The mmense quantities of bones | them. Pilgrim-hunters were marching which lay scattered on the road sides, into the town at the head of droves of plainly indicated that we were ap- pilgrims, whom they had succeeded in proaching the region of disease and enticing to the sacred city. The street death. With the appearance of one in which the temple is erected contains garden fence I was very much struck. many fine buildings; it is about sixty It was hung all over with animal and yards wide, and a mile long. The temple human bones. And what for, think you? stands at the southern end, within a Why, to keep away thieves. Bones, few hundred yards of the Bay of Bengal. as you may be aware, are unclean As I stood looking at the old ocean, I in the estimation of good caste hindoos; thought of its rolling before the founconsequently, a fence on which any dation of the temple was laid; and we are hung is stronger than would be a may rejoice that it shall roll long after fence of iron. For stealing merely, the the temple has been forsaken,-and hindoo would not be defiled; but if, there shall not be left one stone upon when in the act of stealing, he hap- another that shall not be thrown down.' pened to touch a bone, he would be The enclosure in which the temple defiled and require purification. Such stands is very large, and surrounded are the ideas of defilement among the by high massive walls. No European, natives of India. There is a similar with one exception, has ever gained adcustom of keeping away thieves on the mittance to the temple. An allusion to Berhampore side, but as bones are not this circumstance is made in a work so plentiful as at Pooree, old cooking entitled Tours in Upper India, &c.,' by pots are used instead. For instance, as Major Archer, late Aid-de-camp to Lord soon as mangoes and other kinds of Combermere. Referring to a visit to fruit begin to form, it is usual to sus- Pooree and Jaganath's temple he pend old earthen cooking pots from observes, Only one European has had, the branches of the trees, and though a what by a traveller may fairly be termed little pilfering is sweeter to the natives the good fortune to effect an entrance than the fruit even, no good caste native into its sacred and mysterious precincts, would touch the tree. and this was a matter of such enterprize, not to say danger, had he been discovered, that a slight notice of it may perhaps, be pardoned:—An officer, it is believed by the name of Carter, formed a wish to enter the temple at the period of the great festival; he gained the connivance and assistance of some of the Sepoys of his corps, by whom he was greatly beloved, they painted him with the distinguishing marks of their caste, arrayed him in proper garments, and for protection took him in the midst of them; he underwent the ceremonies prescribed, and came out safely. He stated that he saw nothing but large courts and apartments for the priests, and could only catch a glimpse of the idol at a distance. The circumstance of his admission came to the knowledge of the brahmins, who immediately declared that the impiety would be visited by Jaganath's indignation. Unluckily, the officer came back to Pooree with his corps some years afterwards and there died, and thus to all men's minds was accomplished the brahminical prediction.' Between six and seven o'clock, we reached the circuit-house,'-or goverument bungalow, where a court is sometimes held,-which was very kindly placed at our disposal during our stay at Pooree. There we found brother and sister Taylor, who were glad to leave the scanty, wretched accommodation of their Pooree-house,' and join us in the larger one. Brethren Bailey and Goad by we thought might have preceded us, but they did not make their appearance till after midnight. Being awoke by their arrival, we all turned out to hear their adventures. Morning and evening we all went into the principal street, and preached Christ and him crucified.' The presence of so many 'padre-sahibs' seemed to create no little astonishment among the people, and bad as they are, I Cannot but think that our cheerfully submitting to abuse and insult would make an impression on some minds. Scores of workmen were employed in preparing the three gigantic cars, and twisting the monster ropes with which to draw · A Visit to the Jaganath Festival. Besides all the brethren now in the field, our fellow-labourers, Damudar, Kombho, Jagoo, and Thoma were present. As our forces were so strong, we divided into several parties, and occupied different places. Before the festival commenced we had many important opportunities of proclaiming the gospel. As the time drew nearer the people became more excited, the cries of Victory to Jaganath' and 'Hurri bol' more frequent, and many of the brahmins looked more like fiends than men. To argue any point in a quiet straightforward manner they scarcely attempted. Their great argument is abuse, and of this the Poorees are certainly accomplished masters. For more than six hundred years, they and their forefathers have been devising and practising wickedness in its vilest forms, consequently, they have become giants in sin, monsters in iniquity; the embodiments of all that is crafty, cruel, and corrupting, of