the life of william carey-第68章
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orestry in IndiaFounds the Agri…Horticultural Society of IndiaIssues queries on agriculture and horticultureRemarkable results of his actionOn the manufacture of paperHis expanded address on agricultural reformHis political foresight on the importance of European capital and the future of IndiaAn official estimate of the results in the present dayOn the usury of the natives and savings banksHis academic and scientific honoursDestruction of his house and garden by the Damoodar flood of 1823Report on the Horticultural Society's gardenThe Society honours its founder。
Not only was the first Englishman； who in modern times became a missionary； sent to India when he desired to go to Tahiti or West Africa； and sent to Bengal from which all Northern India was to be brought under British rule； and to Calcuttawith a safe asylum at Danish Seramporethen the metropolis and centre of all Southern Asia； but he was sent at the very time when the life of the people could best be purified and elevated on its many sides； and he was specially fitted to influence each of these sides save one。 An ambassador for Christ above all things like Paul； but； also like him； becoming all things to all men that he might win some to the higher life； Carey was successively； and often at the same time； a captain of labour； a schoolmaster； a printer； the developer of the vernacular speech； the expounder of the classical language； the translator of both into English and of the English Bible into both； the founder of a pure literature； the purifier of society； the watchful philanthropist； the saviour of the widow and the fatherless； of the despairing and the would…be suicide； of the downtrodden and oppressed。 We have now to see him on the scientific or the physical and economic side； while he still jealously keeps his strength for the one motive power of all； the spiritual； and with almost equal care avoids the political or administrative as his Master did。 But even then it was his aim to proclaim the divine principles which would use science and politics alike to bring nations to the birth； while； like the apostles； leaving the application of these principles to the course of God's providence and the consciences of men。 In what he did for science； for literature； and for humanity； as in what he abstained from doing in the practical region of public life； the first English missionary was an example to all of every race who have followed him in the past century。 From Carey to Livingstone； alike in Asia and Africa； the greatest Christian evangelists have been those who have made science and literature the handmaids of missions。
Apart from the extreme south of the peninsula of India； where the Danish missionaries had explored with hawk's eyes； almost nothing was known of its plants and animals； its men； as well as its beasts； when Carey found himself in a rural district of North Bengal in the closing decade of the eighteenth century。 Nor had any writer； official or missionary； anywhere realised the state of India and the needs of the Hindoo and Mohammedan cultivators as flowing from the relation of the people to the soil。 India was in truth a land of millions of peasant proprietors on five…acre farms； rack…rented or plundered by powerful middlemen； both squeezed or literally tortured by the Government of the day； and driven to depend on the usurer for even the seed for each crop。 War and famine had alternated in keeping down the population。 Ignorance and fear had blunted the natural shrewdness of the cultivator。 A foul mythology； a saddening demon…worship； and an exacting social system； covered the land as with a pall。 What even Christendom was fast becoming in the tenth century； India had been all through the eighteen Christian centuries。
The boy who from eight to fourteen 〃chose to read books of science； history； voyages； etc。； more than others〃； the youth whose gardener uncle would have had him follow that calling； but whose sensitive skin kept him within doors； where he fitted up a room with his botanical and zoological museum； the shoemaker…preacher who made a garden around every cottage…manse in which he lived； and was familiar with every beast； bird； insect； and tree in the Midlands of England； became a scientific observer from the day he landed at Calcutta； an agricultural reformer from the year he first built a wooden farmhouse in the jungle； as the Manitoba emigrant now does under very different skies； and then began to grow and make indigo amid the peasantry at Dinapoor。 He thus unconsciously reveals himself and his method of working in a letter to Morris of Clipstone：
〃MUDNABATI； 5th December 1797。To talk of continuance of friendship and warm affection to you would be folly。 I love you； and next to seeing your face； a letter from you is one of my greatest gratifications。 I see the handwriting； and read the heart of my friend； nor can the distance of one…fourth of the globe prevent a union of hearts。
〃Hitherto I have refrained from writing accounts of the country； because I concluded that those whose souls were panting after the conversion of the heathen would feel but little gratified in having an account of the natural productions of the country。 But as intelligence of this kind has been frequently solicited by several of my friends； I have accordingly opened books of observation； which I hope to communicate when they are sufficiently authenticated and matured。 I also intend to assign a peculiar share to each of my stated correspondents。 To you I shall write some accounts of the arts； utensils； and manufactures of the country； to Brother Sutcliff their mythology and religion； to Brother Ryland the manners and customs of the inhabitants； to Brother Fuller the productions of the country； to Brother Pearce the language； etc。； and to the Society a joint account of the mission。〃
He had 〃separate books for every distinct class； as birds； beasts； fishes； reptiles； etc。〃 Long before this； on 13th March 1795； he had written to the learned Ryland； his special correspondent on subjects of science and on Hebrew； his first impressions of the physiography of Bengal； adding： 〃The natural history of Bengal would furnish innumerable novelties to a curious inquirer。 I am making collections and minute descriptions of whatever I can obtain； and intend at some future time to transmit them to Europe。〃
〃MUDNABATI； 26th November 1796。I observed in a former letter that the beasts have been in general described； but that the undescribed birds were surprisingly numerous； and； in fact； new species are still frequently coming under my notice。 We have sparrows and water…wagtails； one species of crow； ducks； geese； and common fowls； pigeons； teal； ortolans； plovers； snipes like those in Europe； but others； entirely unlike European birds； would fill a volume。 Insects are very numerous。 I have seen about twelve sorts of grylli； or grasshoppers and crickets。 Ants are the most omnivorous of all insects； we have eight or ten sorts very numerous。 The termes； or white ants； destroy everything on which they fasten； they will eat through an oak chest in a day or two and devour all its contents。 Butterflies are not so numerous as in England； but I think all different。 Common flies and mosquitoes （or gnats） are abundant； and the latter so tormenting as to make one conclude that if the flies in Egypt were mosquitoes； the plague must be almost insupportable。 Here are beetles of many species； scorpions of two sorts； the sting of the smallest not mortal； land crabs in abundance； and an amazing number of other kinds of insects。 Fish is very plentiful； and the principal animal food of the inhabitants。 I find fewer varieties of vegetables than I could have conceived in so large a country。 Edible vegetables are scarce； and fruit far from plentiful。 You will perhaps wonder at our eating many things here which no one eats in England： as arum； three or four sorts； and poppy leaves （Papaver somniferum）。 We also cut up mallows by the bushes for our food （Job xxx。 4）。 Amaranths； of three sorts； we also eat； besides capsicums； pumpkins； gourds； calabashes； and the egg…plant fruit； yet we have no hardships in these respects。 Rice is the staple article of food。。。
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