hear me when I came again. I found many here, both Children and Adults, who could not read. All who could read received and read the Tracts which I presented to them.

Near this village I found the remains of a large ancient fabric, called a Christian Church; but here I had to lament, that, where Christ was once named, there was nothing left but a heap of ruins: it seemed quite deserted and forsaken, there being no dwelling nor inhabitant near it. The thought occurs to the mind-"Shall the present labours of Missionaries be thus given up, and all their efforts be forgotten!" Our hope must be placed on the promise of God alone! After much labour, my Servant succeeded in procuring some food: but the people where we lodged were of a caste that abstains from all kind of animal food, from religious feelings; and neither the killing of the fowl that was got for me, nor the cooking nor eating of the food, could be allowed on their premises, lest they should be defiled: so scrupulous are they in attending to their superstitions, and so fearful lest they should offend their imaginary deities, while the True and Living God is neglected and forgotten, His laws despised, and His House forsaken and utterly demolished! I was obliged to leave; and to take my meal on the premises of one of an inferior caste.

A Young Man, whom I took with me, was acquainted with the people where we abode, but as it was THURSDAY (an unlucky day) no persuasions could prevail on him to eat with them, lest their friendship should be broken, or, as he expressed it, lest enmity should arise between them in consequence. On any other day, he could have eaten with them; but he would sooner have gone all day without food, than do any thing to violate custom, or break through the restraints of superstition. Afterward, however, he got food at another house, where the acquaintance was not so intimate. We returned home

in the evening. May the Lord render this feeble effort useful to many souls!

Sept. 2, 1821, Sunday.-In the evening, at Kykooler, my Discourse was partly on idolatry: I exhorted them not to trust in senseless idols, but to seek for salvation through Jesus Christ. This did not suit them: they became very restless, and quite disturbed me: I afterward found, that, as they had lately sacrificed and paid ceremonies to their Avenging Goddess, they feel confident that they shall not be visited, and that the Epidemic will not come again to their village. They are thus the more confirmed in superstition and idolatry; and the humbling truths of the Gospel are so much the more unwelcome to them. I felt constrained to pray, that God would appear, to display His own glory and confound these idolaters; and convince them that there is no help for them, unless they worship the True God, and believe in Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.

Sept. 11, 1821.-At Narduterru, this morning, I had a long conversation with the people on the absurdity of their superstitions, as mentioned on the 20th ult.; but found that nothing which I could say had any effect. They pleaded hard for their customs; and said that if the bungalow was built so high as I intended, they should all be ruined, for both themselves should die and their property perish; and therefore it would be necessary for them all around to leave their dwellings to the number of ten families. In consequence of this opposition, I judged it better to take another piece of land, which they showed me, than to do any thing to disturb their minds.

Sept. 12.-I had much talk with some of the Masters, on the disposition which they manifest to impose upon me; one of them having, during the past week, promised the Boy who visits the School a new cloth at the end of the month, if he would give a false return of the attendance. How distressing is it, to

have any thing to do with such people! Nothing that is said seems to make the least impression on some of them: such appear absolutely devoid of all feeling, whether of honour or shame.

Sept. 19, 1821.-Very late at night, arrived my dear Brethren, Lambrick and Ward. I had been out to meet them, but returned without them. I had not seen Br. Lambrick for two years-and-a-half; nor Br. Ward since he left me, with full expectation of returning again.

Sept. 20.-When we rose in the morning, we found one of Br. Ward's palanquin coolies sick with the Epidemic: we gave him medicine, but he continued to grow worse. I went, with Br. Lambrick, to Oodooville, and spent a very pleasant day with the American Brethren: they had the Schools of this Station to gether, and Mr. David preached to them: the company was large, and the occasion very interesting. Br. Ward, being indisposed with his journey, did not accompany us. Returning in the evening, we found that the coolie was dead and buried.

Sept. 23, Sunday.-In consequence of the death of the coolie, no School attended at my house; for, according to the superstitions of the country, the house is unclean for eight days, and considered dangerous to be entered.

