Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/280

238 of vanity and sin! Tell us what is truth! what can we do?” The gospel plan of salvation was then unfolded to them, and they were shown how God could be just and yet justify sinners, since his own Son had descended to earth to suffer in their stead. To this not a word was objected. Even the Brahmin applauded all that was said, and expressed the earnest wish that, if we came into the country, we would settle in their town.

Next came a rush by the crowd for books. With some difficulty, by appealing to their politeness, we made men and boys sit down, and, distributing our store, departed well pleased with our short visit to Calumboor, with its blind philosopher, good-humoured Brahmin, and attentive people, and with the opportunity thus afforded to preach the gospel in idolatrous India.

Observing, on our return, a small palmyra-tree hung all over with rags, we inquired what it meant. This tree, they said, is the residence of the “cloth-rending goddess," and all who pass tear a shred from their robes to throw as an offering to her. The belief that trees are the residence of supernatural beings is very