ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL INDIA. BY MRS. MANNING. VOL. I. LONDON: WM. II. ALLEN & CO., 13, WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL, S W. Publishers to the India Office. 1869. PREFACE. MANY years have elapsed since I wrote "Life in Ancient India."1 It is out of print, and a second edition has been called for. But so many interesting and important works have been appearing, and so much new material has become available, that merely to answer the purpose of the old book it becomes necessary to make a new one. A question here arises as to whether an unlearned book will not be superfluous where learned books confessedly abound. To this I would reply, that there are but few, whether in Great Britain or in India, who will even look at learned Oriental works, whereas a couple of volumes which gather together the results of learning, may have some chance of attention. India is vast and varied, and every kind of effort must be made before it can become familiar to the pale-faced denizens of other climes. Even where ground has once been gained, effort must be made to retain it. Easy books are wanted as steppingstones to such as are learned and critical, and descriptions of parts in detail are wanted to supplement grand and comprehensive views. Therefore, no apology is Published by me in 1856, before I had changed the name of Speir for that of Manning. |