by the Turks under Sultan Murad IV. in 1638, and has since remained a part of the Turkish Empire, being ruled by governors appointed from Constantinople.

Approached by water, its first appearance is singularly picturesque, and gives one the impression of an "enchanted city, rising from the midst of groves of mulberries, oranges and palms," and its "graceful minarets and domes, gleaming with blue and green through the foliage." But every feeling of romance is removed as one enters the city. "It is the very type of the insanitary Oriental town." Heaps of putrefying rubbish meet the eye at every turn; lean and gaunt dogs prowl about, seeking what they may devour; while the hungry vulture swoops over the unwholesome streets.

The most reliable statistics put the population of the city at 60,000. The labouring portion is chiefly Arab, the governing classes are Turks, while the remainder is composed of Jews, Armenians, Persians, and Kurds, and a very motley crowd they look as they swarm day after day in the narrow bazaars.

Besides being the centre of the highway for Shiah pilgrims to Mecca, that ne plus ultra of the Mohammedan's religious desires, Bagdad itself is surrounded by places of pilgrimage, whither resort thousands of Shiah Mohammedans during the year. As in future numbers of the GLEANER we may have to refer to this powerful division of Mohammedans, it may not be out of place to give some account of them here.

The death of Mohammed caused a split among his followers. Hundreds of thousands believe that he nominated his son-in-law, Ali, to succeed him. It is true Ali did eventually succeed him, but three others came between him and the prophet, and they are looked upon as usurpers by a large section of Moslems. Ali was assassinated after having reigned for only five years as Kaliph. Ali had two sons. Hasan, the elder, abdicated, and perished by poison at Medina. The younger, Husain, fought valiantly for the Kaliphate, but after a gallant stand, was defeated with a few faithful followers and killed. From the moment he was struck down, Mohammedans became divided

into two hostile camps, the Sunnis and the Shiahs. The former pride themselves on their superior orthodoxy, for they accept with implicit allegiance not only the teaching of the Koran, but the whole of the traditions as set forth and expounded by the four great Doctors of Islam. Their name Sunni is derived from Sunnah (tradition), and denotes their religious adherence to the teachings of the traditions. The Shiahs (the term Shiah, implying sect or party, was evidently given to them by their opponents; they call themselves Adliyah, "the rightful society ") accept the Koran and such of the traditions as can be traced back to the prophet, but reject all the rest. The Sunnis recognise the three who came, as before stated, between Mohammed and his son-in-law Ali, as the legitimate successors. The Shiahs, on the other hand, reject these as interlopers, and accept Ali as the first of the true Imams or Kaliphs. For centuries past the Shiah type of Islam has been the national faith of Persia.

There are several mosques both in and around Bagdad, which are the objects of much veneration to the Shiahs. One of them is at Nedjef, on the shore of the sea of that name, 120 miles south of Bagdad. It was erected in memory of Ali. The story runs that finding himself dying he directed that his body should be placed on a camel, and buried wherever the animal stopped. It stopped at Nedjef, and there Ali was buried. Near to Nedjef are shown the traditional tombs of Ezra and Ezekiel, both venerated by Jews and Moslems alike. Another mosque is at Kerbela, some 60 miles south-west of Bagdad, and is built on the spot where Husain, the younger son of Ali, fell fighting. The soil of Kerbela is accredited with wonderful properties, such as stilling a storm at sea if thrown against the wind, and is purchased by the hundreds of thousands who visit the shrine of Husain every year. There are several other shrines of more or less importance, to one of which, incongruous as it may seem, pilgrims are conveyed from the capital by a tram-car for a sum equal to about 23d.; but the chief are those of Ali and Husain. It is estimated that upwards of two hundred thousand Shiah Mohammedan pilgrims visit these shrines every year, most of them passing through, or close to, Bagdad on their way to and fro.

It will be seen that the City of the Kaliphs affords exceptional advantages for the making known of the Gospel, and the Rev. Bernhard Maimon, a converted Austrian Jew, who reached Bagdad in January, has gone to work with much zeal and vigour. There is considerable opposition from the Turkish authorities, but full particulars of the difficulties that have arisen have not been received at the time we write. We hope, meanwhile, that all our friends will remember Bagdad and Mr. Maimon in their prayers.

