SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.

TUMMY,

The History of India. By the Honourable Mountstuart Elphinstone. In 2 VOIR. TR W ELS, Murray. Belgium. By J. Emerson Penitent, Esq., M.P.. Author of Letters from the

/Egeau," and " History of Modern Greece." In 2 vols. Bentley.

SOCIAL ECONOMY,

A Guide to the Loan St:cieties of London Strange.

MR. ELPIIINSTONE'S IIISTORY OF INDIA.

THE author intimates in his preface, that the "utility of researches conducted under the guidance of impressions received in India," is one reason which induced him to undertake a work that might seem to be superfluous after the "ingenious, original, and elabo- rate" history of MILL, and the late compilations of Messrs. GLEIG and MURRAY: and these Indian "impressions" form perhaps the most striking characteristic of Mr. ELPHINSTONE'S undertaking. Whatever may be its merits or demerits in other points of' view,

we meet continual traces of a mind familiar with the country, the people, and the life which are described ; giving an air of truth to the narrative, and of certainty to the conclusions, whilst, in passages that admit of such treatment, a succession of little Oriental pictures are presented to the reader, that are obviously drawn from reality. So far as a judgment can be formed of an unfinished work, Mr.

ELPIIINSTONE'S History of India will occupy a middle place between the critical and elaborate work of MILL and the more superficial productions of GLEIG and MURRAY, but approaching much closer in character to the history of the former than to the compilations of

the latter writers. Besides the advantage of a residence in India, (which :Thils. so strenuously, but, we agree with his editor Pro-

fessor WILSON in thinking, so incorrectly maintains to be useless to its historian,) Mr. ELPMNSTONE has the benefit of sources of in- formation unknown to his great predecessor, through later discove- ries and translations. The leading principle of his judgment is also different from MILL'S; being decidedly favourable to the Indian character, making all those allowances for their acknowledged vices that are usually made by men acquainted with the whole circum- stances, and satisfactorily explaining many things, which only seem to be vices because reported by ill-informed and prejudiced persons, and judged of by minds educated under another state of society and trained to determine things by a different standard. A more extended and a juster knowledge is therefore brought to his task by Mr. ELPHINSTONE than MILL could attain to from the nature of things ; and his History of India, if it achieve no other object, will enable the student to examine his subject from two points of view.

The division of the volumes before us is fourfold. The first

section contains a rapid and graphic view of the geographical ex- tent, physical features, climate, and productions of India. The second embraces an account of all those things which distinguish one people from another, and go to make up civilized society,-- such as laws, manners, arts, sience, literature, and religion. The third division of the work contains a history of the early Hindoo governments,—properly brief, for nothing certain is known of them ; to which are appended, amongst other things, a view of India at the time of ALEXANDER'S invasion, and an account of the Greek kingdom of Bactria. The fourth and largest section con- tains the Mahometan conquests of India, from the desultory in- vasions and transient successes of the Arabs, and of the Afghans under MAHMUD of Ghazni, till the Mogul conquest of Hindostan by BADER, about 1520 : and thence through the reigns of AKBER, SHAH JEHAN, AURANZID, and other less distinguished members of the house of TIMOUR, till the invasion of the Persian NADIR SHAH, in 1739, destroyed the power of the Great Mogul and the prestige attaching to his name, leaving to the Marattas the task of dis- membering the empire, to prepare the way for the triumph of the British. The history of European transactions in India is reserved for another publication.

