CHAPTER XV.

TRAVANCORE.

SCENERY-THE PROVINCE-THE MISSION ESTABLISHED-MR. RINGLETAUBE-MR. MEAD-ADVANCEMENT OF THE TRUTH-A CHRIS

TRACT

SCHOOLS

READERS SEMINARY

SOCIETY-ADDRESSES-QUILON-THE CLIMATE-A NATIVE CONVERT-TRIALS AND DEATHS-MR. THOMPSON-SUCCESS-SCHOOLS.

In the south-western extremity of the peninsula, and not far distant from Cape Comorin, is the province of Travancore. Forty miles in breadth and a hundred and forty in length; divided from Tinevelly by a range of lofty hills on the east, bounded on the north by the territory of the Cochin Rajah, and on the south and west by the sea, it is thought to contain about a million and a half of inhabitants; but that number may be its amount in its best and most prosperous days. Nature has done every thing to render it a happy and delightful land. The diversity of hill and dale, its mountains covered with forests, and its valleys crowned with an almost perpetual verdure, render its scenery often enchanting and

sublime. The waters rush from the hills, and descending through the plains, cover them with abundance. Pepper, cardamums, cassia, frankincense, and aromatic gums grow spontaneously in its woods. Its superior soil, its favourable climate, and its seasonable rains enable it to dispense with those reservoirs upon which cultivation, throughout India, so much depends.

Not having been subject, for any length of time, to the Mahommedan powers, and enjoying peace and tranquillity under its native rulers, Travancore is characterized, like the coast of Malabar, by the Hindoo habits, manners and customs, in greater perfection, than most parts of the country. The system of the Bramins has been paramount here, as well as through the rest of India; but the descendants of those Mahommedans who came fromArabia totraffick in Malabar are very numerous; the Christian edifices are, in some parts, so many that a traveller would be ready to imagine that he was in a Christian land; and the Syrians, long resident and long oppressed, form a strong and independent colony. The Rajah of Travancore has long been tributary to British rule. While the supreme government, is a security against all foreign aggression; has been the means of putting an end to those feudal and perpetual quarrels which existed among the petty rajahs; and has thus given greater peace, order and happiness to the people; the maintenance of a subsidiary force in the district has often been attended

with the greatest evils. The prince or his minister relying upon British protection, have often imposed taxes upon the people which they have not been. able to bear; the poor ryots have been driven to desperation; the fertile and beautiful provinces which were a paradise even in war, have been converted into a desolate wilderness by the oppressions which have reigned in the days of peace; and the British troops have sometimes been called out to quell insurrections which misrule has raised, and have been obliged to appear as the supporters of tyranny and bad government. A good deal of this, has occurred in Travancore. In 1799, an additional tax laid upon pepper, caused a rebellion in the province, and was obliged to be repealed, before the insurgents could be brought to obedience. Under the last treaty, the Dewan superseded the authority of his master; his conduct became hostile to the British and in 1809, he ventured to oppose power, our influence with an army. His design was speedily defeated; and the whole country was brought into subjection; but since that time, the British troops have been employed in expeditions, and in actions, through Travancore, which have ill accorded with their own notions of liberty and justice and beneficent rule.

The mission to Travancore, was established in 1806. Mr. Ringletaube laboured among the peo

The Prime Minister.

T

ple with diligence and success for many years-now travelling through the country to propagate the gospel, and then residing at Mylaudy to train up the young in the knowledge of God and to direct the old to salvation and to heaven; at one time distributing tracts and portions of the Scriptures among the heathen, and at another dispensing the ordinances to those who had already believed, till he had erected chapels in seven villages, had baptized hundreds of the people, had collected them into congregations, and laboured among them with testimonies of divine approbation. In 1818, the late Sir Thomas Munro, while resident at the court of the Ranee, makes honourable allusion to his labours. "The small Protestant community formed by Mr. Ringletaube in the south of Travancore, although still in a state of infancy, is extremely respected. Its neophytes are called the Vadahars or Persons of the Book, and it receives more proselytes than all the other sects of Christianity in Travan

core.

Mr. and Mrs. Mead arrived at the station in 1816, and began their missionary career; and as Mr. Knill's health had failed at Madras, he tried the effect of this more salubrious climate; but after beholding a few marks of the grace and mercy which the Lord had in reserve for that people, and after laying the foundation of a house of prayer, he was obliged to return to England. joined the mission in 1819.

Mr. and Mrs. Mault Did space permit, it