turned home glad and thankful, and pray- || plications for others within an hour, also ing that light from heaven may beam on a request for French books of a similar the minds of those who read these description, and for Malay; of which last books, and guide them in the way of I gave away a few. life. I love this part of my work much; and should be happy in a high degree, if I could spend nearly all my time in going among the people and publishing the glad tidings of the gospel. But duty requires me to give my time to the dull and difficult work of acquiring the language. Bombay. EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. ALLEN. [Continued from p. 187.] Rites and Festivals at the Temple of Shiva. 4. The doctor with us at morning As stated in the last number, this journal was and evening worship. I am much pleas-written by Mr. Allen while on a tour for dis. ed with his apparent seriousness and hu- tributing books and tracts in the interior of mility.-Distributed books, as often be- the Mahratta country. fore, but with more serious address to those who received them respecting a careful perusal of them, and attention to the concerns of the soul and eternity. My interpreter tells me that he net in the street last evening about twenty of the people from Borneo who were going to my room for books. But I was out and they returned to their vessels. 5. Distributed books in the morning -met several individuals who said they thought the doctrines of these books true; but it was a cold heartless assent, and it chilled my heart, rather than warmed it, to hear them. I took occasion, however, from this concession to address to them a few words of solemn warning and exhortation. As usual they generally said "ho, ho," i. e. "good, good," when the books were offered. The doctor with us at morning and evening worship, and at evening he brought a friend, a man residing in the same house, who also asks me to teach him the truth as it is in Jesus. I was engaged in preaching Jesus dying for us sinners, to the man who came twice on the 25th ult., (and not since) when he came in, and had not time to talk with him much; but it was cheering indeed to see another Chinese professing a desire for such instruction, and still more so to see the doctor acting in the spirit of the gospel, inviting his friends to come with him and learn the way of life. Several adult Chinese are anxious to learn English. I am thinking whether I ought to try to win their hearts to love me and listen to me by giving them instruction for an hour or half an hour a day. Made an agreement with Rev. Mr. Darrah, by which a Chinese school will be opened next week, and as many boys received as can be induced to attend at the school-house. March 8, 1833. Jejoory. This is a large village, containing five or six hundred houses. Here is a celebrated teinple of Khundobah, who is believed to be an incarnation of Sheeva. This incarnation, it is believed, took place in this vicinity; and after accomplishing the object for which it was assumed, the god ascended to heaven from the top of a hill immediately in front of the village. Hence this place becomes the principal place of his worship. Once in three months a festival is kept in honor of the god, which is attended by many thousand people. A work on India published some years ago contains the following description of this temple:-"It is built of fine stone and situated on a high hill in a beautiful country, and has a very majestic appearance. Attached to it is an establishment of dancing girls amounting to two hundred and fifty in number.""This temple is very rich, six thousand pounds being annually expended on account of the idol, who has horses and elephants kept for him, and with his spouse is daily bathed in rose and ganges water, although the latter is brought from a distance of more than a thousand miles."-Since this description was written, the temple has apparently suffered somewhat in its revenues and popularity by political and other changes. The rites of idolatry, however, are still performed here with much parade and pomp. The "dancing girls" are females who were dedicated to the god, generally by their parents, though sometimes children are purchased for this purpose. This dedication is always made professedly in the fulfilment of vows, though the true reason sometimes is the inabil 6. Went out near my room with a few Portuguese Testaments, and gave away two or three: had two or three ap-ity of the parents to form marriage con nections for their daughters. On arriving at a certain age, the unhappy girl is brought to the temple, and in a prescribed form dedicated, or presented as an offering, to the god. The customary ceremony of marriage is then performed between her and the idol, and this is the only marriage state she ever enters. This dedication to the god, with the succeeding ceremony of marrying the idol, is only an introduction to a life of prostitution, which is begun and followed without sense of sin or shame on the part of the unhappy person, or her connections:-her dedication to the god, instead of requiring holiness of heart and life, being regarded as a reason why she may follow such a course without incurring infamy or guilt. A few of them are employed in the temple, where they assist in performing the rites and ceremonies of worship, and a considerable number live in the village. But the greater part of them are scattered in the cities and large villages through the country, visiting the idol only at the festivals. The number of this wretched class of persons, who are introduced to such a course of life without any agency of their own, amounts to several hundred. Such is heathenism! 