In a letter, dated Nov. 4th, 1824, Mr. Turtle gives an affecting account of a hurricane which had recently occurred, and which had brought on many heavy calamities. At Tarpum Bay, the chapel and dwelling-house were dashed to pieces; but though, in other cases, the mission buildings were considerably shattered, they were afterwards repaired. "With regard to the horror of the scene," says Mr. T., "I certainly never beheld any thing like it before-houses falling -ruins flying about in all directions-husbands dragging their wives from one house to another for shelter, and mothers lamenting for their children, supposed to be dashed in pieces!" The Report of 1825 communicates the following intelligence :

New Providence Circuit.-We have two schools, one at the E. and the other at the W. end of the town; the attention of both teachers and children, with visible improvement as the consequence, has been pleasingly increased in the past year. West school-boys, 65; girls, 110; total 175. East school: -boys, 82; girls, 101; total 183. Eleuthera Circuit-Rocksound. This school has recently improved, though rather fluctuating. Through the course of the year about 20 adult blacks have attended on the Sabbath for instruction, as also on some of the week evenings; but since the late gale, they have not been so regular. Number:White boys, 30; White girls, 35; Blacks, 12.

Tarpum Bay-Attendance irregular, since the destruction of the chapel.

Savannah Sound.-The most prosperous school on the circuit. Number:-Boys, 16; girls, 22; men, 16; women 14.

Palmetto Point. This school is doing well. Adults, 8; girls, 14; boys, 12.

Harbour Island. This school has recently improved. Number, 80.

Cove. The school here has been much neglected. Children, 30. Bluff Number about 25. Current.-Number 20.

Turks Island Circuit school is conducted with good order. Number, 80.

From the last accounts, it appears that the state of the mission at New Providence is not very gratifying. A nominal reduction had been marked in the society, of at least 100, from removals and other circumstances; but 72 members were added, of which nearly the half were whites. The schools here were in a fluctuating state. Good, however, had been done; and by improving the place of the schools, more was anticipated.

Eleuthera.-The work of God throughout this circuit is not prosperous, which is principally owing to an illegal importation of articles brought by the Americans, who take the hats, &c. of this island in exchange for the produce they bring hither. The missionaries will not countenance smuggling, and their congregations are small in consequence. The schools, on this account, suffer much from the want of efficient teachers and proper books; the attendance given both by teachers and scholars is very irregular, which is more espe cially the case at Rock Sound and Tarpum Bay. At Savannah Sound and Palmetto Point the attendance is more punctual and regular.

Harbour Island and Abaca.-The members of this society have, in general, been very teachable. SCHOOLS: Station Island. This school is a little more orderly than in the preceding year. Cove Harbour, -Because of the shattered state of the chapel, occasioned by the late hurricane, this school had nearly fallen through in the beginning of the year; but since the chapel has

been roofed, it has been revived. Bluff.-Several children have made considerable progress. Current and Spanish Wells schools have been given up; the children having no place to meet in since the hurricane.

BALASORE, a town of Hindoostan, in Orissa, and a place of considerable trade. The town, with this part of the district of Mohurbunge, was ceded by the Mahrattas to the British, in 1803. It is situated on the Gongahar, 8 m. from its mouth, in the bay of Bengal, and 120 m. S. W. of Calcutta. Long. 86° 56′ E., lat. 21° 32 N. This place derives peculiar interest from its proximity to the temple of Juggernaut, to which many thousand devotees annually resort.

The idol itself is a large block of wood, having a frightful visage painted black, with a very wide mouth, of a bloody colour. His arms are of gold, and he is dressed in gorgeous apparel. A numerous retinue of priests and other servants are always in attendance upon his temple, to receive the offerings made to the idol, and superintend the performance of his worship.

Multitudes of persons assemble from all parts of India to pay honour to this odious deity. Of their number no accurate calculation can be made. The natives themselves, when talking on this subject, usually say that a lack of people (100,000) would not be missed. And so mad are they upon their idols, that thousands of lives are annually lost, by the fatigues and privations to which they are exposed in the long journeys undertaken for this purpose. Several years ago, Dr. Carey computed the number sacrificed in this way alone, at one hundred and twenty thousand!

But the worship of Juggernaut is, in a more direct and evident

manner, a system of cruelty and blood. Dr. Buchanan thus describes the dreadful scene:-"After the tower had proceeded some way, a pilgrim announced that he was ready to offer himself a sacrifice to the idol. He laid himself down in the road, before the tower, as it was moving along, lying on his face, with his arms stretched forwards. The multitude passed round him, leaving the space clear, and he was crushed to death by the wheels of the tower. A shout of joy was raised to the god. He is said to smile, when the libation of blood is made. The people throw cowries, or small money, on the body of the victim, in approbation of the deed. He was left to view a considerable time; and was then carried to a place a little way out of the town, called by the English Golgotha, where the dead bodies are usually cast forth, and where dogs and vultures are ever seen. There I have just been viewing his remains."

He then says "I beheld another distressing scene at the Place of Sculls-a poor woman lying dead, or nearly dead; and her two children by her, looking at the dogs and vultures which were near. The people passed by without noticing the children. I asked them where was their home. They said, 'they had no home, but where their mother was.' Oh, there is no pity at Juggernaut; no mercy, no tenderness of heart, in Moloch's kingdom !"

