quests the operator, to pierce a hole through he skin of each of his shoulders, and after passing a long cord through each of these oles, he repairs to a golgotha at some disance from the village, and selects one of the bison skulls collected there. To the chosen cranium he affixes the ends of his cords, and Irags it in this painful manner to the lodge, Around which, he must go with his burden, before he can be released from it. No one s permitted to assist him, neither dares he to put his own hands to the cords, to alleviate ais sufferings. If it should so happen that the horns of the cranium get hooked under a root or other obstacle, he must extricate it in the best manner he can, by pulling different ways, but he must not touch the rope or the head, with his hands, or in any respect attempt to relieve the painful strain upon his wounds, until his complete task is performed.

Some of the penitents have arrows, thrust through various muscular parts of their bodies, as through the skin and superficial muscles of the arm, leg, breast and back.

A devotee caused two stout arrows to be passed through the muscles of his breast, one on each side near the mamma. To these arrows, cords were attached, the opposite ends of which were affixed to the upper part of a post, which had been firmly implanted in the earth for the purpose. He then threw himself backward, into an oblique position, his back within about two feet of the soil, so as to depend with the greater portion of his weight by the cords. In this situation of excruciating agony, he continued to chant and to keep time to the music of the gong, until from long abstinence and suffering he fainted. The bystanders then cried out "Courage, courage," with much shouting and noise; after a short interval of insensibility he revived, and proceeded with his self-inflicted tortures as before, until nature being completely exhausted, he again relapsed into insensibility, upon which he was loosed from the cords, and carried off amidst the acclamations of the whole assembly.

Another Minnetaree, in compliance with a vow he had made, caused a hole to be perforated through the muscles of each shoulder; through these holes cords were passed, which were, at the opposite ends, attached by way of a bridle to a hore, that had been penned up three or four days without food or water. In this manner, he led the horse to the margin of the river. The horse, of course, endea. vored to drink, but it was the province of the Indian to prevent him, and that only by straining at the cords with the muscles of the shoulder without resorting to the assistance of his hands. And notwithstanding all the exertions of the horse to driuk, his master succeeded in preventing him, and returned with him to his lodge, having accomplished his painful task.

The Wolf chief, one of the most eminent of the warriors of the upper village of the Minnetarees, on one occasion, sat five days, singing and lamenting, without food, on a small insulated and naked rock in the Missouri river. And it is firmly believed that he did not even palliate his urgent wants by tasting the water, during this long probation.

EARLY INHABITANTS OF EUROPE.

So

From Webster's Letters to a Young Gentleman. THE food of the first inhabitants of Europe consisted of fruits of natural growth, and of the flesh of wild beasts, fish and fowls. Although the earth was assigned to man for cultivation, yet it is certain that most of the inhabitants of Europe, for more than two thousand years, subsisted without much attention to agriculture. One principal article of food in the first stage of society is the fruit of forest trees, and particularly acorns. general was the practice of feeding on acorns, that this fruit received the name of mast, or meat, an acorn being called in Welsh, to this day mesen, and in the plural mes; the word signifying acorm or a portion, a meal; and a tradition remains among the Welsh, that this fruit, as well as fern roots, was formerly a substitute for bread. And it may well be conjectured that our word maiz, is from the same origin as mast, meat; being introduced into America by the natives from the north of Asia. Even so late as the time of Strabo, the mountaineers, in Lusitania, [Portugal] made bread of acorns, which they first dried and then bruised.

