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our schools in rotation, in the intervals of || the calamity. For this their padree (priest) our visiting them.

Preaching the Gospel.

required penance and heavy fines. The people refused to comply with either; and under the management of artful and influential leaders, the whole village, amounting to more than 4,000 people, by a violent convulsion, went off from the Catholic

sette, and near Basseen have followed their example, and more recently the same scene has been exhibited at Bombay.

Their dreadful sufferings.

For several months past, Mr. Hall has made appointments and held meetings in different parts of the town of Bombay.community. Several other villages on SalSome of these have been exceedingly well attended. The number has varied from 20 to 200. Besides the occasional meetings, he holds stated ones on the Sabbath;-one in English to his own family, and some others, in the forenoon; and in the afternoon, another in Mahratta in the school-room adjoining his house. Nothing can be more irregular, or uncertain, than a heathen audience. Sometimes a proposed meeting is frustrated by an insidious Brahmin; sometimes a hopeful assembly of hearers are broken up, and the opportunity lost, by some angry mocker, or some obscene buffoon. So light a matter to most heathen, are those truths, which concern the very life of their souls! Mr. Hall most seriously feels the need of a chapel, and a fellow-laborer. Ever since the departure of brother Bardwell, he has supported these meetings without any assistance.

For the greater part of two years past, a company of blind beggars came regularly to Mr. Newell's every Sabbath, and received from him Christian instruction. Their number was from 20 to 40. They were always still and attentive; and after religious exercises were over, Mr. Newell gave each of them a pice (one cent,) with which they went away satisfied." Thus have these wretched blind people received much light into their understandings. May the Divine Spirit apply it to their hearts!

Mr. Graves has recently succeeded in getting a considerable number of people together, at sundry times, to hear the Gos pel. In this, however, he has experienced many painful disappointments. Notwithstanding this, he has constantly preached Christ to the people of Mahim, and the villages round about, to many or to few, wherever he found them disposed to hear.

Mr. Nichols, for months past, has directed his attention principally to the lapsed Catholics in Chandree, a large village of seafaring people, about one mile from Tanmah.

Lapsed Catholics.

Some account of these people was communicated in our last letter.* About four years ago, when they were visited with the cholera morbus, they set up the worship of devils, like the heathen, in order to avert

* See vol. xvii, p. 270.

When the cholera made its appearance in this region, about four months ago, it first lighted on that people. In a few days, one hundred and twenty persons died. The heart-sickening scenes which were exhibited during that season, were unparalleled. The sick and the dying were brought into the presence of the village god, and there dreadfully beaten with rods, under the impression that the demon, that is, the disease, would be driven from them; while men and women, in the midst of a great assembly, were seen dancing in the most wild and furious manner, shaking and falling into trances, pretending to receive the god into themselves, and then promising health and safety to all who would implicitly trust them, and pay well for the supposed benefit. It seemed impossible to avoid the impression, that they were given up to "helieve a lie, that they might be damned." Lamentation and wo have been in their dwellings, but they have not turned unto the Lord. The disease is gone from them; but instead of thanksgiving to Jehovah, it is given to dumb idols.

Encouragement to labor among them.

We have spoken of them as a people. There are many individuals well disposed to hear the Gospel, and were it not for their leaders, who hold them in cruel bondage, they would gladly become christians, that is, nominal christians,-for beyond that they have yet very little conception. There is, however, much encouragement for persevering labor among them. They are yet in an unsettled state. Though they make many ostentatious pretensions to having regained the religion and cast of their forefathers; yet it is well known, that they are not, and cannot be, real Hindoos. Mr. Nichols has a strong impression, that if a chapel were erected in that village, a considerable number would attend, to receive Christian instruction. He has almost daily intercourse with the people at Chandree. They live compactly, are very accessible, and have sometimes collected in considerable numbers to hear divine truth. But these meetings have been incidental,

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Importance of a Native Mission College.

Within the last half year, our thoughts. have been much directed to the above class of children, and we are more and more impressed with the importance of endeavoring to raise from among them some future missionaries for India. When we consider the great expense, at which we have been educated and sent hither; the expense that is absolutely necessary to our support; the difficulties of acquiring accurately a foreign pronunciation; the time that is spent in doing this; the peculiar uncertainty of our lives; all these, and many other considerations, lead us ardently to wish, that a

[Mr. Hall, in the March preceding, made a tour of seven days to Rawadunda, Allebay, Nagotua, and Pane; distributed books, conversed freely with the people, and, at the two last mentioned places, established schools, by the direction of the mission. In May, Mr. Graves, also, made an interesting tour of 13 days, in the south-provision might be made for the instruction ern Koncan, where he was favored with many opportunities of declaring the Gospel to great numbers of people.]

of missionaries in this country. There are many boys, who might be obtained and educated. The language of the people is their language; the country is their coun

Since our last, each of our families has try. They are attached to no community; been considerably enlarged.

