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It meets at a little chapel in Rue Ducale, under the pastoral care of the devoted Monsieur Panchard; and already consists of about three hundred persons, and not less than seventy communicants.

My object in troubling you with these particulars is, through your widely circulated publication, to draw the attention of your readers to Belgium, a country where the light of the Reformation was so early extinguished in blood, and in the hope that many will be brought to take an interest in the Belgian Evangelical Society, which greatly needs assistance, and has never been so well supported as it deserves, even by the friends of the British and Foreign Bible Society, to whom it makes the strongest appeal.

The Baron Du Bois de Ferriers, writing to a friend of mine observes, "I hope you will be able to make people in England understand, that there are souls to be saved in Belgium as well as in China; and that the Christians on your side of the water must not stand on their tiptoes, so as to look above and beyond all small countries that do not touch the Celestial Empire, being the farthest spot from us. This is a little the evil of our Anglican friends, to have a kind of romantic feeling for those at an immense distance, while so near home appears more like plain work."

Far be it from me to say one word in disparagement of our missions to the heathen, which have been followed with such blessed results; or to weaken the hands of these engaged in the labour or support of those noble enterprises of Christian zeal. Yet it may be questioned whether other fields of labour have not been too much neglected-and we seem to forget the mighty accession that might be gained to the missionary cause itself, if such countries as France and Belgium were once brought in any considerable degree under the power of our reformed faith. The Scriptures have been widely circulated, and have made a powerful impression. It were cruel now to leave the people in the hands of a fanatical priesthood, for want of a Protestant ministry.

I am, Sir, your faithfully,

CARR JOHN GLYN, Rector of Witchampton, near Wimbourne.

Subscriptions or donations thankfully received by the Rev. Thomas James, Blomfield-street; Rev. J. Mengé, 13, Winchester-street, Old Broad-street; Rev. Carr J. Glyn, Witchampton, Wimbourne, Dorset; Josiah Roberts, Esq., Camberwell-terrace; John Radley, Esq., Denmark-hill; John Bockett, Esq., Clapham Common; William Burnside, Esq., Fleet-street; and Mr. Watts, Crown-court, Temple-bar.

AFRICA.

SUCCESS OF THE WESLEYAN MISSION.

(Continued from p. 620.)

Oct. 25. We commenced driving the piles. They are each fourteen feet in length, and nearly a ton in weight. The labour of cutting them, and bringing them a distance of from a quarter to three quarters of a mile down the plain to the banks of the Lagoon, lifting them into the canoe, and again taking them out and getting them up on the mission premises, has been very great.

Nov. 1. Mr. De Graft went up the river for some timber. I have felt slightly indisposed all day. We had rain part of the day, with heavy thunder. The heat was very great, the thermometer standing at 80 degrees at eight A.M., and during the day at from 80 to 85 degrees.

Nov. 2. Mr. De Graft went up the river for more timber. Feeling unwell, I stopped at home. We were surprised by a tornado, with heavy rain, in the afternoon. Her Majesty's ship" Persian" arrived in the roads, in company with the "Queen Victoria," from Sierra Leone. The "Victoria" has 150 emigrants on board, many of whom are members of the Wesleyan Society.

Nov. 7. We marked out the ground preparatory to the building of a bamboo chapel ; dimensions, 40 feet by 18.

Nov. 9. I am still poorly. We are busily employed in building the bamboo chapel. The weather is very fine.

Nov. 12. We have been busy in putting down the four last heavy cocoa-nut tree piles for the mission house, and finishing our little bamboo chapel for divine worship.

Nov. 13, Lord's-day. At eleven A.M. I read prayers and preached to a very interesting congregation, consisting chiefly of Christian emigrants from Sierra Leone. Just at the conclusion of the service a fine snake, about four feet and a half in length, came into the chapel. The people were of course alarmed, and many of them ran out; but, through mercy, no person sustained any injury. They succeeded in killing it, and I have preserved it in spirits, as a curiosity. In the afternoon Mr. De Graft preached to an attentive congregation.

Nov. 28. I have been busy with the work at the new house, though poorly from a violent cold.

Nov. 29. I was too ill to attend to my duties.

Nov. 30. I am still ill, but a little improving.