Oct. 1.-We had a most pleasant meeting of our Missionary Brethren and Sisters, to unite in prayer for the Divine blessing, and to encourage one another in the work. Br. Lambrick opened the conversation.

Oct. 5.Br. Ward being somewhat recovered, went to Oodooville, where he will get better attention than at Nellore.

Oct. 10. After breakfast this morning, my friends left for their respective stations. Br. Ward is much better, but not entirely recovered.

people. They were very attentive; and I returned home, feeling thankful that I had another place open, where I might occasionally find a company to whom to declare the truth as it is in Jesus. I also had some pleasing anticipations of what might be done in this village, when I shall have a fellow labourer with me. There is a large population at hand, and it appears very promising for future usefulness.

In the evening, went as usual to Kykooler, and had a small but attentive audience; and, if I were not convinced of the contrary, I should sometimes think them receiving the truth in reality: but alas! though they seem to hear as God's people hear, they afterward shew that they care for none of these things. I trust the Lord will descend in the power of his grace, and make this barren wilderness as a fruitful ground, and as a garden which Himself hath blessed. The people, I find, do not like to be told that they do not pray, or worship God: amidst all their ignorance, and neglect of God and divine things, and their many abominable practices, they think themselves very religious and 'devout.

Nov. 24.-Applications were made to me for medicine for two persons sick of the Epidemic: two others died in the same house, a day or two ago. This is in the Kykooler Village, where the people boasted, a short time since, that, in consequence of the sacrifices which they had made to the Avenging Goddess, they should not be visited with the disease!

Nov. 27.-Many are dying around, in all directions. The Schools are all much thinned, and two have not assembled for some days.

Nov. 30.-A Boy came to inform me of the indisposition of one of my neighbours: I went and found him slightly attacked, apparently with the Epidemic: I gave him medicine. Went to another house, where an old woman was lying in the last stage of the disorder: her hearing was gone,

his Daughter; and visited and administered medicine to three others in the village: the last of these, a Young Woman, seemed disposed to treat the matter with contempt-calling it "Amma's Sickness," and the medicine, "Amma's Medicine:" I exhorted her to think more seriously, and to seek help of God.

So much distress I never witnessed before, as in this visit; and I felt powerfully impressed with the duty of interceding with God for these people, that the plague might either be stay. ed or sanctified. The visitation is truly awful. The poor creatures, when I visit them and inquire into their cases, generally look at me in the most earnest manner, as if to know what is to be their fate; and the want of every comfort of life renders their case truly deplorable, so that if custom had not inured them to their wretched condition, considering that they think little of eternity, it might appear to them almost as well to die as to live. As I came home from this distressing visit, I heard drums beating at the temple where I saw the Woman, from which I concluded that she was still there; and that ceremonies were being performed for her, to appease the Augry Goddess, and procure her restoration.

Dec. 11, 1821.-Mr. Toussaint, a Medical Man from Jaffna,called on me, and accompanied me in going round to see the sick: medicine was dispensed to many persons. We were walking about for three or four hours.

Dec. 16, Sunday.-Service in the morning as usual. Went out, in the afternoon, to Kykooler; but had no Congregation. I found sick people, to whom I gave medicine. In the temple, I witnessed a distressing sight -no less than nine persons were laid there, to obtain help from the Idol God. The attention of the people is now more turned than it was to their idols, ceremonies, and superstitions; and they are, in consequence, more indifferent with regard to medicine.

Dec. 17.-Applications for me

dicine still continue. Many deaths occur. Some who take medicine recover: others do not; and because all do not find benefit, the people do not feel confidence in the medicine, but carry most of their sick to the temples, and call on their Idol Gods for help. Some whom I found at the Kykooler Temple to-day were dead: others who were there were somewhat recovered; and their friends, who were attending them, boastingly exclaimed of their idol, "Pootharayar has been gracious to us!"

