INDIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 548, 1 July 1909, Page 6

INDIA.

' : , ; 'V. " A;MISSIONARY LECTURE. ■ /, ' ■ Dr. Portcous, who leaves for India next. 5ep..... tambor as a . missionary of R Churoh of New Zealand, lectured in. St Johii Schoolroom: last evening.-; In' wlcoming tho leoturer, the Rov. Dr. Gibb mtroduoed hnu; as a Now Zealander, who had been brought tip at , Port Chalmers, aiid had, obtained his medical qualifications at the Otago and Edinburgh Unl- . : kdtuw was; largely explaniH ; ■ ■, • tory of a fino series of lantern slides,/and. was .. ■ based upon his own observations during a tout in India, The first view showed- the city of i<a-, . . hoM, capital of the Punjab, in. whicli-province Dr. ! Portcous and his oolleaguos; will oe I<K oated. Other pictures plaeos as tat , . apart as Simla and ' Madras; t The tural glories of India, such as the Taj Mahal and Shah Jehan's palace at DolhivWore bltown and describad. The customs and; oh.eorvanoos of. the people were also illustrated,,. . . ■ and Dri'Porteous enlarged upon tho baiotM in-: stitution of Indianwidowhood, which condemns millions of girls, and even babies, .to,a,-. life of hardship, contempt, and drudgery. . A v ouaint sidelight was thrown' uixin wo subject . of caste by the doctor's reminiscenco of a ~ Brahmin, who, when making an extended business tour, had to carry a largo bundle of ooofcine and eating utensils, lest he should losrt <»sto by eating food - prepawd by people of , lower easte,:.'Dr. Portcous. said he .wished to appeal to New Zealand Presbyterians.for,genor : . ous contributions to support tho now. develop, mont of mission work in tho North-West ,ot India. ■ :