“Every thing presented the appearance of wretchedness. I thought of my future labours among them with some despondency; yet I am willing, I trust, through grace, to pass my days among them, if by any means these poor people may be brought to God. The sight of men, women, and children, all idolaters, makes me shudder, as if in the dominions of the prince of darkness. I fancy the frown of God is visible;—there is something peculiarly awful in the stillness that prevails. Whether it is the relaxing influence of the climate, or what, I do not know; but there is every thing here to depress the spirits—all nature droops.” Whilst he almost despaired of the possibility of ever accomplishing any good himself, he rejoiced in the promises and prophecies which make it sure, that at some day, the true God shall be worshipped there, and in every other place; and the gospel of Jesus Christ be proclaimed to ‘every nation under heaven.’ He was animated by the thought, that even should he never see a native converted, yet it might be God’s design to encourage future missionaries, by giving them his example of patience and continuance in the work. He took up his residence at Aldeen, near Calcutta, in the house of an English clergyman; where, after recovering from a dangerous attack of fever, he experienced great enjoyment in the company of several Christians, missionaries and others, established in the neighbourhood. Strong persuasions were used to induce him to remain in Calcutta, but that city was supplied in some measure with the gospel, and it was his intention to devote himself to more remote heathens. The celebrated Dr. Buchanan had left Calcutta on a journey to Syria, at the very time of Martyn’s arrival, and too soon to know that God had thus answered the prayers which he and his brethren had been for some time addressing to heaven, for the sending of more missionaries to India. On the fifteenth of October, Mr. Martyn left Aldeen and Calcutta for Dinapore, a town on the Ganges, more than three hundred miles distant. He went in a boat called a budgerow, with a cabin fitted for travelling; which, as it is moved principally by towing with poles, does not go farther than about twenty miles in a day, stopping in the evening. He employed his time in studying the eastern languages, in which he was assisted by a native teacher, called a moonshee, who accompanied him. He several times witnessed the idolatrous ceremonies of the people, and made some attempts to convince them of the sinfulness and folly of the devotion they paid to idols of their own carving, and to the river Ganges itself. At several villages on the route he attempted to speak to the people, and distributed tracts. Some parts of his own narrative of this tour, will show how he employed himself, and how he was upheld in his purpose amidst all discouragements.