Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-06-25
INDIA CRIMINAL
TRIBES RELIGION.
TOLD Dap PT|STS.
NJ ant Missionary
breaches Gospel With
Revolver in Pocket.
Law of Work Proves
So Efficacious Theft
Registration Cancelled.

-Des Moines. Ia. June o4.-Newly
arrived from his work among the A.
100000 hereditary members of crimi-
nal tribes in India. the Rev. Samuel
D. Bawden, the militant missionary
who % breaches the Gospel with a
Bible in his hand, and revolver in
his pocket" and who was awarded
the Kaiser-i-hind medal by the Viceroy
for his services. Friday night contrast
ed India's method of dealing with her
criminals with that in vogue in the
United States, at the Northern Baptist
Convention in this city.
His work, he said. was a curious
mixture Of the law and the Gospel"
since the criminal tribes act gives
him certain magisterial powers enroll
ed when Rev. Bawden left India. At
times, he said, he had found it neces-
sary to carry revolver. in quelling a
riot between two castles. or in sub
DUNG the rebellion Of $50 criminals
who had just been sent to the settle
ment. But he declared that many of
those who had to be most severely dis
ciplined at first. became excellent
citizens under the law Of work and
the law of worship"
Care For Three Tribes.
"We have three tribes under our
care, the Donga Erukalas, the Dongas
Dasaries and Donga karrhiras.' he
explained. ''Donga is the Telugu word
for thief. Donga Erukala is acommon
sneak thief. The Donga Dasari com
mits robberies which are recognized by
the police, because he robs with vio-
lence. breaking an arm. a leg, or the
head of his victim. "Kitthralu is the
Telugu word for scissors, and the
Donga Katthira is so called because it
is habit to carry a small pair of
scissors, with which to snip the noses
and ears of victims. in order the more
easily to remove their jewels. The
District Superintendent of Police told
me that so far as he was able to learn
these thieves got not more than 10 per
cent of the amount they stole, be-
cause Of the high toll taken by the re
ceivers of stolen goods, and by the
subordinate police in the way OF graft.
Earn Own Food.
Each criminal who comes to the IA
val settlement and to other sertle-
ments in charge of Baptist mission
aries. except a few of the sick or aged. |
must earn his own food and clothing.
If nothing more The settlement |
takes contracts for buildings. repairs. |
road work, forest reserve work, etc.
and is in charge Of all labor for 40
miles around. Last year the people OF !
the settlement earned about $4,000 ru-
pees. and the government paid out 90 |
coo rupees for schools for the children
of the criminal tribes. The law OF
work has proved so efficacious, the
missionary said. that half his people !
could not have their registration as
thieves cancelled, and make good as
citizens.
Rebel at First.
Brought back from hiding in the
jungles and confined within the bound
aries of the settlement. they rebel at
first" Rev. Bawden declared. I'VE
are slowly able TO convince them that
it is for their own best good and that
Of the public that they should remain,
and learn the lessons we have to teach
Old hereditary thieves, some Of whom
have been in Jail dozen times, learn
the gospel Of liberty, with daily sa-
Lutte to the flag Some of the young
men and women attend night schools,
after working all day.