the most of the pupils are naked from the waist up, and several of them are young men: but we hope in some time to prevail on them to cover all their bodies; for nothing must be attempted on a sudden with the natives.

A converted Moorman has from five to forty Mahomedans with him every day, to whom he reads such parts of the Koran as mention Jesus Christ, and shews the same to them in the Malabar Testament; and what is most astonishing, he lives in peace and safety in the midst of them, and they hear him patiently, and with apparent sa

tisfaction.

and fruits I never before saw collected together. Several, both men and women, who could not bring great offerings, made it up by consenting to be placed in the aisles with lamps upon their heads; some of whom engaged to stand twelve, some fourteen, some sixteen hours: during that time they were not to move a limb: the reward would be, that, when they are born again into this world, the god Budhu will take care that they have plenty of light. The same reward they expect in One of the all their other offerings. grand tenets of their religion seems to be the transmigration of souls. Before the It is singular to see the difference of high-priest and the inferior priests assemcharacter between the Budhist Priests bled, our attention was particularly atand the Brahmins of the Continent.-tracted by a band of Malabar Singers and The Brahmins are of a reserved and for- Musicians, who all sat upon the ground; bidding disposition: they spend their time the singers forming a circle, with the musicians in the middle. chiefly in their temples; and, when an European, or a Christian, approaches and would enter, they retire, and close the doors and themselves within; for they consider it as one of the most horrid profanations of their temple, for a Christian to enter. But the Priests of Budhu are men ' of a mild, affable disposition; and it seems to afford them pleasure when Europeaus visit their temples: they readily admit them into any part, and will answer any questions which are proposed to them.

About nine o'clock the priests came in great pomp, and ascended the two pulpits. One preaches in the Cingalese language, and it requires another to interpret. The subject of their preaching is nothing more than the relation of great actions which have been performed by Budhu. But I ought to have observed that this service began by prayer. It was offered up by a Cingalese to the high-priest after he had ascended the pulpit: the subject of the petition was, that the priest would preach well to the surrounding multitudes. This was in the Shanscrit Language. After this, the priest read their Commandments; and, at the end of each, all the people uttered aloud a word, which signifies "That is good!" or " Amen." After this he began to preach; and, every time he mentioned the name of Budhu, the people cried out as above, at the same time bowing themselves down. This noise was so loud, that

The priests are known by having their heads clean shaved. They are dressed in a loose yellow garment, and live chiefly by begging. Those of them who have a temple are rather better circumstanced, though their income is very small: for the people, in general, are miserably poor. When they go to worship, they carry their offering; some, a particular kind of flowers, (this is the lowest degree of offering,) others a little fruit, &c. Speaking of their Festivals, says the we could hear it a mile from the place.

writer,

The most remarkable was at the open. ing of a new preaching temple. It continued two days and two nights. All their places of worship are built on the highest hills which they can find. We got thither about eight o'clock in the evening. When we arrived nearly at the summit of the hill, a report of our coming going before us, we were met with blazing torches to convey us to the place.

The place covered a square of about fifteen yards, open on all sides for entrance. Two pulpits stood in the centre. It was lighted up with lamps in every direction. Crowds of people assembled from all quarters; none coming without an offering of some kind. Such quantities of eatables

The inhabitants of the northern part of the island are Malabars. They speak Tamul, and profess the Hindoo Religion. Their superstitious prejudice in favour of their own religion is almost unconquerable. They contract marriages at a very early age. I saw a married couple: the hus band twenty-one, and his wife only seven years of age. The Brahmins are a most deceitful and treacherous set of men; and by their art, they succeed in imposing on the minds of the people the most absurd tenets. The most learned amongst them are, in general, infidels! Many of them are very intelligent men, well acquainted with Oriental Literature, and have a considerable knowledge of general history.

