two of them were rather large, and perhaps would have to rest at pori. I told him the Committee wished to recognize his power, and would be very glad to get a road through his territory. I said undoubtedly the Committee would be sending up a small party at first, and he promised at any time guides who would convey the party right through. We then had a long conversation as to the relationship of us white men, and he seemed much interested in the explanation, especially of the two Societies, the L.M.S. and C.M.S. The names of the districts from Urambo to the south end of Smith's Sound, and of their several chiefs are as follows:-The first place, Kwandi, which is near Urambo. I forgot to ask the name of the chief. On leaving Urambo we got to Kwandi, from thence to Uyui, May 21st. I believe I am the first C.M.S. man to have an interview with Mirambo, and I don't remember having met and parted with an African chief with such real satisfaction. It was interesting and cheering to see the clear insight and interest he looks into things, and I am fully convinced, as far as we can judge, that Dr. Southon and colleague have one to second their efforts as far as he has light and wisdom. Information on any subject, or on any part of the country, he was most willing and patient to give me. During the journey it was so happy going from village to village, and on a leisure tour one could fix his rest at any distance, especially between Urambo and Unyanyembe. There is a glorious itinerancy here in Unyamwezi in store for the loving messenger of the Gospel, and I have been struck by the attention shown by most of the Natives. On arriving in a village I generally found some Natives sitting together at work, but as that is so varied you never see them together except at the ki wanza. The kwiwanza is really the men's meeting-place: it may be for food or discussing subjects, or, what is most genial to their feelings, their chat and smoke around the fire after the work of the day. At the evening gatherings I can always make myself perfectly at home, and the Natives are always ready to welcome me as one of their number, and I have always been able to secure attention, and without any difficulty lead the conversation on to the most glorious of topics. For instance, a Native may be smoking bhang (Indian hemp), and on gently remarking he is making a great noise over it, he says at once, "God told them to smoke bhang." This gives one an opportunity of asking how we may know the mind of God, seeing we are all sinners in His sight, and He holy and just. At another place we may be closely questioned as to our objects in coming and living among them; and at no place was Ï So cheered as at Umanda, the first village of Unyanyembe, and I had a good number of people there, and a nice time. My Wangwana, hearing I was at the Wanyamwezi, soon came, and until late in the night I heard them carrying on the conversation after I had gone to bed, but fever kept me awake. They were severely questioned as to their religion by the Mnyamwezi I had with me from Magembe, and of their total ignorance and neglect in their prayers. AN interesting account of a recent visit paid by Bishop Moule to Great Valley is contained in the following extracts from letters addressed by him to his brother in England, the Rev. A. E. Moule. The first letter was written "in a boat going up to Sin-din-bu, en route for Chu-ki and Great Valley": May 26th, 1881. You will like to get if only a fragment from me now that I am actually on your own peculiar track. I started with Mr. Elwin and Matthew Tai yesterday at 2 p.m. We hope to visit in all seven central places in the Chu-ki district. I have sent notices to all those places, announcing the Communion at each, and asking for candidates for an autumn confirmation. I expect much trial both from seeing with my own eyes traces of persecution which exist everywhere, and from being obliged to disappoint the hopes which have been unwisely cherished by Luke and others, that as Bishop I shall be able to procure redress, which others had failed to do. I hope to call on the mandarin, but from what I hear I cannot venture to hope that anything like immunity from such outrages as cutting and burning of trees and sheds will be secured. The habits of the people seem so rough and lawless that it is doubtful whether even a really well-disposed mandarin could do much. And I fear that this man is not so by any means. City of Chu-ki, May 27th. A few more words from this, to you, well-known place.