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362 25

57 97

518 50

70 67

70 00

151 67

41 98

Allentown, N. J. Miss Beatty,
Amherst, Ms. D. Mack, Jr. 100; Rev. N. W.
Fiske, (of which for Nestorian miss. 15;)
25; college mon. con. 9;

Andover, Ms. Sew. so. for sch. at Argos,
Arkport, N. Y. Miss A. Hurlbut,
Augusta, Me. Mr. Reddington,
Babylon, N. Y. Presb. chh.

Bangor, Me. 1st cong. chh. and so. 185;
mon, con. in do. 76,25; Theolog. Sem. 73;
Class. Inst. 27; (of which to constitute
Rev. LEONARD WOODS, Jr. an Hon. Mem.
50;) Mr. Fisher, 1;
Batania, N. Y. Coil.

Bath, Me. 3d cong. chh. (of which to constitute Rev. RAY PALMER an Hon. Mem. 50;) 130; FREEMAN CLARK, which constitutes him an Hon. Mem. 100; WILLIAM RICHARDSON, which and prev. dona. constitutes him an Hon. Mem. 50; G. F. Patten, 50; T. Harward, 50; G. Trufant, 20; Rev. J. W. Ellingwood, 20; D. C. Magoun, 10; J. Hyde, 10; a lady, 10; a friend, 10, H. H. 5; C. C. 5; R. N. 5; A. R. M. 5; J. M. 5; a friend, 5; D. S. 5; a widow, av. of jew. 5,50, E. A. 5; W. B. T. 2; a lady, 2; T. C. 2; C. C. Jr. 2; five indiv. 5; Bedford, Ms. Mon. con. in Trin. cong. 20,67; la. of do. to constitute Rev. JONATHAN LEAVITT an Hon. Mem. 50;

Belfast, Me. Ist cong chh. mon. con. 50; do. at Head of Tide, 8; indiv. 12;

Bloomfield, N. J. Presb. chh.
Bloomsburgh, Pa. Presb. cong.

500 || Falmouth, Me. Mrs. Miltimore, 5; Mr. G. 25c. Fort Covington, N. Y. Presb. chh.

134 00

120 00

10 00

5 30 8 25

Fort Edward, N. Y. Miss E. B. Hasbrouck, Fowlerville, N. Y. Contrib. 11,21; mon. con. 8,79;

Forboro', Ms. Mr. Pierce's so.

Frankford, Pa. Preɛb. chh. mon. con.
Frankfort, Me. La. of Mr. Tappan's so.
Freeport, Me. Cong. chh. mon. con.

Fryeburg, Me. Cong. so. coll. 45,50; Mr. Buswell, 20; mon. con. 15; juv. sew. so. 2,50; Mrs. E. H. C. 5; inf. sab. sch. class, 2;

Hadley, Ms. J. B. Porter, 20; mem. of Hopkins acad. 15;

Hanover, N. H., A friend,

Harrisburgh, Pa. Presb. cong. 68,18; av. of gold chain, 11,44;

5 25

150 00

5.00

20 00

61 63 600

10 00

20 00

90 00

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Grafton, Ms. Chh. special coll.

51 00

35 00

5.00

79 62

Haverhill, Ms. Cong. centre chh. special coll. 59,50; mon. con. 21; la. sew. so. 15;

95 50

Heath, Ms. R. H. Leavitt, for Rev. L. Smith, Sandw. Isl.

21 00

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Danville, Pa. Mrs. and Miss M.

Deckertown, N. J. Fem. benev. so. in a sch. Dudley, Ms. La. asso. 30; la. sew. so. 23; to constitute Rev. JOHN BOWERS an Hon. Mem.

Dunkirk, N. Y., J. Van Buren, East Attleborough, Ms. La. asso. 91; mon. coll. 9; (of which to constitute Rev. JonATHAN CRANE an Hon. Mem. 50;) East Brewer, Me. Cong, chh. mon. con. East Bridgewater, Ms. Thankful Pratt, Easton, (vic. of,) Md. R. A. and L. A. Chase, Elizabethtown, N. J. Union fem. miss, so. of 1st and 2d presb. chhs. for David Magie and Nicholas Murray, Ceylon,

5.00

15.00

New Bloomfield cong. Pa. La. to constitute
Rev. JOHN L. DICKEY an Hon. Mem.
Newburyport, Ms. Rev. H. Wilbur,
New Castle Presbytery, Oxford cong. for

support of Mr. Schneider, 70; cong. of
Leacock and Little Octarora, for do. 50;
New Haven, Ct. Rev. E. E. Salisbury,
New Lebanon, Ct. F. W. E.