Dec. 2. God be praised! my health is rapidly improving. I have been busy at the new house and in making preparations

for a journey into the interior. The roof of the mission house is now thatched.

Dec. 3. We gave all the workmen a dinner to reward them for their steady and laborious attention to the heavy work of building the shell of the new mission house.

Dec. 4, Lord's-day. At eleven A.M. I read prayers and preached to an attentive congregation. Warru attended Divine service, to my very great satisfaction. I was indeed delighted to see him set such an example to his people. In the afternoon fourteen men belonging to Sodeke, king of the Akus, arrived to conduct me into the interior.

Departure for the Interior.

Dec. 5. We prepared to start for the interior at nine A.M.; but found such difficulty in obtaining carriers, (that kind of work being strange and new to the people of Badagry,) that we were not ready to set off until two P.M. Warru accompanied us about two miles on the path, and sent a messenger with us to conduct us on our way to Understone.

We travelled for two hours through a flat country, diversified with open plains and small tracts of forest; and then arrived at the banks of a deep and extensive marsh, which we had to cross in canoes. I think the marsh could not be less than three quarters of a mile or a mile in width, with from ten to fifteen feet depth of water in the deepest part. We took up our quarters at Amown, a small village close to the marsh. The houses were nothing but low sheds; and as it was quite dark before we entered the village, I pitched my tent and slept in it. Mr. and Mrs. De Graft slept in shed close to me. From Badagry to the marsh we passed through two small villages, Aladagu and Adelafom. The distance from Badagry to Amown is, I think, about nine miles N.N.E.

Dec. 6. Some little differences taking place between the guide and some of the carriers, we did not leave Amown until a quarter past nine A.M. We travelled through a country very similar to that through which we passed yesterday, the tracts of forest becoming rather more numerous as we proceeded further into the interior. At noon we arrived at Atonga, a small village, where we were met by a troop of horsemen, twelve in number, belonging to Sodeke; who came to conduct us through the forest to an encampment formed by Sodeke to protect his people, when travelling to the coast, from the outrages and depredations of a hostile tribe in the neighbourhood.

Arrival at Addo.

We reached Addo, the encampment; and

were received in a very handsome manner by Shumai, Sodeke's brother, a war captain, who has the command of the troops in the encampment. The encampment consists of a great number of small huts or sheds, surrounded by a mud wall about five feet high, and a ditch about four feet deep. It is nearly within musket-shot of the wall and outworks of the hostile tribe. Each party has small places or seats erected in the trees near their walls, from which the sentinels watch and report each other's movements.

On our way from Amown to Addo we passed through two small villages, Bumrus and Rus, beside Atonga.

Dec. 7, 1842. Yesterday I expressed a wish to proceed on our journey early this morning, but Shumai said he should not be able to get me a fresh supply of men ready so soon; and, beside this obstacle, he particularly begged that I would stop one day with him. I therefore very reluctantly made up my mind to spend one whole day at the encampment.

In the morning, after breakfast, we had family prayers in my tent, surrounded by a great number of the natives. During our devotions they were very quiet and attentive; and seemed much interested with my accordion, which I played when we sung a bymn.

The aspect of the country around the encampment is flat and open, and much of it is in a state of temporary cultivation. As I walked out, I saw plenty of corn, millet, yams, kidney beans, and other vegetables, in full growth. The millet is used chiefly for their war-horses; which they take care to feed well, and keep in good condition for active service.

The hostile tribe occupy no part of the open country, but seem to have taken refuge in an adjoining forest.

war.

In the course of the day Shumai called me aside, and spoke to me concerning the He stated that it had now lasted three years without intermission; that they had, in the course of that time, lost a thousand men, and their enemies a still greater number. He himself had received several wounds from musket-balls, but his life had been preserved. He said they had long been trying to bring the war to a close, and the hostile tribe to obedience, but their efforts had been unavailing; and he asked me what advice I could give. I told him I was a man of peace, and had never been engaged in war; but I thought they had better bring against them a force sufficient to do away with the possibility of their risking a general engagement even-handed; and when their enemies saw a force which they could not resist, they would, in all probability submit themselves and behave better for the future; thus peace and safety would be secured without blood

shed. He seemed pleased with my remarks, and begged that I would, on my arrival at Understone, converse with his brother on the subject.