Mr. Hall has

a boarding school of 10 or 12 scholars, country born, whose parents or guardians support them. They are instructed by Mrs. Hall in science and useful knowledge. They have, doubtless, better adVantages for a Christian education, than they would have any where else in Bombay.

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Mr. and Mrs. Graves have had given to them two little girls, the illegitimate children of an officer in the army. They have agreed to adopt them as their own, and are to receive a compensation, which, it is hoped, will be sufficient for their support till they are grown up. A kind Providence has thus provided for these children, who might otherwise have been left to infamy and ruin. They have also taken and support two children of poor native Catholics, one of which is the little girl, which Mr. and Mrs. Bardwell first took.

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, about six months ago, took a little Mahratta girl. She was then in a starving condition, diseased, and cast out to die by the cruel people, into whose hands she fell, after the death of her parents, and was charged with having a devil, She is now well, and we cannot but hope that she has been saved from an early death, to live and glorify God.

They have also taken three children of superannuated soldiers, by native women, two boys and one girl. These children are put under their exclusive control and authority, till they shall be 18 years old. Several others have been offered to them on the same terms. The Mahratta girl in Mr. Nichols' family, and the Catholic boy in Mr Graves' family, are supported from a stipend drawn from the "Heathen school fund." For the other children, no appropriation has been made,

have no high expectations in regard to pecuniary emolument; and have no false systems of faith to shake off. They will not be regarded with that jealousy by government, with which foreigners are; nor will they be liable to be sent away from the country. We do not mention this subject as a new one, either to ourselves, or our patrons; but we cannot forbear repeating its importance.--From what Christian country, or countries, we ask, are mission-. aries to come, who will be adequate to the wants of this people? From what treasury are they to be supported? It must never be forgotten, that a capital object of missionary exertion is, to put the heathen into a way of teaching themselves.

We commend ourselves, dear Sir, and the concerns of our mission, to your prayers and the prayers of the Board. It is a great satisfaction to believe that we are not forgotten. We know that much light has been communicated to this people, but, alas! every thing is yet as the "mountains of Gilboa, on which there was no rain, nor dew." But let our beloved friends hold up our hands, till the sun goes down, and victory shall declare on our side.

We remain, dear Sir, your devoted servants in Christ.

G. HALL. J. NICHOLS. A. GRAVES.

P. S. Our letter having been detained some time, we add a few things more.

Aug. 25. The brethren, Richards and Voodward, are in a dangerous state of health. Most tenderly would we sympa thize with our afflicted brethren and sisters in Ceylon.

On the 11th of July, Caroline Swett, aged about 11 months, died at Mahim, of

the epidemic cholera. This little foundling was given to our mission a few months ago, by the lady of the magistrate of the southern Koncan. The babe was found by a servant of hers in a wilderness place, cast away to die, with several rough stones heaped on her tender body! From that awful situation she was rescued by a kind Providence for a little time, to expose the shameful cruelty of her parents. But she is now no more. When she died she was in the hands of a native nurse, and Mr. and Mrs. Graves were intending soon to take her to their own house.

Alas! this is not all. Maitland Elizabeth, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hall, died on the 13th of July.-This is the eighth child of our mission, which has died. Three only survive.

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Oct. 2, 1820. Went on Saturday to Batticotta. Yesterday united with the brethren in observing the Lord's supper. Mr. Winslow preached in this place during my absence.

4. I have appointed one evening in the week for the schoolmasters to meet in this place, to bring in the report of the number of boys, who daily attend the schools. I design to question them regularly upon portions of the Scriptures, which I have given them to learn.

8. This morning preached in Tamul at this place, for the first time. I hope I was better understood than on Sabbath last at Batticotta. After service went to Batticotta to visit Mr. Richards, who is much more unwell than he has been for some months past. In the afternoon preached at Mathekel, to nearly 100 persons. Preached also at another part of the village to a number of people, who had collected to attend a cock-fight. Above 100 of them were Catholics. On observing so many Catholics present, I felt my spirit stirred within me, to see their abominations. I felt much the want of a better knowledge of this language, that I might cry aloud, and spare not. Our addresses through interpreters must necessarily lose much of their effect. Soon after I left the people, they began to indulge themselves in their wickedness, paying no attention to what I had said to them.

Aims of a Missionary.

