210 AUSTRALIA AND HOMEWARD. 



called), yet they will listen with attention to what 

 may be said upon the street. In a climate like that 

 of Ceylon, out-door preaching might be the rule 

 quite easily. Here is a glorious field for evangelistic 

 work. 



The Rev. John Scott is the Chairman of the 

 Colombo District. He superintends the printing and 

 publishing establishment. He kindly took me all 

 through. Type-setting, printing, binding and stitch- 

 ing arc all done by natives. I did not see among 

 them all, a white face. Books, leaflets, pamphlets, in 

 the Singalese, are being prepared for scattering among 

 the people, especially at promiscuous gatherings out 

 of doors. I asked if they buy readily, or do they 

 expect to receive them gratuitously. He says that 

 the people buy very readily. Some of the Wesleyans 

 are not only very devoted and exemplary, but are 

 liberal givers. 



I see, by referring to the report of the Colombo 

 District, a copy of which Mr. Scott kindly gave me, 

 that the number of conversions from Buddhism dur- 

 ing the past year was Hfty, and nine from Hindooism. 

 The total number of pages of Scripture, religious and 

 school books and tracts, printed in 1886, is 8,056,307. 

 The report says that in the official list of publications 

 issued by Government, the Wesleyan press continues 



