since sent missionaries among them, and a college has been established for the education of their priests. The number of church es was at one time upwards of 100.

Jews. In the vicinity of Cochin there is a colony of Jews, divided into the white and black Jews. The white Jews report themselves to have come hither not long after the destruction of Jerusalem. The black Jews are evidently of much higher antiquity and probably arrived at the time of the first dispersion.

Portuguese and French Possessions.] The Portuguese own the city of Goa, on the western coast of the peninsula, and a small ter. ritory around it containing in all about 1,000 square miles and 100,000 inhabitants. The French also have small territories on the Coromandel and Malabar coasts, and in Bengal, containing in all about 200,000 inhabitants. Their principal towns are Pondicherry on the coast of the Carnatic, south of Madras, and Chandernagore on the Hoogly, 21 miles above Calcutta.

BRITISH INDIA.

History. This vast country has been brought under the dominion of the British East India company almost entirely since the middle of the last century. Before that time the British possessions were principally confined to a few small territories in the neighborhood of Madras, Calcutta and Bombay, while the rest of the country was chiefly subject to the great Mogul. This vast empire, however, was now beginning to sink under its own weight and became divided by rebellion into a number of separate fragments. The English lent their aid in supporting for a moment the sinking throne of the Mogul, and as their reward obtained in 1765 the government of Bengal, Bahar and part of Orissa. Since that time, by taking advantage of the dissensions between different chiefs, they have extended their dominions over nearly the whole country.

Europeans.] In 1805 the whole number of Europeans residing in India amounted to 31,000. Of these 22,000 belonged to the army; 2,000 were employed in the civil service; 5,000 were free merchants and mariners; 300 lawyers, and the remaining 1,700, adventurers of various descriptions.

cure.

Tenure of Empire.] To a superficial observer, the tenure on which the British Indian empire is now held, appears quite inseThat a hundred millions of men should submit to the yoke of 20,000 or 30,000 natives of a country separated from them by half the globe, and whose religion and manners are in their eyes utterly odious and contemptible, seems impossible. The Hindoos, however, have been accustomed for so many ages to the sway of a foreign and absolute master, that they have on conception of national independence, and would never dream of joining in an attempt to alter the government.

Sepoys.] To supply the want of European numbers, the English have had recourse to a system which at first sight appears perilous. Native troops, called Sepoys, are employed to aid in the subjugation of their own country men. The success of the plan depends on that profound apathy with regard to the condition and fortune of their country, which pervades every part of the Indian population. These troops, led by British officers, have displayed great courage, and are generally as manageable, and not much less efficient than an equal number of British troops.

Cadets and Writers.] India appears to Britain in an interesting. point of view, as affording employment to a number of young men in the middling and even in the highest ranks of society. According to the two lines of service, the Indian adventurers are divided into cadets and writers. The cadets or military expectants are much the most numerous; but their emoluments are less considerable, and except in cases of peculiar good fortune, they cannot return to England with much more than a genteel competence. The most eligible situation is that of writer, and the very highest interest is required to obtain an appointment. The young expectant must not be under 16 nor above 20; he is required to pass a certain period in Hertford college in England, where he is instructed in science and general literature, and is then sent to the college of Calcutta to learn the native languages. There are 4 departments in which writers may be placed, the diplomatic, the judicial, the commercial, and the collection of the revenue. The emoluments of these different civil officers vary extremely, but those who have passed the rank of assistants, may be stated, generally, as enjoying from £2,000 to £4,000 a year, and sometimes still more.

Revenue.] In 1809, the entire revenue drawn from British India amounted to about £15,500,000; the expense of the military establishment was £8,404,298, and that of the civil service £4,789,373. At the same period the debt of the Company was about £30,000,000 and their assets £20,127,707.

Commerce.] The commerce of Britain with India was till very recently carried on exclusively by the English East India Company. From 1702 to the last renewal of the charter in 1813, the exclusive rights of the company were rigidly maintained. They comprehended all the coasts of eastern and southern Asia, and of eastern Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to Asiatic Russia. Not a British vessel, unless under their colors, could sail through the Indian seas. When British capital, however, excluded from many of its wonted channels, was seeking employment in the remotest extremities of the world, a clamor arose against the system by which it was shut out from territories of such vast extent. As the Company also, when their accounts were called for, were obliged to own, that every branch of their trade, except that with China, was productive of loss, there remained no reason for excluding their fellow subjects from reaping benefit by that from which they themselves reaped none. In the renewal of the charter every real advantage was secured

to them, since it continued not only their territorial dominion in Hindoostan, but their exclusive trade to China. The wide coasts, however, of India and its islands, of Persia, Arabia and eastern Africa, were thrown open to the commercial enterprise of British subjects in general. This new opening has been embraced by the British merchants with characteristic vigor and enterprise. The first returns were found highly advantageous, yielding in many instances a profit of a hundred per cent. Goods that had been sent out chiefly in despair of finding another market, proved sometimes the most acceptable of any, and even the cottons of Paisley and Manchester from their superior cheapness were found to cope successfully with the staple fabrics of India. This unexpected result immediately occasioned a great extention of the trade, and India was soon as completely glutted with British produce, as the other markets of the world. The principal articles imported into India, previous to 1813, may be ranked as follows; bullion, woollen goods, naval stores, copper, · lead and iron: the principal exports were cotton goods, sugar, indigo and saltpetre.

