Mr. Dohne has resigned his connection with the Board, and the Tablemountain station has been discontinued. The climate, people, and government in this field are such as to give promise of a harvest in proportion to the degree and skill of cultivation. The twelve stations are not very far from the sea, occupying somewhat more than a hundred miles of the maritime district. The ten small churches are gradually gaining numbers and strength, twentysix new members having been added the past year. Several stations were blessed with a revived state of Religion, and at one, hope was entertained as to the conversion of nearly forty persons. A movement of much interest has been commenced among the converts, in the way of effort to do something for their own people, through their own separate agency, though under the direction of the Missionaries—a kind of home Missionary work; and a native has been set apart for the gospel ministry, who is to receive his support from the native community. The local Government, and the best people of the colony, are in very friendly co-operation with the mission.

From the Home and Foreign Record.

CORISCO MISSION, AFRICA.

A MISSIONARY JOURNEY INLAND -The Rev. W. Clemens sends us the following narrative, written after his return from an exploring journey into the interior, and dated at Alongo, September 16, 1861.

On the 10th of June, after making the necessary preparations, I set out from Corisco with the design of exploring the interior to the east. Having the advantage of the wind, we passed rapidly over the water, and brought up, at dusk, at a Boha town, forty-five miles from Corisco. The town was well known, being the same at which brother Mackey and I had passed the night, on a similar visit in 1857.

My first anxiety was, to lay in a supply of fish for the boatmen, for fear there should be a scarcity as we ascended the river. The supply of fish in the town was better than usual, as the people had taken several large fish that day. Supper over, which was served in the real African style, and the news of the town and the river exhausted, we dropped some of the precious seed, praying that it might bring forth fruit to everlasting life.

At midnight we left our kind hosts at Iduma, for such was the name of the town where we had rested, and ascended the Utembani branch of the Muni. Our arrival at Mbenis town, or Dibani, was announced by the boatmen firing their guns. The inhabitants came out and welcomed us by reciprocating our firing. On my last visit I left a teacher at this town, to learn the language, and to make known the truth as he was able. He reported that he had spoken to the people through an interpreter. He had read and explained the Scriptures at worship and on the Sabbath. The inhabitants had attended regularly on his explanations in the reception house of the town. I was detained two days before the man whom I depended on for my guide returned from a neighbouring town. While waiting, I was able to tell them more fully of the plan of Salvation. This is the farthest distance inland that we have located a teacher. The town is situated at the foot of the Sierra del Crystal chain, eighty-five miles from Corisco.

Crossing the Mountains.

Having completed our arrangements we left Dibani for the east, designing to visit a tribe beyond the mountains. Our company consisted of three natives, two women, exclusive of three carriers who came with me from the coast. One man remained at Dibani with the teacher to take care of the boat in my absence. The women, according to custom in Africa, were the carriers. Each carried a large basket, piled up with plantains, with an addition of cooking utensils, while the men carried their arms simply.

Two hours travel brought us to the ascent of the Somba, the first range of the Sierra del Crystal chain. The path, which was hardly preceptible in some places, lay along the east side of the Somba, when we had ascended to two hundred feet of the summit. At twelve o'clock our party rested on the banks of a small stream, which took its rise farther up the mountain. Here dinner was served, consisting of boiled plantains. The boiling point of the thermo

meter gave one thousand three hundred and thirty-one feet above the level of the sea.

At four o'clock we passed between the notch of the Somba and Sanga, following along the east side of the Sanga, which runs more to the eastward. One hour before sunset we reached our first encampment. This was a large rock, sixty feet long by fifty wide, supported on each end by two other rocks, thus raising it in the form of a half-roof, with one eave on the ground. "Buda ya Sanga," the name of the rock, is capable of sheltering one hundred persons. The range divided at the notch of the Somba and Sanga. The Somba diverged to the west, but our path continued towards the east, along the west side of the Sanga. The thermometer gave, at " Buda ya Sanga," one thousand four hundred and forty-one feet above the sea. The estimated distance travelled to-day was twenty-five miles.

