LETTERS RECEIVED FROM MISSIONARIES, &c.
Names.

.Tahiti

Ditto .........................................12 and 18 Ditto, ditto.
.Ditto...............15 November, 1831.
.Ditto...............17 May, 1832.

A. Simpson............Eimeo...............12 and 15 Ditto, ditto,
..Ditto...............15 Ditto, ditto.

ULTRA GANGES... Rev. W. H. Medhurst........Batavia

THE kingdom of Travancore is situated on the western side of the southernmost part of the peninsula of India, and between the 8th and 10th degrees of north latitude. It was for some time, at the beginning of the present century, under the government of a Ranee, or queen, who held the supreme authority as regent, in trust, for her nephew the present Rajah, then in his minority. No correct census has been taken of the population of the kingdom, but it has been calculated to contain about 1,500,000, of which, it is computed, from 60,000 to 70,000 are Syrian Christians. The number of Protestants is between 4,000 and 5,000; but neither the number of the Roman Catholics nor that of the Jews is known. The rest of the population consists of Hindoos, whose religion does not essentially differ from that of the Hindoos in other parts of India; but, in consequence of Travancore being the only portion of Hindostan which was not subjected to Mohammedan conquest, its mythology (as is also the case with its customs and manners, and the style of its buildings,) retains more of its ancient character than that of any other part of India. The metropolis of the kingdom is Trivanderam. It is that part of the country, by far the most populous one, which lies southward of the capital, extending from thence to Cape Comorin, that constitutes the principal scene of the Society's operations in this part of the East Indies.

Nagercoil, the principal station of the Society's mission, in this quarter, is situated about 14 miles from Cape Comorin, in a populous vicinity; centrical as to a considerable number of the out-stations belonging to the mission, possessing the advantages of a comparatively temperate and salubrious climate, and surrounded by scenery both of great beauty and of extraordinary magnificence.

The Society's mission in Travancore was commenced by Mr. Ringeltaube in 1806, under the auspices of Colonel (now General) Macaulay, the British Resident, who rendered valuable aid to the infant cause. Mr. Ringeltaube was the first Protestant missionary in this part of India. His highly useful labours, which were chiefly of an itinerant character, commenced in the Tinnevelly country, but were afterwards prosecuted partly in that district, and partly in Travancore, and, at length, in Travancore only. Here he fixed his head quarters at Malaudy. In one of his earliest itinerancies in the Tinnevelly country, he made a circuit of about 400 miles, during which he visited the Syrian Christians scattered throughout the district, endeavouring, as far as possible, to promote the purification of their churches, and the appointment of more efficient catechists.

In the prosecution of his great object in Travancore, he opened places of worship at 6 or 7 different stations, which he constantly visited-commenced school operations-distributed the Scriptures, in different languages, with good effect, and by these, and every other means within his power, exerted himself to diffuse a knowledge of the Gospel among the natives. He continued thus to labour alone for several years, in the course of which he admitted to baptism many hundred persons who had renounced idolatry and embraced Christianity. In 1812, the number of these amounted to 677, which, in following years, was considerably increased.

In 1818 the Rev. Charles Mead arrived in Travancore, shortly after Mr. Ringeltaube had left the station, and, for a short time, resided at Malaudy. In September, the same year, he was joined by the Rev. Richard Knill. These brethren successively took up their residence at Nagercoil, in a dwelling-house, presented to the Society for the use of the mission by the Rannee, and which had been previously occupied by the British Resident, the late Colonel Munro, who, during the time he resided in this part of India, warmly patronised the missionaries, showed them much personal kindness, and rendered substantial services to the mission.

In the same year a considerable number of the natives, who had professedly renounced heathenism, manifested an earnest desire to be instructed in the knowledge of Christianity; and, during that and the following year, about 3,000 of them placed themselves under the instruction of the missionaries with that view; exclusive of about 900 who had been previously brought into connexion with the mission under Mr. Ringeltaube. In 1819, Mr. Knill, compelled by ill health, returned to England, where he arrived in November that year. The Rev. Charles Mault joined the mission in December, 1819; and Messrs. Ashton and Mc Ally, who had received their education under a Protestant missionary in India, were engaged as assistants in 1820.

