COMPASSION, A MOTIVE TO MISSIONARY EXERTION. 15

and enjoy the treasures of mercy which are displayed in Christ Jesus. Ah, think how many are totally unacquainted with these treasures! how many have never heard of a promise of God-have never known that he sent His Son for the salvation of man!—Are you in distress? you flee to God in Christ as your refuge; you repose on His mercy, and are at peace: but they know of no such mercy; they suffer without comfort; they sink without hope. When you are called to the closing scene of life, what consolations surround you, and brighten your dying moments! You reflect on the blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all sin; you commit yourself to Him, who, you are persuaded, is able to keep that which is entrusted to Him: you look forward with hope to the joys ready to be revealed. But are they lying upon a death-bed?— -no kind friend soothes their departure, by encouraging hope and strengthening faith.-Are they alarmed? -no sacrifice for sin is presented before them. Are they anxious about their future state?-all is dreadful darkness: not a ray of light, not a beam of hope, shoots through the obscurity which surrounds them. Oh, pity their state! Deny them not the crumbs which fall from your table. Suffer them not to say, "We stretched out our hands in vain to the disciples of Christ; we perished as it were in their sight— calling on them, but they refused to help us."-Let no person here incur such guilt. As you have received mercy, impart As Christ has been full of compassion to you, be you compassionate to these your destitute and perishing brethren.

mercy.

DESIRE OF THE KING OF IBO FOR CHRISTIAN TEACHERS.

MANY of our Readers have doubtless heard the painful intelligence, that, owing to the prevalence of sickness and mortality, the vessels of the Niger Expedition have been obliged to return, without accomplishing all the benevolent objects which its promoters had in view. Some of these objects, however, have been attained. The importance of Native Agency has been established.

It has

been ascertained that the Africans in the interior are willing to receive Christian instruction from their own countrymen. An instance in proof of

16 DESIRE OF THE KING OF IBO FOR CHRISTIAN TEACHERS.

this is recorded by the Rev. J. F. Schön, in a Letter dated August 30, 1841, in which he describes an interview which took place between the Officers of the Expedition and the King of Ibo. After stating that the King had signed the Treaty that he would not engage in the Slave Trade, Mr. Schön proceeds

66

The object of my coming, and my desires, were explained to him by myself and my interpreter, Simon Jonas, a Liberated African of Sierra Leone, a member of my Church, and my Ibo Teacher; when he expressed an earnest desire to have Teachers sent to him and his people. He most readily confessed that he was ignorant of God, and dependent on white man" for instruction. I directed Simon to read some verses of Scripture to him, which astonished him not a little. That white men should be able to read and write, he expected, as a matter of course; but that an Ibo Slave should read, was more than he could ever have expected. He seized Simon's hand, squeezed it most heartily, and said, "You must stop with me: you must teach me and my people: you must tell it to the white man: I cannot let you go, until they return from the country." He could not be diverted from his object, but insisted on Simon's remaining; to which, after much consideration, we agreed. I much wish that he had more knowledge, and was better qualified for teaching, as a great door is opened to him. I have had an opportunity of watching him daily for the last ten or twelve months, and I believe him to be a sincere Christian. has a correct knowledge of our Religion; and I believe that he joined the Expedition with a desire to do good to his country-people. I trust he will daily pray for Divine direction, and be made the instrument, in the hands of God, of much good to his benighted countrymen. This occurence proves that the objection so often raised-that the Africans would not listen to their own country-people, if they were sent to them with the Gospel-is perfectly groundless. The King of Ibo is willing, yea anxious, to hear of the wonderful works of God, from the lips of one of his own country-people, formerly a slave. I am also confirmed in my opinion, that Sierra Leone will yet become, like Jerusalem of old, a centre from whence the Word of God will go forth to many a benighted tribe of Africa.

He

EXAMINATION OF THE CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION AT COTTA,

CEYLON, SEPT. 17, 1841.

THIS Valuable Institution has been in operation more than thirteen years. It now contains 25 Students; and all who have had an opportunity of making themselves acquainted with the improvement made by the Students have spoken in the highest terms of its efficiency and value. It is the first of the Society's numerous educational establishments which has trained up Ministers for our Church. Two of the Youths who were educated in it, after a probation as Catechists, have been admitted to Deacon's Orders by the Bishop of Madras.

The following account of the last Examination is extracted from the leading article of the Colombo Gazette of Sept. 20, 1841:

On Friday last, the Annual Examination of the Christian Institution at Cotta took place: and although the road was flooded to such an extent that none but high carriages kept their interiors dry, yet His Excellency the Governor and the Ladies of Queen's House were not prevented from honouring the Examination with their presence. The senior Puisne Judge and his Lady, the Archdeacon, all the Colonial Chaplains of Colombo, many Civilians and Ladies, and a sprinkling of the Military, were also there.

