:

When one dies a natural death,the corpse, shrouded in pieces of bark, is laid on the ground, and four small fires are lighted at the head and feet and on either side agrave is scratched up in the ground and another fire lighted in the hole, which is allowed to burn out; the body of the deceased is then laid upon the ashes with any little property which belonged to him,-his club, his spear, his clothes, and the earth is heaped over all. But if the person fell in war, or his blood was shed by murder or chance-medley, his body is not buried but burnt to dust. Like all savages, the New Hollanders use their women cruelly. They get their wives by violence, seizing them by storm, or springing upon them from ambush-when, if the unfortunate female makes any resistance, her uncourteous suitor knocks her down with his waddy (a tremendous cudgel) and carries her off on his shoulders, in a state of insensibility, with the blood streaming from the love-tokens which he has inflicted on her. Ever afterwards she is his slave, at meals, she and her daughters sit behind her husband and her sons, picking the bones or gorging on the refuse of the garbage with which the lordly sex appease their gluttony, and which are occasionally thrown to them, as dogs are fed in a poor man's family in England. Their cross, deformed, and diseased children are often killed out of the way; but they are very fond of those whom they rear. Vol. II, pp. 204, 265.

All attempts to civilize the savage occupants have been fruitless; it must be confessed, however, that those attempts have been few and feeble. Want of success, in such a case, is no argument to prove that the poor people are intractable; the same was said of the Hottentots forty years ago, and had been said of them four centuries previously; yet, hundreds of these have been truly converted to christianity, and live to adorn the gospel; while thousands more have been so far raised from the depth of degradation as to make clever mechanics, industrious laborers, and useful members of civil society-and this has been done solely as the word of God was introduced among them, though they have not yet received it and believed to the salvation of their souls. From all that we can hear, the aborigines of New Holland are indeed the lowest class of human beings; but nevertheless, as human beings, there is "hope for them, concerning this matter." The Hottentot and the Negro have proved themselves men, not only by exemplifying all the vices of our common nature, but by becoming partakers of all its virtues; and that the day of visitation will come to the black outcasts of New Holland also, we dare not doubt. Vol. II, p. 260.

The deputation remained in New Holland nearly a year, during which time they visited the settlements in different parts of the country, collected much interesting and valuable information respecting the people of all classes, the soil, productions, animals, &c. But a more important service which they performed, was the settlement of Mr. Threlkeld (a missionary who had accompanied them from the Society Islands) at Newcastle, about ten hours sail from Sydney, as missionary and teacher to the aborigines in their own tongue. Though Mr. Threlkeld was to continue as missionary and agent of the London Society, from which he received his salary, yet a grant of land was procured from government for the missionary station; and the governor, public officers, and ministers of different persuasions signified their warm and hearty approbation of the enterprise, and promised their cooperation to forward its benevolent designs. On leaving the colony, the deputation thus express their feelings.

Our residence in this colony has been longer than we had anticipated on our arrival; but circumstances, which appeared to be openings of Providence to di

rect our attention to the perishing and utterly neglected natives of this country, have detained us till this hour; and we humbly hope that, in the final account of all our time, that portion of it which we have spent here will not be found to have been wholly cast away;-though subsequent events have disappointed our cager hopes of early benefit accruing to the aborigines of New Holland by the appointment referred to. We leave this land-where we have received marked hospitality and disinterested kindness, from persons in all ranks of society, with whom we have had intercourse-with feelings of gratitude which will accompany us to our graves; for so long as we have power to remember Sydney and Parramatta, we must associate, with the places of their abode, those affectionate christian friends, and those generous patrons of our missionary project, who made our sojourn there delightful and profitable, at least to ourselves. Vol. II, p. 2-6.

The next country they visited was Batavia, where they arrived July 18, 1825. They were welcomed with great cordiality by Mr. Medhurst, the resident missionary of the London Society, by whom they were furnished with every facility for becoming acquainted with the city and its inhabitants. After a short stay, they proceeded thirty-six miles through a rich and delightful country to Baitenzorg, to pay their respects to the governor of Java, Baron Vander Capellan. From him they received much kindness, and assurances of the deep interest he felt in the object of their tour generally, and especially in their visit to Java.

Having returned from this excursion, and wishing to explore for themselves the vast, uncultivated field of paganism and Mahommedan error in Java, that they might have data, on which to form an opinion respecting the obstacles and encouragements presented for missionary operations and success, they set out on a journey to Samarang, distant four hundred miles eastward from Batavia. After visiting many intermediate places of considerable interest, and inspecting the various public institutions, the schools, hospitals, temples, mosques, pagodas, &c. at Samarang, they turned their course towards the magnificent city of Solo, a hundred miles further in a south-east direction, containing 100,000 inhabitants. Stopping on their journey in the midst of a district where a most bloody and indiscriminate civil war was raging, they were lodged and most kindly entertained by a Mahommedan, who was head man of the village. A curious fact was here stated in relation to the poison, in which savages frequently dip their weapons of war.

ure.

