With all the weakening effects of the climate on my constitution, and which I have particularly felt already for some time on my lungs, God has enabled me to go out four or five times every week into the native villages; and although my endeavours do not produce the desired effects, yet I cannot persuade my mind that all the precious seed sown in this way will be lost.
You will perhaps have heard of the dreadful event, before this, which has happened to two American missionaries, Messrs. Manson and Lyman, in Sumatra, among the Battas, now about two months ago. These good men went thither to explore the country. They fell in with a troop of wild Battas, on one of their excursions, who fired at them, and over-powered them. Mr. Lyman was wounded by a shot. They then began to cut off his arms and his legs, and ate him up. While they were doing this, he petitioned the cannibals to spare his brother Manson alive; but the following day he was cut to pieces and eaten, as also the interpreter whom they had brought with them. Their wives were still at Batavia when the news of their husbands arrived.
Sumatra is still in a state of war; yet Padang, where Mr. Ward lives, seems to have been always safe. I have not had any letters from Mr. Ward for a considerable time: as far as I can hear, he is still well.
JAMAICA.
Mr. Tinson, having met the other brethren at Falmouth early in February, writes as follows on his return to Kingston. We are persuaded our readers will be gratified by the deliberate and candid opinions expressed by this experienced missionary. His letter is dated Feb. 25th, 1835.
Since I last addressed you I have seen more of our mission field than I had ever before an opportunity of visiting. We found it not only gratifying, but profitable, thus to visit our brethren, who all appear to be faithfully labouring in the vineyard of Christ. From them we received much kindness, and returned home, after an absence of six weeks, with improved health and increased desire to labour for God, from witnessing what he is doing by his servants. Such intercourse, occasionally enjoyed, could hardly fail to promote brotherly love, stimulate to exertion, and strengthen our confidence in God, as we behold the triumphs of his truth.
In my last I mentioned the desire manifested by many in Mr. Knibb's congregation to obtain the Scriptures, and the large attendance on religious worship. The same may be said of Montego Bay, and, in proportion, of other stations I had the privilege of visiting. I spent one sabbath at Lucea, and intended going to Savannah la Mar, but was prevented by the rain. Of the interesting services at Montego Bay and Falmouth, which took place on the 7th and 14th of this month, on laying the corner-stones of the new chapels, I need not write, as our brethren at those stations will send you all the particulars. On our way home we passed through Stewart Town, Brown's Town, and called at Jericho, brother Clarke's residence and principal station. I should have mentioned that we spent a night with brother Coultart; and in every place we were refreshed in seeing or hearing of the grace of God. I have more than once expressed my conviction that God is about to do some great work in this land. In this opinion I am confirmed by what he is doing. We know that He does nothing in vain; therefore to any person at all observant of Divine Providence, it must manifestly appear, that God's thoughts are thoughts of good and not of evil concerning the inhabitants of this country. Look at the noble gift of his word which he has recently sent to the people! Upwards of 40,000 copies of the New Testament and Psalms, now circulating, like so many streamlets of the water of life, through the whole length and breadth of the land! Then there is the desire to read, and to possess the word of God; the spirit of hearing, which prevails in almost every part of the island; the great accession of spiritual strength in the arrival of new missionaries—Episcopal, Methodists, Baptists, and Independents; and the preservation and increase of good men on the island. Mr. S., the rector of Lucea, mentioned a fact worth recording: that, during his residence in the colony of sixteen years, he had not lost, by death, one of his evangelical friends, which was the same as saying that not one had died; for he is a truly pious man himself, and consequently is acquainted with all the good men in the church throughout the island. He further stated, that several clergymen, who had never before manifested any concern for the spiritual welfare of the people, were now coming out as active and laborious helpers in the good cause. Surely, my dear Sir, these are signs of the times not to be overlooked.
SOUTH AFRICA.
We adverted, in our last number, to the unexpected calamity which had befallen the British possessions to the north-east of the Cape, towards the end of last year, by a violent irruption of the Caffres. The measures promptly taken by the governor have, we trust, proved effectual to the preservation of Graham's Town; but the loss of life and property in the surrounding district has been very serious. We have been favoured with a communication, sent from a lady at Graaff Reinet to her mother in this country, under date of 20th January last, which conveys a striking picture of the scene; and as many of our readers are interested in that colony, we avail ourselves of the permission to insert it for their information.