QUESTIONS 
 aan 
 a | 
 
 Oy ibe ue _ For ee 
 
 ses ‘BY MRS, JOHN NEWTON, : " a . i 
 
 PRICES FIVE CENTS ee Buk ly 
 Fa ¥ iN aie Os 
 ; ; 
 } fH i ; e 
 ! f i ; va j 
 ‘ Hs é 
 ‘ j uf 
 
 f WOMAN?S FOREIGN MISSIONARY society ae 
 | OF THE PRESBYTERIAN cea : 
 
INDIA 
 
 QUESTIONS 
 AND 
 ANSWERS 
 
 FOR 
 
 MISSION CIRCLES AND BANDS 
 
 BY MRS. JOHN NEWTON 
 
 PRICE, FIVE CENTS 
 
 1898 
 WOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY 
 OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 501 Witherspoon Building 
 Philadelphia 
 
a 
 
INDIA. 
 
 Questions and Answers for Mission 
 Circles and Bands. 
 
 I—Where is India, and how far is it from 
 America ? 
 
 It is about 15.000 miles from America, near 
 the middle of the southern part of the Continent 
 of Asia. 
 
 2—How do Missionaries go to India? 
 
 They formerly went in sailing vessels around 
 the Cape of Good Hope, a voyage from three to 
 four months long. Now, after crossing the At- 
 lantic Ocean to England, they take the over- 
 land route, which, since the opening of the 
 Suez Canal, may be entirely by water. 
 
 3—Over what bodies of water does the over- 
 land route pass? 
 
 Over part of the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of 
 
 3 
 
Biscay, the Straits of Gibraltar, the Mediter- 
 ranean Sea, the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, the 
 Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Arabian Sea. 
 
 4—How is India bounded ? 
 
 Along its border from northwest to southwest 
 runs the great natural wall of the Himalaya 
 Mountains, guarding India from the wild Tar- 
 tars of the north, and from the more peaceable 
 Chinese. The southern part is washed on three 
 sides by the waters of the Indian Ocean. To 
 the extreme east lies Siam. On the west, sep- 
 arated from India by lofty mountains, lie Af- 
 ghanistan and Beloochistan. 
 
 5—What is the size of India ? 
 
 India has an area of 1,474,606 square miles, 
 equal to all Kurope except Russia; or to the 
 United States east of the Mississippi. It is 1900 
 miles long at its greatest length, 1500 miles wide 
 at its greatest width. 
 
 6—By what other name is India known? 
 
 It is called Hindustan, the country or place of 
 the Hindus. Foreigners use the name for all 
 India, except Burmah, but natives give it, more 
 correctly, to the centre only. 
 
 7—In song and story India is celebrated for 
 its beauty, while our Missionaries often tell us 
 it is very dreary. Which is true? 
 
 4 
 
 7 ber 
 
Both are true. In the mountains the scenery 
 is grand. The plains are beautiful at times, at 
 others dreary and desolate beyond description. 
 
 8—Describe the mountains. 
 
 In the centre and south there are three ranges 
 of mountains : the Vindhya range and the East- 
 ern and Western Ghauts. In the north the 
 Himalaya Mountains rise from the plains like a 
 great wall. They are 1500 miles long, and some 
 of the peaks are 20,000 feet high, or even higher. 
 Every kind of climate and variety of scenery 
 may be found in these mountains. 
 
 9 —Describe the plains. 
 
 Below the Himalaya Mountains are the North- 
 ern Plains, which, viewed from the outer range 
 of mountains, look like a great map. There are 
 no hills and no forests. After the great grain 
 crops have been gathered, and the hot wind of 
 summer has scorched and withered every green 
 thing, the plains look bare and desolate. Most 
 of the cities and towns are there, and more vil- 
 lages than can easily be counted. The climate 
 of the plains is tropical. 
 
 to—How are the seasons divided in India ? 
 
 Into the cold, hot and rainy seasons, nearly 
 corresponding in time with our winter, summer 
 and autumn. The rainy season is sometimes 
 called the Monsoon. 
 
11-—Describe the cold season. 
 
 In the Deccan (south land) and the central 
 _ parts of India it is never cold. The air becomes 
 pleasantly cool, doors and windows stand open, 
 very little rain falls, howers bloom, and fruit is 
 abundant. Farther north there are sometimes 
 frosty nights, and fires are needed. 
 
 12— Describe the hot season. 
 
 The hot season follows the cold, and the air 
 which has been growing warmer becomes in- 
 tensely hot. A scorching wind sweeps over the 
 plains and withers the grass and flowers. Houses 
 are closed before the sun rises, and outdoor work 
 must be done in the early morning or after sun- 
 set. 
 
 13—How are the hot days varied? 
 
 By dust storms, which rise often so suddenly 
 and rapidly that it is not possible to find shelter 
 before they burst, and travelers are sometimes 
 suffocated by them. The dust sifts through the 
 carefully closed doors and windows. Such a 
 storm is welcomed, however, because it is often 
 followed by a shower of rain, which cools the 
 air for a time. 
 
 14— Describe the rainy season. 
 
 While the cold and hot seasons vary greatly in 
 different parts of the country, the rainy season 
 is of about equal length everywhere. From the 
 
 6 
 
middle of June till the middle of September 
 there is frequent, and in some places, almost 
 continuous rain. The sandy plains are soon 
 covered with the grass and crops, and the rivers 
 often overflow their banks, but the heat con- 
 tinues great. The last month of the rainy sea- 
 son and that which follows it are the most un- 
 healthy of the year. 
 
 15—What creatures are found at this season ? 
 
 Snakes,centipedes and scorpions, which are 
 seldom seen at otherseasons. Many natives die 
 every year from snake bites. Snakes often go 
 into the houses. A missionary walking in his 
 veranda late at night heard a sound like snor- 
 ing. He traced it to an empty box, which he 
 struck with his cane. Still the sound contin- 
 ued. After securing help and a light he lifted 
 the box and a large cobra was found under it. 
 He was told that the snoring sound was onl 
 made when the cobra became angry and wa 
 about to strike. 
 
