Christian missions in the Telugu country - Uecf.net

go MISSIONS IN THE TELUGU COUNTRY
in the sacrifice. Such a man is called a ' Vetti,' and
receives a more valuable perquisite than the rest. When
the Malas of a village are baptised, the Vetti family
commonly stands aloof and remains heathen. It is not
allowed to them to do what they would gladly do—that
is, to set apart one member only to perform the sacrifices.
The rule in our Mission is to baptise all of a family or
none of it. But if the whole family stands out the
Mission cannot interfere. It may be added that much
trouble has arisen in the past from the baptism of Vetti
families. The temptations are so great that members
of these families almost always relapse into idolatry.
Some account is due here of the mutual feeling be-
tween these two sections of the out-castes. Strange as
it may seem, these two classes hold themselves as rigidly
aloof from each other as any two of the higher castes.
They never intermarry ; they will not eat together ;
they do not willingly draw water from the same well.
This feeling attaches itself to the converts from both
classes. As is well known in India, high caste converts
drop their caste prejudices far more quickly and com-
Mala and pletely than low caste. Thus Mala and Madiga Chris-
Ch^ris?^
tians are not willing to mix socially. There are instances
tians. of teachers of both classes eating together, especially
under the influence of the missionary. But the mass
of the Christians do not yet go so far. And probably
no case has yet been known of a Christian of one stock
marrying one of the other stock.
The feeling between the two classes is not a personal
one, but a community feeling, and individuals, if left
to themselves, would be willing enough to go counter to