An Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients Had of India;: And the Progress of Trade with that Country Prior to the Discovery of the Passage to it by the Cape of Good Hope. With an Appendix, Containing Observations on the Civil Policy--the Laws and Judicial Proceedings--the Arts--the Sciences--and Religious Institutions, of the IndiansA. Strahan, and T. Cadell in the Strand; and E. Balfour at Edinburgh., 1791 - 364 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
affert Afia Alexander Alexandria almoſt ancient Arabian Gulf Arrian Bactria Brahmins Cafpian cafts Cape Comorin Chriftian circumftances coaft commerce commodities concerning confequence confiderable confidered Conftantinople conquefts courfe courſe D'Anville defcription deſcribed diftance diſcovery dominion Eaft Eaſt Eaſtern Egypt empire eſtabliſhed Europe Europeans extenfive fame fcience fecure feems feveral fhall fhips filk fimilar firft firſt fituation fome foon formed ftate ftill fubject fuch fuperior fupplied fuppofed greateſt Greeks Herodotus Hift hiftory Hindoos increaſe India Indoftan Indus induſtry inftitutions intercourfe iſland itſelf lefs Mahomedans meaſure mentioned moft monarchs moſt muſt nations navigation Nearchus neceffary NOTE obferved opulence Perfian perfons places poffeffed poffeffion Portugueſe prefent progrefs provinces Ptolemy publiſhed purchaſed reaſon refpect religion rendered reſearches reſemblance river Romans Scylax SECT ſeems Seleucus ſhould ſtate Strabo ſuch Syria thefe themſelves theſe thofe thoſe thouſand tion trade uſe veffels Venetians vifited viſited voyage Weft whofe
Popular passages
Page 293 - My child, I know thy affection for it." SACONT. " O most radiant of shining plants, receive my embraces, and return them with thy flexible arms ! From this day, though removed at a fatal distance, I shall for ever be thine. — O beloved father, consider this creeper as myself!
Page 325 - THIS is the idea which Abul Fazel, who examined the opinions of the Brahmins with the greatest attention and candour, gives of their theology. "They all," says he, " believe in the " unity of the Godhead, and although they hold " images in high veneration, it is only because " they represent celestial beings, and prevent the " thoughts of those who worship them from wan
Page 283 - It is composed of seven square enclosures, one within the other, the walls of which are twenty-five feet high, and four thick. These enclosures are three hundred and fifty feet distant from one another, and each has four large gates, with a high tower ; which are placed one in the middle of each side of the enclosure, and opposite to the four cardinal points. The outward wall is near four miles in circumference...
Page 312 - Brahmins have obtained over the minds of the people, is supported by the command of the immense revenues, with which the liberality of princes, and the zeal of pilgrims and devotees, have enriched their pagodas. The dominion of religion extends to a thousand particulars, which, in other countries, are governed by the civil laws, or by taste, custom, and fashion. Their dress, their food, the common intercourses of life, their marriages, and professions are all under the jurisdiction of religion.
Page 289 - I want not dominion ; I want not pleasure; for what is dominion, and the enjoyments of life, or even life itself, when those, for whom dominion, pleasure, and enjoyment were to be coveted, have abandoned life and fortune, and stand here in the field ready for the battle?
Page 350 - ... are of his ordination. It is he who gives existence. In your temples, to his name the voice is raised in prayer : in a house of images, where the bell is shaken, still he is the object of adoration. To vilify the religion or customs of other men, is to set at naught the pleasure of the Almighty.
Page 300 - Wise men who have abandoned all thought of the fruit which is produced from their actions, are freed from the chains of birth, and go to the regions of eternal happiness.
Page iii - THE ANCIENTS HAD OF INDIA ; and the Progress of Trade with that Country prior to the Discovery of the Passage to it by the Cape of Good Hope. With an Appendix, containing Observations on the Civil Policy, the Laws and Judicial Proceedings, the Arts, the Sciences, and Religious Institutions of the Indians.
Page 259 - The station of every individual is unalterably fixed; his destiny is irrevocable; and the walk of life is marked out, from which he must never deviate.
Page 278 - THESE stupendous works are of such high antiquity, that as the natives cannot, either from history or tradition, give any information concerning the time in which they were executed, they universally ascribe the formation of them to the power of superior beings. From the extent and...