50 00

250

5.00

120 00

200 00

New Paltz, N. Y. Presb. chh.

5 00 21.00

New Providence, N. J. Presb. chh.

41 04

Newton, Ms. Mon. con. E. par. 20,08; ex. effort, W. par. 165,80;

185 88

New Troy, Pa. Presb. cong.

500

Norristown, Pa. Miss Hammill,

5.00

5 00

Northern Liberties, Pa. 1st presb. chh. sab. sch. 39; juv. miss. so. for Caroline Hyde, 25; a lady, 5;

69 00

North Falmouth, Ms. Indiv. in cong. chh. and so. 19; la. work. so. 14;

33 00

Orange, N. J. 2d presb. chh. 40,50; 1st do. 24,18; la. benev. so. 10;

Orwell, Vt. Ist cong, chh. and so. ex. effort, 37,30; la. benev. so. 7,50; chil. benev. asso for Philip H. Morris, Ceylon, 10; Parsippany, N. J. Presb. chh.

Perryville, Pa. Presb. cong. 25; sab. sch. 1,18; Peterboro', N. Y., G. Smith, fr. estate of his late father,

Philadelphia, Pa. A. Henry, 500; Mrs. J. S. Henry, 50; ROBERT EARP, which constitutes him an Hon. Mem. 100; J. Wyman, 15; a friend, by Rev. A. B. 10; 5th presb. chh. 50,84; 10th presb. chh. 7,50; 11th do. mon. con. 43,60; a friend, 20; juv. sew. so. for fem. schools in Bombay, 30; E. S. 2; Pittsburgh, Pa. 3d presb. chh. for support of Mr. Travelli, 455; for Sandw. Isi. miss. 141,35;

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596 35 23 00 5.00

Pleasant Valley, N. Y. Presb. chh.

12 00

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828 94

44 00

100 00

52 00 10.00

Amount of donations and legacies acknowledged in the preceding lists, $23,170 29. Total from August 1st, to September 30th, $42,593 47.

DONATIONS IN CLOTHING, &c.

Amherst, Ms. A box, for Mr. Smith, Sandw. Isl.; do. fr. friends, for Mr. Perkins, Ooroomiah, Beverly, Ms. Clothing, fr. fem. sew. so. and juv. so. of 4th cong, chh. for Bethabara. Buston, Ms. A box, fr. Mrs. C. Baker, for Mr. Clark, Sandw. Islands, 90; a box, fr. do. for Mr. Kingsbury, Pine Ridge, 75; Candia, N. H., A box, fr. young la, of cong. so. for Mr. Champion, S. Africa, 41; a box, fr. do. for Sandw. Isl. 17,50, Dennysville, Me. A barrel, fr. fem. sew. circle,

75.00

165 00

58 50

62 67

Reading, S. par. Ms. Mon. con.

15.00

Reading, Pa. Presb. cong. 29,90; S. B. abst.

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from tobacco, 3,65;

33 55

Rehoboth, Ms. La. sew. so.

13 50

Roxbury, Ms. Eliot chh. and so. mon. con.

30 11

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Litchfield, Northfield so. Ms. A bundle. Margaretta Furnace, Pa. A box, fr. young la. sab. sch. so. for Mr. Schneider, Broosa, Mason, N. H., A box, fr. la. sew. so. Somersworth, N. H. Great Falls Village, A bedquilt, fr. juv. so.

20 60

20.00

77 16

Schaghticoke, N. Y. Presb. chh.

25 00

Stratford, Ct. A box, fr. ladies, for Mr. Ives, Sandw. Isl.

42 00

Schenectady, N. Y. Rev. J. K. D. and fam. Shamokin, Pa. Presb. cong.

3 00

9.50

South Dartmouth, Ms. Rowland C. Bailey,

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Springfield, Ms. GEORGE MERRIAM, (which and prev. dona. constitute him an Hon.

Wenham, Ms. Clothing, fr. fem. benev. so. for Bethabara.

Mem.)

50 00

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Wilmington, Ms. A friend, Winthrop, Me. Rev. D. D. Tappan, Woodstock, Vt. Fem. of cong, chh. 45; sew. so. 7; mon. con. 28,80; P. S. 3,50; mater. asso. of Woodstock, Montpelier, Norwich and Wethersfield, 70; (of which to constitute BENJAMIN SWAN, Jr. an Hon. Mem. 100;)

Worthington, Ms. Mr. Adams's so. Youngstown, O. Presb. chh. mon. con. $10. This sum should have been ack. in Sept. and forms part of $19,137 50, p. 432.

