Mangalore and changed the character of the establishment. The press at Mangalore has been occupied with the Tulu and Canarese books of the mission: the press at Tellicherry has been confined almost entirely to the Máleálim. Among the productions of the latter are a Máleálim grammar: Barth's Bible Stories; Church History; part of the Pilgrim's Progress; a Harmony of the Gospels; various Christian tracts and portions of the Bible. Among those of the former are tracts on Caste, on the Hindu gods; Canarese Proverbs; Henry and his Bearer; the Pilgrim's Progress; Barth's Bible Stories; a Canarese hymn book and the like.

BIBLICAL TRANSLATION Owes much to the Basle Missionaries. Mr. Weigle for a considerable time gave his chief time to the revision of the CANARESE Bible. This object he carried out for the Madras Bible Society, in connection with the missionaries at Bangalore and Bellary. By their joint labours the whole book has been completed and put into circulation. This labour was founded upon the translations of earlier years: in other cases they have originated translations of their own. The TULU churches are entirely indebted to Mr. Ammann of Mulki for the translation of the New Testament into their language. This work was all printed at the Mangalore press. Dr. Gundert has devoted much attention to a revision of the Máleálim translation: and has already printed at Tellicherry the latter half of the New Testament. Lastly, Mr. Bühler has given to the mountaineers of the Nilgiri hills the first book in their own language, the Gospel of Luke. The 'Badaga Luke' was printed at Mangalore. Besides these christian publications, the missionaries have been printing for a considerable time numerous selections from the classical Canarese literature. The object of this little library, called 'Bibliotheca Carnataca,' is to furnish the missionaries, their catechists and scholars with complete materials for mastering the language, and for meeting idolatry on its own ground. The scheme has been carried on at the expense of one of the most liberal friends of missions in South India; and several works have already issued from the Mangalore press.

ITINERANCIES.

The missionaries of the Basle Society, in addition to other labours, have maintained an extensive system of itinerancies, throughout the districts in which they reside. Not confining their preaching to the immediate neighbourhood of their homes, they have endeavoured to

spread gospel knowledge widely in the towns and villages near them. Each one of their annual reports contains interesting facts met with in their journeys: and pleasant is it indeed to follow them through the country villages, dealing with all classes of the community and discussing the great things which concern the salvation of souls. Thus the reader sees Mr. Albrecht gathering the Lingaits of Dharwar: while Mr. Ammann assails demon-worship among the lowlands near the sea. Thus Mr. Hebich is pelted with stones among the hills of the Coorgs, and Mr. Moerike makes his home in Badaga huts, that he may bring the Badagas to Christ. Among the fruits of such labour, imperfect in itself, but an important means of future usefulness, is the spread of Christian truth, the proclamation of the gospel as the one exclusive plan of salvation, among the population at large. The Basle missionaries accordingly report that the knowledge of the distinctive doctrines of that gospel is very extensively possessed by the people in their districts. Hence a conviction widely prevails that idolatry is foolish and must go down; the people attend the great festivals, more to see the crowd and to buy goods, than to worship heartily and in faith. In this way the Yellama jattra near Belgaum, and the Humpee festival near Bellary, are much reduced in numbers: and the cars cannot be drawn out and home. The moment a missionary stands up to preach, the people say "Ah, the padri is come, he will tell us that we are sinners, that we must repent and believe in the Saviour Jesus Christ." "Why do you always preach Jesus Christ, says another. Only say that God is one, and that idols are nothing and we agree."

On one occasion a missionary from Mangalore, travelling through the country to preach the gospel, was invited by the Rajah of Vittla to pay him a visit. He was most hospitably entertained for several days, and enjoyed many opportunities of conversing on religious questions with the Rajah himself, and with the numerous courtiers and attendants by whom he was surrounded. During one of these conversations the Rajah expressed particular anxiety on two things. He wished to know first, whether there was any medicine in the world to cure all diseases and prevent death: secondly, whether the art of changing metals into gold was known in Europe. On this text, the fear of death and the desire of wealth, the missionary preached unto him Jesus. All the Rajah's people, in his absence, expressed their conviction that idolatry and caste were the inventions of men: and declared at the same time their own intention to seek final freedom from trouble, not by works of merit, but by

I

the attainment of spiritual wisdom.' Examples of such convictions can be readily multiplied from the Mission Reports. They shew the same results from public preaching as are being witnessed over all India wherever the same exertions have been made.

MISSIONARY EXPENDITURE.

