Missions in South India
Mullens, Joseph
REY. JOSEPH MULLENS, rupees ns#g N12<528098486 021 ubiCBIrtGEf) MISSIONS IN SOUTH INDIA YISITED AND DESCRIBED BY JOSEPH MULLEINS, MISSIONARY OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY IN CALCUTTA. LONDON : W, K. DALTON. COCKSPUR STREET. 1854 PRINTED BY J. THOMAS, BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, CALCUTTA. PREFACE, Having, during my residence in India, made numerous enquiries into the Missionary Statistics of different parts of the country; and having read much concerning the progress of the gospel in Tanjore, Tinnevelly and Travancore, I left Calcutta at the close of 1852, in order personally to visit these localities, whose names have become so well known to the Christian church at large. My tour through the Presidency of Madras occupied the first three months of 1853. The farther I travelled and the more I saw of the Missions conducted by members of different Societies; the more deeply did I feel impressed with the extent, the variety and the influence of the labours, which are carried on in South India for the conversion of its idolatrous population. The farther I travelled, on the other hand, the more deeply did I feel the immeasurable extent of the ignorance and idolatry which yet exist. On my return to Calcutta I delivered a short course of Lectures, on the history, condition, and prospects of these various Missions. In publishing these lectures, I desire earnestly to encourage the Church of Christ, from a sight of at¬ tained success, to pray and labour more earnestly for that which yet re¬ mains. Even writers who have lived in India endeavour to depreciate the work and the fruits of Christian Missions. Would that such men would first ponder the facts which those Missions present for their considera¬ tion. To furnish such facts is one chief object of this little sketch. CONTENTS. Page Introduction, 1 Presidency of Madras, 4 Its Geographical Divisions, 5 The writer’s journey, 7 THE TELTJGTJ MISSIONS. Their history and present position, 9 The ghauts, ... 19 THE CANAEESE MISSIONS IN THE MYSOEE. Their history and present position, ... 20 General state of feeling, ... 24 Interesting discussion with Musalmans in   Missions, ... ... ... 51 A native Christian liturgy,   Madras,  TINNEVELLT AND SOUTH TRAVANCORE. The Shanar country,  ...  Syrians, ... ... 126 THE JESUIT MISSIONS  ... ... 148 CONTENTS. vii Page The Khond religion, . 151 Human Sacrifices, ... 152 Government efforts to suppress these rites, . 156 Discussion of their measures, ... 161 Kesults of these measures, . 174 What has been done with the Merias, ... ... 175 THE RELIGIOUS CLAIMS OE THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. Extent of country and population, . 179 The strength of superstition, ... 184 The great temple establishments, . 185 Encouragements, ... 188 Christian Union, ... . 189 LECTURE FIRST. ON THE TELUGU AND CANARESE MISSIONS. INTRODUCTION. The missionary spirit of the present age has turned with peculiar in¬ terest towards Hindustan. The savages of Tahiti, New Zealand, and the Sandwich Islands; the slaves of Guiana and Jamaica; the Hottentots, Kafires and Bechuanas of South Africa; the Negro tribes of Lagos and Badagry; uncivilized and barbarous all, have asked in their ignorance for the instructions of Christ’s servants and been taught the way of ever¬ lasting life. The Jews in Hungary, Poland and Tunis; the Armenian Christians of Constantinople and Beyrout; the Copts of Cairo; and the Nestorians of Oorumiah; have been called upon to awake from their spiritual sloth and receive the heart of the gospel as well as its external forms. Twelve hundred missionaries, the messengers of the churches, now preach the gospel in various countries of the globe; and few places that have ever given them admittance remain entirely unoccupied. But of these valued teachers, British India has secured by far the largest share. That security of property, that order and stability in the Govern¬ ment, which in India have attracted the indigo and sugar planter, the cotton speculator and the merchant, have, added to the free enjoyment of religion, drawn thither the feet of those who seek not the goods of India, but the people themselves. Thus it happens that more than one- third of the missionaries scattered through the world have been located within its ample territories; of whom as many as one hundred and thirty have entered it from America, Germany and Switzerland. Many considerations shew the importance of the Missionary agency how at work in India, and the value of the results which have already been attained. Two years ago, the writer of these pages published a few such facts for the information of those by whom Indian Missions are carried on, and proved beyond all question that the position they occupy, 2 INTRODUCTION. is one of the most promising and hopeful kind. A later and more com¬ plete enquiry, undertaken for the purpose of correcting any error that might have arisen in the former instance, confirmed the previous account in almost every particular, and shewed that on most points, the results had even been understated: whilst every year is found to