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NEYOOR-MISSION.-CALMOOTOORA.

THE numerous out-stations connected with our Missions in Travancore are every year assuming an aspect of increased interest and importance. Among the most pro nising of these widely-expanded fields of labour is the locality of CALMOOTOORA, which stands in more immediate connection with the Western Section of the Neyoor Mission under the general Superintendence of our brother, Mr. Abbs. At that outpost, a small but commodious place of worship has been erected, chiefly through the christian liberality of friends at Ashton-under-Lyne, by whose request it has received the name of EMILY CHAPEL. Our engraving contains a correct view of this humble sanctuary, with its contiguous Mission-buildings, and the characteristic scenery by which it is surrounded. Under date of May last, Mr. Abbs has supplied the following account of the affecting circumstances under which it was erected, and the blessed effects of the Gospel among the once degraded inhabitants of this part of the province of Travancore :

"Emily Chapel is situated in Calmootoora, a village in the western extremity of the district, about a mile from the banks of the river Ney. The original building was burned down by some heathen Soodras, through a spirit of opposition to the christian community. It has been related to me, that, on the morning after the fire, one of our aged members was seen weeping over the ruins, and when asked the cause of his grief, he answered, Why did their hatred lead them to destroy the house of God? Had they burned my own dwelling I would not complain; but why should their rage be directed against our humble place of worship?'

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"The donation from England came opportunely to repair this breach, and enable us to finish the present building, with a small school-room attached. Near the school-room are two small houses, occupied by Native Christians, one of whom has voluntarily undertaken to watch the Chapel, and see that it is kept in order. The Gospel has been triumphant in this locality in reclaiming many who, previously to its introduction, were living in open rebellion against God. This part of the country was formerly noted for iniquity-most of those who now worship in Emily Chapel were once wicked and infamous, lost in reputation themselves, and allowing their children to rise into life regardless of the first principles of honesty or decency. They have been subdued and civilized by christian instruction; morality and justice are duly valued by them; and some, convinced of their sinfulness by nature, are now seeking mercy through the Redeemer. "The Reader connected with Emily Chapel is Archibald Jack,* who has long been greatly opposed by the Papists. Fearing that the violence of his enemies might lead to unpleasant results, I thought of removing him to another congregation; but, while thus deliberating, I received an unanimous request from the people of Calmootoora to appoint him over them as their Teacher. I consented, and have been much gratified to witness his success.

"There are three hundred persons professing our religion in this village, and an encouraging school of thirty children. The Schoolmaster is a hopeful young man, and attends to his duty with order and attention. On a recent visit I found him absent on account of affliction, and, having called to see him in his illness, was much pleased to observe his humble and contrite spirit. His mind was suitably impressed while we conversed upon the griefs endured by man on account of sin, and the remedy provided in the Gospel. Since his recovery, I have had the pleasure of hearing him engage at our monthly prayer-meeting in a tone which indicates that he has left the furnace of affliction with an increase of spirituality. I always viewed him as an amiable youth, but now have reason to hope that he is sincerely seeking the favour of God as the chief good."

* Supported by friends at North Shields.

THE TAVISTOCK LADIES' FEMALE TEACHER.

A NATIVE Female Teacher has for some years past been supported at Neyoor, under the above appellation, by friends at Tavistock, whose generosity has been well repaid in the useful services she has been enabled to render to the work of Christian Education among her country-women. The following brief outline of her personal history and labours, written by herself in Tamil and translated by by our brother, Mr. Mead, has been recently received :—

I was born of idolatrous parents at Nellyraconam, a village two miles east of Neyoor, in South Travancore. My father (a Palmyratree climber) was a devoted and deluded worshipper of the female demons, Patracaly, Oochenemacaly, and Enasaky. In honour of these evil spirits, he erected altars and small temples, and placed in them images made of stone and clay. He was accustomed to offer, four times every year, fowls, goats, and plantains. Besides this, he spent some time in dancing before the idols, that he might be inspired by an evil spirit which possesses those who engage in this ceremony, according to the notions of the heathen. He was also a professed soothsayer, whose business it was to make known the mind of the devils, at the time of pretended inspiration, when people came to inquire what offerings they must make in times of sickness, &c. While he was thus engaged as a divinator, he did not know the danger he was himself exposed to at that very time by the cholera which was then raging in the village. Alas! he was carried off in the midst of his idolatry, ignorant of the true God.

A short time previously, when my grandfather was seized with this disease, my father, thinking it arose from the devil called Ooly, boiled pots of rice, mixed with saffron water, and offered it to the devil, and engaged himself in devil-dancing to appease the evil spirit, but in vain. Thus within a short time of each other, my father and grandfather were removed from this world.

