Indian missions in Guiana

Front matter

Qass

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Book y 7w

Preface

An attempt has also been made to describe tlie appearance, customs, and habits of the Indians and other races ; and the nature of the country which they inhabit.

May the blessing of the Great Head of the Church ever accompany all her endeavours to extend the knowledge of salvation through his glorious Name, among distant and barbarous nations.

I remain.

my dear Sir, Your's very faithfully.

W. H. Brett,

Etwall, April 14. 1851.

CONTENTS,

Chapter I. The Coast And Its Population

Situation and extent of our Colony — The Coast— Scene in Georgetown — Various Races — The Negroes— Their former progress— Obia superstitions — Immigrants— The Portuguese — The Coolies: their appearance, and costume — Habits — Idolatrous festivals — Barbarous spectacle— Interviews with them ; their want of feeling— Examples —Review 1

CHAPTER H.

THE INTERIOR AND ITS INHABITANTS.

Britain, God's chosen instrument in propagating the Gospel — Aboriginal inhabitants of America superseded in the public attention by the natives of Polynesia — Acquisition of three colonies in Guiana — Sketch of the Interior— A day in the Eorest : its productions and scenery ; Birds, Insects, Reptiles, and Quadrupeds— Indians : their persons, costume, food, habitations, canoes, and way of life described —The Gospel the only civilizing power. 26

Chapter III. Missions To The Indian Tribes

Indian Superstitions — Opinions respecting Guiana — El Dorado— Eirst Colonists — Their contests with the Indians— Afterwards nse their help against the Maroon Negroes — the Moravians — Present Missions — Various Tribes— Eate of the Mission to the Macusis. . 54 vi

Chapter IV. The Indian Mission On The Fomeroon

Situation— Causes which led to the foundation of the Mission— First residence of the Missionary— Unsuccessful efforts among the Waraus and Arawaks— First converts — Yisit to the Chief and settlements of the Arawaks— Its results — Sickness of the Missionary — Progress of the Gospel .68

CHAPTER Y.

THE ARAWAKS.

Their character— "Weapons — Name— Division of families — Marriage customs— Polygamy— Birth and rearing of children— Paiwari feasts —Funeral customs— Chiefs — Law of retaliation — Melancholy event — Progress of the Mission— Improvement in the people — Baptism — Mode of instruction— Indian astronomy— Use of pictures— Manners of school children— Prayer in the native language — Death of Mr. Duke— Yisit to the Akawini lake 96

Chapter VI, The Caribs

Account of the writer's first visit to the country of the Caribs — Their costume and appearance — Attendance at the Mission— Their national character and customs — A glance at their condition and habits during the last century — Their cruel wars — Ancient Chiefs — Assistance to the Colonists in 1763— Cannibalism— Favourable change . 118

Chapter VII. The Wacawoios

Journey through the Caribi country to a Wacawoio settlement — Reception and results of the visit— Description of the Wacawoios — Their persons, ornaments, and treacherous character — The blow-pipe and worali, or arrow poison — The haiarri, and method of

CONTEXTS. Yll

poisoning fish — Their roving disposition, and long journeys for traffic and plunder — The small-pox — State of the Indian Mission in 1842 135

Chapter VIII

t:ie lower district of pomeroon.

Nature of the District — Missionary Expedition to the Manawarin and Wakapoa ; its results — Maquarri dance of the Arawaks— Difficulties among these people— Better prospects — Carihs in Manawarin erect a rude place of worship — Attendance at Caledonia 149

Chapter IX. The Waraus

Visit of Irai, the Caribi chief — The Bishop of Guiana visits the Missions— Removal of the Upper Mission to the Hill — Character and habits of the Waraus — Unsuccessful efforts among them — Surprising change— Another Mission for their benefit commenced— Mr. Nowers appointed — Exertions of the Post-holder and the Indians. . . 165

Chapter X. The Indian Mission At Waramtjri

Conversation with an old Warau— Erection of the Mission Buildings — Sickness of Missionaries— Extraordinary Imposture— Long drought — Waramuri Mission nearly destroyed by fire— Eamine — Mortality by Dysentery — Progress of the Mission — Distant Indians desire a Teacher 183

Chapter XI. Trials

Sickness and death in the Mission family — Temporary abandonment of Waramuri— Dangerous passage across the sea— The Pomeroon viii

CONTENTS.

