WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> "MENTOR INCOME FUND, INC. CLASS A"
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> "118,697,972 "
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> "114,914,029 "
<RECEIVABLES> "4,591,434 "
<ASSETS-OTHER> "107,423 "
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> "119,612,886 "
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> "14,684,282 "
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> "14,684,282 "
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> "130,991,159 "
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> "11,817,776 "
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> "11,817,776 "
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> "(736,821)"
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> "(21,541,791)"
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> "(3,783,943)"
<NET-ASSETS> "104,928,604 "
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> "5,261,864 "
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> "(1,035,199)"
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> "4,226,665 "
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> "(3,220,502)"
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> "(919,485)"
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> "86,678 "
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> "(4,254,400)"
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> "(4,167,722)"
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> "(709,086)"
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> "(18,321,289)"
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> "(347,357)"
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> "(481,931)"
<GROSS-EXPENSE> "(1,051,048)"
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> "107,459,338 "
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.23
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.36
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.35)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.36)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.88
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.94
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
