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The statements of Mr. Livingston, who writes under date of April 10, furnish a correct and vivid picture of the internal dissensions and conflicts of the Native tribes; as well as of the manner in which these are frequently overruled, by divine mercy, to the extension of the Gospel and the salvation of the people :As the commotions which occur among the tribes in this region usually possess features of interest in relation to our Mission, I shall relate a few particulars concerning the more recent changes which have occurred; and, though these are calculated to awaken emotions more of pain than pleasure, the information may tend to excite prayer, that He, who is head over all things to His Church, may overrule the course of events for the establishment of His glorious kingdom.

Wars, or rather expeditions for plunder, seem to have been of frequent occurrence in this country from time immemorial, and the narration of the deeds performed in their forays forms a prominent feature in native conversation. But, though generally the occasions of the most wanton cruelty, they are regarded in much the same light as our own wars were thirty years ago. As with the ancient Highlanders, "lifting cattle" is not considered by the Bechuanas synonymous with stealing: some do not like the term robbery to be applied to these deeds of plunder, while they can talk with composure when the term "lifting" is applied.

The Bakuains, or Baquanes, were formerly divided into two portions, under Bube and Sechele-the division having been effected by the murder of Sechele's father, the two parties were always at variance. In August last, Bube, having received some gunpowder in a present from Sechele, and conceiving that, coming from such a quarter, it must be bewitched, endeavoured to dissolve the charm by holding some medicines in a state of combustion over it. But his incantations were interrupted by an explosion, which inflicted so much injury as, subsequently, to cause his death.

About a month previous to the accident which caused his death, this amiable heathen Chief visited us at Mabotsa; and, when spoken to, said, in his usual way of endeavouring to please, "I love the word of God."

After the Chief was departed, who by his influence kept most of that section of Bakuains together, many of the principal people preferred escaping to Sechele, to remaining with Khake, the survivor of Bube. It then became necessary for Sechele to demand the goods and dependents of those who had returned to their allegiance. The tribe being weakened, it was considered a good opportunity, by the stronger party, for avenging ancient

wrongs. But as Sechele had promised not to shed blood,-on approaching the town of Khake, he left the great body of his people at a distance, and, nearly unattended, advanced to entreat the people to return to their allegiance. Entreaty having failed, Sechele told them that he refrained from the usual course on such occasions, simply because of "his promise to his Missionary," and only demanded the goods of those who came over to his party. Sechele then returned to Chonuane.

Subsequently to this transaction, an old man, who had been an accomplice in the murder of Sechele's father, was concerned in instigating a number of Khake's men to an assault on some of Sechele's people; and to the injury inflicted an insulting message was added, upbraiding the latter Chief for cowardice, in "pretending" he did not fight because of his Missionary, &c. We endeavoured to allay the irritation produced, and hoped that, as the men who were wounded and insulted were of an inferior rank, the affair would pass over. But an expedition was planned, under the appearance of an elephant hunt; and our first intimation of actual hostilities was the sight of the wounded carried past to the town: this was soon followed by the sounds of heathenish joy mingled with the loud wailing of those who had lost their friends.

These events caused us much sorrow. The Chief justified his conduct, on the ground that these people were his own subjects; and excused the deceit he employed, on the plea that, had he informed us of his intentions, we should again have prevented him avenging the indignities done to their hereditary Chief. His conduct has in no way been altered for the worse, although we were not sparing in manifesting our detestation of the crime of murder. In a desire for general information and assiduity in reading, this Chief surpasses all the Chiefs except Waterboer, with whom I have come in contact. May the Lord incline his heart to righteousness, and make him a blessing to his people!

Khake, with the remaining portion of his people, came about a week ago to this station. These commotions have thus ended by the whole of these two tribes being brought into closer proximity to the Gospel. We pray that we may yet see that the plans of Divine mercy have been carried right through the midst of all this wickedness; and that those who now feel no compassion for each other may have mercy shown to themselves.

GRATIFYING INTELLIGENCE FROM MADAGASCAR.

THE following intelligence from Madagascar, forwarded by Rev. J. Le Brun, of Mauritius, in October last, will not fail to awaken the devout thanksgivings of the friends of Missions :

"Great and glorious news from Madagascar! The Christians, though still persecuted, are daily increasing in number. There has been of late a great awakening among them; and there are more than one hundred new converts. Among the number is the Prince Royal, presumptive heir to the throne, and only Son of Ranaválona. There is yet in this young Prince a little of the spirit of Nicodemus. But he joins with the Christians for prayer and reading the Bible. The Queen had given orders to apprehend all the Christians, and twenty-one of them were condemned to death, when the young Prince stepped forward to defend them; he succeeded so far, that only nine of the twenty-one were obliged to take the tangena, and one of them, I regret to say, died in consequence. The rest were reduced to slavery, but were immediately redeemed by their friends. It is rumoured that the Prince contributed liberally to their redemption."

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AT CHINSURAH.

WE regret to state that intelligence has been received from the Rev. James Bradbury, of Chinsurah, of the complete destruction by fire, of his principal Schoolhouse. He also intimates that the Infant School, under the general superintendence of Mrs. Bradbury, cannot be sustained without a considerable increase of expense. The teacher, who received sixteen rupees (17. 128.) per month, having resigned her situation, another teacher cannot be obtained under 27. a month. The progress of the children in the past year has been highly encouraging, affording to the friends of Missions in the Presidency, by whom the School has been visited, unmingled satisfaction and pleasure. The local contributions for its support have always been liberal, but in the present exigency of the case, arising from the circumstances above stated, Mr. Bradbury finds assistance from other quarters necessary. In compliance with his earnest request, the Directors are induced to present these claims to the kind consideration of the friends of Education at home, and they will be happy to receive and acknowledge on his behalf, contributions either to erect another Schoolhouse, or towards the support of a teacher for the Infant School.

