Cotta was formerly believed by the Cingalese to be a devil hill. It was, of course, a well selected residence for those who conduct a warfare "against spiritual wickedness in high places." Even now it is with trepidation that some of the natives venture upon this high place. Devils are to them the objects of much fear. They regard the small-pox as caused entirely by diabolical influence. If a man dies of this disease, they dare not say "He is dead," lest the devil who caused it should be angry. They merely say, "A thorn has sprung up." One day Mrs. Lambrick and the Rev. Mr. Selkirk accompanied us to a temple of Budha. After proceeding some distance along a rugged road, we turned into the jungle and proceeded on a narrow foot path until we reached a flight of a few steps terminated by a gateway. We ascended the steps, passed the gate, and were within the precincts of the temple. It seemed like a spacious and moderately well cultivated garden, with a number of houses scattered amidst the trees. In the largest house was the image of the false god, and into this we entered. The interior walls were painted with grotesque figures representing scenes from their sacred books. When the doors from the outer to the inner room were unlocked, two large, greasy, black lamps were lighted, for the sun is never suffered to shine into this dark den of idolatry. We then saw a thin veil partially concealing an immense clay image of Budha. It was in a reclining position, the head resting on the right hand, and that on a pillow. This image is said to be forty feet long, and is painted of various colors. We were not the only visitors to the temple. A decrepit woman, close on the borders of the grave, came in with a basket of yellow flowers, which she slowly laid before the enormous idol. She prayed in a tremulous voice. A converted Cingalese, who stood near, told us that her supplication was for happiness after death, because of her merit in bringing flowers to Budha. This prayer was addressed to the fore a lifeless idol half concealed in darkness. Evening was coming on as we left the house. We walked towards the shadiest part of the grounds, and found that we were drawing near to the habitations of the priests. Not knowing how they would regard an intrusion on their homes, we rejoined our friends and soon after returned to Cotta. On Sabbath, Feb. 23d, three young men came from Colombo. They had been educated by the American missionaries at Batticotta. Two were employed as medical assistants at the hospital at Colombo, the other was a tutor in a private family there. They apologised for coming on the Sabbath, but said they had no other time at their command, adding that they could not hear of American missionaries being within their reach without trying to see them. After giving such advice as I supposed they needed, I asked if they had any message for Mr. Poor at Batticotta. Mr. Minor told them to express it in their own words. They sent an artless but warm message of gratitude. One said that the missionaaries had been fathers and mothers to them far more than their own parents. They attended divine worship at Cotta, and late in the afternoon returned home. The exertions of our friend captain Ward and the influence of J. Read, Esq. of Colombo, procured us a passage to Manaar in the government ship Wellington. She is a small, armed vessel, employed to guard the pearl banks in the gulf of Manaar, and also to suppress smuggling. On the 25th of February we went on board after dusk. Several of our estimable friends from Cotta, with captain Ward, accompanied us and remained until nine o'clock. We had taken leave of Mr. and Mrs. Lambrick at Cotta. Their kindness had been extreme, all the time while we were under their roof. I trust that no lapse of time pitality, nor the christian refinement and will efface my recollection of their hoscultivation of mind and manner visible in each. lump of clay before her. None, howev- LETTER FROM DOCT. SCUDDER, DATED APRIL 1, 1834. New Station at Chavagacherry. er, but the most ignorant worship the image itself. The more enlightened and the priests profess to worship the being represented by the image. Mrs. Eckard found the odor of the offering intoleraON the arrival of additional missionaries in ble in the close room. We left the Jaffna, Doct. Scudder commenced a new stagloomy scene, where every thing was indicative of misery and error; where tion at Chavagacherry, leaving Panditeripo, ignorant and feeble old age was strewing where he had formerly resided, to be occuflowers, already beginning to wither, be-pied by one of the brethren newly arrived. Dr. S. has four native assistants associated || could not receive more than a very parwith him. On the little map published in the Missionary Herald for October 1833, it will be seen that Chavagacherry is to the east and southeast of the stations heretofore occupied by our mission. It is about ten miles distant from Jaffnapatam, on the road to Trincomalee. When the Portuguese had possession of the island, they built a church and house in this, as in each of the other parishes. The house is now occupied by the magistrate of the district. The old church of which his excellency, sir R. W. Horton, has kindly given us possession, and which I found in ruins, is one hundred and seventy feet in length and sixty-two feet wide. Of this building a part will, with divine leave, become a church, and the remainder be taken for a dwellinghouse. That designed for a church is so far repaired that I hope to dedicate it to my ever adorable Master in the course of the coming month. Within a stone's cast from the church is one of the largest markets in this part of the island. tial supervision, or in other words, a monthly visit from the missionary, I am sure they ought to be kept. In the third place, they are necessary that an opportunity may