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him have one copy of each kind of the books I had with me. I did so. The difficulties which this man found in his inquiries concerning Christianity will not appear strange to those who know how extremely ignorant, even the most learned Hindoos are, of every thing which occurred in time past, or which now exist beyond the limits of their own country. I found several persons here who had acquired some knowledge of Christianity. Among these was one who was well acquainted with Babajee and had often conversed with him on religious subjects. He had a high opinion of B. as a sincere, zealous, and good man.

Jalna-Native Christian Society.

hearts encouraged, their number increased. Some persons who had belonged to the Roman Catholic church, coming within the hearing of divine truth, appeared to feel its sanctifying influence and united with them; and some of the heathen left their idols for the worship of the true God. As the existence of this society and the manner in which the divine blessing was resting upon it became more known, a deeper interest was felt in its welfare, and some months ago a convenient place was procured for worship, and a man who had been educated at Madras as a catechist was procured to be their religious teacher.

The appearance and spirit manifested by this society have been truly gratifying. Forty or fifty persons have been 19. Jalna is a large military station, generally present at their religious meetnearly 120 miles from Ahmednuggur in ings, and in no part of India have I seen a northeast direction. The population is an assembly of native Christians more estimated, by a gentleman who has lived respectable in their appearance, and aphere several years and become much ac-parently more devout in their worship. quainted with the people, at 75,000. The military force generally amounts to 5,000 or 6,000. This force, with the exception of about one hundred English soldiers, consists of natives. They are, however, commanded by English officers, of whom there are usually seventy-five or eighty residing here. This place, with the surrounding country, belongs to the Nizam of Hydrabad, and this force is supported in accordance with stipulations existing between him and the East India Company. The government is in the hands of Mohammedans, and an unusually large proportion of the inhabitants are of that

class.

Here is a native christian society of forty-five or fifty members. The origin and history of this society is somewhat remarkable. The Europeans at this station are connected with the Madras government, and most of them previous to their coming here had lived at different places in that presidency. In that part of India Christianity has made considerable progress among the native population, and a few individuals who are nominally Christians are generally to be found in those places where Europeans live. Two or three years ago one of this class of persons at this station, finding there were others here, and feeling interested for their spiritual good, succeeded in getting a few to meet on the Sabbath for worship, which he usually performed himself. After some time this meeting became known to a pious officer who in various ways encouraged and assisted them. In the mean time, as their hands were strengthened and their VOL. XXXI.

As there is no one connected with the society to administer the ordinances of Christianity, soon after my arrival, which they had been previously expecting, I was informed that several persons were desirous to be baptised, and some also were wishing to be married. I also received an earnest request to administer the Lord's supper before I should leave. Situated as this society was, I felt it my duty to regard their claims and requests. With a view to ascertain the qualifications of different persons for the ordinances respectively requested, I had frequent conference wita individuals and attended several public meetings. While here I baptised four individuals, married two couples, and on the Sabbath before I left, administered the Lord's supper in the native language to fourteen communicants. Some of these persons were members of mission churches in different parts of India, but had not had an opportunity of observing this ordinance for several years past. Some of them had been educated in the Roman Catholic religion, and now for the first time commemorated the death of Christ in the manner he prescribed to his disciples. And some of them had renounced the worship of idols for the service of the true God. Of this last mentioned class was one whose conversion and consequent reformation excited much attention among all who knew him. Previous to his conversion he was notorious for his dissolute habits and grovelling vices; but for a year past he has appeared to be thoroughly reformed. He has been constant in attending on the means

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of religious instruction, and spends much || with a beautiful screen of white marble time in reading the Scriptures, and in trellis. The whole structure, both in its other religious duties. Sobriety, indus- || design and execution, is a work of good try, and a conscientious and tender re- taste and great skill. I ascended one of gard to every duty of a personal and re- the minarets, which are four in number, lative nature, now mark his conduct; and had an extensive and beautiful prosand amidst persecution and reproach, of pect of the city and surrounding country. which he has had much to endure, he This mausoleum was erected about 175 has exhibited in a remarkable degree the years ago, at an expense of nine lacks of temper and spirit of the gospel. rupees, or 400,000 dollars.

As the European population here is very considerable, and there is no chaplain now connected with the station, I felt it to be my duty to comply with the urgent request I received to preach in English. This I did on five different days. On the last Sabbath evening I administered the Lord's supper, when twenty persons, though of different denominations, united in commemorating the death of their common Lord and Savior. I have now spent ten days in this place, and laborious and anxious, yet delightful days they have been. May the divine blessing follow the instructions I have attempted to communicate and the ordinances I have administered.

