668
sure that no one left it, while he sent the
soldier to inform the priest of what was tak-
ing place. The priest returned with the sol-
dier to the house, and accused the wife of
having advised her husband. When she de-
nied this, the priest threatened to send her to
the lock-up. The official had a long confer-
ence with the priest, after which they both re-
tired, leaving the soldier in charge, armed
with his rifle. Finally the Chief of Police
arrived, and told the soldier that if Riva-
deneira did not return by half past five, he
might return to the barracks. It so hap-
pened, and the following day Rivadeneira with
his wife and child escaped to Lima, fleeing
from the Spanish priest and from the Chief
of Police.”
Catholicism is ever the same, be it in old
Spain, Cuba, or South America.
N. Z. Town.
HM SL
DOMINICA
Dominica, an island of the West Indies,
was discovered by Columbus in 1493, on his
second voyage, on a Sunday — hence its name,
for Domingo is the Spanish for Sunday, from
Dominus, Lord,— the “Lord's Day.”
First under Spanish rule, then under
French, it eventually fell into English hands.
By conquest it became British in 1756; in 1763
it was ceded to ureat Britain by the treaty of
Paris; in 1778 it was retaken by the governor
of Martinique (French), and restored in 1783;
in 1795 it was invaded from the other side
by Victor Hughes of Guadeloupe, but repulsed
by the English governor Hamilton. Again it
was invaded mn 18835 by Count La Grange from
Martinique, who met stubborn resistance.
“During the conflict, Roseau, the capital,
accidentally caught fire, and the British capitu-
lated, paying £12,000 to the enemy to retire.”
French persistence to hold Dominica is still
evident although in another What
French soldiers have failed to acquire, French
succeeded in, holding spiritual
21000 in a population of
Although the island is in the
way.
priests have
dominion over
about 28,000.
possession of the English, the tendencies of
the people are more French than English. You
will go through villages where, to many per-
sons, the English language is as vet unknown.
Dominica 1s a ragged. craggy country, well
described to Isabella of Spam by Columbus,
when he took a piece of paper, clutched it
and opening his hand said. ** This is Dominica.”
Its topography well illustrates the “ups and
downs of life,” and its rugged contour is a
fair symbol of the strenuous efforts necessary
to make evangelical progress.
A few weeks ago I made a complete tour of
the island on foot to learn its conditions, phys-
ical and otherwise, and to supply it with our
literature. Where night befell me, there 1
slept. I met hospitable people all the way.
I spent a night at a Carib Indian's place.
The first thing he did was to spread the
“board” for dinner; the next, the bed for
sleep. Unlike the Indians of British Guiana,
these Indians know nothing of a native tongue
or dialect, but speak the patois (pronounced
THE WATCHMAN
pat-wa), a corruption of the French, like the
rest of the people.
No one doubts Dominica's volcanic char-
acter in the presence of its Soufriéres, which
is so perceptible to our senses at times and
tarnishes our silver; and the evidence of the
boiling lake, whose thermic water registers
180°. This boiling lake is said to be the
focus of volcanic action in the Grande Sou-
friére, a region in the southern part of the
island embracing about five square miles, act-
ing as a safety valve to what would otherwise
be a very dangerous position and condition.
“The Boiling Lake claims attention, not
only as a remarkable natural phenomenon, but
from various points of view peculiar to itself;
by the mysterious obscurity of its unsuspected
existence for ages; by the accidental circum-
stances which brought about its discovery;
by its subsequent changed condition, . . .
“The most noteworthy fact, and one bear-
ing witness to the chaotic ruggedness and in-
accessibility of the region in question, is that
in an island of less than three hundred square
miles, colonized by the Spaniards since the
IN THE FOREST, DOMINICA, W. I.
seventh century, cultivated continuously by
the French to the middle of the eighteenth
century, and progressively exploited by the
French and English ever since, nature se-
creted in her inmost wilds, far from the ken
of the industrious colonist and the adventurous.
hunter, a striking and wonderful object of
curiosity, a spectacle which now invests Do-
minica with a unique attraction among her
sister islands, bringing travelers hitherward
from distant lands, and which has been deemed
worthy of a place among the wonders of the
world.”
“The topographical and physical conditions
of the Boiling Lake may be summarized as
follows: It is situated on the eastern side
of the longitudinal mountain chain of the is-
land, at an altitude of about 2,425 feet above
the sea level, and it lies in a deep depression
in the midst of a wide area of rocks and other
volcanic debris.”
On a Sunday forenoon, Jan. 4, 1880, there
was an explosion. Fine white ash covered
the neighboring region, and rocks of tre-
mendous proportions were hurled hundreds of
yards.
The forests of Dominica are
There are no fierce beasts; no venomous snakes
or insects to speak of. The climate is very
healthful. With such a plentiful rainfall,
vegetation flourishes even on rocks. There
is an abundance of fruit of some kind or other
all the year round.
harmless.
With the majority of the people Catholic,
there is the accompaniment of “blissful ig-
norance ” of the blessed Book. We met many
who, when offered literature, said, “Can't
read.”
Wedded to their church, it seems almost 1m-
possible for anything to move them; but once
they are converted to the truth, you do not
find a people more devoted to every Christian
duty. Three of our young people have gone
to the Jamaica school. We have started our
church building. It is on the same street
with the government house, the library, police
station, and the court-house. It commands a
view seaward as well as landward. Some of
the people are very wroth to see us build
We are reminded of Nehemiah's time. Pray
Puirip GippInNgs.
CJC
THOMASVILLE, N. C.
Ovr meetings at Thomasville, N. C., closed
September 24. As the immediate result five
are beginning to keep all the commandments.
Some others are yet undecided. It is hoped
they will decide aright. During the time of
our meeting, there have been three different
tent-meetings held by as many different de-
nominations; also two of the local churches
Great in-
for us.
have conducted revival meetings.
terest, large attendance, and much enthusi-
asm have marked all these efforts. At our
services there has not been a great attend-
ance, partly, of course, because of the coun-
ter-attractions offered by these other things,
hut mostly, perhaps, because the great ma-
jority were either indifferent or positively hos-
tile to our work.
The latest effort has
ing conducted by people calling themselves
Pentecostals. They claim all the gifts of the
Spirit, but seem to make a specialty of the
gift of tongues. heir meetings are marked
by great fervor, enthusiasm, and extravagance
of voice, actions, and gesture. They believe
in the near coming of Christ. Their theology
seems to be a composition of Mormonism, Rus-
sellism, with a heavy admixture of the “ holi-
ness” thought.
been a tent-meet-
Their chief attraction to the masses is that
under the inspiration of their religious efforts,
they break forth into what they call “speak-
ing in tongues.” This is accompanied by vio-
lent contortions of the body and much confu-
sion and babble of voices. They rejoice in
this, and regard it as evidence that they have