[47] Abbas was, of course, a native Christian.
[48] These melas afford grand opportunities to the missionary, both for preaching and selling books.
[49] A. L. O. E. has herself heard a Mohammedan speak of Christian converts as his friends. She is on terms of affectionate intercourse with Mohammedan ladies.
[50] Not to do so is a mark of great disrespect. A native on entering a gentleman’s house leaves his slippers at the door.
[51] Moses is reverenced by Mohammedans as well as by Christians.
[52] When my friend Mrs. E. was staying in a Punjaubi village, she was shocked to hear of one of the natives having beaten his mother. When she said that in England such a sin would be punished, her observation excited general amusement. Why should she be shocked at an event of such common occurrence?
[53] The convert probably restrained himself lest his mother should refuse to accept from his polluted touch even food needful to save her from starvation. But with the blind woman nature was too strong even for Hindu prejudice.
[54] Offering the hookah (a kind of pipe) was an alteration suggested by one who has intimate acquaintance with Oriental customs. The words originally stood: “Held out his hand; and Tara Chund grasped it,” &c. This would have made the whole story unnatural.
[55] This little story is founded on what really happened in a village not very far from Amritsar, but the words which produced a reconciliation were really spoken by one of the four who had quarrelled. A. L. O. E. heard a graphic account of the scene from a gentleman who had been present. That the reconciliation was not merely outward, seems to be proved by the fact that some little time afterwards the four Christian villagers came in a body and partook of the Holy Communion in the mission church of Amritsar.
[56] Pronounced purdah.