Page:History of India Vol 6.djvu/352

 286 APPENDIX congregations, and everything else is managed in a similar way according to custom. Many tradesmen and professors of different arts have come from Europe and taken up their abode here, and get occupation in mak- ing things, carrying on their trade as they do in their own land. A great many of the Bengalis have become skilful and expert from being with them as apprentices. As the Europeans excel in other arts and sciences, so also are they distinguished from the military point of view. This the Marathas know well; for although there is so much property and merchandise belonging to commercial and wealthy men of these parts in Fi- rashdanga and Calcutta, and it would only be a journey of two leagues from Hugli to Firashdanga, and although the Europeans have no fort and are so few in number, while the Marathas are as numerous as ants or locusts, yet, in spite of all this, the Marathas see the unanimity and concord that exist among the Europeans, and do not attempt to approach them, much less to attack them. The Europeans fight with guns and muskets; but when the time for using the sword comes, they are at a disadvantage.' EUROPEAN CHRISTIANS CONTEND AGAINST THE MOHAMMED- ANS IN MALABAR AND THE DECCAN (1500-1600 A. D.) In a native history of India written about the year 1800 A. D. by Nawab Muhabbat Khan (who is not to be confused with his contemporary and namesake, the second son of Hafiz Rahmat), there is an extensive account of the conflicts between the Mohammedans and