Mission-— Extraordinary circumstance — Panic among the Caribs — Flourishing state of the Mission — Abandoned for a time — Faithfulness of the Arawaks — The Bishop's visit — Waramuri and Pomeroon again supplied with teachers 196

Chapter XII. The Aruabisi Coast

Situation of the Ituribisi — Its Inhabitants— Efforts of the Rector of St. John's for their conversion — Success — Account of the Mission at his residence— The Capoue, Quacabuca, and Tapacuma lakes- Account of the Indians residing in that neighbourhood. . . 211

Chapter XIII. The Mahaiconi Mission

Situation of the Mahaiconi — The Bishop's visit to the Mahaica, and its result — Visit to the Mahaiconi — Indian Assembly, and Maquarri Dance — Establishment of the Mission — Its subsequent history 219

Chapter XIV. The Character, Habits, And Superstitions Oe The Indians

Their indolence and apathy— Acute observation — Habits, Hospitality &c. — Drunkenness — Polygamy — Revenge — Superstitions — TheYauhahu or Demons — The system of sorcery or Piai-ism — Anecdotes — The Orehu, her qualities — Indian Tradition 229

Chapter XV. Dieetculties And Disappointments

The various Languages spoken by the Indian Tribes — Examples and Remarks — Other difficulties — Unhealthiness of some of the River Districts — Second abandonment of Warimuri ...... 252

CONTENTS, ix

Chapter XVI. Encouragements

Outward Change in the Indians— Attention to Religious Services — Their Dwellings, Industry, Clothing, &c— Respectable appearance of Christian Indian Congregations — Comfort afforded by the Christian Religion to the Sick and Dying — The Burial-Ground — Amelioration in the condition of the female Sex — Indian Marriage feast — The Rattles of the Sorcerers given up — Condition of our Missions at the close of 1850 260

Chapter XVII. Early History X~sd Traditions Oe The Indians

Difficulty of tracing the Origin of the barbarous Tribes of America — The Macusis — The Waraus — Early Accounts of the Caribs — Their Discovery in the Islands— Supposed Origin — The YTacawoios — The Arawaks — Accounts of early Discoverers— Traditions of that Tribe — Of the Spaniards — Of their Contests with the Caribs— Struggles of Indians with the early Colonists, and with the revolted Negroes — Present blessings. . . ... ......... . . . . 274

Chapter XVIII. The Remaining* Heathen Tribes

Diminution of the numbers of the Indian Tribes — Their probable Fate— Their readiness to embrace the Religion of Christ— Encouragement to extend the Sphere of Labour — Suggestions — Heathen Tribes enumerated by Sir R. Schomburgk — Possible Benefit which they might derive in course of years from the Conversion of the Macusis 29o

ILLUSTBATIONS.

Costume, Weapons, and Implements of the Indian Tribes of

Guiana . . . e Frontispiece

Jaguar Yignzite Title-page

Indian Snake-Catcher Page 36 S

Map 60 V

The Cokarito Palm 112 -*

-Mission Chapel, Pomeroon, 1843 147

Maquarri Dance 157 '

Caribi Encampment on the Upper Pomeroon . 169

Waramuri Mission in 1846 187

Assembly of Arawaks at Mahaiconi, 1844 ........ 223

Indian Sorcerer 244 *

Indian Mission at the Hill, Pomeroon, 1846 272 j

BRITISH GUIANA.

Chapter I. The Coast Axd Its Population

Situation and extent of our Colony — The Coast — Scene in Georgetown — Various Races — The Negroes — Their former progress — Obia superstitions — Immigrants — The Portuguese — The Coolies : their appearance and costume Habits — Idolatrous festivals — Barbarous spectacle— Interviews with them ; their want of feeling — Examples — Review.

Guiana is an extensive country, comprising the north-eastern part of South America. It is situated between two of the largest rivers in the world, the Amazon and the Orinoco. That portion of it which is possessed by the British lies to the westward of the Corentyn ; which divides it from Dutch Guiana, or Surinam. - It is very extensive, containing the counties of Demerara, Essequibo^&nd Berbice ; and its boundaries, as claimed by our £mim<nment, include an area of 76,000 square miles. ~hich w

This is a surface of much greatermd othohan that of England and Wales; but its popud a lis most scanty as compared with its size and . for tl^s. It is only a narrow strip of low land, the refr the alluvial flat which forms the coast of th h< itry,

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BRITISH GUIANA.

that is in cultivation or at all thickly inhabited. This being low and level, appears very uninteresting when viewed from the sea. It is, however, laid out in beautiful plantations of sugar, coffee, plantains, and other provisions, which are produced in great abundance by the rich alluvial soil and tropical climate. No regular attempt has been made by the British to settle in the distant interior, the wide extent of which is as yet unoccupied, except by a thinly scattered population of the aboriginal natives.