17. It is an object of earnest desire as much as possible to gain the affections of

this people; but we see so much depravity manifested by them, that it is sometimes difficult to display a becoming mildness towards them. We have much more hope of being useful, if we can make them believe that our motives for coming among them are to do them good; and that we seek their happiness by our intercourse with them. I have this morning been conversing and praying with two Brahmins, whom I affectionately entreated to throw down the weapons of their rebellion, and submit to the Savior. I told them, that their reception or rejection of the Gospel would be of no consequence to myself, but that the consequences on their part, would be dreadful, if they should reject it. I told the one, who came for medical advice, that it gave me much pleasure to cure his sickness, because I wished him to be hap py in this world; and, I recommended the Savior to him, because I wished him to be happy in the world to come. May the ' Lord apply what has been spoken.

Ignorance of the Brahmins.

24. This afternoon met several Brahmins, while laboring among the people. Many of them are very ignorant, and if we question them closely, they will leave us as soon as they possibly can; as they are ridiculed by the people, when their ignorance is discovered.

26. This afternoon we were visited by our interpreter's father. Had a long conversation with him on the subject of religion. He asked many questions, among others, if God created, man a holy being, how it was possible for a holy being to sin. When I told him that the devil tempted our first parents to sin, he asked, if God made the devil, and if he made him to do this? He asked if the soul was different from the body, and, if we could not see the soul, how we could know it would suffer?

Nov. 1. Have this day received under my care a school, which has for some time past been taught by an aged and respectable heathen. It is situated in the village of Vardealadipoo. He has been very desirous to be employed by me.

Sabbath, 5. Had a congregation of more than 200 persons this morning. In consequence of having altered the hour of preaching to 10 o'clock, a number of Catholics were present. In the neighboring village of Chillallee, there is a Catholic church. On Sabbath mornings multitudes flock to it: A Catholic priest resides there during a part of the year.

In the afternoon, went to Jaffnapatam to visit Mr. Hooper, who was ill. My interpreter read one of my Tamul sermons, at Matherkel.

Yesterday, Mr. Mooyart spent the Sab

bath with us. He addressed the people at this place in the morning, upon the subject of idolatry, and at Jaffnapatam, in the af

ternoon.

14. Went to visit the Catholic priest at Chillallee, who is unwell. He appears to be a man of intelligence. He is from Goa.

16. Last night a young Malabar from the coast, died in the hospital. I have reason to hope, from the evidence he gave of a change of heart, that he has gone to that house not made with hands, eternai in the heavens. He was a Protestant by descent. His attention was particularly directed to religion before he came here.

21. Nicholas, having been here from Tillipally, visited several of my schools to-day. At Matherkel we had an unpleasant meeting with the people. They were irritated because I would not allow their heathen songs to be taught in the school. During my interview with them, one of them declared, that God was unjust, because he made one man rich and another poor. Another asked, what sin an infant had committed, that "when its mother was taken away by death, it had no milk.”

23. Performed the operation for cataract this morning. This is the third case in which I have succeeded in restoring sight to the blind.

Sabbath, 26. This afternoon Mrs. Scudder, accompanied me to Vardealadipoo. Besides men and boys, 60 or 70 females were present at our meeting.

Preaching of Christian David.

Dec. 4. This day we held the monthly concert for prayer at this place, for the first time. Our monthly meetings have become very interesting, and a spirit of prayer seems to prevail among us. We are united

in the strongest bonds to our brethren of other denominations. Christian David preached here this morning to about 250 All the schools were assembled. persons. Three Brahmins were present. This man possesses a remarkable faculty of gaining the attention of the people. While we were praying for the enlargement of our Lord's kingdom, he went to Matherkel, and preached to the people.

Visit of Supyen.

6. This day we were visited by Supyen. He said his father was willing that he should come and live here. I gave him some encouragement, that if he would be willing to become a superintendant of schools, I would employ him.

7. This morning had an interesting conversation with a Brahmin, who came for medical advice. I gave him nine chapters of Genesis, the sermon on the mount, and

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a small pamphlet containing the discourses of our Lord. Last night adopted the plan I had formerly pursued at Tillipally, in calling a boy aside every evening to converse and pray with him. We have abundant reason to labor with these children, when we remember, that from among those, who have been under our instruction for several years, there have some already, as we hope, been born into the kingdom of God.

14. This evening, the small house, which is designed as a house of prayer for the boys, being finished, we have just been dedicating it to God. The exercises were in Tamul. Three of the boys engaged in prayer.

Useful labors of the Boys.

