I was sent to the South of France under the care of an ayah.

My first memories are of a monastery near Marseilles, where I was reared and educated by a Jesuit community, where I was baptised and brought up in the Roman Catholic faith.

By the influence of the Jesuit Fathers I was placed in a house of commerce at Marseilles.

Funds to provide for my education and establishment in life, under very modest conditions, were sent periodically by an agent at Madras.

It was known that I was of East Indian birth, but little more was known about me.