used among the Japanese to a considerable extent, but that the people do so universally there are not sufficient grounds for believing. There are in the alphabet, 73 distinct sounds, 25 of which are made by diacritical marks upon some of the 48 letters. In the Hirákáná, there are several ways of writing the same character or letter, making consequently, their number much greater, perhaps above a hundred. In the I'máttokáná (not Imatskana) the contractions are carried to a greater extent, making it one of the most difficult writings in existence to read freely.

It may be true that the Japanese language is spoken by about 20 millions of people with very little variation, but while the country is so hermetically sealed, such an opinion can only he treated as a clever surmise.

I have changed a few words in the list, giving the word which appears to be more indigenous. Sakana is a preparation of fish; kuchinawa and hebi are nearly synonimous, but hebi is the most common; inoshishi is wild boar, bútá the common word for swine.

These few remarks are given only to explain the list, which is sent for the single purpose of making your list more perfect, and thus aiding in your comparisons.

Concerning the Chinese sounds, they must be considered as hardly settled yet, and no great stress can therefore be laid upon the sounds as I have written them.

氣蟻箭鳥血艇骨水猫牛烏日狗地耳

水牛

8

10

11

* 12

13

* 14

15

...

lá,

44

* 45

46

47

塩皮蒼蛇星石日虎牙樹鄉水大

48

49

蒼天

50

51

52

* 53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

“大薯

The sounds of the Chinese are written in accordance with the system published in the Chinese Repository, for February, 1838, and the Japanese after the list of sounds on pages 83, and 101 of the select papers on Romanizing published at Serampore. The last i is short in the Japanese words, like y in beauty. The difference between the two kinds of writing is shewn by the two columns of Kátákáná and Hirákáná; the Imáttokáng is much like the Hirákaná. The Japanese employ Chinese characters to express the same ideas as the Chinese, but often call them by a different name. Those marked were probably derived from a common source, and perhaps there are more. The Chinese sound is often known among the Japanese, but does not seem to be the name most commonly used.

*

III-Journal of the Rev. W. Lacey, Baptist Missionary at Cuttack, kept during the Rath Festival, 1838.

We have a melancholy pleasure in giving insertion to the Journal of our esteemed friend at this moment, as it presents us with a faint description of the practical horror of the Government-supported Idol worship of India. This is one of the scenes from which the Leadenhall-Street legislators have determined not to withdraw any of their influence. Oh we sicken as we pen it-these broad cloths and ornaments, &c. were all bought by a Christian Government! We have in this paper an account of disease, lewdness, misery, obscenity, and imposition enough to sink the stoutest heart. How painful too is it to hear the very natives drawing arguments from the practice of the Government in favor of the divinity of a senseless block. Our prayer is, that the people of God may arouse themselves in this country and in Britain to beseech the Great Ruler of the universe to dispose the hearts of our legislators to flee from idolatry, and to employ every legitimate means for educating usefully and piously the millions of British India.-ED.

June 22nd.-This morning I arrived at Púrí for the Rath festival. Left home at half-past four yesterday and reached Púrí by half-past seven this morning. The night was cool and the journey pleasant. During the first stage I walked in company with two Hindus who were intelligent and of good caste. Had much conversation with them on the subject of religion, and they appeared convinced and impressed. They promised to call on me at Cuttack, and have further conversation. They both appeared unwilling to leave me and walked a considerable way beyond their own village. Passed great numbers of pilgrims on their way to Púrí. They appeared generally in good health and spirits. Near Púrí I passed two cases of cholera. The first was an aged woman lying on her back in the highway, rolling in filth, throwing about her arms in an agony of thirst and uneasiness. Opposite to her, and waiting for her flesh, sat, watching, about a dozen eagles or vultures. The thousands of people passed by without a sigh, nay even without noticing her; and among the crowds of fellow-worshippers there was no commiseration felt for the dying and aged female worshipper and pilgrim of Jagannath. Her friends had all forsaken her. Perhaps some friend who reads this account may say, Why then did not you act the good Samaritan ? I answer, It was, first, impracticable for me, and, secondly, to have attempted it would be useless, as the

poor

creature was gone too far to afford the slightest hope of recovery, with even the best attention and most vigorous means. The other case was a young woman, near the tax-gate; she lay under a tree watched by some of her relations at a short distance. Our native brethren, who followed me into Púrí some few hours afterwards, reported that the poor old pilgrim lay dead in the road. After some rest and refreshment, as soon as the moderated heat of the sun would permit, we started for the large road in Púrí. The distance is a mile, and the road passes over a bed of loose burning sand. The party consisted of myself, Gangádhar, Rámchandra, Purusuttam, Bámádeb, and Bhikárí. We formed one stand in the middle of the wide street. Gangá spoke first, then Ráma, and I closed the service. The people were extremely noisy and the time unfavourable. Distributed about 350 tracts in Bengálí and Oriya.

23rd.-Rose this morning pretty early, and walked with the native brethren to the town. Gangá, Ráma, Purusuttam, Bámádeb, and myself addressed a large multitude of pilgrims who heard us tolerably well. The pandás attempted to interrupt us and succeeded to some extent, yet not so as to entirely destroy the effect. Gave away, satisfactorily, about 500 Oriya and Bengálí tracts. While we were preaching a panda cried out with a loud voice, "Ho! ho! If Jagannáth be no God, if his worship be a deception, if we be deceivers, then why does the Company take rupees from the pilgrims, and support Jagannáth in all this glory? This question was uttered more as an appeal to the multitude, than to elicit information. A poor little fatherless and motherless bráhman, followed me half way home over the sands, laid hold of my hand and with tears repeated to me the tale of his woes. He is a clever and interesting boy Had some talk with him on the sin and misery of idolatry, and exhorted him to think upon and worship God.

In the afternoon we were confined within doors by heavy rain. The time, however, was very usefully spent. We lamented the want of fervent Christian affection among our native evangelists, and I made some remarks on the subject, especially pointing out its injurious effects. Our two principal native evangelists felt deeply affected and expressed a desire to be cordial and united. To this end they commenced mentioning to each other what they had seen, or thought they had seen, inconsistent in each other's conduct, and which, through not being mentioned, had produced shyness and disaffection. Four hours were thus spent in a very useful manner, and the effect was most happy. Tears of Christian sympathy were shed, several mistakes in judgment were rectified, and after the root of bitterness was cast forth, their hearts flowed with affection