DEATH AND BURIAL OF TWO CAFFRES.

Mr. Kay, of the Wesleyan Mission at Butterworth, writes, in reference to Sunday the 22d of August 1830

Just as Divine Service was concluded in the evening, we were called to witness the peaceful death of one of our Female Members. The hut in which she lay was one of mourning; and also one of joy. As soon as it was understood that her end was drawing near, the people flocked to the spot, insomuch that the house became crowded to excess, in the course of a few minutes. Her eyes had become dim, and the spirit was nearly gone, when we arrived. Around her sat her husband and children, weeping exceedingly; and, while I was in prayer, death finished his work, releasing her from the tabernacle of clay, which she left without a sigh or a groan.

During her affliction, which has been long and severe, she has often been tempted to conclude that her faith was delusion; but from this stratagem of the Wicked One she was happily and completely delivered, two or three days ago. Throughout the whole of her sufferings, nothing appeared to distress her so much, as the reflection that she had not been so faithful to the grace of God as she ought to have been this she again and again expressed to me with many tears, and deeply deplored the ingratitude of her heart toward Him who loved her and gave himself for her: to use her own words, the very thought thereof rendered "her heart sore." Her last moments were not marked by any thing like rapture or ecstacy, but she was blest with an abiding peace and a confident hope in God, through Jesus Christ. The following were some of her last words :"I am dying: I die in peace, through Jesus Christ." Sept. 1831.

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On the 23d, Mr. Kay adds

The first intelligence which I received this morning, was, that another of our number was gone into eternity; so that two of the huts were now occupied by the dead, a circumstance which seemed to prey much upon the spirits of the people. This was a Young Man who had been ill only a few days: he had not long been resident in the Mission Village, and was unbaptized. His conduct, however, has of late been marked with seriousness; and this is all that can be said respecting him. I visited him at a late hour last night, and then feared that his dissolution was near; but his paroxysms of pain, together with occasional fits of delirium, rendered the word of exhortation, in a great measure, useless, excepting to those around him. He sank under the distressing effects of a fever, which is very prevalent among the Caffres, and which has carried off numbers within the last few months.

About two o'clock, P.M., all the inhabitants of the village were called together, to attend the funerals. Being unable to get coffins, the relatives wrapped up the bodies in mats; and constructed biers of poles and the branches of trees. Before we proceeded to the graves, the people were all assembled in the Chapel, where I read to them the Ninetieth Psalm, and a part of the Fifteenth Chapter of St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians : a short hymn was sung, and we concluded with prayer. The procession then moved off in regular order, to the Burial-Ground; and although we had to walk nearly halfa-mile, solemn silence prevailed the whole way. Having arrived at the graves, dug by the relatives themselves, the bodies were lowered from the shoulders of those who bore them, and placed in their

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dusty beds: after which I addressed all present, on the momentous subjects of Death and a Future Judgment. They listened with the deepest attention; and, when prayer was ended, returned to their homes in quietness. How happy the contrast between this scene and that exhibited by the Heathen around us, when dragging their dying relatives into the forest or the ravine, to be devoured of wolves!

A HINDOO CHRISTIAN OF CALCUTTA.

This Native was connected with the Calcutta Baptist Missionaries. Mr. Pearce says of him

He was ill for several weeks; during which I observed, in my visits, a very perceptible preparation for the change, which, as afterward appeared, it was the will of God that he should undergo. His conscience was tender, so that he wept over his sinfulness and hardness of heart: he became more indifferent to the world, and more anxious about eternal realities -manifested much desire for prayer and religious conversation and exhibited more gratitude to God for His mercy in calling him to the knowledge of His Gospel, and a more entire reliance on Christ

as the Saviour of his soul. For some days before his death, he lay in a kind of stupor; and seemed conscious only for a short time, when roused: but on the night of his departure, he appeared to awake as from sleep, and very wonder. fully to revive: he sat up, and conversed, with the greatest self-possession, with his wife and child, and with a Native Preacher, who were attending him; by the latter of whom the following relation of the conversation was given.

then called the little boy to him, and embraced him: when his wife said, "Ah! what right have we to treasures that are only lent ?" Soon after this he called her to him, laid hold of her hand affectionately, and said, “We are yet united in affection." She replied, Yes, not in life only, but FOR EVER." Then, taking her hand, he prayed for her and the child, and said to his wife," Then, can you let me depart TO-DAY?" She replied, Yes, I can: why should I prevent you from going to the Saviour? I will not hinder your entering the gate of life everlasting." At his desire, his attendants then began singing the Evening Hymn, in Bengalee; and, when that was concluded, they commenced, at his request, another on death, of which the chorus is, Every thing on earth is but vanity, O Brother; but the love of Christ, that alone is substance.' While they were singing this hymn, he fell back on his bed, breathed a gentle sigh, and expired.

