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an ample teftimony of native resource, when the common danger had roufed them to action, and gave but one impulfe to their spirit. Should any future cause call forth the combined efforts of the Sicques to maintain the existence of empire and religion, we may see some ambitious chief led on by his genius and success, and, absorbing the power of his affociates, difplay, from the ruins of their commonwealth, the standard of monarchy. The page of history is filled with the like effects, fpringing from the like causes. Under fuch a form of government, I have little hesitation in saying, that the Sicques would be foon advanced to the first rank amongst the native princes of Hindoftan; and would become a terror to the surrounding ftates."

*

I am,

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Dear Sir,

Yours, &c.

*Mhadgee Scindia, a Mahratta chief, by feizing the relics of the Imperial authority and domain, has placed himself in the fituation which the Sicques must have been defirous of occupying. This refolution will naturally create a national enmity, perhaps a contest, between the northern branch of the Mahratta empire, and the Sicques.

LET

LETTER XII.

: DEAR SIR,

Kashmire, April, 1783.

ON the 17th of April, I left Jumbo; and,

accompanied by a Kashmirian fervant, who carried my baggage, I reached the small village of Dunfhaulah, after a painful journey on foot, of ten coffes. A review of my feet, too plainly fhewed that they had not been proof against the steep and rocky roads I had clambered over; indeed they had fuffered fo feverely by bruises and excoriations, that I could scarcely walk.

: HAVING bound up my feet with bandages foaked in oil, I reached, on the 18th, though with difficulty, the village of Nagrolah-five coffes. During these two last days, I paid, at the different custom-houses, certain fmall fees of office, which were not authorized charges; but being known to be a stranger, and apparently in a condition to fatisfy the demand, I was feldom permitted to pass a custom-house unmolefted. Though the lacerations in my feet gave me much pain, especially at the first fetting off, I purfued my journey in good fpirits, being pro

VOL. I.

PP

tected

tected by the quiet difpofition of the people, and fure of procuring a good meal in the evenings, with commodious lodging. The first night, we were received into a retail shop, at Dunshaulah, where I flept on my large blanket, and supped on fome fpiced meat and bifcuits, which my Jumbo host had provided and at Nagrolah we were accommodated by a Mahometan family, who fupplied me with a standing bed.

On the 19th, at Luttere-eight coffes. The latter part of the journey led me up a high and steep hill, and the fun, then at its meridian height, had nearly overpowered me; when, on a fudden, I found myfelf on a fummit, where some charitable Hindoo had erected a fmall, but a cool, building, plentifully fupplied with pots of water. Under this hospitable shade, I was permitted, though a Mahometan, to reft during the day, and to fleep at night. Many Hindoos came in for the benefit of the water and fhade, and observing that I was lame, they treated me with an attentive kindnefs, and difpenfed with my rifing when any of their principal people entered.

In the number of those who came to partake of the charitable ufes of this houfe, was a Mahometan, who ejaculating his Bifmillah, laid himself down, without farther ceremony, in the interior quarter of the apartment. A Hindoo of rank, accom

* Called, in the language of the country, Durmfallen, which fignifies “ A cha"ritable foundation."

↑ An Arabick compound word, fignifying " In the name of God,"

panied by feveral attendants, entered foon after, and obferving that the mendicant had occupied the most convenient, as well as honorary place, and that he offered no mark of attention or respect, the Hindoo ordered that his chattles, which were heavy, fhould be thrown into the road. On exclaiming against this act of ejection, he was told, that though the house was erected for the purpose of common accommodation, with no view of excluding any nation or fect; yet in fome cafes, as in the present, an obfervance of precedency and deference was neceffary. This anecdote will serve to generally delineate the native difference betwixt the temper of a Hindoo and a Mahometan. What do you think would have been the reception of a Hindoo, particularly of a religious order, had he come into a karavanferah, in a Mahometan country, and throw his brass pot, his rice, or pease, into an apartment which Mahometans had previously occupied? Could the Hindoo have acted with fuch indifcretion-his punishment would have been more disgraceful and severe than death. From long obfervation, I can with confidence fay, that the Hindoos are a more temperate people, and much more useful in the various relations of life, than any clafs of Mahometans that have come within my knowledge.

AT the vicinity of Nagrolah commence the "diftricts of the Chinnanee chief, a dependant on Jumbo, who poffeffes a revenue of about a lack of rupees. This chief does not remit any tribute to his fuperior, but affifts his government with a quota of troops

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