Christianity in India, 1724

By J.F.C. Fuller

Published in the Agnostic Journal

London, England

17 March, 1906

(pages 173-174)

Sir—The following, as a testimony of the effects of missionary propaganda in India, is taken from an old book entitled, "The Agreement of Customs between the East Indians and Jews," printed and sold by Joseph Marshall, at the "Bible," in Newgate Street, in the year 1724, which may interest some of your readers. It is as follows:—

"Besides these Mestis, who are really descended from the Portuguese, there are others who also assume the name of Topases, as the Parias whom I mentioned in Article 15. When they became Christians they put on the Hat, and presently in an instant they are changed from the contemptible State that is among the Indians to the Quality of Senhor Soldad, which is no small Title among the Christians of the Country. But the Indians always despise them, and can tell them, that none but the Beggars embrace Christianity, whom for that reason they call Christians d'Aros, i.e., Christians of Rice; meaning by this, that they do not become Christians, but only that they may live more at ease, and secure Rice to themselves, for in this Country there is no mention made of Bread. And in effect I do not find that the Christians take it much amiss, for these Parias are commonly the most despicable People that can be imagin'd in the World, and tho' they turn Christians, yet they are never the honester men for all that. They are very much addicted to Stealing, and when they cannot make use of their Hands, they very dextrously use their Feet. What I say here may, at first view appear surprizing, yet there is nothing more certain; for if you let fall any Silver, a Knife, or a Fork, and do not presently reflect upon it, they, because they commonly wear no Shoes, take up very dextrously with their Toes, that which is fall'n, and then putting one Hand behind them, they find a way, by bending the Leg, to put into their Hand that which their Foot hath taken up. And all this Contrivance is formed while you do not see them stoop in the least; nay, they will be talking to you all the time they do the Trick, especially when it happens to be in the Night.

 

"It seems, that as soon as they have turn Christians, they count it below them to work. To this purpose I have heard from a Person worthy of Credit, that one day finding a young Woman Arrested, who practis'd a Trade very common in the Indies, and probably did something else, for which no such Person is punish'd, somebody ask'd her, why she did not work for her Living; and that the young Woman being much surpriz'd with Question, answer'd him, that she was a Christian: A very fine Answer indeed!"

So much for 1724, and turning to the census returns to 1901, what do we find? Practically the same result:—

"In Western India, the returns (of Christians) were swelled by the inclusion of famine waifs. In Madras and Bengal the more degraded classes tend to become converts, partly for social reasons. Nearly two-thirds of all Christians are in the Madras Presidency . . ."—The Times, Weekly Edition, May 13, 1904.

And he said unto them, "Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel to every sinner"; which, like so many other divine fiats, does not seem to have been altogether a success,

—Yours truly,

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