 16—Are centipedes and scorpions dangerou 
 
 They are not dangerous. The centipedes have 
 a thick, horny body, and short legs which they 
 fix in the flesh, and thus cause a painful wound. 
 The writer, lifting her little boy out of bed one 
 day, found a centipede between the sheets just 
 below his feet. She has seen them fall on her 
 
 7 
 
plate at table ; but was most startled, when she 
 glanced down at her dress one evening, and saw 
 the head of a centipede between its folds. 
 
 17—What are the chief products of India? 
 
 Wheat, Indian corn, barley and pulse of dif- 
 ferent kinds in the north; rice, cotton, sugar- 
 cane, indigo and opium in the centre ; coffee 
 and spices in Ceylon ; tea on the slopes of the 
 Himalayas. 
 
 18—What are some of its fruits? 
 
 The mango is most cultivated and universally 
 liked. Cocoanuts and pineapples grow on the 
 coast, and bananas are found everywhere. 
 Oranges, lemons, guavas, loguats and many 
 other fruits are abundant. 
 
 19—What is the population of India? 
 
 285,000,000, which is four times as great as 
 the population of the United States. 
 
 20—By whom is India governed ? 
 
 By the British. In the year 1613 they estab- 
 lished themselves at Surat, on the west coast, as 
 traders. In 1757 they conquered Bengal. One 
 province after another was added, until the 
 whole country was brought under their control. 
 
 21—Is the whole of India under dzrec¢ British 
 rule? 
 
 Many of the native states were allowed to 
 
 8 
 
keep their own rulers. There are 153 of these 
 states, varying greatly in size and power. Hy- 
 derabad, the largest, contains 98,000 square 
 miles of territory and has a population of about 
 II,500,000, 
 
 22—What is expected of their rulers ? 
 
 That they will be loyal to the British, aid 
 them in time of war, and adopt all important 
 reforms in their government. They cannot ex- 
 tend their territories without the consent of the 
 British. 
 
 23—How do the British hold this great coun- 
 try? 
 
 At each of the large cities there is a military 
 force which can be sent, in case of war, to any 
 part of the country. There is also a force of 
 British officials, by whom laws are made and 
 enforced, whose duty itisto note any discontent 
 among the people. The power of the British 
 lies in the fact that the natives are not united or 
 warlike. 
 
 24—Was India a civilized country when con- 
 quered by the British? 
 
 Long before the civilized world had dreamed 
 of America, before England had emerged from 
 barbarism, India ranked among the first naticns 
 of the world in literature, science and art. 
 
 9 
 
25—What remained for the conquerors to 
 give? 
 
 Christian civilization ; education for all, and 
 not only for the favored few; science and art 
 so applied as to make the feople prosperous and 
 happy. 
 
 26—What more must be done? 
 
 The people of India must be told the glad 
 tidings of that Saviour through whom alone 
 true happiness can be found. 
 
 27—Cannot the British officials in India do 
 this ? 
 
 In order to conciliate the natives, the British 
 Government has forbidden its officers to teach 
 Christianity. The Bible is not allowed in Goy- 
 ernment schools; heathen festivals are kept 
 as holidays, and grants of money are given to 
 some of the chief heathen temples. Among 
 these officers, however, are many Christian men, 
 who by large gifts of money and by their influ- 
 ence help the missionaries in their work. 
 
 28—How many languages are spoken in _ 
 India? 
 
 Over one hundred distinct languages, anda 
 much larger number of dialects. 
 
 29—Mention some of the most important. 
 
 Hindi, spoken by too millions; Bengali, by 
 
 IO 
 
40 millions ; Tamil and Teluga, by 35 millions; 
 Panjabi, by 16 millions; Marathi, by 15 mil- 
 lions ; Gujarati, by 10 millions. Hindustani or 
 Urdu, a mixture of Hindi and Persian, is under- 
 stood in all the large towns and cities of India. 
 
 30—What is the appearance of the people of 
 India? 
 
 They all have dark skins, black hair and eyes, 
 and regular features, but different classes differ 
 so much in appearance that those who are used 
 to them can often tell at once from what locality 
 they come, whether they are Mohammedans or 
 Hindus, and the caste to which they belong. 
 
 31—What is their character ? 
 
 They have been accurately described as ‘‘ te- 
 spectful to foreigners and superiors of their own 
 countrymen ; patient under delays, disappoint- 
 ments and emergencies ; peaceful, except in 
 verbal warfare ; temperate and of simple habits ; 
 untruthful, selfish, miserly, and deceitful.”’ 
 
 32—How do they live? 
 
 In closely built cities, towns or villages, rarely 
 in country homes. . 
 ' 33—Describe the villages. 
 
 In the south the villages are very pretty. 
 They are built amid palm groves and have no 
 walls. The low mud houses have thatched 
 
 II 
 
roofs——often covered with vines; but the inte- 
 rior is dirty and comfortless. In the north the 
 houses are close together, and are built entirely 
 of clay. There are no trees, and few flowers. 
 The villages are generally surrounded by clay 
 walls, and the smaller ones are occupied by 
 farmers. 
 
 34— Where are their farms? 
 
 The fields lie around the villages. Hach man 
 knows his own, but there are no fences between 
 them. ‘They are generally owned by the head 
 man of the village and rented to the farmers, 
 who pay in produce. The cattle are taken to 
 the waste lands every morning, and brought 
 back at night. At the gate of the village they 
 separate, each one going to its owner’s house, 
 just as they did when Isaiah wrote, ‘‘ The ox 
 knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s 
 crib.’’—Isaiah I, 3. 
 
 35—How are the houses furnished ? 
 
