scarcity, so that the people are brought to the last extremity. Whole villages in the country towards the coast are depopulatedthe inhabitants are Near Khunditta

a village is gone the people had

Lof

died of cholera, and others of starvation, and the poor children who remained wandered away to other places, to linger out a miserable existence. Bonamallee went to this place, but the tattees, or jaumps, were down, all was silent, and some dead bodies were rotting in the houses. He brought away one little girl to Khunditta; she is now in Cuttack, and is taken by Komilee to keep. The food is very dear, far beyond the reach of the poor, and they are therefore living upon leaves, roots, herbs, &c., but are dying very fast. The distress is greatly increased by the influx of pilgrims, who, by purchasing the rice in the market, contribute to its increased scarcity. The ruth festival commences on Monday next: I start, if all be well, to-morrow. I don't think there will be many Oriyas, but a large number of Bengalees. This is the last day for the overland, and I am come to the last hour of posting time."

An eye witness, (probably the above missionary,) has given a very full and affecting detail of the last car festival of Juggernaut. The following extract from a London paper, Oct. 11th, may suffice to show how sorrows are multiplied that hasten after another god."

their

"I passed down to Poree a few days before the festival commenced, in the very midst of the pilgrims. In crossing the Catjury river, I counted upwards of forty corpses and skeletons in different stages of consumption by beasts and birds of prey. It is true these were not all pilgrims, but many of them were; and the remainder had been carried off by that scourge-cholera, which the influx of pilgrims brings into the province every year. On the road, especially near the resting-places, and in the vicinity of Poree, a good many dead and sick pilgrims were lying about. The mortality soon became evident at the town of Juggernaut. The two hospitals presented scenes which it required no ordinary nerves to survey. They were filled with cholera and other patients. They turned out many dead every twenty-four hours. But it would be almost endless to detail individual instances of suffering and death; and, for the heavenly city of Poree, the above will be sufficient as a specimen. The attempt of the sick to escape from the city may account for a greater degree of mortality on the road. But during the festival much rain had fallen; the people had suffered much exposure by

bathing in the various and prescribed tanks; the rain still fell heavily upon them, and soaked their clothing; these causes, with the absence of excitementale of the miserable to increase tended the mortality. The

creatures on the road was, if possible, worse than in the city. Attacked by the cholera, they soon dropped into the rear of their com pany, where they remained alone and unknown among thousands. Some of them sat down on the road, from which their rapidly increasing weakness rendered them unable to rise. The pelting rain battered their clothes into the earth, and they became quite unable to extricate themselves. This situation became their resting-place, and dying bed, as well as the only grave that many of them had. Others laid themselves on the grass beside the road near the water of tanks or jeels, where they crept to drink water; and I suspect many perished through not being able again to ascend from these watering places. Every night produced numbers of dead at the various resting-places, to be cast into the Golgotha next morning.

"I passed through Piplee, one of the prin cipal intermediate places between Cuttack and Poree, and seeing the state of exposure the pilgrims suffered, ceased to wonder at the mortality. The people, worn out by their journey, without shelter, all the while exposed to the heavy pelting rain, had laid themselves down in rows along the road side. Here thousands were, soaked with rain, till their garments were beaten into and mixed with the earth. What wonder if these should be seized with cholera ? But I am sure I have said enough to convey some idea of the mortality of Juggernaut's pilgrims of 1841."

Is it not the duty and privilege of British Christians to hear the cry of famine, and misery, and death, from the myriads of their fellow-subjects in the East? The writer has felt this matter so deeply, that he could not resist the impression to make this appeal to the benevolent. Whatever subscriptions may be entrusted to his care, he will faithfully apply, and by the first overland dispatch remit to the Rev. Messrs. Lacey, Sutton, Stubbins, Brooks, and Wilkinson, the missionaries in Orissa, for judicious distribution among the perishing people. By the culti vation of land, (which may be cheaply rented,) and the establishment of asylums, &c., much good may be done at a very small expense. May our favoured country more abundantly exhibit the influence of its divine religion, which declares—“It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Ilkestone, Derbyshire, Oct. 16, 1841.

