the training class, to become a messenger of Christ among his countrymen. We, too, longed for his discharge, as we found that his lungs were no match for the bugle. But though he was very often laid up with pain in the chest and spitting of blood, his resignation was not accepted. He had to remain and bugle on, till at last his case became hopeless.

In November 1863, the regiment left for Gwalior. There, in July 1864, he got his discharge, and hastened back to us. We trusted that he would be spared to us for many years, as he looked so well and happy. But it was a delusion. Hemorrhage of the lungs soon set in, and at last he was obliged to give up his class and take to his bed; and though he was suffering very much, and his desire was not to die, but to prepare for work, the word of God was his comfort and support: the Holy Bible was always on his bed, and verses of the Scriptures, which especially took hold of his soul, he noted down in his diary. Many are there to be found which give a deep insight into his feelings, and which show clearly what a fine Christian character he was. On the day of his death, when his mind was much wandering, and he did not even know any of us, his soul remained in close communion with his Saviour.

Shortly before he died, he broke out in the following words-"O Lord, if in Thy holy book any sin of mine is yet written, blot it out in Thy great mercy, and make me clean through Thy holy blood. Prepare me for Thy heavenly kingdom, that after my death I may come to Thee. Hear my prayer, and give me more than I am able to ask and to understand." With the words, "The Lord is with me !" he passed away on the 8th July 1865, aged twenty-one years. He is a great loss to the nativeChristian community and to the Mission, as he was a very upright, simple, gentle, and loving character, very zealous and fearless, and very confident in confessing Christ, caring for nothing but the glory of God and the salvation of souls. His place will not soon be filled by any of our young men.-Calcutta Christian Observer.

MADAGASCAR.

THE large island of Madagascar is moored off the south-eastern coast of the great continent of Africa, from whence it is separated by the Mozambique channel. Having its mountain ranges in the interior and its lowlands along the coast, its climate is exceedingly diversified. Along the coast the heat is intense, while in the interior the climate is temperate.

It is inhabited by various races of people-the Hovas, the Sakalavas, the Betsiloes, the Betsimisaraka, &c. Of these, the Hovas are the dominant race, having reduced to submission the greater part, if not the entire of the island.

We have two Missionaries on the island. They were first stationed in the north-eastern districts, but recently have moved down the coast, to a place southward of Tamatave, and better adapted for their work.

One of the most popular festivals amongst the Malagasy is that of the new year, which commences with fandroana, or bathing. The manner in which this season is observed is thus described by our Missionaries

This has been the day of cleansing for the Malagasy new year, which commences to-morrow. Every Malagasy is expected te make his house as clean and inviting as possible, by placing new mats on the floor and round the sides of it. If he should fail to do this, he fails wilfully to give proper honour and respect to his friends and relatives. As our house belongs to the Queen, the wives of the head officers have been at our house the whole day, and, by removing all the things in the house, and putting new mats everywhere, they have made our house into a new one as regards appearance. Many of these women, I am sorry to say, have scarcely visited us since they were here a year ago. They pass their time either at the rice-grounds, fetching water morning and evening, pounding rice, preparing the meals of the family, making mats, weaving "lambas"—of which they have two sorts, the cotton and the rufia-plaiting the hair of their friends, or at other similarly res domesticæ, They are wholly given up to the things of this life, seeking continually for the gratification of the moment-of the time being-whether lawful or unlawful, and never thinking of the future day of reckoning. A very few of them ever come to the services-only two or three besides the governor's wife. She is the only one that can read a little.

Yesterday evening nearly all the Malagasy went to the rova to bathe, according to the usual custom; and to-day they have been busily engaged in killing bullocks, for the purpose of mutually feasting each other during the coming week. The Hovas have given us a hornless one, which is considered unclean by the Sakalavas. The meat may be good enough, yet a bullock with horns would be much more acceptable, for by eating that which the Sakalavas abhor, we are not ingratiated at all into their favour. I think that perhaps it would be judicious not to accept of this kind of beef again, first, because the enemies of Christ take advantage of such a trifling thing in itself to weaken our influence among the people; and, secondly, because the great apostle of the Gentiles has taught us to please, as far as possible, "all men in all things," "not seeking," says he, "mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." Our position among the Hovas and Sakalavas is in some degree similar to St. Paul's among the Jews and Gentiles, and we desire to give "none offencc," neither to the one nor to the other."

Mr. Campbell and I have been able to do very little during the past week, either for ourselves or for the people. Many newcomers from the surrounding country have come in to chat with us; but most of the people of Amboanio have been excited-not in a fit state to visit or be visited. Our house is advantageously situated in the middle of the town, so that every thing of importance is heard or seen by us. In such seasons, however, as the Malagasy new year, our minds are disturbed by every heathenish and worldly affair that takes place.

Not near so many people have come to this fandroana as to that of

last year. drinking. The Arabs have rejoiced this evening, by firing several muskets on the cessation of a month's fasting. They have fasted each day till dark during the past month. Of the fasting from sin, however, they are ignorant, and they have a very insalutary influence upon the Malagasy.

