fruitless to a distant part of the village, where we obtained peaceable hearers till dusk.

Preached and distributed tracts and gospels where we were well received; and in the to many people at Sienne in the morning, evening in the Supur market.

different route from that we came; made
Left Supur again, on our way home by a
known the gospel at Kamarpara, Durunda,
and Ram-nagar in the morning to a good
congregation, and in the afternoon in the
Elambaza market where we obtained even
more hearers, to whom, at their request, we
gave many of our publications.

kati, Ojudia, Sat Kamanu and Bosde, from
In the morning went to the villages of Ban-
which places we returned to our tent about
many hearers everywhere.
noon. In the afternoon, went to Elambazar;

at Pair, Guru, less at Sonmonu and Surat,
Left Elambazar; had good congregations
and larger again at Gara and Padma.

hearers, but at Hilampur market many; to At Guru, Ringon, and Gopalpur, had few whom we gave gospels and tracts.

A.M. to 4 P.M. Numerous hearers, many of Preached in the Dubarjpur market from 11 whom received books.

Bandersul, Chinpoy, Kucksujur, and Panuru. Spoke to generally small congregations at tioned, the gospel has often been preached; In this tour, at some of the places menbut at most, seldom, or never before. Our of idolatry,-the necessity of renouncing it, chief subjects of discourse were the great sin together with all other sins,-man's inability love of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only to save himself or others,-the power and Saviour of sinners.

had several opportunities of making known
On our way to and from Calcutta, also, we
the gospel in Birbhoom, and on both sides of
the Ganges; which we endeavoured to im-
thirty-five villages, where, with only one ex-
prove by preaching and distributing books at
ception, we were listened to by a considerable
number of attentive hearers.

large and distant fair of Bodhinath at Deog-
Since our return home too, we visited the
har, taking a new and circuitous course to

and from the fair, in order to obtain an opportunity of making known the gospel, where it had never been made known before. This last journey occupied us about three weeks. With the exception of a little opposition as usual from the Pandas of Deoghar, we were apparently welcomed everywhere. Our words were acknowledged to be true, together with, in not a few instances, declared conviction of

the errors of their own religious system, but without actual renunciation of Hinduisn and reception of Christianity; though we hope there is a gradual approximation to this desirable result, for which, however, we must yet labour and pray, and wait with patience for the fulfilment of God's promise. May He hasten it in his time,

HOWRAH.

There are some interesting facts in the subjoined extracts from the journal of the Rev. T. MORGAN and to which he has given the very appropriate title

Missionary labours along the banks of the

Damuda.

I departed from Haurah at 7 P. M., and reached the confluence of the Damuda at 10 the next morning. Seeing the shore lined with men, women, and children, being a great bathing day, we went on shore, and preached for two hours to an attentive congregation. The tide setting in, we moved with it, till 3 P. M., when we landed and found a village named Barga, where we preached till dusk to the whole population; the women keeping at the prescribed distance, but within hearing. This village we considered rather hopeful.

Arrived this morning at Futteh pore. There is here a large bazar daily, and a market twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays. After landing we preached in the place where the weekly market is kept, and had a large congregation. They seemed much pleased with our exposure of Brahmanism. Went about a mile to the daily bazar, the people were soon with us. By the number of women present, I think the bazar must be nearly deserted. Spent the afternoon in visiting several groups of houses. I observed to an intelligent farmer that Hinduism makes no provision for holiness of mind, neither does it reform the character. His answer was, "That is a thing we never think of. When I have a lawsuit about land, I get false witnesses and gain my point; then I buy an image, invite Brahmans, have puja, and thereby make atonement. When I sin again, the same process must be gone through." "Then," said I, "the Brahmans rather help you in wicked practices?" "Of course they do," was the reply; "for it is to their advantage."

Went out at break-of-day; after walking about a mile, we saw a large tank, with pakka buildings for religious purposes; and a little further we met with a garden in the wilderness, extensive pakka upper-roomed houses, about twenty small temples, elegant

offices, and substantial out buildings. We
asked an old Purohit for permission to enter.
"Oh yes," said he, "only let me go in and
drive away the women." "Would you rent
me one of the pakka houses:" he said with
great emphasis, "No, but we will let you
live in one of them, as long as you like,
without charge." Some of the young men
assured me the same, and I have no reason
Our books were
to doubt their sincerity.
After breakfast,
received with gratitude.
went to the bazar, and had a capital con-
gregation.

In the afternoon we preached for nearly three hours to a mixed congregation of Sudras, Brahmans, and Musalmans. The Brahman's kept silent, and the people behaved well. At the close one of our hearers said, "I approve of all that you have said; but I do not see how I can practise it, unless you were to support me." I find that the longer we remain here, the better the people behave.

Early in the morning we visited a Musalman village near Jainti. We had a large congregation.

