the officials, and granted the prayer injured as to be compelled to return to this conntry. American affairs do not make very rapid strides. Fremont has been snubbed by Lincoln for his emancipation placard, and is said to be on the eve of dismissal. The threatened short supply of cotton has already told on the commercial centres in England. Mills are going only half - time. Trade still continues flat. The harvest though perhaps not an average, is of better quality than it has been for years. This will lessen the evils of the approaching winter. May He who conquers all affairs listen to the fervent prayer of His people-that there be no complaining in our streets.' of the students. China has lost her emperor: Hien Fung is no more. The queen of Madagascar is also dead, and in place of old Ranavolo now reigns her son Rakout Radama. A more liberal policy has been started, and the edict forbidding foreigners to enter the island has been withdrawn. The French are said to be the prompters of the King's liberalism. A brutal outrage has been committed in Japan on the British embassy. Armed ruffians broke into the house where the English party were staying, and, but for timely aid, would have murdered them all in cold blood. Mr. Lawrence Oliphant, the secretary, is so Marriages and Deaths. MARRIAGES. September 16, at Baxter-gate chapel, Loughborough, by the Rev. E. Stevenson, Mr. John Newman, Hosier, High-street, Loughborough, to Jane, daughter of Mr. W. Bennett, Derby. September 17, at Baxter- gate chapel, Loughborough, by the Rev. E. Stevenson, Mr. John Blood Yeoman, Wysall, to Ann Tayler, of the Dog and Gun Inn, Loughborough. Sep. 29, at Peterborough General Baptist chapel, Mr. C. Smedley Marriott, to Miss Millicent Hunt. October 1, at Borough-road Chapel, London, Charles, son of Mr. B. Whichello, of Bourn, Cambridgeshire, to Hannah, daughter of Mr. W. Farrington, of Windsor-place, Old Kent-road. Oct. 2, at Peterborough General Baptist chapel, Mr. W. Burchall, to Miss Emma Mary Hyde. October 17, at Sacheverel-street chapel, Derby, by the Rev. W. Jones, Mr. Thomas Bancroft to Anne Wakefield, eldest daughter of Mr. DEATHS. August 24, at Buxton, whither she had gone for the benefit of her health, Lydia Thompson, of Long Sutton, in the sixty-ninth year of her October 7, Sidney Cecil, second October 13, at West Brompton, after a few hours illness, Rev. Thos. Boaz, LL.D., twenty-five years a missionary in Calcutta, aged 55. Missionary Observer. LETTER FROM REV. W. HILL. Cuttack, August 17, 1861. LAST evening letters and papers came to hand containing an account of the Association, and we rejoice to learn that it has been decided to send out Mr. Bailey during the present year. We shall soon begin to look forward to the return of brethren Stubbins and Brooks with their dear wives, and should God see fit to spare our lives and preserve our health, our forces will be stronger than they have ever been in the history of the mission. Considering, however, the vastness of the field we may still exclaim, and what are these among so many? Nevertheless if friends at home will engage to keep the number up to its present strength, we shall be able not only to continue our usual labours among the Oriyas, but to do something for the long neglected Khonds. Good men on earth and bright spirits before the throne must look with intense interest on the establishment of a mission to these barbarous tribes. There are several matters connected with the Annual Meeting which one would like to touch upon, but I must pass by these to say a word or two upon a subject in which I feel a particular interest, viz: the prosperity of our mission press. As this has been under my charge during the past two years, or nearly so, I know a little of the difficulties with which Mr. Brooks has had to contend, and I am astonished at the work he has turned out both as regards quality and quantity. For years, however, it has been felt desirable to have a smaller fount of Oriya type, but it has not been procurable for want of funds. I rejoice, therefore, that brother Brooks has commenced in earnest to raise the amount required, and sincerely hope that he will succeed in the undertaking. It is desirable to have a | new fount because it would be an immense saving as regards time and money. It would bring the Bible into ordinary bulk instead of extending as it now does to four large octavo volumes, it would give to works in general a more cheerful appearance by supplying variety instead of the same-same-same sized type without any variety for either headings or notes. Only fancy all the English books printed in large English type, what a dead, heavy appearance they would have. Then again, fancy the Bible, the smallest edition, the pocket edition shall we call it, extending to four large octavo volumes. The very bulk and weight preclude one from carrying it about, and to carry even one volume to chapel is no small undertaking. Could we make sure of always having the right volume it would be some compensation, but it often happens that the portion read is from the volume left at home, or should we even take two volumes the reading may be from the other two. On these accounts our native christians seldom take their Bibles with them to chapel. The Scriptures never can be reduced to the small compass of an English pocket Bible, but with a smaller type a very considerable reduction might be made. From what has been said, I think it will be very obvious to every person that it is most desirable to have a new and smaller fount of type, but the difficulty is the want of funds. The question then is, how are these funds to be raised ? For my part, I must confess that I like tea meetings, and think they might be a source of profit. Then again there are the Juvenile Associations and Sabbath scholars, who could render considerable help. If the children of another denomination could raise sufficient money to