add to the agency, and realises increased fruit from the labours both of past and pre¬ sent days. During the present year, the number of European and American missionaries labouring only amongst the native population in India and Ceylon amounts to four hundred ; together with forty-eight ordained native missionaries, and seven hundred native catechists. These agents are employed in the public preaching of the gospel in the vernacu¬ lar tongues; in courteous public discussions upon the errors of the Hindu and Mahomedan religions; in the instruction of the young; in the pastoral care of native churches; in the composition of Christian works in the native languages, and in the translation of the Word of God. The Native Christian churches are now three hundred and thirty-one in number, and contain eighteen thousand five hundred communicants. Ccymected with them, and with them enjoying the regular instruction and discipline of the gospel is a body of individuals, termed Native Christians, entirely separated from the Hindu and Musalman commu¬ nities. The entire Native Christian population now includes one hundred and twelve thousand persons, young and old. The Vernacular day- schools maintained in Indian Missions, thirteen hundred and fifty in number, contain forty *seven thousand , five hundred hoys. Ninety-three boarding Schools for boys contain two thousand four hundred scholars : and a hundred and two boarding schools for girls, contain two thousand eight hundred girls. There are maintained one hundred and twenty-six English day-schools giving a superior education to more than fourteen thousand scholars and students. Female education is carried on in three hundred and fifty day-schools, with about twelve thousand girls, both Christian and heathen; in addition to the hoarding schools mentioned, whose superior advantages are confined almost exclusively to Christian children. Efforts are still continued to improve the ten translations of the whole Bible, and the five other versions of the New Testament, which have already been completed : as well as to increase the valuable stock of vernacular Christian works, suitable both for heathens and Chris¬ tians, now available in all the chief Indian languages. Christian tracts and the. four Gospels are widely scattered beyond the immediate bound- INTRODUCTION. 3 aries of Missionary stations; and twenty-five printing presses are engaged in supplying them. Upon this agency, vast in itself, hut small compared with the sphere in which it is maintained and with the aims which it seeks to accomplish, the liberality of twenty-two Missionary Societies spends nearly two hundred thousand pounds a year. The number of actual converts in India is frequently spoken of as small, and none will deny the fact, in view of the millions upon millions who remain heathen still. But he, who considers actual converts as the sole fruit of missionary labour, takes but a partial view of the subject, and submits it to but an imperfect test. Missionary instruction, while aiming to secure such converts on the largest scale, has intermediately obtained results of another kind, which indirectly remove obstacles to its progress and are a guarantee of perfect ultimate success. Acting with influences derived from the Government, from commerce and from general intercourse with a foreign people, it has done much to break down the exclusiveness, in which Hindu Society was shrouded, and especially to diminish the high esteem in which the brahminical priesthood was once held. It has in various ways met the powerful difficulties which prevent the conversion of the Hindus, and has encountered them success¬ fully. The bonds of caste, reverence for the sacred books, veneration for a long-established priesthood, and a blind attachment to their idolatries, constitute the chief obstacle to their reception of an enlightened and reasonable religion. But missionary teaching has assailed these obstacles, diminished their influence, and produced on an extensive scale, a state of mind admirably preparative of great religious changes in future days. "Where this teaching has been most effective, many signs have been manifested of a decay in the strength of Hinduism. The decrease in the number of those who frequent the native seats of learning and study the ancient and authoritative Shastras: the diminished regard paid by the better-educated class to their Hindu spiritual teachers; the repudiation by that class of the scientific portions of the Yedas and Purans; the decay and ruin of the ancient temples; the small number of new ones erected in their stead; the great decrease in many parts of the country in the number of people gathered to celebrate the annual feasts and draw the huge idol cars; the increase of the new sects under new leaders, holding as prominent doctrines the folly of idolatry and the necessity of a holy life : the discussion by Hindus of various castes, of questions like female education and the re-marriage of widows, which were supposed to belong to pundits only and to have been settled by the Shastras ages ago : the b 2 4 PRESIDENCY OF MADRAS. extensive acknowledgment by the common people of the folly