 A few coarse woven mats are on the floor; a 
 bedstead, which is used by the master of the 
 house, while the wife and children sleep on the 
 floor ; a spinning wheel; a few cooking uten- 
 sils ; one or two small stools, and a box contain- 
 ing the scanty wardrobe of the family, are all 
 that are considered necessary to the family com- 
 fort. Grain is stored in large vessels kept in the 
 
 I2 
 
room in which the family eat, sleep and live. 
 Straw and feed for the cattle are kept on the 
 roof, or in the court yards of the large houses. 
 
 36—What is the daily life of the village 
 people? 
 
 The men plough, sow and reap, thresh and 
 garner their grain; and as they have two crops, 
 instead of one, every year, and often have to 
 water their fields for one of these crops, they 
 are kept busy. The women bring water from 
 the well, which is outside of the village; grind 
 the grain and cook it; spin, weave and make 
 their garments. They also help in the care of 
 the grain. 
 
 37—If a stranger should visit a village, how 
 would he be received? 
 
 He would be regarded as a curiosity. The 
 men and boys would gather around him, but he 
 would see very few women. Looking up sud- 
 denly, he might see women peeping over the 
 walls, but they would disappear as soon as they 
 saw they were noticed. 
 
 38—How are missionary ladies received? 
 
 They cannot easily get access to the women 
 if they go as strangers; but when they are 
 known and trusted, the women and children 
 come to the entrance of the village to meet 
 them, and, as they pass through the streets, 
 
 13 
 
doors are thrown open, with a cordial, ‘‘ Come 
 in, mem Sahib,’’ or a reproachful, ‘*‘ Youare not 
 going to pass me by.”’ 
 
 39—Are there schools in the villages? 
 
 There are no schools in the smaller villages. 
 The boys sometimes walk to the nearest town 
 to attend school. The girls are taught only the 
 duties of their home life. 
 
 40—What is peculiarly interesting about the 
 customs of the people of India? 
 
 The fact that so many of them are like those 
 with which Jesus and his disciples were familiar. 
 
 41—Mention some that remind us of the 
 story of the woman of Samaria. 
 
 The wells are outside the towns and villages, 
 and the women go out to them to draw water. 
 They are surrounded by solid masonry, raised 
 two or three feet above the ground; travelers 
 often sit on this to rest. Kach woman brings 
 her own brass vessel, and lets it down into the 
 well by a rope. If atraveler is not furnished 
 with a vessel or rope, he cannot get water, 
 though sitting on the well. 
 
 42—Mention one that shows how two women 
 may be grinding at one mill. 
 
 The mill consists of two large round stones, 
 laid one above the other. The grain is poured 
 
 yee 
 
into a hole in the top. On one edge is an up- 
 right piece of wood which serves as a handle. 
 Two women sit on the ground, on each side of 
 the mill and, holding the handle, turn the upper 
 stone. To make fine flour, the meal must be 
 passed through the mill two or three times. 
 
 43—How are we reminded of Jesus’ words by 
 the shepherds and their flock? 
 
 Shepherds do not drive the sheep and goats 
 under their care. They go before and call, and 
 the sheep know their shepherd’s voice and fol- 
 low him, but are very timid with strangers. 
 
 44—Where do the educated and wealthy 
 classes live ? 
 
 In the cities and large towns. Some of the 
 cities contain very magnificent palaces and mos- 
 ques of marble and stone, but the houses are 
 generally built of brick around a central court- 
 yard, on which all the rooms open. There are 
 no windows on the outside, only a blank wall 
 with one door for entrance. Even when not 
 built thus, there are few windows, and they are 
 so small and high the street cannot be seen 
 from them. The streets are very narrow and 
 dirty. Until lately, in Lahore, which is the 
 capital of the Punjab and its largest city, no car- 
 riage could be driven through the city, as it 
 had no streets wide enough for two carriages to 
 pass. 
 
 5 
 
45—How do the women of the cities live? 
 
 The poor women are servants to the rich, or 
 wives of working men, and these last live as the 
 women of the villages do. 
 
 The richer women are never seen in the 
 streets, or looking from their doors or windows. 
 They would be disgraced if any man, except a 
 near relative, father, husband, or brother, should 
 look upon their faces. They seldom leave their 
 homes except to attend family feasts, and to 
 these they go in closed conveyances, often care- 
 fully guarded. On arrival they are taken to the 
 women’s apartments and are not seen by any of 
 the male guests. 
 
 46—How do they spend their time when at 
 home? 
 
 They cook and serve their husband’s meals. 
 Sometimes they embroider or work on lace, and 
 a very few read the Koran or the Shasters, but 
 they lead a very idle life, and eagerly listen to 
 the gossip of the streets brought to them by 
 their servants. Wecall them Zenana women. 
 Their own people say of them, they are Purdah- 
 nishin —‘‘ behind the curtain.”’ 
 
 47—Are these women glad to see missionary 
 ladies ? 
 
 The younger ones are glad to see them, and 
 often eager to learn, but the older women do not 
 
 16 
 
want the young to have the liberty which has 
 been denied to themselves. They are sus- 
 picious and bigoted, and sometimes refuse to let 
 the missionaries visit in the household. As the 
 mother-in-law is the feminine head of the house, 
 it is necessary to gain her friendship before the 
 younger women can be taught. 
 
 48—What custom gives the mother-in-law 
 great power ? 
 
 All her sons live at home, and their wives, 
 married when very young, are placed under her 
 control. So long as she lives the wife has no 
 authority and very little liberty in her own 
 home. 
 
 49—What are the chief religions of India? 
 
 Brahmanisni1, Buddhism, Mohammedanism, 
 Demon-worship and Parsi-ism. 
 
 50—What is the religion of the Hindus? 
 Brahmanism. 
 
 51—What are the religious books of the 
 Hindus? 
 
