THE

CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. III.]

Saturday, April 5, 1817.

[No. 2.

MISSION TO IRKUTSK. (In Asiatic Russia.)

THIS mission is undertaken at the urgent request of Messrs. Pinkerton and Paterson, whose successful exertions in the northern nations of Europe, for the extension of the knowledge of the gospel, are well known. The intended seat of the mission is the city of Irkutsk, situated in about 52° N. latitude, and 108° E. longitude. This city is the chief mart of the commerce between Russia and China. The people are generally of the Schaman religion, which is intimately connected with that of the Dalai Lama, and is somewhat a-kin to Brahmanism; but there are also Mahometans, and Christians of the Greek Church resident at Irkutsk.

The great importance of a missionary station in this part of the globe may be learned from the following extract of a letter from Messrs. Paterson and Pinkerton, dated St. Petersburgh, 7th Nov.

1814.

"Since returning to Russia our thoughts have been much employed with the object about which we conversed so fully with you while in London; namely, your sending Missionaries to that part of Siberia which borders on China, for the purpose of spread. ing the glorious gospel of the blessed God among the numerous tribes of heathens in those extensive regions, and particularly with the view of translating the word of life into the Mongol and Man jur languages. Irkutsk, or its neighbourhood, was the place which Mr. Pinkerton, after having with much labour examined into the present state of the nations of Siberia, considered as the most eligible for the establishment of such a Mission. We are more than ever convinced, that, as far as we are able to judge beforehand, this is one of the most important Missionary stations in the world, being so central, and surrounded by so many different tribes, and being the chief place of communication between China and Russia. "Among the many tribes in this neighbourhood, the Burgats demand particular attention. They are a Mongolian tribe. It was a Burgat Prince who sent 800 rubles to the Bible Society, and has subscribed 150 annually and it was one of their high priests who sent in 400 rb. as an offering for himself and his brethren, for. the purpose, to quote his own expression, of promoting the distri bution of the Scriptures among all people. There are many things in the character and conduct of this people, which seem to say

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4

Mission to Irkutsk.

that they are ripe for the reception of the gospel. The language of the Burgats is nearly the same with the Kalmuc, into which a part of the New Testament is already translated, and will soon be printed. They have many religious books in their language, printed in Pekin. One of these books has just been received by Mr. Schmidt, having been sent by his friend, the Governor of Irkutsk. The circumstance of their being able to obtain books from Pekin, shows the possibility of sending your Chinese Testaments from this quarter into the very heart of China, and even to Pekin itself. From their desire to have such books, we may judge how far they are advanced in civilization. But these books are

not only understood and read by the Burgats, but also by all the numerous tribe of the Mongols proper, the greater part of whom live under the protection of the Chinese Government; so that this one language opens up a most extensive and important field for Missionary labour. These are advantages which you know how to estimate. Their religion is the Lamite religion, and their learned priests usually study in Thibet itself, which gives them a near connexion with this country; so that through them we may be able to gain a more intimate acquaintance with Thibet, and even to obtain access to those hitherto almost inaccessible regions.

"But we are of opinion, that the Mission established in this quarter should make it also a chief object to spread the gospel among the Manjurs, which are a still more numerous people than the Mongols, and the conquerors of China-the present Emperor of which is a Manjur, and their language is spoken at the Court of China. Were the gospel to gain access among this interesting people, a high way for its entrance would be opened, even into China itself. Their language has been much more cultivated than the Mongolian, with which it has some connexion. Many of the Chinese books have been translated into it: the language is said to be easily learned-the grammar regular: and what is a great advantage, there exists a Dictionary, Manjur and French, published in Paris. The Manjurs are not like the Burgats, inhabitants of Russia: they inhabit that extensive tract of country called Chinese Tartary, which borders on Russia, and their language can easily be learned in Irkutsk.

"The present Governor of Irkutsk we know would be exceedingly favourable to an attempt of this kind, and would do every thing in his power to promote it. And as to the Government of Russia, we can assure you that it will also countenance and support such an undertaking. The disposition of the Emperor is well known to you, and what we have learned of him, from the best authority, since our return, more than ever convinces us that the plan we are here recommending will receive his warmest patronage and support.

"We have no doubt, that viewing things in the light here represented, you will see that there is at present a most important opening into these hitherto much neglected regions. Appearances among these people are calling to you, Come over and help us, and we are persuaded they will not call in vain.

Horrid Cruelty of a Brahman.

19

"We are of opinion that your Missionaries should spend some time at Petersburgh to learn the Russian language, with which it is absolutely necessary for them to be acquainted, to obtain a knowledge of the state of things here, of the way in which they are conducted, and to become acquainted with leading people.

“We hope you will pay early attention to this subject, and inform us what is your final resolution as soon as possible. No time should be lost. If the present favourable opportunity pass, it may never again return. Let us work while we can, and where the Lord opens a door, let us enter while it is open.

It was intended that Mr. Stally brass should immediately proceed to St. Petersburgh, there to employ the winter in the acquisition of the Russian language; but as the winter appears to have set in very early on the continent, it was judged expedient to defer his voyage till the spring, when it is hoped he will be accompanied by another Missionary.

1040

INDIA.

Horrid Cruelty committed by a Brahman on his own family, in repenge for the treatment of some villagers, who refused his priestly claims.

Extracted from the Journal of Mr. Pritchett, Missionary at Vizagapatan, May, 1815.]

