nearly the same number of inhaabitants, perhaps 4000 each. The houses and cattle-kraal are of the trà same form, and arranged in a simiyalar manner." "We visited 3 of the public eneclosures, where the men usually heel spend the day together, at work, or in conversation. Each enclosure has what may be called a summerhouse, which is generally in the eastern corner; and to this they retire when the heat of the sun becomes oppressive. It is comord posed of strong branches of trees, so bent as to form a roof, which rests upon a pillar placed in the middle of the house; and the whole is neatly covered with thornbranches twisted together." 1 victuals, or presents of beads, &c. The same feeling, also, prevailed among many of the adults, with respect to coming under the sound of the Gospel; so that when a captain was ordered to attend regularly for a short time, who had not previously been in the habit of hearing the word, the missionaries generally anticipated an early application for the loan of their waggon, or their plough, or something which he particularly wished to obtain. Notwithstanding these discouragements, however, Mr. Campbell found that some of the young people had paid considerable attention to the instruction of the missionaries, and had evidently profited by them. Previous to his final departure, a poor female Matchappee called on him, and said, that when she first heard of the Bible she did not think it was true, but when she found it describe her heart so exactly she could not but believe what it said. She was determined, she added, always to live near some place where the word of God was preached, and where she might hear about a crucified Saviour, even though she might starve. The Matchappees, who constitute one of the most numerous tribes of thee the Bootchuanas, are extremely fond of potatoes; but they have never been induced to plant any, because nothing of the kind appears to have been cultivated by their forefathers, to whose customs and manners they are as strongly attached, as the Hindoos or the disciples of Mohammed. It is possible, also, in this case, that indolence may be united with a bigoted adherence to ancient practices; as Mr. C. observes, that on Mr. Moffat requesting two strong Matchappees, who were walking with him in Mr. Hamilton's garden, to assist in gathering some kidney-anas, preaching, catechising, and beans, they complied with his soli- conversing with them. The atcitation; but in less than 10 minutes tendance on public worship, howthey desisted, and complained that ever, fluctuated extremely; the "their arms were almost broken number of bearers being sometimes with the labour." very considerable, and at other times very small. Mr. Moffat occasionally itinerated among the neighbouring kraals, where, as in the town, his congregations varied considerably as to numbers, and the people listened to his message with more or less attention. The exertions of the missionaries to form a school had hitherto been attended with little success; as the children seemed to consider that they were conferring an obligation on them by attending to their instructions, and that their attendance ought to be remunerated every day, either by a supply of After the removal of Mr. Campbell, the missionaries continued their labours among the Bootchu A defeat of the Mantatees was afterwards overruled for good. In (house has been completed. Several gardens have been formed by the Bootchuanas for their own use. Mateebe and his people have at length removed to the fine valley in which the missionaries reside, where they purpose to erect their new town. During the year 1826, the surrounding country was visited by swarms of locusts, which des troyed all vegetation. It is remarkable, that while these insects seemed to threaten nothing but famine, they themselves furnished means of support to the natives, many of whom appeared entirely to subsist upon them. the report of 1824, the Directors observe, "The expulsion of the Mantatees from the Bootchuana country, effected, under Providence, chiefly by the courage of the Griquas, and the promptitude and intrepidity of Messrs. Moffat and Melville, has given an entirely new aspect to the mission at New Lattakoo. Mateebe and his people, aware that they owe their safety to the missionaries, are far more disposed to listen to their counsel. The King has consented to remove the town to a neighbouring valley, where, it is expected, many advantages will be obtained, and many evils obviated. Of this valley he had formerly ceded a portion for the exclusive use of the mission. The chiefs, who formerly revolted from Mateebe, observing that New Lattakoo, where the missionaries reside, has been protected from the invaders, while the old town, where they themselves remained, has been destroyed by the barbarians, have again submitted to his authority, and engaged to remove with their people to the Krooman. Thus the inhabitants of Old and New Lattakoo will be re-united, under the same government; and all of them, more or less, with impressions favourable to the missionaries, naturally resulting, as to each party, from the late events." The general aspect of this mission, at present, is not encouraging; and the school, in particular, appears to be in a languishing state. When, however, the books in the Bechuan language, which have been lately sent out, are received, doubtless & more systematic plan of schoolinstruction will be