him to whom he succeeds. They do not, moreover, elevate women to positions of power. After the people of the several districts had nominated their future rulers, we had a public meeting for their being formally recognised. As is the custom on all great occasions, they made a collection of food one afternoon, consisting of taro, bread fruit, pork, and fish. A bag of the rice you sent was also cooked, and placed alongside the food provided by the natives. After dividing it, and feasting to the full, they went off to their own homes for the night, except those from a distance. On the forenoon of the following day, we met in the church for religious exercises. Mr Geddie preached to them from Romans xiii. 1, and pointed out the duties of rulers and ruled as laid down in the word of God. After the sermon, the natives proceeded to shew their respect for their chiefs, and to recognise them as such, by carrying them shoulder high. This was done by means of a framework of wood, supported by long poles. After they had been dressed up in somewhat showy garments, they took their places on this platform. The natives closed around, and soon had them standing conspicuously far above all their brethren. They then marched very slowly along the shore, with flags waving, amid shouts, and songs, and salutes. After going some distance, they set down their burden. Their place was occupied by the three highest chiefs on the other side of the island, who were carried a like distance, with all the same demonstrations. This was the way in which they honoured their rulers in the days of heathenism; and as we could see nothing wrong in it, it was proposed to them, that in this matter, they should follow old use and wont. After this part of the ceremony was over, we gave them each a biscuit, when they separated, each highly pleased with the whole proceedings, which, though old, were in some respects new.

The latest event has been another burricane. It took place on the 17th current, just a week ago. From the 9th we had almost incessant rain, by far the longest spell of wet weather I have seen here. The barometer kept falling from the morning of the 16th, till the storm was at its height, about 10 A.M. on the 17th Parometrically considered, it was not so severe as the one we had last year, as the fall was a little under an inch; but even that, as you know, within the tropics indicates the presence of some very serious disturbing cause. We had a veering of the wind from E. by S.E. to S., where it blew with all its might for about three hours before it reached its full strength, and for eight hours afterwards. The centre must have passed to the eastward, I should think, at no great distance. The morning tide, about six o'clock, was a little higher than usual, but not such as to encroach much upon the land. It was accompanied by a terrible rain, such as I never witnessed. The streams over the whole island overflowed their banks, and carried tons of earth and many noble trees far out to sea. A great part of the shore land was under water. It was at its height about 10 A.M., so that we could see-no mean consideration. Man's works are but mere toys in the hands of such an awful agency. Though perhaps not quite so severe as the last, it has done much damage to fences, fruit trees, food, and houses. We lost our carpenter's shop, and one of our store rooms, both under one roof. Every post was snapped a few inches below the surface of the ground, and the whole laid on its side, leaving the multifarious contents at the mercy of a deluging rain. The church and teachers' institution have been sadly battered, and twisted, and bent, both in the walls and roof. The thatch gave way, and there was not a dry spot in either of them. Some six or seven lime school-houses have gone by the board, and as many more have sustained considerable injury. There were no ships in the harbour. I have only heard vague reports as to the state of matters on the other side of the island. Mr Geddie's premises were gable on to the wind, but here the most of the houses presented their sides to it. The day following we had not much wind, but beavy rain for the most of the day. Since that we have had delightful weather not like that in the rainy season. I am not sure that the writers on cyclones understand thoroughly their nature, and paths, and source, in this part of the world. They tell us that they originate in a latitude corresponding to the declination of the sun, that they move westward, and at the same time, recede from the equator; and that, when they return to the eastward, they do so in a

higher latitude. If these theories be correct, we should have no hurricanes here till after the 21st of January, at which time the declination of the sun corre sponds to the latitude of the island. Again, if in going westward they recede from the equator, the sun ought to be considerably to the north of us, before we can be visited by a cyclone. This last one must either have originated in a latitude different from that corresponding to the sun's declination, or else it must have pursued a path different from that which cyclones are said to follow. Perhaps by comparing notes with the Tanna brethren, something may be elicited. A barometer is a most excellent companion in these storms. Long before I could see any abatement, it stood still, and even began to rise.

