THE MOVEMENT IN CHINA. WE consider London a densely populated city, and the individual who visits it from the country districts wonders at its crowded streets and the busy multitudes which hurry to and fro. Yet London is not crowded when compared with many a Chinese city, where a population of half a million, perhaps a million, are found huddled together in lanes from five to nine feet wide, where an European could not freely breathe. If the houses on one side of a London street were moved forward so as to touch with their frontage the edge of the foot-pavement on the opposite side, you would then have the breadth of a Chinese street. Here busy traders, barbers, vendors, porters, make their way, while on either side are the shops, decked out with native ware of various kinds, and adorned with sign boards, inscribed from top to bottom with the names of the various articles to be had within. The immensity of China's population is indeed marvellous, and yet we have hitherto seen but little of it. Europeans have been confined to the sea board, and the consular regulations of the various free ports have precluded Missionaries from penetrating beyond a certain distance into the interior. Tartar policy would have continued to exclude the foreigner even from the coast. It has been from no friendly feeling that his residence in the free ports has been permitted. It has been wrested from the authorities by force of circumstances. But when forced to yield something, they yielded as little as they could; and the barrier of exclusiveness, when compelled to afford some room, was moved back as little as might be. Thus China has remained shut up; and in the vast interior of that empire millions on millions of human beings have been cut off from all communication with European Missionaries. Often have we thought over that wondrous fact, the inaccessibility of China, and wondered when and how it should be removed; whether slowly, inch by inch as it were, or suddenly and forcibly, by some tremendous convulsion. That something would occur to open a way for the gospel we felt to be undoubted, for the Lord has declared that it shall be preached for a testimony to all people; but the mode by which so great. impossibilities should be removed, and the mountain become a plain, we knew not. The force by which the hindrances shall be thrown down appears now to be working from within. A mighty movement has taken place amongst the Chinese themselves. That there should be a rebellion in China is nothing wonderful. Rebellions in China, sometimes confined to particular districts, and at other times of a more extended character, have been ordinary occurrences. They seemed to be short-lived disturbances of the inert mass, which soon subsided, and all became stagnant and monotonous as before. They involved no essential change in Chinese character and habits. The Chinese were not the less idolatrous because they rose up against the local authorities, nor were there increased facilities afforded to the Missionary. But if we had been told a few years back that within a brief period war should be declared by a powerful body from amongst the native Chinese themselves, not only against Tartars, Tartar governors, and Tartar oppression, but against idols, idol temples, images, and priests; that this movement should assume a military organisation so complete as to bear down all opposition, so much so that at this moment Nanking, the old capital of the empire, is in the hands of the KAITAIA, NEW ZEALAND. 111 insurgents, and their position such as to command the imperial canal, the great artery of internal commerce, and thus to separate Pekin and northern China from the more productive districts whence came the supplies of the necessaries of life; nay more, had we been informed that these rebels, or patriots, by whichever name they may be called, amidst their sanguinary deeds, and fragments of broken idols trodden under foot, should profess the main truths of Protestant Christianity, and recognise not Romanists but Protestant Christians as those with whom they felt themselves in sympathy, and were willing to fraternize-had all this been foretold some few years back, who would have believed it? Yet such is the state of things in China at this moment. According to the last accounts, the insurgents were preparing to move forward on Pekin for the purpose of completing the overthrow of the Tartar dynasty, now in a state of utter decrepitude; and they have announced their resolution, when the work which they have in hand shall have been completed, which they believe it will be, to hold free and unrestricted intercourse with foreigners, on one condition only-that opium ceases to be imported. What a moment for us! What a summons to prepare ourselves to improve the grandest opportunity for good that has ever yet invited us to action! What need of a powerful body of Missionaries, collected at the free ports, versed in the native tongue, to be poured in the moment the barrier falls, and the signal, "Move onward," be given! What a wonderful thought that we shall have to deal with this new caste of Chinese, not as unbelievers, ignorant of the great doctrines of the gospel, who need to be convinced, but as with those who, admitting those truths, have gone