ceeding to the river. The Readers read aloud Captain Molesworth's Tract of "Relief to the Sin-burdened." Many patiently and quietly listened to it, and to my observations; and many seized with avidity the Tracts that I had brought out with me. I have, however, no adequate reason to suppose that there was one present who felt the burden of sin, the need of salvation, or the value of the Saviour. One or two observed aloud, "This Jesus, Jesus, who is He? We hear of nothing but Jesus."

July 5, 1836-I had a long conversation this morning with a Pooranee of the place. My Pundit, who was sitting by me, took occasion to observe that he had not a doubt connected with the Hindoo Religion, and that he should die within its pale. He is an intelligent Brahmin, and was formerly with the Rev. W. Mitchell; and has been in the daily habit of hearing and reading Christian Truths for the last ten years. Instances of this kind are highly discouraging: they severely try our faith and patience.

July 7-I examined the Mahratta this morning. He states, that he comes from Khamb, a village near Joonur; and that he obtained one of the books circulated by me on my late tour, and was led to believe that Christianity was the true Religion, and that his gods of stone could be of no use. I told him to give me a proof of his sincerity and determination by cutting off his shendee (lock of hair), which is one of the distinguishing marks of the Hindoo, and which should remain unshorn to the day of his death. He immediately cut it off; and in the course of the day had it closely shaved, and sat down in the evening and took his meal from the food prepared for the children in our Wada. He is a Koolumbee, and appears to be about twenty years of age. He is prompt, shrewd, and intelligent; and I shall at once consider him as a probationary student in the Nassuck Seminary. When I am satisfied as to the sufficiency of his knowledge of Christian Doctrine, and of his endeavour to walk circumspectly and holily, I shall rejoice to admit him by baptism into the Church of Christ.

July 18-Went to the Brahminical quarter, and had a large congregation. There was no discussion: what was read and said was listened to with some degree of quiet attention. The moral effect of this unbroken appeal is, I apprehend,

better than that which is made by even well-sustained debate.

July 20-Found an attentive congregation near the bazaar; to whom I pointed out the necessity of a change of heart and life. I distributed Tracts as usual, which were received with eager

ness.

Sept. 20 The Brahmins here are aware that I am acquainted with some of their mysteries; and they accuse those connected with the Mission with having revealed them to me. They vent their rage by assembling near some one of these, and conversing aloud with one another in such a manner as to leave him no room for doubt respecting their meaning. They do not abuse the individual directly, but through the medium of his friends and relatives. One of them told me, that, a few evenings ago, while he was performing his ablutions and prayers, they annoyed him in this way, by saying aloud—“ His father was a terribly polluted wretch-he is in hell," &c.

-

Sept. 27. Last year, at this time, the Brahmins were all up in arms, to destroy the Mission, root and branch; and they publicly anathematized any individual who dared to approach the Missionary. This evening, about fifty of the most respectable Brahmins, and others, of the place, visited and passed the evening with me. Among them was one of my veteran opponents in the Subha.

In the following passages of his Journal, Mr. Dixon records his frequent repulses from the disobedient and gainsaying people with whom he meets. Yet we must certainly hope, that while he thus labourperseveres, ing in faith, some of the seed sown will in due season be found springing up unto everlasting life.

July 16-Addressed the people this evening in a bazaar. Some of them requested me on this, as many have done on former occasions, to make for them an image of Christ, that they might see Him, and then perhaps they might worship Him. This shows how hard it is to rid them of their idolatrous notions, as well as how imperfectly they understand what we say; since, for the most part, no small portion of our discourse is taken up in showing them the absurdity and sinfulness of any species of idolatry.

Aug. 2-Addressed the people this evening in a central part of the town. I

could get but few hearers for a good while, till an elderly Brahmin came forward, and began to cavil and to reproach. A considerable number then came together; not for edification, of course, but for amusement. The Brahmin went on pouring out a torrent of abuse, and telling the people that we were lower than the lowest outcasts, and that even the sweepers and Mahars would not take our food; that we were baser than monkeys, and viler than worms; and that we were beggars, and lived on alms received from the English. All this was hard to bear: however, I did not give any direct answer to his reproaches, but from some of them derived topics of discourse; as, that the Mahars and Brahmins are by nature in every respect alike; and, that as it is necessary for the one to forsake idolatry and all kinds of sin, so it is also for the other. Such are the circumstances in which we labour.