Aurungabad-Dowlutabad.

Aurungabad belongs to the nizam of Hydrabad, who is a Mohammedan. The people here appeared to be less inclined to listen to any thing addressed to them on religious subjects, or to take books, than any place I have visited. The Mohammedans, though generally in reduced circumstances, still retain much of the pride and manners of their former greatness. Almost every man in full dress has a weapon of some kind with him. The population generally are said to be of very dissolute habits.

26. Dowlutabad.-This place is eight miles from Aurungabad, nearly north. It contains three or four hundred houses, which are occupied principally by Mohammedans. The people generally here Imanifested much indifference to what was said on religious subjects, and but few showed any desire to obtain books.

23. Aurungabad. This city is about forty-five miles nearly west from Jalna. Dowlutabad is generally supposed to It was originally called Goorka, and re- be the same as Tagara, which is menceived its present name from Aurung- tioned by Arrian as a populous city zebe, who fixed his residence here, while nearly two thousand years ago. When he was viceroy of the Deccan. It was the Mohammedans made their first irruplong one of the principal cities in the tion into the Deccan, this place was western parts of India, and the ruins of called Derghur, and was the capital of a palaces, mosques, and mausoleums, ex- powerful Hindoo rajah. Its present hibit melancholy evidence of its former name was given to it by the Mohammewealth and splendor. The population, dans. The greater part of the ground though much reduced, is still very conincluded within the walls is covered siderable, amounting probably to 60,000 with ruins. The fort which is contigor 70,000 people. The larger part of uous to what was originally the walled these are Mohammedans, and the lan- city is a great curiosity. It consisted guage in most general use is Hindoo- originally of an insulated mountain of an stanee. In the north part of the city is oval shape five or six hundred feet high. a splendid mausoleum erected by Au- About one third of the way from the rungzebe, to the memory of his favorite base to the top, the mountain is scraped wife. It stands in an extensive garden, all around, and presents on every side a which includes twenty-five or thirty perpendicular cliff 140 or 150 feet high. acres of ground. This garden is inclos- At the base of this cliff is a wide and ed with a high wall and has numerous deep ditch, excavated in the solid rock. paved walks intersecting each other at The only way of ascending into the right angles. The garden abounds with fort is by a long, dark, and winding way, fruit trees of great variety and excellent excavated through the rock. The enquality, while the numerous cisterns and trance of this way is near the base of the aqueducts supply every part of it with cliff, and is surrounded by walls and water. The mausoleum stands in the towers for its defence. Its termination midst of the garden, on a large and ele- is a short distance from the upper edge vated platform of fine masonry. It is a of the cliff towards the summit of the splendid structure, surrounded by a dome mountain. About ten minutes are reof white marble. The grave, which is inquired to ascend into the fort. And as the centre of the building, is surrounded" there are several small excavated ways

turning off in different directions, a guide and a light are as necessary as they are in the catacombs of Paris. This mountain is a mass of granite, and the labor of reducing it to its present shape, and making the alterations which have been made in it, must be incalculable. The natives have generally regarded this fort as impregnable, nor is it easy to conceive how it could be taken, except by famine.

Rosa-Ellora and its Excavations.

is through an excavated path and gateway on the west side, where the mountain gradually slopes away to the plain. This court is 247 feet long and 150 feet wide. The height of the walls (which are no other than the rock in which this excavation is made) vary from thirty or forty to one hundred feet. This difference in the height is occasioned by the rise of the mountain towards the east end of the court. In these walls are several large excavated rooms and halls, which were designed for purposes connected with the temple. In making this excavation, a large mass of rock was left standing near the middle of the court. This mass was then cut away on the different sides, till it was reduced to the size and form of the temple. The tem

28. Rosa. This village is celebrated for the healthfulness of its climate. The inhabitants are mostly Mohammedans, among whom this place has acquired considerable sanctity. It has long been their favorite burying-place. Aged Mo-ple was then completed internally by exhammedans often come here to spend their last days, and the corpses of distinguished persons are sometimes brought from distant places to be interred here. Here are the mausoleums and tombs of emperors and princes. Some of these are large, and though built several centuries ago, are yet but little decayed. Others are in a dilapidated state. Among the distinguished persons buried here was Aurungzebe, who was for more than fifty years the emperor of India, and supposed to be the most powerful monarch in the world. His death occurred at Ahmednuggur, but his body was brought here to be buried. Though he erected a splendid mausoleum to the memory of his wife and reigned for more than half a century with a degree of pomp and splendor seldom, if ever, exceeded, yet he requested that nothing should be erected over his grave-to impress on the minds of all, as the people here say, the end of human glory. The inhabitants of this village are generally bigotted Mohammedans; and as they will scarcely listen to any thing which is not in accordance with their prejudices, they afford but little encouragement for missionary labor.

