was seated like a living man, elegantly set out with all his jewels, and clothed in rich attire. The corpse taking procession, the wife immediately followed, borne on a rich palanquin. She was covered over with ornaments, in the highest style of Indian taste and magnificence. As the procession moved, the surrounding multitude stretched out their hands toward her in token of their admiration. They beheld her as already translated in the paradise of Vishnoo, and seemed to envy her happy lot. During the whole procession, which was very long, she preserved a steady aspect. Her countenance was serene, and even cheerful, until they came to the fatal pile, where she was soon to yield up her life; she then turned her eyes to the spot where she was to undergo the flames, and she became suddenly pensive. She no longer attended to what was passing around her. Her looks were wildly fixed upon the pile. Her features were altered; her face grew pale; she trembled with fear, and seemed ready to faint away. The

Brahmins, who directed the ceremony, and her relations, perceiving the sudden effect which the near approach of her fate had occasioned, ran to her assistance, and endeavoured to restore her spirits; but her senses were bewildered; she seemed. unconscious of what was said to her, and replied not a word to any one. They made her quit the palanquin; and her nearest relation supported her to a pond that was near the pile, and having there washed hed her, without taking off her clothes or ornaments, they soon reconducted her to the pyramid on which the body of her husband was already laid. It was surrounded by the Brahmins, each with a lighted torch in one hand, and a bowl of melted butter in the other, all ready, as soon as the innocent victim was placed on the pyramid, to envelope her in fire. The relatives, all armed with muskets, sabres, and other weapons, stood closely round in a double line, and seemed to wait with impatience for the awful signal. This armed force, I understood, was meant to intimidate the unhappy victim, in case the dreadful preparations should incline her to retract; or to overawe any other person who, out of false compassion, should endeavour to rescue her. At length the auspicious time for firing the pile being announced by the Purcheta Brahmin, the young widow was instantly divested of all her jewels, and

led on, more dead than alive, to the fatal pyramid. She was then commanded, according to the universal practice, to walk round it three times, two of her nearest relations supporting her by the arms. The first round she accomplished with tottering steps; but in the second, her strength wholly forsook her, and she fainted away in the arms of her conductors, who were obliged to complete the ceremony, by

dragging her between them for the third round. Then, senseless and unconscious, she was cast upon the carcass of her husband. At that instant the multitude making the air resound with acclamations and shouts of gladness, retired a short space, whilst the Brahmins, pouring the butter on the dry wood, applied their torches, and instantly the whole pile was in a blazę. As soon as the flames had taken effect, the living sacrifice, now in the midst of them, was invoked by name from all sides, but as insensible as the carcass on which she lay, she made no answer. Suffocated at once, most probably by the fire, she lost. her life without perceiving it."

On these occasions, the conduct of the Brahmins appears to be very unfeeling. They stand by with their torches and bowls, as if about to commemorate an event of the most joyous nature, shutting their eyes to all the revulsions of shuddering humanity,and prompting in the miserable wretches, whom they bind hard and fast to a putrid corpse to be burned alive, all the enthusiasm of their hateful superstition.

We have it in our power to state, on the safe authority of Dubois, that one reason for the prevalence of this singular species of suicide, is the contempt and neglect which is manifested over all Hindostan, towards the condition of widowhood.

"The very name of widow is a reproach, and the greatest possible calamity that can befall a woman is to survive her husband: although to marry with another, is an event a thousand times more to be deprecated. From that moment she would be hunted out of society; and no decent person, at any time, would venture to have the slightest intercourse with her.”

With the grossest inconsistency too, they have so constructed the fabric of society, that it is almost certain that three-fourths of their women must be widows; for it is usual with the Hindoos, particularly with the Bramincial order, to espouse children of is the absurd bigotry of all classes of six or seven years of age; and such the people, that nothing would be regarded as a greater insult, than a proposal to marry these girls, become widows by the death of a man whom perhaps they never saw, when they have arrived at the marriageable period of life. Celibacy in the other sex is not more respected than in

women; and a widower is, for the time, viewed in the light of a person, who has fallen from his natural rank in the community; but whilst the male is encouraged to repair this loss, by a speedy nuptial, the female is not permitted to re-enter the estate of matrimony; although she may have been, as very frequently happens, only nominally a wife:

We are very little inclined to be sanguine in our hopes of an extensive or radical change for the better, in the Hindoo character, until a more unrestricted intercourse with Europeans shall have removed the numerous prejudices of the natives, and eradicated from their minds that pernicious bigotry which chokes the natural growth of their understandings. The principal obstacle, however, to the reception of the Gospel, or indeed of any new religion whatsoever, arises from the very close connexion which subsists between their present system of belief, and the practical details of ordinary life. Religion in that part of the world is strictly identified with the customs and manners of the people, in the minutest transactions in which they engage; in their eatings, drinkings, dressings, outgoings, and incomings, in the cleaning of their teeth, the shaving of their heads, and the paring of their nails. Religion interferes, and regulates whenever a Hindoo opens his eyes, or raises his hand. There is a prayer for mending his pen; another for sharpening his knife, and a third for preparing his whetstone. In short, the superstitions of India manifest themselves entirely in practice, and not at all in theory; or, at least, the speculative notions of a Brahmin are so excessively vague and extravagant, that it is impossible to know where to commence a refutation of them; and, what is more, it is impossible to discover those particular dogmas upon which his observances are founded; so that when he has yielded all that is demanded, and surrendered all that may be assailed, his antagonist has not gained one step towards demolishing his idolatry, or preparing his mind for conviction. The initiated Hindoo may have 330,000,000

gods; or which is nearly the same thing, he may have none at all; his actions, his gestures, his mode of sitting on his mat, of bathing in the river, of masticating his rice, and of washing his hands, constitute the only part of his religion, which is tangible, either for attack or defence; and the first step in his conversion, accordingly, must proceed upon a new fashion in the cut of his clothes, in his manner of walking in the street, or of placing himself at table. The mis-. sionary who shall first prevail on a Brahmin to eat with a knife and fork; to wear a pair of gloves, or to dine on roast-beef, will do more towards the, propagation of Christianity, than he who shall argue out of the Hindoo calendar, Brahma, Vishnoo, and Shiva. There is no difficulty in silencing a disputatious Hindoo on points of abstract belief; on the contrary, he yields. as his antagonist advances, and gives up his gods, male and female, without regret, and apparently without apprehending that their absence from the. pantheon of his mythology, will be at all either felt or perceived; but as to his every day usages, the tuft on his head, and the paint on his face, the metal of the pot in which he boils his rice, and the company in which he consumes it, his bigotry is of the most determined and unrelenting nature. Here he has nothing to concede; and reasoning of course is thrown away. We are told by M. Dubois, that many of the Brahmins with whom he conversed, showed the utmost reverence for the doctrines of Christianity, and of Mahometanism, when properly explained to them, discovering, as they imagined, striking coincidences between certain parts of these systems, and the more refined tenets of their own faith. Their liberality of sentiment, however, was never found to extend to the trifling observances which distinguish their mode of liv-. ing; to the wood of their tooth-picks, or to the substitution of a chair for a mat on the ground. In truth, from all that we know of the Hindoos, and particularly of the Brahminical order amongst them, we see more and more reason to be satisfied, that we shall

never prevail on that people to think as we think, until we shall succeed in making them live as we live ; for their religion consists not in exercises of the mind, but in mere outward observances; and in the most trivial acts performed by the hands.

The Fellowship of the Saints.

As an instance of the value of a Prayer Book, the Rev. Mr. Bickersteth relates the following anecdote. A friend of his went to visit a poor man in a Cathedral town, who resided in a miserable garret. He conversed as though he were happy, and appeared a most devout Christian. He was asked where he went to church; he answered, to the Cathedral. His friend said what! No where else? No. But do you not find yourself solitary without wife, or family? Solitary, Sir, he exclaimed !-and immediately going to a corner of his room, which appeared more retired than the rest, he brought a Common Prayer Book, saying, How can I be solitary when I have this most precious Companion. In this I read that, "the glorious company of the Apostles praise thee! The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee! The Holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee!" He found that from that book he had learned all his religion. [London Paper.

EXTRACT from a Review of Nicholas's Voyage to New-Zealand, in the Christian Observer.

AMONG other plans for the protection of the natives, and the consequent security of the settlers, his Excellency the Governor of New-SouthWales issued a proclamation to prevent the wanton incursions of, and depredations committed by, the crews of vessels touching on the islands, and appointed Mr. Kendall a magistrate for this purpose; without whose permission, certified in writing, no subject of the British Crown was either to land, or to take a native on board. This and the other measures employed for so just and humane an

end, we are sorry to say, have not yet proved effectual. Instances of theft and cruelty on the part of British subjects towards the unfortunate islanders still continue to occur; and doubtless many atrocities are perpetrated which will never be known till that final day of account, when the oppressor and the oppressed shall appear together before a far higher tribunal than that of their fellow-men. Both the Church and the (London) Missionary Societies have expressed their hopes, that the English Government will take up the subject: nor without reason; for not only are all religious exertions materially impeded, but the very safety and existence of every vessel and colony in the South Seas, exposed to the retributive vengeance of savages, whose first and strongest principle is that of retaliation for an injury. The effects of this revengeful principle will appear but too forcibly from the following tragical occurrence.

"The Boyd, a ship of about five hundred tons, commanded by Captain John in 1809, to take out convicts to BotanyThompson, was chartered by Government, Bay, when, having completed her charter-party, and taken a number of passengers for England, she proceeded to NewZealand for a cargo of timber. The captain, I believe, intended this timber for the north-west coast of America, where it was to have been disposed of; but unfortunately both himself and the crew were surprised and massacred, by George, (a native chief,) and his tribe, while the vessel, accidentally taking fire, was burnt given the short history of this ill-fated down to the water's edge. Having thus ship, I shall now relate the particulars, communicated to us by George, who seemed very desirous of extenuating his own atrocious criminality. I must, howlowing account can be relied upon, the ever, in justice observe, that if the folprovocation he had received was very great, and such as at all times would lead a barbarian to the most horrible revenge.

"He stated, that himself and another Jackson, they both agreed with Captain of his countrymen being together at PortThompson to work their passage to their own country. It happened, he said, however, that he was taken so ill himself dur

ing the voyage, as to be utterly incapable of doing his duty; which the captain not believing to be the case, and imputing his inability to work rather to laziness than indisposition, he was threatened, in

sulted, and abused by him. George attempted to remonstrate against this severe treatment; but the captain being a man of a choleric temper, this only exasperated him the more, and it was in vain that the other told him he was a chief in his own country, and ought to be treated with some respect, urging at the same time his illness, and assuring him that this was the only cause that prevented him from working. The enraged captain would pay no regard to what he said, but calling him a cookee cookee, (a common man,) had him tied up to the gangway, and flogged most severely. This degrading treatment of the captain towards him taking away all restraint from the ship's company, he was subject, during the rest of the voyage, to their taunts and scurrilities; and they persecuted him, he said, in every possible way that they could devise.

"Such treatment, it will readily be supposed, must have sunk deeply into a mind like George's, and the revenge he meditated was no less terrible than certain. But whether he resolved on it dur ing the voyage, or had afterwards formed the diabolical design, I was not able to discover; though I imagine he had conceived it before he got on shore, as he told the captain very emphatically, while he was derided by him for calling himself a chief, that he would find him to be such on arriving at his country. This, however, might have been said without any other idea than to assure him of the fact, and was a natural reply enough to his taunting incredulity. But a stronger circumstance than this, leads me to suppose that George had determined on his horrid pur pose while he was yet on board. On their arrival at New-Zealand, the captain, induced most probably by his suggestions, ran the ship into Wangeroa, a harbour which, I believe, had never before been entered by any European vessel, and which, lying in the very territory of the chief whom he had so ill-treated, was recommended, I doubt not, to make his destruction inevitable. He would not acknow. ledge to us that he himself suggested this harbour to the captain as the most convenient place for him to take in his cargo, though from his evasive answers I am fully persuaded he decoyed him into it.

"The ship being now anchored in his own harbour, the captain, he informed us, sent him on shore: having first stripped him of every thing English he had about him, to the very clothes he had on, which were also taken from him; so that he was received by his countrymen almost in a state of perfect nudity. To these he instantly related all his hardships, and the inhuman treatment he had received on board: while enraged at the detail, they unanimously insisted on revenge, and nothing short of the destruction of the cap

tain and the crew, and taking possession of the vessel, could satisfy their fury. This he promised to do, and the work of slaughter was now about to commence, while the devoted victims remained unconscious of the infernal project.

"The imprudence and temerity of Captain Thompson assisted that vengeance which is misconduct had roused, and were now displayed in too evident a manner. Never once reflecting on the character of the savage, whose favourite passion is revenge, and not considering that his own tyranny had provoked the most signal retaliation that could be taken, he had the rashness to leave the ship unprotected, and taking a boat's crew with him, proceeded to the shore, where a horde of outrageous cannibals stood prepared for his destruction. The duration of this dreadful tragedy was short. He had scarcely landed, when he was knocked down and murdered by Tipponic; and his sailors, unhappily shared the same fate, were all stripped by the barbarians, who immedi ately appeared dressed in the clothes of their victims, and went on to the ship to complete the carnage. Arriving at the ship with their revenge unsatiated, and still raging for blood, a general massacre of the remaining part of the crew, together with all the passengers on board, immediately ensued; and with the exception of four individuals, neither man, woman, nor child, of all that had left Port-Jackson, escaped the cruel vengeance of their merciless enemies. It was in vain they sought to conceal themselves; they were soon discovered with a fatal certainty, and dragged out to suffer the most excruciating torments. Some of the sailors running up the rigging, with the hope that when the fury of the savages should have subsided, their own lives might be spared, met the same fate as the rest of their unfortunate companions. Coming down at the request of Tippahee, who had, on that dreadful morning, come into the harbour from the Bay of Islands, they put themselves under his protection; and though the old chief did all in his power to prevent their being massacred, his efforts were unavailing, and they fell before his eyes, the last victims in this last scene of blood and horror. But here I am wrong: this was not the last scene; for there was one more at which humanity will shudder, as well as the person who records it, These savages, not satisfied with the vengeance they had already taken, and true to their character as cannibals, feasted themselves on the dead bodies of their victims, devouring the mangled flesh till their inhuman appetites were completely glutted."

The relics of the Boyd were to be seen every where when Mr. Marsden

arrived in the islands. A barbarous act of retaliation was perpetrated by the crews of four or five whalers, which happened to enter the Bay of Islands shortly after the massacre. They landed on a small island, where Tippahee and his tribe resided, and, impatient for revenge, commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of the inhabitants, sparing neither age nor sex, burning their houses, and destroying their plantations. If any thing be wanting to increase the horrors of this carnage, it is the circumstance, that the self-constituted avengers inflicted their cruel retribution on a guiltless tribe; whether wilfully, or deceived by the misrepresentations of one of the hostile chiefs, does not clearly appear. Mr. Marsden affectingly observes: "I never passed Tippahee's island without a sigh. It is now desolate, without an inhabitant, and has been so ever since his death; the ruins of his little cottage, which was built by the kindness of the late Governor King, still remaining."

To relieve our readers after this painful narrative, we shall give an incident or two of a different kind that occurred during the voyage.

"That pride and vanity are closely allied to ignorance, is a fact that needs no illustration; and I was not a little amused, this day, with witnessing the connexion between them. Korra-korra, while at the colony, was much struck with the formal respect paid to Governor Macquarie, and used to dwell with a kind of envious admiration on the great power with which he was invested; calling him frequently nuee nuee arekee, (a very great king,) and appearing evidently anxious to be raised himself to a similar elevation. Imagining, therefore, that it would add to his dignity to make Governor Macquarie the model of his imitation, he was resolved to copy him in all the formalities of his rank, as closely as his rude conception of them would permit, and even to assume his very name, in order, if possible, to identify himself with his envied prototype. His behaviour this morning was truly ludicrous, his imagination being more than usually inspired with this self-created importance. On my going up to salute him, and in a familiar manner addressing him by his name, he immediately drew back, with an affected and haughty air, telling me, he was not Korra-korra, but Governor Macquarie, and expected I would salute him as such. Willing to indulge him in his capricious

vanity, I instantly made him a low bow, and paid my respects to him as the gohis excellency, he held out his hand to vernor; upon which, aping the manner of me as a mark of his condescension, and made at the same time a slight inclination of his head. He seemed anxious that I should think myself highly honoured, for being thus noticed by a person of his exalted station; and told me he would never again go by the name of Korra-korra, but, on his arrival at New-Zealand, should always be called Governor Macquarie. Thus even are the rudest barba

rians dazzled with the distinctions of of

As our dis

fice, and the pageantry of power." "Tui, whom I shall now introduce to the reader as the brother of Korra-korra, seeing me on deck this morning with my spectacles on, and looking at some birds which were flying about the ship, inquired, with an arch smile, if I could tickee tickee (see) the Brush Farm, my place of residence in New-South-Wales. tance from it at the time could not have been less than four hundred and fifty miles, this was considered an excellent heartily at it; nor, indeed, did I think it joke by his countrymen, who laughed myself a bad specimen of that sly sort of humour, in which they all seem to delight. Sallies too of the gayest mirth and pleasantry frequently break out among them; and I have never met with a people who are less inclined to sullen retirement, or more disposed to social hilarity. In fact, they are never reserved, unless when they imagine themselves ill-treated, or conceive that some design has been formed to do them an injury; and, in these cases, their natural disposition immediately gives way to all the dark broodings of adventitious passions.

"On many occasions, their mode of expression is emphatically significant. Duaterra, in telling us that it was impossible for a thief to escape punishment in NewZealand, (for if not detected by man, the all-seeing vigilance of the Deity was sure to

discover him,) made use of the following remarkable words, which are not only forcible, but highly poetical. The Etua (God,) says he, rises upon him like a full moon, rushes upon him with the velocity of a falling star, and passes by him like a shot from the cannon's mouth. was the exact tenor of the expression he made use of, as nearly as I could collect it from the notion I had of his language; and I was forcibly struck with so extraordinary a description."

Practical Notes on Genesis.

Such

Extracted from D'OrLr's and MANT'S Family Bible, the first Number of which is nearly ready for Publication by Messrs.