renowned angel, and heavenly captain! lay aside thine anger, and bestow mercy upon such a one (pointing to me) then they plunged the image into perfumed water; and instantly on its immersion it ceased. They add, that amongst the idols which Mahahbàd and his successors left at Mecca, is the black stone, which was a statue of Saturn. According to them, the Arabian prophet worshipped the images of the seven planets, and therefore he preserved, in its original state, the black stone or image of Saturn, which had remained from the time of the Abadyan monarchs; but destroyed and removed the other idols of the Coreish, which were, not representations of the planets. The ancient Parsees in their temples, sometimes represented Venus under the form of an arch, like the altars in mosques, and consequently the Mehrah (or altar) is the representation of that planet. Also the veneration paid to Friday, Venus day, proceeds from the same source. Abraham, the friend of God, acted in the same manner, for he destroyed all idols that were not representations of the planets, and his veneration for the black stone is a proof thereof. Istendiar the son of Gushtasp followed his example. Socrates, the philosopher, also forbad the people to worship any images, but those of the planets, and commanded them to pull down the statues of their kings. Beit ul Mokeddeo (Jerusalem) which is Gengdij Behesht, was founded by Zohae; but Firidoon worshipped fire there; and even before the time of Zohae, there had not been an idol and a fire temple on that spot. When Feridoon marched against Zohae, on the way, one of his brethren Aung at him a rock, but which, through the miraculous power of Feridoon, was on his addressing heaven suspended in the air, and that place is now known by the name of Kouds Keleel. At Medina, where Molammed is interred, was an idol of the moon, which they called Mah*E 4 deenah In front of the seven idol temples, were seven fire temples, which they called Kaiwan Azer, Hormuz Azer, Bohram Azer, Hoor Azer, Naheid Azer, Teer Azer, and Mah Azer. Every Azer-Kedah, or fire temple, was dedicated to one of the seven planets, and the incense peculiar to each was offered. They say, that during the momarchy of their ancient kings, there were many sacred places; for instance, the Caaba, Jerusalem, Medina, where are interred the remains of the refuge of prophecy Mohammed Mustapha, may the blessing of God be upon him and his race! At Nejoff, where is the sepulchre of Amur ul Momenien Ally: at Kerbela, where Imam Hussein fell a martyr: at Bagdat where is the tomb of Imam Mou.sa; at Seinabad, in Tous, where is the tomb of Imam Aly Reza: at Balkh, where is the sepulchre of Aly; at all which places were formerly idol and fire temples. They say that Mahadabad, after building the idol temple of Istukher, in Pars (or Persepolis, in Persia Proper) which is now called Heftsoor, or the seven ramparts, erected a house, to which he gave the name of Ahad, and which is now the Caaba, or square house at Mecca; and he commanded the inhabitants of that quarter to wor ship there. Amongst the idols in the square house, was a remarkable fine image of the moon, on which account they called that place Mahgah, or the residence of the moon, which the Arabs in course of time changed into Mecca. deenah, or the moon of religion; and religion is the moon of truth, of which the Arabs have made Medina. At Nejiff Ashruff, where is the tomb of Imam Aly, there was a fire temple called Feroghpyra, and also Ne-kuff, that is, not Akuff, which word in the Pehluvy language signifies misfortune; this is now changed into Nejik. At Kerbela, where is the sepulchre of Imam Hussein, was a fire temple called Mehtarsozalum, and also Karballa, or a superior action, which has at length become Kerbela. At Bagdat, the burial place of Imam Moussa, was a fire temple called Sheid-para-ey. On the spot where rests the great Imam Abu Hanifah of Cufah, was a fire temple called Waheenooyaz. At Cufah, on the spot where the mosque is situated, was a fire temple called Roze Azir. At Tous, where is the tomb of Imam Reza, was a fire temple called Azer Khired, and it had several other names. It was built by Feridoon, when Tous, the son of Nauzer, made a pilgrimage to Azerkhirid; he founded there a city, which is named after him. At Balkh, where the tomb of the Imam is situated, was a fire temple called Moheen Azer, but which we know under the name of Noubahar. Ardibil was formerly called Dej Barmar, and Kai Khosrou upon conquering that fortress, built a fire temple called Azer Kacous, which is the burial place of Sheikh Seffyeddeen, the ancestor of the Seffevy Sultans (of Persia). In like manner, in several parts of Hindustan, there are said to have been idol temples of the planets: thus at Dewarka was a temple of Saturn, called Der Kywan, and another, dedicated to the same planet, called Gah Kywan, which has been converted into Gya. There was also another, called Mehtra, or the residence of the chief, which, in process of time, has become Mahtra. Likewise many places now in the possession of the Christians, and other sects, derive their names from fire temples which formerly stood there; and whenever the Azeryans (a worshipper of fire) came to those quarters, they go there and perform their devotions. They say that a sacred place never becomes prophane, or unholy, sa long as it is appropriated to the worship and praise of the deity: it being the Keblah, or object of adoration, of friends as well of enemies; who, although they have erred in their duty towards God, nevertheless perform their devotions in these sublime buildings. Roy Goopynauth says, Behold, O Sheikh! the excellence of my idol temples; which, upon being demolished, becomes the house of God. (To be concluded in our next REGISTER, with a Commentary by the Editor, comprising a review of the religious system of Asia, previous to the Mohammedan æra.) On the Necessity of a Standing Army in Time of Peace. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ASIATIC ANNUAL REGISTER. SIR, Cavalry Camp, near Canuje, Nov. 20, 1802. I HAVE long had an inclination which I consider of the highest to give my opinion on a subject importance to India, but my time has has been so much occupied with my charge since our possession of this valuable and newly acquired territory, that I have not been able to give it the attention necessary to afford you the information I wish to convey; nor do I for some months expect to have more leisure, I have therefore resolved to give you a hasty outline, and leave the discussion, or the elucidation of the subject to a future opportunity. While the prosperous and flourishing state of our extensive dominions, certainly far exceeds any thing hitherto known in Hindostan, and affords the highest gratification to our feelings, every circumstance which has even a remote tendency to injure or disturb this prosperity, must excite general interest, and an earnest desire to avert it; this reflexion led me to consider that two objects only remain, which seem likely to disturb the repose of Hindostan, or affect our power for many years; these are, 1st. the establishment of a French force in the pay of the Mahrattas in the heart of the north of India: 2dly, an invasion of the numerous tribes of independent Tartars, who roam over that extensive region. The first is an object which has, no doubt, attracted the attention of government, and it is therefore scarcely necessary to say more concerning it, than that from the local information I have been able to obtain, I think it of infinite magnitude; the other being more remote, has I fear hitherto, entirely escaped notice; but it is not the less dangerous: in fact, it is even more so from the circumstance of its not being suspected, which prevents any precautions from being taken to guard against it. But let me proceed with the proposed account of Tartary :That wonderful country which has been well denominated by a great writer, the Foundery of Nations, has for time immemorial sent forth at short intervals, vast swarms of the human race to people the other countries of the earth. If you will refer to ancient history, (Epiphan. Eusæb. Chæon. Paschal, &c. &c.) you will find that the Tartars, under various appellations, had spread themselves all over Western Asia, and into Egypt and Africa, 5500 years back from the present time. About 1500 years after that time, or 2200 years before Christ, you will find that numerous hordes settled around the Euxine sea, and soon after they ́ established themselves in Thrace, Illyricum, and Asia Minor, which countries, in the course of 4 or 500 years, they completely peopled; and from thence extended themselves into Italy 12 or 1300 years before Christ. The tribes settled around the Euxine sea, being pressed forward by a continual succession of fresh hordes from Tartary, extended themselves gradually into Germany, Scandinavia, Gaul, and Spain, (and perhaps Britain) in the course of the following 500 years, that is about 2000 years ago: during the period of 3000 years above noticed, I have strong reason to believe that Hindostan, China, the islands in the Eastern Seas, Siberia, Kamschatska, (and probably North America,) were peopled from the same source, though their progress cannot be so distinctly traced. The countries of Asia, Europe, and Africa above mentioned, were *The command of a regiment of native cavalry. during during that period but thinly in habited, and left ample space for the overflowing population of Tartary, which like a beehive has continued to send forth its swarms ever since, down to the present time. Towards the close of the 14th century of the Christian Ara, the Huns, a numerous tribe of northern Tartars, having failed in their attempts to conquer China, took a westerly direction, and entered Europe like a prodigious flight of locusts, where they ultimately rested, mixing with the nations that had preceded them; and since that time, China, Persia, Turkey, and Hindûstan, have been repeatedly visited by numerous hordes of Tartar emigrants, as you. will find by the histories of those countries, and particularly of Ghengis Khan and Timur Beg, and I am well assured, that the different excursions and conquests of these two monarchs deprived Tartary of from four to five million of inhabitants: But during the last 350 years, no emigration of any consequence has taken place from that country, therefore reasoning from analogy, we must give credit to the reports which represent it as overflowing with inhabitants at the present time. The horse and fruit merchants, from Kabul Bokhara, and Samercand, with