254 



Life and Writings of Father BescM, 



[APRII* 



variation vhich tlie words of living languages constantly undergo. 

 They are therefore entiilt-d to the attentiun of all. 



Father Beschi's next htep was to study the works of the several 

 eminent Hiiiriu philosophers, devotees, ascetics, &c., such as those of 

 Tiruvaliuvar and others; and, after lie had made himself perf-cily ac- 

 quainted with them, he began his ministry with that .success which 

 always accompanies a hold and popular eloquence. Instead of wasting 

 his time in merely lopping the brandies, he struck at the root of hea- 

 thenism, and attacked the doctrines nnd disciplines of the several sects, 

 with a vehemence peculiar to himself, but admirably suited to the tem- 

 per and tHste of the age. Long before his arrival, the Reverend Ro- 

 berti Nubili composed many works, as above stated, which shook the 

 science and philosophy of heathenism, and laid open to many of the 

 Indians the imposture and absurdity of their established superstitions. 

 Animated with an equal zeal, the Reverend Father Beschi boldly erected 

 the standard of truth, and defended it with an unconquerable intre- 

 pidity. 



From the time of his arrival in this country, he abstained from the 

 use of flesh, fish, &c., and employed two Tamil youths to dress his food 

 ticcording to the Hindu custom, partaking of it only once in the day. 

 When at home, he wore on his head a velvet cap ; the remainder of his 

 dress consisted of a cloth, with a narrow red border, tied round the waist 

 by another cloth of a light puiple colour, and of sandals for his feet— 

 his costume was the same as that worn by the Hindu devotees. When 

 abroad, he wore a long gown of light purple colour, with a waist-band 

 of the same colour; on his head was a white turban, covered with a 

 purple cloth, in his hand he carried a handkerchief of the same colour— 

 his ears were adorned with a pair of pearl and ruby ear-rings — his fore- 

 finger with a gold ring, A lung cane in his hand, and a pair of slippers 

 on his feet, completed his out-of-door dress. His conveyance was a 

 palankeen, having a tiger's skin fir him to sit upon, two persons at- 

 tended on either side of the palankeen to fan him — a third person car- 

 ried a purple silk umbrella, surmounted with a golden ball, whilst tw^o 

 others carrying a bunch of peacock's tVathers proceeded in front, and 

 whenever he alighted from the palankeen he sat down upon the tiger's 

 skin. In order to preach the gospel with full eff.^ct, and to make con- 

 verts to Christianity amongst the heathens, he made himself perfect 

 master of the Hindu sciences, opinions and prejudices, and conformed 

 to their customs in matters of indiffereiice. In this manner he visited 

 different countries, exposing the fallacies of their doctrine, and the 