5 00 500

70 22

360 00

1 00

3 00

44 00

109 45 48 25

4 13 5.00 5.00

154 30 105 00

$22,968 79

James Adger, Charleston, S. C., Treasurer of the Southern Board of Foreign Missions, acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, viz. Charleston, Mrs. M. W. Saxon, for books in Smyrna, 3,50; Union concert in 2d presb. chh. 55,10; do. 22,25; fem. miss. so. of do. 68,25; a fem. of circular chh. 5; mon. con. in do. 46,69; infant class in sab. sch. of do. for sch. in Jerusalem, 33,50; la. asso. in do. 170; Rev. J. A. Mitchell, av. of horse, 120; mon. con. in 3d chh. 14,56, a friend, by Rev. Mr. G. 10; Rev. I. Cou sar, 10; Beach Isl. chh. mon. con. 52,25; in div. 110,75; two little girls, av. of their industry, 5; two mem. of Harmony chh. 5; Salem, T. E. Dickey, 10; Mt. Zion, Mrs. E. Wilson, 5; Capt. B. 2; Mrs. C. 2; Miss C. 1; Friendship, 1; Lebanon chh. a lady, 5; Wellington, 5; Pendleton, Hopewell, 21,31; Darlington, fem. miss. 8o. 57; Walterboro', A thank offering, fr. a lady, 50; coll. by A. C. 4,50; Abbeville dist. I. McCalla, 20; Columbia, Mon. con. 50; Troop co. Ga. J. Neal, 5; his daughter, 50c. Pike co. J. Allen, 5; Savannah, La. African miss. so. for support of M. Strobel, at Cape Palmas, 150; mon. con. 147,80; sab. sch. 6,78; Stoney Creek, Presh. chh. 45; Darien, fem. miss. so. 82,75; ladies of Harris's Neck so. 32,25; St. Mary's, Coutrib. of col'd people, for Cape Palmas, 8,31; a friend, 10; Williamsburgh, Ladies, to constitute Rev. J. LEWERS an Hon. Mem. 50; coll. 22,50; Liberty co. J. M. B. Harden, 101,42; Willtown, Presb. chh. la. benev. asso. 105; Rev. Z. Rogers, 20; Monticello, C. Wright, 5; Augusta, Mon. con. 31,50; Montgomery co. Ala. Presb. chh. 80; Alabama, Mrs. M. McCalla, for China, 10; less discount, 47c. 1,884 00

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Ceylon.

AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT AN EXAMINATION OF THE SEMINARY AT BATTICOTTA, BY W. VOLK, A PUPIL.

THE original address, from which the following translation was made, was one of the regular exercises at the public examination of the mission seminary, held on the 29th of March last. The principal of the seminary, who forwarded it, remarks that the translation is faithfully made. It is inserted here, partly as presenting an exhibition of the na

tive Tamul mind, when brought under culti

vation, and of course as affording to the friends of missions in this country some idea of what may be expected of native preachers and catechists trained at the seminary; and partly for the light which the address casts on the sources from which some of the

Hindoo superstitions relative to their gods and sacred places are derived. It also shows how the whole fabric of these superstitions may be attacked, and is perhaps, ultimately, in connection with the dissemina

tion of christian truth and the influences of the Spirit of God, to be overthrown.

The subject of the address is Maha Meru, the sacred mountain of the Hindoos, a description of which may be seen in a note below.

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north pole, under the polar star: 2. That if we grant the existence of any such mountain, it must be situated at the north of Hindoostan, about forty-five degrees north latitude: 3. Point out some historical facts which must have given rise to the notions of such a mountain as found in our puranas.

1. Of the many reasons that might be adduced to show that Mount Meru has no existence, according as described in Bhuvana Cosa, as standing on the north pole, and under the polar star, I shall present the following five.

First. It is impossible that a mountain 84,000 yojana* high, 16,000 yojana at the bottom, and 32,000 yojana at the top, could stand upon the earth, which, according to European admeasurement, is only 1,370 yojana in circumference, and 440 yojana in diameter.

Secondly. Since the moon, which is at the distance of 13,200 yojana from the earth, according to the European account, is perfectly visible to us, who are within the limits of Jamba Dwissa,† Maha Meru, which is said to be of so much greater magnitude, should be still more But this is not the clearly seen by us.

case.

