of others. Nothing is so easy as to obtain a smattering of two or three languages, and to gratify the vanity of the mind, with the name of being a great linguist. But the writer has no sympathy with such childish pretensions. In attempting to gain too much, the student gains comparatively little. Far better that the missionary should give his whole time to one language spoken by eight or ten millions of people, and so master it, that he might use it as his own, apply it to all practical purposes, and that he may be rendered a blessing to the multitudes who understand it, than to have a superficial knowledge of many and not be able to use any of them with efficiency. It is too much like those who are always learning, and never coming to the knowledge of the truth. Were the life of man to be devoted to such pursuits only, it might be pardonable. But as a missionary only studies language as the means of accomplishing the most glorious end; his energies ought not to be wasted; his short career ought to be improved to the noblest purposes; and his own reputation and fame should be nothing to him, when compared with the interests of humanity, with the prospects of usefulness, and with the glory of God.

CHAPTER IX.

THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS.

THE SYRIANS LAND ON THE COAST OF MALABAR-THEIR PRIVILEGES UNDER HEATHEN PRINCES, CONTRASTED WITH THE INTOLERANCE OF THE PORTUGUESE-THE VIOLENCE OF THEIR PERSECUTORS-THE EFFECTS OF THESE OPPRESSIONS-A REMNANT LEFT-THE EXERTION OF SIR T. MUNRO FOR THEMWELCOME THE CHURCH

MISSIONARIES-THEIR

CONNEXION

WITH THE SEE OF ANTIOCH DISSOLVED-ARCHDEACON
BINSON'S REPORT OF HIS VISIT TO THEM.

RO

ON the coast of Malabar, and among the hills of Malayalla, there exists a colony of Syrians. Whence they came, and how they have contrived to remain a distinct people, seems to be involved in considerable mystery. Some regard them as the disciples of St Thomas who, in his journeys of benevolence, visited the coast of India, established churches among the people, and afterwards fell a martyr to the truth, on the coast of Coromandel. Others imagine them to be a colony of Nestorians who, in the fifth century, fled before the persecuting violence of the second Theodosius, and who, while many of their brethren settled in Persia, and others.

were driven to various parts of the East, took refuge among the heathen in Malabar. Their colour, their names, their manners and customs, their style of architecture, the use of the Syrian language, the rites and ceremonies used in their worship, and their subjection, in former as well as in modern times, to the see of Antioch, would go far to establish the validity of the latter opinion; while the legendary tales of Romanists appear to be the only support which can be rendered to the former. Under the guidance and direction of their first Bishop Mar Thome, they secured a restingplace in Malayalla, and derived from him the name of St. Thome Christians-a designation which the Portuguese tried to affix to them, on the ground that they must, therefore, belong to the Roman Church, and be submissive to the authority of the pontiff.

At their first settlement, they were successful, history affirms, in making converts to their religion from among the Nairs, and the Bramins; had great honours and privileges conferred upon them by the native princes; have always been esteemed for their truth, their honour, and their integrity of conduct and were regarded by their sovereigns as the most faithful and courageous in war, and the most quiet and industrious in peace. But the arrival of the Portuguese in the beginning of the sixteenth century, was the signal for anarchy and confusion among this interesting people. At that time their

number must have been large, as they reckoned a hundred and ten churches under the Rajahs of Cochin and Travancore. So long as their intercourse, their commerce and their political subjection were confined to idolatrous Hindoos, they lived in peace; veneration and respect fell to their lot; liberty of conscience was fully enjoyed; converts were added to their communion without enkindling any jealousy in the breasts of others; their metropolitans passed from Antioch to India, and returned if they wished to their native country unmolested; the honours and privileges granted to them, by the Peramals, were enjoyed in tranquillity; and the prince who could number most of them among his subjects, was looked to with greatest respect by his neighbours. But the moment that Europeans landed on their shores; the moment that Portuguese Christians-then the rulers of the ocean-established their marts, their factories, and their power in Malabar, the spirit of the West began to blow, in pestilential breezes, over the peaceful abodes of the Syrians. On hearing that such a colony of Christians existed, the Portuguese, asserted dominion over their faith; bribes, intrigues, treachery, and jesuitical arts of all kinds were employed to bring them into subjection to the Roman see; divisions were soon in the camp; commerce was converted into an instrument of temptation and of evil; and the power and influence of the Rajahs were engaged to win them over to

a system which their ancestors had learned to despise.

But the Syrians resisted such efforts. They determined to adhere to their primitive faith. The respect which they had for the cross was better to them, than the favour of the Virgin, and the long catalogue of saints which adorned the Romish calendar; and they preferred the word and the service of God, to the nostrums and the traditions of men. Still, the craft and the power of the Jesuits were not to be resisted with impunity. In proportion to the steadfastness of the Syrians, the Portuguese became more violent; the thunders of the Vatican rolled in frightful peals, among the hills of Malabar; and the inquisition established at Goa,* was brought to bear upon the stubborn and

During the months of November and December," says Dr. Dellon, "I heard every morning the shrieks of the unfortunate victims who were undergoing the question. I remembered to have heard, before I was cast into prison, that the autoda-fé was generally celebrated on the first Sunday in Advent, because on that day is read in the churches that part of the gospel in which mention was made of the last judgment; and the inquisition pretend by the ceremony to exhibit a lively emblem of that awful event. I was likewise convinced that there were a great number of prisoners, besides myself; the profound silence which reigned within the walls of the building, having enabled me to count the number of doors which were opened at the hours of meals.

On the 11th of January the great bell of the cathedral begun to ring a little before sunrise, which served as a signal to warn the people of Goa to come and behold the august ceremony of the auto-da-fé; and then they made us proceed from the gallery