Johnston

(Nineteenth Century Review, Nov. 1887) in West Africa, while Canon Taylor finds the record equally disheartening in New Guinea. As representing Government during a great famine in Rajputina, and during two others in Oudh, we were the means of placing several hundred thousands on the rolls of mi ionary societies; but it cannot be said that the so-called “rice Christians” of famine years bear a high character in India, and Christianity so far only affects the lower castes. The fact is that Europeans in Asia are now by no means as anxious to convert natives as they once were. Education, travel, and wider knowledge of other faiths, have left them le certain as to their native dogmas than they may have been when they first left their parish surroundings at home, They find natives who know more about Theism and Agnosticism than they were ever taught, quite ready to meet their arguments logically and_ scientifically. To disparage the Vedas, the Tri-pitaka, or the Koran, is found not to aid the cause of Christianity. As moreover the educated are now ceasing to believe in “inspired books” and miracles, it is clear that they can no longer be expected to be zealous in the mi ionary cause. 488