I was then five years of age, and my only sister was three years old. My father had some property, amounting to 2,000 fanams, which, on his death, was seized by his brothers; and his widow and children were sent to my mother's relations at Mundycaudu.

According to the customs of the country at that time, the male children of the Shanar Tribe are only allowed to possess the father's property, by performing the funeral ceremonies of shaving the head; going round the grave or funeral pile thrice with an earthen pot of water on the head, and a fire-brand in the hand; breaking the waterpot at the feet of the corpse if buried; or setting fire to the pile if burnt. They put into the mouth of the deceased, rice, peas, fanams, &c.; but girls cannot perform this

ceremony, nor possess their father's property. If there are no relations on the father's side, the Native Government take it. By this cruel custom we were obliged to leave our father's house, and go and live with my mother's relations at Mundycaudu. There my mother could scarcely support us by daily hard labour; but Christianity at that time was introduced into our village, and Mission Free-schools were opened. My mother sent me to the school, and after learning to read, and write on sand, my sister and self were admitted into the Home Girls' school at Ney oor, at that time instituted by our Christian Friends in England, for the purpose of teaching us poor native girls, as well as boarding and clothing us. I was ten years of age, and my sister seven, when we were taken into this school.

While learning with the girls in the lowest class, I remember I was ashamed on looking at the very little progress I had made, and was excited to apply diligently to learning. I was in course of time raised to the higher classes, and was rejoiced when enabled to read the Gospels.

My mind was much delighted with the passages I had to commit to memory, and with what I daily read of the miracles of Christ. I began to take delight in frequently meditating on the word of God. Besides this I often felt thankful to God for his merciful providence towards us; praising him for the great kindness of the friends of East Indian Children in England, who have been the means of delivering us from the slavery of Idolatry and Satanic Worship, by sending to us the invaluable treasure of the Gospel.

In the year 1836 there was a severe visitation of cholera amongst the people of this district, and several of the school girls were seized with it. I was amongst the number who took the disease in a terrible form, but was, however, wonderfully and divinely preserved. My recovery seemed as miraculous as the restoration to life of the widow's son in Sarepta. At this time every means were used to take care of the children, and prevent the ravages of disease: had it been otherwise many, many more, would have been carried off by death. It was for the great benefit of the people that the Lord then blessed our friends here with

courage and skill to render assistance to the sick and dying.

After my recovery, I remained two years more in the school, when I was married to William Fletcher's Reader, and was employed as a Teacher by Mrs. Mault, in the Carlton Schools. My husband was afterwards engaged in teaching in the same school, and preaching the Gospel. The number of children was usually about eighty. They committed to memory "The Companion to the Bible," "Bible Teacher," "Proverbs," Geography, and Hymns, with reading, writing, and arithmetic. They learnt to spin and sew, and were engaged part of the day in bringing water from the well, beating paddy, &c.; duties they will have to be engaged in hereafter in their own houses.

From the time I first knew something of Christianity, I felt a great aversion to idolatry and its evils. I hope I have gradually been endeavouring to serve my Saviour with greater sincerity of mind, diligently using the means of instruction. I often reflect with gratitude and wonder that we who were idolatrous, and left without any earthly friends and protection, should be saved by the grace of God, and be provided for by the liberality of Christian Benefactors in a distant land. I feel increasingly sorry on account of my sinful nature, but rely with confidence for salvation through Christ, and sanctification by the Holy Spirit.

May the Lord strengthen me, and bless me with his grace and favour, that I may faithfully serve him all my days.

JOHN FOXELL'S NATIVE TEACHER.

THE following narrative of Missionary labour was translated from the Tamil by our brother, Mr. Russell, of Nagercoil, and transmitted by him to this country. The excellent Native Evangelist, whose christian exertions it records, is supported, while pursuing his ministry, by means of a yearly contribution received through an esteemed brother, the Rev. John Foxell, of Penzance; and the subjoined statement bears pleasing testimony to its beneficial appropriation. Though he leaves the humble teacher to tell his own tale, Mr. Russell fully confirms the truth of the account which he addresses to his generous supporters; and, by all who feel interested in the formation of an extended Native Ministry in India, it will be read with devout thankfulness and lively hope ::

I take the present opportunity of communicating to you some information respecting my present labours, and the good which several in this congregation have obtained through instruction in the word of God. I am still employed under the immediate inspection and kind care of Mr. Russell, as Reader in James-Town. I conduct daily worship in the Chapel, where an average number of 100, including children, meet together. On the Lord's day upwards of 120 individuals attend public worship. After the noon service about thirty persons, including men, women, and children, meet together, and repeat certain portions of "Chalmers' Scripture References" committed to memory during the week. In the afternoon the school-girls assemble in the school-house, and learn some select hymns. After hearing them all repeat what they have learned, and catechising them on it, I dismiss them with prayer.