of idolatry, and of the wicked character ascribed to their gods; a more correct appre¬ ciation of the real character of moral evil, and the awakening of a con¬ science long dimmed by ignorance and vice— all attest the spread of purer knowledge and a loosening of the bonds which bind the people to their wretched ancestral faith. On the other hand, the diminution of angry discussions with missionaries, and ' a greater readiness to listen to what they preach; the willing reception of portions of the Bible and of religious tracts; the large number of copies which are beyond all doubt privately read and pondered; the respect with which the name of Christ is in many places received; and the very strenuousness of the opposition offered to Christianity where it is best known, are signs that its power is felt both by friend and foe, and that many regard it as the religion which shall ultimately prevail. To the decrease of Hinduism, many influences contribute. Intercourse with Europeans, whether connected with the Government or with trade; the introduction of European notions of justice into legislation; European ideas of science and morality, as well as religious instruction, tend to exhibit by contrast the weakness, and expose the errors of the religion of their Hindu ancestors; but it must be allowed that Missionary teaching on the subject has been the most direct, the most widely spread; has continued for the longest time and been applied in the most systematic way. The spread of Christian light by the direct preaching of the gospel is of course its peculiar province. PRESIDENCY OF MADRAS. Amongst the different territories of Hindustan which have enjoyed the benefit of missionary labours, and have exhibited many of their fruits, the Presidency of Madras naturally first attracts the Christian’s eye. Though not the largest of the Presidencies, nor the most important, either in relation to government, commerce, or political events, it has had the largest share of missionary effort, and exhibits the largest amount of palpable results. This Presidency was the first into which missionaries entered, and has therefore been cultivated the longest time. Nearly one hundred and fifty years ago the first Danish missionaries took up their residence in Tranquebar; and steadily maintained a course of instruction for the enlightenment of the pagan mind. During the whole of last century, one and another continued to arrive to occupy the places of those who died, and to extend the labours of the mission to new districts. GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OP THE PRESIDENCY. 5 Thus it happened that while nearly all the heathen world lay in dense darkness, the Gospel was preached successfully in Southern India. While the cannibals of New Zealand destroyed each other without hinderance; while the idolatry and vice of Tahiti remained unknown; while the Negro race were being subjected to the darkest horrors of the slave-trade; while the Hottentots in South Africa were shot unmercifully by their Dutch Masters; while China, (its infanticide and idolatry unknown,) was reckoned by some European infidels as the abode of piety and peace ; —the province of Tanjore and the town of Madras were benefiting by the same system of gospel-instruction which has since elevated these degraded people. During all last century, in these two localities the Word of God was preached and read in the Tamil language, Christian books were circu¬ lated in small numbers, and a steady witness offered for Christ, amid the native heathenism and European irreligion, which then so extensively prevailed. The history and progress of these Missions, and the position which they have at present attained must on this account alone, be matters of deep interest to all Christian minds: while that interest is deepened and lastingly secured by the internal character of many of the missions themselves. The following is the number of Missionaries and converts which the whole Presidency now contains. Missionaries,. 182 including Ordained Natives, . 18 Catechists, . 405 Churches,. 128 Communicants, . 10,662 Native Christians, . 76,591 Vernacular-school boys,. 24,500 English-sehool boys, . 4,286 Day-school girls,. 6,639 Boarding-school girls,. 1,470 GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OF THE PRESIDENCY. A few words premised on the Geography of South India, will help our readers to understand clearly the progress of its Christian Missions: especially as the country is divided so simply and naturally that its details can be easily remembered. The great continent of Hindustan, after projecting into the sea, slopes off to a point towards the south, and that extreme point is termed Cape Comorin. Almost all the projected 6 GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OP THE PRESIDENCY. part with those sloping sides, is included in the Presidency of Madras. On the eastern slope lies the Bay of Bengal; on the western, the broad Indian Ocean: and on the north of the Presidency are situated Orissa, Hydrabad, and the Presidency of Bombay. The Presidency naturally divides itself into three great districts. On each side there is a narrow slip of plain