*The yojana is differently estimated. In the present case, it is taken at 18 2-11 miles.

The central of the seven grand insular divisions of the world, or India. The following is an extract from the description of Maha Meru in the Scanda Purana. "The celebrated Mount Mera stands in the centre of the Jamba Dwissa, in form like the fruit of the lotus; its height is 84,000 yojana. It has three zone-like projections, or ornaments, (rising successively above,) in the highest of which are to be seen many peaks. In the midst of Mount Meru, is Manovathy, the city of Brahma; to the west of this is Vycundum, where Vishnu dwells; on the northeast is Asovathy, the abode of Paramsuren, (Siva). At the eight points (as E., S. E., S., etc) are the cities where Teyventra, (India,) and the rest of the regents reside. Proceeding northward from the southern base by a subterraneous passage, there is a country beneath the mountain."

61

Thirdly. Maha Mert is not described in any of the maps of brahmins, or other Hindoo astronomers, as standing under the polar star, and at the north pole.

world is represented in these maps by the lotus flower. The principal petals represent four principal divisions of the old continent; the germ and its accompaniments represent Mount Meru; the

Fourthly. The river Ganges, which is represented in some puranas as flow-eight small petals which appear below ing from Mount Meru, actually takes its rise in certain mountains at the north of India. Therefore, Meru, its ascribed source, cannot be at the north pole.

Fifthly. The Indian astronomers even say that, if Mount Meru be on the north pole, there should be, during the time of the sun's stay on the north pole, total darkness in India and Ceylon. This you know is not the case.

From these and other considerations it is plain that Maha Meru does not exist at the north pole as described in our books.

2. If it be granted that such a mountain exists at all, it must be some one of the mountains between India and Tartary, about 45° north latitude. The following are my reasons for this position.

First. The Hindoos, from the earliest period to the present time, have uniformly, in conversation, spoken of Meru as being at the north of India.

Secondly. Cosmos Indopleustes, who travelled in India in the year 500, tells us that this mountain was situated between Greece and China. Those who have studied the geography of India know that that point must be somewhere among the mountains of Cashgar or Bokhara, about forty-five degrees north latitude.

Thirdly. In the Bhuvana Cosa of the Bhramanda Purana, it is stated that the earth, at the north and south of Mount Meru, is shaped like a bow, and the four quarters of it are surrounded by the ocean. Now according to European geography the distance from Sanka (or Ceylon), which is said to be on the equator, to Siddha-pura, or the north pole, is ninety degrees. If we divide this, we have two divisions of forty-five degrees each. From this, therefore, knowing the magnitude of the old or eastern continent, it will appear that Mount Meru, as was said before, must be located somewhere in Bokhara or Cashgar, about fortyfive degrees north latitude.

Fourthly. The truth of this proposition may be proved still more fully by means of maps of the brahmins. The

*One of the eighteen Puranas belonging to the

Siva sect.

That is, that Meru is at the middle of the bow, etween the extremes, one extreme being at the pole, he other the equator. Hence the conclusion.

represent islands; the northern leaves represent Curu, the eastern Bhadrasuva; the southern, Bharata; and the western Cetim or Cetumula. For the fertilizing of these continents four rivers flow from Mount Meru towards the four cardinal points. The names of the rivers are Bhadra-Ganga, which flows from the tiger's head through the northern division of Cura; Sita-Ganga, which flows from the elephant's head, through the eastern division of Bhadrasuva; Ganga, which flows from the Cow's head through the southern division of Bharata or India; and the Chaeshus, or Oxus, which flows from the Horse's head through the western division of Cetim, or Cetumula. Among the islands represented by the small leaves of the flower, are to be reckoned Ceylon, Malaya, or Sumatra, Japan, and Britain. Although much that is said in these puranas as to the support and form of the earth, etc., is false, yet the delineation of the countries, mountains, and rivers is found, on investigation, to be substantially correct. For, as stated above, the northern leaf, or northern division, is Curu, or the country of Curavas, or wild people. In English it is called Siberia. They are, many of them to this day, like Curavas, composed of various nomadic tribes, without any settled habitations. The eastern leaf on the eastern division is Bhadrasuva, or China; of which you have some knowledge, and which is one of the fifty-six countries which are mentioned in our books. The southern leaf, or the southern division is Bharata, or India; which comprehends all the places from Benares to the southern province || of the Pandion kingdom. Its inhabitants are Brahmins, Chaytrias, Vysias, and Sudras, etc. As you know well about these I need say nothing more. The western leaf, or division, is Cetim, or Cetumula; which is no doubt the Chittim of the Bible.