 Their Shasters, or religious writings, are very 
 numerous. The oldest, the Vedas, were written 
 long ago, no one knows when orhow. The 
 Hindus say they were written ‘‘ from before all 
 time.’’ Many other books have since been 
 added. Some of these regulate family and 
 
 17 
 
social life, and formerly gave laws to the coun- 
 try. 
 52—What are the chief deities now worshiped ? 
 
 The Supreme Being, of whom they say that 
 nothing is known except that He exists and 
 manifested Himself at different times as Brahma, 
 the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; Siva, the 
 Destroyer and Reproducer. Brahma is seldom 
 worshiped. Siva has many temples, but is not 
 always represented in human form. Vishnu is 
 said to have appeared on the earth in ten dif- 
 ferent forms, at first of animals, then of men. 
 Some of these incarnations are the favorite gods 
 of the Hindus. 
 
 53—What are worshiped besides these gods? 
 
 The. wives of the gods are worshiped, and 
 there are also many inferior gods and goddesses, 
 besides sacred animals, rivers, mountains, hills, 
 plants and stones. The Hindus are said to have 
 330,000,000 gods. 
 
 54—Do the priests and learned men believe in 
 all these gods? 
 
 Many say they believe in ove god, but they 
 teach the people to worship and fear many gods. 
 The Brahmans build temples and shrines, and 
 grow rich by the offerings of the worshipers. 
 
 55—Jesus says we are to judge prophets (reli- 
 
 18 
 
gious teachers) by their fruits: Matt. Vii. (13. 
 What are some of the fruits of Brahmanism ? 
 
 Caste, the poverty of the masses, the degra- 
 dation of women, child marriage, infanticide, 
 Suttee, Thuggee. 
 
 56—What is Caste ? 
 
 Brahmanism teaches that four classes of men 
 were created by Brahma. I. The Brahmans, or 
 priests. II. The Kshatriyas, or Rajputs— 
 soldiers. III. The Vaisyas—farmers and mer- 
 chants. IV. The Sudras—mechanics and ser- 
 vants. Each of these castes has now many sub- 
 divisions, and below all are the Pariahs, or Out- 
 casts. 
 
 57—How does caste affect the daily life of the 
 Hindus? 
 
 They may not eat or drink with those of a 
 lower caste. If the shadow of a low-caste man 
 falls on a Brahman’s food it must be thrown 
 away. If hetouches the Brahman’s vessels they 
 must, if metal, be scoured before using; if 
 earthenware, destroyed. Marriages must be 
 between those of the same caste. Those be- 
 longing toa low-caste can never rise socially, 
 while the higher castes can never fall except by 
 transgressing caste rules. 
 
 58—How does it affect character ? 
 
 19 
 
It fosters pride, insolence and selfishness in 
 those of high caste, since the Brahmans, even 
 when wicked and debased, must be reverenced 
 and worshiped. It represses industry and the 
 desire for improvement in those of low caste, 
 since, however worthy, energetic and prosper- 
 ous they may be, they can never rise. 
 
 59—How does it affect the introduction of 
 Christianity into India? 
 
 It hinders the spread of Christianity more than 
 any other single influence. The converted 
 Brahman must give up his claim to superior 
 holiness, his power and wealth, and become like 
 his Master, ‘‘despised and rejected of men.”’ 
 All the native Christians must be willing to be 
 abandoned by their families and friends, for 
 after baptism into the Christian faith they can 
 never be restored to their caste. 
 
 60—How does Brahmanism keep the people 
 poor ? 
 
 Caste takes from them all hope of change. 
 Accepting their position in life as their fate, 
 sons learn and follow their fathers’ trades, and, 
 until aroused by English energy and improve- 
 ments, never dream of a better way than that 
 which has been handed down through the cen- 
 turies. The Brahmans by their extortions help 
 to keep the people poor. 
 
 20 
 
61—How has it degraded women ? 
 
 It teaches that women’can hope for nothing 
 in this life or in the next, except through their 
 husbands. ‘‘A woman has no other god on 
 earth but her husband,’’ says one of the Shas- 
 ters. Asa woman she cannot hope for heaven. 
 If very faithful and attentive to her husband, 
 her next birth may be as asman, and then she 
 may win heaven. The degradation of women 
 has produced Infanticide, Child-marriage and 
 Suttee. 
 
 62—What is Infanticide ? 
 
 Daughters being very unwelcome, they were 
 often put to death, especially in high-caste 
 families. An English law has made this a 
 crime.. It is no longer done openly, but the 
 last census proves that it is still done secretly. 
 
 63—What is meant by Child-marriage? 
 
 Little girls are married when between five 
 and ten years of age. After marriage, the hus- 
 band’s mother takes charge of the young wife 
 and teaches her to be obedient and faithful to 
 her husband. If the husband should die, the 
 little girl becomes a widow and must be one all 
 her life. 
 
 64—What is Suttee ? 
 
 The burning of widows with the dead bodies 
 of their husbands. When Ranjit Singh, the 
 
 21 
 
last king of the Punjab, died, eleven women 
 were burned with him. The monuments marked 
 suttees are nunierous all over India. 
 
 65—How was it stopped ? 
 
 More than fifty years ago an English law put 
 a stop to this cruel rite. Soon after, an English 
 officer heard that a widow was to be burned and 
 went to rescue her. ‘‘It is a part of our relig- 
 ion, and you have promised not to interfere 
 with our religion,’’ said the Brahmans. ‘‘ Very 
 well,’’ replied the officer ; ‘‘ but we have a law 
 which hangs murderers, and if you burn this 
 widow, I will have you arrested for murder.’’ 
 The widow was not burned. 
 
 66—How are the widows treated now? 
 
