miles, whither I had been invited by some of the inhabitants. Spoke to about twenty-five or thirty people, on my design in coming to this country, and was heard with much attention. Was requested to establish a School for their Children.

Dec. 3,1818.-This morning a School was commenced at my house, with four fine Boys to learn Tamul and English.

In the evening, we had a good company of people to hear Mr. David. Some persons were present from a village called Chiviaterru, where formerly Mr. David had a School, but relinquished it, not being able to sup. port it. These, who were some of the principal men of the place, urged us to come and open a School in their village. We promised to visit them.

Dec. 17.-Mr. David went with me to some of my neighbours, to invite them to hear the Word of God. When they were come, a Sermon which I had written was read to them. With the hope of getting a greater number to hear us, we had our meeting under the veranda; and though, perhaps, we had some to hear us, who would not have come into the house, yet many grew tired, and went away before it was done. Some of the SchoolBoys were kept at home, I fear, on account of the preaching. May God incline the hearts of the people to receive His Holy Word!

Dec. 21.—In the afternoon, I went, according to appointment, with my Interpreter, to Iruvally.

On our arrival, we found a shed prepared for our reception, and laid out in the simplicity of native style. On the floor were placed thin mats, for the people to sit on; and two chairs, of rustic appearance, were brought for me. I sat down on one of them; and presently were brought two old brazen plates, loaded with fruit, and put on the other. I took a plantain, for the sake of appearing friendly; and asked for a little water, with which I was readily supplied in a

native cup; which is simply a piece of plantain-leaf, bent, and fastened in the corners with a thorn or bit of wood.

On our first arrival, there were very few persons present: they came in, however, afterward, till the number was nearly forty, and, having asked my permission, seated themselves on the mats.

Before we began Worship, two old men approached the assembly; ́on which all rose to pay them reverence, agreeably to their usual custom. Among the rest was a young Brahmin, who, I afterwards learned, brought consecrated ashes, and distributed among the people: these they smear over the forehead, arms, and breast, in order to preserve them from evil.

When I found that all were come, I requested their attention, while the Interpreter read a Discourse, which had been translated for this purpose. They listened to what was read, with very becoming attention; and exercised much greater patience than I had anticipated: and, were they not so much addicted to their idolatrous customs and superstitions, and so much attached to their Brahmins, who, of course, for the sake of their own interest, will do all that they can to prevent them embracing Christianity, I might hope that some good had been done. As I returned home, the shades of the evening came on: but, though I felt fatigued with my walk, my mind was much revived with what I had witnessed; and I could not but hope that some seeds had been scattered, which, by the Divine blessing, would not be lost.

Dec. 28.-Mr. David went with me to Chiviaterru, and got some of the leading men to promise to build a Bungalow, for a School and Preaching House. He also spoke to them on the things of God.

Jan. 4, 1819.-An old Brahmin, who has been repeatedly with me, told the Interpreter, after leaving me to-day,

that what I said was true: but, on hearing that I was going out to instruct the people, he replied, that it was no use for me to take so much trouble, for I should get no one to believe me, or to embrace Christianity. Had I to depend on my own efforts alone, I should be ready to admit the Brahmin's assertion to be correct, and to give up my attempts in despair; for, truly, things appear sometimes very discouraging. But, amidst difficulties and discouragements, I would look to the promise of Jehovah, and depend implicitly on Divine strength and assistance, without which all my efforts will prove ineffectual.

In the afternoon, I went to Iruvally; but most of the people who have been accustomed to hear me, were absent at Funeral Ceremonies.

Jan. 9.-A person who had done some work for me came to ask for his money. He said that he wanted it to buy rice for the Devil.

This was in reference to a ceremony which is to take place on Tuesday next, when the Heathens ascertain their fate for the year ensuing. Each, however poor, contrives to procure rice for this occasion; which is boiled, with much superstitious veneration, in a chatty, or earthen dish, used only for this purpose, and then broken, or laid aside till the revolving year requires it again for the same ceremony. They profess to know their fate, by the manner in which the rice first begins to boil: if it boil up freely, they suppose the Devil is pleased, and they expect prosperity: if otherwise, they dread adversity. After they have attended to the usual ceremonies, and they fancy that the Devil is appeased and smiles propitiously on them, they all unite to eat the Devil's Offering. Every house is adorned in the best manner possible for the occasion.