progress of society This was the state

The next step in the was the shepherd state. of almost all the people of Europe, north of the Alps, down to a period subsequent to the Christian era. All the Scythian, Teutonic and Celtic tribes were nomads, as they are called by the Greek writers; that is, tribes moving from place to place, to find pasturage for their cattle, and subsisting on their milk and flesh. Hence the Greeks gave to them the appellation of galacto phagi; feeders on milk. Many writers allege that they often ate the flesh raw. At the time the Greeks and Romans became acquainted with these northern nations, some grain was raised among them, particularly barley, not for food, however, but for malting and making beer, which, next to water, was their principal drink. The vine and agriculture were introduced into Gaul by the Phoceans, a colony of Greeks, who settled in that country about six centuries before the Christian era. But when Cæsar invaded Gaul, almost six hundred years after that period, the Germans along the Rhine had made little progress in agriculture, consumed very little grain, and wine was known only as a luxury among their Chiefs; being purchased from the south of Gaul. Their ordinary food consisted of venison, the flesh of their cattle, milk and cheese. Some of the Scythian tribes however had the art of making butter; the name originated among them, and the art of making beer is said to have been learnt by the Greeks from the northern nations. These nations also made metheglin or hydromel, from honey collected in the forest.

Contrary to the custom of some eastern nations, who reclined at table, the Celtic and Tentonic people took their meals sitting, on mats of straw or other litter, or on skins; each with a separate table. This was proba bly a board laid on the lap, or a small stool with three legs, without a cloth to cover it.

And hence we derive the use of board for table, and the application of it as a verb, to board. Their vessels were few and simple, made of wood or of baked earth. The ordinary drinking vessel was a kind of pot or pitcher; but in their feasts and on public occasions, the guests were served with liquor in borns of the ox, or in human skulls. These were their most elegant cups. The skulls were those of their prisoners taken in war, many of whom were immolated to their deities. Pliny says that the Scythians near the Borysthenes were anthropophagi; and Strabo asserts that they fed on the flesh of such as were sacrificed. Mela mentions a tribe that made cups of the skulls of their deceased parents. Certain it is that human skulls were used as cups, and among the chiefs, these were polished and ornamented with gold or silver. The use of these was not more the effect of convenience, among rude nations unacquainted with arts, than of pride; for the skulls of enemies were valued as the trophies of victory. When a warrior had slain his enemy, or his champion in a duel, he was accustomed to cut off the head and bear it in triumph through the army on the point of a lance, or the bow of his saddle; and then present it to his commander, to obtain a reward for his vaior. These heads were afterwards set on trunks of trees in the field of battle, or deposited in some sacred place or kept in the cabin of the heroes as monuments of their bravery. Among the Gauls, these trophies were estimated above the price of gold. Among some tribes it was the last duty of children to drink and cause their friends to drink out of the skull of a deceased parent. This practice subsisted in the age of Diodorus of Sicily; and we learn from Paulus Diaconus, that among the Longobards, the practice was not entirely extinct in the sixth century, nor until after the introduction among them of the Christian religion.

The rude nations of Europe, in early ages, wore very little clothing, even in winter, and for the most part, none at all. And even such garments as they had, were sometimes thrown aside when they went to battle. An instance is mentioned by Polybius when the Gaesaetae, a tribe of Gauls, about to encounter the Romans, threw away all their covering, except their buckler, and presented themselves naked to the enemy. It seems to us incredible that men could endure the rigors of the seasons in Central and Northern Europe, without clothing or with a single garment of skin not reaching below the loins. Yet the fact is too well attested to be denied. Elian relates the story of a Scythian, who be ing without covering when the snow was falling in abundance, was asked by the king whether he was not cold. The man replied by asking the king in turn whether his face was cold. No, said the king. Neither am I cold, said the man, for I am all face.

The light of civilization in the north and west of Europe was introduced by the Romans, after their conquest of Gaul and Britain, about half a century, before the birth of Christ During about five hundred years, Roman garrisons were stationed in those Countries, and by them, the rude inhabitants

were instructed in many arts of civilized life. It is obvious that at the time Cesar invaded Gaul and Britain, the inhabitants lived in huts not much superior to the wigwams of Amer ican savages consisting of stakes driven into the ground, interwoven with wattles, covered with boughs of trees, and some of them plastered with mud. The Romans introduced the art and practice of building more convenient and durable houses. The clothing of the inhabitants consisted, originally, of skins, but before the arrival of the Romans, they had the art of making eloth of a coarse texture. They had also the art of refining tie and iron.

