nel, Mr. Bird laboured to dispose of the Scriptures and Tracts: they were principally in Hebrew and Arabic: he received more than 30 dollars for books sold. When it became known that books were in circulation, the Romish Priesthood did not fail to forbid the reception and reading of them. The Tracts seemed to be objects of peculiar suspicion and dread. The people, who considered themselves as belonging to the Romish Church, were greatly afraid of persecution from the priests. On the whole, it would seem, from the facts stated by Mr. Bird, that a faithful and prudent man, who could speak Arabic well, residing at Tripoli, would, in a course of years, do much toward introducing pure Christianity into Northern Africa. From Tripoli to Jerba, and thence to Sfax, Mr. Bird went by water; and from Sfax to Tunis, by land. At Jerba, he conversed with a Spanish Unbeliever, who held the Priesthood of Roman-Catholic Countries in utter abhorrence: he considered the priests as the authors and instigators of all those tyrannical measures, which weigh so heavily upon the people of Spain. A long conversation was also held by Mr. Bird with several Moslems at Jerba. The American Consul at Tunis, Dr. Heap, sent for Mr. Bird immediately on his arrival, and made him welcome in the kindest manner. The next Sabbath, a meeting was held at the Consul's house, and the Gospel was preached to about twenty souls. Among the individuals, with whom Mr. Bird became acquainted in Tunis, was a Greek Priest, the Father of one of the Greek Youths now receiving an education in this country. He retained an affectionate remembrance of Mr. Fisk, by whose advice, and under whose patronage, his Son had been sent to the United States. After spending about five weeks at Tunis and in the vicinity, conversing with Moslems and others as he had opportunity, and distributing there 40 copies of the Scriptures and a few Tracts, Mr. Bird took passage for Malta on the 28th of July, and arrived on the 31st. In the account of this tour, which Mr. Bird has transmitted, he relates what he saw and heard, but indulges very little in speculations as to the future. What success a well-qualified, pious, and devoted Missionary would meet with, if sent to one of the most eligible places on this coast, can be known only by the experiment. It is no doubt the duty of the Christian Church to have Agents stationed at every accessible point, and prepared to avail themselves of every favourable opening. The recent capture of Algiers, followed by the remarkable events which have since transpired in Paris and throughout France, can scarcely fail to invite Christian Enterprise into the Northern parts of Africa. A toleration of religion at Algiers is already a matter of stipulation; and it would seem highly probable, that the other States of Barbary will gradually be compelled to adopt a more liberal policy than has ever characterized them hitherto. In most of the political changes, which have taken place within the last ten or fifteen years, the tendency has been in favour of liberal principles, general education, free inquiry, the circulation of the Scriptures, and the increase of religious knowledge. If all these results have not been witnessed, at once, and in every case, it is easy to see how they may yet be produced as consequences. The Friends of Missions should study diligently to make the best use of the means at their disposal; and to stand ready for every service, to which their Divine Master may call them. India beyond the Ganges. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE Directors give the following Summary View of the Mission at Pinang. The Society's Mission at Pinang was commenced in 1819, on the recommendation of the Rev. Mr. (afterward Dr.) Milne, who had himself visited that island in 1816 for the purpose of distributing the Scriptures and Tracts among the Chinese Settlers. In 1819, the population, composed of people of various nations, but chiefly of Chinese and Malays, amounted to about 30,000: it has since increased to about 40,000. The labours of the Missionaries have been chiefly directed to the Chinese and Malays; but no evidence of decided spiritual results have appeared, in regard to any of the people of either of those nations settled in Pinang. The Missionaries there have, however, not laboured in vain. By means of Schools, numerous Youths, both Chinese and Malays, have been taught to read, and instructed in the knowledge of Christianity: many of them understand the most important truths of Religion: and so much, of late, has this appeared to be the case, as to the Chinese, that hope is indulged of Christian Teachers being eventually raised up from among the Chinese Boys educated in the Schools. Even the Malay Settlers begin to be sensible of the value of education; and several applications for Schools have been received from them by the Missionaries: indeed there is an evident decline of prejudice among that people, and a measure of confidence manifested by them toward the Missionaries not formerly evinced. In 1824, a Chapel, erected chiefly by means of subscriptions on the spot, was opened for preaching in Chinese, Malay, and English. The attempts made, from time to time, to collect a Chinese Congregation have failed; but Christian Knowledge has, nevertheless, been