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pression wherever he goes. He has suffered the greatest persecutions from his friends and relatives; but he rejoices that he is counted worthy to suffer shame for the sake of his Lord. Such is the ardour of his mind, such his compassion for souls, that he has no time for study; the word of the Lord seems like a fire in his bones as it was in those of Jeremiah, so that he cannot remain in the house, nor in the city, but must be ranging through the villages and through the district, warning men to flee from the wrath to come, and to embrace that Saviour whom he has found. May the Lord watch over him, and keep him by his mighty power, through faith unto salvation.*

After the mission had been left destitute of labourers and of assistance for nearly three years, Mr. Gordon-the son of our late missionary,-succeeded his father at his station and in his labours; and at the end of the same year 1835, Mr. Porter

* "We have received satisfactory intelligence of the continued steadfastness of Poorooshudum, the young man who was converted about three years ago in the neighbourhood of Chicacole; and we have the pleasure to state that he has been recently made the means, in the hands of God, of bringing another Brahmin, in the Goomsoor district to the knowledge of the truth."-Madras Missionary Register.

"In Jan. 1836, Poorooshudum had the happiness of persuading his wife and child to relinquish their friends, kindred, and country, in order to join him; after a good deal of persecution on the part of his relatives, this was effected; and after examination into her views and character, she was baptized by the Rev. A. Sutton at Cuttack."-M. D. C. Report.

entered upon his missionary career. In the establishment of schools, in preaching the gospel, and in spreading the good news throughout the Circars, they have shown a commendable zeal and diligence. The first Protestant chapel was erected, and was opened for native and English services in 1836. The English church and congregation are good, and the native services in town and country are encouraging. During the days of famine, many poor, starving children were admitted into the schools, and are receiving a Christian education under the care of the missionaries; and many, from among them, it is to be hoped, will arise to praise the Lord, and be a blessing to the heathen.

Such is a short review of our mission to Vizagapatam. The burden of the Lord is laid upon the junior brethren. They labour in a sphere where many tears have been shed, where importunate prayers have been offered, where great exertions, and personal sacrifices have been made, and where many lives have been offered upon the missionary altar. May these considerations not discourage them, but cheer them on in their sacred career, and may the Spirit of the Lord speedily descend, and render fruitful the seed which has been committed to the ground, that those who have sown and those who reap may in the end rejoice together.

BIJANAGUR-CEDED

CHAPTER XVIII.

CUDDAPAH.

DISTRICTS-PRODUCTIONS

OF THE SOIL

CUDDAPAH-MR.

HOWELL-ASPECT OF THE MISSION-NEW CHAPEL-CHRISTIAN VILLAGE-CONSPIRACY-MURDER OF MR.

THE Balaghaut ceded districts are divided into two collectorates-those of Cuddapah and Bellary. Balaghaut stands in opposition to Payenghaut-the former signifying the region above, and the other the territory below, the Ghauts. From the Crishna to the southern boundary of the Mysore, the mountains rise, both on the eastern and the western side, like tremendous walls, supporting the table-land, and elevating these terraced plains into an empire of health, beauty, and fertility. Of this immense and lofty region, the ceded districts are that part which the British Government acquired by treaty in 1800. In ancient times, they formed a part of the kingdom of Carnata; and in modern days, a part of the illustrious empire of Bijanagur-whose capital

was once styled the city of science, and then the city of victory. At the height of its power, this kingdom comprehended the whole of the Carnatic both above and below the Ghauts; and the Chola, the Chera, and the Pandian dynasties were obliged to submit to its authority. But the four Mahommedan kings of the Deccan conspired against it, defeated its prince in battle, sacked and plundered its capital, and put an end to the power and the glory of the royal house. It became tributary to the Moguls, was afterwards subdued by Hyder and Tippoo, and then fell into the hands of the British, after the treaty of Mysore.

During the period that war and anarchy raged in the peninsula, these districts were the theatre of rapine, treachery and oppression. Lawless banditti ransacked and plundered the towns and villages, and set all order and government at defiance. At the time when they were ceded to the British, they were in the most deplorable state; the annual revenue was constantly on the decline; an army was always in the field and required the whole of the collection to support it; and the Nizam seems to have handed the territory over to our government, because it was so unmanageable and expensive. But no sooner were the districts placed under the control and management of Colonel Munro, than they began to prosper. Such were the principles on which he conducted the government, that the province was soon reduced to a state of peace and

CLIMATE AND SOIL.

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order; the people were protected and made happy; the revenue increased, though the tax was greatly reduced; and when wolves ceased to prey upon the sheep, the shepherd that watched over their interests, was loved and honoured.

Some parts of the districts, may, from their locality, be dry and unhealthy; but the climate, in general, is salubrious and invigorating. They contain two millions of inhabitants. Their principal towns are Adoni, Bellary, Bijanagur, Ghooty, Cuddapah, Harponhully, and Gurrumcondah.

Sugar and jagerry are manufactured to some extent; large quantities of indigo are grown and exported; but the soil is black, and, like many other parts of India, is admirably suited to the production of cotton. It is reckoned that in these districts alone, there are three million acres of waste lands which were once cultivated and fruitful, and which, instead of being covered with forests and jungle that would require to be cleared, are now fit for the husbandman, for the seed and the harvest. If encouragement were given to the growth of cotton, there is no doubt that it might be imported to England as good in quality, and as large in quantities, as can be brought from America. Why, then, should not the productions of our own territories be patronized? Why prefer the article that is raised by the hands of slaves, and sold for the interest of slave-holders, to the article which can be grown by freemen, and sold by the enemies of slavery? Why not turn