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well received every where; and common free schools might, with a little prudence at first, be established also. For the latter there is even a demand in many places where brahminical influence is comparatively weak.

people are convinced that our object is benevolent; that we sincerely strive to do them good both in temporal and spiritual things; and on these accounts rejoice to have us come and settle among

them.

Climate-Native Schools-Mission Free
Schools-Openings for Bibles and

Tracts.

The language is a written one, but when reduced to writing we are unable to say. They write on the leaf of the palmyra with a style, and a book is formed by preforating the leaves which are all cut to the same width and strung upon a large twine. These books are very numerous, embracing some of the vedas and most of the puranas common to the Hindoo religion. We have a catalogue of 424 old books of various sizes, sacred books, such as vedas, puranas, etc.; moral, grammatical, astronomical, medical, and miscellaneous; on castes, warrejisters, plays, poetical, etc.; dic-sively. To those who are disposed to tionaries of the language are common but not very good.

The printed character has been in use on the continent, and to some extent in Jaffna, ever since missionaries came to Tranquebar; but even now the proportion of adult males who can read it is small. Of 150 men fifteen may be able to read the printed character so as to understand the subject treated of, but not more than two of these can read readily so as to entertain an audience. Good reading in the Tamul printed character is a very rare qualification. Of women we have seen but two or three who could read at all. In these remarks we do not refer to those in the district who have been taught in mission schools, by which the proportion of good readers is more than doubled, and of common readers greatly increased. The desire for hearing is very limited; and what we understand by a fondness for reading is very rare, if indeed it exists among the Tamul people. With the exception of brahmins and Roman Catholics, there has been little unwillingness to receive and read christian books. On the contrary there has been a desire to receive them, and that desire is gradually increasing.

The priesthood, both Roman Catholic and heathen, are undoubtedly opposed to our object, and do what they can to counteract our efforts. This may be said also of a few of the people. But the great mass of the people are friendly, at least, so far as to commit their children to our care to receive christian education, to receive our bibles and tracts, and occasionally to hear our gospel preached, and generally without opposition, often with considerable interest and approbation. The great mass of the

The climate of Ceylon is good, and if people are careful to choose situations free from marsh miasma, and to avoid exposure to the sun in the hot parts of the day, etc., they will probably live as long here as in America. The principal diseases to which they are exposed are fever and bowel complaints. Persons of bilious habits do not suffer very exten

pulmonary complaints this is an excellent climate. Indeed we believe that many who may be predisposed to them in America, and who would eventually sink under them, might escape altogether here. We have seldom met with a very marked case of consumption.

Schools among the higher and middle classes of people were very common when the missionaries arrived; but the extent of education was very limited. A few proverbs on moral subjects committed to memory and an ability to read a little on the ola was a common course. Some studied more and read the higher books, and learned to explain some of the puranas. Most of their books, however, are filled with idolatry interwoven with the wars, intrigues, and obscene conduct of their gods. The general tendency of these books is to show that fate and transmigration supersede human responsibility, and that the controlling power of the gods takes away free agency. All their philosophy and religion tend to the same results. Of course a christian school cannot be compared with a heathen school, except in the ability to read, write, etc.; and in these respects those under our care secure the approbation of the people in preference to the Tamul schools.

After giving some account of the schools under the care of the mission, as now in operation, the document furnishes the following summary view of their results from the establishment of the mission.

Allowing that our children on an average stay in our schools five years, we shall have

In 1836

7,000

1831

5,000

1826

2,500

1821

1,000

15,500 children who have been taught in our native free schools since the commencement of our mission.

The present number of native free schools in the district connected with the missionary establishments, is 171, containing 7,000 children. In addition to these there are connected with all the benevolent establishments in the district 1,228 children learning the English language; making a total of 8,228 children under a course of religious instruction. Against educating the male sex, there To these should be added the schools never have been any prejudices that we supported by the people in which only are aware of, when conducted by teach- heathenism is taught. Of these there is ers of their own appointment, and when said to be 239 schools belonging to the their own books only have been used. || heathen, and twenty-four to the Roman A considerable degree of prejudice has || Catholics. These schools are not usualexisted against our schools from time to ly large. They may all of them contain time, on account of the introduction of 4,000 children. As heathenism is taught Christianity: and among the brahmins in the former, and Romanism in the latand other higher castes, especially the ter, they are important only as they former, it remains. As a general thing, teach the children the Scriptures and however, it has disappeared. The people tracts which we present them. either care nothing about it, or their desire to have their children educated free of expense prevails over their prejudices. We have frequent application for new schools; the prejudices against our boarding establishments, which were at first very strong, have given way to a very great extent. Some, however, especially the brahmins, stand aloof from us. They will not commit their children to our

care.

