Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/741

 Chai' XII.] SOCIAL HISTORY OF INDIA. 707

iiate ])lace in tlie narrative, and any reference made to their manners and eus- ad. ito:.

toms has only been incidental. A more intimate acquaintance with them must

now be formed. The country though it has ciianged its rulers still remains Maiinenmnd

,, iii'/'i Till IT customs of

tlieirs, and the policy ot tlie measures acloi)ted by government depends on tiicUmdoos the manner in which their interests are affected by them. But how can this l)e understood without a previous knowledge of their social position? No people can be governed on abstract principles. Their peculiarities, including even their most irrational prejudices, must be considted, since the very same laws under which one nation would be prosperous and happy might produce universal dis- content and wretchedness in another. It is absolutely necessary, therefore, both that tliose who rule and those who confine them.selves to the humbler task of reviewing the policy of rulers, should first of all acquaint themselves with the leading features of the population. In the case of India the remarkable forms under which society pre.sents itself make the knowledge of them as interesting as it is indispensable, and the temporary suspension of the narrative will be fully compensated by the insertion of a detail, as ample as our limited space will allow, of whatever is most singular in the opinions and practices of Hindoos. To this, accordingly, the next book of our history will be devoted.

4^^'- ^

Patilf, employ tnl for transiporting the pi-oducts of Imjer Bonsai

down the GanK^s.