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menced to-day, and will continue three | ted to the Scottish mission in the Konkan. days. It being the commencement of their commercial new year, all business in all mercantile houses, and indeed in every department, is suspended. During this festival, gambling and all kinds of licentious pleasures may be indulged with inpunity from the laws. At evening the streets are illuminated and thronged by all classes of people.

Two of the Hindoos, who were received into their communion by baptism the preceding year, had been excommunicated for gross misconduct. They have recently manifested some tokens of repentance. They have at present five inquirers and candidates for baptism. The London mission at Surat have received none to their communion, but have three interesting 16. After tea took a walk through the cases of inquiry. Their schools and other streets and bazars. Every temple, house, missionary operations are encouraging. store, grog-shop, &c. is more or less deco- The American mission at Bombay have rated with paintings, pictures, and looking- received three persons to their communion glasses, and brilliantly illuminated accord-by a public profession of their faith; one of ing to the taste, or ability, or liberality of the occupants. Some of the large and lofty houses of the more wealthy natives are magnificently adorned with choice paintings from Europe and China. Probably the expense of the paintings, mirrors, chandeliers, and lamps, in one of these native palaces, exclusive of the oil consumed and the expenses of a rich entertainment; amounts to not less than 50,000 or 60,000 rupees; perhaps 100,000. The principal

streets connected with the bazars were so crowded with natives, on foot and in carriages, as scarcely to admit of passing. Sweetmeats of various kinds, and all sorts of toys were exposed for sale. On the whole, I never before witnessed a scene which would compare with it in variety and splendor. I say splendor, because the millions of lamps lighted up through the city and the reflections of the mirrors spread a glowing atmosphere over and through the city, above which darkness brooded; and in which the splendor and riches of a little busy world were exhibited. But alas! how short lived the scene at which so many thousands of mortals gaze with wonder! In less than five short hours light will have disappeared, and the whole scene be enveloped in darkness. An apt emblem of the greatness and glory of man-for a time it may dazzle, but while mortals gaze and wonder it is gone.

17. Sabbath. Preached to an unusually large and attentive assembly of natives, among whom were twelve lame and blind female beggars, and eighty girls belonging to our female schools. My subject was the love of God towards men as displayed in giving his Son to die for their redemption.

whom is a European who has resided in India 43 years, one a convert from the Romish faith, and one from the Mohammedan faith. They have now two interesting candidates for Christian baptism. Their schools and other operations are nearly the same as reported last year.

30. At evening a public meeting was held at Mr. Wilson's for thanksgiving and praise to God for disposing the hearts of the British rulers here to abolish the horrid rite of suttees.

31. Sabbath. The Rev. Mr. Mitchell preached to the natives at our chapel in the morning, and Rev. Mr. Fyvie preached in the evening; after which the sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered in behalf of the Mission Union by Mr. Wilson. Twenty-eight persons, of three different denominations, viz. of the Congregational church fifteen, of the Scotch kirk eight, Episcopal church five-united in celebrating the ordinance. Of these, eleven were European and American missionaries, and three native and Portuguese catechists.

Nov. 4. Business meeting at my house. Appointed the first Sabbath in December for the baptism of Dajecba, a Hindoo of the Purbhoo caste, who has been in a course of Christian instruction more than a year.

in the morning, a Hindoo man 10. While examining one of our schools presented reading I found to be a request that he and me a letter written in Mahratta, which on his wife might be received into the Christhat for two months past he had come to tian religion by being baptised. He stated the house of Dajeeba, one of the candidates for baptism, and received Christian instruc24. Sabbath. In the morning preached Hindooism is false and the Christian relig tion from him. They say they believe to the natives. Nearly 200 females belong-ion true; and, therefore, desire to forsake ing to our schools attended, and a larger

number of other natives than usual. The

number of hearers has been increasing for several weeks past.

After mentioning that the Bombay Missionary Union met on the 28th, Mr. Stone gives the following particulars from the reports respecting

the several missions connected with that Union.

