machinery. And yet the singular custom described in the following paragraph is abundantly attested by many witnesses.

In a small, dark chamber, to the left of the entrance, is a Mani, (praying cylinder) six feet high, and four in diameter. This is set upright to turn on a spindle, and is closely written from top to bottom, with the sentence Um mani padmi hung, and in the inside it is filled with a roll of paper, printed all over with the same mystic words. On the lower part of the spindle, which turns in a socket, there is a crank by which a man was constantly revolving the Mani, whilst Around his he repeated the above sentence. neck was a string of beads, one of which he shifted at every revolution. On the roof of the Gompa there is an aperture railed round, and covered as a gallery, whence spectators may see the ceremonies below, without intruding. All around the outer walls, there are rows of smaller Manis, to which every passer by may give a twirl. Near the Gompa is a little building erected over a stream of water, in which three large Manis are kept in continual motion, by the spindles passing down, and entering as many water-wheels below. The roof and corners of the houses, are also surmounted by small ones, like a whirligig, to be propelled by the wind, and the Lamas always carry in their hands, and keep revolving neat little Manis made of brass.

These are also filled with slips of paper printed with the Um mani padmi hung. I have read a Tibetan work which explains the meaning and virtues of these words; but these cannot now be given in full. Each letter is supposed to have a significant meaning. One represents the essence of the Supreme Being, another Satan, another Heaven, another Hell, and the remainder all the good and evil spirits; and it is thought a frequent repetition of these letters propitiates all these, and secures their favour. The continual revolving of them, the Lamas say, is in imitation of the universe moving round in an eternal circle, and the various transmigrations through which all beings must pass. They also say, that just so many times as a person turns, or causes the Mani to be turned, from so many births will he be exempted, and that upon whomsoever the wind that has turned it blows, it will purify from all his sins; and, likewise, that he who drinks the water by which it has been propelled, will be made holy.

To be continued.

Kamalgange-Guri; importance of visiting small villages-Singirampoor; Eclipse of the sun; superstitious notions.

Futtehgurh, Dec. 20th, 1843. Wednesday.Rev. H. R. Wilson and myself left this about eight in the morning, on a missionary tour. Our It is first stopping place was Kamalgange. I need not about six miles from our house. dwell much upon the peculiarity of this place, for I dare say you have been repeatedly told what kind of place it is from the missionary gentlemen who visited it at different times. It requires but little knowledge to be acquainted with the signification of the word. In such a place, people from different directions come to deal. This was not the special market-day; still there were people enough to hear the good news we had to give them, and on this account we were rather glad, because the fewer the people, the more attentive; and as there was nothing special to engage their attention, they were better disposed to hear the Gospel. After preaching to the people there some time, we walked over to a large village, called Sheke-poor, about a mile distant. Here the people were also very polite, They came and apparently very attentive.

around us in large numbers; perhaps as it was not the market-day, and as they had no work to do, they thought it best to spend a short time in hearing something new. Whatever might have been their motives, they heard the Word of God preached, and in the end they will find that this was a more profitable day than any of their bazar-days. After giving some tracts to such as could read, we returned to our tent, and immediately after our dinner, a message from home came in, that one of the orphan boys had run away. We were not a little sorry, yet not hopeless, but trusted on the Lord, that He will bring

him back. Hearing this sad news, we thought it best that one of us should go back, and Mr. W. returned.

About four P. M. I rode out to a little village called Guri, about two miles from the place where our tent was pitched. In this little village, there are not more than twenty families, most of whom are Kisans (farmers,) and are ignorant people; but they had a Lalla (teacher,) who could read, and at their request I gave him a Hindu Testament. They all promised to make him read to them whenever they had leisure. As the village is in a retired situation, it is doubtful whether the Gospel was ever preached to them before. This message was quite new to them, and consequently they were very eager and attentive; to whatever I said they gave their assent, and said that it was a thing they never heard before. How much good might be done, if these obscure and neglected villages were visited occasionally, instead of the crowded bazars and cities, to which we are often allured by the multitude, forgetful that the souls of obscure villagers are as precious as those in the crowded cities. When I left them it was quite night, and I almost wished that it was not so, then I could have staid longer; still I felt rejoiced, and thanked Him who, I trust, was with me sowing his good seed, through such an unworthy creature as I am, into the hearts of such illiterate and ignorant people. To his great name be all the praise.

