The Missionary Chronicle

covered sect of murderers. The perusal of this notice, which has suggested the foregoing remarks, will prove painful to the feelings; yet we hope that the minds of our readers will be thereby induced to feel a deeper interest in the diffusion of that Gospel-which can convert "the habitations of horrid cruelty" into the abodes of "peace and good-will to men."

DISCOVERY OF A NEW SYSTEM OF MURDER. The Englishman of the 28th ultimo, brings to light the existence of another body of assassins in the Western Provinces, who pursue a similar system of murder to that practised by the Thugs; with this difference, that they poison instead of strangle.

In the year 1836 it is discovered, for the first time, that a set of miscreants, supposed only hitherto to exist in any formidable numbers, have, for years past, carried on a course of systematized murder, in a method as destructive and more insidious even than that pursued by the Thugs.

ble, the meetawallas, who seem to be well provided for such contingencies, make an offer of may require. The dressed food or the raw dhall, salt, rice, or any article the other party article, intended for the victim, is of course poisoned; but in case opportunity of thus administering it occurs not, it is given in sherbut, drugs employed seem equally efficacious, howor mixed with the tobacco in a chillum. The ever exhibited, the inhaling them being enough not only to intoxicate, but destroy life. The poisonous mixture consists of dhuttoora root, opium, ganja, or bhang, and one or two other drugs, pounded together and dried. Thus prepared, it is kept in a lota [a brass vessel, chiefly used to hold water for drinking,] ready for use. The effect appears usually to be first felt about two ghurries, or forty minutes after the poison has been taken; in forty minutes more the victim is usually dead or quite insensible. When the giddiness, which is the earliest symptom of the working of the poison, is complained of by the person who has swallowed it, the meetawalla is ever ready with an excuse to account for These men have, in the same way as the it: the man has travelled far fasting, which is Thugs, a system of sacrificial ceremonies to unwholesome,' or 'he has eaten too much afBhowannee; to ensure success on an expedi- ter long abstinence,' &c. &c. this being always tion, they have, like them, a slang language of followed by a recommendation to lie down and their own; and, in short, appear to be as regusleep. When the effects are fatal, the victim ly organized in their system of destruction as rolls hither and thither once or twice, and dies; their more notorious brethren of the noose. but, whether from difference of constitution, or The only difference seems a greater disregard in the quantity of poison taken, the victim is as to the secret of their calling, and greater frequently merely stupified, and after being readiness to turn King's evidence against their robbed and stripped, recovers his senses when companions. They call themselves meetawal- the intoxication has passed off. The meetalas in their slang, which might be perhaps walla, however, appears indifferent as to this. translated, sweetmeat men, meeta or sweetmeat If his victim die before he leaves him, the body being the term they apply to the poison which, is usually thrown into a river, if one is near, instead of the noose, they make use of in de- or a well; it is sometimes buried, often left to stroying or stupifying those they rob. The lie where the man perished. If the victim redistricts in which these murderers are as yet cover, and find his treacherous companions at known to exist, are Sarun, and, we believe, the very place in which the attempt at murder Patna. It has long been a matter of common was committed (for they appear sometimes to notoriety, that intoxicating drugs are not unfre- take up a temporary abode or a thoroughfare) quently administered with a view to robbery his assertions of having been robbed are outby fukeers in that part of the country, their vic-faced by bullying and bold denial; and the tims being, in general, unsuspecting travellers, who may chance to stop at their mutt or tuckeea, the tomb or temple they reside at. The meetawallas, however, most of whom seem to be Hindoos, mendicants of the Gosaen sect, attempt much more than this. They go out, like the Thugs, in parties under the ablest man in the gang as jemadar or leader. They travel the country, making, however, no very distant journies in search of victims, and in their trips appear usually to take their way towards Nepaul. The jemadar exercises his powers of pleasing or persuasion in inveigling the persons they meet to join them, occasion being taken of the caste of the travellers of Hindoos, to assume the character of men of the same caste, and get their victims to allow them to prepare their food in common. If this be not practica

poor wretch seems generally still so much under the effect of drugs as to be dispirited, and in a half stupid state, without energy to prosecute the inquiry. The meetawalla, however, has no scruple as to taking life. Several instances have been discovered in which they have strangled their victims with a rope, or murdered them with sword cuts. They are on terms of fraternity with the Thugs, and individuals of the two professions seem frequently to know one another professionally as strangler and poisoner. The gang of the meetawalla varies in number from five to fifteen. There are Moosulmans among them, who, like the Moosulman Thugs, assist, without compunction, in the idol sacrifice which precedes each expedition. The animal offered is a goat, which is slain with the ordinary ceremonies by the je