To us resident on these islands subject to hurricanes, a knowledge of their laws, paths, and seasons, is not without its uses. For instance, a house with its gable to the gale is in less danger of being overturned than one that presents to it its broadside. By giving a little attention, we may discover the best position lengthwise for a house, whether E. and W. or N. and S., or some intermediate point. We have had intelligence from Tanna since the gale, but not from the missionaries there. It was to the effect, that the natives about the harbour, and the inland tribes, were fighting on account of the hurricane; that Mr Paton had gone to Mr Matheson's for safety; and that the Tanna men must have broken into his store, as they were offering shirts for sale. We are looking for more definite information every day from the brethren themselves, as the captain of a vessel belonging to this island now at Tanna promised to go out of his way, if necessary, to know how matters are.

We are all well on this island, in the good providence of God. The storehouse for this mission is about completed. It is thirty-four feet by nineteen, and consists of two rooms. I send you the latest from the press, our Almanack for 1862. More than the half of Exodus has been printed. With best wishes for yourself and family, I am, yours, &c., Jos. COPELAND.

Rev. J. Kay.

Feb. 20th.-All well. Messrs Paton and Matheson have had to leave Tanna. They have arrived in safety on this island. Mr Paton will give you all par ticulars.

J. C.

ANEITYUM, NEW HEBRIDES, Jan. 31. 1862.

REV. AND DEAR SIR-On the 25th of last month, the John Knox was drawn up on the beach, to remain there till April. She has now completed her fifth year here. A very short statement of what has been done in the way of communication with the adjoining islands during the past sailing season, is all that now remains to be made. She started on her first visit to the islands on the 8th of April, and returned from the last on the 5th of December. In the interval between these two dates she made six trips, which have occupied on an average nine days. She called at Black Beach, Nina, and Fotuna twice; and at Port Resolution once every voyage, and sometimes twice. One island has not been visited during the past season, viz., Erromanga. Mr Geddie left on one occasion for Dillon's Bay, shortly after hearing of the massacres there; but having met with foul, baffling winds, he put back and waited the arrival of the John Williams.

Work. She has carried a good many passengers. In the early part of the season Mrs Johnston and eleven Aneityumese, the most of them from Port Resolution, were brought to this island. On her last visit the teachers at Black Beach were removed in her, two Nina natives, and several Tannese were brought to this island and taken home in her. As formerly, she has carried goods, letters, and periodicals for the brethren on Tanna, and the supplies for the teachers on lonely Fotuna. During the past season, then, we have not visited all the stations, we have made fewer trips (six in all, or seven, as the arrival of the John Williams saved one), we have opened up no new field, and we have settled no new teachers. We have been forced to undo and abandon.

The reasons I need hardly wait to mention. Our own time here has been very fully occupied in organising the missionary machinery, and in repairing the ruin wrought by fire and storm. The sickness and mortality rendered necessary the return of most of the Tanna teachers; and from the many vacancies at home, we had not men to send to supply their places.

We had a seaman on board for two voyages; Mr Geddie accompanied the vessel once. I went four times, and the natives were alone once.

Though less work has been done during this year, our expenses are heavier than in 1861. In the first place, we had to get a suit of new sails, as the most of those formerly in use were burned in Mr Geddie's school-house in March. We had neither time nor an opportunity of sending to Sydney to procure others, and were under the necessity of ordering them from one of the sandal-wood establishments, where articles of all sorts can only be had at a very high figure. We also lost in the same fire our sweeps, and these we had to purchase at the same place. But we were glad to get them on any condition; and felt ourselves indebted to those who, had they been inclined, might have kept the vessel high and dry on the beach for some months. Another item of extra expense has been caused by the scarcity of native food. The hurricanes destroyed much of it on all the islands. On Tanna we could get no yams. The taro, the staff of life here, does not keep good over a week. Hence we had to depend in a great measure on rice and biscuit for feeding our crew and passengers. The expense for the last year (over £40) has not however come, any of it, on the funds of the Churches. A part of the handsome sum sent us by our New Zealand friends was appropriated to meet the expense of the mission vessel.

