“Nov. 17th.—Early this morning they set me ashore to see a hot spring. A great number of Brahmins and Fakirs[4] were there. Not being able to understand them, I gave away tracts. Many followed me to the budgerow, where I gave away more tracts and some Testaments. Arrived at Monghir about noon. In the evening some came to me for books; and, among them, those who had travelled from the spring, having heard the report that I was giving away copies of the Ramayuna.[5] They would not believe me when I told them that it was not the Ramayuna; I gave them six or eight more. In the morning tried to translate, with the moonshee, one of the Nagree papers.”
“Nov. 18th.—A man followed the budgerow along the walls of the fort; and finding an opportunity, got on board with another, begging for a book—not believing but that it was the Ramayuna. As I hesitated, having given as many as I could spare for one place, he prostrated himself to the earth, and placed his forehead in the dust; at which I felt an indescribable horror. I gave them each a testament. Employed in writing out the parables, and translating. In the evening met with two villagers, and finding they could read, I brought them to the boat, and gave them each a Testament, and some tracts.”
“Nov. 19th.—Employed in translating the parables, all the day. Finished reading the first book of the Ramayuna. Came-to at a desert place on the north side; where, in my walk, I met with a man with whom I conversed; but we could understand each other but very little. To a boy with him, who could read, I gave some tracts. Felt extraordinarily wearied with my labour these two or three last days; and should have been glad of some refreshing conversation.”
FOOTNOTES:
[3] Hindoo priests.
[4] Men, professing to be religious, who live upon charity.
[5] A poem called sacred by the Hindoos.
CHAPTER VII.
Mr. Martyn arrived at Dinapore, on the 26th November: his principal objects, besides discharging his duties as chaplain to the English residents there, were to establish schools for the children of the natives; to learn to speak Hindoostanee; and to translate the scriptures and religious tracts into that language, for distribution among the people. There are so many dialects in India, that it is a great labour to study the language, so as to be understood by the inhabitants of different parts of the country. In these employments he persevered, though meeting with ridicule and opposition, not only from the natives, but even from his own irreligious countrymen, who formed his congregation. “Let me labour,” he said “for fifty years, amidst scorn, and without seeing one soul converted; still it shall not be worse for my soul in eternity, nor even worse for it in time.” He continued to translate the parables, with explanations, and devoted his whole time to preparations for his missionary work; excepting when he had an opportunity of personally addressing the natives, who could understand him, and excepting the time spent with his English congregation, and the sick at the hospital.