Aug. 8,1836-Went to the residences of the shoemaker-caste this evening, and addressed them at their houses. It is sad to see the debasement, in every respect, in which these people are sunk. Their half-naked persons are squalid, and their habitations filthy in the extreme; while they have to sit toiling from morning to night, every day in the year, to earn such a scanty portion of the coarsest fare as merely serves to keep them alive. People who are thus immersed in the grossest ignorance and most abject superstition,

and whose souls are as it were crushed into the dust, can be little disposed to apply their minds to the consideration of divine truth, or to elevate their affections to objects and enjoyments that are heavenly and eternal. Although I take this for granted, yet I continue to visit them from time to time, and, in the most intelligible way I can, speak to them on spiritual things. In so doing, I am in the path of duty; and, should it please God, He can cause the light of Truth to penetrate even their minds.

The feelings of mingled humility and boldness with which a Missionary must press onward, are well delineated in the following closing

:

extract from Mr. Dixon's Journal:Oct. 26-Spoke to the people this evening, at an idol temple. They were, as usual, very reluctant to hear. One of

them said that I had no shame, because I was not abashed by all the abuse I got at

Yuwule. It is very hard thus to be reputed shameless and audacious; while it is with the utmost conflict and struggle of feeling, timidity, and trepidation, that I address them in public. None of my hearers understood, in any tolerable degree, what I said; except a trinket-smith, who had come from a neighbouring village. He perceived and acknowledged the truth of much that I said of the vanity of idols, &c., though his convictions are apparently too superficial to result in a salutary change.

Some passages from the communications of the two junior Brethren in this Mission, Messrs. Warth and Mengé, will show their earlier feelings and employments, soon after entering on their labours. The following extracts are from Mr. Warth

Oct. 21-This day the Brahmins had a great public dinner at the river side: they nearly fought about it; and as soon as they had done, the Soodras hastened to pick up what the Brahmins had rejected. The owner of our house had desired us to abstain from looking at the repast through our windows; as it would give the Brahmins an additional cause to remonstrate with him about his permitting us to live in the house.

Oct. 27-Had a visit from an old Brah

min to-day. I had St. Matthew's Gospel in my hands, when he came. On my offering it to him, he told me that he would rather read something of Bajee Rao; as, if he were to read our books, and to become pious, he must go into the wilderness. I then endeavoured to impress him with the necessity of caring for his soul.

Oct. 28-Finished reading the Gospel of St. Matthew, in Mahratta. When I had arrived at the death of our Saviour, my Pundit asked, astonished, "And is this your God?" In reply, I referred him to the remaining portion of the Gospel; and having read it, he was constrained to acknowledge that He was worthy to be so.

Nov. 7-I have commenced reading, in one of our Schools, Mrs. Farrar's account of various animals; as I can better ven

ture to converse with the boys upon such topics. Speaking to-day of the various classes of animals, I asked one of the boys to what class the horse belonged, and he answered, "To the birds." Expressing my astonishment at this absurdity, the Puntojee asserted the same, telling me that it

formerly had wings, which afterward, according to a certain story, were cut off, so that now only the marks of them are left. Another extraordinary story they have about the crow, which they say has only one eye, rolling from one side to the other. They conclude so from the peculiar look of this bird.

Nov. 17, 1836-My Pundit could not withhold his consent to our view of the shape of the earth, &c.; which, as well as the national superiority of Christian Nations, of which he is very well aware, cannot fail to shake his belief in his Shasters a little. He sometimes expresses himself favourably toward Christianity; but indifference is the great fault of this people, as well as others.

Nov. 26 For some time past, a Gossavee has been lying before my house, wallowing in ashes all day long. The people, however, do not let him starve: they put the food into his mouth, and keep up a fire, without which he would be very badly off, as he is quite naked.

Nov. 28-I endeavoured to-day to convince my Pundit of the vanity of idols, and the excellence of the Gospel scheme. Whenever I converse upon religious topics with him, he becomes sleepy; which I have observed in others.

The

From the Journals of Mr. Mengé the following passages are selected: July 4, 1836-I began, earnestly, to day, the study of the Mahratta Language, with the assistance of a Pundit. whole morning, and until about four o' clock in the afternoon, is taken up with it. I began with zeal and diligence, setting before mine eyes the great privilege of being able to preach Jesus to this idolatrous people.

July 10: Lord's Day-At the suggestion of Mr. Farrar, I readily undertook catechetical instruction with the Hindoo Boys of the First English Class, an hour before the commencement of the Service. The boys seem to take an interest in it, and I am thus encouraged to continue. The subject-the History of the Christian Church-gave me ample occasion to point out to these Heathen Boys the essential truths of our faith; and to show them, in matters of fact, that true disciples of Christ are not ashamed to confess their Lord and Master, and to follow His holy doctrine, even when their lives are at stake.