astray in the application of them, and, misunderstanding their bearingand not seeing how, as revelation rose to its maturity, the sterner features of character permitted under the Old Testament, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth," were softened down into conformity with the example of Him who said, "They that take the sword shall perish with the sword," and whose law to His people is, " Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath "-have thought themselves justified in acting as the Israelites of old, when they went forth as the instruments of divine vengeance against impenitent nations, fitted for destruction. They need to be evangelized, these new Christians do -undoubtedly yet what a wondrous fact is it, that we may commence to do so on the ground of their own admitted principles; and besides, they will probably be the means of giving us access to the many millions of their countrymen, who, without taking part in the movement, are spectators of it all, and cannot but learn to despise an idolatry, which they see broken in pieces and given like the chaff to the winds. Our readers will not be surprised to hear that our Society is anxious to act with energy at this crisis, and is prepared to send out as many suitable persons for Missionary work in China as, in the providence of God, may be led to offer themselves. An appeal is in preparation. Let our readers accompany it with their prayers, that there may be many to offer themselves. KAITAIA, NEW ZEALAND. IN the northern peninsula of the north island of New Zealand, some miles south of the isolated hill called Mount Carmel, a serpentine 112 KAITAIA, NEW ZEALAND. river, called the Awaroa, pursues its course through an extensive alluvial district, until it enters the estuary of Rangaunu, a shallow arm of the sea on the east coast. The valley is very fertile, and capable of being made very productive; and fields of potatos, kumeras, melons, and pumpkins, neatly fenced in, show the capability of the soil and the industry of the people. About eight miles from the western coast, on an hilly eminence, at the foot of which the Awaroa flows, is our Mission Station of Kaitaia, where our Missionaries, the Rev. J. Matthews and Mr. Puckey, have been many years prayerfully occupied in bringing the Rarawa tribe of New Zealanders to the knowledge of that godliness which has the "promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." In their report for last year there is much of an interesting nature, and we shall refer to some points in it which are satisfactory in the evidence they afford that the natives are deriving spiritual and temporal benefit from the pains which have been taken with them. Between one chief and his tribe serious differences arose, and efforts were made by some to embroil the natives generally. Sorely were they tempted, during the last six months of 1852, to resort to the old mode of settling disputes. But they decided not to do so. The chiefs said, "It is too late in the day for us to rake up old quarrels, which have been buried long ago, and avenge them: our policy is to live peaceably, and preserve our people." Many of the natives themselves were astonished at the abandonment of old national habits, and several of the teachers pointed it out as an encouraging evidence that the gospel had been truly received, and was gradually assuming a more marked character. There are, indeed, many noble-minded men among them, who are really anxious to see their people advancing in civilization; "but," as Mr. Matthews observes, "the Lord has been merciful to them in not allowing them to prosper faster in temporal things than their souls prosper." One of the native teachers, a principal chief, and one of the magistrates appointed by the governor, remarked to our Missionary, "My cows do not thrive at all "-which was truly the case "for the Lord knows well enough my foolish heart, how otherwise I should act, and I must be thankful for afflictions." Every Saturday a meeting is held of the native teachers, at which seldom fewer than twelve, and often twenty, attend. Scripture is read and explained, and conversation held upon it. Mr. Matthews writes I was calling their attention to Christ's sceptre being a right sceptre, and said that all who did not lay hold of it would have the rod of iron instead; and I showed them that in the Psalms, and in almost all the places, such as St. John iii. 16-19, where mercy, &c., are spoken of, judgment on those who do not believe is threatened (Mark xvi. 16). On hearing this, Himeona, our oldest baptized native teacher, said, "I will repeat now what I once did before-an event which really took place up at the south, whence I came. A great battle KAITAIA, NEW ZEALAND. 