THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For DECEMBER, 1798. ART. I. A Journey from Bengal to England, through the Northern Part of India, Kashmire, Afghanistan, and Persia, and into Russia, by the Caspian Sea. By George Forster *, in the Civil Service of the Honorable the East India Company. 2 Vols. 4to. 11. 16s. Boards. Faulder. 1798. T HE late Mr. Forster was endowed with an inquisitive mind, and a good, though not a highly cultivated, understanding: he was one of the few servants of the Company on the Madras establishment, who studied the Asiatic languages: he spoke Hinduvi with uncommon correctness and fluency; Persic was familiar to him; in Sanscrit he had made some progress; and in that dialect of it which is spoken by the Mahrattas, he was much more conversant. The necessity of these acquirements is evident in the prosecution of a journey, in most parts of which a discovery of his real character would have incurred the forfeiture of his life. His information was derived less from books than from conversation; and when he relates what he has seen, his veracity may be implicitly trusted: but his historical disquisitions are less remarkable for accuracy. The learned reader will look in vain for profound researches in morals or physics, on the origin of nations, or on the antiquity of science: but he will find a faithful narrative of the incidents attending a journey never before performed by any European, and will thence be able to form a tolerably correct idea of the state of society in the countries through which he is led: he will find such objects as presented themselves to ocular inspection accurately described: he will meet with such inform * He was son of the late well-known naturalist, Dr. John Reinhold Forster; who (accompanied by his son) made the circumnavigation of the globe with Capt. Cook, in the first voyage of that great navigator. Mr. George Forster wrote a philosophical narrative of that voyage: See M. Rev. vol. LVI. for the year 1777 VOL. XXVII. Cc ation, ation, as could be collected without exciting suspicion, distinctly stated; he will find no circumstance perverted by a spirit of system, and none amplified by a wish for applause; and to a traveller through a tract almost unknown, the generality of readers will attend with peculiar eagerness: -"Mente vigenti Avia Pieridum peragro loca, nullius ante Trita solo: juvat integros accedere fontes, Atque haurire; juvatque novos decerpere flores." LUCR. The journey is detailed in a series of letters, the contents of which we shall notice in their natural order. Letter ist. Benares, 31st August 1782. It comprises an account of the voyage from Calcutta to this city, through the provinces of Bengal and Bahar. Murshedabad, lately the capital of the former, 'now bears various marks of poverty and decay, the evident result of the removal of the seat of government.' We perceive some incorrect statements here. Serajeddowla is called the nephew of Aliverdi Khan: but the latter was the grandfather of that guilty and unfortunate youth; and the late Nuab Mobaricad-dowla is said to be a son of Mirun, but was his brother. - - Leaving Murshedabad, we are brought to Rajmal, a former residence of some of the Bengal Subadars. Aliverdi Khan, in the beginning of his administration, which commenced in 1742, removed the seat of government from this place to Murshedabad.' Here again our traveller has been mis informed. The city of Murshedabad was founded long before Aliverdi, by Jaffier Khan, then called Murshed Culi, who removed the seat of government thither from Dacca, and gave his own name to the new metropolis. Rajmal wears at this day an impoverished aspect, and its former importance is marked only by heaps of ruins. • Patna (the capital of Bahar) is spacious and populous, though much fallen from the importance it held, during the residence of the Subadar of Bahar. The great quantity of poppies cultivated in the contiguous districts, from which an opium of an excellent quality is produced, together with extensive saltpetre works, have rendered Patna opulent, and the center of an extensive commerce. The different manufactures of silver, iron, and wood, are little inferior in this city to those of Europe; and when the rudeness of the tools, with the simplicity of the process, is examined, the degree of delicacy which the artisans have acquired in their several professions must challenge a high admiration." It is to be lamented that the typography of this work is so incorrect as we find it. Who would imagine that a monument near Buxar, sacred to the memory of the Gold Ram,' was consecrated to the god Rama? Letter Letter 2d. Benares, 30th September 1782. This city may be viewed in its utmost extent from the tops of the Minarets erected by Aurungzeb on the foundation of an antient Hindu temple. It abounds in costly structures, but the irregular and compressed manner which has been invariably adopted in forming the streets, destroys the effect which symmetry and arrangement would have bestowed on a city, entitled, from its valuable buildings, to a preference of any capital which I have seen in India. We are now presented with a dissertation on the mythology of the Hindus, which had been published previously, in 1785 :-but into this labyrinth we will not, at present, conduct our readers. The popular fables of the Hindus, like those of the Greeks, form the creed of the populace, and are despised or interpreted by the intelligent. The cypher is still a desideratum to Europeans. We consider it as a venerable edifice which has survived the shock of ages; an edifice of which detached portions only have been exhibited to our inspection, and these possibly the least important; an edifice of which time may perhaps discover the proportions, the design, and the symmetry, but which now presents to the eye of an European only a few mutilated columns, and statues fallen from their pedestals. The manners of the Hindus, their casts, their Jugas, and their sectaries, are here slightly discussed. The Shaster,' says our author, ' is a voluminous commentary on the Veds.' This is altogether a mistake. Shaster signifies in Sanscrit a scientific treatise, whether on theology or otherwise. The Nya Shaster is a treatise on logic; the Donu Shaster prescribes rules for archery. -The following picture of the antient Hindu empire, we insert on account of its conformity with the tenor of the Puranas: • The empire, when ultimately governed by one prince, extended