DESCRIPTION OF THE JAFFNA
MISSION-HOUSE.

THE large building on the left-hand side is our Mission-house, an old Dutch edifice, bought from its European inhabitants many years ago. Its length is great ; yet it contains in front only four large rooms: the houses in this country, on account of the great heat, rarely possess more than one story, though that is very lofty, as much so, perhaps, as two of yours. Were it not for the large size of our rooms, and the covered verandahs which are attached to Indian dwellings, we could scarcely bear the heat of this climate. You may notice our verandah in front of the building, supported by numerous pillars, and protected by tiling, which is a continuation of the roof. The three large overshadowing trees are margosa or vembady trees; and hence the natives, in speaking of our dwelling, call it the 66 vembady house." They believe that these trees are inhabited by devils; but we are not troubled by such neighbours at all, nor, indeed are we sure that we are not indebted to this superstitious notion for protection from thieves.

The lower building on the right is our boys' Boarding Institution, accommodating some twenty students, and fronted by a part of the public esplanade, which stretches about half a mile further on towards the sea-side: in a line with this

Institution, nearly half-way to the shore, and close to our handsome chapel, stand our St. Paul's Schools, a picture of which you may see in the "Juvenile Offering” for February, 1849.

The picture has a background of lofty cocoa-nut trees, the waving plumes of which never fail to afford a beautiful and gratifying sight.

as they use tables only when they write; folding Venetian-doors, when opened, discover a series of openings through the entire length of the building, on the one side, towards the interior Mission-garden, and, on the other, towards the highway road.

Beyond the boys school, quite separate from it, is the girls' day-school; and beyond that, again, is the girls' Boarding Institution: both of these are under Mrs. Griffith's judicious and energetic supervision, and are making very encouraging progress.* At the back of all these, hidden by the Mission-house, are the Missiongardens and outhouses.

dred and seventy boys, eighty of whom Under my own care are about one hunUpper School, which you see before you, are daily instructed in what is called the and the rest in St. Paul's, near the chapel : in the two schools, which, in fact, form one institution, there are eight classes, and six masters, exclusive of myself.

Thus you see that we have here, besides those who are taught in Tamil schools, at least one hundred and fifty boys under English tuition, who are daily educated in various branches of useful knowledge; but, best of all, who constantly hear and read about the dying love of Jesus Christ. These boys, the age of whom varies from six to twenty, though not compelled to attend chapel on Sunday, compose a large portion of our Sabbath-morning congregation. Many of the elder ones, though afraid to renounce Hinduism, on account of the prejudices of their friends, are convinced of its errors; indeed, I believe that an increasing number are becoming anxious about their souls, and really desirous to serve God.

The boys in our Boarding Institution, though natives, are all professedly Christian; and some of them are, I hope, savingly converted to God.

Scattered over the engraving, you will observe a few figures: on the steps of the boys' Boarding Institution is one of our Native Teachers, his name is Jacob

*Mrs. Griffith has been compelled to leave India, for the recovery of her health. Mrs. Walton will now have charge of the female school in Jaffna.

Ambrose; his father Samuel was long a Catechist, and his two uncles, Solomon and Abraham, were Native Ministers, one of them among ourselves, the other among the Baptists. (I think you will remember a letter from Jacob which appeared in the "Juvenile Offering" for April, 1854.) In front, is a woman with chatties, or

"earthenware vessels," on her head for sale; and nearer to the left-hand road is the dhobey, or "washerman," (for men always wash here,) who is bringing home his weekly bundle of clean clothes for our use. A man and a woman are walking along the road near the Mission-wall, the latter accompanied by a little naked child, and carrying on her head a chatty of oil which she wishes to sell; the former with a number of fowls, for which he is also desirous of finding purchasers. You will observe that a simple cloth is the sole garb of all these adults; but the climate is so hot as to render heavier apparel oppressive to them. At the front-door of the Missionhouse, under the verandah, stands Mr. Griffith, my much-respected Superintendent and Chairman, who is apparently enjoying the pleasing prospect, and the cool evening breeze.

Well, after all, many a happy hour do we spend within the walls and under the shady verandahs of our comfortable old Mission-house: already hallowed by the memory of not a few departed and faithful servants of Christ, it will acquire an

increasingly endearing influence as years roll on, and absence hides each darker shade. I will confess that I love to dwell on associations suggested by the names of those who have maintained a valiant fight for the great Master; and sometimes their fancied presence (if, indeed, the spirits of the departed are permitted to hover round the beloved scenes of earth) serves to stimulate my hopes, and nerve my spiritless efforts. From the panes of our front windows I have gleaned the frail inscriptions, besides one in Singhalese, of " W. B. Fox, 1823;" "Joseph Bott, 1823;" and "Thomas Hall Squance," still living and working among you. An ominous crack, indeed, reminds us that Mr. Squance's memento must too soon depart; but his memory, and that of those who laboured with him, are engraved on more enduring materials than brittle glass.

Let us thank God for the teachings of the past, as unfolded in the lives of the good; but let Christ Himself be our foremost Pattern. Him they served; and He, at least, is watching us. Does He not watch you also? While we are at work among the perishing Heathen, will you not help at home? And, as our special hope in this dark land is in those boys and girls now under our instruction, will you not pray to God each day that He will touch their hearts, and prepare them for extensive usefulness?

BAPTISM OF A NATIVE SCHOLAR.

CHELLAPPOE, some two years and a half ago, was a sharp, active boy, about fifteen years old. His father has never professed Christianity; although educated at the Baticotta Seminary, and afterwards employed as a Teacher by the Rev. Joseph Roberts. He married a Heathen woman, Chellappoe's mother. As time rolled on, Chellappoe's mind expanded, and he evinced a great thirst for knowledge, and a remarkable facility in its acquisition. I have reason to believe that a powerful impression was produced upon him by Mr. Griffith's theological lectures, which the first class were privileged in hearing every week. He gradually assumed the

*Since this letter was written, Jacob Ambrose has died of cholera. He was a valuable and truly excellent young man, and was remarkable for simple, cheerful piety. He was a Local Preacher of good promise; and his end was serene and happy

first place among his class-mates, his manner became sobered, and his constant conversation with his schoolfellows turned on the great interests of the soul, and the comparative merits of Hinduism and Christianity. Meeting in my little weekly class, he became one of its most regular attendants, and hesitated not, with some others, to own the strength of his convictions. Just at this crisis-last Christmas -he went to Manaar, and there caught a fever, from the effects of which his life was despaired of. He vowed in his heart, that, if the Lord would spare him, Le would, without further hesitation, join God's people.

Meantime, I was myself suddenly prostrated, and only occasionally heard of this poor lad. A little more than a month after my recovery, Chellappoe presented himself before me, opened his heart, and informed me that he had already spoken to his father about his baptism, and had received an assurance that he