madar of the gang and the head bruised. The meetawallas do not observe, as the Thugs do, any periodical order for their expeditions: they appear to go out in search of their victims as the whim, or their own necessities, urge them. Hence their journies, as before observed, are much shorter than those of the Thugs, but occur on an average about once every four months. The information, which we have as yet been able to collect upon the subjects of this race of professional murderers, does not allow of the conclusion being drawn as to the existence, or not, of a similar set of miscreants, similarly organized, in other than the district above named. It is far from unlikely that the system of robbery effected by the aid of poisonous drugs is very widely prevalent: the comparative ease with which murder may be effected by this means, the facility of procuring drugs for the purpose, and the knowledge, universal among the natives, of the power these drugs possess,, renders it extremely probable that persons professing the calling of meetawalla may be found throughout India in districts which may happen to combine the advantages (to these miscreants) of frequented thoroughfares, a wild woody country, and a scattered population. To suppose that any thing like a moral check would interpose to prevent such advantage being fatally employed, is, we fear, a visionary idea, which none but the most ignorant of native character would dare to indulge in.— Englishman,' quoted by the 'Friend of In

dia.'

STEAM NAVIGATION IN INDIA.

Good facilities for transporting articles of commerce are a sure proof of advanced civilization. We need scarcely say that they are never found in countries purely Heathen. In India, for example, a country where the inhabitants are by no means barbarous, but have a civilization of their own, a kind of heathen civilization—it is customary to make use of the great natural channels of internal commerce, the rivers, for the transportation of their goods; but the boats which the natives employ are of a rude construction, badly managed, by no means safe, as may be inferred from the charge of two and a half per cent insurance on articles conveyed but 600 or 700 miles, and require a long time to make the voyage-two and a half months on the Ganges, for the distance just mentioned, being a fair average of the time consumed in ascending the river.

Amongst other subjects that have received the attention of the present enlightened rulers

of India, is the improvement of the navigation of the rivers, particularly of the Ganges. The high price of fuel has been one of the chief difficulties hindering the employment of steamers. The extract below, from "the Friend of India,” an able and spirited weekly newspaper published under the direction of some of the Serampore Missionaries, will therefore be read with interest, as it will show the probability that this difficulty will be removed, and also that the success of steam navigation on the Ganges will yet be great. The steamers now employed on that river are the property of the Government; they are small vessels compared with many of ours, and most of them are made of iron. They have been used chiefly for the transportation of treasure-thereby enabling the Government to dispense with the guard of soldiers to protect the money, which it was formerly necessary to send, and also saving much delay as to time. In this way their employment has already proved economical to the Government; but the high price of fuel, and the heavy expenditures necessary to secure the services, in that country, of competent officers and men, and perhaps the absence of individual competition, have made the charge, both for passage and freight, in those boats so high, that they have not been generally employed, even by Europeans; the natives have commonly adhered to their own awkward boats, being prevented, not only by these causes, but perhaps even more by mistrust, and especially by this mode of doing things not being "according to custom." Their regard for their interest, which is exceedingly great, however deficient they may be in other things, will doubtless overcome their reverence for the usage of their ancestors; and as the substantial difficulties which obstruct steam navigation in India are thus gradually removed, we shall hope to see all classes of that people enjoying the facilities which so highly contribute to the comfort, expedition, and economy of travelling and of commerce amongst ourselves. These remarks, and the accompanying extracts, will not be considered out of place in a missionary periodical, by any who feel interested in the general welfare of that country.

The success which has attended the attempt to establish Steam vessels on our rivers has

exceeded the most sanguine expectations. These vessels, which at the outset were employed simply for the convenience of passengers and in conveying goods for personal consumption, have now, from the regularity, speed, and ease which they combine, secured a large share of commercial patronage. No higher proof of their popularity perhaps can be given than the fact that the natives, who manifest so strong an aversion for every thing new, are become eager to employ them in the transportation of their merchandise. It is not, we hear, an unusual occurrence, for native merchants to purchase large consignments of British goods in the godowns [store-rooms] of the consignee, and to leave an order for their being conveyed at once to the Steamer, to be transported to Mirzapore and other stations. The mercantile freight of the Steamers has in fact increased to such a degree as to render it difficult to squeeze in packages of any other description, and the Agent runs the risk, on every despatch, of displeasing more individuals than he is able to gratify. Hence it has become apparent that our present complement of Steamers [four or five] is totally inadequate to the increasing wants of the country, and we hear with much pleasure that Government have indented on England for another supply of vessels, greatly exceeding the last in number. But the new Steamers will scarcely be found sufficient to supply the growing demand. If it be deemed economical to transmit goods by the Steamers even at the present high rate of freight, it will not be too much to assume that, as the enterprise advances and becomes more manageable, and freights are accordingly reduced, by far the largest portion of all valuable commodities will be sent through this channel; and that twenty Steamers will eventually not be found redundant. To hasten this period of general accommodation, nothing appears to be wanting but a supply of coal, at a more reasonable rate, at the higher depots; and this can be secured in no other way than by drawing forth and applying the mineral resources of the Western Provinces. The present discovery of coal, north of the Soane, is the first step towards this consummation. Till lately, we believe, no coal had been discovered but on the southern bank of that river. The nearest mine, in reference to the Soane, was supposed to exist in Palamow, and this coal would have required a tedious land carriage to reach the point of embarkation.