Dec. 8. At half-past seven A.M. we were provided with a number of new carriers, and proceeded on our way. We travelled in a N.N.E. direction, through a large extent of forest. Shumai, and one of his captains, accompanied us on horseback about four miles on our way. About noon we crossed a marshy place, a quarter of a mile wide, with about three feet depth of water; and then reached Mojiba, a very small village, the only one we had seen since we left the encampment. I calculate the distance between the camp and Mojiba to be from eighteen to twenty miles. Here we drank some delicious palm-wine, rested the people and the horses a short time, and then resumed our journey. Our path still lay through the forest, and we reached no village until we came to Alawagu, a very small place; and, having rested a few minutes, then proceeded to Mowo, and halted for the night. The village was so small, and so full of people, that we were obliged to pitch our tent, and many of our people had to sleep in the open air. Our road to-day led through the thick jungle; and many ravines on the way were so steep and dangerous, that we were obliged to alight, and giving the horses the reins compel them to get down the best way they could. No accident happened. The distance we travelled to-day may be from twenty-eight to thirty-two miles.

Dec. 9. At half-past seven A.M. we resumed our journey. We reached Grassfield, a very small village, where we found several of the carriers, who had gone before, resting and refreshing themselves with a draught of water. We then travelled to Alowagu, and another very small village containing nothing in the way of houses but a few open sheds. This little place, not more than a hundred yards square, was literally crammed with people, chiefly traders and travellers. The small street was so filled with packages, large calabashes full of food for sale, and with the people themselves, that I was obliged to ride round by the skirts of the forest, to get into the path on the opposite side. We then proceeded to Great Alowagu, where we pitched our tent for the night. Though Great Alowagu is larger than several of the villages through which we have passed, yet it is so small that many of our people were obliged to sleep in the open air.

During the course of two days' journey, the features of the country have very materially altered. Judging from the ruins and sites of the villages, some of them must have been large and populous when flourishing and in prosperity. Though at so great a distance from the coast, these sites contain

many beautiful cocoa-nut trees heavily laden with fruit. On every hand, the beautiful palm-tree rises to invite the attention of the traveller; and he often finds himself on the banks of streams and rills of excellent water. The open plains are ornamented with a beautiful species of Budlæa and some handsome varieties of Hibiscus. The grass is not so large and coarse as that in the neighbourbood of Coomassie and Jabin: it does not exceed eight or ten feet in height. I calculate the distance which we travelled to-day to be from thirty to thirty-five miles.

Dec. 10, 1842.-We took breakfast, and resumed our journey. We soon came into a country still more open and undulating. We passed through several fine plantations of corn, yams, and cotton, and through a pretty little village named Awayadi, where we stopped to rest a few minutes. The villagers loaded us with presents of beautiful bananas, as a token of their pleasure and satisfaction at seeing us. As we passed along, I saw several small villages on the hills and in the valleys, surrounded by plantations of yams, corn, millet, &c. They were so near to the road, that they could be seen very distinctly. The general aspect of the country now began to indicate our approach to an African metropolis: many people were met in the path, and here and there a wellmounted horseman. We met a few of the Sierra-Leone emigrants, who accosted us in the English language. To hear my native language spoken by strangers in the interior of Africa was very grateful to my feelings. We crossed a beautiful stream of water; and about noon reached Owayadi, a small village on a hill, whence we had a splendid prospect of the surrounding country. The general features of the country now appeared quite different from that through which he had passed from thirty to fifty miles nearer the coast. In the neighbourhood of Bagadry, and for many miles into the interior, not a piece of stone a pound in weight can be seen; but we saw, this morning, several pieces of granite, and all the usual indications of the country having a rocky bed.

Approach to Abbekuta, or Understone.

At Awayadi we pitched our tent, and took some refreshment; and, as, we found ourselves within a few miles of Understone, we changed our clothes, expecting to make our entry in the course of the afternoon. After obtaining a fresh supply of carriers, we resumed our journey; and soon gazed on a prospect which filled us with admiration. Understone, the metropolis, appeared in the distance, stretching over hill and dale, the houses mingled with immense blocks of stone, which, under the powerful rays of the sun, looked as white as snow. Its fine hills, covered with huge blocks of granite,

reminded me very forcibly of Freetown and Sierra-Leone, when approaching it from the sea. We reached Okwaru, a small village only a short distance from Understone. Here we halted, and sent our guide forward to inform the king that we had reached Okwaru. Night soon closed in, and I saw it would be impossible to make our entry this evening. Entry into Understone, and reception by the King.