July 23-I this morning saw the smoke arising from different funeral piles. The

inhabitants burn their dead along the banks of the river, usually during the morning hours. It is a melancholy consideration, that an immortal soul is gone into the invisible world, without God and without hope, and that the human body is burnt to ashes, and several of its bones scattered in the field, like those of brutes.

Aug. 17-In the evening, I was visited by two Hindoo Boys who speak and understand a little English. I had some conversation with them about the customs and domestic habits of the Brahmins. They told me that a Brahmin Youth may not marry before twelve years of agethe girl being between five and nine years of age. The boys of the Brahmins are usually sent to school at the age of five or six years, where they are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. Some of the most respectable Brahmins do not send their boys to school; but keep a tutor at home, to whom they pay fifteen rupees per month. The Brahmin Widows are not permitted to marry again; but, having cut their hair, they are expected to remain holy widows during the remainder of their lives. Female education is entirely neglected. Every Brahmin washes himself daily in the Godavery river, which is called the daily ablution.

In a Letter, dated January 12, 1837, Mr. Mengé further writes, describing the progress of his la

bours:

In November, Mr. Farrar went on a Missionary Tour, in the direction of Aurungabad. In the mean time, the scholars of the English Seminary are entrusted to my care. I spend, therefore, daily one or two hours in instructing and examining them in various branches of knowledge, especially Religion, Natural Philosophy, English Grammar, Geography, Orthography, &c. Besides this, they attempt weekly a small essay on various subjects. I also give them a short sketch of the History of the Church of Christ. Two or three seem to enter with interest and feeling into the Scriptural Doctrines. Wherever I find opportunities, when they visit me, or when they take a walk together, I endeavour to press upon their minds the truth of the Unity of God, whose glorious attributes we behold in nature, and whose infinite mercy we see in Jesus Christ our Lord.

illustrate the advantages which a Female Missionary may enjoy in Eastern countries for improving

Christian Visits to the Native Families.

July 11, 1836-Gunesh, a young Brahmin, who frequently calls upon us, made a remark this evening which shows that the Hindoo doctrine of the transmigration of souls is devoid of all useful practical tendency. In the course of conversation, I mentioned how careful we should be to avoid those things which could debase the soul, and bring it in danger of hell. The Brahmin's idea of Hell was the passing of the soul into some vile and disgusting animal, or into the body of some person of a degraded caste; and he said, that as these souls had no consciousness of their degradation, to whatever birth they were consigned, that birth was agreeable to them: pigs, for instance, being perfectly contented to be pigs, it followed that there was no necessity for our being afraid of hell. I told him that pigs had no souls, which he would not admit; and thought, that as parrots could be taught to speak, it was a positive proof that they, and animals in general, were endowed with reasonable souls.

July 12-I went to see the stonecutter and while speaking to him of the love of Jesus, something in the oft-repeated story seemed to strike him tonight in a manner which it had not done before. I remarked, that Jesus had, in fact, said to our offended Maker, "Lay the punishment of men's sins on Me: I will bear it for them." On hearing this, the stone-cutter exclaimed, "This was mercy indeed!" and he began explaining it, in Hindoostanee, to his sister, who sat by. July 18-While I was arguing with the Pundit about some juggling performances, which he insisted upon ascribing to magical power, Baba Deekshit came in; and I was surprised to find him side with me against the Pundit. In his intercourse with English Gentlemen, having seen them disconcert the miracle-workers, his faith in the supernatural part of the process has been shaken: he has set himself to work, to detect the manner in which the feat was performed; and having been successful in various instances, he has of course a clue to the mystery of them all. He explained to the Pundit how several of these feats were performed, which the Pundit had just been bringing forward as instances of the power of muntras (spells).

Baba Deekshit said that there were now some dexterous jugglers in Nassuck; and that if we would come and see them, he would be at the expense of the entertainment. I declined; telling him that our Shaster did not forbid us innocent amusement, but I supposed that the exhibition would be accompanied with a great deal of profane and immoral jesting, which we could by no means encourage; and, besides that, it would not be well for us to give people the authority of our example for consuming time in unprofitable sports. The Pundit said, that were it not for the sinful accompaniments to which I objected, people in general would not relish the amusement. This was an involuntary admission of the truth of our Scripture Doctrine of universal depravity. Baba Deekshit remarked, that their Shasters, too, forbade the commission of evil: "But who," said he, "acts up to the Shasters?" I told him that this was because they gave the command, but no help to fulfil it.

