1835.] Biographical sketch of Col. Mackenzie. 289 



of tlie country about, or soon after, the period of the 

 settlement of the European nations in India, a clear un- 

 derstanding of which is perhaps necessary at this day. 



7. The ancient history of Malabar or Kerala, and its 

 singular institutions from materials, MSS., and inscrip-^ 

 tions collected in that country. 



8. The history of the Dekkan under the Muhamme - 

 dan governments since the 13th century, and a com- 

 mencement made in opening avenues to its earlier 

 history under the Hindu princes. The present state 

 ©f these countries is still unfavourable to minute inves- 

 tigation,. 



9. The ancient geography of India derives conside- 

 rable light from these progressive inquiries ; and seve- 

 ral explanations are derived of the connextion and ex^ 

 tent of commercial relations between the eastern and 

 western continents ; from ancient traditions, remains of 

 establishments, MSS., sculptures, coins,* and the remains 

 of antiquity scattered in different parts of the country. 



10. The institutions, laivs, and peculiar customs of 

 the various tribes that inhabit India ; the early pas- 

 toral, or nomadic tribes ; the agricultural race ; the in-^ 

 troduction of arts, sciences, and letters ; the colonies 

 of Brahmans and other tribes successively arriving from 

 the north, from the same unquestionable authority. 



11. These are more particularly explained by what 

 has been hitherto unavoidably overlooked — collection of 

 the ancient sassananis or inscriptions, on stone, copper, 

 and other metals, still existing in all parts of the coun- 

 try, which prove, by dates and regular formuLne, the 

 early existence of established tenures, and all the regu- 

 lations of a civilized and cultivated state of society. 



12. Collection of coins, chiefly Flindu, in different parts 

 of the country ; the most remarkable of these are Ko- 



111 the ruiucd city of Mahabraipuvaui in tliis vicmiiy, spiX'iuKMVs ol' the 

 Roman and China coinage arc foviiul at i^vcscnt, togelhci- v.ithothcr auei^ 

 CM ULi;n&\vn lands. 



