“Except at such places, the generality of Mahomedans observe the times of daily prayer according to their inclination, wherever they happen to be. In large Mahomedan towns, indeed, a few assemble at the Mosques on Fridays: at Agra, the number, (except on festivals,) was usually six. The Hindoos, also, make their offerings at the idol-temple, at the time most convenient to themselves. So that there is no general appearance of religious observances among them, except at the festivals; when the whole country wears the appearance of a mountebank-show. On these occasions, a portion of time is given to hear the history of the prophet, or god, connected with the occasion; and rich individuals unite to pay a pundit, or learned Hindoo, who reads to them, usually in the evening, portions of their books, in a chaunting tone of voice, and explains sentence by sentence, to the audience, as he goes on. By such means the Mahomedans, especially the higher classes of them, are acquainted with the principal names in the Old and New Testaments, and with some particulars of their history; with the exceedingly gross intermixtures which are to be found in the Koran. The Hindoo books, also, contain some stories derived from the books of Moses, or from ancient tradition, mixed with much fable. These facts, on which all agree, serve as points on which a Christian may engage them in conversation, and from which by rational deduction, he may prove them in error; whilst the Holy Ghost alone can convert them to the acknowledgment of the truth.