Georgetown, the capital, presents a lively appearance. It is situated at the mouth of the river Demerara, on its eastern bank. Its streets are mostly wide, and traversed by canals or drains. The houses, which are of wood, are painted, and have verandahs ; and are rendered pleasant by gardens, and the cocoa-nut and cabbage-palm trees which surround them. These stately trees, being mingled with the buildings of the city, give it a pleasing appearance, when viewed from an elevated position.

In the streets of Georgetown many a busy, motley group may be seen, composed of men, women, and children, of every shade of colour, and presenting a spectacle of grea interest to a stranger from England, who ma hold the native American surrounded by 3 from Europe, Asia, and Africa. He may t> lis own countrymen, either planters or engag merchandise. The Portuguese emigrants ft Madeira, who are generally hucksters or petty ti .rs, are there seen toiling beneath the hot sun, ber .ing a large canister of goods on one shoulder,

ABORIGINES, supported by a staff across the other — a hardworking and abstemious race. Hindoos from the East Indies are also there, brought to assist in the cultivation of the soil \ the Coolies from Calcutta, and their darker skinned brethren from Madras. These people often possess fine countenances, and slight well-made figures ; their showv oriental clothing generally of white muslin, calico, or scarlet cloth, with turbans or small ornamented skull-caps for the head, forming a lively portion of the scene. But by far the most numerous class are the negroes, who form the great bulk of the labouring population, and considerably outnumber all the other races put together.

While gazing upon the busy scene, the stranger's attention may be arrested by a group differing in many respects from the others. By the bright copper tint of their skins, their long, glossy, straight, black hair, and, too frequently, by their very scanty clothing, may be recognised the Aborigines of the country. They usually bear in their hands little articles of their own manufacture for sale, such as small baskets of various shapes, bows and arrows, models of canoes and Indian houses, &c. Frequently parrots, monkeys, and other animals are added to their little stock, the price of which will supply the family with axes, cutlasses, hoes, and other necessary implements ; with perhaps a gun, and a few articles of clothing of European manufacture for the ensuing year — if indeed the elder ones can refrain from chinking rum, the bane and destroyer of their race.

BRITISH GUIANA.

From the manner of these children of the wilderness it is easy to perceive that they are more or less strangers to the habits of civilized life. The young ones stare around them, and seem bewildered by the various objects which meet their gaze. Their home is in the vast forest, and on the banks of some one of the rivers which intersect the interior of the country. They sometimes visit the coast and the town, but only for the purpose of procuring the articles before mentioned • after which they retire to their abode in the forest until necessitated to seek a fresh supply.

It is the principal object of the following pages to describe some of the efforts which have been made for the conversion of these Indians from heathenism to Christianity • to represent their present condition, both temporal and spiritual, and to give an idea of their habits and way of life ; and also of the nature of missionary labour among them, as far as the personal experience of the writer and his brethren in this interesting work will allow.

Before, however, quitting the coast of Guiana, and entering on any description of the interior, it may not be uninteresting to give a brief view of the present state of the different races, which, as was before observed, occupy the cultivated part of the country. It will be at once easily surmised that the position of a clergyman, in the midst of a population so varied, must be one of great labour and difficulty. It is, in fact, (except in the matter of personal privation,) quite as arduous, and more unsatisfactory, than

IMPROVEMENT OF THE NEGROES.

that of the Missionary among the Indian tribes of the interior.

The Negroes of this, and of the other West Indian Colonies, were, as is well known, formerly in a state of slavery. They were originally brought from Africa, and were of various heathen nations. By the noble measure of the Emancipation they became, on the 1st of August, 1834, apprenticed labourers. This apprenticeship ceased in August 1838, since which time they have enjoyed the blessings of complete freedom.

Considerable care was taken that they should receive instruction in the duties of religion • and provision was made for that purpose by the liberality of the colonists, their employers, with assistance from England. Parishes were formed, churches, chapels, and schools built along the line of coast, and zealous ministers appointed to labour among them.