PROGRESS IN EAST AFRICA.

OR a long time we have had nothing in the GLEANER about our East Africa Mission. We are thankful to say that Frere Town and Kisulutini (Rabai) are both going on well. The Rev. H. K. Binns is the missionary at Frere Town, with Mr. H. W. Lane as lay superintendent, and the Rev. W. E. Taylor in charge of the school and the medical department. The Rev. A. D. Shaw is at Kisulutini, and Mr. J. A. Wray has gone out with a view to extension inland.

Mr. Binns reports that at Frere Town there are 264 souls, mostly liberated slaves, of whom 157 are baptized; 21 adults and 24 children having been received into the visible Church during the year. There are 33 communicants, who appear to be all "Bombay Africans”—a class of the community to whom the settlement owes much, as almost all the skilled work has been done by them, and the various offices of trust filled by them. A large class of candidates for confirmation, liberated slaves, await the visit of a Bishop. "Many show by their walk and conversation that they are daily endeavouring, by God's grace, to lead holy lives; but this," he naturally adds, "cannot be said of all." The people have contributed in the year 57 dollars to the Native Pastorate Fund. Mr.

Taylor reports well of the day-schools, with their 88 children. Of the Sunday-school and prayer-meetings he writes—

Mr. Lane has infused new vigour into the Sunday-school, he being a practised superintendent, and it is now in a truly flourishing condition. The school has always been a favourite with the children, but it is now so more than ever. Some of our scholars have lately given us a practical proof of their love for the Sunday-school, in continuing their attendance after their marriage and settlement in life.

A prayer-meeting, open to all boys in the settlement, is held every night in the week at my house, and managed by a committee of the boys and young men. This meeting is perfectly free, and the attendance, registered at seventy-seven meetings, shows an average of almost twelve and a-half. A hymn, a portion of Scripture in English or Swahili, as the president chooses, two prayers, the second open to the meeting, the Lord's Prayer and Benediction, comprise the worship.

On Sunday there is another meeting, when the attendance is usually about twenty, and sometimes approaches forty. It lasts one hour, and is also entirely voluntary. It has hitherto been conducted by myself, Janes Deimler, one of the young teachers, giving his services at the harmonium. We have hymns from Moody and Sankey, and short prayers, sometimes numbering eight or nine. We sometimes have an address from one of the elder boys, which is always listened to with attention. One evening, Isaac Taylor, a helper of Mr. Shaw in his missionary work at Rabai, gave us a spirited and interesting account of his and Cecil's educational work in the large village of Fimboni. His speech infused among his audience quite an eager spirit to go and do likewise, for, not much more than a year before, our visitor had been a fellow-scholar with them. The attendance at these voluntary meetings, when it is considered that all present have been twice to church and twice to Sunday-school in the course of the day, indicates a lively interest in religion, and the prayers and general tone are very encouraging.

Mr. Taylor, though not a fully-qua ified medical man, has considerable medical and surgical practice, not only among the people attached to the Mission, but also among the Suahili, Arabs, and Hindus of Mombasa and i's neighbourhood. "I have had many opportunities," he writes, "of preaching Christ in my medical practice. Of the Arabs resident in Mombasa, there are several said to be well disposed towards Christianity, but afraid to declare their belief."

Mr. Lane reports very favourably of the agricultural and industrial department; and the produce of the Society's land is now valuable. Above a thousand cocoa-nut trees, planted in the last seven years, are bearing fruit.

Of Rabai or Kisulutini, which has grown to be much the larger settlement of the two, having nearly 600 souls connected with it, Mr. Shaw writes in very encouraging terms:

We have now been nearly three months on the station, and have seen much to encourage and cheer us, amongst which are the following:1. The regular attendance of the people at our services, and their evident desire to learn.

2. The general good behaviour of our people. Although we have nearly 600 in our village, it is the exception if I have one case in a week of wrong-doing.

