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ASIA.

CALCUTTA.

A letter has been received from Mr. THOMAS, dated May 2nd, containing information of a highly encouraging nature with reference to several of the stations, and urging the necessity of several missionaries being sent without delay to occupy the places of those who have long laboured in the field now emphatically "white to the harvest." We trust his appeal will be responded to, and that while men fitted for the work are offering themselves, the Committee will be furnished with the means of sending them forth.

Our brother Makepeace is much encouraged at Saugor. It would indeed appear that his going there has been of the Lord, and that there is a harvest ready to be gathered in. Thus far appearances are decidedly of a pleasing and encouraging character.

A letter has just arrived from Cawnpore, stating that the connexion heretofore existing between the church and its late pastor, Mr. Symes, has been dissolved, and earnestly requesting that the station might be supplied. I believe Cawnpore is an important and promising station, and I have heard well of the church. But we want men, men, men; devoted men of God. Openings there are in abundance, places calling for help are multiplying, but where are the men to go and occupy them? Agra needs help. At Cawnpore a church already exists which comprehends some excellent spirits, who would aid in missionary effort if provided with a missionary pastor. Jessore urgently demands at least another missionary. Brother Page at Barisal will not be able long to continue to prosecute alone his exhausting labours. Brother Robinson at Dacca feels his spirit sinking for want of a fellow labourer; and to this

list of places, each one of which calls so loudly for men of God, other places might be added scarcely less urgently demanding help. Are there none in the colleges-none among the home missionaries-none in the churches of highly favoured England, prepared to offer themselves on the altar of God for service in India? Surely there must be not a few among the rising ministry, or in the bosoms of the churches, who are desirous of devoting themselves to the work of God in the gospel. To such I would say, "If it is work you wish for, come to India; here the field is wide, and the labourers are few. Here you will find room for labour; nor will you be without excitements and encouragements to labour, provided it be for God and souls you wish to labour."

We shall soon be looking for Mr. Sale, but being but one it will be impossible for his field of labour to be fixed without causing disappointment and sorrow to several who are in want of help. What are we to do? We look to the Lord of the harvest, and we look to you and to the churches of Britain. Shall we look in vain?

By a letter from Mr. LEWIS, dated May 2nd, we are gratified in learning that after severe illness, affecting more particularly Mr. Lewis and his child, his health and that of his child have been mercifully restored, and that Mrs. Lewis enjoys upon the whole a tolerable degree of health. He adds,

the people going from place to place in canoes, become exposed to robbers, who seize the opportunity of plying their nightly trade, and a general feeling of insecurity prevails; hence the inability of those men to leave their homes at present. I have some hope that the friends at Counterslip Chapel will undertake to support a man for the specific work of preaching in the streets of Calcutta. There are already three or four native brethren thus employed in connexion with our Society, but abundant room for fifty.

Since I last wrote I have made a beginning, on heaps of earth in the midst of the water, of street preaching, but I have not been able to carry it out to the extent I proposed. There are three native preachers at Narsigdarchoke, and I arranged that each of those should in turn pass eight or nine days with me in Calcutta. Thus my plan was to spend a part of each day in doing what I could to improve their knowledge and to promote their efficiency as preachers of the gospel, and as often as possible to go with them to preach in the highways. One of them accordingly came, and my plan was acted upon; but in the mean time the country round the village became dry, and the houses which were built

Mr. William Thomas, the assistant missionary, spends the greater part of each month

in Narsigdarchoke, and he is a most excellent man. He has done much in instructing our people, and in presenting to them a consistent Christian example, as well as in preaching to the neighbouring heathen. When in Calcutta, where his family live, he seldom fails to preach night and morning in the streets or bazars.

I have continued to spend a considerable portion of time weekly, and almost daily, in

the reading and correction of proofs of the Bengalee scriptures. In addition to what I have done in this way in aid of Mr. Wenger, I corrected the sheets of an edition of the Psalms and Proverbs for the Bible Society, at the request of brother Thomas. I have of late given some attention to Hindostani, and am glad to be able to relieve brother Thomas a little by correcting proofs of the gospels in that language.

CHITAURA.

Mr. SMITH gives the following interesting account of the efforts of a united body of missionaries at a fair.

Visit to Bhuleshwar Mela.

Brother Phillips and the Rev. Mr. Wilson having joined me at Chitaurah, we started for the mela on Tuesday, 7th November, towards evening, and arrived by the middle of the following day. Having travelled thirty-five miles, we were too tired to commence preaching, and consequently employed ourselves in making arrangements for the following day's operations.

