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formerly resided; and where I should have an opportunity of witnessing the results of the labours of my highly respected brethren.

In the course of my journey thus far, from Madras, I had met with many native Romanists, who gladly heard me and conversed with me. One poor fellow was extravagant in his expressions of joy at what I said, exclaiming to all around, "It is one religion, one faith, one Saviour, one baptism, &c." It is not to be doubted, that many of them, notwithstanding the superstitious fear they entertain for their priests, who uniformly denounce our native schools and religious books, gladly avail themselves of all safe opportunities of obtaining an enlarged acquaintance with Christianity, from the scriptures and tracts in their own language, and conversation with passing Missionaries.

Whilst particularly engaged among the heathen natives, I deeply felt the necessity of that ardent zeal and unwearied patience, which should characterize the true Missionary. It is not enough that he pass through the country, and declare his character, and the object he has in view: to induce the people to hear the Gospel with attention, he must converse with them, and encourage them to free conversation, by answering their inquiries; many of which, as it may be easily conceived, are widely remote from the chief subject to which he is desirous of directing their attention. When a Missionary thus displays a patience and a condescension not usually witnessed in Europeans, the people are apt to take troublesome liberties; and to contrive how to promote their own present advantage. When spoken to with great earnestness on the most awful and important subjects, they would sometimes reply, "Will you take me into your service?" "Will you recommend me for a situation to the Collector, or to Government?" or, "I am very poor, and will thankfully accept any thing you will please to bestow:" and they did not generally appear well pleased

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DIFFICULTIES OF CONVERSION.

when I told them, That these things I had nothing to do with; that my religion condemned an inordinate care about temporal matters; and, that till they obtained more just notions about another world, they never would be content in their circumstances in this. In some cases, I thought' the first annunciation of divine truth made an impression on the minds of the hearers; and though the deceitfulness of the people is almost proverbial, I indulged the hope, that in some instances, "the good seed" was received “into ́ good ground".

I have often on these occasions, inquired, within myself, How are the Hindoos to be converted? Miracles would not be successful; for they would refer them to the art, by which their jugglers every day perform their wondrous feats. The extraordinary relations of sacred History fail to excite their astonishment; for their own books record most marvellous events, with which the truth of things will bear no comparison. Their prevailing prejudices with regard to caste, the antiquity of the brahminical system, and the necessity of continuing in the profession of their forefathers, appear contrived to prepare them to reject the Gospel from the first of their hearing it preached; or if it makes some impression, to cause it to be immediately effaced. There is nothing but their accessibleness, favourable to the introduction of the Gospel amongst them; for though they respect the character of European Christians residing with them, their own interests and practices generally remain unchanged. It must then be one of the purest and greatest triumphs, the world ever witnessed, when the Hindoos shall bend to the yoke of Christ. And the conclusion to which I have arrived is, That whilst an improved system of education, and the diffusion of general knowledge, may have their share in preparing the way for some change in their religious system; the truth will only be ultimately successful, in the hands of men of irreproachable

MEANS OF CONVERSION.

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conduct, residing among the people, and so setting forth the doctrines of Christianity by public preaching and conversations, that its light may strongly contend and contrast with the widely prevailing darkness of heathenism.

Let the command of the divine Author of the Gospel be perseveringly obeyed, by unceasing endeavours to promulgate a knowledge of it amongst the adult Hindoos; and we may justly hope that those endeavours will be succeeded by the gracious influences of that blessed Spirit, without whose energy, we are assured, that no man, of whatever nation, can be effectually turned from the error of his ways.

CHAPTER XV.

Negapatam Mission Schools-Native Congregation — Journey-Pundi-Disputation with Native MerasiTanjore-Tamul preaching — Puthupet — Kollers Squirrels-Trichinopoly-Soldiers' chapel—Natives—

Temple of Seringham-Entrance-Extent-Sculptures and Paintings-Curious boat-Tamul preachingEffects.

IN Negapatam I remained eighteen days; and during my stay, relieved Mr. Mowat, whose health was delicate, from the chief part of his publie labours, English, Portuguese and Tamul.

Several persons who had formed part of our congregations when I formerly resided there, had died in the interval, leaving behind them a pleasing testimony, that they had not heard the Gospel in vain. Many who were then members of society continued faithful; and by their conversation and conduct, gave proof of their having valued

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SCHOOLS-CONGREGATION OF POOR NATIVES.

and profited by the advantages of the faithful ministry established among them; the minds of some others also, not immediately connected with us, seemed to be undergoing a favourable change.

I was much pleased with the regularity and progress of several native schools, Mr. Mowat had succeeded in establishing, into which the use of the Holy Scriptures and Catechisms, as school books, had been fairly introduced. In visiting the schools, we had several opportunities of addressing the people who crowded round to witness the examination.

But not the least interesting of my engagements, on this visit, was the addressing in Tamul a large crowd of natives assembled and seated under the trees of Mr. Mowat's garden. It consisted generally of the poor of the neighbourhood; though there might be some strangers and professed beggars among them. They assembled every Saturday, to receive each a small measure of rice from the bounty of Mr. Mowat, and of other respectable inhabitants of Negapatam, who made him their almoner; and as none who came, were turned away, their number generally amounted to about two or three hundred. The hour being fixed, they came usually at the same time, and their attention to the addresses delivered to them was secured, by deferring the distribution of the rice till the conclusion. I preached three times to this congregation; and though not sanguine as to the success of such a conjunction of means for their benefit, nor hearing of any decided results, I could not witness the serious attention and apparent feeling of many, without hoping, that among these poor to whom the Gospel was preached, there might be some who should believe to the saving of their souls.

On the evening of Monday the 4th of August, I quitted Negapatam. I now travelled nearly due west, on a road raised many feet above the land level, to make it practicable

PUNDI-NATIVE LAND-OWNER.

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for travellers, when the country for many miles round is under water; the cultivation of rice requires the irrigation of the land, which in this part is rendered exceedingly valuable and productive by the waters of the river Cauvery.

Mr. Mowat drove me in his bandy, or gig, about four miles out of Negapatam: I then entered my palankeen and he returned home. The following day was passed in a retired village, where, being free from interruption, I took the opportunity of preparing communications for England, relative to the state of our Mission and the necessity of further help.

At Pundi, on Wednesday the 6th, I was visited soon after my arrival by a respectable native, who from his conversation appeared to have thought seriously on the subject of religion: I gave him a few tracts and desired him to invite the chief people of the village, to visit and converse with me in any place most agreeable to themselves. The invitation was delivered and accepted; two chairs were brought to the choultry, and placed opposite each other, one for the Merasi, or land-owner, and the other for myself.

The Merasi, a fine, stout, respectable looking man, soon appeared, accompanied by a number of brahmins and other attendants, who stood about him whilst he took one of the chairs: a crowd of the common people followed, and almost filled the choultry in which we sat.

I seriously felt the importance of the task before me, whilst I rejoiced at such an opportunity of declaring the truth of God. In order that all might hear what was said, and to leave no room for doubt or misrepresentation, I spoke throughout in a loud and distinct manner.

I commenced the conversation by asserting the value of the soul and the importance of its salvation; and stated that it was my business to raise a concern for its welfare in all to whom I had access; that by sin we were exposed to death and hell; but that the one true God who had made