During the past year one Hindoo and one Roman Catholic convert have been admit

the one and embrace the other. On conversing with them, I found, though they had acquired some knowledge of Christianity, their views of its nature and doctrines those who have but just begun to rise from were very obscure, as must be expected of ́ the darkness of paganism, in which they have groped all their life time, and to receive the feeble rays of gospel light which have come to them only through the mind of one who is himself but imperfectly enFlightened. I told them I would give them

instruction daily, if they would call at my house, and when they should give us satisfactory evidence of having become real Christians, we would comply with their request. I have seen the man several times at the school before, and noticed that he was very attentive to my instructions to the children. He has attended at the chapel a few Sabbaths past, but I never conversed with him before. How this should happen I know not, as it is my usual practice to converse with all strangers whom I find in the school room. This is the first native Hindoo female who has requested baptism from us.

13. Bapoo left us to return to his family at Parnwell, professedly to give his wife Christian instruction, and prepare her mind to consent to his receiving Christian baptism. He hopes to persuade her, at least, to renounce caste with him, so that they may live and eat together. Gave instruction to Dajeeba and several teachers who called with him. At evening preached to several natives who had assembled in one of our schools. Among them were the man and woman who applied for baptism. I conversed with them individually. They appear to be sincere inquirers after truth, though their minds yet are awfully dark. May the Spirit of the Lord, whose office it is to enlighten and renovate the soul, be their teacher and sanctifier.

14. Sabbath. About 200 persons were present at the Mahratta service at the chapel this morning; eighty of whom were girls belonging to our female schools, ten or twelve lame and blind female beggars, and Dajeeba's mother, who said a few weeks since that her son might become a Christian if he would, but she was determined to die in the religion of her forefathers. She has now become a constant

attendant at the chapel. The woman who applied for baptism was also present. Above 200 lads attended the service for the

schools in the afternoon, and about forty

other persons.

15. Commenced a religious exercise at my house, to be held daily at ten o'clock, for the particular benefit of inquirers after the right way, natives connected with my family, the teachers of my schools, and others who may feel disposed to attend. I propose to have all present, who are able to read Mahratta, read one or more chapters daily in the New Testament, concerning which I question them and explain the meaning. Then we all kneel and pray; We read this morning the first and second chapters of Matthew, and had a very interesting season.

16. Bapoo, who left me several days since to visit his family at Parnwell, in order to give his wife Christian instruction, returned to day, and says she is quite unwell, and is now residing with her father, who is a physician. He says she was not able to receive Christian instruction, and

therefore he has not made up his mind when to be baptised. I advised him to return to her and give her instruction as she should sick, so much the more need to communibe able to bear it, for if she was dangerously cate to her that knowledge by which alone she can be saved. What he will do I know not. He seems much cast down. I suspect, though I have not asked him the question, that her friends have told Bapoo that, if he violates his caste by uniting with the Christian church, his wife shall not live with him. He asked me what he must do, if his wife should determine not to live with him, in case he joined the church. I referred him to what Christ said was necessary to be done in order to be his disciple.

China.

JOURNAL OF MR. BRIDGMAN.

The Foreign Factories.

A brief notice of the spacious trading houses, occupied by merchants and agents from foreign nations, and where all the foreign business is done, may be interesting. They are situated just without the city of Canton.

Feb. 26, 1830. The foreign factories, in one of which we now have our home, are but a little distant from the southwest corner of the city; in lat. 23 degrees 7 minutes, N. long. 113 degrees 14 minutes east of which is here, perhaps, fifty rods wide. By Greenwich, on the north bank of the river, the Chinese they are called, Shap-sam-hong, "the thirteen factories." They lie nearly east and west, forming an oblong, about 45 by 30 rods, parallel to the river. With the exception of two or three narrow streets, they make one solid block. Each factory extends in length through the whole breadth of the block, and has its peculiar name, which, if not always appropriate, is intended by the Chinese to be a fortunate one. the assembled righteousness factory;" the Thus the Dutch they call, Tseep-e-hong, English, Pow-wo-hong, "the factory that yune-hong, "the factory of wide fountains," ensures tranquillity;" the American, Kwang

and so of the others. Each is divided into occupies one or more of these according to four, five, or more houses, and each factor circumstances. They are all built of brick rather substantial front; and with the flags or granite, two stories high, and present a which are usually hoisted before them, form a striking, and to the stranger a pleasing contrast with the national ensign and architecture of the "celestial empire."

Visit to an Idol Temple.

