"the cruel hand of religious persecution, and whole coun"tries were deluged in blood, in the vain hope, that by "the destruction of a part, the remainder might be persuaded, or terrified, into the profession of Mahomedism. "But all these sanguinary 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 con 66 quest, and contented themselves with the acquirement " of the civil dominion and almost universal empire of "Hindostan." Letters from a Hindoo Rajah, by Eliza Hamilton. NOTE m, p. 50. And braved the stormy spirit of the Cape, See the description of the Cape of Good Hope, trans lated from CAMOENS, by MICKLE. NOTE n, p. 51. While famish'd nations died along the shore. The following account of British conduct, and its consequences, in Bengal, will afford a sufficient idea of the fact alluded to in this passage. After describing the monopoly of salt, betel nut, and tobacco, the historian proceeds thus:- "Money in this 66 current came but by drops; it could not quench the "thirst of those who waited in India to receive it. An 66 expedient, such as it was, remained to quicken its pace. "The natives could live with little salt, but could not "want food. Some of the agents saw themselves well "situated for collecting the rice into stores; they did so. They knew the Gentoos would rather die than violate "the principles of their religion by eating flesh. The al"ternative would therefore be between giving what they "had, or dying. The inhabitants sunk ;-they that cul❝tivated the land, and saw the harvest at the disposal of others, planted in doubt-scarcity ensued. Then the monopoly was easier managed-sickness ensued. In some districts the languid living left the bodies of their Short History of the Eng numerous dead unburied." lish Transactions in the East Indies, page 145. NOTE o, p. 52. Nine times have Brama's wheels of lightning hurl'd His awful presence o'er the alarmed world. Among the sublime 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 descent. |