^46 CALCUTTA. 
present destitute. The natural effect of which has been to excite a 
doubt in the minds of the Hindoo, of our own behef in that faith, 
we are so anxious to press upon him. 
The native inhabitants of Calcutta may, indeed, from the sight 
of one solitary church, believe that we have a national religion, but 
I know of nothing that can give this information to the rest of our 
Eastern subjects. Whilst the Mussulmaun conquerors of India have 
established mosques in every town of their dominions, the traveller, 
after quitting Calcutta, must seek in vain for any such mark of the 
religion of their successors. 
Another great obstacle to the reception of Christianity by the 
Hindoos, is the admission of the Farias into our church, among whom 
the chief conversions have been made, since nothing can be more 
shocking to their ideas than the equality thus produced between 
the higher and lower casts. As long as this distinction continues 
to exist, it will be impossible to obliterate such notions; and any 
innovation attempted by Government in this respect, would be re- 
sisted by the utmost force of prejudice. 
Although the Hindoos have adopted from us, various improve- 
ments in their manufactures of salt-petre, opium, and indigo, and 
have made rapid advances in the knowledge of ship-building, 
practical mathematics, and navigation; yet none of these acquire- 
ments have interfered with their religious prejudices. The instant 
these are touched, they fly off from all approximation to their 
masters, and an end is put to farther advancement. Nothing is 
therefore more to be avoided than alarming their jealousy on this 
head, and exciting the suspicion that Government means, in any 
manner, to interfere in the business of proselyting. The Brahmins 
