of plank hung under a little roof on posts | pant. In the houses of the officers, there at the corners, to be struck by watchmen, was an arbor or fancy rock-work garden at exhibited the mode of arousing the inhabi- the entrance, which showed invitingly to tants when a fire broke out; while the the paszer, and did credit to the tenant. charred timbers and heaps of ashes still lying about where a hundred houses had stood only a few months ago, proved the need there was of all these precautions. Shops. The shops along the main street are often A few of the better houses and the tem-connected with the family residence in the ples are neatly roofed with brown wedge-rear, but quite as frequently with a mechanshaped tiles, laid in gutters like the Chi-ic's room. The goods in shops are packed nese; while the poor are content to shelter in boxes or drawers as much as possible, themselves in thatched hovels. The thatch, only the coarsest pottery, grains, sandals, in many cases, is covered with a crop of and other common articles, being exposed. vegetables and grass, growing from seeds The ceiling is about seven feet high, and planted by crows and other birds, and pre- the beams are hung with a large part of senting sad evidence of the poverty or unthese articles. Besides the shops are nuthriftiness of the inmates. The abundance merous warehouses, built higher and with of crows flying about the town reminds one more care, and made as nearly fire-proof as of Bombay and other places in Southern possible. Their walls are two feet thick, India. Other birds were seen in great va- faced with stone, and made of mud or rubriety, both land and sea fowl, but not in ble-stone, securely tiled on top, and entered large numbers, except gulls and sparrows. only by two or three large doors. Some of The raised floor, which occupies nearly them have a loft; the window-shutters are the whole area of the house, is covered with of plank sheeted with iron. Some of them stuffed mats, and can be partitioned off are entirely covered with fine plaster ininto two, three, or more rooms, by sliding stead of stone on the outside; and their panels and folding screens, according to the substantial appearance stands in strong wants of the inmates. In the centre is contrast to the unpainted, flimsy, pinebrick fire-place, about three feet square, board dwellings near them. tiled around the edge and filled with ashes; the charcoal and wood are commonly brought in thoroughly ignited, and then burned on a brazier or handiron in the centre of this fire-place. There is not much smoke when it is burned in this manner; but in the cottages the annoyance from the smoke is almost intolerable. In a few a The shops in Hakodadi are stored with goods, mostly of a cheap sort, such as a poor people require. Coarse, thick cottons, common earthen and china-ware, lacquered bowls, cups and stands, durable silks, cutlery, and ready-made clothes, constitute the greatest portion of the stocks. Furs, leather, felted cloths, glass-ware, or copper articles, are rarely seen; nor are books and stationery very common. The provision stores contained rice, wheat, barley, pulse, dried and charcoal, sweet potatoes, and flour, with fresh fish, sea-weed, salt, sugar, saki, soy, other less necessary articles, and to all appearance in ample quantities. There is no public market, as neither beef, pork, nor mutton, are eaten, and not many fowls, geese or ducks; vegetables are occasionally hawked about. The artisans are chiefly blacksmiths, carpenters, barbers, shipwrights, lacquered ware-makers, potters, and stone-cutters. The signs of the shops are written on the paper windows or doors in various well-known devices and cyphers; some were in Chinese characters, and others in Japanese, or a combination of the two. houses, a hole in the roof or side allows the escape of some of the smoke; and then cooking is carried on in the same place. It may easily be imagined what gloomy abodes these are, in rainy wintry weather, having no glass windows to admit light, or chimneys to carry off the smoke, and the wind whistling through every crevice and panel, upon the shivering inmates. The poor spend much of their time in winter cuddling around the fire-place, while the rich are unable to make themselves comfortably warm with it, and lade themselves with clothes to protect their bodies from the cold. In the largest establishments, there are small open courts between the rooms, sheltered from the wind, by which a dim light can be admitted through the windows; but the best houses in this town are cheerless abodes, compared with even the glazed, warm, comfortable cottage of an The streets are about thirty feet wide; English peasant; and one is surprised to and wooden fences, thrown across them at see, among a people who have carried many intervals with gateways, divide off the sevarts to a high degree of excellence, so little eral neighborhoods. No wheeled carriages progress made in the art of living comfort- are seen in them, and they are kept comably. Connected with the greater part of mendably clean, sprinkled and swept frethe dwelling-houses is a yard, either in quently. The yards are surrounded with front or