My ftation in the army afforded me frequent opportunity of oral converfation with the moft intelligent of the Honourable Company's civil and military fervants; and to their unaffected hofpitality, and liberal communications, I owe many obligations. With equal pleasure and advantage I have confulted the writings of many of thofe Gentlemen, who from their profeffional labours, and long refidence 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 refpect and approbation; and of fome of them the reputation is fo 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 meafure laid afide, that by fome perfons 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 whofe views, or thofe of their friends, are turned to India, they may be perufed from higher motives. b 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 decifion with fome folicitude, and will bow to its fentence with perfect fubmiffion. TABLE TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME FIRST. PAGE. Probable effects of a British government, - 2 Remarks on the statement given by the Abbe Origin and present state of the. Mahratta empire, 29 The extent, police, &c. of Calcutta, Of Of the Bannians, and native fervants—their great number in every European family. Establishments for education in Calcutta. The want of employment for country born children 69 Effects of a hot climate on Europeans. Gene- ral estimate of the advantages obtained by 76 Of the rank and condition of the different claffes 83 Of the eclefiaftical establishment as conftituted Practical inconveniences of the Hindu fuper- The Hindoo fyftem as it affects focial intercourfe 119. Domestic flavery 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, Refemblance between the Jewish and Hindoo Of the authority claimed by the Brahmins, Peculiarities of the Muffulmans. Their charac- PAGE. Religious rites performed by a Fakeer at Mir- 223 zapore-Deifm profeffed by few perfons in India, The cruelty of the Mahommedans in India, 230 233 Some detached cuftoms among the natives- 242 merry-makings-illuminations-fire-arms. Of the state of literature among the natives of 250 India. Of the diftribution of juftice. The Nizam-the Foujdar-Darogha of the Adawlet-the Cazi. 260 The domeftic life of the Muffulmans, An account of the hiftorian Gholam Hoffein Of the Ayeen Acbery-a statistical account of Of the different trades and profeffions practifed 269 277 287 297 The ftate of married women among the Ma- 305 hommedans-a vindication of their rights by Abu Taleb, Defcription of Cawnpore, an European canton ment, Mode of living among the military and civil officers-diffipation-danger of military ufurpation ideal. 306 322 330 Idea of the Mogul empire in the reign of Acber, 355 Defence |