278 DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XVII.—B.P. 
such, as to induce the General Synod of the Church, 
which met in 1848, to determine on the commence¬ 
ment of efforts on the coast. 
The first missionary sent out was the Eey. H. G. 
Pfeiffer, who was accompanied by his wife and two 
young unmarried men. They reached Blewfields on 
the 14th of March, 1849, and immediately set to 
work at the preliminary labours for the establishment 
of a station. A small plot of land was granted at 
Blewfields for the purposes of the mission, the most 
needful buildings were speedily erected in a simple 
style, Sunday schools established, and Divine service 
ever after regularly held. 
As the German emigrants gradually dispersed, and 
some of them settled at considerable distances, the 
missionaries, at an early period,—while not losing 
sight of any opportunity to benefit either the Euro¬ 
peans or the mixed inhabitants of Blewfields,—turned 
their attention to the aboriginal Indians. With this 
purpose they often made excursions to various places 
at which there was a relatively large Indian population, 
and were much encouraged by the attention of these 
poor people, and their readiness to receive instruction. 
One of the most important of these localities was 
Pearl Cay Lagoon. In 1855 a building was erected 
at English Bank in this locality, and, before long, a 
resident missionary was stationed there. This spot 
was subsequently called Magdala. Another very in¬ 
teresting field was Rama Cay, in Blewfields Lagoon. 
This small island is the refuge of a feeble remnant of 
the once powerful Rama tribe ; these people were dis- 