3. The grand opening in the surrounding villages for the extension of Christ's Kingdom: most of the villages have repeatedly asked for a teacher.

4. The friendliness of all our immediate neighbours.

On Nov. 5th I had a pleasing proof of the earnestness of our people to help in the work. I had told them to bring some offerings to help defray the expenses of cleaning our church. They came in such numbers that it was impossible to get them inside. The building was completely filled, having 247 adults and about 60 children inside, and outside were 160 more. Most brought something. In the plate was Rs. 19:55, of which there were 713 pice. The corn, &c., sold next day for Rs. 18:28, making a total of Rs. 38: 23, which is no mean sum for these poor people, who live on about Rs. 4 each a month (about seven shillings, the rupee being 1s. 9d.).

We have four of our young men (who were released from slavery some years ago) working in the school and neighbouring village, and are glad to testify to the thorough Christian character which they possess; were these alone the result of past years' labours, one might say with admiration, "What hath God wrought!" Amongst our villagers are many bright children of God, "epistles known and read of all men." There are some things, however, which give us sorrow. One is a lack of real Christ-seeking amongst many of our adherents. Many, we must confess, come and settle for the sake of our protection, and they attend our services as a matter of course; but it does not seem that the seed has taken root. Let us not, however, despair. We rejoice that such people come under the teaching of the Word.

E arrived here about the middle of October, and I was indeed charmed with the lovely scenery all up the great Godavari river, for all was new to me. We found our house nearly finished, and very comfortable, and were soon able to take possession of the new rooms. Of course we began our work almost immediately, and I went to work at the girls' school, where I was sorry to find that only five caste girls attended with the ten Christian girls, but I resolved to try, on the first opportunity, to stir up the people here as to female education.

The opportunity presented itself on the first Wednesday we spent here, and I spoke before quite a crowd of native gentlemen. Another opportunity was given shortly afterwards, when we were publicly welcomed to Dummagudem. The streets were festooned, guns fired, &c., for our reception. After my husband had thanked them, I was asked to speak a few words; so I spoke of my treasure in, first, the religion of Jesus, and secondly, being able to read and write, and urged them to send their children to school. Now, I am thankful to say, we have thirty-eight names on our rolls, fifteen Christians and twenty-three caste girls, besides a few who have been received but not entered on the rolls yet.

I have been very warmly welcomed in many of the houses, and have many opportunities, far more than I can take up, for telling the "old, old story.' One very interesting case came up the other day. A woman, very wealthy, is trying to gain merit and everlasting life by giving away large sums of money and doing charitable acts. She listens eagerly when I tell of Him who came to bring us merit. But with all the press of Telugu work, our little boarding girls' school to get in order, boys' boarding-school, Christian congregations, &c., here, we long to take up Koi work.

The poor Koi women are very timid, and oh! so stupid. The first time I went to see some of them at Nallapalli, about four miles from here, I was very disappointed; they all ran away, though I went at the request of the men who have been Christians for some time, but are greatly

troubled at the indifference of the women; one head man begged me to go to his house, because, he said, "Satan will not let the women go." So I sat at the door and shouted to the women; I only know a few words of Koi, but they all know Telugu, and I spoke about my mother; gradually they drew nearer and nearer, and when they had grown a little familiar I spoke about my mother's God. I paid another visit to that village last Sunday, and they were all very friendly; I invited them to come to our house. These are ladies clad in about one and a-half yards of dirty rag in their homes, making up for the clothes in the quantity of cheap jewelry they wear on their necks and arms; some of them are better dressed than others, but all wear the minimum of clothing.