These efforts for their real good were well seconded by the people themselves. Their improvement was rapid \ and the willingness with which they came forward with large sums of money for religious purposes, deserves the highest praise. High hopes for their future well doing were confidently entertained by their best friends, which cannot be better expressed than in the eloquent language of the excellent and lamented Bishop Coleridge, who after noticing, in a charge to the clergy of Guiana in 1839, the eager liberality with which they came forward to assist in the erection of places of worship, thus speaks : —

" When the labouring classes of any community

BRITISH GUIANA.

can lay by so largely, and spend their earnings so holily and usefully,' there must be a spirit working within them, which, under judicious and affectionate guidance, will settle down into a habit of contented and steady industry."

Few things have been more pleasing, than to see on the Sunday morning the black population issuing from the avenues of cocoa-nut or palm-trees on the different plantations, and bending their way along the public road to the house of God, to worship Him whom they justly regard as the author of their freedom. Many pleasing instances of Christian feeling, liberality, resignation in sickness, and happy death-beds, might be adduced, as showing the fruits of the Gospel among them. They exhibited, in most cases, both anxiety to receive Christian instruction, and a regard for those who faithfully laboured among them.

How encouraging, for instance, is the fact related to me by a brother clergyman, (one of the Society's Missionaries,) of the members of a small congregation contributing 250 dollars for the enlargement and repairing of the dwelling of their teacher • and also purchasing a horse for his use, to save him the fatigue of walking some miles to visit the sick in that exhausting climate. Instances of this kind might easily be multiplied to a considerable extent. 1

1 My informant also mentioned, as an instance of attachment, that on one occasion returning from duty later in the evening than usual, through an abandoned plantation, overgrown with low bush, and much infested at night with the jaguars or panthers of the country, (called there tigers,) he was followed by an elderly negro, named

NEGRO SUPERSTITIONS.

Notwithstanding these pleasing circumstances, it must not be concealed that the advancement of the mass of the people has not equalled the expectations which were formed by their best friends. Some of the causes of this may be briefly stated, without seeking to excuse the negroes in the least where they are justly blameable.

To form a correct view, it is necessary first to consider the condition and habits of the negroes themselves. Many of them were Africans, thoroughly imbued with all the superstitions of their native country. Their children were also equally infected with them. Indeed, while the Christian religion was withheld from them, they had nothing but these superstitions to rest upon ; and they were consequently deeply rooted, and retain an influence on the minds even of those who are now professedly Christians.

An instance of this is seen in their superstitious veneration for the silk-cotton-tree. Many of them would on no account cut it down, believing that death would be the consequence. In the days of slavery, offerings were presented to some of these trees. It has been said that their forefathers were accustomed to meet under them to consult their priests, and to perform their superstitious ceremo-

Cesar, who, it seems, had entertained some degree of apprehension for his safety, and had carefully watched him, without his being aware of it, until he arrived at his house ; when he heard a voice exclaiming, " You are safe now, good-night ; " and looking round, saw the retiring figure of his faithful attendant.

s

BRITISH GUIANA.

nies ; and hence they became invested with a sacred character. 1

But many of the superstitions of Obia, or negro witchcraft, are of a dark and malignant nature. The Gospel drove these abominations into obscure corners, but they were still practised in secret, and are believed in by many of the people.

I once attended an aged female, lying, as she thought, at the point of death, who confessed that she had " worked " a charm to cause the death of some unknown person who had stolen her fowls. This charm consisted in pounding certain herbs in a wooden mortar for nine days, with magical incantations. I have also heard among the negroes of the rivers, of women obstinately attributing the deaths of their children to others, whom they accused of having destroyed them, and confined their souls in bottles. These monstrous and absurd ideas, too lamentable for ridicule, will show, in some measure, the nature of the superstitions which still darken the minds of many ; but will hardly appear surprising to those who consider the popular ideas of witchcraft formerly so prevalent, and still lingering in our own country.

In addition to these innate superstitions, there have been powerful external causes working for a

1 The silk-cotton is a large and handsome tree, growing to a considerable height and thickness : it is very straight, and covered with a strong, grey, prickly bark. Its trunk is free from branches to a considerable height. It sheds its leaves annually, and produces the silk-cotton every three years.

HIXDOO IMMIGRANTS.

long period, to check the advancement of the black population of British Guiana.

After the emancipation, much less labour was performed b j them than under the system of slavery. This was, of course, anticipated, but the falling off far exceeded the expectation. To remedy the serious loss to the estates, labourers were eagerly sought in other lands, and brought from every country where it was possible to procure them. Many of these were from Barbados, and the other islands, and generally of the worst class of people, whose example has greatly influenced the young. The well-disposed negroes would often complain of the injuries done by these immigrants, who have generally been foremost in every mischief since their introduction.

