S3

AN HISTORICAL DISQUISITION

SECT, to that of which the government was committedI, to Porus

It was likewife from the Memoirs of the fameofficers that Europe derived its firft authentic infor-mation concerning the climate, the foil, the pro-ductions, and the inhabitants of India ; and in acountry where the manners , the cuftoms, and eventhe drefs of the people are almoft as permanent andinvariable as the face of nature itfelf, it is wonder-ful how exactly the defcriptions given by Alexan-der’s officers delineate what we now behold inIndia , at the diftance of two thoufand years. Theftated change of feafons, now known by the nameof Moufoo7ts ; the periodical rains; the fwelling ofthe rivers; the inundations which thefe occafion;the appearance of the country during their conti-nuance; are particularly mentioned and defcribed.No lefs accurate are the defcriptions which theyhave given of the inhabitants, their delicate andflender form, their dark complexion, their blackuncurled hair , their garments of cotton, theirliving entirely upon vegetable food , their divifioninto feparate tribes or cafli, the members of whichnever intermarry, the cuftom of wives burningthemfelves with their deceafed hufbands, and manyother particulars, in all which they perfectly refemblethe modern Hindoos. To enter into any detailwith refpedt to thefe in this place would be pre-mature; but as the fubject, though curious andinterefting, will lead unavoidably into difcuffionsnot well fuited to the nature of a hiftorical work,1 fiiall referve my ideas concerning it for an Appen-