sured him of his favour, and his kind acceptance of his faithful services; and as a token of his peculiar regard, and the intimate friendship with which he intended to honour him, he took the cup, and after drinking of it himself, gave it into his hands. The Doctor would have declined it at first as too great an honour; but our Lord replied, as to Peter in relation to washing his feet), "If thou drinkest not with me, thou hast no part in me." This scene, he observed, filled him with such transports of gratitude, love, and admira tion, that he was ready to sink under it. His Master seemed sensible of it, and told him, he must leave him for the present, but it would not be long before he repeated his visit; and that, in the mean time, he would find enough to employ his thoughts in reflecting on what had passed, and contemplating the objects around him. As soon as our Lord was retired, and his mind was more composed, he observed the room was hung round with pictures; and, upon his examining them more attentively, he discovered, to his great surprise, that they contained the history of his own life; the most remarkable scenes he had passed through being thus represented in a very lively manner. It may easily be imagined how much this would strike and affect his mind: the many temptations and trials to which he had been exposed, and the signal instances of the divine goodness to him, in the different periods of life, which were by this means all presented at once to his view, excited the strongest emotions of gratitude; especially when he reflected, that he was now out of the reach of any future danger, and that all the purposes of divine love and mercy towards him, were at length so happily accomplished. The ecstacy of joy and thankfulness into which these reflections threw him were so great, that he awoke. But for some considerable time after he rose, the impression continued so lively that tears of joy flowed down his cheeks; and he said that he never, on any occasion, remembers to have felt sentiments of devotion, love, and gratitude, equally strong.

N. B. The description of his inter

(From the Missionary Register for Oct. 1820.) Or this form of superstitious suicide among the Hindoos, Mr. Colebrooke thus speaks, in a note to his Second Essay on their Religious Ceremonies, in the seventh volume of the Asiatic Researches:

"A very singular practice prevails among the lowest tribes of the inhabitants of Berar and Gondwana. Suicide is not unfrequently vowed, by such persons, in return for boons solicited from idols; and, to fulfil his vow, the successful votary throws himself from a precipice, named Calabhairava, situated in the mountains, between the Tapti and Nermada rivers. The Annyal Fair, held near that spot, at the beginning of spring, usually witnesses eight or ten victims of this superstition."

At a meeting of the Asiatic Society, held at Calcutta, on the 5th of Septem ber, of last year, the Marquis of Hastings in the chair, the following account of an intended self-immolation of this nature, was communicated by Lieuten ant R. A. M'Naghton:

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Among the many natural curiosities to be found at Puchmurree is an arched cave, sacred to Mahadeo. It is about 100 feet in length, and 20 in height; and is a natural excavation, at the bottom of an immense solid rock. It is situated in a deep narrow dell; and the surrounding rocks are from 150 to 200 feet above the level of the cave. The floor of this cavity is covered with water about knee deep, which is the ef fect of a constant dripping from the roof; but for which it is difficult to account, as the upper surface of the rock

is perfectly dry, and as there is no water visible any where near it to supply the continual filtering. At the further end of the cave is an idol, to which the pilgrims, who annually resort thither in great numbers, pay their devotions; bathing themselves, at the same time, in the water which drops from the roof.

"Another rock which contributes to form the dell, is consecrated to Bhowanee, there called the Wife of Mahadeo. This rock is devoted to a purpose similar to that of Mount Leucate of old, from which Sappho precipitated herself into the sea. When a woman has been married for several years, and is unblest with offspring, she pays her devotions to Mahadeo, to remove her sterility; and vows to sacrifice her firstborn child to the god, by throwing it from the top of Bhowanee's rock, which is about 170 feet high, and nearly perpendicular!

"Lieut. M'Naghton was at Puchmurree, in last April, at the time when the annual pilgrimage takes place. A woman had arrived there for the purpose of sacrificing herself, in conformity with the horrid superstition just described; and Lieut. M'Naghton, excited by euriosity, proceeded to the spot to witness the circumstances of this dreadful ceremony. He was accompanied by a Hurkaru, named Ram Sing, charged by Colonel Adams to use eve ry effort in his power to dissuade the deluded woman from putting into execution her frantic resolution.

"When they reached the rock, about four miles south-west of Puchmurree, the voluntary victim was sitting on the ground, waiting the arrival of the Brahmin who was to assist at the ceremony. She was of the Rajpoot Caste, and seemed to be about thirty years of age. It appeared that her father and mother were both dead; and that her mother had formerly vowed to sacrifice her first child to Mahadeo, agreea bly to the established custom; but, on the birth of the child, a daughter, she neglected to fulfil her vow. The daughter grew up, and was married: her husband died, and she married again: her second husband also died; and, being without offspring, this accumula

tion of misfortunes drove her nearly mad. She would dance and sing all day; and eat any thing from any body, by which she lost her caste, and became entirely neglected. She at length felt persuaded, that her misfortunes arose from the circumstance of her mother having broken her vow; and, therefore, she determined to immolate herself without loss of time.

