HINDOO- STUDIES OF ENGLISH. 261 



others. We cast off prejudice and all its concomitants, as 

 objects abhorrent to the principles which are calculated to 

 ennoble us before the world. Assisted by the light of 

 reason, we have the gladdening prospect before us of soon 

 coming to the standard of civilization, which has established 

 the prosperity of the European nations. Let us then, my 

 countrymen, pursue with diligence and care the track laid 

 open by these glorious nations. Let us follow the ensign 

 of liberty and truth, and, emulating their wisdom and their 

 virtues, be in our own turn the guiding needle to those who 

 are blinded by the gloom of ignorance and superstition." 



This desire to improve themselves by an acquaintance 

 with European literature has, it is true, been hitherto con- 

 fined chiefly to Calcutta ; but that city, being now con- 

 sidered as the capital of India, is likely soon to give the 

 tone to the rest of the empire. Indeed the light which has 

 been elevated there already begins to radiate to the great 

 towns in the upper provinces. At the same time it cannot 

 be concealed, that it has encountered in some quarters a 

 violent opposition. Such studies have been represented as 

 at variance with the fundamental principles of Hindoo learn- 

 ing and religion. The very language is denounced as 

 utterly unfit to be known by a Bramin ; who, if he should 

 unguardedly utter, while officiating on any solemn occasion, 

 one word of this unholy tongue, would instantly render the 

 whole ceremony profane and useless. Still we have little 

 doubt that under the continuance of the mild government 

 of Britain, the enlightened views inspired by intercourse 

 with her citizens will be gradually disseminated ; and that 

 the influence of a purer religion will raise the inhabitants 

 of this vast empire to a higher rank in the scale of society 

 than they have ever yet attained. 



Notwithstanding the similarity which stamps the inhabit- 

 ants of Hindostan as one people, there are tribes distinguished 

 by peculiarities so striking that some notice of them is ne- 

 cessary to complete the view of her social condition. Among 

 these the most remarkable are the Rajpoots, the only large 

 class of natives who, amid so many revolutions, have pre' 

 served an almost complete independence, and thus present 

 a picture of what that country must have been long before 

 it was subjected to a foreign yoke. 



