The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine

FEEJEE ISLANDS.

MR. CARGILL'S JOURNAL.

(Concluded from our Number for May, page 444. )

SUNDAY, May 26th, 1839.-This forenoon Mr. Calvert preached to the British and American residents in Levuka. I officiated in the afternoon. May the word of exhortation be abundantly blessed to these voluntary exiles from their native land! In the evening we returned to our lodgings in the schooner.

June 1st. This forenoon I forwarded a letter to Mr. Cross by a canoe, which was going Rewa. We were informed, that the principal Priest of Levuka told the Chief, that the god was angry because the Priest's auggona bowl had been given away; and that he had raised the strong and contrary wind, as a manifestation of his displeasure; and that we could not have a favourable wind, until we appeased the deity's wrath, by presenting a sacrifice or peace-offering. This we supposed to be an artifice to procure property from us. The Chief, however, seemed to rely with implicit confidence on the truth of the Priest's declaration; for he looked quite surprised, when we informed him that we were not disposed to present a peace-offering. Instead of presenting a sacrifice, we asked him to favour us with another bowl; but he would not listen to that subject, and said they had no more of that kind.

4th. In the afternoon I conversed with a Sandwich Islander about the pronouns and several other parts of speech in the language of the Sandwich Islands. There is such a resemblance between it and the other languages of the South Seas, as to show that they are of kindred origin.

5th. This forenoon we weighed anchor, and resolved, if possible, to proceed to Lakemba. The wind was contrary, but moderate, and the sea was not so rough as in former attempts to proceed on our voyage. We made a little progress.

6th. This forenoon the wind became more favourable than it was yesterday. We sailed toward home at the rate of four miles an hour.

7th. In the morning the sky lowered, and threatened a storm. The rain fell in torrents; but we still proceeded in our course to Lakemba. In the afternoon the rain ceased, the sky became clear, and the wind became very favourable. Towards evening, Vanuavatu, a small island near Lakemba, was seen from the deck of the vessel, and about midnight we were opposite the harbour of Lakemba.

8th. At break of day this morning

we tacked about, and approached the harbour. As we were going through the passage, we saw many people running about on the beach. I soon recognised Mrs. Cargill and Mr. Jaggar among them. In a few minutes we were on the beach, surrounded by our dear friends, and many of the members of the society, after an absence of thirty-seven days. I found my dear wife and family in good health. Mr. Calvert found that he had been a father six days. We approached the throne of grace, and presented our united tribute of gratitude to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, for his goodness to us and to our families.

During our absence the King and his people had built a new dwelling-house for us; our old one having been rendered uninhabitable by two successive storms. They were just beginning to erect it when we sailed to Rewa. Mrs. Cargill had to superintend the building of it during my absence. It is incomparably the best

Mission-house that I have seen in the islands. It has five apartments, and is about fifty-eight feet long, and twenty feet broad. Most of the beams and the tops of the posts are wrapped with red, black, and white cynet. I have not seen any of the Chiefs' houses, in the Friendly Islands, which are nearly equal to it in size or beauty.

The natives informed us that a canoe, which sailed from this to the Friendly Islands several months ago, was wrecked a few days ago on a reef near Mothe.

Sunday, 9th.-At the native service this morning, I discovered several strangers in the chapel, and, upon inquiry, found that they had embraced Christianity during our absence. One of them is a woman whom I had frequently exhorted to become a Christian.

13th. This afternoon the people who went to Tonga several months ago, and whose canoe was wrecked on a reef near Mothe, returned to Lakemba. We received letters from the brethren in Vavou and Tongataboo. They inform us that Mr. Spinney and Mr. Lyth may be expected in Feejee by the first vessel that may come from the Friendly Isles.

15th. For several months we have been annoyed by some malicious and illdisposed persons, who have come to the Mission-premises during the night, and stolen pots and other kitchen utensils. Last night they stole two tea-kettles. Being resolved to put a stop, if possible, to their depredations, we waited on the

King, to request him to prevent his people from stealing our property. We told him that our love to him and to his people was great; and that our only wish in coming to and remaining in his dominions, was to be useful to him and his people in making known to them the commands of the true God, that they might be blessed in time and eternity. We reminded him of his promise to protect our persons and property; and told him that it was his duty to prevent a repetition of such robberies as had been practised upon us by his people. The King replied, "I am ashamed because of the covetousness and dishonesty of my people they have acted very unbecomingly. But be of a good mind, until I search for the stolen property, and restore it to you; and if the identical articles cannot be found, I will cause a recompence to be made for them." We thanked him, and returned home.

17th. About nine o'clock this morning the King's brother, with several other Chiefs from the principal settlement, waited upon us, bringing with them a pot and several articles of wearing apparel; and, to our great surprise and regret, presented us with the ends of four little fingers which they had caused to be cut off as a punishment to the thieves. We thanked them for their efforts to recover the stolen property, and to prevent the recurrence of similar offences; but expressed our regret that the culprits' fingers had been cut off. The King's brother replied, "That is one of the ways in which we punish criminals; and we hope you will be of a good mind, that we may live together in peace." We sincerely hope that the King's vigor. ous effort to detect the thieves, and recover the articles stolen, will effectually prevent a repetition of such grievances.

