iageable have complete knowledge of cookery,
accounts, and governments, and washing of clothes, agriculture and the
manufacture of garments and all other offices: otherwise they are
reckoned infirm-minded. Each girl is given a dowry to which she adds
with her own hands. No man molests any woman here on any occasion. They
come and go at their pleasure upon their business. There is one thing I
should like to see, Mother. I should like to see all the men of India
with all their wives brought to France in order to see the country and
profit by their experiences. Here are no quarrels or contentions, and
there is no dishonesty. All day long men do their work and the women do
theirs. Compared with these people the people of India do not work at
all, but all day long are occupied with evil thoughts and our women all
day long they do nothing but quarrel. Now I see this. The blame for
this state of affairs, Mother, lies upon the men of India, for if the
men were to educate the women they would give up quarrelling.

When a man goes out into the world his understanding is enlarged and he
becomes proficient in different kinds of work. All that is needed is to
show courage. At the present time, one's bravery or one's cowardice is
apparent. The opportunities for advancement come quickly. Such
opportunities will not occur again.

As for any marriage proposed [for me?] when I return, those things can
wait till I return. It is no gain to take into the house a child or a
sickly one who, through no fault of her own, dies in bringing forth. If
there be any talk between our house and any other family upon this
subject they should understand that I desire knowledge more than dowry.
There are schools where girls are educated by English ladies. I am not
of the sort to make a wedding outside my clan or country, but if I
fight to keep Mama Lumra out of the Punjab I will choose my wives out
of the Punjab. I desire nothing that is contrary to the Faith, Mother,
but what was ample yesterday does not cover even the palm of the hand
to-day. This is owing to the spread of enlightenment among all men
coming and going and observing matters which they had never before
known to exist.

In this country when one of them dies, the tomb is marked and named and
kept like a garden so that the others may go to mourn over her. Nor do
they believe a burial-ground to be inhabited by evil spirits or ghouls.
When I was upon a certain duty last month, I lay three nig