manner. Brahmin Travelers-A Hindoo not an the next state of existence be afflicted ||forts and advantages of missionaries with a distressing constitutional disease." making tours in company, in a climate "He who excites enmity among friends, like that of India, and among a heathen shall be a fish." "The female domestic population, are many and important. who disobeys her mistress shall be a Our Savior sent his disciples two and crocodile." "The woman who, while two, though they were only to labor in cooking, secretly eats any of the food their own country and among their own shall be a cat." "He who ridicules his nation. The apostles also appear to parents shall be a monkey." "He who have traveled and labored in the same exposes to ridicule the secret foibles and failings of others shall be a carrioneating crow."-Near the close of the chapter, it is said that "to hear this book read removes sin, and to read it makes all who do so righteous." Such is the character of the work which will be read this evening, and believed to be of divine origin, in numerous assemblies of the Hindoos. I walked along the banks of the river, and spoke to people in a few places; but they had just arrived, and were too intent on the business for which they had come to listen, except a few who were disposed to scoff or cavil. We had made our arrangements to pass the day at a village three or four miles distant; so we left this idolatrous place and deluded multitude, not without being deeply affected in view of their state. For several miles we found the road almost covered with people, amounting to many thousands of both sexes, and of all ages and classes, going to Mahoolee. 28. Khundalla. About three miles from this village, I passed the Khamutkee Ghaut. The ascent is gradual and easy. From the highest part of the Nera, studded as it appeared to be with mountain, the valley watered by the villages, and bounded by lofty mountains, was beautiful and sublime. The descent is long and difficult. On arriving in the village, I found a great number of native travelers, who had stopped for the night. One part of the building where I lodged was occupied by a company of ten or twelve brahmins, who were going to the southern part of the Mahratta country. In such circumstances, it is not difficult to become acquainted, and we were soon engaged in conversation. They were all intelligent men, and one of them I soon found had the reputation of being learned, and he appeared well to deserve it. After we had conversed a while, the hour of supper arrived, and as they rose to go out, one of them inquired if it would be agreeable to me, after their return, to continue our con 19. Arrived at Mahaburlishwur, and was cordially welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Graves. This place is yearly becoming more and more the resort of Europeans, especially during the hot months. The English population is greater than I expected to see. The height of the vil-versation on the subjects which had been lage is 4,500 feet above the ocean. The temperature is cooler than I have before experienced in any part of India. It forms a grateful contrast to what we have been suffering on our tour, especially for two or three weeks past. The scenery here is wild and picturesque. A long extent of the ocean, though fifty miles distant, is distinctly visible; and when illumined by the declining sun, vessels under sail are often seen. Though so near the ocean, yet the streams which flow from springs on the east side of the highest part of the mountain flow into the Bay of Bengal. 22. To-day Mr. Farrar left Mahaburlishwur to proceed to Nasik. We have traveled together more than four hundred miles, unitedly laboring in the cause of our common Lord. The com *Of the Church Missionary Society, and fellow traveller with Mr. Allen during the preceding parts of the tour.-ED. introduced. I assured them that I would cheerfully do it. After a short absence they returned. Having referred to our previous conversation, I gave a brief sketch of the principal doctrines and truths of Christianity, stating what it requires and what it forbids, and that its claims to be received and obeyed extend not merely to those who profess it, but to all mankind. This statement prepared the way for inquiries and objections, of which several soon occurred to them. It also gave me an opportunity to assign the reasons why I did not regard the Hindoo religion as of divine origin, or as having any claim to be obeyed. Our discussion was continued till a late hour, every person taking part in it as he felt disposed. When it became expedient to close it, I informed them that I should be happy to furnish them with books to assist them in making further inquiry into the nature and truth of Christianity. All expressed a wish to receive some; and they remarked that as they intended to proceed on their journey early in the morning, it would be most convenient to receive them now. I accordingly selected and gave them such tracts and parts of the Scriptures as I thought most suitable for them. stupidly clings to his idolatry, to the neglect and dishonor of his Maker and Preserver; another, trusting in his own righteousness, proudly rejects the Savior and Mediator, through whom alone guilty creatures can have access to God. March 3. Wallah. Arrived here yesterday morning, and took up my lodging in an outer apartment of a temple dedicated to the god Bhyrola. When people come to worship, they generally proceed immediately to the idol, and commence their religious rites. While thus intent on their worship, to interrupt them is considered as highly improper. Some few persons, after finishing their worship, leave the temple as they came, neither speaking nor replying to any one, and scarcely noticing any thing around them. Such instances, however, are uncommon. The worshippers are general through their rites, to engage in conversation on any subject, or to transact any business. They often stop at or near the temple for this purpose. This is the time I use for conversation with them, and sometimes eight or ten persons have been present at once. 29. The native