Beside the early morning rides to which reference has been made, which afforded opportunities for religious conversation, Miss Whately would occasionally stay for a week or two at some farmhouse or by the seaside, and find opportunities of teaching the people around something of the Gospel.  The following is an incident connected with this work in the country:  “At an open spot just outside the village a barber was shaving a peasant’s head, and, as usual, a group were assembled near him chatting and smoking.  Mr. Shakoor took advantage of this and resolved to join the party of men, and get into conversation, while I went a little further in search of some women.  I soon found four or five with some little girls, all sitting upon a dust-heap!  They looked very dirty, as well they might, but I remembered ’who can raise up the beggar from the dung-hill and make him to sit among princes.’  I saluted the poor women in a friendly way, and though looking astonished they replied civilly.  After a little chat and a few questions on both sides, I asked if they had ever heard about our first parents, Adam and Eve, and how sin came into the world.  They just knew the names, but no more, and were pleased to listen while I related the story.  Before I had finished, an old woman who had come up interrupted me.  A young man who was standing near and listening, desired her not to interrupt the lady, for he could see she was learned, and ‘thou art ignorant,’ he added, with more truth than politeness.  ‘But you are not well placed here,’ he said, pointing to the heap on which they were seated.  ’Come to the roof of my house, my mother will show you the way, and these women can come too if they like.’  I acceded to this courteous invitation, and followed the mother and son up the mud-brick steps leading to the rude terrace; and though anything but clean, it was a great improvement on what we had left, and with genuine kindliness the old woman brought out an old but well-preserved carpet and spread it for me.  The others had followed, and sat round to hear what the stranger could have to read to them.  They really seemed interested, though sometimes interrupting me with remarks not at all to the purpose.  I managed to bring them back to the stories I read, of course choosing the simplest possible, and trying to explain a little as we went.” [1]

[Footnote 1:  Among the Huts, pp. 181-184.]

Miss Whately would occasionally make an excursion into the desert, making the acquaintance of the wild Bedouin tribes, and reading to them the Scriptures.  “Lady,” once said a Bedouin, lifting the curtain of a tent in which she and her sister were seated, “I saw your horse at the water, and my comrade and I are come to hear some of your book.”  They listened attentively while she read to them the ninth chapter of John’s Gospel.