EXTRACTS

OF LETTERS FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

From BROTHER HANS WIED,

Paramaribo, Sept, 25, 1806.

"MY last to you, dated July 28th, informed you of the decease of Brother Noak at Sommelsdyk, on the 19th of that month. Since that time two events of a very distressing though different nature, have occurred.

Brother Langballe's wife, a sister greatly beloved and esteemed by all who knew her, who had well recovered from her lying-in with a little daughter, was soon after seized with a malignant fever, and departed this life on the ad of August.

September 7th, we received a letter from our Brethren at Hoop on the Corentyn, which brought us the painful intel ligence that on the 18th of August, all the houses belonging to that settlement with the church and Missionaries' dwellings became a prey to the flames. It happened about two o'clock in the afternoon, while the Missionaries were sitting together taking some refreshment. The only articles saved, are their books, letters, most of their cloathes, some gunpowder and two barrels of flour lately sent to them from hence. The fire ran along the roots (which were thatched with broad leaves) with such rapidity, that there was no possibility of restraining its progress, the heat of the sun being also at that time most intense. Only the walls of the Church, built with planks, remained in part standing; but all their garden tools and other implements, the stores for the Indians, with the articles you lately sent them by way of Berbice, their provisions, and the tackle and rigging of their boat, were consumed.”

They have, alas, too much reason to suppose, that the fire was occasioned by incendiaries, as several attempts of the same kind had been made in the preceding days, which being discovered in time, were frustrated. The distress occasioned by this calamitous event is more easily to be conceived than described."

From BROTHER THEODORE SCHULTZ.

Berbice, Od. 17, 1806.

"August 18th was a day of great distress, for the Mission at Hoop. About two o'clock in the afternoon we were suddenly alarmed by the cry of fire, and in a very short space of time, all the new buildings belonging to the settlement lay in ashes, by which the inhabitants of every description, were at once deprived of their homes, and left to wander about without food or shelter in the hottest part of the day. The fury of the flames was so great, that we had scarcely six minutes left to endeavour to save the most necessary cloathing and a few other articles; every thing else was suddenly consumed. The loss to the Mission is very great indeed,

We found some shelter in the neighbouring Indian huts, but as all of us soon grew indisposed by the great inconvenience attending this mode of living, we exerted ourselves, with the assistance of our Indians and some heathens, to build a more suitable dwelling, and by God's help, were able to move into it on the 10th of September. This was chiefly constructed of the planks of the church, which was the

last

last building attacked by the fire and consumed, all but the uprights and planks of the walls, which though much burnt, we found means to preserve. Towards the end of September, we also finished a kitchen and negro-dwelling, chiefly with the assistance of the heathen Indians, who were very steady and obliging, in rendering us every service in their power. But as our situation was still very inconvenient, being all crowded together in a small house, by which our four young children suffered greatly: (all our beautiful and shady orangetrees being burnt and affording them no shelter in the open air during the day,) we resolved to avail ourselves of the permission granted us some time ago, to carry them to North America, and are now about to proceed to Boston with the ship Alert, Capt. J. H. Hewes. Brother Peterleitner is going to Sommelsdyk, and the brethren Berg and G. Loesche will remain alone at Hoop for the present."

The Brethren's Society for the Furtherance of the Gospel most earnestly recommends to our Brethren and Sisters and friends, to assist in coming to the of relief our dear missionaries and the poor suffering Christian Indians at Hoop, who by the above afflicting dispensation, have lost their all. The present times are such, that the great loss sustained by the Mission will be doubly felt, and we pray the Lord to open the hearts of those, who take share in the promotion of His work on earth, to exert their benevolence in helping to furnish the means of rebuilding this settlement, which cost our brethren infinite pains to establish among a people, who in their heathenish state, and without a rallying point, prefer roving to and fro in their forests, so as to render their instruction next to impossible.

The

The Missionary labours of the Brethren's Church in South America, began in the year 1738. About the year 1748 the mission among the Arawacks, and other native Indian tribes, was established, the History of which furnishes, perhaps, more instances than any other, of men, not loving their lives unto death, but who in the most unhealthy climate, and under the severest trials, sacrificed themselves gladly in the service of God, that they might win the heathen for Christ. The peculiar difficulties attending the establishment of a well regulated congregation of believing Indians, make it the more desirable, that nothing should occur through delay, to occasion their dispersion, and a relapse into their former roving life, which a speedy rebuilding of the church and houses will prevent. Any donation will be very thankfully received and conscientiously devoted to this particular purpose, by the Treasurer, J. L. Wollin, 5, St. Andrew's-Court, Holborn; C. Latrobe, 10, Nevil's - Court, Fetter - Lane, London; and all the Ministers of the Brethren's Chapels at London, Bath, Bristol, Plymouth, Leominster, Tytherton, Okbrook, Fairfield, Fulneck and Bedford.

Account

Account of Brother KOHRHAMMER'S ABODE in the HOTTENTOT CAMP at the VINEYARDS near the Cape of GOOD-HOPE, from May 1805, to Jan. 1806.

MAY.

HE Government at the Cape having again applied

THE

for a missionary from Bavianskloof to reside at the camp, with a view to preach the Gospel to the Hottentot soldiers and instruct them and their families in the Christian religion, we felt it our duty to acquiesce in so benevolent a design, especially under the present circumstances, and I was again requested by my Brethren, to undertake this commission, as my wife and I had been already engaged in, and acquainted with that service.

Having being commended in fervent prayer by our dear fellow-missionaries at Bavianskloof, to the grace of our Lord and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we set out May 21st. and on the 26th, after a fatiguing journey, arrived in the camp; and were received with the greatest cordiality, by Colonel Lesueur and the other officers.

27th. We waited upon our worthy Governor at Capetown, who expressed his thanks to the Brethren at Bavianskloof for having again complied with his wish, and sent one of their number to preach the Gospel to the heathen. We spent the night at the house of our venerable friend Mr. Smith.

28th.' We dined with the Governor, who conversed with us in the most condescending manner concerning our labor among the Hottentots.

29th. We went to reside in the camp, and spent the two following days in visiting the people in their huts, both the sick and healthy, who all expressed their joy at our arrival. JUNE 1st. We continued our visits in the huts, and spoke to many souls, of the love of Jesus to poor sinners.