Ia number of questions, and was so much interested that he came afterwards to our tent, and remained with us in conversation as long as we could spare time to stop with him. Towards evening the mela began to thicken fast by the arrival of crowds of men and cattle of all kinds. Elephants, camels, horses, cows, bullocks, and bakris were very numerous, and covered some miles of ground. The men, women, and children, were huddled together by thousands, wherever a vacant spot could be found.

Heathen superstitions.

Thursday 9th. After break fasting and uniting in prayer for a blessing on our labours, we set out for the place where we had determined to have our principal preaching. It Friday, 10th. We arose early, and mounted was conveniently situated in the midst of the the heights, which nearly surrounded the temples by the river side, where our native mela, and are not unlike some Scotch scenery brethren had taken up their abode, and com- on a small scale; on the sides of the hill we menced distributing books and preaching; found two caves excavated for the residence our force consisted of brother Phillips and his of fakirs, with whom the place abounds. native catechist, Shiva Jitray, Rev. Mr. Wil- After breakfasting, we commenced our labours son of the Presbyterian Mission, Mr. Harris, as usual by the river-side. The bathers were the superintendent of the Agra Missionary much increased, and we found all kinds of Society's operations, with three native preach- plans in operation for making money. Brahers and myself. We together formed one mans, calling themselves Jumna-putras, party, and united in all our operations. On another side of the mela was the Rev. Mr. Schneider, of the Secundra Mission; and on the third side, Mr. Pfander's native catechist had pitched his tent, so that we made an attack on this immense fort of iniquity from nearly every side. On arrival at our post the first sight that met our eyes was the burning of a corpse. An old man had come to the mela and died; they did but scorch his body black, and then in a most indecent manner took it into the middle of the river and set it afloat, to the great gratification of the bystanders and bathers. A brahman endeavoured to turn the matter to account, by telling the people that if they did not come to his stall and obtain tilaks, the dead man would get upon them (murda tum par charh jáegá). We kept up preaching in our turns most of the day, not only by the river side, but in several other places. The people heard with the most marked attention; a Punjabi asked

making tilaks of various kinds, according to the rank and caste of their customers, and giving stamps on the arms similar to those obtained by pilgrims at Dwariká. Others again were selling flowers, vilwa-patras, and fruit for offerings. Again there were crowds of singers and dancers, and not far distant a juggler astonishing the ignorant farmers with his tricks of cunning. By the entrance to the principal temple were sitting groups of khákis, or fakirs, covered with rákh, some of them daubed in such a ludicrous manner as scarcely to resemble human beings except in shape. Amongst them I saw a company with their mahunt, whose reputed sanctity attracted more than usual attention. His feet had just been washed, and the dirty water was pur chased by numbers at a pice for a small spoonful, the poor deluded people drinking it up, as a sweet draught, which they could not obtain every day. Amongst this motley group we preached the gospel, declaring that all the

abominations with which we were surrounded | We returned to our tents wearied, not only were displeasing to God, that they should with our labours, but with the abominations speedily be brought to an end, with every we had witnessed. Surely Satan here reigns Satanic device, that every idol should perish, predominant. that Christianity should spread throughout the length and breadth of the land, and that every pandit's shop should be closed. Numbers of people laughed at the pujá and trickery which was going on, whilst others appeared most sincere in every action.

Conversation with a Purohit.

Principal bathing day.

Saturday, 11th. We repaired to the river at day, and the scene which met our eyes was an early hour, this being the principal bathing one not soon to be forgotten. Men, women, and children were rushing through the princiWe had a most interesting conversation that we found it difficult to count them. pal temple with such violence and rapidity with a Purohit from a village near Mynpuri; Young men were leading their aged parents, he had received Wilson's Exposure of Hin- and mothers their children, in order to save duism about six years ago, and read it with them from being trampled down by the crowd. such attention, that he had been led to re- O ye cold hearted Christians, come and learn nounce idolatry in every form, and he ap- zeal from these poor deluded worshippers of peared to have got much of the truth as it is stone; think of their long journeys on foot in Jesus! He stated that he had been preach- their sleeping nights on the cold ground in ing to the people in his village for years, that winter, almost without covering—their rising he had given up all the fees which as village at midnight by thousands to bathe-rushing priest he used to receive, and that the people into the stream like maniacs, and thence to laughed at him for his folly. He addressed the temple, where it required more than ordithe people in our presence with boldness, and urged them to turn from their idols to the sorts of inconvenience in order to their comnary resolution to enter, and suffering all living God. Here is an example of the pleting their worship. When shall we see secret influence of book distribution, and who such a spirit of zeal and sacrifice in the Recan tell how many such men may be scat- deemer's cause! We commenced preaching, tered throughout the widely spread agricul- but two policemen came and drove our contural districts of Hindustan, where the mis-gregations away, so that we were obliged to sionary's foot has never yet trod ?