everything that is dishonourable to God and disgraceful to man. To regard such fiend-like monsters as men, -to go time after time and strive to do them good, and receive nothing in return but vile abuse, is almost too much for human nature, and were it not for the love of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the promises of God, one would be inclined to say, 'Pooree is joined to idols, let it alone.' Turn one way, and you are certain to see a host of poor creatures, minus a leg, an arm, or both-here crawling along and there sprawling on the ground, soliciting alms in the most unearthly tones; turn another way and you are met by some poor leper who endeavours to excite your compassion by showing you that his fearful disease has already eaten away his nose, his fingers, and his toes, and that it is making inroads into other parts of his body. Stand in one place, and a number of blind men are brought for your inspection, or some poor idiot strolls into your presence; go into another, and you see the struggles and hear the groans of the sick and dying. One morning brother Bailey and I passed a place where dead bodies are thrown down and left un buried. Bro. B. said that some years ago he 117 saw and counted eighty corpses in this same spot, all of which had been stripped of their clothing. Though no bodies had been thrown out when we were there, there were heaps of human bones, which, having been picked by the crows and the vultures, the dogs and the jackalls, lay bleaching in the sun. Nor do one's olfactory nerves escape their share of the disagreeable, for what with the stench arising from oily bodies, filthy streets, and other things too numerous and indecent to mention, one is at times almost overpowered and ready to faint. According however, to the hindoo shastres and traditions, this city of filth, this den of thieves and haunt of prostitutes, is one of the finest, purest places the earth contains. There the great lord of the world displays his glory, holds his court, and dispenses his favours. Enter this city and every sin you have committed or can commit is entirely and for ever pardoned. Lie down in its filthy streets and you rest on the gentle bosom of the world's great lord. Die in its halls and precincts, and you pass from the sacred city to supreme happiness. Such are the lying impostures palmed on the people, and such are the abominable practices by which the inhabitants of Pooree earn their livelihood and accumulate their wealth. This year the pilgrims were more numerous than for several years past, but happily the weather was fine and the cases of cholera comparatively few. The European doctor is very active and kind. Though under no obligation to do so, he rode through the town daily to see if any were suffering from cholera, in which case he had the parties conveyed to the hospital. The ductor said that when such cases came to his notice he insisted upon all the property being made over to him, and from this source he has formed a fund which enables him to provide extra assistance in times of unusual sickness and mortality. Such efforts to relieve the wants and mitigate the woes of the pilgrim are very praiseworthy, especially as they are quite spontaneous and additional to what are officially required. The three idols were brought out on place I saw what I thought to be a dead body lying at the side of the road. Some time after one of our servants came up, and I asked him if he had seen a dead man at the side of the road. His reply was 'it is a female pilgrim, she is not quite dead, but will die to-night or in the morning. Her friends have stripped her of all her clothes and have gone on and left her.' Darkness veiled other scenes from our view, but by the light of our torches we could see crowds of pilgrims sleeping on the road, not having a place wherein to shelter. DEATH OF THE REV. W. MILLER'S YOUNGEST CHILD. the Saturday, and amidst the deafening | returning to their homes. In one shouts of the assembled multitudes, were duly set up on their respective cars. As soon as this ceremony is over the pilgrims begin to leave the town; so early the next morning brethren Buckley, Taylor, and myself, accompanied by two native preachers, went to a place called 'Athara Nulla" a mile outside the town, to distribute tracts to the home-bound pilgrims. Nearly all the women had with them a small basket of cooked rice or sacred food, which they were conveying to their friends as relics of the sacred city. In reply to our question, how far have you come? some said, 'a month's journey'* some 'six weeks,' some 'two months.' Among others there was one old man who appeared like a walking skeleton, and could not be much less than seventy years of age. In answer to the question how far have you come, he said a' three months' journey.' Reckoning both ways, he would scarcely walk less than two thousand miles. What would friends in England-who think it a long distance to walk as many yards to the house of God,-say to this old man walking all alone, in an Indian hot and rainy season, two thousand miles, or for six consecutive months, along bad roads and no roads, now in mud, and in water, and then in jungles infested by wild beasts, and all in order to see his wooden