rear; in many of them a kitchen or board fences, built close and high to conceal stable is seen; it is also used for storing the interior; hedges and stone walls are wood, for rearing vegetables, or cultivating occasionally substituted. The streets prea few flowers; sometimes a kitchen garden, sent a remarkable contrast to those in Chiwith fruit and shade trees. indicated the nese towns, indicating less energy and greater taste as well as wealth of the occu-traffic. No vociferous coolies or stalwart Streets. thirty-five dollars, while a fine riding horse was rated over two hundred dollars. No waggons or carts were seen; and all the internal freight is carried on horses, of which nearly a thousand were seen in the streets on one occasion. chair-bearers here thrust the idler aside; no | but most of the pack-horses appeared only clamorous dealers claim the preference of half-fed and over-worked. The price of the passer-by for their wares and viands; one of the latter is from twenty-five to no busy peddlers cry their goods, or industrious craftsmen work their trade along the side of the way; but a quiet reigns through all the streets, broken now and then by a stout horse-boy hallooing to his unruly beasts, an official attendant crying out to the people to prostrate themselves to the great man coming, or the clang of a busy forgeman in a neighboring shop. Yet the general impression is made upon the visitor, that Hakodadi is a town of considerable wealth and trade; and the droves of packhorses passing through the streets with their produce, the hundred junks at anchor off the town, their boats and fishing smacks passing from ship to shore and about the harbor, the tidy streets, and gentlemen with two swords riding through them on horse-shore of the peninsula, was insufferable back, all tend to increase and strengthen this impression. Environs. The environs of Hakodadi present little to attract the visitor. Beyond the town eastward are two forts, dug out of the ground, and intended to guard the entrance to the harbor. Stakes are driven along the cuttings to retain the earth from caving in, and two wooden buildings, apparently connected with magazines underground, stand in the excavated area, which is paved with stones. Embrasures for only two guns are opened in the seaward embankment, and these are each nearly four feet wide. There is a building at the eastern end of the main street on the beach, which seems intended for a fort; but it is doubtful whether it was a fort or parade-ground. Climate. The climate of Hakodadi is probably not subject to the same extremes as the coast of Manchuria in the same latitude; though the snow, still lingering on the western hills on the first of June, showed that it is colder than the towns of New Bedford or Boston on the Atlantic coast, about as far north and with a similar exposure. At this date the peach and apple trees were in full bloom, the wake-robin, sassafras, maple, willow, and snow-ball in blossom, and some of the trees around the town not yet fully leaved out. Wheat, rice, pulse of various kinds, greens, and barley, with a great assortment of seaweed, principally a species of laminaria, form the staples of vegetable diet. No fruits or fresh vegetables were in season when the American squadron was in port. Fully one-half of the food of the people of this town comes from the sea, and the rank odor of drying fish and seaweed meet one on the skirts and seashore of the town. The hamlet of Shirasawabi, on the eastern from the stinking fish around it and its inhabitants presented a squalid, dirty appearance, which may probably be taken as rather than that of the well-fed and clean the average condition of the people of Yesso townsfolk in Hakodadi. It should also be mentioned, that not a beggar was seen among them. Trade. The people are stout, thick-set, more sturdy than those of Simoda, and, if anything, not so fawning or immoral. Their average height is about five feet three inches; heavy beards are very common, but none are worn. They are mostly engaged in trade and shipping, depending on their importations for their supplies of breadstuffs. Junks come from several places on the south side of the Straits of Sangar, from Sado I, lying south of Matsmai, Yedo, Yechigo, Noto, Nagasaki or Simonoseki towards the western end of Nippon, and even Ohosaka and Owari on the south. The harbor contained more than a hundred junks, though it was the dullest season, as the south wind had not yet begun to bring vessels up from these ports; and the authorities regretted they could not supply what we wanted. They declined to sell any rice or wheat or flour, on account of the uncertainty of the arrival of fresh stocks. Rice, sugar, spirits, cotton cloth, silk, iron, porcelain, and hewn stone, are brought, for which they send in exchange dried and salted fish, seaweed, charcoal, wheat, barley, The animal food of the inhabitants chiefly | deer's-horns, timber, and other produce of consists of fish, clams, crabs, shell-fish, and Yesso. There is not much likelihood of the other marine productions. Salmons are port soon becoming a place of much trade caught in the harbor in the month of June, of a delicious