The Natives.—A Communion.

Sept. 7. After a quiet and pensive journey on the Mission horse, on the 25th ult., I arrived at Katotauru. Men, women, children,^** (and dogs,) were all collected together on a lawn, and the people of the place brought them food with great ceromony. This consisted of whole and cut up pigs, potatoes, flour baked into large flat cakes, as hard as a brickbat, with other food, which was distributed to the different parties, and all set to and made a substantial meal. In the evening the people all assembled in the Chapel, and I addressed them from the 8th Psalm. On Lord's day morning, as soon as the light appeared, they were all in motion. The first thing was the prayer meeting; then their food; then the School; this was a most interesting service, catechizing, &c. The subject was the institution and design of the Lord's Supper. After the usual questions and answers, one of the Teachers addressed them on its obligation, in a feeling and eloquent style. After school, the public service; the Chapel was crowded to excess. I spoke from 1 Peter, 1 c. 16 v. “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” After preaching, I baptized a child. He was four days old. The mother was not present. She actually went out two days after her confinement, and assisted to get food for her friends. This threw her page 172 back, and she remained in her house ill. Such cases are very common among the natives. In the after part of the day, I administered the Sacrament to the members. Several were kept back by the leaders for uttering improper words, family quarrels, &c. This is always a solemn and interesting season. They have clear and correct views of the atonement, and are most scrupulous in keeping back any one from partaking who may have walked disorderly, or in any way defiled the conscience. Not a sound was heard during the service, and all separated in peace. But I was most interested between the services with the conversation of two of our native teachers, Thomas and Reuben. It was an argument on the doctrines of the resurrection and the immortality of the soul. Job and Paul were adduced, especially Paul's masterly argument in the xv. of 1 Cor. The new body was represented as being like the butterfly escaped from its prison in the earth; before its change an unsightly worm. I was greatly delighted with what I heard, which brought to mind the beautiful lines of the poet:—

“Arrayed in glorious Grace,
Shall these vile bodies shine;
And every shape and every face
Look heavenly and divine.”

W. W.