And the forces under their command have shown already that they can deal effectively with peoples utterly inaccessible to the ordinary Europeans.
The Bheels, when we first went amongst them, were all armed with bows and arrows, living entirely by the chase, and so terrified at any sign of officialism that our Officers had to avoid taking a scrap of paper with them when visiting their districts.

But we have now many Bheel villages entirely under our teaching, and quite a number of Bheel Officers who have learnt to read their own language, and to lead their countrymen as fully to follow Christ as they do themselves.
So many of our people in Guzerat were weavers that one Officer set himself specially to the task of improving their loom.

He was soon able to make one with which they could double their daily product.

The making of these looms created a new industry, also, so that we have been able thus to help many.

In India we have also commenced in three of our Territories medical work, making it, after first cost of buildings, equipment, and Staff, largely self-supporting, as we found that the people really appreciated help more for which they were called upon to make ever so small a return.
In the same way, respecting all our work, The General has always urged the importance of applying, as far as possible, our general rule of self-support; for though the people may have very little to give, the very least they can do helps to protect us from the prejudice created by the term "rice Christians," applied to those who are believed to have made professions of Christianity for the sake of the food they hope to receive.
And now the Government, having seen the practical effect of our work, are beginning to give us opportunities such as we never had before.