The four rivers mentioned above may also be traced out, and designated, though we must strip them of somewhat of their mythological dress. The Bhadra-Ganga, which flows through the country of Curavas, may be easily recognised in the Yenisie of European geography. The river Hiangho very well answers the description of the Sita-Ganga, which flows through India, the south

ern division of the continent; and the river Chaeshus, or Oxus, which flows into the division of Cetim, has been well known to the Sivas of North India, to the Budhists of Thibet, and to the Chinese, from the earliest antiquity to the present time. Therefore, whatever mountain there is to be found in the centre of the four principal divisions of the old continent, answering this description, as to their rivers, etc., I conclude that that must be the celebrated Mount Meru of the puranas. Now by referring to a map of the old world, we are led necessarily, to fix upon some mountain in Bokhara or Cashgar, at the north of India, as stated above, for what you call Maha Meru. Moreover, the puranas of northern India and the Budhists assert that Mount Meru is one of the mountains of Cashmere, or Cashgar; and that in one of these mountains there rested an

ark, or ship, which was preserved during a universal deluge.

Fifthly. The fact that the Ganges, universally acknowledged to be one of the four sacred rivers from Meru, takes its rise from the mountains now pointed out, is conclusive proof that Mount Meru must be looked for amoung the mountains to the north of Hindoostan.

3. As the accounts of the garden of Eden, and of some important events connected with Mount Ararat in Armenia must have rested in the minds of the ancestors of the Hindoos, who emigrated to Hindoostan after the universal deluge, the probability is that, as Paradise and Mount Ararat, on which the ark rested, are in one and the same region, or geographically coincident, Maha Meru is nothing more than a copy of the original garden and the diluvian mountain, locally appropriated to some high garden north of India. This might have been done and be held in high reputation in their sacred writings, either through national pride, or that they might not forget the original history of the creation, etc. This is like what you of Jaffna have done, who emigrated from the continent long before this, in naming some places here-as Nellore, Batticotta, Tillipally, etc.-after places on the continent. I maintain my position by the following reasons.

First. As it is maintained in the Scriptures that God planted the garden of Eden, and caused the four rivers, Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, and Euphrates to flow through the garden; in like manner the Hindoos designate one of the peaks of Meru by the very name of Ida or Eden, and also speak of the above

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mentioned four rivers Bhadra-Ganga, Sita-Ganga, Ganga or Ganges, and Chaesus, or Oxus, as taking their rise from Meru. This mountain is called to this day, by the people of Thibet, China, and Tartary, Swergabhumi, or the Heavenly Earth.

Secondly. It is stated in the Scriptures that God, having first created Adam, took one of his ribs and made of it Eve as a companion for him; and that he placed them in this garden, that they might therein dwell happily. In accordance with this, it is related in the Matsya Purana that Brahma appeared somewhere to the north of India, assumed a mortal shape, and from one half of his body formed a man, who is styled Adima, and of the other half of his body a woman, who is denominated Iva, and placed them in the paradisaical city on Mount Meru. From this pair the world was peopled. Now the coincidences in this story as to the names of the persons, their circumstances, etc., as mentioned in the Matsya Purana, seem clearly to identify them with our first parents, Adam and Eve.

Thirdly. It is said in the Bible that Adam and Eve had three sons called Cain, Abel, and Seth; and that on a certain occasion Abel offered sacrifices to God, which occasioned Cain's displeasure, and that he was killed by his brother Cain. So likewise it is stated in the same Purana, that Brahma had three sons, in whom the Trimurti, or the Hindoo Triad, were incarnate; and that on a certain occasion, Siva assumed the form of Cadampiswara, or the destructive power, and killed his brother, who appeared in the form of Doesha, as he was performing a sacrifice. Hence I am led to conclude that these persons can be no other than Cain and Abel whose history is found in the Mosaical record.

Fourthly. As it is mentioned in the Scriptures, that there was a tree of life in the garden of Eden, so the Budhists of Thibet speak of a tree, bearing the Amirta, or fruits of immortality, and as standing at the head, or point, whence flow the four sacred rivers from Mount Meru.

Fifthly. It is said in the Scriptures that at the universal deluge, Noah and his family were saved by means of an ark, and that when the waters assuaged the ark rested on some part of Mount Ararat in Armenia. The Brahmins and Budhists of India assert that the ark in

* One of the eighteen Puranas detailing the account of the fish, or first incarnation of Vishnu. The story undoubtedly refers to the Noetic deluge.

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