A Geographical, Statistical, and Historical Description of the District, Or Zila, of Dinajpur/Book 2/Chapter 4/Section 3
Section 3.—Various small sects.
The followers of Muhammed and of the Brahmins compose almost the whole population of Dinajpúr, so that I shall have little or no room to say any thing concerning other religious opinions.
Among the natives Christianity may be said to have made no progress. There are no native Portuguese, and no trace remains of the labours of Mr. Carey, although he resided for some years in this district, and his zeal and abilities are well known. His successor in the mission, Mr. Fernandez, a native of Portugal, who I believe was once intended for a popish priest, has had very little success, although he is a person of very good address, with some propensity to turn every thing into the wonderful, which cannot fail to be of use with such a people. His converts are five, and two are married and have families. One of them can read the Scriptures in the language of Bengal, and endeavours to instruct his countrymen; but the conduct of the converts is beheld with the utmost abhorrence by the other natives.Many agents and persons belonging to a people called Oshoyal, frequent this district as traders, but have not taken up a permanent residence. They seem to form two tribes. At the head of one is the house of Jogot Seit, the chief banker in India, and these are commonly said to be Jain. At the head of the other tribe, who are usually called Kengiya, and who are extensive traders in grain, is a person named Bhoj Raja. One of his agents said, that he worshipped Gautom; but I met with no priest nor intelligent person, who could give me any satisfactory information.
A good many Sikhs frequent the district as merchants; but I have no information to offer concerning them, as I found no priest, nor well-informed person, to give me an account of their customs. They have however a meeting (Songgot or Dhormo-sala) at Dinajpur, where they assemble to worship morning and evening, and where travellers of the sect are received. At Maldeh was formerly another meeting; but it is now abandoned, and only one old woman remains in the place.