At what time the Christian religion began to be preached or published in Britain is uncertain, but it was probably within the first century, and it certainly made considerable progress, before the Romans left the country,

After the Roman troops were recalled from Britain to defend the empire, the Saxons were invited into Britain to aid the inhabi tants in repelling the incursions of the Scots and Picts. This was in the fifth century. But the Saxons ultimately turned their arms against the Britons, and after a long series of battles, they conquered the country, and from them we are descended. These Saxons and Angles, were not only pagans and uncivilized, but they entertained the most violent hatred against Christianity. They murdered the Christian clergy, and destroyed their places of worship. Christianity however was not entirely extirpated, and after the flames of war subsided, these pagans viewed it with less enmity, and it gradually spread and embraced their descendants. Paganism, however, was not entirely extinguished in Eng. land, for five or six hundred years after the Saxon conquest.

IDOLATRY OF OUR ANCESTORS.

From Webster's Letters.

Our ancestors worshipped many deities, or deified heroes, as Woden, or Odin, under whose guidance they migrated into Europe; Thor, the thunderer, or god of thunder; Friga, who answered to the Venus of the Romans, and from their several deities we re ceived the names of the days of the week. Sunday-Monday, [Moon day] Tuesday, [Teut's day or Tisday,] Wednesday, [Wo den's day, Thursday, [Thor's day,] Friday, [Friga's day,] and Saturday, [Satur's day] All authors agree that human victims were sacrificed to their deities, and that the festi vals devoted to their worship, were scenes of riot and revelry.

FIRST PRINTING IN NEW ENGLAND.

From Webster's Letters.

THE first printing press in New England, was established at Cambridge, in March 1639, by one Day; the proprietor's name was Glover, who died on his passage to America. The first thing printed was the freeman's bath-the second an almanac-and the third a version of the psalms. No press was set up in Connecticut until the year 1709, when

Frinting was begun at New London by one hort. The first code of Connecticut laws as revised by the general court held at HartFord, in October, 1672, and printed by Samel Green at Cambridge in Massachusetts, in 675. The first Gazette published in NewEngland, was the News Letter, printed in Soston in 1704. The first newspaper in Conecticut was the Connecticut Gazette, begun At New Haven by James Parker, in January, 755, but discontinued in 1767, the printer emoving to New York.

LONDON MAGAZINE DAY,

AMERICAN Literature, the London Magazine observes, "has not hitherto enjoyed the advan. ages of what in London is known by the name of Magazine day; on the last day of every month when all the magazines, reviews and ournals appear; and when, in consequence a species of book fair is created in the vicinity of Paternoster row. The four score periodi. cal works published on that day cause returns within a few hours in ready money of little short of three thousand pounds. In America on the contrary the proprietors of periodical works labor under the disadvantages of being their own distributors and instead of being paid in ready money, and in large sums by wholesale booksellers, they depend on precarious returns from individual subscribers scattered over the wide spread regions of the United States."

GRATITUDE FOR THE BIBLE.

= From the Report of the Bible Society in Cincinnati. Two ladies were affected to tears by their visit to a poor German woman, whom they found, with apparent insensibility, mechanically turning her wheel. To their question, had she a Bible? she answered in broken English she had a piece of a Testament; they informed her they could let her have a Bible, she still unmoved replied, their Bibles would do her no good, as she could not read them; but when they informed her they could let her have a German Bible; she suddenly shov. ed away her wheel, turned and looked upon them, with anxiety depicted in her countenance, as if to ascertain whether she heard aright, and with clasped hands exclaimed, "what! a whole German Bible?" and when answered in the affirmative, again repeated with energy, (her whole countenance speaking the grateful sensations of her heart) "shall I have a whole German Bible once more? 1 will work hard to get it, though very poor, and my family to support." Judge if you can of her gratitude, and of the exquisite pleasure of your almoners, when they told her she should immediately possess such a treasure, and pay for it when she could collect the money.

