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view is the best. To-day, however, there was much to add impressiveness to the scene, in the appearance of the troops, for a finer army never entered Kandahar. The generals and staffs preceded, and were followed by the cavalry brigade, consisting of 15th Hussars, and 1st and 2nd P. C. Then came the R. H. A. and R. A. batteries, and the infantry regiments, headed by the 70th. The absence of brass bands was a felt want. As we approached the town the road became very tortuous, and at length took us over a stream by a solid masonry bridge, which was evidently a relic of the former campaign. Groups of citizens, with somewhat anxious, but subdued faces, lined the road. These were Mohammedans. But the Hindus, in red turbans and holiday dress, wore an unmistakable expression of welcome, and fraternized eagerly with their co-religionists amongst our camp-followers. One had asked me about his native place, mentioning a town I knew well near Pind Dadan Khan. At the gates some fruit-sellers made a tempting display of pomegranates and apples. As we filed through the bazaars there was not much to see, for the shops were all shut. The explanation was that for four days the town had been in a state of anarchy, and no one considered life or property safe.

The camp was pitched at some distance outside the city walls, the 25th N. I. only being quartered in the citadel. The night's rest was none the less welcome for the thought that the long tedious march on foot of 465 miles from the Indus to Kandahar was at length over. We have had abundant cause to acknowledge the good hand of our God over us in the removal of many difficulties which might have made the expedition a failure instead of a success.

January 9th. The city of Kandahar is by no means attractive from the inside. Its unhealthiness is everywhere asserted by bad drainage and bad smells. Hence the huge cemetery outside the walls. Nor has it any redeeming architectural features. There is nothing to look at, except the shrine of Ahmad Shah. Two long bazaars intersect the city, and are covered, where they cross each other, by arches of brick. They are wider than the bazaars of old Lahore, but cannot compare with those of Ispahan, or even of a second-rate Persian town. In the variety and excellence of their products they certainly compare favourably with those of the Panjab. Why should the Panjabi merchant allow himself to be passed by the Parsee and Kandahari? The latter will astonish you with his fertility of resources. He will show you Russian samooars and china tea-cups, skins from Astrakan, and carpets from Herat, mundahs and pastines of first-rate quality made on the spot, fur robes, and Damascene silks and blades, arms and accoutrements, both Native and European. But what struck me most was the profusion and variety of English uniforms and ammunition-boots hanging up in the shops. How they came there, and how, except amongst Europeans, they would find a market was a puzzling speculation. Men of the 70th Regiment, the R. A., and the cavalry soldier and Sepoy, each could put on his own particular uniform, and purchase it, if necessary, bran new at the market price.

Nor was there any slackness in the various departments of native industry. In the ironmongers' quarter, the goldsmiths', the potters', or the weavers', one might find creditable specimens of native art.

In several ways the Afghan seems more nearly allied to us in his tastes than the Panjabi. Afghan cookery is very superior. A good meal may be had at any time of the day in the streets of Kandahar. The baker is always ready with very excellent hot bread. The confectioner produces a variety

of superior sweetmeats. The cook has first-rate pillaws, kabobs, and fresh fried fish from the river.

Amonst the townspeople two very marked types of feature were conspicuous by contrast, the handsome aquiline Jewish type which one sees so often amongst the Povindah merchants who cross the Panjab plains, and the Mongolian type, flat-nosed and almond-eyed, which belongs especially to the Hazarah tribe. They all seemed to understand and speak Persian, but our Hindustani troops had great difficulty in making themselves intelligible.

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THE JONES FUNDS.

OST of our friends are aware that on two occasions the Church Missionary Society has received munificent gifts from W. C. Jones, Esq., of Warrington, in the form of trust funds, the interest of which is applicable to certain specified objects under the administration of the Committee. A brief statement of what these noble contributions to the missionary cause have enabled the Society already to do will no doubt be of interest.

In 1873 Mr. Jones transferred to certain trustees on behalf of the Society investments amounting to 20,0007., to be called the WALTER JONES FUND, as a thank-offering for the recovery of a beloved son from dangerous sickness. The interest of this Fund was to be applied to the support of additional Native agency in India, Africa, Mauritius, and Palestine; and the result has been an important extension of work in all those fields. The very first use to which the money was put wasat Mr. Jones's own particular request to relieve Bishop Crowther's Niger Bishopric Fund of the expense of what were then only tentative Missions at Brass and Bonny, so that that Fund might be available for other new ventures. What Brass and Bonny have now become all readers of the Society's publications well know. The results by Divine grace achieved at these two places are themselves abundant reward for the most munificent contribution. It was in the following year that the East Africa Mission was revived and developed under Mr. Price; and several of the agents at Frere Town and Rabai whose names are familiar to us, such as George David, Ishmael Semler, Isaac Nyondo, &c., are supported by the Walter Jones Fund. In India at the present time between forty and fifty Native missionaries (lay agents most of them, but including one or two ordained men) are enabled by this most useful auxiliary to the Society's resources to labour among their countrymen. In the year ending March 31st last, 3311. was expended on the Niger; 2187. in East Africa; 401. in Palestine; 1647. in North India; 1017. in South India; and 2657. in Mauritius-but this last figure, we think, represents more than a year, while the 401. in Palestine cannot represent the whole expenditure on account of the Fund there.