tradition; till, after a lapse of several hundred years, a set of priests, in concert, wrote of him. Their tradition, in respect of the earth, is, that it is supported on three rocks; that these rocks are supported on water; and that the water is supported on the winds! The priests wear long yellow garments: they are very abstemious, shave their heads, never marry, nor drink wine or spirits of any sort, and eat only once a day. They are much in

I have had the pleasure of conversing with some of them, whom I have been surprised to find not so inimical to the spread of Christianity as is generally represented. They say it is written in their books, that a religion will come from the West, and prevail throughout the world. On asking what religion they supposed it would be? they said, the Christian. I have had several very interesting conversations with the head Brahmin in the island. We conversed largely on the principles of the Hindoo Re-fluenced by fear; and dread the power of ligion. On the subject of Christianity he displayed much candour, and seemed willing to know the truth. He told me there were four crimes that could never be pardoned; murder, blasphemy, theft, and lying.

evil spirits, which leads them to pay religious adoration to the Devil. On entering a new-built house, they offer sacrifices, and earnestly intreat the Devil not to visit them with afflictions. When any one is ill, a large concourse of people assembles together; and, by sacrifices, music, dancing, singing, and praying, they endeavour to prevail on the evil spirit to leave the sick body.

On that part of the island there are also seven thousand Moormen (Mahomedans.) These are, in general, a very inquisitive race. Many of them have lately begun to read the Scriptures with great attention; The Roman Catholics are not one reand some are almost persuaded to be move from the Heathen. They have only Christians. One has embraced Christia- changed the names of the Heathen Gods, nity with all his heart. He goes among his and given them Christain Names, retaincountrymen, proclaiming to them the wording all the heathenish superstitions. of life. Some listen with great seriousness, and others are much exasperated: indeed, sometimes his life has been in danger. I asked him, if he was not afraid: he replied, "Afraid! no; why should I be afraid God is with me!"

The Protestants, so called, are not in a much better condition than either the worshippers of Budhu or the Roman Catholics. But, in the midst of this abounding wickedness and ignorance, there is a wil linguess to hear; and, this being the case, this part of the world. I do not doubt of seeing glorious days in

to stagger, in consequence of recent events.

The Cingalese, who inhabit the south of the island, and are worshipers of Budhu, are a most indolent and ignorant people.gion, that the King of Candy was proIt was a principle of the Budhist ReliThey seem to possess fewer prejudices tected by Budhu, and that, consequently, against Christianity than the Malabars; he could never be dethroned. Many begin but I think this arises chiefly from their great indifference about all religion. It is extremely difficult to ascertain what are their religious principles. Out of about one thousand priests, who are on the island, there are scarcely two to be found who agree in their sentiments. They say that Nahabrachmea is their great god;

The conversion of the Budhist Priest to Christianity has occasioned great alarm, and some Budhists are beginning to tremble for the safety of their religion. The Priest is now employed in translating the Scriptures into the Cingalese and Pali.

There are several schools established in Ceylon, as in other places, also; they will, no doubt, in time produce extensive benefit. North America has lately sent four Missionaries to this island.

and that he dwells in the highest heaven, but does not trouble himself with the affairs of this world. Besides him, they have gods, whose names they can mention, to the number of THIRTY THOUSAND! They deny the existence, of a Creator, and maintain that the world owes There seems to be a spreading convicits being to chanee! They hold the doc- tion among the people of India, of the destrine of the Transmigration of Souls for a picable nature of idols: when conversed certain term, and then Total Annihilation. with on the subject, they very rarely venBudhu is the object of their worship; be- ture to defend them. It may justly be cause they think that he superintends all hoped that, as this prejudice abates, the the actious of men. They tell us that patrons of these Idols, the Brahmins, and Budhu has been incarnated several hun-priests of the temples, will lose their infludred times, and has always done something for the benefit of mankind. They admit that nothing was ever known but by oral

ence, and that as this corruption disappears, the splendour of truth will become, and be seen to be, more conspicuous,

TARTARY: ASTRACHAN.