March 3. Visited the idol temple on the island opposite the European factories, commonly called the Honam-Jos-house. Jos is

a Chinese corruption of the Portuguese word Deos. It was here, in 1817, that the gods and deified heroes of the "middle empire" gave place to Lord Amherst and suite; and where the chaplain of that embassy administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper. Dr. Morrison, who was a member of the embassy, and had his residence with Lord A. in one of the apartments of the temple, was with us and pointed out and explained the various parts and inscriptions of the buildings.

annually carried off in this way, and as a local magistrate expressed it, "their parents never see them to the day of their death. The greater part are sold for domestic slaves, or for play actors and prostitutes; but still worse, some being whipped and bambooed, die of hunger and fill a ditch." At eleven o'clock A. M., two young men citizens of Canton, were beheaded on the south side of the city, just without the gates, near the river. During the year 1827, more than two hundred suffered death at the This is doubtless one of the largest and same place of blood, not a mile distant from most magnificent temples, of which there the foreign factories. This year the numare great numbers in and about the city of ber is likely to be much greater. Robbery Canton. It includes a large area of several and murder seem to be the most common acres, surrounded by a high wall. The crimes; for which decavitation and strangnumber of priests at the present time is ling are the most common punishment. more than one hundred and fifty. The idols The executioner prepared himself for the are numerous and some of them huge and deadly scene by taking intoxicating drink ugly. The buildings consist of pavilions, mixed with gunpowder, and by the frehalls, cells, &c. One of the largest is callquency of the bloody work exults in it, and ed "the great, powerful, and precious_pal- || sometimes even eats the vitals of the ace," and contains the three precious Bud- wretched victims. has; the past, present, and to come; three large images of the god arranged along side each other; and on either side, to the right and left, are paraded eighteen other images, the disciples of Budha, called Shap-pat-lohan. The Tartar family now on the throne of China, says its monarchs are the shappat-lo-han of Budha, appearing again in the world, according to their ideas of Metempsychosis.

Java.

JOURNAL OF MR.

ABEEL.

[Continued from p. 378 of the last volume.]

THE voyage of Mr. Abeel from Canton to Ba

tavia was noticed in the number for December. While he remained at the latter place, on his way to Siam, he was kindly entertained with Mr. Medhurst, of the London Missionary Socie

in the vicinity of the city, and in making tours to different parts of the island, and in acquiring a knowledge of the Fokien dialect of the Chinese language, which is spoken extensively in Siam, and in the islands of the adjacent seas.

In one of the apartments which we visited, there is a printing-office, with a large amount of wooden stereotype; and also a book-store, in which are religious and moral books for sale. We went also to the apart-ty, and engaged with him in missionary labors ments of one of the priests, whose servant had been our guide. He immediately ordered tea and sweetmeats, and invited us to eat and drink. He conversed fluently with Dr. Morrison in the Mandarin dialect, making many excuses for his homely fare, &c., and appeared ignorant both of this world and the next. We thanked and rewarded him for his hospitality; and left him as we found him, a poor, miserable idolater.

As we passed out, it not being the hour of worship, we saw only a few women and children lingering about the shrines of the gods. It is, indeed, painful to the heart to survey such scenes; but how woful to engage in them, and like the men of Rome, change the truth of God into a lie, and worship and serve the creature more than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen.

Punishment of Criminals.

March 12, 1831. Another delightful visit to the market places mentioned under date of Feb. 5th. In the course of an hour sixty tracts were distributed, including ten gospels of Matthew, ten sermons on the mount, the same number of hymn-books, and about thirty copies of an account of the conversion and martyrdom of the two Arabs, Abdalla and Sabat. The natives generally show a decided preference for those books, which contain the most pages, and present the neatest appearance. This is probably among the reasons why they are more readily received now than before, but we feel thankful that so many are distributed, and encouraged by the belief that not a few of them are read.

