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relation of nascent Christianity to the pagan cults which had made society what it was。 Carey and the brotherhood stood alone in facing； in fighting with divine weapons； in winning the first victories over the secular as well as spiritual lawlessness which fell before Paul and his successors down to Augustine and his City of God。 The gentle and reasonable but none the less divinely indignant father of modern missions brings against Hindoo and Mohammedan society accusations no more railing than those in the opening passage of the Epistle to the Romans； and he brings these only that； following Paul； he may declare the more excellent way。
As Serampore； or its suburbs； is the most popular centre of Jaganath worship next to Pooree in Orissa； the cruelty and oppression which marked the annual festival were ever before the missionaries' eyes。 In 1813 we find Dr。 Claudius Buchanan establishing his veracity as an eye…witness of the immolation of drugged or voluntary victims under the idol car； by this quotation from Dr。 Carey； whom he had to describe at that time to his English readers； as a man of unquestionable integrity； long held in estimation by the most respectable characters in Bengal； and possessing very superior opportunities of knowing what is passing in India generally： 〃Idolatry destroys more than the sword； yet in a way which is scarcely perceived。 The numbers who die in their long pilgrimages； either through want or fatigue； or from dysenteries and fevers caught by lying out； and want of accommodation； is incredible。 I only mention one idol； the famous Juggernaut in Orissa； to which twelve or thirteen pilgrimages are made every year。 It is calculated that the number who go thither is； on some occasions； 600；000 persons； and scarcely ever less than 100；000。 I suppose； at the lowest calculation； that in the year 1；200；000 persons attend。 Now； if only one in ten died； the mortality caused by this one idol would be 120；000 in a year； but some are of opinion that not many more than one in ten survive and return home again。 Besides these； I calculate that 10；000 women annually burn with the bodies of their deceased husbands； and the multitudes destroyed in other methods would swell the catalogue to an extent almost exceeding credibility。〃
After we had taken Orissa from the Marathas the priests of Jaganath declared that the night before the conquest the god had made known its desire to be under British protection。 This was joyfully reported to Lord Wellesley's Government by the first British commissioner。 At once a regulation was drafted vesting the shrine and the increased pilgrim…tax in the Christian officials。 This Lord Wellesley indignantly refused to sanction； and it was passed by Sir George Barlow in spite of the protests of Carey's friend； Udny。 In Conjeeveram a Brahmanised civilian named Place had so early as 1796 induced Government to undertake the payment of the priests and prostitutes of the temples； under the phraseology of 〃churchwardens〃 and 〃the management of the church funds。〃 Even before the Madras iniquity； the pilgrims to Gaya from 1790； if not before； paid for authority to offer funeral cakes to the manes of their ancestors and to worship Vishnoo under the official seal and signature of the English Collector。 Although Charles Grant's son； Lord Glenelg； when President of the Board of Control in 1833； ordered； as Theodosius had done on the fall of pagan idolatry in A。D。 390； that 〃in all matters relating to their temples； their worship； their festivals； their religious practices； their ceremonial observances； our native subjects be left entirely to themselves；〃 the identification of Government with Hindooism was not completely severed till a recent period。
The Charak； or swinging festival； has been frequently witnessed by the present writer in Calcutta itself。 The orgie has been suppressed by the police in great cities； although it has not ceased in the rural districts。 In 1814 the brotherhood thus wrote home：
〃This abominable festival was held； according to the annual custom； on the last day of the Hindoo year。 There were fewer gibbet posts erected at Serampore； but we hear that amongst the swingers was one female。 A man fell from a stage thirty cubits high and broke his back； and another fell from a swinging post； but was not much hurt。 Some days after the first swinging； certain natives revived the ceremonies。 As Mr。 Ward was passing through Calcutta he saw several Hindoos hanging by the heels over a slow fire； as an act of devotion。 Several Hindoos employed in the printing…office applied this year to Mr。 Ward for protection； to escape being dragged into these pretendedly voluntary practices。 This brought before us facts which we were not aware of。 It seems that the landlords of the poor and other men of property insist upon certain of their tenants and dependants engaging in these practices； and that they expect and compel by actual force multitudes every year to join the companies of sunyassees in parading the streets； piercing their sides； tongues； etc。 To avoid this compulsion； many poor young men leave their houses and hide themselves； but they are sure of being beaten if caught； or of having their huts pulled down。 The influence and power of the rich have a great effect on the multitude in most of the idolatrous festivals。 When the lands and riches of the country were in few hands； this influence carried all before it。 It is still very widely felt； in compelling dependants to assist at public shows； and to contribute towards the expense of splendid ceremonies。〃
The Ghat murders； caused by the carrying of the dying to the Ganges or a sacred river； and their treatment there； continue to this day； although Lord Lawrence attempted to interfere。 Ward estimated the number of sick whose death is hastened on the banks of the Ganges alone at five hundred a year； in his anxiety to 〃use no unfair means of rendering even idolatry detestable；〃 but he admits that； in the opinion of others； this estimate is far below the truth。 We believe； from our own recent experience； that still it fails to give any just idea of the destruction of parents by children in the name of religion。
One class who had been the special objects of Christ's healing power and divine sympathy was specially interesting to Carey in proportion to their misery and abandonment by their own peoplelepers。 When at Cutwa in 1812； where his son was stationed as missionary； he saw the burning of a leper； which he thus described：〃A pit about ten cubits in depth was dug and a fire placed at the bottom of it。 The poor man rolled himself into it； but instantly； on feeling the fire； begged to be taken out； and struggled hard for that purpose。 His mother and sister； however； thrust him in again； and thus a man； who to all appearance might have survived several years； was cruelly burned to death。 I find that the practice is not uncommon in these parts。 Taught that a violent end purifies the body and ensures transmigration into a healthy new existence； while natural death by disease results in four successive births； and a fifth as a leper again； the leper； like the even more wretched widow； has always courted suicide。〃