122 THE CRIMEA. [NOV. costly price of many precious lives. The long list of those who have been cut down in the bloom of life and manly vigour makes every heart to mourn. How much that man has to answer for, whose obstinate ambition has necessitated war, and brought sorrow home to many a domestic circle! Yet out of these sorrows let us hope that good will arise—that the stern yoke of Russian despotism will be broken, and millions, who have been deprived by unjust laws of civil rights and religious privileges, be freed. A dark empire Russia hitherto has been, more especially under the rule of the present Czar, who, by severe ukases, has prohibited the Missionary action of Protestant churches, and has shut out his people from the gospel, which their own priests have not to give them-which the poor peasants cannot have at home; and which, as a contraband article, is prohibited from being imported from abroad. Within the vast limits of the Russian empire are many subjugated races, which have been absorbed into it. It consists, indeed, of various heterogeneous materials, which have no internal union, but which are bound together as riven timbers, fragments of stones, and congealed water, are bound together by the influence of frost, so as to constitute one of those immense icebergs which, floating down from the polar seas, threatens destruction to all it meets. These subjugated nations, thus embodied with the Russian empire, are some of them heathen, others Mahommedan: and what they were originally, such they remain; for there is no effort made even to render them nominally Christian. The Tartars of the Crimea are amongst the number. We have already introduced some notices of them, but the prominence which passing events has given to that portion of the Russian empire induces us to add something more respecting them, and the country of which they are the inhabitants; the more so, as we venture to entertain the hope that the Crimea, separated from Russia, may soon present an interesting field of labour, where zealous, and yet discreet Missionaries may make the gospel known to the mingled races which compose its population. The Crimea, from its central position, midway between Europe and Asia, commanding the commerce of the Black Sea, its climate salubrious, its soil productive, its scenery beautiful, its harbours noble and capacious, has often been contended for as a prize, and has been the spoil of various conquerors. It was once the granary of Greece. On the Roman kingdom rising into the ascendancy, fierce wars were carried on between that people and Mithridates, king of Pontus, the last Grecian ruler of the Crimea, from which that country suffered much. The Romans, conscious of its importance, laboured strenuously for its improvement, by the construction of roads, canals, aqueducts, and other works of public utility, of which traces remain to this day. On the decline of the Roman empire it shared the fate of other provinces. It was invaded by hordes of fierce barbarians from the gloomy forests of the north, or from the wilds of Asia. These were followed by the Tartar horsemen, the followers of Genghis Khan; and one of his descendants, a powerful chief of the name of Gherai, settled permanently, with his people, in the Crimea and the countries ranging along the northern shores of the Black Sea, as far as the Caspian. Here they maintained themselves, in despite of constant hostilities to which they were exposed from the eastern European nations. The Tartars were, on the whole, humane 1854.] PATIENT IN TRIBULATION. 123 in the rule they exercised. They conceded toleration to those who differed from them in religion; and hence the Crimea, under Tartar rule, became a sort of refuge, to various classes of people, from the persecutions which they suffered in other lands, to the Jews more especially; and this accounts, in a great measure, for the singularly mixed character of its population. The Tartars, despising every other occupation besides that of arms, and in time of peace, when this excitement was wanting, surrendering themselves to indolence, left all agricultural and commercial pursuits to their Christian and Jewish subjects. Gradually they lost their ancient vigour of character, and in diminished numbers reached that period of their national history when Russia proceeded to carry out her ambitious designs on the fair country they inhabited. Peter the Great saw that, if Russia were to command, she must gain possession of the Crimea and the isthmus of the Caucasus. This object, so far as the Crimea was concerned, was accomplished in the year 1774, when, on the termination of a war between Turkey and Russia, the Crimea, with other countries wrested from the Turkish empire, fell under the influence and power of Russia. Since then the Tartar population has fearfully diminished, and at the present time does not, it is supposed, amount to more than 100,000, or about half the population of the Crimean peninsula. Russian despotism has accomplished this. The Tartars, as a nation, have been miserably ground down; their noble families have become extinct, and their poorer classes crushed by the exorbitant demands of Russian taxgatherers; so that a few more years of Russian sway, and, as a nation, the Tartars had become extinct. Meanwhile, tracts of land lie unproductive, not from any sterility in the soil, but from want of hands to cultivate them. Let us hope that better things are in store for this interesting region, and that, once freed, it may never again be permitted to come under Russia's cruel yoke. We have given an engraving of the inside of a Tartar hut, from the interior of the country. The coast Tartars have much of European