Thousands of Hindoos were also brought in, whose idolatrous ceremonies have been publicly performed. Some of these will be described, and must be seen to be of a nature calculated to produce an ill impression on the minds of people in a semi-barbarous state. The introduction of numerous bodies of Portuguese increased the evil which diversity of religion always must occasion.

While matters were gradually assuming an unpleasant appearance in the colony, a sort of crisis was produced by measures which increased the wealth of the foreign slave-holder, and gave an additional impulse to the slave trade * while they ruined many proprietors of West Indian property, and occasioned pressure and discontent among all classes in the colony.

BRITISH GUIANA.

The negroes, unwilling or unable to understand that their employers were compelled to reduce their wages, and many of them listening to designing men, who persuaded them that if they yielded they would gradually be brought again to their former state of slavery, gave up work for a time ; the baser sort resorting to theft for subsistence, and to incendiary practices for revenge.

In the unsettled state of things in the beginning of 1849, impostors took occasion to revive the system of Obia, and carry it on to a degree which a short time before would have seemed utterly incredible. It is impossible to describe the abominable dances which are said to have taken place. Although most of the negroes express great horror at these things, yet being influenced both by superstition and fear, as the Obia people are said to be expert poisoners, few dared to complain to the authorities, unless they had received a grievous injury from them. Some of the ringleaders were apprehended, but the practices still continued.

At the time when every thing called for the utmost exertion, the Church's strength was curtailed by the ■withdrawal of a great portion of the support formerly granted for religious and educational purposes by the Colonial legislature, which felt itself compelled by the pressure of the times to reduce its former liberal allowance. In very large and populous parishes (some containing five or six places of worship), the rectors had not the assistance of a

PORTUGUESE IMMIGRANTS.

single curate. 1 Education became much neglected. These circumstances have been attended with the greatest detriment to the black people, which must also prove inpuious to others ; for the comfort and welfare of the whole community depend on the advancement of Christian principles among them. There can be no return to a former condition.

The Portuguese immigrants may be briefly described. Though brought from Madeira to Guiana for the purpose of agricultural labour, they manage to escape from that as soon as possible ; and, being a money-making people, soon contrive to set up in business for themselves in small stores for the sale of spirits, (fee. Those who cannot attain to this position, become hucksters and pedlars, and their itinerant groups may be met with all over the country, each man bearing a heavy canister or package containing his goods. I have frequently seen them arrive in canoes at our Indian missions for the purposes of traffic.

Most of them were of course Eoman Catholics, and priests of their own denomination have been provided j though many pay little attention to their Church, and infinitely less to the requirements of the Gospel, of which they are, indeed, grossly ignorant.

There are, however, some Protestants among them, and we hope that the number will greatly increase. I have seen these read the Portuguese New Testa-

1 The parishes of St. John and the Holy Trinity, Essequibo, are instances.

BRTTISH GU1AXA.

ment with great reverence and attention; and I was once much struck with the circumstance of meeting a Protestant Portuguese female engaged alone in voluntary attendance on a poor negro woman, whose brutal husband had left her, though at the point of death. This and other instances show that many of the Portuguese are very well disposed, and though their pursuits are certainly most unfavourable to godliness, yet much good may be done among them.

The Coolies from Hindostan next demand our attention. Many thousands of these have been brought from the presidencies of Calcutta and Madras, the natives of which differ from each other in dialect and also in colour ; the former being of a deep tawny hue, while the latter are nearly black. Few of them possessed a knowledge of Christ, they being unhappily, almost without exception, followers of the superstitions of the Brahmins or of the false prophet Mohammed.

The general appearance of these people is very picturesque. When not at work, they usually wear a close vest of thin calico, with sleeves, and sometimes ornamented, while a long cloth is wrapped round their loins, which they gird up tightly when setting forth on a journey. The dress of the few women who have been brought over does not differ greatly from that of the men. They generally wear in addition a large cloth or veil, in which they envelop the head. They are fond of ornament, and those who can afford it wear massive silver rings both

COOLIES.

on their wrists and ankles. The feet of both sexes are bare, or shod with rude sandals, which, with the girdle, earrings, ornaments for the nose, &c, forcibly remind the beholder of the representations of Scripture.