10. To-day the semi-annual ceremony of bathing the idol was performed. The idol of Khundobah, with one of his supposed wives and one of his sisters, was brought out of the temple and placed in palanquins. The idols were adorned with jewels, gems, and gaudy apparel. A large elephant and two fine horses were led before the palanquins. These animals were presented to the god by a native prince, who also defrays the expense of keeping them. They are only used on such occasions. The crowd of people who accompanied and followed the procession was very large. On arriving at a sacred place in a small river, about two miles distant, the idols were taken from their palanquins and bathed in the stream. This was intermixed with many ceremonies. They were then carried to receive the adoration of the people, which was expressed by prostrating, bowing the head, etc. The remainder of the day was spent in festivity and mirth. In the evening the idols were brought back to the temple (in the manner they were carried out) accompanied by a great number of persons, each carrying a lighted brass lamp of a 'peculiar form, the whole exhibiting a very brilliant appearance. During these ceremonies miracles are said to be wrought, and these are appealed to as unequivocal evidence of the presence and the power of the god. While here I have had frequent opportunities at my meeting-place in the village, and at the temple, to converse with them on the great things of salvation. Sometimes they have listened with attention, and at other times they have shown a disposition to cavil, dispute, and ridicule what was said. One day while walking in the village, several persons who were sitting apparently at leisure, invited me to take a seat among them. Accordingly I did so. In this company were two or three persons who had the principal management of the temple. They were forward to engage in conversation on religious subjects, but I soon saw they were determined as much as possible, to turn whatever was said into ridicule; especially whatever was said concerning the work and character of Jesus Christ. Perceiving their intention and knowing it would be useless to prolong conversation with them, as soon as I had an opportunity I addressed them thus:-Though you ridicule the doctrine of salvation through a crucified Redeemer, yet, be assured that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that he is the only name given under heaven whereby you, or any of the human race, can be saved. You now make light of his power and glory, yet, be assured that he has all power in heaven and on earth. He sustains all things in existence; he supports you also every day and every moment, and he can cut you off whenever it shall please him. He knows how lightly you speak of him, and how you despise the offers of salvation through him. He too is to be your final judge, and to him you must give an account of speaking thus lightly of him and despising his gospel, as well as for all your other conduct. I entreat you, therefore, no longer to ridicule such important truths but to turn to the true God and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. They appeared embarrassed with these remarks, thus personally addressed to them, and while they were apparently thinking what to say in reply, I took leave of them and returned to my meeting-place. I find something like this to be the best way of closing an interview with such people. Jejoory was visited by Mr. Stone in the following year, and a further account of the temples and superstitious worship of the place is contained in the journal from which the following article is extracted. EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. CONTINENT. Mahabulishwur and its Temples. Feb. 12, 1834. Took an early morning excursion, through the shrubbery jungle, over hill and dale, till near eight o'clock. My whole system feels the influence of these cold mornings. Friends in New England will, perhaps, smile to hear me speaking of cold mornings and nights, when the thermometer stands at 70 degrees; but such is the fact. I shake as badly from the cold here, when the thermometer stands at 70 degrees as I did in New England when the thermometer was at 30 degrees. licitous combination of them all. The mighty wisdom and goodness of Him who made and arranged the scenery are exhibited throughout. On our arrival at the great temple, we found several young brahmins performing their ablutions in the sacred water in the tank in the temple. After making several inquiries respecting the origin of the river Krishnu, the ceremonies performed in the temple, the number of brahmins who reside there, etc., I commenced preaching to them the gospel of salvation. Some thirty or forty brahmins were assembled around, and for some time listened with considerable attention. Afterwards some of them manifested a disposition to cavil, rather than inquire. In the afternoon I rode three miles to I distributed several books, which were Mahabulishwur village; surveyed the received with the greatest eagerness, ever splendid, but now decayed temples especially the one entitled Biblical Inof that celebrated place. The sacred struction, written in Mahratta Shlokes. river Krishnu takes its rise here, spring-They soon began to chant portions of it ing up in the belly of a cow, and issuing from her mouth, as the brahmins say. The true state of the case is this,-The water springs from a hill back of the temple, runs under cover till it enters the belly of a stone carved in shape of a cow, spouts out of her mouth into a small tank in the centre of the temple; it then enters another graven stone cow, and issues from her mouth. Here profane eyes are permitted to see it for the first time, and the superstitious worshippers of the cow were taught to believe these sacred waters generated in her belly. From hence the water