too with malignant spirits, still lingers. Among these is the Fejee group," said to comprise from one to two hundred islands, which vary in size from five miles to five hundred in circumference; all teeming with inhabitants in the most degraded and wretched state of barbarism.”* One of the chiefs declared, a short time ago, that not less than two hundred human beings, victims of war, had been served up at one feast.†.

The immense island of New Guinea has never heard the tidings of salvation. Here several millions of immortal creatures are lying in their guilt and blood.

Borneo, Celebes, Sumatra, and many others in that ocean-spotted vicinity, have been almost entirely neglected. In the first of these, there seems every providential preparation for a mighty work. Explorers have reported favourably, and I am happy to learn that a little band, from the Reformed Dutch Church in America, and one or two missionaries from the Rhenish Society, are turning their attention to its numerous hordes of imbruted Dyaks.

Never, before my recent wanderings, was I such an advocate of the missionary cause. Never before, did I perceive the necessity, nor appreciate * Williams's Missionary Enterprises.

Stated by Rev. Mr. Watkins, Wesleyan Missionary at Friendly Islands.

the infinite value of this heavenly enterprise. Oh, that I could inspirit thousands of young men to this work! Oh, that every ship were freighted with messengers of mercy to these suffering, perishing millions! Oh, that the whole body of Christians were filled with zeal for a world's conversion, and, laying aside all minor differences of opinion, were uniting all their forces for its accomplishment!

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE next speaker was a converted Caffree chief, who had formerly headed a formidable band of depredators, and, for many years, spread devastation and dismay in the surrounding country. The wonderful works which have been described, said he, throw my thoughts back upon my own country, and among my own people. I can scarcely endure the recollection of the past. The cruelties we have committed upon each other, and upon strangers, fill me with the deepest sadness. Oh, that the missionaries had visited us before. How many unredeemed souls these very hands have hastened into an awful eternity. I shudder when I review the past. I seem to myself to have emerged from hell. Is it a reality? Am I not in a dream? Can it be that I have been rescued from the grasp of the destroyer, and my very nature changed from the lion to the lamb? It appears too wonderful to be true, and I sometimes startle lest I may awake to the horrible condition

of my former being. But, blessed be God, it is no dream, no frenzy. A few years since, myself and hundreds of others were raving demoniacs. War, pillage, and murder were our business and delight. We had no God. We served devils instead of God; and there was scarcely a trait of character which we did not possess in common with them.

But He, whose mercy fills me with surprise, found us roving, naked, demented, and left us "sitting, clothed, and in our right mind." My Saviour's redeeming love, what tongue can express! His almighty power, who can withstand! Oh, for a thousand tongues to praise him—for a thousand lives to serve him!

If a person, who had visited us a few years ago, should come among us now, he would neither recognise the people nor the place. Some of the most ferocious chiefs of all our wandering hordes, have been tamed and subdued. The lawless Africaner - the former scourge and terror of the country, is already before the topless throne. Berend, his indomitable rival, has swelled the list of the redeemed. The great chief Hintsa has raised the servants of God to the highest honours of his kingdom.

Many wandering tribes have become settled. Thousands and tens of thousands who had neither

clothing on their bodies, nor ideas in their minds, now appear in decent apparel, and are able to read. The Christian Sabbath has been established in many tribes. We have schools for infants, children, and adults. Some of the churches have hundreds of members in their communion. We have among us saving banks, lending libraries, and temperance societies.

It has been questioned by some in this assembly whether the effects of the gospel are as great among the heathen as in Christian countries. I thought while my brethren were speaking on this subject, that if they should come to my country, and see for themselves, they would be astonished. I know not what changes have been produced within the same period in Christian lands; but I can scarcely imagine that they could have exceeded the effects wrought in my native wilds. And yet the work is very partial. There are many places where no missionaries have settled many miserable tribes of men who have never heard of Christ. Hundreds of teachers are needed to occupy this vast territory. Every where the greatest anxiety is expressed to have the missionaries come and teach them. The tidings of what has been accomplished in many tribes have travelled far into the deep interior of Africa, and thousands