I expressed my astonishment at the man's worshipping the Devil. He would not acknowledge that he did so; yet said that it was necessary to appease him with the accustomed

offerings, otherwise his crops and cattle would not prosper. Such is the slavish bondage in which these people are held by the Prince of Darkness! I spoke to him of the absurdity of such a practice, and urged him to fear and serve God, and put his trust in HIM, and then he would have no occasion to fear the power of the Devil. He promised to attend to my advice; and said, that Christians were comfortable and happy, and he felt inclined to become a Christian also.

Jan. 10. Sunday.—In the afternoon, none except my servants and a few Boys present. If I may judge from appearances, it will be a long time before I shall be able to collect a regular Congregation here. Oh, for wisdom from above, to know what plans to adopt, that the people may be inclined to listen to the sound of the Gospel!

Jan. 11.- Went, this morning, to speak to the people at Chiviaterru. Our number at first was small; but one after another stopping, out of curiosity, as they passed by, (for we were in the open street,) they soon increased to fifty or sixty. My subject was Rom. vi. 23. In the former part of my discourse I described the wages which the Devil gave to his servants. This excited attention, and seemed seasonable, to-morrow being the day on which they pay peculiar honours to their Infernal Master, though at the time I did not recollect it. After we had concluded, some of them said, though I had spoken against serving the Devil, yet they must continue to pay him homage, otherwise he would come upon them, and injure or destroy them. On this I renewed the subject; and told them how much better it would be to put their trust in God, and seek protection from him. They admitted that what I said was true: but such is the servile dread that they have of their Infernal Master, and such the influence which he hath upon their minds, that, if they neglected to pay him the accus

in the evening, I found the people busily employed in cleansing the streets, and sprinkling them with water. While the sacrifices were offered at the Temple, the Devils are said to be out patrolling the streets; and the people perform these foolish ceremonies to appease them, that they may not be injured. What is collected by sweeping, is burnt near the door or gate of each house, as a kind of sacrifice of peace-offering, by which they hope to prevent the Devils from entering to visit them with affliction.

Jan. 23.-The sacrificing at the Temple still continues, and the people are still very assiduous in cleansing and purifying their roads. Oh may they learn the absurdity and wickedness of this Devil Worship, and begin to fear the only living and true God! Jan. 24. Sunday.—Morning, preached, as usual, in the Fort. Afternoon, at my own house had neither School nor Congregation. Only four Boys and one Man, besides my own servants, were present. Truly, in this respect, things look very dark. What means can I adopt, to get a Congregation? Perhaps I must wait, and not be too anxious, till I acquire the language. To this, therefore, by Divine help, I purpose to apply with all my might.

With all the efforts of the people to appease the Devil, they are, I find, unsuccessful. One of my School-boys was seized with the sickness last night, and the grandmother of another is dead. May these things teach them the folly of their ways!

Jan. 25.-Went this morning to Chiviaterru, and spoke to those whom I could get to attend: but the people of the village were most of them engaged at their harvest; and others, who were passing along the road, felt but little interest in what I had to say. This is what I must expect: and though difficulties arise, and things appear dark and unfavourable, I wish not to be discouraged; but still to persevere, knowing that the work is

God's, and in His own time He will give it success.

My School is much diminished, on account of the sickness; the people being afraid to send their Children through the streets.

Jan. 26.-Went to Iruvally, and addressed about twenty persons. Others were busily engaged in their harvest.

The people here had formerly said that our religions were both the same, and that my instructions suited them very well: I now endeavoured to point out some of the things wherein they differed, and to shew the evils of their idolatrous customs. This, it appears, did not please them. Though they heard attentively, they talked among themselves, I was informed, in terms of disapprobation afterwards.

