can get a hearing, almost without fail, by introducing quotations from their poets, sung in the Hindu style. Should some troublesome fellow interrupt him, the others will silence the interrupter, that they may not lose the poetry. This fact is a valuable one to the missionary. Among the Tamil classic poets, there are some who have written satires so keen and sarcasms so biting against the follies of idolatry and of Hinduism in all its shapes, that the missionary is ready furnished with the materials of war in a most telling shape. It may not be out of place to give a rude translation of an example or two, though the force of the original, lying much in the words and expressions, will not appear in a translation. Thus, on the subject of the worship of idols, one of their poets says—
“Nartta kalley devam-endru nalu purtpam sattiyey
Sutti vanthu mirnu-mirn endru sollu-manthiram etharda," &c.
Which may be rendered—
The lifeless stone a god you call, and flowers in offering bring;
Around and round, with muttering sound, fool! many a prayer you sing;
But will the lifeless stone speak out? Will God within it go?
Yes! when the pot in which 'tis cooked the curry's taste shall know.
