INDIA, OR HINDOSTAN. 



949 



means of a rope below. The game of chess is common, as in other parts of Asia. The 

 English often engage in the chase of the ferocious, as well as of the timid animals. 



Rice is the principal article of food, but nothing can be more mistaken than the supposed 

 prohibition of animal food. Fish is considered one of ti)e purest and most lawful kinds of 

 food, and many Bramins eat both fish and kid ; the Rajpoots beside these, eat mutton, 

 venison, or goat's flesh ; some castes may eat anything but fowls, beef, or pork, while pork is 

 a favorite diet with others, and beef only is prohibited. Intoxicating liquors are forbidden by 

 their religion ; but this is disregarded by many both of high and low caste, and intoxication is 

 not rare even among the Bramins. 



In consequence of a belief in transmigrations, the Hindoos are scrupulous about taking the 

 life of many animals. Some are so careful in this point, that they brush the ground lest they 

 tread upon an insect. At Surat there is a Banian hosjjital, where wounded or helpless animals 

 are received, and treated with care. The wards are filled with camels, goats, horses, birds, 

 and even rats, mice, &c. Beggars are sometimes hired to expose their flesh to the bites of 

 insects, from a desire to serve even these. Dying people are removed, when possible, to the 

 Ganges, and the funeral obsequies are performed 96 times in the year. The Hindoos made 

 early, considerable progress in astronomy, &c., and they have much literature, chiefly epic, or 

 dramatic poetry. At Calcutta, the government maintains a Sanscrit college, in which there 

 are funds for the support of J 00 indigent students. There is also a JNlahometan college for in- 

 struction in the Persian and Arabic languages, and in the Mahometan law. There are also im- 

 portant colleges for Hindoo literature at Benares, and Agra, and the Bramins have several 

 ancient seminaries. 



The Europeans in India frequently pass a dissipated life ; and adopt readily the oriental 

 habit of profusion and show. One of these, even in a common situation, has many domestics : 

 not one of which will perform any service out of his own grade, or division of service. The 

 servants of a household are therefore very numerous, and the followers of a camp are treble in 

 number to the soldiers. 



17. History. The ancient history of this country reaches to a very remote antiqu-ity. Se- 

 sostris, Darius, Alexander, and others, invaded the country at different periods anterior to the 

 Christian era. Mahomet of Ghizni established here the Mahometan power in the 11th centu- 

 ry. The Venetians were the first Europeans who traveled to India, and the Portuguese, who 

 discovered the passage round the Cape of Good Hope, were the first that established them- 

 selves in the country. The Dutch, English, and French followed. Since the middle of the 

 last century the dominion of the English has, by a system of usurpation, intrigue, and blood- 

 shed, been extended over the greater part of the country.* . 



CHAPTER CXLIX. THIBET. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. Thibet is bounded north by Tartary, east by China, south by 

 the Birman Empire and Hindostan, and southwest by Hindostan. It is in fact only a long, 

 high valley between the loft}'' walls of the Kwenlun and the Himala mountains. It contains 

 about 400,000 square miles. 



2. Rivers, &c. Thibet, at first view, appears to be one of the least favored countries under 

 heaven, and in a great measure incapable of culture. It exhibits only low hills with scarce any 

 visible vegetation, or extensive arid plains, both of the most stern and stubborn aspect, promis- 

 ing as little as they produce. The principal river of Thibet is the Sanpoo, which has an 

 easterly course, and was long thought to be the head of Burrampooter ; but it is now believed 

 that that river rises on the south side ot the mountains, and the termination of the Sanpoo is 

 unknown. The Indus has its sources near the head of the Sanpoo, and flows northwesterly 

 about 350 miles before it breaks through the great moimtain barrier of Himala, and takes a 

 southerly course. In the same region rises the Sutledge, the largest tributary of the Ganges ; 

 it issues from the Lake of Rawan Hrad., which is about 200 miles in circuit. Lake Mana- 

 saroicara, in this vicinity, is a much smaller sheet of water, but it is an object of religious ven- 

 eration among the Hindoos, who consider, that all the sins of the pilgrim are forgiven when he 



* As a specimen of the wholesale butchery by which taken and destroyed Dhoondiali's baggage and 6 guns, 



the English have established their power in Hindostan, and driven into the Malpiirba, where they were drowned, 



read the following cool declaration of the Duke of above firr, ihousuvd people. Dhooiuliah's followers are 



Wellington, then Colonel Wellesley, commanding the quitting him apace, as they do not think the amusement 



British forces against the Mahrattas in 1800. " 1 have very gratifying." 