Finding on inquiry that I was near the celebrated excavations of Ellora, I went this morning to see them. These excavations far exceed anything of the kind in India and I believe in the world. The name of Ellora has been given to them from a village so called about a mile west from them. These excavations were the work of art, and were designed as places of religious worship. The largest of them is called Kylas. This temple is surrounded by a court which is an excavation in the rock composing the mountain. The entrance into this court

cavating the rooms and other things requisite to complete the design. The external sides of the temple, even to the top, which is ninety feet high, are covered with images of gods, men, and animals of different sizes, all carved in the rock. The walls and pillars in the inside are also covered with images of various kinds and sizes, carved in the same manner. In the great apartment four rows of pillars are left to support the immense weight of the rock above. Thus the temple, with all its images, is one entire rock, which is itself a part of the mountain. The ceiling of the great apartment was once covered with cement, on which were drawn in glowing colors paintings descriptive of Hindoo mythology. These paintings have been defaced, and many of the images, both outside and inside, have been mutilated. The Hindoos ascribe this to the Mohammedans, and the latter do not deny it, but assign as the reason, that some of these things were objects of worship, and that others were too indecent to be seen. This temple was consecrated to Shiva, and the obscene emblems of his worship still remain in a dark recess opening into the principal apartment.

Near this are many other excavations. Some of these are very large and contain images of gigantic size. In one place are three large excavations, one above the other. Of these the lowest one was designed to represent the Hindoo hell; the middle one to represent this world, and the upper one to represent the Hindoo paradise. In these excavations the images were painted to make their appearance more beautiful or frightful, according to the character of the beings they represented. The walls, pillars, and ceilings, where not taken up

with images, were covered with paint- || at Honolulu, in July, 1834, was mentioned at ings. Curtains which could be changed p. 147.-He was born in Johnstown, Montand varied at pleasure were used to congomery county, N. Y., where he resided till ceal different parts of the temples from he arrived at the age of manhood; and where view. In these dark and gloomy recesses, surrounded with figures of gigantic he first felt the power of the gospel to enlightsize and frightful appearance, one seems en and save, and united with the church of almost to realize the descriptions of the Christ. He also learned the printer's art in infernal regions, as contained in the that place. He subsequently spent some years writings of the ancient heathen poets in the city of New York, where he became and in the sacred books of the Hindoos. deeply interested in the work of missions to the heathen, and ultimately consecrated himself to the service of Christ in this sphere of labor. He embarked for the Sandwich Islands at Boston, November 3d, 1827, for the purpose of taking charge of the printing depart

Here the rites and ceremonies of idolatry, partly exhibited and partly concealed, were performed in circumstances calculated powerfully to excite the feelings of an ignorant and superstitious people like the Hindoos.

There is no anthentic history of these excavations; nor do any native traditions concerning them appear to be deserving of much credit. They are all the work of superstition, and they show what strong influence it exerted on the minds of its votaries. The Hindoos ascribe

these works to the gods. They look upon them with feelings of veneration for their supposed origin, and great antiquity, and as places which once possessed great sanctity. But they do not regard these temples as fit places for worship now, as they have been polluted. There is much difference of opinion amongst Europeans who have examined these excavations, in respect to the time when they were made. All are agreed that it was previous to the Mohammedans establishing their power in the Deccan. But beyond this nothing certain has been ascertained. I found many brahmins here, who, in the hope of obtaining some reward, were anxious to accompany me through these excavations, professing themselves to be able to explain all the imagery and the uses of the different apartments. But no one of them showed any desire to hear of the true God and the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. During the day I conversed with brahmins and others who had come to see the excavations, as I could find opportunity, and gave tracts and parts of the Scriptures to those who wished for them. Ellora is about eighty miles from Ahmednuggur nearly north.

[To be continued.]

Sandwich Islands.

OBITUARY NOTICE OF MR. STEPHEN

SHEPARD.

THE decease of Mr. Shepard, which occurred during the general meeting of the missionaries

ment.

The following account of his character and decease is extracted from a communication

recently received from Mr. Bingham.

Mr. Shepard and his wife formed a part of the second reinforcement to this mission, and arrived here in the spring of 1828, two years subsequent to the return of Mr. Loomis, the former printer, and soon after the printing of the gospel of Luke had been commenced. His health was then slender, and probably in his system before he set foot on these the seeds of his decline had been planted shores. There is no good evidence that the nature of his work here, or the character of this climate was more unfriendly to his constitution, than in his native land. He entered on his work with entire devotedness, and pursued it with cheerful diligence, growing in the esteem, and love, and confidence of his associates, and of the people.