The second gift, which consisted of 35,000l. New Three per Cents was made in 1878, for the purpose of assisting the Native Churches in India in carrying on evangelistic work among the surrounding heathen.

This Fund is called the WILLIAM CHARLES JONES INDIAN NATIVE CHURCH MISSIONARY FUND; and the great distinction between it and the Walter Jones Fund is that while the agents under the latter are the employés of the Society itself, those under the new Fund will be commissioned and paid by the Native Church Councils; besides which its sphere will be India only. Attached to the Trust Deed of this Fund is a scheme for its administration, which lays down certain conditions upon which grants from it are to be made. A grant can be received by any Native Church Council in connexion with the C.M.S. Missions which raises from purely local sources at least two-fifths of the cost of maintaining religious worship and pastoral work in its district, and which has formed, or will form, a local Native Missionary Association, or other organization for purely evangelistic work among the heathen. In order that the grant may not supersede, but rather stimulate local effort, it is not to exceed in any one year the actual amount raised in that year by the Native Church itself for purely evangelistic work. Another clause provides that "the agents shall be godly and efficient men, communicant members of their Church, and shall have passed the examination required by the Missionary Conference of the District. They shall not in any way be employed in pastoral work, but the whole of their time shall be devoted to labouring among the heathen in regions. where no other Protestant missionary effort is carried on."

Copies of the scheme were sent to the following Native Church Councils in India, and applications for grants invited :

NORTH INDIA.

Bengal Native Church Council: Rev. J. Vaughan, Chairman; Mr. O. C. Dutt,
Treasurer; Rev. P. M. Rudra, Secretary.

North-West Provinces Native Church Council: Rev. B. Davis, Chairman; G. E.
Knox, Esq., Treasurer; Messrs. P. Das and L. Jeremy, Secretaries.
Panjab Native Church Council: Rev. R. Clark, Chairman; Mr. Mya Dass,
Treasurer; Messrs. R. Ram, S. Singh, and Rev. M. Sadiq, Secretaries.

SOUTH INDIA.

Madras Native Church Council: Rev. W. T. Satthianadhan, Chairman; Mr. Samuel John, Secretary.

Tinnevelly District Councils.

Palamcotta: Bishop Sargent, Chairman; Mr. S. Devasagayam, Secretary.
Dohnavur: Bishop Sargent, Chairman; Mr. J. Moses, Secretary.
Surandei: Bishop Sargent, Chairman; Mr. A. David, Secretary.
Panneivilei: Bishop Sargent, Chairman; Mr. V. Gnanamuttu, Secretary.
Pannikulam Bishop Sargent, Chairman; Rev. S. Vedakan, Secretary.
Nallur Bishop Sargent, Chairman; Mr. T. Simeon, Secretary.
Suviseshapuram: Bishop Sargent, Chairman; Mr. S. Daniel, Secretary.
Mengnanapuram: Bishop Sargent, Chairman; Rev. J. David, Secretary.
Sivagasi: Rev. V. Vedhanayagam, Chairman; Mr. P. Sevaniadian, Secretary.
Travancore.

Cottayam (Northern Division) Native Church Council: Rev. R. H. Maddox, Chairman; Rev. A. Thoma, Secretary.

Mavelikara (Southern Division) Native Church Council: Rev. F. Bower, Chairman; Rev. P. Joseph, Secretary.

Telugu Mission.

Masulipatam Native Church Council: Rev. W. Clayton, Chairman; Mr. B. Senayya Garu, Secretary.

Ellore Native Church Council: Rev. F. N. Alexander, Chairman; Rev. G. Krishnayya, Secretary.

The North India Church Councils are as yet young, and have hardly yet faced the question of fulfilling the necessary conditions for grants. But no doubt all of them will claim good grants before very long; as also the Western India Council, which is only just formed.

In South India, however, applications have been made two years running by Church Councils fully meeting the conditions, and have been granted with unfeigned pleasure by the Committee. Taking the less advanced Missions first, we find that two of the District Councils in the Telugu Mission, Masulipatam and Ellore, have applied for grants, the former for Rs. 100, both in 1879 and 1880, and the latter in 1880 for a sum not named, but Rs. 220 was voted subject to certain inquiries. The Rev. F. W. N. Alexander wrote from Ellore: "I earnestly beg the Committee to allow us the largest grant possible, as our estimates. have been considerably cut down, and that in the face of very promising openings now offering. I rejoice to tell you we have applications from several towns to begin new work, but are quite unable to do so for want of funds." An extract from the minutes of the Masulipatam Council held March 17th, 1880, shows what was done with the money voted to that district in the first year:

MASULIPATAM, MARCH 17TH, 1880.