Nor is it wonderful that this Institution should continue to maintain its interest from year to year, and the Annual Examination be looked forward to with pleasure. Five or six hundred Singhalese Children, the pupils of Forty Schools, assemble at the central Station of the Mission, which conducts and supports them all. The Day Scholars and Seminarists of the Cotta Institution itself form a sight deeply interesting—in some respects melancholy indeed, yet in others highly pleasing. It is melancholy, when we think of the state of atheism and regardlessness, nay, even unconsciousness, of the most sacred moral obligations which generally prevail in the families out of which these young creatures have been procured by the christian philanthropy of the Missionaries, and into which, alas! all but the Seminarists return every day, when the school-hours are over;

18

EXAMINATION OF THE INSTITUTION AT COTTA.

but highly pleasing, when we consider the pains bestowed by the Missionaries, to teach them the Truth, to feel its preciousness, and to observe its laws. The Cotta Institution has indeed acquired a new value, by the events of the current year: for besides these high objects, for which it was established, the New School Commission is, we believe, in great want of good Teachers; and of those who apply, they find none making such approaches to a satisfactory qualification as those who have been educated at Cotta.

The Examination was begun by that of the Seminariststhose who reside upon the Mission Premises; and in reference to whom, the endeavour of the Missionaries is, to instruct them, that they may not only be saved themselves, but be qualified as the instruments of saving others. There were upward of thirty Youths thus privileged; and the appearance they made, under the questioning of the Archdeacon and several other Visitors who joined in the Examination, was such as to reflect the greatest credit on Mr. Bailey and Mr. Haslam. They read the Scriptures with great ease; and even the youngest of them, being examined on what they were reading, proved that they could not only read, but understand the English language completely; which doubtless is the grand point to be attained, though it be that in which a complete failure in this country is much more frequent than success. The range of this Examination was, through History, both sacred and secular, and Geography, to Mechanics and Astronomy; and in each branch, those who answered did so, on almost every occasion, correctly always intelligently. Their knowledge of Sacred History was peculiarly extensive; and their answers showed that they were taught, not only to repeat, but to think.

Some of the same Boys were subsequently examined in the Greek Testament and in Virgil, where they showed a respectable proficiency in the classical languages. But from what we have witnessed on a former occasion, we regret that no time was left for hearing their Mathematics. A junior class was also examined in the English Bible, and several in the Singhalese.

A visit was also paid to the fine School of Girls under Mrs. Bailey, which formed a very pleasing and promising sight. They all showed their specimens of sewing. The more advanced of them read the English Bible easily, and sang a Hymn. The other Girls belonging to the Sunday

THE MAROONS IN JAMAICA.

19

Schools of the Mission were also present; as the children of the Mission Schools generally were, in the Great Building. And this we think an excellent idea, because it is directly calculated to induce them to wish to come to the Institution; --and would that it had funds to include them all within its delightful enclosure!

THE MAROONS IN JAMAICA.

THE following Account of the Maroons in Jamaica, and of the blessed results of the Church Missionary Society's labours among them, was given at a Meeting held at Witham, in September 1837, by the Rev. G. Griffiths, Rector of Portland, Jamaica.

Perhaps it will be acceptable to you that I should state something of what I myself have seen, during my abode among the Heathen; and therefore I will state a few particulars respecting the people of that part of the world with which I have, for thirteen years, been more immediately connected-I mean, the Negroes of the West Indies. When I commenced my ministry among them, there were difficulties in carrying the Gospel to the Negro Population of Jamaica, which do not now exist. But I wish, more immediately, to speak of a remarkable people in that island, whom I first began to visit in the year 1828. They were a wild people in the mountains; who had formerly been slaves of the Spaniards, but who, having shaken off the yoke of their oppressors, had taken refuge in the mountainous parts of the island, and had long bidden defiance to all who would re-enslave them*. They still maintain their independence. These people are known by the name of Maroons. They were sometimes marauders upon their neighbours; and many efforts were made to subdue or extirpate them, but in vain. Peace was offered them, upon condition that they should receive a Governor. They were to be restricted within certain bounds, among the mountains; and were to restore to their masters all runaway slaves who might come among them. Fifty-five years ago, one of their

* The origin of the Maroons is involved in great obscurity. Beside the opinion above expressed by Mr. Griffiths, it is supposed by some that they are Aborigines: others maintain that they are descended from a mixture of Aboriginal Indians and African Slaves.