J. PEGGS.

us,

that "death" to them was "gain," is a great alleviation to the grief occasioned by their removal. Death has cut down, with an unsparing hand, high and low, young and old; and we are left to mourn over the devastating effects of this awful visitation. The wise, the good, the useful, the careless professor, and the openly profane, have alike fallen by the devouring sword of this messenger of death. Amongst the number is one of Rarotonga's best men-a most valuable assistant of the Mission in this place, ever since its formation. To me the loss is great indeed, but I desire to bow with devout submission, to the righteous decision of Him who cannot err.

A short account of this good man's religious character, his life, and death, will not, I presume, be uninteresting to the Directors. His name was Tupe. He was one of the chief supporters of idolatry in the reign of superstition. But he attached himself to us on our first arrival in this place, in 1827. Ignorant was I then how Providence had gone before in preparing such a valuable assistant in my future labours. In the erection of our first chapel, he was one of the most laborious in the work. Not soon will it be erased from my memory, the joy that beamed in his countenance, when it was told him that I intended to remain in this district as their teacher, and that brother Williams would reside in the other division of the island till a ship arrived to convey him to Raiatea. The very first night of our settlement amongst them, he came to our house to make inquiries respecting the truths of the Bible; and, till prevented by disease, scarcely a night passed, that he was not present at our friendly meetings for conversation, chiefly on religious subjects. Often, till near midnight, have I sat conversing with him on the "great salvation." Nothing, I believe, occupied so much of his attention as the concerns of the soul; nor any thing more desired by him than the wide diffusion of divine truth. Indeed I may say, he was wholly devoted to the temporal and spiritual welfare of his countrymen. Incessant in labour, and indefatigable in his efforts to forward the cause of God, he assisted me in every good work with unwearied diligence, till death.

His public character and sufferings. He was a man of considerable influence, and, on the establishment of laws, was appointed chief magistrate for this part of the island, which office for twelve years he faithfully discharged. Well do I remember, at a time when we were involved in much perplexity, owing to disputes about land, and all parties were preparing for war, he proposed, in person, to go to the opposite party, if possible amicably to adjust the points of difference; in doing which he had to pass through a district infested by some desperate young fellows. I stated to him the danger of the attempt, and said, that it might probably cost him his life. "Does the word of God," said he, "justify my proceedings?" I could not but reply in the affirmative. "Then I go, regardless as to the consequences. God can, and will protect me." He, without a weapon of defence in his hand, passed through the district of these desperadoes, amidst the scoffings and revilings of all. The subject of contention was calmly debated; he returned home, and in a few days, all was quietly settled, and war prevented.

The unflinching conduct of this good man in passing judgment, his impartiality in the administration of justice between man and man, and his unwavering determination to unite with us in seeking the advancement of "undefiled religion," roused some of his inveterate enemies to acts of most cruel revenge; even the destruction of himself and family. This they attempted by clandestinely setting fire to his house, when he and his family were asleep. But He who neither "slumbers nor sleeps," mercifully preserved the life of his faithful servant, and of his family. They only escaped, however, with what they had on: every thing else was consumed. On discovering the fire, the first thing he endeavoured to secure was, what he considered his greatest treasure, a portion of the sacred Scriptures, viz., the Acts of the Apostles in the Tahitian dialect; but this he could not effect, and in attempting it, lost his all. The consequences of this fire did not end here; it communicated to the house of his son adjoining, which was speedily destroyed; then to our large chapel, which also was soon level with the ground. Large flakes of fire passed by and over our own dwelling; but through the timely exertions of the natives we were mercifully preserved from danger. Soon as I saw him, I said, "Alas! Tupe." "O teacher," he replied, "the book of God is consumed! My house, my property,

never regard, but oh, my book, my book! and, oh, the house of God; will not God punish us for this?" The next morning I had the gratifying pleasure of presenting him with another copy of the book, which he so much prized; it was received with feelings of no small delight. What added poignancy to the distress of this good man was, to hear many of those who passed by his house when in flames, calling out, eitoa, kia ka, "It serves him right, let it burn."