A little after my returning, in came the Thanadar (the head police officer of that quarter) and his assistant. Although much fatigued with the duties of the day, yet I was enabled to preach Jesus Christ, and to sit up with them till very late in the night. All the conversation I had with them was very interesting, and I would insert it here for your perusal, but my space forbids it. The principal subject of our conversation was the sinfulness and depravity of our corrupt nature, and the utter inability of ourselves to sanctify our own hearts. I was much struck with their willingness to admit of the fallacy of their arguments when pointed out to them. This is a very rare thing with the generality of my countrymen; their pride will never submit, even when plain truths appear before them, but will persist on till the last. I dismissed them with a few select tracts and a Gospel to each, and with the advice, that they should read them at their leisure, with a hope of coming to the knowledge of truth. May the Lord impart his Holy Spirit that they may find the unsearchable riches, which only can be found in the Gospel treasury.

21st, Thursday.-Got a little Khichure cooked about four in the morning, and enjoyed it with many thanks to Him who is the giver of all blessings, then took down the tent and sent it off to Gayanpoor, about 24 miles from this;

but instead of going direct to the place, went round several other villages, proclaiming the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. First I went to Singirampoor, about six miles from Kamalgunge, on the banks of the river. As this place has been described by some of your missionaries who previously visited it, I need say but little of it. It is considered by the Hindus one of the most holy places. The water which runs under this village is supposed to possess a peculiar efficacy in the pardon of sin, although the effect is neither immediate nor visible. O what a great delusion this must be to my poor countrymen! Can the water penetrate the heart, and produce that cleansing which nothing but the blood of Jesus can effect? The water of this place is always considered holy, but more so on peculiar days; and as this was one of the sacred days, owing to an eclipse of the sun, the crowd of people assembled was immense. The reason why the time or hour of an eclipse is so sacred in the estimation of the Hindus, is, that they believe that there is a Rachus, by the name of Rahu and Hetu, who, when he comes in contact either with the sun or the moon, and devours either of them, causes the sun or moon eclipse, acknowledging the power of this giant greater than the sun. The poor deluded people spend all the time the eclipse lasts in imploring the assistance of their different deities, to secure them from his power. Such is the great darkness of my countrymen, and in such darkness they must remain, until the Gospel light removes it. I reached this in good time to preach to the crowd assembled. Here I endeavoured to declare the way of salvation through the crucified Redeemer, to different crowds; but such was the noise and confusion, that I fear very few persons could have heard or understood me; yet I hope that the books and the tracts which I gave them will be blessed in God's own good time. May the Holy Spirit instruct them, and remove the darkness under which they are groaning. May they be convinced of the falsity of their religion, and instead of gathering on the banks of the river, gather under the foot of the cross, to wash away the corruptions of their hearts. The crowd dispersed about one o'clock, and I turned my face towards the village where I ordered my tent to be pitched. My object was not to go quickly, nor through the public roads, but by bye-ways, and through different villages.

Notices of several villages-Gayanpoor; notice of Vedantism-Return to Futtchgurh. The next village I came to was Rujepoor, then Rampoor, Macha, Gurshahagunge, Ucha, &c. In all these villages I spent a short time, and delivered to them the message of salvation. In Gurshahagunge I found a number of boys gathered together on a verandah. As it is a