flows into a little rill about two hundred rods to the temple of Krishnu, which is situated on the brink of a precipice. In this temple are two other stone cows, through whom the waters flow. It has now become impregnated with all its sacred efficacy, and has sufficient virtue to purify from sin all who perform ablution in it, from this place till it empties into the ocean more than a thousand miles distant. The prospect from Mahabulishwur is grand. The valley, which commences at the foot of the precipice on which the temple of Krishnu stands, extends eighteen or twenty miles between the table lands, at the depth of five hundred to a thousand feet, and from half a mile to a mile in breadth. Cultivated fields, sacred groves, and here and there a village, are scattered along on either side of the Krishnu, through the whole length of the valley. The view is truly impressive; it is neither simply sublime, nor romantic, nor beautiful; but is a fe VOL. XXXI. with flowing melody and with apparently rapturous feelings. I was happy to find that they readily understood what they read. They wished me to give them a copy of the Christian Shaster written in the same style. I told them we had none written in that manner, at which they seemed much surprised. place-found only six scholars, all brahWe visited the only school in the min boys. It is kept in a kind of court without a roof. The teacher was a ven erable looking brahmin. Spent about half an hour in conversing with him and in addressing the crowd which had assembled in the court, or school-place. Sattara and the Surrounding Scenery. Sattara is one of the native states of Hin doostan, under the government of its own rajah, and in alliance with the British power in India. It is situated east of the Ghauts, and southeast from Bombay. No missionaries have resided within the territories of the rajah, and of course very little christian instruction has ever been imparted to any portion of the people. 17. Started for Sattara. I proceeded on at pretty good speed, admiring the grand scenery on either hand, for about six miles, when the rain began to descend in torrents. On my arrival at the top of the Ghaut, the rain had nearly subsided, and the prospect which presented itself before me was exceedingly picturesque and grand. I had heard much of it, but my anticipations were far surpassed. Both the sublimity and beauty 28 of the scenery were greatly heightened by the fall of rain. At a vast depth before me was spread out a beautiful valley extending as far as the eye could reach between two ranges of mountains whose summits were capt with white clouds ascending like the waves of the ocean, and on whose verdant side the rainbow in its richest, brightest colors was dancing along. The valley appeared perfectly level, variegated with fields in living green; flowers and shrubbery, interspersed here and there with shady groves, amid which native huts and temples peeped their heads, and around which played the waters of a limpid stream. 18. Owing to the rain yesterday, it was cool and all things appeared fresh as a morning in early spring. On either hand were ripe harvest fields, and men, women, and children were placed over them to keep away the birds, which were very numerous. Where the crops had been gathered the husbandmen were ploughing up the fields for another sowing. The soil is so fertile and vegetation so rapid, that the same field yields three crops a year. On observing in every instance that each plough had five yoke of oxen or buffaloes, the passage in Luke xiv, 19, occurred to mind, "Another said I have bought five yoke of oxen and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused." There were two drivers to each team, one of whom sat on the yoke of the second pair, with his back forward and his face toward the plough, and drove the two forward yoke. The other driver sat on the yoke of the fourth pair, with his back forward, and drove the third and fourth pairs; and the hinder pair was governed by the person who held the plough. Why they set in this awkward position I cannot imagine. The ploughs consist of a great block of wood somewhat resembling a shoe with pointed toe, and were without a coulter and share, with one handle and a long curved tongue. One yoke of oxen with a plough of the New England model would plough more ground in a day, than five yoke with their native ploughs. I saw six yoke of bullocks dragging a cart with massy stone wheels, whose weight, I should think, was greater than the whole burden on the cart. Such is the disadvantage at which the natives of this country do their work. The only work which I observed as performed after the manner of New England farmers, was reaping with sickles. Grain is trode out by bullocks, The whole valley from the foot of the Ghauts to Sattara, twenty miles, and which is from one to eight miles wide, is very fertile. More than thirty villages were scattered along beneath groves of beautiful wide spreading trees. The natives are mostly farmers, or as here called cultivators, and they appear as stout and athletic as the New England farmer, and are better clad than the natives in the villages in the region round Bombay. The females are better and more neatly attired than the common class of native females in Bombay. After reaching the city of Sattara, on the 20th, Mr. Stone visited the native fortress situated on a hill near the city, respecting which and the view from it, he remarks— 20. Within this fortress there are fifteen or twenty pagodas of different sizes, (some of which were once splendid), two palaces, two tanks, and several wells and reservoirs of water. From this eminence we had a fine view of the village, or rather city, of Sattara, it being the capital of the rajah's dominions, which