第 19 节
作者:
垃圾王 更新:2021-02-24 22:51 字数:9321
the conversion of the heathen was very strong; but; among so many obstacles; it would entirely die away unless upheld by God。 Nothing to exercise it; but plenty to obstruct it; for now a year and nineteen days; which is the space since I left my dear charge at Leicester。 Since that I have had hurrying up and down; a five months' imprisonment with carnal men on board the ship; five more learning the language; my moonshi not understanding English sufficiently to interpret my preaching; my colleague separated from me; long delays and few opportunities for social worship; no woods to retire to; like Brainerd; for fear of tigers (no less than twenty men in the department of Deharta; where I am; have been carried away by them this season from the salt…works); no earthly thing to depend upon; or earthly comfort; except food and raiment。 Well; I have God; and His Word is sure; and though the superstitions of the heathen were a million times worse than they are; if I were deserted by all; and persecuted by all; yet my hope; fixed on that sure Word; will rise superior to all obstructions; and triumph over all trials。 God's cause will triumph; and I shall come out of all trials as gold purified by fire。 I was much humbled to…day by reading Brainerd。 O what a disparity betwixt me and him; he always constant; I as inconstant as the wind!
〃22nd April。Bless God for a continuance of the happy frame of yesterday。 I think the hope of soon acquiring the language puts fresh life into my soul; for a long time my mouth has been shut; and my days have been beclouded with heaviness; but now I begin to be something like a traveller who has been almost beaten out in a violent storm; and who; with all his clothes about him dripping wet; sees the sky begin to clear: so I; with only the prospect of a more pleasant season at hand; scarcely feel the sorrows of the present。
〃23rd。With all the cares of life; and all its sorrows; yet I find that a life of communion with God is sufficient to yield consolation in the midst of all; and even to produce a holy joy in the soul; which shall make it to triumph over all affliction。 I have never yet repented of any sacrifice that I have made for the Gospel; but find that consolation of mind which can come from God alone。
〃26th May。This day kept Sabbath at Chandureea; had a pleasant day。 In the morning and afternoon addressed my family; and in the evening began my work of publishing the Word of God to the heathen。 Though imperfect in the knowledge of the language; yet; with the help of moonshi; I conversed with two Brahmans in the presence of about two hundred people; about the things of God。 I had been to see a temple; in which were the images of Dukkinroy; the god of the woods; riding on a tiger; Sheetulla; goddess of the smallpox; without a head; riding on a horse without a head; Punchanon; with large ears; and Colloroy; riding on a horse。 In another apartment was Seeb; which was only a smooth post of wood; with two or three mouldings in it; like the base of a Tuscan pillar。 I therefore discoursed with them upon the vanity of idols; the folly and wickedness of idolatry; the nature and attributes of God; and the way of salvation by Christ。 One Brahman was quite confounded; and a number of people were all at once crying out to him; 'Why do you not answer him? Why do you not answer him?' He replied; 'I have no words。' Just at this time a very learned Brahman came up; who was desired to talk with me; which he did; and so acceded to what I said; that he at last said images had been used of late years; but not from the beginning。 I inquired what I must do to be saved; he said I must repeat the name of God a great many times。 I replied; would you; if your son had offended you; be so pleased with him as to forgive him if he were to repeat the word 'father' a thousand times? This might please children or fools; but God is wise。 He told me that I must get faith; I asked what faith was; to which he gave me no intelligible reply; but said I must obey God。 I answered; what are His commands? what is His will? They said God was a great light; and as no one could see him; he became incarnate; under the threefold character of Brhumma; Bishno; and Seeb; and that either of them must be worshipped in order to life。 I told them of the sure Word of the Gospel; and the way of life by Christ; and; night coming on; left them。 I cannot tell what effect it may have; as I may never see them again。〃
At the beginning of the great rains in the middle of June Carey joined Mr。 Udny and his mother at the chief factory。 On each of the next two Sabbaths he preached twice in the hall of the Residency of the Company; which excluded all Christian missionaries by Act of Parliament。 As an indigo planter he received the Company's licence to reside for at least five years。 So on 26th June he began his secular duties by completing for the season of indigo manufacture the buildings at Mudnabati; and making the acquaintance of the ninety natives under his charge。 Both Mr。 Udny and he knew well that he was above all things a Christian missionary。 〃These will furnish a congregation immediately; and; added to the extensive engagements which I must necessarily have with the natives; will open a very wide door for activity。 God grant that it may not only be large but effectual。〃
These were the days; which continued till the next charter; when the East India Company was still not only a body of merchants but of manufacturers。 Of all the old monopolies only the most evil one is left; that of the growth; manufacture; and sale of opium。 The civil servants; who were termed Residents; had not political duties with tributary sovereigns as now; but from great factory…like palaces; and on large salaries; made advances of money to contractors; native and European; who induced the ryots to weave cloth; to breed and feed the silkworm; and to grow and make the blue dye to which India had long given the name of 〃indigo。〃 Mr。 Carey was already familiar with the system of advances for salt; and the opium monopoly was then in its infancy。 The European contractors were 〃interlopers;〃 who introduced the most valuable cultivation and processes into India; and yet with whom the 〃covenanted〃 Residents were often at war。 The Residents had themselves liberty of private trade; and unscrupulous men abused it。 Clive had been hurried out thirty years before to check the abuse; which was ruining not only the Company's investments but the people。 It had so spread on his departure that even judges and chaplains shared in the spoils till Cornwallis interfered。 In the case of Mr。 G。 Udny and purely commercial agents the evil was reduced to a minimum; and the practice had been deliberately sanctioned by Sir John Shore on the ground that it was desirable to make the interests of the Company and of individuals go hand in hand。
The days when Europe got its cotton cloth from India; calling it 〃calico;〃 from Calicut; and its rich yellow silks; have long since passed; although the latter are still supplied in an inferior form; and the former is once more raising its head; from the combination of machinery and cheap labour。 For the old abuses of the Company the Government by Parliament has to some extent atoned by fostering the new cultures of tea; coffee; and cinchona; jute and wheat。 The system of inducing the ryots to cultivate by advances; protected by a stringent contract law; still exists in the case of opium。 The indigo culture system of Carey's time broke down in 1860 in the lower districts; where; following the Company itself; the planter made cash advances to the peasant; who was required to sow indigo on land which he held as a tenant but often as a proprietor; to deliver it at a fixed rate; and to bear the risk of the crop as well as the exactions of the factory servants。 It still exists in the upper districts of Bihar; especially in Tirhoot; on a system comparatively free from economic objections。
The plant known as 〃Indigofera Tinctoria〃 is sown in March in soil carefully prepared; grows to about 5 feet; is cut down early in July; is fermented in vats; and the liquor is beaten till it precipitates the precious blue dye; which is boiled; drained; cut in small cakes; and dried。 From first to last the growth and the manufacture are even more precarious than most tropical crops。 An even rainfall; rigorous weeding; the most careful superintendence of the chemical processes; and conscientious packing; are necessary。 One good crop in three years will pay where the factory is not burdened by severe interest on capital; one every other year will pay very well。 Personally Carey had more than the usual qualifications of a successful planter; scientific knowledge; scrupulous conscientiousness and industry; and familiarity with the native character; so soon as he acquired the special experience necessary for superintending the manufacture。 That experience he spared no effort to gain at once。
〃1st; 2nd; and 3rd July。Much engaged in the necessary business of preparing our works for the approaching season of indigo…making; which will commence in about a fortnight。 I had on the evening of each of these days very precious seasons of fervent prayer to God。 I