Portions of the Scriptures are constantly used as reading books in all the schools connected with the protestant missions. It will be seen at once that the number we shall constantly need for all these schools is very large. And when it is considered that we are in this way fast raising up a reading population in the district, who, as they become men and women, should have either the whole or large portions of the Scriptures in The people, as a general thing, are their hands, it will be seen that there are still opposed to female education. In hardly any limits to the increasing dethis department of our labor we have, mand for the Tamul Scriptures. To this however, succeeded to a considerable must be added the adult population, both degree. The small presents we give the heathen and Catholic and Mohammedan, girls from time to time, induce their many of whom will thankfully receive parents to send them to school. Our fe- || portions of the Scriptures. Lastly, the male charity boarding school has flour- native members of our churches must ished, and the people begin to see such be supplied. These should, in general, advantages from it that they are desirous have the whole Old and New Testaof committing many more of their daugh- ment. ters to us than we can take. This de- On the continent there is a vast exsire, however, is seen more in the middle tent of country, and a population of than in the higher classes of society. 8,000,000 or 10,000,000 speaking the TaOur schoolmasters are generally men of mul language, extending from Madras to respectability, and of good caste, but cape Comorin. As we have already a their literary qualifications for the most mission and schools in the district of part are not good. The majority of them Madura, which we expect will soon be are heathen; a large number, however, greatly strengthened and enlarged; as have become hopefully pious. We have we are expecting also shortly to occupy not, except in a few instances, made it a Madras, we can distribute large portions point to train up persons for schoolmas- of Tamul Scriptures, not merely in the ters. Could we have had the means of vicinity of missionary stations, but at a doing it at the commencement of our distance on missionary tours. As soon, mission, we feel that we should have therefore, as parts of the Scriptures in done a work of the first importance. sufficient numbers can be prepared for The superintendents of our schools are distribution among the people, there is generally pious; and though their liter-hardly any limit to the demand. Thouary attainments are not so great as we could wish, they are as great as our schools require.

sands and millions are perishing in sin, with scarcely a ray of spiritual light to lead them in the road to heaven.

D

The difficulty has hitherto been that Tamul Scriptures, especially in small portions, could not be prepared in sufficient quantities to allow of extensive distribution, even among those who would receive and peruse them. As soon as our contemplated printing presses are established at Madras, we shall be able not only to expend all that the American Bible Society have granted us, but shall have to make still greater demands upon their bounty.

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Twenty-three have died in the faith; twenty-one have been excommunicated; and 236 are or have

been connected with the schools.

In the year 1819, three years after the arrival of the missionaries, there was at Batticotta what may be called a revival of religion. Very circumscribed of course, from the fact that only eight or ten of the pupils were then instructed in the necessity of a change of heart, and obedience to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Still it bore the strong and striking marks of a revival, and two were added to the church, and one forcibly kept back by his relations.

As the use of Tamul tracts and Scriptures are so intimately connected in all our operations, remarks that have been made, and the statistics given in answering the last question respecting the Bible Society apply with equal force to the Tract Society. Our tract operations during the last two or three years have been greatly enlarged, both as to the number printed, and the great variety of the tracts. They are very extensively read in all the schools in the district. In the year 1821 there was a revival They are also distributed extensively at Tillipally, which commenced immeamong the people by ourselves and na-diately after Mr. Poor's death. In the tive helpers, at their festivals, in the markets, and by the way-side; so that nearly all the people who can read, in this district receive more or less of our tracts. Our tracts are also more extensively known and prized on the continent than formerly. Large supplies are constantly sent to Madura, Trichinopoly, and many other places. The field of profitable distribution on the continent is immense, and there need be scarcely any limit to our tract operations in future, but our means of preparing and printing them. Doct. Scudder, in a late tour on the continent, principally in the Tanjore district, distributed 30,000, and could have distributed many times this number had they been at his command.