be offered to imbue the minds of the children with a thorough knowledge of Christianity. That such an opportunity will be offered must be plain to all, provided the schools are well taught, well superintended, and supplied with suitable christian books. If half of the time the children spend in school is taken up with learning christian lessons, it is impossible for them not to have their minds stored with much, and a great variety of that instruction which may, through the influence of the ever blessed Spirit, make them wise to salvation. Of course that vacancy of mind in respect to all moral good, with which heathen children grow up, who are not the subjects of religious culture, and of which men in christian countries can have scarcely any idea, is prevented. Indeed, every hour they spend in acquiring a knowledge of Christianity has the most important bearings. They cannot, even for this short season, be the sub Remarks on the Importance of Chris- jects of moral culture, without being im tian Schools. Very soon after my arrival here I set about what I consider as one of the most important departments of missionary labor. I allude to the establishment of schools. I say one of the most important; for after having labored among the heathen until nearly half a generation has gone down to the grave, I am constrained to say that my missionary operations would have been comparatively weak had it not been for schools. In a country like this, as it appears to me, schools cannot be dispensed with. Of course I cannot but deprecate the opinion which has been advanced, that missionaries ought not to have schools. They are important for various reasons. In the first place, to teach children the art of reading, and thus prepare them to be benefitted by the various publications we send abroad. These remarks apply with peculiar force to females; who must, unless taught in missionary schools, be ever ignorant of the art of reading. If we do not teach them, their parents will not, as it is considered a disgrace for a female to read. Indeed it is said that such knowledge will be followed by some calamity. In the second place schools are necessary to keep children from idleness, the parent of all mischief; and even if they pressed and elevated as moral beings. Such a culture, too, is the best preventive to that opposition to and hatred of Christianity which they would have, were they to grow in ignorance of its blessed precepts. In a word, it prepares them, even if they are unsanctified in early life, for the influence of the Spirit after they have grown up, should they at any time be privileged to hear the preached gospel, or have the volume of inspiration put into their hands. They are under circumstances to become heirs of the kingdom of heaven, which, humanly speaking, under other circumstances would not be the case. In the fourth place, schools afford the best congregations on the Sabbath and at other times. I was almost ready to say that if such a case should occur, that we could not have the permission to introduce our christian books, yet, if we could have the privilege of preaching the gospel to them at all times, we should be justified in paying schoolmasters for such an opportunity. I have, as I mentioned before, been among the heathen until nearly half a generation have gone down to the grave, and though I consider it my duty to preach the gospel to every creature to whom I can have access, and distribute it, and believe that in a number of cases people have been converted by these means, yet, as a general thing, it will never produce a sanctifying effect || the distribution of tracts I have long felt upon them, unless they are willing to at- abundant encouragement to proceed, tend our houses of worship, which has from what I had seen in Panditeripo. never to a great extent been the fact New encouragement has presented itwith the people here. self since I have been here. A very in church, who had thrown off heathenism before my arrival, in consequence of having read the tracts which had been given him. It may perhaps be well, however, to say but little, until I have seen and known more of him. Suffice it for the present to say that he appears well and openly defends Christianity. Of my schools, which are seventeen interesting man wished to be united to the number, three are in Navetcooley, ten in Chavagacherry, and four in Cutchay. I do not know the exact number belonging to these; perhaps not far from six hundred. I have built two large bungalows for the accommodation of the Sabbath congregation at the first and last of these places; one of which I supply in addition to preaching at Chavagacherry; and the other is supplied by one of my native helpers. When I take into consideration that these beloved friends who support this mission have enabled me to collect together so many hundreds of the rising generation, who two months ago had never learned a line of Christianity, and most of whom had probably never even heard of the name of Jesus, but to whom the beloved name is now proclaimed, I cannot but lift up my heart to God, who has induced them to contribute of their substance for so good a cause. You have done well my beloved fathers and mothers in Israel: you have done well my beloved brothers and sisters: you have done well ye little children who have made sacrifices to bring these little children under instruction. May the Lord Jesus reward you a thousand fold and afford you the unspeakable privilege in the last day, to see some of these little ones brought to heaven through your instrumentality. I mentioned that in my immediate vicinity there is a large market. In this I spend a considerable portion of my time on the great market days, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, in distributing tracts. It is the business of my medical assistant, when not engaged in