that it is "mind" which is most wanted: a cultivated, sanctified, and directing mind. Consider the expense of the Mission. Consider the Colleges whence those men issued who visited these shores some centuries ago. Consider the number and the respectability of the Christians, all of whom look to you. At the lowest computation, I speak with great confidence, there are 15,000 families. Fifteen thousand FAMILIES! and there is not a man, woman, or child, but'would come to Cotym on being directed so to do. It is a miracle, and the most astonishing one that I have met with. Do, pray do, afford them the help which they need, and which they deserve.

Mr. Bailey and Mr. Baker are both out visiting the Churches. We enjoy delightful peace, and holy and constant communion, and Do anticipate the glories of heaven. My Colleagues are full of zeal, and seem to receive every day fresh ability for their work, and rejoice

in it more and more.

Letter of the Syrian Metropolitan to the Soviety.

A Letter has been addressed, by the Metropolitan of the Syrian Church, to the President and Members of the Society. Extracts of this very interesting document here follow, from a translation of it, out of Syriac, by Professor Lee.

May this Letter come in peace and safety to Lord Gambier, Head of the Society which is in the Church of England, from the School of Cotym!

JAH

His only-begotten Son, and Protection from the Holy Ghost, be with you all evermore!

Amen.

Beloved, kind, and honoured Brethren in Christ, we would make known to you, in a few words, what has happened to us from the depth of our poverty.

We, who are called Syrian-Jacobites, and reside in the land of Malabar, even from the times of Mar Thomas, the holy Apostle, until the wall of Cochin was taken in the reign of King Purgis, kept the True Faith according to the manner of the Syrian Jacobites, of real glory, without division or confusion. But, by the power of the Franks, our Jacobite Syrian Fathers and Leaders were prohi. bited from coming from Antioch: and, because we had no Leader and Head, we were like Sheep without a Shepherd; or, like Orphans and Widows, oppressed in spirit, without support or help. By the power and dominion of the Franks, moreover, and by the abundance of their wealth, and the exertions of their leaders, all our Syrian Churches in Malabar were subdued, and turned to the faith of the Pope of Rome.

In the year of our Lord 1653, came our Spiritual Father, Mar Ignatius, the Patriarch, from Antioch to Malabar: but, when the Franks knew this, they brought the Holy Man to the walls of Cochin, imprisoned him in a cell, and gave no small money to the King of Cochin. They then brought out the good man, and he drowned him in the sea, and so put him to death. But when we knew this, all the Jacobite-Syrians in Malabar assembled in the Church of Mathancherry, which is in Cochin, and we swore a great oath, by the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that henceforth we would not adhere to the Franks, nor accept the faith of the Pope of Rome: we accordingly separated from them. A short time after this, some of our people again joined them, and received the faith of the Pope.

Again, in the year of our Lord 1753, came to us some holy Jacobite-Syrian Fathers from Antioch, who turned us to our true ancient faith, and set up a High Priest for us.

We now have Fifty-five Jacobite-Syrian Churches in Malabar: and, as the Franks are more powerful and rich than we are, they are hourly laying the trap of the Pope for us, and endeavouring to take us in it: and, from the power of a kingdom filled with idols, the Heathen have

subdued us Jacobite-Syrians, just as Pharoah King of Egypt subdued the Children of Israel, and had no pity.

And, as the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and delivered the Children of Israel from the house of bondage of Pharoah King of Egypt, so the Lord beheld our sorrows and afflictions; and there have been sent to us an illustrious leader named Macaulay, and Mar Buchanan the illustrious Priest: and when they came to us, and saw our subjugation and sorrow and poverty, they brought us forth from the house of bondage, and consoled us with kind words, and assisted us with money.

After this, another illustrious leader was sent to us, named Munro: and as Joshua, the son of Nun, brought Israel to the Land of Promise, and put them in possession of Canaan, so did this illus. trious, discerning, and prudent leader, bring back and save us poor people from the hand of violence: and he built a School and one Church for us, in the place called Cotym; which he did with great trouble, labour, and expense, in order that our eyes, made dim by the depth of our poverty, may be opened by the knowledge of the declarations of the Holy and Divine Books. All the Deacons, moreover, and Children who are taught in the School of our place, are cherished by the assistance of this illustrious leader.