The trips this year, though extending none of them to Eromanga, have occupied on an average the same number of days as when that island was occasionally visited. The most of them have been tedious. There is one exception. Mr Geddie went to Port Resolution and returned in four days. On another occasion I left Tanna at sunrise, and anchored at Anelcauhat before sunset; but we had been lying at Port Resolution for a whole week before, owing to wind and rain. We generally go to sea with a crew of five, four for the vessel and one to act as cook. This is a large crew for such a small craft; but you must take into account their inexperience, and liability to suffer from exposure when not accustomed to it. Cold, or rather rain and cold, soon lay them up, as they have not much of what we call warm clothing. The vessel too is not particularly comfortable either fore or aft, above or below, when it is rough. We carry little in the shape of luxuries. Taro, pork, rice, biscuit, tea and sugar, with wood and water, form our stores. The chart and quadrant and epitome are generally on board, though sometimes left behind. We know our latitude each day, and hence observations are not necessary. Should the vessel be driven away, we have no chronometer to assist in determining the longitude. An aneroid barometer would be a useful addition to the appendages of the vessel. Only once has the John Knox been without a position. On returning from Eromanga this island was passed, and a long stretch made away to the S.E., in the direction of Matthew's Rock. The peaks of the island were barely visible. Fortunately they were seen, and the vessel turned in their direction. On board may be seen, on a small scale, all the operations performed on board larger vessels, e.g., sail mending, splicing ropes, pumping ship, tacking, reefing and unreefing, letting go the anchor and weighing it. We have also that unfailing companion of ships, sea-sickness. We sometimes keep a look-out, but that work generally devolves on the person steering. We seldom meet another ship. At sunrise and sunset may be heard our song of praise and prayers to him who is the God of the sea as well as of the dry land.

We have already made known to you our wish for another vessel, of seventy or eighty tons burden, large enough to visit all the islands of the group, and to go to the colonies during the hurricane season for our supplies, and to create and keep alive an interest in missions in the adjacent colonies. It is true that during the past year the work in this end of the group has not been advancing as we could have wished, but this is not the case with all the islands of the New Hebrides. We have teachers now on Espiritu Santo, said to be two hundred

miles in circumference, and on Apii; and we expect soon to have these pioneers on Mallicolo, another large island in the north end of this group. These men must be visited; and, as circumstances require, removed, encouraged, reinforced, and supported. This is practicable so long as the John Williams is here; but what are we to do during her voyage to England, which may occupy two years or more? This is too long a period for the teachers to be unvisited. We wish a vessel that will cause less loss of time to the missionaries. The trips of the John Knox have not been many this year; but between the launching and hauling up and making four visits to the islands, I have spent (I had almost written lost) nine weeks in the service of the vessel. This is too much. I cannot speak with certainty as to weeks and days for Mr Geddie; but this I know, that he too devotes many a day to her and her work. We would like a vessel that sails well, and can go to windward; and one that has comfortable accommodation for persons going in her, whether missionaries or teachers. We would like also to have good men for captain and mate,-men who fear God, and will enter heart and soul into the work before us.

Some considerable time is likely to elapse before this group can be fully sup plied with missionaries. Teachers are more easily procured, and are much more easily supported. Encouraged by what these men, imperfect as they are, have at length done on Fate, we feel inclined to try what native agency can do for the heathen islands of the group, praying at the same time that the Lord of the harvest may send forth European labourers from home and the colonies to carry forward the work they may be instrumental in beginning.

With best wishes, I am yours, &c.,

Rev. J. Kay.

Jos. COPELAND.

EXTRACTS FROM MR GEDDIE'S MISSIONARY VOYAGE OF THE "JOHN WILLIAMS" AMONG THE NEW HEBRIDES AND LOYALTY ISLANDS.

(From the Home and Foreign Record of the Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces of British North America.)

VATE, OR FATE, OR SANDWICH ISLAND.

September 13th.-We were close into Vate this morning, after a night's run from Eromanga. We approached this island with mingled emotions of fear and hope. Before we reached the island we heard that the teachers were all dead, and again we heard that they were all alive. Our minds were soon relieved by seeing a number of canoes come off from the shore, and among those on board of them the teachers could be recognised. The ship was brought to anchor in the large bay of Erakor, at the head of which the teachers reside, about two miles from the anchorage. The teachers were soon on board, and gave us the cheering information that they and their families were well, and much encouraged in their labours.