DIFFERENT MISSIONARY TALENTS.
From the Indo-Chinese Gleaner.

SOME Missionary stations require almost exclusively the exercise of PREACHING talents:

others afford chief scope for WRITING: whilst a third class requires the union of both. Accordingly we find, that the infinitely wise Savior has distributed such gifts to his servants, as he previously knew would be most suitable to the sphere of labor, which he had appointed for them, before they breathed the breath of life. The labors of each of these three classes of variously endowed men, will be found useful in their time and place. Those of the first more immediately so; those of the second more permanently so; and those of the third more extensively so. Could the servants of the churches abroad, take a dispassionate and comprehensive view of the posts which they severally occupy, and look forward to the diversified, but happy, influence of their labors on future generations,— the petty jealousies which the partiality of the current age for talents of a particular class, engenders, would speedily die away; and each individual would feel a paramount conviction of the importance of cultivating his own talents, and of fulfilling the duties of his own station, to the utmost. Jealousy being destroyed, a spirit of friendly co-operation would be cherished; and the efforts of other societies and other laborers, would become a subject of joy, and not, as they sometimes, through the depravity of human nature are an eye-sore, a bone of contention, a motto for ridicule, or the subject of angry and unreasonable criticism..

CHINA.

From the Indo-Chinese Gleaner.

IT seems more than probable, from the high spirit of valor which China displayed during the three contending states, and from the literary spirit which pervaded the empire soon after those contentions, that had China been early favored with the Christian religion, and the surrounding states kept equal progress with herself, (which has been the case in the west) that she would, at this day, have been the admiration of both, for science and religion. Had China been early favored with the Bible, it is more than probable that ere now she would have forsaken her idolatrous temples, and have discarded an unintelligible jargon of Budha for a rational religious worship. But she has not had this light-this treasure of knowledge-this spring of love. She, like a forlorn traveller, (in an uninhabited country) without a compass, or a guide, wanders here and there, and is pleased with whatever he discovers. On reaching the boundaries of the land, he fancies he has travelled over the globe, and arrived at the summit of attainments. He has never imagined that there are other nations, and other people, where the land is cultivated, and the rivers stocked.

The Malta Jews' Society," the object of which is, to facilitate the operations of those Socie ties in America and Europe, that send agents or missionaries to seek the welfare of the chil

dren of Israel. The Deputy Commissary General of these islands was Chairman of the meeting, and has accepted the office of Treasurer of the Society. Another gentleman, connected with the Commissaries, together with Dr. Naudi, are Secretaries. The Committee consists of six, besides the Treasurer and Secretaries, of whom the Rev. Mr. Jowett, and two of our number, are a part. One of the first judges, and several other gentlemen of distinction, and a number of ladies, were present, and became subscribers to the Society. The Rev. Mr. Way, whose name is familiar to all those, who are waiting for the consolation of Israel, addressed the meeting in a speech of near two hours length, and was exceedingly impressive. You probably know, that a legacy of three hundred thousand pounds sterling* was left this gentleman, and that he devotes it all, together with his time, and talents, and life, to the good of Israel. He is now on his way to Jerusalem, and hopes to be there, "when the day of Pentecost is fully come." He has with him a converted Jew, a brother of the Syrian Bishop. who visited England a few years since, together with eight or nine other individuals, most of whom are from different countries and of different languages. That in Zechariah 8th chap. 23d verse, seems to be almost literally fulfilled;-"And it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, we will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you."

This may be considered as a new era in the religious history of Malta. The hands of those who love Zion, have been greatly strengthened, and their hearts greatly encouraged by this reinforcement. Indeed to see a vessel approach these shores, the whole cargo of which consisted of Bibles, and Missiona. ries, and Missionary Reports and Tracts, was truly a novel and interesting sight; and inspired the hope, that the time would come, when "Missionary Packets" would touch here, as regularly every month, as his Britannic Majesty's Packets now do.