Again, the Priest Benjamin*, the Priest Josepht, and the Priest Henry, our spiritual and temporal friends, brothers, and assistants, whom you have sent to us, that they may root out the thorns and tares from among the Children of God, are anxiously seeking all the requisites for the redemption of our souls, as well as constantly teaching all the Deacons and Children of our place the English Language.

The Books of the New Testament which ye sent us, we divided, and gave to the Churches in Malabar; and, with great joy, does every man present his prayer unto God for you: and we trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is merciful to those who shew mercy, that He will give you a good reward in the Day of Judgment, even thirty, sixty, and a hundred-fold, for your work and labour for us, and that He will make us rejoice with you. But we are unable to recompense you by any earthly riches: the

Mr. Bailey. ↑ Mr. Fenn. Mr. Baker.

more, however, shall we supplicate God daily that your dominion may be increased, and that he would subdue those that hate you under your feet: and daily may your preaching in Christ Jesus be increased; and may God raise up among you leaders who fear God, and who are kind to the poor, endued also with knowledge and prudence!

We have heard, too, that the people of your land are beseeching God for us, that He would supply and complete that which is defective and imperfect, both in our bodies and souls.

Respecting Samuel the Priest, who is held in honour by us, we received the Letter which he sent by the hand of Joseph the Priest; and we read and understood what was written in it: and very much did we rejoice, with exceeding great joy, on account of your friendship for us. And may the Lord, who both hears prayer and grants petitions, lengthen your lives and increase your peace!

But we call to mind the Adage, "A glance is enough for the intelligent," and avoid prolixity. Besides, James, the honoured Priest, will make known to you all that is going on among us. And I, the Metropolitan, Mar Dionysius, your friend, very cordially salute you: also Abraham the Priest, our obedient servant, and all the Deacons, and Children that are in the School. All the Priests, moreover, and Deacons, and the whole Congregation of Christians who are in all the Churches in Malabar, salute you. May grace be with you all: even so, Amen!

Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.
Remain firm in the power of Jesus!
In the year of our Lord 1821.
On the third of the Month Ranun the
first, Friday.

From the School of Cotym.
(Signed)

MAR DIONYSIUS,
Metropolitan of Malabar.

from the River Thames, mentioned at p. 387 of the last Number, communicates such information relative to the character and manners of the Natives, that we shall extract it entire.

July 19.-We rose very early, and prepared for our journey. We had some distance to walk before we could be accommodated with a good canoe. We passed two villages, and at the third we were to embark.

While the crew of the canoe were launching it and getting all ready, the inhabitants of the village assembled round us, among whom was a very sage aged Priest. This Priest entered into very close conversation with my friend Temmarangha for some time; who was all attention, and at length became much agitated. I asked him what was the matter. He informed me that the Priest had told him that he had seen his ghost in the night; and had also had an interview with the Atua, who informed him that if Temmarangha accompanied me to Mercury Bay he would die in a few days, because he had killed two Chiefs the last time he was there, and the God of Mercury Bay would now kill him if he went; and he therefore recommended him to return Temmarangha now told me of his war expedition against Mercury Bay, from which he was returning the morning Mr. Kendall sailed for England: the prisoners of war and the heads of Chiefs which I had seen at Ranghee-hoo that morning, were all brought from Mer. cury Bay.

In consequence of this information, I conceived that there might be some danger to Temmarangha, if he accom panied me; and that the people there might take advantage of him, and cut him off. I therefore asked him if he was afraid that the people of Mercury Bay would kill and eat him, if he were to go with me. He replied that he was not afraid of the people that they would not take advantage of him; but he was much afraid that their God would kill him, from what the Priest had told him. I answered, that if he were only afraid of their God, and not of being killed and eaten by the inha bitants, I would take care that the God should not injure him; for the God that would be with us was the True Oct. 1822.

