nerations. The hearts of her children must never despair; remembering that if on us the ends of the world are come, so much the more forcibly unto us applies the promise, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end."

ART. IV.-Travels in South-Eastern Asia, embracing Hindos tan, Malaya, Siam, and China, with notice of numerous missionary stations, and a full account of the Burman Empire, &c. By HOWARD MALCOM. Fourth Edition. Boston: 1839. Gould, Kendall, and Lincoln.

THE extensive circulation of this work, is at least an indication of its popularity. Nor do we think it undeserving of the favor it has met with. We consider it an extremely interesting and valuable book of travels. We think of the additions made to this species of our literature by Slidell, and Stephens, and Dewey-by all the numberless tourists in Europe, and recently in many portions of Asia,—and by the explorers of the land among and beyond the Rocky Mountains, and many more. Not a few of these, whose works we have been unable to notice at length in this journal, have, we are aware, rendered the public good service. Dr. Townsend, of Philadelphia, and Mr. Paxton of Kentucky, should at least be mentioned among the latest of the number. We are hoping a great deal, also, from the researches of Professor Robinson in the Holy Land. However, we must neither recapitulate or anticipate just now; there is work enough, and that of the best kind, before us.

Let us endeavor, then, to justify the high compliment upon our Boston traveller with which we began. This we hesitate the less to do, as most of our remarks will, by no means, have a mere individual application. We expect to be able to show, in the course of them, and without losing sight of our main subjectmatter, what our notions of a good traveller and of good traveling are. It is no doubt paying Mr. Malcom another compliment, and no small one, instead of proving the truth of the one we have paid him already, that we undertake to make a pretty complete exemplification and exposition of the character and science in question, out of his book itself, and alone-but so it is. Let us inquire a little how far he has succeeded, and why he has

done so. Mr. Malcom went out in the capacity of an agent for a society engaged in the propagation of christianity in the East. It is not to our purpose to offer any general judgment as to the wisdom of the efforts made by our modern missionary societies, or as to the success which has attended their exertions to introduce christianity into heathen countries. But it is obvious to remark upon one result of these institutions-the contributions that have been made to the general stock of scientific and literary information. A great many works have been published by English and American missionaries; and some of them are publications of interest and value in a scientific and literary point of view. The writings of Marshman and Carey-Paxton's work on the Holy Land Stewart's Sandwich Islands, occur to us as instances; and the list might be considerably enlarged. A still larger amount of useful data, in science, natural history, geography, etc., are scattered through the various repositories of the Missionary societies, as for instance the Missionary Herald, yet rudely put together, and mingled with matter of less general interest. But, on the whole, when we consider that there are more than a thousand clerically educated missionaries, to say nothing of some hundreds of printers, assistants, and schoolmasters. scattered throughout the pagan world; and the favorable opportunities they have for adding to the stock of scientific and general information-we are constrained to say, that but a small proportion has been done of what might naturally be expected. We are led to imagine there has been a failure in selecting the right sort of men for missionaries, or that the important service they might render to the cause of science and general knowledge has not been sufficiently impressed upon their minds.

This is matter of regret, so far as the interests of science and knowledge are concerned. But there is another point of view in which it is wise for the foreign missionary societies to consider this matter. Upon the general question, whether the success of their efforts to introduce christianity into heathen countries, has been at all commensurate with the expenditure of life and money, we have, as before intimated, no remarks to make. And in regard to the practical question, whether a full and fair view of all the facts of the subject, does not indicate the propriety and duty of confining missionary exertions, at present, within a more limit ed sphere our opinion might differ from those engaged in these enterprises. Nothing, however, can be more obvious than the wisdom and policy on their part, attaching to themselves as many and various bonds of sympathy in the public mind as pos

sible. Certainly very few things are better calculated to promote the popular respectability of any cause, than the measures adopted in the case of Mr. Malcom.

The author went out, (quoting his own account in the preface,) as the deputy and representative of one of the great American mi ssionary societies, the Baptist, to "examine into, and with the missionaries adjust, many points not easily settled by correspondence; to compare the various modes of operation in dif ferent missions; to survey the field; to compare the claims of proposed new stations; to comfort, encourage, and strengthen the missionaries in their arduous work; and to gather details on every point where the Board lacked information."

This may be called a liberal commission; it was liberally construed by Mr. Malcom. Going out under it, he had, as he intimates, many special advantages. Not only the missionaries, but distinguished civilians, old travellers, and public authorities, manifested a disposition to communicate freely with him; and his books exhibit the result. It would seem, too, as if he took time, as well as pains, to avail himself of these valuable aids. He is not one of the class of travellers, who hurry through a country with the greatest possible rapidity; nor of those who wander over the world for pastime, and make it their chief concern to consult their ease and keep up their old habits wherever they go.

