What these people may become after much contact with the common run of white men, we cannot, of course, tell, though we may unhappily guess. At present they are a body of simple and devout Christians, full of deepest reverence for their teachers and the message they bring, and only anxious to yield all obedience. Of course there are a number of white men here, as in other countries, who (themselves not caring one straw about any religion) declare that Christianity in these isles is merely nominal, adopted as a matter of expediency, and that half the people are still heathen at heart. Even were this true (and all outward signs go to disprove it), I wonder what such cavillers expect! I wonder if they know by what gradual steps our own British ancestors yielded to the Light, and for how many centuries idolatrous customs continued to prevail in our own isles! Yet here all traces of idolatry are utterly swept away. I wonder, too, if they ever remember that out of the four million inhabitants of London, one million are not recognised as even nominal members of any Christian sect; that of that million an exceedingly small number have, even once or twice in their lives, entered any place of worship; and of the remainder, I think, the largest charity could scarcely recognise many by any mark of special uprightness or devotion! It would be strange indeed, therefore, if these new converts had suddenly acquired a monopoly of Christian virtues. It is painfully suggestive to know that the thing chiefly deprecated by all who have the welfare of the people at heart, is their acquiring English, or being thrown in the way of foreigners. I hope you won’t think this a very long-winded letter. It is the last I shall write to you from Mrs Havelock’s pleasant little home, for the workmen have been getting on with the new house at Nasova, and to-day I am going to rejoin Lady Gordon there. Of course we have been meeting almost every day, as this house is on a small hill close by. In fact, this is the better situation of the two, being on a headland which catches every breeze; whereas Nasova is too much sheltered, and actually on the sea-level. There are only a dozen steps from the dining-room to the pier, from which, by the way, the gentlemen bathe every morning, in utter defiance of the sharks, which have been seen quite close to them. It certainly is risky. * * * * * NASOVA, _November 30, 1875_.