Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/32

24 SECTION III. THE northern nations of India, although idolaters, having scarce a religion, when compared to the multitude of superstitions and ceremonies which characterise the inhabitants of the southern countries, were easily induced to embrace Mahomedanism, and are at this day the Affghans or Pitans, who figure so much in all the late revolutions of Delhi. Excepting these, few of the other Indians have been converted. THE armies which made the first conquests for the heads of the respective dynasties, or for other incursors, left behind them numbers of Mahomedans, who, seduced by a finer climate and a richer country, forgot their own. THE Mahomedan princes of India naturally gave a preference to the service of men of their own religion, who, from whatever country they came, were of a more vigorous constitution than the stoutest of the subjected nation; this preference has continually encouraged adventurers from Tartary, Persia, and Arabia, to seek their fortunes under a government, from which they were sure of receiving greater encouragement than they could expect at home. FROM these origins, time has formed in India a mighty nation of near ten millions of Mahomedans, whom Europeans call Moors: to them, under the authority of the Great Mogul, the greatest part of Indostan is now subject: but, although the reigning nation, they are out-numbered by the Indians ten to one. THIS inferiority of numbers, has obliged the Mahomedans to leave in all parts of Indostan, many Indian princes in possession of their respective sovereignties, which they are permitted to govern without mlestation, on condition that they pay the stipulated tribute, and do not