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gave the alarm immediately, and the thicket being searched a huge boa-constrictor was discovered, and killed on the spot. In its gorge the poor infant was found, swallowed down whole.

Aug. 2. We have often observed a favorite kind of scarecrow placed in the rice-fields, not to protect the grain from being plundered and wasted by the birds of the air, but to ward off from it the influences of evil eyes, in which the Hindoos most potently believe. The black image of a man, rudely carved, is placed in the midst of the growing crop, so conspicuously as to arrest the attention of every passenger, when, if any one happens to have an evil eye, at the first look this figure draws all the pestilent virtue out of it upon its own head, as surely as a touch receives the charge of an electric battery; and the guarded paddy remains unhurt.

Aug. 4. In the palace of the Ranee, or sovereign princess, at Tanundrum, among other curiosities, we saw several civit cats, which are caught in the jungles among the mountains. They are carefully kept in cages, having a bamboo placed perpendicularly in the same; and against this the creatures rub the parts from which the precious perfume oozes; whereby her Royal Highness is supplied with what she requires for her own use, in native purity.

Aug. 9. Cape Comorin, the southern point of the Indian peninsula, being only three miles from the village of Agatees, where we had lodged, we went early in the morning to see this "land's end." There are a few houses of Brahmins, and several pagodas, near the spot. One of the latter is very spacious, and ranks among the most sacred inclosures in the country. Of course it is a place of great resort for pilgrims, who come hither, on the festivals, to present gifts to the goddess, and to bathe in the sea. An idol is brought annually from Surinderum, to make love to Cania Kummara (for that is her name, from which also the cape derives its appellation), and propose marriage to her. She demands of him that he shall prepare ground, sow rice, and cause it to spring up and ripen for the wedding-feast. This feat of husbandry, however (as the sole condition on which she will accept him), she requires to be done all in one day; and, as none of her wooers have ever yet been able to accomplish it, the goddess has never been won.

This extremity of the continent is rocky and barren. A violent sea is constantly breaking on the shore, and against a reef which runs out into the water. In doubling the cape,

RIGHT AND LEFT-HAND CASTES.

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therefore, it is necessary for ships to stand out at a considerable distance from the land.

Aug. 30. The present is the season of one of the Hindoo festivals, when dreadful feuds generally arise between the right-hand castes and the left-hand ones. The tumult and uproar, accompanied with fierce conflicts, have continued here (at Madura) for several days. The whole dispute is about the manner of performing a certain ceremony. The right-hands contend that to them only belongs the privilege of presenting their offerings to the common idols of both parties, mounted upon elephants. The lefts contend that they have as much right to ride on the occasion as their antagonists; each faction, of course, endeavors to prevent the other from presenting their offerings at all. This miserable schism has existed for generations. It is said that when a certain great captain was serving in India, at one of these festivals of discord, the usual quarrels (which, in truth, are just as rational as if a man's right hand should fall out with his left, and each should attempt to prevent the other from serving the mouth) became so desperate, that he seized two ringleaders of each party, and, having convicted them of endangering the public peace, ordered them in turn to be blown to pieces from the mouth of a cannon. This prompt execution for a while struck so much terror into the bulk of the mischief-makers, as to restrain them from similar disorders for some time afterwards; but latterly they have been revived with characteristic asperity.-We understand it to be the fact (though we do not recollect having heard it mentioned before we came hither), that the whole native Hindoo population are divided in this sectarian manner, whatever their castes may be, into right and left-hand men. Hence, the former being deemed the holier of the two in the human economy, those who take their names from it in the social system assume corresponding superiority. The right-hand must always give and receive presents; any breach of this etiquette would be deemed a high affront. The left-hand is condemned to perform all the meaner offices of life, being regarded as unclean.

The Hindoos are habitually-we had almost said constitutionally-covetous. Much of their ordinary conversation with one another is about rupees and property. This spirit never leaves the man possessed by it, till his own spirit leaves his body. When sick, and apprehensive of danger, they

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ften bury their treasure within the house, and under the place whereon they sleep, to secure it during their illness, and have it at hand if they recover. Sometimes, out of spite to their heirs, they hide it in holes, where they hope neither the latter, nor any one else, can find it after their decease. It is not uncommon, when the possessor of a hoard, which he has not made away with, is dying, for him to say to his wife, or his friend (to whom he may have given it in charge), 'Oh, do bring me that bag of money, that my eyes may once more look upon it before I leave the world!"

CHAPTER XLVIII.

