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y the tops of a nearer range of hills； when you approach within sixty miles of them。 The distant range forms an angle of about ten degrees with the horizon。〃 But the time did not come for a mission to that region till the sanitarium of Darjeeling became the centre of another British district opened up by railway from Calcutta； and now the aboriginal Lepchas are coming in large numbers into the church。 Subsequent communications from the Soobah informed them of the Garos of Assam。
On his last visit to Calcutta； in 1799； 〃to get types cast for printing the Bible；〃 Carey witnessed that sight of widow…burning which was to continue to disgrace alike the Hindoos and the Company's Government until his incessant appeals in India and in England led to its prevention in 1829。 In a letter to Dr。 Ryland he thus describes the horrid rite：
〃MUDNABATI； 1st April 1799。As I was returning from Calcutta I saw the Sahamaranam； or； a woman burning herself with the corpse of her husband； for the first time in my life。 We were near the village of Noya Serai； or； as Rennell calls it in his chart of the Hoogli river； Niaverai。 Being evening； we got out of the boat to walk； when we saw a number of people assembled on the river…side。 I asked them what they were met for； and they told me to burn the body of a dead man。 I inquired if his wife would die with him； they answered Yes； and pointed to the woman。 She was standing by the pile； which was made of large billets of wood； about two and a half feet high； four feet long； and two wide； on the top of which lay the dead body of her husband。 Her nearest relation stood by her； and near her was a small basket of sweetmeats called Thioy。 I asked them if this was the woman's choice； or if she were brought to it by any improper influence？ They answered that it was perfectly voluntary。 I talked till reasoning was of no use； and then began to exclaim with all my might against what they were doing； telling them that it was a shocking murder。 They told me it was a great act of holiness； and added in a very surly manner； that if I did not like to see it I might go farther off； and desired me to go。 I told them that I would not go； that I was determined to stay and see the murder； and that I should certainly bear witness of it at the tribunal of God。 I exhorted the woman not to throw away her life； to fear nothing； for no evil would follow her refusal to burn。 But she in the most calm manner mounted the pile； and danced on it with her hands extended； as if in the utmost tranquillity of spirit。 Previous to her mounting the pile the relation； whose office it was to set fire to the pile； led her six times round it； at two intervalsthat is； thrice at each circumambulation。 As she went round she scattered the sweetmeat above mentioned among the people； who picked it up and ate it as a very holy thing。 This being ended； and she having mounted the pile and danced as above mentioned （N。B。The dancing only appeared to be to show us her contempt of death； and prove to us that her dying was voluntary）； she lay down by the corpse； and put one arm under its neck and the other over it； when a quantity of dry cocoa…leaves and other substances were heaped over them to a considerable height； and then Ghee； or melted preserved butter； poured on the top。 Two bamboos were then put over them and held fast down； and fire put to the pile； which immediately blazed very fiercely； owing to the dry and combustible materials of which it was composed。 No sooner was the fire kindled than all the people set up a great shoutHurree…Bol； Hurree…Bol； which is a common shout of joy； and an invocation of Hurree； or Seeb。 It was impossible to have heard the woman had she groaned； or even cried aloud； on account of the mad noise of the people； and it was impossible for her to stir or struggle on account of the bamboos which were held down on her like the levers of a press。 We made much objection to their using these bamboos； and insisted that it was using force to prevent the woman from getting up when the fire burned her。 But they declared that it was only done to keep the pile from falling down。 We could not bear to see more； but left them； exclaiming loudly against the murder； and full of horror at what we had seen。〃 In the same letter Carey communicates the information he had collected regarding the Jews and Syrian Christians of the Malabar coast。
Mr。 G。 Udny had now found his private indigo enterprise to be disastrous。 He resolved to give it up and retire to England。 Thomas had left his factory； and was urging his colleague to try the sugar trade； which at that time meant the distillation of rum。 Carey rather took over from Mr。 Udny the out…factory of Kidderpore； twelve miles distant； and there resolved to prepare for the arrival of colleagues； the communistic missionary settlement on the Moravian plan； which he had advocated in his Enquiry。 Mr。 John Fountain had been sent out as the first reinforcement； but he proved to be almost as dangerous to the infant mission from his outspoken political radicalism as Thomas had been from his debts。 Carey seriously contemplated the setting up of his mission centre among the Bhooteas； so as to be free from the East India Company。 The authorities would not license Fountain as his assistant。 Would they allow future missionaries to settle with him？ Would they always renew his own licence？ And what if he must cease altogether to work with his hands； and give himself wholly to the work of the mission as seemed necessary？
Four new colleagues and their families were already on the sea； but God had provided a better refuge for His servants till the public conscience which they were about to quicken and enlighten should cause the persecution to cease。
CHAPTER V
THE NEW CRUSADESERAMPORE AND THE BROTHERHOOD
1800
Effects of the news in England on the BaptistsOn the home churchesIn the foundation of the London and other Missionary SocietiesIn ScotlandIn Holland and AmericaThe missionary homeJoshua Marshman； William Ward； and two others sent outLanding at the Iona of Southern AsiaMeeting of Ward and CareyFirst attempt to evangelise the non…Aryan hill tribesCarey driven by providences to SeramporeDense population of Hoogli districtAdapts his communistic plan to the new conditionsPurchase of the propertyConstitution of the BrotherhoodHis relations to Marshman and WardHannah Marshman； the first woman missionaryDaily life of the BrethrenForm of AgreementCarey's ideal system of missionary administration realised for fifteen yearsSpiritual heroism of the Brotherhood。
The first two English missionaries to India seemed to those who sent them forth to have disappeared for ever。 For fourteen months； in those days of slow Indiamen and French privateers； no tidings of their welfare reached the poor praying people of the midlands； who had been emboldened to begin the heroic enterprise。 The convoy； which had seen the Danish vessel fairly beyond the French coast； had been unable to bring back letters on account of the weather。 At last； on the 29th July 1794； Fuller； the secretary； Pearce； the beloved personal friend of Carey； Ryland in Bristol； and the congregation at Leicester； r