Mr. Rodgerson, having for some time past contemplated a removal with his family from the Marquesas, on account of the obscene manners of the natives rendering these islands unsuitable at present as a residence for females and children, availed himself of a favourable opportunity which presented itself, of carrying that measure into effect on the 21st of October, when, with Mrs. Rodgerson and family, he embarked on board an American ship, which touched at Santa Christina, direct for Tahiti. In a letter, dated 21st November, written subsequent to his arrival at the latter island, the passage to which occupied six days, Mr. Rodgerson remarks :

:

I did not leave the poor Marquesans without pain of mind, being convinced how mach they need even increased efforts to be made on their behalf to deliver them from the power of the Prince of darkness by whom they are led captive at his will. Nothing should ever have induced me to take such a step could I possibly have re

mained with my family. May the expectations of the Directors be speedily realised, and may they soon be enabled to send out two suitable persons to unite with Mr. S. in active and zealous exertions to turn the islanders from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.

On the 11th of April, the Rev. Robert Thomson sailed in the Camden, to succeed Mr. Rodgerson at the Marquesas. The Directors are desirous of appointing another Missionary to that field of labour, but have not yet succeeded in obtaining an individual suited to the undertaking. They trust the Great Head of the Church will guide them in their efforts to effect this important object. Mr. Rodgerson proceeds from Tahiti to Borabora, to occupy the place at that station of Mr. Platt who has removed to Raiatea.

DEATH OF MRS. TAYLOR AT THE Directors are this month called to fulfil the mournful and solemn duty of recording the death of Mrs. Taylor, the wife of their devoted brother, the Rev. R. B. Taylor, after a long and painful illness, on the 7th of November last.

She had been removed for change of air from Mr. Taylor's station, at Leguan Island, Essequebo, to George Town, Demerara. There a partial recovery ensued, and it was intended, under medical advice, to remove her thence to Barbadoes with a view to promote still further the favourable change which had appeared. But, immediately prior to the period fixed for her departure, the malady under which she suffered returned with greatly aggravated intensity; and after several days and nights of extreme bodily anguish, borne with unrepining submission to the Divine will, she

GEORGE TOWN, DEMERARA.

departed to her eternal rest. The prayers and sympathies of the people of God will not be asked in vain on behalf of our bereaved brother, who by this truly painful dispensation is left alone at his remote and solitary station, with a motherless babe, to mourn his exceeding loss. The Directors affectionately commiserate his trying circumstances, but rejoice in the assurance that his consolations in the midst of affliction are many and abundant. In referring to this afflictive event, our brother observes:-"The Lord hath done it, and He is too wise too err, too good to be unkind, and although the stroke has well nigh broken my heart, I can rejoice amidst all my sorrows, knowing that my loss is unspeakable gain to her."

RETURN OF MRS. SLATYER FROM JAMAICA.

On the 19th of December, Mrs. Slatyer, who has been obliged to leave her station and her husband at Mandeville, Jamaica, on account of declining health, arrived at Falmouth, per the Lord Melville packet, and

S. S.

on the 28th of the same month reached London. The health of Mrs. Slatyer has been considerably benefited by the voyage, and it is hoped will be entirely restored by a short stay in her native country.

MISSIONARY CONTRIBUTIONS,

From the 1st to 31st December, 1838, inclusive.

A Member of the Society

£ s. d.

£ s. d

500 of Friends, by Mrs. Ellis 10 0 0 A Friend, per Rev. J.
10 0 0 Mr. Charles Piper, (dec.)
per Rev. R. Knill

£ s. d.

J. Freeman ............... 75 0 0 20 0 0 Albion Chapel, a Moiety... 17 8 4

CONTINUED PERSECUTION IN MADAGASCAR.

EARLY in the summer of 1838, the Rev. D. Johns proceeded from Mauritius to Madagascar, to ascertain as far as practicable the circumstances of the native Christians, and afford any aid or encouragement that it might be in his power to impart. On the 25th of June, he reached Tamatave, where he received the most distressing accounts of the continued hostility and cruelty of the Queen towards the Christians. Many, he was informed, had been reduced to unredeemable slavery; two, at least, had been put to death; and a number who had been obliged to flee for their lives, were concealed in different parts of the country. Among the latter was Rafaravavy, who was reported to have been put to death in 1837. Referring to this individual, Mr. Johns, in a letter dated Tamatave, June 30, 1838, observes, "Her friends succeeded in saving her life, but another young woman whom we knew by the name of Rasalama, but known by some in Madagascar by the name of Rafaravavy,* was put to death. All that I told you respecting the death of Rafaravavy is applicable to Rasalama, so that the mistake is of no great importance."