close to the sea, varying generally from ten to eighty miles in breadth; in the centre is a broad and undulating plateau, three thou¬ sand feet high; this includes the Provinces of Mysore, Coorg and the Ceded Districts. Ranges of hills, called Ghauts, run along the country on both sides, between the low plain near the sea, and the higher land of Central India: they are called the Eastern and Western Ghauts respectively. These natural physical divisions of the country are accom¬ panied by somewhat similar divisions of the people and of their languages. The Eastern sea-coast and plain are inhabited by two different nations; the Telugus, who occupy the district from Orissa to Pulicat: and the Tamils who possess that which extends from Pulicat to Cape Comorin. The high central province contains the pure Canarese population: the Western strip of sea-coast is possessed by the Canarese people in the north, whence the province is called Canara; and by the Mdledlis* in the south. The Mdledlis occupy the province of Malabar, with the dis¬ tricts of Tellicherry and Calicut ; also the little kingdom of Cochin, and the chief portion of Travancore. Thus Telugu is found in the north-east; Tamil in the south-east; Canarese in.the centre .and north-west; and Mdledlim in the south-west. The Tamil and Mdkdlim of course meet near Cape Comorin.. The Missions . of the Presidency may be also divided on the same principles: being much separated from each other by the difference of tongue. Beginning along the Bay of Bengal, after passing Orissa and the town of Puri, we find Missions among the Telugus at Yizagapatam, Masulipatam, Gunt.oor, Bajmundry, Nellore and Cuddapah. Passing through their country, we come to the Tamil Missions at Madras; at Tranquebar; Tanjore and Trichinopoly. Farther south, they are flou¬ rishing in the districts of Dindigul and Madura : and next in Tinnevelly, and at Cape Comorin. In the centre of the Presidency, Bangalore is the head of the Canarese Missions which have been also established at Bel- * This word is usually written in the form Malay alim ; a form which both sug¬ gests a wrong pronunciation, and some connection with the Malay people; with whom however it has nothing to do. Each a is accented and pronounced as a in hard. The name is connected with Mala-bar. THE WRITER’S JOURNEY. 7 lary, Goobee and Mysore. On the West coast the Basle Society has Canarese Missions at Dharwar, Honore, Mangalore and Cannanore: and chief stations in the Malealim country at Tellicherry and Calicut. The Jews at Cochin speak Malealim: so also do the Syrian Christians of. North Travancore, to whom the Church Missionary Society has for many years preached the gospel. Each of these groups of Missions I propose to notice in the course of these lectures, adopting the following order: The Telugu, Canarese and Tulu Missions. The Tamil Missions in Madras, Tanjore and Madura. The Shanar Missions in Tinnevelly and South Travancore. The Syrian Christians in North Travancore. I also add Lectures on subjects of a similar kind, and of great interest; The Romish Missions in South India : The Government Mission among the Khonds: The Claims of the Madras Presidency for more missionaries. THE WRITER’S JOURNEY. To describe in full the numerous incidents of the writer’s journey through so large a portion of the Madras Presidency, is not the purpose of these lectures : but, in order to shew the authority upon which many statements are made, and many descriptions offered, it may be useful to give a mere outline of the course which that journey took, and the places which I visited. In going down the Bay of Bengal towards Madras, the ship stayed a week at Vizagapatam. I thus had the opportunity of examining the oldest Telugu Mission in the country, and of receiving from Mr. G-ordon the oldest missionary, and from his brethren, much information concern¬ ing the progress of other missions since established. After a short stay in Madras, during which I saw almost all the missionaries of that city, I set out on my journey into the interior. In order to make the best use of my limited time and to prevent the necessity of going over the same ground twice in certain places, I proceeded in the first place straight westward into the very heart of the Presidency, to Bangalore : visiting on the way the town of Arcot and the celebrated temples at Conjeveram. At Bangalore I met all the missionaries both of the Wesleyan and Lon¬ don Societies, and visited their chapels, press and schools. Thence I went south to Mysore, where there is a Wesleyan Mission; went over the palaces of Hyder and Tippu at Seringapatam : saw the gateway 8 THE WRITER’S JOURNEY. where Tippu was killed, and visited their celebrated tombs. Crossing “ the valley of death/’ a jungle twenty-five miles deep, resembling the pestilential Terai at the base of the Himalaya, I entered the Nilgherry Hills on the north side, and spent two days at Ootacamund. Four miles from Ootacamund at Kaity, the residence of the late Mr. Casamajor, I saw the German Mission which he established and the villages of Badagas for whom it was specially designed. Descending the Nilgherry Hills on the east side