of Kumaon, and that of the educated people, is the Hindi, in which the service was conducted, but the dialect of the province differs more widely from it than any provincial dialect in England from the English language. We were often gratified by finding the extent to which the train of thought, and especially the illustrations, had been followed. Mrs. Kennedy went every Saturday to the asylum to instruct the women, and had no ordinary pleasure in this labour of love. She often came home greatly encouraged. Never have I addressed more attentive congregations than on these Sabbath mornings. The poor creatures before me had a subdued look, often a very suffering look, indicating their dire complaint. I preached to them more frequently from the Gospels than from any other portion of Scripture. The life of our Lord furnished a delightful and inexhaustible theme, a theme specially suitable to the audience. When I looked at my hearers, keeping their eyes steadily on me as I was speaking of the Saviour's deeds and dwelling on His words, I could not but hope that He Himself was with us, performing "the greater works" which He told His disciples were to be wrought in His Name after His departure, and that He was saying to one and another, "I will; be thou clean." When coming away we were always saluted from both sides of the house with the blessing of the women and the men. Special care was bestowed on the instruction of those who applied for baptism. I observe that Mr. Budden, in the report of the mission. for 1868, states that I had received during the course of the year eighteen into the church by baptism. He also states that Dr. Mather, resident at Almora in 1869, undertook the service after my departure, and received twenty-nine of the baptised inmates into the full communion of the church. On the occasion of baptisms the response to the question, Do you accept Christ as your Saviour? Do you promise by His grace to cleave to Him, to love, trust, serve, and obey Him all your days? was given with a heartiness which touched the hearts of all present. In 1868 Sir William Muir, then the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces, attended by his staff and the officials of Kumaon, paid a visit to the asylum. The lepers were greatly delighted by the visit of the Lord Sahib. He spoke to them in their own language a few kindly words, and ended by giving a sum sufficient to give them a dinner in commemoration of his visit. We left with hearty blessings sounding in our ears. In the succeeding year the asylum was visited by the Bishop of Calcutta, who also spoke to them in Hindi. I ought to mention that special effort is made to alleviate and, if possible, to cure the disease. Croton oil was recommended as a specific, but, according to the latest information I possess, the effect of its application fell far behind the hope entertained. The dress of the lepers is arranged to hide their sores, so far as they can be hidden. Once when crossing the Ganges in a season of scarcity, at one of its great ferries, Garhmookhtesar Ghat, we saw a very affecting sight. Along the road for more than a mile were small miserable grass sheds, occupied by lepers. As we went on they hastened out of their sheds, and hobbled after us as fast as they could, piteously crying, "Ghureeb purwur, daya, daya!" "Minister of the poor, mercy, mercy!" All we could do to meet their wants was like a morsel of bread to a hungry crowd. Shortly afterwards we reached Almora, and on going to its asylum we could not but be struck with the contrast between those who were left to the chance of wayfaring pity, and those for whom Christian benevolence had prepared a home. The persons know not what they do who would destroy, or even impair, God's message of love to mankind conveyed in the Gospel of His Son, which inspires those who heartily accept it with the most tender sympathy for the suffering and the erring, and ever prompts to sustained effort for their good, while preparing them for a better and higher state than this world has ever known. MONGOLIA-CAIRNS WITH PRAYER. "ALMOST every hill in Mongolia," writes the Rev. JAMES GILMOUR, M.A., " is adorned with a cairn of stones on the very top. This cairn is a thing of the Mongolian religion. When it is determined to erect one, men, women, and children turn out and gather stones, repeating prayers over each stone, and thus the raised heap represents much devotion on the part of the gatherers. Oh, that all contributions in Christian lands for Christian objects were raised in the same way. Gifts are good; but prayer-followed gifts are precious. And why should not every giver make his gift precious by his prayers? Why should not every coin and every copper dropped into a collecting-box be not only a gift to God, but the tally of prayers offered to God ?" V.