"She had seated herself at the foot of the rock, surrounded by those who had accompanied her from Hurdah, the place of her residence; calmly expecting the arrival of the Raj Gooroo, or Chief Priest. She was perfectly sensible; and had neither ate nor drank any intoxicating or stupifying drug. Indeed her appearance indicated perfect self-possession; and her friends posi tively asserted that nothing of the kind had been administered to her. There was a bottle of common bazar spirits near her, which they said was to be given to her, if she asked for it, but not otherwise. She held, in her right hand, a cocoa-nut; and, in the left, a knife, and a small looking-glass, into which she continued to look, excepting when she turned her eyes towards heaven, exclaiming "Deo B'hurjee," which she did very frequently.

"It is evident, that her resolution entirely originated in her own breast. When Ram Sing began to dissuade her, she became exceedingly angry, and told him that his interference was both useless and improper. He however continued his expostulations, in which, it is worthy of particular remark, he was heartily joined by her own people; who declared, that they had previously used all their endea vours to induce her to relinquish her design of destroying herself. One of them, an old Brahmin, seconded Ram Sing so earnestly, that she threw the cocoa-nut at his head, with such vio lence, as would have been productive of serious consequences, had her aim been sure; but fortunately it erred, and the nut was broken to pieces against the stones on which it fell. For three hours Ram Sing continued his expostulations, and she was still immoveable. So reluctant was she to attend to him, that she repeatedly, and angrily, ordered the

musicians, who were present, to commence playing, that his voice might not be heard.

"Lieutenant M'Naghton, considering it a hopeless case, returned to camp, leaving Ram Sing to do all that he could to delay the threatened sacrifice. In a few hours afterward, his servants brought him intelligence, that Ram Sing had succeeded, and was bringing the woman into camp. On ascending the fatal rock from which she was to precipitate herself, she had fainted away, from exhaustion both of body and mind, and continued senseless for nearly two hours. On recovering, she cried bitterly, and appeared to hesitate. Every one present seized the favourable opportunity, and implored her to abandon her resolution; and, what was still more effectual, the Raj Gooroo told her, that she had Mahadeo's forgiveness!

"Soon after her arrival in camp, she was sent off to Hurdah; provided, by Colonel Adams, with money to defray her expenses on the road, and a letter to the Soubadar of the province, (who had, in the first instance, laudably endeavoured to dissuade her from her purpose), to see that she suffered no indignity or wrong, in consequence of having abandoned her resolution."

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

[The following extracts relative to Missions in Africa, in India, &c. are taken from recent London periodieal publications, and cannot fail of being gratifying to our readers.] Extracts relative to the state of the Mission in Western Africa.

GOVERNOR M'Carthy has deemed it expedient, in consequence of the arrival of native troops to be disbanded, and of the continual accession of recaptured slaves, 10 increase the number of settlements in the colony. Three of these, Waterloo, Hastings, and Wellington, are on the eastern side of the colony, toward the main land a fourth, York, is on the Whale River, which flows into the Atlantic, north of Cape Shilling. A part of the Fourth West-India Regiment, which ar rived in April, 1819, has been settled, on being disbanded, near Freetown; with the view of enabling the men to support themselves by their labour in the town.

On the 2d of February, a few days after the arrival of Mr. Johnson, a meeting of the Missionaries was held in Freetown,

The removal of the Christian Institution from Leicester Mountain to Regent's Town, which had been suggested to the Society, and approved, was considered by the meeting to be a measure of great promise: and it was accordingly determined, that it should be carried into effect as soon as practicable.

David Noah was received as a native teacher under the Society; and was placed, as William Tamba and William Davis have been, in a course of preparation for his work. The Rev. J. G. Wilhelm and Mrs. Wilhelm were appointed to Waterloo, and Mr. and Mrs. Lisk to Hastings; and (who is since dead,) took charge of the Mr. and Mrs. Beckley, with Mary Bouffler colonial schools in Freetown; while Hannah Johnson proceeded with her brother to Regent's Town, according to the arrangements of the Committee.

Mr. Nylander gives the following acoount of his situation and labours at Kissey, Sierra Leone :

"I have family-prayers morning and evening, with about 200 adults and children; and, through the day, my time is taken up with the affairs of the settlement. On the Lord's Day there is a congregation of 300 or more assembled: but none, as yet, seem to have ears to hear, or hearts to understand. The school is carried on by Stephen Caulker, and another lad from Rio Pongas. We have also an evening and a Sunday school.