On Tuesday, to my surprise and joy, just after I got home from school, twenty-five Kois, most of them women, came up to the house. A few men with them said their ladies would give them no peace till they brought them to see me. One woman was very proud to turn my sewing machine and stitch a whole yard of calico. They all sat down on the floor and stopped for about an hour, while I told them of Him who had been born that we might live. Once they caught sight of my husband, and all fled outside, but as he was only going into the study, they soon came back, but kept guard at the door. We promised to go to their village and show them our magic-lantern, which a friend kindly gave us before we left Melbourne. We have a few slides, and not very good ones, as they are not to be had easily in Melbourne; however, such as they are, we took them to Nallapalli, and by 7.30 all was ready. We were both rather unwell, but got through the evening; about sixty were present, and many of my Koi friends, who sat in front. I had to do most of the talking, as my husband showed the pictures, and when he tried to talk they began to be restless, as they could not see who was talking. Do pray for these poor Koi women.

We wanted to make our Christmas a very joyful day, and had been preparing for some days. We invited all the nearer Christians to come to a feast we prepared in our compound, and about 200 came. Some of them living on this side came to the house, and we started about 8.30 in procession to service in the village; we are about a mile from Dummagudem. I led the van on my little white pony, with a teacher bearing a large red banner, on which I had stitched large white letters, "The Birth of Christ"; then our boarding girls, two and two, and about 100 Christians; my husband brought up the rear with another teacher bearing a similar red banner with "Christ our King" on it. We started off singing a Telugu lyric, and were met by the boarding boys, the native clergyman, and about 200 Christians, and more Christians, too, who had joined them, singing a lyric, and bearing a banner they had made themselves, with "The Dawn of Salvation" on it. My pony took fright, so I got down and walked with others, singing as we went. The school-houses were festooned with leaves and flowers by the boys, and the inside of the schoolroom was decorated with coloured texts and leaves. My husband preached from the words on the second banner, and we trust some good seed was sown on good ground.

A Koi man who had been listening very attentively came up to me after service, and I asked him if he knew Christ our King. No," he said, "but my baby boy is teaching me to pray." "What do you mean?" I asked, and he told me a long story, which I must cut short for you. A Christian man here, who spends all his spare time in preaching, went to the Koi village where this man lives (nearly two miles away), and there, after he had preached, he joined his hands and told them to ask God to open their eyes. The next morning, when the baby, not three years old, woke up, he tried to join the father's hands in the attitude of prayer. The father did not understand, he had paid very little attention to the evangelist, but the child, who cannot speak much, tried again and again to join his father's hands. The evangelist went again and again, and tried to teach them to pray; the father then exclaimed, "Now I see; my baby wants me to pray. I will come and learn about it all." He was at church that Christmas morning for the first time, and has been since as often as possible; his wife, I rejoice to say, has promised to come toGod grant that the little child may lead them to Himself. Such was the gist of his story, and we came home with glad hearts to our Christmas feast, which all seemed to enjoy, except that my husband was feeling poorly from an attack of fever. In the evening we had a grand gathering round the Christmas tree, which was loaded with good things brought from dear friends in Australia. So we came home about 8.30 after our long and busy Christmas Day.

morrow.

There are many other jottings of our work up here which might be told, but writing takes time from our precious work, only I want to show you that in this far-away place the work is very great, and the workers, oh so few. I am trying to learn Koi, for I am quite convinced that we cannot make much impression on the Koi women without their language, and yesterday when writing I tried to tell the story of Christ's birth in broken Koi and Telugu. The delight of the women was very amusing. "She talks our language," they called one to another, and after I came home I heard that some were very jealous because I did not visit them and talk their own language to them. SARAH CAIN.

LISTEN!

True Stories from Fuh-Chow.

BY A LADY MISSIONARY.

III.

O show you the inside of a poor Chinese house is what I promised to do; and to do this successfully I cannot do better than invite you to accompany Mrs. Stewart and myself on a visiting afternoon. As a rule, we wait until invited before we enter any residence. Walking slowly along, with a Chinese book and some of Mrs. Grimké's very valuable text cards in our hands, perhaps a child or woman might say, "What have you got in your hand?" We would show a card and ask if they knew what the picture meant, and directly they would be so interested that they would want to look closer and hear the characters read. Chinese politeness would make them invite us in. The

