Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-03-25
From the St. Louis Reyeillc.
India-PrOfeSsor Post.

lNDIA-her language, literature. and religion
formed the subject of Prof. POSTS tenth historical
lecture. These have for ages been the same as
now. The IIindoo Of the time Of Alexander is
the Hindoo of to-day. From immemoral time
her agriculture, manufactures, Jurisprudence, po.
lice. commerce. have been the same as now. In
the days of Job and the Hebrew patriarchs her
exports were the mos. costly drugs, and her man.
ufactures the richest fabrics of the most brilliant
dyes The ruins of vast cities are beheld, so
ancient that physical nature has changed
around. The relics of stupendous architecture
on the island Of Etephanta, and the submerged
city amid the dashing waves Of the Corromandel
coast, indicate art improved by ages of progress,
which reached it's acme two thousand years ago.
In the age Of Alexander, these ruins were hoary
the product of centuries before, after which
their art advanced not step. The same is true
of all the laws and customs of this vast empire,
whether social political, and all alike are
founded on the Vedas, or Hindoo Bible. The
laws of British India now based on these same
ancient statutes.
The language of India is copious, flexible, and
harmonious, while its grammar surpasses in per.
fection that of ancient Greece. The language
of Hndoo literature is the Sanscrit-a sacred
language, now, like the Greek and Latin, dead
unspoken, but embracing treasures more rich and
varied than either of its cotemporary tongues.
Indeed, India may be termed the mother of lam
guage as well of civilization.
The enthusiasm of Sir William Jones, the great
Oriental scholar, was boundless respecting the
literature of India. To him it was like one of
her own tabled caverns, resplendant with ruby.
amethyst, and opal. and all precious gems. for
ages hidden, but at length laid open by the
of science.
The Augustan age of Hindoo literature, as Of
arr, science, and government. was one hundred
years before Christ. 1t has two great depart
q.
chiefly of its Shaster and its Vedas and innumer-
able commentaries on each.
The great national epic of India was in exist.
ence one thousand years before the era of Christ.
Calidus was the Hndoo Shakespeare, though his
writings were far more volumlnous. The drama
appears last in the progress Of Hindoo literature.
The style of its poetry is tawdry, splendid, fan
tastc overladen with ornament-"barbaric gold
and pearl'-magnifcent in Oriental imagery
sweet to lusciousness. Its morality is CUES.
tionable (or rather its immoraiy is unqustion-
able) rs its style is forid. Reputable females
never learn 20 read: only the Infamous women of
the temples are thus taught.
The religion Of India is a congeries Of fancies
from thousand minds, and is utterly destitute
Of all system. At first, it consisted of p worship
of the elements, and the great objects of nature
fire, air, Hmalaya, the Ganges, &c.,-which
we're symbolised by hideous pes-monstrous
last, in its Augustan era, it became the most
complex and bloody faith. with the most cruel and
abominabe worship to be found in all the annals
of Poythesm. Its TrimouTtee, or Trinity, con-
sisted of Brama, the Creator-Veeshnoo, the Pre-
server, and Seeva, the Destroyer. Above these
above all, was an awful, blind, inexorable Fate.
Veeshno o--the Saviour of the Hndcos-has made
nine advents, or avaters. His tenth avater is 10
be in the form of horse, and is awaited by the
Hindoos with the anticipation as is the
coming of Saviour by the Jews.
Hindoo mythology has, also. its evil spiri's-its
demons-ehree hundred and thirty.three millions
in number. at the head Of whom is Deras-Satan!
The transmigra ton Of souls Is favorite and uni
versal tenet Of Hindoo faith, and, like cloud.
some fragments drifted Westward to Europe.
during her of darkness. Self.torture and
abnegaton are also common-self.nhcted suffer.
ng of the body for sins of the soul. The Hindoo
srs.ic measures with his body hundreds Of railpR