God, and He would take care of us both. On this assurance, Temmarangha said that he would venture. Though his mind is much enlightened, and he sees into the absurdity of many superstitious customs of his countrymen, yet I had frequent occasion to observe that his feelings were alive to his former superstitions, whenever any serious cause occurred to call them forth. When I have reasoned with him, and stated how foolish and groundless his fears were relative to the Atua doing him or his friends this or the other injury, he would reply that it was very well for me to talk in that manner, whose God was good, and over whom the Atua of New Zealand had no power; but he and his countrymen were differently situated: their God was always angry, and, in his anger, would eat their bowels

out.

After Temmarangha had got a little the better of his fears, we embarked for Rowpah, with a strong tide in our fa vour. The men pulled hard all the day; and we went up the river very pleasantly, and did not stop till the even ing, when we went on shore for a short time, kindled a fire on the bank, and dressed a basket of potatoes in the native fashion. We had no other means of cooking any thing: my kettle having been left by mistake in the launch, Ĩ had only a small tin pot for every purs pose that I wanted. As soon as we had taken some refreshment, we proceeded up the river till nearly day light, when we came opposite to a small village. The night was dark and cold, with some rain. We stopped at the village, when some of the men went on shore, and called up the inhabitants, who kindled a fire; when we landed and took up our residence in one of their huts. I sup posed that I was on the banks of the river.

July 20. When the day broke, I was astonished to find myself upon the banks of a creek, on which two small villages stood. The Chief of the place was a very fine Youth, of about sixteen years old. His name was Awaugh. His Father, he informed me, had been killed in battle. All the land around us was very fine soil: the Slaves were prepar ing it for planting. I informed Awaugh whither I was going; when he said that he would accompany me. He pre sented us with plenty of fine potatoes

3 K

We breakfasted at this village; and killed our hog, and roasted him whole for our journey. The inhabitants of the village were much gratified with our visit; and I made them all small presents of fish-hooks. The chief woman of the village had a little house, about a yard square, built very neat, painted, and ornamented with feathers; in which she deposited the sacred food for her God: it stood upon a post close -to her hut. We here met a Chief from Mercury Bay, named Towarroro. I inquired of him how long we should be in walking to Mercury Bay: he answered two days, and said that he would attend us.

After breakfast, we left the village; and, in about an hour, reached the -banks of one of the main branches of the Thames, above Rowpah, called O Emanonee. About four miles up this river, stands a Hippah upon a very high stony hill, called Tippooari: it commands a very extensive prospect of the Thames, with its immense forests and plains, as well as of the mountains in the rear: it has been formerly a strong place, and is still inhabited. We crossed the O Emanonee at a ford, at the foot of the hill: it was breast high, and very rapid. Four New Zealanders carried me over, on their shoulders, with safety: they are so accustomed to the water, that rivers and swamps present no difficulties to them.

I had Fourteen Native Chiefs, and their servants, with me; so that I had no apprehension of meeting with any impediments in the way, but what I could easily overcome with their assistance.

The country now began to get very hilly, and to be covered with timber; some of the spars exceedingly lofty and fine. The woods extended farther than the eye could reach, to the right and left of the path. The O Emanonee runs through a deep chasm in the mountain, at the foot of some very high conical rocks. We had to ford this river three times. Our path lay through the wood, directly across the summit of the hill.

From this situation, as the country is all open beyond the wood, the hills which encompass Mercury Bay are clearly seen. They appear to be about sixteen miles distant, situated on the skirts of the intervening plain, which, in general, is pretty level, covered with fern, and completely free from timber. In this plain, there are a number of natural springs, to the foot of the hills that overlook Mercury Bay, whose united waters form the O Emanonee. The Natives informed me that the spars, in the immense wood opposite to the plain leading to Mercury Bay, might be taken down the O Emanonee into the Thames; but as I had no opportunity of ascertaining the fact, I can say nothing on the subject. The timber is good, if it can be conveniently got at.

The day was far spent when we reached the plain. We walked on till the sun was nearly set; when we stopped and prepared for the night. The servants who had the provisions to carry were much tired. There were no huts on the plain, nor any inhabitants: we were, therefore, compelled to take up our lodgings in the open air. I was very weary, having had no rest the preceding night, and having had a long day's jour ney; so that now I found it would be very acceptable to rest upon a heap of fern, or in any other way.

