INDOSTAN, PROPER INDIA, or the Empire of
Indostan. the Great Mogul; a country of Asia, bounded on the west by Persia, on the south by the western peninsula of India, on the east by the eastern peninsula, and on the north by several kingdoms of Independent Tartary, and comprehending a considerable part of the ancient India; more, indeed, than the ancient Greeks and Romans ever had any distinct knowledge of.
The period in which the country of Indostan was originally peopled is now totally unknown. The aversion which the Indians themselves have to discover their history to foreigners, has involved it in deep obscurity; and what can be collected from the historians of Greece and Rome, does little more than let us know that such a people as the Indians existed in their days. The only light we have to direct us on this obscure subject, is derived from an historical poem founded upon fact, and translated into the Persian language in the reign of Mohammed Akbar, who died in the 1605th year of the Christian æra; and even this account is exceedingly barren of interesting particulars: so that, till the time of the invasion of the Moguls, the history of Indostan affords nothing either instructing or amusing; for which reason, it more properly comes under the articles MOGUL, and MOGUL'S Empire.
In almost all ages, the inhabitants of this country have been remarkable for their riches, their sloth, and their effeminacy; which have rendered them a prey to many barbarous invaders, who in their turn have degenerated and been subdued by others. Their sloth and effeminacy seems in a great measure to be owing to their system of religion; though no doubt some natural causes, such as the climate, &c. also concur. The Indians are directed by their religion to esteem absolute inactivity or idleness the summit of all earthly, and indeed heavenly happiness; since, according to them, their great god Brama himself hath been eternally doing nothing, and will continue to eternity in the same state of inactivity. In consequence of this principle, they carry their inactivity to a surprising and almost incredible height; they yield to every oppressor, and suffer themselves to be tyrannized over by foreign as well as domestic despots.—A great part of the country is now subject to the English East-India Company: but for a full account of the extent of their jurisdiction, as well as the dispositions, manners, customs, &c. of the inhabitants, see the articles abovementioned; also BRAMA, BRACHMAN, and BRAMIN.