May 6. Saw a Chinese suffering pun- 16. Arose very early, and rode about ishment for having stolen a child. He was ten miles in the country to visit a bazar. marching through the streets, at the sound As the village is principally inhabited by of the gong, with soldiers before and be- Chinese, we took about thirty tracts in hind him, and with a couple of flags, one in their language, and as many in the Malay. each ear. Kidnapping is not unfrequent The crowd was not great, although the even in Canton. Hundreds of children are il books were soon distributed. After pro

claiming the truths of the glorious gospel in every part of the assembly, we returned. The country is in many places pleasant, and the ground more elevated than at Batavia. In the afternoon dined, and spent a few hours in the company of the Resident of Pontiana. He thinks the island of Borneo eligible as a station for Christian missions. His assistant at Sambas, who has had much opportunity of judging of the dispositions of the Diaks, was so strongly persuaded of their readiness to be relieved from the yoke of their Mohammedan rulers, that, being a Catholic, he wrote to the Propaganda at Rome, in 1824, on the subject. Nothing has been attempted, at least no missionaries have been sent. The number of Diaks is probably 200,000; and 300,000 Chinamen inhabit the same section of country, besides a considerable population of Mohammedans. The most authentic account of the Diaks, I have had extracted from the journal of a recent traveller, and I believe the only one who has lived to give an account of this strange people.

21. In our round to-day we met a Chinaman from the province of Teochu, who related some of the cruelties practised upon the female infants of the common people in his native place. The custom of infanticide, he assured us, was almost universal among this class of the community. If the father supposes that the marriage portion which he is likely to receive for his female child will exceed the necessary expense of her subsistence, she is allowed to live; but if he apprehends straitened circumstances in the interval, or a failure at the time, there is no salvation. The disproportion of the sexes is so great, that, in a village of 3,000 men, not more than 300 or 400 can procure wives. If you remonstrate with them on the barbarity of the custom, they reply with the most unnatural apathy, that rice is dear, and no benefit will accrue to them from raising their children. As soon as they are married, they become the property of another, and as they are not allowed to marry relatives, or even those of the same family name, they join another clan, and support them in their rivalry. Surely the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

22. Arose early and rode about eighteen or twenty miles to a village called Tanggrang, inhabited principally by natives and Chinamen. The Amboynese convert, to whom reference has been made, started yesterday afternoon with 200 Malay tracts, and as many Chinese. On our arrival we found him surrounded by natives, and engaged in his master's work. The scene was one of lively interest. The concourse was large, and nothing prevented the teacher from the utmost liberty of action. Wherever he took his station, crowds resorted and listened with attention. That the truth might be more widely proclaimed, every part of the bazar was visited, and in

the course of two hours every tract disposed of. The books might have been distributed in less time, and probably double the number would have found the same reception. The seed is thus scattered, and though others may enter into the labors of those now engaged, yet we believe that they that sow, and they that reap, shall rejoice together.

a corres

Among the objects of Chinese idolatry, was a strange figure, which we saw nowhere but in the schools. It was said to represent an astonishing genius, who appeared in China, and by the might of his intellect,.soon obtained the highest literary honor in the empire. Such a mark of respect they imagine will secure ponding favor in return, and result in the mental illumination of the scholars. There was much of that melancholy interest on through the deserted ruin of a once poputhe road, which is felt, when passing lous city. Extensive avenues courts overgrown with shrubbery, and gate of trees, posts still standing, mark the situations, where, in days of eastern prosperity, large mansions appeared. Scarcely a house of any magnificence is left.

It

A tract

25. Spent an conversation with a number of Cochin hour this morning in Chinese, engaged on a trading expedition to Java. It was conducted partly in French, from the Catholic priests, partly in Malay, a smattering of which they had acquired probably picked up at this island, and partly by means of the Chinese written characters. They professed the Catholic religion, and betrayed a degree of bigotry and caution, which had no doubt been inspired by their calculating leaders. To employ their own expression, there were thousands upon thousands of Catholics in the country, and priests from France, Portugal, Bengal, and America. They also referred to converts belonging to different orders of monks. was very evident from their questions and remarks that they had been apprized of the missionary exertions of Protestants, and prepared for a probable encounter. was adduced, containing nothing obnoxious to papists, or rather nothing intentionally so; but their imagination soon furnished it with the most pernicious doctrines. Not a page was read before they were acquainted with its contents. Their principal objections to the religion of the Dutch and English were, the want of celibacy in the priests, and auricular confession in the people. They spoke of the instructions they had derived from catechisms, such as the frequent worship of "la tres Sainte vierge;" but when asked if they had ever read the Bible, they replied in Chinese, "It is forbidden," in French "contraband." One of them inquired of Mr. Medhurst, how many disciples he had. The indirect reply was, that he deemed something beyond the mere profession to be indispensable to true religion, and consequently never included

in such an estimate, those who were not sincere. "Ah!" said the shrewd inquirer, "the fault is in your doctrines. If they were true, there would be no want of genuine disciples." He was asked what he considered truth. "Oh," said he ironically, "Your books are full of it." But, we replied, you know nothing of our books, and how are you qualified to condemn them. "I have no time," said he, "to prattle any longer with you;" and only remained to hear that the truth was sufficiently important to demand his time, and that a good man would make it a matter of most diligent inquiry.

