fluence of the morning sun, gave one the idea of great cleanliness and neatness. As we rounded the point on which the lighthouse was situated, a gun was fired on board, announcing to the inhabitants the arrival of the mail; and in a few minutes more we were safely moored in Quarantine Harbour. Although differing in character very much from Gibraltar, and possessing none of those natural features which qualify it for occupying the important position it does, still, as far as art was concerned, every means had been employed to render it strong and unassailable. Wherever the eye turned, fortifications seemed to frown down upon us, and the great guns appeared to cast upon us cold and suspicious looks. The Pin and the Needle. A PIN and a needle being neighbours in a work-basket, and both being idle, began to quarrel, as idle folks are apt to do. 66 "I should like to know," said the pin, what you are good for, and how you expect to get through the world without a head ?" "What is the use of your head," replied the needle, rather sharply, "if you have no eye?" "What is the use of an eye," said the pin, "if there is always something in it ?" "I am more active, and can go through more work than you can,' said the needle. "Yes, but you will not live long," said the pin. "Why not ?" "Because you have always a stitch in your side." You are a poor crooked creature," said the needle. "And you so proud you cannot bend your back without breaking:" "I'll pull off your head, if you in. sult me again." "I'll put out your eye if you touch me-remember your life hangs on a single thread," said the pin. While they quarrelled thus, a little girl entered, and trying to sew, she soon broke the eye of the needle. Then she tied the thread around the neck of the pin, and attempted to sew with it; but she soon pulled off its head, and threw it into the dirt beside the broken needle. "Well, here we are,' needle. "said the "Nothing left to fight about now," said the pin; "it seems misfortune has brought us to our senses." "A pity we had not come to them sooner, said the needle. "How much we resemble human beings, who quarrel about their blessings until they lose them, and never find out they are brothers until they are down in the dust together as we are !" could not but feel pained, as we gazed on this idol procession, that so many of our fellowcreatures should be so deluded, and be led captive by the Devil at his will. As the day advanced large numbers of people were to be seen wending their way over the surrounding hills. This surprised us; for the Chinese rarely walk about for pleasure or exercise, and think it very strange of the foreigners to take the trouble to do this. We sought, therefore, to know the cause of their doing so, and found it was the day of the year for the visitation of the tombs to worship their ancestors.:*.. second Chinese month, answering to our 1st of April. About seven o'clock in the morning we were startled by very strange sounds under our windows. We went on to the verandah to look, and saw a procession passing close to our house, which consisted of several Chinamen, some bearing chairs, others carrying flags, and others playing music of a very rough kind, which is produced by striking two pieces of metal together. As the people advanced we could see in one of the chairs a small idol seated, which was being waved from side to side, by which action it is supposed to have some influ-In the afternoon we thought ence on the spirits of the departed, whose graves are scattered all about the rocks and hills of Amoy. The procession was altogether a very disorderly one not like what you are accustomed to see. Some of the people were running, others walking, now getting before the idol, now getting behind it, and all talking so fast and loud, that for the time it was near it Was anything but pleasing to our eyes or ears; and it was still less so to our hearts, for we we would go and see for our. selves what was being done atthe graves; and certainly if the morning procession had been distressing to witness, the sights and sounds of which we now became sensible were still more so. Women were seated on the ground, with their faces buried in their handkerchiefs, howling over the dead; others tearing their hair; and some scratching up the earth, as if to obtain a sight of the departed all pro fessing the greatest angnish. In some cases the grief might have been true; but in most it was merely assumed. While the women were thus engaged at the graves, groups of men were sauntering at their ease, either helping to manifest grief, present offerings, or adorn the graves, which I will now describe. Little sticks were placed in the ground at the head and foot of the tombs, then lighted, giving forth a pleasant scent. These were incense offerings. The paper money was then presented, which consisted of pieces of white and yellow paper, very prettily cut and placed on the top of the graves, fastened by stones, so that the wind might not blow them away. Some of this paper is burnt at the graves. Towards sunset the people began to gather their baskets together in which they had brought their provisions for the day, and slowly move homewards, leaving, by what they had done, a very curious appearance behind them on the hills. For at least a month after, much of the paper money might be seen on the graves, the corners flying in the wind, reminding us, as we walked, of this singular day among the Chinese, and making us long for the time when they shall see the folly of this wor ship of their ancestors, and be led to know and worship the true and living God. About seven o'clock in the evening, the idol procession passed again through Amoy; the crowd which now followed it was much more numerous and riotous than in the morning. It stopped at a temple near our house, causing much noise and excitement all night, for the musicians were busy with their rough music, and loud crackers were being let off in great abun dance, which are supposed to drive away evil spirits. I have now given you the account of this festival among the Chinese, as far as we were able to witness it; and while it excites your interest, may it also call forth your sympathy for a people so devoted to heathenism, and make you earnest in prayer, that God would bless the efforts of the missionaries among them, and thus hasten the day when the "idols shall be utterly abo, lished." M. SADLER. Amoy, Augt., 1867. A WEST INDIAN'S FIRST VISIT TO LONDON. BY THE REV. A. LINDO, OF JAMAICA. No. IV. EGARDING the city as my chief centre, I still re tain the heading of my previous articles, although I am writing this in one of the provinces. South Devon is a beautiful and interesting part of England, with its undu. lating surface and its diversified landscape; the bounding sea laving its shores, and the refreshing breeze, pure and bracing, rippling its waters. The scenery in many respects resembles some parts of my native land-in other parts, of Jamaica; wild luxurance and romantic beauty are the prevailing features. In this county of Devon I have watched the receding waters of its tidal rivers, and sailed on their bosom; ascended the sloping hill sides, and beheld from every new point new landscape beauties-the flowing stream in the distance, the small fields with their shades of green and their pretty hedgerows, the trees with their rich and varied autumnal tints, the wooded glens and extensive moors; and from the summit of the hills the whole circle of lovely scenery hung out like a panorama. How sweet as one gazes on these beauties of nature to be able to say, "My Father made them all!" I have also in this quarter visited some of the monumental remains of antiquity, its castles and abbeys; have gazed upon Flavel's monument, and stood in his curiously carved pulpit at Dartmouth. Not long since, when in Hull, in Yorkshire, I stood beside Wilberforce's monument, and visited the |