There has been, I am happy to write, considerably less.

Lord's-day-I have been weighed down with sorrow. Many of the few who have heard the word preached during the past year, and have promised better things, have spent this holy day in eating and drinking. It is sad to behold those, who never hear the Gospel, live on day after day unconcerned about Christianity; but it is far more sad to see those who often, or regularly attend the means of grace, walking as others who do not, and who have never heard the truth. The Lord has taught us to place no dependence on the professions of natives, or on our own feeble, and, in some cases I doubt not, sinful efforts. Not that we would decrease our efforts; rather would we abound more and more; but that our efforts may be more sanctified by real tenderness, compassion, and love for souls; that we may look for a blessing, not so much in the wind or in the earthquake, but in the "still small voice;" in short, that the Spirit of our Lord may pervade all we do, or say, or think. Sure I am, that if our Christian friends unite in prayer with us for an outpouring of the Spirit, the blessing we desire will be given, for it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."

COMMIT THY WAY TO GOD.

COMMIT thy way to God
The weight which makes thee faint;
Worlds are to Him no load,

To Him breathe thy complaint;
He who for winds and clouds

Maketh a pathway free,
Through wastes or hostile crowds,
Can make a way for thee.

Hope then, though woes be doubled,
Hope, and be undismayed;
Let not thine heart be troubled,
Nor let it be afraid.

This prison where thou art,
Thy God will break it
soon,
And flood with light thine heart
In his own blessed noon.

Up, up! the day is breaking,

Say to thy cares, good night! Thy troubles from thee shaking, .Like dreams in day's fresh light.

Thou wearest not the crown,
Nor the best course can tell;
God sitteth on the throne,

And guideth all thingswell.

Trust Him to govern, then!

No king can rule like Him;
How wilt thou wonder when

Thine eyes no more are dim,
To see those paths which vex thee,
How wise they were and meet!
The works which now perplex thee
How beautiful, complete!;

Truthful the love thou sharest,

All, all is well with thee;
The crown from hence thou bearest
With shouts of victory.
In thy right hand to-morrow,

Thy God shall place the palms:
To Him who chased thy sorrow
How glad will be thy psalms.

SENEGAMBIA.

THE engraving of this month refers to Senegambia and its people. It is so called because it lies between two great rivers, the Senegal on its northern boundary and the Gambia on the south.

The principal tribes found in Senegambia are the Jaloofs, the Mandin

goes, and the Foulahs. The Jaloofs are near the sea-board; the Mandingoes in the interior; and the Foulahs, the most powerful of the three, have broken forth from their old homes, and, invading the negro tribes of Soudan, have inflicted on them untold miseries.

The Jaloofs are said to be the handsomest negroes in Africa. They have woolly hair, thick lips, and a glossy black complexion, but with lithe and graceful forms. Most of them have professed Mohammedanism, but without abandoning their heathen practices, so that their present religion is a strange mixture of Mohammedanism and paganism. It is said, however, that certain portions of them have never been induced to embrace Mohammedanism. They practice that demon-worship which appears to be the first wild suggestion of the human mind, and which prevails until superseded by some more elaborate system of error, such as Buddhism, Brahminism, or Mohammedanism; or it may be by the benignant influence of Christianity. The ideas entertained under the ruder systems of religion are, that God is indifferent to human affairs; and, having withdrawn Himself from them, has left them to be controlled by demons, who, capricious in their action, take pleasure in troubling men, unless they be propitiated by sacrifices and offerings; while, as a still further protection against their devices, the people wear charms, amulets, or greegrees; nor are these confined to the heathen, but are largely used by Mohammedans also.

The houses of the Jaloofs are small, and for the most part of a conical shape. Persons of respectability have, however, two houses, one in which they sit and sleep, while in the other the cooking is done. The dress of both sexes consists of two square cloths, one of which is worn around the waist, and the other is thrown over the shoulders. The Jaloofs manufacture cloth of better texture and of a broader web than most other tribes of the country. Their chief article of food is a dish called kuskus, made of pounded maize or millet and milk.

The Jaloofs are a stationary people, without the wandering propensities of the Mandingoes and Foulahs, and with little of their commercial enterprise.

The Mandingoes range over a far greater extent of country, and are more intelligent and enterprising than any other people in Western Africa. Their principal settlement is Jalakonda, near the sources of the Niger, and about 600 miles eastward from the sea-coast. From thence they have spread themselves, so as to be found in groups, more or less numerous, in all the countries between the sea-coast and Jalakonda. Small communities of them may be found around all the European settlements on the Gambia, at Sierra Leone, &c.

Their complexions are black, but not glossy like those of the Jaloofs. They are tall and slender; their lips thinner and their noses less flattened than is usual with negroes. "Their dress consists of a three-cornered cotton cap of their own make, a pair of short Turkish trowsers, over which is worn a sort of blouse, or a large square cloth, and sandals. The men always carry a short sabre in a leathern case, suspended from the left shoulder, and a small leather bag or pouch in front, in which are scraps of paper, with Arabic written upon them: these are valued as charms or amulets to protect them from harm."