adopted; which, it is hoped, may be attended with beneficial results, both as regards an increase in the number of the scholars and their improvement in learning. The Mantatees have continued to hover near this station and neighbourhood, by which the people have been kept in a constant state of anxiety and alarm, and ef forts in furtherance of the mission are thereby greatly impeded. LEICESTER MOUNTAIN, in the colony of Sierra Leone, W. Africa, about 3 m. from Freetown. The Bootchuanas, it appears from the last report, manifest increased attachment to the missionaries, and listen to the preaching Soon after the commencement of the Gospel-; but no spiritual of a mission by the C. M. S. in change is, as yet, apparent. The 1816, a grant of 1100 acres was school, which has been placed made to the society, on which a under the care of Mr. Hughes, is Christian institution was esta chiefly confined to the children of blished; where negro children of those natives who are connected various tribes, re-captured from with the mission. 2000 copies of smuggling slave-ships, have been a spelling-book and catechism, in supported, and received religious Bechuan, prepared by Mr. Moffat, instruction. The number of pu have been, during the year 1826, pils, in 1817, was 286. printed in London, and, in part, original design of the institution forwarded to Africa. A mission-being, however, soon after changed, The ex SC T Cu A Sie 19 foll Car Sch me Sho mu Wa it was removed to Regent's Town; ber when most of the pupils were disfratributed in the neighbouring schools, and a part of the teachers turned their attention to the liberated m negroes inhabiting Leicester Town. LEICESTER TOWN, a hamlet of liberated negroes, nearly 3 m. from Freetown, W. Africa. It is the oldest of those settlements, having been formed in 1809. 20 ensets In 1816, a school was established here by the CM. S. and the missionaries have laboured with some success. The station remains under the care of Wm. Davis, a native teacher. Divine service is held twice on Sundays, and three times in the week. In the latter part of 1825 and the beginning of 1826, the Rev. Mr. Lisk, from Gloucester, assisted Wm. Davis on Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon. The building used as a place of worship, and a school, has fallen into ruins; but another is about to be erected. The people continue to be very attentive. Wm. Davis visits the sick in the hospital at Leicester Mountain, and those who live about the town. The communicants have decreased to 4,-several having been excluded for sinful conduct. The scholars were, at Michaelmas, 1826, 9 boys and girls: they were anxious to improve. The inhabitants are very industrious in cultivation. LEOPOLD, a town of liberated Africans, in the parish of St. Peter, Sierra Leone. Inhabitants, 1083. This station was commenced in 1818, by the C. M. S.; and in the following year, there were about 300 persons collected under the care of the Rev. M. Renner. The scholars, of whom about 50 were mechanics, amounted to 103. Shortly after the population was much augmented; and among the young, in particular, the prospect was very promising. A missionary association was formed here June 20, 1820, and 67. Os. 9d. collected. At this period, there were 40 communicants. Cultivation was also happily advancing. In 1823, there were 213 scholars; the place of worship was under enlargement, so as to receive upwards of 1000 persons; contributions to the society amounted to 177. 12s. 6d. ; the people had sold to government during the year, 6112 bushels of cocoa and cassada, for which they received 2967. 18s. 7&d.; and the Rev. Mr. Davy, their superintendent, gave pleasing proof of the right use which some of his people made of the Word of God.. In the accounts of the year 1826, it is said :— "The attendance at public worship increased in the early part of the year, but afterward somewhat declined. 4 adults were baptized by Mr. Raban; and the number of communicants had increased to 14. The average number of persons attending divine worship was, at Christmas, 100. The following were the numbers in the Schools at Christmas:-boys 166; girls, 188. The secular business in which Mr. Weeks is engaged (having had, since Mr. Raban's removal to Freetown, the charge of Regent in addition to Gloucester and Leopold), has prevented his attending to the boys' school so often as he wished. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, he reports of the boys at Michaelmas · I think that, on the whole, their progress is satisfactory: 18 of the larger boys have been sent to prepare farms, and build houses for themselves; most of them attend evening prayer during the week, and all on Sundays.'" Of their spiritual state, Mr. Weeks remarks:-" I cannot say any thing with respect to the love they have to the ways of God; yet charity leads me to hope, that, while they continue to be in the way of hearing and receiving spi- sugar-cane, are produced in great abundance. The forest-trees, particularly on the cape, are lofty, resembling the sturdy forests of N. America. The situation of the cape is open and somewhat ele vated, and commands a large and commodious harbour, which offers advantages for commercial enterprise superior to any on the African coast. The territory is well wa tered, and seems to possess every necessary requisite for the accommodation and convenience of an increasing colony. The natives in