20 EFFORTS BY CHRISTIAN CONVERTS FOR THE mountain equally bad: thence the road lay along the beach, I should say rocks, many of which, full 50 feet high, we had to climb like so many goats. We reached a small village to dinner, and thence they sent a guide on with us. We slept at a small kainga called Muku-hakari. Leaving the sea coast at Kawia on the 27th, they entered a forest by an ascending path, and proceeded along an elevated ridge nearly parallel with Pirongia, a fine isolated mountain, which stands near the edge of the Waipa valley. Having been hospitably entertained at the house of the Rev. T. Buddle, Wesleyan Missionary, on the Waipa, they embarked the next morning in a large canoe 60 feet long by 7 feet wide, and proceeded down the stream until three P.M., when they landed, and struck across the country for Kaitotehe, which they did not reach until eleven P.M. The following extract from Mr. Taylor's Journal shows the security in which our Missionaries dwell amongst the Christian natives Jan. 28-I found all the family in bed. As no reply was given, and the outer door was open, I entered and proceeded to the sitting-room without any obstacle, and then, after some further rapping, my dear brother made his appearance. He gave us a hearty welcome. We conclude these extracts with some interesting particulars mentioned by Mr. Taylor with respect to Mr. Ashwell's StationJan. 30-In company with Messrs. Wallis and Hazlewood, Wesleyan Missionaries, I attended Mr. Ashwell's School. He has 26 girls and 10 boys as boarders, and about 4 Teachers. Their progress in geography and singing was very creditable. Mr. Wallis, whose Station is Waingaroa, has a boat fitted with wheels, so that when he arrives at the Awaroa, a tributary of the Waikato, which runs within three miles of the Manakau, the boat is drawn out of the water, fitted with its wheels, and thus dragged the three miles overland into the waters of the Manakau harbour. Feb. 2: Lord's-day-I preached morning and evening. Mr. Ashwell's church is a neat native building, and was well filled at the first service. The singing of his scholars is the best I have heard in New Zealand: his School is a credit to him. The scenery here is very beautiful. Opposite the Mission-honse rises Taupiri, a mountain about 1000 feet high, and behind the house there is another mountain of half that height. In front is a fine level space, bounded by the noble river, with two native pas on its banks. In fact, the hills form a complete amphitheatre around the Station. EFFORTS BY CHRISTIAN CONVERTS FOR THE CONVERSION OF THEIR HEATHEN COUNTRYMEN. THE Gospel of Christ is peculiarly communicative in its character. He who has "tasted that the Lord is gracious" is desirous of making known the glad tidings to others, and as he has freely received, so he would freely give. It is in the highest degree satisfactory when we are enabled to trace the working of this Missionary spirit in our con * An engraving of the Station will be found in the "Church Missionary Paper " for Midsummer 1847. CONVERSION OF THEIR HEATHEN COUNTRYMEN. 21 verts from heathenism. It affords to us the blessed hope and expectation that they are converts not merely in name, but in deed and in truth; and it opens to us the happy prospect of the leaven of Christianity extending itself more and more amongst the surrounding heathen. The Rev. Septimus Hobbs, of the Pavur District in Tinnevelly, has communicated to us an instance of this kind, which will be read with interest. The Pavur District is separated from Travancore by a range of mountains, the interior of which is covered with a dense jungle, consisting of an almost endless variety of trees, and infested by elephants, bisons, &c. This jungle has also its human inhabitants, in a rude state. They are not, however, of a fierce temperament, and are not dreaded by their more civilized neighbours. They do not speak the Tamil, which is the language of Tinnevelly, nor the Malayalim, which is the language of Travancore; and the jargon which they use is unintelligible to the Tamil people, with whom they barter dye-woods and other produce of their mountains. We now refer to the extract from our Missionary's Journal. March 6, 1851-This evening Vathamutthoo, one of my Readers, came to me, saying that he had a request to make. On my asking what it was, he said, "I understand that on the mountains between this province and Travancore, in the heart of the jungle, there are some regular settlements of wild men. I do not think that they have ever heard the sound of the Gospel. May I have leave to go for a few days into the jungle and see if I can find them, and if I can ascertain whether they will be willing to be instructed in the Truth?" I asked him if he knew their language, and he told me that he did not, but that he thought there were some amongst them who understood a little Tamil, or that at all events he should find some means of making himself understood amongst them. I told him that he certainly might go, and that I should be much pleased if any of them should be willing to embrace Christianity. He replied, "Perhaps this is too much to expect at present, for as yet they know nothing of it, and there are great difficulties in the way of teaching them. If we can prevail upon them to accept a Schoolmaster amongst them, perhaps this is as much as we can expect for some little time." I was glad to hear him speak thus, for