48

GENERAL MISSIONARY RESULTS IN AFRICA.

[APRIL,

points excursions are made by Missionary enterprise into the interior. But it is not only in Western Africa God is doing great things. The last Report of the American Board says

"The Zulu Mission, Southern Africa, has made all the progress that is usual in enterprises of the same age among a barbarous people. Ten years ago there were no churches, and not more than two converts: now, eight churches contain nearly two hundred members. In a nation of inveterate polygamists, a hundred married men now reside at the stations, each the husband of only one wife. In two-thirds of these families, both husband and wife are professors of religion. In twenty others, the husband is a church member. There are at least eighty households, containing one hundred and sixty baptized children, in which family religion is, to some extent, maintained. More than threescore of these families have exchanged the rude Zulu hut for civilized dwellings. The power to read and write is beginning to gain ground, and the older stations show a decided advance towards civilization. The prospects of the Mission have never looked quite so cheering as now."

In the last Annual Report of the London Missionary Society, it is stated, that among the natives north of Orange River, Southern Africa, there are five principal stations-Griqua Town, Kuruman, Parens, Lekatlong, and Philippolis. In connexion with these stations are about thirty out-stations, at each of which Divine services are held on the Sabbath. The aggregate attendance is estimated at 2000 souls, occasional hearers about as many more. At the station at Philippolis the attendance varies from five or six hundred to seven or eight, and sometimes nine hundred hearers. On the sacramental Sabbaths, which occur at this station monthly, there may be seen frequently forty or fifty, or even sixty waggons arriving on the Saturday preceding, all well laden with people coming to church. The aggregate of church members at all the stations is about 1500. The liberality of the people is remarkable.

One who has laboured in Africa for several years, and is believed to speak authoritatively, gives the following-Fifteen Societies have a hundred stations, and a hundred and fifty Missionaries. In connexion with them have been 14,900 members, and 12,000 children are gathered into schools. Colonization Herald (American.)

THE ISLAND OF LAGOS.

THIS small island on the coast of West Africa, from which so many cargoes of slaves were shipped for Brazil, Cuba, &c., is now rapidly becoming a centre of commerce and civilization, where the natives bring their produce of palm-oil, ground nuts, cotton, &c., for transmission to British and other ports. Good buildings and warehouses are in course of erection, and the whole face of this furnace of Satanic cruelty is changed, and it is likely soon to become a place of importance. Its position is very happily chosen for the benefit of the active trading Yoruba nation, having a free water communication with Abbeokuta, by the River Ogun indeed it is expected that as we become more acquainted with the rivers, water carriage will be found to reach within very short distances of Ibadan, Ijaye, and other important places. The lagoonbackwater-running parallel with the whole coast line, and into which many small rivers flow, affords additional facilities of traffic.

48

GENERAL MISSIONARY RESULTS IN AFRICA.

[APRIL

points excursions are made by Missionary enterprise into the interior. But it is not only in Western Africa God is doing great things. The last Report of the American Board says

"The Zulu Mission, Southern Africa, has made all the progress that is usual in enterprises of the same age among a barbarous people. Ten years ago there were no churches, and not more than two converts: now, eight churches contain nearly two hundred members. In a nation of inveterate polygamists, a hundred married men now reside at the stations, each the husband of only one wife. In two-thirds of these families, both husband and wife are professors of religion. In twenty others, the husband is a church member. There are at least eighty households, containing one hundred and sixty baptized children, in which family religion is, to some extent, maintained. More than threescore of these families have exchanged the rude Zulu hut for civilized dwellings. The power to read and write is beginning to gain ground, and the older stations show a decided advance towards civilization. The prospects of the Mission have never looked quite so cheering as now."

In the last Annual Report of the London Missionary Society, it is stated, that among the natives north of Orange River, Southern Africa, there are five principal stations-Griqua Town, Kuruman, Parens, Lekatlong, and Philippolis. In connexion with these stations are about thirty out-stations, at each of which Divine services are held on the Sabbath. The aggregate attendance is estimated at 2000 souls, occasional hearers about as many more. At the station at Philippolis the attendance varies from five or six hundred to seven or eight, and sometimes nine hundred hearers. On the sacramental Sabbaths, which occur at this station monthly, there may be seen frequently forty or fifty, or even sixty waggons arriving on the Saturday preceding, all well laden with people coming to church. The aggregate of church members at all the stations is about 1500. The liberality of the people is remarkable.

One who has laboured in Africa for several years, and is believed to speak authoritatively, gives the following-Fifteen Societies have a hundred stations, and a hundred and fifty Missionaries. In connexion with them have been 14,900 members, and 12,000 children are gathered into schools. Colonization Herald (American.)

THIS small island on the coast of West Africa, from which so many cargoes of slaves were shipped for Brazil, Cuba, &c., is now rapidly becoming a centre of commerce and civilization, where the natives bring their produce of palm-oil, ground nuts, cotton, &c., for transmission to British and other ports. Good buildings and warehouses are in course of erection, and the whole face of this furnace of Satanic cruelty is changed, and it is likely soon to become a place of importance. Its position is very happily chosen for the benefit of the active trading Yoruba nation, having a free water communication with Abbeokuta, by the River Ogun indeed it is expected that as we become more acquainted with the rivers, water carriage will be found to reach within very short distances of Ibadan, Ijaye, and other important places. The lagoonbackwater-running parallel with the whole coast line, and into which many small rivers flow, affords additional facilities of traffic.

: