"We have had several interviews with the King the last three days. He wishes to make use of us as physicians, architects, artists, &c. However, we told him that if we served him in these things to the extent of our power, which was very limited, we should do it only for the sake of the Lord and his Gospel ; and requested him to give us an opportunity to preach the Gospel, and to instruct the youth. His usual reply is, 'I know this, and shall consult with you about it by and bye."

"June 13, 1839.-This morning we met the King at the place of judgment. He was sitting on an elevated spot, and the persons who had complaints or business were standing at the entrance of the King's house. Four judges sit to hear the complaints of the people, and decide upon them. If their decision should not please the King, he himself decides. In giving judgment, he spends several days every week. Having seen the manner in which the King gives judgment, we were then introduced to his workmen. Blacksmiths, weavers, and other tradesmen, are gathered within a large place, where each of them performs the piece of work assigned to him; which, having finished, he is obliged to show to the King, who, if not pleased with it, orders him to improve it. Thus the King could in a short time improve the state of arts in his kingdom, if he had a few skilful tradesmen from Europe."

"The Alaca (director) of the Church of Medhanalim at Ankobar was sent by the King to study our language. Mr. Isenberg began to instruct him; but after several lessons, he expressed his wish to be taught Geography. We had rather introduce to him biblical studies; but his mind is still not drawn to the great subjects of the Holy Scriptures. The name of this Alaca is Wolda Serat. Geography, it is true, is not enough to enlighten the Abyssinian people; but we must act as circumstances require. If we cannot preach the Gospel in a direct way, we must do it indirectly. To the various branches of knowledge, Scripture truth may in many ways be legiti

"The King is anxious to get from Europeans all that he sees and hears. It is, however, to be regretted, that he only endeavours to consult his own personal advantage and comfort, without reflecting upon the welfare of his people. Well qualified mechanics of all kinds are well received by the King, but they dare not expect European wages. They receive their daily maintenance, but that is all. I am sure that skilful artisans who are real Christians, would render great services to our Mission. How much the King seeks after his own interest, the following instances will prove. No man in Shoa, except the King, is allowed to prepare the Abyssinian hydromel, which is called Zatsh-prepared from water, honey, and a plant named zadoa. Furthermore, an Albanese, whose name is Johanes, who was formerly a Mahomedan, and turned a Christian in Shoa, built a bridge over the river Beresa; but nobody, except the King, is allowed to pass over it, even at the rainy season. This year four persons have been drowned in the river. Farther, he levies high customs upon goods. From ten pieces of salt he takes one: from ten dollars, one is paid to him. By these measures commerce is stopped. Demetrius, a Greek, built a mill; but nobody can use it."

"Our chief endeavours are directed to our calling as Missionaries, and therefore we have been able at present to make but few inquiries into the nature of the country. Our external condition is rather singular: the King treats us quite as his guests, sending us daily our maintenance into our house, and has ordered our Guardian to keep all troublesome persons away from us. By this means we are not molested by disagreeable calls; but, on the other hand, we are also prevented from frequently preaching the Gospel in season and out of season. We have, however, obtained a promise from the King, that such persons are not to be prohibited who express a desire to be instructed by us."

"The water of the Tshatsha runs in a deep dale between two mountains. The rivers Beresa and Tshatsha are said to go to the Nile. The Tshatsha separates the Gallas from Shoa. Thus we are on the frontiers of the heathen. The Lord grant that this heathenish nation, which has its seat in the centre of Africa, may soon become a people of God! I humbly and urgently beg the Committee to give their helping hand to this nation. The way to a great part of the Gallas is accessible since the way to Shoa has been opened. The access to the Gallas is easier

from Shoa than from any other place. We know about forty tribes of them by name. A great number of them are tributary to Shoa. The Gallas are in a low state of heathenism. They have not priests, like other heathens; but are opposed to the introduction of a new religion. They know only about a Being, whom they call Wake. They have no system of religion. On particular occasions, they sacrifice a cow, or sheep, to the Wake; but they are not directed to do so by priests: it is a freewill offering. The language is common to all Gallas. All these things seem to facilitate a Mission among them. A particular reason for attempting a Mission among the Gallas is, because we do not know what may be the result of our Mission in Shoa."

“August 7, 1839.-This morning I asked Akaloo what the Abyssinians eat when they fast. He answered, that they were only allowed to eat goman, stinging nettles, and dry bread. The present fast is called the fast of Nahasie. Nahasie is our August. Then follows the Hodad fast, in the months of February and March, which lasts forty days; after which, in June, the fast of the Apostles, which lasts twenty-five or thirty days; and then the fast of Nineveh, which lasts three days. In the month of December is Tsoma ledat. Otherwise they fast every Wednesday and Friday. The fasts of Felsata, Hodadie, Apostles, as well as those of every week, are imposed on them as a work of necessity. As to keeping of the other fasts, it is voluntarily. Thus they pass a great part of the year in fasting, seeking thereby their own righteousness. If a person does not fast, he is separated from the Church; and if he does not repent, he is not interred in the common burial ground."

"Children are exempted from fasting till they are twelve years of age, except when they go to the Lord's Supper, when they are compelled to fast. Once in the year, that is to-day, they are obliged to take the blessed sacrament. Any one who spits, or plucks off a leaf from a tree, is not admitted to the communion-table. They receive a white cloth from the church, in which they are enveloped up to the mouth, and stand from morning till the evening, observing the greatest silence; but they do not understand anything about the ceremony. I asked a boy whether he knew why he took the blessed sacrament; when he replied, because it made him grow."

"I spoke to our copyist about the conversion of the Gallas. He said that the Gallas do not like the Christian Religion, and say that the people of Shoa are not better than themselves; that they

will not bear the heavy yoke which is imposed on them by fasting; and that they are offended at the Æthiopic language-to them an unknown languagein which they are taught by the Abyssinians."

"The people of Shoa, like those of Tigré, do not like the Amharic very much, but prefer the Ethiopic. We endeavour to prove, that as the Amharic is the language of the country, and as the Ethiopic requires a long study, the Amharic is much more preferable to an unknown language. We refer them to 1 Cor. xiv., where St. Paul is speaking about the uselessness of speaking in an unknown tongue."

"I should be very glad if I had a better knowledge of the Amharic language; but I hope, with the assistance of God, to improve it every day. Mr. Isenberg has finished his Geography, which he began to write at Angollala. He intends to write a brief Universal History. A Spelling-book was composed by him at Angollala. We have made copies of those works written by Abyssinians." Religious conversations always revert to the worshipping of saints, fasting, ceremonies, &c. To-day I had again a long conversation with a priest of St. George's, and some other persons present, which began with speaking on Tecla Haimanot, in honour of whom four annual festivals are celebrated, when many patients are said to be cured from various diseases. The chief place for the celebration of these festivals is Debra Libanos, where there seems to be a mineral water, effectual particularly against rheumatism, paralysis, &c. Tecla Haimanot, they say, on arriving there from his journey, and being thirsty, prayed to God to open a fountain; when, through the agency of the archangel Michael, water sprang up at his feet, coming from Jordan. When this story was told to us to-day, we expressed our disbelief; and added, that we wanted neither true nor false miracles, as the miracles of Christ and His Apostles were quite sufficient."

"Priest Abba Tseddoo gave us this evening some details concerning the government, discipline, and usages of their Church. The number of priests and deacons which are thought necessary for each Church, is twenty; one third of whom have to officiate during one week, while the other two thirds rest. There are, however, few Churches at present in this kingdom which possess the full number, owing to the want of an Abuna, or bishop, for the last eleven years, to ordain priests and deacons; so that there are many churches which have been shut for want of priests. During the week the priests officiate, they live apart

Egypt, by the route of Gondar and Massowah. For the dates, and other particulars, we refer to the abstract of the Church Missionary Society's Abyssinian affairs, above inserted. The journey from Ankobar to Massowah, the journal of which occupies the remainder of the volume, was full of hardship and peril; and a considerable portion of it lay through a country never before trodden by any European traveller. The difficulties were fearfully increased by reason of the traveller having been plundered of his property by a treacherous chief. The details are therefore geographically important; but Mr. Krapf's special object in selecting this arduous route was to ascertain what encouragement there might be for Missionary labours in other provinces of Abyssinia besides Shoa, and to learn the mind of the new Abuna and the King of Tigrè. He was, however, mercifully preserved, and worked his way to Egypt, where he completed a matrimonial engagement, which he had in view in repairing thither. At Alexandria he was joined by Mr. Muhleison, whom the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem had ordained, at the chapel of Mount Zion, for the Eastern African Mission; and also by Mr. Isenberg, who had been most usefully occupied in England in translating, and carrying through the press, the Amharic Liturgy, and other important works in the same language. The three Missionaries proceeded in November, 1842, to Aden, and thence to Tadjurra, on their way to Shoa; but obstacles intervened; and the last intelligence we have of them, under date of last August, is that the three Missionaries (we suppose that Mrs. Krapf did not accompany them) had attempted to re-enter Tigrè from Massowah, but had been foiled in the effort, and were obliged to leave the country; that Krapf had repaired to Aden, to attempt to reach the Galla

tribes; and that his colleagues had returned to Cairo, to wait instructions from home. We do not believe that, in the providence of God, the door is permanently closed against Missionary entrance into Abyssinia, or among the heathen tribes in its vicinity. The considerations with which we opened our remarks rivet our attention with much eagerness upon Eastern Africa. The treaty concluded two years ago, between Queen Victoria and the rude but powerful King of Shoa, provides for security of person and property, and freedom of movement, for her Majesty's subjects in and beyond the Shoa dominions. In all human probability, European, and especially British, influence will soon be powerfully felt in Eastern Africa; for the intercourse between England and India, by the Red Sea, will open marts for commerce, of which Africans as well as Europeans will find the value. In the mean time the way is being prepared, and, we will not believe in vain, for the promulgation of the Gospel of Christ in its purity in Abyssinia, where it has been corrupted; and its penetration where it is not known. The Church Missionary Society has sent out Christian pastors, and the Bible Society printed the Sacred Scriptures; and may we not hope that He who put it into the hearts of his servants to attempt this great work for the glory of his name, the building up of Christ's kingdom, and the salvation of souls, will graciously accept their feeble efforts. The present checks are discouraging; but it would be to distrust God to say that they will be permanent and insuperable. The Church Missionary Society has had an example afforded in the case of New Zealand (not to mention other instances, or other much-honoured Societies) of what God can effect beyond all that his servants hoped or thought.