I mentioned several things to point out the vanity of their customs, to which they were silent.

Some of the heathen boys, in one of the schools, asked for tracts to read to their parents, which I gave them, with advice to read them carefully.

On the Sabbath (Dec. 18,) visited the Hittle congregation at Teruvesaloor, and discoursed with them on our Lord washing the feet of his disciples; twenty-three people were present, who listened attentively.

I examined the Karupoor scholars, in Dr. Watts's first catechism, and explained to them the signification of some words which they did not understand, particularly that God was a spirit. I conversed with them concerning idolatry, and asked them whether it was proper to compare the God, who is a spirit, to idols, male and female deities, &c. The boys answered, No. Then, I said, why do you worship these idols with your parents? The boys answered, that they ought to follow the customs of their forefathers, and have such images, to be conformed to the world.

I met a man at Karupoor school, who told me that he wished to become a Christian, on purpose to get a living, because his hard labour was quite insufficient to maintain his family. I said, that he was not to be commended for forsaking the customs of his forefathers, and embracing another religion merely for a living, instead of seeking eternal happiness for his soul. Moreover, he spoke some immodest words; then I advised him not to speak so. He replied, that "even Christians, who are long acquainted with Christianity, speak as bad as the ignorant heathens do." I told him true Christians would not do so.

I conversed with a respectable old man at the English school-room, who was present at the examination of the scholars, concerning the parable of our Lord respecting the unfruitful fig-tree, and asked him whether he ever seriously reflected on his past life? He said that "from his infancy, his life was unspotted." I repeated the Ten Commandments to him, and enquired of him whether he had perfectly obeyed them? He then acknowledged he was guilty of idolatry, and other sins. I advised him to pray that the Lord would enlighten his understanding, which was entirely clouded by heathenish supersition, that he might discern between good and evil.

Mr. Mead appends to the preceding extracts from the Journals of the Readers, the following account of their Studies, &c.

THE readers are all, I trust, pious young men, and have been under the care of different Missionaries, either as Seminarists or Catechists. The Inverkeithing Reader is

the most experienced in religious knowledge and piety. All of them are acquainted with the rudiments of the English language, and devote some time daily to improve themselves farther in it. I meet them most evenings in the week, when they are at home, and explain the Scriptures, receive their Reports, and give them such advice as appears necessary, from what passes daily in their intercourse with the heathen. They are pursuing theological studies on the plan of the Assembly's Catechism, the translation of which into Tamil I have just finished; it has undergone many revisions, and I hope it has advanced to a degree of improvement that will enable the Tamulian to understand that excellent form of "sound words.”

The above extracts from the journals of the Readers, show the simplicity of their mode of teaching their fellow-countrymen the truths of the Gospel. More extensive extracts should have been sent, if time had permitted them to be translated and copied.

CHITTOOR.

THE Directors have been long desirous of sending out a Missionary to Chittoor, and they trust it will be in their power shortly to appoint one, with a view to provide for the spiritual necessities of the inhabitants, (both natives and Europeans) of a place which, as will appear from the following statements, presents a field of labour, already bearing the marks of diligent cultivation, and which, it is hoped, will be carried to a still higher state of moral and religious culture, when the efforts of a missionary shall be added to the present laudable exertions of gentlemen resident at the spot.

Extracts from a Letter of Rev. Edmund Crisp, Missionary at Madras, 27th Feb. containing particulars of a visit to Chit

toor.

ON the Sabbath after my arrival, I preached in the afternoon to the natives, from xxviii Matthew, 19 and 20, and bap. tized forty adults and children. On the following Sabbath, I administered the Lord's Supper, in Tamil, to about seventy communicants. It was such a sight as I bave not before beheld. Here were several, who before were Mohammedans, listening with gladness to him who said, "Do this in rememembrance of me," and drinking what they would otherwise have held in abhorrence. And here were Hindoos, of various castes, sitting side by side, eating the same bread and drinking the same cup, desirous, apparently, of remembering only His dying love, "who, in the same night in which he

was betrayed, took bread and brake it." The greatest order prevailed, and there was an apparent seriousness and solemnity in the assembly which well agreed with the nature of the ordinance. As we have, as yet, no native church at Madras, I had never before administered the Lord's Supper in Tamil; but I confess it was to me such a season of enjoyment as I had never before been blessed with. I heard from several of the. communicants afterwards, that a mingled feeling of love and solemnity was that which filled their hearts.