god. While we pity the poor old man, should we not learn a lesson from his endurance and perseverance? In the evening we went again into the town to preach the gospel, but the people were so mad upon their idols, that there was very little disposition to listen to our message. In contrast with the scenes that were around us, my thoughts were often amid the sabbath scenes of happy England. Happy time when the christian sabbath shall be observed through the length and breadth of this now benighted land. On the Monday afternoon we left for Cuttack. Crowds of pilgrims were As in the Scriptures, the natives speak of their journey as of so many hours, days, weeks, or months, and not of distance as is common among us. A heavier trial than any connected with their voyage to India, mentioned in last month's Observer, awaited Mr. and Mrs. Miller on their arrival in Calcutta. Particulars are furnished by Mr. Miller in a letter from Cuttack, dated January 4th. "Our short stay in Calcutta was marked by a very painful event, viz., the death of our beloved youngest child. The day we landed he seemed to be in the best of health, and continued so up to December 15th, when he had an attack of diarrhoea. After using all the means we thought best, in vain, a medical man was called in. He at first treated the case very lightly. However, the child became worse instead of better, so that on sabbath morning, the 18th, the doctor and we both thought it advisable to have additional advice, and two more doctors were sent for. They both thought the case almost hopeless, and on Tuesday morning, the 20th, at halfpast three o'clock, death terminated the extreme sufferings of our darling boy. This, as you may imagine, was a severe trial to Mrs. Miller and myself. Having been permitted, with much difficulty and trouble, to bring the dear child across the ocean, (and on which account he had become doubly precious Bible Translation Society, &c. to us) his sudden removal when so Dear our destination appears very mysterious. However, we know it is right and well, for Our Father has done it, who cannot err. Though our loss is great, our darling child's gain is greater. We therefore try to sayThe Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.' We had to inter the same day. At Mrs. Miller's request I communicated by telegraph with Mr. J. Robinson, of Serampore, who has charge of the mission burial ground, and requested him to have a grave ready by 5 pm. About 3 p.m., Mrs. Miller and I, with the corpse, entered a palkee garry, and commenced our sorrowful journey to Serampore, via Barrackpore. Lest the driver, and the boatmen, when we crossed the river, should object to having anything to do with the corpse, we had the coffin wrapped in a railway rug. Mr. Robinson kindly met us at the Serampore Ghat with a conveyance, and drove us to the burial ground. Here we found Messrs. Trafford and Sampson, of the Serampore Mission. The former kindly read the burial service, and offered up a prayer which did us good. We laid the precious remains of our dear child near those of Ward and Mack, and not far from the tomb of the immortal Carey. After taking a cup of tea, we returned to Calcutta." 119 collections. The accounts for the year will be closed at the end of this month; meanwhile, we hope our churches will not forget the society that came so opportunely to the relief of their missionaries in Orissa. Collections, donations, or annual subscriptions should be forwarded to the Rev. W. W. Evans, Secretary, 33, Moorgate-street, London, E. C. GOOD NEWS FROM DELHI. We are now strong in Delhi, and the word of God is spreading most rapidly, especially among the Chumars. On Sunday, October 24th, I baptized had the pleasure of immersing three twenty-one; last Thursday evening I more; and this month I have baptized eight. Our church now numbers more than 100 souls, and there are many hundreds of inquirers in Delhi alone; besides all the villages round us are in a most interesting state. I am full of expectation as to our future, and I hope we shall soon bave quite a chain of native churches round Delhi. The difficulty is to get pastors for them, and in this respect we must do the best we can.-Letter from the Rev. James Smith. NOTICE. Ir is particularly requested, that when Mr. Stubbins is appointed to visit any bills may be sent to him previously by place for the mission, a copy of the post, and also an intimation at whose house he will be expected to make his home. Our worthy brother has several times been much inconvenienced through the neglect of these little matters. His address by post is, The Rev. I. Stubbins, Nottingham. P.S.-Any printed matter, weighing under four ounces, is charged only one penny postage, if free from writing, and left open at the ends. Foreign Letters Received. CUTTACK.-W. Hill, January 4th. | CUTTACK.-W. Miller, January 4th. Contributions, RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. From January 20th, to February 20th, 1860. Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by Robert Pegg, Esq., Treasurer, Derby, and by the Rev. J. C. Pike, Secretary, Quorndon, near Loughborough, from whom also Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books and Cards may be obtained. |