"Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King." Psalm xcvi. 10, Prayer-book version The two Homes PAGE 82 RECOLLECTIONS OF THE COAST OF AFRICA. ONE of the most interesting scenes which can be witnessed is the landing of liberated Africans from the hold of a slave-ship. In the year 1820, owing to the vigilance of the cruisers under the command of Commodore Sir R. Mends, who afterwards fell a victim to the African climate, an unusual number of slavers were assembled at Sierra Leone, awaiting the decision of the Mixed-Commission Court, composed of the representatives and judges of various nations. Three of these vessels having been condemned, it was considered expedient, if possible, to land all the slaves at once. For this purpose all the boats of the squadron then in port proceeded to the vessels, and were filled to overflowing with now happy and liberated negroes. On the shore, the inhabitants of the various villages, who had been themselves previously emancipated, were assembled in thousands, in the hope of recognising some friend or brother, some mother or sister, from whom they had been cruelly torn in a distant land. As the boats neared the shore, the shouts from those on the land and those in the boats became loud and incessant. Recognitions of fellow-countrymen and near and dear relatives took place. The boats appeared to them to move too slowly-at any rate they did not keep pace with their affections; and the consequence was, that many jumped from the boats into the sea to swim on shore, while those on the land could not be restrained from swimming towards the boats. Many gratulations and embraces were exchanged on the mighty deep. And as soon as the boats touched the land, the crowds became so mingled, and their actions so animated, that it resembled rather the onset of conflicting bands, than the meeting of long-separated friends. Groups were speedily formed of the different nations and tribes of which the inhabitants of Sierra Leone are composed. Then some conspicuous personage was to be seen unfolding to the assembled throng the tale of woe, of wonder, or of joy, as the case might be-in fact, all that they had seen, and all that they had endured; the state of their tribe; the births, marriages, and deaths; the welfare of friends, and the fate of foes. The Engraving, however, will bring the scene more vividly before our readers than any description that we can give. Long will it be before the embraces, the tears, and the joys that were then exchanged can be forgotten by those who witnessed the scene. Considerable time elapsed before the assembled throngs could be persuaded to move off to their respective villages. May not this happy event remind us of a far more exalted and happier meeting, which many of those poor Africans will one day experience, through the instrumentality of the Church Missionary Society, around the throne of God? Severed from their native land, and torn from the embraces of friends, they have, in His marvellous providence, been conveyed to a land where, for the first time, they have heard of Him, and of the glad tidings of im KANDIAN BAPTISM AND MARRIAGE. 3 mortality by Jesus Christ. Be it our endeavour then, by our contributions and prayers, to aid that great Society which is raised up to carry the glad tidings of peace to poor, degraded, and long-injured Africa. Then "Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands" and praise the Lord. KANDIAN BAPTISM AND MARRIAGE. KANDY, the capital of the interior of Ceylon, is placed at the head and widest part of a pretty extensive valley, and about 1400 feet above the level of the sea. Standing on the borders of an artificial lake, and enclosed by wooded hills and mountains, from 200 to 2000 feet high, its situation is beautiful. We have had a Missionary Station there since 1835; and much good seed has been sown. It is true that, as in other parts of Ceylon, the progress of the work is slow; yet there are occasionally encouraging indications, which lead to wait in expectation of the time when the Lord shall cause this Missionary field to bring forth plenteously. Not long since we related some interesting circumstances respecting the village of Ratmewela, about twelve miles from Kandy. We are now enabled to introduce another pleasing fact, communicated to us by the same Missionary, the Rev. W. Oakley. He writes, June 9 I must give you a brief account of the baptism and marriage of the daughter of a Kandian chief, which took place here last month. This young woman, now about eighteen years of age, is the daughter of a Kandian chief, named Kapitipolla Bandar, connected with the highest Kandian families. Her father is dead: her mother is still alive. She has a sister older than herself, who is married; and a brother and sister who are much younger. With one or two exceptions, the whole of this family and their relatives are heathen-Buddhists. One of the uncles of this young woman is a Christian, and a communicant in connexion with the congregation on the Mission premises. Another uncle, the elder brother of the above, has been accustomed to attend divine service on the Mission premises occasionally for the last twenty years, and has some considerable acquaintance with Christianity; but, from a variety of reasons, still holds back from renouncing heathenism altogether, and becoming a Christian. Several other members of her family are well educated, and are not altogether unacquainted with the truths of the Christian religion; but unless the Spirit of God carry home these truths to their hearts, and make them willing to renounce all for Christ, we cannot hope to see any permanent change produced in them. Our hope is in the word and promise of Jehovah. He has promised to His Son, "Ask of me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession." Our prayer is, that He would hasten the fulfilment of this promise: our desire and hope is, that we may be permitted to witness it. The young woman, of whose baptism and marriage I am now speaking, is able to read her own language-Singhalese-a little. Some months since she was betrothed to a young man, the son of a Kandian chief, who has renounced Buddhism and become a Christian. He, in con 4 KANDIAN BAPTISM AND MARRIAGE. sequence, objected to marry her unless she also became a Christian. Both her friends and his urged him to marry her while she was a heathen, and according to heathen custom, saying that he might afterwards have her instructed and baptized. To this, however, he very properly objected, and her friends then applied to me to instruct her, as she had expressed a willingness to receive instruction. After a few visits to her house, she was prevailed upon to attend divine service on the Mission premises, and subsequently she came almost daily to the Mission-house to receive instruction. She was instructed chiefly by Mrs. Oakley, who found her to be a most willing and interesting pupil. Her mind seemed gradually to open to the truths which were set before her; and, unlike the females in general in India, she was accustomed from the first to ask a great many questions on every subject upon which she was instructed, by which means she made very rapid and very satisfactory progress in her knowledge of Christian truth. She was particularly anxious to understand the nature and value of prayer, and often asked Mrs. Oakley to teach her short prayers, which she could repeat whenever she was alone. When asked if she thought she should ever turn back again to the worship of Buddhu, or if, in the time of trouble and affliction, she would, like her relatives and neighbours, seek help and deliverance from devils, she replied, with great emphasis, that it was impossible; that she had now received so much light and knowledge that she could never more have any confidence in heathenism. She seemed to feel the deepest interest in reading chapters in the New Testament, with Mrs. Oakley, and was remarkably quick in perceiving the meaning of many of our Saviour's discourses and parables. As I was satisfied with her sincerity, and with her knowledge of the chief truths of the Christian religion, I admitted her into the Church by baptism on Sunday, May the 9th, in the presence of the congregation, after the second lesson at morning service. She gave her replies with great simplicity and earnestness. On her return home from church, she found all her friends in tears. When she inquired the cause, they said it was because she had forsaken the religion of her fathers, and gone over to a strange religion. She was not, however, in the least degree discouraged by their expressed regret at her conduct, but the next day-Monday-she came as usual to Mrs. Oakley for instruction, and continued to attend up to the day of her marriage. On the day of her marriage-she was married by license, after the custom of the English-she came with her friends very early in the morning, about nine o'clock. The bridal party came in five or six carriages. The bridegroom came in full dress as a Kandian chief: the costume is very handsome, purely Indian. The bridegroom's father and another of his relatives were also in full dress as Kandian chiefs, but the other members of the family were in their usual attire, which is partly European, partly native. The bride was very handsomely attired as a Kandian lady, and was accompanied by four other Kandian ladies, one of whom was her mother. Neither of these ladies had, I believe, ever before been in a place of Christian worship. They appeared to be much interested in the service, and seemed to be quite reconciled to the young convert who had renounced their religion. During the time this young woman has been receiving instruction, |