delicate state of her health, and latterly to a most painful affliction, she was obliged to retire from that sphere of usefulness and active zeal. But her love to God and his church did not decline. She greatly loved the ordinances of God, and, in defiance of much weakness and pain, was exemplary in her attendance on his house. She was the friend of the poor, to assist whom she expended comparatively little upon herself. Some of her last words were, "I am going to heaven, where I shall see the Father and the Son, and be before the throne!"

J. S.

Dec. 13th.-At Edinburgh, Mrs. Gee, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She had been a member of the Wesleyan society for many years; and for a considerable period had two classes under her care. She was a woman of deep and uniform piety, diligent in her attendance on the means of grace, zealous in the cause of God, and ready always to give a reason of the hope that was in her. A few hours before her death, in answer to a question from her daughter, she said, I am quite happy;" and in this calm and blessed state entered into the joy of her Lord. J. F.

operations in February, 1839. The first work which was printed was the First Part of the Conference Catechism, in the Feejeean language. Many of the Chiefs and people manifested a great desire to see the press; and those of the Heathen who witnessed its working were filled with admiration at its effects, and unhesitatingly pronounced it a god. Part of the first page was composed by Mrs. Cargill, and the printing of the four first Catechisms was executed by her hand. The circulation of this Catechism among the converts to Christianity gave accelerated impetus to the progress of truth among the Feejeeans, and enlarged the circle of the Missionaries' usefulness.

About three o'clock, on the morning of the 6th of May, 1839, the writer and several of his brethren, sailed in a canoe from Rewa, to visit Mbau and Viwa. Mbau is a very small island, near the main land. It is the metropolis of Tanoa's dominions, and the place where the King and his principal Chiefs generally reside. It is more than twenty miles from Rewa. The intercourse between the two places is carried on by land and water.

Tanoa, the King of Mbau, seems to be on the verge of seventy. His person is short and slender, and his aspect forbidding. His eye still retains considerable lustre and keenness; his beard is bushy and long. Age and infirmity have whitened the hair of his head and beard; but the desire of concealing these precursors of death, and the affectation of appearing young, have caused him to colour his head, face, beard, and breast, with a substance which produces a jet black hue. On the back of his head, and near his right ear, are two fearful scars, occasioned by the blows of a club, wielded by the arm of Naulivou, his elder brother, and predecessor in the government of Mbau. His insatiable revenge, and relentless cruelty, have associated his name with deeds of heartthrilling horror. Whilst gratifying his revengeful disposition on the principal instigators of the late rebellion in his dominions, he cut off a portion of the tongue of a vanquished and lifeless Chieftain, and devoured it raw. He caused the leg of another of his enemies to be roasted, and conveyed as a present to Tuindrekeji. The Queen of Rewa, however, her husband being absent, gave orders that the leg should be immediately removed, lest, as she supposed, Mr. and Mrs. Cross, who had then been only a few weeks in Rewa, should never again

enter the house. Whether the limb was buried, or eaten by others, was not ascertained.

Notwithstanding such diabolical and fearful outbreakings of depravity, Tanoa treated us, on the occasion of our visit, with respect, and even kindness; and presented us with a fine large hog, as an expression of his good feeling toward us. His house is incomparably the largest and best edifice that I have seen in the South Sea Islands. The workmanship displays great ingenuity. Its length is one hundred and twenty-five feet, and its width forty-two.

From Mbau we proceeded to Viwa, the residence of Namosimalua. Namosimalua is the person who, during the late rebellion, was sent on an embassy, by the disaffected Chieftains, to demand Tanoa from the Chiefs of Somosomo, that he might kill and eat him. An intelligent and handsome young female, of very high rank, and a number of whale's teeth, were presented to him, as the stipulated reward of his services. He has been distinguished from his youth by his artifice and courage, and was feared by most of the Chiefs and people of Feejce. That a person of such a revengeful disposition as Tanoa, should have been induced to spare the life of such an active and undaunted emissary of his enemies, amidst the general and undiscriminating massacre of Chieftains which followed his restoration to authority, is a mystery which cannot easily be solved, either by conjecture or analogy.

They

Namosimalua was the principal actor in capturing a French brig, and murdering the Captain, a few years ago. The perpetration of this awful crime was instigated by covetousness. Incited by the love of riches, the Chiefs of Mbau conceived the idea of assassinating the Captain, in order to possess themselves of the vessel which he commanded, and the property which it contained. had not courage themselves to execute the fell design which their wickedness had formed; and they again had recourse to Namosimalua. Though his mind had been habituated to scenes of cruelty, and although his hands had often been imbrued in the blood of his fellow-creatures, yet, on this occasion, the feelings of humanity that still lingered about his heart were considerably moved, and his dauntless spirit quailed within him. He was living on terms of friendship with the French Captain; and his nephew had, for a length of time, been the intimate companion of the foreigner. Both Chiefs had received tokens of the stran

ger's regard; and therefore Namosimalua was reluctant to consent to rob him of his life. But the very circumstances which occasioned the remonstrances of his conscience, urged the authors of the scheme to select him as their agent. They at length placed him in a critical dilemma; telling him that he must either kill the Captain, or be himself killed. The menaces of the Mbau Chiefs, the love of life, and the hope of gain, at last neutralized every objection, and he and his nephew compassed the death of their victim.

The tidings of his fate, and the capture of the vessel, were at length communicated to the French, and they resolved to inflict signal punishment on the murderers. In October, 1838, two French vessels arrived in Feejee, and anchored off Viwa. They found the island deserted by its inhabitants. They burned the town and property of the natives, and laid waste their plantations. An old temple, in a retired part of the island, escaped the ravages of their vengeance.

