as there are no inferiptions with clear authentic dates in the famous excavations in the isle of Elephanta, in that of Salfett, or at Ellora, it is impof fible to pronounce concerning their antiquity, especially as the mythology continues the fame. Thefe and other monuments may perhaps be of great antiquity; but it is as probable that they were the works of the famous Balharas, as of any imaginary Hindoo emperors, who only exist [exift only] in the wild imaginations of the Bramins. The ruins of Perfepolis evince that the edifices could not have been erected fince the Mahometans conquered that country in the feventh century. But where the religion continued Pagan, and a fplendid native monarchy existed till the fixteenth century, to any fober inquirer it will appear more rational to conclude that these monuments belong to the fifteenth century after Chrift, than to the fifteenth century before. And this opinion will remain equally firm, if all the Bramins computed their duration by millions or billions of years. 5. As to the sciences, the want of chronology is equally felt; and it is probable that the Hindoos might derive fome knowledge from the Greeks of Bactria. The abfurd ftudy of alirology, ftill in the highest repute among the Bramins, has of course occafioned a particular attention to be paid to aftronomy; but the Chinese, and perhaps even the Siamefe, rival the Hindoos in this fcience,' in which it is easy to calculate tables backwards to any epoch: and the Bramins perhaps have fufficient patience to compute ecliples, &c. which must have happened if this planet had exifted ten millions of years. 6. Our moft learned and refpectable author confiders the religious inftitutions of the Hindoos as a proof of early and high civilization. Yet it is not a little fingular that all his arguments concerning the regularity of the fyftem, the magnificent temples, &c. might have been applied to the Roman Catholic fyftem, in Scandinavia, in the year 1300; at which time it had not there exifted above two centuries." (Pp. 258,-261.)

Thefe arguments of the learned and ingenious geographer our readers will obferve to be moftly negative, as is neceffarily the cafe in difputing a system of loftv pretenfions unfupported by proof. Some of them, however, are exceedingly ftrong; and taken all together they present an accumulated body of evidence which produces almost irrefiftible conviction. But our author does nor reft his cause on this defenfive mode of warfare. He has given feveral extracts from the Afiatic Researches, and frequently referred to their authority for facts, which certainly, if true, completely annihilate the exceffive pretenfions of Hindoo chronology, and fix an indelible brand on the Bramins as the most impudent impoftors that ever exifted. As one curious inftance that this character belongs to them, he mentions the celebrated temples of Ellora, and the fi gular fortress on a high conic rock at Deoghir or Dowlatabad. Thefe edifices the Mahometans, whom we Europeans are apt to regard as rather extravagant in chronology, fay were erected about 900 years ago, while the Bramins affirm that they have ftood no less than 7894 years. (Afiat. Ref. vi. 385.) With regard to the pretended eclipfes of the Bramins, we know that, fuppofing the folar fyftem to have exifted according to its prefent laws, nothing is more eafy than to calculate backwards as far as the powers of numbers can go. "The Cali Yug," our author obferves, "was, like the Julian period, fixed by retrospective computation, and begins No LXXII. VOL, XVIII.

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about

about three thousand years before the Chriftian era." (Af. Ref. iii. 244.) But of all the blows which Mr. P. has aimed at the long eftablished credit of the Bramins, the most decifive is contained in the following note, which we tranfcribe entire, and with which we fhall take leave of this part of his performance:

M

The whole arguments of M. Bailly and others, for the antiquity of the Hindoo aftronomy, feem at length to be completely overturned by a learned. differtation of Mr. Bentley, published in the Afiatic Refearches 1799, (vi 540, 8vo. edit.) to which the curious reader is referred. The refult is, that the fyftem fo eagerly applauded, and fuppofed by M. Bailly, Dr. Robertfon, and others, to be of fuch remote antiquity, cannot be of a greater age than seven hundred and thirty-one years. In other words, it was compofed about A. D. 1068. Therefore, any Hindoo work, in which the name of Varaha or his fyftem is mentioned, muft evidently be modern; and this circumftance alone totally deftroys the pretended antiquity of many of the Purans, and other books, which, through the artifices of the Brahminical tribe, have been hitherto deemed the most ancient in exiftence.' Thus the chief pillar of the antiquity of Hindoo fcience has been torn down by this modern Samplon, and many antiquaries have perished in the ruins. Perhaps the Vedas may be found to have been compofed, by the artful Bramins, in imitation of the Koran, or of the books afcribed to Confucius; for the ancients do not mention any facred Hindoo code. Menu may have been an honest lawyer of the thirteenth century; and the whole Hindoo arts and fciences, except weaving, [may] be found to be derived from their neighbours. We may then exclaim, as the Egyptian priefts did to Plato, Ye Hindoos, and even ye Bramins, ye always were, and remain, children." (Pp. 260, 261.)