flavor, besides herring, perch, plaice, shad, and eels. Poultry, eggs, and ducks, and perhaps a little rabbit or venison, afford a small additional variety; and dogs, cats, and crows are numerous, but none of them are eaten, so far as could be ascertained. The dog is like the common Chinese variety, and is very common. The horses are small-limbed; and some of those belonging to the officers resembled barbs; Food. in American ships, but it can easily furnish supplies of wood, water, fish, especially fresh or dried salmon and perch, sugar, boards, eggs, poultry, and other articles, the variety of which will doubtless increase, as there is a demand for them. As a place for a retreat from the heats of Shanghai and Canton, Hakodadi may, by and by, attract visitors who will by that day doubtless be allowed to investigate the resources and topography of the whole island. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Recent Entelligence. MICRONESIA.-Messrs. Doane and Shipman, with their wives, arrived at Lahaina on the 19th of October. They will proceed to Micronesia in due time. the city, for the most part, we live upon a densely populated plain, and have access to many of the Chinese. There are, on every side, numerous hamlets and populous vilmiles distant, I have visited to-day. It has lages and towns. One of these, about four a population variously stated at from four Mr. Doane wrote from Honolulu, November 6, to ten thousand. There are many such. as follows: "I have but little space to speak of All these, and the many millions of China, the moral scenes which meet our eyes. I had are almost without the least glimmering of read much of the missionary work at these light from the gospel. It is a high calling, Islands. Some of its early trials I was acquain-in labors for the salvation of such a people. (if, indeed, one be truly called,) to engage ted with. I had learned through what obstacles No work that is done under the sun, is the gospel had to force its way, and also what sweeter and more soul-satisfying. If a soul success it had met with. In this I had rejoiced. were never saved, there is the word of our It was a new and powerful argument for the Savior, "This gospel of the kingdom shall gospel. But when I came to see for myself what be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations." But the time will come thirty-five years of toil by devoted men and when the "fullness of the Gentiles" shall women among a heathen people had actually come in; and then both sower and reaper accomplished, I wept for joy. My heart is will rejoice together in the abundant harencouraged to go forward and labor among a people equally degraded." Mr. Shipman wrote from Lahaina, November 10, as follows: "The first Sabbath after our arrival, we attended the native meeting; and in the afternoon Mr. Doane and myself addressed the congregation, through Mr. Alexander as interpreter. The audience was attentive and interesting, and by no means small, the church being well filled. It bore much more the aspect of a congregation and church at home, than I had anticipated. Many of the native converts appear zealous and full of love. We were received as cordially by them as by the mission families. Notwithstanding the noise and bustle of the streets on the week day, on the Sabbath all is quiet. In passing to and from the church, a distance of nearly half a mile, I scarcely saw a native loitering in the streets, or standing at the corners. A vigilant police arrest those who are intoxicated, from whom the law demands a fine of six dollars. There is much drinking, however; and there is some drunkenness, mostly among the sailors. The whaling fleet is very large. It numbered, one day this week, seventy-eight ships." vest. SMYRNA.-A letter has been received from Mr. Parsons, dated January 6, in which he communicates some facts of special interest and value in reference to the missionary work among the Jews. The following extract is encouraging: We have before expressed the hope that the Rabbi connected with our school for Jewish boys was a subject of the renewing change in his views and feelings, which he grace of God. We have hoped that the has for more than a year professed, was radical. We are still encouraged to think that we shall not be disappointed in this. He first heard the truth from Messrs. Lord and Goldberg, missionaries of the London ness and death of Mr. Maynard seem to Jews Society, in Thessalonica. The sickhave made a deep impression on his mind, in favor of that system which has brought life and immortality to light. He has been much employed by us as a teacher in the language; but he has never shown any inclination to profess attachment to the truth, for the sake of employment. About a year ago, he became fully convinced that, according to the Prophets, the time for the Messiah's coming had passed. The word of the Prophets was truth to him, as the word of God; and after seeing clearly that according to them the Messiah had come, he found no rest till he found him; presenting the interesting case of an intelligent and awakened Jew seeking after the Anointed One. He was soon convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. Thenceforward