82 THE FEMALES OF INDIA. has left, and eats it in another room. Here there is nothing cheerful, nothing joyous; none of the bright sunny looks which may be seen in a happy Christian family. Blessed Gospel, to which we owe so much, which opens our closed hearts to God, and teaches us to be kindly affectioned one to another! It is the happy light of this glorious Gospel which we wish to introduce within the house of the Hindu; but in accomplishing this there is much difficulty. The home of a Hindu is carefully closed against all who are not of the same caste with himself. An European may therefore live for years in a town, and be on friendly terms with the people, and yet never enter within their houses, except, perhaps, in an outer apartment, he converses with the men of the family. Even English ladies have very rarely been admitted. Hitherto, our principal hope of doing good to the females of India has been through the means of Schools. Native prejudice has so far given way, that Schools for native girls are on the increase. In our South-India Mission there were in December last 2509 native girls in the Schools. The following Letter is from the wife of one of our Missionaries at Masulipatam, among the Telugu people of South India. It is very interesting, as it not only speaks encouragingly as to the prospect of having little girls to attend her School, but affords the hope of her being able to gain access to the native women in their own houses. You will, I am sure, rejoice with us, when you hear how abundantly our gracious Father encourages us in this blessed work. Already even Brahmin and Sudra girls have been to call upon us. On these important occasions the dear little girls were brought through the Compound the most secret road. On arriving near the house, one of the four or five boys that were with each girl came to see that no friend was with us, when, all the servants having been ordered out of the room, our little visitors were very secretly brought in. Our interviews were only short, when they were taken away as stealthily as they were brought. We have also two little children who come regularly every morning: they are learning work and English. Shortly we hope to commence some other study. Kalthama, the elder of these little girls, about eleven, gives me great satisfaction. The pleasure she had on her first visit seems to have induced her to try a regular attendance. I then asked her to come and learn to work, which she promised to do. On her return home she told her mother, who immediately said, "But they will make you a Christian;" to which the dear child replied, "I don't care: I will go, I will go." The piece of needle-work which she is now doing much interests her. The Alphabet she nearly knows, and tries to remember. Dear little Kalthama not unfrequently brings her little sister with her, accompanied also by her cousin, who is one of Mr. Noble's pupils. You will be pleased to hear that we have twice paid a visit to a Brahmin's family, at their request. My feelings on proceeding through the pettah to their house I hope I may never forget. * The native part of the town. SEA-SIDE THOUGHTS. 83 It is impossible to describe to you the feeling which stole over me, knowing the whole of the place through which I was going was Satan's kingdom: I longed for the time when the prophecy should be fulfilled-" I will be exalted among the Heathen." I never before saw such expressions of countenance as I did that evening, of both men and women. They were truly fiendish. If the melancholy appearance of the wretched Heathen of any other country could stir up a Missionary spirit, surely what I then saw would do so. At length we arrived at the house, the aged grandfather, with many of his friends, waiting our arrival on their cleanly-washed steps. When we were seen coming to them, very many polite salaams were made to us ere I stepped from my tonjon. We were ushered into a large hall, and, walking arm-in-arm -having never seen a native man and woman walking thus, the poor females seeming to be thought unworthy of such companionship-entered their apartment. Here two chairs were placed for our accommodation. After being seated a few moments the room was quite darkened, and we soon discovered that it was owing to the great crowd around the windows, wishing to see what was going forward. After delivering a present of some cotton and a pincushion we departed, amid many salaams, and receiving many small oranges and lemons. Since then we have again been; but the mother wishing to see us quite alone, her neighbours were kept in ignorance of our visit. We were permitted to go into her apartment without any other person being with us, excepting her son. The woman is pleasing, but, being unable to speak to her in the Gentu language, we could say but little. Last night we went to see a Sudra family. This visit was most interesting. After my husband and Mr. Noble were seated, the Sudra, taking me into another room, introduced me to his wife and two daughters. A hearty welcome was given, and a request to come often. I asked the Sudra to set an example to his countrymen by sending his daughters to me. I regret to say this interesting family is yet in bondage to the cruel prejudices and customs of the Hindus. He tells me I shall very soon have a good School. His son is one of my drawing pupils. I had the pleasure of hearing his daughters read in a little book we gave to them, translated into the Telugu," Peep of Day." His daughters are quite an exception in their being able to read. We trust our Christian friends will bear in mind the request with which this lady ends her Letter, that we will offer up our earnest prayers on behalf of these poor Telugu families. SEA-SIDE THOUGHTS. STILL on the shore the wild waves play, Now, as if emulous to reach The highest point, they climb the beach; Fling o'er the rocks the sparkling surge, And furiously the onset urge • A chair with a head, carried on men's shoulders, like a palanquin. 84 SEA-SIDE THOUGHTS. The billows, breaking at your feet, Who made the sea? who bade it roll Ships, caught amidst the wild commotion, On fearful nights like these at sea. Men's wills are like the troubled deep, Rise in Thy majesty, O Lord! VOL. I. No. 8. NEW SERIES.] [NOVEMBER, 1580. THE I BIBLE CLASS AT MATAMATA, NEW ZEALAND.-Vide p. 90. DEATH OF SWARTZ. SWARTZ grew old, but not wearied in the service of his Master. Of sickness he had known little or nothing; and, when 69 years old, although no longer able to travel into the country districts, he continued to discharge the duties of his Church and School, and to visit the Christians in the adjoining streets. A fall in November 1797 was followed by a severe illness, and from that time his constitution began to sink. In the beginning of the next year inflammation of the foot was followed by mortification, and his end drew near. The following simple and touching account of the closing hours of his life is given by the Rev. C. W. Gericke, who had been for upward of thirty years his fellow-labourer. I returned to Tanjore from a short journey I had made to Trichinopoly, on February 7, 1798, and found that Mr. Swartz's foot was become very bad, and full of black spots, which continued to increase. The physician had begun to employ the bark as a poultice. As we expected the end of our beloved Brother every hour, the other Brethren besought me to remain with them, and assist them to bear the burden. It was a great benefit, to witness in our dying friend an awakening example of faith, of patience, and of hope. When spiritual and heavenly things were spoken of; when he prayed, exhorted, comforted, or spoke of the repose and peace of mind which he enjoyed by the mercy of God through Christ, no failure in his powers of recollection could be perceived. He often introduced a text of Holy Scripture, or a verse of a hymn, which were very appropriate; and was continually engaged in conversation with those around him. Until the Friday evening previous to his death, he often said that he did not consider his end as so near, and that it would not take place until after much suffering; but after that, he sometimes said, "I shall now soon depart to my heavenly Father." Being asked whether he had the hope that, after his death, the kingdom of God would break out in this land, he replied, "Yes, but it will be through affliction and trouble." At another time, when he was asked if he had any thing to say concerning the Congregation, he answered, "Assist them to come to heaven." Shortly before his death he said, "Had it pleased Him to spare me longer, I should have been glad; I should then have been able to speak yet a word to the sick and poor: but His will be done. May He in mercy but receive me! Into Thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me, thou faithful God." After this, the Malabar helpers sung the last verse of a hymn, he often joining in with them. He then rested a little, after which he desired to be raised up; and unexpectedly he opened his mouth, from which had issued so much instruction and consolation, and so much earnest prayer, to the seventysecond year of his life, and thus expired, in the arms of the faithful and truly grateful Malabar fellow-labourer of this place, at four o'clock. Very moving were the weeping and the sobs of the people in both the Christian villages on each side of the garden, which were heard the |