Other Societies. American Board of Commissioners for SIAM. From the general letter of the missionaries of the A. B. C. F. M., dated Bangkok, Dec. 1st, 1840; we make the extracts which follow. Labors prosecuted by the mission. There has been preaching statedly during the year at the floating-house and at the tract house. Mr. Robinson, as formerly, has conducted the exercise at the floating house. These are only on the Sabbath. The audience consists chiefly of those in the employ of the mission, and of a few children connected with the mission as scholars. There are usually some others present, and occasionally quite a number; but none, except those above mentioned, can be called regular attendants. sons. suppose will commend itself to most perIn his own country the Chinaman looks down upon the missionary as inferior to himself. In such places as Singapore, Batavia, and others where the government feel that others look down upon them, and is administered by Europeans, the Chinese thus a distance is created between them and the missionary, nearly or quite as prejudicial to success as that which exists in China itself. But in such places as Bankok, where neither the Chinaman nor the missionary belongs to the class that bears rule, they meet on a common level. That this must render them much more favorable to impression needs no argument to prove. Facts also, as might be expected, go to establish this view as just. We are not aware that the preaching of the gospel to the Chinese has been attended with so great success, considering the amount of labor performed, in any other place, as in Bankok. Estimate of the progress made. The preaching at the tract-house is conducted by Dr. Bradley; and, owing to the accompanying distribution of tracts and the changing character of the audiences, partakes much more of the colloquial character than that at the floating-house. With very few exceptions, the gospel has been preached at this place four times each week during the year. The time occupied is usual-know no law themselves but selfishness, to ly from two to three hours. Tracts have also been distributed at the houses of Dr. Bradley and Mr. Robinson to those who have called for them. These calls will average, we think, from ten to fifteen per day during the year. There has also been some hundred Chinese tracts distributed by Mr. Peet. Mr. Robinson's time has been mostly occupied with translating the Scriptures. The gospels of Mark, Luke, and John are already translated and printed, together with the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians and the three Epistles of John. Small editions of most or all of these we desire to print during the coming year. We feel strongly desirous of being able to refer the Siamese to the word of God itself for instruction. [With reference to efforts for instructing the Chinese portion of the inhabitants of Bangkok, the missionaries remark-] We think there are few if any places in the world where efforts for this class of people are likely to be crowned with so great success, as here. There is one prominent reason for this opinion, which we 1. We have reason to believe that the king and the great body of those in authority look upon us as honest, upright men, and think we came here to do good. At first we were looked upon with a suspicious eye. It was diflicult too for those who conceive it possible that we should have come so far merely for the purpose of doing good and propagating our religion. 2. Large numbers in Siam have their feelings, we suppose, enlisted in our favor on account of having received from us special temporal benefits. Such was the affection of the common people of Palestine for the Savior, produced by his having healed their diseases, that on several occasions they proved an effectual protection against the malice of his enemies. Seven or eight thousand have received medical aid from us since our arrival in the country. A large portion of these were afflicted with maladies confessedly beyond the reach of the skill of their own physicians. They were from all parts of the kingdom. It will readily be seen that the agency of this class of persons is likely to be of great value in the dissemination of the truth. Whenever we make excursions into the country we meet some of them. They are ready to invite us to their houses and to introduce us to their neighbors. Thus, in a few hours, a work may be accomplished in preaching the gospel to a little village, which, under other circumstances, could not be done half so effectually in days or | Some little progress has been manifest. even in weeks. 3. Many thousands have had the gospel so preached to them as that they have understood its leading principles. Of this we have no more doubt than we have of any well established fact. Besides formal preaching, in the common acceptation of the term, in which way alone we have addressed many thousands, we have printed and distributed about 70,000 religious tracts and portions of the scriptures. In a large majority of instances the distribution of these tracts has been accompanied by oral instruction and exhortation, calculated to awaken the interest of those who receive them. It is usually the case that at the stated times for distribution some persons are present from a distance. They hear, receive books, and return home and read and relate to their families and neighbors what they themselves have learned. Use of opium and intoxicating drinks. Before closing this communication we would say a few words concerning two or three topics not mentioned above. The attempt to suppress the traffic in opium we believe has been attended with quite as much success as could have been expected. Still considerable quantities of the drug are, without doubt, smuggled