descendants of the small part of Israel, who stayed behind, according to the Indian tradition.
The Hindoos, it appears, have a national literature, abounding in numerous works on theology, law, jurisprudence, politics, geography, astronomy and other sciences; and many of them are said to have settled opinions on all these subjects, founded on the basis of custom, education, and continued patient investigation.
Hindoostan—Boundaries and Extent.—Hindoostan, called also India on this side of the Ganges, lies between 8 and 31 degrees north latitude, and is bounded on the north by Tartary and Thibet; east by Assam and Arracan; south by the sea; and west by the river Indus; 1,800 miles long, and 1,600 broad.
Climate.—The climate towards the north is temperate; but hot in the south. It rains almost constantly for three months in the year.
Rivers.—The Indus, the Ganges, and the Burrampooter, far exceed the other rivers of Hindoostan in magnitude. The Ganges is one of the finest rivers in the world. It is revered by the Hindoos as a deity, who is to wash away all their sins. Its whole course is 2,100 miles; it empties into the sea by several mouths.
Productions.—The vegetable products of Hindoostan are almost innumerable, and extremely luxuriant. The grain most cultivated is rice. All kinds of fruit, suited to the climate, are produced here in abundance. The domestic animals are buffaloes, sheep, camels and elephants. Of wild quadrupeds are the rhinoceros, the Bengal tiger,
monkies, wild boars, &c. The mines of Golconda have long been celebrated for diamonds.
Population, &c.—The inhabitants of Hindoostan are computed at about 10,000,000 Mahometans, and 100,000,000 Hindoos. The Mahometans, or Mussulmans, are represented to be of a warlike character. The Hindoos, or Gentoos, are of a black complexion; their hair is long, their person straight and elegant, and their countenances open and pleasant. They differ materially from all other
nations, by being divided into tribes or casts. The four principal are the Bramins, Soldiers, Laborers and Mechanics; and these are subdivided into a multiplicity of inferior distinctions.