diffused among that people, by means of conversations with them in their dwellinghouses, in the bazaars, and in other places of public resort; and by means of the Scriptures and Christian Tracts, which have been extensively distributed among them. It is pleasing also to find, that the Malays manifest a greater disposition to receive the Scriptures than formerly, and shew that a knowledge of Divine Truth is gradually increasing among them: a Congregation, consisting of from 40 to 60, usually attend Public Worship on the Sabbath, and about 20 on a week-day: many of them appear to be fully convinced of the falsehood of Mahomedanism, and of the truth of Christianity; but the fear of man prevents them from making an open profession. The English Services have been usually well attended; and there is reason to believe, that, through the Divine Blessing, they have been the means of no small spiritual benefit to many. The Missionaries have occasionally visited the western coast of the Malayan Peninsula; where, as well as in the interior parts of Prince of Wales's Island, numerous copies of the Scriptures and Christian Tracts have been distributed. A small fount of Chinese moveable metal types has been cast in England, from blocks prepared at Pinang; which, it is hoped, may realize the improvement which Dr. Milne, more than fifteen years ago, anticipated; and thus tend to enlarge the means of diffusing the knowledge of Christ among the millions of .Chinese. August, 1831. The inveterate prejudices and superstitious habits of both the Chinese and Malays, as well as their natural enmity and indifference, form a strong barrier against the admission of the Truth; but, by perseverance, in the righteous and holy use of the means divinely prescribed and providentially furnished for promoting their religious instruction and conversion, and in importunate supplication for the success of the means so used, we are warranted to hope that the prepatory change commenced will be still further advanced, and issue at length in the full attainment of the object which the Society has in view, viz. turning men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONS. Labours of Dr. Judson at Prome. THE voice of a Christian Minister has, probably for the first time, been heard in Prome- a large town, about 170 miles from Rangoon. Dr. Judson proceeded thither from Maulmein; and remained somewhat more than three months of last year, from June to September: he thus speaks of the effect of his labours:— At one period, the whole town seemed to be roused to listen to the news of an Eternal God-the Mission of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ- and the Way of Salvation through His atonement: a considerable proportion of the hearers became favourably disposed. At length, the Enemy assumed a threatening aspect: the poor people became frightened: many sent back the Tracts which they had received; and there was a general falling-off at the zayats. I was summoned to undergo a long examination at the Court House; not, however, on the subject of Religion, but concerning all my past life, since I have been in Burmah. The result was forwarded to Ava. magistrates still preserve a perfect neutrality, in consequence of the absence of the Governor. At Ava, I have been regarded as a suspicious character, ever since I deserted them at the close of the war, and went over to the British. He subsequently adds The I have just received intelligence, that about the first of September the King issued an order that I should be removed from Prome, "being exceedingly annoyed that I was there, in the interior 2Z of the country, distributing papers, and abusing the Burmese Religion." The Woongyees, being unwilling to proceed to extremities, made application to Major Burney, the British Resident at Ava, who assured them that he had no controul over me that I was in no way connected with the British Government, but employed exclusively in the duties of my profession; and he begged them not to proceed to adopt a measure, which would be condemned as intolerant, by good men of all countries. They said, however, that His Majesty's Order was peremptory; and that it was necessary for me to confine my labours within the limits of Rangoon. On leaving Prome, he saysThere is no period of my Missionary Life which I review with more satisfaction, or rather with less dissatisfaction, than my sojourn in Prome. This city was founded several hundred years before the Christian Era. Through how many ages have the successive generations of its dark inhabitants lived and died, without the slightest knowledge of the Eternal, and the only way of salvation which He has provided! At length, in the year 1830, it was ordered, that a Missionary of the Cross should sit down in the heart of the city, and, from day to day, for above three months, should pour forth Divine Truth, in language, which, if not eloquent and acceptable, was, at least, intelligible to all ranks. What a wonderful phænomenon must this have been to Celestial Beings, who gaze upon the works and dispensations of God in this lower world! It was necessary to the accomplishment of the Divine Purposes, that, after so many centuries of darkness, there should be just such an exhibition of light as has been made, and no more. Thousands have heard