Ampta is a place of some importance; and our first stand was near some temples. The Brahmans came, and I soon saw that their aim was to lead us into controversy. We, however, both preached without much in teruption. A Babu present requested me to examine the English school there, which is self-supporting. The examination and a certificate rendered us quite popular. We re turned to the bazar and preached to a large congregation.

In the afternoon we visited a rich Babu, to whom ten years ago, I gave a copy Near his of the whole bible in Bengali. house there is an annual mela held; and formerly, it is supposed, that no less than 20,000 people used to attend. During my former visit I preached there for several days at the mela, and gave away a great number of tracts and scriptures. Since that time the attendance has much decreased.

I found the old Babu alive, he remembered me very well, and gave us a cordial welcome. The whole family having assembled, and a large company of ladies having taken their position over head on the veranda, we preached. At the close, one of the young

men said quietly, "My father is a sensible old
man, has read the book you gave him, and
has no faith in Hinduism;" then, turning to
the women, he said, loud enough to be heard
by them," You said that Christianity makes
the hearts of men good; it may affect the
hearts of men, but never, never the hearts of
women."

517

that there are some places where the people
Upon a review of the whole, it
are by no means prepared to hear the gospel.
appears,
These, however, are but few. In numerous
places the people are prepared to hear the
gospel, and that gladly; and in others the
opposition wears away in proportion to our
intercourse with the people.

JESSORE.

The Rev. J. PARRY thus writes to the Editor of the Oriental Baptist, and the contents of the communication will be read with deep interest, especially that part of it which refers to the Mohammadan convert, in whose mind the good seed of the kingdom had been vegetating for so long a time.

Since

I lately visited the church at Satberiya and proceeded about fourteen miles beyond it to the south, for the purpose of meeting a person who had forsaken Muhammadanism, and assumed the Christian name, called Tola, a police and Moonsiff station The place is situated on the banks of the Kubutuk. About four or five years ago I met this individual at Kupilmuni about six miles beyond Tola, when I spoke to him about salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, and he seemed willing to believe in Him. then, he told me he had given up the religion of the Koran, as it could not avail to his salvation, and endeavoured to walk according the gospel. During the above period of four years, he once called on me here, and several times on Ali Muhammad at Satberiya. We had thus opportunities of instruct ing and exhorting him, and it has pleased God to bless our efforts for his conversion, so that when I lately called on him, he told us that he had fully determined to become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Finding such to be the case, I proposed to enter his house, and to have worship with him publicly, so that his neighbours might have an oppor tunity of observing our mode of worship, and that he might publicly tell them that he had renounced Muhammadanism. Having obtained his consent, I and Ali Muhammad entered the house and were followed by several of his neighbours, in whose presence I desired him to declare his determination of embracing Christianity. He boldly did so, and his neighbours seemed to be pleased about it. I then addressed them in a few words saying, that their neighbour and friend had come to the determination of embracing Christianity from conviction that he was a sinner, and that the Lord Jesus Christ who died for sinners was able to save his soul, but if any one knew that he wished to become a

Christian from any secular motive, I should be glad to be informed about it. No one Subsequently we had worship, and we comsaid any thing to the convert's disadvantage. mended him to the grace and providence of God by prayer, and then left him.

Bible Reading Club.

I

On our way to Tola, we preached in some of the villages which lay in our course. preached to them for nearly an hour, and I At one place I met about forty travellers, inhabitants of the Krishnagar district. tive. In the Tola bazaar I preached to a large number of auditors, consisting of Brahwas much pleased to find them very attenmans called on me, and asked for copies of mans, Sudras and Musalmans. They also our Scriptures. They said that their Shastras heard with great attention. Two Brahunable to learn from them the sure way of salvation. I was informed that about eight were false and inconsistent, and they were pose of reading our Scriptures, and conversing about the true religion. One of them had Brahmans daily meet together for the purobtained a copy of the New Testament to read, and some of his neighbours coma long time ago, which he used their desire to hear and read our Scriptures. Thus commenced their meeting daily together ing to the knowledge of it, expressed for this purpose. Those two Brahmans who called on me and asked for our Scriptures belonged to this reading club.

from me

beriva. I visited every member of the church
residing in Satberiya, Begampur, Kumarpul,
I spent eleven days with the people of Sat-
Halimpur and Siki. Three Muhammadans,
with their families have lately renounced their
false faith, for the purpose of embracing
Christianity. They attend divine service on
the Lord's days, and the native preachers
visit once or twice a week to instruct them.

Prospect of a Native Church.
beriya for the purpose of spending the Lord's
The new convert of Tola, called at Sat-
day with us.
distance last Saturday,and spent the Lord's
He again called on me at this
day with us.
the Lord's day and his people on the part of
I hope such apparent love for
this convert emanates from a sincere desire
to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. He has
taken a copy of the new Testament from me,