"May 1. DYAAVANA, a friend of Anundraya and head man of the village, came hither, (to Vizagapatam,) and brought an account of a priest who lately arrived at his village from Bellary, and who had undertaken to attend upon the idol of the place. He had the privilege of daily going round the village, levying contributions on the inhabitants for his support. One housekeeper, however, who had been in the habit of giving him a dubb per day, at length refused him; and though the priest insisted upon the dole, he continued inflexible. The priest then threatened, thật unless he received his allowance, he would cut out his own tongue, and the housekeeper would have to answer for it, by giving him so great a provocation. The priest taking out his knife and whetting it, proceeded so far as actually to cut off the tip of his tongue. He bled profusely, and his tongue swelled prodigiously, His sufferings, however, only rendered him more desperate; and he intimated his resolution not to leave the door of the house, (sitting dhurna, as it is called,) * till he should obtain a sum sufficient to make a feast for bis god. The housekeeper, however, was not to be intimidated. The priest, his wife, and four sons kept their post at the door; but, after a day or two, the woman was bitten in the night by a serpent, and in the morning expired. This event induced the priest to increase his demand, which he now made on the whole village, which had stood aloof in the affair. Besides the personal injury he had sustained, he had lost his wife, while stand

*For an account of the Dhurna, see the subsequent article, page 20.

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Account of the Dhurna and the Tragga.

ing up for the rights of his sacred order and the honour of his god; he therefore demanded money for the expenses of the funeral, and for a feast to placate the deity, offended by this impiety; and till this should be done, he determined to keep his station, and to retain the corpse of his wife unburied at the door of the house.

Dyaavana prevailed on his neighbours to refuse compliance with the demand of the priest; who then threatened, that, in case of their persistence, he would avenge himself by killing, first his four children, and then himself.

"Such was the state of things when Dyaavana left the villagethe priest persevering in his claim-the people persisting in their refusal and the dead body putrifying before the door

Anundraya confirmed this account; he saw the priest soon after he had cut off part of his tongue, which entitles the story, in all its parts, to some degree of credit.

"A few days after, (May 20,) Mr. Pritchett was informed that the priest had put his horrid threats into execution; and by way of revenging himself on the inhabitants, had murdered his four children. The sin, he presumes, will lie at the door of those who provoked him, and the sacrifice he has made to the honour of his god will be amply rewarded in a future state. Merely killing them would not suffice; be absolutely severed their heads from their bodies; after which he proceeded to decapitate himself; but he failed in the attempt, indicting only a dreadful wound in the back of his neck.

"His eldest son, a lad of about fourteen years of age, on seeing the horrid fate of his brothers, was making his escape; but his father enticed him back; he was, he told him, about to kill himself, and had killed the three younger boys, because they could not provide for themselves; but he, being a big boy, there would not be the same necessity to kill him; he therefore wished him to return, that he might take an affectionate farewell before he died. Thus, it is said, the poor lad was decoyed and killed.

"The priest's tongue was so far healed that he could make himself understood. Officers, it is said, are dispatched to secure him and bring him to justice.'

The following account of the Dhurna and the Tragga, is copied from a work, entitled, "The Abolition of Female Infanticide in Guzerat," lately published by the Rev. Mr. Cormack.

"The Dhurna is instituted to exact a debt, to enforce an obligation, or to obtain justice, when it is withheld. This is called sitting in Dhurna, because the person who has recourse to it seats himself in the presence of the person against whom he wishes to make good his claim, or as near him as he can. The Dhurna is more or less rigorous according to circumstances ;-if the person establishing the Dhurna becomes the victim of abstinence, the guilt of his death is transferred to him whose refusal has been the cause of it.

"Analogous to Dhurna is what is called Tragga, but still more

Remarkable deliverance of a Moravian Missionary. 21

cruel in its nature. Among the more uncivilized tribes, the securities for almost every engagement are by an order of men called Bhats, (who are poets, panegyrists, and chronologers.) Upon the failure of every application for redress, they proceed to wound themselves; and if this fail to produce the desired effect, they have recourse to the last extremity, and die by their own hand. The death of the suicide is laid to the charge of the person who caused the complaint.

"Colonel Walker mentions an instance of this kind at Mallia, where a Bhat had become security on the part of the Rajah. When the time for payment arrived, the Rajah refused to fulfil his engagement. Having had recourse in vain to every expedient, hẹ resolved to put one of his own children to death. He spent the night preceding the horrid act in religious ceremonies. In the morning he called his daughter, a fine girl of eight years of age, and desired her to prepare for being a sacrifice to save her father's character from dishonour. Sensible of the necessity under which her father was laid, she yielded herself a voluntary victim. After bathing and purification, she placed herself in an attitude, in which her father's sword could easily reach her neck; and while she was holding aside her long hair with both her hands, he, with one stroke of his sabre, severed the head from the body.

"Colonel Walker took advantage of the recital of this horrid act, to labour for the abolition of the custom in the district where he presided, under the Bombay government."

Remarkable Deliverance of a Moravian Missionary.

"ON one of my voyages either to or from Queda, a Danish ship hailed us, and approaching incautiously ran foul of our stern, and broke our flag-staff. We therefore put into a creek; and some of our men landed near a wood, to cut down a tree to make a new one. Hoping to be able to procure some fresh meat for supper, While 1 accompanied them, armed with a double-barrelled gun. they were at their work, I walked on the outside of the wood, and soon discovered among the high grass an object, which, by and its motions, I mistook for the back of a hare. I took aim, was just going to fire, when the animal rose up, and proved to be a tiger, of which only the top of the head had been visible. My arm involuntarily sunk down, I stood motionless with horror, expecting that the creature would immediately make a spring at me, and gave myself up for lost: but by God's providence watching over me, the beast seemed as much alarmed as I was; and after staring at me for a few moments, turned slowly about, and began to creep away, like a frightened cat, with his belly close to the ground; then gradually quickening his pace, fled with precipitation into a distant part of the wood. It was some time before I recovered presence of mind sufficient to trace back my steps towards the beach, for I felt my very heart tremble within me. I approached the water, there was a piece of jungle, (a low thick

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