from the southern limits of Tartary to the island of Ceylon, and from the confines of Assam and Aracan to the river Indus. This extensive space was inhabited by a people divided into four tribes, each exercising different functions, but all uniting in their various branches to promote the general good. It abounded in fair and opulent cities, which were decorated with magnificent temples for the worship of the gods; and with sumptuous mansions, gardens, and fountains, for the pleasure and accommodation of the inhabitants. Useful and elegant artisans, skilled in raising stupendous buildings, in fabricating gold, silver, and the most delicate cotton cloths, and in the curious workmanship of precious stones and metals, all found encouragement in the exertion of their professions. Salutary ordinances directed the Hindus in the punishment of crimes, and the security of property; and when some glaring indulgencies in favour of the sacred tribe are excepted, we must yield an unreserved approbation to the justice and wisdom of their laws. The traveller was enabled to journey through this extensive empire, with an ease and safety unknown Cc2 known in other countries. The public roads were shaded with trees; and frequent habitations, accommodated with a pond or well, were founded for the conveniency of the passenger; and should he have been pillaged in any part of the country, the district in which the damages had been sustained, was obliged to make restitution.' Letter 3d, Benares, 30th November 1782, describes an excursion to Bijoy ghur. Letter 4th, Allahabad, 17th December 1782, contains an account of Mr. Forster's journey from Benares, by land, in the disguise of a Georgian. The city is seated at the confluence of the Jumna and the Ganges, and attracts multitudes of pilgrims by the reputation of its sanctity. The fort of Allahabad, which is built of stone, occupies a large space of ground, and has been amply supplied with superb and useful buildings.' The tomb of Sultan Khusru is an elegant specimen of Mohammedan architecture; and a pillar, 40 feet high, of one stone, covered with illegible inscriptions, is ascribed by tradition to Bima, one of the heroes of the Mahabarat. Letters 5th and 6th. Lucnow, January 1783. The country from Allahabad betrays its miserable government, by exhibiting natural fertility and declining cultivation. The city of Lucnow is large and populous, but inelegant and irregular.. It is the residence of the Subadar of Owde. The streets are narrow, uneven, and almost choaked up with every species of filth. The Goomti, running on the north side of that town, is navigable for boats of a common size at all seasons of the year, and falls into the Ganges between Benares and Gazipur. A line of boats, tended across the river, forms a convenient communication with a large suburb. Shujaeddowla made Fyzabad, or Owde, the capital of his dominion; but his son, setting aside that, with many others of his father's arrangements, has fixed his residence at Lucnow.' ex Letter 7th. Furrukhabad, 26th January 1783. The journey from Lucnow to this city is here described. route. The ruins of the once splendid Cannauj lay in the author's The Mohammedans, who conquered and destroyed this celebrated city, were struck with astonishment at its riches, extent, and population. Contemporary historians mention that it contained thirty thousand shops for the sale of Areca, and afforded employment for six thousand female dancers and musicians. Letter 8. Rampûr, 5th February 1783. The happy consequences of a wise administration were never more conspicuously displayed than in the flourishing state of Fyzulla Khan's small Jaghir, contrasted with the gloomy desolation which every where surrounds it. Subjoined to this letter, we find 'a history of the Rohillas, which is erroneous in several important particulars; and succinct memoirs of Shujaeddowla,' which, though not entirely correct, reflect a more candid view of the birth, actions, and character of the Vizier than has hitherto appeared. It also exhibits, in temperate language, the injustice and impolicy of the first Rohilla war:-but the typography is so inaccurate, that it can only be understood by persons who are already acquainted with Indian history. The prince Juan Bukht is at one time called Tewen Rukht, and at another Schamsdar Shah.- In 1765, Shujaeddowla's revenue did not exceed one hundred and twenty thousand pounds, and ten years after, at his death, it had risen to three hundred and sixty thousand pounds.' Instead of thousands of pounds, Mr. Forster means lacs of rupees, being at the first period 120 lacs, and at the latter 360. In point of fact, however, the Vizier's revenue never amounted to the latter sum. Letter 9th. Belaspûr, 22d February 1783. Quitting the prosperous territory of Fyzulla, Mr. Forster travelled through the Vizier's country to Laldang, in the character of a Mogul officer. After having adopted the Asiatic dress, his lodging was always in the Seraïs, erected by charitable persons for the accommodation of the traveller. At Laldang, he became a merchant going to Jumbhu for the purchase of shauls. This is the northern limit of Hindustan. -The route of the caravan lay through the lower part of the dominions of the Rajah of Srinogor, which are bounded by the Ganges on the east, and the Jumna on the west. These rivers, 12 miles above Hurdwar, are nearly of the same breadth, 200 yards. Daira, the capital of this district, is neat and populous. The inhabitants of these mountainous regions are rude and simple, desiring and enjoying only the necessaries of life. Nhan is a small independent state west of the Jumna. Belaspûr is another; its capital is a well-built town on the Setloud; the streets are paved; and the houses, constructed of stone and mortar, have a neat appearance.' Letter ro. Nûrpûr, 1783. Here the editor has manifestly committed a mistake; for this letter, though dated at Nûrpûr, brings our traveller as far as Jumbhu. The first of these cities is situated on the top of a hill, which is ascended by stone steps, and has the appearance of opulence and industry. The district is mountainous; its revenues amount to 40,000l.; and it is less molested than the contiguous principalities, by the oppressive incursions of the Sikhs. Jumbhu is situated on the side of a hill, and contains two distinct divisions.' The Ravi runs at the foot. The commerce between Casmir and India is carried on through this city, and has raised it to Cc 3 some |