countrymen. As an actual, and hence lively illustration of this truth, so important in its bearing on the question of the conversion of the millions of India to Christianity, a sketch of the history of this worthy man will not be either useless or out of place.
Shunkuru-lingam was born at Quilon, in the year 1792. His parents were worshippers of Siva, and named their son in honour of this god. They were poor, and belonged to the caste of cultivators of the soil. While at Tanjore, a famous city of Southern India, whither they had gone to escape the evils of famine, he attended a native school; and, on his return to Quilon, he continued to receive instruction in the sacred books of the Hindus, and became a devoted heathen. At the age of seventeen he left home to seek employment, and entered the service of a British officer, with whom he visited many parts of India, and also the Isle of France. Returning to India, he went to Ceylon, where he became the butler of a civilian high in rank. It was at this time that God first revealed himself to Shunkuru. Under a tree he found a copy of the Gospels in Tamil, probably left there by some Christian Hindu in the army. He read it, and believed. But we will suffer
