his followers, and with what fuccefs it was purfued, is well known to all who are in the leaft converfant in hif tory. "The fame overwhelming torrent, which had inundated the greater part of Africa, burst its way into the very heart of Europe, and covered many kingdoms of Afia with unbounded defolation, directed its baleful course to the flourishing provinces of Hindoftan. Here thefe fierce and hardy adventurers, whofe only improvement had been in the fcience of deftruction, who added the fury of fanaticifm to the ravages of war, found the great end of their conquefts opposed, by objects which neither the ardour of their perfevering zeal, nor favage barbarity, could furmount. Multitudes were facrificed by the cruel hand of religious perfecution, and whole countries were deluged in blood, in the vain hope, that by the de Aruction of a part, the remainder might be perfuaded, or terrified into the profeffion of Mahomedifm; but all thefe fanguinary efforts were ineffectual; and at length, being fully convinced, that though they might extirpate, they could never hope to convert any number of the Hindoos, they relinquished the impracticable idea, with which they had entered upon their career of conqueft, and contented themselves with the acquirement of the civil dominion and almoft univerfal empire of Hindoftan." Letters from a Hindoo Rajah, by Eliza Hamilton. Note 12. And brav'd the stormy fpirit of the Cape. See the defcription of the Cape of Good Hope, tranflated from Camoens, by Mickle. Note 13. While famih'd nations died along the fhore. The following account of British conduct, and its confequences, in Bengal, will afford a fufficient idea of the fact alluded to in this paffage. After defcribing the monopoly of falt, betel nut, and tobacco, the hiftorian proceeds thus: "Money in this current came but by drops; it could not quench the thirst of thofe who waited in India to receive it. An expedient, fuch as it was, remained to quicken its pace. The natives could live with little falt, but could not want food. Some of the agents saw themselves well fituated for collecting the rice into ftores; they did fo. They knew the Gentoos would rather die than violate the principles of their religion by eating flesh. The alternative would therefore be between giving what they had, or dying. The inhabitants funk; -they that cultivated the land, and faw the harveft at the difpofal of others, planted in doubt; fcarcity enfued. Then the monopoly was easier managed-fickness enfued. In some districts the languid living left the bodies of their numerous dead unburied." Short Hiftory of the English Tranfactions in the East Indies, page 145. Note 14. Nine times hath Brama's wheels of lightning hurl'd His awful prefence o'er the proftrate world! Among the fublime fictions of the Hindoo mythology, it is one article of belief, that the Deity Brama has descended nine times upon the world in various forms, and that he is yet to appear a tenth time, in the figure of a warrior upon a white horse, to cut off all incorrigible offenders. Avatar is the word used to express his defcent. |