ABSTRACT
Soon after their arrival, the Xaverians started to single out the Rishi 189 as a special group within the territory. The Rishi, previously categorised as ‘different’ by former missionaries, were approached as such by the Xaverians who, like the rest of society, considered them a race set apart because of their ‘impurities’, bad habits and ‘Untouchability’. 190 Nevertheless, this ‘difference’ was also what moved the Rishi to turn towards Christianity and seek help from the missionaries.