it showed that he had thought much on the subject, and was not acting from a mere momentary impulse. He asked if his friend and neighbour Masillamany might go with him, and I consented to this also. It is very gratifying to me to find these two young men come forward, of their own minds, with a desire to carry the Gospel of Christ amongst such a people. This is the most truly Missionary enterprise I have ever been acquainted with amongst the Natives, and I am glad that it originated entirely with themselves. May God, in His goodness, prosper it! I should have been amongst these wild men long ago, had it not been necessary for me to take temporary charge of the Nullur District, in addition to my own, which rendered it impossible for me to carry out my intentions and wishes. I rejoice, however, that the first Missionaries to them are Native Christians, who willingly offer themselves. I shall not be long after them, however, should it please God to 22 MOOSE FORT, HUDSON'S BAY. No European preserve me in health to the end of the fever season. The two young men went on their mission, and returned to me on the 24th, bringing a most interesting account of their journey and reception. They found several settlements of jungle men, and communicated with them chiefly by means of some man whom they found out, who had been accustomed to barter with them for wild honey, and other products of the jungle. They tell me that these secluded people have a great regard for truth and honesty; that they have no idols, nor any distinction of caste; that their religion consists in a few simple ceremonies, and that they worship Agastree as the god of the mountains; that they very much wish to learn Tamil, and are anxious to have a Schoolmaster; also, that they have a strong desire to see me. I hope soon to afford them and myself that gratification. www MOOSE FORT, HUDSON'S BAY. WE left the ship in which Mr. Horden sailed fast locked in the ice, and in this position it continued for a week before it was liberated. In his Journal of August 16th are the following observations This has certainly been a week of weeks. Last Saturday we had expected ere now to have arrived at the place of our destination: now, we know not when we shall. The experience of the week has taught us that we must await the Lord's pleasure: it will, I hope, cause us to meet with resignation whatever discouragements and disappointments may lie in our way while prosecuting our Christian calling; and induce us to consider that as now we are quiet, and navigation is more difficult because we are in that state, so among the Indians, whose manners are so gentle, we may find that gentleness associated with a dogged and sullen stubbornness. Moreover, the conduct of the officers and men must make us content to labour without intermission, even if our success be but nominal; for no men could work with greater diligence and constancy than they, yet during the whole week they have forced the ship-for I cannot say we sailed-not more than fifty miles. In England the description of such a scene as we have beheld would have failed to produce the effect which an hour's sight here does, for the scenes truly baffle description. The best that can be given I think is contained in the 38th chapter of Job. "Hast Thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast Thou seen the treasures of the hail?" And again, "The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen." These two verses form the best description I can give, as we are not only visited by snow storms, but almost every piece of ice is covered with deep frozen snow. The thermometer has averaged 33°. At length the ice opened a little, the weather became clearer, and a beautiful day, gentle as summer, invited them to press forward, and promised them a speedy termination of their journey. The barrier of ice which had so long detained them was nearly passed; and although the weather again became dark and louring, and the straggling pieces of ice sometimes smote the ship with such heavy blows as to threaten serious damage, yet they were enabled, amidst MOOSE FORT, HUDSON'S BAY. 23 much anxiety, to make way, until, on August the 23d, they anchored in outer Moose Roads, about 40 miles distant from the Fort. We now introduce Mr. Horden's account of his landing at Moose Fort, and first interview with the Indians. Aug. 26-A most delightful morning, with a light wind. At eleven, in company with Captain Royal, we left the ship. The river here is about three miles broad, and studded with islands. The first we passed was Middleburg, a long and narrow island covered with trees, mostly of the fir kind, although there were some of a different species-all rather diminutive. The next was the Pilgrim, a most beautiful little island in the form of an ellipsis, well suited for a pilgrim's retreat, covered somewhat similarly to the other, but the trees of a more diminutive stature and in greater variety. The scenery altogether was very beautiful, far superior to what I had anticipated. On nearing the Fort, which stands on a rather large island, wigwams, houses, and inhabitants began to present themselves. We first saw three Indian boys, dressed in flannel coats, playing on the beach, then a house, then many Indian wigwams, and the old factory and stores. Here the windings of the river showed themselves beautifully. Near us stood the new factory, composed of two fine new-built