ing expedition. I went to see them on the tenth, but found that their chief was not in company. Several of the Indians, who had considerable 'influence, I found favorably inclined towards the object of my mission.

Departure to the Indian Villages. June 12-I set out, accompanied by Mr. Rodgers, my interpreter, and one of those who was with the Indians at Washington, and with two soldiers furnished by Colonel Leavensworth. We rode about twenty miles to Elkhorn river, which was so high as to overflow all the valley adjoining, and was impassable. Our course was W. 15° S. through a rolling prairie, destitute of timber, except on the river. The soil is generally good; but there is no stone, and but little gravel to be seen. We encamped for the night and experienced a heavy shower. I determined to visit the Mahaw village first, as I could not proceed on the trace to the Pawnee village.

14. We encamped this night about eight miles north of the old Mahaw village. I saw many elk, and in one drove counted Seventy. Saw several antelopes or mountain goats. They are of the same color as the deer, but resemble the common goat in shape. They are much the fleetest animal in this country. In size they are between the common goat and a large deer.

Village of barking squirrels. We passed a village of barking squirrels, or prairie dogs. They have the appearance of the grey squirrel in color and shape, but are three times as large. Their nose exactly resembles that of the smaller dogs. They burrow in the earth, and are never seen far from their habitation. They live on grass and herbage; and not a spear of grass is suffered to grow within the bounds of their village. On the first appearance of danger, they flee to the mouth of their burrow, and when it comes near they enter, and can rare

ly be driven out by smoke or water. Thousands dwell in the same village, forming a little community. Their burrows are from ten to twenty feet apart, with a mound of dirt at the entrance, of from one to two feet in height, which serves as a watch tower. On the approach of danger, they raise an incessant barking. We were much annoyed during the night by the barking of these animals.

Arrival at the Mahaw village.

June 15.-We continued our journey, and after wading and swimming several creeks, and repeatedly miring our horses, we arrived, about four o' clock, at the Mahaw village. This village is situated on the bank of the Elkhorn, on a high prairie, surrounded by a beautiful and rich country, but destitute of timber, excepting a small quantity on the margin of the river.

Interview with the Chiefs.

Towards evening I explained to the chiefs the object of the society and of my visit. I endeavored to show them the benefit of civil and re

ligious institutions; of learning and the arts; and enforced their importance by such arguments as I considered best calculated to carry conviction to their minds. I requested them to consider duly the propositions I had made, and then give me

an answer.

I was kindly received and invited to four feasts within an hour. These feasts are considered as the highest honor that can be conferred on a stranger.

Population of the Village.

This village contains about thirtyseven earth lodges, and seventy skin lodges. Each earth lodge is computed to contain five persons capable of bearing arms; and these are to the other souls inhabiting the lodge, as one to five. It is calculated that only one half of the nation have earth

August 22, 1820.-The only Saviour, which the heathen, so far as I can learn, have any idea of, is good works, or alms deeds.. By performing a few deeds of charity; by building a temple or rest house; by digging a well or tank for the public benefit;-they think they shall make sure happiness after death, which they imagine will consist in being born again in the condition of a great and rich man. I often spend much time in shewing them the impossibility of going to heaven by what they called good works, and they appear, for the time, to be convinced, that they can do no more than their duty. But the very next time I inquire of them how they expected to go to heaven, they will give me the same answer; so firmly Is the notion of merit riveled in their

minds.

How the peculiarities of Christianity are received.

Oct. 29. I had occasion to observe this afternoon, that Christ is "a stone of stumbling and rock of offence," as well to the heathen, as to many in Christian lands. When I converse with sensible heathens, on most of the great truths of revelation, which are not peculiar to Christianity, they usually assent to the truth of them, and often manifest high approbation. But as soon as I speak of Jesus Christ as the Son

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of God and the only Saviour of sinners, many of them will immediately manifest long displeasure. One man, with whom I have frequently conversed, who commonly attends worship with us on the Sabbath, and who has obtained considerable knowledge of Christianity, said to me this afternoon: "Your religion is very high and very excellent. It teaches us the character of the true God, and reveals to us his holy law. It tells us about the creation of the world; fall of man; the deluge, &c. It also makes known to us the world to come. All

this is excellent. But on the other hand, you tell us about that Jesus Christ, who was born of a woman, and in a stable, laid in a manager, and finally crucified; this is mean and low. When you tell me of the true God, I like to hear your conversation; but when you tell me about Jesus Christ, I am much displeased. I wish not to hear it. I shall never believe on him."

Prejudices of the Natives.

[Under date of November 18th, Mr Meigs details the successful attempts made by Mr. Richards and himself, to induce the boys and girls of the school to prepare their food and eat on the mission premises. These attempts it was not thought expedient to make at an earlier period. The six girls in the school, and all the younger boys, yielded at once. Eight of the older boys at first refused: but, by means of persuasion, their number was reduced, first to five, and then to two. Daniel Smead, was particularly active in persuading the boys to acquiesce in this measure.]

