1840.] Historical Geography of Hindustan^ ^c, 851 



fessed, in common with them, by the Persians, previous to the reformation 

 of their religion by Zertusht, or Zoroaster, who introduced the worship of 

 fire. The esoteric system of Sabeism was, apparently a pure theism, 

 whilst its exoteric rites led to a stupid idolatry among the lower orders 

 of the people.* In this respect it observed a distinction that prevails even 

 in the Vedas, which have their Karma Kanda, and Guyana Kanda, a 

 ritual and theology ;t and would go far to establish an opinion, which has 

 been entertained by many, that there is an identity in the astronomy 

 and mythology of the ancient Arabs, Egyptians, and Hindus. Ferishta 

 indeed teUs us, that when Mohammed Kasim, the general of the Khalif 

 Walid, invaded Sind, a. d. 711, the Hindu pilgrims resorted to Mekka 

 and Egypt, for the purpose of paying adoration to the idols there, 

 which they looked to with the utmost veneration ;t and there is much to 

 make us believe that such an intercourse existed prior to the mission 

 of the Prophet Mohammed. 



The Persians had, at a very early period, adopted the worship of the 

 sun, fire, and other elements ;§ the Scythian Massagetae appear to have 

 professed a similar faith, |i and Mr. Colebrooke has admitted, "that the 

 earliest Indian sect, of which we have any distinct knowledge, is that 

 of the followers of the practical Vedas, who worshipped the sun, fire, and 

 other elements. "II 



Such are the data for concluding that about five centuries before our aera 

 the inhabitants of these countries were connected in religion, and could not 

 have widely differed in their habits, when, as Herodotus tells us, the 

 inhabitants of Casapatyrus,** or Kashmir, most resembled the Bactrians in 

 their manners. 



The Brahmans consider Kashmir as their original country, and tradition- 

 ally relate they were led from thence into the plains of Hindustan by their 

 leader Kasyapa,tt whose character is well known to the Brahminical and 

 Buddhaist mythology. 



* See Sir Wm. Jones's discourse on the Arabs, A. R. ii. p. 9. 



t Wilson on the Hindu Sects. A. R. xvi. p. ii. 



X Brigg's Translation of Ferishta; vol. iv. p. 402. 



§ Herodotus in Cho. p. 131, and Erskine on the Sacred Books of the Parsees, Bom- 

 bay Transactions, vol. ii. p. 3U61. 



II Herodotus, p. '215. 



II A. R. vol. ix.p. 273. 



** It was so called among the Greeks, having been colonized by the followers of the 

 sage Kasyapa, whose name in ordinary pronunciation, becomes Kashap, See A. R. 

 vol. XV. p. 117. 



ft He is the sixth terrestial Buddha among the Nepalese, and the predecessor of 

 Gautama. The same enumeration of Buddhas as known in Nepal, is made by Mr. 

 Colebrooke, in his account of the Jains. A. R. vol. ix. p. 3U3. Quarto. 