"I have introduced a weekly prayermeeting, on Wednesday evenings; about a dozen adults attend. May God visit us in mercy, and hear our prayers!"

The following extracts from the communications of Mr. Taylor, at Charlotte, present encouraging hopes of his success with his Negroes:

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April 17, 1819.-I came to this town on the 18th of January, and found it in a very dark state of ignorance and idolatry: but I trust that, by the blessing of God, there will soon be some followers of Christ and his Gospel in this place. I cannot, however, say much in its favour at present; only that the people generally appear attentive, and some of their country fashions are done away with. We have a day and an evening school. In the day school there are 44 girls and 22 boys; in the evening school, 31 men and 12 boys have their names down, but do not all attend, regularly. On Sundays I pray with, and speak to the people three times, and am pretty well attended. There are about 250 people, old and young, under my charge. In the morning nearly all attend; perhaps about 200 and almost every Lord's Day I have visitors from other towns."

Mr. Renner entered on the charge of the station at Leopold in June, 1818, on removing from the Rio Pongas.

In the early part of last year, there was a considerable accession of children to the settlement; 40 boys and girls being sent hither on the dispersion of the children at Leicester Mountain, and 60 lately liberated from a French slave vessel. On Sundays, the people were repeatedly assembled for public worship; and, on week days, morning and evening. They were much improved in their outward demeanour. The frequent quarrels and fightings which Mr. Renner found when he settled here, had quite subsided.

On Mr. Renner's removal to Freetown, to officiate for a time as chaplain, his Negroes would not consent to his leaving them, unless Mrs. Renner staid with them. They thought that she could settle all "palavers" among them, and promised to behave well.

The arrival of Mr. Johnson, with his companions, at Sierra Leone, occasioned great joy to his people at Regent's Town.

"I waited," he writes, "immediately on his Excellency, who received me with great kindness. Being late, I could not go up to Regent's Town that evening; but, the news being carried up, a number of the people came down in the night, and many others the next morning. I be lieve that I never in my life did shake hands so much before as I did that day. On the evening of our landing, a man saw me coming on shore, and ran immediately up to Regent's Town. Mr. Wilhelm had just concluded the daily evening service when the man entered the church, and cried out, All, hear!-all, hear!-Mr. Johnson come!' The whole congregation immediately rose; and those that could not get out at the doors, jumped out at the windows, and Mr. Wilhelm soon found himself alone."

On Mr. Johnson's re-entering Regent's Town the next day, he found abundant cause for the joy of the people at his return. Three of his Black communicants had died in the faith during his absence; but he had the happiness to see kneeling with him at the table of the Lord, notwithstanding the many difficulties which had tried them, a greater number than had received the communion with him on the Easter Sunday previous to his departure. -The sum of 311 had been collected during the year for the Church Missionary Society; and, on the evening on which Mr. Johnson wrote, the people contributed 31. 3s 9d. at their monthly meeting.

Many interesting communications have been received from Mr. Johnson's converted Negroes, both during his absence in England, and since his return to Sierra Leone. Our specimens must be very brief, and it must be remembered, that they are written by men but recently liberated in a state of barbarism from captured slave vessels.

One man wrote thus to Mr. Johnson:"It gives me great pleasure to write a few lines to you. I hope they will meet you in perfect health. May the Lord bless you and your wife! I trust in God, that he may enable me to remember you, and all other friends in England, at the Throne of Grace.

"I hope you will never forget poor benighted African people. Oh, pray for us! that we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

"I wish to know and serve the Lord; but my heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. My heart is the great enemy against me: it runs after the world very much, and cannot let me serve the Lord as I ought. When I draw near in prayer, to pour out my soul before the Lord, then my wicked heart runs after worldly things.

"I am full of doubt and unbelief; but yet I look to the Lord Jesus Christ, because he has said, 'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: therefore I look to the Lord Jesus Christ, and hope he may enable me to do so."

Another communicant writes thus:

"I take this opportunity of writing these few lines unto you, my dear brother: and I hope God may preserve and keep you, when you pass through the mighty deep; and, by the will of God, I hope we may see one another again."

"I thank Almighty God for his lovingkindness to me. I know the Lord is my Saviour and my God. I pray for all the good people who are in England, and the Secretary. I hope you may be well in Jesus, and that you may send more 'Missionaries to Africa, to preach the Gospel to our poor countrymen. My master, please to send me one hymn book. My wife ask you how you do, Mr. Johnson."

This man thus addressed the Secretaries, from Regent's Town, Feb. 14, 1820 :— "Dear Sirs-I have taken the opportunity of writing a few lines to you.