Missions and Translations.] Within the last 20-years, many missionaries have been sent to this country by the different denominations of Christians in Britain and America. A few years since they were 150 in number, and scattered through all the principal towns of British India. The most important station is that of the Baptists, at Serampore, a Danish settlement on the Hoogly, 15 miles N. of Calcutta. The missionaries arrived there in 1799, and have ever since been engaged in preaching to the natives and in translating and printing the Holy Scriptures. In 1818 the whole Bible had been translated and printed in five of the languages of India, and the New Testament in eight more. At the same time 12 other versions of the New Testament were in the press. There is now scarcely a people from the Indus to the Pacific ocean who may not read in their own language, the greater part of the sacred volume. The printing office is an extensive establishment, and 10 presses are kept constantly employed. The schools established by the missionaries contained in 1819 nearly 10,000 scholars. A college for the education of native preachers has been recently established, and contained in 1819, 37 pupils. A mission college has also recently been established at Calcutta by members of the English church, for the purpose of preparing the natives and others, to become preachers, catechists and schoolmasters.

CASHMERE.

Situation.] The province of Cashmere is a beautiful valley, of an oval form, about 90 miles long, situated chiefly between 34° and 35° N. lat. and between 73° and 76° E. lon. It is surrounded on all sides by lofty mountains, which rise into the re

gions of perpetual snow, and prevent all communication with the neighbouring countries, except through seven passes, at each of which guards are stationed, who examine all strangers and allow no person to quit the country without a passport. The only mode of transporting goods through these passes is on men's shoulders, the roads being impracticable either for horses or mules.

Rivers, Soil, Climate, &c.] Innumerable rivulets descend on all sides from the mountains, and after spreading verdure and fertility over every part of the valley, fall into the river Jhelum which breaks through the mountains on the southwestern fron, tier, and pursuing a long course to the S. W. at length falls into the Indus. From its elevated situation the climate of Cashmere is delightful, and the fruits and flowers of both zones are found in the greatest abundance. This beautiful valley was for a long time the favorite retreat of the emperors of Hindoostan during the hot months of the year, and the oriental poets vie with each other in celebrating its praises.

Manufactures.] The principal source of the wealth of Cashmere is its delicate and unrivalled manufacture of shawls. The wool or hair of which the shawl is made is produced by a goat, which is found only in Tibet, from whence the Cashmere merchants are supplied with the wool, and have a monopoly of the commodity.

History. The inhabitants of Cashmere appear to be Hindoos, and like the rest of their countrymen they have for many ages been subjected to the yoke either of the Mahometans or the Tartars. About the middle of the last century they were conquered by the Afghans, whose dominion has been very oppressive, and the population in consequence has very seriously diminished. According to the latest accounts the governor had revolted and had defeated the forces sent against him from Cabul.

NEPAUL.

Situation.] Nepaul is a long but narrow kingdom occupying the northern frontier of Hindoostan, and bounded N. by the Himmaleh mountains; E. by Bootan; S. by the provinces of Bahar and Oude; and since the late war with the British, it is limited on the W. by the Gogra, a branch of the Ganges,although it formerly extended to the Setledge.

Face of the Country.] Nepaul consists of a series of mountain chains, with deep vallies interposed, descending, as it were by steps, from the highest ridge of the Himmaleh mountains to the level plains of Hindoostan. The tract which immediately borders on the provinces of Bahar and Oude is called the Taryani and consists of an extent of level territory, about 20 miles broad, skirting the whole southern frontier of Nepaul. The soil of this tract is extremely fertile, but for political reasons has been left in a state of nature, and is covered with forests, which abound with

wild animals, particularly elephants. The air is here at certain seasons almost pestilential, which forms as it were a barrier round the country, no army having attempted to act in it without the most severe loss.

Soil and Productions.] The soil of the vallies is well watered and fertile, and as they are generally elevated several thousand feet above the level of the sea they enjoy nearly the temperature of the south of Europe, and yield, with proper cultivation, large crops of grain. Among the most valuable productions is the tree, from the juice of which catechu or India rubber is manufactured. The mountains produce copper, iron and lead in abundance.

Population.] The population is estimated at 2,000,000. The most populous district is the valley of Nepaul proper, which is only 12 miles long and nine broad, but contains Catamandoo, the capital, and is filled with villages. The majority of the inhabitants are the Newars, a peaceable and industrious race, much addicted to agriculture and commerce, and supposed to be of Chinese or Tibetian origin. The mountainous districts are inhabited by various warlike tribes. Besides these there are large bodies of Bramins, who emigrated many ages ago from the low country, and having converted the natives to their system of religion, have established themselves as the first cast here as in Hindoostan, and all the offices of honor and dignity are now in their hands.

History.] For a long period this territory was divided among a number of petty chiefs, and being occupied with its own internal dissensions,acted no conspicuous part in the general affairs of India. Between the years 1765 and 1769, however, the king of Gorkha, one of the northwestern provinces, succeeded in becoming master of the whole country, and afterwards invaded Tibet and plundered several of its most important shrines. The Chinese government now interfered, and sending an army of 70,000 men, not only repelled the invasion, but pursued the enemy into their own territory and dictated terms of peace. In 1814 a dispute arose with the British, in consequence of which the British invaded the country, and conquered the province of Kemaon between 79° and 81° E. lon. and required the king or rajab to restore all the countries west of that province to the dispossessed chieftains. In 1816 the war was renewed with still greater success, and the rajah was required to stipulate that a British envoy should constantly reside at Catamandoo. A commercial treaty has since been formed with the Nepaulese government, and as the British territory now extends to Tibet, it is expected that a commercial intercourse will be opened with that country.