Summary
Overview of the Mission in British Guiana
The Juvenile Instructor provides a general view of the Missionaries in British Guiana in order to show the prowess of the British Empire. This passage in the book, written in 1842, begins by describing the geography of the region that the Mission settled. The Mission mainly occupied Bartica Grove which was “at the junction of the rivers Mazaroony and Essequibo” (L. & G. Seeley et al 75). There were eight native tribes in the region and 5000 of the natives followed British traditions while 20000 did not, and the Mission wanted to change this statistic (L. & G. Seeley et al 76). The Mission wanted to convert more of the natives and used British advancements in technology to do so.For example, the Mission introduced Western technology to the natives of British Guiana, evident in the quote from the leader of the Mission, Reverend J. H. Bernau, when he says “’there is nothing which operates so forcibly upon their minds as the example of industry, order, and punctuality” (L. & G. Seeley et al 81). The Mission showed the natives houses, gardens, and other useful items that made the natives more interested in assimilating into British civilization (L. & G. Seeley et al 82). The increased interest in British culture allowed the Missionary to grow as there were more hands willing and able to help in the expansion, giving the natives more opportunities.
One of these opportunities the Mission gave to the natives was a school. Native children were successful in the school and were often converted to Christianity as the school placed a large emphasis on religion. Evidence of the emphasis on religion can be found in Bernau’s explanation of a typical day on the Mission for the natives consisted of Morning Prayers, then classes, and finally a full service (L. & G. Seeley et al 84). This description of a typical day shows that British ideologies, like chivalry and building communities through a parish, are spread through religion into the natives that are attracted to live near the Mission for the new and interesting opportunities it provides with new technology.
In addition to changing the natives’ beliefs, the Mission was very kind to the natives. One of the men that worked on the Mission, Mr. Youd, stated that he was happy that he got to hear the natives pray in their own language (L. & G. Seeley et al 88-89). This genuine interest in helping the natives allowed the Mission to be more successful and convert more natives. More natives showed up to see what was happening at the services and more joined the Mission.
The Juvenile Instructor goes on to provide accounts of more specific events in British Guiana and other Missions in the New World.