Our host, among other rarities in his possession, with peculiar pride and pleasshowed us his criss, or family dagger, which he assured us was three hundred years old. This, as well as the points of his spears, arrows, and other weapons of war, were poisoned so inveterately, according to his account, that no length of time could wear out their deadly virulence, killing with a scratch almost as surely as with a deep wound. He says that this pestiferous contagion is communicated to them by the heads of venomous serpents, crushed and laid upon the steel till they become putrid; after which, by some acid, the malignant matter is irremediably fixed there. Vol, III, p. 28.

On returning to Batavia, the deputation thus take a retrospect of their journey.

At night we arrived at Batavia, after a journey, to and fro, of nearly nine hundred miles, in a crazy vehicle, along roads adinirably constructed for the most part (though in some places, on account of swamps, precipices, &c. very dangerous) through beautiful and fertile regions, occasionally over volcanic eminences, not unfrequently traversing forests terrible with beasts of prey, or crossing rivers and ravines on floating or suspended bridges; above all, traveling unmolested through a line of country in a state of guerilla-rebellion against the established government. We were mercifully led, and guided, and kept, through all these. The Lord's name be praised! Vol. III, p. 37.

The island of Java contains a population of six millions, consisting of Javanese, Chinese, Malays, and a small proportion of Europeans, mostly Dutch. The three former classes are all either pagans or Mahommedans, indulging themselves generally in the grossest vices and superstitions, and living without God and without hope in the world. Is there not here a vast and inviting field for missionary operations? And yet, say the deputation,

On inquiry of Mr. Medhurst, concerning the actual and visible success of the missions belonging to our society in further India, he says that, whatever preparation may have been made by preaching, schools, and scripture-tracts, there are in the whole, not more than three or four natives of whom it can be affirmed that they make a credible profession of christianity. In this island, up to this time, it is doubtful whether any abiding religious impression has been made upon the heart of a Chinese or Mahommedan. The frivolous superstitions of the former, and the blind bigotry of the latter, are alike opposed to the pure, sublime, and humbling doctrines of the cross; while the depraved passions and profligate lives of both classes render the gospel-promises and gospel-threatenings alike unwelcome to those who cleave to their ungodliness and worldly lusts as the elements of existence. Mr. Brockner's testimony is to the same effect. Vol. III, p. 46.

Our voyagers next sailed for Singapore, and having, during a two week's residence, learned what they could of the state of the mission there, and given to the missionaries such advice, as their observation and experience suggested, they proceeded on their way to China. In China they spent two months, visiting Macao, Wampoa, Canton, and other places, collected much information respecting the celestial empire and its multitudinous population, and received marked attention and kindness from the English governor, Sir James Urmston, from the gentlemen of the English factory, and from the Hong merchants. Speaking of Macao, they say,

A prodigious population, of Europeans (principally Portuguese) and Chinese, is crowded within the prison-bounds (for such they may be called) of this city. According to a census, taken three years ago, the former reached five, and the latter forty thousand. Here are thirteen Roman Catholic places of worship, and one English chapel. The foreigners and natives live on good terms together, each being governed by their own laws, and amenable to their respective authorities. The English reside by the sufferance of the Portuguese, and both are only tolerated by the Chinese, who claim the territorial right of the soil, but allow the

strangers to occupy their district as tenants at will! The climate is said to be very healthful, though extremes of cold and heat are occasionally experienced in the course of the same day, the thermometer varying between 84 and the freezing point. Ice is sometimes formed to the thickness of a dollar. Yet there is not, we are told, a house to be found with a fire-place in it. The prospect from the church hill, on the west of the town-the harbor, with a thousand ships, prakus, and boats, Chinese and European, the seas beyond and numerous islands-is very gay and attractive. In the distance, across the peninsula of separation, (which the eye may pass, though the foot may not,) we could perceive many Chinese temples, towns, villages, rice-grounds, gardens and orchards, occupying the low and level lands. Above these, many naked rocks raised their cragged precipices, like skeletons of hills, once clothed with soil and verdure, which devastating storms, and the slow decay of atmospheric influence, had in the lapse of ages, wholly worn or washed away, and left nothing but their fossil rudiments behind. Vol. III, pp. 53, 54.