into the country. But while the use of opium has diminished, that of ardent spirits has greatly increased. Five men are seen intoxicated now, where one was seen two years since. Of course crimes of various kinds increase in the same proportion. What the end will be, it is impossible to say. The commerce of Siam is gradually increasing. This we are glad to see, because, as commerce increases, we may expect the demand for various articles of foreign manufacture to increase also, and consequently the industry of the country to be promoted. One of the greatest hindrances to the gospel among this people is idleness, and they are idle because their wants are so few that they can be supplied with very little labor. Could the expense of living to the Siamese be tripled or quadrupled, we should expect great good as the result. MADRAS. From the Report of the mission for 1840, as contained in the Missionary Herald for October, we make the following extracts. State of the mission-Printing Depart ment. The general state of the mission the last year has been much as in the preceding. The congregation and the children in the schools have rather increased. The average of the former at each station is proba→ bly something more than 250, of whom, at Royapoorum especially, a fourth or fifth part are adults, as many of those connected with the press live near that station. There has been but one addition to the church within the year, that of a native man who was formerly a schoolmaster at Royapoorum, but now a press-man in the printing-office; but there are at each of the two stations several candidates for admission. It is still thought necessary to be very cautious, in a place like this, in admitting members to communion. The church might be rapidly enlarged by the addition of those who have a name to live while they are dead, but it would not be strengthened. The common practice of most missionaries in this part of India is to cerity, or if there be connected with it a baptize on any tolerable evidence of sinlittle knowledge of Christianity, though no satisfactory evidence of a change of heart. The consequence is that while some, perhaps, are encouraged to persevere in seeking their salvation, who might otherwise faint by the way, many, it is to be feared, are led to rest in an outward profession without any inward grace, and not only perish themselves, but become stumblingblocks to others. To fill the country with baptized heathen would not promote true Christianity. Dr. Scudder has continued the distribution of tracts and portions of the scriptures, in places near and remote, as circumstances have allowed. The leading event of the year is the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Hunt. Mr. H.'s services are very important in giving a proper direction to the printing establishment, and valuable also in other respects. The press has gone on with increased efficiency, and has accomplished much in the course of the year, sending forth the printed page in the native languages and in English. Upon an average, four presses are constantly employed in printing tracts or scriptures for the natives; which strike off, if not delayed by interruptions, very nearly the equal of 45,000 duodecimo pages a day. There are now printed two monthly temperance papers in English. One monthly missionary journal, the Church Mission Record, one monthly Tamul magazine, with books for the School Society, etc. The profits of the press the past year have more than supported the mission. As the great hope of India is the speedy dissemination of christian truth, before infidelity or Romanism or Socinianism, which are all at work, can take the place of that less refined heathenish superstition, which is gradually passing away, great dependence must be placed on the Christian press, and its agency as far as possible diligently employed. BORNEO. The cious appearance of these man-eaters. practice of cutting off heads is their confession and boast. They seem to consider it their greatest glory. One old man, of great muscular strength and rather fierce countenance, drew out his sword, and with an exulting smile, declared that with it he had decapitated twelve men. We expressed to many an abhorrence of the practice, and our hope that in future they would live in Journal of Messrs. Nevius and Young-peace with each other, and use their knives blood. These two gentlemen are attached to the station at Pontianak, on the western coast of Borneo. They have made several excursions into the interior of the island, for the purpose of ascertaining the best places for missionary stations among the Dyak tribes. On one of these tours they proceeded as far as Sangaw, on the Kapwas river, some six or seven days interior from Pontianak. Here they found several tribes of people whom they thus describe, as Cannibals. for other purposes than cutting off heads. CONSTANTINOPLE. A letter from Mr. Dwight, dated 4th May, 1841, gives the following, Summary of labors and results-The college at Scutari. In the district of Sangaw, extending several days in every direction, there are three tribes of Dyaks, together numbering five hundred lawangs and probably about three thousand souls. Two of these tribes are several days distant in the interior, on the banks of the Skiam. One of these tribes, the Jang-kang, is addicted to the horrible practice of cannibalism. There is another tribe of cannibals on the eastern coast. Excepting these two tribes, we have not heard of any other portion of this people who eat human flesh. That the practice prevails to no inconsiderable extent among the Jang-kang tribe, there is in our minds no longer the shadow of doubt. They themselves confess it with boasting, and give as a reason for the horrid custom, that