*

In our author's introduction to the geography of America, the reader will be gratified with a great variety of curious information refpecting the different hiftorical epochs, and other circumstances connected with its difcovery. In the two grand divifions of North and South America, nothing feems to be omitted which can be deemed, effential for giving a full and correct idea of that immenfe continent in all its principal features and relations. But into particulars our limits forbid us to enter. We fhall here, however, infert fome ac Count of Mr. P.'s conjectures on the original population of this new world, as they feem to admit, and even to require, a few observations.

"The curious question concerning the population of America, can only be duly examined after the various dialects have been compared with those of Africa; for to thofe of Europe, or of Afia, they certainly bear no relem blance. To trace the population from the north of Afia, not to mention the pofitive contradiction of facts, would be an unneceffary restriction of the fubject, as the progeny of fo cold a latitude is ever found rare, feeble, and unenterprizing; while, if we confider the proximity of Africa, and the many copper-coloured nations which are there to be found, there will be. little reafon to hefitate concerning the progrefs of the Africans to America, as well as to New Holland. This refource alone remains, for it has already been seen that the language of the Malays, who extended themselves fo far to the east of Afia, has no connection with that of the Americans. Amidit the wondrous dreams of antiquaries, it is furprifing that none has attempted Long Y

to

to prove that the Mexicans and Peruvians were defcendants of the Cartha gimans, who fled to the Hefperides in their abhorrence of the Roman yoke." (Pp. 337, 538.)

he

Mr. Pinkerton's opinion, then, in which, to fome extent, we are inclined to agree with him, is that America was probably peopred from Africa. In confirmation of it he obferves, when he comes to speak of South America, that "the dife very of Brazil, by a Portu gueze fleet defigned to pafs the Cape of Good Hope, fhews that America might have been difclofed by mere accident, and that the winds might waft veffels acrofs the Atlantic. "The conitant trade-winds," adds, "blowing from east to west, could fcarcely fail to impel some rash African mariners to the American fhores." (p. 664.) Under North America, however, he fays that "the animals of America are mostly distinct from thofe of the old continent, and could in no cafe have defcended from them." To this he immediately fubjoins as follows: If it cannot be allowed that the great Creator, in like manner, ordained a diftinct race of men for this continent, it will be neceffary before this curious question be determined, to collect voca bularies of the African languages, as there are on that continent several nations of a copper-colour, refembling the Americans and the Mexi cans and Peruvians might become more civilized from mere advantages of fituation and accident." (Pp. 595, 596.) But that the animals of the new continent could, in no cafe, have defcended from those of the old is a gratuitous affertion, wholly deftitute of proof; and if it were not, no argument could be thence deduced for the neceffity of a special act of creation to people the new world with human beings. The inferior animals are, for the most part, fitted to live in particular climates and fi uati ns only; but man is the inhabitant of every climate, to the influence of which we know, from experience, that, by time and habit, his conftitution and complexion gradually adapt themselves. With regard to thofe differences which have been fo confidently alleged to prove the native Americans a diftinct fpecies, we are not ignorant how greatly they have been exaggerated. It was long affirmed that nature had denied them, on the chin and fome other parts of the body, that covering of hair which elsewhere the ufually confers on their brethren; whereas it is now fufficiently afcertained that totally to eradicate this natural covering is, from its first appearance, one of their moft affiduous employments. In fhort, we know of nothing in the natives of America which renders the fuppofition of their being the creatures of a feparate creation at all more reasonable than that which the honeft miffionary Debrizhoffer was tempted to adopt, who, after twenty-two years fpent in America, (See p. 596.) declared that, were it not for fear of ridicule, he fhould be inclined to believe that they had dropped from another planet.

In the firft quotation which we have given on this fubject, Mr. P. feens to reject the idea that any part of America was peopled from Afia. That fome of the northern tribes, however, originally pro

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ceeded

ceeded from that quarter of the world is a notion which has been adopted by many able judges, and which furely in itself appears highly probable: nor are we difpofed to lay very great ftrefs on our au thor's obfervations with regard to language, or the rare and feeble population of a cold high latitude. Dr. Forfter fuppofed that the kingdoms of Mexico and of Peru were founded fo late as the thirteenth century, by the troops contained in fome of the flips which were fent from China, by Kublai Khan, to fubdue Japan; the fleet having been difperfed in a ftorm, and never heard of. Nay, what is father curious, our ingenious geographer himself, in another place, after stating it as the general opinion that the Mexicans and Peruvians were a diftinct race from the other Americans, fubjoins; " And amidst a variety of conjectures, it might be inquired if they did not proceed from Japan, or be haply of the fame race with the people of the large island of Tchoka, or Sagalian, whofe features, as defcribed and delineated by La Peyroufe, and the literary men who accompanied him, bear no refemblance to the Tataric. In this cafe we may conceive that they are remains of a people in Eastern Afia, who were expelled by the Mandfhurs, on their progrefs from more western fettlements." (P 596.) This laft we fhould deem a happy conjecture, did we not unfortunately find our author, in the fection appropriated to the defcription of Sagalian, an ifland which extends to the north of Japan, between the 46th and 54th degrees of latitude, exprefsly affirming that "the natives feem to approach to the Tataric form." (p. 132) In these two paffages there is an inconfiftency, which is evidently occafioned by fome unobferved mistake.