The following information, which states, the progress of the press among a people. which greatly need instruction., is pleasing. These advantages they owe to the benevolent exertions of the Edinburgh Missionary Society.

Here Messrs. Mitchell and Dickson are stationed. A printing-press is established; and, on the 20th of November (the date of the last letter), three sheets and a half of an Edition of the Psalms, translated into Turkish by Mr. Dickson, were thrown off. James Peddie and Andrew Hunter, two of the ransomed Natives, were engaged in the Printing Office, along with Mr. Mitchell; the former at the press, and the latter at the cases: besides a German pressman, from Georghiwsk. From the beginning of September, when they first received permission from the Governor to commence their MISSIONARY labours, they had distributed nearly 200 copies of the Turkish or Tartar New Testament printed at Karass, together with a great number of Tracts in the same language, among the Tartars in the city, but chiefly among Persian Merchants; by whom they were received with uncommon eagerness, com

ON THE

POSSIBILITY OF PENETRATING

INTO

THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA. We understand that the vessel called the Congo, has departed for her destinanation; and that the adventurous travellers who propose to enlighten Europe on the subject of African communications and productions, have departed in her for that purpose. If report speak truth, the expedition proposed up the river Congo, is to be contemporary with another, that is to follow the route taken by Parke, and to be conducted on the same principles' as guided that unfortunate traveller. We have found our best informed friends differ in opinion from ourselves, on the propriety of accompanying this attempt by a military force. Our judgment is, that a knowledge of the country should be previously obtained by traffic; and, that traffic might obtain information essentially necessary enable those appointed to conduct it, to before any considerable number of persons be committed to such undertaking. That the time of the year is of the first import

may

derive

pletely understood, and carried away with them to Derbent, Shirvan, and even to Ispahan. There is every prospect, therefore, that when the Persian New Testament, publishing by the Russian Bible Society, is ready for distribution, it will obtain an easy entrance into the Persian Do-ance, cannot be denied; and we hope minions, and be gratefully received by the every thing from the zeal, spirit, and ininhabitants. At Astrachan, also, the reformation of those engaged, who pugnance of the Tartars to the circulation of the New Testament, which at first was extremely great, appears to be considerably diminished; and, in particular, one The following is translated from a French of the most powerful of that tribe, from work on Africa, mentioned in our third having threatened to injure the Missiona- vol. page 415. N. S. It forms the eighth ries, is become so friendly, as to have re-chapter of the first volume of that work. ceived a New Testament himself, and to have expressed a willingness that others of his countrymen should accept of copies, if they were so inclined.

In itinerating among the Kirghisian Tartars who are settled in tents in the neighbourhood of Orenburg, Mr. Macalpine is assisted by Walter Buchanan, a converted Circassian, one of the youths ransomed at Karass, whose piety, knowledge of the Scriptures, and Christian Zeal, the Missionaries speak of in the highest terms. The Kirghisians, though Mahomedans by profession, are represented to be in general ignorant of the hateful doc. trines of that religion; and have welcomed and received instruction in the truth of Christianity with gratitude and earnestness.

the most essential advantages from the oversights of their adventurous precursor.

Within a few years the passion for discovery, united with the dictates of philanthropy, have excited the desire to penetrate into the interior of Africa. The liberal ideas promulgated by the Society for suppressing the Slave Trade, have promoted the hope of carrying civilization and liberty into one of the greatest divisions of the ancient world; a quarter of the globe which seems to have been at all times devoted to slavery, and which, in spite of the progress of ages, still remains plunged in the deepest barbarity. The travels of Vaillant [the writer should rather have said, of the Missionaries, and others, who have penetrated to Latakoo] in South Africa, of Mungo Park, in the interior of

It is out of doubt that every year Africa is crossed in its widest part, that is to say, from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, by caravans containing thousands of people, whose pretence is religion, but whose principal object is commerce. In the Desert, among the Arabs, in Senegal, even, numbers of these Pilgrim Moors are met with, who are known by the name of Sidy [the writer should have said Hadgi] meaning Saint, a name given from respect, to those who have performed the journey to Mecca.