by the splendid Pass of Konoor, I came down into the eastern plains to the London Mission at Coimbatoor, being the first missionary from Bengal that had ever visited those parts. I then passed through the great gap in the Ghauts, at Palgaut, to the West coast of India, and reached Trichoor the most northerly station of the Church Missionary Society among the Syrian Christians of Travancore. Thence I sailed down f the Backwater’ to Cochin, passing on the way numerous Roman Catholic Churches, in the island of Verapoli and its neighbourhood. In Cochin I visited the Jewish synagogue with Mr. Laseron its missionary and also his Jewish school. Thence I proceeded to Cottayam, the head-quarters of the Syrian Mission, and saw its hand¬ some Gothic Churches, its excellent schools and useful press. I visited also Mavelikari, one of the most flourishing stations, and thence proceeded to Quilon. In these parts, I travelled close to the western coast, often along the sea beach itself, looking over the broad waters of the Indian Ocean which stretch away without interruption to the coast of eastern Africa. Leaving Quilon which has been for thirty years a station of the London Missionary Society in Travancore, I proceeded to Trevandrum, another station, the residence of the Raja of Travancore, who sent the ivory throne to the Great Exhibition: thence I went to Pareychaley , a third station of the London Mission, and concluded the first portion of my journey by arriving finally at Nagercoil, the head-quarters of the mission, a few miles from Cape Comorin. I spent a fortnight among these interesting missions, visiting all their chief stations in turn; and greatly enjoying the society of the missionaries in whose charge they lie. After a visit to Cape Comorin I set out on my return to Madras by com¬ ing up the east coast, and through the Tamil country. I first spent twelve days among the many stations in Tinnevelly; and then went on to Madura, Dindigul and other stations of the American Mission. Thence I proceeded to Trichinopoly where Swartz lived and Heber died; and to Tanjore, where Swartz is buried. I next visited Negapatam and saw both the Wesleyan Mission and Jesuit College: and thence continued THE TELUGU MISSIONS. 9 my journey to the oldest Mission in India, that at Tranquebar. Passing the temples of Chillumbrum; the old Mission at Cuddalore, founded by Mr. Kiernander; the Jesuit College in Pondicherry; and the Seven Pagodas at Mavalipuram, I proceeded to Madras, which I reached after an absence of twelve weeks. In this journey I travelled thirteen hundred and sixty miles; including Madras, I saw altogether fifty Missionary Stations and ninety Missionaries. [As an illustration of the extent to which Missions are now carried on in Hindustan, I may state that I have myself seen and spoken to no less than one hundred and ninety-four living Indian Missionaries: in addition to twenty-seven others, who have died or left the country.] I cannot conclude this short sketch of my interesting and delightful journey without gratefully recording the kind and hospitable manner in which I was everywhere received. The missionary brethren of all Societies welcomed me with the utmost cordiality, and in many cases, though personally a stranger, seemed to regard me as an old friend. This kind reception arose probably from the correspondence I had previously had with them when compiling my missionary statistics in previous years. They entered readily into my enquiries and gave me much information concerning the history, condition and prospects of their different spheres of labour. We were able to compare notes on the character and difficul¬ ties of missionary work in different parts of Hindustan : and to derive therefrom mutual instruction and mutual encouragement. I was also greatly pleased to hear the cordial manner in which they spoke of each other’s labours. Though belonging to many Societies they know each other personally, join in common labours and make use of each other’s works. This cordial union is nothing new in India, but I mention it as a patent fact which struck me both as excellent in itself, and as a token of the future success of their common labours. The pleasure of my visits to so many of the labourers in the Lord’s vineyard, and the im¬ pressions which they made upon my heart will, I trust, abide with me as long as life lasts. THE TELUGU MISSIONS. The country entirely occupied by the Telugu nation is the narrow strip of sea-coast on the Bay of Bengal, which stretches from Ganjam to Pulicat. It is about six hundred miles long, and varies in breadth from ten to eighty miles. It is bounded on the western side by a broad chain c 10 THE TELUGU MISSIONS. of Ghauts, the undulating country above which is also inhabited by the Telugu people far hack into Hydrabad. Near Ganjam these Ghauts come down close to the sea, and continue to throw off spurs towards the coast as far as Coringa. It was a great treat to those of us who had lived for some time in the flat plains of Bengal, as we sailed along the Telugu coast, to see these hills following one another in quick succession, clothed with jungle to their very summits. In the highest