large place, and as my horse was tired, I thought I would stop a short time, and consequently I came down from my horse. The teacher, a Musulman, received me very kindly, and insisted on my passing the night there; but as my tent was not there, I preferred going on. I heard some of the boys read, and was satisfied with their improvement. Seeing me going into the school, the people from the village began to gather in, and in a very short time there was quite a large crowd. I have told them my errand, and some of them heard with attention what was evidently new to them. I had only five tracts with me, but they were received with great thankfulness. As the distance to my tent was considerable, and night drawing in, I was obliged to leave. Arrived at Gayanpoor, where my tent was pitched, a little after seven o'clock. The inhabitants of this place are principally Brahmans, and many of them Pundits. There are upwards of a thousand families in this place. As the village is situated several miles from the public road, no missionary has ever been there, as the thing was altogether new to them. The Zemindar, or the head man of the village, called on me several times at Futtehgurh, and insisted on me to go and preach the Gospel to his village, so I was received most cordially, and I have no doubt but my message was interesting to them. Although I was fatigued and hardly able to sit up, yet as the head man and some other Pundits came, I did not think it advisable to dismiss them without speaking even a few words to them on the purport of my visiting their village, and so I spent about an hour in conversing with them on the way of life, and telling them they shall hear more on the next morning.

22d, Friday.-Rose up early in the morning, and entered the village, where I preached and distributed some tracts; returned about nine o'clock into my tent, and after breakfast went into Tera, a much larger village, about two miles from Gayanpoor. This is also a Brahman village, and the people here were also very polite. They heard the Gospel without any opposition. It was very encouraging to see the people anxious to hear the Word of God, and had I time I might have stayed much longer; still I did stay till three P. M., then returned to my tent; but they appeared to be so much interested that they asked me if they might come over to my tent in the evening and hear further. I readily consented. At sun-set, they and some from the village where I was came in, about twenty in number. I spent a very pleasant evening conversing with them on the sure way of salvation through Jesus Christ. On the whole, they appeared to be very reasonable in their manner of conversing; but some were tenacious in their opposition. As many of the Brahmans were shrewd and intelligent, they tried to keep up their argument by quoting passages from the Veds, which speak of God as

one and a holy being. Vedantism inculcates the worship of one Bruhumu, or true God, which the other Shastras do not. Thus far it is good; but it teaches self-righteousness in the highest degree, which is the ruin of a sinful soul. As it does not teach its votaries the sinful and depraved state of human nature, so it does not reveal any Saviour; but it is not a difficult thing to gain from them the admission that they are sinners, by referring to their own lives; but this does not reach their hearts. They staid till eleven or twelve o'clock, then I dismissed them with five Gospels. May the Spirit of God accompany these precious books, and convince them that there is no other way to heaven but through the Lord Jesus Christ.

23d, Saturday.-Started for home very early this morning; and as I had to come in one day all that distance, and on one horse, I did not stop in many places. At Khedagunge, in the Sarie (rest-house) where I stopped to feed my horse, as well as to refresh myself for a while, and as I was reading a tract to a few people belonging to the Sarie, in came a guard of Sepahis (native soldiers,) five men and a native officer over them, in charge of a supply of clothing, going to Cawnpoor. When they saw me reading a book, they felt willing to hear, and came and sat down, heard all I had to say without any interruption, expressing a desire to receive any books I might give away. All that remained in my stock I gave them, and they gladly received. I left them, and arrived home, rejoicing that I had enjoyed so many opportunities of proclaiming His glad tidings in so many different villages, and to people whom I never saw before. And now may the Lord bless his own word, and establish his truth amongst my benighted countrymen, that they may be taught to put their trust in the Son of God, and worship him instead of dumb idols; then the Scripture will be fulfilled, "That the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory;" and unto His great and holy name be all the praise, both now and for

ever more.

GOPEE NAUTH NUNDY.

China Mission.

JOURNAL OF DR. JAMES C. HEPBURN.

The China Mission was commenced at Singapore, for which place the Rev. Messrs. John A. Mitchell, and Robert W. Orr, and Mrs. Orr, embarked in December, 1837. Mr. Mitchell was called to his rest in October of the following year; and Mr. Orr's health having failed, he returned to this country in 1841. In the mean time the Rev. Thomas L. McBryde, and Mrs. McBryde, had joined the Mission, having reached Singapore in July, 1840; and they were followed in the next year, 1841, by James C. Hepburn, M.D., and Mrs. Hepburn.

