a piece of ground, or a few rupees, or chugrums, they will, although of the same caste, almost tear one another to pieces; but, as to religion, every man is afraid of his brother! O Lord, break this snare! Surely it is the most successful one that Satan ever employed. The Catholics and men of every description act in the same way: and though some among all of them appear to be convinced that they are wrong, and that they cannot be saved as they are, yet, through the fear of inan, they will persist in the path to everlasting misery. The fear of man,

Palamcottah, July 31, 1819. We have a Tamul School, at last, in the Town of Tinnevelly; though, I am sorry to say, it is held in a hired house. The ground and choultry, for which I petitioned in our last Report, were found, on inspection, to be in an unfavourable situation. I did not think it proper, therefore, to give so large a sum as 300 star-pagodas for them.

Shortly after declining this purchase, a young Brahmin sold me a piece of ground; and, having had it regularly registered, I made preparations for the building of a School, and drew on your Treasurer for 100 star-pagodas for the purpose: but, on preparing to dig the foundation, what was my disappoint ment to find the neighbouring Brahmins interrupt the work! The spot happened to be in a Brahminy Street, and near the walls of a Pagoda; and these infa tuated people contended that their dwellings and temple would be defiled, were a School for the admission of all

castes to be erected so near them. I found it in vain to endeavour to reason with them on the absurdity of their objection; and some declared that they would perish on the spot, rather than suffer the building to be com menced.

What was to be done? We had jus tice on our side, it is true; but the workmen were at a stand, and could not think of proceeding in opposition to the Brahmins. While recollecting the fate of the Mission Church at Madras, under similar circumstances, I could not expect much better success by throwing the Cause into Court; and the very thought of conducting such a work in a spirit of hostility on our part, was quite contrary to our avowed intention of promoting the happiness and peace of the inhabitants. There seemed, therefore, to be no alternative but to allow them to repurchase the ground, which I did; and trust our forbearance has made a more favourable impression

We have since been in treaty for two ther pieces of ground.

The Young Man, whom I mentioned my last Report as ready to take harge of the Tamul School at Tinneelly, was equally disappointed with yself, on finding that we had still to eek a piece of ground; and, impatient f the people's litigious opposition, reuested leave to hire a house, for a nall sum, to teach in; and, having obined permission, he opened a School May last.

But here again, we are interrupted mour proceedings: the Young Man was taken ill, about a fortnight ago, and since dead. The School is, at preent, under the charge of his brother; Youth as yet too young for a School

master.

Our School for Catechists has re eived an accession of two Youths since Se last Report; and will produce, I rust, in time, some useful men.

The system of catechizing them on what they read is new and difficult to hem; for it makes them think for hemselves, as well as retain their essons in memory. I feel persuaded, However, that constant practice will Familiarize their minds with the plan, and that it will be of the utmost advanage.

A few of the elder Youths are disappointed, I suspect, at not receiving some emuneration for their attendance: for after they reach fourteen or fifteen years of age, they begin to earn something oward a livelihood; and it is assigned as the reason for the absence of the eldEst Boy, who is frequently missing, that he is at work. I have, therefore, thought hat the money would be well employed, were each of the elder Scholars allowed about half a pagoda per month, on condition of their giving up their whole ime to their studies. To institute a Seminary for the whole, where they should be clothed, lodged, and fed, would be a still better plan, would your

half a pagoda per month; and there would be, besides, the expense of two or three servants.

I have received another striking instance of the utility of Schools for the instruction of Natives, in a Youth who had just finished his education in our English School. He came to take his leave; and, on questioning him as to what he had learnt, replied, without the least hesitation, that he was convinced in his mind of the truth of Christianity. This I should have attributed to the ductility so common among the Natives, were it not that he stated his reason, out of the Testament and a Tamul Book, which he is translating into English, with a degree of intelli gence that surprised me. I mean not to say that this Youth is a convert to Christianity; nor is there any thing in him that favours the hope that his heart is yet duly affected, for he sees not the evil of sin in his own bosom: and, though he acknowledged, that to adhere to Idolatry through fear of his relatives would prove destructive to his soul, and that it was to be attributed to his want of sufficient light, yet he could not promise to pray for Divine instruction and support. His knowledge has had the effect, however, of causing him to forsake the Pagoda, and to employ his leisure hours over his Christian Books at home. This I know to be the fact; and he told me the same of another Youth, in the same class with himself: and, of a third, instructed in an English School at Madras, he made a similar report, adding, that though he could not walk in opposition to his Father, he turned his ceremonies into ridicule.