Of the present sections we prefer the first two ; not merely for

the lifelike character and the fulness of knowledge which they dis- play, but from the greater completeness and comprehension of the subject. The sameness of the events, and the indistinct, inflated character of the Oriental authorities, (for we attribute more to these causes than to the remoteness of the people or to the differ- ence in their manners,) render Asiatic history' unattractive to Eu- ropean readers, unless when some singular person is connected with great events. The history of India has two drawbacks peculiar to itself So much uncertainty hangs over the Hindoo period, that "no date," says Mr. ELPHINSTONE, "can be fixed before the in- vasion of Alexander, and no connected relation be attempted until after the Mahometan conquest." In almost every period the divi- sion of the country into the two great districts of Hindostan and the Deccan, and its countless subdivisions amongst petty princes, is not only destructive of unity, but puzzling to follow. We in- cline to think an historian of India, who was also an artist, would deviate from the common rule in an uncommon case, and treat his subject by epochs and characters, rather than in a regular order of succession ; doubling-up the "rascal rabble" of kings, courtiers, and nabobs, and that chiefly by showing the results which their weak- ness produced, but dwelling upon those sovereigns whose strongly- marked characters render them interesting as men, and whose policy and exploits were considerable in themselves and pro- duced extensive changes in their own age, if they had not the means or the ability to render them pesmanent. 'This, indeed, is not a commonly-received doctrine ; for moderns seem to think that an historian is not a much higher character than an antiqua- rian drudge, and that a history, like the recital of a deed, should describe every thing minutely. But " the book is good in vain which the reader throws away." When VOLTARE was once asked what made the ancient historians so superior to the moderns, he answered—by passing over unimportant particulars, and only de- scribing great events.

This innate difficulty in his subject, Mr. ELPHINSTONE'S literary character is not of a kind to cope with effectually. Clear, full, sedate, and judicious, he has the perspicuity and acumen of the critical historian, but wants the imagination and art of the eloquent narrator ; so that he excels more in disquisition than in the tale of events that have little interest of their own. The pith of his authorities will be given, and with an effect corresponding to the nature of the materials; but he is deficient in the poetical power that enabled ',Ivy and SCOTT to impart life and animation to the dry facts of chroniclers.

As an example of Mr. Erxurssvoss's historical style, we will take a passage descriptive of the virtual destruction of the Mogul empire, when NADIR, after defeating the Emperor's army in the field, compelled the degraded sovereign to accompany him to the capital, and plundered his treasury and massacred his subjects before his face.

THE MASSACRE OF DELHI.

The army reached Delhi in the beginning of March, when both Kings took up their residence in the royal palace. Nadir distributed a portion of his troops throughout the town ; he ordered strict discipline to be observed, and placed safeguards in different places for the protection of the inhabitants.

These precautions did not succeed in conciliating the Indians ; who looked on the ferocity of these strangers with terror, and on their intrusion with disgust. On the second day after the occupation of the city, a report was spread that Nadir Shah was dead ; on which the hatred of the Indians broke forth without restraint. They fell on all the Persians within their reads; and from the manner in which those troops were scattered throughout the city, a consider- able number fell sacrifices to the popular fury. The Indian nobles made no effort to protect the Persians ; some even gave those up to be murdered who had been furnished for the protection of their palaces.

Nadir Shah at first applied his whole attention to suppressing the tumult ; and, though provoked to find that it continued during the whole night, and seemed rather to increase than diminish, he mounted his horse at daybreak, in the hope that his presence would restore quiet. The first objects that met his eyes in the streets were the dead bodies of his countrymen ; and he was soon assailed with stones arrows, and fire-arms, from the houses. At last one of his chiefs was killed at his side, by a shot aimed at himself: when he gave way to his passion, and ordered a general massacre of the Indians. The slaughter raged from sunrise till the day was far advanced, and was attended with all the horrors that could be inspired by rapine, lust, and thirst of vengeance. The city was set on fire in several places, and was soon involved in one scene of de- struction, blood, and terror.

At length Nadir, satiated with carnage, allowed himself to be prevailed on by the intercession of the Emperor or his prime minister, and gave an order to stop the massacre ; and, to the infinite credit of his discipline, it was imme- diately obeyed.

