uncertainty, though at length it resulted in the hazardous On the 24th Novemdetermination to follow his example. ber, 1817, Mr. Jenkins, the British resident, was invited to see his highness invested with a dress of honour; having assumed the juree putka or golden streamer, an emblem of high command, both of which had been transmitted by the peishwa. Our countryman declined attendance, not without expressing indignation at the rajah's acceptance of these honours at such a moment; and indeed it seems to have been an imprudent and premature insult, by which the English were put on their guard.

The subsidiary force now stationed at Nagpore was very small. It consisted only of two battalions of tive infantry, with detachments of cavalry and artillery; and the whole, being much reduced by sickness, did not amount to 1400 men. The rajah's army, on the contrary, comprised 10,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry, including 3000 or 4000 very brave Arab troops. The residency was situated outside the town, and separated from it by a ridge rising at each extremity into low hills, which were hastily occupied as defensive posts. At sunset the pickets were fired upon by the Arab infantry, and soon after a general discharge of artillery was opened upon all the positions, particularly those on the smaller hill. This was continued till two in the morning with considerable effect, the first officer in command on that station being killed, and the second wounded. The English, during the remainder of the night, made the best preparations in their power against the more serious attack which was anticipated in the morning. Accordingly at daybreak the charge was renewed with increased fury. At ten a tumbril burst on the smaller hill, which threw the troops into some confusion; the Arabs rushed on with loud cries, the sepoys were seized with panic and fled, abandoning the guns and the wounded, who were immediately put to the sword. The enemy then opened a heavy fire on the larger hill, when several officers fell, and among them Mr. Sotheby, the resident's assistant, a young man of distinguished merit, while he was endeavouring to rally and restore the courage of his men. The dismay of the troops, the cries of the women and children, the vast numbers and increasing confidence of the enemy, seemed to portend the most fatal result. Yet even then resources

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were found in British firmness and courage. Captain Fitzgerald, who had withdrawn the cavalry within the residencygrounds, seeing the critical state of the infantry, and the fire already opening upon his station, felt that affairs could be retrieved only by one of those bold attacks which a native army can scarcely ever resist. He led his few horsemen to the charge, drove every thing before him, took two guns, and turned them against the enemy. The troops on the larger hill, animated by this example, resumed courage, and, raising loud shouts, opened a brisk fire on the assailants. A party dashed across to the smaller hill, from which the rajah's followers were driven in their turn, and about noon were repulsed at every point. Yet the British had lost a fourth of their number, and their ammunition was drawing to a close, so that had Appa persevered, he must have finally succeeded in cutting off the detachment, an event which would have produced the strongest sensation over all India. But he remained inactive, while English reinforcements were poured in from every quarter. On the 12th December, General Doveton arrived with the strong reserve under his command. It then became impossible for Saheb to hope for success; he had already obtained an armistice, and now inquired as to the terms on which a final accommodation might be effected. Mr. Jenkins replied that nothing could now be accepted short of entire submission,-the disbanding of his troops, the delivering up of all his forts and artillery, and his own presence as a hostage at the British residency. It was however intimated, that on his complying fully with these requisitions, he would be restored to nearly his former condition, being required only to maintain a subsidiary force, and submit to a certain degree of control. When the troops, however, marched into Nagpore to take possession of the ordnance, they were saluted with a hot fire, and suffered some loss before they could seize the guns and compel the Arabs, who took the chief part in this resistance, to retire within the fort. As they refused to surrender, a siege was immediately commenced, and a practicable breach appeared to have been made in the gate; but when the assault was given, it was found to be so secured by interior walls, that the English were obliged to retreat with considerable damage. Preparations were then made to invest the place on a more regular plan; but VOL. II.-S

the Arabs, satisfied with the display of valour which they had already made, capitulated on the condition of being allowed to march out with their baggage and private property.

