CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN INDIA. ^l 



perhaps a few unclean sorts. Whatever man, say 

 the learned, performs the duties (Carina) of a Cshet" 

 tri, him you must consider as a Cshettri. But what 

 should put an end to the controversy, at least in my 

 humble opinion, is that the Mdhrdttas^ a numerous 

 an* I respectable tribe oi' Bra h mens, and Cshettris, are 

 acknowledged, all over India, to be foreigners fronx 

 the western parts of Persia^ who left their native 

 country not 1 200 years ago, as I shall shew in the 

 appendix Even though this alleged origin of the 

 Miihrattas should prove untrue, yet the universal 

 acknowledgment of it is very much in favour of my 

 assertion. 



The followers of Brahma', and those of Budd'ha, 

 were by no means indiiferent to the progress of fo- 

 reign creeds. They often ordered conferences to be 

 held, where the principles of these religions were 

 inquired into, the history of their legislators, &c. 

 This was practised in Ceylon in the ninth century, 

 according to Renaudot's two Muselman travellers; 

 and Brdhmens unanimously acknowledge, that this 

 was their practice formerly, with regard to the BaudcV^ 

 Justs ; and that these conferences were called Charchd, 

 or investigation, search, Cherche in French; and that 

 towns appointed for that purpose, were called 

 Charchita-nagari^ one of which is mentioned in the 

 Cumdricd-chanda. " In the year 32^ 1 of the Call- 

 yuga (or 191 after Christ) Kmg 'Sudhaca xvill reign 

 in the toxvn of Cha'rchita nagara, and destroy the 

 workers of iniquity.'" This points out a persecution 

 in religious matters, at a very early period. These 

 conferences ended in bloodshed, and the most cruel 

 and rancorous persecution of the followers of Bud- 

 d'ha, even from the confession of the Brdhmens 

 themselves. They wTre tied hand and foot, a»d 