Prayer-Meeting at the Hospital-Medical Report-Chinese Medical Practice-Notice of Romanist Priests.

March 22, 1844. Yesterday we commenced a prayer-meeting at our hospital. There were twelve Chinamen present-most of them regular attendants on our Sabbath worship. Each one that could read had a Testament in his hand, opened at the first chapter of Romans. One of the old men present read a few verses, and explained it in his own way-if he did not fully comprehend the meaning, or mistook it, he was corrected by Mr. Abeel. One of our most constant hearers is this old man, who must be quite seventy years old, and who never until lately heard the truths of the Gospel. He seems to perceive something of their meaning and beauty-a little light has dawned upon his long benighted mind. He is inquisitive and teachable. I trust he may be one of the first fruits of the Gospel here. The object of appointing this meeting was to give such persons an opportunity of knowing more of the Bible, as on Sabbath there are so many strangers generally present, that much time is taken up in repeating the old truths over and over again.

April 26th. Since the opening of our dispensary at Amoy, our medical operations have been much more extensive and useful than they were when confined to this island-where there were 50 many inconveniences often to be met in getting to it, as high winds, rain, and the sentries at the landing. But our dispensary is still by no means as useful, in a medical point of view,

as it might be. This arises principally from irregularity in the attendance of the patients. Many never return after the first visit; and few continue to come until they are entirely cured. The reason of this may be that they are disappointed in finding that speedy relief that they had ignorantly hoped for-for the vast majority of our patients have laboured under their complaints for 'years; and they have become so deeply seated that many are incurable, and others would only yield to a long, protracted treatment, and that conducted under the most favourable circumstances. Many of our patients are also sea-faring men, whose business will not permit them to remain long enough to be cured; and nearly all depend on their daily labour for their bread,-living from hand to mouth. So soon then as they are able to resume their labours, they return no more. Still our dispensary is useful in other ways. Mr. Abeel is in the daily habit of spending two or three hours in our reception-room in talking to those assembled on religious subjects, and in distributing books to all that can read. And as we have patients and visiters from most, if not all the surrounding villages and cities, the truths of Christianity thus become scattered abroad.

From the 1st of Feb. to the 1st of April, we prescribed for 604 persons, averaging about ten new patients a-day. Of these 196 were affections of the eye, of which chronic conjunctivitis, corneitis, blephoritis, and opacity of cornea, were the principal forms; 97 were affections of the organs of respiration, of which bronchitis and asthma were the most frequent; 141 were simple gastralgia, gastralgia and pyrosis, simple affections of the organs of digestion, of which pyrosis, and indigestion, made 130 cases; the remaining eleven were cases of diarrhea, dysentery and ascites. The affections of the stomach, usually ranked under dyspepsia, are far more frequent in China than in the United States; this may arise partly from the gormandizing habits of the people, on the one hand, and the deep poverty and want of wholesome and nourishing food, on the other. 34 cases were of such a kind as indicate the evil courses of their subjects; 35 were affections of the skin, of which scabies alone numbered 20 cases. The rest of the cases were miscellaneous, of which rheumatism numbered 30 cases.

We have had but four hospital cases; only a few of cataract, one case of tumour in the back, and one of tapping for dropsy. We have a very comfortable house for our hospital patients. The way we manage it is, to find the room, and let the patients find their own food and attendance. They are always accompanied by a friend who waits upon them.

29th. I have lately seen some specimens of Chinese surgery, which prove them to have more knowledge of the art than I was before in

clined to believe. One is a case of a man 56 years old, who was born with a double hair lip, and was operated on at the age of six yearsfifty years ago the operation was precisely that which is now employed in civilized countries. The operation was entirely successful, and has given him quite a useful and not an unbecoming lip. The other case was one of dentistry-the insertion of the four incisor teeth of the upper jaw. They were made of ivory, strung upon a piece of cat-gut, and secured in their place by wrapping the ends of the cat-gut round the eyeteeth. Considering the simplicity of the plan, it was rather neatly done, and answered the purpose very well, but almost every three months they have to be renewed; as the price, however, is so very cheap, only about four cents, and it is done with so little trouble, this is a small inconvenience.

