There are Native scholar. 15 Jan. 28th.-This is the day for the worship of the goddess of knowledge In our morning the Hindus. among walk we passed through a village where they were singing her praises. During the day we have passed places where were companies collected, singing with drums, tom-toms, &c. This afternoon we stopped at a large village called Jungipoor, where is an English station. Here aiso we met with the same music. Three large elephants passed our boats this We see these animals very evening. often now. ing the budgerows to proceed on their morning, we passed through a village way, expecting to be absent from them where were some temples and a car. We until near noon. We walked a short dis- looked into two of the temples and saw tance, and passed an English military some large images; near were two trees, gentleman, drilling some native soldiers, worshipped by them, that they had recentwho were the nabob's guard. He askedly married, and they stood tied together. me if I wished to see the palace, and The goddess of knowledge-Jungipoorinvited me to go with him. four stories. The first is principally apIn the second propriated to store rooms. I was taken into a large room, where European ladies are received and entertained. Adjoining it are large and splendid sleeping apartments and baths. All the settees and furniture are richly adorned. We passed through a large, long dining hall, then into a great, round room of marble floor, appropriated to assemblies when the nabob is seated on his throne; then into a sitting-room, which is so arranged as to be cool in the hottest weather; billiard-room; lolling-room; sleeping-rooms above in the next story, Jan. 29th.-This morning brother Mcand various rooms, the use of which I did Auley and myself took a walk into the not understand. Had I seen them when village of Jungipoor. It consists princithe nabob was at home, I should have pally of one long street, lined on each side seen great quantities of solid gold and sil- with dwellings and shops. On almost ver, and splendour that is altogether un-every corner, caused by the crossing of known except in the east. I saw several a lane, we saw a temple. The Hindu portraits of his former highness, the pre-temples, so far as I have yet seen, are sent nabob's father. The present one is quite small. At length we came to a only in his eleventh year. He has an large garden, the walks of which were English gentleman for his preceptor. I paved, and on each side was carved work was told that he speaks Persian excellent- of stone of various kinds. We entered, ly, but has not yet learned English, al- and saw an exhibition of considerable On our taste in its plan and execution. though it is intended that he shall. I was also taken into the nabob's place of wor- way to and from this place, we saw the ship, fitted out in Mohammedan style,image of the goddess of knowledge adorn where he pays his homage to the false ed with various kinds of trinkets, fixed prophet. The gentleman who accompa-under a booth, with an image on each side nied me, is in the nabob's service, to drill of her, and before them were cast garhis soldiers, and take the oversight of his || lands of flowers in profusion, as offerings stables. In these are kept 26 elephants, from these deluded people. 26 camels, and 128 horses. As brothers Rankin and McAuley were walking out, about ten o'clock, a young After I had seen all that was worth seeing, I took leave of the friendly Eng-man, who had learned English in Dr. lishman, who recognized me as one of the ministers who were in Berhampore last Sabbath, and seemed to have treated me with respect and cordiality on account of my office. Duff's school in Calcutta. came up to them, supposing that they were ministers, and wished that they would preach. He came with them to the boats, and received some books, both in Bengalee and Jan. 27th.-In our morning walk this English. We promised that we would go to the bazar this afternoon and preach, and he engaged to come and accompany us thither. Preaching the Gospel and Idolatrous Worship.-Native ploughing. We went between four and five, and found a large concourse of natives, full of bustle, and engaged in various kinds of traffic. The duty of preaching was put upon me, and I had Modooshoodun (a native assistant) again for my interpreter. We took our station in the street before some of the shops, and soon had a crowd of people around us. Just as I was about commencing, a procession came up, bearing two images of the goddess of knowledge, beating drums, tom-toms, and other noisy instruments, making ludicrous gestures, burning incense to the images, with two men holding umbrellas over their heads, and all presenting such a spectacle as I never before beheld. All their actions had more the appearance of buffoonery than of religious worship. In the strength of my Master I now commenced preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ in this stronghold of Satan, and to many souls who undoubtedly had never heard the precious Gospel before. In general, good attention was given, but it is with the Lord to bless his truth. At the close I announced to them that we had some books that would give them more information about the Saviour of whom I had been preaching. There was then a great and general rush, and the books were almost torn from our hands. We gave away a large number of tracts, and many Gospels, all in Bengalee. Thus did we cast our bread upon the horses, and followed by men on a large elephant, all painted in various ways, and making horrible grimaces. It seemed, indeed, as if the wicked one had been let loose, and was exerting his power without control. In the evening, they brought the image of the goddess down to the water with great ceremony, music, noise, and confusion, and amid the firing of crackers and guns, and threw her into the sacred stream. After tea I walked out on the bank and around Modoo, with whom he was arsaw a large group that had assembled them were deists, and were offering their guing on religious subjects. Some of these also I distributed some tracts. It objections for him to answer. Among seems very desirable that a missionary should be stationed here. As we pass along, we see village after village whose inhabitants are entirely ignorant of the true way of salvation. Jan. 30th.