of all, the hills of Goomsur, we remembered that once the Meriah sacrifice so widely prevailed among the Khoonds; though that cruel rite has now, through the efforts of Government, been almost entirely extinguished. The level country is fertile and from it the peasants raise abundant crops of corn. Indigo, sugar and cotton also are found among its productions. It is well watered by numerous smaller streams, but numbers also the Kistna and Godavery among its rivers. The population is large ; though in some of its districts, especially in Masulipatam and Guntoor, immense num¬ bers, reckoned by hundreds of thousands, were swept away in the great famine of 1833. Owing to the abundant population we find throughout the country flourishing towns and villages. Vizagapatam , the head¬ quarters of the Military Division in the Northern Circars, contains now 50,000 people; having increased from 20,000 in about forty years. Vizianagram the residence of a Baja, numbers 28,000. Masulipatam, a pretty town nearly two miles square, built in the usual Indian style and containing about twenty pagodas, has 90,000. Rajamundry, Guntoor, Nellore and Ongole are also large and important places. To these must be added the town and district of Cuddapah. The first effort to extend the gospel to the Telugu people was made by Dr. Schultz, one of the early Tranquebar missionaries, who founded a mission in Madras. Finding among the Madras population a large number of Telugus, (then called Gentoos) he began to translate the Bible into their tongue; and established, and maintained for years, Telugu classes in his schools. There is reason to believe that his Telugu Munshi died a true Christian, the first fruits to Christ of that great nation. Dr. Schultz completed his translation of the Bible; but having no means of printing it, took it to Halle on his return to Europe; and it has never since been heard of. The first settled Mission to the people in their own country was established by Messrs. Cran and Desgranges of the London Missionary Society, who proceeded to Vizagapatam in 1805. Like others of their day, they began their ministerial work with religious services among THE TELITGU MISSIONS. 11 Europeans and the neglected children of the English regiments: but they also applied themselves diligently to the Telugu language, and soon became known among the natives as religious teachers for them. They admitted native hoys into their school, conversed frequently with their neighbours, and itinerated among the surrounding villages. They com¬ piled tracts, consisting of scripture passages on particular subjects, which were printed at Madras; and began to prepare a complete translation of the Gospels and Acts. They were much encouraged at the outset by the aid furnished by a Telugu brahman who had been baptized first by the lloman Catholics and afterwards received at Tranquebar. In the myste¬ rious Providence of God these two brethren who had entered on their work so well, were cut off in the beginning of their usefulness. Mr. Cran died in 1809 and Mr. Desgranges in 1810. Two new missionaries however arrived, Messrs. Gordon and Lee; they again were soon joined by Mr. Pritchett, who had been to Rangoon, and had been compelled to retire from his mission there. Mr. Lee left in 1815, but Mr. Dawson arrived the same year and occupied his place. The three brethren, Gordon, Dawson and Pritchett, continued their preaching and school instructions uninterruptedly for some years; during which they endea¬ voured to enlarge the mission by founding a branch at Ganjam. They found that the people had begun to understand the gospel, and at Chica- cole some who had never seen any thing but their tracts, had declared they would become Christians. The translation of the New Testament was completed before Mr. Pritchett's death, and put, I believe, into circulation. That of the Old Testament was far advanced and was com¬ pleted by Mr. Gordon. It is now being printed for the first time by the Madras Bible Society : only small portions, like the Psalms, having been circulated hitherto. Mr. Pritchett died in 1820, after eight years’ labour; the brethren Gordon and Dawson remained alive; the former till 1828 ; the latter till 1832. They were not privileged to see many converts drawn from the district; but they had extensively spread the knowledge of the gospel among the villages and towns in their neighbourhood, and -proved a great blessing to the poorer European population, who would otherwise have lived destitute of religious instruction. The houses where they resided, the garden they planted, and the chapel they erected still exist: and their sons are now carrying on the labours from which they ceased only with life. A second Mission among the Telugus was founded at Cuddapah, in the Ceded Districts below the Ghauts, in 1822. Its first Christians were c 2 12 THE TELUGU MISSIONS. Tamils from Chittoor; and the extreme inconsistency, weakness and irreligion which prevailed among them for many years, proved a strong harrier to the spread of Christianity among the people, for whose good the mission had been commenced. The administration of a sound and faith¬ ful discipline