Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/73



devoted and lamented Henry Martyn, when touching at Madras, on his way to Northern India, in 1806, made the following entry in his journal:—

“April 26th. Towards night I walked out with Samee, my servant, in a pensive mood, and went through his native village of Chindaput. Here all was Indian; no vestige of any thing European. It consisted of about two hundred houses; those on the main street connected; and those on either side of the street separated from one another by little winding paths. Every thing presented the appearance of wretchedness. I thought of my future labours among them with despondency; yet I am willing, I trust, through grace, to pass my days among them, if by any means these poor people may be brought to God. The sight of men, women, and children, all idolaters, makes me shudder as if in the dominions of the prince of darkness. But what surprises me is the change of views I have here from what I had Rh