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the land everywhere, the deep rich green of all the vegetation, the innumerable thrifty villages amidst groves of trees, the rivulets flowing down the green slopes of the hills, combine to form a landscape of great beauty. Along the western side of the bay, from its mouth to the capital, there is almost a continuous range of towns and villages. Yokuhama, where the Europeans are resident, is one of these villages, distant from the suburb of Yeddo called Sinagawa about five miles.

Dispersed over the bay may be seen an immense number of Japanese craft of all kinds, each with a tassel at its prow, and a square striped flag at its stern. Amongst these the guard-boats are particularly remarkable. They are constructed of unpainted wood, with very sharp bows, a broad beam, and a slightly tapering stern. They are propelled with great swiftness through, or rather over, the water, for they seem to skim upon the surface. The crews, numbering, in some of the larger boats, thirty or more, are tall and muscular men, the upper part of their tawny persons being naked. Towards night, however, they clothe themselves with loose gowns, some of red and others of blue, with hanging sleeves, on which are white stripes, meeting in an angle at the shoulders. On their backs, coats of arms are emblazoned. They are usually bareheaded. The hair is shaven on the crown, but, being allowed to grow long at the sides, is fastened up into a knot on the bald spot upon the top of the head. At the stern of each boat is a small flag, with three horizontal stripes in it, or a white one on either side, and a black one in the middle.

The opportunities for Missionary effort are as yet very limited in this land. Something is being done in the distribution of books, and conversation. It is, however, but the day of small things.

CONVERSION AND BAPTISM OF A YOUNG PARSEE

AT BOMBAY.

THIS Parsee lad, about eighteen years of age, by name Merwunjee Framjee Modí, having, through the grace of God, been brought to know and confess the Lord Jesus Christ, has had to pass through severe trials: he has been besieged by the prayers and entreaties of relatives and friends, and has been made to feel in the most powerful manner the anguish of parting with father and mother for the sake of Christ. This has been far more searching and severe than open violence. Let us thank God that he has been able to endure it, and pray that in these tribulations may be laid deep the foundations of an humble and useful Christian character. We introduce an account, written by himself, of God's providential dealings with him, prefacing it with some remarks by our Missionary, the Rev. J. Sheldon, of Kurrachee, who writes

Merwunjee Framjee Modí is the son of one of our most respectable Parsees, of the influential Modí family. His father placed him in the Government English School in 1854. He was always considered one of the best boys in the school, and for several years in succession carried off

1863.]

YOUNG PARSEE AT BOMBAY.

39

the best prizes. During the last two years of his course at the Government school he used to come occasionally to me for instruction. His respectful bearing and gentle manners at once drew me to him, and I gladly encouraged him to come to the Mission House after school hours. When he had learnt all the Brahmin head master could teach him, the educational inspector, Major Goldsmith, who had himself taken great pains to instruct him, gave him a recommendation to the income-tax office, just then established. In less than four months the office was abolished, and Mewunjee dismissed. Much to my surprise, he came to our school, and begged to be admitted as a scholar. He pressed me so earnestly to comply with his wishes, that, though he was far above all our boys, I consented, and placed him in a class I was then preparing for school monitors. Here he remained for some time, and, when satisfied with his motives, I gave him a class, which he taught with great zeal and ability. In a short time his talents and gentle demeanour gained for him a position of considerable influence in the school. He became the friend and adviser of all the senior boys. Every boy qualified to enter Merwunjee's class prayed me to admit him, and even the monitors gladly accompanied him to his home for instruction after school hours. During the whole of this time I used to give daily Scripture lessons to the monitors. The marked attention of Merwunjee I noticed repeatedly, but did not know how powerfully Christian truth was affecting him. A letter, to my great joy, revealed this to me, and I gladly promised to instruct him after school hours. Never was a pupil more apt to learn. Often, to my astonishment, he grasped some of the leading doctrines of Christianity, explaining with striking clearness their difficulties, and giving reasons for believing them. The doctrine of the Trinity was at first hard to be understood. It was the one he had heard most frequently attacked, and rejected as a contradiction in itself. One day he asked me why it was necessary for Christ to be God as well as man. In reply, I asked what was sin? Was it not an act committed against an Infinite Being? And could any one less than Infinite make atonement for sin thus committed? This seemed to remove what had evidently been a great obstacle to his heartily receiving Christianity; and gradually he learned to accept the doctrine of the Trinity, so difficult to the Parsee and Mohammedan mind, as the very foundation of the Christian scheme of salvation. Nothing could be more delightful than teaching such a catechumen; and now nothing is more assuring to me of the sincerity of his faith in Christianity than to recall the earnestness of his inquiring mind, and the love of prayer which he then showed. It was impossible for such a mind, impressed as it was with Christianity, to continue the practice of heathen ceremonies. Fearing to offend his father by openly renouncing them, and at times trembling to wound his conscience by following them, he asked me what he should do. I encouraged him to act as his conscience directed him, and leave the issue with God, who had commanded us to obey Him rather than man. Accordingly, on the following Sunday he refused to join his family in the performance of the usual ceremonies and prayer, and in consequence was withdrawn from our school. Then followed a