Jan. 31. In the evening, went to Jaffna; and, in returning, saw, at a distance, a splendid procession of the Idols from the principal Temple, attended with canopies, torches, music, &c. The inhabitants of those parts through which the procession was to pass, were employed all day in cleaning and ornamenting their streets. Scores, perhaps hundreds, of valuable plantain-trees were thus destroyed, to prepare for this idolatrous ceremony. Expense is no-where regarded, when the object is the promotion of Satan's kingdom. These trees were stuck up, and made into the form of booths or harbours, at the entrance of every door or gate, and particularly at the corners of the roads. Every leaf and stick was carefully swept out of the way; and the roads were sprinkled, to lay the dust. Under each booth was placed an earthen pot, containing water, a cocoa-nut, herbs, flowers, &c. as an offering to the Idols. Before the procession passed, the booths, &c. were well lighted with lamps, and numbers of persons attended the ceremony; but, in a few minutes afterwards, all was darkness and silence. The lights were extinguished, and no person

dared to appear in the streets for fear of the Devil: so absurd and ridiculous are their ideas, and so hard is the bondage in which they are held by their Infernal Master. This ceremony, it appears, is intended to appease him; as they suppose him to be the joint or sole author of all the sickness which prevails. They suppose that he walks about the streets after sun-set, and meets them at the corners of the streets. After dark, therefore, for some time past, all has been silent as death-not a person anywhere to be seen. The idols, Conderswamy and his two wives, were, therefore, paraded about the streets by night, that their influence might be the more effectual; and, I suppose, the poor deluded creatures conclude that they shall now dwell safely, and no where be molested by the evil spirit.

Feb. 1, 1819.-The ceremonies are continued at the Temple this morning; and are to be repeated, it is said, for eight days longer. Nearly all my School-Boys stop away, to attend them. At Chiviaterru I was favoured with the company of Mr. David, who addressed the people.

Feb. 8.-Saw another large Temple in this Parish, erected, it appears, for the purpose of offering sacrifices. The parading of the Idols, and other ceremonies, still continue. Drumming and piping are heard at the Temples, all night long. The sick are frequent ly taken to the Temples and tanks, with the hope of their being restored; but their relatives and friends, after embracing them and taking their farewell, run away, and leave them to die; and, when dead, it is difficult to procure persons to carry them to the grave. When seized in the night, it commonly happens that no one will stir for their relief; all being afraid, after sun-set,to move from their houses, lest they also should be visited.

Feb. 12. In the evening, two persons, whom I had employed in my garden, went home early, to attend the offerings at a new Temple, erected

for this purpose. This Temple is built in a temporary manner, but of very large size. Sheep, fowls, &c. it is said, were offered to appease the Goddess, who, they now suppose, sends the sickness, and the Devil who, they say, accompanies her. The goddess they call Amma (Mother). The name is said to have arisen thus: An old woman was the first among the Malabars who was afflicted with the small-pox; and, as they knew not what it was, they gave it the name of Amma's (Mother's) sickness, and called the vindicative deity who, they supposed, introduced it, by the same name. As the Epidemic which now prevails is so afflictive a dispensation, they suppose that the same vindictive spirit sent it, which introduced the small-pox. They, therefore, pay peculiar honours to the Goddess Amma, and thus hope to appease her anger.

Feb. 18.- Some rice was taken by my servant to a neighbour, to be bruised; but she refused to do it, urging that their deity had forbidden them to do such things. It appears that every kind of labour which causes noise, is now set aside; as braziers, blacksmiths, carpenters, &c. They suppose that the noise made in such employments will displease their goddess Amma, and induce her to visit them with the sickness: they give up their employments, therefore; and are ready, I fear, to starve with hunger.

Feb. 21.-In going and returning from Church, saw crowds of people assembled at a small newly-erected Temple, where a Brahmin was offering prayers to appease the angry Goddess.

In the evening, I walked thither, but most of the people were gone. Nothing was going on, except the burning of leaves, &c., to purify the place. I spoke, by interpretation, to those whom I found at the place, and by the way-side, on the folly of their conduct; and inquired whether they had ever heard of Jesus Christ.