child might say, "Come in

here and show mother," or the woman would say, "I invite you in, be seated, have some tea," and then question us as to our ages, homes, clothes; and we would answer all their queries, at the same time endeavour to turn their attention away from ourselves to the object on the card, perchance teach them to read the verse and then explain it. Do not misunderstand me; we try to explain, but our hearers do not readily take in all we mean. It is almost impossible to give an adequate idea of a heathen mind. It

is rare indeed to meet working people in England who do not know, at least, what we mean when we speak of God; they have an idea of the Deity and the one Creator. But the heathen has gods many, and to hear any special wonderful act being performed by a god is no uncommon thing. To tell them they are sinners, and God is angry at the wicked, would tend to make them angry and not listen at all. They have terrors enough already with the gods they

was her

"What

character enough to do what our visitors require should they ask us to read, then we walk along, and perhaps, as we really did, meet a girl coming out of a narrow passage leading into the streets from her home. "Where are you going? first question. We answered, "Out for recreation." have you got in your hand?" she asked. "Look and see if you can tell me what this picture is ?" we answered. By this time many passers-by had been attracted by the foreign women, and all like to guess what the animal is. A sheep is an uncommon animal in some parts of China, so we have several guesses before we arrive at the right. The girl who first spoke

said, "Come into our house

and sit down and let mother see." We immediately followed her into the narrow passage, down some steps, round a corner into a very dirty courtyard not more than 12 feet by 14 feet. Doors round the three sides, all open to admit light, mud floors, a room 8 feet by 10 feet, and an opening leading into an inner room, very dark, and much smaller than the first, made up the "home" of the inhabitants. Into one such house we were now invited to enter. The furniture was, a form placed for us to sit on, and a wooden table, on which the mother of the girl was pasting silver paper little squares on very common brown paper to be used as mock money in worshipping the dead. Lines of string fastened from wall to wall covered with this paper hanging to dry warned us to stoop low on entering, and keep low while in the room, for we did not wish to knock any down. Work as hard as she might, she would not be able to earn more than 5d. a week; out of this she must provide a home, food, and clothing for herself and children, because her husband no longer lived to work for them. She looked at us and our books, invited us to be seated, offered us tea, and then worked as fast as she could with her hands, while her eyes were examining us and her ears trying to take in all we said about the "Doctrine." The only other furniture in the room was a square table on which stood the idol; and, poor as they were, they took of their mock money to burn before this idol on the 1st and 15th of every month. Justus Doolittle, in his "Social Life of the Chinese," says:

have been taught to worship from earliest infancy. But tell them what God says in John iii. 16. Open their curiosity to want to know what the love was, who the Son is, and where He is, then they may stand by and patiently listen to a quarter of an hour's discourse, and at the end ask us to go again.

Well, supposing we are able to speak in such a manner as to be partly understood by outside people, and able to read the

A singular custom, which derives its name from the fact that mock money is burned monthly, is extensively practised at this place (FooChow) in families; they believe that there is a god and goddesses who

rule over the eaves of a house and over the bedroom. Mock money, incense, and candles are therefore burned to the honour of this god and these goddesses. The children are made to kneel down while the mock money is burning, and the head of the house will call to the god or the goddesses referred to, and ask them to protect their children, make them grow fast, easy to nurse, have a good appetite, &c. It is expected that the god and goddess of the bedstead will be led to use their influence, and cause the children to lie down quietly and sleep soundly when their parents wish, whether by night or by day; that the goddess of the eaves will keep them from stumbling or falling down on the stones usually to be found near or under the eaves of every house; and that the goddess of the bedroom will make them tractable in nursing and good-natured.

We do not denounce the idol, but strive to bring before them a more excellent way. While we were talking, neighbours gathered round. One woman was splitting bamboo into fine strips; her fingers moved with marvellous rapidity, while her eyes were almost fixed upon us; she had a baby fastened to her back, and a little boy of three holding her dress. After a little while I asked this woman how much she earned a day? She told me "three cash" two-thirds of a farthing. She had these two children and herself to keep;

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her one tiny room looked unfit for a pig to dwell in. She was a widow, and my heart failed me. What is one to do in such a case? There was nothing she could do but the splits, and they were hardly sufficient, working as fast as she could each day, Sunday included, to provide even food; she was apparently perfectly satisfied with her surroundings, although not with her condition. We sat down on her doorstep, there being no other seat, and we told her of rest, peace, plenty, and joy all in store for her. We spoke of God's great love in parting with His only Son that she might be a partaker of these blessings. Her eyes glistened; she said it

A MISSIONARY MEETING AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL FESTIVAL IN CEYLON.