Are not these things encouraging? Does it not appear that the leaven is beginning to work? We see an effect produced, short of a saving effect indeed, but such an one as nothing ever yet accomplished but the method of education adopted by our Society and by kindred Institutions. And is it not

rational to expect, yea, is it not highly irrational not to expect, that Youths, so instructed, will grow up less prejudiced in favour of Idolatry and against Chris tianity than their Fathers? And if they hve to have chidren, it is most probable that they will rather foster then check, in the minds of their offspring, such impressions as they themselves have received.

Some men may smile at this exultation over such a trifle; but the wanderer in the gloom of night, who has missed his way, leaps at the prospect of a distant light, however dim, and thither bends his course. Then, amidst the darkness that envelopes us, let us press onward, in the way which these instances of partial success seem to point out as the right way; and then our children, or children's children, if not ourselves, may witness a triumphant result to our exertions.

Courtallam, Sept. 10, 1819.

The Schools at Palamcottah, and in the neighbourhood, have undergone but little alteration since you heard of them last. Four of the Tamul Schools are somewhat reduced in the number of Scholars, arising chiefly from the terror which the Cholera Morbus has struck into the minds of the Children's Parents; and some have been removed by that awful epidemic. Yet the smallest School has fifty Boys even now, the next sixty, and the other two nearer seventy. I have removed the Four Assistants that were attached to these Schools; having made a rule never to appoint or keep one, unless there were upward of seventy Scholars: for, according to the improved System of Education, one person can well attend to any number short of that.

From the first of the present month, I have appointed an additional Officer to these Institutions; whose business it is, to asscertain every morning what Scholars are absent; then to go to their homes, and inquire into the cause; and, if the reason for absence appear not to

be sufficient, to send them to School. In addition to this, he is to see that each School be furnished with cadjans, and other requisites; and to do any other service which may be required of him. For this he is to receive one pagoda a month.

In a former Report, it was stated that some attempt had been made to engage the attention of the Roman Catholics, who are numerous in these parts. Since then, several have offered to join our Communion: but, with the exception of two cases, their motives were found to be purely secular; and, finding no encouragement to their sordid views, they discontinued their applications. The two persons who seemed to be actuated by better principles, have been received. A third person, and one of respectability among these people, has been studying our System of Ed cation for some time, intending, when qualified, to take charge of a School : the midst of the Catholics in the Pettat of Tinnevelly. I have warned him of the jealousy of their Priest, and his objection to the Children's reading or books; adding, that, unless he can make up his mind to conform to our regulations, in this respect as well as every other, he must not expect us to employ him: but he betrays not the least hesitation; and promises, as fairly as could be wished. I mean, therefore, to make a trial of him; and if he turn out well, this will be one of the most important stations which we have ye occupied. I should add, that this mas has been well recommended; and the my inquiries respecting him have proved satisfactory.

Some weeks ago, a Tamul School master, in the Fort of Palamcottah, wä recommended to succeed to the Master of Tinnevelly, and has been studying our System ever since; but I am now so well satisfied of the attention and abilities of the brother of the late Ma ter, that I judge it expedient to reta him, and think that the School wou suffer by his removal. The Palam

ttab Man has a School of his own, nsisting of twenty-five Boys of caste; d he begs to be put in charge of a harity School, assuring me that the mber will be immediately doubled, d engaging to use whatever books ay be given him. As our Fort School

master is a Protestant, the Scholars whom this Master will obtain would never go to the present School. I have thought, therefore, of acceding to his request; and of opening a School in the Fort, for Boys of this description.

Baddagamme, Dec. 20, 1819. INDING Galle by no means an eligible uation for the residence of a Missiory, we determined upon settling enely among the Natives, so soon as we uld discover a favourable village for a issionary Establishment. At Galle,the habitants are either Moormen, who Mahomedans, and but little accesale to a Christian Teacher, or else ey are Dutch and Portuguese. The ngalese seldom come into the Fort, cept for the purpose of trade; and uld not be prevailed on to attend blic Worship in a town, neither ould they allow their Daughters to end a School. By residing in a Fort, mong Europeans, you have therefore means of becoming acquainted with e customs, circumstances, and relion of the Natives. All their religiEs ceremonies are performed in the untry.

