[Transcriber's Note: In the original source edition, most odd-numberedpage headers consisted of a short phrase describing the material below.These page headers have been incorporated into the text as sidenotes.]
UNION CHURCH, RANEE KHET.
LIFE AND WORK IN BENARES AND KUMAON
1839-1877
BY JAMES KENNEDY, M.A.
Missionary of the London Missionary Society, Author of "Christianity
and the Religions of India," &c.
WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE
BY
SIR WILLIAM MUIR, K.C.S.I., LL.D., D.C.L.
Late Lieutenant-Governor North Western Provinces of India
ILLUSTRATED
CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED
NEW YORK
1885
PREFACE.
[Pg vii]The history of this volume can be given in a few words. Months ago Isaid to a beloved relative that during the greater part of my life I hadmore to do than I could well accomplish, and that now, with health andstrength in a measure restored, I sometimes thought I had not enough todo. He said: "Why not write the reminiscences of your Indian life?" Thecounsel struck me as good, and I have acted on it.
My theme has not the advantage of novelty: I cannot tell of a newcountry explored, and a new people brought within the knowledge of theworld; but it has the advantage of greatness and variety. I am not awarethat any book on Indian Missions has achieved signal success. I do notthink, however, a single one has been written in vain. That must havebeen a singularly poor book on so great a subject which has not hadsomething in it fitted to interest and inform readers. That must havebeen a very solitary, lonely missionary, who has had no friends ready tolisten to what he has had to say. These books may have received littlegeneral attention; but here and there, as the result of their perusal,there has been a more intelligent apprehension of our work, deepersympathy with us, and heartier support rendered to us. I have venturedto add a volume to those already pub[Pg viii]lished in the hope that it may dosome good before it passes into the oblivion which necessarily awaitsmost of the productions of the press.
A glance at the contents of this volume will show it takes up a numberof subjects, some of which are merely touched in most books on Missions,and others not at all. Reminiscences, especially when they spread overmany years, and embrace great events, admit of very discursivetreatment. They leave the writer unfettered to take up any subjectwithin his wide scope which he may deem fitted to interest his readers.I have allowed myself the freedom thus afforded me. My aim has been totake my readers with me to our Indian home, to see us at our work, tohear us conversing with the people, to accompany us on our journeys, tosurround them in thought with our surroundings, so that they may realizeour position, trials, difficulties, and joys. I have throughoutmaintained the standpoint of one whose Indian life has been devoted toMission work. My two spheres of labour—Benares during the greater partof my course, and Ranee Khet, in the Hill Province of Kumaon, in lateryears—have come in for extended remark.
My attention has not, however, been confined to Missions. I haveendeavoured to write as one interested in everything which ought tointerest a resident in the land. I have given some account of theclimate, aspect of t