Native Services, &c.

In 1820, places of worship were opened at Tittevelly and Agatesurum, and about 500 natives baptized. In 1821, the benefit resulting from the preaching of the Gospel was evinced by the marked difference which was apparent between the conduct of those natives who had embraced Christianity and that of those who still continued idolaters. In 1822 the number of congregations was 9; in 1823 they were increased to 29; in 1824, to 48. In this year Mr. Cumberland was engaged as assistant missionary. In 1825 the congregations increased both in number and in attendance, but no specific returns were received by the Directors. In 1826 the congregations were in number 40. In 1827 the Deputation, who visited the Society's stations in this part of India in that year, recommended the formation of another head station, which was eventually fixed at Neyoor (situated about 4 miles from the Town of Travancore), and forms the head-quarters of the western division of the mission, those of the eastern division of the same being at Nagercoil. According to the statements of the Deputation, there were, at that period, belonging to the eastern division 14 chapels, 1,400 professing Christians, and 17 native teachers, or public readers; and, belonging to the western division, 1,441 professing Christians, and 16 native teachers, or readers. In October, 1827, Rev. William Miller joined the mission. In 1828, the number of congregations in the eastern division was 34, and that of the members of the same 1,967; in the western division 28 congregations, in 20 of which the number of members was 1,340; the attendance on the Sabbath being upwards of 1,300 persons, exclusive of children. In 1829 the native Christians were exposed to a violent and unprovoked persecution from their own countrymen, in which the Pagan, Mohammedan, and Papist conspired with equal fury, the weight of which fell chiefly on the western division, in which, notwithstanding, from 800 to 1,000 of the Christians continued, at different places, to assemble for worship. In the eastern division, which suffered but little comparatively, the number of congregations increased that year to 33, and the number of their members to 3,126. In 1829 a Christian church was formed at

Tamarakollum, containing 25 members. No returns were received of the congregations belonging to the eastern division for 1830; but the number of congregations reported, in the western division, for that year, was 37, being an increase of 4. In 1831 the number of congregations was, in the eastern division, 30, and, in the western division, 43. From the returns received since the report made at the last anniversary of the Parent Society, it appears that the number of congregations, in the eastern division, has increased to 50, and that of the members of the same, on an average, to between 1,500 and 1,600; and that the number of congregations in the western division has increased to 60, and the members belonging to the same to 2,532; making a total, including both divisions, of one hundred and ten congregations, containing above four thousand individuals.

The brethren have, from time to time, reported the improved attendance of the people on public worship their serious deportment and attention in the house of God-the decisive evidence which has appeared of not a few having received the grace of God in truth-the happy deaths of several who have died in the faith of the Gospel-the desire manifested by many to promote the salvation of their friends and neighbours-the improved observance of the Sabbath, and an obvious amelioration of the temporal condition of many of the natives.

Native Schools.

The native schools, which had been commenced by Mr. Ringeltaube, continued, from time to time, to increase, after the arrival of Messrs. Mead, Knill, and Mault (with the exception of the years 1822 and 1823, during which period they, from different causes, fluctuated considerably), viz., from 10 to 15 in 1820, to 32 in 1821, and, in 1824, to 48, containing 1,327 children. In 1825 the number of schools was further increased to 50, and that of the scholars to 1,480. In 1826 the number of schools was reduced to 47; while, on the other hand, that of the scholars was increased to 1,564. In 1827, the schools, according to the Deputation, amounted, in the eastern division, to 38, containing 1,375 children; and those in the western division to 21, containing 541 children, making a total, at that period, of 59 schools, containing 1,916 scholars. In 1828 the number of schools, in the eastern division, was 31, containing 1,127 scholars, of whom 63 were girls; and that of the schools in the western division 24, of which 19 schools contained 507 scholars. In 1829 there were, in the eastern division, 40 schools, of which four were native female schools, containing 200 girls ; and, in the western division, 28 schools, containing 528 scholars. In this year considerable improvements, founded on the British system, were introduced into the schools by Mr. Addis, who joined this mission in 1828, and, in 1830, removed to Coimbatoor. In 1830 the number of children in the schools, in the eastern division, was increased to 1,700 (exclusive of the female schools, of which one only, containing 50 girls, was reported in that year); and that of the schools in the western division to 37, and the scholars to 954. In 1831 the number of the schools in the eastern division was 49, the number of scholars having increased to 1,792, of whom 107 were girls; and that of the schools in the western division to 43, but with a reduction in the number of scholars to 859, being 95 less than the number returned for 1830. According to returns received since the report of the Society at its last anniversary, there is, in the schools of the eastern division, an addition of 149 scholars; and, in the western division, additions of 5 schools and 303 scholars, making a total, including both divisions, of ninety-seven schools, containing upwards of three thousand and one hundred scholars.