 Kindness and sympathy are never shown 
 them. Their jewels are taken away. All their 
 lives they niust wear coarse clothing, eat coarse 
 food and have no place at the family feasts. 
 Whether they remain with their husband’s 
 parents, or return to their own, they are no 
 longer daughters, but servants, disgraced an@ 
 despised. One of them, who to-day is suffer- 
 ing all this, says: ‘‘ The English have abolished 
 suttee, but, alas! neither the English nor the 
 angels know what goes on in our homes! and 
 Hindus not only don’t care, but think it good.” — 
 
 67--How many widows are there in India 
 now ? 
 
 22 
 
22,657,429. Of these probably 80,000 are 
 under ten years of age. 
 
 68—What is 7Zhug gee ? 
 
 The Thugs were men who devoted them- 
 selves to the service of the cruel goddess Kali. 
 Sometimes in bands, sometimes singly, they 
 waylaid and murdered travelers. The Thugs, 
 as an organized body, no longer exist, but one 
 who has governed in India says: ‘‘ Instances 
 of the poisoning of wayfarers have given warn- 
 ing that Thuggee, under another form, is ever 
 ready to spring into life again ”’ 
 
 69——-Where is Buddhism to be found in India? 
 
 Chiefly in Thibet, Burmah and Ceylon. For 
 hundreds of years there were many Buddhists 
 among the Hindus, and though as a distinct 
 religion it has passed away from northern In- 
 dia, it has not done so without changing Brah- 
 manism, and being changed by it. There is a 
 sect called Jains, which still holds many of the 
 Buddhist doctrines. 
 
 70--Who was Buddha? 
 
 We are told that about 500 B. C. there lived 
 in India a young prince, now known as Gau- 
 tama Buddha—Auddha meaning the enlight- 
 ened. He is also called Szddartha, which 
 means, ‘‘He who has fulfilled his end.’’ His 
 father wished him to be a soldier, but he loved 
 
 23 
 
to think over the great questions of sin and sor- 
 row, life and death. He went to the mountains, 
 where he lived in a cave, and suffered from 
 cold and hunger for six years. Then he felt he 
 must go and preach to his people. 
 
 71—What did he teach them ? 
 
 That all men are brothers, and therefore 
 there should be no caste, and that the gods of 
 the Brahmans cannot save any one, for if men 
 do wrong they will surely be punished. He 
 taught also that there is no God but such as man 
 may make of himself. To do this, home and 
 friends must be left, coarse food must be eaten, 
 rags worn—and men must not think of or do 
 anything, good or bad—and then after death 
 they would be ‘‘ blown out.”’ 
 
 72--What did he teach those who could not, 
 - or would not, choose this hermit life ? 
 
 That they were to be kind to every living 
 thing. They were not to kill or steal, lie or 
 use strong drink. If they would obey these 
 commands their souls would pass at death into 
 a higher life, and at last into Mirvana (blown 
 out). But if they failed, they would be born 
 again in a lower form, and so through many 
 births, always downward, until they reached an 
 awful hell. 
 
 73——Did Buddha profess to be a God ? 
 
 24 
 
He claimed to have become a god, but only 
 as others might also attain to divinity. He did 
 not teach men to worship him, yet Brahman- 
 ism claims him as one of its gods, and the 
 Buddhists worship him and all connected with 
 him. 
 
 74--What are the fruits of Buddhism ? 
 
 There are no traces now of the morality 
 Buddha taught. A writer from Thibet says: 
 ‘Buddhism has converted the savage Thibe- 
 tan into an apparently harmless, but in reality, 
 an utterly false and hypocritical being.’’ An- 
 other from Burmah says: ‘‘ It is the least hope- 
 ful of the mis-faiths of misguided men.’’ And, 
 ‘* There is no motive to incite to high moral liv- 
 ing,’’ says one from Ceylon. 
 
 75—Were the Hindus the original inhabitants 
 of India? 
 
 No; they came from Central Asia and con- 
 quered India about 5,000 years ago. The peo- 
 ple they found there were savage tribes differ- 
 ing in origin and language. They had no 
 books nor written languages, and few mechani- 
 cal arts. They were treated as servants by their 
 conquerors, and were either included in the 
 lowest caste or were driven to the mountains and 
 to the south. 
 
 76—What was the worship of these tribes? 
 
 25 
 
Most of them were, and are, demon wor- 
 shipers. They think that the earth is full of 
 spirits, which dwell in trees, plants, streams and 
 rocks, and must be conciliated by sacrifices and 
 offerings. Among some of the tribes human 
 sacrifices were not uncommon, but these have 
 been abolished. 
 
 77—What is’ pleasant to think of in connec- 
 tion with these tribes ? 
 
 That the ‘‘good news’ of Jesus’ love for 
 them has touched many hearts, and that one 
 tribe—the Santhal—now numbers many thou- 
 sands of earnest Christians among the people. 
 
 78—What is Mohammedanism ? 
 
 Mohammed was a native of Arabia, who lived 
 about 1300 years ago. He said he had received 
 a new revelation from God, which was to take 
 the place of all that had gone before. Gradu- 
 ally he gathered around him many who believed 
 that his so-called revelations were from God. 
 
 79-—How did Mohammedanism increase ! 
 
 Mohammed told the fierce warlike Arabians 
 that God had commanded him to force all men 
 to obey him, and that they were to go forth with 
 this new revelation in one hand and the sword 
 in the other, and to kill all who would not obey. 
 They were promised wealth, honor and power if 
 they conquered, and Paradise if they should fall 
 
 26 
 
in battle. If they failed they would be dis- 
 graced. So, crying, ‘‘There is one God, and 
 Mohammed is His prophet!’ they went out to 
 battle, and were generally victorious. Moham- 
 medanism soon spread over western Asia and 
 parts of Kurope and Africa. 
 
 80—What is the sacred book of the Moham- 
 medans, and what does it teach? 
 
