It

ed in it to Tranquebar. The situation of those who remained, then became more wretched than ever. was with great difficulty they could subsist. Their constitution was completely underminded by sickness, anxiety, and toil; nor were their hearts cheered by the conversion of any native.* "Oh, how many tears," says Mr. Haensel, "have I shed during that period of distress and trouble. I will not affirm, that they were all of that kind, which I might with David pray the Lord' to put into his bottle,' and ask are they not in thy book; for I was not yet fully acquainted with the ways of God with his people, and had not yet a heart wholly resigned to all his dealings. Oftentimes self-will, unbelief, and repining at our hard lot, were mixed with our complaints and cries unto him.†

The labours of the Brethren produced no sensible effect. They found it extremely difficult to learn the language so as to become intelligible, there being no

* Letters on the Nicobar islands, pp. 21, 23.

My

+ Their accommodations may be imagined from the following. Says Mr. Haensel" On my frequent excursions along the sea coast, it sometimes happened that I was benighted, and could not, with convenience, return to our dwelling; but I was never at loss for a bed. The greater part of the beach consists of a remarkably fine white sand, which above high water mark is perfectly clean and dry. Into this I dug with ease a hole large enough to contain my body, forming a mound as a pillow for my head; I then lay down, and by collecting the sand over me, buried myself in it up to the neck. faithful dog always lay across my body, ready to give the alarm, in case of disturbance from any quarter. However, I was under no apprehension. from wild animals. Crocodiles and kaymans never haunt the open coast, but keep in creeks and lagoons, and there are no ravenous beasts on the island. The only annoyance I suffered was from the nocturnal perambulations of an immense variety of crabs of all sizes, the grating noise of whose armour would sometimes keep me awake. But they were well watched by my dog; and if any one ventured to approach, he was sure to be suddenly seized, and thrown to a more respectful distance; or if a crab of a more tremendous appearance deterred the dog from exposing his nose to its claws, he would bark and frighten it away, by which, however, I was often more seriously alarmed than the occasion required. Many a comfortable night's rest have I had in these sepulchral dormitories, when the nights were clear and dry." Letters on the Nicobar Islands, pp. 20, 36, 37,

vocabularies or books; and the natives, at the same time, being too indolent to speak, if they can avoid it. At the same time their notions of a Divine Being were so vague, and their moral sense so dull, that it was extremely difficult to awaken in them any curiosity about religion. They had no word in the language to express their idea of God; but one simply, which signifies above. Of God, they had some notion that he is good; but when the missionaries attempted to explain his love in the plan of salvation they were astonished, and would not believe it was any thing which affected them. When told of the Redeemer, they said "they could not think that the sufferings of one man could atone for the sins of another; and that, therefore, if they were wicked, what was told them of a crucified Saviour would not help them; but they were not wicked; they were good, and never did any thing wrong."

An extract from Mr. Haensel, the only missionary who finally survived, will best show the state of the mission before it was given up, and the manner in which this was done.

"The three following years of my stay were spent in fruitless attempts to preach the gospel to the natives, and the arrangements proposed and made by the newcomers, seemed all to fail. But I cannot help observing, that when we speak of the total failure of our endeavours to promote the conversion of the natives, we have cause in a great degree, to blame ourselves. For my part, I must confess with humble shame, that I soon lost my faith and courage, brotherly love having ceased to prevail among us; for how can missionaries speak, with effect, of the love of Jesus, and its fruits in the heart, when they themselves do not live in the enjoyment of it? It is true, our trials were great, and the prospect, in many respects, most gloomy; but we have seen in other instances, what the Lord can do, by removing obstacles, and giving strength to His servants, if they are one in spirit, pray and live together in uni

ty, and prefer each other in love. This was too much wanting during the latter part of our abode in the Nicobar islands, and O that all missionaries would remember, that brotherly love is the most precious jewel in a mission; and that no sacrifice of one's own opinions and schemes is too great, to maintain it unbroken."