houses, the one inhabited by the chief factor being a very pretty building of three stories, with a verandah around two sides. Some way beyond, on the same side of the river, stood a neat little Church with a suitable tower: while still further on were a few Indian tents, near which was situated the building intended for my future abode. After dinner we visited almost every one on the island, including nearly 150 Indians, all of whom were very glad to see us. We shook hands with all. One family was very joyful: they came up to us, and apparently the mother told us, in broken English, she was glad I had come, and that it was a long time since a Missionary was here: the females all kissed Mrs. Horden. My feelings may be better conceived than described. Here were my flock receiving us with great joy: how different our prospects from those of many of our Missionary brethren! Most of their tents are of a poor description, but some are superior, in the form of marquees. Most of them were dirty. The general clothing of the men is a flannel coat bordered with red, with trousers of the same material: some, however, have decent blue cloth coats and trousers. A part of the women wore gowns, others a petticoat, with a blanket thrown over their shoulders. This is indeed a day of hope, a day of great thanksgiving: my prospects-judging, certainly, from appearances-called forth the warmest expressions of my gratitude to God. May our hearts be kept from despair should our present hopes fail of being verified! Mr. Miles, chief factor, then took us to the Church. It is neat, but small-scarcely large enough to contain the Indians who sometimes congregate here. Aug. 27-Notice having been given of service in the Church in the evening at half-past six, at the appointed time Mrs. Horden and myself proceeded thither. The Indians were flocking to the place of worship: they waited for us at the gate. I stood at the door and shook hands with all of them as they went in, Mrs. Horden standing inside. The Church was crowded, and never in my life have I seen a Congregation behave better or pay more attention: no sitting at prayers: all devoutly kneeled: the 24 MOOSE FORT, HUDSON'S BAY. Lord's Prayer they repeated themselves in Indian: they sang two hymns, and kept good time. I could now scarcely contain myself: tears were in my eyes, but they were tears of joy. O may they sing hosannahs around the throne of Christ, never more to part with Him! I read an address which I had prepared, and the rest was rendered into Indian by the interpreter. Many of them repeated the words after me, to impress them on their memories. We concluded with prayer. When almost all had departed, one woman came up and kissed Mrs. Horden: she turned to me, and with tears in her eyes said, in broken English, "I thank you for your kind words. I will keep them to my heart." All waited for us at the gate and followed us to the factory, where we wished them good night. If ever my prayers were fervent, they were to-night: if ever my thanksgivings heartfelt, they were to-night. In a subsequent letter Mr. Horden writes I am happy to say that here the Romish priests have met with very little success, for I do not think there are ten Papists in the place. At Albany it has been quite different: there, nearly all who were baptized by Mr. Barnley+ have been re-baptized by them. On Saturday, hearing that two Albany Indians had arrived, I went to look for them. Having found them, I asked them to come with me, as I wished to speak some good words to them. One told me he did not want any of my words. After further conversation, they said they would come when they had taken breakfast. When they came, I discovered that he who had spoken so abruptly before had been baptized by the Romish priest. He said he should not have been baptized had not the priest been continually telling him that otherwise he would surely go to hell. At Rupert's House, which the Romish priests have not yet visited, there is a large field open: many of the Indians retain several of their old ways, some being celebrated conjurors, one of whom I have now with me. On the east main coast they appear to wander a great deal more than on this side of the bay, never coming to the posts but for the purpose of trading: this they do in the spring, remaining at the posts about a fortnight. Whether I shall visit Albany or Rupert's House in the spring I know not; but I expect to receive advice from the Bishop, to whom I write in the course of a few days. With respect to the language, I certainly find it difficult, but hope in the course of a little time to be able to converse in it. Many of the Indians know something of the syllabic characters, and I have just seen some beautiful writing, in which they are used, by an Indian. I think that if the Committee could grant me a printing press, and a stock of syllabic type, a great deal of good would ensue, as all the Indians have a great desire to learn to read. At present there is no school on the island, even for the residents, and consequently education is at a rather low ebb. * Two Romish priests had been labouring for a time at Moose Factory, but they found their teaching so unacceptable to the Indians that they left for Canada. This is the more remarkable, as one of them was well versed in the Indian language, so as to be able to do without an interpreter. ↑ A Wesleyan Missionary, who laboured at Moose Factory. |