-After breakfast brother McAuley and myself stepped ashore to walk, and had a good opportunity for observing the native ploughing. We passed about thirty yoke of oxen drawing ploughs. through a large plantation, where were These were little pieces of iron that made small scratches in the ground three or four inches deep. With these they continue scratching the ground until prepared for receiving the seed. Instead of using whips for their oxen, they have goads, such as are alluded to in Scripture as being used in ancient times. We came to at one o'clock, and awaited for the other budgerow, which came not long after, and we all concluded to remain here and spend the Sabbath. A Sabbath and its occupations. Feb. 1st.-Yesterday was to me the most pleasant Sabbath that I have spent in India. We stopped the day before at a quiet place, where we had the time entirely to ourselves, without submitting to the formalities that are requisite when among strangers. We all assembled in our budgerow in the morning at ten, and had prayer, and a short discourse by brother Rankin, and afterwards reading of the Scriptures in Bengalee, and prayer in || but the seed sown may yet bring forth fruit. Hindustanee by Gopee. Gopee assembled the men in the afternoon at three on the bank, and read the Scriptures and talked to them. In the meantime brother McAuley and myself went with Modoo to a village a short distance from us to preach and distribute books. We passed through a field where were men busy ploughing as on other days. When we arrived at the village, one of the first objects that met our eyes was a large tree worshipped by the natives, under which was an image of the wife of Siva, one of their gods. We passed on a little farther, and came to a shade where were some men winding yarn. Here we stationed ourselves, and Modoo commenced reading a Bengalee tract to three or four men. IOWA MISSION. LETTER OF THE REV. W. HAMILTON: NOV. 3, 1843. I would state, that the past summer has been much like preceding ones, as far as regards giving the Indians religious instruction; and I might say, at times, appearances were even more discouraging. We generally got a few to listen to us on the Sabbath, but at times it was with difficulty; and occasionally, though not often, we failed entirely. It could hardly be edifying to repeat the different excuses they made for not attending. I have sometimes gone to the village with a good deal of hope, but often met with a reception that was anything but flattering. I intended, during the latter part of the summer especially, to visit them more frequently than I had done, but sickness in my own family, and among others, and other duties, consumed much of my time: and after the payment of their annuities, they were, for some weeks, drunk most of the time I was over the river at four different times since last spring, a few days at each time. I do not know that my labours were attended with any special blessing; VOL. XII.-2 On a sacramental occasion, I was assisted, at a vacant church, by two brethren of Platte. The season was inclement, so that but few came out, yet the meeting was a pleasant one, and there seemed to be a great deal of interest, and I think evident tokens of the presence of the Holy Spirit. We held our own communion on the 22d of October. On Saturday previous we organized a church: Mr. Francis Irvin was ordained elder. Two were admitted to church privileges on examination,-the oldest Indian girl in Mr. Irvin's family, and a coloured girl now living with Mr. Ballard. On these occasions it is our practice to commence our exercises on Friday, (which is set apart as a day of fasting and prayer,) and continue them until Monday evening. But on this occasion we have continued them until the present time, meeting only in the evening, and expect to continue them at least until Sabbath. At the same time we have frequent meetings with the Indians. It was evident that the Lord was with us from the commencement, verifying his promise, "That before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." And I think we still enjoy the presence of the Spirit in our meetings. The work of grace does not appear to have commenced yet among the Indians, still we fondly hope, and pray that they, too, may be brought to feel the convicting and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, and we would earnestly solicit your prayers, and the prayers of the Church, on their and our behalf; for unless they are arrested in their present course, they will soon be beyond the reach of hope. They have gone to dreadful lengths in wickedness, but the hand of the Lord is not shortened, that it cannot save. The number of persons who understand English, and attend at the station, is small; yet God has not on that account withheld his blessing. May we not be encouraged by this to hope that it is but the beginning of better days? Nothing is too hard for God. Yet it may please the Lord to subject us to still further trials and discouragements. If so, we would say, His will be done. LETTER OF MR. S. M. IRVIN: NOV. 2, 1843. he said he would talk with me that night; but he was not seen again until after the party returned. Soon after the corn-hoeing was done, a hunting party started off, taking with them their wives and children, and were away about two months. We were quite anxious that the children should remain, and spoke to the parents to this effect. They expressed a willingness to have Early in the spring we commenced them do so, if the children would agree; teaching at the village on our usual plan but the children would much rather travel -collecting the children at various houses over the prairies than up the hill of in the village as they could be found. science. Later in the season, a fishing Very soon after commencement, a new party went to the Nemahaw, taking a and trying discouragement made its ap-number of the children with them. We pearance. The large boys who, the sumwere quite solicitous that they should remer previous, had made the best pro main, especially one boy, who was learngress, and afforded the greatest encour-ing