Mr. Way has travelled extensively on the continent, has visited, I think, all the sovereigns of Europe, not even excepting His Holi ness the Pope; and has, to use his own expression, "seen more Jews than Solomon, king of Israel, ever set his eyes upon." After he has visited Jerusalem, and perhaps Persia, he intends to go to the city, where "the disciples were first called Christians," and, from its ruins, to build, if he can obtain permission from the Grand Signior, a chapel, a school room, &c. and to establish a Christian colony. Indeed his head is as full of plans, and his hands as full of good works, as his heart is full of benevolence.

He sets sail this evening, and with all our hearts we bid him God speed. We all unite in hoping that your Society will send out a

1,333,333 33.

Holy the place, whose kindly soil
Yields for the flesh its sweet repose,
Where rests the pilgrim free from toil,
Where the rich spice of fragrance blows
Calm be his sleep, whose life
Was given to pain and God,
Who pass'd the vale of strife,
Which his great Master trod.

Who laid mortality's dim robe,
Covering of ills and sorrows, by,
To take the fadeless vesture, wove
By hands of Cherubim on high:
Who bade to time, adieu,
When its brief race was run,
Who hail'd, with steadfast view,
Eternity begun.

Spirit! upon the wings of prayer,
Enfranchised, thou hast gladly flown
To undiscovered glories, where
The ray that burns is from the throne.
Tears are the diadems,

Blest one! that deck thee now,
And souls redeem'd, the gems
That sparkle on thy brow.

Isle of the beauteous Indian deep!
Land of the godless pagan's shrine!
Weep, in your groves of odor weep,
Sigh mid the olive and the vine;

Haste, Ceylonese! and bring
Your tribute to the dead;
Your choicest chaplets fling
Upon the martyr's bed.

Sleep, true disciple! for thy rest,
The rest of piety, shall be
Soft as his dream, who on the breast
Of Jesus lean'd once peacefully.

Sleep, for upon thy grave
Shall tropic flowrets bloom;
And the young aloes wave
O'er thee its glad perfume.

W. B. TAPPAN.

Narrative of his Earlier Years.

This narrative is given in Mr. Stach's own words.

I was born at Mankendorf in Moravia, March 4th, 1711. My father, Christian Stach, was a pious man; and labored diligently, though under great oppression, in the Gospel, among the few remaining in Moravia.

The first occasion of my having serious impressions upon my mind, was a circumstance apparently insignificant. I was sitting and crying, that, in a distribution of cake among my companions, I had been neglected. My father reproved me for it, || and said, "Ah, my son, could I but once see thee weep as earnestly on account of thy sins!" These words pierced me to the heart, and I retained a lasting impression of them.

In the summer season, I was chiefly employed in tending cattle in the fields; and, in winter, my father taught me, at home, to read and write, fearing lest, if I went to school, I might be hurt by bad examples. He did not agree with the Roman Catholic custom of administering the sacrament to children of seven or eight years old, and therefore kept me from it. I remember about that age, to have been in VOL. XIX.

great distress of mind about my soul's salvation, so that I often wished to have been any creature rather than a man.

In my twelfth year, I entered into service; and, being no more under my father's immediate inspection, soon got a hankering after the vanities and pleasures of the world; though I was not able to launch out as others did, owing to my father's being counted a heretic, and the young men of the village shunning his connexions. Whenever I visited him, his words penetrated into my heart, and brought back my former reflections.

When I was sixteen, I moved to Zauchenthal, a place noted for licentiousness; and, alas! soon began to relish it myself. However, God was pleased to bless the frequent admonitions of a friend of my father's, called Melchior Conrad; who, by representing the dangers which I was exposed to, prevailed on me to resolve, that, as soon as I could save a little money, I would leave the country, and join the emigrants who then had settled at Hernnhut, in Upper Lusatia: but, being at my father's house on Palm Sunday, it happened that a cousin of mine, Martin Franke, was there, from Hernnhut; and I felt a great desire to accompany him on his return. He endeavored, by every argument, to dissuade me

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