Mr. John Peter, of the B. M. S., a zealous and eloquent Bengalee preacher, formerly a member of the Armenian church, arrived at Balasore in 1810; he met with a very friendly reception from the European inhabitants, and, in a short time, baptized a number of English soldiers. His labours, together with those of Kristno Dass, a native assistant, were successfully extend

BAMBEY, a settlement on the R. Sarameca, in the centre of several villages of free negroes in Surinam, South America; who fled to this retreat from the excessive cruelty of their masters. As might be expected, they are extremely ignorant and superstitious; and cherish the most profound reverence for their idols, which chiefly consist of wooden images, large trees, heaps of sand, stones, crocodiles, &c.

Mr. Lewis C. Dehne, one of the United Brethren, accompanied by two others, came here in 1765, in consequence of an application from the government of Surinam, who hoped to put a period to the cruelties and depredations of these negroes, by the introduction of the Gospel. At first the prospects of the mission were encouraging; but such were the prejudices and blindness of the negroes, that the missionaries found it unavailing to attempt more than the instruction of their children. From the commencement of the mission to 1797, a period of 32 years, only 49 were baptized; and during the same time, 19 missionaries out of 28, who entered this unpromising field of labour, followed each other to the grave in quick succession in this unhealthy clime.

In 1810, a refractory spirit began to appear among many of the negroes, who were alike excited against the brethren and the Colonial government; and about three years afterwards, the mission was relinquished, as its general aspect became more and more discourag

BANANAS, some islands which lie off the coast of West Africa, opened a new sphere of usefulness to the C. M. S. In 1823, "The superintendent, Mr. F. Campbell, having erected a house for holding Divine worship," says the Rev. Mr. Beckley, "entreated me, on behalf of the people, to visit the Bananas, for the purpose of exhorting them once or twice a week." Soon after, he speaks of the prospects there being most encouraging. "I have been enabled," he adds, "to keep service, with few exceptions, once a week during the past quarter; when between 60 and 70 assembled, who, from outward appearance, seem desirous of obtaining inward and spiritual grace." These hopes, however, were not realized to the full extent; but circumstances of recent occurrence promise more success. The Rev. Mr. Gerber visits this station as often as his other duties permit. At Midsummer, 1826, there were 72 boys in a school which had been established; but, being almost wholly kept at work, they made little improvement. 31 school-girls were removed to York, another station.

BANDA, or LANTOR, chief of a group of 10 small islands, belonging to the Dutch, called Banda, or Spice Islands, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, 125 m. S.E. of Amboyna. The whole contain about 6000 inhabitants. Cloves, nutmegs, and mace, are the principal productions.

Every European planter employs from 60 to 100 slaves. There are a few nominal Christians here, who are anxious to receive the Scriptures, and to enjoy Christian privileges. Banda is in E. long. 129° 58', S. lat. 4° 36'.

Mr. Kam, of Amboyna, has visited this island, and been in

strumental of much good. Netherlands M. S. has also pointed three missionaries to labour in this long neglected field.

BANGALORE, a town and military station in Mysore, Hindoostan, in the centre of the Peninsula, 74 m. N:E. of Seringapatam, and 215 W. of Madras; a place of great political importance, strongly fortified, and from situation the bulwark of the Mysore country towards Arcot. Silk and woollen cloths are the principal manufactures, and all sorts of English vegetables grow plentifully. It is healthy, being elevated above the level of the sea at Madras, 2900 feet. In the Pettah, or Native Town, are about 30,000 people, who speak the Canarese language. The cantonments of the troops, about a mile distant, forming a neat village, with the bazaars and huts built by the followers of the army, make a town as large and populous as the Pettah. These, with the exception of about 2000 English troops, speak the Tamul. The native inhabitants are mostly Hindoos; but loosely attached to their religion.

The importance of the station is increased, by its vicinity to Seringapatam, and its connexion with many other populous towns; and by its being the central mart for merchandize in this part of India. E. long. 77o, N. lat. 13o.

The Rev. Messrs. Andrew Forbes and Stephen Laidler, from the L. M. S., commenced their labours here in 1820. The missionaries were for some time engaged in the study of the language, and other preparatory measures. A chapel was built, principally by the zeal and liberality of Major Mackworth, who subscribed 100 pagodas to the building, procured a grant of timber for the seats, drew the plan of the chapel, and also superintended its erection.

Mr. Laidler brought with him from Madras, in the capacity of servant, a native who had received Christian instruction under the Danish missionaries at Tranquebar, who understands the Canara as well as the Ta mul. Twice a week he visited a neighbouring village, to read the Scriptures, and to give an exhortation. When, on his first embracing Christianity, he was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Spring, he received the name of Samuel; and, on account of his piety, his disinterestedness, the mildness of his disposition, and his being an attentive observer of the providence of God, Mr. Laidler subsequently added that of Flavel. Some translations and schools were commenced. Congregations for English worship on the Sabbath evenings nearly filled the chapel. A Christian church was formed in April 1821, when 31 members, chiefly soldiers, were admitted to communion, some of whom had previously renounced popery; and a small society was instituted among the soldiers, for the joint support of the Missionary, Bible, and Tract Societies. In the course of the next year, a friend of the mission opened a house in the bazaar, both as a chapel and a depository for the sale of the Scriptures, religious books, tracts, &c. in the vernacular languages. Here the natives call, read, inquire, and converse, on the subjects of the books on sale; from which much good is anticipated. In 1823, the missionaries were joined by Mr. and Mrs. Chambers; and, in addition to pursuing the works already commenced, a seminary was opened for preparing native youths, of pious character and promising talents, for preaching the Gospel to their countrymen. Six