build a missionary ship, then I am sure the children and young people connected with our schools could raise money enough to purchase some new type and a new press. Let us have then if possible, "the children's type, and the children's printing press." Were the matter taken up in good earnest by the Juvenile Associations and Sabbath scholars, the object would be soon accomplished. Even should more money be obtained than is asked for it might be spent to advantage, and form a fund to have dealings with wholesale houses in England instead of with retail houses in Calcutta. In this way the efficiency of the press might be greatly promoted. In past years the press has been a considerable source of pecuniary advantage to the Society, and we hope it will be in years to come. On this account it is worthy of warm support. It is, however, chiefly worthy of support because it sends forth the word of God, that word which has penetrated jungly districts, and more jungly hearts, which has given light to those who sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and which has guided many a weary wanderer after rest to a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Eternity alone will declare what good has been effected through the Orissa mission press. Commending it then to all who take an interest in its operations, I shall rejoice to hear that Mr. Brooks has succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. VISIT TO A SACRIFICIAL BY REV. J. O. GOADBY. Berhampore, May 29, 1861. A FEW weeks ago I promised you an account of a visit I purposed making to a large festival held on a mountain about sixteen miles from Berhampore. This festival is held but once in the year, and continues for three successive Tuesdays in the month of April, and is generally largely attended, especially the last day. I have been anxious to go every year since I came on this side, but one thing or another has interfered with my intentions. The heat at that season of the year is very great and very dangerous if care is not taken. This year I again resolved in my own mind to go, and as several of the knowing ones among the heathen in Berhampore anticipated a large gathering I determined to go come what would. Before I could get off, however, sundry preparations had to be made, for although I should only be absent from home a day, and the distance was only sixteen miles, all I should require in the way of eating, drinking, and change of raiment must go with me, and I must be prepared to meet a large amount of inconvenience and perhaps danger. Having fitted up my palky, which, by the way is a small one, as a sleeping room for the night, a dress A few weeks ago, I had a visiting room for the morning, and a from one of the most wealthy and intelligent rajahs in the district. He appeared much astonished and delighted with what he saw. He had received some of our Scriptures and books, and mentioned several by name. He also referred to events connected with Jewish history, and spoke of David rajah, or king David. Thus the word of God is penetrating the palaces and minds of kings, and doubtless preparing the way for that King to whom the princes of this world shall do reverence, and at whose feet they shall lay their costly offerings. God speed the happy day. dining room for the afternoon, I prepared to take my departure. But here commenced the nuisance of Indian travelling. I wanted ten palky bearers and had made an agreement with them, but found only four had arrived, the others not thinking it necessary to come according to agreement early in the evening. Half an hour afterwards two more made their appearance, and to complete the difficulties rain commenced falling heavily, and with little prospect of subsiding before midnight. To be at the foot of the mountain on which the festival is held an hour before day dawn was necessary, if I wished to ascend Visit to a Sacrificial Festival. 435 it, as fully two hours would be oc- Anticipating an hour's rest, the recupied in the ascent and descent, maining eight men rolled themselves and the heat an hour after sunrise in their clothes, and lying full in India is very sickening. But to length on the damp ground, were accomplish this it was absolutely soon fast asleep, their long drawn necessary to leave Berhampore by and heavy breathing leaving no nine p.m. as the road was bad and room to doubt. I sat upright in most of it jungle. Nine o'clock my palky and looking into the darkstruck, but, though all the bearers ness could see nothing but clouds had arrived they had forgotten to and jungle, with an odd star twinkbring a torch with them, without ling here and there. Many and which, it was impossible to proceed peculiar thoughts passed through above a mile, the path then leading my mind during the absence of the over ploughed fields, broken ground, men. The darkness of the night and brushwood, the night being and the moaning of the wind densely dark, and the rain falling favoured contemplation. Shortly heavily. Two men were instantly my mind said to me, as the native dispatched for the torch with special phraseology goes, how illustrative instruction to use their legs advan- this darkness of the gross darkness tageously. An hour elapsed when which covers the minds of the the same men returned, and when people. With such a deficiency of interrogated, with irritating quiet-light, a rotten stump becomes an ness replied, sahib, we dont know advancing asurá, a demon, and a how to make one." Another bearer fallen log, a crouching tiger. Few who professed to be equal to the art confront the object of their terror, of torch making, was instantly sent but rather flee lest those shadowy to his village to make and bring one forms should perchance prove subquickly. Again I waited, he re- stances, and the crouching tiger, turned, but no torch. How is this? and man-devouring demon really I asked, sahib, I could get no rag be there. So