The peculiar scene that surrounded me, furnished the mind with new matter of contemplation on the works and ways of God. The mystery of His providence, and the still greater mystery of His grace, were all unsearchable to me. I had come from a distant country, and was now at the ends of the earth-a solitary individual, composing myself to rest on an extensive plain upon which no civilized foot had ever stepped, and my companions poor Savages, who nevertheless vied with one another in their attentions to me. I could not but feel attached to them. What would I have given to have opened the Book of Life to them, to have shewed them that God who made them; and to have led them to Calvary, and to have shewed them that Redeemer who shed His pre.

cious blood for the redemption of the world, and was there set up as an Ensign for the Nations! But it was not in my power to take the veil from their hearts. I could only pray for them, and beseech the Father of Mercies to visit them with His Salvation. I felt very grateful that the knowledge of Divine Revelation had been granted to me that I knew that the Son of God was come-and that I was satisfied that He had made a full and sufficient sacrifice and atonement for the sins of the world. With peculiar feelings for my companions, and with a grateful sense of my own mercies, I lay down to rest, free from the fear of danger.

July 21.-We arose at the dawn of day, and immediately prepared for our journey. I felt myself much refreshed from the comfortable rest which I had in the night. We walked about two hours; when we sat down, made a fire, and cooked our breakfast. The day was very favourable, and the walk over the plain pleasant; as the road was generally good, with the exception of a few small swamps occasioned by some land springs. The ground upon this plain is, for the most part, fit for cultivation, and would be easily wrought by the plough.

After we had walked a few miles, we observed five Young Women coming over the plain. As soon as they saw us, they were alarmed and ran back. One of our party ran after them, and overtook them, when they stopped till we came up. They informed us, that Aneenee, one of the Head Chiefs, was gone on a war expedition to the southward; but that his Wife was at home, and also Awarru, a Chief with whom Temmarangha had been at war the beginning of this year. After they had answered our inquiries, they ran forward to inform the inhabitants of our coming.

When we reached the high hills overlooking Mercury Bay, which lay about a mile below, I sat down upon the summit of one of the highest, to take a view of the ocean, islands, and main land. The prospect is very grand. I observed an Island out at sea, fifteen leagues or more distant from the main, sending up immense columns of smoke. I desired Temmarangha to give me some information respecting the Islands, and the hills on the coast and in the interior, with which he was acquainted. He satisfied my inquiries; and, afterward,

gave me an account of his last visit to Mercury Bay.

Having sat himself down by me, he began by stating, that the last time he came to Mercury Bay was on a war expedition, which originated in the following manner:-Some years ago, a Niece of his was taken from Bream Head, by a Brig from Port Jackson; and afterward sold to a Chief at Mercury Bay, named Shewkoree, who still resides there, and she became his Slave. Shewkoree, and another Chief, named Awarree, had some difference; when she was killed by Awarru, or some one of his Tribe, roasted, and eaten. Some time afterwards, Temmarangha was informed of the fate of his niece; and he felt himself bound to revenge her death, for. the honour of his Tribe, and in justice, to his departed relative, as soon as he' was in a situation to demand satisfaction from Awarru. About sixteen years elapsed, before he conceived himself strong enough to go to war with this Chief. A Sister of Temmarangha was taken by the same vessel from the Bay of Islands, and served in a similar manner, further to the southward; whose death he had already revenged. Last January, he mustered his warlike force, which consisted of 600 men; 200 of his own Tribe, 200 from the Bay of Islands, and 200 from Bream Head: the last 400 were auxiliaries. With this force he proceeded to Mercury Bay; and landed at an Island in its mouth. Awarru came in his canoe, to know what had brought him to Mercury Bay. Temmarangha replied, that Awarru had killed, roasted, and eaten his Niece; and that he had come to demand satisfaction for that offence, and wished to know what satisfaction he was disposed to give him. Awarru replied, "If that is the object of your expedition, the only satisfaction that I will give you, will be to kill, roast, and eat you." Temmarangha considered this language as most gross and insulting; and was very much offended; and replied, that, as that was Awarru's determination, the dispute between them must be settled by an appeal to arms. Awarru answered that he was ready, and would fight him that day. Temmarangha replied that he would not fight him on that day, but would meet him on the following day to which Awarru consented, and the ground was pitched upon where they were to meet, which Temmarangha

;