Dec. 18.-Accompanied Mr. Toussaint to see the sick. A poor man was just able to get up to my house for medicine for his Wife, himself labouring under the disease, when the Doctor arrived. He stated that a Brahmin had called on him to ask for a tree which stood on his premises, to assist in building anew a temple for the Devil Viraven. Near this place, a large temporary building was raised to this demon, when the sickness prevailed two years ago; and the people boast that the disease was stopped, in consequence of the ceremonies which were made at this temple. A small temple has long stood here, sacred to this demon; but as it is in a ruinous state, the people are urged, by the craft of the Brahmins and the fear of the sickness, to build it again. The Brahmin had told this man, that he had had a divine monition, that this tree must be given to the temple; but the poor man being unwilling to part with it, Viraven himself came to him, a night or two after, and seizing him by the throat in his sleep, would not loose him, till he had promised him the tree! A little after, his Wife was taken sick of the prevailing disease; and, yesterday, he took her to the temple: but this expedient failing, he thought himself deceived, and applied to me for aid. We went with him, and saw the tree which had been newly cut down. The poor man was in a pitiable plight: his relations had all left him through fear, and there

was no one but himself to take care of his Wife, and he was scarcely able to stand. Medicine was given her, but with little hope of her recovery: she afterward died: the poor man seemed to feel much tenderness for 'her.

We went on from thence to Kykooler, and were much grieved to see the ceremonies, and solemn parade, and prostrations around the idol temple. The people seem to be madly bent on their idols and idolatrous superstitions, and feel confident that Pootharayar will help them, although the very persons thus employed are, from day to day, attacked with the disease. I was much grieved to see the persons whom I had been instructing every Sabbath for some time past, and even the Children of the School, adorned with the badges of Heathenism, and wearing beads as a charm to keep off the sickness. I spoke to some of them who were in the temple, of the folly and absurdity of their practices; and reminded them of the Saviour, whom I had preached to them: but they seemed to feel little desire to hear of Him! The sick in the temple refused to take medicine.

Dec. 20, 1821.-Went round again to see the sick, with Mr. Toussaint. One man, whose female relative had been sick, was much displeased because we pressed to see her: for they often hide their sick, and say they are well, because they will not take our medicine. He said, his god had helped her, and he wanted not our assistance. I reminded him of the Supreme God: but he said he would trust in Pootharayar, and him only; and if they died, they died! Some who had been restored by the use of medicine, were gone to the temple, to acknowledge their allegiance to Pootharayar! Though they take medicine, they commonly, 1 learn, make a vow during their sickness, that, if they are restored, they will make offerings to some temple; and Brahmins often visit them, to receive their promises:

so that if they are restored by the help of medicine, it is commonly ascribed to the power of their idols.

Dec. 23.-Being unable to collect a congregation at Kykooler, I went again this afternoon to Narduterru. While the Schoolmaster was out collecting the people, two Old Men came and sat down by me, desiring to know who this Christ was, of whom they had heard me speak; for it appears they supposed him to be the same with their Kirtman (or Kristna, as it is sounded in North India) a name of Vishnoo in one of his incarnations. I took the opportunity of pointing out some of the striking differences in the life and character of each, and thus endeavoured to show that they could not be the same. I also spoke of the necessity of the atonement whichChrist came to make. They appeared to listen with eagerness to what I said, and did not attempt to cavil; their only object seeming to be, to know who Jesus Christ was, though doubtless curiosity alone prompted them to make the inquiry. I was much pleased with them, and prayed that their curiosity might be sanctified. I preached to an attentive little company; and afterward gave them some Tracts, and returned home revived.

Dec. 27.-Found a Native Doctor willing to look after the sick of this neighbourhood, whom I sent to Mr. Hooper, the Collector, who engaged him on behalf of the Government, to attend to the sick during the prevalence of the Epidemic.

Dec. 30, Sunday.-The Old Brahmin, whom I have before mentioned, stood at the window, and heard most of my Discourse. I afterward had him in, and talked with him about the nature and character of their gods: he told me that they were like ourselves, only a superior order of beings; that there were none of the inferior gods, who might not be charged with faults-and that they could not be trusted, but that Brahma was superior to the other deities.