* I walked with Elwin from Sin-din-bu to San-tu (our first place of call)-a beautiful walk, though the way was all mire and the sky rather hazy. At a place called Sin-liang-din we were met by a young man armed with a matchlock, and two black hunting dogs at his heels. He announced himself as a relative of Mrs. Tsang, the leading Christian at San-tu, and himself a candidate for baptism. He had brought his gun, he said, to shoot game, if he fell in with it; but his errand was simply to welcome us. We went on under his guidance, and were soon met by two more candidates; one a man of fifty-three, who had bought a book in Hang-chow ten years ago, and had been roused to think of it by your first visit to these parts with Elwin, and was now getting rid of idolatrous associations as quickly as he could. He is manager of several clubs. Elwin duly took down the names of four men in all, and we examined them together. The sportsman, "Black Ox" by name, was remarkably clear and earnest. and the tradesman, " Cedar-pine,” had been the exhorters of the others, of whom one, the cousin of "Black Ox," He *For a description of this city see Story of Cheh-kiang Mission, 2nd Edit., p. 109. had to run the gauntlet of family persecution to come to us. He came again this morning, but was followed and dragged away. After the examination, my head aching badly by this time, we went down to a much shortened Evening Prayer and Communion. Considering how crammed the room was, and, as you know, open to the common courtyard, where a dog barked vigorously whenever I raised my voice, I was very thankful for the decorum which prevailed. I was deeply grateful also to see tokens of God's presence with His work in these parts, notwithstanding all the adverse influences. Homeward bound from the Chu-ki After spending a day at the city of Chu-ki we started on May 28th for Great Valley. You know, I think, from Elwin that the Valley is not now the most encouraging spot in the district; but it is surely interesting enough-not to speak of its history-even in its present aspect. You were very warmly and affectionately asked for by all the Christians. On Sunday we had services in the chapel at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., Elwin reading prayers, and Luke Chow reading the lessons. He had gone over them with me over night. He read exceedingly well. He is a very able man, and a true believer I cannot but trust; but he is not the man to attract one's confidence at once. There were fourteen or fifteen communicants at the Valley church. In the afternoon we had a Litany service in the lower part of the village, holding it in James Chow's house. He is an attractive young fellow; and his account of his and his brothers' behaviour and adventures during the persecution was very thrilling. Matthew Tai was very active, willing, and intelligent during our trip. On Monday we visited Si-dang and Wang-Kya-u; at the latter place, where we held service with the Holy Communion, S-Koh-sen, who was excommunicated last year for strangely wilful misconduct, appeared. He had come over to Great Valley on Sunday to make his submission and acknowledge his fault. This he did fully, and I think with real feeling. And I trust we shall be able to restore him to the communion in the autumn. The journey from Si-dang to S-Kya-u was the finest I ever took in China. On our way we visited at Gyin-yien Kang a poor, solitary, and much-persecuted Christian. I was so anxious about the Christians when I started for this trip, feeling sad both about their sufferings and inconsistencies, that I little expected to have time or heart to enjoy scenery. But the tokens of life cheered me so much as to leave me leisure for some not (I hope) wholly selfish enjoyment. S-Kya-u itself is a most encouraging station. The young well-todo and intelligent Christians of which it partly consists, their gladness at seeing us, and withal, the knowledge that they have promised $14 or more if we will open a station at Maple Bridge, greatly cheered me. The boys of the village seemed very fond of Elwin. They were full of fun, but perfectly well behaved. The patriarch of the family, ninety-three years old, visited us twice, and listened for some time to my talk. He continues heathen, though he does not seem to condemn his three generations of Christian descendants. The next march, by Bu-li-u to Wangda-fan, was another very beautiful one. The grand trees, the really dignified architecture of the villages (comparatively speaking), and the wonderful effect of the valleys, often "thick with corn," enclosed in the hills with their manifold fine timbers and colouring, The poor were of constant interest. We went next to San-k'e (Hill's Mouth), where lives the poor woman, Yoh-in Kwn-nyang, who has been so grievously illtreated by her father and brothers-in-law. The full chapel here, and the intelligent heartiness of several Christians, and