April.] AT NEW LATTAKOO. 
101 
fire, with a heavy stone to keep the under side 
steady. He effected a blast by quickly raising 
and depressing the upper side of the bellows, and 
with great ease blew both at the same time. The 
^ron which he wrought came from the N. E., higher 
up the country. 
The Matchappees, though very fond of potatoes, 
have never been prevailed on to plant any, be- 
cause they resemble nothing which has been 
handed down to them from their forefathers, to 
whose manners and customs they seem as strongly 
attached as the Hindoo or the Musselman. This 
blind and bigotted attachment constitutes the 
greatest obstruction to their reception of Christi- 
anity. Were any of their captains to renounce 
their ancient customs, and profess the Christian 
faith, he would thereby expose himself to the 
keenest persecution. Converts from amongst the 
poor would excite, at least at first, little alarm, 
because they are despised ; nor would the con- 
version of the aged cause the smallest uneasiness, 
for these are held in such contempt, that they 
would rather see food given to dogs than to them. 
They have frequently reproved the Missionaries 
for relieving the wants of such persons. They 
are so sensible, however, of the protection they 
enjoy by the residence of white men among them, 
that it is probable they would persecute their 
own people for a long time, before they would 