This is one instance among many others, that might be mentioned, to shew that cleanness and uncleanness among the people, is, in a great deIf a toddy man gree ceremonial. should presume to draw water from the well of a Vellala, the well would

be considered as greatly defiled, and the water rendered unfit for men of a good cast to drink of, until the well had undergone a thorough purification. Hence when a person is travelling in a palankeen, and the coolies (who are of low cast, for no others will carry a palankeen,) stop at a well on the road to drink water, they are not permitted to draw for themselves; but some person of high cast must come and draw water for them. Thus persons of high cast are sometimes compelled to serve those of low cast, and even masters to wait on their own slaves.

Feb. 17, 1821. Parted with my hired man James, who goes to live with Mr. Winslow. Tho' he does not yet give decisive evidence of conversion, yet his whole deportment is very consistent with piety, and I am not without some hopes, that he has passed from death unto life; and that he will hereafter appear more decidedly and boldly on the Lord's side.

Island of Caradive.

[Sometime in June, Mr. Meigs visited Caradive an island west of Batticotta. He was accompanied by Gabriel Tissera.

[Mr. Meigs gives a detailed account of his labors for the good of these islanders. We make one or two extracts respecting them.]

I took some pains to ascertain what number of the people can read, either on the ola, or in printed books. From all I heard and saw, I was led to conclude, that only a small part of the whole population can read intelligibly. I found one man, who could repeat very correctly a small catechism, which he learned while a boy, when the Dutch held the island. could also repeat the Lord's prayer, and most of the commandments. I asked him, if he thought they were the commandments of God. He replied in the affirmative.-"Well, do

He

you practise according to your belief" "No," he replied, "I have not heard much about these things since I was a boy. My neighbors and relatives are all heathens, and so am I: how can I be a Christian here alone?" I endeavored to show him his obligations to follow the dictates of his conscience, and not to go with the multitude to do evil; also that he must have much to answer for at the day of judgment, in consequence of the light he had enjoyed.-Doubtless there are numbers of men in his situation, who have light enough to see the wickedness and absurdity of their own superstitions, but do not possess sufficient resolution to forsake their heathen neighbors and relations.

On the evening of June 23d, as we were about lying down to sleep several men came in and began to converse with us. Being fatigued by the labors of the day, and not at first knowing difinitely their object in coming, we did not at once commence talking with them on religious subjects. One of them, however, soon asked us, if we had not come for the purpose of instructing the people. We replied that we had come for that purpose. He said he had been thus informed, & had come to hear us. He supposed that we were from Panditeripo, until we informed him that we came from Batticotta. He said that Dr. Scudder

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visited Caradive a few months before, and lodged in the same bungalow that we were now in; that he preached to the people, and distributed tracts among them; that one of the tracts written on an ola was given to him, which he had read many times, and lent to his neighbors; and that a number of people, who could not read themselves, heard it read. It appeared indeed that he had read it attentively, and that he was very favorably impressed with the truths which it contained. He said that he believed it pointed out the only way to

heaven. The reading of the tract had evidently excited in his mind a desire to hear more respecting the Christian religion, as well as to have what he read explained to him. He listened most attentively while we spoke to him. He objected to nothing which was said to him. He repeated many times, "it is all true, it is all true." After Gabriel and myself had talked with him for more than an hour, he enquired with much apparent sincerity, how he could obtain this repentance and faith in Jesus Christ; about which we had been speaking to him. As may be supposed, I was much gratified with the question, and answered it as well as I was able. Indeed, I have never heard a heathen, in similar circumstances, ask this question with such an evi.dent desire to know the truth. He left us about nine o'clock, and we retired to rest very thankful for the blessings of the day.

Sept. 27. Received a visit from Rev. Mr. Lambrick, Church mission- | ary from Kandy. He appears to possess much of the true missionary spirit.

The following extracts are taken from a weekly publication, printed in South Carolina, entitled the South

ern Intelligencer; received at this of

fice.

We are informed that the "Juvenile Heathen School Society," consisting of the children of the Sab. School in the Second Presbyterian Church, which has for three years past supported a heathen youth in the Choctaw nation, named Andrew Flinn, have now agreed to support for three years, at $30 per year, a youth in the Chickasaw nation, to be named Artemas Boies. The teachers of said school have also formed themselves into an association for the purpose of supporting two children in the same nation.

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There has been also formed a "Juvenile Heathen Society," from the children of the congregation of the Second Presbyterian Church, which has agreed to support two more at the same place; making in all five children, who are supported by the benevolence of this Congregation.

CARLISLE, MARCH 21.

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"MISSTATEMENT CORRECTED" Under this head we notice several small paragraphs in the "Boston Recorder," correcting an erroneous publication in an anti-missionary publication entitled "Plain Truth," a paper sometime since put in operation, for the purpose of diverting the public attention and influence from the present zeal in the Missionary cause. We think it necessary to this article, not only to show the improper means used by this print, and many others of a similar nature, but also to put the unsuspecting community on their guard how they credit the assertions made by them. We fully accord with the sentiments of an idea lately expressed, that many immoral actions are perpetrated under the cloak of christianity. Nor do we esteem the cause of missions less, because of these publications, but on the contrary, are disposed to view them as affording conclusive proof of their acceptance: because the more important the undertaking, the more powerful the opposition will be, which the persecutors of christianity raise to de-feat it. We cannot expect while the prince of darkness rules with such sway over his votaries, that any mo