of God, who never, nor their ancestors, heard before. Frequently, in passing through the streets, and in taking my seat in the zayats, I have felt such a solemnity and awe on my spirit, as almost prevented me from opening my lips to communicate the momentous message with which I was charged. How the preacher has preached, and how the hearers have heard, the Day of Judgment will shew. Blessed be God! there are some, whose faces I expect to see at the right hand of the Great Judge, as they give us reason to hope that they have received the truth in good and honest hearts. Many also there are, who have become so far en lightened, that I am sure they never can Labours of Mr. Boardman in and near In June of last year, the Rev. Besides several thousand foreigners, there are, in this city, more than six thousand Burmans and Tavoys; in the surrounding villages, about twenty thousand more; and, in the jungle, about three thousand Karens-making the whole population of the Province of Tavoy more than thirty thousand souls. This is literally a population of ATHEISTS; who believe, not only that there is NOT, but that there CANNOT BE, any Eternal God, or any Supreme Being to govern the world or call its inhabitants to an account! Among all these people, there is no one to teach them the knowledge of God and Salvation, of Heaven and Hell, but ourselves. An extensive and weighty charge - an awful responsibility, rests upon us. And what are we among so many? In the city alone, there are arrayed against us about fifty monasteries, with two hundred men in the sacerdotal garb, all of whom, when employed at all, are engaged in teaching Atheism and Metempsychosis: similar monasteries are scattered here and there, throughout the whole province. Against this strong tide of fatal error, there is, as I have said, no one to oppose an embankment but ourselves. But with God on our side, we will do what we can. Village preaching is most obviously required; and, out of the time that could be spared from the business of the Family, the Zayat, the Church, and the Schools, I have visited, within the last two months, between twenty and thirty of the villages, and preached Christ Crucified to both priest and people. In a few instances, I have been received and treated but coolly-in most, respectfully-and in some, gladly. Hundreds of persons have heard of a Redeemer, who never before heard of any salvation, nor hoped for any relief from sin and misery; except by undergoing countless transmigrations of the soul, and finally obtaining release on the shores of annihilation. Christian Books have also been widely circulated; and, in more instances than one, I have heard of their having been read with interest and hopeful advantage. Many persons have acknow ledged their doubts of the truth of Buddhism; and some have even boldly avowed their preference of the Gospel. Mr. Boardman adds Some Account of the Karens. The Karens have justly occupied a considerable part of our attention. They seem to be, in general, a people prepared for the Lord. Large numbers of them have visited us, and spent several successive days at our house; not unfrequently, ten, fifteen, or twenty being present at once, though their settlements are thirty, fifty, or even seventy miles distant. Repeated applications have been made for me to visit them. Urgent applications have recently been made by Karens from the frontier of Siam, for some one to come across the mountains and preach the Gospel to them and Ko Thah-byoo has been accordingly sent. This Native Christian, as was stated at p. 30, is himself a Karen. In an Address delivered at the Anniversary of the American Tract Society, the Rev. Elon Galusha stated some remarkable facts relative to this people: The Karens are a numerous race, inhabiting the mountains and valleys of Burmah, Pegu, Arracan, and Siam. They live in the most simple style; and are without religion, without temples, without gods. They have been expecting a religion to be given them. No sooner had they heard of the arrival of our Missionary at Tavoy, than they sent a deputation to inquire of him about the True God, and a much revered book, whose unknown pages they had for twelve years kept in sacred deposit, and to which they had been taught to pay divine adoration. According to the Missionary's advice, a company of Karens, after three days' journey, reached the Mission House. The two most interesting persons among them were, a chief, of much native talent, and a soldier, who had received the venerated book from a Mussulman Joger. The chief panted for knowledge; and, while the bright fire of his rude intellect flashed through the darkness which enveloped his untutored soul, he exclaimed, "Give us books! Give us books in our own language! then all the Karens will learn to read. We want to know the True God. We have been lying in total darkness. The Karen's mind is like his old English Prayer-Book! "It is a teaches that there is a God in heaven, whom alone we should worship. You have been ignorantly worshipping the Book: I will teach you to worship the God whom the Book reveals." The eye of every Karen beamed with joy. They tarried two days, listening to religious instructions, with the deepest interest. SERAMPORE MISSIONS. THE "Periodical Accounts" supply the following illustrations