India by H. J. JEWELL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 14, 1908

India

By H. J. JEWELL

H. J. JEWELL

At present I am as busy as I have been since I left America two years ago. They have been short years, but O, so full of experience and blessings. My burden at times has seemed more than I could bear; but God has sustained me. Never for a moment have I regretted giving up all to come to India, and I rejoice to-day for the privilege of working in this needy field. There is an attraction in martial music and war songs that draws a man into war; and even though he is timid, he soon learns to fight. It is just so with God's soldiers. When Jehovah's music fills your soul, and the call comes, and you get into the fight against evil, you wonder why you never got to the battle-field on the frontier before.

Just to let you know how I spend my time, I will say that I help in the treatment rooms; have the outside canvassing for patients, also some correspondence in connection with this; attend several cottage meetings a week; have Sabbath-school work; also, I am managing the business of the Health Food Company; and as the work is all done by coolies, except for one European woman, who oversees things, it means considerable. I must go about to purchase the raw materials from native merchants, who beat me in the price if they can. All this, with posting up many bills, keeps me busy.

In no place have I found such great need for help, such utter helplessness, as in India. There are many missionaries, and dozens teaching different beliefs, and we find thousands of native Christians; but how much of the truth of God have they? It is a common saying among English people here that the native Christians are not very much to be relied upon; and they will employ a Hindu in preference to a Christian. But when they get hold of the third angel's message, they are loyal even unto death.

The clothes worn here are just the same as in America, except in summer, when we wear light clothes and topees, a light helmet made of the pith of the sola plant. The natives wear a dhotee, a piece of cloth about fifteen feet long and one yard wide, which is wrapped in folds, something like trousers. They have also a large shawl, or robe, which is drawn about the body; this costume is finished with a turban, a piece of cloth about one yard wide and from ten to fifteen feet in length, which is wound about the head. You see all these in the old family Bible pictures. Of course the coolies and poorer men wear only a small cloth about the loins. Out in the jungle, some do not have even that.

The staple articles of food with all Indians are rice and dahl, the latter a small lentil, combined with fruit and vegetables. The natives are all fond of peppers and “hot” foods. Almost all food is “hot” when it is cold. The chief fruits are plantains, guavas, mangoes, custard-apples, pineapples, apples, peaches, grapes, and pears. Plantains, which are small bananas, can be bought any day of the year for a few pice (about two cents) a dozen. Lemons and oranges are cheap, the former costing about one cent and a half a dozen when at their best. We have plenty of rice, corn, beans, peas, all kinds of garden truck, and all kinds of nuts. There is food in abundance. House rent is high in the large cities, but in small towns a good bungalow costs from two to twenty rupees a month.

By careful study and close application, one can get a fairly good working knowledge of the language in about two years. I can understand Hindustani fairly well.

Those coming to India will find true friends here, who will give them a hearty welcome. India is not a jungle filled with wild men and reptiles. Though I have traveled about ten thousand miles of roads and trails, I have seen only one snake since I came, and it was dead. Our lady canvassers—and there are about twelve of them—travel thousands of miles, and have remarkable success. But a soldier on the battle-field can not describe his experiences as they really are. You must be there to know them yourself. May some one come over and join our band, and help us in this work.

Calcutta.