The sugar estates on which the people are located assume quite an oriental appearance, from the groups which may be seen on the banks of the canals washing their robes and other articles of finery, or scouring the brazen vessels from which they eat their rice and milk, and which they take pride in bringing to the highest degree of brightness. They do not, however, carry their cleanliness in other respects to a very high pitch, their dwellings being often very offensive ; nor can we boast of their temperance, it being a not unfrequent occurrence, to find a man, totally insensible from drunkenness, lying by the side of the road ; the long tuft of black hair streaming from his otherwise shaven head is, in such cases, apt to startle the horses of those that pass by.

Parties of from five to thirty of these people in their holiday attire may be met with, going to visit their friends, and arrange the preparations for some festival. But however interesting their appearance may be, it is impossible for the Christian to avoid the reflection, that they are of a race involved in the deepest and most awful bondage to Satan. They bear the distinguishing marks of the idols whom they serve upon their foreheads. These are traced in different shapes and colours, according to the sect to which they belong.

14 BKITISH GUIANA.

Though separated by a voyage of many thousands of miles from their ancient temples and the spots which have been defiled for ages by their idolatrous worship, they nevertheless have done their best to keep up the ceremonies to which they have been accustomed, — to create for themselves a Hindostan on the shores of Gniana. I will endeavour to describe an evening scene which I have witnessed more than once.

Let the reader place himself in imagination in front of one of the estates in Essequibo, on the evening of the full moon at the beginning of the year. The plantation may be one of those fast verging to abandonment ; but all will look beautiful in the moonlight, which is not strong enough to show the tokens of disorder and decay. Innumerable fireflies are flitting like sparks of fire amongst the rank vegetation. The more steady negroes are retiring to their cottages, and Coolies may be seen hastening by, with a quick step and their usual courteous ^salaam." They are going to join the procession of their countrymen, whose shouts may be heard from time to time, accompanied by the monotonous beating of the tom-toms or drums ; and soon the glare of numerous torches becomes visible beneath the dark trees which border the road.

As the procession approaches, the eye is struck by the multitude of people assembled around a tall pagoda, which is borne on the shoulders of many men by means of a frame resting on strong bamboos. This structure is chiefly composed of light wood,

IDOL PROCESSION.

cloth, and coloured paper, put together with great ingenuity, and adorned with streamers and gilding, which give it a splendid appearance. It is the shrine of an image, which has been formed of clay procured with great ceremony from the banks of some stream in the neighbourhood a few days before. Some of these structures have a small image representing a naked figure at each corner.

The bearers stop at certain intervals, during which there is no want of amusement for the spectators. Some of the attendants of this idol assume the most fantastic appearance, their tawny bodies beingsmeared or spotted with black or other colours, while they dance in the most grotesque manner, clattering sticks which they hold in each hand. Sometimes one personates a v> Ud man, who is held by others with a chain or rope. Sometimes a man appears dressed as a woman, and dances, to the great amusement of the spectators. But the most interesting part of the pageant consists of men dancing and nourishing swords, or several couples engaged in combat with mock swords and small targets, in the use of which they display all that agility and rapidity of motion which seems a distinguishing quality of their countrymen.

While these performers are engaged in their dancing and other exercises, the whole assembled multitude continue a monotonous invocation, consisting of one or two words 1 addressed to the presiding deity,

i TVhat an illustration of our Lord's warning. — "L'se not Tain repetitions, as the heathen do ! :5

BRITISH GUIAXA.

beating their breasts at the same time with their right hands. This is accompanied with the beating of tom-toms, and interrupted from time to time by the firing of guns and a loud shout, in which all join. The procession then moves on.

It has been painful to behold such idolatrous spectacles in a country which before presented so goodly an aspect, and to witness such a scene immediately in front of a Christian church, where they generally make a stop for some time, as if in defiance of the cross, the truth and purity of whose doctrines will eventually overcome and destroy all their superstitions. I have also seen crowds of young negroes following and joining in their invocatory cry and shout of applause, as loudly as the Hindoos themselves. Undue importance should not be attached to this circumstance, for the mass of the negroes have no friendship for the Coolies, whom they regard with jealousy as interlopers; but notwithstanding it may be considered as a sign of the times. Every one knows that the frequent sight of idolatry will tend to diminish the abhorrence which at first sight it occasions, unless the heart be very carefully guarded. These things have not been done in a corner, but openly practised and allowed. No wonder, then, that ill-disposed negroes, who have hated Christianity on account of its purity and the restraints which it has imposed upon their licentious desires, should have taken courage from what they saw around them to follow their own Obia practices .-■'•SS^tead. They could not see why they should be