at length purified the church of these evils, although its numbers were reduced. From that time an eminent blessing rested on it from above, and Christianity began to take firm root in the Telugn villages by which Cuddapah is surrounded. These two stations. Vizagapatam and Cuddapah , under the London Missionary Society, continued to be the only Missions among theTelugus till the year 1836, now seventeen years ago. The famine of 1833 drew marked attention to this interesting people, and efforts were specially made to spread the gospel where it had not been hitherto declared. The first additional station was established at Narsapore by Messrs. Bowden and Beer in 1836. These labourers for Christ were two young trades¬ men from Barnstaple, who had come to India anxious to carry on mis¬ sionary work while supporting themselves by their trades. The latter part of the scheme failed, as it has done elsewhere; but friends took up their cause and sent them money, and have continued to support them to the present time. Both learned the language well; and have been exceedingly useful. Mr. Bowden is said to speak Telugu like a native, and it is remarkable that he has been especially successful among the chuklas, or shoe-makers, to whom in a manner he himself once belonged. He was for sometime engaged by Col. Cotton to preach to the natives engaged in the construction of the great Anicut or dam across the River Godavery near which they live. Another station was established in 1839 at Cicacole by the London Mission, as an offshoot from Yizagapatam from which it is a few miles distant. In 1841, the Church Missionary Society took up Masulipatam, incited thereto by an offer made to Bishop Corrie by some gentlemen of the station, to provide a considerable por¬ tion of two missionaries’ salaries. It was this offer which brought out to India one of the most spiritual and gentle, yet energetic missionaries of modem days, the Rev. Henry Fox. His career was short but striking, more useful perhaps to his countrymen, as an example of self-devotion, than distinguished by success among the heathen. Since its establish¬ ment in 1841, the mission has been well supplied with agents, has been well managed, and is one of the most efficient missions in the Telugu land. Nellore was taken up by the American Baptists in 1840: Raj- mundry and Guntoor , in 1845 by the Society of North Germany. The THE TELUGU MISSIONS. 13 Free Church also opened schools at N ellore. Thus has provision been made for a more extensive proclamation of the gospel among this long- neglected people. It will readily be supposed that missionaries pursue in the Telugu country, plans very similar to those adopted in other parts of India: particularly in the mofussil districts. They act as pastors and teachers of the churches which they have gathered: have near them boarding schools for Christian children and orphans; superintend and instruct vernacular schools, where only elementary knowledge can he communi¬ cated : and in the best towns have established English schools besides. They also frequently undertake extensive itinerancies into country dis¬ tricts : their opportunities for such labour, as in all the Madras Presi¬ dency, not being nearly so limited as in Bengal: the sun and weather being more favourable. The general knowledge and religious condition of the people at large seem to be much the same as they are in villages in Bengal. They have their periodical festivals and melas : with this peculiarity, that at certain places they worship particular Avatars or incarnations of Yishnu. At one place near Yizagapatam, a crowd of 25,000 people assembles annually to worship the Boar-incarnation: in another, to worship the Norsingh or incarnation of the man-lion. If the small-pox or cholera rages badly, they all bring their sacrifices to the Ammavaru, each caste having its own priests; who slaughter buffaloes, sheep and fowls in her honour: in her name the swinging feasts are held. Snakes, Hanuman and the brahmin-ldtes are extensively honoured and even worshipped. The brahmins of course are superior to all. Fakeers are accounted peculiarly holy. The same shastras, the same legends prevail there as in Upper India. The same rules of caste are obeyed. The same vices too abound. Lying is especially common. “ How could the world,” say they, “ go on without lying.” The doctrines of Pantheism and Transmigration are continually advocated, and bring forth the same apathy and indifference among them, as they produce elsewhere. But the work of the Lord is steadily making progress. Here and there an individual conversion takes place in the upper classes, rending families asunder and causing the thoughts of many hearts to be revealed. Every year witnesses additions to the infant churches. Although the majority of the Telugu missions have been in operation only about twelve years, yet the religious impressions produced upon the people in general are plainly discernible. A great amount of Bible knowledge has been widely 14 THE TELTTGU MISSIONS. spread; in some heathen families it has been found that the Bible is ■daily read and prayer daily offered. Wherever new temples are built