DEATH OF MRS. D. G. WATT.

It is our very painful duty to announce the death of Mrs. D. G. Watt, who embarked with her husband for Calcutta on the 31st of July, in the ship Monarch. It was in her heart to devote herself to the work of God in India, but she lived not even to enter the Missionary field, as it pleased the Supreme Disposer of events to take her to himself three weeks after leaving her native shores. She died at sea on the 23rd of August, and on the following day her body was committed to the deep. In a letter from her afflicted husband, who reached Calcutta on the 25th of October,

the leading features of the mournful event are thus given :

"On that day, (Aug. 23,) about noon, my dear wife rested from her labours and sufferings. She had passed the three preceding nights in much feverishness and restlessness, but she was taken away apparently with little pain, and unconscious that she was so soon to see Him to whom she had consecrated herself. Nor had I any conception that her change was so Her wonted energy so sustained her, that I became aware of her state only when speech failed. It would have been

near.

gratifying to me to have had some few last words, but I needed them not as evidence of her trust in Christ. She served him faithfully when she had ability, and in her weakness he forsook her not. I said to her at one time, that I was afraid lest her debility might prevent her realising God's presence. "No," she replied, "God fulfils all his promises to me." On Saturday night she said that she had communion with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. She longed for the purity and perfect service of heaven. Her life was not an unuseful one. She had done much and done well in various ways for Christ's sake; and, as she had been faithful to what was given her, the sphere of her influence was widening. The desire to make up for the lack of service in India was one of the great reasons which induced her to leave

her place at home; and her ability for the peculiar work of a new station is not often to be met with. I trust God has accepted her ready mind, and that now she is serving Him in his temple with the perfect consecration of all her talents. Her death occurred about half-past twelve o'clock on Sunday, and at sunset on Monday her body was committed to the deep.

She has left an example of devotedness which I hope will not be lost upon me, and I pray that the bereavement may be very conducive to my spirituality and activity. God hath sustained me. I have had great kindness and sympathy shown to me on board, and before her death by the captain; and two or three of the passengers have manifested a kindness that I could only have expected from intimate friends.

DEATH OF MRS. BAUSUM, AT PINANG.

WITH unfeigned concern we announce the death of Mrs. Bausum, (late Mrs. S. Dyer,) at Pinang, in October last. On the 21st of that month she closed her benevolent and useful course of labour in the Missionary field, and entered into rest.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

The best thanks of the Directors are presented to the following for generous contributions of wearing apparel, and sundry useful articles, for South Africa, in answer to the appeal of the Rev. William Elliott:

To Ladies connected with the congregation of the Rev. W. Chambers, Newcastle-under-Lyne; to Rev. J. Hopwood aud Friends, Lutterworth; to the Ladies of Blandford Working Society; to Rev. W. Martin and Friends, Brigg; to Providence Girls' Sabbath-school, Rochdale; to Miss Pinchback, Manningtree; to the Juvenile Missionary Working Party, Sawbridgeworth; to Rev. R. Ashton and Friends, Putney; to the Juvenile Missionary Working Society, Wellingborough; to the Spencer-street Mission Clothing Society, Leamington; to Friends at Middlewich; to Mrs. and the Misses Burrup, and Miss Edmonds, Brighton; to J. J.; to the Havant Juvenile Missionary Association; to a Friend of Missions in Gosport ; to Mrs. Dear, Rockingham.

Also to the following:For Rev. J. Read, Kat River.-To the Aberdeen Female Missionary Society; to Rev. J. Glendenning and Friends; to the Ladies connected with Rev. J. Shore's Congregation, Smethwick;

to the Great George-street and Crescent Chapel Ladies' Working Society, Liverpool; to Miss Hawkes, Coventry.

For Rev. J. Monro, Cradock.-To Mr. T. Carlile and

Friends, Isle of Wight, for a box of useful articles. For Rev. D. Livingston.-To the Children of Buckfield-street, Stratford, per Miss Franks, for a box of clothing.

For Rarotonga.-To Mrs. Dear. Rockingham; to Mr. J. Houghton, Chelmsford; to Mr. Gibbons, Calne; to the Children of St. Paul's Free Church Sunday-school, Edinburgh; to J. S. Dempster, Esq., Turnham-green; to H. J., South Molton; to Miss Stutchberry, Maidenhead; to Great Georgestreet, and Crescent Chapel Ladies' Working Society, Liverpool, for packages of wearing apparel, &c.

For Queen Pomare.-To a Lady belonging to Rev. J. France's Congregation, for a shawl. For Rev. J. P. Sunderland.-To Friends at Southplace Chapel, Chesterfield, for a box of apparel. For Samoa.-To Friends at Horsham, for a box of useful articles.

For India. To Rev. J. Peggs, for a parcel of books: to Mr. Lees, Camberwell; to Mrs. Walker; to Messrs. White and Son, for Evangelical Magazine, and other publications.

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Contributions towards the Relief of the Sufferers in South Africa, in response to the Appeals of Rev. W. Elliott, and Rev. J. Read.

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3 3 0

Mrs. Eb. Smith 2 2 0

Friends at Edinburgh, by

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Miss Deakin, Attercliffe 4 0
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MISSIONARY CONTRIBUTIONS,

From the 1st to the 31st December, 1846, inclusive.

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Wellingborough, Grendon House, B. L. Ward, Esq. 500 Wollaston, J. Ward, Esq. 5

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Shropshire.

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