preparing medicines and administering to the sick, to attend daily, Sunday's excepted, for the purpose of reading tracts to the people, and distributing them, when I am not present. A large number of these little messengers of mercy have gone through the market into various parts of the district. Ten thousand of these may perhaps be judiciously given away in it yearly. On the borders of the market I have just been erecting a bungalow, which, when finished with mud walls and a floor, will afford a good resting place to those who come to it without any special business, and to whom it will be my sole object to have the everlasting gospel made known. With regard to My congregations on the Sabbath are composed principally of children. At the two to which I preached on the day before yesterday nearly four hundred were present. EXTENSION OF THE MISSION TO THE TAMUL PEOPLE. Commencement of a new Station at Madura. NEARLY a year ago the Prudential Committee adopted the following resolutions "1. Whereas Providence indicates that the time has come when a mission among the Tamul people on the Coromandel coast should be commenced, instructed to send two of their own number to "Resolved, That the mission in Ceylon be the coast opposite to Jaffna, for the purpose of commencing the mission. 2. And whereas it is of importance to facilitate the printing of Bibles and tracts for the benefit of the Tamul people in southern India, and whereas Jaffna is comparatively difficult of access from this country, on account of its insular position, while Madras is conveniently situated for the operations of a Tamul printing establishment, "Resolved, That while it is expedient to maintain a printing establishment in Jaffna for the immediate use of the mission in that district, it is proper, should Providence permit, that another establishment be placed in Ma dras; and that such an establishment be attempted on the return of Mr. Winslow to India." As this portion of Hindoostan falls within the Madras Presidency, application was made to the governor at that place for leave to extend the mission to the continent, and his excellency kindly granted permission immediately to open stations in any part of the district. This service was performed by Mr. Woodward, while on his visit to the Neilgherry Hills, shortly before his decease. Some statements respecting Madura, as a suitable place for a missionary station, were made in the journal of Mr. Spaulding, p. 174. || Country through which he travelled It is expected that other stations will be occupied in the southern parts of the peninsula of Hindoostan, in the course of the present year. Under date of August 13th, 1834, Mr. Meigs writes from Tillipally— City of Madura. I was much disappointed in the country through which we have passed. I had heard of the plains of India, and was prepared to expect a very different state of things from what actually exists. The amount of population is very small compared with the extent of country-proba might be made to support. The people are poor and dispirited. All who do not compose the population of the few large towns, live in small villages, consisting of from fifteen to a hundred houses of the rudest construction. These villages are often separated by the distance of several miles. The largest town we passed on our way hither contained perhaps three thousand inhabitants. There were two or three others of perhaps a thousand inhabitants each. One of these is within twenty miles of this place, and in which we hope soon to have some interest, by occupying it either by schools, or a catechist, or both. The principal towns were formerly walled in, or in some cases defended by large forts. In either case they include several temples, which are sometimes of immense size, and superior structure. Agreeable to their intentions brethren Spaulding, Hoisington, and Todd, with Mrs. Todd, left Jaffna on Monday after-bly not one twentieth what the country noon, the 21st of July, and reached Madura on the 31st of the same month, all well. Mr. Spaulding expects to return soon. Mrs. Hoisington is not able to leave Jaffna at present. Francis Ashbury, Edward Warren 1st, and Edward Warren 2d, accompanied them as native helpers, to serve as teachers, interpreters and catechists to the mission. They are all members of our church, and give good evidence of piety. They have been connected with our boarding-school and seminary almost from the commencement of our mission, and are very interesting young men, possessed of a good degree of knowledge and zeal to qualify them for the situation in which they are placed. It is a subject of unfeigned joy and thanksgiving to God, that we are able to furnish our brethren of the Madura mission with so many well qualified native assistants. They will commence their mission in that place under very favorable auspices, as they are well supplied with books, tracts, and native helpers. By letters already received from them, we learn that the people are very ready to hear as well as eager to receive books and tracts. It is our intention to maintain a most intimate union with that mission. Our brethren and sisters have been long enough in our circle to become intimately acquainted with us and our missionary operations. They have become very much endeared to us all, and we part with them with regret. Still, as they go from us on an errand of love and mercy, we bid them God speed, and rejoice to send them forth under such favorable circumstances to occupy that great field of labor. May the great Lord of missions go with them, protect them by day and by night, and grant them abundant success in their attempts to win souls to Christ. The distance from Jaffna district, to which the mission has hitherto been confined, to Madura, on the shortest route, is about 120 miles. Under date of August 1st, immediately after his