422 MAXCAL OF THE xiLAGIRI DTSTRrCT. 



CH. XXIV. The head-quarters of the Basel German Evangelical Missionary 



EccleTias- ®°"^^*y'^ work is at Kaity, once the property and residence of Lord 



TicAL. Elphinstone, Governor of Madras, where it commenced its operations 



in 1849. In that year the late G. J. Casamajor, Esq., of the Madras 



Civil Service, bequeathed the greater portion of his property to the 

 Basel Society for the maintenance of a mission to the hill tribes on 

 the Nilagiris. It should be remembered that three years previous to 

 the bequest made by Mr. Casamajor, which constitutes the larger of 

 the sinews of the present operations, the same work was being prose- 

 cuted with characteristic zeal by the good gentleman himself with the 

 help of the German Missionaries. From 1846 some twenty Missiona- 

 ries have lived and labored in this part of the mission -field. Some of 

 these devoted servants have departed this life. 



There are numbers of young men in the Kaity Valley and other 

 villages who have not only received secular education, but have also a 

 fair knowledge of the truths of Christianity. 



Some Badaga youths have been sent to the training schools of the 

 Society on the Western Coast to prepare themselves for work among 

 their countrymen. 



A few of the converts have been taught handicrafts, such as carpentry 

 and weaving, and are able to earn their own livelihood. 



Itinerating forms an important branch of the Hill Missionary's work. 

 The Mission owns little cottages in the different districts, which the 

 Missionaries make their head-quarters while working in the district. 

 Where they have no cottages, tents are used. 



The demeanour of the Badagas when preached to is in most cases 

 respectful ; they frequently testify to the truth and wisdom of the 

 words spoken, but, alas ! do not so frequently accept them. It must be 

 stated, however, that although the converts on the Nilagiris are few 

 considering the number of years the Mission has been at work, most of 

 them have embraced the Christian religion from conviction and not 

 fi'om unworthy motives, as is very often the case in the plains where 

 large numbers are gathered in. 



The head-quarter station is embosomed in a pretty plantation of 

 Australian and forest trees, which shelter it very much from the 

 windy blasts so common to Kaity, situated as it is in the centre of an 

 extensive valley. 



There, too, in a clear space on the skirt of the plantation is a little 

 acre containing the graves of members of missionary families and 

 two Missionaries, while others lie buried in Gotacamand and Coonoor. 



The pecuniary cost of the Kaity Mission during the year 1878 was 

 Rupees 5,800, of which the sum of Rupees 3,000 was donated by the 

 Casamajor Mission Fund, some Rupees 900 by public contributions, 

 and the balance by the Parent Society in Basel. The Kotagii'i station 

 receives no help from the above Mission Fund, but is supported 

 entirely by the Home Committee and local contributions. 