POSTSCRIPT

Wesleyan Mission-House, 77, Hatton-Garden, London, August 20th, 1840.

ARRIVAL OF MISSIONARIES.

SOUTH-SEA MISSIONS.-The Rev. Messrs. Sweetman, Gaud, Innes, and Webb, and their families, who sailed from London in October last, reached Sydney in New South Wales on the 24th of February, after a long but pleasant passage of one hundred and forty-five days. Mr. Sweetman says,—

"WE went ashore immediately on our arrival, and found it a high day with our friends here. The brethren from the interior had come to be present at the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of a large and beautiful chapel, and to attend the Annual Missionary Meeting in the evening. We were much gra

tified by these Meetings, and the presence of our brethren.

"Mr. Innes leaves for Hunter's-river in a few days; and Messrs. Gaud and Webb, (the latter on his way to the Friendly Islands,) for Van Diemen's Land, as soon as possible."

WEST INDIES.-The Rev. H. Padgham, who sailed for Demerara on the 17th of December, arrived at George-town in March.

The Rev. W. Ingram, who sailed for Nevis on the 12th of February, reached that island before the end of March.

The Rev. W. H. Hann arrived in Jamaica on the 13th of April, having sailed on the 4th of March.

DEATH OF THE REV. JOHN SPINNEY, AND OF MRS. DOVE. RETURN OF MISSIONARIES.

FRIENDLY ISLANDS.-From the announcement at page 355, in the April "Notices," our readers will have expected the intelligence of the death of the Rev. John Spinney. The anticipations then expressed have been mournfully confirmed. He died at Sydney, whither he had removed for medical advice and the benefit of change of air, on February 10th last, testifying the power and grace and comfort of that

Gospel of salvation which he had been honoured to proclaim in the islands of the South Sea. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." Mrs. Spinney, with her three infant children, has arrived in this country.

SIERRA-LEONE.-On the 17th of August, the Rev. Thomas Edwards arrived from Sierra-Leone, having been obliged to return to his native land for the recovery of his health. He brings intelligence of the awful prevalence of yellow-fever in the colony; and we deeply regret to state, that Mrs. Dove, the wife of the Rev. Thomas Dove, is now to be numbered among the victims of that dreadful malady. Mrs. Dove died on June 7th, after five days' illness, in the peace and hope of the Gospel. Mrs. Dove was highly respected by all who knew her, and had been honoured by great usefulness among the females at SierraLeone, as well as at the stations on the Gambia, where they had previously resided. Mr. Edwards reports, that the Mission in SierraLeone is in a very prosperous state.

The Rev. Thomas Cryer, of Bangalore, James Walton and family, of the Antigua District, Richard Hornabrook and family, of the Demerara District, have arrived in this country, and have severally been appointed to Circuits by the late Conference.

The widow of the late Rev. John Bell, jun., of Antigua, and child, have arrived in this country.

The Rev. H. B. Foster, of Jamaica, the Rev. W. Bennet, of NovaScotia, the Rev. Matthew Richey, of Upper Canada, have also arrived as temporary visiters. The Rev. Joseph Stinson, of Upper Canada, attended the recent Conference in Newcastle.

ASHANTEE MISSION.

THE General Committee of Review of the Wesleyan Missions recently assembled at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in connexion with the Annual Conference of the Wesleyan Methodists, have expressed their entire approval of the proposed expenditure in the commencement of a Mission to the kingdom of Ashantee, and the further extension of the Gold-Coast Mission, and have given their sanction to the special subscription for that purpose, which has been so happily commenced. The entire plan, as prepared by the General Committee, has been confirmed by the Conference. Four Missionaries have already been appointed for this Mission, and two more are to be selected with the least possible delay. By reference to the follwoing pages, it will be seen that very liberal contributions have already been received from several of the London Circuits, and from other quarters: we anticipate that the example will be followed at those places which may be visited by Mr. Freeman before his embarkation; and we hope that a special effort in behalf of this important object will be made at those more numerous places in Great Britain and Ireland which it may be impossible for him to visit. The Special Appeal in behalf of the Ashantee Mission is printed separately, in the form of a circular, and may be had, on application at the Mission-House, through the usual channels. Most earnestly do we again commend this undertaking to the liberal support of the friends of Missions, and to the especial care and blessing of Almighty God.

Contributions to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, received by the General Treasurers, to the 15th of August, 1840.

Moneys received at the Mission-House.

Legacy of the late Thomas Hunter, Es1., Brixton-Place,
Surrey; Isaac Wilcox, Esq., Thomas Hunter, Esq., and
Michael Longstaff, Esq., Executors

A Friend to Christian Missions, in the Bramley Circuit, by
the Rev. J. Sedgwick

Young Ladies, of Louth.

A. P., by the Rev. John Beecham..

Thomas Hyndes, Esq.

J. Otter, Esq., Stokeham