At dawn of day the party set forward. The path descended until we struck a small stream thirty feet wide, but very shallow; the marks on the banks, however, showed that in the rainy reason the water rose to the height of three or four feet. At eleven o'clock our party stopped to take some refreshment before ascending the highest mountain, which lay immediately before us. The mountain is called "Mevea," which signifies fire. No doubt it derived its name from its rugged ascent. At the base of the Mevea the thermometer gave one thousand feet above the sea.

The

Refore reaching our present resting-place we crossed a stream seventy feet wide. My guide said that canoes could descend it in the rainy season. marks on the banks showed that the freshets rose to six or eight feet.

The summit gained-" the streams turned to the eastward." An African "best house in town."

After much toil we reached the summit of the Mevea where, by common consent, we made a hault to rest. The thermometer gave one thousand seven hundred feet on the summit of Mevea. Our guide urged the party forward, telling us that we had a long distance to travel. Onward we went, for, having passed over the ground twice before, I knew that the native towns were far ahead. Not far beyond the streams turned to the eastward. We followed one of these until a short distance off the native towns. This was the most fatiguing part of the journey, for, with all the care possible, I was thrown into the stream several times by the abrupt banks and slippery stones. With much difficulty, we reached the place of our destination at sunset. Estimated distance traveled to-day, thirty-three miles. Wet and weary, we sought retirement. Our first favour was a brass kettle of cool water, which, without being fastidious to have it served in a more fashionable vessel, was drunk by all the party.

The best house in town was at our command, which certainly contained all the comforts of the place. The dimensions of the house were twenty feet by twelve. The eaves of the roof were four feet from the ground. The door was so narrow that it was neceesary to turn the body to press through the doorway. The luxury of a fire in the middle of the house, with no egress for the smoke, was not to be lightly esteemed, though very hard on civilized eyes. The house would have been a place of rest, had the beds been either rough boards, or had they been made with even surfaces. But to lie on bamboo, five inches in diameter, with the only smooth side resting on logs, to keep the sleeper off the ground, while the round side reminded one of an improved manner of doing penance, was too much even for weary limbs to

relish.

These inconveniences were made more comfortable by practice. But the almost insatiable desire to see a white man was extremely provoking. The house was crammed to get a sight of the stranger. The crowd equally gathered around him in the street. The same whoop and halloo saluted his ears wherever he went. Old and young must have a look at him. Any dirty hand was liable, at any moment, to lay hold of his hair, or give a nip at his beard. He was constantly a subject of remark; even his feet could not be passed by without raising the question, whether the white man had any toes, because, for

sooth, his feet were hid in shoes. To bar the door, which had neither hinges nor latch, was too much like being in a cage. Besides, the smoke was your inveterate enemy, and the idea that some rude hand would push the door aside to look at you, was not very flattering to those within. In justice to their inquisitiveness, it must be said, that it was not rude; the kindest feelings were mingled with their anxiety to see the white man, who, they often said, had come a long journey.

How the Sabbath was passed.

Saturday night, of the 15th of June, was the first we passed in our new quarters. The Sabbath abated the excitement of yesterday, except some strangers came from other towns. To become all things to all men, constrained us to submit to many things which would otherwise have been insufferable.

Not knowing whether I could communicate with the inhabitants, I went into the reception house, and had some of them called in. After a little conversation, I was able to speak to them through two interpreters. One heard Benga, and spoke Mbiko or Bondemo, and the other spoke to the audience partly in Bondemo and partly in Pangwe.

The gospel plan of salvation was unfolded to this untutored tribe, who had never felt the genial beams of the Sun of Righteousness in their darkened understandings. Great is the mystery of godliness to them-God manifest in the flesh. Their hearts are indeed hard, but who can tell whether some of them may not be found on the right hand at the great day. To the missionary, it is one of the pleasantest thoughts of his life, that he held up Christ before them for the first, and perhaps the last time. The promise is sufficient to reach even unto them in their native wilds. "My word shall not return to me void.” They asked several questions about what was said to them, and showed that they would willingly receive a minister to dwell among them. The Sabbath passed pleasantly.

On the 17th, we visited five more towns of the same tribe. The last town gave two thousand two hundred and twenty-nine feet above the level of the sea. We arrived at the last Pangwe town at twelve o'clock. Estimated distance travelled to-day fifteen miles. According to my computation, we were one hundred and fifty-five miles from Corisco. Having discovered that my guide did not fulfil his promise in taking me in the direction I had desired to explore, I signified to him that I would return to the second town we had visited. He was unwilling to return, and I set out with my carriers, and reached the town at six o'clock. My guide and his followers returned the next day. We made preparations for returning to the coast the day following.

