‘the most important. 
50 
have describéd it. I find it impossible to 
give an idea of its appearance: the light 
does not resemble that produced by the track 
of a vessel and fish in phosphoric seas ; it is 
absolutely fire, or at least appears to be su, 
and extends to the utmost limits of the ha- 
rizon, so that the ship seems to swim on a 
burning ocean. The sea was gently agi- 
tated, and each undulation foamed like the 
tvaves of a river when the wind sets against 
the stream. It was this foam that sparkled, 
each simall surge resembling a body of fire. 
«« The crew was very much terrified, and 
even the officers were alarmed. I explained 
the wonder, and told them, that it was by 
no means novel. I repeated what captain 
Cook had said on the subject, and observed 
to them, that this phenomenon was parti- 
cularly mentioned by navigators as common 
near the- Maldives. Wishing to prove to 
them still more satisfactorily that their fears 
were absurd, and that they had not the least 
danger to care the fire which they 
saw being nothing more, according to report, 
than a small phosphoric animal, I ordered a 
bucket of water to be drawn up and pre- 
served till the next day, intending to examine 
it with them attentively. The sea appeared 
thus inflamed for the space of half an hour, 
when it wholly disappeared. The next day 
Tenquired for the bucket of water, but it 
Was not to be found; curiosity had fled with 
the fear of danger, and they preferred relying 
on my explanation, to giving themselves the 
trouble of examining what could have caused 
the phenqmenon. ‘lo my great regret I thus 
Jost an opportunity. of making remarks on 
an object, which has justly excited the cu- 
riosity of the learned, and on which nothing 
satisfactory has yet been advanced, All that 
1 was able to observe was, that as soon as 
the water, was in the bucket it lost its brilli- 
ancy,-and differed in no respect from its or- 
dinary appearance.” 
M. Grandpré now comments upon the 
miserable policy of the French ii India, , 
and enters into some details respecting 
the fortifcations of Pondicherry and 
Trincomale, We pass over these parts 
of mere local and .temporary interest, 
and proceed to the more important sub- 
jects of his work. 
For every thing relating to the lan- 
guages, customs, ‘and religion of India, 
the author refers us to Sonnerat. I 
have traversed the country, he says, 
with his book in .my hand, and have 
verified his accounts. ‘This present vo- 
lume, however,: contains some interest- 
ing remarks, and the following is perhaps 
«© shall not treat of the different casts, 
>that object being so well known as to, render 
ib, unnecessary.; . but. to those, with which 
we are acquaimted, there’ is a new one-fo be © 
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. 
* taken their name, and is known by it. This” 
‘that able-writer to very little purpose, 
added, tliat increases considerably, and 
haps will end one day in over-running all 
rest, the Bramins excepted. 
“« This is the cast produced by the allia 
bf Europeans with the natives of every oth 
cast: The first uiiions of this kind we 
formed by the Portugueze at the time 
their brilliant conquests. The race has” 
Portugueze filiation bas not always continu 
white ; some branches are again becon 
black, while others haveso nearly approach 
the European complexion, as at first sight” 
not to be known; which is the Jess surpris=— 
ing, as the Indians, with the exeeption © 
colour, have nothing in their features to dite 
tinguish them from Europeans.” ; 
Ever remember, say the Bramins to_ 
their children, that you are born to 
command other men: this lesson has— 
been inculcated in every possible form 
by these villainous impostors from gee 
neration to generation. Whatever exists 
in the universe, says the book of their 
law, is all the wealth of the Bramin, 
since the Bramin is entitled to it all by 
his primogeniture and eminence of birth; 
he is born above the world, the chief of 
all creatures; through the benevolence 
of the Bramin, indeed, other mortals — 
enjoy life. Their very birth is a constant 
incarnation of Dherma, the God of 
justice. What created being can sur- 
pass him, with whose mouth the gods 
of the firmament feast on clarified but- 
ter, and the manes of ancestors on hal- 
lowed cakes? : | 
M. Grandpré reasons very absurdly — 
respecting this cast. They were pro-— 
bably indebted, he says, for their as- 
cendancy at first “to their physical — 
powers and their arms; and they pre-_ 
served it by their virtues and under- 
‘standing. The consideration they still — 
enjoy rests ona similar foundation, the © 
knowledge they possess. It is certainly 
from the opinion which is formed of — 
their virtue and sagacity, that they are 
placed in the first rank.” Their power 
must indeed have been established ori- 
ginally by force as well as fraud; bat 
to attribute their present rank to the 
opinion of their virtue and sagacity, is 
as philosophical as it would be to assert - 
that the thrones of Europe are held by 
the same tenure. Had the author for- 
gotten that the Bramins are a cast, atid 
that they must maintain their power as 
long as they can support their detestable 
superstition? M. Grandpré speaks of 
Sonnerat: but he seems to have read 