113 was fought between two large parties"-I think Ngapuhi of the Bay of Islands was one, and the aggressor-" and the pa was taken. Numbers of the people fled into the sea, and clung by scores to a large rock. Their enemies, with their spears, assembled on the top of the rock, and, anxious to procure captives as slaves, they reversed the spears, offering each captive the handle part," which is thicker, and has a shoulder welladapted for holding fast. The teacher was animated in relating this. He said, "Every native who had confidence in the captor that he would treat his slave well, laid hold of the blunt end, and was immediately rescued from the sea, and saved; but those, and there were many, who did not believe in the kindness offered, and who would not lay hold of the merciful end-the blunt end-were at once speared, and perished." He said, "I have told this before: it is a true tale. All were much struck with it, and said that the metaphor in the 45th Psalm was "truly measured," i.e. the simile is a fair one. During the year several Christian natives have died, many of them affording encouraging evidences of their faith in the Lord Jesus. We introduce one of these cases. Hoani Whakapiko had been one of the students in the Waimate institution; but, after three years' residence there, became consumptive, and returned to the immediate neighbourhood of the Kaitaia Missionaries, by whom he was visited during a long sickness. The Scriptures were his constant companion. Under the instruction of the Rev. R. Burrows at the Waimate his mind had become much enlarged, and his conversation was such as to evince the value that he placed on regular instruction and preparation for the ministry. During his last hours most of his tribe gathered round him. He boldly declared to them his faith in Christ, and exhorted them to stedfastness in God's ways, telling them not to lament his death. "His manner," says our Missionary, was so earnest, and his words so comfortable, that his mother, who had lost many children, and who would otherwise have bewailed the loss of this son, told me she could not mourn after such a happy death, and that she was quite well." 66 The following case is also mentioned in the report-" One of our school girls, the daughter of an old teacher, died in our settlement, of whom there was hope in her death. A little before, she sang the first verse of a very fine sacramental hymn, beginning Who was it crucified? My Lord, My Jesus, my great King. Her father also said he could not mourn, because of his good hope of her being in heaven." Portions of the natives who have hitherto held aloof from Christianity have, during the past year, willingly come under instruction. Amongst others, Te Morenga, the chief of Ahipara, and Te Kohanga, a man of much influence, and respected all over the northern part of the island, from Auckland to the North Cape. This man would sometimes say to the Christian natives, "If you leave off praying you will begin fighting. Keep to your faith." The daughter of this chief had been baptized by the Romanists; but she had learned to read and think for herself. A year before, she had lost her eldest son. He died a believer, having been baptized by our Missionaries, and receiving the name of Taylor. Subsequently the mother fell into decline, and greatly desired to be visited. This was done regularly and perseveringly. In many ways she evidenced her earnest desire for the things of God. Gladly would she have joined the confirmation at Kaitaia, and asked the Missionaries to send her a horse, but she was too weak to ride. The Lord's Supper was subsequently administered to her. After her death, the chiefs, who for many years had stood out against the gospel, met and spoke out their minds over her remains. They remarked, that neither the badness of the roads, nor the cold and rain, had prevented the Missionaries visiting the afflicted one, and that" from that time the road was open to them." Two day-schools have been since opened, and every encouragement given to the Missionaries, the chiefs attending, and many of their people. May the Lord continue to bless His own word, that it may yield much fruit in the valley of the Awaroa! SAVAGE ISLAND. THIS island of the South Pacific lies direct east of the Tonga or Friendly Islands, being distant from them nearly 500 miles. It is long and low, not rising higher than 200 feet at any point; its shore apparently a steep coral wall; and its flat summit covered with scrub trees. This lone isle was visited by Capt. J. E. Erskine in H. M. S. " Havannah" in July 1849, at which time they were ignorant of the word Missionary; nor was there, as far as could be ascertained, a white man in the island. The number of islands so circumstanced in Eastern Polynesia, on whose behalf some effort for their evangelization has not been at least commenced, is, we rejoice to think, rapidly diminishing. Several inhabitants, spoken of by Capt. Cook as more savage than any of the Pacific islanders, came off in their canoes to visit the ship. Their appearance is thus described by Capt. Erskine These first comers were soon succeeded by ten or a dozen more canoes, each containing four persons, and all of similar construction, from twenty to twenty-four feet long, made apparently of a single tree with raised washstreaks, the fore and after parts covered over and handsomely carved. An outrigger, composed of one long spar, floating in the water parallel to the canoe, and supported by three transverse ones, forming a platform, on which lay their spears and other implements, projected on one side, making it necessary for them, in this instance, to come on the weather side of the ship.. Their paddles were short, concave in the blade, and beautifully shaped like a plantain-leaf. The men were in general |