the New Testament became a precious book to him. It was not long before we thought we saw evidence that the Holy Although we are at present shut out from Spirit was working in his heart, showing SHANGHAI Under date of November 3, Mr Blodgett reports the city of Shanghai as still in the hands of the insurgents. "How long they can hold out, is uncertain." The missionary work is carried forward, nevertheless; and there have been several cases of marked religious interest, in connection with the labors of the Southern Baptist brethren. The following extract is from Mr. Blodgett's letter: him his need of a Savior from his guilt and | Christian boarding school; and we can ruin. His convictions of sin seemed often hardly believe in the reality of what we very pungent. now see, of what we are actually doing; for we have commenced such a school. I well remember one occasion when he came to me almost in despair, from reflect- We have been trying the feelings of the ing upon the nature and enormity of his parents of some of the most promising boys transgressions. All were black to him; but of the day school for several months, in none were so dark and threatening as the reference to this subject. A few said that blasphemy of his entire life as a Rabbi."it might be," if the mothers could be From the time he was a student in the Tal-persuaded to part with their sons. They mud, he said, none of his associates were talked with the mothers, and after much more bitter in their execrations of Jesus consideration concluded to give up the than himself. Casting out that name as vile, was ever a pastime, a pleasant nutriment of his life as a Jew, a sweet morsel in his mouth, without which that life would have been almost a void! And now could he hope to be received and saved by that same Jesus! Often his tears have manifested the tenderness of his heart, in view of sin and the great grace of God in salvation. His feelings and convictions have been freely expressed to others. He has been ever ready, in a quiet way, to defend the truth; and he is in a measure zealous for its promulgation. He has shown an earnest desire for the salvation of his wife, and has labored assiduously to instruct her by reading with her the New Testament and other good books. We hope God is opening her heart also to attend to the truth. She listens quietly, and occasionally with manifest interest. He has prayers in his family in a Christian way. He has several times expressed a wish to be baptized and to come to the Lord's table; but he is rather wishing to wait, if it be right to wait, till he can come with his wife, and bring his three young children. As he is not dependent upon the Jews for temporal support, he has not suffered much persecution; but he has meekly endured a good deal of reproach and reviling for the sake of Christ. The foregoing paragraphs are important as showing what has been gained in the department of education. This Rabbi, whose case Mr. Parsons has now described, is the teacher of a school of some twenty pupils, the “regular attendance" being sixteen. Though "a recent and wellknown proselyte to the Christian religion," Jewish children are still sent to him. Nor is this all. The New Testament is read daily in the school; so that some of the Jews are willing to place their offspring in an atmosphere which is avowedly and decidedly Christian. Mr. Parsons has another item of information to communicate, which is intimately connected with what has now been said. It is as follows: In accordance with the recommendation of the mission, we have taken the preliminary steps towards opening a boarding school for promising Jewish lads. Every one who knows the condition of the Jews in Turkey, upon a little reflection, will see the extreme difficulty, if not actual impossibility, of obtaining Jewish boys for a children for the week-days, if they might spend their Sabbath (Saturday) at home. But as we had assured them from the first that we should require them to be given to us to be trained, just as we would train our own children, we told them it could not be; for we should by no means allow our chil dren to participate in the follies of the Jewish family and synagogue religion. Some weeks passed, and they came to our conditions. To test the matter, to show them that they did not mean what they said when they agreed to give up their sons to be educated as our children, we drew up a contract, embracing the conditions which they were to sign. These conditions are as follows:- 1. We are to have the entire control of the children. 2. They are to be with us three years. 3. We are to maintain them, nothing being specified, however, respecting food, though there is an understanding that we will keep within the laws of Moses, paying no attention to the almost innumerable regulations of the Talmud. 