jungle there
are many wild beasts, such as elephants, bears, wild hogs, and
buffaloes. In it also, there are men, women, and children, running wild,
just like the wild beasts. This people are called Verders, or wild
people. They wear scarcely any clothing. They have no houses. When it
rains, they creep into holes, or go under overhanging rocks. Their beds
consist of a few leaves. Sunk almost to the level of the brute, they
live and die like their shaggy companions of the forest. Even upon these
the Gospel has tried its power. More than fifty families have settled
down, forming two pleasant, and now Christian villages. They have
schoolmasters and Christian teachers.

I must give you a description of two revivals of religion which
occurred while I was in the island of Ceylon, in the year 1833. Before
those revivals took place, there was no particular manifestation of much
seriousness at any of our stations. It was in the month of October of
that year, that we began to feel that we must labor more, and pray more
for the conversion of perishing souls. A protracted meeting was spoken
of, and it was determined that one should be held at our seminary in
Batticotta--a seminary which was established for the purpose of raising
up a native ministry. On the morning of the day in which the meeting was
commenced, Mr. Spaulding and myself went to that station to assist Mr.
Poor, the principal of the seminary, in laboring with the students. In
these labors we spent five days. It was good to be there. No sooner had
we begun our exercises, than a blessing from on high was experienced.
The windows of heaven were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended. This
was evident from the spirit of prayer which was poured out upon the
pious students of the seminary. They were heard "a great while before
day" pleading, in their social circles, that God would have mercy upon
their impenitent companions, and bring them into the kingdom of his
grace. We trust, also, that a spirit of prayer was given to those of us
who took a prominent part in the meeting. At the termination of our
exercises, with the exception of a few lads belonging to a Tamul class,
who had lately been admitted to the seminary, there was not, so far as I
know, an individual connected with it, who was not humbled at the foot
of the cross, either to lie there until healed of his wounds, or to
show, if he perished, that he must perish under circumstances of a very
aggravated nature.

Aft