Beside the schools above enumerated, there is an Adult Female School; among those included in the enumeration, are a school called the Bazaar School, for the instruction of the children of Mohammedans as well as of Hindoos; an Orphan School, supported by friends in India; and a School of Industry. Of the native female schools, of which there are five, one is situated at Nagercoil, under the superintendence of Mrs. Mault, and the other at Neyoor, under that of Mrs. Mead. The rest are situated at three different out-stations. But the most important school is the Central School, or Seminary, at Nagercoil, established in 1819,

the immediate design of which is to impart to boys of superior natural abilities, selected from the other schools, besides Christian instruction, an acquaintance with general literature, and a grammatical knowledge of Tamil. It was designed that they should be also instructed in English, for the purpose of opening to them the vast stores of theological and other knowledge contained in our language; but this part of the design failed, from the want of a suitable tutor, which deficiency has lately been supplied by a recent engagement with Mr. Roberts, to whom has been confided the sole charge of the institution. This seminary has usually contained about 30 boys. Another of a similar character has been lately commenced at Neyoor.

The benefits conferred by the native schools scattered over the whole face of the country, from Trivanderam to Cape Comorin, are valuable, numerous, and diversified. While the children have been imbued with divine and other useful knowledge, and raised in the scale of society, their parents, impressed with the improvement which has taken place in their minds and manners, have themselves been led to inquire into the nature of the Christian faith. The advantages of female education are now far better appreciated by many of the natives than formerly ; and the repugnance to the instruction of their daughters, generally prevalent among Hindoos, has been in Travancore so far overcome as to admit of the applications for the reception of girls into the schools to be, in repeated instances, more numerous than the funds would meet. Several, both among the boys and girls, have afforded evidence of decided piety; and the moral and social improvement evinced, generally speaking, by the children educated in the schools (which are all Christian schools) is very gratifying and encouraging. While the Protestant schools have been themselves thus useful, the Roman Catholics, apparently from a spirit of jealousy, have been stimulated to multiply their own schools.

Native Teachers, or Readers.

The employment of a considerable number of native teachers, or public readers of the Scriptures, tracts, &c. (not to mention assistant readers, who are numerous), supported by annual subscriptions from benevolent individuals in our own country, is a very important and interesting feature of this mission. The evidence of personal piety, and of zealous and useful labours, in regard to not a few of these native teachers, whose character and proceedings have been described in the reports from time to time inserted in this Chronicle, cannot but have afforded much satisfaction, in the perusal, to the members of the Society in general, and especially to those individuals who, from year to year, so generously contribute to their support. The number of native teachers, or readers, employed in this mission is, according to the last returns, in the eastern division of it, 16; and, in the western division, 14, making a total of 30, exclusive of assistant readers.

Printing Offices, &c.

There are two printing establishments belonging to this mission, one at each of the two head stations, Nagercoil and Neyoor. That at the former station was established in 1820, and that at the latter in 1831.

At the Nagercoil establishment, beside numerous tracts, catechisms, school-books, &c., there have been printed, in the Tamil version, St. Paul's Epistles to the Romans, Ephesians, Galatians, Colossians, and those to Timothy and Titus; also the General Epistles of Peter. Numerous copies of the Scriptures in Tamil, thus printed, have been circulated, in separate portions, besides many thousands, annually, of religious tracts, the beneficial effects of which distribution have been extensive. Beside the direct benefit imparted in the perusal, they have, in many places, proved the means of awakening the attention of the natives to the