Missions in North India.-Calcutta, &c.--Serampore--ChinsurahProgress up the Ganges to Benares-Patna-Benares-ChunarMirzapore-Allahabad-Benares-Gazeepoor-Dinapoor-Digah—

Berhampore.*

By the concurrent testimony of all ranks and parties, the change for the better in India, within twenty or twenty-five years, has been surprisingly great, both as it respects the manners and practices of the natives and Europeans. Worldly, irreligious persons acknowledge the change, and confess that it has been a good thing to have such an increase of clergymen and churches in different parts of Bengal, the Upper Provinces, &c. The truly serious and intelligently observant part of society here, see and acknowledge that this remarkable amelioration has resulted from the Divine Providence having disposed the minds of Christians to send out so many pious and devoted missionaries, of the different Protestant denominations, who have borne a steady, faithful, and scriptural testimony against vice and ignorance, whether in natives or Europeans, and in favor of truth and piety. This has been also very greatly aided by the faithful labors of many of the clergy who have not come out as missionaries, but whose zeal for the diffusion of divine truth amongst the heathen is most pleasingly displayed.

The degree of union, and disposition to co-operate in works of piety and benevolence, which exists in these parts, has

* Abridged from the original Report of the Deputation to the Directors of the Society.

very much strengthened the hands of all Christian parties, and increased the friends of each. And if this spirit of Christian union continue and increase, it must very greatly aid the march of gospel-truth and holiness through these regions, and proportionally tend to disarm the enemy of some of his more formidable weapons.

Calcutta, &c.-Although there are no indications of a Christian Sabbath to be seen in the streets or market-places of this large, populous, and very splendid city-business and labors of every kind being pursued on the Sunday precisely as on any other day-yet there is great good continually being done by the different Christian societies. A numerous company of faithful and excellent ministers preach the gospel, and administer the ordinances of the Christian religion from Sabbath to Sabbath, and on several evenings of the week besides.

The places of religious worship, both in and out of the establishment, are respectably attended, and have many serious members of their churches and devout communicants.

This is the case, we are happy to say, in Union Chapel. The talents and piety of the Rev. James Hill well qualify him for his ministerial and pastoral charge. The congregation is not quite so numerous as it was; indeed, the churches and congregations are here very liable to fluctuations, by the removals of persons and families to other parts of the country, or to Europe, or by being taken off by death.

Mr. Gogerly, with the advice of the brethren, had broken up the printing-establishment before we got to Calcutta. At a general meeting of the committee of the Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society we were present. There appeared a general sentiment that the continuance of this establishment would not have facilitated the printing of tracts or books of the Society, and that it would soon have proved a losing concern in a pecuniary respect. There are now more presses than can be supported, some of them conducted by able men of business, who perform any work that happens to be wanted far better, quicker, and cheaper than our Society would be able to do by any office of their own. Mr. and Mrs. Gogerly and family are preparing to remove, in a very short time, to Berhampore. As there is an important field uncultivated in one very populous part of Calcutta, of which the boundaries are very distinctly marked, so as to prevent any clashing with the labors of other societies, the committee of the auxiliary

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society recommended that Mr. Ray should be appointed to this exclusive work amongst the natives.

Kidderpore we have visited several times, and mention, with much satisfaction, the pleasure we have enjoyed in the pious society of the brethren and sisters who reside there, and, through the blessing of God, are doing great good. Mr. Piffard has raised, and is supporting and superintending very efficiently, five schools for boys; and his sister has four schools for girls, equally well superintended. These schools are scattered over a surface of a few miles around their house, and close upon the skirts of Calcutta.

Mr. Trawin has five schools for boys, averaging fifty each, which are in a most vigorous and promising condition, as are also the five girls' schools, averaging fifteen each, under the care of Mrs. Trawin. The attention of the people at the numerous preaching-stations appeared to us very encouraging, both as it respects numbers and behavior. Mr. Trawin preaches at one or other of these places every day; and now Mr. Piffard, who has made very good proficiency in the language, has begun also to preach.

On Sundays there are two services in the new chapel, adjoining Mr. Trawin's house; one for Europeans, the other for the natives. In this chapel there is a service for the natives on Tuesday evenings.

In the forenoon of every Thursday, Mr. Trawin and Mr. Piffard meet the sircars* of all their schools; read the Scriptures with them, catechise and examine them. This exercise our friends say they find very profitable to themselves, as it evidently must be to the sircars, and thus be beneficial to the schools.

On Tuesday evenings at the Kidderpore chapel, and often at other places, the native Christian, Ramhurree, preaches.

On the 7th of November, we had the great satisfaction to attend at the opening of a new and very neat chapel for native worship, which Mr. Trawin and the brethren have built at the village of Ram-makal-choke, eight miles from Kidderpore. With the history of this chapel you have been made acquainted, we presume, by Mr. Trawin. The proprietor gave the materials of the temple towards building the Christian chapel, and would have given the ground, but that was not in an eligible situation. We had the singular pleasure, at the opening of the new chapel, to see the pro*Heads, or superintendents.