Dec. 11, Lord's-day. At six, A.M., some horsemen arrived to conduct us to the capital, and we resumed our journey. In half an hour we reached the outskirts of the town, after crossing the Ogu, a considerable river, about seventy yards wide, running s.s.w., and falling into the sea at Lagos, about thirty miles below Badagry. As we entered the town, I found it to be a much larger place than I had expected, though I was prepared to see something extensive. The streets were lined with the natives, collected together in great numbers to witness the scene of an English missionary visiting Understone. They testified their pleasure and satisfaction by the constant cry of Aku! "Welcome !"' We passed through several streets, very narrow and confined; and reached the king's residence, nearly in the centre of the town. We rode on horseback into a large court-yard, surrounded with houses having clay walls, from six to ten feet high, with sloping thatched roofs extending from six to ten or twelve feet over the walls, and reaching to within three feet of the ground, forming a kind of verandah, with an earthen floor raised from six to eighteen inches above the level of the ground. Under a large verandah of the above-mentioned description, Sodeke was seated, surrounded by many of his people. We alighted from our horses, and paid our respects to him. He bade us welcome to Understone, and expressed his great satisfaction at my paying him a visit. He was seated on the floor, on a large native mat, supporting himself against a beautiful leather-covered cushion of native manufacture. He wore a handsome damask cloth thrown lightly over his shoulder, and a scarlet cloth cap, with a large blue tassel on the crown of it. Before him stood a large glass bowl, of European manufacture, well supplied with gora nuts. Seats were placed for us in the yard, close to the verandah; and we rested ourselves for a short time, and then repaired to our own quarters. The scenes which I have witnessed this morning will never be erased from my memory. Among the horsemen who came to Okwaru, to conduct us to Understone, were several of the Christian emigrants from Sierra Leone. After a long absence from their father-land, they had returned, bringing the grace of God in their hearts; and had for some time

been anxiously looking for a visit from a Christian missionary. I shall never forget the joy which beamed in their countenances as they seized me by the hand, and bade me welcome. "Ah!" said they, in the course of our conversation, "we told our king that the English people loved us, and that missionaries would be sure to follow us to Understone; but he could hardly believe that any one would come so very far away to do us good. Now," said they, "what we told our king, is really come to pass. 0 master! you are welcome, welcome, welcome !"

ner.

Sodeke seemed quite overjoyed; and as we were walking across the court-yard to our own quarters, he clasped me in his arms before all the people, and thus testified his extreme satisfaction. Shortly afterward he came to our quarters, and talked with me for some time in a very free and familiar man"My people," said he, "told me they were sure their friends in England would not neglect them; but I feared you would not venture to come so far. Now I see you, and my heart rejoices; and as you have now come to visit us, I hope the English will never leave us.'' Thus did this noble-spirited chieftain pour out the warm effusions of his heart. My feelings were of the most intense character. I saw in Sodeke's open and manly countenance something which gave the seal of truth to all that he said. His remarks were not vain empty compliments; but I believe they came from his heart, and were spoken in sincerity and truth.

First Religious Service at Understone,
attended by King Sodeke.

In the afternoon we held a public prayermeeting in the court-yard. We placed our little travelling-table opposite the king's verandah; and, to my astonishment, Sodeke came out and seated himself by me at the table. Nearly all the Christian emigrants were present, dressed in European clothes; and we had an interesting service. I gave a brief address, which was explained to the king in the vernacular tongue; and everything passed off very much to my satisfaction. The childlike simplicity of Sodeke, a powerful king reigning over a numerous people, is truly astonishing. To view him as a party in the scene already described, and then to remember that this scene took place in the midst of his capital, where he is surrounded by at least fifty thousand of his people, one cannot cease to admire his truly noble spirit.

Whence these happy beginnings ?

This beautiful scene, and these pleasing prospects, are chiefly the results of missionary enterprise, in seconding the efforts of the British Government to suppress slavery.