were obliged to renounce the Catholic faith, and embrace Protestantism. Having left word that we would return in time for Mr. Medhurst to preach, we continued our journey about three miles farther, to the market place. This part of the country was adorned with the most extensive groves of cocoanut trees I ever beheld. The oil of this nut is in great demand among the natives both for cooking and anointing their bodies.

By the time we reached our destination, the sun was very oppressive. The sheds under which the natives were assembled afforded some relief to its withering rays, This then is the effect of Romanism, and enabled the laborers to pursue their falsely called Christianity; this the barrier work. Mr. M. and the Amboynese, spent it erects against the pure doctrines of the two or three hours in conversing, and discross. If the word of these men can be re-tributing tracts. The crowd was not as lied on, how widely prevalent must be its errors, and how anti-christian its influences in Cochin-China.*

29. Having made arrangements to take a tour of sixteen or eighteen miles in the country, we arose this morning and commenced our journey by the light of the moon. On account of the frequent rains and the bad state of those roads which are not repaired at the expense of the government, we were obliged to exchange our mode of conveyance, after the first four miles, and proceed the rest of the way on horseback. Such was the depth and tenacity of the mud in many places, that our ponies were almost fixed; and the bridges, covered with a wicker-work of bamboo, were so smooth and wet, that once my horse slipped, and was down in an instant. By the kind interposition of the Lord, I stood at his side, before he touched the ground, and thus escaped having my limbs crushed by the fall.

There was nothing remarkable in the face of the country. The land was generally level, the smaller elevations being selected as the site of their villages, and the low ground covered with rice. We passed near the residence of one of the former rajahs of the island. The only insignia of royalty are three or four beautiful trees always planted before the houses of native princes. A young man of the family, attended with one servant, came out as we were opposite the establishment, and rode some distance in company with us. His principal garment was of colored calico, and though he rode on a saddle, he filled the stirrups with his bare feet. He conversed sensibly, on the subject of religion, and though a professed Mohammedan, did not attempt to reconcile the absurdities of some of the prophet's notions. He received a Christian publication without hesitancy.

About nine o'clock we reached a small settlement of Portuguese, whose ancestors by the might and power of the sword,

*Since writing the above, ten Catholic missionaries, including four natives and six Europeans, have arrived at Batavia on their way to CochinChina, according to their statement.

great as in other places we had visited, and the scene not as lively. All the books, however, were distributed with but little difficulty. Among the crowd we observed two young men, in dress and appearance above the ordinary class, whose conduct betrayed an opposition to our object. Having watched their suspicious movements, and found they were not satisfied with the tract they had procured, but were impudent in helping themselves to others, Mr. M. took from them what they had, and refused them a single one. This determined measure had the effect, for they soon disappeared.*

We returned to the Portuguese settlement about mid-day, and after refreshing ourselves with an hour's sleep and a frugal repast, we were invited to the house of God by the familiar tones of the church going bell. Its sound echoed strangely amidst these wastes and wilds of heathenism. About thirty persons convened in an old building, erected in 1674, after the ancient style of Dutch architecture. Mr. Medhurst addressed this small audience upon some of those impressive truths of Christianity which it was too evident the most of them

knew only in profession. To me the scene and its associations were peculiarly solemn. Before the door, lay the bones of a missionary, whose labor had closed, and whose spirit had passed into its eternal state. Those who had been accustomed to worshipping God in this place had gradually dropped into the grave, until the seats were almost vacant. It was strange to find a church in such a sequestered and benighted place, and much more strange that, for more than a century and a half, its light should have shined so dimly, and the darkness around it remained so gross.

* We have since been warned against purchasing provisions from the natives, as has been our custom, should we repeat our visit; but we regard it as a vain threat. It is impossible for them to determine where we may prefer eating, and the expense of destroying the whole quantity of provisions in every part of the market place, beside the selfdenial required in those who depend upon these very tables for sustenance, renders it utterly impracticable.

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