 It is called the Koran. Mohammed said it 
 was a direct gift from God. It teaches that men 
 are to be made holy by prayer, almsgiving, fast- 
 ing, pilgrimage to Mecca (where Mohammed is 
 buried), and by repeating passages of the Koran 
 —especially the words ‘‘ There is one God, and 
 Mohammed is his prophet.’ Mohammedans 
 are taught to hate all who are of a different 
 faith. It is a merit to lie to or steal from or kill 
 an unbeliever. In India no word more bitter or 
 more full of hate is heard from Mohammedans 
 than the word ‘‘ Kdjir’’ (unbeliever). 
 
 - 81—When and how was Mohammedanism in- 
 troduced into India ? 
 
 About one hundred years after the rise of 
 Mohammedanism, India was invaded by the 
 Afghans, who were Mohammedans. For 1100 
 years it was subject to constant invasions from 
 the Mohammedans at the North. Some retired 
 after conquering rich provinces, carrying away 
 
 27 
 
the wealth of the conquered. Others remained 
 and founded kingdoms. But even at the time of 
 their greatest power, Mohammedans never ruled 
 over all India. 
 
 82—How niany of the inhabitants of India are 
 now Mohammedans? 
 
 About fifty millions. 
 
 83—What is their character? 
 
 They are proud, arrogant, deceitful, sensual 
 and cruel. Their hatred of Christianity is in- 
 tense, and they are extremely difficult to reach 
 with the Gospel. 
 
 84—Who are the Parsis? 
 
 They are Persians who were driven to India 
 by the Mohammedans. They are the Fire- 
 worshipers of the Hast. Their religion has 
 little influence beyond their own community. 
 There are 150,000 Parsis in India. 
 
 85—What new sect has arisen within the last 
 quarter of a century? 
 The Brahma Samaj. 
 
 86—What is its belief ? 
 
 It believes in one supreme personal God, and 
 in the immortality of the soul; in repentance as 
 the way of salvation ; and in a spiritual worship, 
 without rites or ceremonies. The sect is divided 
 into Progressive and Conservative Brahmas, the 
 
 28 
 
former of which reject altogether distinction 
 of caste and all idolatrous customs, while the 
 latter do so in theory, but in practice still 
 cling to many old observances. 
 
 Missions, 
 87—-When and by whom were Protestant Mis- 
 sions begun in India? 
 
 In 1705, by the Danes. The first Mission- 
 aries were Bartholomew Ziegenbalg and Henry 
 Plutschau. 
 
 88—What English society first sent Mission- 
 aries to India? 
 
 The Baptist. 
 
 89—Who was the first Missionary sent to India 
 by the Baptist Society? 
 
 The Society was formed through the exertions 
 of William Carey, who was sent out as its first 
 Missionary, and reached India in 1793. 
 
 go—What noted men soon joined him? 
 
 Six years later (1799) he was joined by Messrs. 
 Ward and Marshman. 
 
 91—What did these three men accomplish ? 
 
 They set up a printing press at Seramporc, 
 and after translating the Bible, or parts of it, in- 
 to thirty-one different languages, had it printed. 
 They wrote, printed and distributed tracts. 
 
 29 
 
They established schools in which 10 ooo chil- 
 dren were taught, and also founded a college. 
 In 1816, they had baptized seven hundred con- 
 verts. 
 
 92—Who was one of the first American Mis- 
 sionaries to India? 
 
 Adoniram Judson, the founder of Mission 
 work in Burmah. 
 
 93—When and by whom were American 
 Presbyterian Missions commenced in India? 
 
 In 1834, by the Rev. J. C. Lowrie, who was 
 afterwards Secretary of the Presbyterian Board 
 of Foreign Missions. 
 
 94—Where was the first Mission Station? 
 
 At Lodiana, a large city 1100 miles northwest 
 from Calcutta, in the great northern plains. It 
 is about forty miles in a direct line from the 
 Himalayas, and six miles south of the Sutlej 
 river. 
 
 95—What made Lodiana an important place — 
 fifty years ago? 
 
 It was a military and civil out-post. The 
 river Sutlej divided the provinces under British 
 rule from the Punjab, then under native rule. 
 It was also the chief city in a densely populated 
 district. 
 
 30 
 
96—How many Missions has the American 
 Presbyterian Church in India now ? 
 
 Three: the Lodiana Mission in the Punjab ; 
 the Farrukhabad Mission in the Northwest 
 Provinces ; and the Western India Mission in the 
 Bombay Presidency. The Farrukhabad Mission 
 was commenced at Allahabad in 1836; the West- 
 ern India Mission in 1853, at Kolhapur. 
 
 97—How many Stations and Sub-Stations 
 have these Missions ? 
 
 The Lodiana Mission has ten Stations and 
 twenty-one Sub-Stations; Farrukhabad, seven 
 Stations and ten Sub-Stations; Western, five 
 Stations and twelve Sub-Stations. At the Sub- 
 Stations the work is carried on chiefly by the 
 native helpers, and no property is owned by the 
 Board. 
 
 98—How many Missionaries are connected 
 with these Missions? 
 
 One hundred and forty-one. Of these, ninety- 
 two are ladies, but many who are the wives of 
 Missionaries are prevented by home duties, 
 from active missionary work. ‘There are also 
 over one hundred native ministers, and many 
 teachers ana helpers. 
 
 99—What is the whole number of ordained 
 Protestant Missionaries working in India? 
 
 ° 
 
 31 
 
Between eight and nine hundred, belonging to 
 sixty-five different Societies and Boards. ‘There 
 are nearly as many native ministers. 
 
 100—What proportion does this bear to Chris- 
 tian work at home? 
 
 It allows one pastor to teach for about 160,000 
 of the people of India, while in the United 
 States there is one ordained minister for each 
 720 of its inhabitants. 
 
 rtoI—What means do the Missionaries use to 
 bring the people of India to a knowledge of the 
 Saviour ? 
 
