5(5 
MISSIONAKY LABOUK. 
ilig ill vaiu for spiritual guides. They are left to a 
native Padre, who cannot be supposed to be well 
acquainted with the truths of Christianitj, even as left 
by the short tuition of their first pastors ; it is not 
surprising therefore, that these simple people have not 
preserved the religion, thus imperfectly taught them, 
free from the usages of their pagan ancestors. 
The church is dedicated to the Virgin, and there 
are many chapels in different parts of the island con- 
secrated to saints. Through the main street is a line 
of crosses. The fairest field is here open to the Pro- 
testant missionary, who would find, instead of the 
hatred and contempt which is widely spread by 
Mahomedans in Africa, a predisposition at least, and 
a veneration for the jirincipal dogmas of his own 
belief. A judicious teacher would have no difficulty 
in leading the half Christianized natives to the more 
simple worship of the Protestant faith; while he 
might prove his desire of befriending them by attend- 
ing to their temporal wants, and inti’oducing improve- 
ments on customs, to which they are wedded by long 
use, instead of endeavouring to bring about sudden 
revolutions in their method of seeing and doing things. 
For instance — a very great blessing might be con- 
ferred on the inhabitants of the town, by shewing 
them how, with a very little trouble, they might procure 
abundance of water all the year round, instead of hav- 
ing to send for it to the lake, which is situated about 
800 feet above them, and to which the road is so 