But the sufferings of the people of Delhi did not cease with this tragedy. Nadir's sole object in invading India was to enrich himself by its lunder, and lie began to discuss the contributions from the moment of his victory. His first adviser was Sadat Khan : that nobleman died soon after reaching Delhi, when the work of exaction was committed to Sirbuland Khan and a Persian named Tahmasp Khan ; and their proceedings, which were sufficiently rigor- ous of themselves were urged on by the violence and impatience of Nadir. They first took possession of the imperial treasures and jewels, including the celebrated peacock throne. They afterwards seized on the whole effects of some great nobles, and compelled the rest to sacrifice the largest part of their property as a ransom for the remainder. They then fell on the inferior officers and on the common inhabitants : guards were stationed to prevent people leaving the city, and every man was constrained to disclose the amount of his fortune, and to pay accordingly. Every species of cruelty was employed to extort these contributions. Even men of consequence were beaten to draw forth confessions. Great numbers of the inhabitants died of the usage they received, and many destroyed themselves to avoid the disgrace and torture. " Sleep and rest forsook the city. In every chamber and house was heard the cry of affliction. It was, before, a general massacre, but now the murder of individuals."

Contributions were also levied on the governors of provinces ; until Nadir was at length convinced that he had exhausted all the sources from which wealth was to he obtained, and prepared himself to return to his own dominions. Be made a treaty with Mohammed Shah, by which all the country West of the Indus was ceded to him. He married his son to a princess of the house of Teimur ; and at last he seated Mohammed on the throne, invested him with his own hand, with the ornaments of the diadem, and enjoined all the Indian no- bles to obey him implicitly, on pain of his future indignation and vengeance. At length he marched from Delhi, after a residence of fifty-eight days, car- rying with him a treasure in money, amounting, by the lowest computation, to eight or time millions sterling, besides several millions in gold and silver plater valuable furniture, and rich stuffs of every description ; and this does not in- clude the jewels, which were inestimable. He also carried off many elephants, horses, and camels, and led away the most skilful workmen and artisans, to the number of some hundreds.

The general descriptions of the country, the people, and their institutions, have more of life and Indian character than the his- tory; as will be seen by a few specimens.

LOSS OF CASTE IN THEORY AND PRACTICE.

The loss of caste is faintly described by saying that it is civil death. A man not only cannot inherit, nor contract, nor give evidence, but he is excluded from all the intercourse of private life, as well as from the privileges of a citizen. He must not be admitted into his father's house; his nearest relations must not communicate with him; and he is deprived of all the consolations of religion in this life, and all hope of happiness in that which is to follow. Unless, how- ever, caste be lost for an enormous offence, or for long-continued breach of rules, it can always be regained by expiation ; and the means of recovering it must be very easy, for the effects of the loss of it are now scarcely observable. It occurs, no doubt, and prosecutions are not unfrequent in our courts for unjust exclusion from caste ; but in a long residence in India, I do not remember ever to have met with or heard of an individual placed in the circumstances which I have described.

INDIAN COTTAGES.

The houses of a Bengal and Hindostan village have been contrasted. The cottage of Bengal, with its trim curved thatched roof and cane walls, is the hest- looking in India. Those of Hindostan are tiled, and built of clay or unburnt bricks ; and though equally convenient, have less neatness of appearance. The mud or stone huts and terraced roofs of the Deccan village look as if they were mere uncovered ruins, and are the least pleasing to the eye of any. Further south, though the material is the same, the execution is much better; and the walls, being painted in broad perpendicular streaks of white and red, have an appear- ance of neatness and cleanness.

TI1E PLACE-HUNTING CASTE.

The great men about the Government will be spoken of hereafter ; but the innumerable clerks and hangers-on in lower stations must not be passed over without mention. Not only has every office numbers of these men, but every department, however small, must have one : a company of soldiers would not be complete without its clerk. Every nobleman (besides those employed in collections and accounts) has clerks of the kitchen, of the stable, the hawking establishment, &c. Intercourse of business and civility is carried on through these people, who also furnish the news-writers ; and, after all, great numbers are unemployed, and are ready agents in every sort of plot and intrigue.

INDIAN HORSEMANSUIP.

The military men, notwithstanding their habitual indolence, are all active and excellent horsemen. The Marattas in particular are celebrated for their management of the horse and lance. They all ride very short, and use tight martingales and light but very sharp bits. Their horses are always well on their haunches, and are taught to turn suddenly, when at speed, in the least possible room. They are also taught to make sudden bounds forward ; by which they bring their rider on his adversary's bridle-arm before he has time to counteract the manceuvre.