or old ones repaired, it is usually observed that the obscene figures which once formed their chief ornament are removed; a fact owing doubtless to the light which from the gospel is now breaking upon the darkness of ages. It is manifest that the leaven of the Word of God is working. In many places the people acknowledge that Christianity will prevail; that their gods are weak; that idolatry is foolish. In proof of this the ■singular fact is exhibited, that they have begun to give up many of the inferior deities, and to appeal especially to 11am believing him to be Al¬ mighty* Processions are constantly formed of persons carrying lights and singing hymns in praise of Bam. I saw one such when in Yizaga- patam. Missionaries frequently meet with facts like these during their exten¬ sive itinerancies; it is in their journeys that they come into closest con¬ tact with purely native life, and gain a thorough insight into native notions especially in the country villages. Por instance; at Narsampctt, several years ago, Mr. Edward Porter was preaching to a congregation of upwards of a hundred persons, and found it heart-cheering to see the regard which these poor people paid to the word of life. One old woman about eighty years of age, listened with marked attention for some time; Mr. Porter was much struck with her appearance, and having finished his address turned aside to converse with her. He asked if she wor¬ shipped idols : “No;” she replied, “I have left them off.” “ How long have you left them off?” “Ever since the great famine:” (very likely the year 1833). “ Whom then do you worship ?” She pointed to the heavens and said : “ That God, he only is God and no one else. These people,” she continued, “ have a thousand opinions and a thousand religions, therefore God does not dwell with them: you speak of one God and one true way, therefore God dwells with you.” It was delight¬ ful to hear such a testimony from a poor decrepit old woman, surrounded as she was with all the abominations of idolatry. In the village of Ehoosee, in 1845, Mr. Dawson had little less than the whole population to hear his preaching; men, women and children thronging around him from morning till night. Many from their looks and expressions seemed convinced of the truth, but felt the difficulties in their way to be very great. A little company of ten persons returned to his tent in the dark, after others had gone home, and calling to the servants asked; “What is the name of that Saviour, that Master has THE TELUGU MISSIONS. 15 been telling us of; we try to recollect it, but cannot.” The servants, thinking it perhaps too bad of them to trouble the missionary again at night, after being with him all the day, replied, “ Master is just gone and laid himself down; don’t trouble him again.” Mr. Dawson however called to them: and asking them to come in, one of their number, rather an old man, entered the tent, and sitting down, said; “Sir, we have been hearing all that has been said, and we have felt persuaded that the truth is on your side. A few of us have therefore consulted together that it is not right for us to disregard your message, and your disinter¬ ested concern for our welfare; and we have thought that we would henceforth, though we cannot do all that you have told us, give up the worship of idols and false gods and think of and pray to this Saviour alone, but we could not recollect his name. Is it this ?” he said, pro¬ nouncing it rather incorrectly. Mr. D. repeated the name of Jesus to them several times, and after speaking to them a little more of its being the only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, proposed to them, to send a man to stay with them continually and teach them the worship of the true Saviour, of whom they were so anxious to hear. Pleasing as these indications are of an improved state of things, too much importance should not be attributed to them: the very circum¬ stances of the case forbid it. At Peddapur, a blacksmith several times visited Mr. Gordon, declaring his dissatisfaction with Hinduism, and his desire to become more acquainted with the claims and doctrines of Chris¬ tianity, with the narratives of which he seemed to be much interested. “ But how,” was his sensible question, “ are we to become acquainted with it ? You are here to-day and away to-morrow, and we have no means of obtaining the instructions we want ?” A native baptized by Mr. Dawson at Chieaeole, was in the first instance led to think of the interests of his soul, through the instrumentality of a Telugu tract. He had been contemplating a visit to Jagannath, and was on the eve of preparation, when a copy of the tract on the worship of Jagannath was accidentally discovered by him in his box. He read it, relinquished the project of his pilgrimage; became a stated attendant at Mr. Dawson’s chapel; and a steady adherent to the truth. At both the Church Missionary English School in Masulipatam , and that of the London Mission at Vizagapatam, young men have been led (as in Calcutta and Madras), to give up Hinduism and profess the reli¬ gion of Christ. The same uproar has followed there as here. The same 16 THE TELUGU MISSIONS. 