source of genuine happiness to him. The discretion, however, with which he contrived to effect his humane purpose is entitled to the warmest and most unqualified approbation of government."

I am personally acquainted with Captain MacViccar, a very good man, who has been one of the British agents "for the suppression of human sacrifices and female infanticide in the hill-tracts of Orissa." His constitution has been broken down by his labors on these unhealthy hills. I learned from him the facts contained in the first part of this letter, and also learned that the whole number of victims who had been rescued up to the time when he was in this city, in 1851, amounted to more than nineteen hundred. Of these, no less than five hundred were rescued by himself and his assistant, Captain Fry, year before last. All these immortal beings must have been put to death in the most horrid manner, had it not been for the timely assistance afforded to them.

I spoke in my last letter of a woman who escaped from the hands of the Khonds, and who was saved from being sacrificed by reach

ing the collector's camp. Let me tell you of another person who escaped. His name is Joy Sing. He had, by stealth, witnessed one of the sacrifices of these barbarians. I say by stealth, for they never allow the victims devoted to destruction to witness a sacrifice. He had seen a child put in the cleft of a small tree which had been split for this purpose. He had seen how the child was held fast in this position, by the parts of the tree pressing upon its body. He had also seen the flesh cut from its bones. You will not wonder, therefore, that he was filled with horror at the thought of meeting with such a doom. Neither will you wonder at his determination to make every possible effort to free himself from the hands of his intended murderers. This effort was made, but it was at first unsuccessful. After travelling for two days through the wilderness, he was recaptured by his owners, and put in irons. His courage, however, did not fail. He determined to make another attempt to escape, though he could only crawl along, in consequence of the irons on his legs. Thus fettered, he travelled for two days and two nights, and when he

had just reached the foot of the mountains he again espied those who were in pursuit of him. Captain Millar, of whom I have already spoken, was providentially encamped near the place where he was. To this encampment he hastened, as you will readily suppose, with all the speed which he could command, scarcely daring to look behind him, and reached it in safety. On his arrival he endeavored to make known his tale of woe by his looks and his tears; and these looks and tears spoke a language which this officer could not misunderstand. His irons were taken off, and he was once more free.

Joy Sing was afterwards educated, and has since gone back to the mountains to assist in building up the kingdom of Christ there.

Have you never thought, my dear children, that by nature you are in a much worse situation than was Joy Sing, when in the hands of his intended murderers? They could do nothing more than destroy his body; but you are in the hands of one who, unless you flee from his grasp, as Joy Sing fled from the grasp of his masters, will be the means of the destruction both of your bodies and souls for ever.

And can you think of such a destruction without horror? Can you afford to be eternally lost? Can you lie in the flames in this world for a single night? Can you hold your hands in the fire for a single minute? Oh! if you are yet in the hands of the devil, flee from him.

NUMBER XXXIII.

MY DEAR CHILDREN: You will be glad to hear that many of the children who have been rescued from the cruel Khonds and others, have been sent by the British government to Christian schools-schools established by the missionaries of the cross. Connected with a station near Cuttack, (see your map,) between Madras and Calcutta, where a very dear friend of mine, the Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, resides a station about ten miles distant from the first range of mountains inhabited by the Khonds-there are two schools, one for the boys and the other for the girls who have been rescued from this wretched people. From the friend just alluded to, I learned the following fact: A few years ago, a number of these rescued victims arrived at the gate of the mission-house on their way to the sea-coast. The children of the schools went out to see them.