“A Tickour woman [who was desirous of baptism] in answer to my questions, and without any suggestion that could lead to such answers, said, ‘that her heart is much employed in thinking of her Creator: if it were not, what could she expect of good either here or hereafter.’ 2ndly, ‘that God as Creator and Lord has a right to command us; and that she is disposed to obey His will in all things.’ 3rdly, ‘that Jesus Christ is God, who came into the world for us sinners, and through whom we may obtain forgiveness, and the favour of God.’ 4thly, ‘that in order to this, we must lay hold of Him with the heart, pray to Him, and beg forgiveness.’ 5thly, ‘that to be baptized, and not to act thus, must needs brings down greater evils upon us; and in the world to come, surely great destruction will be our lot, &c.:’ with much more to the same effect, in a spirit of seeming sincerity and earnestness. “Jan. 31st. 1808. On Friday evening, thirteen women (native) attended at the barracks. Sergeant W. told me that his native wife, a short time since, entered into a long conversation with a Brahmin, and exhorted him to forsake his idolatry, which he acknowledged to be unreasonable; but the loss of caste frightens him. “Saturday, [Feb. 6.] Just returned from burying a drummer’s wife. The Bettiah-walla explained that I was not praying for the dead, but that we might have grace to walk in God’s ways. He told them, that when the breath is gone, the soul is fixed in an eternal state; and that in the last day, the body too will be raised and partake with the soul of happiness or misery: [he concluded] with an exhortation (in which he mixed many quotations from scripture) to watch and pray that that day might not come upon them unawares. Many natives were present, who listened with deep attention; except one or two who laughed. At my gate I found a blind beggar, whom the Bettiah-walla also exhorted and who went away; as I have often seen the poor glad to get a rupee and to be off.