ASIATIC ANTIQUITY AND EASTERN COMMERCE.

A LIFETIME might be spent in the study of the vernacular literature and the native histories of India. Some of our most learned linguists, our enthusiastic and extensive oriental scholars, after stripping the veil from antiquity, unrolling and deciphering the mystic symbols and legendary fables of traditionary history, and exploring the recesses and labyrinths of a consecrated language, have confessed, or proved too plainly, that there were facts and dates which they could but dimly

trace, but which lay at the foundation of Hindoo history-which formed in reality the very alphabet of the record they had attempted to read for the information of others, and without a clearer knowledge of which all the imagery and tales in the sacred writings of the Eastern mythology were as so many inexplicable hieroglyphics, a hand-writing upon the wall, which they could not interpret. Halhed and Sir W. Jones, Richardson and Dr. Carey, Ward and Du Bois, have been only pioneers in the literary paths of Asiatic history. The authorities who shall be competent to complete the work must be men raised up in India, trained in native seats of learning, qualified by early and familiar knowledge of Hindoo languages, and stimulated to application and research by the example and encouragement of European coadjutors. We do not pretend to extensive attainments in this field, nor yet of voluminous reading, though our studies, pursued in those countries, were turned into such paths as indicated the nearest approach to truth and certainty. We shall now embody in brief outline what may have been culled in connexion with India, incidentally accompanying it with the results of our personal observation.

The learned and laborious Heeren affirms, that it was "in Asia the first dawn of history broke forth; and during succeeding ages, when Africa was involved in almost total obscurity, from which Europe herself was slowly disengaged, there rested upon Asia a degree of light, which, if it did not

illuminate equally all the great events of which that continent was the theatre, served at least to illustrate their general course, and to furnish important data toward the history of the species. The further we advance in such inquiries, the more that we compare the various traditions of different nations respecting their several origins and ancient histories, the better we are enabled to contrast the diversities of their several characters, the more do we find ourselves constantly directed to Asia as the central point, the more are we impressed with the conviction that in that great continent was the cradle of mankind :"-however favourable or unfavourable may have been the influence of remote climates to ennoble or depress the original stock. While he also thinks, that, if we trace the arts and sciences to their primal principles, we shall uniformly be recalled to the East as their place of origin; and we shall discover in the same quarter the native seat of all religions at any time predominant in the world. Of her physical diversity and profusion the same writer exclaims-" How vast a variety reigns in Asia! How different is the face of nature in the wide steppes of the Mongols, in the flowery vales of Cashmere, and the sultry flats of Bengal; or again, in the perfumed groves of Ceylon, the snowy mountains of Siberia, and the shores of the Arctic Ocean! Added to all this, Asia is richly furnished with every facility for commerce, by intercourse from without and through her populous regions. Vast gulfs, which stretch

into the interior and receive the embouchures of mighty rivers, are formed by the surrounding seas upon all the coasts, and especially on her southern shores. With the exception of a few arid tracts, or mountainous regions, the whole country now called British India has been blessed with the choicest gifts of nature, not only enjoying a temperate climate in the greatest part, but fertilized by a multitude of rivers of all sizes. The treasures of the vegetable world are there found in the utmost profusion and variety; and the animal creation, whether birds, quadrupeds, or insects, there attain their greatest perfection; the cotton-plant and silk-worm are natives of the soil; the most rare and costly spices and aromatics are peculiar to this region; gold, precious stones, and pearls abound." Such advantages would naturally lead, in the earliest times, to social and cultivated intercourse, instead of the pastoral and wandering habits of the Arab tribes: history proves how speedily and constantly the inhabitants availed themselves of their privileges. It was in Asia that the second parent of the human race planted a vine and became a husbandman; there, too, Nimrod built his city; and thus tillage, and the establishment of civic governments and political communities, commenced in Asia. Generation after generation has rolled on as succeeding waves-revolutions have followed revolutions - conquerors and warlike legions have traversed and desolated these fertile countries age after age. Kingdoms and monarchies

have arisen and decayed; and yet the same character has been constantly transmitted to every revolving era. Succeeding dynasties, though rising on the ruins of predecessors, have breathed the same spirit, and settled down into the same modes of government, and each successive posterity has borne the image of its parentage, even till modern times. The mighty empires which then started into being, were not founded in the same manner either with the kingdoms in Europe, or with the European dominions recently organized in India.

The general opinion of ancient, as well as of modern, authorities, is unanimous in representing the Hindoos as among the earliest, if not indeed the very earliest civilized nation in the world; and this universal opinion of their high antiquity is not dependent on their own assumptions, as has been clearly demonstrated by the indefatigable scholar whom we have already cited; while this antiquity evidently rises to a period many hundred years prior to our era, as many centuries before as have succeeded the birth of Christ. They exhibited the same refinement and civilization at the time of the Macedonian invasion as they do now; and their productions and merchandise were nearly as well known, and as much valued during the Babylonish captivity of Israel, as they have ever been since. Dr. Vincent's translation of Ezekiel's eloquent and wonderful denunciations against Tyrus presents to the reader "the tusks of ivory," "the gold and precious