it makes them courageous. To the young brave, who is just putting on his armor and is anxious to gain a warrior's fame, and to acquire what is to them the most valuable I send you herewith my journal for the of spoils an abundance of human heads- last four months, from which you will be a taste of the flesh is given to nerve his arm able to understand something of the present and make him fearless. "How could we interesting state of things among the Armebe brave," said one man," if we had never nians here. I do not believe it possible, tasted of human flesh." A Malay man with however, for any one who has not been on whom we conversed had seen the Dyaks the ground as your missionaries have, from making their meal upon the human frame. the beginning, fully to appreciate the They do not eat indiscriminately all parts amount of encouragement presented by the of the body, but, with a most horrid kind existing circumstances. A meeting once of epicurism, feast with the greatest relish or twice a week with a dozen or more Arupon the tongue, the brain, and the muscles menians is a very small thing, in compariof the leg. The men of this tribe file down son with the overflowing audiences that their teeth to a point, like the teeth of a crowd about the preacher at the Sandwich This, while it may fit them the Islands, and yet its bearings on the kingbetter for the indulgence of their favor- dom of the Redeemer in the world, may *ite propensity, adds not a little to the fero-be as important, and its influence on the saw. spiritual illumination of mankind may be as great. I have had up to this time about forty different individuals present at my service in Armenian; and among them are persons of almost all the professionspriests, teachers, bankers, jewellers, merchants, etc. These men, living in the midst of a city embracing not less than a million of souls, and having direct influence over a country of more than twenty millions, form a congregation for a missionary full of interest and promise. I feel, when I am addressing them, the weight of an awful responsibility resting upon me. They hang upon my lips as those who are hungering and thirsting for the bread of life; and I know that the words I speak are carried to hundreds, and perhaps to thousands around. If it is asked, Why may not this congregation be increased? I would say that I have already, in part, answered this question in a communication made some time ago, on the mode of operating among this people. In addition let me say that I have tried and do try every lawful means to induce others to attend my public service. As to the present condition of things here, it is my sober conviction, that the truth of God has now such a powerful hold over the minds of so many, that no opposition or persecution can prevent it from fully triumphing. The last persecution has been evidently overruled for great good, and the enlightened Armenians were never in a better state to bear persecution than at this moment. When I read the history of reformations in other countries, and at other times, I see through what fiery trials the reformers invariably passed, and what streams of innocent blood flowed, before they attained their object; and especially when I see the length of time occupied between the first attempts at reform and its final consummation, I am led to wonder that God has accomplished so much here, at so little expense, and in so short a period. In Scotland it was twenty years after the first attempt was made to reform the church, before any important results were manifest. In Germany it was as long, and in France it was still longer, before the protestant party had attained to strength sufficient to enable them to claim and to receive toleration. Who then can be discouraged in regard to the people of the Armenian church, among whom the good seed is scattered in so many places, and has sprung up with so much promise of an abundant harvest? to win the hearts of all. The priest is much in families and among females, to whom he preaches the gospel of Christ. Several Armenian females are enlightened, and some we hope are truly regenerated. Our books are now well received and many of them circulated, and facts often come to our knowledge, showing their good influence. In this way, also, we are able to do good in distant places, where we ourselves cannot go. Our greatest comfort and our surest ground of hope, next to the word of God, is the fact that we see evidences of the special operation of the Holy Spirit on the minds of men. Without that divine agent, we can do nothing. We entreat you, therefore, to pray for us and for the work of God here in these regions about us. There is at this moment a great excitement among the Armenians in reference to the college at Scutari. It has hitherto been under the sole direction of the bankers, who have received large contributions for its support from the tradesmen, and now they are charged with having misapplied the money, so that but a small portion of it has ever reached the object for which it was given. The tradesmen now demand that they should have the management of the concern given up to them, and the contest is between them and the bankers. The former party wish to remove the present patriarch and recall the one who was recently dismissed, because they think the latter will be more favorable to their interests. Our enemies in this party are seizing hold of the present circumstances to make a new excitement against protestantism. They say that the present patriarch is a thorough-going protestant, and that, particularly since his return to office, protestantism has been carrying all before it. This is urged, however, more to prejudice the people against the patriarch than to injure us. We earnestly pray that God will bring great good out of all these unhappy strifes.