CHAPTER XIV.

ON THE TAMUL MISSIONS.

THE FIELD OF OPERATION-OCCUPIED BY VARIOUS PARTIES-THE TAMUL CHRISTIANS-APPEARANCE OF MADRAS-ITS CLIMATE MR. LOVELESS-MR. KNILL-MR. TRAVELLER-MR. NICHOLSON -DUTIES OF THE MISSIONARIES-MR. BILDERBECK-PURSEWAUKUM-TRIPASORE-MR. SMITH-A REVIVAL-COMBACONUM

-THE COUNTRY-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MISSION-NATIVE CRISP-DIFFICULTIES-PROGRESS-SEATS

TEACHER-MR.

IDOLATRY.

OF

In the largest division of Southern India, the Tamul language almost universally prevails. Draw a line across the peninsula from Madras on the Coromandel coast, to Cananore on the coast of Malabar; descend on the one side, or on the other, to Cape Comorin; and you have an immense tract of country in which this tongue is spoken by almost every tribe, in various provinces, on the hills and in the plains, on the coast and in the interior. Religion seems to have followed in the steps of commerce, since the ports that were earliest opened to the latter, admitted most freely the ambassadors of the former. As Tranquebar, Madras, and Nega

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patam on the coast of Coromandel; and as Telicherry, Cochin, and Quilon on that of Malabar were stations of great importance to Europeans in trade, the missionaries of the cross began their career under the protection of their governments; advanced from thence into the interior as opportunities were offered, rendered the large towns in their march so many posts of attack on the surrounding districts, and spread the influence of Christianity over numbers of the people. For spiritual privileges, for missionary zeal and enterprise, for the light and liberty which prevail, this spacious territory may well be styled the Goshen of India. As the Tamul was the first language which the missionaries learned-the first in which they preached the gospel to the peoplethe first in which the Scriptures were translated, exertions were made and success was obtained among the heathen; so it was the first which afforded greater facilities to successors; Grammars and Dictionaries, and Christian books were already prepared; the difficulties to be encountered in the prosecution of the work were less numerous and more easily overcome; and the provinces just beyond the existing missionary stations, presented an inviting field for Christian settlements. All these were most auspicious circumstances in favour of the south, while the aspect of the north was still bleak, cold, and forbidding.

The Danes had laboured long and successfully, and had established their missions, on permanent

ground, before an English monopoly could venture to dispute their claim to the vineyard; and no sooner was that barrier removed, than one society seemed to vie with another in occupying stations which were more in the neighbourhood of cultivated grounds, and where there were greater facilities in learning and in using the language. Instead of seeking for new and untried fields in the northfields that are equally good and accessible to the spiritual husbandman-fields that are teeming with finer, nobler, and superior races of men-fields where no sower has yet been to cast in the seed, where no reaper has been to gather the fruits, and where the enemy maintains his dominion undisputed and undisturbed; the societies have agreed to cultivate the south and lavish their strength and their efforts upon its inhabitants. It is a delightful sight to behold Danish missionaries and Americans; Churchmen and Dissenters; Lutheran Germans and Wesleyan Methodists; Presbyterians and American Baptists all labouring to promote the welfare of this people. The field is large enough; long may they toil and strive without envy, and jealousy, and contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. It was, perhaps, the intention of Providence that the south should become the field of experiment-that the objections and the scandals of the enemy should there be exposed— and that it should there be made manifest to every one that India so long insulted and contemned, was

capable of bringing forth the fruits of righteousness, and of yielding praise and glory to God.

Happy Tamulians! so many privileges have been Societies at home and agents

in store for you.

abroad are anxious for your conversion. The lines have fallen to you in pleasant places, and you have a goodly heritage. Your brethren in the north will look to you for an example of all that is wise and good and benevolent. Improve, I entreat you, your privileges. It is almost time that you were supporting your own pastors, and giving the gospel to your neighbours and to your friends. You cannot be allowed much longer to eat the fat and to drink the sweet, while your kinsmen are ready to perish for want. In the regions beyond you, there are millions who are panting for the truth, and we shall look to you to send them some of the blessings which have so long been your portion.

MADRAS.

This town is the largest of the Carnatic, is the presidency of Fort St. George, and is the capital of southern India. As viewed from the roads, it presents a splendid sight. On the north side, there is little to interest, except the remains of the old wall, the village of Royapooram, and the sandy beach upon whose banks the foaming surf dashes with imposing grandeur. In the centre, are long ranges of magnificent buildings, raised upon arches,

adorned with colonnades to the upper stories, and stuccoed by the beautiful chunam made from shells. On the south side, is seen the Fort of St. George, which withstood many an attack in the struggle for supremacy, and is rendered strong by its vicinity to the sea, and by its bulwarks on the land side. A parade, resembling the one at Brighton, extends along the beach, appears all alive with the crowds of natives during the day, and is to Europeans a most refreshing and agreeable drive in the evening. But with all its advantages for trade and commerce, and with its power and acquisitions as a British settlement, Madras is but an indifferent situation for a capital. So tremendous is the surf that rolls upon the beach, that the landing is often dangerous in the highest degree, and during the north-east monsoon, the flag-staff is hoisted from the beginning of October to the end of November, to warn vessels that it is unsafe to remain in the roads. A few years ago, it was proposed to transfer the seat of government to Bangalore where its situation would unquestionably be more central, where the despatches from England, via the Red Sea and Bombay, would be received as early as at Madras, and where health and comfort would be more secured to all the officers belonging to the different departments of the state.

As to climate, Madras is dry, and more salubrious than Bengal. In January, the thermometer and in July, the highest is

stands lowest at 70°,