arrival, Mr. Hoisington writes, describing the The whole city of Madura is incircled by walls-and the city may be emphatically termed "a city of temples." I have just visited the largest temple establishment. It is beyond description. Its principal wall, which, however, excludes one large apartment, is not less than three quarters of a mile in circumference. The structure within astonishes at every turn. It has at least ten thousand massy pillars of stone, presenting on every side, in full relief, curiously wrought images of every descriptionmen, women, and children, beasts, and creatures of the wildest fancy-and these holding every imaginable position and relation, and whose supposed conduct in many cases must not be told. Its vast and varied departments, some retiring far into dark and untold recesses, and some into spacious and splendid rooms, a kind of choultries, occupied only by the almost numberless pillars which support the covering of beautiful carved and polished stone. Its "holy place," stretching off almost as far as the lamps at the opposite side; and this again eye can reach, aided by the glimmer of followed by the "holiest of holies"-all are but too well calculated to foster the impure spirit of heathenism, to captivate and hold the mind in the most debasing servitude. It seems indeed the strong hold of the devil. But we are also reminded of Him who is "mighty to the pulling down of strong holds." May his strength be made perfect in our weak ness. As I have contemplated these monuments of wealth and power, in connection with the impoverished state of the country generally, my mind has been convinced of the truth of one of two things; either the wealth and power of the people must have been in former ages incalculably greater than they are at the present time; or else, the streams which once flowed into these places, and made them what they are, have been diverted into other channels and conveyed out of the land. Both may be true in part. As I have said of the people, so might I say, with about the same propriety, of their religion, their system of idolatry. Its spirit has fled; its glory has departed. I would not be understood, however, by this to say that the people are more moral, or nearer the spirit of Christianity than formerly. There is probably less thought now among the people generally, less conscience, less elevation in almost every respect, than when idolatry | reigned in power and life. With the spirit of their religion, the spirit of the people seems also to have fled. The spectacle is painful, but interesting in the highest degree. What is to be the issue of the present course of things? Who can tell when this desolating progress will be staid, if the redeeming spirit of Christianity be not speedily brought in? It seems to me that what we are taught, as to the bearing of all this upon the missionary enterprise, is, not that the work is almost accomplished, but that now is the time to work; that the most painful necessity urges us to prompt and mighty and persevering effort in behalf of perishing people. Will not others come speedily to our help? We are few and small. The population of this city is estimated at 50,000. The population of the district of Madura is estimated at 1,300,000. There are several large villages within fifteen or twenty miles of this place. These for the present must form a part of our field of labor. After larger places are furnished with missionaries, some one of these villages, or several of them united, may, perhaps, be occupied by a missionary. Leave of residence in any part of the district has been granted to American missionaries by the governor in council at Madras. So a wide, and we trust, an effectual door is opened unto us. We are not straitened in this respect, nor in the Lord, but if at all, it must be in ourselves. Respecting Manepy, where Mr. Hoisington resided previous to his removal to Madura, he remarks are I left Manepy in a pleasant state. The schools were prosperous. They number eighteen, nine of which composed of boys, six of girls, and three of boys and girls together. One of the boys' schools is denominated an English, or central school. One of the girls' schools is also a central school, recently established there. The number of boys in the schools is six hundred, the number of girls three hundred. There was nothing of special interest in the church during the last quarter, except the addition of ten new members, five by letter, and five by the confession of their faith, these being from a class of inquirers named in a former communication. JOURNAL OF Singapore. MR. TRACY DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1834. AT p. 310, of the last volume, it was mentioned that an extensive printing establishment at Singapore, formerly under the direction of the London Missionary Society, had been purchased for the Board, and that the Rev. Ira Tracy, then at Canton, had been instructed to remove to Singapore, commence a station there, and temporarily take the superintendence of the press. He arrived there, as stated in the last number, on the 24th of July, 1834. Singapore is situated on a small island near the southeastern extremity of the peninsula of Malacca. It is subject to the British government, is a free port, and has a favorable climate. It is frequented by vessels from almost every port of southern Asia, from Bombay to the castern extremity of China, as well as from the numberless islands in those seas; amounting to 1,500 native vessels in a year. On this account it probably affords better facilities than any other port for circulating books and tracts along the whole coast of southeastern Asia and the islands of the Indian Archipelago. The island of Singapore is about twenty-five miles long by twelve broad. The town contains a mixed population of about 25,000, speaking not less than twenty or |