Besides these particular engagements, I made a point of going daily among the natives, and generally addressed them daily, morning and evening, at a kind of public worship, which is held in one of the detached wings of the house of the gentleman with whom I sojourned. I also gave them full permission to call upon me in my room whenever they chose, and had, in conse quence, several very pleasing opportunities of intercourse with them. The feelings of gratitude and respect which were expressed by them were, of course, exceedingly pleasing to my heart, and I look forward with much pleasure to the time when, according to our present arrangement, it will come to my turn to visit them again. In the mean time, I intend to write to them occasionally, and to encourage them to communicate fully with me on all subjects upon which they may wish for advice or information.

What has been stated, refers solely to my labours among the natives; it was, however, my happiness to be permitted to preach during the nine days of my stay, about eight times to the Europeans of the station, beside administering the Lord's Supper on the Sabbath-and I must acknowledge, that in no case have I seen more marked and serious attention paid to the word of God. Oh! that as such it may be received and may "work effectually." Before I left Chittoor, the thanks of several were conveyed to me for the pleasure, and it was hoped benefit, which had resulted from the late dispensing of the word of God among them.

The gentleman with whom I was staying, has a large girls' shool and a boys' school, for natives, in his own garden; and another gentleman has commenced a similar course of benevolent exertion. They have it in contemplation to proceed to the building of a large place of worship, which is very desirable. The precise number of native Christians in the place I could not learn, but I understood it to be about three hundred.

Until Chittoor shall be supplied with a resident Missionary, Messrs. Crisp and Taylor, of Madras, purpose to visit the place alternately every four months.

HORRIBLE SCENES AT THE FESTIVAL OF JUGGERNAUT.

THE Rev. James Peggs, lately returned from Orissa, attended the annual meeting of the Baptist Missionary Society, held at Great Queen-street Chapel on the 22nd of June, and communicated the following appalling facts:

"Having been stationed about fifty miles from Juggernaut's temple, and having, in connexion with my brethren, established a missionary station about a mile from it, and been myself at Juggernaut at two of their great annual festivals, it seems proper for me to say something of the scenes which are exhibited, and to give you my own testimony, and that of my brethren, who, as well as myself, have been eye and ear witnesses to the abominations of that dreadful place. The Psalmist declares, that their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God; and nowhere on earth, perhaps, is this so fully exemplified as at Juggernaut.

"At the annual festival, from extreme indisposition, I was able to be there only on the last day; but I will read to you a few particulars respecting it, given by my companions, Mr. and Mrs. Lacy. Mr. Lacy says,

، ، This year the Thatra commenced unusually early, in consequence of which, it may be presumed, the number of Ihatrees was unusually great, expecting, no doubt, to escape the rains. The gentleman who keeps the gate (a native of Norway, in the employ of our government), and who, in consequence, will be allowed to be the best judge of numbers, told me that not less than 225,000 pilgrims entered the town. The greater part of this immense number were women; and among these many seemed poor and very old: being turned out by their inhuman children, they came to end a life of wretchedness near their favourite idol, from dying near which they had been taught to expect heaven.

666 This number of pilgrims raised a sum of money scarcely ever realized before, 32,5007. Thus, while the pilgrimage destroys thou sands of lives, some reap considerable advantage. You would have felt your hearts moved to hear, as I did, the natives say

Your preaching is a lie: for if your Saviour and religion are thus merciful, how do you then take away the money of the poor, and suffer them to starve?' I often had to do with objections like these; however I endeavoured, as well as I could, to clear the character of Him who died for the poor and the sinner.

، ، I think, from the number of the poor, that many must have perished without the gate; and also think so, from the great number of bodies beyond.

،، A gentleman arrived at Cuttock, who

addressed a letter to us, requesting our aid in the distribution of some money which he was authorized to give. We accepted the proposal; and brother Bampton and myself set out from Pooree, furnished with rupees, clothes, medicines, and books, and intended to spend two days on the road. We did so; but I cannot particularize what we sawscenes the most distressing-dead, dying, and sick. They had crept into the villages, into the sheds, and under the trees, to avoid the rain; and thence many were never removed. The dead principally lay in the water, whence the materials for raising the road were taken: they were drifted by the wind to the next obstruction, where they lay in heaps of from eight to twenty together. From the first two coss from Pooree, I counted about three hundred dead; and I must necessarily have overlooked many, having to observe both sides of the road. I saw one poor creature partly eaten, though alive; the crows had made an incision on the back, and were pulling at the wound when I came up; the poor creature, feeling the torment, moved his head and shoulders. for a moment; the birds flew up, but immediately returned and commenced their meal."