travelers all started early this morning, and the village, after having been for some time a scene of bustle and confusion, became quiet. About ten o'clock, several men came in, and sat down. I began conversation by asking who erected the building for travellers in which I had stopped, remarking that I had seldom seen one so large and convenient. They relied that it was erected many years ago, by a brahmin who then held a high situation in the Mahratta government. One of them remarked that the same man erect-ly ready, as soon as they have got ed buildings for the same purpose in several other places, and by such works of charity obtained great merit. This remark gave me an opportunity to speak of the error which universally prevails in this country, that men can obtain the favor of God by works of righteousness. I then spoke at some length of the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners; and the obligation of all who hear of him, to trust in him. They listened attentively, and when I had finished, they replied that what I had said was new to them. It might be true; they could not say that it was not. But they had always believed it to be right and safe for them to worship in the way their ancestors did, and which the greatest and wisest men in the country had practised and inculcated. Late in the afternoon an aged man from a neighboring village called. As I spoke of the unreasonableness of idolatry, he remarked that he had not worshipped idols of any kind for many years; that he worshipped only the Creator and Preserver of all things. I at first supposed that he had heard my opinions from some one in the village, with whom I had conversed, and that he said what he did, to hear what I would say to one professing such principles. But after some further conversation, I was satisfied that he spoke the truth. His views of the character and government of God were more elevated and correct than I ever before found in a heathen, unacquainted with Christianity, but he was conceited and self-righteous. He did not see any reason, nor did he feel any need of a mediator between God and his guilty creaThus, while one ignorantly and tures. This morning I observed several persons engaged in performing ceremonies for an unusually long time on and around the idol, and on inquiring the cause, I was told that they were consulting the god in respect to a contemplated marriage between two children of their respective families. Previous to making the agreement definite and mutually binding, they were endeavoring to see whether the marriage would prove a happy one. This practice of consulting the gods, not only in respect to marriage, but to future and contingent events of many kinds, is very common. The manner varies somewhat in consulting different gods, and the ceremony is performed with more or less formality and exactness, according to the importance attached to the subject, and the consequent fear of being mistaken. The common practice is as follows;-The person or persons who wish to consult the god repair to the temple and go through with the usual form of worship, as pouring water upon the idol, prostrating themselves before it, etc. Two flowers are then taken, and one being applied to one side of the idol, (usually to the breast,) and the other to the corresponding place on the other side, they are impressed with the hand till they adhere to the surface. The flowers readily do this, as the surface of the idol, when wet, from its often being be smeared with unctuous substances, is adhesive. The man then, standing before the idol in the attitude of a suppliant, says, "Great god, be gracious to me; thou knowest my petition; if I am to obtain it, let the flower on thy right side fall first. If I am not to obtain it, then let the flower on thy left side fall first." Then, with hands joined, and eyes fixed on the idol, he waits to see the result, and interprets the will of the god, or as some natives would say, their destiny, accordingly. The flowers fall as soon as the moisture or water which caused them to adhere to the idol has evaporated. This commonly occurs in two or three minutes, often in less time. The ceremony is sometimes repeated three times. Kernels of grain, and perhaps other things, are sometimes used instead of flowers. If there is an officiating priest attached to the idol, he performs the ceremony, and is paid for doing it. If there is no such person, those who consult the idol perform the whole themselves. Sometimes the flowers, or whatever is used instead of them, are applied not to the idol, but to a stone placed before it, on which all offerings are placed. The ceremony, however, is essentially the same. Such is the manner in which important subjects are often decided by the superstitious Hindoos, and they frequently appeal to these results as evidence that the spirits of their gods inhabit the idols consecrated to them, and through the idols, communicate their will to their worshippers. A few days ago I stopped to pass the night in one part of a temple in the village of Chicklee. In another part of the temple was a woman who had been bitten by a venomous snake. When bitten, she was brought as soon as possible to the temple, and placed before the idol-a common practice in some villages when any thing of this kind happens. As she had become nearly or quite well, I asked her husband, who was the patell of the village and a sensible man, why she did not go to her own house. He replied that she was anxious to do so, and so was he and all the family, but he had just been consulting the god, and could not obtain his consent. It was impossible to convince the man of the folly and falsehood of such opinions, and so his wife must remain in the temple, till the god should give her permission to go home. How long this was I know not. Such customs and credulity shew the superstition, the ignorance, and the wretched moral and intellectual state of the greater part of the people of India. Who can contemplate them as rational beings, and not pity them? What Christian can view them as immortal beings, and not pray for them? Walloh, the last place