Page:History of India Vol 6.djvu/14

 vi INTBODUCTION BY THE EDITOR lasting supremacy in the East. The fullest and best account of this struggle will be found in the following pages from the late Sir William Hunter's pen. Sir William Hunter's work, although comprising two bulky volumes in its fuller form, was not complete at his death, but in spite of that fact it will always remain one of the noblest monuments to his name. Through the courtesy of Lady Hunter and Sir Will- iam's original publishers, arrangements have been made to reproduce in this and the following volume of the present series that portion of his work which relates to the first European settlements in India down to the founding of the East India Company in 1600, and also the portion covering the earlier events of the history of British India in the seventeenth century. The per- mission thus graciously accorded is acknowledged here with appreciation. Sir William's text has been pre- served practically without change, except for the omis- sion of foot-notes and for occasional modifications in certain matters of detail to agree with the rest of the series. A new feature in the volume, however, is the Appen- dix which I have added, giving some early accounts by Mohammedan historians regarding the presence of Europeans in India during the Moghul Empire. I feel sure that certain of the descriptions and some of the expressions of opinion in this Appendix will be found to be interesting reading. For particular assistance in illustrating this vol- ume and the next by pictures from out-of-the-way