The Cingalese are very intelligent. heir means of acquiring knowledge e scanty; but, whenever the advanges of education shall be afforded em, their progress will be rapid. There is as great a variety of expres on in their countenances, as there is à those of an European. They are ivided into castes: one of the lower

aste is not allowed to sit down or to

eat with a person of higher. We find it necessary, at present, in some measure to overlook this distinction; and to allow them to occupy their seats at our Public Worship according to their own notions of rank. As the Natives of Baddagamme and the adjoining villages are, for the most part, of one caste, and that a high one, the division into castes does not much affect our usefulness.

After repeated visits up the River Gindra, encouraged by the great population of the neighbourhood, and the apparent willingness of the people to receive instruction, I proposed to our Brethren our removal from Galle to this place. Having obtained their concurrence, it became necessary, in the first place, to erect a dwelling-house. There is only one house above the order of a hut in the whole neighbourhood, and that is inhabited by the Modliar, or Native Headman of the Dis trict.

Authority is distributed, in this country, in the following manner. The maritime parts are divided into Provinces: over these, there are a Collector and a Provincial Judge. These are English Gentlemen, appointed from home. The Maritime Provinces are subdivided into Districts, over each

of which there is a Modliar appointed: his pay is very small, but his rank gives him great respectability in the sight of the Natives, and his influence over them is greater than that of any other person: his duty is, to execute the orders of Government, to value the rents, and to superintend the affairs of the District, and report thereon to the Collector. Under him there is a Mohandiram, who acts as his assistant. Besides these, over every village there are several other officers of inferior rank.

The Natives are tolerably industrious. The wages of a common labourer are three fanams, or about fourpence a day. They come to work at seven, and leave off at sun-set. They take no food during this time; unless, perhaps, a young cocoa-nut. I have been obliged to employ forty or fifty men, for some time, to level ground, and assist in building. By this means I have formed acquaintance with more than 200 families.

. We often hear, at night, the tomtom (country-drum) beating the Devil's Dance. These ceremonies are always performed at night. If a man is sick, he sends for one of the Devil's Priests, and tells him that he will make an offering: the people are informed of his intention, and attend in great numbers: the Priest repeats certain incantations: person dressed up in fine clothes dances before figures of the Devil; and the people give rice, oil, money, &c. They have an idea that the Devil is the author of evil, and, therefore, they must take care to secure his favour. Deluded people! they are led captive by him at his will: they have deceitful guides, who are robbing them of their hard-gained earnings, and leading them on to destruction: they have none to tell them of Him, who came to destroy the works of the Devil. In general they are worshippers of the Devil; even many of the Priests of Budhu are so.

I am sometimes cheered by conver

sation with the Natives around me. One day I was told that a neighbour was about to make an offering to the God of Kattnagamme, a place not fr from Galle, where there is a famou Temple. I determined to go with my Interpreter. I found them pounding their paddy (that is, rice in the husk I inquired what this was for. They said, they were going to distribute i among some of their friends. I was in hopes I should have found the Kap poowah there (that is, one of the Priests of Kattnagamme); but as they were aware of my coming, I believe he concealed himself. They confessed to me, that they had promised to make an offering to this god in the time of harvest, and they had saved a little money to fulfil their promise. I entered into conversation about the Creation; and the proof afforded, from the resemblance of men in one part of the world to the inhabitants of another part, that they must be the workmanship of the same Almighty Being: the same proof was afforded by the an mals and plants. I further shewed them, that the heavens and the eart must have been the contrivance and work of one God: for the sun is necessary to the growth and fruitfulness of plants, and to the life and comfort ei all living creatures. I asked them is one sun did not enlighten the world. They said, "Yes.""How then ca the God of Kattnagamme be the giver of fruitful seasons?" I pointed out the sin of acknowledging more than one God, by asking them, what our Go vernor would think of the person whe should set himself up for the supreme Governor of one Province or District in the Island, and what he would think of those who owned his authority. They knew that the punishment of such would be very severe." And will not the Governor of the World punish those who dishonour him, by setting up themselves for Rulers; or, forsaking their obedience to Him pay homage to others" They seemed