climate, where the fiery rays of the sun have great power, and where the inner region of the cranium no doubt requires such a defence. If, by any mistake in our conformation, we had been made with skulls as thin as the learned gentleman who last spoke, our brains, under the influence of the heat, would perhaps become as thin and addled as his appears to be, judging from the foolish and unphilosophical statement which he has made; and then it might have been reasonably doubted whether we were men worth listening to." The young negro resumed his seat, amid thundering applause; and, for once at least, it appeared to be the general opinion that the black was as clever as the white man.

We may further observe on this subject that the negro children in our Mission schools display remarkable aptitude for learning; and we have known a degree of efficiency attained by them, under favourable circumstances, which we have never seen surpassed in any country. We remember an instance in which Lord Harris, the Governor of Trinidad, expressed his admiration and surprise at the advanced state of our Mission school in Port of Spain, when he honoured us with a visit; the specimens of writing, and the exercises in arithmetic, grammar, geography and history were very creditable; and all the pupils were black or coloured children. Whilst the people generally, in every position in life, display an average share of good, sound, common sense, we occasionally meet with remarkable instances of native genius and mental superiority. In the West Indies we can point to Christian ministers, physicians, lawyers, magistrates, legislators, philosophers, mechanics, of African descent, who perform their respective duties with as much efficiency and dignity as persons of any other race, although some of them have had but slender means of raising themselves to their present honourable position.

Nor are there wanting among the lower classes instances of wit and humour which are frequently very amusing. On one occasion a Missionary's wife, who had just arrived from England, was talking with our negro servant girl, and wishing to tease her, said of something which she held in her hand, "O, it will do very well! it is only for black people." Matty looked up, and said to the

white lady, "No, ma'am, anything will not do for black people, because black and white are all the same." "How do you know that black and white are all the same?" asked the Missionary's wife. "Because," answered the negro girl, "I read in my Testament that God hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth."" "Thn," remarked Mrs. D———, “do you think the blood of white people and the blood of black people is the same?" "Yes," responded Matty, "the blood is the same; it is only the skin that is different." Holding out a penknife, which she happened to have in her hand, Mrs. D—— said, playfully, "Do you really think so? Let us each cut a finger and see!" "Yes, ma'am," archly replied Matty, "if you will cut yours first!" This was a climax which the stranger hardly expected; and, highly amused at such a display of negro wit, she came running to relate to us the little incident.

After many years of varied experience and extensive observation, we are disposed to look with favour on the natural abilities and general character of the people of the West Indies as a whole. We are aware that the enemies of freedom, and of the negro race, have sometimes pronounced the experiment of emancipation to be a failure; but this only displays an amount of ignorance at which we may well afford to smile. Let anyone who was personally cognisant of the degradation, the wretchedness, and the miseries of slavery, inspect the villages, dwellings, dress, and entire social condition of the rural population of the West Indies at the present time, and especially let them worship with the natives in some of their beautiful chapels, and mark their appearance and demeanour in the house of God, and they will be convinced that emancipation is not a failure, but a grand success, and an unspeakable blessing.

Many reasons might be assigned for the depression of the commercial and religious interest of the West Indies, over which we have had to mourn for some time past, without reflecting upon emancipation. Some of these reasons, if fairly examined, would point in a direction the very opposite; but we forbear. Planters and merchants, and legislators are learning wisdom; and the labouring classes in the "sunny isles of the west" have brighter

prospects, both temporal and spiritual, than they have had in former years. Already the clouds are dispersing, and the light of prosperity is beginning to shine forth. The deeply-rooted prejudices of a bygone age are rapidly passing away. Man is no longer regarded with reference to his complexion; but according to his moral worth and intellectual endowments. Many of the sable sons of Ham have been elevated to positions of respectability and honour, by their persevering efforts, combined with the benign influence of Christian missions; and the population of the West Indies generally is rapidly improving, notwithstanding the numerous difficulties which in times past have tended to impede its progress. In the present state and future prospects of the work in this interesting part of the mission field we see cause for gratitude and joy. Agricultural and commercial affairs look more hopeful; and showers of blessing are descending on the heritage of the Lord. Let the friends of religion, of freedom, and of the negro race, liberally and zealously sustain this department of the Missionary enterprise a little longer, and they will secure for the West Indies, a bright, a happy, and a prosperous future.

CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY-HABITS OF THE PEOPLE-SIERRA LEONE -THE GAMBIA-THE GOLD COAST.

TH

THAT part of the Mission field which is next to pass under review is possessed of more than ordinary interest to the Christian philanthropist and the friends of freedom, as the original home of countless multitudes of people who have, from time to time, been dragged into hopeless slavery in distant lands. With a view to a clear understanding of the nature and results of the efforts made at different periods to counteract the evils which have so long oppressed the negro race, and to elevate them in the scale of being, we may first call attention to the position and character of the country in which the people live, and the circumstances in which they were found when they first attracted the notice of Europeans.

The term Western Africa is generally applied to that part of the vast continent which lies between the Great Desert on the north, the Equator on the south, the Atlantic on the west, and the river Niger on the east; embracing the regions of the Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and the island of Fernando Po. When we consider the great extent of this portion of the globe, embracing, as it does, not less than a million square miles, we are

not surprised to find that the topographical aspect and general appearance of different localities vary considerably. In some places we meet with arid, sandy deserts, where not a blade of grass, or a drop of water is to be found for scores of miles, and where caravans of merchants and their slaves suffer much from various causes, but chiefly from thirst. Again we meet with extensive tracts of fertile land, teeming with vegetation, and abounding with extensive forests of valuable timber. These more favourable districts are generally situated on the banks of the numerous rivers and tributary creeks, with which the country abounds. They sometimes present the appearance of verdant grassy plains, having a gently undulating surface, reminding one of an English park or meadow, with here and there a beautiful hill or rocky towering mountain of considerable altitude. With the exception of Cape Verd, however, the neighbourhood of Sierra Leone, the Cameroons, and a few other localities, the land on the coast is generally level. It is not till we proceed a considerable distance into the interior that we meet with elevations worthy of the name of mountains. The districts bordering on the rivers, creeks, and lagoons are, moreover, frequently low and swampy, and covered with a dense jungle of mangroves which strike their numerous roots into the muddy soil and derive nourishment from the rising and falling tidal waves. The respective settlements in those places are consequently unhealthy for all classes of people, but especially for Europeans. Formerly the chief productions of the country were slaves, gold, ivory, and beeswax; but since the suppression of the slave trade, palm oil has become the most important and valuable item of export.

The idea has been entertained by some that the extreme unhealthiness of the climate of Western Africa is owing mainly to the excessive heat that generally prevails. This is a misapprehension, however, and the matter requires a little explanation. The air is certainly very hot, especially at that season of the year when the land breeze prevails, and the harmattan winds blow across the extensive sandy deserts in the interior; but it is not to this circumstance that we attribute its unhealthiness.

It may