Getting Settled in India
By Stephen N. Haskell
THE following letter received from Brother and Sister Burgess, who went to India a short time ago, will be of interest to many:— “It hardly seems possible that three weeks have gone by since we last wrote you. During this time we have visited several places we had in mind, in the interest of our work. We have felt that it would be wise for us to take time to look about carefully before deciding definitely as to our location, in order that no mistake be made. In the course of our journeyings we have ridden sixty miles in an ox cart, so you may know that we have had some interesting experiences. We travel third class, at the rate of less than half a cent a mile, sleeping in waiting-rooms, under a tree, or wherever we may chance to be, so you see our traveling expenses are not very heavy. “‘Where the night may find us surely matters not,
If we sleep with Jesus, O blessed is the spot!’” “We both feel strongly impressed that we have found the place where the Lord would have us locate. This place, Tulakiour, is a large village on the railway, surrounded by many smaller villages. Within a radius of two or three miles we can count as many as twelve different villages. The Hindus of this part of the country hold their yearly mela (religious festival) here every year, at which time people come in large numbers from all parts of the country. This would afford an excellent opportunity of distributing reading-matter far and wide. “The land is well watered and very fertile. In every direction can be seen large groves of mango trees, while oranges, guavas, and other fruit can be had. The principal crop seems to be wheat and rice. This place is in the State of Balraspore, which, while subject to England, has its own native king. The land is all owned by the king; he lives two stations below this place, but also has a house here. “We have seen his representative who lives here, in reference to securing land, and he has encouraged us to hope that the king would be pleased to give us a piece of land on which to begin our work. He instructed us to make a written application to the king, stating just what we wanted, and said that the matter would be considered by him. “Yesterday we sent in our application, and can now only wait and trust in the Lord to give us favor in the sight of the king, if this is the place where he wishes us to be located. In the ordinary course of events it will probably be several weeks before we know definitely, as things move very slowly in India, and there is a great deal of ceremony connected with such matters. “This place is about one hundred and fifty miles northeast of Lucknow, and is only about fourteen miles from the mountains on the north. Of course this tempers the climate very much. At the present time it is quite cold, and we find our heavy woolen underwear very comfortable; we never needed anything of this kind in Calcutta in the winter. We sleep under three blankets, with our heavy wraps thrown over the bed, so you see the climate at this season of the year is quite bracing. We are told that it does not get very warm until the first of May, and the rains begin the middle of June, so there is not much time for very hot weather. “I do not know that we have ever been in a place where the native people were more friendly than here. As we were going along one day, we met a number of men who were evidently from the hills. We had a few friendly words of conversation with them, and passed on. Shortly after, they overtook us, and without giving any explanation, one of them handed Mr. Burgess some fruit. I only mention this to show their friendly feeling. Several have given us presents of fruit. “A few evenings ago several men from a village a short distance away came to us to inquire if we were in need of anything. They said that in their village they had built a house for those of their religion who gave themselves to the service of God, and as they understood that we were religious teachers, they thought it only right that they should look after our wants. They brought a servant with them, and said that any time we needed his services he was at our disposal, and whatever food we needed they would be glad to supply. They were the leading men of the village, and we looked upon this as a very favorable sign. “We find that among all these people outside of Bengal in northern India we need the Urdu as well as the Hindi language. The Hindi is the language of the up-country Hindus, the Urdu of the Mohammedans throughout India; but we find that even among the Hindus they have to a great extent adopted the language of their Mohammedan conquerors, so in order to reach all classes we need to study the Urdu also. It will not be hard, for it is very similar to the Hindi. “Last evening the native doctor of this place made us a visit. He is well educated, and speaks English fluently. He offered to come each day and help us in studying the Urdu, so you see the Lord supplies our need as soon as it arises. He is a Hindu, and as we shall make the Bible our text-book in studying with him, we hope that the good seed may be planted in his heart.” From the preceding letter we see how the work may go to foreign fields even if our people do not arise and do their duty in sending out workers and supporting them in the field. The Lord can use even the heathen to carry forward his work. The God who sent the ravens to supply the wants of his servant when his professed people did not do their duty, is still the leader of his people. If we as a people arise to the needs of the18time, and supply the wants of the workers that take their lives in their hands and go forth into the difficult fields, we shall share in the reward; but if we are so interested in gathering means for our own comfort that we can not spare money to the cause of the Lord, the work will go forward just the same, only others will take our crowns. God grant that we may be alive to the needs of the cause, and the coming year see many workers going forward into fields that are now waiting all white for the harvest. Those that remain at home can carry the workers in the foreign fields on their hearts, and pray daily that God will bless their efforts. The ones that daily pray for them will be pretty sure to remember that they need food and clothing as well as the prayers. The work will soon close in triumph. Who will share in bearing the burdens during the heat of the closing battle?