NEW DISCOVERY OF COAL.-We were happy to learn, from an editorial article in the last Agra Ukhbar, that new mines of coal have just been discovered at Hazareebaug, and at Bidgegur in the south-eastern corner of the Mirzapore district; that the coal is said to be superior to that of Burdwan, and that offers have been made to supply it to Government at five or six maunds the rupee, [400 or 480

lbs. for fifty cents.] These offers have, doubtless, been made in the ardor of the moment, without counting the cost of working the mine and of transporting the coal; but if it can be delivered even at eight annas the maund [80 lbs. for 25 cents] at Dinapore and at the neighboring stations, the discovery will form an important era in the history of steam navigation in India.

From the Notes of one of our Missionaries to India.

A NATIVE MILL.-Near Kot Kai, in the Protected Hill States, I went to see a native mill for grinding grain. It is a small, rude, stone building, about 12 feet long by 9 broad, and 4 high on the upper side, but on the lower side, perhaps 7 or 8 feet high. The walls are formed of small, flat stones, piled one on another without mortar, and are about 20 inches thick; so that the space inside is much less than is indicated by the exterior littleness of the mill.

So simple and diminutive is the machinery, that not much space is required for its accommodation. It consists of but two parts, a nearly perpendicular shaft, and a pair of stones of perhaps two feet in diameter and six inches in thickness. The lower stone is immoveable, and its upper surface is slightly rounded. The shaft, which is 6 or 8 feet long, passes through the centre of the lower, and is made fast to the upper stone; while to the lower end of the shaft short boards are so attached that a small stream of water, falling through a trough some 10 or 12 feet, causes it to revolve rapidly; thereby causing the upper mill-stone also to turn around with equal rapidity.

In the centre of the upper stone, on each side of the end of the shaft is an aperture for the grain, which, by the jarring of the machinery, is made slowly to fall from a small trough which is inserted into a basket, instead of a hopper. The flour, as it is made, is carried by the rotatory motion of the mill-stones to their outer edge, and falls on the stone floor around the mill-stones, being elevated a few inches above the floor, so that it may fall the more readily. It is then gathered up, and without bolting, or any further process, is considered fit for use.

One half of the floor in the mill is about a foot and a half lower than the other; the higher half of the floor, which is entered on all fours through a small door from the upper side of the mill, is the part assigned to the grain and the basket or hopper, while in the lower part are the mill-stones and the flour.

The expense of a mill of this description, I have been informed, is about 20 rupees, or $10. No mills of a different kind are erected, and few are better or larger. Many mills, like

this one, are to be met with, as there is not
much difficulty in these mountainous regions
about getting water; though these mountains
do not, by any means, contain so many nor so
large streams of water as are found in our
beautiful Alleghany mountain regions. In
the plains of India there are few, if any, mills
propelled by water-power; nor are there any
horse or wind-mills, so far as I have observed.
All their grinding is performed by hand-mills,
and usually by two women sitting one on
each side; "Two women shall be grinding."
I was interested in learning that at these
mountain mills the miller receives his compen-
sation, as with us, in kind-one sixteenth
part of whatever is to be ground being deduct-
ed for his wages. Like our millers, they ex-
act the same toll on every kind of grain, and

from all persons without partiality. Whether the rich have to await "their turn," as well as the poor, is more doubtful.

Considerable improvements might be effected in these mills, if there were sufficient public spirit, or even due regard to comfort, among the hill people to induce them to incur a small additional expense. Perhaps this may be one matter in which missionary efforts may hearafter effect salutary changes. It is certainly not at all inconsistent, either with the object or the spirit of missionary enterprise, that all suitable opportunities should be embraced by the missionary of promoting the temporal welfare of the people among whom he resides; and thereby he will, in all probability, secure corresponding favor for the great object to which he has consecrated his life.