After

'It was agreed in 1879 to set aside Rs. 100, to be met by a similar sum from the William Jones Fund, for evangelistic work. The Rs. 100 were received in January last, and the Council was asked to appoint agents, and assign their work. some discussion it was decided that one man should work, for this year, in the villages along the coast, as far as Gollapolium; that Peddapatnam, where some people were asking to be received as inquirers, would be a good head-quarters for him; but at present, till arrangements can be made, his station should be in Bunder. Gumnidi Yakob was appointed to the work, on a salary of Rs. 10:8, including batta. As the sum to be spent on this new work was Rs. 200, and after paying Yakob Rs. 74 would be left in the hands of the Council, another man, Nadiri Nathanael, was chosen to work where little had been done hitherto, in the direction of Sallapully, as far as Avinagadda. No definite place was fixed upon for him to live in; but it was thought that after preaching a short time in the part assigned to him, a suitable place would be found. Nathanael's pay was fixed at Rs. 7, the extra Rs. 10 incurred to be met from the District Church Council. These agents will have to prepare their lessons, and write their journals monthly, as usual; but will be the servants of the District Church Council, not of the C.M.S."

The Madras Council, of which the Rev. W. T. Satthianadhan is Chairman, raises for its local Church objects considerably more than the two-fifths required by the Trust, and on its proposal to set apart Rs. 180 to pay half the stipend of an evangelist (Rs. 30 per mensem), the corresponding Rs. 180 has been gladly granted.

In Travancore also the conditions are fully met, and Rs. 600 has been twice voted to the Council for the Northern District, and Rs. 450 and 480 to that for the Southern District. The minutes of these Councils referring to their first consideration of the new resource opened to them are interesting :

:

COTTAYAM, FEBRUARY 19TH, 1879.

"William Charles Jones's trust deed, with reference to the Native Church Missionary Fund, and the letter sent by the Parent Committee on the same subject,

were read and discussed. Rev. Oomen Mamen addressed the meeting in an interesting speech, urging the obligation on the part of the Council to offer hearty thanks to God for granting the liberality displayed by the pious donor of this munificent gift, and called upon the Native Church to unite in earnest prayers to God to bless him and his family with long life and prosperity in all his good efforts, and to stir up others to offer freely of their bounty in God's service. The whole subject was thus gone into, and the object fully explained to the meeting. It was subsequently resolved unanimously to set apart Rs. 600 as a grant from the Council, and to appoint out of the six Pastorates, five men to the special work of preaching the Gospel to the heathen-viz., Matthu, catechist of Pallam; Cherian, catechist of Changanacherry; Pothen, catechist of Cochin; Matthai, catechist of Olesha; and Ayip, catechist of Arpukarey. Mr. Koshi, the Cottayam delegate, suggested that if the catechist of Cottayam Pastorate might be also employed in the same work as the congregation, matters might be provided for by others; but it was proposed that the arrangement be confirmed only after consulting the Rev. W. J. Richards."

MAVELIKARA, January 22nd, 1879.

"The next subject taken into consideration was the William Charles Jones Indian Native Church Missionary Fund. It was felt to be so important that other matters were dealt with as quickly as possible in order to give time for the consideration of this important subject. A paper had previously been drawn up in Malayalim, explaining the object of the fund, &c. A copy was sent to each of the pastorates for consideration, so as to facilitate the discussion of the subject at the meeting of the Council. The reduction of one-twentieth per annum has made it very difficult for the people to go on with church building and meet the salaries of the agents; consequently, they feel hindered from coming forward and making the use of the fund they would wish to do. The Council felt, however, that there was one way they could do, and one too which would call out the energies of the Native Church. It is by setting five of the regular agents free from pastoral work to be engaged in direct evangelistic work, and to supply their places by unpaid lay agents and others. There are eight pastorates in the Council, and the Council propose to set free one agent from each of five pastorates, whose work it shall be to preach to the heathen. In this way they will be able to employ more men, and so carry on more work. "The answers, therefore, the Council give to the four questions in the Secretaries' letter of November 21st, 1878, are:

"i. The Council is now giving more than two-fifths of the cost of maintaining its religious worship and pastoral work, as will be seen by the enclosed account. "ii. The Council is prepared to take up definite missionary work in unevangelized localities which still abound.

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"iii. The Council will set aside Rs. 40 per mensem, i. e. Rs. 480 per annum. "iv. The Council propose to employ five of its efficient agents for this work, and some others as opportunity serves. The place of the regular agents to be filled up by unpaid agents, schoolmasters, other regular readers, and the pastors.

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It is hoped this effort on the part of the Native Church will be kindly responded to by the William Charles Jones Indian Native Church Missionary Fund Committee; and also that the Parent Committee will very kindly help by remitting the proposed reduction of one-twentieth, and allow half of it to be set aside for evangelistic work, to be met by a corresponding grant from the William Charles Jones Indian Native Church Missionary Fund."

From Mavelicara, the Rev. F. Bower has sent some reports of the Native Pastors in whose districts the new evangelists have laboured. One of these districts is Kannit, where the sad schism took place a few years ago; and of it Mr. Bower says that the evangelists have preached in thirty-four villages, visited 100 houses, and addressed 2000 people. He adds, "This great work of evangelization will, I am persuaded, by God's blessing, be very beneficial to the Native Church

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