PATNA

[s. 594] : A city in Bengal, India, on the Ganges, 320 miles northwest of Calcutta. The town is extensive, but its streets are narrow and crooked, audits houses irregularly built, of many materials. It is on the East Indian R. R., and is the center of the opium trade. Climate said to be unhealthy, but the natives are strong in physique and give no evidence of this. Popula- BMS tion (1901) 134,785. Station of the (1888), with (1903) 2 mi ionaries and their wives,. 3 native workers, 1 Sunday school, and 1 day school. Station also of the ZBM, with 7 women mi ionaries, 7 native workers, 1 day school, 1 dispensary, 1 hospital, and 150 Zenana pupils. ^ PATPARA A town in the Central Provinces of: 576 India, situated in the district of Mandla, 42 miles Station of the CMS (1887), S. E. of Jabalpur. with (1903) 2 mi ionaries and their wives, 1 place of worship, 6 day schools, 1 hospital, 1 orphanage, and 576 profe ed Christians, of wliom 103 are communicants (including Marpha). Station also of the MLI (1895), with (1903) 1 leper asylum PATTERS ON, Alexander: A native of Leith, Scotland; sent out by the Scottish Mi ionary Society to explore Tatary in 1802, accompanied by Henry Brunton. On arriving at St. Petersburg he met so many discouragements that he felt inclined to turn back, when he unexpectedly found a friend in the lord of the emperor’s bedchamber, M. Nova ilgoil. Pa ports were given him, and full liberty granted to travel through the empire, and select any place as a residence agreeable to him. The government also gave them a large grant of land, and permi ion to keep under their care and instruction any Tatar youths they might ransom from slavery until they were twenty-three years of age. They chose a Mohammedan village called Kara , in the Nogai Steppe, as the place for the commencement of their mi ion. Both the mi ionaries studied the Turkish language. As soon as they began circulating some tracts they had written in the language great interest was excited, and discu ions arose as to the merits of Christ and Mohammed, and many persons of rank became interested in the teachings of the Gospel. In 1805 Mr. Patters on had the joy of seeing several of the ransomed youths embrace Christianity and be baptized. They also went with him on his journeys, acting as interpreters. In 1810 the mi ion was making such progre among the people that the Mohammedan priests became alarmed, and aroused the bitterest opposition. The Mohammedan tribes south of Kara were so zealous that they threatened to kill all who bore the Christian name. The Mohammedan schools were crowded with scholars, who were taught to read that they might defend the faith. Ii 1813 the mi ionaries were obliged to move to the fortified town Georghievisk, about 30 miles from Kara , on account of the constant irruptions While here the translation of hostile Turks and binding of the New Testament were finished. In 1814 the mi ionaries again went In 1816 Mr. Patters on took back to Kara . with him one of the ransomed slaves and made a tour through the Crimea, distributing tracts and Turkish Testaments. The journey almost cost him his life, but he felt amply repaid in the reception he met from all cla es of people.. 594