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ther geography nor history, neither the grammar of their own tongue nor its literature. This is the condition of the rvots; and as for the poor slaves who do the farm-work, they are in a worse condition still. They have no desire to learn, and if they attempted to learn any thing, their
niasters would beat them.
Before Christianity made its appearance in this country no means whatever were in use for the promotion of education. No free school was then any where to be seen. Charities existed for supplying people with food, but as education was not then considered to be necessary for every person, the establishment of schools was not regarded as a charity. Now, however, wherever you go you sce schools that have been established by the missionaries, or schools that have been established by the Government. There are schools also here and there that have been established by native gentlemen,
through the influence or example of Englishmen.
Christianity is the only religion in the world which values knowledge and endeavours to diffuse it. As the rising of th sun dispels darkness, rouses man and beast to action, and diffuses every where light and cheerful sounds, co the rising of the true religion dispels ignorance, rouses the intellects of men, diffuses a spirit of inquiry, and fills the world with sciences and wonders.
“ The fear of the Lord,” says the Bible,“1s the Deginning of wisdomn”; and accordingly Christianity not only teaches men picty, but also instructs them in all useful knowledge, and makes the simple wise. What has happened in the Zillah of Tinmevelly is an illustration of this. Sowciine ago all the people called Shinirs in that Zillah
wer: ootens, and they were then an uneducated pecple.