We retired for refreshments about three o'clock, and then recommenced preaching, and continued until we were too hoarse to be heard. Some of our native brethren were engaged all day in carefully distributing books to such as could read, and were anxious to obtain them. Applications were numerous, and many carried away with them the word of life with evident pleasure and satisfaction. As soon as evening came on we took a boat and crossed the river, and here a view presented itself worthy of the artist's pencil. A line of pakká gháts, about a mile in length, and forming a strong embankment, by which the stream of the river had been turned from its natural course, the whole surmounted by upwards of thirty temples of various kinds of architecture, chiefly the common Indian style, and from each of these ghats the natives were floating away thousands of little ghi lamps, placed on tattis of straw, the intention of which was to light their deceased ancestors to the abodes of bliss. This practice probably had its origin in connexion with Jumna's reputed relationship with Jaur, the lord of the infernal regions. The moon was just rising with more than usual splendour, and casting her pale light over this vanity fair, and we could not help remarking how God's best gifts are abused to the worst of purposes. The Giver is forgotten, neglected, despised, whilst his creatures are reverenced and worshipped, with a blind superstition, which degrades man beneath the beasts which perish.

addressed crowds of attentive hearers, and retire to a quieter part of the mela, where we then returned to breakfast, after which we kept up preaching without intermission until three o'clock, P.M.

An interesting old man.

I was speaking of the necessity of the Holy Spirit's influences in order to purify man and fit him for heaven, when an interesting old man, who had been present for a length of time, repeated the following verse,

Alakh alakh sab koi kahe,
Alakh hi lakha no koi;
Jo alakh hi lakha
Alakh swarup hi howen.

Which may be freely translated thus:

Every one speaks of the invisible, but no one sees

him.

If any one sees the invisible, then he becomes changed into his image.

We had a long conversation with the old man, who appeared deeply interested in all he heard. He discarded idolatry in every form, and notwithstanding his retaining some popular errors, he heard with a teachableness which proved that, like Cornelius, he only required to know, in order to his obeying the truth. We gave him some books, and hope to hear of him again at some future time. Numbers of others were evidently convinced in judg ment, but require the Spirit's influences to enable them to give up family and friends, and bear the scorn of the world.

Sabbath-retired service.

chases, we went through the melá, which I think is becoming more mercantile in its Sunday morning, 12th. The sun arose with character every year. On our way we met his usual splendour, but alas! there was no two naked fakirs, one carrying a skull, and sabbath for the poor heathen at Bhuteshwar. both wearing necklaces of human bones, Satan gives no day of rest to his servants; probably the back bones. The people are their greatest pleasures and enjoyments are much afraid of this class of beggars, and I but varieties of that toil of which his service saw them receiving, as they passed from stall consists. After breakfasting we crossed the to stall, nearly any thing they asked for. river, in order to attend a retired service in a They were most insolent in their demands, small mangoe garden on the opposite side, and few dared to refuse their requests. I where Mr. Schneider's family were encamped. met with three other men nearly in the same The sight of the massive gháts and beautiful state of nudity, who were cutting their foretemples suggested many painful comparisons heads with knives until the blood gushed out, to the mind. It must have required years of and flowed plentifully down their faces. We the most persevering labour, and many láks made another visit to the principal temple, of rupees, to complete these buildings, and all and found matters completely changed; inthis labour and money was expended by a stead of the water flowing through it in one heathen in honour of his stone idols. Chris- continued stream, all was dry and clean; the tian, compare this liberality with thy own room was carpeted, and the idol dressed out covetousness! Think of the zeal and per- in his best clothes, his stone head being well severance of this idolater, and then consider wrapped up in a white pugri. The secret what thou hast done in the cause of truth. was that too much water and bel pattra had On our arrival we formed a small practical been offered, things of no value to the pujárís Evangelical Alliance. Episcopalians, Luther- and consequently they had carpeted the room ans, Presbyterians, and Baptists, each laying in order to obtain dry presents of rupees and aside their little differences, united together pice. On our visit to the temple, whilst the in the midst of a heathen melá in the praises deluded worshippers were pouring their offerand worship of God. Brother Phillips ings before Mahadev, I saw the pujaris nearly preached an appropriate sermon in English, fighting over the spoil. How blind must the after which we returned to the attack on people be not to see through such deception. Satan's fort with renewed vigour, and conEncouragement. tinued our labours until evening, when we united with our native brethren in a service similar to the morning one, only it was Hindustani instead of English. Mr. Wilson preached, and besides our native Christians, several others attended, and paid the greatest attention, especially a pilgrim, with whom I had a long conversation during the day. This man was seeking after the truth; the gospel had shed a new light on his mind; he said it appeared to him to be the truth for which he was seeking, but his mind was not quite satisfied. I had further talk with him after service, and found his convictions much strengthened. I left him with regret, but with this consolation, "The Lord knoweth them that are his ;" and should this poor pilgrim be one, he will certainly be brought to a full knowledge of the truth. On our return home I endeavoured to make a man break through his vow of silence, but in vain; he laughed, and motioned, and showed signs of pleasure when he approved of what I was saying, but nothing prevailed on him to speak.

