MAHOMMEDAN CONVERSIONS.

421

in their turn. In a special manner, the demon of persecution raged against the Braminical tribe, and raised the shout of execration. As one of them was passing the palace one day, humming or whistling a tune, Hyder commanded the man to be brought before him. 66 Where, sir," said the Behauder, "do you expect to go when you die?" "I hope," replied the Bramin, "to go to Veicoonta,"-that is, the heaven of Vishnoo. "Send the fellow away to Veicoonta immediately," was the command of the despot, and the poor man was covered from head to foot with sky-rockets, and was blown up into the air. The very same system of cruel and atrocious barbarity which was carried on to propagate their religion, was also adopted to maintain their power and dominion in the empire. Whenever the treasury was empty, whenever a war was to be carried on against the English, whenever their friends and their allies were to be served, then the rack, or the wheel, or the stone were put in requisition, and spread through the city and through the country weeping and wailing and woe. So dreadful were the atrocities which Hyder inflicted upon this people, that there is still a tradition existing among them, that when he died and required a grave, mother earth refused to give it to him; the ground would not yield to the instrument; and they were obliged to erect a tomb for him above the ground. In the remembrance of such atrocities as these; in the recollection of a rule which embittered their existence, which expa

triated them from their country, which tore them from their friends and families, made them Mahommedans by force, and brought upon them so many curses and so many calamities; what is the high and the vantage ground upon which missionaries stand when they go among such a people to publish the gospel of the meek and lowly Jesus? If they saw us with carnal weapons attempting to coerce them into obedience to the faith; if they found us enjoying the support and the patronage of the government, and trying to convert them by the power of laws and of penalties; then we should be on a level with their Mahommedan rulers. But no. The sword of the spirit is the only weapon which they have seen in our hands. Our Bibles, our tracts, our sermons, and the establishment of schools are the only ammunition which we have used. The weapons of our warfare have not been carnal; but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds. The law of kindness, they know, has been upon our lips, and compassion and benevolence have been the ruling principles in our hearts. Our word among them has dropped like the dew-like the dew upon the tender herb. In the meekness, the patience, the love, the peace, the gentleness, and all the holy dipositions which the gospel inspires, what a contrast have they to the lust and the brutality of their Mahommedan rulers? And while the religion of Jesus diffuses a mild and a beneficent influence over the government under

which they live; while it gives a tone of truth, of honour and of honesty to all the rules and regulations of the empire; while it makes their officers peace, and their exacters righteousness; while it gives them peace for war, and order for confusion, and every blessing instead of every curse, is not the country that is in such a state well prepared to receive the gospel of Jesus, and qualified to judge that our religion is divine, that it has descended from heaven, and that it is suited to the wants and miseries of men? Such is the state of the Mysorea more important and interesting sphere of missionary labour there is not, in the opinion of the writer, to be found on the face of the earth.

CHAPTER XXII.

BANGALORE.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MISSION-LOCALITY OF HOUSESPREACHING IN ENGLISH-FIRST CHAPEL-SAMUEL FLAVELTHE ARRIVAL OF THE AUTHOR-CANARESE INSTRUCTORS-THE CONVERSION OF TWO BRAMINS-PERSECUTIONS-DECLENSIONBACKSLIDERS RESTORED-DAY-SCHOOLS--SEMINARY.

IN 1820, the Rev. Messrs. Laidler and Forbes arrived at Bangalore, and began their missionary labours. As the Mysore was new and untried ground, they soon had many obstacles to contend with. To overcome the difficulties of the language, and to be more in the vicinity of the native town, Mr. Forbes settled in the fort; while Mr. Laidler chose a residence in the cantonment,-both thinking probably, as the writer does, that a camp situated a short distance from the enemy, may be as effectual in reducing the citadel, as one placed immediately under the walls.

Some have contended that a residence, located among the people, and in the heart of the native pettah, must be the most eligible for a mission

LOCALITY OF HOUSES.

425

house. I cannot agree with this opinion. Such a site is attended with many disadvantages. If a residence at home, in an impure and a heated atmosphere, be considered unhealthy and dangerous, what shall we say of one in such a town as Bangalore, where the people are crowded together in narrow streets, where the mission-house must be surrounded by low, dense and thickly-populated buildings, where a thousand causes give rise to pestilential vapours, and where mosquitoes, insects, and vermin of all kinds are incessant in their annoyance? The very best climate and situation in India are only tolerable to foreigners; where, then, is the use of choosing those which must inevitably impair the health, and shorten the life, when one in a more salubrious locality would be equally adapted to usefulness?

Such a residence, it may be argued, is necessary, that the natives may see the effects of Christianity, and have a living exemplification of its truths in the mission families. Would, I reply, that there was perfection upon the earth, and that heathens and others could always be led to estimate aright the holy and consistent conduct of the faithful. But it is not so. Look at the case of our Lord Jesus. Though he was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners; though he went about doing good, and was perfect in all his principles,

* The mosquitoe is a small fly about the size of a gnat, whose bite is tormenting, especially to Europeans.