ple go on pilgrimages from all parts of the by lying down at every step, and measuring kingdom to worship them at the time of the road by the length of their body, thinkthe great festivals. It is said, that noting this will gain them special favour with fewer than 200,000 persons assemble there the god. at the drawing of the car. Many old and infirm people attempt the journey, who die by the way from fatigue, and for miles before you get to Juggernaut, human bones lie strewed upon the road from the numbers of poor creatures who have thus perished. At one place, by a river, a traveller once counted above a hundred skulls. There is a place by the temple, to which the dead are carried, and where hundreds of jackals, wild dogs, and vultures, may be seen living on the flesh of the corpses lying there. One day a traveller went to this place, and there he saw a poor woman lying dead upon the ground, and her two children sitting by her, and watching the dogs and vultures ready to seize upon her as their food. The people that passed by took no notice of them; but he looked at them, and asked them where their house was. "We have no home," they said, "but where our mother is !" Poor children thus left alone in this world, with no home but the cold and silent grave!

On a certain day after the pilgrims are assembled, the Brahmins dress up Juggernaut; and, bringing him out of the temple, set him on his car which is drawn by some thousands of men, women, and children. The moment he is placed on the car, the people raise a great shout, which they continue for several minutes; and you may imagine what a shout 200,000 people can raise. The priests ride along with the gods upon the car, and help to keep up the shouts as they pass along. Sometimes some poor pilgrims will throw themselves before the wheels of the car, to be crushed to death as it passes over their body. They think that, by so doing, they will go at once to paradise. It is said, that generally six or seven persons perish in this way. Such is Juggernaut. Is it not a painful thing to think, that, while you and I enjoy our quiet happy homes in England, such scenes as these should be going on in India? Oh! let us all labour hard to send the gospel of Christ to that dark land, for nothing but the gospel will destroy its black idola

Some of the pilgrims make the journey try!

GEORGE SCHMIDT,

THE FIRST MISSIONARY TO THE HOTTENTOTS.

WHICH of my young readers has not seen the famous missionary, Robert Moffat, and trembled at his lion stories, and laughed at his accounts of the strange notions of some of his heathen neighbours, and wept at the touching tales of the heartrending scenes that he had witnessed? I imagine almost all of you have both seen and heard that interesting man. Well, when you did so, did you not feel it was worth your while to go so far to look upon and listen to one who had really been a

missionary? He seemed to you far more honourable than any warrior, and more to be admired and loved than any minister at home. And so, dear reader, I have often thought myself, and can only say that, if God gives you grace, and makes you a child of his, I hope you will go out to some heathen land, and be a Moffat or a Williams in your turn.

But if such honour is due to Moffat, what do you think is due to the man that first ventured to go to that lion land, and

determined to go, the good people commended them in prayer to God. The Countess gave them 6s. 8d. for their journey; and with this, the clothes upon their backs, and a small change of linen, off they set upon their errand, intending to walk the entire distance.

there turn the people from their wickedness to God? About that man I am going now to tell you; and as his history is very interesting, I hope it will be long left upon your mind. His name was George Schmidt, or, if you wished it put into English, George Smith. He was born at Kunwalde, in Moravia, on September 30, At first they got on pretty well, and ar1709. At that time a very cruel persecu-rived on the frontiers of Moravia, where tion was going forward against the Pro- they met with some of their acquaintances, testants in Moravia, many of whom were and held a private meeting for the awakforced to leave their country, and seek a ened, or people in concern about their refuge in some foreign land. When George souls. Here their troubles began. There grew up to be about sixteen years of age was a person present who had come in to he was deeply impressed by the preaching act as a spy, and who, as soon as the meetof a good man called John Boehme, and ing was over, went to the Romish chaplain, was led to give his heart to God. Up to and gave him information of their movethis time he lived unmolested at home, and ments. They, however, got safely out of had he remained at home an unconverted the place, and passed on to Carlsdorf, and lad, no matter how great his wickedness from thence to Friese, where they held might have been, he might have still lived another meeting, in the house of a pious on in quietness and peace. But now, as woman, who had married a Roman Cathohe felt the love of Jesus in his heart, and lic. While they were there, the chaplain I began to mingle in the company of the peo- have just referred to, surrounded the house ple of God, and to reprove the impiety of with a great crowd of people, and took those around him, he became the subject them prisoners. Melchior Nitschmann's of cruel persecution; and, finding himself Halle Bible was lying on the table; which unsafe at home, was forced to fly and seek he took up, saying, it was the first time he refuge in the little village of Hernhut, about had ever seen the book, and asking them which I have told you before, and where if they had any more heretical books.. several of his countrymen had already Schmidt gave him a New Testament he had gone. His youth, his kindness of heart, in his pocket, and they had then their hands and his zeal for God, made him an object tied with ropes, and were led to a publicof great interest to the good folks at Hern-house, and thence to a place called Eislehut, and the Countess of Zinzendorf took berg, where they were examined, and then him into her household. He had not been sent on to Schildberg, to be confined in the long there when, thinking of the distressed prison there. They were put into separate condition of many of his countrymen and cells; but could hear each other sing the others, in the land of their enemies, he hymns with which they tried to cheer and determined, along with his friend Melchior solace one another's spirits. Every night. Nitschmann, to go on a visit to them, and their feet were made fast in the stocks. At try to encourage and cheer their minds. first they were frequently visited by a Jesuit, Both Count Zinzendorf and the congrega- who disputed with them, and tried to bring tion were opposed to their wish, and tried them over to his faith; but finding he to show them the dangers they would be could make nothing of them, he soon grew. exposed to if they attempted it. All, how-tired, and left them to themselves.. ever, would not do, and as they seemed When winter came on, poor Schmidt.