the vicinity are exceedingly ignorant and superstitious, though mild and inoffensive for rude children of nature. At Michaelmas Mr. Weeks gives In the early part of the year LIBERIA, a small territory on the S. W. coast of W. Africa. This territory was purchased, in 1821, by the American Colonization Society, for the establishment of a colony of free people of colour from the United States. It is situated on the western extremity of the Gold Coast, on the river Mesurado, and includes the whole of a cape of the same name. The tract originally belonging to the Society was about 40 miles square, exclusive of one or two small islands in the mouth of the river. Distant from Sierra Leone, about 250 m. W. long. 15o, N. lat. 6o. The first location of the colonists, on their arrival, which was at the Sherbro country, unhappily proved to be, in every respect, disadvan tageous. The 3 agents, together with about 20 blacks, were within a few weeks carried off by a malignant fever; but notwithstanding this distressing and melancholy event, the society did not relinquish the object in view, nor despair The climate is said to be salu- of ultimate success. In Jan. 1821, brious and healthy, especially to a second expedition was sent out, the blacks. In the hottest seasons, consisting of 40 blacks; the Rev. the mercury in Fahrenheit's scale J. R. Andrus and Mr. C. Wiltnever rises above 90. The sun is berger went as agents on the part seldom visible at noon, being ob- of the society, and Mr. John B. scured by a dense vapour. The Winn and Mr. Ephraim Bacon, as soil is exceedingly rich and fertile; agents on the part of government. and all plants and trees, peculiar to This reinforcement, with the sur a tropical region, have an astonish-vivors of the first dispatch, were ingly rapid and luxuriant growth. put under the protection of the Rice, indigo, cotton, coffee, and English government at Sierra 316 Sciety al co ment o emigra Fame, will su La 182 The A coloure The LIB Leone. The society and friends of Tebe humanity, were, however, soon called to mourn the early removal of two more of the zealous and indefatigable friends of Africa--Mr. Andrus and Mr. Winn-both of whom died in July of the same year. As the firstplace designed for the permanent settlement of the colony, was found to be unhealthy, it was relinquished, and a compromise was soon after made with the natives for a small territory in the Bassa country, lying between the rivers Bassa and St. John's. This also was soon relinquished, and another territory, called Liberia, purchased immediately after by Dr. Ayres, a distinguished agent of the society, and Lieut. Stockton, of the United To this place the colonists were removed from Sierra Leone, in April, 1821, and the foundation of a settlement was laid at the town called Monrovia, in honour of the chief magistrate of the United States, for the distinguished services he rendered the infant on colony. har States navy. A second reinforcement, of about 150, arrived at Monrovia in August, 1822; Mr. Ashmun, agent. About this time some dissatisfaction arose on the part of the natives, who threatened the destruction of the feeble settlement; but the colony, f after one or two successful struggles with them, settled down in peace and safety. The misunderstanding which at first existed between them, was satisfactorily adjusted, and every thing seemed propitious to the growth and perpetuity of the establishment. The society has formed a constitution and code of laws for the government of the colony, to which every ⚫ emigrant is required to subscribe his name, and to take an oath that he will support them. The settlement, in 1823, consisted of about 240. The A. B. C. F. M. appointed 2 coloured missionaries to W. Africa, LIB in 1821; viz. Messrs. Collin Teague and Lot Carey, who commenced their labours on the island of Yonce, in the vicinity of Sierra Leone, with favourable prospects of success. Mr. Carey has since removed to Liberia, and has the care of a Baptist church, which has been formed in the colony and has recently been joined by the Rev. Mr. Waring, a coloured preacher from Virginia. The Protestant Episcopal Missionary Society, (United States,) has also appointed Mr. Ephraim Bacon to this station. are The effect of these missions has been most happy. Should this infant colony proceed as it has begun, it will become a powerful auxiliary in the cause of African conversion and civilization. "The managers," says the last report, happy to state that the efforts of the colonial agent to enlarge the territory of Liberia, and particularly to bring under the government of the colony a more extended line of coast, have been judicious and energetic, and, in nearly every instance, resulted in complete success." Two hundred and twenty-four plantations, of from 5 to 10 acres each, were, in June last (1826), occupied by the settlers; and most of them are believed to be at present under cultivation. 114 of these are on Cape Mesurado; 33 on Stockton Creek, denominated Halfway Farms, because nearly equi-distant from Monrovia and Caldwell, the St. Paul's settlement; and 77 at the confluence of Stockton Creek with the St. Paul's. Between the 1st of January and the 15th of July, 1826, no less than 15 vessels touched at Monrovia, and purchased the produce of the country, to the amount, according to the best probable estimate, of 43,980 dollars, African value. The exporters of this produce. i |