1863.] POETRY. 83 Malays, Chinese, and Japanese, all swearing in English: indeed, they have no oaths in their own language. I have heard lately, through Japanese authority, that the old custom of excluding Christianity, in books translated into the Japanese from foreign languages, has been modified. Every thing alluding to Christ Jesus was carefully left out, heretofore, in such translations, but henceforth it may be also published without restriction. This is a great and important step, and shows how gradually and truly the Lord is working and preparing the way. I have lately made a translation of a little Chinese tract, written by Dr. M'Cartee, called, "An Easy Introduction to Christian Doctrine." I intend, if possible, to have it published here in blocks. THE LOVE OF CHRIST. My love is fayre, yea, fayerer than the sunne, He came from highe to live with me belowe, prove, I sawe His woundes, yet did I not believe Him, And for His goodnesse with my sinnes did grieve Him. I sawe Him faultlesse, yet I did offend Him, I sawe Him wronged, and yet did not excuse Him, I sawe His foes, yet fought not to defend Him, But was it myne, or my forefathers' deede? To see the feete, that travayled for our goode, To see the fruite, whereon our spyrite fedd, Feete pierc'd, handes bored, and His heade all bleedinge, He plac'de all rest, and had no restinge place, 84 THE NESTORIANS. A virgin's child by vertue's power conceivede, Such is the essence of this love of myne. [JULY, From "Our Saviour's Passion," a poem by Mary Sydney, Countess of Pembroke. From an unpublished MS. in the British Museum. THE NESTORIANS. JOSEPH, one of the Bishops of the Nestorian church, in writing to the Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance, desiring, on behalf of himself and his brethren, to be identified with the proceedings of the week of prayer with which our English year is now opened, communicates various interesting particulars respecting that isolated body of Christians to whom he belongs, amongst whom, through the labours of the American Missionaries, the light of evangelical truth has been so rapidly extending itself. The number of our people is about 100,000. A portion dwell in the Kurdish mountains, and the rest in Oroomiah and the adjacent districts. You are aware that we dwell among Mohammedans, who are very zealous for the false prophet, who has made them believe that his doctrine must bring to nought that of Jesus. On this account they disperse our people. They reckon us unclean, and no justice is done to us either in law or government. Even until now this has been a country of disenfranchisement for Christians. Their produce cannot be sold in the markets, because it is unclean; and, if possible, no profitable business or trades are ever committed to their hands. More than this, they suffer much oppression and violence from their Mohammedan masters, who take for themselves far more than is written in the law register of the Government. The condition of our poor people is a wretched one; thousands every year leave their native lands. Do not think it exaggeration if the condition of our people be compared to that of the children of Israel in the land of the Pharaohs. We are grateful to the glorious government of England, whose noble ministers have often attempted, like Moses, to lend us aid, and redeem our nation; but in the kingdom of Persia, so corrupt, where remains no longer the law of justice, they cannot do much for us. I feel sure you are also acquainted with the religious condition of our people. Before the American Missionaries found us, our people were dark and benighted, as were all the churches of the East. Though we were sometimes called the Protestants of the East, all our books were in ancient Syriac, and the Holy Scriptures were never used except at the celebration of the ordinances. Thanks to God, we have seen a great light, and his light has reached and affected a large portion of our people, and there are also some signs that it may soon arise upon our Mussulman neighbours. When our people, in mass, shall be one with Christ and each other, then we believe that these deluded by the Arabian deceiver-will all see their error, and find the true way as it is in Jesus. Very many are, indeed, enlightened among us, and we have reformed churches, containing many, we trust, who have passed from death unto life. 1863.] ( 85 ) SOCIAL LIFE AMONG HINDUS. THE village community is one of the most remarkable of the Hindu institutions. It is mainly through this, in those times of anarchy and confusion which have so often prevailed in India, that some order has been preserved; for however rulers have changed, this has remained un 86 THE KROO PEOPLE OF WEST AFRICA. [AUG. changed. And thus each village has constituted a little miniature state, with its own government, laws, lands, and trades. Take, for instance, a village in the Deccan. The arable land belonging to it is divided amongst different occupants, the inhabitants being principally cultivators, some being hereditary occupants, others tenants-at-will. Besides the cultivators, there are other castes and trades in proportion to the size of each village. Amongst these are to be found the carpenter, the blacksmith, the shoemaker or currier, a very low caste the Mhar, who is the very lowest caste, and lives outside the village, but whose duties are nevertheless so important that he cannot be dispensed with. He acts as scout, guide, and attendant upon travellers, and removes all dead things from the village. Besides these are the potter, the barber, the washerwoman, the