PREFA CЕ. THE writer of the South Indian Sketches begs to apologize to her friends for the time that has elapsed between the publication of the first and second parts. But she can scarcely regret the delay, as it has given time for nearly the whole of the present portion to pass under the eye of one who has the best means of judging of its correctness, and from whom so much of her previous information was received. She cannot omit this opportunity of expressing her gratitude to those friends, whose kindness procured so extended a circulation of the former part, and she now sends forth the remainder with the hope and prayer, that He who accepts, "according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not," will again vouchsafe His blessing. Southborough, June, 1843. SOUTH INDIAN MISSIONARY SKETCHES. LETTER I. Ar length, my dear Lucy, I will invite you to resume with me our long suspended journey, and getting again into our Palanquins with our "bearers," "Massalchee," and "Câvady coolie" as before, we will leave the pleasant station of Mayaveram and proceed towards the still distant province of Tinnevelly. We are now in Tanjore, and the Delta, through which we are passing, is the most fertile part of the province. It is a flat plain, abundantly watered by the Câvery and its numerous branches, and yielding the most luxuriant crops of rice. No human habitation is to be discerned amid "the waving sea of green" around us, for the little villages lie hidden, each in the embosoming shade of its friendly tope, B |