“The same submissive disposition in the people makes it difficult to know when I am understood; as they do not either acknowledge their ignorance or ask explanation. The dialects of the different provinces are so different as to make them nearly different languages.... Among the learned and the Mahomedans, much Persian and Arabic is introduced into their language, which to the Hindoo is unintelligible; and, it is now well known that a person who learns the language from books only, will not be understood by the bulk of the people. This I am aware of, and ask questions from the women above-mentioned; when I often find the meaning has been imperfectly, or not at all understood; which leads to fresh explanation. One specimen of our mode of proceeding, I have made a memorandum of, and which may amuse you:--After having read the first chapter of Genesis, which I translated, I suggested to this native Christian to enlarge upon the following heads, which he did in this manner, ‘Learn, first, the honour put upon man by God: He gave him dominion.’ ‘See,’ continued he, ‘the elephant; one blow of his would be instant death, yet he goes here and there at man’s word.’ ‘Observe the power of God: He commanded, and it was done, &c.’ ‘Let a man try to create an ant, he cannot do it; let him try to make a hair, he cannot do it: yet look at the hills, &c., God made them; and think not that He used labour: no, the word of His mouth was sufficient.’ I suggested, ‘How ought we then to fear this great God!’ He proceeded, ‘are you not afraid of your masters; are you not fearful to offend them lest they should punish you?’ This was so feeling an appeal that they answered, ‘Yes, yes!’ ‘O then,’ said he ‘how ought you to fear an infinitely powerful God! He is infinite in strength; and, if you sin against Him, you deserve infinite punishment: and think how great punishment He will inflict!’ One of them at this fell a weeping. I observed, ‘See the goodness of God in providing such comforts and accommodation for man in this world.’ He went on to speak of the greater love of God in providing a salvation for our souls, which he spoke of with much warmth; the women hanging upon his words. These occasions are often productive of sweet sensations to my soul: whilst yet the want of positive evidence of grace in them [the people so instructed] generally makes me to go heavily. Most days are devoted to close study of the native languages: the Hindoostanee proper I can understand, though not to speak it with any fluency or accuracy: and I also begin to know a little Persian, which is a very agreeable study. I rise at day-break, breakfast between seven and eight, take a slight repast about one, and make my principal meal when evening sets in.