"The loss of so many valuable men, the total failure of the object of the mission, and the want of proper Brethren, willing to devote themselves to so hopeless a cause, at length prevailed, and it was resolved to give up the mission. I was again deputed to go to Nancauwery, to fetch Brother Kragh, and all effects belonging to the mission, and to deliver up the premises to the Governor, who, on our representation of the impracticability of our supporting the mission any longer, had consented to send a lieutenant, a corporal, and six privates, to take possession. I accompanied these people, and delivered to them every thing I could not carry away.

"Words cannot express the painful sensations which crowded into my mind, while I was thus executing the task committed to me, and making a final conclusion of the labours of the Brethren in the Nicobar Islands. I remembered the numberless prayers, tears, and sighs. offered up by so many servants of Jesus, and by our congregations in Europe, for the conversion of the poor heathen here; and when I beheld our burying ground, where eleven of my Brethren had their resting place, as seed sown in a barren land, I burst into tears, and exclaimed: Surely all this cannot have been done in vain! Often did I visit this place, and sat down and wept at their graves.

"My last farewell with the inhabitants, who had flocked to me from all the circumjacent islands, was very affecting. They wept and howled for grief, and begged that the Brethren might soon return to them. We always enjoyed their esteem and love, and they do not deserve to be classed with their ferocious neighbours, the Malays; being, in general, kind and gentle in their

dispositions, except when roused by jealousy, or other provocations; when their uncontrouled passions will lead them into excesses, as some of the Danish soldiers experienced. We always found them ready to serve

us.??

Mr. Haensel, though his constitution was so completely poisoned by the malignant fever of the island, that he had a regular attack of it every third day during his life, became a very active and successful missionary in the West Indies, where he died in 1814, much lamented.

CHAPTER VIII.

NORTH AMERICA.

Mission commenced by Rauch at Shekomeko-Two Indians awakened-Persecution excited-Tschoop's account of his conversion-Brethren's manner of life and preaching-Their danger-Happiness of the Indian converts-A prodigal brought back-Indians remove-Build Gnadenhutten-Various labours of the Brethren.

THE United Brethren formed a small settlement in Pennsylvania in 1734, and another in Georgia the fol lowing year. The latter had for its object the Christian instruction of the Indians. Some advances were made in this good work, and prospects were favourable for the conversion of the heathen, when a difficulty arrising between the Brethren and the government on account of their refusing to bear arms, they were oblig. ed to retire and join the settlement in Pennsylvania. The Rev. Mr. Spangenberg who conducted the colony, had in the mean time returned to Herrnhut, and made such a representation of the deplorable state of the Indians, that several single Brethren resolved to

hazard their lives in a persevering attempt to extend among them a knowledge of the Gospel. Twelve were nominated for this undertaking, and Christian Henry Rauch immediately set out. He arrived in New York July 16, 1740. There even the pious people attempted to dissuade him from any effort among the Indians; telling him that many expensive attempts had been made in vain to Christianize them. But he was not to be dissuaded. He placed his sole confidence in God, and went quietly to work. Hearing that some Indians had arrived at New-York to negociate a treaty, he sought them out. He found them in a drunken frolic. Waiting till they were sober, he spoke with two of them, Tschoop and Shabash, inquiring if they did not want a teacher. The latter answered in the affirmative, adding, that he frequently desired to know better things, but could not tell how or where to find them.*

The missionary was encouraged to visit their residence at Shekomeko, East of Hudson's river and not far from Poughkeepsie. He was at first received with much kindness. His message concerning the Son of God becoming a man and dying for our sins excited attention and surprise; but it was soon turned into derision. These Indians were indeed among the most abandoned of their species, for drunkenness and every other vice prevailed among them to a shocking degree. Rauch suffered much from the want of food, and from fatigue in travelling, having no means to keep a horse or money to hire a boat; but he thought himself sufficiently compensated, when some effect of his labours began to appear. Both Tschoop and Shabash, who were among the greatest drunkards, were awakened. Their eyes overflowed with tears, when the sufferings and death of the Redeemer were described to them. Some Christians in the neighbourhood hearing of this, invited

*History of the Mission of the United Brethren among the Indians in North America, by George Henry Loskiel, Part II. p. 7.