through the darkness to make one with." I quickly gave that enshrouds the heathen mind, to him a few pice and hurried him off their mental vision all is indistinct, to the dhobar's, or washerman, to and they fail to see that stocks and buy a few rags, and after another stones are only gods when their own hour's delay he came with something imagination makes them such, and like a torch it was true, but most their power to harm or help a shadow certainly a mere apology for one. that when tested will vanish into It was near midnight before I left thin air. While musing thus, and so that my prospects of reaching thinking of, and praying for the the mountain were anything but time when that wilderness should cheering. Soon after we had left rejoice, when the gospel day should Berhampore behind us in the dark- be as near its dawn as was the ness, the singing of the bearers lulled morrow, when the mountain of the me to sleep, and in this way a little Lord's house should be established more than half the journey had on the top of the mountains, and all been done, when the bearers suddenly nations should flow unto it, the stopped, set down the palky, woke bearers returned, the light was reme up, and looking very serious said, kindled, the journey renewed, and sahib, sahib, the oil is all gone.' through the sing-song of the bearers How they had managed to use it all I was soon again dozing. But my was to me a mystery. To get more sleep was soon broken again by the was the difficulty. Two men how-noise of the crowds thronging to the ever, ran off to a village more than mountain to offer their yearly sacria mile distant to wake up the oil-fice. man and purchase a new supply. Happily the rain had cleared off, and the night was getting starlight, the stars peeping out one by one. 66 22 The sun was rising as I reached the foot of the mountain. The native preachers were there waiting for me. After partaking of a glass or two of water, and doing justice to a loaf of dry bread, I pre-, pared to ascend the mountain without delay, in company with the native preachers. I ought to have been there much earlier as the sun was above the horizon when we commenced the ascent. On glancing upwards the zigzag path to the summit was easily distinguishable from the host of deluded worshippers crowding it, a living stream of human beings which unlike streams in general was rolling upward; the gay colouring of their gaudy clothes and turbans being happily relieved by the green jungle it intersected. Our path upward was a steep and very rugged one, and as we pushed on I was soon saturated with perspiration, which fairly dropped off my fingers' ends before I reached the top. The path-side of the mountain was eastward, and no wind stirring, the heat soon became uncomfortable. From the foot to the summit we literally walked in a crushing crowd. Men bearing on their shoulders a sheep or goat for sacrifice. Women with pails of butter-milk, cocoa nuts, fowls, and flowers. Children carrying a wee lamb or kid thronged the road at every step, while others were returning from the temple carrying on a pole between them the headless trunk of a sheep or goat, that had been decapitated in front of the idol. We hurried on, stopping now and then if the moving crushing crowd would admit of it, to rest and to tell the passers by of another sacrifice, on another hillJesus the Lamb of God. After an hour's hard work we reached the summit. On looking round, far down beneath us were the masses of people who had returned from, and were ascending to, the temple, the sound of whose voices came up like the noise of many waters, for the mountain cannot be less than 1000 feet high, and rises abruptly from a level plain with a base not more than two miles in circumference. Converging toward the mountain were long lines of people hastening to the festival. The prospect around was beautiful, but alas! marred by this scene of heathendom. I was afraid we should not be allowed to go into the temple, but no one raised any objection. Here we tried to preach, and I may justly say tried, for preaching was impossible. The bleating of sheep and goats, the shouts of excited men professedly singing the praises of their goddess, the hubbub of a thousand voices, with the thumping of tomtoms, and blowing of horns, bade defiance to the sound of one human voice. I shouted, and some appeared to hear, when up came a man with a longhooked knife, a decapitating knife, and flourishing it over his head, his eyes starting from their sockets, with wild excitement, yelled out, "hurri bola, hurri bola," and drove away all who were near. It was rapidly getting very hot, and we thought it best to retrace our steps. Before going, I was anxious for several reasons to see the sacrifice, so pushing my way through a dense crowd, and mounting some stone steps had a full view of the bloody scene. In front of a large and very old temple stood some six or eight men with grim faces, holding a large hooked decapitating knife, dripping with blood in their hands, and raised high over their heads that it might not be contaminated by touching any one. In front of these priests of Moloch was the place where the victims were slaughtered marked off by large stones, about fourteen yards by six, and ankle deep in blood. Around was a dense crowd of people, a road being preserved for those bringing animals for sacrifice. Women offer their sacrifices by breaking a cocoa nut upon a stone within the pool of blood, or by pour ing the butter-milk over the stones, or by throwing flowers on the idol or in the blood. The object of this sacrifice I was told repeatedly was to ensure the birth of a son during the coming year, and also to ensure their own salvation. Hence I saw scores of little youngsters who had come into the world during the past year, and as their poor ignorant fathers and mothers believed through the favour of the idol, lying crying |