Proof of holy courage and ardour.

nance.

The very first thing which occupied the attention of our valued friend the following day, was to see his brother, the Chief, and call a meeting of the under chiefs, that immediate measures be taken for the re-building of the house of God. "See," said he to them, "the house of God in ruins! What shall we do?" "Build it again," was the unanimous reply. Koia ia, e támá, mea meitaki, "Yes, friends, that's very good," he said, with joy beaming in his counte"When shall we begin?" he asked. "To-morrow,' "" was the universal reply. He then said to me, "Teacher, be not cast down at what has happened. Let them burn-we will build. Let them burn it again, we will build; we will tire them out: but, teacher, do not leave us in this wicked land." The very next morning, at sun-rise, Tupe, with the old warrior, Tuaivi, and Pa, our principal Chief, were the first seen passing our dwelling, with their axes on their shoulders, going to the mountains to cut down timber, for the erection of another chapel; the whole body of chiefs and people in their train.

In calling to mind these by-gone days, there is a certain something which fills the mind with pleasure of no ordinary kind, and leads the observer of Divine Providence to admire the rich, free, and sovereign grace of God, in thus raising up instruments from the rough quarry of nature, to carry on his great and eternal purposes of mercy in man's salvation.

His appointment to the office of deacon.

In May, 1833, he was unanimously chosen to fill the office of deacon. How faithfully he discharged its important duties we are all witnesses. Decided piety, deep humility, and holy zeal for the advancement of " 'pure religion," were the striking characteristics of our valued friend. This, I believe, no one who knew him would call in question. His knowledge of divine truth was by no means inconsiderable; and he was eminently qualified for the responsible situations in which Divine Providence had placed him, though he rated very low his own abilities, and almost to the day of his death deeply lamented his ignorance. He

would often revert, with expressions of the greatest astonishment, to the condescension of God in visiting such a sinful land as this. Conversing with him, as I frequently did, on subjects illustrative of the mercy and compassion of God, he would sit at times for hours in deep thought, and was heard muttering to himself, "Oh, the love of God! the amazing pity of the Saviour! the depth of the sacred Scriptures! the hardness of the human heart! the exceeding sinfulness of sin!" The Sabbath he reverenced. The word of God, the house of God, and the people of God, he loved; thereby evidenc ing that he was a genuine disciple of the Lord Jesus. Unless sickness prevented, or engaged in his official capacity, he was never known to be absent from the house of God at any of its appointed services, either on the Lord's day, or the weekly evening lecture; nor from our church meetings for prayer.

His conduct in the office of deacon. It would not be easy to enumerate the various ways in which our departed friend rendered assistance to me, and to the Mission, in the discharge of important duties. Every day in the week he was engaged in some religious exercise; and in the examination of candidates for divine ordinances he spent no small portion of his time. For this department of labour he was eminently qualified. He connived at the sins of none. This trait in his character early began to display itself. Several years ago, even before he gave evidence of decided piety in himself, our house every night was crowded with people who came to make inquiries respecting the discourses delivered from the pulpit, &c. Observing some more parti. cular in their questions, constant in their attendance at the house of God, and very active in every thing proposed for the good of the community, I, one night as we were sitting alone, made inquiry into their characters, and said, "I hope by their attaching themselves to us, and their ready acquiescence in putting down existing evils in the land, that they are desirous of becoming disciples of Jesus." He made no reply; after a few minutes' silence, he said, "Teacher, be not in haste; do not think so well of us, be not deceived, we are a wicked, deceitful people: stop till you have been longer with us, and know more of our cha racter, and way of living." A few weeks having elapsed, again I mentioned the subject. "Ah!" said he, "teacher, you don't know us yet. You think because we come to the house of God, and the schools, and do what you tell us, that we are good people, and love God. It is not so; we are de ceiving you there is a great deal of private wickedness committed that you know no