blood infused into their veins, and have regular features and fair hair; but those of the interior retain the high cheek-bones and wide eyes which are characteristic of their race, and are a hardy, hospitable people, totally different from their brethren on the coast. Their villages are generally situated on the steep hill-sides, near to which is generally a stone fountain with its cold sparkling water. These poor people cling tenaciously to their highland glens, and no wonder, for they are beautiful localities, encircled by lofty mountains, full of luxuriant foliage and vegetation, and watered by mountain-streams which foam and sparkle as they force their way down their rocky channels. PATIENT IN TRIBULATION. THE year 1853 was one of much sickness to the natives of New Zealand. Successive epidemics prevailed, and the deaths were numerous; yet the season of affliction, like the furnace that tries the gold, caused the faith and patience of many to shine more brightly; and amidst their sorrow for the loss of faithful Christians, the Missionaries were comforted by the happy assurance oftheir transfer to better homes above. The journals from Kaitaia, our northern . 124 PATIENT IN TRIBULATION. [NOV. most station, abound with instances of this kind, some few of which we transfer to our pages. Oct. 3, 1853-We heard of the sudden death of Serena Butt, an elderly Christian native, who died under the native administration of a new medicine-a decoction of the bark of a hard wood, of which they used to make their walking sticks. The parties were much blamed. Mr. Puckey had been to see the corpse, and informed me that Butt, the husband, was dying by the side of it, and that he was rejoicing in his Saviour. He added, "Do go and see him: the old man is so happy, and he will not live many hours." I went, and most of our families too. We found the afflicted man in a very enviable state of mind, and quite resigned and prepared to die. He exerted himself to converse with me. I read to him portions of the sacramental service, and the twenty-third Psalm. He said, "Joseph, the native teacher, read that to me yesterday ;" and it appeared that Joseph's talk to him had been greatly blessed. He was much gratified by Mrs. Matthews visiting him, and spoke to her of his reliance on Christ. We had brought up his only daughter, who lived with us until she married. The old man and woman had often visited us, and they were known to have been consistent Christians, greatly delighting to repeat the catechisms in the Sunday-school. He died the next morning. His only son is unbaptized and careless; and the old man, before he died, called to him, and said, "You have lived ungodly," and he thought that on account of this God was removing his parents from him. The poor old man had one brother, a native teacher, who came a distance of eleven miles to see him, but he was too late. I buried both husband and wife in one grave. Thus are our people gathered home in God's good time. Oct. 10-Two sick natives were very anxious to see me, namely, Hare Rewete, and Sophia, our old teacher's wife. On my asking the former if he were "dark," or grieved, on account of his approaching dissolution, he replied, "I do not grieve: it is only my body which will die: my soul will live." I certainly was pleased with this answer from one who had every earthly prospect of happiness. His father and mother are kindhearted Christians, and, which is remarkable, his father-once known by the name of Turau, now Cornelius-used to be kind to us when travelling, many years before he was a Christian. The young man seemed very patient under his sufferings: he could only whisper, but he exerted himself to talk to me in this way. The father expressed his regret at his son's loss of speech, but I assured him that I could hear distinctly. I spoke of the benefit of affliction, and referred to the alarming subject preached yesterday-Mark xiii. 32-37. I was thankful to observe a resigned spirit in this young man. It appeared to be a great comfort to him to hear the word of God, which he seemed to drink as the water of life. His Testament is always by him, and his wife and parents are most attentive. I rode on to Ototoiti, and found Sophia in a weak state of body, but in such a happy state of mind, with an ability to describe her state, that I have not met with exactly such a case before. Her experience is that of one who has long lived a consistent Christian life, diligently read the word of God, and been blessed with faithful preaching. She bade 1854.] ORISSA. 125 me "welcome in the name of the Lord." She had her Testament and Prayer-book by her, and commenced conversation, relating her happy experience, and telling me how happy she should be to depart, and be with Christ. She said that spiritual things were so precious to her she could not think of descending to earthly employment again. I could discern that her affliction had been sanctified. She was very ready in the Scriptures, quite "a scribe well instructed." I thought her state enviable. I felt her pulse: it was 100 per minute: her breath was short, and it was some labour to her to converse. I asked, as to her state of health, "What do you think of yourself?" She replied, "You are looking at me: what do you think?" My reply was, "There is good and bad, but I think that, with the help of medicine, you may live." "Yes," she said, "if God cut short my desires to leave below for above." I asked for the Testament, and read St. Paul's happy experience (Philippians, i. 20-24). I called her attention to these heaven-born verses, and said, as politely as possible, "I think St. Paul's religion must be preferred before yours." I added-for she was all attention-"His