Africa, [on the West] and of Hornemaun, | tronized my dispositions, and adopted my in Fezzau (on the North] begin to demon-projects. strate the possibility of success attending I conversed with Sidy Mouhamed on the such an enterprize. subject; he undertook to conduct me, and the negro attendants, with the Europeans who might accompany me: the sum was agreed on : ten thousand francs was the sum to be paid in hand by the government, for the chief of the caravan; two thousand crowns for each of the whites who accompanied me, one thousand crowns for each of the negro slaves which should be engaged in the expedition. Each sum, according to the rank of the party, was reduced to half in case of death, while on the journey, whether occasioned by sickness, or by any other cause over which Mouhammed had slaves, remained as pledges for his fulfilno controul. His wives, his children, his ment of the treaty. We were to cross over to Egypt, and to be conducted safe to Alexandria or to Cairo, to return to Eu. rope according to our own pleasure or opportunity.

While I resided in Africa, there was in Senegal a person, named Sidy Mouhammed, of the family of the Scheriffs. As Scheriff and as Sidy [Hadgi] he had double claims to the veneration of the Moors.

This man who was much whiter in his complexion than Moors in general, had been at Morocco and at Mecca, but had settled at Senegal, where he had a house, wives, children, slaves, and, in short, a sufficiency of fortune to render his situation easy. He had received a respectable education, his improvement of which was creditable to his natural talents: his diposition of mind was not easily penetrated: in commercial

affairs he was esteemed faithful to his engagements.

In a former voyage to Africa I had begun to study the country, and to learn the language; in a second voyage I had been charged by the French Government with the duty of penetrating into the interior, after having visited the petty Princes on the coast. Certain treaties to be concluded, observations to be made on the Natural History of the Country, were the main objects of my excursion.

of no more than two or three whites, inThis small caravan was to be composed cluding myself, also of two negro slaves. A great number of persons multiplies the chances of disease, or may more easily give cause of inquietude to the inhabitants of the interior. I could speak the Waloff language; I knew a few words of Arabic, and I intended to acquire that language: my design was to assume the Arab dress, and to cause a French serjeant and a soldier who had accompanied me on a former expedition, to do the same. I went to France to receive ultimate instructions: this was in 1788-M. de Colonne had 'quitted the ministry, the Revolution advanced rapidly, and the scheme was abandoned.

M. Brisson is, therefore mistaken, when he asserts, in the preface to the History of his shipwreck, that Sidy-Mouhammed dissuaded M. M. Sparmann and Wadstrom, both Swedes, whom I very well knew at Senegal, from undertaking a journey into the interior of the country;-unless perhaps, not finding the same inducement in the proposals made to him, at the time, he would not undertake to conduct them safely.

I had in part executed it: I had pushed as far as sixty or seventy leagues inland, on the frontiers of Bourba-Walof. I had acquired the language, I was habituated to the climate; I had sustained no more than one fit of sickness, from which I had effectually recovered. My youth, decided inclination for the natural sciences, a strong inclination for travelling, a constitution sufficiently good, though not extremely robust, the obstacles I had already overcome, and which therefore, emboldened me to meet others that might oppose me, with chearfuluess, all supported my The first condition is to meet with an extreme desire of penetrating into Africa. intelligent Arab or Moor, over whom the M. le Chevalier Boufflers, then Governor contracting party possesses a determined of Senegal, who had always treated me influence, and who may, therefore, be dewith an affection truly paternal, pa-pended on: this man must be engaged as

I conclude then, that it is possible to cross Africa, and that it is not attended with any extraordinary difficulties. The following are the means which are likely to be most successful in such an undertak ing.

