DESCRIPTION

OF

HIND OSTA N.

H INDOSTAN is washed by the ocean on the

eaft, the west, and the south; to the eastward lies Malacca, together with Sumatra, the Moluccas, and many other islands. On the north are high mountains, part of which forms the boundary of Hindoftan on that quarter, and the reft belong to Turan and Iran. Beyond these mountains, as far as Chinese-Tartary, are feveral fertile territories, particularly Cafhmeer, the two Tibbets and Kufhtwar. The north fide of Hindoftan is plentifully fupplied with rivers, fo that it may be faid to have water on all quarters.

The whole extent of this vaft empire is unequalled for the excellency of its waters, falubrity of air, mildness of climate, and the temperate conftitutions of the natives. Every part is cultivated and full of inhabitants, fo that you cannot travel the diftance of a cofe without feeing towns, and villages, and meeting with good water. Even in the depth of winter, the earth and trees are covered with verdure; and in the rainy season, which in many parts of Hindoftan commences

in

in June, and continues till September, the air is fo delightfully pleasant, that it gives youthful vigour to old

age.

Summarily, the Hindoos are religious, affable, courteous to ftrangers, cheerful, enamoured of knowledge, fond of inflicting aufterities upon themselves, lovers of justice, given to retirement, able in business, grateful, admirers of truth, and of unbounded fidelity in all their dealings. Their character fhines brightest in adverfity. Their foldiers know not what it is to fly from the field of battle; but when the fuccefs of the combat becomes doubtful, they difmount from their horses, and throw away their lives in payment of the debt of valour. Frequently they hamftring their horfes, to deprive themselves of the means of flight; and thus rendered desperate, foon bring the battle to a fuccessful iffue. They have great refpect for their tutors; and make no account of their lives, when they can devote them to the fervice of God.

They one and all believe in the unity of the Godhead; and although they hold images in high veneration, yet they are by no means idolaters, as the ignorant fuppofe. I have myfelf frequently difcourfed upon the fubject with many learned and upright men of this religion, and comprehend their doctrine, which is, that the images are only representations of celeftial beings, to whom they turn themselves whilft at prayer, to prevent their thoughts from wandering; and they think it an indifpenfable duty to addrefs the Deity after that manner.

In all their prayers, they implore bleffings from the fun.

They confider the Supreme Being to be above all labour, believing Brahma to be the creator of the

world;

world; Bifhen its providence and preferver; and Roodre (who is alfo called Mahadeo) its destroyer.

One fect believes that God, who hath no equal, appeared on earth under the three above-mentioned forms, without having been thereby polluted in the smallest degree; in the fame manner as the Chriftians speak of the Meffiah.

Others hold, that all three were only human beings, who, on account of their fanctity and righteousness, were raised to these high dignities.

Without compliment, there are to be found in this religion, men who have not their equal in any other for their godlinefs, and their abftinence from fenfual gratifications.

They reckon the univerfe to have had no beginning; but fome of them believe that it will have an end, as will be spoken of hereafter.

It is aftonishing, that if any man of another caft wants to become a Brahmin, he is not allowed; neither may a Brahmin change his caft.

They have no flaves among them.

When they go to war, or are attacked by an enemy, they put all their women together in one place, which they furround with wood, ftraw, and oil; and fome ftony-hearted men are left with them, who, when those engaged in battle have no hopes of preferving their lives, fet fire to the pile, and reduce the women to afhes.

If any person in diftrefs flies to them for protection, although he be a stranger, they take him by the hand,

and will defend him at the expence of their property, reputation, and life.

Formerly it was the cuftom to decide the fate of battle by fingle combat; but now this method is not followed.

The greatest part of this empire is arable land; and in fome places the foil has such strength that they always cultivate the fame fpot, without there being any difference in the crops. In many places they have three crops of rice in a year, and in fome even more. The vine bears fruit in the firft year.

In Hindoftan are many mines of diamonds, rubies, gold, filver, copper, lead, and iron. It abounds in odoriferous plants, and has great variety of fruit trees. They manufacture various kinds of cloths and stuffs. their elephants are the best in the world; in many parts they breed horfes equal to Arabs; and their oxen are exceedingly fine.

But they were notorious for the want of cold water; the intolerable heat of their climate; the fcarcity of grapes and melons; and that they had not any manufactures of carpets; neither did they breed camels. His majefty remedied all thefe evils and defects. He taught them how to cool water by the help of faltpetre, and had fnow and ice brought from the northern mountains. He ordered mats to be woven of a cold odoriferous root called Khuss, of which are formed convenient apartments, and when wetted with water on the outside, thofe within enjoy a pleafant cool air in the height of fummer. Gardeners were brought from Iran and Turan, who cultivated the vine, and various kinds of melons. The manufactures of filk and woollen carpets were introduced, together with that of brocades; and now the

breed

breed of camels is fuch, that they excel the Arabian Bokhtu.

Having now spoken in a fummary way of Hindoftan and the Hindoos, I fhall proceed to treat of fome particulars in a fuller manner; but ftill this must be confidered as only a little of much, one out of a thousand.

OF THE CREATION.

Of the various changes which the universe has undergone, there are no less than eighteen different opinions; but it will be fufficient to speak of three of them.

THE FIRST OPINION.

God, who hath no equal, took upon himself the form of man, who is Brahma. who is Brahma. He by his will created four fons, Singh, Sunden, Suntoakomar, and Sunnatun. And Brahma commanded thofe four fons to employ themselves in acts of creation. But they being strongly attached to the prefence of Brahma, did not execute this command. At which Brahma was wroth, and caused another form to iffue from his forehead, whom he called Mahadeo. But neither was he found fit for the tasks of creation. Then Brahma of his will created ten other fons; befides whom there iffued from his own body two forms, one male and the other female. The name of the man is Munnoo, and of the woman Sutrooka, and these are the progenitors of the human

race.

THE SECOND OPINION.

God manifefted himself under the form of a woman, who is called Mahaletchmeen. From the effence of Mahaletchmeen proceeded three attributes, the first called Sut, the fecond Ruj, and the third Tum. And when Mahaletchmeen willed that the world fhould be created,

1