quite fast to read in his own language. agement, evidently felt that they were too He was urged to remain, and agreed to much like men to condescend to say a les-do so if his older brother was willing, who son. They would rather paint, and strut about the village, than give any time to the school; or if they did attend the school, their presence was always more The press is of great assistance in prediscouraging than otherwise, to those paring suitable lessons for the scholars, who were disposed to learn. This was and could we have their attention regualso the case with some of the larger larly, even but a short time of each day, girls. Some were married, and others they would soon learn to read. A few, espoused to husbands-as their custom is, under all their disadvantages, can read a and the impression seemed to be that they little, and others can spell; but the lanstood no longer in need of instruction. guage is spelled and printed in such a There were, however, nearly an equal way, that as soon as they begin to spell number of small ones willing to come in, they may begin to read. They are fond so that the number in all was not much of singing, and the little hymn-book, diminished; but you will observe how which is now in the press, will be useful discouraging it is to educate them until not only in conducting religious exercisthey are prepared to derive some benefites, but also in the school. from it, and then to lose all your labour. Since the payment of the annuities, but The regular attendance, when all were little has been done. Previous to that at home, was about 18 or 20 girls, and||time, I think they had not drunk so much from 20 to 25 boys. There were, how-as in former seasons, for the good reason, ever, at various times, more; between 50 and 60 would occasionally attend, but were far from be ng 1egular. During the summer, sever: hings prevented the scholars from at ending regularly. Many of the families had to make new farms in the spring-the old ones being flooded by a remarkable rise in the Missouri River. These new fields required much labour, and some of them were two or three miles from the village, so that some of the principal families, to save time, went to encamp at the fields-which took the children out of our reach. perhaps, that they had not anything to procure whiskey with. Since the payment, (which was early in September,) they have drunk much, and what is worse, they have imbrued their hands in the blood of their fellow-men. A few weeks ago, contrary to the wish of the chiefs, and unknown to the agent, a war party of eight or nine started off from the lowa village, and after failing to find those whom they wished to kill, they fell upon a sick and unoffending woman, whom they wounded with a rifie-ball so that her life was despaired of by the last ac count. More recently, a number of the baser sort of Iowas murdered an Omahaw not far from our station. The individual murdered was one of a party of innocent and unoffending Omahaws, who was coming on a friendly visit to the Iowa tribe; and what makes the occurrence more shocking to us, is the fact that it took place on the same day, and perhaps the same hour, with our communion. How great the contrast! While the hands of one of this nation were for the first time, tremblingly reached forward to receive the emblems of the Saviour's sufferings, the hands of others were literally smoking with the innocent blood of their fellow mortal! Who can tell the feelings of the missionary in his trials and hopes, his labours and rewards? The native member admitted to the church was the oldest Iowa girl in our family. She professes to have experi enced a change of heart in June last, and Your welcome letter of Sept. 19th, which came to hand a few days ago, has also been encouraging to us. We are inuch pleased that the Committee have decided in favour of the boardingschool. This enterprize, if carried out, will, with the blessing of God, be a great help in our work. Had we fifty, or even twenty children, as much improved as these now in our families, they would be able soon to give a new aspect to the character of these nations. MISSION HOUSE, NEW-YORK. INDIA. The August and September overland mails reached England after some delay, and we have letters by them from all the India stations, dated to the 18th of September. The health of the missionaries was generally good; but Dr. Green had become very feeble, as we learn with much regret ; and he had set out on his return home. Dr. G. bore the principal part of his own expenses in going to India, and it was his intention to support himself while labouring there. At Saharunpur, one person had been admitted to the communion of the church, and at Futtehgurh, three of the boys of the orphan asylum. At nearly all the stations, there were others who desired admission to church-membership; but the missionaries were extremely cautious in complying with their wishes, because so many of the natives, who profess to be inquirers, are influenced by unworthy motives. At Allahabad, a painful illustration of this had occured on the part of three rsons, who had been admitted to the || communion of the church. Two of them were discovered to have been in the prac tice for some time of grossly inconsistent conduct, which made their exclusion from the church necessary; and a third, who was an intimate friend of the others, left the church and the station on their account. Thus our brethren have their trials as well as their encouragements, and in regard to both, they earnestly solicit a remembrance in the prayers of the Church, whose representatives they are in that dark land. IOWAS.-Letters from Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Irvin are inserted on pages 17, 18. They had enjoyed the privilege of admitting two persons to the cor nunion of the church. CREEKS.-Mr. Loughridge writes, Nov. 21st, that they were preparing a building for the mission-families, and their prospects were still favourable. Mr. W. W. Crawford, of Vicksburgh, Miss., has been appointed an assistant missionary to the Creeks. Mr. C. has been well recommended to the Board, and joins the mission as a teacher and mechanic. The Rev. E. McKinney, with the consent of the |