season of anxious suspense. I trembled for Merwunjee's stedfastness,

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because I knew his gentle disposition and affectionate regard for his parents could hardly resist their threats and entreaties. Once or twice I saw him, and as often as opportunity served-for he was closely watched-wrote to him to be firm, reminding him of his Saviour's own words, "He that loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me;" and that He would, in his own good time, carry him safely through, if he would trust Him. This verse seemed to decide him to leave all for Christ. In order to carry out his resolution in the quietest way possible, he, without informing me (for I was opposed to such a step), escaped from his father's home, and went in the mail steamer to Bombay, where he was baptized. After three months' sojourn he returned to Kurrachee. Another trial here awaited him, through which, by God's sustaining grace, he has passed unhurt. Since his return from his father's house he has been living under my protection at the Mission house. His Christian meekness, combined as it is with great natural powers and very considerable attainments, mark him as one, I trust, called of God to be a blessing to ourselves and our Mission in Sindh. That our God may make him a chosen vessel, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, is our constant prayer.

To such as are interested in the conversion of the heathen of this land, the following brief sketch may not prove entirely unprofitable

A short account of Merwunjee Framjee Modí, written by himself. "I am a Parsee by nation, but a Christian by religion. I was born in Surat, where I lived till I was eight years old, when I was called to Kurrachee by my father, who had left Surat some time before in search of employment. On my arrival there I was sent to a private English school, where my progress was any thing but satisfactory. Some time after, the Government established an English school, into which I was admitted as pupil. Here I became sensible of the advantages of an English education. But of what avail was this to me, when I had not the knowledge of the true living God? The head, it is true, was filled, but the heart was left untouched. At the school above named, religious instruction of every kind, nay the very name of Christianity, was shunned as something dangerous. Lessons on religion, which occurred in the usual course of our reading-books, were purposely omitted by the teacher. It cannot, of course, be expected that scholars brought up under such influences could look upon Christianity in a favourable light: we were taught to hate it: we learned to do so, and our hatred increased with our years. I had, however, a high regard for Parseeism, and I read the wild stories of the supposed miracles of Zoroaster, the fictitious accounts of the adventures of Ardû Virâf, the Parsee reformer, with the deepest interest. And I not only read, but believed every thing that these books related, until my mind was wrought up to such a pitch of credulity that my veneration for them amounted to superstition. But the time was approaching when my faith in Parseeism was to be shaken. I was in the habit of reading other books besides my lessons, and the casual notices of the Christian religion that I now and then met with in private reading exercised a sort of counter-influence against the faith I held. Understanding that there was a work by Dr.

Thenceforth I made rapid progress in my studies.

1863.]

YOUNG PARSEE AT BOMBAY.

41

Wilson on the Parsee religion, I borrowed it from the library out of meré curiosity. I perused a few pages very attentively, and when I left the book I found my faith shaken in many things which I had till then held to be perfectly true.