whom I have had an intercourse during the last fifteen years, have invariably represented the tribes of independent Tartars, dispersed over that immense region which extends from the Caspian sea to Chinese Tartary, to have considerably encreased in numbers of late years, that the manners, customs, habits, and modes of life, amongst all the interior hordes, have continued the same from time immemorial; that the luxuries and vices which impede the progressive. encrease of the human species in the other nations of the world, are wholly unknown amongst them: And that from the simple plain food they eat, and the pastoral life they lead, they are more healthy, more robust, and capable of enduring hunger and thirst longer, and of undergoing more labour and fatigue, than any other people on the face of the globe. From the same authority I also learn, that agriculture is almost entirely unknown in the interior parts of Tartary, and that their subsistence being chiefly derived from the milk and flesh of their herds and flocks, and the game they kill, they are as their numbers encrease compelled to extend their excur sions in search of provender for their cattle, and sustenance for themselves, until the whole country is so much occupied, that the pasturage is exhausted, and whole tribes are thereby obliged to sally forth in search of forage, and overrun some of the neighbouring countries: That when the nations of Tartary approach towards this state, an aspiring ambitious leader, like Ghingis Khan or Timur Beg starting up, or a seven years' drought occurring, is sure to put in motion an immense torrent, which bursts forth with irresistable force, into whatever country it directs its course. And that finally, to the vast encrease of inhabitants, and the consequent scarcity of pasture and subsistence, may be attributed all the Tartar emigrations which have taken place, from the beginning of the world down to the present time. That the various tribes of independent Tartars, inhabiting the countries situated between the Caspian sea and Chinese Tartary, have scarce any communication, or intercourse, with the other nations of the world, cannot be denied, and admitting this fact, we must also admit, that their seclusion from other nations is an irrefragrable argument, that their manners, customs, and habits of life, are now the same as in ancient times, and we may hence infer, that the same causes which produced the rapid encrcase of the population in former times continuing to operate, must produce the same effects now, I have therefore no doubt, but that independent Tartary is, at the present time, arrived at as high a degree of population as the country is capable of maintaining, and must 'ere long, get rid of a part of its inhabitants, by some foreign expedition. The limits of this letter will not admit of my going more largely into the consideration of the several circumstances, which have led to this conviction in my mind; but, if I have not said enough to convince you also, I still trust you will allow that I have advanced strong arguments in support of my opinion. Although I have frequently reflected on this subject, I have always thought the danger so distant, as to make it an object of very secondary consideration in our Indian politics, until some late Occurrences took place, which may bring it much sooner forward than I was prepared to expect, and which I shall now briefly state. The late revolution at Kabul, which deprived Zemaun Shah of his throne (and life) and placed his brother Mahmood Shah upon it, has been attended with much anarchy and confusion. One of the chiefs, who had a considerable share in putting him up, is now become his competitor, whilst a brother of Zemaun Shah's, by the same mother, has escaped with Zemaun Shah's son, and has taken refuge with the Ushbeck Tartars, and these princes having carried off jewels of considerable value, are endeavouring to raise a force for the recovery of the empire, and have sent their emissaries to the Furkomaun, the Mogul, and the Kalmuk Tartars, and other neighbouring tribes. Should these princes succeed in bringing down a Tartar force, and from the present state of that country, it is extremely probable, I imagine the Afghan dynasty will soon end, and be succeeded by a Tartar one. And if the Tartars once get possession of the Kabul dominions, it will open a channel for the superfluous inhabitants of their own country to flow forth, and, 'ere long, we may have them very near and troublesome neighbours on our frontier. You may smile at this, and I am sensible I lay myself open, by submitting the idea to the ridicule of those who are unacquainted with the subject; but, nevertheless I cannot help, from the various circumstances which have come to my knowledge, believing that the danger from this quarter is neither ideal nor remote, and if arguments were required to point out the necessity of placing this frontier in a state of perfect security, and for augmenting the army in the field, this might be advanced as one of no small weight. Formerly we had six battalions of Sepoys at Cawnpoor, and six at Futty Ghur, which could be moved to the frontier at a moment's warning. Now we have not a spare corps, and could not assemble three or four batta lions without great inconvenience, and |