198 
TANNAH. 
Brahmins and the Boodhists, and might, if it could be traced, 
throw some light on the relative antiquity of the two religions. 
The most perplexing circumstance, that the character used by the 
latter is now no longer understood, while that of the former is in 
Constant use, makes it difficult to believe that the Brahmins are jus- 
tified in their claim to superior antiquity. It is a subject, however, 
on which I cannot presume to give an opinion. 
It is not only the numerous caves, that give an idea of what the 
population of this barren rock must once have been, but the tanks, 
the terraces, and the flights of steps which lead from one part to 
another ; yet now not a human footstep is to be heard, except when 
the curiosity of a traveller leads him to pay a hasty visit to the 
ruined habitation of those, whose very name has passed away, and 
whose cultivated fields are become an almost impassable jungle, 
the haunt of tigers, and the seat of pestilence and desolation. After 
copying the inscriptions and taking views of the most interesting 
objects, we with difficulty made our way through the jungle to an 
open space, on the verge of the cultivated tracts, where our tents 
were pitched out of the way of fever and tigers. 
We reached Tannah, the capital of the Island of Salsette, to 
breakfast, and were hospitably received by Mr. Spencer the Resi- 
dent. A small fort commands the passage between the island and 
the Mahratta country, but is otherwise of little use. Confined as 
the settlement of Bombay formerly was, the acquisition of Salsette 
was an incalculable advantage, from the certainty which is afforded 
of a constant supply of fresh provision for the town and fleet. Little 
however has hitherto been done to increase its produce, and the 
greater part remains an useless jungle, instead of being converted 