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year 1821 eight were added to the church. At the commencement of 1824 there was a great revival of religion at all the five stations then occupied. Its influence was confined principally to our charity boarding schools, and teachers of village schools. As some of the fruits of this revival forty-one were received to our church at one time, January 20th, 1825; and in July 1825 eight more. In October of the same year (1824) there was an awaking, less powerful, but marked. At this time several gave evidence of a change of heart. In the year 1827, though we saw nothing like a marked revival, there was a very interesting state of anxious inquiry among many of the young men, and some of our neighbors who had been more particularly instructed. This state of feeling commenced in 1826, and continued many months of 1827. Thirty-one were added to the church. In 1830 the mission experienced another revival of religion. Though we saw no manifest tokens of the Spirit's power at the quarterly communion in October, still we had reason to believe God was not far from us, nay, that he was with us for one or two months previous. Encouraged by these signs of the times, two of the missionaries went directly from the quarterly meeting to Batticotta to labor with the lads in the seminary. The results were very encouraging at Batticotta, and the revival spread to all the other stations. A number of schoolmasters belonging

TRIENNIAL REPORT OF THE MISSION
SEMINARY AT BATTICOTTA, FOR SEP-
TEMBER, 1836.

to the native free schools were awakened. In April following thirty-four natives were admitted to the church, and in July twenty-seven more were added; making in all sixty-one. Of these twenTHE earlier part of the report is occupied ty-eight belonged to Batticotta seminary, with statements, relating to the classes adthree to the female central school; and mitted and dismissed, course of study, exfourteen were schoolmasters; two chil-aminations, etc., and then proceeds to nodren of the missionaries, and ten other males and females.

tice its

Results.

In the latter part of 1834 a very pow- Moral and Religious State-Numerical erful work of grace commenced at a protracted meeting held in the seminary at Batticotta. It extended to all the stations, except Varany, which was then recently commenced. About fifty were admitted the following March (1835); and in the course of the year seventyseven were added to the church. Of these twenty-five belonged to the seminary, or had recently left; twelve to the central school for girls at Oodooville; nine were masters in the native free schools. Thirty were neighbors, and two youth in our native free schools. In the latter part of 1835 the seminary at Batticotta was again visited with the influences of the Holy Spirit. There was also an unusual excitement at Oodooville, but the work was not very abiding at either station.

Several important changes, both in the condition and character of this people have occurred since the commencement of this mission. In some cases the causes are complex.

1. On the subject of education there is a very decided and marked change. This can be traced to the influence of our school system. Almost every interpreter or other native holding a high office, has been under the instruction of a missionary, either Wesleyan, Episcopalian, or American. This too is a subject of great interest of late.

Of the students now in the seminary forty-six have been received to the church, as apparently "born again;" and about twenty are candidates for admission. The great danger of self-deception, in regard to personal piety, and the sinister inotives which may induce those in a state of dependence to make an empty profession of Christianity, and the evils which result from filling up the church with those who have "a name to live, but are dead," require much caution in their admission to christian communion. A part only of those who offer themselves are generally received. But though of many, perhaps a majority, it must be said, they are, as yet, unconverted, "having no hope and without God in the world," few probably, have any confidence in Hindooism; they are nearly all, in some sense, believers in the christian system, and are, in a greater or less degree, made instrumental in enlightening their benighted country

men.

Were the seminary regarded merely as a literary institution, and as designed to promote only the temporal interests of the native inhabitants, this view of its religious character would be important. The great obstacles to the progress of society among them is want of moral principle. This renders them unhappy in their domestic relations, mutually distrustful and dishonest in most of their social dealings, and unfit for those situations of responsibility in which they might otherwise be placed by the gov ernment under which it is their happi

2. Crime is greatly diminished. Cases of murder, perjury, forgery, and theft, as they come before the supreme court, are not half so numerous as they were fifteen or twenty years ago. This is owing to the increase of education, to the preaching and spread of the gospel; and to the more frequent and promptness to live. Of this they are in some administration of justice. respects sensible, for there are few of 3. Heathenism is greatly modified. them who do not prefer to trust their Belief in idols and idol-worship is weak-liberty, property, or life with christian ened; infidelity or deism is more com- judges or jurors, rather than heathen. mon, and Christianity gains ground. In this respect their practical language The causes are schools, preaching, bi- is, "Let us fall into the hands of stranbles, and tracts. gers and foreigners, but not into the hands of our own countrymen." This is especially the case wherever the influence of bribes is feared; and this state of things shows the natives themselves the

[The cut below is a view of the mission premises at Batticotta, from the southeast. The building on the right is occupied by one of the mission families; that on the left contains sleeping rooms for pupils; and the central building contains the chapel, library, study and lecture-rooms, etc., for the seminary.]

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