“‘Well, well,’ said the old man; ‘but I am returning to calamity; I know many will try to trouble me; but I will give up these,’ turning to his two grand-children, ‘to be educated in Christianity; I commit them to Jesus Christ! God grant that that country (Lukhnow) may soon come into the possession of the British! Then we might live in peace.’ Abdool reminded him, that God would deliver him, and that His peace is alone worth caring for. ‘True,’ said the younger brother, ‘and these lads we commit to Christ! During the rains I also will come and stay some months with you.’”
“March 18th, 1813.—Arrived at Agra. Abdool had come on some days before, and related several conversations with persons on the way, about religion. Many copies of St. Matthew given away.
“Sunday, March 21.—About three P.M. six native Christians, beside the children, &c. attended Hindoostanee worship in the fort, with whom Abdool read prayers, and expounded Luke v., it being the chapter in order of reading. In the evening many hundreds of the poor assembled near the fort, to whom Abdool read and explained briefly the ten commandments. Many cried out, ‘These are true words; and the curse of God will be upon us if we obey them not!’
“March 22.—Set our native school in order, by appointing six of the head boys to learn English on the new British plan, that some or all of them might, through the divine blessing, become translators. They all continue to learn the catechism in the mornings, with Persian during the day; and attend morning and evening worship, in which Abdool officiates, by reading a chapter, and making remarks upon it, using some prayers from the liturgy afterward.
“Sunday, March 28th.—At three o’clock, the native congregation of Christians consisted of about forty persons. Abdool explained the Gospel of St. Luke in order, and read and commented on the fourteenth chapter. Some of the people staid to inquire who he was, and said they felt their hearts much affected whilst he was addressing them. In the evening he went into the town. A great crowd collected to receive charity. Before he distributed it, he explained the original state and the fall of man. Many sat quietly; evidently more taken up with the discourse, than with their own necessities. Daily some of the Mohammedans come to converse with Abdool.
“April 3.—This evening he went to visit a very old man, accounted by the Mohammedans a holy man, and resorted to by many of them. He had been a scholar of Abdool’s grandfather, and had repeatedly expressed a desire to see Abdool. Many were collected at the old man’s house. Some asked, who Abdool was. The old man told them, mentioning many circumstances respecting the respectability of his family: among others, that Abdool’s mother’s brother, is president of the Royal Mohammedan College at Delhi. They then asked Adbool whence he now came; and on being told that he was a certain Englishman’s disciple, they inquired what he had learnt. He replied, he had gained some valuable information in religion. One of them said, ‘What connexion has religion with the English? Their native country is a small island, where they can know nothing; and in this country, what benefit in religion can you reap from them?’ Abdool told him, that he spoke thus, for want of information. The old man made a sign for Abdool to desist. Abdool said, ‘If you are afraid I should be disgraced before this company, pray understand that I go into the Bazar to speak on these subjects, and am not ashamed of Christianity, that I should flatter, or deal in ambiguous language.’
“‘Well,’ said the old man, ‘but now leave off, and come among us from time to time; we shall be happy to see you.’
“The discussion was thus interrupted, and nothing satisfactory could afterward be introduced; so Abdool rose to go. They again invited him to frequent their society; he replied, he had not time to spare for mere visiting; but if they would allow him to read a chapter in the gospel every time he came, he would wait on them as often as they pleased. They expressed a wish that this might be the case. Time will prove their sincerity.”
“Sunday, April 4th.—In the afternoon, at three, fewer native Christians attended Hindoostanee worship; but a great many servants of the gentlemen who live in the fort, came to hear, behaved very orderly, and heard with much attention the explanation of the parable of the prodigal son. In the evening Abdool explained the Apostle’s creed, to multitudes of natives, collected outside the fort, who all behaved respectfully to him.
“April 5th.—After morning worship Abdool took the children, and went into the fort, to be ready for the afternoon. When all the children were collected, he read to them the story of ‘Henry and his Bearer.’ They all expressed great delight. When he had finished, the eldest of his nephews said, ‘Now I must of necessity be baptized.’