As none of these transactions could be brought home to Appa Saheb, he was not made responsible for them. On the surrender of Nagpore he was liberated, and received notice of the terms on which he would be allowed to retain his seat on the guddee. These consisted in his being placed entirely on the same footing with the nizam; having his military force subjected to the control of the company, and even his ministers appointed by them. The rajah expressed his dissatisfaction only by offering to retire altogether on a liberal pension; but this was not considered admissible. He forthwith began to intrigue, with the view of shaking off this hated dependence. Troops were levied, the govern ors of fortresses and the mountain-chiefs were instructed to muster their forces, and give every possible annoyance to the English; finally, a secret correspondence was discovered with Bajee Rao, who, being invited to join his army to the standard of the peishwa, had actually taken steps for that purpose. Mr. Jenkins hereupon deemed it indispensable to call upon Appa to resume his place within the residency; and this not being complied with, a party was sent who effected his arrest, fortunately without having recourse to violence. It is less difficult, however, to seize Indian chiefs than to keep them; the rajah being mildly treated, and access procured to him by several of his adherents, a plan was arranged for his escape in the disguise of a sepoy. He went off at two in the morning, and the discovery was not made till daylight; so that, relays of horses having been provided, all pursuit was vain. As the Pindaree war, however, was now terminated, and Bajee Rao reduced to the last extremity, he was unable to do more than excite desultory hostilities in the mountainous districts. The English were thus able, on their own terms, to place on the guddee Bajee Rao, a grandson of Raghojee Bhonslay, while the administration was placed entirely under their own control.

Since the termination of the Pindaree contest no important event or acquisition has distinguished the history of British power in Hindostan. The only war undertaken on

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a great scale was the arduous but finally successful one with the Birman empire, by which the company gained a considerable territory along the Bay of Bengal. There occurred, however, one hostile movement, the narrative of which must not be omitted. After the death of the Rajah of Bhurtpore in 1825, his legitimate heir, Bulwunt Singh, being dethroned by Doorjun Sâl, his cousin, applied for aid to Sir David Ochterlony, then resident at Delhi. That officer embraced the prince's cause; but his conduct in doing so was disavowed by the governor-general, Lord Amherst, who showed a disposition to proceed upon the old principle of non-interference. Further information, however, induced him to change this intention, and Lord Combermere was ordered to march upon the city and expel the usurper. This able commander accordingly, with 25,000 men and an ample train of artillery, proceeded to attack that celebrated fortress. The siege was begun on the 23d December; but it was soon found that cannon-shot could not penetrate mud-walls sixty feet thick, and that it would be necessary to employ mining operations. By means of these a breach was effected on the 17th January, 1826; the assault was given next morning, and after a gallant defence of two hours, in which many veterans who had triumphantly fought in the former siege took an active part, the place was carried; Doorjun was made prisoner; and there remained no longer in Hindostan a fortress that had success❤ fully defied the British arms. While this conflict lasted a general ferment was observable among the surrounding principalities; and Bishop Heber doubts not, that had the attack failed, the whole country westward of the Jumna would have risen in arms, at least so far as to resume the predatory system of warfare. This triumph, however, checked the disposition to revolt, and completely confirmed the supremacy of Britain over the whole of India.

CHAPTER VI.

Hindoo History and Mythology.

General Aspect of the Hindoo People--Absence of authentic HistoryHistorical Poems Indian Chronology-Series of Dynasties-Mythoiogy-Ideas of the Divine Nature-Bramah-Vishnu-His Avatars or Transformations-Siva-Doorga-Kalee-Minor Deities-Worship of Rivers-Of the Brute Creation--A Future State--Transmigration of Souls-Ancient Temples-Elephanta-Kenneri-Carli-Ellora-Mahabalipoor-Pagoda at Tanjore--Temples in Rajpootana-Modern Structures-Religious Rites-Mendicity--Pilgrimages-Penances-Self-immolation--Idol Cars-Suttee-Infanticide-Hindoo Sects

Vishnuvites-Sivites-Boodhists-Seiks-Native Christians-Jews.

HAVING thus traced the varying fortunes of India, till nearly the whole of that vast empire was subjected to British control, we shall now attempt to delineate its social and political condition, both as respects its own numerous population, and the military and civil arrangements by means of which the conquerors hold it in subjection.

In this survey, the most conspicuous object is that native race, celebrated from all antiquity, who still form a vast majority of its inhabitants. The Hindoos, in the wide extent of territory over which they are spread, present many varied aspects; yet a striking similarity of religion, of language diversified only by dialects, of manners and institutions, and even in some degree of external form, proclaim them to be throughout the same people. Amid great blemishes, too, they have undeniably, with the exception of the European nations, or those sprung from Europe, attained a degree of civilization, and made a progress in the arts, beyond any other people. Of orientals, the Chinese alone can enter into competition with them; yet though the polity and institutions of that people claim, in some respects, even a pre-eminence, they do not, on the whole, exhibit a character so intellectual and interesting,

It would have been desirable to introduce a sketch of the history of the Hindoos prior to that of their Mohammedan