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We must especially commend the manner in which Mr. Malcom meets the various religious sects with which he comes in those of his own nation as well as of foreign ones. The differences between them, he somewhere remarks, "look small from missionary ground." In a style according with this sentiment, he discusses what these sects have done and are doing. Sometimes he has, or thinks he has, occasion for unfavorable criticism, and then he never shuns it. His charity has no cowardice, no false delicacy, in it. It is not imbecility. But the edge of severity is sheathed by the foil of a sincere benevolence. There is nothing sectarian in the sharpest of these strictures; no malice in the fencing, no poison at the point. The philanthropist, the philosopher, the christian, the missionary, the "deputy and representative" even, appears in them-the Baptist never does.

We might adduce a great many passages in illustration of the resolute energy, the cheerful and good-humored spirit, with which our author made his way amidst the annoyances and discomforts of Oriental travelling, and of the kindly and liberal

disposition with which he judges of society, men, institutions, and abuses, in the several countries which he visited. Our limits oblige us, however, to pass over these, and to advert to such points as may serve to give our readers some imperfect notion of the character of the work, as a source of information respecting the countries which our author visited.

One great point of interest to him, as a christian, and closely connected with his missionary objects, is the conduct of government in supporting the native forms of religion. For a long time, it refused to allow any thing but heathenism: the missionaries were not tolerated; it was feared that the attempt to introduce Christianity, would cause some disturbance among the people. In this respect, a reform has taken place; but idolatry may still be considered in fact the religion of the state. Government allows about $26,000 annually, for the support of the temple of Juggernaut; and many other establishments are equally well provided for. We are not aware of any contradiction having appeared to the statement of Mr. C. Buller, in his letter to the Court of Directors, that "large pensions, in land and money, are allowed in all parts of the country, for keeping up the religious institutions both of Mahometans and Hindoos ;" or any answer to the suggestion of Governor-general Lord William Bentinck (in 1835,) — alluding to the tax laid on pilgrims, which yields the company a handsome revenue. "that as long as we maintain most properly, in my opinion-the different establishments belonging to the Mahometan and Hindoo religions, we need not much scruple about the tax!" Here is, at least, a candid exposé of the abuse itself, in question, and that on good authority. Mr. Malcom mentions various modes, not yet referred to, in which the native systems are encouraged. Besides these regular stipends, for example, occasional donations are seasonably made, as in 1831, 40,000 rupees towards performing a certain ceremony in the temple at Tinevelly, and to repair the idol's car. At the principal festivals, he says, guns are fired by national ships, and by the company's troops, and the military. bands of music are loaned to grace the occasions; christian soldiers being of course compelled in this manner to do homage to Mahomet and the images. For repairs of pagan establishments, great sums have been lavished; and sometimes, also, for building them. Colleges and schools for the inculcation of heathen and Mahometan doctrines and customs, have come under the like patronage. The British magistrates, at this time, regulate their decisions to a very strange extent, by the same heathen

laws.* Until recently, native christians could not be appointed to any office, however low. Again, when the cars of certain gods are to be drawn in public procession, there has been, says our author, for some years back, in various places, a deficiency of people; and in such cases "the officers of government send out magistrates and constables, or peons, who, with whips and ratans, beat the wretched people, and force them to quit their work and drag at the ropes." Many details of this kind might be added, and much comment made upon them; but we shall imitate Mr. Malcom's forbearance in this matter, who, after a fair statement of the case, contents himself with remarking, "I speak in no spirit of bitterness, in narrating these facts. The government has, in the main, good intentions, I have no doubt; and next to the profit of the company, and the preservation of these countries to Britain, desires the well being of the people."

Among other things pertaining to the administration of British India, Mr. Malcom has the following remarks upon the salaries enjoyed by different functionaries:

While such salaries are paid to the civil servants of the company, they are by no means niggardly to their military officers; and when it is recollected that they maintain constantly a standing army of 200,000 men; that the military pensions are already enormous; that the recruiting and bringing to India of each British soldier, costs the company, on an average, five hundred dollars; that all the clothing and equipments of the army, and most of the luxuries of the officers and gentry, are manufactured in England, and that every expense of the company-to say nothing of profits - must be drawn from the natives; we can scarcely wonder that the country should be gradually sinking into desperate poverty. Tennent, author of " Thoughts on British Influence in India," estimates the annual savings of the company's servants, sent home to England, at ten millions of dollars."- Vol. II. p. 79.

For example: by the native laws, the son who changes his religion, loses his patrimony. The very records of the courts are inscribed to Shree, Ganesha, and other heathen gods.