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saries of life; during my short residence 1 saw many articles thus 

 disposed of, especially a small mirror, in the centre of a single 

 agate, adorned with golden foliage, and roses of small rubies, which 

 had been purchased from a Mogul widow for only ten rupees. 

 Of such females it might truly be said, " her virgins are afflicted, 

 her matrons are desolate; they sigh for bread, they have given 

 their pleasant things for meat \" 



These unhappy families excited our pity; their wants were 

 not relieved by that generous charity which characterizes my na- 

 tive country, where the children of adversity find affliction 

 softened and sorrow soothed, by exalted souls, who wipe the fall- 

 ing tear from the orphan's eye, and cause the " widow's heart to 

 sing for joy." Virtues amply recompensed in this life, by sweet 

 sensations in the soul of sympathy, unknown to the votaries of 

 dissipation, and will meet a glorious reward in that day, when 

 those who have pity upon the poor shall be pronounced blessed, 

 and the merciful shall obtain mercy ! 



It is not my intention to infer that among the Mahomedans 

 and Hindoos there are no charitable institutions: far from it; 

 they have many of various descriptions unknown to the polite 

 Greeks and luxurious Romans, who in general disregarded the 

 old and diseased poor, and treated their sick slaves with savage 

 cruelty. With pleasure I have mentioned the charitable endow- 

 ments in Hindostan, from the banian-hospital at Surat, to the pro- 

 vision made in theGuzerat villages, for the poor, the helpless, and 

 the traveller. But to these, like the English poors-rates, a refusal 

 of contribution is seldom optional. The spirit of Christianity super- 

 sedes compulsive and ostentatious modes of charity; alms given 



vol. in. R 



