INDIA 138 INDIA and the arts were cultivated from an early period by the Hindus, especially the domestic arts of weaving, dyeing, and working in metals and gems. From the earliest records of history the nations of the Western World derived their mer- chandise from India. The country was entered and partly subdued by Alexan- der the Great. About 126 B. c. it was also invaded by the Tartars, or Scythians of the Greeks. From the 10th to the 12th century of the Christian era the Mo- hammedans ovei'ran and conquered con- siderable portions of Hindustan, and sub- coast of 5 square miles, transferred in 1653 to Madras. A short time previous a settlement had also been obtained at Hooghly, which afterward became the Calcutta station. In 1687 Bombay was erected into a presidency. In 1773, by act of the British Legislature, the thi-ee provinces v/ere placed under the adminis- tration of a governor-general, and Cal- cutta was made the seat of a supreme court of judicature, the presidencies of Madras and Bombay being made subor- dinate to that of Bengal. Hitherto the affairs of India had been managed by the TAJ MAHAL, AGRA, INDIA sequently the Mogul empire was formed. In 1428 India was first visited by Vasco de Gama, and later the Portuguese and Dutch established settlements on the pen- insula, but the former never acquired more than a paltry territory on the W.
- oast, and the latter a few commercial
factories. The French influence in In- dia, at one time considerable, also yielded to the superior entei'prise of the British, and finally the French relinquished the field. In 1625 the first English settle- ment was made by a company of mer- chants in a small spot of the Coromandel East India Company, but in 1784 a board of control was appointed by the gov- ernment, the president of which became secretary of state for India. From th« year 1750, when the warlike acquisition of territory commenced under Lord Clive, a succession of conquests, almost forced upon the British contrary to their inclinations, have now placed nearly all India under their sway. The early part of British rule was marked by wars with the native princes. Indeed, British power was maintained only bj constant fighting. Gradually,
