P. S. The preceding Lift of Names, with which this Hiftory has been honoured, is not only truly respectable, but highly flattering to the author; because it confifts of perfons who, though they do not entirely coincide, as to opinion, in the line of Indian politics, yet have kindly united to patronise a Work of Literature. Refpectable and flattering as it is however, it must strike every mind, that reflects on the magnitude and expence of an undertaking of this nature, that so small a lift can by no means be sufficient for the proper and spirited execution of it, according to the plan of which this volume exhibits a fpecimen. The author therefore, in the hope that when more publicly known, the HISTORY OF HINDOSTAN Will be fanctioned by a more numerous catalogue of fubfcribers, is induced to leave the fubscription ftill open, and those Noblemen and Gentlemen, who may be inclined to extend their patronage to this infant work, will please to transmit their commands to Mr. Elmfley, Mr. Richardfon, or the Author, at his refidence, No. 126, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury.

:

PRE FAC E.

IN the year 1785 a fingular phænomenon

made its appearance, in the world of literature, under the title of BHAGVAT-GEETA, or Dialogues of Creefhna and Arjoon. This production was afferted to be a translation by Mr. Wilkins from a Sanfcreet poem, denominated the MAHABBARAT, or Great War, of which poem it forms an episode, and the public were informed that it is believed in India, to be of the venerable antiquity of four thousand years; and that it contained all the grand mysteries of the Hindoo Religion.

The GEETA was ushered into the world with all the importance which fo invaluable a monument of Indian science seemed to merit: it was prefaced by a recommendatory letter from the Governor-General of Bengal to the Directors, and publifhed at the expence of the Company. The profound theological

and metaphyfical doctrines which were inculcated in it, with the date to which it laid claim, rouzed the attention, and excited the curiofity of the public, whofe eyes about that period began, in a more particular manner, to be directed towards the history and literature of India. It fell into my hands at a period, when, from being engaged in writing upon a subject connected with an interesting period of Persian history, I had recently perufed with attention the very learned work of Dr. Hyde, "De Hiftoria Religionis Veterum Perfarum," and, as I thought I traced a furprifing fimilitude in the theological fyftems of ZOROASTER and BRAHMA, particularly in the mutual veneration of the SUN and FIRE, I was gradually led on to that more accurate investigation and comparison of their principles, of which the Dissertation on the Religion of Hindostan is the refult.

From confidering the Religion, I paffed, by an easy and natural transition, to an attentive confideration of the Hiftory, the Philofophy, and Literature, of this wonderful and remote race of men. The light which so strongly radiates from the page of claffical antiquity upon most other abftruse points of literary re

fearch

search, caft but a glimmering ray on this obfcure subject; and indeed its affertions were, in many inftances, diametrically oppofite to what, from the information of modern travellers of high repute, is known to be the fact. Whatever genuine information could poffibly be obtained relative to India, its early history and literature, seemed only to be acquired through the medium of faithful verfions from the Sanscreet, the ancient original language of the country, and the grand repofitory of all its history and sciences; but unfortunately, at that period, there were only three gentlemen who were fuppofed to be thoroughly acquainted with it, viz. Sir W. Jones, Mr. Halhed, and Mr. Wilkins.

Mr. Halhed had already prefented to the public that aftonishing proof of the early wisdom of the Indians, and their extensive fkill in jurifprudence "the Code of Gentoo Laws" compiled at Benares, by a number of Brahmins assembled for the purpose by Mr. Haftings, from the most ancient Sanfcreet treatises on the subject. The Code bears indeed ftrong internal evidence of the most profound antiquity, and in general by the investigator of the policy, and manners, of oriental nations, as well as in particular, by the Historian of Indian

b 2

Indian events must ever be confidered as an invaluable acquifition. The veil that covered their theology, their metaphyfics, and their jurifprudence, was thus happily removed.Their Ethics or fyftem of Morals, remained ftill to be difclofed; and we wanted an undoubted original picture, faithfully drawn from life, of Indian habits and manners in the most ancient periods of their empire.

Happily, to gratify the excited curiofity of the public, the grand defiderata were foon obtained. Mr. Wilkins, who first sprang the mine, and has ever fince been indefatigable in his efforts to bring to light the ineftimable, but buried, treasures of Sanfcreet literature, in 1787, published a translation of the HEETOPADES, or Amicable Inftructions. This work, which Sir William Jones denominates "the most beautiful, if not the most ancient collection of apologues in the world," was originally written in Sanfcreet, about eleven hundred years ago, by a venerable Brahmin of the name of Veeshnu-Sarma. So highly has the HEETOPADES been esteemed for the foundness of its moral precepts, the judicious maxims it inculcates for the regulation of human conduct, both in private and public flation, and the beautiful fimplicity of many

of