is stretched along at its base more than two miles and is a mile wide, shaded with beautiful trees in living green, In the centre of the city stands the rajah's palace, his college, and other public buildings of considerable magnificence. Pagodas, mosques, etc., were seen in different parts of the city. In every direction but one extended plain of rich fields, interspersed with beautiful groves and hamlets, is spread out, and is bounded by beautiful shaped ranges of hills, which seem to be the work of design and art, rather than of nature, at the distance of from eight to twenty or thirty miles. At Mowlee, three miles to the east of this mountain, the Yemma and Krishnu rivers unite. This is a spot deemed sacred by the natives, and is celebrated for its magnificent temples, and the ablutions performed in the sacred waters of Krishnu. At the juncture of two rivers the water is considered double sacred and efficacious in purifying from sin. Sattara is a lovely place, or rather would be so, if blessed with the mild influences of the Sun of Right eousness. Schools of the Rajah. Visited the rajah's school, or college, as it is called. On our arrival at the school buildings, the superintendent of the whole establishment, a brahmin, very 21. In the afternoon went to preach kindly received us. We were invited || vised them to print several elementary into the English school department, books, which I gave them, for the use of where we were introduced to the teach- the school. er, who is a brahmin, and to his scholars, and to several other teachers of the dif-the gospel to the people in the bazars of ferent departments. The best teacher Sattara city. I took my stand before of the English language was absent, and the money-changers' shops, where the his brother had the charge of the school. principal streets meet, and began to conHe can scarcely speak an English sen- verse with the money changers. They tence intelligibly, and understands still spread a carpet and invited me to sit less. Under such a teacher and destitute down. I thanked them for their politeof proper elementary books, I found the ness, but told them I perferred standing, school as it might be expected. The as I could be better heard by the multionly English books they had were a few tude who crowded around. I asked if English spelling-books not at all adapted any present could read, and wished for to them. On asking the teacher if they a book which would tell them about the had other books, he brought me a quarto true God and the only Savior of sinners. volume of a splendid edition of Rees One of the money-changers said he Encyclopedia, which the rajah had bought wanted one of Jesus Christ's books. of some English gentleman. There were I asked, who is Jesus Christ. He replied twenty-five very sprightly lads and youth "The beloved Son of God, who came inin the school, most of whom were sons to the world." For what, I asked. "To of the nobility. If a suitable teacher and save sinners," he replied. On farther books were furnished, the school would conversing with him I found he had acflourish, and the scholars would learn quired considerable knowledge of Chrismore in six months than they will now tianity, and he was the only one present in six years. Having conversed with who seemed to have any knowledge of the scholars and teachers some time and Christ. I preached to the multitude for explained to them the christian religion, nearly an hour, then my voice failed me, I gave to each of the teachers a copy of and Suckoba, my Jewish attendant, took the New Testament in Mahratta, and a up the subject and had a very interestfew other books, and to each scholar ing discussion with the brahmins on the some christian book, which were eagerly wickedness of idolatry. I distributed received, and which they promised to all the books I had with me without half read. We then went into the Hindoo- supplying their wants, and returned to stanee department, where we found my lodgings at dark. I would praise twenty intelligent lads learning Hindoo- God that I have had strength to preach stanee. They all could read Mahratta Christ crucified to so many pagans tofluently. Having addressed them and day. May the result be the glory of given each a book, we were introduced Christ in the salvation of souls. into the other departments. In these rooms we found a hundred and fifty scholars, most of whom could read. I gave to each a book, and addressed all the schools on the importance of improving their time well; the importance of learning, and of examining the evidences of the different religions which prevail here, in order to know and embrace the true one, etc. After this we were invited into a spacious room above, where twenty or twenty-five young men were study-years, perhaps centuries, they must have ing the Persian and Sanscrit languages -a few were Jasees studying astrology. After some interesting conversation, and presenting each with a book, we took our leave. 22. Took a walk with Dr. Young, two miles, to see the mammoth mangotree. It is truly a majestic tree. The trunk, three feet from the ground, mea sures thirty-nine feet in circumference. Its height and spreading branches are in proportion and in perfect symmetry with the trunk. The trunk is of a triangular shape. The appearance is, that there were originally three trees or branches from the same root; but for been united in one tree. Dr. Young says, if originally but one tree, its age must be sixteen hundred years; if three trees, about seven or eight hundred years. In the cool of the evening visited the rajah's vineyard and the shrubbery and flower garden. The whole extent of the grounds is about one third of a mile square. The vines were full of clusters, ripe or ripening. [To be continued.] |