 They preach in the streets or in roadside 
 chapels; they establish schools in which the 
 Bible is taught daily ; they write or translate 
 Christian books and tracts, and print these and 
 the Bible in the native languages. Some heal 
 the sick, and by caring for their diseased bodies 
 help them to understand Christ’s care for their 
 diseased souls. 
 
 102—What is the chief work of the lady Mis- 
 sionaries ? 
 
 In schools and Zenanas, they teach the little 
 girls and women who are untaught and little 
 loved. They also have charge of boarding- 
 schools and orphanages, and some of them are 
 physicians. 
 
 32 
 
103—What was recently said in a Bengali 
 newspaper about their method of teaching? 
 
 ‘* Before our children can read the Ramayan 
 (a religious poem ofthe Brahmans), they know 
 the Bible down to the Flood, and even the 
 meaning of the Flood, and, of course, every- 
 thing about Jesus Christ. And the result is that 
 this knowledge, being implanted in their minds 
 so early, they never forget tt.’’ 
 
 104—What distressing events marked the year 
 1896-"97 ? 
 
 A terrible famine, followed by an outbreak of 
 the bubonic plague. It is estimated that seyeral 
 millions of persons died from these calamities. 
 Our missionaries were able to give much relief 
 to the starving, but it will be many years before 
 the stricken districts can recover their former 
 prosperity. 
 
 105—How miany Protestant native Christians 
 are there in India? 
 
 Probably about 750,000. 
 
 106—How many of these belong to the Amer- 
 ican Presbyterian Mission (1898) ? 
 
 About 3100. These are communicant church 
 members, and do not include the large number 
 who are under Christian influence in schools 
 and families. 
 
 33 
 
107—What other results have been accom- 
 plished by Christian missions and civilization ? 
 
 Slowly but surely caste barriers are breaking 
 down. Less slowly and even more surely, im- 
 prisoned, degraded, corrupted womanhood is 
 being freed, raised and purified. Idol-worship 
 is being forsaken. Humanity, crushed and 
 trampled out of sight by an utterly selfish re- 
 ligion, is beginning to stir men’s hearts. 
 
 108—What has been said of India by one who 
 lived and labored there? 
 
 “‘India is too fair a gem to adorn any but the 
 brow of Christ. It was one of her own sons 
 who, touching but the hem of Christianity’s 
 garment, said, ‘None but Jesus; none but 
 Jesus ; none but Jesus ever deserved this bright, 
 this precious diadem India, and Christ shall 
 havezwls* 
 
 34 
 
“HOW THEY SAY IT.” 
 
 There are over one hundred distinct languages 
 spoken in India, and a great many more dia- 
 lects; of these languages not more than ten 
 possess any very important literature. Hindus- 
 tani or Urdu, a mixture of Hindi and Persian, 
 is understood in all the large towns and cities. 
 Hindi is read from left to right, and Urdu from 
 right to left. Marathi is the language used by 
 our missionaries in southern India. 
 
 Geographical Names. 
 
 Allahabad (Ulla-ha-bad). 
 Ambala (Um-b4-la). 
 
 Ant (Ah-nee). 
 
 Bindki (Bind-key). 
 Bombay (Bombiy). 
 Calcutta (Kal-k{fit-ta). 
 Dehra (Déy-ra), 
 
 Dosnah (Dose-na). 
 
 Etah (Até-ah). 
 
 Etawah (It-Aw-wah). 
 Farrukhabad (Fur-raick-4-bad). 
 fatehgarh (Futty-gfr). 
 fatehpur (Fatty-poor). 
 Ferozepore (Feréze-poor). 
 Gurshat (Goor-sah-high). 
 Gwalior (Gwabh-lee-or). 
 Harbans (Her-bfince). 
 
 35 
 
Himalaya (Him-awl-ya). 
 Hoshyarpur (H6-she-are-poor). 
 Jahanabad (Jehan-a-bad). 
 Jagraon (Jug-r6wn). 
 Jagadri (Jug-td-ree). 
 Jullundur (Jull-find-dhur). 
 Shansi (John-see). 
 
 Kartapore (Kir-ta-poor). 
 Katra (Kiit-ra). 
 
 Khanna (Kiin-na). 
 
 Kodoli (Ko-dé-lee). 
 
 Kolhapur (K6la-poer): 
 Landour (Yan-déwer). 
 Lodiana (1,0-dee-an-na). 
 Mainpurie (Mine-péo-ree). 
 Manthala (Money-halla). 
 Mira] (Me-radge). 
 
 Panhala (Pun-halla). 
 
 Punjab (Pun-jawb). 
 Ratnagiri (Rut-nug-géerie). 
 Rawal Pindi (Raw-wuli-pin-dee). 
 Sabathu (Sab-a-too). 
 Saharanpur (Sa-ha-run-poor). 
 Sanglt (Sung-glée). 
 Sharakpur (Shir-ruck-pdor). 
 Shuruwar (Shoo-réo-were). 
 Sutle7 (Stiit-ledge). 
 
 Tirwa (Téer-war). 
 
 Wagah (Va-ga). 
 
 a 
 
iene: 
 
 Coins and Their Value. 
 Mohur (Mé-hoor). About seven dollars. 
 Rupée Less than fifty cents. 
 Anna (A-na), One-sixteenth of a rupee, or two 
 and a half cents. 
 Pice One-fourth of an anna, or half a cent. 
 Pie (Pye). One-third of a pice, or one-sixth of 
 a cent. 
 Measures, 
 Gaz (Guz) One yard. 
 Gira (Gee-ra), One-sixteenth of a yard. 
 
 Weights. 
 Maund (Mund). About 82 pounds. 
 Seer (Sare). Two pounds. 
 Chattak (Chut-tack). Two ounces. 
 
 Distances. 
 
 Kos (Cose). Two miles. 
 Mil (Meal). One mile. 
 