Returning to Corisco-Fears of the People.

Ι

We were two days on the road going back. There was the same tedium of travelling Three natives joined our company, to carry some produce the Bondenoes had purchased. My guide, naving neglected to take me in the direction he had promised, knew that he had laid himself open to censure. told him frankly that he had not fulfilled his promise. When we arrived at Mbenis town, he felt that he had partially lost my favour, and was fearful he would not receive pay for his services as my guide. Since our departure, a woman belonging to his family had died. She lived in Ilobi, and had married a man of the Benga tribe. The law of witchcraft would justify the Bondemoes in retaining a man belonging to the same tribe till the matter was settled. Things being so complicated, the men who came with me from the coast began to fear that one of them would be retained in custody. One of them said there appeared no hope of their release; but as the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt against all human probability, if we trusted in him he could deliver us also. I did not share in their fears, and as the result proved, there was no particular cause of apprehending trouble. This may be taken, however, as an evidence of our influence among even these heathen bushmen.

On the 20th of June, we left our friends at Dibani, and began to descend the river. The teacher remained to explain the Word of God to the Bondemoes. We had not gone far before we heard that the Corisco people were expected to enter the river to make war on an offending tribe. None of the boatmen

wished to incur the possibility of being shut in the river, and chased by war canoes. Our descent consequently was rapid.. I called on my old friend Mateva, where we had another teacher. He gave us shelter, and we rested our weary limbs. I had determined to spend the Sabbath with him, but the fears of the boatmen prevailed. Mateva expressed many regrets as we departed, but yielded to our importunity. A eleven o'clock, Saturday night, we reached Large Ilobi, and spent the Sabbath with our licentiate. On Monday, the 24th of June, we landed at Corisco, making the fifteenth day of our journey.

When and how to reach the interior.

The prospects of entering the interior, if that is desirable, must be a work of t'me. The people of Corisco and the inhabitants living on the river manifest no desire to interfere with our operations. But the more uncivilized tribes, on the head waters of the Muni, are not willing that we should pass by them to form stations. There is a natural division of the tribes made by the great chain of mountains which separate the coast tribes from those east of the mountains. Could our laborers succeed in passing this dividing line, no barrier need be apprehended to the free ingress of the country. At present there is a misapprehension of our design in going through the land, and living in certain localities. They have but one opinion of white men. Indeed, the word, white man, signifies, with them, a foreigner, who comes to trade. Their trade is their only means of subsistence, and every man expects to become a tradesman, if possible. This false estimate of the missionary, tends to shut up the way to more distant fields of labor.

The native helpers will do much to remove these wrong impressions. As they will be able to live among those unacquainted with the missionary they will give them a better knowledge of the gospel of Christ. I have good reason to suppose that the matter of trade influenced my guide in the exploration just completed. I am confident he could have no sinister motive, other than an unbounded covetousness. The guides of all our explorations manifest the same uneasiness when a desire is made known to go beyond them. There is no combination formed to resist the advance of the truth; but each individual wishes to "make his fortune" before his neighbor makes his. Kindness and patience will conquer all the wicked devices of Satan to hinder the spread of the gospel. The exigencies of the mountain region would require a station on this side of the mountains which could communicate with stations on the east and southeast. The Pangwes, who occupy the country east of the mountains, will certainly be down on the Muni in a few years. They would welcome a teacher among them, but they are completely in the power of their neighbors, who hold the highways. A brother would need much of the spirit of Jesus, to be separated from his brethren on the coast and to live among them. But all things are possible with God. He who could raise up the persecutor Saul, and make him a missionary, can baptize his young servants here with the same Spirit. We need not be unnecessarily anxious. The work is the Lord's. There is no doubt but that the influence of the gospel will cross those mountains. The way seems to be prepared already. When the Spirit of God opens the way, "a highway will be there,' "that the redeemed of the Lord will return, and come with singing unto Zion." Yours, &c.

