G A N G E T I C H I N D O O S T A N. 273 



variety and extent of commerce, we find that in the time of 

 Akbar-i certain of his dominions took to the weaving of filk 

 from the raw material imported from Affa77iy Bengal, and per- 

 haps other places. There were manufa6lures of velvets and' 



1 

 filks in Guzerat and Lahoor ; but the Hiiidoos at the fame pe- 

 riod had velvets and fattins from Europe, and the iaft from 

 China. 



It does not appear to me that the infedls had been domefli- 

 cated in Hindoojlan, as they have from early times in China. It 

 is conjeiflured that filk was firll known at Rome, brought di- 

 redly from the Seres, A. D- 17, and that Tiberii^s cenfured the 

 wear as effeminate. It mufl have been manufaftured in the 

 country in which it was produced, and not in any intermediate 

 kingdom. 



Akbar finiflied his glorious reign in 1605. After the turbu- 

 lent reigns of Shah Jehan and Aurengzebe in that and the next 

 century, and the fliort reigns which preceded the total diflToIu- 

 tion of the Mogul empire, no time was given for the cultivation 

 of the arts of peace. After the great fabric fell to pieces, the 

 leflTer parts retained vigour enough to a6l againft each other, or 

 incited by profpedl of fviccefs courted the alliance of the Eu- 

 ropeans, ready to join that power which they hoped might affift 

 to crufh their rivals. 



Our Cootes, our Lawrences, our Fordes, fought our detailed 

 battles, and at length cleared the plains of Hindoojlajt from a 

 brave and able foe. The genius of the French funk under the 

 fuperior guardian of the Briti/lj. Clivc, by various great ac- 

 tions, decided the fate ; fome ftruggles between Nabob and 



Vol. II. N n I^abob 



