TUBLIC RELIfcTOUS SERVICE. 99 



nothing is so wearying to the spirit as talking to thoso 

 who agree with every thing advanced. 



At our public religious services in the kotla, the Mak«.<- 

 lolo women always behaved with decorum from the first, 

 except at the conclusion of the prayer. "When all knelt 

 down, many of those who had children, in following the 

 example of the rest, bent over their little ones : the chil- 

 dren, in terror of being crushed to death, set up a simul- 

 taneous yell, which so tickled the whole assembly there 

 was often a subdued titter, to be turned into a hearty 

 laugh as soon as they heard Amen. 



The numbers who attended at the summons of the 

 herald, who acted as beadle, were often from five to seven 

 hundred. The service consisted of reading a small portion 

 of the Bible and giving an explanatory address, usually 

 short enough to prevent weariness or want of attention. 

 So long as we continue to hold services in the kotla, the as- 

 sociations of the place are unfavorable to solemnity; hence 

 it is always desirable to have a place of worship as soon as 

 possible ; and it is of importance, too, to treat such place 

 with reverence, as an aid to secure that serious attention 

 which religious subjects demand. This will appear more 

 evident when it is recollected that, in the very spot where 

 we had been engaged in acts of devotion, half an hour 

 after a dance would be got up; and these habits cannot be 

 at first opposed without the appearance of assuming too 

 much authority over them. It is always unwise to hurt 

 their feelings of independence. 



To give an idea of the routine followed for months to- 

 gether, on other days as well as on Sundays, I may advert 

 to my habit of treating the sick for complaints which 

 seemed to surmount the skill of their own doctors. I re- 

 frained from going to any one unless his own doctor 

 wished it or had given up the case. This led to my 

 having a selection of the severer cases only, and prevented 

 the doctors' being offended at my taking their practice out 

 of their hands. "When attacked by fever myself, and wish 