30th. Two Catholic priests, who have been staying on the island for some time, went into the interior yesterday. They had their heads shaved, wore the Chinese tail and costume, so that it would be hard to tell them from Chinamen. How they can, under the cover of such disguise, and living, as they do, in constant fear of detection, extend their religion among the Chinese, is a mystery to me. And what kind of a religion must it be that can live and flourish under such a state of things—a state of concealment?

France.

LETTER OF THE REV. MR. AUDEBAZ.

The support of missions in France, Belgium, &c., has been undertaken by the Board within the last few months-see the Chronicle of August last. The plan of proceeding, which is considered at once the most practicable and the most effective, is, to employ missionary labourers under the direction and control of the Evangelical Societies of France and of Geneva. Some remittances have already been made for this purpose. And the attention of the churches is now respectfully and earnestly solicited to this new sphere of usefulness. We may be permitted also to remind them, that their contributions can be made through the Board with as good service to the object in view as through any other channel, and certainly without the expense of a distinct set of agents, and without adding a new collection to the list of collections, which is already too large in most churches to be extended unless for the most weighty reasons. When our congregations come to understand this matter, we think they will perceive that their own advantage will be consulted by refusing to admit the agents of other institutions to make collections for a work which their own Board can do equally well without the smallest additional expense.

In the Chronicle of November a valuable communication was inserted from the Secretary of the Geneva So

ciety. We have now the pleasure of laying before our readers an interesting letter from the Committee of the Evangelical Society of France, dated Paris, Sept. 13th. After acknowledging, in the first paragraphs, the bills of exchange, Mr. Audebaz thus proceeds:

We are extremely grateful for this evidence of the sympathy of the members of your Committee, and we bless God that he hath put it into their hearts to take an interest in our Christian labours, to pray for their success, and to aid their progress. We are anxious to cultivate those fraternal relations which they permit us to form with them, and to communicate to them all the papers which shall enable them to appreciate for themselves the work which the Lord hath intrusted to our direction. The pamphlet here inclosed, will make you acquainted with the actual condition and the financial wants of the Evangelical Society, and we would now add some details concerning its later operations.

Within a short time we have had the satisfaction of making the inhabitants of several places to enjoy the blessings of public worship, of which until then they had been destitute. It is thus that we have engaged to assist a number of our stations: J-, which contains about 3000 inhabitants, and where, after many obstacles and many difficulties, evangelical worship has been recently opened in the presence of more than 200 hearers, of whom one half, at the least, were Roman Catholics: F, a town of more than 8000 inhabitants, where a Catholic, having become a friend of the Gospel, has erected a chapel at his own charge: B—, of which the population rises above 13,000, where the work of evangelization had been for some time interrupted, but where we have now stationed a pastor: V—, finally, whose history you know from our religious journals.

We aim at immediately placing a pastor at L, a city of 27,000 souls, and at A-, & city of 32,000; and we wish to open services at G, at R, and at B-, rural communes of the plains, where a part of the population has renounced the Roman superstitions to embrace the faith of a pure Gospel, and has borne with constancy and resignation every piece of malice which has been stirred up against them by the clergy, aided by the civil power.

These communes are not the only ones where there is in progress so interesting a movement. That which has been manifest at V spreads itself to one place after another; many neighbouring places witness the desire to hear the preaching of the Gospel. The religious movement beyond Sextends itself more widely. That province counts twenty-one communes, whose inhabitants have begun to forsake the papacy, and to attach themselves to the Gospel

* [Société Evangélique de France: Aperçu sur ses travaux des mois de Mai, de Juin et de Juillet, 1844.]