Ephraim and Manasseh

There cannot be any subject brought before the people, which ought to claim more candid attention, than information that relates to any of the families of Israel. The bible contains a few lines upon the subject in question. Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh and says let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

Here we have it "in the midst of the earth," and all that is wanting is to find the multitude. This we show in the following from a southern paper:-

INDIANS OF AMERICA.-The semi-annual report of the American Indian Mission Association, held at Forsyth, Ga., on May 17, 18, and 19th ult, in its survey of the field which is opened for their labors, and after remarking upon the claims of the aboriginal race of this continent as being as fully entitled to the philanthropic and benevolent efforts of American Christendom, as the inhabitants of the eastern continents of Asia and Africa, proceeds to give an estimate of the numbers of American Indians. We extract from this, the concluding portion of their report:-

"The field we have entered is extensive, comprising a full quarter of the Globe. The population, it is true, is not so dense as in many other countries, but it is supposed to embrace ten or eleven millions of the original inhabitants and about the same number of others, whose condition morally is as deplorable as that of the natives, or of any heathen nation in the world; and with these races of men there is such a commingling that in approaching the one, we necessarily come in contact with the other. The portion covered by the population of the United States, and the civilized parts of Canada, is an exception of but a speck compared with the whole. We have, therefore, before us a fourth part of the world to work upon: and material consisting of about twenty-two millions, or upwards; and with very partial exceptions among the Indians on our borders, this field is unoccupied by others. Other societies have sailed across the seas to Asia, Africa, and Europe, and have left America for us.

It is estimated that there are yet four millions and a half of the Aborigines in North America, including Mexico and its dependencies. Further southeast in Central America, in Guatimala [Guatemala], there are supposed to be one million of Indians. One of their towns contains about 20,000 inhabitants. In the more eastern parts of the country, are large districts thinly inhabited by uncivilized Indains.

Still further southeast in New Granada, in a population of about 1,800,000, one million may be estimated as being of Indian blood. In the adjoining region of Venezuela (or Carracas) it is supposed that there are eighty three thousand Indians. Some of these, but not all, have submitted to a state of dependence and vassalage under the Spanish and Catholic yoke. Other tribes are unsubdued, as the Goahiros, about 30,000 in number, and the Guaraunos, about 8,000 in number.

In Guiana, the tribes of Caribs and Warrows adjoin the coast. The Arrowsauks and the Accawaws reside farther in the interior. Here the European settlements do not extend far back from the sea; and in the interior are numerous tribes but little known.

Peru is said to have a known population of Indian blood, of 853,350. East of the mountains are extensive regions, chiefly prairies, inhabited by tribes unsubdued by the Spaniards, whom we may estimate at least, at 40,000-The extensive region of Brazil is supposed to contain 800,000 or 1,000,000 unsubdued Indains.

In Buenos Ayres [Aires], what are termed civilized Indians, because subject to the Spaniards, number about 700,000, besides those who are unsubdued in the interior.

In Chili there are, perhaps, 500,000 Indians, most of whom are submissive to the Spaniards. The interior of Patagonia is inhabited by unsubdued Indians; the number not known, but probably amounting to one or two millions.-In the islands of Trinidad, Margarita, and St. Vincent, it is said that a few of the original inhabitants remain; in all about 3700. The large island of Terra Fuego is inhabited by the Aborigines.

We must not, however, disguise a fact, which though it may be felt by some of the missionaries has, perhaps, not been well understood generally, namely; that missionary labors among the Indians are usually attended with more toil, difficulties, and obstacles, and consequently may be said to be harder to perform, than those among the heathen of other countries; but it is presumed that none are better qualified to perform difficult and hard work, than the missionaries whom this association will employ.

The prevalence of peace in the greater part of North America, and many other considerations, make the present time peculiurly [peculiarly] favorable for carrying forward our work successfully; and even the present political agitations, in Mexico, we have good reason to believe, will result favorably for the designs of the association, and notwithstanding, in the countries

further southeast, obstacles not altogether informidable may be apprehended, we may hope that they will appear less appalling as we approach them. The South Americans have long been in a restless condition: the gospel would insure tranquility [tranquillity] and blessings beyond those of which they have hitherto been capable of conceiving.

Since our Divine Master had done so much for fallen man, and we have been so much favored as a nation, as Christians, as members of a benevolent association; and in view of the condition of the Aborigines, and our obligations to them, and of the inviting opportunities which now present themselves for doing them good, and the confidence of success which humble reliance upon God, must inspire us, surely there will not be one in our favored fraternity who will be unwilling to participate most zealously in this good work of "build the old wastes, of repairing the waste cities, and the desolations of many generations."-And, in behalf of all, we adopt the language of Nehemiah, "The God of heaven he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build."

The total number of the Indian race is therefore estimated by the report at near or about 12,000,000, excluding those of mingled Spanish &c., and Indian blood