to a charming and salubrious land.

And India is healthful enough for the temperate and prudent, and beautiful enough for the angels of God.

IX.

B

VOYAGE TO CHINA.

EFORE leaving Lucknow I witnessed some

feats of jugglery. Performances with snakes, causing the ascent of balls up an inclined plain made of two strings without any agency, the pulling of keys, trinkets, rings, etc., from the mouth of a bystander, the putting a sword down the throat, are the more common feats of the juggler. They none of them struck me as supernatural, though they were all difficult to account for. It is said that the last is done by long practice, which gradually adapts the esophagus to the instrument.

After the Conference was closed the preachers and their wives sat down to a sumptuous repast at the house of brother Messmore. Before the cloth was removed kindly greetings, of which the stranger was to be the bearer, were voted to our missionaries in China, and brother Baume was requested, at the expense of the company, to attend me to Calcutta.

At eight o'clock at night I departed in a ghary, in which was a bed arranged for brother B. and myself. Next morning we arrived at Cawnpore, but being too late for the train we rested for a time at the tavern, and here we heard the gratifying news of Mr. Lincoln's re-election, which produced a shout inside. At 5, P. M., we are off for Calcutta, and at 12 midnight we reach Allahabad, where the train stops until 2, P. M. The trains run at night to avoid the heat of the day. In the leading cities taverns are found, which are conducted in English fashion. Here we stop at Brown's. Stay in hotel, rs. 1.8; breakfast, 1.8; tiffin, hot, 1.8; do., cold, 1.0.0; dinner, 2; board and lodging, per day, rs. 5; chota hazeree, rs. I; meals, in room, rs. I extra; tea, per cup, rs. 0.4.0; coffee, 0.4.0; cherry cordial, pint, rs. 2.8; spirits, per glass, rs. 0.4.0; wines, rs. 0.8.0; soda water, per bottle, 0.4.0; lemonade, rs. 0.6.0; tonic water, rs. 0.8.0; Champagne, rs. 5.8.0; Claret, rs. 3.0.0; Sherry, 3.8.0; brandy, rs. 4.0.0; beer, rs. I; porter, rs. 1.0.0; Port Wine, rs. 4.0.0; Old Tom, rs. 4.0.0; gin, per square, large, rs. 4.0.0; a carriage and pair per day, rs. 8.0.0; a carriage and horse, rs. 6.0.0; a buggy and horse, rs. 5.0.0; billiards and bagatelle. Surely, a Christian civilized man can find in such a place a supply for all his physical necessities.

At twelve we are off for Calcutta, but it is two o'clock before we reach the station on the other side of the Jumna. At present it is difficult to get freight up and down from the station to the stream. This is done by coolies, who manage to convey the heaviest loads by means of bamboos, and are marched by the officials like a little army.

At Mogul Serai two men, representing themselves as guards of the railroad, and belonging to the Dinapore station, came into our carriage, or car, one of them so drunk that he could not stand. It was said that he had been to court as a witness but was too much intoxicated to testify. Intemperance is very common among the Europeans in India, and the use of intoxicating beverages almost universal. This diminishes the influence of missionaries over the natives.

Riding along, we see large quantities of cotton and rice on the way to market. Men in the elevated fields are gathering the rice crop, others in the lowlands are sowing rice for another

season.

At 8 o'clock, P. M., next day, we arrive at Calcutta, where, according to previous arrangement, I put up at Mr. Remfrey's. Mr. R. is a jeweler, who has long resided in India. Mrs. R. is the daughter of the late Rev. Mr. Young, exPresident of the British Conference. She had

just returned from England, bringing with her three brides, one for each of the Wesleyan preachers here, and one, a daughter of the "Successful Merchant," for a Mr. Meakins.

On Sabbath morning following, attended the Wesleyan service. Mr. Highfield preached. He is stationed at Barrackpore; his colleague, Mr. Broadbent, resides here, but they exchange. Mr. H. wears the gown and bands, reads the English service, and gives the people a brief discourse from manuscript. I preached in the evening. The imitation of the English Church seemed to me unfortunate. When you invite comparison and do not excel your rival, you fall pitiably low. If men want Episcopalianism they will go to head-quarters for it. There is no room for another Episcopal Church, but there is plenty of room for a downright Methodist one. The Wesleyans here are but beginning. They worship in a hired room, have but a bare dozen of members, and but a few hearers. They have, however, purchased a site for £14,000, and expect to borrow £5,000 of the Missionary Society to put up a building. They receive 200 rupees a month, but pay 130 of it for their hall. The preachers are respectable men, and it is to be hoped that many families, like Mr. Remfrey's, out of respect to the religion of their fathers, will cleave to them.