In the autumn, a commissioner, sent from Teheran to examine into the
proceedings of the mission, made an inquisitorial visit, and went
all through the building, peeping into the chambers, and making
himself and suite every where at home. Coming into the recitation
room, where most of the girls were engaged in study, he selected, a
large, robust pupil, who could speak Turkish, and questioned her as
follows:--
"Are you allowed to follow your own customs?"
"We follow all that are good, but not such foolish ones as you would
not wish us to follow."
"Do these ladies let you see your friends?"
"Certainly; we always see them when they come here, and we go home
three times a year, staying, at one time, three months."
"What do you do when at home?"
"We work in the fields, and do any thing that our friends do. Our
teachers tell us to help our friends all we can, and are displeased
if we do not."
"Can you work, or have you become Ingleez?" (English.)
"Look at me; I am strong; I can carry very large loads."
"What do you do here?"
"We study, and learn all wisdom."
"Are you allowed to use your own books?"
"Certainly; the principal book of our religion they have printed for
us, and we use it more than any other.
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