Excerpt from India Illustrated: With Pen and Pencil
To this brief epitome of the races, languages and religions, that from time to time have taken root in India, there remain to be added the settlements of the portu guese and french in the sixteenth century, on the east and west coasts, and the settlements and conquests of britain, consummating in the establishment of her direct rule over one hundred and eighty-six millions of the population, and her pro tectorate over feudatory states numbering fifty-four millions of souls. Side by side with British conquest, christian missions have advanced, at first discountenanced, but afterwards protected and encouraged, carrying the truth as it is in jesus into the cities and villages of the land, unfurling the banner of the Cross amidst the teeming populations, and bringing in its train the civilising and elevating influences of education, science and inventions. Britain has done much for India; there still remains much to be done. Forty millions of our fellow subjects go through life on insufficient food. The food supply must be adjusted by equal land laws to the growing population, and Government expenses must be brought down to the level of a just and bearable taxa tion. Two hundred millions are the votaries of a debasing idolatry. Christianity and Education hand in hand must accomplish their work of enlightenment for women as well as for men throughout the land.
The order of places in this work follows the route of my journey, beginning with Point de Galle and ending with Bombay. I am indebted to many tourists like myself who have given their impressions to the world for descriptions of scenes which I was unable to visit. For the general subject there are no writers to whom I owe more than to Dr. James fergusson, the great authority on Indian Architecture, and to Dr. W. W. Hunter, India’s ablest statistician. Dr. Hunter’s writings have been of invaluable service to me; they stand pre-eminent alike for accuracy of detail, and largeness, breadth, and magnanimity of judgment. The valuable Manual of roper lethridge, Esq, has also been helpful to me. With reference to Ceylon, I am specially indebted to J. W. Rhys davids, Esq, the Hibbert Lecturer. I beg further to acknowledge the assistance rendered me by richard garnett, Esq, of the British Museum Library, george loch, Esq. Of the India Civil Service, and Dr. Rost of the India Office. At the suggestion of Sir j. Risdon bennett, M.D., Ihave prefixed this short introduction on Indian Ethnology, Languages, and Religions.
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