July 22-The wet weather, and other circumstances, has prevented me from calling, for several days past, upon the stone-cutter. When I did call, he was absent from home. At last, I met with him yesterday; and was sorry to find no traces remaining of that good impression which appeared to have been made upon him. Such is the levity and indifference of the Hindoos with regard to every thing of a spiritual nature, that he had even forgotten what it was that had struck him about the mercy of Jesus. After conversing with him for some time, I left him with the usual assurances on his part, that he would call upon no other God, and that he would think about the salvation of his soul. His wife is generally present during our conversations; but she is shy, and unwilling to talk with me.

Aug. 6-I went to call upon some Brahmin Ladies, to whom I had not before been introduced. At the very houses to which I am admitted, the ladies always desire to be apprised of my coming; and then the visit becomes, by far too much, one of mere ceremony. They assume, in the presence of Europeans, a degree of etiquette which one can scarcely suppose to characterize their usual intercourse. The wife is not permitted to sit, nor scarcely to speak, in the presence of her husband; and the same degree of respect is expected to be paid by the children to their parents; and nearly the same by the younger to the elder branches of the

family. Notwithstanding all this outward decorum assumed in public, it is well known that bitter altercations often take place between them in private; so that all this ceremony only tends to throw a restraint upon familiar intercourse, which renders such intercourse, to me at least, very unsatisfactory. In the family which I visited to-night, the sons, with their wives and children, dwell under the paternal roof. This is considered more respectable than that each should place himself at the head of a separate establishment. Upon my arrival, the lady who is at the head of the household took her seat by me on a carpet which had been laid down for the occasion. After I had repeatedly asked for her daughters-in-law, they made their appearance; and immediately took up their station in a dark corner of the gallery, where I could scarcely see them; and conversation with them was quite out of the question. After the eldest lady had conversed with me for some time, she ordered paun [betel-leaf] and betel-nut to be brought: she then anointed me with attar and rose-water, gave me a garland of flowers, and some cakes made of sugar and ghee, and then the visit was considered to be at an end.

Sept. 16, 1836-I resumed last night my visits to Chemee's house; which have been of late, in a great measure, suspended, on account of the rains. About half-a-dozen women sat down with me; and there were, besides, several comers and goers, and listeners outside. The women began complaining of their hard condition, and of the continual drudgery to which they were doomed. This furnished me with an opportunity of telling them, that, however busy they might be, they must not allow their whole hearts and thoughts to be engrossed with worldly things; that they must think of dying, and what would come after death. They said, How should they know any thing of God, or His way; that all that the Brahmins taught them was, "Give us pice, give us dukshna" (a present of money to Brahmins); and, that after death they expected to become dogs and jackals. In the simplest language I could think of, I opened to them better prospects; told them of a heavenly inheritance; of God's infinite mercy; of Jesus Christ, who gave His life to obtain remission of our sins. Hearing of these better hopes, they said that they should like to know more of my God, and of this way. I told them that the Missionarios proclaimed it,

daily, in the bazaars, and by the way-side. "True," said they, "and men stand by and listen; but we cannot." I replied, that I was most desirous of teaching them this way; that they might come to me whenever they chose; and that I also would come to them. They promised to assemble again next Friday; and asked me to come at an earlier hour, when they would be more at leisure. As I left the place, a Brahmin called out, "Now come and tell us the Pooran," i.e. Come and preach to us. This I suppose was meant as an insult. When I returned home, I found that Mr. Farrar had visited a neighbouring village, where he had had a long conversation with some Gossavees. Mr. Dixon had also been preaching in some part of the city. It was reviving, to think that so many ignorant Heathen had heard the Word of Life this day.

The following passages, although not systematically reporting on the present numbers of all the Schools, are nevertheless selected, as exhibitfavourable manner the ing in a very

Progress and Influence of Christian
Education.

Mr. Farrar writes

July 6 Mr. Mengé accompanied me this morning, to inspect the School in Budhwar. There were sixty-five boys present. This school is eligibly situated, and numerously attended.

July 28 Examined the First-Class Boys of the English School, respecting the shape, motion, &c. of the earth the forces by which she is retained in her course-her accelerated and retarded motion. They answered the questions put to them, in a very creditable manner.

Sept. 9-Rode to the village of Satpoor. The school is beginning to wear a little better appearance: there were fifteen boys present. In the evening, I examined the specimens of Letter-writing of the First Class of English Boys, and pointed out their deficiencies in matter, and errors in composition. I had given them "The advantages and disadvantages of caste," for their theme: they wrote chiefly on the disadvantages in connexion with food, marriage, illness, travelling, and trade. They are to resume and dilate on the subject next Friday; when Mr. Warth will award a penknife for the best letter.

Mr. Dixon thus remarks concern