-South Seas. OUT-STATIONS OF THE HERVEY GROUP. BY THE REV. W. WYATT GILL, B.A. N mid-day of Friday, June 23rd, we started from Rarotonga with a strong breeze, and arrived at the beautiful island of AITUTAKI on the following morning. We found MR. and MRS. HUTCHIN quite well, and pleased with their visit. Very cordial and touching was the reception given to MISS ROYLE. The natives of Aitutaki would like to keep her for ever, as the instructress of the young, and counsellor of the old. A valuable present of hogs, yams, and cocoanuts was (as usual) made to the John Williams, besides a gift of useful articles to each officer and sailor, not forgetting the cabin-boy. The entire day was occupied in taking off these good things. Whilst the sailors were thus engaged, Mr. Hutchin and I received the formal report of the native pastors. Heathen superstition has, alas! been imported from distant islands, and, despite the remonstrances of their pastors, is still rife. Strong drink-home-made and imported-has at length got hold of the Aitutakian youth. I was, however, pleased to note that the contributions to the London Missionary Society were in advance of last year's, amounting to the noble sum of 553.50 dollars, or £110 in currency. There are two churches and pastors on Aitutaki. We spent a pleasant Sabbath ashore. The entire population (1,500), assembled three times for Divine service, in the beautiful and spacious church, opposite to the landing-place. Sermons and numerous addresses were delivered, thus affording an excellent opportunity of referring to prevalent evils. Two married students were recommended by the teachers for the Institution, and were accepted on probation. On Monday, June 25th, we bade farewell to Miss Royle, and, towing on board a fine bullock, we sailed for PENRHYNS. Late on Friday afternoon (June 29th) we landed at Penrhyns, and found Tauera and family the very picture of health. For the first time since the introduction of Christianity, old cocoa-nuts may be seen lying about on the ground untouched. Thousands of young trees are springing up in every direction; in a year or two they will all be laden with fruit. For some weeks previous to our arrival, the entire population had been feeding on porpoises; a vast shoal having been driven on shore. They looked plump, indeed their faces seemed to shine with porpoise oil,-a pleasing contrast to their horribly starved In spiritual matters the improvement is equally great. Old dissen- sions are at an end; the young are diligent at school; the means of grace are well attended; and a fine young fellow and his wife offered themselves for the Institution on probation. Tauera is about to build a stone mission-house close to the beach. lime are ready. The population of Penrhyns is slightly increasing. When last here-two years ago-we begged them to pay off their debts to the white traders. They have done so, to the extent of two thousand dols. (£400). They are now endeavouring to wipe off the remaining nine hundred dols. (£180). Tauera and his wife wished to pay their respects to Mr. Hutchin, who remained on board; so they sailed out to the "John Williams" in a boat built and rigged by himself. A pastor of this sort is instinctively looked up to by these South Sea On Sabbath afternoon we landed at MANIHIKI. Great was the joy of all that we had brought Abela to assist his aged father. We met the At mid-day we crossed the lagoon to Butaura's station, and found him, as usual, building. Tukao people have a passion for bells, and have spent upwards of £60 on three large ones for their beautiful church, which has not yet been opened. But, unfortunately, whilst thus engaged, for two years they have omitted to pay Butaura's salary! Under these circumstances, I handed over to him the 28.50 dols.- i.e., £5 14s.-contributed to the London Missionary Society, and requested the deacons to stir up the church to a sense of their duty in That same night, late, I landed at the sister island, RAKAANGA. The landing was effected in Banaba's large boat, built by himself, for myself, suitable rewards being given at the close. We were much pleased at what we saw at Rakaanga; certainly Banaba has proved himself a good pastor. His salary is 100 dols. cash (£20); contributions to London Missionary Society 45.50 dols. (£9 2s.) for the present year. At 2 p.m. we sailed, with a fair wind, for DANGER ISLAND, arriving there on July 5th. We were astonished at receiving upwards of 300 hats, besides sennit, as contributions from the church to the London Missionary Society. The population is steadily increasing. They looked healthy, and are entirely free from the sores and skin diseases so common in the Pacific. On the other hand, they are extremely dirty and ill-dressed. The fringes worn by the women in 1862 are still common. Their poverty may be explained by the circumstance that no vessel has traded at Bukabuka this year. Seven married young men offered themselves for the Institution; all of them intelligent, and of several years' standing as church members. We selected two, who, with their wives and a son apiece (for the Normal school), accompanied us to Rarotonga. Rumours having reached us at Rarotonga, stating that these islanders were utterly dissatisfied with their spiritual instructors, we convened a meeting of deacons and teachers to inquire into the grounds of complaint. Some of these charges were obviously futile, others were very serious. It was clear that a change was desirable. So I intimated my intention to remove both teachers. There is no charge whatever against their moral character. It was simply an error of judgment. These same teachers have just completed a beautiful stone manse, far superior to that in which the first five years of my missionary life were spent at Mangaia. We landed glass windows for this parsonage. It is worthy of note that not a cent is claimed by the teachers on account of this valuable property. I propose to make them a present of 20 dols. (£4), on account of their personal toil in raising it. A considerable advance in knowledge of the Scriptures has been made by the Danger Islanders during the past two years. Their pastors must have been diligent. For three days we were in sight of PALMERSTON'S ISLAND, almost becalmed. At length a boat came off, manned by six English-speaking lads. The captain gave them some religious periodicals, and some newspapers. On Thursday, July 19th, we landed in Rarotonga; but found the |