of one catechumen, cheered me much. We endeavoured to bring about a reconciliation between the contending parties at this village; and to my surprise we were called upon just as we were starting by the old people and the two heathen brothers of the persecuted woman. I left Matthew Tai behind to endeavour to bring about an arrangement. Hangchow, June 4th. Alas! my misgivings have been realized. Matthew returned last evening, not only having effected nothing, but having had to witness another cruel beating of the poor woman, and nearly getting one himself from the constable of the village. This was in some respects a sad and trying ending to my trip; but some notices in the S.P.G. Report of persecutions in India, and indeed, the reading over of this narrative of the realities of what I have seen as I went through those most remarkable regions, have helped me not a little. SELECTIONS FROM PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEE. General Committee, August 8th.-The Rev. J. P. Hobson announced the death, on July 25th, of the Rev. F. A. Buxton, a member of the Committee, and bore testimony to his deep interest in the Society's work. The Committee directed that the expression of their deep sympathy be conveyed to the parents of the late Rev. F. A. Buxton. The Secretaries reported the death of Miss C. Young, late of the Annie Walsh Memorial School, who was at home on sick furlough. The Committee directed that the expression of their deep sympathy be conveyed to the parents of the late Miss Young. A letter was read from the Rev. John Venn, of Hereford, to Dr. Maxwell, Secretary of the Medical Missionary Association, authorizing him to offer to the Society 5007. if they would send a Medical Missionary to Gaza. Mr. J. H. Fergusson having stated that the Medical Missionary Association hoped to be able to provide the cost of medical apparatus at Gaza to the extent of 501. per annum for five years, the Committee gratefully accepted Mr. Venn's offer on the understanding that a further sum of 2501. be specially subscribed before a Medical Missionary is sent out. NOTES OF THE MONTH. ORDINATIONS. The Revs. J. S. Bradshaw and A. D. Shaw were admitted to Priests' Orders on Sept. 21st, at All Saints', Derby, by the Bishop of Sierra Leone. N.-W. America.-Mr. W. Spendlove was admitted to Deacon's Orders by the Bishop of Athabasca on March 18. RETURN HOME OF MISSIONARIES. China. The Rev. F. F. and Mrs. Gough left Ningpo in May, and arrived in England on July 19. DECEASE OF MISSIONARIES. West Africa.-Miss Young, late of the Annie Walsh Institution, died at Ardara, Ireland, on August 2. South India.-The Rev. M. Perianayagam, Native Pastor, died at Palamcotta in June. Ceylon. The Rev. E. Hoole, Native Pastor, died at sea in July last. China.- Mrs. Collins, wife of the Rev. W. H. Collins, formerly of Peking, died at Weybread on Sept. 8. N.-W. America. -The Rev. H. George died at Portage la Prairie on August 7. TOPICS FOR THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER. THANKSGIVING for the preservation vouchsafed to our missionaries in Central Africa, and to the tokens for good granted them amid many difficulties and discouragements. Prayer for those now in Uganda, as well as at Kagei, Uyui, &c. (p. 599). Thanksgiving and Prayer for Great Valley (p. 637), the Seychelles (p. 634), Ceylon (p. 584). Prayer for Frere Town; for the Niger; for Metlakahtla. Prayer for the missionaries now on their voyage out, or on the point of sailing. Contribution List. In the following list of receipts from August 11th to Sept. 10th are acknowledged all remittances from Associations, Benefactions, and Legacies of 5l. and upwards, and Collections of 10s. and upwards. All other sums are acknowledged in the Annual Reports. Parties not finding such payments duly acknowledged are requested to inform the Secretary without delay. The Secretaries thankfully acknowlege the receipt of the following Parcels for the Missions:- From Mrs. Fenn, Wallington, for Mrs. Dowbiggin's Native Girls' School, Cotta, Ceylon. From Rev. T. Scott, West Ham Vicarage, and Coral Fund, per Mrs. Batty, for Rev. E. Droese, From Mrs, Boyle, Wallington Vicarage, for N.-W. America Mission. From Miss Hone, Halesowen, for Rev. J. Stone, Raghapuram. From St. Paul's Working Party, Upper Holloway, per Mrs. Wood, for the Girls' Orphanage Sharanpur. From the Misses Preston's Working Party, Winslow Vicarage, for Mr. S. Johnson, Ibadan. Contributions to the Church Missionary Society are received at the Society's House, Salisbury Square, London; or at the Society's Bankers, Messrs. Williams, Deacon, and Co., 20, Birchin Lane, London. Post Office Orders payable to the Lay Secretary, General George Hutchinson. |