Even the sober priest could not refrain from immoderate laughter, as he repeated line after line of his own writing.
What soon became a seminary for males was commenced on the 18th of January, 1836, with seven boys from the city, and the number was soon increased to fifty by accessions from the surrounding region, among whom were three deacons and one priest.

Manuscript cards prepared by Mr.Perkins supplied the place of books.

They read in the ancient Syriac, and the cards in the modern dialect, and in English, and also wrote with their fingers in sand-boxes, and made some progress in arithmetic.

There were several free schools, but only a very small proportion of the hundred pupils were females.
Several of the clergy resided with the mission, and conducted worship once on each Sabbath in their own language.

At this service a portion of Scripture was read, which they had previously studied with Mr.Perkins, and its meaning was explained and enforced.