fome fingular Instances to this Purpose: I therefore fhall only obferve, here, that this is a Danger we are often expos'd to in the Miffion of Madura.

The Species of Serpents I now fpeak of, are more common hereabouts than in the other Parts of India; because the Indians, imagining them to be confecrated to one of their Deities, pay them a certain Worship; and are fo follicitous about their Prefervation,that they keep and feed fome of them at the Doors of their Temples, and even in their own Houses. They call this kind of Serpent, Nalla Pamboo, or good Serpent; this Reptile, according to them, bringing Happiness to thofe Houses where it inhabits. Neverthelefs, how propitious foever it may be, it often proves the Death of its Worshippers.

The fpecifick Remedy against the Bite of thefe Serpents, and that of a great many other venomous Animals found in India, is called Veia-Marondoo, or the Antidote. 'Tis us'd more by the Chriftians than by the Heathens, because these immediately invoke the Devil, and have Recourfe to a Multitude of other fuperftitious Practices they are vastly fond of; whereas the Chriftians employ only natural Remedies, among which this is the chief. 'Tis faid that a foguis, or Heathen Penitent, taught this Secret to one of our first Miffionaries, in Return for an important Service.

The Idolaters employ fuperftitious Compacts, not only to cure the Bite of Serpents, but in almost all their Diseases. There is nothing gives the new Converts, (who are furrounded with their idolatrous Countrymen) more Trouble, than to prevent, whenever they are fick, their Parents or Relations from ufing thefe Expedients; for when they are afleep, or happen to faint away, they fometimes tie about their Arms, their Neck, or their Feet, certain Figures and Characters, which are fo many Tokens of a Covenant made with the Devil. But the Instant the fick Perfon

I

Perfon comes to himfelf, or wakes, he tears these infamous Covenants, and wou'd die rather than recover his Health by fuch criminal Methods*. Some of these Converts abfolutely refufe to take even the natural Medicines from the Hand of a Heathen, because they often employ fuperftitious Ceremonies on thefe Occafions.

I ftay'd but Half a Day in Coottour, and set out from thence next Day. I pafs'd thro' the Settlement, where, two Months before, in my Journey to Pondicheri, I had baptiz'd two Children, and a grown Perfon, who was dying. Four or five of the moft fervent Converts in this Settlement accompanied me to another, call'd Kokeri, in its Neighbourhood.

As I was extreamly defirous of arriving with all the Diligence poffible at Coonampaty, the Seat of my new Miffion, I left Father Dias much fooner than I wou'd willingly have done. I made fuch Haste, that I arriv'd pretty early, next Day, on the Banks of the Coloran, which, at certain Seafons of the Year, is one of the largest and most rapid Rivers that can be feen; but at others, finks to almost a Brook. When I cross'd it, the only Difcourfe was on the famous Victory the Talavai + had gain'd just before over the King of Tanjaour's Forces, and which had like to have prov'd the Difgrace of that Prince's first Minister, one of the most cruel Perfecutors of our holy Religion. The following Particulars were told me on that Occafion. The Expedients which this Minister employ'd, in order to fave himself, will inform you of his Character, and what we may juftly fear from fo artful an Enemy.

* As tho' it were poffible for any Person to recover his Health by fuch Means!

The Prince, or Governor-General of Ticherapaly, [or Trichirapal] as 'tis call'd in the Map added to the learned Mr. De la Croze's excellent Hiftoire du Chriftianifme des Lades.