"Mrs. Lacy says

"On the first and second day we had some rain, and the three following days the rain descended without intermission, till the poor pilgrims were seen in every direction, dead, and in the agonies of death-dying by five, tens, and twenties; and in some parts there were hundreds to be seen in one place. Mr. Lacy counted upwards of ninety; and in another place Mr. Bampton counted a hundred and forty; the former I saw myself, though I left it to Mr. Lacy to count them. I shall avoid seeing so degrading and shocking a scene again. In the hospital, I believe, I have seen thirty dead at once, and numbers more in the agonies of death.›››

About two English miles,

of the children, and that their manners are very low. Yet, notwithstanding these discouragements, the work goes on far beyond what she first anticipated, and is likely gradually to produce a blessed effect among parents, teachers, and children. The New Testament is now generally introduced. Eleven young women have qualified themselves to act as teachers. No less than fourteen young ladies have lately commenced the study of the Bengalee language, that they may be qualified to superintend the schools. It is added, that the gentlemen of the presidency have generously supported and recommended the Ladies' Society.

This Society has taken under its care the Burdwan Female Schools, established by the Church Missionary Society. These schools, which are 12 in number, contain 271 girls.

AFRICA.

CAFFRARIA.

Revival of the Caffre Mission.

MR. BROWNLEE, who was sent out as a Missionary to Africa in 1817, has consented to the proposal of the Rev. Dr. Philip, to renew his connexion with the Society. In January last he proceeded, accompanied by Jan Tzatzoe, the Caffre teacher from Theopolis, and a Hottentot belonging to that station, to the place in the vicinity of the Buffalo River, where the father of Tzatzoe resides. The latter is a Caffre chief of considerable influence, and has been long desirous that his people should be instructed in the Christian religion. Mr. Brownlee and his companions received a welcome reception from the old man, who, with his people, was glad to learn that it was the design of Mr. Brownlee to commence a mission at his place.

From a letter of Mr. Brownlee dated Chunie (Buffalo River), 15th of April last, addressed to the Rev. R. Miles, the Society's representative at Cape Town (during Dr. Philip's absence in England), and by him transmitted to the Secretary, we extract the following interesting particulars :--

"The British public has been often appealed to in behalf of this benighted continent. The ills, the sufferings, the moral and civil degradation of its wretched inhabitants, have formed matter of discussion for years to the philanthropic world, yet the question may still be put, what has been done for its renovation? and where are the prominent places which Providence seems to point out to British Christians for making an effort to plant the banners of the cross in this extensive moral wilderness

"I think I may with safety say, that Providence, among others, points to the Country of the Caffres, as an important field for missionary exertions, and the following observations may perhaps not be undeserving of the attention of the friends of missions:---You find a dense population living in the vicinity of a Christian Protestant British colony-the Caffre language perfectly understood and spoken, with little variation, for 500 miles along the eastern coast-access to the Caffre country from the colony, and a daily intercourse maintained between the Caffres and the colonial frontier-a weekly market in the vicinity of the fron. tier, attended by the Caffres and other tribes beyond them-the superior local advantages of the Caffre country compared with most other tracts of South Africa, and a free and uninterrupted intercourse maintained between the Caffres, the Tombookies, and some of the Mombookie tribes. The population of the Caffres subject to T'Gaika, Hinza, and Slambie, does not probably amount to less than 130,000 souls. The Tombookies may amount to about the same number; and their most distant kraals are not much more than 200 miles from the colonial territory. At present there would be no objection made by the above tribes to Missionaries settling among them.

"Commotions among the Aboriginal tribes on the South-west coast of Africa.