Disgusting fakirs.

Monday, 13th. Multitudes again heard the word of life with apparent pleasure. We preached as usual as long as we were able to speak, and then wishing to make some pur

Tuesday, 14th. After having our tent struck, and getting all into a proper train for returning home, we again preached to a large multitude, and this brought our labours in the melá to a close. We left in the afternoon, and arrived in safety at Chitaura on the following morning, after an absence of eight days, where we found our families in good health, and all things going on well. On reviewing the circumstances of the melá we find much to encourage us in our work. The cause of the Redeemer is advancing; Satan's grand device has received its death-blow. Soon shall every idol perish, and the time spoken of by the Baptist be accomplished, when "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low! And the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Several expressed their determination to join us, and a general impression of the truth of Christianity was evident.

"O see on both the Indian coasts
And Africa's unhappy shore,
The unlearned savage press to hear,
And hearing, wonder and adore.
Ah! why have ye so long forborne,
To tell such welcome news as this?
Go now, let every sinner hear,
And share in such exalted bliss."

SAUGOR.

Mr. MAKEPEACE, in a letter dated May 5th, furnishes us with a very encouraging statement of the progress of divine truth at his new station.

Six months have not yet elapsed since my arrival here, and twelve persons (most of them converts of a recent date) have already been immersed upon a profession of their

faith in the Lord Jesus. I earnestly entreat your prayers that the work so auspiciously commenced here may be carried on with augmenting power to the glory of God's grace.

INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF MIR NISAR ALI.

The letter of Mr. MAKEPEACE to the editor of the "Oriental Baptist" contains some particulars of one of the converts baptized at Saugor, which, notwithstanding the pressure of other articles, we feel constrained to insert. His name is Mir Nisar Ali. He was private tutor to the rajah of Tehri. It appears that twentyseven years ago be became firmly attached to the method of salvation as revealed in the scriptures, and that this becoming known to the then rajah, he was cast into prison, where he remained sixteen years and seven months, during seven years of which his allowance of food was below that considered absolutely necessary for the preservation of life, the rajah ordering that no one should be allowed to bring him more, as it was his wish that he should die. Having lately avowed his attachment to Christianity, a deliberate attempt was made to poison him. A learned man, who was embittered against him on account of his conversion, invited him to a feast, and on his declining to attend, a present of sweetmeats was sent to him, two of which the servant was directed to say were of a very choice kind, and especially intended for himself. These, on pieces being thrown to dogs, were discovered to have been poisoned for the purpose of making him pay for his Christianity at the expense of his life.

On his asking permission to visit Saugor, it was refused by the father of the rajah, who is hostile to Christianity, and orders were given that he should not be allowed to pass the city gate, and that no means of conveyance should be placed at his disposal. He was, however, enabled to make his escape by a by-road, with an adopted son and the messenger sent by the missionary, and under the protection of that Providence which had in former instances so evidently appeared on his behalf, after travelling all night on foot, he arrived in safety at the missionary's tent, leaving behind him property to the amount of about 1500 rupees, and abandoning claims on the rajah to the extent of 2400 more, and a situation worth sixty rupees per month, but as the missionary exclaims, "He is clean escaped out of the hands of his enemies, for which deliverance we are bound to ascribe all praise to a gracious and overruling Providence. Since his arrival he has almost constantly accompanied Domingo and myself to the city or elsewhere, and being a well read and intelligent man, as well as a sincere Christian, he may soon render material service, so far as his age will permit, in the work of proclaiming salvation by Christ

CHINA.

HONG KONG.

We stated in the Herald for March last, that Mr. Fraser of Lambeth, and his friends, were supporting a native assistant selected and superintended by the

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