There are one or two arrangements in the missionary economy of the Basle Society which differ from the practice of other Societies. For instance, it is a rule, made by the Home Committee, and re-affirmed by the missionaries themselves, that every missionary and mission family shall receive only a subsistence allowance, instead of a fixed salary. And in order to reduce expenditure as much as possible unmarried missionaries are expected to reside with others, receiving a very small pittance beyond the food which they eat. We believe also that they cannot marry without the consent of their committee being first obtained. In this way it happens that annually, twenty-five missionaries and sixteen missionaries' wives are maintained for the small sum of twenty-three thousand rupees. House-rent is not included in this calculation: their dwelling-houses belong to the Society, and the missionaries live rent-free. Building and repairs cost six thousand rupees more. The missionaries' journeys, moonshees, and postage are also all separately paid for. One result of this plan is; that the missionaries are able to save nothing. Those therefore who have children are left without means for sending their children to Europe; or for educating them either in Europe or in India. It was once thought that India was the best place for their children; but the most experienced of their number entertain a perfectly opposite opinion; an opinion entertained by all medical men; and confirmed by the practice of the whole European community, who from North India at least send their children to England by hundreds every year. The whole question has been remitted for final settlement to the Committee at Basel. They have received it in the kindest way, and are anxious to make such arrangements for the reception and education of the missionaries' families, as shall give perfect satisfaction to their brethren. For brethren, who have given up every thing but their daily support, the Committee can scarcely do less. In England and America, Societies exist for aiding the education of missionaries' children: and the Basel Society might benefit by some such Institution, either separate from, or as a branch of, itself.

A very large portion of the funds of this mission is obtained from christians in this country. The missionaries draw about forty-five thousand rupees from Germany; and receive from ten to twelve thousand rupees in India. One year they received as much as eighteen thousand rupees. This proof of the great liberality of the English christians in India to a German mission deserves special mention. It shows the great sympathy which is felt for their labours; and the hearty confidence with which the missionaries are regarded. The individual donations which their subscription lists exhibit are perfectly amazing. Subscriptions of one hundred rupees are quite common: but those of two hundred, three hundred and five hundred also occur. Such assistance has been eminently useful to the mission from its very commencement, and without it the operations of the Society in India would necessarily be greatly curtailed.

MISSION IN THE NILGIRI HILLS.

It only remains to give a brief account of the Basle Mission in the Nilgiri Hills. This beautiful cluster of hills lies on the southern border of Mysore, and forms a part of the great block of mountains in which the Ghaut ranges on the east and west coasts of India are fused into each other. The mighty convulsions by which they were produced, have left here the broadest and deepest marks. Several distinct ranges, of varied formation, have been thrown up within a small space; of these the Koondas on the west and the Nilgiris on the east are the most conspicuous. The Koondas are the most majestic: the Nilgiris the most beautiful. The pass of Konoor, by which the traveller descends the latter into the eastern plains, is one of the most lovely vallies in all South India. Upon its beetling crags and deep dense woods; on the light green jungle, and the gushing streams, amongst which the road winds for sixteen miles, the worn out dweller on the plains gazes his fill and turns away only to look again.

These hills are peopled by various sections of the aborigines of India, who in language, religion and habits differ entirely from the Hindus of the plains. They include 12,000 Badagas or Burgers: 400 Todawars; 500 Kotas, and 300 Irulas. The Irula tribe inhabit the feverish jungle which surrounds the base of the hills, and are in consequence a weak and sickly race. The Kotas occupy the eastern side of the Nilgiris, and from them the European sanatarium of Kotagherry is named. They have only seven villages. They cultivate the ground, have large herds

:

of cattle, and are the blacksmiths, potters and musicians of the country. They are more energetic than other hill men, but are the most filthy and abject of all. The Badagas are the most numerous and influential. They are scattered widely over the hills and their villages amount to several hundreds in number. They are divided into four Nádus or districts, and are ruled by chiefs termed Gaudas. They live in a most patriarchal manner all the branches of a family reside together under the same roof, under the rule of the head. The houses therefore are of immense size, like the tent of an influential Arab Sheikh; and often a few such houses constitute a populous village. The whole people are closely connected by caste and intermarriages impenetrable to foreign influence. no less than nine grades of caste among them and submit, like the Hindus of the plains, to the guiding tyranny of its rules. The idolatry of such a people can of course be only of the lowest kind: having its roots in the demon worship of India: but the brahmins have considerable influence, and the Badagas reverence Mahalinga and Gunga-ma. They are greatly enslaved by superstitious fear of demons and sorcerers who work in their name; amongst whom the Mullu-kurumbas on the slopes of the hills are most dreaded. It may be mentioned that all these hill tribes speak a rude kind of Canarese: and esteem the Tamil language, which they do not know, the language of true civilization.

and form a compact mass almost Poor and low as they are, they have

:

:

Three large villages of Badagas, comprising about twelve hundred people, lie together in the very heart of the Nilgiris, in a peculiar basin, the name of which is KAITY. It is situated four miles to the east of Ootacamund, the European settlement. It is a beautiful spot, entirely surrounded by swelling hills, and having on its northern front, the full sweep of the mountain side of Dodabette the highest of the Nilgiri range. It is watered by several gushing rills and the bright crimson rhododendron, the wild raspberry and blackberry, field marigolds, lupins, and numerous species of fern, both by their sight and sweet smell, call away the thoughts of English visitors to the land where they first beheld them. In this valley, with a design to benefit the poor ignorant Badagas, the late Mr. Casamajor fixed his seat, on retiring from the Madras Civil Service. He built a beautiful house, having a Badaga village close behind. He obtained first one, then another of the German missionaries to visit his people: and fairly set on foot a mission among them. Every day he received their sick and gave them medicines with his own hand. Every day he sat in his Badaga school, teaching the little hill boys the