Arizona republican., 1902-09-25
RELIGIONS OF INDIA.
Many Interesting Facts Concerning
 Them Revealed by Census.

The recent Indian census has re- vealed many interesting facts concern ins the religions of the country. The aGhereats of Brahmaic Hinduism have declined from 2O7. eco in 1891 to 207.- G15,c00 in 1901. and it is strange cir cumstarcc that the diminution is in males alone. The decline, it can hardly be doubted, is due. not to decay of faith, but to the severe famines of the decade. Hindus, being most numerous among the famine stricken population, have suffered proportionatcly. The precise figures for the separate admin istration are curious. In the British provinces there was an increase of 3,tCC,OU0 in the number or Brahmanlc Hiadus, despite falling off ol 1,l2U, ,UJU in Bombay and the central provinces, where famine was most severe.
 The growth of Hinduism was cspe- cially noteworthy in Madras, Bengal and Assam. But the increase in British provinces was more than countcrbal- Gnced by the reduction in the native states, especially in those of the Deccau b-4O INelylJhtd4ld- AlC bOLdl ucCI GoSS I'll native states was 4,O13, 900, of which 2,l0Z,OC must be assigned to Raipu- tana. In strong contrast is the growth II the second great religion of Indian Mohammedanism, the Mussulmans showing an increase from 57,331 ,OO0 to l 62, 45S GOO, CT per cent In' Bengal , Mohammedanism grew twice as last as Brahmanic Hinduism during the decade, while it's progress in Madras was also very marked.
 In Baluchistan were enumera ted nearly 5CO,CO0 Mussuimans who were not returned in 1891. The growth ia ] the number of Mohammedans has been attributed in part 10 the relative pros pcrity of the regions where they mostly | reside, in part to conversions. A large l increase in the population of Burma las been accompanied by q still greater increase in those protesting Buddhism, the increase in Buddhists being fiCrr GSSS. 0O0' to 9,fSL000, or over 33 per cent. India proper, it may surprise many tu learn, has only Z93 OC0 Buddhists. Tue total population of Sikhs Is 2.19J.OO0 q rise of 2S7,0CO. Of these no less than 2,1G3,CC0 arc to be found in the i'uajai and Its native states.
 The Jains. like the Hlndus, suffered severely from famine in Bombay and its native states, and in Rajputana, where (and in Central Indi2) they ar. mainly located. Their numbers fel from 1,f17 eco to 1884. 900. The Brahmo Hindus (Brahmo SomaD, who have eX- cited some interest in this country number only A,COO, while the Orya Iin- Gus, founded by a Brahmin about
 twenty five years ago, form q sect Oi G7,CC0. Some details have already beer given in the Times of the Christia, population. which has been returned ot 2923, coo.
 That active race of commercial peo- pie ;ro Parsis, has grown from G9 9aC to 9i2O0 and the Jews have advanced from 17t9l to 1928. The head ami mistic" comprises S,5S4.OOG persons. 2 lreuctiou of 696.0OO on thc figures of 1891 The tribes whose religion is thus de scribed are chiefly found in the hil country of Bengal, Assam, the centra provinces and it's states, Central India | Madras. Burma and Baroda- To sun up Hinduism, in spite of q decline iI
 the decade, is still predominant, it:
 adherents numbering 70 per cent of tn aggregate population, as against ? per cent who profess Mohammcdanisni l Of the rest of the population about per cent are Ruddhsts and per cen auImietic. leaving only 8 per cent fo g Christians and all others.-LondoI TimeR-