Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A Bird's-Eye View of India: With Extracts From a Journal Kept in the Provinces, Nepal, Etc
For what is it that I propose to put before you in its most salient features? One of the fairest regions of God's earth, nearly equal in extent and population to Europe, - peopled by one hundred and sixty mil lions of no savage or uncultivated race, but heirs of a cwilisation which extends to the remotest antiquity, - the birthplace of two religious creeds which still number as their votaries the majority of mankind, a land richer in productions, more blessed in climate, and higher endowed with grand natural features of mountain and of stream than any country in the world. India, to all antiquity, so far as his tory bears record, was ever an object of the deepest interest, not unaccompanied with mystery and in the present day, when our lengthened connection with the country, and the progress of scientific inquiry connected with the early history of the human race, are continually bringing new facts to light, it is found that the interest as well as the mystery invest ing this Land of the Sun proportionably increases. But to inhabitants of the British Islands, who re?ect that to them it is given under Providence to sway the destinies, either for weal or for woe, of this great Asiatic empire, India forces itself on their attention, not only as a subject of mere scholarly curiosity, but as connected with vast interests affecting the wel fare of mankind, in which every Englishman may aspire to take an active part, and as to which, there fore, every Englishman should instruct himself.
Within the brief limits of a lecture I cannot hope, and consequently shall not attempt, to do more than awaken an interest in my theme, so as to stimulate further inquiries and all thati aim to put before you at the present moment is what I may call an eye picture of sunny Hindustan.
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