niards are charged with having perpetrated in their co

The following reflections on the horrid cruelties which the Spa

are to

of the new world, are fo fenfible and judicious that, preffed as come to a conclufion, we cannot omit them. They occur in our author's defcription of Cuba.

"The number of the inhabitants was no doubt exaggerated, as, even in our enlightened times, happened with regard to Otaheite, and other new difcoveries. The Spaniards," who, in number are faid not to have exceed ed three hundred, certainly did not atchieve miracles in their American conquefts; nor was the aukward ufe of unwieldy cannon and fire-arms, at that time, fo fatal and preponderant a circumftance as may be imagined. The Malays with their creefes defy fire-arms. The natives were not only timid but few; and nine-tenths may be fafely fubtracted both from Spanith valour and Spanith cruelty. These reflections have been excited by the charge of extermination brought against the Spaniards of Cuba, while the natives equally vanili around all European colonies, the real destroying an gels being the fmall-pox and fpirituous liquors. Our Buccaneers have taught us to regard the Spaniards as bees, who must be destroyed to get at the honey; but, if ever the canfe of truth must be facrificed, it should be offered at a nobler frine than that of vulgar prejudices, or [of] interested enmity. Mendez de Pinto," adds the author in a note," was a Portugueze; but the ancient Spanish writers, tainted with the imagination of their inmates the Moors, were little lefs hyperbolical. It is, however, ludicrous

that

that their own exaggerations fhould have led to the charges of cruelty and deftruction. The noted Las Cafas, the Dominican friar, was a man of heated imagination; and his credit may be judged of by his affertion that a diftrict of 18 leagues in St. Domingo is watered by twenty-five thousand rivers, (Charlevoix, ii. 373.) Even the eyes of fuch a witness cannot be believed." (p. 653.)

The recollection of the fhocking occurrences which, during the fpace of more than ten years, have taken place in the valuable inland of St. Domingo, muft render the obfervations which we are going to quote peculiarly impreffive; and the effect must be heightened, in ten-fold degree, by the intelligence juft received of the final evacuation of that island by the miserable remains of the last French arma

ment.

The national affembly of France, unhappily confifting of Philofor phers, and not of men of bufinefs, palled fome contradictory decrees concerning the rights of the Mulattoes, or, as they are affectedly ftyled, people of colour, to vote for reprefentatives. The fmalleft ray of political pr dence might have informed them, that the government of diftant colonies ought not to have fuffered the leaft alteration, till that of the parent country was established on a folid and lafting bafis.-Amidft the effervefcence of zeal without knowledge, the events in St. Domingo may be a lafting beacon to legiflators to study the real practical business of life, and the irradicable difference of character and difpofitions in the various races of men, to which infinite wifdom has allotted diftinct portions of the earth; left a negro fhould repay the philofopher's benefits by planting a dagger in his breast, with the favourite phrafe of Am I not a man and a brother?" (Pp. 655, 656.)

That divifion of Mr. P's work which relates to Africa is comparatively fhort, as indeed the materials are comparatively feanty, yet much information of an interefting kind will be found under the article "Progreffive Geography," and much ingenious difcuffion in a differtation which clofes the works intituled Difcoveries and Conjectures concerning the Central parts of Africa." Mr. P., fpeaking of his countryman Bruce, fays that "in his travels there are feveral valuable articles of new and authentic information, which might havé been prefented to the public in a fmall volume or two; but that, in a fpirit of univerfal compilation, he has difgraced his work with innumerable grofs errors." (p. 737.) This, we believe may be fafely admitted as a pretty fair character of Bruce's book. But, in another place, Mr. P. brings against that author a heavier charge. The Nile, he obferves, rifes in the Gebel el Kumr," or mountains of the moon, in N. lat. 8°. It is known by the name of Bahr el Abiad, or White River, and about lat. 16°, is joined by the Bahr el Azreek, or blue river, which flows through Abyffinia. By the Portuguese writers, whom the Abyffinians probably mifled, the latter river was mistaken for the real Nile, though it was well known to the ancients as a quite diftinct river, the Aftapus, flowing into the Nile from the Coloe Palus, now the lake of Dembea.

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"Mr. Bruce's