JOHN BOGUE, A CANARESE YOUTH.

The death of Gooroopah, mentioned in the following narrative, was noticed at pp. 53, 54 of our last Volume: the Rev. John Reid, of Bellary, communicated to the Directors of the London Missionary Society the particulars here given of Gooroopah's grandson. Mr.Reid writes, in August of last year, while this Young Man was yet living

There is one very pleasing instance of the power of Divine Grace on the heart of a poor Boy, who has been employed in the Printing Office, for some time past, but is now lingering in a consumption. This Boy is grandson of an old disciple, Gooroopah, the first Convert at Bellary, a Canarese Man. Previous to his being confined by his illness, he was thoughtless, and apparently indifferent about the concerns of his soul: he had, however, enjoyed the advantage of a religious education, but knew not savingly any thing of divine things. Indeed, a short time before his illness, we had the pain of hearing some very unfavourable reports concerning him, and have since discovered that he had been guilty of improper conduct. However, it pleased God to sanctify the affliction with which He visited him; and graciously to afford him time for repentance, and for seeking the remission of sin. His strength is wasted; and, for the last few days, he

God has been strongly manifested. Emanuel, one of our Tamul Schoolmasters, was first called to consider his ways, and to read the Gospel, under the Ministry of Br. Lynch. Emanuel and all his relatives were of the Roman Church; but still, as he often testified, they were with out God—without the Gospel-sitting in darkness, though bearing the name of the Redeemer. By his interviews with the Missionaries, Emanuel was led to search the Scriptures, to pray for mercy, and to forsake the ways of sin. He became deeply convinced of his lost estate, and fled to Christ for refuge. After this, his mind became set on heavenly objects his conversation was Scriptural, and his prayers were attended with peculiar energy when he united with the members in the Class-Meetings and Prayer-Meetings which were held in Royapetta Chapel. For a long time, Emanuel was employed, as a Native Teacher, in the School held on the Mission Premises. At length he was so afflicted by disease, that he could not attend to any avocation: yet his faith and love seemed to increase; and when he had a little relief from sickness, he would never fail to be present in God's House, among his people, to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. In June last he became seriously ill, and requested that the Lord's Supper might be administered to him. On that solemn occasion, several Native Christians of our Society partook with him. His humility and devotion manifested that He was taught of Him, who said, Do this in remembrance of Me. A few days more terminated his earthly career; but, in his latest moments, he glorified God, the God of his salvation. In Emanuel, sincerity toward God, devotion in his cause, uprightness, humility,

and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, were strikingly apparent. He died, aged forty-one.

DAVID M'BEAN, OF JAMAICA. Mr. Light, of the United Brethren's Mission, at Irwin Hill, Jamaica, thus speaks, in October last, of this Youth:

David M'Bean, eleven years of age, was born of free parents, on Irwin Estate. In his childhood he attended the Children's Meetings, and was of a very affectionate disposition. About two years ago, he got leave to attend the Free School at Montego Bay, and made considerable progress in learning; and, for

three or four months before his death, he was a regular attendant on our Forenoon Service on Sundays. I encouraged him to assist the Children, as a Monitor, in learning to read, which he did with great pleasure; but, after some time, I missed him from our Sunday School, and soon heard that he was sick. I visited him several times during his illness, and always found him resigned to the Lord's will, and truly happy. When I entered the apartment, he would beg his Mother to help him to arise; and, holding me by the knee, would express himself as a Child ripening for Heaven. He suffered much from the disorder-a dropsy, or general debility. As he could read, I gave him the History of our Blessed Saviour an extract of the Four Gospels: this he read with avidity, and found great delight in having it as a companion in his hours of loneliness. Often, when he could not sleep, he would beg his Mother to let him have a light, to read his book. He was a very affectionate boy, and a dutiful child. On the day of his death, his Mother and Grandmother assured me he was praying day and night: on one occasion, inquiring what he prayed for, he replied, "I pray the Lord to forgive me all the sins that I have committed.". While committing his remains to their resting-place, my soul joined in the language

Oh! that I might so favour'd be
With him above to join ;
Oh! that, like him, I Christ may see,
And He be ever mine!

LYDIA COLSTON, A CHEROKEE.

Mr. Newton, a Missionary of the American Board among the Cherokees of the Arkansas, thus writes from Illinois, in December :—

Lydia Colston died in April. She was a Half-breed, but did not speak English. She gave heed to the Gospel preached by the Missionaries, and became a Member of the Mission Church about four

years ago. Her daily walk bore testimony that her heart had been renewed: the world could plainly see the change which had been wrought in her; her Indian Neighbours observed how her peevishness was changed to cheerfulness, quietness, and contentment. It was her habit to converse much with her Cherokee Friends and Neighbours on the subject of Religion; and to exhort them to attend to the concerns of their souls to use every means of getting instruc