companion to come over to their mission school in 1706. Here, he was maintained for nearly two years at considerable cost. Ziegenbalg soon learnt Tamil and with great effort quickly “mastered this difficult language in the remarkably short time of eight months.”³⁸ Aleppa could not teach Tamil grammatically, but he explained words and helped them to understand Tamil books. Slowly Ziegenbalg and his friend gained an insight into the difficult grammar. They not only read Tamil manuscripts daily but translated from German into Tamil and vice versa. A native read to them assisting them to catch they correct pronunciation of the Tamil words. Ziegenbalg says, “I choose such books as I should wish to imitate both in speaking and writing. I have had such authors read to me a hundred times, that there might not be a word or an expression which I did not know and could not imitate...... I have talked diligently with the heathen and executed all my business in their tongue so that now (1709), it is as easy to me as my mother-tongue, and in the last two years I have been enabled to write several books in Tamil.³⁹ Ziegenbalg almost mastered Tamil and Indians were awe-struck. They often listened to him breathlessly. He created a great sensation in the vicinity and the natives marvelled at this European who spoke their language. Now that Ziegenbalg had learnt the local tongue, it was easy to meet and discuss religious topics with the local Indians. Time and again great vistas of religious thinking opened up before him. As a result of those discussions he recognised the profound truths hidden behind the perplexing idol worship and its accompanying rituals. The great spiritual culture of the ancient land impressed him.

Two years after his arrival in Tranquebar, Ziegenbalg was able to send Lutkens his Tamil library. These books still in manuscript form are to this day to be seen in Halle. The number of books sent are divided by Ziegenbalg into four groups. The first is a description of 14 books written by himself. Next come 21 books written by Roman Catholic Missionaries i.e. Papist

38. Ibid. Pp. 25-26.

39. F. F. Fenger. op. cit. P. 25.