£88 A LETTER FROM CHARLES WILKINS, ESQ. 



XII. 



To 



Secretary to the Asiatick Society. 



SIR, 



T3 EFORE I left Calcutta, a Gentleman, with whom I 

 chanced to be difcourfing of that fe6l of people 

 who are diftinguifhed from the worfhippers of Brahma^ 

 and the followers of Ma ho mm ed, by the appellation Seek, 

 informed me that there was a considerable number of 

 them fettled in the city of Patna, where they had a 

 College for teaching the tenets of their philofophy . As 

 Patna was in my way to Banaris, I no fooner arrived 

 there, than I inquired after the College, and I was pre- 

 fently conducted to it; and I now requeft you will 

 pleafe to lay before the Society the few Observations and 

 Inquiries which a fingle vifit of about two hours would 

 admit of my making. If, fuch as they are, they mould 

 hereafter be found ufeful, either as a clue to guide ano- 

 ther in his refearches in the fame path, or to add to 

 fome future account to render it more complete, my 

 end in troubling you to lay it before the Society is 

 fully anfwered. 



I have the honour to fubfcribe myfelf, 



S I R, 



Your moll obedient humble Servant, 



CHARLES WILKINS. 



Banaris, tft Ma rch, 1781. 