Sabbath, 17. This morning the weather being unfavorable, no meeting was appoint.. ed for the afternoon. Our congregation was 200 in number. Four Mahommedans` were present. Until of late, they have never, with one exception, been here for medical advice. There is a large village of them in Wannarpanny, near Jaffnapatam. This afternoon visited from house to house, and saw a number of people. Two of the boys went out to read "the Plan of Salvation," which I had drawn up a few months since. One went to Matherkel, the other to Chillallee. The numbers to whom they read, were greater than ever before at one time, amounting to more than two hundred. It is a pleasing circumstance, that these children may be made useful at so early an age. Those who support P. M. Whelpley and Edward Griffin, may have the pleasing satisfaction to know, that they are already beginning to be missionaries, and are my fellow-laborers in the vineyard of our Lord. As I do not think it proper to send either of the above named boys alone, two others, whose names are Samuel Willis and Daniel G. Gautier, generally accompany them, and will, before much time elapses, be able to take an active part in this work. The journal, which I have charged them to keep, shall be hereafter translated into English, and sent to the Board.

Anniversary Reflections.

This day, one year ago, we reached the place to which our eyes had long been directed, and where we hope it will be our un speakable and delightful privilege to labor (unless called by Providence to some other part of the heathen world,) until we finish qur course, and enter into the rest remaining for the people of God. We have much reason to be thankful, that our health has "generally been good. We have suffered

but little, except from the debilitating effects of the climate. Though I have seen but little fruit of my labors, except in my boarding school, where some little good has been done, yet it is a most pleasing circumstance, that I have been tearing up the fallow ground, and preaching the Gospel to thousands of immortal souls.

20. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward being here, I intended to go this morning to the island of Caradive, which is about five or six miles from this place; but have been prevented by the rain. The people are said to be very stout heathens there.

Island of Caradive.

· 22. I arrived here this morning at eleven o'clock. Began immediately to deliver the message of God to the people. Sent two of the boys, whom I took with me, to read the Plan of Salvation, from house to house. Valunctalay is the name of the village where we now are. We have continued. to travel until this evening; but have not yet passed through the whole of the village. The people at some places were attentive. At the first house I visited, one of the men, who were present, told me, that if I would go to the church, (meaning the old Catholic church in ruins,) and call the people, if they would believe in Christ, he would. At another place the question was asked, "What does he come for; are we without religion?" I left a tract with them before I went away. At one place I found the people very attentive.

It is a most melancholy reflection, that upon the whole of this island, where there are several thousand of immortal souls, perishing for lack of knowledge, there is, perhaps, not one, with the exception of myself and one of the boys with me, who is looking to Jesus as the only hope of escape from the wrath to come. In contemplating the vast devastations sin has made, the pathetic exclamation has been forcibly brought to my mind, "O thou Adam,-what hast thou done?" The fields here appear white to the harvest, but there is no one to put in the sickle.

23. We slept last night under the Veranda of a native house, and were very kindly entertained by the man who lived there. He supplied me with cocoa nut water and milk; but would receive no compensation.

Exertions in behalf of Females.

Sabbath, 24. I have, for some time past, been making an effort to establish schools for girls; but little yet has been done. I am glad, however, to state, that one girl is now attached to the School at Surlepurum. She was present at our service there this afternoon. We have many difficulties to

encounter, when we attempt to make innovations; but we do not forget the motto of the celebrated apostle to the Indians, "prayer and pains, through faith in Christ Jesus, will do any thing."

27. This afternoon I found three girls at the school in Surlepurum; one was absent. It is certainly a matter of thankfulness to the great Head of the Church, that he should thus smile upon the attempts of his unworthy servant. To His name be all the praise.

28. This day C. E. Layard, Esq. provincial judge of the district of Jaffna, visited us. He addressed a large number of people, who were assembled to meet him. The bungalow, in which I preach, was not large enough to contain them. He explained to them the ten commandments. During his discourse he took the opportu nity to tell them, that he was glad to hear that they had begun to pay attention to their females and send them to school; that the way to make them useful, was to instruct them; and he hoped that the time would soon come, when the females of this place would be an example to females around them. These observations from one so much respected by the people, will have much weight.

State of the Schools.

Five

30. As I have given no particular account of the schools at this station heretofore, I will briefly state the condition in which they are at present. The school at this place is not very large. The average number of scholars is about 30, among whom are a few Roman Catholics. or six of the boys who eat at home, come to learn English. One of them is the son of the native headman of Matherkel, a catholic. He is one of the most promising boys I have met with in the parish, and is making rapid progress in English. Should he hereafter become experimentally acquainted with that Savior, whose name he professes, he probably will be very useful in building up his kingdom among this people. The boys are pursuing the study of the larger and shorter Catechisms, Scripture extracts, and such heathen books as we think proper to admit into the schools. We have not now our full complement of boarding boys, and shall take others as soon as possible.

The exercises of our boarding boys during the week, are as follows. On Sabbath morning, they meet to read and hear read a portion of the Scriptures. When they have finished, I examine them upon what they have read. In the afternoon, they are examined upon the sermon they have heard in the morning, and in the evening they recite from the larger and shorter

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