LECTURE.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3022, 22 October 1878, Page 2

LECTURE.

The Bey. A. W. Webb, of Auckland, delivered a lecture on " Personal Recollections of India and its people," under the auspices of the Thames Young Men's Christian Association, at the Presbyterian Church last evening. There was a good attendance. Mr G. N. Phillips occupied the chair, and first called on the Her. E. Laishlej to engage in prayer, after which an efficient choir under the leadership of Mr W. Gribble sang one of Sankey's beautiful hymns. The Chairman in a neat speech introduced the lecturer. The Rev. A. W- Webb on coming forward was received with applause. He introduced his subject by stating that his experience of India had been derived from four years' residence there as a boy and a youth, he having left England for that country in his thirteenth year. - He briefly described the passage, and drew a beautiful word picture of the magnificant scenery of the grand river Hooghly, and the approaches to that City of Palaces, Calcutta. The first thing that struck him on landing was the color of the roads ; they , were all red, being made of burned brick ; : no stones being procurable on the plain of Bengal. He also noticed a peculiar odour like incense pervading the air, which he afterwards found to proceed from the general habit of hookah smoking. The rev. lecturer graphically described the Indian dwellings of the better class, with their norticos, high ceilings, and punkahs or iiy-dispersers, and the various methods for keeping the dwellings cool and healthy. After adverting to the daily exercises of the Anglo-Indians the Indian schools were referred to. The schools were much the same as in England, though it was necssary to learn Hindustanee and Bengalee to hold any civil appointment. The success of the medical college founded in 1838 was noticed, the anatomical experiments being made first by natives in 1845. Noticing the snakes and other pests of India, the lecturer created great amusement by. reading an extract from, the renowned Josh Billings on mosquitos. The sweetmeats, fruit and food of the Indians were dwelt on at length, and principal servants in the Anglo-Indian households described, the lecturer relating some interesting anecdotes concerning them, and also concerning the shopkeepers and their cheating propensities/ The chief means of land travelling was by the palke, a kind of palanquin, and on the rivers,. light canoes and barges.' The principal' amusements of the natives were the fights of the bulbul birds, betting, snake charming, Indian club exercise, "and kite

the marriage and funeral ceremonies, the horrible Suttee—now almost obsolete — and the disgusting custom of disposing of the dead by throwing them into the Ganges. Brief reference was made to the worship of Siva, Brahma, and-Vishnu, and the horrible sights which attended the ceremonies in their honor.., In concluding his excellect lecture, the rer. gentleman said he loved India, and left it with regret, though he was compelled ' to do so ; not for his country's good, but in consequence of ill health. ' He left India nearly dead, but under the genial clime of Australia he soon recovered. He hoped that some would be found in this country who would enlighten the natives of India, and bear testimony to Jesus Christ. Sir Charles Napier had said, " As the Kohinoor sparkles" among; the diamonds, so will India sparkle amongst ! the nations." (Applause.) The Ber. 8. J. JVeill proposed votes of thanks to the lecturer, to th^ chairman, to the choir and Mr W. Gribble, and to the CommitWe^ ' of the Presbyterian Church for the use of > v. the building. These were all carried tjjj? '■? [ acclamation, and the assemblage" djfci-U persed. / ■•*-•' £„-'•