The mission had suffered severely from meazles, but all connected with it had recovered with the exception of a child who died. The disease had also spread over a considerable part of the island, but it was less fatal here than on the more southerly islands. It was taken to Vate by the schooner "Jessie" from Aneityum. A number of diseased natives were landed at the bay where the teachers reside, and no intimation was given to them or others of the fearful Scourge introduced among them. The natives did not blame the teachers for the sickness, as in some other islands. We were glad to hear that the scarcity of food, of which there is so much complaint on some islands, did not extend to Vate. The teachers and natives seemed to have abundance of the necessaries of life, and a good present of yams was given to the ship.

The report which the teachers gave of the mission was more encouraging than it had been our privilege to hear during any previous visit. The time to favour this dark island, on which so many devoted teachers had fallen by the hand of violence and the deadly influence of disease, has at last come. The whole population in the district where the teachers reside is professedly Christian, and at

tend on the instructions of the teachers. The tribes around them are, however, in darkness, and continue to practise the worst abominations of heathenism, and from these the Christian party receive some annoyance. But at the time of our visit the heathen were at war among themselves, and the Christians were not molested by them. It was a truly lovely sight to see a small community of persons attached to the doctrines, and practising the duties, of our holy religion amidst the unbroken heathenism that surrounds them. The little leaven will in due time leaven the whole lump, and the spark which has been kindled in Erakor bay will become a mighty flame to illuminate the whole island. The teachers told us that some of the natives were desirous of being baptized and publicly professing their faith in Christ and obedience to his will. Some of the natives of this place had been at Samoa, and understood something about the nature and design of Church ordinances. Neither Mr Murray nor I were prepared for such a request, yet we dare not hastily dismiss it. We concluded, after much consideration, to examine thirteen candidates who were recommended by the teachers. After the examination of the several persons on the leading truths of the Bible, we were satisfied with ten of the number. Their views of divine truth were clear, and far more extensive than we ventured to hope; the earnestness which they manifested gave us much confidence in their sincerity; and their general conduct, the teachers assured us, was consistent and exemplary. Unprepared as we were for dispensing the sealing ordinances of religion, yet after a long interview with these Vatian disciples, we could only say, as Peter did on another occasion, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized?" It was accordingly arranged that we should spend the Sabbath at this island, and dispense the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper.

The Sabbath was a lovely day. The sky above was clear and cloudless, and the sea around was calm, the breeze being scarcely strong enough to ripple the surface. After breakfast two boats were lowered, and Mr and Mrs Murray, Captain and Mrs Williams, Mrs Johnston, Mr Turpie, first officer, myself, and all the other church members on board went ashore. Soon after we landed, the longo was beaten to give notice that the hour for worship had come. We met in a plain grass house, which was made comfortable with mats and native cloth. There seemed to be over two hundred persons present, and the house was quite full. One of the Rarotongan evangelists preached a sermon in the Vate language. It next devolved upon me to administer the ordinance of baptism to ten adults and one child. Then followed the dispensing of the Lord's Supper by Mr Murray. During the services of the day four different languages were spoken-the Vatian, Samoan, Aneityum, and English-that all might be edified and hear the wonderful works of God in their own tongue. There was in that interesting and memorable meeting much external diversity, but I trust we were one in heart. It was impossible, in our peculiar circumatances, not to think of the "general assembly and church of the first-born,' which shall be made up of persons of "every kindred, and people, and nation.” At the close of our meeting the little Church on Vate was formally constituted. We feel much interest in this little band of witnesses for Christ in the midst of surrounding heathenism. May that tender flock enjoy much of the divine Shepherd's guardianship and care. They need your prayers, and I trust these will not be withheld. I shall never forget the day on which it was my privilege to unite with the followers of Christ on Vate in commemorating the dying love of our common Saviour. Angels, no doubt, were interested spectators of that lovely scene. It must have been a happy day for the native teachers. During their night of toil I sympathised with them in their sorrows, and I now felt that I had a right to rejoice with them in their joys. God has put honour on these humble and devoted men, in making them the instruments of gathering from heathenism the first Christian Church on the island. During our visit we opened a new station in the bay, at a place called Pango. Some natives came from that district begging teachers. They formerly had Samoans living among them, but most of them died, and the others were removed. There is reason to hope, however, that their labour was not altogether in vain. A small party