"During the past two years, there have been dreadful commotions among the tribes to the eastward of Caffraria. The whole country has been in a state of warfare, and the sufferings and misery of the inhabitants must have been extreme. Thousands of

poor creatures, driven from their respective countries, have sought an asylum among the consist of remnants of various tribes; many Tombookies and Caffres. They appear to of them from the interior, opposite Delagoa Bay. The wars to which I have alluded, seem to have commenced near the ceeded northward, and others in a westerly Bay, and some of the tribes to have prodirection, and others towards the Caffre frontier. The whole country has been in a state of agitation, and very great numbers appear to have perished from famine. It these severe dispensations of Providence has now been, for a time, at peace. I trust for the acceptance of the Gospel. Missions may humble the people, and prepare them among the Caffres would form connecting links with others that may in future be bookies, and other tribes. established among the Tombookies, MomBut perhaps

the strongest reason that could be adduced for increasing the missionary stations in this country, is the success which has attended the feeble means already used. Ten adults have been admitted into church-fellowship at this station, and more than double that number stand as candidates for baptism. Several have been also admitted to churchcommunion at the Glasgow missionary station, and at Wesleyville.

"I trust that these remarks will engage your attention; that more labourers will be sent into this part of the vineyard, and that your prayers will ascend for the cause of God in Caffreland."

Probably, the predatory horde called Mantatees, which, of late, have repeatedly invaded and desolated the Bechuana country. ED.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE,

The Eleventh Anniversary of the Gloucestershire Auxiliary Missionary Society, was held at Cheltenham, on the 9th and 10th of August; the preachers, the Rev, Messrs. Thorpe and Leifchild, of Bristol; the former of whom preached at the Countess of Huntingdon's chapel, and the latter at the Rev. Mr. Brown's. At the public meeting, Dr. Philip, from Cape Town, gave an account of what he had seen of the effects of the Gospel in South Africa. The meeting was unusually interesting and delightful. On the following day, a Branch Society, connected with the Gloucestershire Auxiliary, was formed at Tewkesbury.

FORMATION OF NEW SOCIETIES.

IN connexion with the Sussex Auxiliary Society, a congregational branch has been formed by the Rev. Henry Townley, at Hastings, Rev. Mr. Davies' Chapel,

In connexion with the Kent Auxiliary Society, Rev. H. Townley, has also formed a Branch Society, with two committees, at Canterbury, Rev. Mr. Gurteen's; at Up street, Rev, Mr. Andrew's, An Association has been formed also at Littlebourn; and at Ramsgate a Sunday-School Association, to promote Christian Instruction among heathen children.

In connexion with the Essex Auxiliary Society, on Tuesday, Aug. 1, a public meeting was held at Dedham, for the purpose of forming a District Branch Society, designated the North East Essex District Branch. The Rev. J. M. Ray, of Sudbury, took the chair; and the Rev. H. Townley, and other ministers, addressed the assembly. An excellent spirit seemed to pervade both the speakers and hearers. Rev. H. Townley preached in the evening, at Mr. Ashton's Chapel, when a Congregational Branch was also formed. Also at Manningtree, and at Harwich, Rev. Mr. Hordle's, the Branch Society that has been for some time in operation, was reorganized, and a Sunday-School Association instituted.

NOTICES.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

THE next Anniversary of the Somersetshire Auxiliary Missionary Society will be held on Tuesday, the 5th instant, at the Rev. Mr. Hine's chapel, Ilminster, The Rev, Rowland Hill and the Rev, Henry Townley are engaged to preach on the occasion,

WARWICKSHIRE. &c.

The annual meetings of the Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire Auxiliary Missionary Society, will be held at Birming ham, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 12th, 13th, and 14th, (instant). The Rev. Dr, Phillip, of Cape Town, South Africa; and the Rev. Dr. Styles, of London, have engaged to preach on the occasion; the latter at Ebenezer Chapel on Wednesday evening; the Rev. Henry Nott, from Tahiti, who left Birmingham upwards of 30 years ago to engage in the South Sea Mission, is expected to attend this meeting.

HERTS.

The next Annual Meeting of the Herts Auxiliary Missionary Society will be held at Hitchin, on the 13th instant. A Deputation from the Parent Society is expected to attend, of which the Rev. John Blackburn, of Claremont Chapel, and the Rev. Samuel Hillyard, of Bedford, will form a part.

BRISTOL.

The Fourteenth Anniversary of the Bristol Auxiliary Missionary Society will be holden on Sunday, the 17th instant, and the three following days. The Rev. Messrs. E. Parsons, sen. of Leeds; E. Parsons, jun. of London; J. Parsons, of York; H. Townley, and several other ministers, are expected to engage in the various servises.