W. CLEMENS.

CORISCO. Ten years ago the first missionaries were sent to Corisco. Now there is a presbytery, a church of sixty-three members, including fifty-two converts from heathenism, and forty more are seeking a spiritual knowledge of Christianity. There is an eldership, including three native converts, all candidates for the ministry. There are sabbath schools, numbering one hundred and sixty pupils.

DARKNESS THAT CAN BE FELT.-One of the Wesleyan missionaries in Caffraria writes: It is astonishing how ignorant many of the natives are as to the nature of God and divine things; even those who do occasionally listen to the word preached. One day the missionary asked a man who he thought God was. O," said he, " you are God." "How come you to think so?" "Why don't you stand up there (in the pulpit) on a Sunday, and read and speak to us out of the book? Therefore you must be God."

Not long since Mrs. Longden asked a female if she ever prayed. "O yes," she said, "I always pray "But when do you pray?" "1 pray when I go to cut firewood." "And what do you say when you pray?" "I say, 'O Lord, give me strength to cut this wood down." " The morning star of religious knowledge, like the ancient promise, lingers long in their mental horizon ere we see the dawn of day. And till then, much patience, perseverance, and prayer, are required to teach the young idea how to shoot. Their odd remarks are sometimes very amusing. An Englishman and his interpreter were passing through the country, and in the road met with a raw native, to whom they began to tell the story of the Saviour's death. The man listened very attentively; but after a while, he turned to the interpreter and said: "Don't you believe a word of it. It is those English people who have murdered Jesus Christ, and they are afraid, and now they have come to this country, that they may fasten the guilt on us. That is no guilt of ours." But thank God, though the land is dark "the morning cometh."

THE LIVINGSTONE EXPEDITION.-Intelligence had been received from Drs. Livingstone and Mackenzie to May 15th. All were in good spirits. They had failed in ascending the Ruvuma, on account of its being too late in the season. The South African Advertiser, of September 21st, gives the following interesting details of the expedition. "The expedition had failed in their ascent of the Ruvuma, but only because they had attempted it too late in the season; and Dr. Livingston writes very confidently of its importance for the future commerce of that coast with Lake Nyassa and the interior. From the Ruvuma mouth the party returned in the Pioneer to the Comora Isles, to take the missionaries left there on board; and thence they proceeded to the Zambesi, entered it successfully, and had got up to the Shire when the last letters left. In a few days they were to continue their voyage up that tributary to the Znmba mountain, and Dr. Livingston was to accompany them, to direct the the selection of an appropriate site for the future mission. All were in excellent health and spirits.'

DESTRUCTION OF A CHURCH AND MISSION PREMISES IN WEST AFRICA.-The Rev. Henry Caswall, Vicar of Figheldean says: " As Secretary and Treasurer (in England) for the West India Mission to Western Africa, I have this day received from the Acting Chief of Fallangia, and from the Rev. J. H. A. Duport, the black missionary, a sad account of the destruction by fire of the church, school, and mission premises erected a few years since under the direction of the late Chief Wilkinson. The whole of the mission property is destroyed, including the cotton-gin sent out this year to assist the natives in developing the rich resources of their country." "From the letter of the Chief it appears that "some grass having been lighted to burn out some ants, on the 24th of September, unfortunately the flame went up, and caught the thatch, and burnt down the mission-house and the church." The church was being rethatched, but help was required for the rebuilding of the mission-house, and for this Mr. Caswall makes an appeal.

DISCOVERY OF DR. BAIKIE.-By the arrival of the Ethiope with the West African mails, we are placed in possession of news of the long-lost African explorer, Dr. Baikie, regarding whose fate there has been so much speculation. It will be remembered that Dr. Baikie was attached for some time to the Niger expedition, and the last heard from him, until the present time, was upwards of two years ago. Since then the fate of himself and his assistant was a mystery, but it was generally believed that he had either perished from the sickness and fatigue incident on his explorations, or that he had fallen a victim to some of the savage tribes of the country. We are, however, glad to say that the adventurous explorer and his assistant have, at last, been discovered alive and well, after a residence of two years amongst the natives, during which time they were without communication with Europeans. During his two years' sojourn among the natives, the Doctor enjoyed tolerable good health, and had likewise made some interesting researches in connection with the exploration of the Niger. The last advices left Dr. Baikie at the confluence of the river.