The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-12-03
TRNANCORE
A Bra1r1a11 3
Stronghold )

very theoretically. AS matter of
fact they do not need to ; the coconuts
work for them. Half a dozen trees
or So it is said, will. with a few fish
caught in the lagoon, support family.
In addition to the copra or dried CO.
conut meat, the fiber of the husk is
valuable, and palm sap is made into
beverage. In recognition of all this
wag dubbed the state "Coconutcore"
Back from the lagoons is a rich coun-
try devoted to raising rice. tea coffee,
and pepper In the higher country
farther inland are forests of teak,
sandalwood, ebony and other valuable
trees. In this region roam herds of
wild elephants while tigers, leopards
and other wild beasts are numerous.
Quilon and Alleppey on the coastal
lagoons are two of the principal towns
of Travancore. The former is the only
port of the state with rail connection.
but its lines of steel have not done a
great deal, apparently, to modernize
it. There are one or two buildings
in semi European style and several
factories but for the rest the town
consists chiefly of one-storied huts
of sun-dried brick and shacks of mat
ting and bamboo.
The capital. Trivandrum. is also on
the coast and barely fifty miles north of
the tip of India. 1t has been described
as forty miles from railroad and
forty years behind the times" A fort,
the maharajah's palaces, school,
temples and miscellaneous government
buildings help to lift it above the
mediocrity that its many low mud
brick dwellings suggest. Unless Eu-
ropean is sufficiently well off to hire
a servant to pull a punkah (huge
FAM while he sleeps he will probably
flee from Trivandrum after short
stay.
Many Christians There.
Travancore is of greater interest
perhaps than other Indian states, to
Americans and Europeans, because In
its borders Christianity has flourished
longer than in some countries of Eu-
rope; and now about a quarter of the
states four million inhabitants are
adherents Of some of the branches
of the Christian faith. First in the
field were the Syrian Christians. the
so-called "Christians of ST. Thomas"
The tradition is that ST. Thomas, one
OF the twelve apostles. himself trav-
eled to India and planted the faith.
This would mean. of course, that Chris
tianity has existed in India since the
First century A. D. Historians doubt
that the Christianity of India's west
coast has such ancient roots. 1t is
pretty we'll established, however. that
Christianity did exist in that region as
early as the Sixth century. The Chris
tian communities in what is now
Travancore were under the HISTORIAN
church, which. with headquarters In
Mesopotamla, covered much of Asia.
The Indian branch of the church kept
Its contacts with the parent HISTORIAN
organization even after the latter had
declined, and sent delegates to the
patriarch as late as 1890
When the Portuguese went to south
western India the local Christians
were friendly toward them but at
first resented the efforts of the Roman
Catholic church, introduced by the
Portuguese, to control them Never
theless in 1899 the local Christians &C.
cepted the control of the see of Rome,
but retained the use of the Syriac
language in their services.
Half century later a schism oc-
Cured, part Of the Indian Christians
leaving the Catholic church and the
others remaining. This division has
persisted until today. The seeding
Christians did not return to their Mes
torian allegiance but fell under the
influence of another Eastern branch,
the Jacobite Christians, and their
patriarch of Antioch. This utilization
they retain today, but they have be-
come more independent IN late years
under the influence Of Anglican mis-
sionaries.
In few other places in the world
may one find Christianity, established
for many centuries, existing in the
heart OF country predominantly Of
alien religion, and with apparently lit
tie friction. In the northern coastal
strip Of Travancore especially. one
comes upon numerous churches, some
of great age, their. whitewashed bel
fries rising among the green feathery
palms. Hard by may be small Hindu
temples with their many-armed effigies.
Kottayam. on one Of the lagoons
Of northern Travancore. is the seat
Of the Syrian church in India and is
as well Christian missionary CEN
ter. There are two large Syrian Chris
tian schools in the little town as well
as mission schools. and MORE than a
third Of the population is Christian.
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