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established, and followed by the most horrid massacres and de- 
vastations during the reign of eighteen princes: a period which 
presents a sanguinary picture of war and famine, desolation and 
despair! arising from the frequent but ineffectual struggles of the 
wretched Hindoos, for their civil and religious liberties. 
At the end of the fourteenth century, Timur Bee, or Tamer- 
lane, a prince descended from Zingis Khan, chief of the Mogul 
Tartars, invaded the empire, established by the former Mahomedan 
conquerors, and with atrocious cruelty plundered not only the 
Hindoos, but the followers of the prophet; although the Mogul 
empire was not completely founded until the sixteenth century; 
when Baber, a descendant of Timur, got possession of Delhi, and 
made it the capital of his dominions. Most of the southern dis- 
tricts were shortly after subdued, and the tenets of the Koran 
adopted by numbers; the converts entirely relinquished the Hindoo 
manners and dress, and lost the name. 
After these Mogul sovereigns were firmly established on the 
imperial throne, they permitted their Hindoo subjects the free 
enjoyment of their religion; and although, from foreign wars, and 
intestine commotions, the picture of the limes too often presented 
a scene of blood and cruelty, yet the blessings of peace sometimes 
prevailed: during those happy intervals, poetry, history, and 
music, raised their dejected heads, and with many useful arts and 
sciences, assumed a short-lived smile; convincing us they only 
wanted the aid of milder governments, and less tumultuous times, 
to flourish in the realms of Hindustan, as well as in Grecian or 
Italian climes. 