mentioned above, is a large village, about one hundred miles south from Ahmednuggur, whither Mr. Allen returned by way of Poonah, where he was detained sometime on account of ill health. Southern Africa. JOURNAL OF MR. VENABLE FROM KURUMAN TO MOSELEKATSI'S COUNTRY. the last number, p. 187, was inserted a joint letter from Doct. Wilson and Messrs. Lindley and Venable, written subsequently to their arrival with their wives, in the country of Moselekatsi. It was then stated that the two brethren last named visited this prince in the early part of the year 1836, and made the necessary arrangements for their permanent residence in his territory. The following journal relates to this visit, extending from January 22d to May 18th. In the year 1829 or 1830, Moselekatsi was visited by a Mr. Schoon, who penetrated into that quarter for purposes of trade. He then had his residence about two hundred miles northeast of the Basin, where Messrs. Lindley and Venable found his capital, as stated in the last number. Having heard of the missions south of him, and desiring an acquaintance with the white men, he sent two of his men to Kuruman, on the return of Mr. Schoon, to see the mission there and procure teachers for his people. Mr. Moffat, missionary of the London Society, accompanied these men on their return home, and was received by Moselekatsi with great joy; and on his departure, he was urged to make another visit, and to send teachers. At this period the Basin was held by Mokatla, chief of the Baharootsi, and here the French brethren Lemue and Roland obtained a site for a station in 1831, with a view to missionary labors among this band. Other missionaries of the French society penetrated into the country where Moselekatsi then resided. But shortly after Moselekatsi commenced hostilities upon Mokatla, direction, distances, names of the more important stopping places, rivers, etc.] [The map below gives a view of the road traveled from Kuruman to Mosika, with the 27 drove him and his people out of their coun- Chuae. The flat is of grayish cast, and try, and took possession of it himself, fixing||as we approached seemed to be covered his principal place of residence in the Basin. The French missionaries left the place with the Baharoctsi. Mr. Moffat again visited Moselekatsi, in company with Dr. Smith, who was exploring that part of Southern Africa, in the summer of 1835. Dr. S. penetrated as far as the southern tropic. Having given these preliminary notices, collected principally from statements furnished by Mr. Venable, such extracts will now be added from his journal as are adapted to give the reader valuable information respecting the country through which the brethren traveled and its inhabitants, or to make the situation and trials of the missionaries more fully understood. Incidents in the Journey between Kuru man and Kalipi's Town. with water; but when we halted we found it dry, and the only water there was standing in three holes on the edge of this flat. To these holes many animals resorted to drink, and consequently the water we use is not cleaner than if it came from a standing horse pond. We have, however, in our travels been pretty well disciplined to the use of bad water, and are always glad when we find enough for ourselves and cattle, let the quality be what it may. Some rain has fallen this season, and though not abundantly, yet sufficiently to bring out a good deal of grass.-Thermometer at noon eighty-five, at three, P. M., ninetyfive. A while before night a cloud of locusts settled around us. They are not like the locusts I have seen in America, but have a greater resemblance to large grasshoppers. When they pass over a district of country, it looks as if it had been burned off. They do great mischief to gardens; and last summer, I saw a piece of wheat in the head, destroyed by young locusts which had not gotten their wings. January 26, 1836. At one o'clock we left Motito and rode six hours. At three in the afternoon the thermometer stood at ninety-four in the wagon. For three hours the sand continued heavy. A part In their pursuit of our goats, which of the country we passed through is cov- had wandered, three of the young men ered with the camel-thorn, which gener- found half a dozen ostrich eggs, which ally has a short trunk, sometimes twelve they brought with them. The shell of or fifteen inches in diameter. The the ostrich egg is strong, and the natives wood of this tree, when dry, is exceed-preserve it to carry water in. They ingly hard and durable. The low trees with thick trunks gave the country something of the appearance of an immense old orchard. Soon after we started the dogs found the sand so hot that they would sometimes stop by a bush and howl, and then follow on. Where we out-spanned for the night, a shower fell a few hours before and cooled the earth. We met with a great curiosity in a bird's nest. It was built of grass, on a camel-thorn tree, and was two or three feet in diameter. Its top was spherical so as to turn water, and underneath were many small holes through which its inhabitants, a flock of small birds, entered. 27. We let our oxen go at large last night. Took our coffee and started by six, A. M., that we might get water, and reached Chuae, the first watering place from Motito, at nine o'clock. Chuae is the Sichuan name of salt, and is given to this place because there is a large flat, which in time of much rain is covered with brackish water. As there is another similar place on our road, but of greater extent, this is called by travelers Little perforate a hole as large as one's finger, and empty the shell of its contents. One will contain not less than a pint. Thermometer at noon eighty-six in the waggon; 108 exposed to the sun; 118 set in the sand. At two o'clock, P. M., ninety-two in the wagon. 29. Our road now generally lies through immense plains, which are sometimes even destitute of bushes. Occasionally the eye rests on a low tree. The sameness of the scenery and the tardiness of our oxen, render our journey exceedingly wearisome. Our road is now fine, and even so far interior, is plainly marked by the passing of |