Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/446

390 the saliva and mouth of a blood-red colour, injures the teeth, and gives to the women especially a disgusting appearance. The beautiful white teeth of some of the Christians who have renounced this indulgence form a pleasant contrast to the red lips and black teeth of the heathen around them.

Having been refreshed by the hospitality of our friends, we resumed our journey on the evening of the succeeding day. At the eastern end of the main street, as you enter the town, stands the preaching-bungalow of the missionary; as you go out at its western end, you see the tall pagoda of the heathen temple. Life and death are thus set before its people; but heathenism, alas! has all the power of a long possession of the land and of those who dwell in it. Nothing but confidence in the unchangeableness of the purposes and promises of God enables the Christian to see by faith the time when India shall submit to Christ. To human view the prospect would be most dark without the light of these precious promises. We need not wonder that ungodly men scoff at the impotency of our efforts; but we, who count Him faithful that promised, see by faith the time when India shall cast her idols to the moles and