few cakes of portable soup may be taken, which, in case of disorder, may prove salutary. Spirituous liquors are completely out of the question: among the Moors they would occasion censure; the Negroes possess the sense of smelling to a degree so exquisite, that to deceive them is impossi

conductor of the whole: a Sidy [Hadgi] | mencement of the Journey: nevertheless, a who has already performed the journey to Mecca, is the man who ought to be chosen in preference. No Negro, unless it be a Merchant Mandingo, is competent to serve as guide in this attempt. The white man who is chief of the Caravan, should possess a firm state of heath, a fund of gaiety and spirit not to be overcome by the most vex-ble; nor would they let any person rest, atious incidents, a patience without bounds, until they had obtained the whole quantity, mildness and firmness, equally boundless. little or much. An acquaintance with the Arabic language is very necessary; a knowledge of medicine and surgery would be extremely useful. I do not mention other sciences, nor the intelligence necessary to prepare a traveller for the journey; the more he possessed, the greater would be the fruits of the expedition. [We therefore add, that a habit of reading Arabic, with a few Arabic books on proper subjects, suited to the capacities of such Natives as might be met with, also a perfect knowledge of Mohammedan customs, and prejudices, would be found extremely essential.]

Two or three persons, at most, should accompany the principal, a greater number, as I have already said, would increase

the chances of disease. This number would be sufficient to preserve, in case of accident, the observations made by those who might fall in the attempt.

An equal number of camels as of men would be necessary, to carry burdens, whether of the persons themselves, or of their provisions, or of their property; they should be but very slightly laden, and their lading so disposed, that what was carried by a camel, which fell sick, was drooping, or wearied, might readily be divided among those which retained their strength, without adding to the burthen of these which remained, beyond their strength to carry. Gold and silver are almost useless in such expeditions. A selection of goods suitable to the places intended to be passed, should be formed but the quantity should, by no means, be too considerable: it would excite the cupidity of the barbarians, and would occasion the greatest misfortunes. Neither should more of them be shewn than was absolutely necessary for daily wants; nor any carried but what was of light weight, and of small compass.

:

Good fire-arms are necessary; but not shewy; without gilding or inlaid silver decorations: the propriety of having proper ammunition, and especially good powder, must strike every body.

It would be folly to think of living in the European manner from the very com

The dress should be completely Arabian; that is to say, a shirt or tunic of Guineablue; a cloth in the form of a turban on the head, a second, whether of cotton or of wool, answering the purposes of a cloak, and drawers, or a kind of pantaloons, of cotton; no stockings; sandals on the feet are, already, a kind of luxury.

The time of departure should be fixed immediately after the rainy season is over; it is not till a month after the rains have ceased, that it would be advisable, or possible, to start, during which the immense marshes formed by the fallen waters, would be diminishing, and obstacles, otherwise insurmountable, would be gradually abating; supposing the point of departure to be Senegal or Goree. The rains end at the beginning of October; about the beginning of November, therefore, the journey might commence. In the course to be followed, every care should be taken to avoid the Moors: that perfidious people massacre travellers without pity, or reduce them to slavery, after having stripped them of every thing; it is better, therefore, to cross the different kingdoms of Nigritia, whence a stranger might be ransomed, and where the persons of travellers would be respected, especially if they were under the protection of a talb or Marabout-sidi, i. e. a saint.

Supposing the place of departure to be Senegal or Goree, I shall indicate the course to be followed. I do not mean to name the villages: they may be seen on the Itinerary given by M. Rubaut, who was sent to Galam, in 1786, in M. Durand's Voyage au Senegal, Paris, 1802, 2 vols. 2to. M. D. was at that time Director of the Senegal Company. This envoy occupied about a month in going to Fort St. Joseph : the Marabout, who served him as a guide, was about the same length of time in returning. The distance from Senegal to Galam is estimated at about a hundred and fifty leagues.

Departing from Senegal, from Gandiot or Mouit, a village of Cayor, the way lies into the Walof country, which is to be crossed. But, if departing from Gorce, setting of from the village of Ben, the