CHAPTER XXIII.

Native Teachers-Bibles-Missionary Reports-Official Orders and Letters-Departure from Aurungabad-Katees-Arrive at Ahmed-Nuggur Bheels-Guzerat-Mr. Cleveland

Toorkabad-Jungle-Rencontre-Arrows-Baroda.

SHOULD SUCCess ever crown the exertions of the missionaries, a far greater number of teachers and ministers would be required; and it is evident, unless the cause becomes a national subject, or a vast accumulation in the funds takes place, the increased expenses could not be borne; and trusting the management to cheap native assistants in the provinces would not only be impolitic as far as the welfare of the cause is concerned; but extremely dangerous to the interests of government, as there is no knowing what these native enthusiasts, possessing a little authority and much ambition, would not attempt, particularly if far removed from the control and vigilance of their European pastors. This may be anticipating an evil; but it is as well, in an event so momentous as endeavouring to effect a total revolution in the religion, the morals, and the political and social institutions of one hundred millions of people (and history tells us of Paraguay in South America), to look to probable consequences while we are speaking of those now passing before our eyes.

During my sojourn in India I have visited the

countries of Bengal, Berar, Bahar, Orissa, the Carnatic, Mysore, Soondah, Ceylon, Malabar, the Deccan, Visiapoor and Guzerat, and have besides served at the three several presidencies. At the capitals I have certainly seen a number of translations of the Scriptures in the various oriental languages; but in the provinces and towns of the countries above-mentioned I never, by application or inquiry, could hear of a copy of the sacred writings in the possession of a native; of course I except such places as Benares, Patna, and the cities where schools, &c. are established. I have been on board five different vessels navigated by European seamen, and they had no copies of the Bible or New Testament, nor could I find, by inquiry, that in other vessels in which they had sailed they were furnished with the means of studying the Scriptures. When, therefore, we are told, in an official Register, that the sums voluntarily subscribed in Great Britain for the use of religious societies amounts to 1000l.* per day, every exertion ought to be taken in distributing the sacred writings effectively, and, as in the case of "Mahomet and the mountain," if the ships won't come to the societies, the societies must go to them.

* I am informed that 500,000l. per ann. is about the amount. For charitable and religious purposes not less than 2,500,000l. is annually subscribed. Surely such vast sums ought to be placed under the salutary control of Parliament, and all the accounts. should be audited on oath. We do not live in the most honest times; indeed I have strong reasons for the above observation, or rather advice.

On my return from India, intending to remain at the Cape of Good Hope for my health (but which becoming dangerously bad compelled me to come to England), I purchased another Bible for the use of my family, but, being obliged to accompany them, I gave the extra Bible to the seamen of the ship, and it was a most gratifying sight to see them on a Sunday, in their best apparel, sitting in an orderly manner in a circle on the forecastle, while the best scholar among them read aloud. None of these men, as I could find out, had ever sailed in vessels possessing copies of the Scriptures.

I will now close my observations on the conversion of the Hindoos by the subjoined extracts which the Church Missionary Society have, in their periodical Journal for January, 1824, published. They consist of several official statements received from some of the missionaries in India. The unreserved publication of these reports reflects the highest credit on the Institution, not only from the promptitude with which they have been given to the public, but for their integrity in furnishing them unmutilated or unaltered.

It will be seen from these extracts that defects exist, and that the cause does not prosper in the way all real friends and advocates of the cause could wish; but let the extracts speak for themselves.

Baptist Missionary Society, established 1801.—" Of the places for native worship, which are four in Calcutta, one at Hourah, and three connected with Doorgapore, it is said in the Report:

"The missionaries meet day after day various and ever fluctuating congregations, and have to encounter the same irksome round of frivolous excuses and objections a thousand times repeated; while, at the same time, their pity is roused by witnessing the complicated miseries of those who hasten after other gods.' "At Hourah, the prospect of usefulness is extending. Of one of the chapels in Calcutta it is said:

"The whole of one morning in the week has been spent in this place in conversing with visitors, entering more largely into the nature and requirements of the gospel, and exposing the fallacy of those hopes of eternal salvation which any other system affords."

"At Doorgapore there is another Brahmin who seems likely to tread in the steps of Anunda; but of others the missionaries report:

"Many inquirers prompted by interest, and some by curiosity, have applied to the missionaries; but when it was found that the profession of the gospel promised no temporal advantage, and that the truths which it reveals, though so important, were plain and simple, their anxiety to become acquainted with it ceased.""

Calcutta London Missionary Society." At Union Chapel the congregation has increased to upward of three hundred; the communicants are about fifty. There is Bengalee preaching in four places, and another was to be erected. The directors

state:

"The brethren continue every evening in the week, when practicable, to preach to the natives in the chief places of concourse, either in the streets of Calcutta or the public roads of its vicinity. The congregations which assemble on these occasions apparently listen with attention. Many, from time to time, have appeared deeply impressed with the force of truth; and some, during the past year, have manifested very encouraging indications of real conversion to Christ. The brethren, however, lament that the natives too seldom exhibit a desirable spirit of inquiry, and still less frequently conduct their inquiries with calmness and candour.

"Seriously and painfully impressed with the little success ·

which has hitherto attended their labours among the Heathen, the brethren at this station have resolved to set apart one day in every month for self-examination, humiliation, and special prayer.""

Digah near Patna and Dinapore, a large military station three hundred and twenty miles from Calcutta-Baptist Missionary Society, established 1809.-"He wishes to be baptized; after which he would consider me as being under an obligation to provide for him. I do not mean to insinuate by this that it would be his wish to live without work, but that he would expect that I should, in case of necessity, get him something to do by which to support himself and his family.

"You are no doubt already aware of the difficulties with which we are surrounded with respect to inquirers. On the one hand, they are rejected by their friends and heathen countrymen, and thus deprived of the means of subsistence; and, on the other, we are unable to support them from our funds. I should be exceedingly thankful if the Society would communicate to me their thoughts on this subject. How ought a missionary to act when he sees something really hopeful in an inquirer, but by baptizing him he is necessitated either to find him employment for his support, or to turn him out into the world in great distress ?"

Another extract is given from the same station.

"The activity of the native assistants does not at present seem to be rewarded by success. It is said of them:

"Our native brethren are active in going from house to house, in visiting places immediately around us, and in attending to the ordinary round of duty. They certainly claim our sympathy and our prayers. Day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year, they are engaged more or less in conversing with their countrymen on the redemption to be found in Christ, without meeting with any who afford them joy here, and give them a hope that they will be their crown in the day of the Lord