Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/994

 948 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. [Chap. up to the present day adhered to a life of religious observances and devotion, preferring peace and tranquillity of mind to the excitements of wordly grandeur. ‘In conformity with the usage of my paternal race, and the wish of my father, I studied the Persian and Arabic languages,—these being indis- pensable to those who attached themselves to the courts of the Mahomedan princes; and agreeably to the usage of my maternal relations, I devoted myself to the study of the Sanskrit and the theo- logical works written in it, which contain the body of Hindu literature, law and religion. ‘“When about the age of sixteen, 1 composed a manuscript calling in question the validity of the idolatrous system of the Hindus. This, together with my known sentiments on that subject, having produced a coolness between me and my imme- diate kindred, I proceeded on my travels, and passed through different countries, chiefly within, but some beyond, the bounds of Hindustan, with a feeling of great aversion to the estab- lishment of British power in India. When I had reached the age of twenty, my father recalled me, and restored me to his favour; after which I first saw and begun to associate with Europeans and soon after made myself tolerably acquainted with their laws and form of government. Finding them generally more intelligent, more steady and moder- ate in their conduct, | gave up my prejudice against them, and became inclined in their favour, feeling persuaded that their rule, though a foreign yoke, would lead more speedily and surely to the ameli-