Indian Recreations, consisting chiefly of strictures on the domestic and rural economy of the Mahommedans and Hindoos

Front matter

Conserved under the Adopt a Book Appeal Geoffrey Bowman Jackson INDIAN RECREATIONS ; CONSISTING CHIEFLY OF STRICTURES ON THE DOMESTIC AND RURAL ECONOMY OF THE MAHOMMEDANS <§■ HINDOOS. BY THE REV. WILLIAM TENNANT, L.L.D. M;A.S. AND LATELY ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S CHAPLAINS IN INDIA. VOL. I. -**iff^__*v EDINBURGH : PRINTED BY C. STEWART, AND SOLD BY T. N. LONGMAN AND O. BEES, LONDON, AND JOHN ANDERSON, EDINBURGH. 1803. TO THE KING. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, These inquiries concerning the domestic and rural economy of the Hindoos, were originallymade as the means of obtaining better information regarding the condition of a numerous people, living in a state of society and manners to me almost entirely new : They were communicated to the public, with a view of rendering the in habitants of these remote parts of your Majesty's jesty's dominions, better known to your subjects in Europe; and they are now humbly offered to your Majesty as a tribute of gratitude for that security and protection which their author enjoyed, in common with many millions of your subjects in the midst of Asia.

What reflections may arise in your Ma jesty's breast, on viewing the domestic circumstances, and actual condition of so large a portion of the human race, I presume not to conjecture ; but your subjects can hardly contemplate without reverence and grati tude, that dispensation of Providence which has committed to your Majesty's protection and care, a more numerous people, and more extensive territories, than ever fell un der the dominion of any European Monarch ; V nareh ; because it has enabled your Councils to govern them with greater wisdom and moderation. During your long, eventful, and prosperous reign, the anarchy consequent on the downfal of the Mogul Empire, has been succeeded by order : The cruel spoliations of contending chieftains have been suspended ; arts have been encouraged ; several new manufactures have been introduced, and many more have been extended : And while the blessings of security and peace have been conferred upon a numerous people, better means .have been supplied them of acquiring the knowledge of truth, and the practice of virtue : The time has arrived, when Asia, which gave the first lessons of civilization to mankind, is destined to receive them back with interest into her bosom ; and when India, the peculiar reregion VI gion of despotism, must experience the bles sings of a mild and rational government. I am, May it please your Majesty, Your Majesty's Obedient Subject, and Faithful Servant, WILLIAM TENNANT.

Preface

. Of the information contained in these volumes, by far the greater part is the result of personal observation, and of inquiries made upon the spot, during a residence of several years in different parts of India. The progress of the army to which I was attached, presented to my examination, during that period, a large extent of country, in a line of march of more than three thousand miles. The duties of my pro fession obliged me, besides, to undertake many jour nies in different directions, where the army did not penetrate ; and curiosity often prompted me to make shorter excursions wherever information might be procured. The The different Officers, under whom I successively served, far from embarrassing, by their official au thority, encouraged these pursuits ; and to Lieu tenant-General Sir James Craig, Major-Generals Alexander Mackenzie, and Hay Macdowall, I am obliged for several useful topics of discussion, as well as for the most polite indulgence in the disposal of my time, on every occasion, consistent with the duties of my station in the army.

Another source of information was frequently afforded me by the conversation and writings of se veral intelligent natives of India, both Mussulmans and Hindoos : Whatever was found difficult or obscure, these men were referred to for elucidation, as the best qualified to decide on their own man ners and institutions. Gholarh Hossein Khan, Abu Taleb Khan, and Ram Jeet Sing, as often as they were consulted on doubtful points, supplied more correct information ; they are men of noble birth and considerable rank, but still more distinguished among their countrymen, by their extensive know ledge and respectability of character. My My station in the army afforded me frequent op portunity of oral conversation with the most intel ligent of the Honourable Company's civil and mi litary servants ; and to their unaffected hospitality, and liberal communications, I owe many obligations.