During the week, also, I examine the school-girls in their Bible-lessons, Geography, and Tamul Grammar. They are about forty-five in number, and, in general, seem to have been greatly benefitted by education. They have, by the grace of God, been led to give up the habit of telling lies, swearing, abusive language, quarrelling, and

other sins to which they were addicted. It is very pleasing to see that they are not only acquainted with the truths of the Gospel, but desire to exercise faith in the Saviour, and to partake of the blessings of his great salvation.

The Congregation contains at present forty-three families, including about 170 persons. The Bible-class consists of about forty. The baptized are twenty-one in number; and there are ten candidates for baptism.

A Missionary Prayer-meeting is regularly held on the first Monday of every month.

During the last two or three years, cholera has made dreadful havoc among the people of this country; and it has been a period of much fear and distress. We lost some of our christian friends also, for whom we felt great sorrow; but, as there is good hope that they have undergone a happy change, we give unfeigned thanks to our God. Among these there was a young man in this congregation, who, while he was in the enjoyment of health, was very diligent in his devotions, greatly anxious to promote the spiritual good of others, tried to bring his neighbours with him by all means to the Chapel, and a manifested great desire to ac

quire Scriptural knowledge. When any in the Congregation were taken ill, he frequently called on them, and endeavoured to afford all the relief that he could by reading to them the word of God, exhorting them according to the best of his abilities, and praying with them. He was constant in prayer, and tried to awaken his parents whenever they seemed careless about the salvation of their souls. He spoke kindly to those who broke the Sabbath on the evil of that sin, and thus manifested a great change of heart.

Suddenly he was attacked with cholera, and became exceedingly ill. When his parents, in their deep sorrow, cried about him, he said to them, "Do not cry for meGod is willing to take me to himself. Christ died to save me. I believe that He will not forsake me, because He has said, He will not cast out any that come to him. With these words he comforted them, and while his brother was engaging in prayer at his request, he died in peace. Happy are those who die in Christ, for truly they rest from all their troubles.

The truth of the Gospel, which is communicated to the ignorant people of this country through preaching, circulation of religious tracts, and the medium of schools, has not been in vain, but has been attended with great success. In this congregation, a heathen young man made a public profession of Christianity about twelve months ago, and by the grace of God has been enabled to walk worthy of his calling. When he received his first impression of the truth, he was under instruction in one of our Mission-schools. He was then fully convinced of the truth of Christianity, and the falsehood of Heathenism, and being disposed

to embrace the Christian Religion, he spoke to his parents about the miracles of Jesus Christ, showing that he was the Son of God, able to save sinners. But his parents tried to quench the good feelings which sprang up in his mind, by showing him the mythological fables, and thus choked the growth of the seed of the living God.

But he continued to listen to instruction, and to read religious tracts. The living seed, after a long time, showed its power in his heart, and he determined to become a follower of Christ, whatever might be the consequences. Thus, last year, without consulting his parents, he came to public worship in the Chapel, and has since paid great attention to the word of God. Having a great deal of work to do during the week, he copies passages of Scripture on a Palmyra leaf, and commits them to memory, while he is on his way to the field, garden, or house. He is not ashamed to read the Scriptures even before an assembly of heathens. One day he was invited to a marriage by his heathen relations, and he took his New Testament with him to the marriage-house. Some heathens seeing him dressed clean as a Reader, and having a book in his hand, called him a Catechist in an ironical way, but he remained quite silent. The next day they began to listen to the reading of a heathen book for their amusement, and at the same time he commenced reading from the New Testament to those who were with him.

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WANT OF MISSIONARIES IN THE TELOOGOO COUNTRY. THE succeeding communication, addressed by our brother, Rev. Edward Porter, now in England, to the Foreign Secretary of the Society, brings into distinct view the encouragements which exist to an enlargement of Missionary exertion in the Teloogoo Country; with the powerful claims presented by that part of India on the zeal and compassion of the churches of our land. We commend his statement to the devout and earnest consideration of the friends of the Redeemer, in the confident hope that it will exercise a strong influence in favour of the object for which he pleads.

To the Editor of the Missionary Magazine.

MY DEAR SIR,-I HAVE the pleasure to send you the following account of the conversion and baptism of a Teloogoo Convert in connection with our Mission at Chicacole; by which, I have no doubt, your readers will be greatly interested.

Thanks be to the Great Head of the Church! that He is now beginning to bless the labours of his servants amongst this deeply interesting though degraded people; and that the plants of righteousness, fresh and green, are beginning to spring up and beautify this heathen wilderness! Yes; we trust the day is breaking upon the ten millions of idolatrous Teloogoos, who inhabit the northern part of the Madras Presidency, and towards whose evangelization our Society has contributed the largest amount of agency.

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