A Lady of England 88

A Lady of England 88

It was also in the course of 1882 that some one wrote a sketch of her

life, and requested her to revise the same before publication. Miss

Tucker had not attained to modern composure on such questions, and she

wrote with indignation: ‘I am afraid ... neither you nor others may like my

note to ----.... I need not dwell upon the part about the little book; it

is too personal to myself. What would you think of a little book being

written about yourself,--and sent to you to _correct_? Oh! Oh!! Oh!!!’

 

For some time past Charlotte Tucker had been watching with great interest

the movements of the Salvation Army in India; at first with a disposition

to admire and approve, which tendency gave place gradually to strong

disapproval, as she saw more of the methods employed, and found the

exceedingly defective nature of the religious teaching given.

 

Some very curious glimpses of Indian modes of life and thought, and of

the manner in which Miss Tucker dealt with them, appear in the letters

of 1882 and 1883, as will be seen in succeeding extracts. Among the

singular things constantly happening, an old woman in a Zenana, at

about this time, composedly offered to _sell_ to A. L. O. E. one of her

daughters-in-law. ‘If you will give me a hundred rupees, you may have

her,’ the old woman said frankly. Needless to remark, Miss Tucker did not

buy the poor girl!

 

‘_Nov. 17, 1882._--I had, I thought, finished my

Zenana-visiting to-day, when a man, at a loom in a room which I

had not entered, called out to me, “I wish a Gospel. I want to

compare it with the Koran.” He and the bibi wanted me to come

into their room; so of course I went and sat down. Says the

man, “I think my religion good. I want to compare our books.”

“Much better,” said I. The man brought his Koran, a translation

into Urdu, probably made by some Christian, or at least printed

in some Christian press. The good man treated me to such a long

reading of the Koran, page after page, I did not know when he

would stop! I felt it not only common politeness to sit and

listen attentively, but good policy also, for how can I expect

an earnest Muhammadan to give the Gospel a fair hearing, if I

will not even listen to the Koran?

 

‘The man was anxious that I should understand as well as

hear, stopping every now and then to translate a word that he

thought might puzzle me. But the Urdu was particularly simple

for anything doctrinal. To understand anything doctrinal,

even such sermons as I hear, it is absolutely necessary to

know _some_ Arabic words. I have written out more than two

hundred,--chiefly Arabic,--_all_ beginning with M, and mostly

three-syllabled words, which I feel that I ought to know; yet

they are hardly of any use with women; and if I have them

all at my fingers’ ends, I shall still be very imperfectly

furnished. Is it not a puzzling language? Of course, some of

these two hundred words are provokingly similar to each other,

but the meaning is different.’

 

In the same letter she mentions a visit from the Indian Christian Faqir,

M., who a quarter of a century before had given up a lucrative situation,

and ever since had wandered about India, preaching the Gospel. On 20th

November the same subject recurs:--

 

‘His type of devotion is thoroughly _Hindu_, transfigured into

Christianity.... One part of our conversation, however, amused

me.... It was when we came on the subject of celibacy. The Hindu

evidently thought it better than marriage. He seemed to regard

it as an objection to the latter, that when a husband lost his

wife he would cry for two or three days!--the Faqir’s[104]

religion is a very joyful one, and when his eyes moisten it

is with religious emotion. I stood up for marriage. The dear

man is no stern ascetic; he smiled and half gave way, and said

that he liked people to be happy. It is pretty clear, however,

as regards himself that it is better for him to be unwedded.

He walks long distances; sometimes forty--fifty--sixty--miles.

He says that he is not so strong as he was. But he thinks

nothing of age; the spirit never grows old.... M.’s voice is

peculiar; one could always tell without seeing him whether he

were in chapel or not; for his “Amen” sounds like a note from a

bassoon.’

 

* * * * *

 

‘_Nov. 21, 1882._--While it is fresh in my mind I had better

give you a description of our grand day, the laying of the

first stone of our Church by the Lieutenant-Governor....

 

‘Since the old days of the Sikhs I doubt whether Batala ever

saw such a tamasha. Numbers and numbers of boys were gathered

together by dear Francis, lining the roads, and cheering. Gay

looked the many-coloured turbans. Mr. Wade thought there must

be about one thousand boys, for we had Government School,

City School, our Village Schools, and our own boys. We had

a fine triumphal arch at the opening into our grounds, with

“Welcome” in gold on scarlet; but it was far surpassed by the

lovely one in Persian Urdu, prepared by our boys for the Church

site: “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.”

Dear Emily Wauton came and helped us greatly; she specially

took the luncheon-table under her care; and very elegant it

looked, with the cold collation, and plenty of flowers from

Amritsar. My bedroom overlooks our front door, so in this

room our three _pardah-nishin_ were hidden.... I dare say that

these poor prisoners[105] of pardah specially enjoyed what was

to them so novel. The good Lieutenant-Governor was more than

punctual; a happy thing, as we had much for him to do, and only

about an hour and a half to do it in. He brought with him his

daughter, a winsome young maiden, ... whom I called “dear” before

we parted. I liked the Lieutenant-Governor very much; a man of

fine presence but simple manners....