4. They are to go to their homes only during the two vacations of the year, except occasionally in company with the teacher. Four persons have signed this contract, and given up their five boys to us, the very flower of the day school, and all very promising. Before signing their names, they were repeatedly and clearly told that we should aim to make it a thoroughly Christian school, to train the boys for the highest usefulness and happiness in this world, and above all to instruct them in the way of salvation through Jesus of Nazareth. They said they knew it well; that they were convinced that the truth was with us; and that if their sons, upon growing up, should embrace it, they should be well pleased. They are aware that they shall meet with perse cution. We told them that they must count the cost, and not expect help from us; that we should retain the children, if ever they might suffer; and that we could need be, by the help of our Consul, whatsee no escape for them but by declaring themselves Protestants, so that justice might be done them. Some of them replied that they were willing to do this for the sake of the education of their sons. We shall see. Mr. Parsons says also: "These five boys, and the teacher above mentioned, will constitute the nucleus of a congregation. As we encourage the parents and friends to visit us freely, we hope that I means of intoxication, intemperance will some of them may be drawn to attend regularly exist. They stretch their hands imploringly upon the public preaching of the gospel" The to their white neighbors for help. They letter closes with an appeal for additional assist ask for a law of prohibition. They entreat us to seal up the fountain of death, that its ance, in carrying forward the work which is now streams may be dried up. in progress at Smyrna. THESSALONICA.-Mr. and Mrs. Morgan left Smyrna on the 10th of November, and arrived at Thessalonica on the 13th, with the expectation of laboring permanently in the latter city. The Jewish "acquaintances" of Mr. Morgan "seem to be as friendly as ever." Mr. Abbott, an English merchant, and son of the late American Consul, received our friends with cordial hospitality Under date of January 10, Mr Morgan wrote again in the following words: "I am glad to be able now to state that we are very comfortably settled. We found a good deal of difficulty in finding a house. It was impossible to get one in the extreme upper part of the city. But we have every reason to hope that by the blessing of God we may enjoy good health in the house we have taken. Our work seems hopeful, as work has always seemed in this place. There are Jews of leisure here, who employ their time, to a great extent, as the Athenians did in Paul's day. Some of them are enlightened; and they secretly, I think, believe that Protestantism has the truth; but they do not feel their sins, and consequently are not inclined to leave all and follow Christ. We feel much encouraged by the appearance of things, and pray for the influences of the Holy Spirit." TUSCARORAS. From a letter of Mr. Rock wood, dated January 8, the following extract is taken : Of the religious affairs of the people, we cannot speak as encouragingly as we could wish. Yet there are some favorable indications. The two last church meetings we have had, although not largely attended, were precious seasons. At the meeting preceding our last communion, there was a very general and voluntary confession of And last Sabbath I saw tears, where I have sin, with a renewal of consecration to God. not been wont to see them. A deep solemnity pervaded the assembly. There were but few present, on account of the storm and the state of the roads; but we trust the of the afternoon service, there was a funeral Lord was there by his Spirit. At the close of a girl, some ten or twelve years of age, who had been long sick. Her mind was religiously exercised during her sickness; and she expressed her faith in Jesus Christ, and was baptized. with the boarding school. There has been There are now eighteen girls connected some sickness among them. For a few days we thought we should lose one of them; but the Lord kindly raised her up. The parents and guardians of the children have contributed provisions in part. DONATIONS, RECEIVED IN JANUARY. Cumberland co. Aux. So. D. Evans, Tr. Freeport, Cong. ch. to cons. Mrs. 60 00 151 58 8. 00 9.00 The new year was ushered in by the Tuscaroras in the usual manner. In the evening there was a very spirited reform meeting at the council-house. They could not all obtain seats. Thirteen of the most abandoned drunkards signed the pledge of total abstinence, one of whom also publicly Lincoln co. Aux. So. Rev. J. W. Ellingwood, Tr. renounced his licentiousness. The good effects of combining other reforms with temperance is already apparent. It is sad to witness the struggles of this people with intemperance. They have long experienced its terrific evils; and long ago they were aroused to a sense of their danger. They were earlier in their prohibitory movement than any portion of our country; and they have been constant and unwearied in their efforts to reclaim the inebriate, and stay the tide of this vice among them. But what can they do more than they have done? Suppose they do hold tem 47 67-276 25 50 00 11 00-61 00 Bath, Winter st. cong. ch. m. c. 136 12 17 00-188 12 Brewer, 1st Cong, ch. NEW HAMPSHIRE perance meetings monthly, or oftener, and Cheshire co. Aux. So. D. Smith, Tr. Hinsdale, Cong. ch. and so. wh. 43 00 31 76 6.09 212 31 737 68 |