Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/154

128  glass tumblers cut in ridges by the white ants; but as he was noted for telling wonderful stories, I had my doubts whether it might not be a fellow to the account of the Hindu cashier, who, when a deficiency of some thousands of silver rupees was apparent in his books, charged it as "Destroyed by the white ants!"

" the Hindu language difficult?" and, "How long does it take to learn to speak it?" are questions frequently addressed to the returned missionary. Such questions are founded on the false notion that India is a single country, and the Hindus a single nation with a common language. It is as if one should ask whether the European language is difficult? At the present day India may be looked upon as an empire; for it is almost in its entire extent subject directly or indirectly to British rule; but until the present day this has not been the case. What we call India, or Hindustan, has never borne this name among its own inhabitants. It has always been composed