hiː tˈʊk ɐ dˈiːp ˈɪntɹɛst ɪn lˈæŋɡwɪdʒᵻz, wˈʌn pɹˈaɪzᵻz fɔːɹ stˈʌdiz ɪn sˈænskɹɪt ænd hˌɪndəstˈɑːni bᵻfˌoːɹ lˈiːvɪŋ fɚðə bˌɛŋɡˈɔːl pɹˈɛzɪdənsi ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti θɹˈiː.
He took a deep interest in languages, won prizes for studies in Sanskrit and Hindustani before leaving for the Bengal Presidency in 1873.