These Christian emigrants have acted the part of the little Israelitish maid, in the history of Naaman the Syrian. They have brought with them a good report of the God of Israel; and the happy effects are strikingly visible. Let the friends of Africa rejoice! They have not laboured in vain, nor spent their strength for nought. Many of the noble men who preached the gospel to these emigrants, and, by the grace of God, were the means of bringing them into the way everlasting, have fallen victims to a deadly climate, their happy spirits are passed into the heavens, and in Understone are the seals of their ministry: here are their epistles, to be known and read by thousands of Africa's sons; while the blessed results of their Herculean labours will pass down to generations yet unborn. "Let the people praise Thee, O God! yea, let all the people praise Thee."Let the cold-hearted sceptic complain of the sacrifice of the lives of missionaries and their wives in burning climes and tainted air-the true philanthropist cannot but rejoice, though his heart may still weep over the solitary grave of the missionary in a far distant land. As for me, I bless God that I live to see this day. I rejoice that I am, under any circumstances, permitted to see this day-these wonders-which will appear in all their vital and important character in the great day of eternity!

Some Account of Understone.

Dec. 12, 1842.-We walked out to see part of the town. Abbekuta, or Understone, is by far the largest town that I have seen in Africa from what I can judge, I think it is nearly, or quite as large again as Coomassie. The houses are all constructed on the same plan as the king's house, already described, with the exception of their being smaller. There is no order or regularity in the streets the houses are built without any attention to beauty or uniformity. In this respect, there is no comparison between Understone and Coomassie, Coomassie being so far superior; but Understone is capable of very great improvement. The beautiful hills and vales which the site occupies, and the noble blocks of granite rising above the houses in every direction, give it an appearance bold, romantic, and beautiful. Every principal street seems to be of itself a market-place, in which many native productions are exhibited for sale, such as rich cotton cloths, Moorish caps, gunpowder, knives, cutlasses of native manufacture, bowls, dishes, calabashes, reels of cotton, rope, and line of various sizes; fresh meat, beef, pork, and mutton, rats, (of which the natives seem very fond,) ready-made soup, palm-oil, palmwine, a kind of beer made from the maize, some from millet, plantains, bananas, pineapples, papaws, limes, oranges, ground-nuts,

VOL. XXI.

corn, yams raw and ready-cooked, kidneybeans, sweet potatoes, roll-tobacco, and many other things.

It seems to be the first time that any European has ever visited Understone.

We are now busy in settling ourselves in our new quarters, and preparing an open shed in the king's yard, under which to take our food, and sit during the heat of the day.

Dec. 13.--We rode out on horseback a short distance on the Haussa road. I learn that Haussa is only seven days' journey on horseback from Understone. We looked over another part of the town.

Visit of Messengers from the King of
Haussa.

Dec. 15.-I have been visited by some messengers from the King of Haussa. These mesengers ride the finest horses that I have seen in Africa: they are armed with bows and arrows, and well dressed in Moorish habits. They are sent by their master, with a message to Sodeke, who seems to be on very friendly terms with the King of Haussa. I am glad that they called on me, as it may serve as an introduction to me at some future day. I deeply regret that circumstances. will not admit of my proceeding to Haussa during this visit, as the way seems to be quite open.

I have had some very pleasing conversation with Sodeke, and requested him to tell the King of Haussa's messengers every thing which he could respecting my visit to Understone.

Rapidly increasing Influence of Sierra
Leone on the Interior.

Dec. 16.-I met all the principal men among the emigrants from Sierra Leone, and had a long conversation with them respecting their proceedings and circumstances since they left Sierra Leone. The following is the information which I received from them :

About three years ago, the first emigrants landed at Badagry and Lagos. The people of Badagry received them kindly, and allowed them quietly to pass through into their native towns and villages. Not so the people of Lagos: instead of following the example of the Badagry people, they laid violent hands on the property of the emigrants, and, in many cases, deprived them of everything except the clothes which they wore. Even the chief of Lagos, who is since dead, did not scruple to violate all the principles of humanity by taking from some of the emigrants everything but the clothes on their backs; deprived them, by force, of all their little savings, with which they intended to greet their long lost families on their return to their father-land; and had the cruelty to tell them that they might

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