fore his departure Schmidt asked him how he felt. He answered, "I have hold of my Saviour. He does not leave me, nor I him," and soon after breathed out his soul as he lay in his friend's bosom. You may fancy, for I cannot describe, how Schmidt felt when left alone, and both of his companions dead.

suffered much from the cold. The mayor ordered him a supply of firewood; but the cruel turnkey used it for himself, and left Schmidt to starve. He used to wrap straw bands round his legs, as he lay in the stocks, to warm them; but it did no good, and he suffered excruciating pain, and never lost the effects to the day of his death. As he was nearly half frozen, he lost all appetite for food, and was accordingly removed to another cell, which, though quite dark, was much warmer. Here, to his astonishment, he found Frank Wander, the man in whose house he had held the first meeting, and who had also been seized, and put into confinement. The poor man was in a dying state, but begged Schmidt to keep it quiet, lest he should be teazed by the visits of the priests. They were both glad to be thus together, and Schmidt watched his friend by day and night until his end came, and he expired in his arms. The dungeon then seemed more lonely than ever, and poor Schmidt could only find relief by going to God in prayer. A few days after Wander's death the jailor brought Mel- imprisonment, the officer who had charge chior Nitschmann to Schmidt's dungeon, and took off his irons. Nitschmann was very ill, and seemed to be fast drawing to his end. Poor Schmidt was almost too weak to attend upon him; but he watched over him as he had watched over Wander. I shall next tell you about his adventures In four days Nitschmann died. Just be- as amissionary, which are just as interesting.

A quarter of a year after this the mayor came to him, and ordered him to go with him to the house of the vicar. There he met with several priests, and after a sort of mock trial, was sentenced to solitary confinement for two years, on the ground of his having forsaken the true faith, and his refusal to return. At the end of this period his case was again tried, and he was sentenced to three years' hard labour in the fortress of Spielberg, near Brunn. Here he was not only forced to work hard, and in ways the most disagreeable and painful to his feelings, but he was almost famished for want of food. His whole allowance was a small roll of bread and a little water. At the end of this second

of him took on himself the responsibility of setting him at liberty; and he returned to Hernhut, which he reached in safety, July 22d 1734, after a painful absence of about six years.

THE MYSTERY MAN.

He was now an object of fear among the people, who allowed him to do as he wished, and he became a noted drunkard.

SHUSCO was a North American Indian. his tribe as a regular mystery man; and When he was about fifteen years of age, employed by them to foretell events, drive he was set apart by his people to be a away evil spirits, obtain rain, and cure dis"mystery man," or conjuror. They black-eases. ened his face with coal, and made him fast for ten days; during this time he only took a cup of broth; but the long fast nearly killed him. A short time after this, he had to fast for five more days, when a drum was given him, a little tent was made for him to dwell in, and he was owned by

After leading a very wicked life for many years, he was brought to hear the preaching of the gospel. He then threw away his drum, and gave up all his arts and de

ceptions, with which he had imposed on the now, when you always did formerly, and lovIndians. From that time he lived and dieded it so much?" He then firmly and serious as a believer in Christ.

Although his heart had been hardened by living in almost every kind of sin, he was, as a Christian, remarkable for his tenderness of conscience. Many facts might be given to show how careful he was to avoid what he knew to be wrong: we have only room for two instances.

ly spoke to them, told them of his change of life, and how he had obtained, in prayer, strength from God to resist this temptation. Ilis conscience was also very tender in regard to the Lord's day. As he could not read, he was in the habit, when away from the mission-house, of cutting a notch in a stick, every day, to serve as a kind of al manack, that he might know when it was the Sabbath. Once, when away from home, there was no notch cut: he forgot all about it, and thus was put out in his reckoning When the next Lord's day came, he went out to his daily work; but soon a person passed by, and told him it was the day of rest. He was much grieved, at once left off work, and went home, with his heart full of sorrow. In the course of the week, he hastened to tell the missionaries what he had done through ignorance. "I am very sorry," said he, "I have broken the Sabbath day. I thought I would come and tell you of it myself, and not wait till all the Christians heard of it." And then he threw away the stick which had led to the mistake, and prepared another.