-Ib. United Brethren's Missions ABSTRACT OF ANNUAL REPORT. Greenland and Labrador. The accounts from our Greenland stations have been, generally speaking, of a cheering nature. A large numerical increase is not to be expected in this thinlypeopled region, no heathens being left on the whole west coast. And the few heaWe have now in our employ as assist- then visiters from the east coast, who have ants both Hohannes and priest V. Both occasionally come to Fradericksthal to are very active and very useful, full of faith traffic, have hitherto manifested no dispoand the Holy Ghost, and peculiarly qualified | sition to receive the gospel. VOL. XXI. 43 The same remarks are applicable, to a great extent, to our four Esquimaux stations in Labrador. Our brethren, in consequence, regard | has been commenced at the school-house the schools as a most important sphere of at Clifton Hill, which is well attended. usefulness, and hope to be enabled to erect The churches at Basseterre and Bethel, in a warm and commodious building for this St. Kitt's, having long been unable to conpurpose at each settlement. tain the multitude of hearers, the foundation of a new church was laid, at the former place, September 16th, and a similar erection is in contemplation at Bethel. Our brethren in all the stations, were intent on promoting the work of education to the ntmost of their power. Numerous schools have been built in the last few years, the expense of which has far exceeded the sums received for this object. At Hebron, the northernmost, and most recent of our Labrador settlements, our brethren had the pleasure to welcome several families of heathen Esquimaux, who had come from the north, to place themselves under instruction. At Nain, the intercourse of our Esquimaux with European traders in the south had a prejudicial influence on their spiritual course. At Hopedale, on the contrary, several families, who had been led astray in former years, had returned with every mark of sincere contrition. During their abode amongst their heathen countrymen, they had taught them to read, and a desire to become acquainted with the word of God was thus excited, which our brethren rejoiced to satisfy. The facilities for obtaining the means of sustenance in these polar lands vary with the state of the ice and the weather, and scarcely a winter passes in which want is not experienced in one district or other. We noticed in our last year's report, that a new period appeared to be dawning upon the mission in the Danish West Indies, the government having determined to provide christian education for the whole negro youth; while at the same time, the English language was gradually supplanting the Creole. Towards the end of June, governor-general Von Scholten, the promoter of the new system of education, returned from his visit to Europe, and our missionaries at St. Jan received instructions to commence schools, both for free people, and for the children of the slaves. May the Lord lay his blessing on these beginnings of an improved system! The emigration of part of our Delaware congregation in Upper Canada, to the ter- In Surinam the work is continually on ritory beyond the Missouri, appears to have the increase, and new plantations are from had a beneficial influence, both on the por- time to time thrown open to the reception tion remaining at New Fairfield, and on of the gospel. As the slaves on these esthe emigrants themselves, who have set- tates are buried in heathenish ignorance, tled at Westfield, on the Kanzas river. On our brethren felt much pleasure on being the other hand, the hopes cherished by our able to commence a school at Charlottenmissionaries among the Cherokees, when burg, for a number of negro children, sefollowing their little flock to the Arkansas, lected from the surrounding plantations, have not as yet been realized. The Barren hoping that they may in time help to disFork of the Illinois, where they hoped to seminate the truth among their fellows. have found a permanent asylum, has proved an unhealthy situation, and the irritation prevailing between the different parties into which the nation has split, has operated unfavorably to the mission. A church is already building at Salem, towards which various friends to missions in Holland have contributed largely. The negroes on the neighboring plantations have full liberty to attend divine service, and West Indies and Continent of South tion. A similar spirit continues to prevail manifest great desire for christian instruc America. Of the extensive mission-field in the British West Indies, the portion assigned to our church has shared in the general progress. A new church was solemnly consecrated at Bethany, in Jamaica, on the 7th of May. At Lititz, the new station commenced last year in the Savannah, a wide sphere of operation presents itself among the ignorant multitudes of colored people who were destitute of instruction, both in divine and human knowledge, till our brethren visited them, but who now are very diligent in their attendance at church. In Barbadoes, a weekly service among the free negroes at Gingeh, on the Upper Surinam, where some knowledge of the gospel has been preserved and disseminated, by means of several baptized members, who still survive from our early mission in Bombay. Having erected a church, they sent our brethren a pressing request, to come and consecrate it. The church was solemnly opened for divine worship, on March 1st; a large company of negroes from the surrounding district being assembled on the occasion, and the presence of the Lord was powerfully felt. Though brother Schmidt returned from this visit with a severe illness, yet he expressed |