The skirmishers of two Indian armies mix and contend with their spears in a way that looks very like play to an European. They wheel round and round each other, and make feigned pushes, apparently without any intention of coming in contact, though always nearly within reach. They are, in fact, straining every nerve to carry their point ; but each is thrown out by the dex- terous evolutions of his antagonist, until, at length, one being struck through and knocked off his horse, first convinces the spectator that both parties were in earnest.

CHARGE OF CAVALRY.

The most important part of the Hindu battles is now a cannonade. In this they greatly excel, and have occasioned heavy loss to us in all our battles with them : but the most characteristic mode of 'fighting (besides skirmishing, which is a favourite sort of warfare) is a general charge of cavalry, which soon brings the battle to a crisis. Nothing can be more magnificent than this sort of charge. Even the slow advance of such a sea of horsemen has something in it more than usually im- pressive; and, whin they move on at speed, the thunder of the ground, the Lashing of their arms, the brandishing of their spears, the agitation of their banners rushing through the wind, and the rapid approach of such a countless multitude, produce sensations of grandeur which the imagination cannot surpass. Their mode is to charge the front and the flanks at once ; and the manner in which they perform this manceuvre has sometimes called forth the admira- tion of European antagonists, and is certainly surprising in an undisciplined body. The whole appear to be coming on at full speed towards their adver- sary's front, when, suddenly, those selected for the duty at once wheel inwards, bring their 'pears by one motion to the side nearest the enemy, and are in upon his flank before their intention is suspected. These charge., though grand, are ineffectnal against regular troops, unless they catch them in a moment of confusion, or when they have been thinned by the fire of cannon.

The sagacity of the Red Indian in tracinff° an enemy, by his marks in the forest or prairie, is well known ; but that is nothing to the skill of an Asiatic.

INDIAN THIEFTAKERS.

The hired watchmen are generally of these castes, [thieves,] and are faithful and efficacious. Their presence alone is a protection against their own class ; and their skill and vigilance, against strangers. Guzerat is famous for one class of people of this sort, whose business it is to trace thieves by their footsteps. In a dry country a bare foot leaves little print to common eyes; but one of these people will perceive all its peculiarities so as to recognize it in all cir- cumstances and will pursue a robber by these vestiges for a distance that seems incredible.

One was employed to pursue a man who bad carried off the plate belonging to a regimental mess at Caira : be tracked him to Ahmedabad, twelve or fourteen miles ; lost him among the well-trodden streets of that city, but recovered his traces on reaching the opposite gate • and, though long foiled by the fugitive's running up the water of a rivulet, he at last came up with him, and recovered the property, after a chase of from twenty to thirty miles.

INDIAN GRATITUDE.

The natives of India are often accused of wanting gratitude ; but it does not appear that those who make the charge have done much to inspire such a sen- timent. When masters are really kind and considerate, they find as warm a return from Indian servants as any in the world ; and there are few who.: have tried them in sickness, or in difficulties and dangers, who do not bear witness to their sympathy and attachment. Their devotion to their own chiefs is proverbial, and can arise from no other cause than gratitude, unless where caste supplies the place of clannish feeling. The fidelity of our Sepoys to their foreign masters has been shown in instances which it would be difficult to match even among national troops in any other country. Nor is this confined to the lower orders : it is common to see persoqx who have been patronized by men in power not only continue their attachment to them when in disgrace, but even to their families when they have left them in a helpless condition. A perfectly authentic instance might be mentioned of an English gentleman in a high station in Bengal, who was dismissed, and afterwards reduced to great temporary difficulties in his own country : a native of rank to whom he had been kind supplied him, when in those circumstances, with upwards of 10,0001.; of which he would not accept repayment, and for which he could expect no possible return. This generous friend was a Maratta Bramin, a race of all others who have least sympathy with people of other castes, and who are most hardened and corrupted by power.