CHAP. XIII.

Apathy of the Malabar natives-Points of difference in the Singhalase and Malabar characters-Discouraging circumstances in the South -Establishment of a native school at Negombo-Opening of the Colpetty school-house-Compelled to recognize the distinction of caste-Attachment of the children to the school-Purchase of Mission Premises at Negombo-Native marriages-Plan for establishing Mission schools throughout the Island—Encouraging proofs of success-Meeting of the Mission Conference-New Stations— Schools-Execution of a Soldier-Conversion of two Budhuist priests—Sir Hardinge Gifford―J. Sutherland, Esq.-His son, Mr. J. Sutherland, placed with the Missionaries—Received on trial as a Missionary-Illness of several of the Missionaries-Singular application-Establishment of regular worship-Review-Church

Missionaries.

WHILE the Missionaries at the several Singhalese stations were encouraged by the favourable appearances which have been narrated, those employed in the Malabar districts were painfully exercised, owing to the little apparent success which attended their labours. In the native bazars they generally succeeded in collecting congregations; but their addresses were listened to with the most painful indifference; and no curiosity, much less interest, was excited among the natives by the momentous subjects on which they dwelt. At Batticaloa and Trincomalee they frequently preached to English and Portuguese congregations; and on these occasions

were blessed in their deed. The English day-school at each of these places was also well attended. At Jaffna, the European and country-born inhabitants afforded the Missionaries considerable hopes that an effectual door of usefulness was opened to them. Some had evidently believed from the heart. The general deportment of those who attended their ministry was consistent; and their regard for the means of grace excited the expectation, that more extensive good would be accomplished. The place of worship at length became too small for the congregation; and the Missionaries felt themselves justified in purchasing more capacious premises. These, by the generous contributions of their friends, were converted into a neat and commodious chapel, which was soon filled with hearers; and this also becoming too small for the continually increasing congregation, was superseded by one yet better adapted for the accommodation of the people.

Among the Pagan natives but little encouragement was afforded to hope. The Malabar differs materially from the Singhalese in the cast of his disposition, and general deportment toward Europeans. In the latter, there is a docility and curiosity which are highly favourable to Missionary efforts; but the Malabar native adds to a most inveterate attachment to Paganism, a haughtiness of spirit, and superlative contempt for Europeans; a trait of character also observable among the Hindoo natives of Continental India. Even these barriers, insurmountable by mere human exertions, shall be cast down by the power of God, and the Malabar become obedient to the faith of the Gospel. With the valuable American Missionaries, who had settled in the same province, our brethren held the most friendly intercourse. Fellow labourers in the same field, partakers of the same trials, and animated by the same considerations to perseverance, they naturally sought the

society of each other; and found their spirits mutually refreshed, by Christian intercourse.

Though more favoured in the South with facilities of access to the natives, than our brethren in the Malabar districts, we were not strangers to the feelings of discouragement. Possibly, our expectations, raised in the first instance higher than theirs, by the hopeful appearances which attended our early efforts, the disappointment which ensued on not realizing our hopes to the extent we had anticipated, might be productive of as great sickness of the heart, as that occasioned by their deferred hope. Instances of native conversions were comparatively few; in many the fair blossoms which had excited our hopes, were nipped by unkindly blasts; and these, added to the disproportion between the number of natives who attended our ministry, and the few who appeared to be influenced by the truth, produced a feeling of painful despondency, which, had it been indulged, would have unnerved our efforts, and destroyed our peace. This feeling, however, did not gain the ascendancy, except during intervals of exhaustion, and temporary forgetfulness; when we found a counteracting principle called into exercise by having recourse to the word of God and prayer.

A new path of usefulness opened before us. One of our Sunday-school teachers had been recently appointed Interpreter Mohandiram to the magistrate of Negombo, about twenty miles from Colombo. At our recommendation he had opened a school for the children on the Sabbath, and so great was the desire to obtain instruction, that he was unable to communicate it to the numbers who attended for that purpose. In addition to the Sabbath, he devoted an early hour of some of the week-day mornings to the same employment; and was not unfrequently awoke at day-break by the noise of his little pupils, who were waiting in the virando

for his appearance. On being informed of these particulars, Mr. Clough determined on paying him a visit ; when he found more than seventy boys desirous of instruction. A school was, in consequence, opened; of which the brother of the Mohandiram was appointed master, with a suitable salary. This young man was the first schoolmaster we engaged: he ultimately became decidedly pious, and remains a steady member of our society. The Mohandiram was, and still continues, a Roman Catholic.

Early in 1817, the school-house at Colpetty was finished, and we had the pleasure of admitting to the benefits of the institution upwards of one hundred boys, and nearly fifty girls. The latter were placed under the immediate care of an intelligent young woman of Dutch extraction, who had been recommended to us by Lady Johnstone. One of the pupils instructed by Mr. Clough at the Mission school at Galle,* was appointed the general master, with a native assistant teacher under him. On the day of opening, Mr. Philipsz acted as my interpreter, at the express desire of the Hon. Chief Justice. We at first hoped that the invidious distinction of caste would not have found an introduction into the Colpetty school; but in this we were mistaken. Considerable curiosity had been excited among the inhabitants, as to what course would be adopted; and many conversations had been held among them. A vellalah brought us to the test; by presenting his daughter for admission as a pupil, expressly stipulating, that she should not be classed with children of an inferior caste. I hesitated to receive her upon such a condition; but finding the applicant was about to withdraw with his child, and having reason to suppose that his example would be generally followed, I concluded upon yielding to

*The young man whose attentions to us on our journey to Colombo, are referred to at page 244.

their prejudice,' leaving the gradual influence of Christianity, the benevolent truths of which we should have frequent opportunities of inculcating, to undermine an evil which we should have failed to extirpate at once. I therefore immediately announced, that the children of different castes would be seated apart from each other; a regulation which gave universal satisfaction to the natives.*

No native school could be commenced under more favourable auspices than the Colpetty school. Directly patronized by Sir Alexander and Lady Johnstone, and frequently visited by her ladyship, who evinced the deepest interest in its success, especially of the female department, it was recommended to the approbation of the natives by no ordinary means. A school expressly for Singhalese females was an experiment, if not directly opposed to the native prejudices, at least contrary to all previous usage†. By the blessing of God, it was attendedwith complete success; and future generations will reap incalculable benefits from the establishment of the female school at Colpetty. The occasional visits of the Hon. Chief Justice and the Hon. R. Boyd, and the encouragement given by them to the more diligent and regular scholars, invested the institution with great advantages, and produced among the scholars most favourable results. The Mission school at Colpetty became the theme of conversation throughout the adjacent country; and numerous applications for admission into it were made to us from distant villages. One of the boys, the son of a native washerman, who regularly attended, every

The death of the little girl a few months after led me to look back to the measure by which her admission to the school was effected with particular pleasure; especially as she had evidently derived considerable benefit from the instructions; and, it is hoped, obtained a saving knowledge of Him who said when on earth, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.

+ Lady Brownrigg had previously founded one for the benefit of the Tamul Christians at Colombo.