 Native Words Found in Missionary Literature. 
 Angrez (Ung-graze). English. 
 Ayah (Eye-ah). Nurse. 
 Baboo (Baboo). Bengalee gentleman. 
 Bai(Buy). Title of ‘‘lady.’’ 
 *Batily (Bay-lee). Covered wagon drawn by 
 bullocks. 
 tBandy. Same as Baily. 
 
 North India. fSouth India. 
 
 37 
 
Bakshtsh (Bick-sheesh). Fee, or present. 
 
 Bazaar (Ba-zar). Market place, shops. 
 
 Begum (Bay-gum). Lady of rank (title). 
 
 Bhajans (Bfid-juns), Sacred songs set to native 
 music. . 
 
 Bhistt (Bhéese-tee). Water carrier. 
 
 Bibi (Bée-bee). Wife. 
 
 Bunnia (Bin-nee-ah). Shop keeper. 
 
 Buddha or Siddartha (Béod-dé). Founder of 
 Buddhist religion. 
 
 Cantonment (Can-té6on-ment), Military station. 
 
 Chanda (Chfin-dah). Alms. 
 
 Chawal (Chaw-wool). Rice. 
 
 Charpai (Char-pie). Bed. 
 
 Chirags (Chée-rags). Little earthen lamps. 
 
 Chokidar (Chéw-key-dar). Watchman. 
 
 Choola (Chéw-lah). Fireplace. 
 
 Chuddar (Chfid-der). A muslin covering for 
 head and shoulders. 
 
 Cooltes (Codl-lees). Porters 
 
 Crore. 10,000,000. 
 
 Dak Gharry (Dék-garry). Post carriage. 
 
 Dandy (Dan-dee). A canoe-shaped conveyance, 
 in which Europeans are carried by coolies in 
 the mountains. 
 
 Deccan (Duck-un). South land. 
 
 Dervish (Dur-vashe). A Mahomedan fanatic. 
 
 Dhobi Dhé bee). Washer man. 
 
 FEcka (Kék-ka). Two-wheeled pony cart. 
 
 fakirs (Fik-ears). Religious beggars. 
 
 38 
 
Gariwalla (Garry-walla). Driver of an ox cart. 
 
 Gur (Goor). Raw sugar made from cane. 
 
 Fladji (Ha-jee). A Mahomedan gentleman who 
 has made the pilgrimage to Mecca. 
 
 Hakim (Huck-kéem). Native doctor. 
 
 Hisab (Hiss-sab). Arithmetic. 
 
 Hloli (Ho-lee). A Hindu festival. 
 
 Hlugga (Ho6ék-ka). A pipe. 
 
 ‘Kajir (Cah-fear). Unbeliever. 
 
 Kapra Wolla (Cip-rah-wallah). A cloth mer- 
 chant. 
 
 Kua (Céo-ah). A well. 
 
 Kurta (Coér-tah). A small coat. 
 
 Lakh (Wack). 100,000 of anything. 
 
 Lota (Lo-tah). Metal cooking utensil. 
 
 Mashak (Mtsh-uck). Goat skin bag for water. 
 
 Mela (May-lah). A religious fair. 
 
 Mem Sahib (Maym Sah-hib). Mrs 
 
 Moulvie (Méwl-vee). Native teacher (Hindi.) 
 
 Munshi (Moén-shi). Native teacher (Mahome- 
 dan). 
 
 Nirvana \Near-va-na). Oblivion. 
 
 Padre Sahib (Pad-re Sa-hib). Man missionary. 
 
 Patkee (Pall-key). Enclosed carriage. 
 
 Pujah (Péo-jah). Worship. 
 
 Pundit (Pfin-dit). Teacher (Hindoo). 
 
 Punkah (Ping-kah). House fan. 
 
 Purdah (Pir-dah). A curtain. 
 
 Rajah (Ra-ja). Man of high rank—petty king. 
 
 Rani (Ra-nee). Queen. 
 
 39 
 
Sardar (Sir-dar). A head man, or native officer. 
 
 Saree (Sar-ree). A sheet used as an outer gar- 
 ment or robe. 
 
 Serat (Sir-éye). An inn. 
 
 Strkari (Sir-ca-ree). Belonging to the Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Sitar (Sit-tar). Musical instrument, similar to 
 a guitar. 
 
 Suttee (Sfit-tee). Burning of a widow with the 
 dead body of her husband. 
 
 Tandoor (Tun-dt-er). An oven. 
 
 Zoolst (Tiil-see). A sacred plant. 
 
 Tulwar (Tull-war). Native sword. 
 
 Wilayat (Wull-éye-ut). The foreign country. 
 
 Zenana (Zun-an-na). Part of the house occu- 
 pied by the women. 
 
 Salutations, 
 Salaam (Sah-lam). ‘‘ Good morning ”’ (‘‘ peace 
 be to you ’’). 
 The salutation is made by bowing and touch- 
 ing the forehead with the hand as the word 
 ‘‘Salaam’’ is spoken. 
 
 (Hindustani in Roman letters.) 
 St. John, 3d chapter, 16th verse: 
 
 ‘“ Kyunki Khudé ne jahin ko atsa piydr kiya 
 hat, ki us ne apnd tkhlautad Betéi bakhshd, taki jo 
 kot us par imdn lawe, halik na ho balki hamesha 
 ki zindagi piwe.”’ 
 
 This text is generally used by native teachers 
 and preachers. 
 
 40 
 
| Question Book Series 
 
 : AFRICA 
 CHINA 
 CHINESE IN AMERICA 
 INDIA 
 JAPAN AND KOREA 
 MEXICO 
 PERSIA | | 
 SIAM AND LAOS ms 
 SOUTH AMERICA 
 SYRIA : 
 
 MO iv 
 ; ey. 
 
 FIVE CENTS EACH 
 
 ‘Foreign Missionary Catechism 
 
 TWO CENTS EACH tik 
 
 elders ‘CENTS PER Doz. 
 
 ; 3