In both rice is the chief food.
In both large grown-up families live together.
In both the women are shut up.
In both foreigners are hated.
In both conjurers are admired.
In both many idols are worshipped.
In both there are ancient sacred books.
In both the people are deceitful, unmerciful to the poor, and in the habit of destroying their own little girls when babies.
In both it is believed that the soul after death goes into another body, and is born over and over again into this world.
Is it not mournful to think that more than half the people in the world have no bright hope to cheer a dying bed? One poor Hindoo was heard to exclaim as he was dying, "Where shall I go last of all?" He asked a wise question. He wanted to know where, after having been born ever so many times, he should be put for ever and ever. That is the great point we all want to know. But the Hindoo and the Chinaman cannot know this: they have never heard of everlasting happiness.