Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/379

Rh hundred rupees,) and devoted their pey-covil (devil-temple) to the worship of the true God.

In another village, inhabited by persons of the robber-caste, the inhabitants asked for a Christian teacher. The missionary visited them, and addressed them from the text, "Contend earnestly for the faith.” After he was gone, they sat down to talk over this matter. As their minds were still befogged with the mists of heathenism, they had some discussion as to what the padré meant. The subject, however, was made clear by one of their number: “We must fight for the new doctrine," said the wise Hindu; “that is, we must compel men to accept it. There is a village over there—they are all heathen; we must go to them, and see to it that they become Christians." This interpretation seemed so reasonable, that they armed themselves with sticks, and moved in a body upon the village. Having arrived, they made known their business. The villagers refused to be converted so suddenly. The contenders for the faith, however, were in earnest; they sat down before the town and blockaded it, allowing no one to go out to the wells for water. On the third day the villagers submitted, accepted the terms of the besiegers, and gave in their adhe-