of the Influence of Christianity on some Natives of Arracan. To understand the power of Divine Grace, as seen in an Arracanese, it is necessary to remember what has been said of this people in their natural state. A genuine Arracan Mugh differs not more from his feeble neighbours of Bengal, in form, nature, and physical strength, than in general habits, particularly with regard to diet. Far from any delicacy as to eating flesh meat, although he stands -Went among the Mugh Shopkeepers; but before I could speak a word, a man cried out, "As your religion and ours are not alike, do not come near us. Begone with you!" I opened Matthew's Gospel; and, after reading part of a chapter, I preached to them. After I had spoken, the man said, "We never denied that the Lord Jesus is a God, but we want that you should also acknowledge that Guadama is a God." I told him, "There are not two gods, but one, who is God over all: if you acknowledge that the Lord Jesus is the True God, Guadama cannot be a god. God cannot die, cannot be subject to any kind of disease, nor can he be old; yet Guadama, when he came to an advanced age, was attacked with a complaint by which he died. He is a ridiculous god." I then explained the death and resurrection of our Lord. -Went to the Kutcheree, and addressed a number of men outside of the Court. Here I had much argument with a man who blas, phemed the Word of God. On my departure, those that heard me attentively invited me to come again: the next day, I went to the same spot; and, while preaching, the man who opposed me yesterday came and used me still worse than before. He not only abused and mocked me, but took my turban off my head and threw it aside, threatening to beat me at the same time. I, however, suffered it, and exercised patience, for the sake of Our Lord and His Gospel. When the man had satisfied himself, I stood up and offered up prayer in their presence for all of them, and particularly for that poor man. Endia within the Ganges. FROM the Periodical Accounts of the Serampore Missions published in England, we collect some statements relative to the NATIVE PRESS AND LITERATURE AT CAL CUTTA. Notices of an English and Bengalee Newspaper. دو SU It is long since the importance of a weekly publication, or Newspaper, for the benefit of the Natives of Bengal, was felt, as being calculated to rectify and enlarge their ideas respecting a thousand subjects. This Paper, entitled the MACHAR DURPUN, now pays itself, and is read with the greatest avidity. The First Number appeared on the 23d of May 1818; and the late Marquis of Hastings, immediately and in various ways, expressed his approbation of the attempt. Coming week after week, during nearly nineteen years, the light it has diffused cannot but be considerable. Some time ago, the Editor commenced printing it in parallel columns of Bengalee and English; and, in January 1830, changed the shape into eight pages of the usual size of our Papers, instead of four; the NATIVE subscribers having expressed a wish that they might be able to" bind it up at the end of the year, and preserve it for the instruction of their CHILDREN." The latest Number received is No. 640 of the Twelfth Vo lume, dated 21st August last. Since the 17th of April, the Paper had been sent, bearing only a small postage, through the country, to at least forty different places; going as far as Chittagong on the east, and even into Assam on the northeast-to Benares, 460 miles; and to Delhi, 960 miles north-west. The postage to the two last is two anas, or three penceto all the others, one ana. This Paper is published at Serampore, and led the way to the establishment of similar Publications by the Natives themselves. One of these, says of the Durpun— The advantage which the Natives of this country have derived from the Durpun in both languages is universally known; for those means, which the students of English obtained with much expense and labour, may be obtained for a single rupee. A rich man might employ a proper teacher; and, on a monthly salary, an interpreter, to give him the meaning of English in Bengalee, and might purchase books written in both languages: but the children of the poor of this city, and more particularly of the country, and those advanced in life, had not those advantages within their reach. A perusal of the Durpun enables them to fulfil their desires-since, in that Paper, the English Original and the Bengalee Translation are placed so near to each other, that the meaning of each word is ob tained without the slightest difficulty: for though there be some trifling depar ture from the habits of the Bengalee Language in the attempt to make it accord with the English, the merits of the Durpun in assisting to the acquisition of English would cover a thousand defects. both in India and in England, from On the benefits to be derived, such a Paper, the English Editors of the Periodical Accounts remark But if the ideas of the Hindoos may be rectified on the most important subjects, so may those of the great body of readers at home, respecting India and the Eastern World generally; and the value of the above publication, for this end, will be fully appreciated, when the present and succeeding Numbers of the Periodical Accounts shall have been read. The facts detailed, and the pro |