"About this time I had a religious discussion with a bigoted Parsee, who, feeling himself unable to answer my objections to Parseeism, fell into a passion, and said he would inform all the Parsees that I was going to turn a Christian. He put his threat into execution, and the matter being noised abroad, reached the ears of my father, who threatened to punish me severely if I did not give up reading Dr. Wilson's book. I was obliged to yield; but though the work was laid aside, it left a lasting impression on my mind. Till this time, however, I knew nothing of Christianity, for I had not even touched the Bible. Two more years passed away: I was still the same, and would most probably have relapsed into heathenism, had not an all-merciful Providence opened a way for inquiry. On the abolition of the income-tax office, where I had been for some time employed after leaving school, I was discharged the service. I remained at home for some time, and then asked my father to allow me to go to the Mission school as a pupil under the Rev. James Sheldon. But knowing my predilections to Christianity, he would not at first comply with my request, but, after some altercation, he permitted me to go. Mr. Sheldon received me very kindly, admitted me into the monitor class, and, after some time, put me in charge of one of the classes of his school. The books used in this school belong to the Christian Vernacular Education Society, and contain much more really useful reading than any other school-books I have yet met with. The novel character of the lessons, as well as my duty as a teacher, obliged me to study the lessons beforehand; besides, I had to answer the objections, and remove the doubts of the boys under me. Necessity thus compelled me to exercise reflection, and this excited a desire for further inquiry into the subject of religion. This desire was fostered by Mr. Sheldon's expositions of Christian truth when instructing us; and although I made indirect inquiries into the matter, yet I never dared to ask him to give me further direct instruction on Christianity lest my intentions should become known, and I should be withdrawn from school.

"By attention to my duties, I had gradually won the confidence and love of Mr. Sheldon. Relying on him, I wrote a private letter to his address, laying open my motives and intention. He was greatly pleased with the contents, and promised to devote a portion of his time every day to give me religious instruction. Conversation and reading gradually enlightened my mind, until I came so far as to refuse to practise the Parsee ceremonies at home. My father remonstrated with me, but to no effect. I expressed my firm intention of never using the Parsee form of prayers. This greatly grieved him, and he said that he repented of having sent me to the Mission school. He held a discussion with me, which ended in favour of Christianity, according to his own confession. He left me alone for some days, hoping that I would come round; but God gave me grace to stand firm to my resolution, as will be perceived from the following instance. One Sunday morning my father came and asked me to pray. I remained silent. He repeated his command, but to

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no effect. He then softened his tone, and pointed out the fearful disgrace which would be brought upon him by my turning a Christian. My mother and my brother joined their entreaties to his, and tried to persuade me to listen to their request. But still I remained firm to my purpose. However, my resolution gave way, and in an hour of weakness Î yielded to their cries and entreaties. But before commencing to pray I addressed my father in these words-'Since I see that this only will satisfy you, I am willing to grant your request, not because I believe in the efficacy of such prayers, but because I do not wish to grieve you any longer. Having said this I rose to pray. He seemed pleased, and expressed his determination of never again sending me to the Mission school. But though he was satisfied, yet this concession on my part made me very unhappy. Conscience rebuked me for not having acted with sufficient firmness. But though the approach of trial had shaken my resolution, yet I did not abandon all hope of being one day a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wished, also, that this result might be brought about in the quietest manner possible. With this design in view, I prepared a letter to my father, setting forth my views and laying open my wishes. My mind was filled with anxiety, and my thoughts so completely absorbed, that I retired to my chamber that evening without joining, as usual, the family at their meal. This attracted my father's attention, and he, surmising what was passing in my mind, came to my bedside, and said, 'For God's sake do not trouble me, but tell all that is in your mind.' I replied I would do so the next morning; but he pressed me to say it all at once. Having this letter in my pocket, I took it out and placed it in his hands. He went to the lamp in the adjoining room and tried to read it, but could not. I went to his help, and read it before my father, mother, and brother, who all listened most attentively. When I had finished, may father said, in a firm tone, 'You may turn a Christian if you please; but remember that I will not survive the disgrace brought upon me by your conversion. I will put an end to my life, and this large family will remain weeping behind me, bereft of a supporter.' These words, I confess, affected me deeply, and I remained silent for some time, yet I knew that silence would only burden my conscience, and make me the more unhappy. On the one hand I had the light of the Gospel and the hope of salvation beaming upon me; on the other I pictured to my mind the deep distress in which my family would be involved by my father carrying out his threat. Here again my resolution failed me, and I was once more driven into the promise that I would never think of such a thing any more. My situation now was extremely painful, and my mind was constantly employed in devising some means by which I could effect my purpose. Prayer, I thought, would relieve my mind, being assured that by no human means could I attain the object of my wishes. I prayed, and this, together with the promises of our Lord, enabled me to persevere.

"Shortly after, the idea of leaving my parents for a time, and going to Bombay, suddenly struck me. I cherished it until it became a resolution. I communicated this intention to a Christian friend, who promised to lend me every assistance in his power. At length the day of departure arrived. How deeply was my heart grieved