the 'Kingdoms of CocTiin and Travancore. 69 



from which they are maintained, and with all other circum- 

 stances connected with this important subject. 



I have the honour to be, rev. sir. 

 Your most obedient humble servant, 

 ■Fort St. George, (Sioned) G. G. Keble, 



June 28, 1806. Sec. to Government. 



To the Rigid Honourahle Lord William C. BeJifmck, 

 Governor in Council, &J'c. &'c. 



My Lord, 

 - When at Mysore I was honoured by the receipt of Mr. 

 Secretary Keble's letter, dated the 2Sth of June last, and, 

 •finding my general health much improved, I resolved to 

 .proceed to the Malabar coast in search of the information 

 required by your lordship in council, regarding the Chris- 

 tians inhabiting thai part of the peninsula; an investigation 

 which I have found as interesting as it is important, whe- 

 ther it regards humanity at large, or as it is connected, in a 

 political view, with the British interests in this country. 



To view the extensive field pointed out for my inquiries 

 minutely, would require much more of my time than could 

 be well spared from my other public avocations; and as I 

 learned that the reverend Dr. Buchanan was nominated by 

 the government of Bengal to travel over the same ground 

 for purposes somewhat similar, I did not think it incum- 

 bent on me to take up more than a general view of the sub- 

 ject, and I directed my attention accordingly, not so much 

 to details as to matters of comprehensive import. 



The first object to which the orders of government refer 

 is, to an account of the introduction of Christianity into 

 this country. 



There can be no doubt whatever that the St. Thome 

 Christians settled on the Malai)ar\oast at a very early pe- 

 riod of the Christian church ; from whence they, at one 

 time, spread in various directions as far even as Mileapqor 

 and St. Thomas's Mount : but to derive aiUh-jniic informa- 

 tion as to the time of their arri^^'al, is at present \w easy task, 



From the confusion arising from the imperfection of 

 K 3 liir.doo 



