"28th.–Very tired to-night. Another lithotomy case came this morning, and I operated.... Lord, if it be Thy will, prosper this case! much depends on it. Heard sad news to-day from Col. Rothney, under whose kind care I had left my assistant Sikandar at Abbottabad, because he was ill of fever. He gradually grew worse after my leaving him, and died on the 20th inst. He was a good lad, and I doubt not is now with Christ in glory.
To-day the Resident, Mr. Cooper, promised the chaplain the proceeds of a large wager if he gained it, on condition that it should not go to the Kashmir Medical Mission. Yet he every other day receives medicines from my dispensary.
"29th.–Lithotomy case doing well. Ninety-nine patients present. Had a number of surgical operations.
"May 31st, 1866.–Yesterday, I began the translation of St. John's Gospel into Kashmiri, and earnestly pray that God may grant me the efficient help of His Holy Spirit, that I may be enabled to execute this work intelligently. To-day, there were 134 patients.
"June 3d.–Partook of the Holy Communion. Jesus is mine, and I am His!
"4th.–At this morning's reception, 150 patients were treated. I expected a lithotomy case, as a poor sepoy, who came yesterday, was suffering much from the disease, and promised to return for operation to-day. He did not come, so I sent my native doctor to inquire what had become of him, and ascertained that the Diwan had forbidden him to come to me. No surgery is done in the native dispensaries, so the poor fellow must continue to suffer from his enemy.
"5th.–Numberless boats went up the river to-day, filled with worshippers, on their way to Martand. Those boats are in form like Venetian gondolas, on a large scale. They are divided into three compartments, in one of which the boatman himself lives with his family and assistants; in the second, or middle compartment, the passengers sleep, cook their food, and eat it; and the third division may be called the verandah of the floating house. Those boats are literally crowded with human beings, men, women, children, all congregated in the height of merriment, and dressed in their gayest garments. Those who can afford it, hire boats for their private use, and in such cases, the inner compartment is carefully enclosed with matting, so as to form a regular zenana. But the poorer people are not particular about privacy. This festival will continue for some days, during which the people take a complete holiday.
"The number of patients to-day was 139. A French shawl merchant called on me to-day, to ask me to visit a sick man in the city. Mr. Wade and I went with him, and found the sufferer lying on a mat on the floor, surrounded by friends. On examination, I found that he was suffering from disease in the left lung–consumption. The native doctors had bled and purged him. I offered to undertake the case; he said he would consult his friends and let me know his decision. On returning home, we met Mr. C., who told me that the Maharajah had not yet allotted a site for my dispensary!
"I wrote to Dr. H. at Lahore to-day about the establishment of a Medical Missionary Bursary in the college there.
"7th.–One hundred and ten patients were present to-day. Lithotomy case is quite well. I was grieved to hear this evening that the poor man in the city, whom I went to see, died two hours afterwards. The hakims had heard what I said as to the seat of the disease being in the lungs, and at once applied leeches: the poor fellow sank from loss of blood.