To the Editor.

DODANDUWA, Christmas Day, 1882. HE annual Missionary Meeting and the Boys' Sundayschool Festival were held on December 16th. The festivities of the day were preceded by an early communion by the Rev. J. Allcock at 9.30 A.M., at which nineteen communicated. Mr. Allcock preached on this occasion a very impressive and edifying sermon from the words, "Looking unto Jesus" (Heb. xii. 2). At 11 o'clock there was a " Missionary Breakfast," at which there were thirty-two Christian ladies, gathering of Christian brethren of all the leading nationalities, English, gentlemen, and children, who were admitted by tickets. It was a happy Burgher, Singhalese, and Tamil, from different districts. There was another breakfast for the Sunday scholars, who numbered about 150. Our number was so small, owing to the sickness prevailing in some districts, which prevented a good many from coming.

At 2 P.M. all assembled into the large hall of the English School, and the meeting commenced. There were about 200 altogether, among whom were many brethren from out-stations. Mr. David Weerasooriye Arehchi was called to the chair. The proceedings opened with singing and prayer. A report of the Sunday-schools and the work of the district was given by the pastor in charge. "There were 631 Sunday scholars, who were carefully instructed in the principles of Christianity and the way of salvation. The preaching to the Buddhists was encouraging. People every where manifested a willingness to hear. There were a few inquirers. The liberality of the Christians was growing. During the past year they contributed about Rs. 400 for religious purposes, &c." Prizes were then distributed by Mrs. Bowman and Mrs. Allcock to fifteen pupils who had passed the examination. Then followed speeches and the collection, which, including the contents of missionary boxes and offerings of Sundayschool children, amounted to Rs. 33 and some cents. This is an iucrease by fifty per cent. on the last collection.

sounded good, but she had neither time nor thought for more than the present need. How it makes one's heart ache to see people and hear such things! Yet the missionary has to do with very many such cases. "To the poor the Gospel is preached." M. FAGG.

Men's Work.

EAR MR. EDITOR,-I have been greatly interested in reading about "Men's Working Parties," and now I wish your readers to know what a working man has done for us towards our missionary sale. A lady has painted a large quantity of Scripture illuminations for the sale, and this "working man" has undertaken to frame some at his own expense, and do the others at cost price, no charge for time or labour; and a very poor old woman has sold her rags for 3d. and given her mite to the Lord. M. FAGG.

We are glad to say that Walter Moule, son of Archdeacon A. E. Moule, of Shanghai, educated for six years at the Church Missionary Children's Home, and afterwards at Monkton Combe School, has gained an open Mathematical Entrance Scholarship at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

I had a hearty Christmas Service this morning in our neat little church, which was quite full. The Christians here enjoy their Christmas very quietly, and in a Christian way, without going into the extremes which many Christians in towns will go to. Mrs. Amarasekara has got together all her girls for breakfast, and after being filled, they are going on with fun. It is a lovely sight. This evening we are going to have preaching to the Buddhists to make known to them the Gospel, which the Angel said was "Good tidings of great joy to all people."

ABRAHAM SURIARACHCHI AMARASEKARA, Pastor of Dodanduwa. [Dodanduwa is a village in the Baddegama district. We gave a picture of the "neat little church" alluded to above in the GLEANER of May, 1876; so we now present one of the old church at the central station, which was built in 1821, and consecrated by Bishop Heber during his visit to Ceylon's isle" in 1826. A view of Baddegama was given in June, 1875. Mr. Amarasekara was brought up as a Buddhist, but was baptized in 1867 at the age of 15. He was ordained February 2nd, 1881.-ED.]

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