"The Lord has done great things for me. He brought me out of my country, to hear his word. Oh, I can say, I thank God, that Jesus Christ came into the world to die for poor guilty sinners. I must have gone down to hell; but now I look to the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour for salvation, and that by the teaching of the Holy Ghost. But, sometimes my heart trouble me too much. I do not know what I must do: but, again, I trust in Jesus Christ. I glad too much Every glad] Mr. Johnson come back. Oh! I thank God for his mercy."

Another writes, Feb. 2d, 1820:-" In the morning, church was full; and Mr. Johnson said, after prayer, All the people come to-night: I have something to tell them and in the night, the church

was full, as much as it can hold. He read unto us the fourth chapter of the Second of Kings, 26th verse-Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? My heart was ready to say, 'Is it well with me; not for my good deed, nor for any good desires, but by the will of him in whom I trust.' Oh, that I might be enabled to keep the commandments of the Lord! Oh! may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all! Amen.

"When I remember my poor countrymen, I am sorry for them. I cry unto the Lord, and say, 'O Lord, teach me to read thy word, and enable me to understand what I read; that I may tell them that they may look to God, that he may save them from their sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'

"When I read the forty-fifth chapter of Genesis, the latter part of the 1st verse -Joseph made himself known unto his brethren' when I read this word, I say in my heart, 'Oh, that the Lord may enable me to go to my country-people, to carry the good tidings to them! Oh, may the Holy Spirit be with us all! Amen."

Mr. Johnson testifies in one of his later dispatches:

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"I do not find the least difference in the people. They appear to me to be hungering after the word of God as much as before. I have had numerous visits of people who desire to talk to me concerning religion, and have set a day apart for that purpose."

SOUTH AFRICA.

A LETTER has just come to hand from the Rev. J. Philip, dated Cape Town, July 13, 1820, wherein he says he was in daily expectation of hearing from Mr. Campbell and his friends, from Graaf Reynet, on their return from Lattakoo. Mr. Philip has transmitted interesting accounts of the conversion of ROSELLE, a female of the Bootchuana nation, a member of the church at Griquatown; also, the substance of a conversation with ADAM BARLY, another member of that church, at a meeting held in Mr. Philip's house, in the presence of several of the missionaries of the Church Society, &c. then at Cape Town.

We select a few of the questions and answers on the latter occasion, not having room for the whole.

Q. When was it that you felt the power of the word of God on your heart?

came to

A. In 1802, when Mr. Berend's Kraal, I felt myself a sinner. There was an old woman converted, whom I knew was before a very bad character, and I thought-if she obtains grace, how will it go with me? I may obtain it too; and this led me to look into my former life, and to seek the same change. When

came to that

I began to pray, Mr. place; then I learned there was to be a judgment; then all that was evil in my life came to my mind, and seemed dreadful to me. I had no rest, day nor night.

Q. How was it with regard to your feelings after this?

A. These thoughts came into my mind -If I seek the Lord Jesus, I shall find him. It is true--it is true:-if I seek him I shall find him; and this truth gave me comfort.

Q. When you fall into sin or tempta tion, is your peace of mind disturbed?

A. Yes, these cause disturbance in my mind, but lead me to the Lord Jesus.

Q. What reason have believers to trust that Christ will save them?

A. The Bible teaches us, that Christ came into the world, that he suffered, was buried, and rose again, and that his death is the life of sinners.

Q. Did you change your own heart, or by what power was it done?

A. No, not myself, because I can do nothing.

Q. By whom then was this done!
A. By the Holy Spirit.

Q. Is the Holy Spirit necessary to carry on this work, and to the end of life? A. Yes, Sir.

Q. How are we to know that a man is a Christian-is every one a Christian who professes so to be?

A. He that is a doer of the word.

Q. What opinion,may we form of a man who makes a profession, and lives in sin, drunkenness, idleness, and thoughtless

ness?

A. I have no other thoughts than that it is inconsistent-they do not belong to the faith.

Q. What do you think of the Biblethe word of God?

A. We must think seriously of it. I cannot live without the word of Christ. Q. Have you any part of it in your memory?

A. Yes, passages come to my mind every day. Among those which afford me comfort, and are frequently in my thoughts, is, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have eternal life," &c. &c.

Q. Do you think you could be tempted to leave the means of grace?

A. No, Sir; nothing else can make me happy.

Q. Do you feel grateful to the people in England for sending the Gospel to you? Do you pray for them?

A. Yes; that comes into my thoughts often.

Mr. Anderson (now at Cape Town) gives Adam Barly an excellent character; he has been many years a member of the church at Griquatown, and his conversa