Before his conversion he was a great drinker of "fire-water," or strong spirits, such as whisky and rum; but afterwards, he used to pray to God to take from him the love of strong drink, and was never known to taste or touch it again. On one occasion, when some Indians, who were his wife's relations, came to the place where he lived, he feared lest he should be prevailed on to drink with them. He went out early in the morning, and was some time away from home, so that his wife began to fear he had joined his friends in drinking, and went in search of him. She found him in a secret place in prayer: he had been so long and earnestly engaged, that he had forgotten where he was, and what was the time of the day. After prayer, he said to his wife that he now could go May we have " a conscience void of ofand visit her friends. He went, and found fence toward God and toward men." Acts them lying round a pail of whisky, over- xxiv. 16. But as we have often sinned alcome with drink. They tempted him to ready, may we seek for mercy through our taste it; but he refused. They said, "Why Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.-From is it, Shusco, that you will not drink with us | Missionary First Fruits.

THE DRUZES OF MOUNT LEBANON.--No. II.

tion.

I LAST month told you a little about the you an instance or two of their opposiDruzes, and the success that had attended the first efforts of the missionaries amongst them. All that success, however, was not allowed to exist without a good deal of opposition from the Maronite priests. The Maronites are a sort of Papists; but mix up with their Popery a deal of superstition and ignorance belonging to the heathens round them. I will give

One of the best means for doing the people good has been found to be, the distribution of religious tracts and books in the language of the people. These books are circulated by a man going through the country in the way I described to you of the Colporteurs of France, selling where he can, and giving where he cannot sell. On one

THE DRUZES OF MOUNT LEBANON.

62 occasion, one of these distributors arrived village when a lad came running after him

with them, and forced him to take them back. This seemed very honest of the people; but the distributor afterwards found out, that it was only fear of the priests that led them to it, for he had also left his pencil and penknife, which they never attempted to return.

In some places the distributor was most shamefully treated. He was once ordered out of the place with the words, " Up, up, and away from the place, thou dog of hell! and out of our sight, thou deceiver, thou hypocrite, thou son of the devil!" All the priests, however, did not treat him in this way. Some did nothing but stand at a distance, and look on; others were even very kind and hospitable towards him, and a few appeared to be friendly to his work. One day as he was going along the road, a priest came up to him, and said, "Well, my son, what have you got in your sack?"

at a little village on a Saturday afternoon, and resolved to spend the Sabbath there. There was a school at the time going on in the church, and the distributor sat down under the shade of some large trees at its side, and waited till the children came out, in the hope of giving away some of his books. Very soon out came the children, and seeing the man with the books, flocked round him to get a few. One offered to give him a little tobacco, another to feed his donkey, a third to bring him some raisins. Some gave him a few nuts, while others, declaring they were too poor to give him any thing, begged them for nothing, or cried out to him to give to them "Min shau Allah !" that is, "for the sake of God!" The distributor was delighted to see such a thirst for the books, and gladly supplied them all; but while he was doing so, there comes along the Maronite priest, and at once all the children's" Oh! nothing but a few handkerchiefs. glee was over, and they stood wondering and groceries, and small books." "Books! what he would do. He presently came up what books? oh I see! bibles and tracts, to them, and after looking at the books for very well, very well, my son; your work is a minute, he cried out,-" What! you excellent and will do great good. Persebringing the cursed books of the Englece vere and never mind what people say. here! Don't you know they are con- I have all these books in my house, and demned, forbidden, and accursed by the read them all, and know that they are very patriarch? Here, you little rascals, bring good." There are others who also oppose back every book immediately, and give besides the priests. Amongst the persons them to the man; and you, sir, I give that came to the missionaries to inquire, you warning to bring no more such books was a young man of great promise. His into our village." The distributor tried to reason with him, but in vain. The children were obliged to restore all their pretty books, with which they had been so much delighted; and, although the distributor spent the Sabbath in the village, he could not induce a single person to take one of his tracts, they were all so frightened by the priests. When he left on Monday morning, he put a few tracts under You see how much more difficult it is the pillow where he slept, hoping, that after for people to follow their conviction of he was gone, they might be found and what is right, in Lebanon, than it is in Briread; but he had scarcely got out of the tain!

friends did all they could to prevent him coming, but in vain; and at last his own brothers threatened to kill him if he persisted.

I have not heard whether they have carried out this threat or not. Several others who would have embraced the truth, were prevented by the efforts of the papal bishops and others.