which the liberality of princes, and the zeal of
pilgrims and devotees, have enriched their pago-
das. The dominion of religion extends to a thou-
sand particulars which, in other countries, are
governed by the civil laws, or by taste, custom,
and fashion. Their dress, their food, the com-
mon intercourses of life, their marriages, and pro-
fessions, are all under the jurisdiction of religion.
The food of the Hindoos is simple, consisting
chiefly of rice, ghee (a kind of imperfect butter) ,
milk, vegetables, and oriental spices. The war-
rior caste may eat of the xiesh of goats, sheep, and
poultry. Other superior castes may eat poultry
and fish; but the inferior castes are prohibited from
eating flesh or fish of any kind. Their greatest
uxury consists in the use of the richest spiceries
and perfumes, of which the great people are very
avish. They esteem milk the purest of food, be-
cause they think it partakes of some of the pro-
uerties of the nectar of their gods, and because
they esteem the cow itself almost as a divinity.
Their manners are gentle. They are taught by
their religion that matrimony is an indispensable
duty in every man who does not entirely separate
fiimself from the world from a principle of devo-
tion ; and, as none but male descendants can per-
form the obsequies to the manes of their ancestors,
t is thought an irreparable calamity to die with-
out male issue. Scarcely any state can be more
degrading than that of Hindoo females. Till three
veaZs after the nuptial age, a girl is entirely at the
disposal of her father. AVhen married, she is im-
mured in her husband’s dwelling ; her dependence
upon him is perpetual and entire; she is not per-
mitted to eat in his presence, and is considered
not 'as a companion to aid him in enduring the
evils of life, but as a slave to bear children, and
be subsevient to his rule. Polygamy is tolerated ;
out females, except among the Nairs, are not per-
mitted to marry a second time. A husband can
dismiss his wife at any time ; but there is nothing
that can dissolve the wife from her matrimonial
engagement. The inhuman custom of women
burning themselves on the funeral pile of their
deceased husbands has however been recently
prohibited in the presidencies of Fort William and
Madras; and the progress of Christianity affords
reason to hope for the speedy abolition of other
revolting practices. The code of Gentoo laws,
with their sacred books, the Veidara and the
Shastah, are written in the Sanscrit language,
which is very copious and nervous, although the
style of their best authors is wonderfully concise.
Hindoostan, towards the N., is pretty temperate,
but hot towards the S.; and it rains almost con-
stantly for three months in the year. Its pro-
ducts are diamonds and other precious stones,
silks, spices, aromatics, drugs, maize, rice, and
sugar; and the chief manufactures muslins and
calicoes.

The great forests and marshy districts are peo-
district he inhabits. The mountain bear is even
more terrible than the tiger; he inhabits the
Ghauts and is probably a sort of hyaena. The
common bear is found in the forests of the south,
wolves and jackals are common in the interior
parts. The serval or panther cat which inhabits
this country is little known. The lynx and car
acal inhabit the northern provinces. The rhinoc
eros seeks amid the mud and water* of the marsh
es a shelter from the scorching heat of the cli-

mate. He is a much rarer animal than the ele-
phant, and is never seen in troops like that ani-
mal. He never attacks men unless when provok-
ed. Hindoostan swarms with serpents, and almost
every river and lake abounds in crocod iles.

Hindoostan, p.v. Martin Co. Indiana.

Hinesville, p.v. Patrick Co. Va.

Hingham, a town in Norfolk, Eng., 14 m. W. of
Norwich, and 99 N. E. of London.

Hingham, p.t. Plymouth Co. Mass., 13 m. S. E
Boston. Pop. 3,357. It is situated on a small
bay communicating with Boston harbour. It is
actively engaged in the mackerel fishery, and has
long been famous for the manufacture of buckets.

Hing-hoa, a city of China, of the first rank, in
the province of Fo-kien.. The vicinity furnishes
abundance of rice, lichi, and silk.

Hinkley, p.v. Medina Co. Ohio.

Hinsdale, p.t. Cheshire Co. N. H., 96 m. from
Boston. Pop. 937. This place was formerly nam-
ed Fort Dummer and Bridgman's Fort, an A suffer-
ed much during the Indian wars. Also a p.t.
Cattaraugus Co. N. Y. Pop. 919.

Hintergersdof, a town of Saxony, in Meissen, 8
m. E. of Freyburgh.

Hinzuan, Joanna, or Anjouun, one of the larg
est of the Comoro Islands, situated off the east-
ern coast of Africa. It is of a triangular form;
and the whole island appears to have undergone
the action of a volcano, the rocks being every
where volcanized. It is entirely mountainous,
but is covered with vegetation, which reaches
even to the summit- of the highest conical hill.
The coasts can be approached with safety. The
sovereign of Hinzuan takes the title ot sultan,
and formerly ruled ove^r the whole group of the
Comoro Islands. His subjects view him with the
most profound respect, and never approach him
without kneeling, and touching the earth with
their forehead. The nobles are on a familiar foot-
ing with the king, and must be consulted on ma
ny occasions. The natives are in general tall, ro
bust, and well made; they have long clack hair,
piercing eyes, and are of a colour between olive
and black. They profess Mahomedism; but the
native African worship of fetiches is still very
prevalent. They are courteou- and hospitable,
and all shipwrecked mariners ha e been received
with the greatest kindness. Thu “pine apples are
most delicious, and the other fruiis are excellent.
Yams and sweet potatoes are in abundance ; also
goats and poultry. The bullocks are of a moder-
ate size, are excellent food. This island is often
frequented by Europeans, and particularly by Eng