PRESBYTERIAN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

MIISSION AT ALLAHABAD.

of steam navigation, two boats arriving WE copy from the Presbyterian the follow-monthly; and the central point between Calcutta and the extreme northern provinces, and ing extract of a Letter from Mrs. Sarah as a place for the setting up of a press, no M'Ewen, consort of Rev. James M'Ewen, other, from Calcutta upwards, presents greater missionary at Allahabad, India, addressed to advantages. her friend in Cincinnati, and dated March, 1837. Its contents are interesting, and will fully compensate pious and intelligent readers for the time which they may employ in its perusal.

being unexpected, unplanned, and undesired Our coming hither was entirely providential, by us when we first landed at Allahabad. We then spent five days here. Some friends residing here represented the destitution of the inhabitants, and strongly urged some of our party to remain, particularly my husband; Our present location, and that which we and the subsequent events, which transpired, shall most probably occupy while life is spared, induced him, shortly before reaching Cawnor we are permitted to remain in India, is Al- pore, to determine to return hither, at least for lahabad, situated at the junction of the Jumna a time. We did so, and immediately opened and Ganges. This is considered a very holy our house as a place of worship. My husband place by the deluded and degraded Hindoos, has preached every Sabbath, with the excepwho come to the annual fair which is held tion of two, when he was ill, and dispensed here, from every quarter, sometimes amount- the communion three times since we have been ing to seven or eight hundred thousand souls, here, to some who were members of churches to wash away their sins, dispose of their vari- in other places before their coming hither, and ous commodities, and distribute and receive to several others on a profession of faith in alms. This fair has been held since our ar- Christ. We hope soon to receive into our rival. My husband was a few times present number a native of Madras, in our employ, to distribute tracts, &c. but no Christian female with whom we are much satisfied, and think could possibly go, even to look on, the abomi-him now a fit subject for baptism. We have nations practised among them are so shocking. You will readily, then, conceive that this is an important field for the Christian Missionary, as it regards the natives. It is also important as being the seat of the Supreme Court, and affording opportunity to do much good among a class of persons understanding the language, but who, as regards religious privileges and knowledge, are not much above the natives. It is also the head

thirteen children, who have been given up to us entirely, and of whom I think we are secure. We have had a few others; but their parents being alive, their fears lest we should raise them as Christians, overcame every advantage that we held out to them. These children are doing extremely well, as also my day-school, which now numbers forty children.

In my school, there are five native adults,

three of whom understand the English, viz. our Moonshee, a Mussulman, a hopeful young man, who daily reads the Scriptures, and attends upon all our religious services, the native of Madras, who has charge of our native boys, a female assistant, who has been baptized in the English church, but has never communed; the other two are learners, one a Mussulman, the other a Hindoo. The rest consist of Natives, East Indians, and a few Europeans of various ages and attainment. Those understanding English are pursuing all the usual studies, and those who are only learning English, are, by verbal instruction, receiving much useful knowledge, by the aid of those excellent helps, such as the cards of the Sunday School Union, &c. some of which we have with us.

A considerable portion of every day is devoted to religious instruction, as well as the morning of the Sabbath, before preaching, and also a portion of the afternoon. I have much satisfaction in meeting these dear children, for, though I find teaching trying, particularly in this hot climate, having the glory of God in view, and sustained by the hope that some fruit will be found among them, I can say, with the Apostle, "Most gladly will I spend and be spent," in this service, so long as my Master shall honor me with a place in his vineyard. In my own person I have suffered little from sickness, but my husband's ill health has been extremely trying to us both, particularly during our tedious and lonely journey, of four months on the river. But my

dear friend, the "tribulation wrought patience," and I now see it was necessary to fit me for the self-denying duties I have now to perform. It was a source of unfeigned satisfaction to me that he was unfitted for duty, at a time when, had he been well, he could have performed but little. His labors since he left home, have been abundant, and although now suffering much from pains in his chest, and nervous complaints, he has sufficient health and strength for the performance of all his duties. He joins me in warm affection for yourself, Mrs. B., and all Christian friends.

I will add, that I trust a happy day has dawned upon Allahabad, and I hope that our feeble efforts to commence a mission here will be seconded most vigorously, both by the Society, [the Board,] and individual Christians, at home. Independently of my school, and resulting from our presence here, three native day-schools have been recently formed in villages near us, under the patronage of Mr. E. Frazer. They will be under his own and my husband's supervision, the Bible will be introduced, and such other books as will have a tendency, not only to enlighten the understanding, but amend the heart. This degraded people can, under God, only be raised from their degradation and blindness, by taking up the children, and giving them a thorough Christian education. If Christians be diligent in this work, which must be prosecuted with fervent prayer, we may hope, in a few generations hence, that this will be an enlightened and Christian people. Farewell.

FIRST MEETING OF THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

do.

Our readers are doubtless aware, that at the | The Rev. James L. Dinwiddie, Philadelphia. last meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, a Board of Foreign Missions was appointed, which was directed to convene in the city of Baltimore on the 31st of October. That Board accordingly met in the First Presbyterian Church, and was duly constituted with prayer the venerable Dr. Green having been appointed Chairman.

Mr.