did what Beschi adopted at a later date. Since missionary work could not be undertaken due to political unrest, Beschi had much leisure at his disposal. This leisure he used profitably and learnt the local tongue, Tamil, which had far-reaching results.

One remarkable characteristic of Fr. Beschi-like his predecessor Fr. Robert-de-Nobili was his eagerness to appeal to the locals in their own tongue and in their own way. Once he started learning the ancient language, there was not stopping. He became a master of it. He absorbed quickly with his exceptional clarity and soon became the teacher for younger missionaries. Perhaps he was the first foreign missionary to wield the Tamil language proficiently and to write beautiful verses in it, which have come down to us to this day stimulating admiration.

Fr. Beschi in 1713 was transferred to Tirunelvelly. It was here that he was arrested and imprisoned. In jail he wrote a letter to Rome in which he said, “I have been sentenced to death……..” He however, escaped the penalty due to the intervention of influential friends. In 1714, Beschi had again to flee for his life. Ramnad and Tanjore were again at war and no priest could enter either country without risking his life. Beschi in 1716 went to Yelakurichi which became his working place. A short-lived relief came with the advent of Muslim rule. During the whole of 1716, Beschi had no definite abode and kept on changing his place of stay at the cost of his health. While at Yelakkurichi (in 1717) he became almost bedridden with a virulent tumour and was obliged to go to Pondicherry for rest and recovery. These numerous transfers were a blessing in disguise. He became well acquainted with the diverse customs of the people. His knowledge of their day to day habits, customs and beliefs became profound. This knowledge stood him in good stead when he helped the Mylapore Bishop in 1726 in the canonical process on the martyrdom of St. John-de-Britto, who was brutally attacked and murdered in 1693 in the Marava country. This deep knowledge again is evident in his work Vēta viḷakkam.⁴ This was written at his superior’s bidding, to refute the Lutherans’ (of

4. Veta Vilakkam, Third Edition, P. 40.