INTRODUCTION.

TO MY READERS.-I have been induced to write this Manual of the History of India to supply a want which I have observed to exist among all classes of English people. Most of my young friends tell me they are never taught anything about India;' and while I deplore this, I also see that many persons of mature age are deterred by their length, and other causes, from attempting the perusal of the larger Indian histories. It occurred to me, therefore, that a complete, but easy history, might be acceptable and useful to all; and I was the more led to this consideration from my own experience; for I do not know of any work from which enough can be learned without difficulty-either to satisfy present requirements, or to induce a more general study. The large Histories of India, besides being voluminous, are costly; most of them are out of print, and thus beyond the reach of ordinary students. Many of them are only fragments-histories of peculiar periods or peoples; and thus reference is required. to many works by the student who desires to follow the complete history of India in all its branches.

The historical events of the ancient classic nations of Greece and Rome still possess a charm which time has not diminished; but the condition of their people has become altogether changed. It is not so, however, with India; and it is strange to us now to see Hindoos, who hold the same Pagan faith and follow the same customs as their forefathers who fought with Alexander the Great on the banks of the Indus, submit

ting themselves to a Christian nation so far distant from them as ours, and vying with ourselves in loyalty to our gracious Queen.

Surely, then, it is worth knowing how this came about !— this strange romance, of which in the whole world's history there has been no parallel; and it is this that I purpose to relate as briefly, as simply, and yet as completely as I can.

Many people tell me that they are deterred from reading any work on India by the difficulty of the proper names. This, however, is more imaginary than real, for in point of fact they are very easy; and I offer the following short rules for the pronunciation of Indian words as I have written them. I have not adopted the most modern system of orthography-as yet undecided-first, because I do not altogether understand it; and, secondly, because, with an intimate knowledge of Indian languages and orthography, I am unable to reconcile that system with the original. In this view I may be considered presumptuous, but I cannot help it. I have, in fact, adhered, in most respects, to the orthography of Thomson's 'Oordoo Dictionary,' which is printed in the English characters. I have written for English people, finding in English letters every equivalent for Indian pronunciation without the many diacritical marks which the other systems have required, or the adoption of foreign vowels which are not understood by all; and I am well assured that the native words of this work will be as well understood in India as in England.

VOWELS.

A. When a is accented as á, it is broad, as in far, large, fall, &c. Examples, Patán, Shitáb Rái, Nawáb.

When a is not accented, it is short, as in rat, can, &c. Examples, Patna, Madras, Hattras, &c.

E. When e is accented as é, it is broad, as in there, where, &c. Examples, Shére Khan, Péshwah, Bégum.

When e is not accented, it is short, as in yet, set, get, &c. Examples, Mecca, Vellore.

EE. Double e is long, as in feet, steel, &c. Examples,