 

‘The luncheon was preceded by the reading by one of the Batala

non-Christian magnates of an address, emblazoned with gold;

other Batala folk, some in very grand dresses, standing in

line. The Lieutenant-Governor gave a reply in English, which I

doubt whether many understood. Then we went to our collation;

fifteen sat down.... You should have seen our servant ----; he

was quite magnificent. He had on such a gold-adorned pagri

that it might have graced the head of a rajah, and had as

much gold on his dress. I did not think that he looked like a

Missionary’s servant, but we left him to enjoy his splendour.

I had thought, darling, whether I should wear _your_ silk

dress:[106] but no, thought I; in my Batala I will _not_ wear

silken attire; so I wore my Laura’s purple, which was just the

thing, sober and handsome. The collation went over nicely; we

could not linger at it long, and no one could drink too much,

as water was our beverage. After seeing the view from the roof,

we started in the borrowed carriages for the Church. The first

carriage, which held the Aitchesons, Mera Bhatija, and myself,

had highly conservative horses, decidedly opposed to progress.

No use coaxing and urging them; the “nat-khats” _would not_ go.

The only thing was to get out and go into another carriage.

 

‘Of course, there were many people at the site of our church.

We had four surpliced clergymen, my three nephews, Francis,

Mr. Wade, and Mr. Weitbrecht, and Nobin Chanda.[107] ... The

religious Service was very nice; of course, in Urdu. Then Sir

Charles[108] spread mortar over the place on which the marble

block was to descend, in what was considered a very workmanlike

manner. We sang “The Church’s One Foundation” in Urdu; Mr.

Weitbrecht’s and Mr. Wade’s fine voices making it sound so

well. Sir Charles made such a nice religious speech; it was

almost like a little Missionary address. _He_ had had, he

said, a very private conversation for an hour with a Native of

distinction, who was in concern about his soul; and it ended

by the Native saying that he had sometimes prayed to the Lord

Jesus, but would now pray to Him _every day_. Thank God for a

Lieutenant-Governor who thus shows his Christian colours!

 

‘We drove to the station, after again forsaking the carriage

drawn by the “nat-khats.”[109] Sir Charles made me come into

the railway carriage, to see its comfortable arrangements.

Thoughtful Francis had caused tea and cake to be taken to the

station. All went off so nicely; and my dear Bhatija feels that

he has not had his labour and expense for nothing.’

 

* * * * *

 

‘_Nov. 28._--In three days I am to go up to Amritsar, ... where

I am to sleep on that Friday night.... By some afternoon train

I shall probably then go to Lahore.... On Sunday there are to

be special services for the Conference, and Holy Communion

is to be administered; a meet commencement for a gathering

together of sisters from nine different Societies. But Char

has a special interest of her own. We have at least a dozen of

those who were Batala boys at Lahore.... I have arranged that

my boys should meet me on Sunday afternoon. This is to me one

of the most interesting parts of my visit to Lahore.... I have

been obliged to prepare two little papers, but have made them

mercifully short. I think that one takes about five and the

other three minutes to read aloud,--I timed the reading,--so no

one will have time to be tired.’

 

Of the above event Miss Wauton says: ‘In 1882 she came to a Conference in

Lahore, in which all the Zenana Missions of the Panjab were represented,

and was with one consent elected President of the Meetings. None who

were present could ever forget the tactful, graceful way in which she

conducted the proceedings. Many, I believe, felt that the harmonious

spirit, which prevailed in that assembly, was largely due to the loving

and Catholic spirit of our President.’

 

‘_Dec. 15, 1882._--I have written to the ----s about the

Salvation Meeting at Lahore, at which I was present. I have

not told them, however, how sad an impression it left on my

mind.... To _me_ there was no real joyousness in the sound of

the drum and the tambourines.... The puzzle is to me how such

music CAN be the means of converting any, unless it be English

roughs. X.[110] was eager to join the “Army,” and go with them

for a month to Calcutta. But he went to the meetings, and his

wish appears to have evaporated; at least here he is.... The

prevailing feeling in my heart (at the meeting) was--_pity_.

Though I knelt, I really _could_ not pray. The big drum and

tambourines seemed to silence any whisper of real devotion

in my soul.... I think that I have just ascertained one thing

which has cooled our really devout X. It appears that he asked

----[111] about Holy Communion, and found that he had not

received it since coming to India! Alas! alas! and if he lets

Natives consider themselves saved and sure of Heaven without

Baptism,--where will all end? The Blessed Saviour’s two clear

commands neglected! And ---- just killing himself to introduce

such a mere--one almost fears--shadow of religion! It is just

grievous! How inconceivably artful the Enemy is!’

 

* * * * *

 

‘_Dec. 21._--I paid a visit to a village to-day. I first went

to the school, then paid my respects to the lady of the place....

She showed me into a pretty bare room,--a chair was brought

for me afterwards. But I thought little about the room; its

strange occupants attracted my attention. I seemed transported

into the Middle Ages, and found myself amongst the retainers of

some bold baron,--men who looked like the stuff out of which

freebooters are, or were, made. There were four powerful men,

with four falcons; and the hoods of the falcons were grand. I

suspect that they were valuable birds, used for hunting.