With equal pleasure and advantage I have consulted the writings of many of those Gentlemen, who from their professional labours, and long residence in the country, have become best acquainted with its affairs. The works of Sir W. Jones, Dr. Roxburgh, Dr. Hunter, Dr. Fontana, and Captain Hardwick, are not mentioned in literary circles without respect and approbation ; and of some of them the reputation is so high as leaves no room for panegyric. I am not without hope, therefore, that even in this eventful and dangerous period, when literary pursuits are in a great measure laid aside, that by some persons wearied with the bustle of politics, and the noise of war, these Recreations may be resorted to for the amusement of a leisure hour, and that by others whose views, or those of their friends, are turned to India, they may be perused from higher r> motives, X motives.

Whatever may be their fate, they are now committed to the public ; and as no writer can be indifferent to what has long been the object of his labour and care, I wait its decision with some soli citude, and will bow to its sentence with perfect submission. TABLE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR VOLUME FIRST. PAGE* Introduction. The antiquity of the Hindoo arts — the stabi lity of their manners, 4 8 Probable effects of a British government, The Mahommedan conquests in India. Sterility of the Hindoo records, 1 1 occasioned by the cruelty of the victors, and their rapacity, - - 12 -•7 Decline and fall of the Mogul Empire, Remarks on the statement given by the Abbe Reynul of the British conquests in Bengal, 22 Origin and present state of the Mahratta empire, The extent, police, &c. of Calcutta, 29 37 Maritime trade of Calcutta.

The imperfect state of navigation among the natives, . .-.-_■ 44 The different races of inhabitants settled in Calcutta — the Armenians — the Moguls — Greeks — Portugueze. 53 Of PAGE. Of the Bannians, and native servants — their great number in every European family. 61 Establishments for education in Calcutta. The want of employment for country born children 6g Effects of a hot climate on Europeans. General estimate of the advantages obtained by j6 migration in India. Of the rank and condition of the different classes 83 Of the eclefiastical establissiment as constituted by the East India Company, - 92 Practical inconveniences of the Hindu superstition, 100 Effects of the Hindoo system on the knowledge and virtue of the people, - - 110 The Hindoo system as it affects social intercourse 1 1 9 Domestic slavery as permitted among the Hindoos 129 Of the antiquity of the Hindoo Scriptures.

Mr 139 Halbed's account of them examined. The penances and expiations of the Hindoos, 15© Refemblance between the Jewissi and Hindoo rites, - - - 16 1 Of the authority claimed by the Brahmins, 1 73 Peculiarities of the Mussulman... Their character — intolerance, and cruelty. 180 Hindoo notions with regard to marriage — adoption — baptism. 192 Efforts made by Europeans in the conversion of the natives, me natives, - . . 20 c Mahommedan festival of Mohurrum, - 217 Religious PAGE. Religious rites performed by a Fakeer at Mir- 223 zapore — Deism professed by few persons in India, - - * - 230 The cruelty of the Mahommedans in India, - 233 Some detached customs among the natives — 242 merry-makings — illuminations — fire-arms. Of the state of literature among the natives of 250 India. Of the distribution of justice.

The Nizam — the Foujdar — Darogha of the Adawlet — the Cazi. 260 The domestic life of the Mussulmans, -. 269 An account of the historian Gholam Hossein Khan, - 277 Of the Ayeen Acbery — a statistical account of Hindostan in the reign of Acber. 287 Of the different trades and professions practised among the natives of India, - - 297 The state of married women among the Ma- 305 hommedans — a vindication of their rights by Abu Taleb, - - 306 Description of Cawnpore, an European cantonment, - - 322 Mode of living among the military and civil officers — dissipation — danger of military usurpation ideal. 330 Idea of the Mogul empire in the reign of Acber, Civil and military regulations of that prince. 33S General idea of the Mahratta government — statement of Mr Tone. . 355 Defence Defence of the country — character of the native troops. 37° Of the servants of the Company — their emoluments unequal—conjecture regarding their future condition. 377 ERRATA.

ERRATA. PAGE. 11 in the note, for Bagrat, m^Bagvat. 15 1. 4./or Belloti, read Belloli. 51 1. 8. from bottom, for mariner, rea d mariners. 55 h last, for is, read has been supposed. 184 1. 8. from bottom, for Hosseim, read Hossein. 192 bottom, for fradha, rwrf sradha. 260 1. 2. from the bottom,/or puianos, read puranas. 301 1. 5. from bottom, for price, read piece. 335 1. II. for fail, row/ fall 339 L 3- /<*" Altork, «a^ Attock. 355 !• 5- /»»" fix hundred millions, rarf six millions.