The life of Rev. Henry Martyn : $b Written for the American Sunday School Union, with some account of Abdool Messeeh, a Hindoo convertHall, John
History
The life of Rev. Henry Martyn : $b Written for the American Sunday School Union, with some account of Abdool Messeeh, a Hindoo convert
Hall, John
Abdool Messeeh, 1771 or 1772-1827; Martyn, Henry, 1781-1812
“_Oct. 2d._—Some hours before day, I sent to tell the Tartar I was
ready, but Hassan Aga was for once riveted to his bed. However,
at eight, having got strong horses, he set off at a great rate,
and over the level ground he made us gallop as fast as the horses
would go, to Chiflick, where we arrived at sun-set. I was lodged,
at my request, in the stables of the post-house, not liking the
scrutinizing impudence of the fellows who frequent the coffee room.
As soon as it began to grow a little cold, the ague came on, and then
the fever: after which I had a sleep, which let me know too plainly
the disorder of my frame. In the night, Hassan sent to summon me
away, but I was quite unable to move. Finding me still in bed at the
dawn, he began to storm furiously at my detaining him so long; but
I quietly let him spend his ire, ate my breakfast composedly, and
set out at eight. He seemed determined to make up for the delay,
for we flew over hill and dale to Sherean, where he changed horses.
From thence we travelled all the rest of the day and all night; it
rained most of the time. Soon after sun-set the ague came on again,
which, in my wet state, was very trying; I hardly knew how to keep my
life in me. About that time there was a village at hand; but Hassan
had no mercy. At one in the morning we found two men under a wain,
with a good fire; they could not keep the rain out, but their fire
was acceptable. I dried my lower extremities, allayed the fever by
drinking a good deal of water, and went on. We had little rain, but
the night was pitchy dark, so that I could not see the road under
my horse’s feet. However, God being mercifully pleased to alleviate
my bodily suffering, I went on contentedly to the next stage, where
we arrived at break of day. After sleeping three or four hours, I
was visited by an Armenian merchant, for whom I had a letter. Hassan
was in great fear of being arrested here; the governor of the city
had vowed to make an example of him for riding to death a horse
belonging to a man of this place. He begged that I would shelter him
in case of danger; his being claimed by an Englishman, he said, would
be a sufficient security. I found, however, that I had no occasion
to interfere. He hurried me away from this place without delay, and
galloped furiously towards a village, which, he said, was four hours
distant; which was all I could undertake in my present weak state;
but village after village did he pass, till night coming on, and no
signs of another, I suspected that he was carrying me on to the next
stage; so I got off my horse, and sat upon the ground, and told him,
‘I neither could nor would go any further.’ He stormed, but I was
immovable; till, a light appearing at a distance, I mounted my horse
and made towards it, leaving him to follow or not, as he pleased. He
brought in the party, but would not exert himself to get a place for
me. They brought me to an open verandah, but Sergius[14] told them I
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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