experience was of the highest order, and yet he was willing to live in the flesh, if it were the will of God, so that he might be useful to souls, and bring glory to God." And I added, "You may be very useful, should God spare your life, in helping your husband to teach the children of your village." Simeona, her husband, had lately opened school at this village, which was the first place to receive the gospel out of our settlement. I was thankful that Sophia received this well. She said, that, should God be pleased to restore her, it was her intention to devote herself, with her husband, to the work of teaching. I observed, that it appeared to me God was showing her that her talent had been neglected in health, and now He was causing her to feel that His work was the best, and must be done. And I added, "Your husband has been twice severely afflicted for many weeks, and the secret revealed to him was, that the Lord's-day duties were not sufficient, and that he ought to keep school; and, since his recovery, he has opened school, and more than twenty children attend." "Yes," she said, "and there are numbers of women and girls very ignorant, and yet willing to be taught." This Christian woman recovered, and, on regaining her strength, immediately commenced to aid her husband in the Lord's work. ORISSA. THE Country of Orissa is a maritime province of India, situated on the western shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is backed by a chain of hills which separate it from the interior provinces. Advancing from the Hûglî river, which bounds the province to the north, the traveller first enters on a swampy tract of country, in the low jungle of which fierce animals, such as tigers, wild hogs, buffaloes, &c., find a covert. As he proceeds, little villages are seen in different directions amongst the trees-the homes of a rural population. Emerging from the jungle, the way lies across extended tracts of barren sand. A few fishermen's huts are seen, and herds of deer feed on the wild thyme. On the left extends the vast sea, across whose waters the stately merchant vessels pursue their course. More to the southward, large topes of mango-trees appear; or 126 ORISSA. [NOV. by the way-side the banyan spreads its shade, and the villages of the Brahmins and wealthier classes of people are graced by the cocoa-nut and areca palms; while over the thatched cottages of the peasantry the spinach vine climbs, and tall plantations of the castor-oil tree are grouped around. The Nilagiri, or blue hills of Orissa, come sweeping down from the west, until they approach the sea, as if to gaze upon its wide expanse, and then again waywardly recede into the interior. Orissa might be a fruitful and productive country. Numerous rivers water it from the hills entrenchments might be formed, tanks constructed, and the waters made available for irrigation; but such measures are neglected, and this province of India has been subjected to visitations of famine of the most distressing character. Yet why should this be? Its population is numerous, amounting, probably, to upwards of seven millions. Alas! it is a population debased and paralyzed by the influence of a false religion. Hinduism is in full force in Orissa. The abominable stories of the gods are current throughout the land. The worship of Jagannâth is universal. On the shore at Pûrî his gloomy temple rises, its highest pinnacle towering 210 feet from the ground. Pilgrimages to reputed holy places, sources or confluences of rivers, celebrated idols, &c., have ever been popular in India, but the Pûrî shrine of Jagannath has been the most frequented. Never-ceasing crowds of pilgrims go to and fro, as if half the world were going on pilgrimage. They consist of men, women, and children, on horses, camels, elephants, and in vehicles of all descriptions. The deadly creed of Hinduism has long had sway over this province. The country is filled with numbers of temples of various forms, some ancient, and yet evidently constructed out of the ruins of temples more ancient than themselves. The black pagoda lies a splendid mass of ruins on the coast, but still Hinduism survives, and perpetuates itself in Jagannâth's temple; nor will it yield until the gospel of Christ gathers force to overthrow it, and the shrine, and the system it represents, shall fall, as Dagon did before the ark. But besides the larger temples, every village has its place of worship, and nearly every district its annual place of gathering, where the people assemble for the purpose of bathing, or in some other way to honour their particular idol or temple. These gatherings are most demoralizing in their influence. The Dûrga pûjâ is celebrated in October. In a previous Number* we gave a description of this festival. Happily for us, we are not fully aware of all the unutterable abominations which are perpetrated during its orgies. Another festival, called the Jagaddhâtû pûjâ occurs in the month of November. Jagaddhâtû -nurse, or mother of the world-is another form of Dûrga, and bloody sacrifices are offered to her, and much money expended in dances, songs, feasting of the Brahmins, indecent mirth being the prevailing tone of this religious festival. Alas! what can be expected from the poor dark Oriyas? What a painful scene it is to see them, on the occasion of some festival, assembling, dressed in their best raiment, the women in groups, generally in their clean white costume, but frequently also in coloured silk dresses; the men dressed in white, carrying their little sons on their heads or shoulders, and their daughters astride on their hips. How painful to see a mother bowing down her child's head, * Dec. 1853, pp. 134, 135. |