During the time that Mr. Johns remained at Tamatave, which was until the end of August, he had the mournful satisfaction of meeting with some of the native Christians from the capital; these stated, that in addition to the particulars of the sufferings of the first martyr already given, Rasalama was cruelly flogged for several successive days before she was put to death; that she met her death with a degree of firmness and composure that led even the heathen executioners repeatedly to declare, "there is some charm in the religion of the white people, which takes away the fear of death." Speaking of the native Christians who afterwards suffered, Mr. Johns, in a letter dated the 6th of August, states, "As soon as the storm was over the Christians gradually began to assemble in the night at the house of Rafaralahy, situated in a village a mile and a half to the north of the capital. Here they met once or twice a-week, and found it good to be there. It was, indeed, sweet to our souls,' they say, ' to meet together after a hard day's labour to read the word of eternal life, to converse on spiritual things, and to unite together in prayer and praise.' But another storm was now approaching. Satan put it in the heart of one who had once made a profession of Christianity, to come in to their society to spy their proceedings. He then hastened to the head officer, and told him all that he had seen. Rafaralahy was immediately seized and put in irons, and every thing was done to extort the names of his companions from him; but he remained inflexible, saying,Here am I; let the Queen do what she pleases with me; I have done it, but I will not accuse my friends.' After being in irons for two or three days, he was taken to Ambohipotsy, the place of execution, where he was speared to death. The calmness and tranquillity with which he met death made a deep impression on the minds of the executioners; when they came to the door of the house where he was bound, they asked, "Who is Rafaralahy?" He replied very calmly, "Izaho Tompobo." They approached him and took off the irons, and told him to go along with them; he arose immediately, went with them, speaking to them all the way of Jesus Christ, and how happy he felt at the thought of shortly seeing Him who had loved him and died for him. On arriving at the place of execution, he requested them to allow him a few moments to commit his soul to the Saviour;

The fact of a plurality of names prevailing among the Malagasy, and of Rafaravavy, which literally signifies youngest daughter, being an exceedingly common name, in all probability occasioned the mistake in the first accounts. The Missionaries supposed that the accounts they received from the natives referred to an individual known among them by the name of Rafaravavy, as that was the name employed by the atives in giving the account of the execution. They now find the accounts refer to another individual known among them by the name of Rasalama, though known among some of the natives by the former designation.

this being granted, he offered a most fervent prayer for his country, for his persecuted brethren, and commended his soul to his Saviour. He then rose from his knees, and the executioners were preparing to throw him down on the ground, but he said there was no need for that, he was now ready to die; he laid himself down, and was immediately put to death. His friends were allowed to bury the body in the grave of their ancestors, but the body of Rasalama was devoured by the dogs. Rafaralahy was a young man about 25 years of age, of a respectable family; about the year 1832 or 3, he began to learn to read, and it appears that Rafiakarana, or Ramahazo, as he was then called, who accused him to the Government, was the first person that spoke to him on the subject of religion. He was never baptised, and did not take a very prominent part in advancing Christianity before the persecution. Soon after the suppression of Christianity, his uncle who had adopted him as his son, was tried by the ordeal and declared guilty; but owing to some valuable service the family had rendered to Andrianimpoina, his life was saved, but he was banished to the Sakalava Country for life. Very shortly after this he obtained a complete copy of the Bible from me, and continued to visit me once or twice a-week until we left the capital, but always appeared very timid; he, however, continued in connexion with the Christians, and improved very fast in knowledge and confidence. Our friends say that the death of Rasalama made a deep impression on his mind.*

"After the death of Rafaralahy, the next step taken by the Government was to secure his companions, and to effect this they bound the wife of Rafaralahy, and flogged her most cruelly for several days successively; and holding the spear before her, threatened her with immediate death unless she would tell all the friends who visited Rafaralahy; after being thus tortured for several days, and being urged by her relations, she told the names of the friends who visited Rafaralahy.

"The wife of Rafaralahy, the martyr, is still in irons; she is in great distress of mind for telling of the friends to the Government. Our friends think that she is really a pious young woman, and that torture and fear alone forced her to tell. The number of those who are in slavery and bonds is reported to be great, but how many they are I do not exactly know. The Queen proposed to the first officers to put every one of them to death; to use her own expression, to destroy completely all the roots, that no sprouts might spring up hereafter; but some of the officers advised her not to do so, that that was not the way to do it, for, said they, it is the nature of the religion of the white people, the more you kill, the more people will receive it.'"

Such are the melancholy tidings which the latest communications have brought from Madagascar; they will deeply afflict the minds of those who sympathize with the suffering members of the body of Christ, and will add new inducements to more fervent prayer that the Most High may speedily appear and effect deliverance for his people.

He seems to have been the only native Christian that had the courage to accompany her to the place of execution.

Persons possessing "The History of Madagascar," and desirous to add to the second volume the correction of the mistake respecting the name of the first Martyr, and the account of the death of Rafaralahy, will be supplied with the above account on application at the publisher's, or at the Mission House. Those who do not bind up this Magazine in volumes may insert, at the end of the second Volume of the History, the two last pages of the present number.

W. Tyler, Printer, 5, Bolt-court, London.