His influence with the soldiers was considered as something wonderful, in those times of neglect and immorality, and the commandant and his wife--Colonel and Mrs.Wood--were his warmest friends; and when the Government at Madras heard of his voluntary services as chaplain, they granted him, unsolicited, a salary of 100_l._ a year, of which he devoted half to the service of his congregation.

He was thus able to build a mission-house, and an English and a Tamul school, labour and materials being alike cheap.

But, in spite of all his care of the English soldiery, the natives were his chief thought; and he was continually among them, reading and arguing home with the most thorough knowledge and experience of their difficulties.

He made expeditions from Trichinopoly to Tanjore, then under the government of a Rajah, under the protection of the British Government.

The principal worship of the place was directed to an enormous black bull, said to be hewn out of a single block of granite, and so large that the temple had been built round it.
The Brahmins conversed with him a good deal, and often were all _but_ converted.