ABSTRACT

[94/1] Let us turn once more to our history which [94/2] I left at the point of my visit to the Christians [95/1] settled in that region. I may remark that I found an immense impenetrable undergrowth with its roots well planted, due to the fact I mentioned that no Brethren of ours had been able to reach them for seven years, on which account God’s help was urgently needed in order to restore this Christian community to a proper frame of mind. Trusting in Him, I was undismayed, convinced that God, in His infinite mercy, would assist me. On this basis I worked, in spite of the existence of concubinage even where marriage had taken place, while where no marriage had taken place the couples were living openly as if they had been joined in facie Ecclesiae. First a remedy was found by removing the female slaves, with whom they were living in concubinage, from the married households and placing them with reliable and God-fearing persons, whence they were sent later on to various parts of India or else were married to certain Christian topazes, 1 that is to say men of dark or tinted complexions, inhabitants of india.