Again, of Canton, they say,

We cannot ascertain the exact population of this city by any authorized standard of computing. Sir James Urmston, who has resided twenty years in China, calculates it at half a million within the walls of Canton and throughout the suburbs, exclusive of two hundred thousand more who live habitually on the water, up and down the river. But though the population is so vast, and the streets are alive with perpetual streams of going and returning passengers, scarcely a woman is to be seen among the multitudes, excepting here and there a blind beggar, or occasionally one of the decrepid victims of preposterous fashion, hobbling on her two club feet, suffering the punishment of pride in the indulgence of it, and exciting pity by that which was devised to create admiration. But no lady of respectability deems it becoming to appear abroad. On the water, however, among the amphibious population that are born, live, and die in boats, the females come as much into day-light as the other sex. Vol. III, p. 63.

In company with several gentlemen of the factory, we dined with Houqua, an eminent Hong merchant, at his house on the other side of the water. He lives in Chinese magnificence, and the entertainment was of the most sumptuous kind. The whole house and premises were brilliantly illuminated with lamps. The decorations of the rooms, and the style of the furniture, were splendid and curious, but absolutely indescribable, otherwise than in the general terms-that every thing was according to the perfection of Chinese taste. The dinner, which lasted nearly four hours, consisted of between thirty and forty courses, including all the luxuries of the clime and the season, served upon China table-ware of the richest patterns. To attempt a description here would be hopeless, for every thing was so thoroughly national, that to be understood would require more knowledge of the manners of this singular people than many of our countrymen possess, and certainly much more than we could have learned without seeing, hearing, and tasting for ourselves. Vol. III, p. 70.

From Canton, the deputation returned to Singapore, and thence after a short stay, to Malacca. Here, amidst a population of 35,000, composed of Chinese, Malays, Portuguese, and a few English, is a missionary establishment and a college, under the superintendance of Messrs. Humphries and Collie. The schools of native children under their care, were found in a flourishing condition, and they began to be cheered with some flattering prospects of success in the great work of preaching the gospel. Among the descriptions furnished by our voyagers while here, is one of the pepper plantations.

On an inland excursion, with Mr. Humphries, to distribute religious tracts among the Chinese, we had an opportunity of seeing some extensive pepper plantations, which are cultivated entirely by these industrious people. The plants, in rich luxuriance, support themselves by the boles of trees, or against posts fixed in the ground, by which they are trained. They grow to the height of seven or eight feet, much like hops, throwing out, in profusion, their clusters of green and unripe fruit. Indeed, the latter is gathered green, and, when dried in the sun, becomes what is called black pepper. On some of the bunches are found berries, which are covered with a thin red rind. These are kept separate, and, this colored coating being carefully rubbed off, the kernel is white pepper. tenth part of the produce of these grounds is paid by the owner for rent.

Vol. III, p. 76.

A

In

The deputation next proceeded to Pinang, where there is also a missionary station, and near it a Roman Catholic College. a brief notice of this college, we are furnished with a clue to the operations of the Catholics in China.

Here a number of Chinese youths are trained up for missionaries to their parent country. Eighteen such, from fifteen to twenty years of age, are at this time on the foundation. We found them all reading Latin. The padres informed us that their church has 300,000 good Catholics in China, principally in the province of Kien. The priests there have to carry on their work with great secrecy in propagating the faith. Yet there have been put to death, within the last ten years, two of them, for having entered too precipitately upon their duties, before they had obtained leave from government. How they obtain leave at all, is a question not easily answered; but it is quite certain that there is a remnant of popery in the heart of China, which neither emperor not priest has yet found a pretence to cast out. The expense of that unique mission is defrayed from Europe. Vol. III, p. 81.

Having finished their business, the deputation left Pinang, and reached Calcutta April 17, 1826; and thence soon proceeded to visit the various missionary stations and other important places in the north of India. This tour occupied eight months. Among the places visited are, Serampore, Chinsurah, Patna, Benares, Chunar, Mirzapore, Allahabad, Gazeepoor, Dinapoor, Digah, and Berhampore. The intelligent observations on the passing objects and occurrences, the important facts and glowing descriptions, with which this tour enabled them to enrich their journals, give to it the highest interest as a narrative of adventurous travels. As an extensive field of missionary enterprises and success, they thus speak of it in a summary of observations made after their return to Calcutta.

Having now given some account of the state of things as we have seen them in Calcutta, Kidderpore, Chinsurah, Berhampore, and Benares, we would remark generally, that the expectations which we had raised, as to the effects actually produced by past missionary lahors, have been greatly exceeded by what we have found; and that the hopes and prospects of future success, under the blessing of God, are greatly confirmed and enlarged. Our confidence as to the conversion of the Hindoos has been much increased by what we have seen, both in Bengal and in the upper provinces, and from the concurrent testimony of wise and observing men, who describe the great difference there is between the state of things now, and what it was there some years ago, both among the rich and poor Hindoos, and among the Brahmins, many of whom begin to be ashamed of the gross