He was ardently desirous to see the Sandwich Islanders, as many as could read, furnished with the sacred volume. He was cheered when this work advanced, and pained whenever it was retarded. He was ready to devote and wear out the very last energies of his life to forward this object. He loved the Scriptures himself, relied on their power for the sanctification of men, and derived comfort and edification from them, even in the mechanical employment of reading proofs of our translation into the native language.

About two years after he commenced his work here, he became convinced that an affection of his lungs had commenced which would probably prove fatal. He received the opinion of the physicians on the subject unagitated, cheerfully holding all at the disposal of providence, but still fondly clinging to his favorite

work. He soon became so feeble that it and the father of the fatherless. There was thought the care he bestowed upon is a promise, too, in Jeremiah, 'Leave the work of the office was injurious or thy fatherless children, I will preserve might prove so, unless he could be in- them alive, and let thy widows trust in duced to suspend it. He was therefore, me.' The hope of my own acceptance by a vote of the brethren at this station, with God I found on such passages as formally released from the care of the these; 'The gift of God is eternal life printing-office in March, 1831, that he through Jesus Christ our Lord;' 'in whom might seek rest and refreshment, and we have redemption through his blood, change of air and scenery, wherever it || even the forgiveness of sins.' My hope should seem most agreeable among our is in the blood of Christ applied to my stations. soul for a converting, sanctifying, and He sojourned with his family for a purifying influence. 'He magnified the season on the hill, the seat of the high law and made it honorable.' All that the school, in the upper and interior part of Father hath given to Christ shall come Lahaina; but being desirous to employ to him; and him that cometh unto him, his feeble and decaying powers to the he will in no wise cast out. The iniquibest advantage, and thinking he could ties of all were laid on him. All our still do something in the way of super-righteousnesses are as filthy rags. intending native workmen and apprentices in the office, he soon returned; and as a matter of choice and pleasure, took on himself the care of some parts of the work when able to walk to the office, which was scarcely ten steps from his door.

As our conversation turned on the wants of the people around us, he remarked, "If all my enjoyment is derived from the Scriptures, what must be the condition of those who have no Bible, or are not acquainted with its principles.

While conversing with him on the 3d of May, and giving him some account of my morning sermon on that day, he listened with attention and pleasure, and remarked, "How important it is that we do for Christ what we do, and suffer for Christ what we suffer;-to suffer his will, as well as do his will. What is there in this world worth living for, but for Christ? Suppose now that wealth had been my object, and I had obtained it, heaps and loads of it, as others have, what good would it do me now, if I had no interest in Christ? It could not help me now. And so of every thing else. Had I made

To his associates and to the natives, it was interesting to see him, while waiting for his change, repeatedly, after a few days and nights struggling with the paroxysms of his disorder, rise suddenly from his bed and find his way to the of fice; and when his limbs were weary, to see him in his arm-chair, or reclining on a settee, with a native compositor by his side, comparing first proofs with copy to relieve his associates from that service. But it was still more interesting to see his calm and delightful reliance on Christ, while rapidly ripening for heaven; enduring his pains, weaknesses, and dis-it my great object to feed and clothe my appointments without a murmur; often speaking of the glory and preciousness of the atonement of Christ, the ground of the sinner's hope. To us who were daily with him, no very obvious alteration in the state of his health appeared for about two years from his return, or up to the spring of 1834.

In a conversation which occurred about this time, he said, "It is a cause of gratitude and thankfulness that my mind is so buoyed up. I can truly say my heart is olioli," [joyful]. I said, you feel willing that God should do with you and yours as he pleases? He replied with promptness, "If I know the feeling of my heart, I rejoice that we are in his hands, and that he will do as he pleases with me and mine and with his work. I have had no anxiety about my family since I read the proof sheets of Deuteronomy. There God represents himself in several places as the widow's God

family, and see them settled and thriving in the world, what could they do to help me now, if I had not a Savior? Let a man do his duty to his family, and leave them with God, but not make his family his great object."

I remarked, if we could be instrumental of winning one soul to Christ, to be forever happy with him in heaven, how little would the wealth of the world appear to us in comparison with the value of the eternal salvation of that single soul? "Oh yes;" he replied, "now could we be instrumental in turning a hundred from the error of their ways, what a source of rejoicing! And if by the efforts of a whole life we could be the means of bringing a thousand souls to Christ, what a vast source of everlasting satisfaction to us and to all the friends of God!" He said, "My mind has been turning this evening much on this point, "Would I alter the plan of redemption, if

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