I know there is much of preaching that becomes extorted, tired out, completely exhausted before it reaches practice. It is strange what different notions there are. Once a prominent Christian defrauded me out of quite a sum of money that I had loaned to assist him. He was not poor, or I could have overlooked the debt. After waiting, running and dunning him until my patience was exhausted, my temper raised to welding heat, and I was on the verge of using, not the Queen’s English, but rather that of King George the Fourth, this very religious debtor of mine said, “Mr. Japhet, I am afraid you are not showing a Christian spirit.” The cheek of this pious cheat and thief, talking “Christian spirit” to me! I scarcely need say that I gave him a little of his personal biography that he probably did not relate to his family or friends. There is a great deal of what the English call “rot” in all this pious twaddle among some religious people that is repugnant to my taste, heathen though I be. I accept what the noble Lord Tennyson has said, “I am Calvinist enough to have a willingness to be damned for the glory of God, but I am not willing to be damned to satisfy the hatred, pride and hypocrisy of men no better than I am.” One morning one of the headmen of my villages came to my house in a great state of excitement. It appeared that an ofiun walla sahib had come into the district and had sent his police to take away a number of the cultivators. To understand the matter myself, I went without any delay, and found that some of the best men had been taken, for what purpose the people did not know. I went several miles further, where I found a large tent under a tree. In front, at a table, sat a European surrounded by a number of policemen. Before him were several hundred natives seated in rows upon the ground. I sent my card and asked for an interview, which was granted. I explained who I was, that I was the owner of some villages, that as some of my ryots had been taken I had come to make inquiries. He replied that he was the agent of the Opium Department, and had been ordered by Government to come into the district and arrange for the cultivation of opium. He said it would be a good thing for the people, as he would make contracts and give advances on the crop. I made no objection to his statements, knowing well the absolute and despotic power of a Government officer, and that any argument in opposition from me would defeat my purpose; that it was the best policy for me to be as docile as possible. I wished to get my people released, and I well knew that if I showed any fight he would exercise his power and I would inevitably be defeated. The Hindu proverb is a good one. “Soft words are better than harsh; the sea is attracted by the cool moon, and not by the hot sun.”