guru, who attends the idol in the village temple; the astrologer, the goldsmith, the tailor, &c. These are ruled over by the Patel, who is a sort of village mayor. The Brahmins generally do not form part of the village community, but as "gods" stand apart from the vulgar herd, upon whose gifts, nevertheless, they condescend to live. These palmy days, however, are passing away from the Brahmin caste, and its members are beginning to learn, that, like other men, if they would eat, they must work. With respect to the various trades and crafts, one of the most remarkable points is the simplicity of the implements in use; yet with these, rude as they are, the Hindus produce excellent results. This is true of the cabinetmaker, the goldsmith, the blacksmith, the mason, the spinner, and the weaver. So in agriculture; the plough is of the simplest kind, and is so light that the husbandman may be seen bearing it on his shoulders to the field, driving before him a couple of bullocks that are to be yoked to it on his arrival there. In the absence of all true religion, and the presence of a false creed and gods of evil character, which have only served to irritate and develope the seeds of evil which are in the human heart, one cannot but wonder that human society has held together at all, and that it has not resolved itself into a chaos. Sad and degraded has been the condition of the millions of Hindus; still they have been preserved for better times, and those better times are beginning to dawn upon them. The leaven of Christianity is at work. Not only in the great cities, but throughout the rural districts, Christianity is being preached and taught. Faithful men are being raised up from amongst themselves, who are going forth as evangelists. Idolatry is rapidly losing its hold on the people, and the conviction is gaining ground that Christianity is the true faith. The Lord hasten the time when India shall confess the true God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent ! THE KROO PEOPLE OF WEST AFRICA. THE Kroo people were the first of all the inhabitants of the grain coast to engage as labourers on board ships. They are to be found in greater or less numbers at almost every European settlement on the coast, and sometimes find their way as sailors to London, Liverpool, New York, &c. The greater number of the men speak imperfect 1863.] THE KROO PEOPLE OF WEST AFRICA. 87 but intelligible English. They are of manly and independent carriage, and the person who meets them for the first time cannot fail being struck with their open, frank countenances and their robust and well-proportioned forms. Their complexion varies from the darkest shade of the negro to that of the true Mulatto. Their features are comparatively regular. Their most marked deficiency is in the formation of their heads, which are narrow and peaked. Experience, however, shows that they are as capable of intellectual improvement as any other race of men. The following paper, written by one of the native pastors of Sierra Leone, will show what is being done for their improvement in the neighbourhood of Freetown It is pretty near a year since our small church was built for the benefit and accommodation of the people here, who had hitherto been living as if they have no soul to save, no God to glorify. In the history of Kroo Town (if I may so speak), there never was a period which calls for gratitude and thanksgiving to God, and excites the hope that we shall yet see better things, like the present. On the spot of ground which was formerly occupied by ungodly men, who, by their daily lives and conversation, declared plainly that they would not have "the Lord's annointed" to reign over them, is now erected a church for his praise and glory. Several friends, who left the colony only one or two years ago, have, on their return, been heard to remark, whilst passing by, "Can this be Kroo Town? Where are the Sunday wrestlers? Where are the public profaners of the Lord's-day? Surely Kroo Town is now becoming a better place, and what cannot the Lord do?" With regard to our people-I mean those who cleave to us to the intent that they may be taught the things that concern their souls' salvation-I am glad to state that their conduct has been somewhat satisfactory; their attendance on all the means of grace, regular, and they appear to have profited thereby. On Sunday, October 26th, we had the morning service, at the usual hour. Some of those who were lately discharged from a man-of-war, where they had laboured as seamen, attended. The number of attendants, including some of the school children, was above one hundred. My text was taken from Titus ii., 11-13, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation," &c. The address, which was, as usual, adapted to the understanding of the people, made a serious impression on their minds; and one among the congregation, whose name is Rünh, alias Jim Will, unable to suppress his feelings, came quietly to me to the pulpit, touched me, requesting that I should allow him to speak to his country-people for a few minutes. This was before we sang the concluding hymn. And as I did not know what he had to say to the people, I felt I should not at all deny him the request. Then, standing near the pulpit, he began to address his countrymen thus-" My brethren, you and myself are Kroomen. When we were in our country, you know how very wicked we were; but as we have come to this land, where the Gospel is preached continually, it is good for us to cease from doing evil, and learn to do well. We have heard the word |