After the departure of these French vessels, Namosimalua and his people returned to Viwa, and found their plantations scenes of devastation, and their houses, and the property which they contained, heaps of ashes. Concerning the policy of these rigorous proceedings, the writer hazards no opinion; but the probability is, that they were instrumental, in the hands of a gracious Providence, in causing Namosimalua to reflect on the heinousness of his conduct, and his exposure to the vengeance, not only of the Supreme Being, but also of a foreign human enemy, and in instigating him to abandon his criminal course of life, and embrace Christianity. He announced his resolution to Tanoa, and despatched a messenger to inform Mr. Cross. Tanoa expressed his approbation of his design, and admonished him sincerely to reform; and Mr. Cross, knowing the duplicity of his character, and the atrocity of many of his actions, and apprehending the possibility of his assuming the profession of Christianity merely as an artifice that he might the more easily gratify his revenge on foreigners, for the destruction of his town and property, replied to his message with becoming prudence. But convinced of his sincerity by the reformation which had been effected in his conduct, and the desire which he manifested to be instructed in the doctrines and duties of the true religion, he soon afforded him all the assistance that was in his power.

Since that time, his conduct has been consistent and praiseworthy. And although at first he became a nominal Christian with the manifest design of saving his life and property, yet, being enlightened by the instructions which were communicated to him, he has since given substantial and satisfactory evidence that he adheres to the true religion from a sincere desire to save his soul, and to be instrumental in effecting the salvation of the souls of his countrymen. His conversion is a great victory achieved by the Gospel. He has built a neat and strong chapel. It is erected on the top of an eminence, in a pleasant situation. Its length is fifty-seven feet, and its width twenty-four. The writer had the happiness of preaching in the new chapel to the young converts. They listened with much attention, and apparent interest. The floor was covered with clean, new mats, prepared under the direction of the lady who was given to Namosimalua, as part of his reward for pursuing Tanoa to Somosomo. She is very interesting in her appearance and manners, and has made considerable progress in reading.

Invited by our esteemed friends, Mr. and Mrs. Cross, Mrs. Cargill, accompa nied by her husband and children, undertook a tour to Viwa, on the 29th of January, 1840, to spend a few days under the hospitable roof of our fellowlabourer and his partner. We anticipated much pleasure and profit from the opportunity for relaxation which the visit was likely to afford, and also from the society and conversation of our old and tried friends. Nor were we disappointed. We arrived in safety at Viwa about five, P. M., of the day on which we sailed from Rewa, and received a cordial welcome from Mr. and Mrs. Cross, and the Christian natives of the place.

The annexed drawing exhibits a view of part of the settlement of the Christians at Viwa, in which the temporary residence of the Missionary is erected. The houses are small, and are by no means an accurate representation of the size of the edifices which Feejeeans generally build. But the circumstances under which the houses were erected, and the fact that they are inhabited by Christian Feejeeans, give them an interest which will be gratifying to the friends of Feejee.

The largest building in the front of the plate is the temporary Missionhouse.

That on the right side is a small edi

fice inhabited by Namosimalua. A Chief of his rank and influence in Feejee generally possesses one or more commodious and substantial houses; and he will probably soon occupy a building more suitable to the size of his family, and more becoming his rank.

At the back of the Mission-house is the dwelling of Tanoa's brother. This old Chief was distinguished as the nominal King of Mbau during the rebellion of the Chiefs and the absence of Tanoa. He is so corpulent, that he cannot walk without great difficulty. Although he received the title of King, yet he took no active part in dethroning his brother, or in revolutionizing his dominions. After his brother's restoration, he received a full pardon for the apparent encouragement which he gave to the rebels, and has been treated with clemency. He renounced the mythology of his country, and became a worshipper of the true God. If he continue steadfast in his profession, and become devoted to the cause of God, he may be made an instrument of great good in Feejee.

On the right side of the sketch, at the back-ground, are two heathen temples. These relics of Heathenism are revered only by Namosimalua's nephew, and those of his adherents who have not yet embraced the true religion. This nephew is the companion and friend of Tanoa's son; and the reason which he assigns for his adherence to Paganism is a knowledge that the spirit and injunctions of Christianity would deter him from aiding and abetting his associate in the belligerent sallies upon his enemies, in which he delights to engage. It is hoped, however, that he will soon be

come a trophy of the Gospel of peace, and imitate the conduct of his reformed relative.

There are many other houses in the settlement which are occupied by professing Christians; but they are in the back-ground, and are not seen from the place where the accompanying sketch was taken.

The number of members in society at Viwa is thirteen; but many more meet in class; and more than a hundred persons attend the means of grace, and are receiving instruction in the schools. The Chief has entirely abandoned his habits of war and cannibalism. He cheerfully obeys the orders of Tanoa in visiting various parts of Feejee to deliver his messages to the respective Chiefs to whom he is commissioned, and to procure various articles of Feejeean commerce. In these excursions he practises the duties of the religion which he has embraced with much punctuality, and is often accompanied by a Teacher, or some other person, who is capable of taking the lead in his devotional exercises. His hand has ceased to commit deeds of violence and oppression; and his tongue no longer instigates his friends and followers to the perpetration of acts of rapine and cruelty. His name and presence do not now fill with suspicion and fear the minds of those who are acquainted with the change which has been effected in his moral character and conduct; but, in his intercourse with his countrymen, they willingly treat him with a respect more satisfactory, because more real, than that the appearance of which he formerly compelled them to assume.