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While Studying Hindi

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 28, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 48.

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While Studying Hindi

BROTHER FLOYD SMITH, in north India, gives us a little glimpse of some of his and Mrs. Smith’s everyday experiences as, in their mountain retreat, they are delving into the Hindi language. He did not intend this for publication. He says:—
“I was never in a more beautiful place as far as natural scenery goes. We have a magnificent view of the Himalayan snows to the north of us, and we ourselves are at an elevation of 6,000 feet. The pines and the rhododendron trees are all about us. On the rocks the most beautiful begonias grow in abundance, and in the open places are myriads of shamrocks. There are also many other flowers.
“We are about thirty miles from any railway, and fifteen miles from a bazaar. The roads are only mountain trails, and are often in bad condition for even horseback riding. Mrs. Smith has not seen a white woman since April 25, and Mr. Wellman and Mr. Blue are the only white persons we have seen at all.
“We are well and happy. We are beginning to find out what the language is like, and are getting anxious to be able to get in touch with the villagers. This is the work which Brother Wellman desires me to do, rather than to spend my entire time in the school. Scattered about through the mountains are scores of villages having from two hundred to four hundred inhabitants. Though hard to reach, they must hear the message, and I hope to be able to give it to them. As Hindi is the spoken language of this region, we are studying it rather than Urdu.
“Already we have had considerable ‘dispensary work’ to do. There are the ailments of the boys to look after, and there are calls from the near-by villages. We have treated malaria, pneumonia, fevers, headaches, stomach trouble, boils, severe gashes about the head, and various other minor ailments during the short time we have been here. We are glad for the experience gained during our short stay at the Washington Dispensary.”