The

The Talavai was encamp'd on the North Shore of the River, to fecure his Kingdom from the Army of Tanjaour, which made dreadful Havock in every Part of the Country; but all his Efforts cou'd not check the Incurfions of an Enemy, whofe Cavalry was much more numerous than his. He therefore imagin'd that the safest Course wou'd be to make a Diverfion; whereupon he refolv'd to cross the River, whofe Waters were very much fallen, and carry Terror even into the Kingdom of Tanjaour. This he did fo fecretly, that the Enemies did not know of his croffing, till they faw his Troops fpread on the other Side of the River; and going to pierce into the Heart of the Kingdom, which was defencelefs. This unexpected Croffing quite difconcerted the Army of Tanjaour, whofe only Refuge was to crofs the River alfo, to defend their Country. This they refolv'd, but unhappily made an ill Choice of the Ford; not to mention that the Rains, which were lately fallen on the Mountains of Malabar, where the Source of that River lies, had fwell'd it to fuch a Degree, at the Time that the Army of Tanjaour was attempting to crofs, that feveral, both Horfe and Foot, were carried away by the Stream. The Talavai obferving the Disorder they were in, fell upon them, and easily broke them. This was not fo much a Battle as a Flight; and the whole Army of Tanjaour was routed. After this compleat Victory, the greatest Part of the Kingdom of Taxjaour was laid waste.

The King, exafperated at his being overcome by a Nation who were accuftom'd to fubmit, very much fufpected his Prime Minister Balogi, or, as others term him, Vagogi-Pandiden, either of Negligence, or Treachery. The Grandees, who hated him, had vow'd his Destruction; and declar'd that the ill Succefs of this War was entirely owing to him. But Balogi, fearlefs of the Machinations which were -carrying

carrying on against him, waited fecretly upon the King. My Liege (fays he, with an undaunted Tone of Voice,) "I will voluntarily furrender my

felf, in order to have my Head chopp'd of, if in "a Week, I don't conclude a Peace with your "Enemy*." The Time he defir'd was very short, and the King indulg'd it.

Immediately this fubtle Minister fent his Secretaries to the principal Traders of the City, and the Places adjacent, commanding every one of them to lend him a confiderable Sum of Money, upon Pain of forfeiting all their Poffeffions. He drew whatever Sums he cou'd from his Relations and Friends; and even took a large Sum of Money which ought to have been put into the King's Treafury. Finally, in less than four Days, he amafs'd near five hundred thousand Crowns, which he inftantly employ'd in order to win over the Queen of Ticherapaly; to bribe most of the Members of her Council; and, above all, to gain the Talavai's Father, a Man who lov'd Money inordinately. He manag❜d Matters fo dextrously, that, before the Week was expir'd, a Peace was concluded, (even without the Privity of the Talavai) in Ticherapaly, with the King of Tanjaour. Thus the vanquifh'd Prince gave Law to the Victor, and the Minifter regain'd his Monarch's Favour, by which Means his Power became more abfolute than ever. The only Ufe he afterwards made of it, was, to ruin most of the Grandees, and make the Chriftians fuffer a cruel Perfecution.

I at laft arriv'd, after a Variety of Fatigues, at Coonampaty, formerly one of the most flourishing Churches of the Miffion, but now almost ruin'd, by

The French is, Je porterai moi-meme ma tête fur un échaf faut. i. e. I myfelf will bring my Head upon a Scaffold.' A Phrafe that implies fomething of the miraculous, like St. Dennis's carrying his Head in his Hand, after it had been chopp'd off. For this Reason I alter'd it, in my Version.

the different Contests and perpetual Wars of the Lords who inhabit these Forefts. This Church, for three Years, has been fuperintended by Father Carvalho, who, notwithstanding his ill Health, reaps an extraordinary Harvest.

The little Rain which fell the Year before; the violent Heat felt in March; and the Multitude of Christians who came to Coonampaty, had drained a great Part of the Pond, which is the only Place where these People can be furnished with Water. For this Reafon I refolved to go to Elacoorrichy, but was prevented by a Perfecution then raised a gainst the Chriftians of Cottoor.

I will here conclude my Letter; and continue, in the fucceeding ones, to give you a faithful Narrative of all fuch Particulars as may contribute to your Edification; and am with the greatest Respect,

Your, &c.

P. MARTIN.

Father MARTIN, to Father DE VILLETTE.

Reverend Father,

HE Perfecution which broke out against the Christians of Cottoor detained me in Coonam paty, as I obferved in my former Letter.

On Saturday Evening I got ready a fmall triumphal Chariot, which we adorned with Pieces of Silk, Flowers and Fruits. On it was placed an Image representing our Saviour rifen from the Dead; and the Chariot was drawn in Triumph thrice round the Church; feveral Inftruments playing at the

fame